White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

FBI Investigating Huffington Post Editor for Tweet

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay / Edar.

Nick Baumann, a senior enterprise editor for the Huffington Post, has been contacted by the FBI for joking about destroying election ballots for Donald Trump.

On October 31, 2016, Baumann tweeted:

“I love my job working at a voting site in washington dc destroying trump ballots [sic]. ”

The following day, Baumann said the tweet was “a joking reference” to a fake news report circulated on right-wing blogs and social media, relying on a forged Wikileaks email stating that Democratic consultants and activsts were “pre-programming” voting machines in favor of Hillary Clinton.  The erroneous news item was picked up by Drudge and Limbaugh as well.

Baumann says an FBI agent contacted him regarding his tweet.  “We recently received some complaints regarding some online postings that were made. I don’t know if you know what that’s in reference to, but would you be willing to sit down with us for a couple minutes tomorrow morning, by chance?”

Although the meeting has yet to take place, Baumann writes that the “investigation is ongoing.”

Election Day Noshes and Snacks

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Historically, alcohol was prohibited from being sold in many states on Election Day (with South Carolina being the last and final state to repeal the ban in 2014).  But bars and restaurants have always used campaigns as marketing tools as well.

This year, there are plenty of food and drink specials across the District brandishing election-themed delicacies and desserts.  As Jessica Sidman at Washingtonian magazine writes in “Eat The Vote: Which Candidate Has The Superior Food and Drink Specials?,” there are treats for people of every partisan leaning to nosh.

Astro Donuts and Fried Chicken by Metro Center has taken a step into the 2016 campaign by serving both “Trump’s Vanilla Cherry Coke Doughnuts” and “Clinton’s Spicy Hot Chocolate Doughnuts.”

Art and Soul (Washingtonian’s winner of Best of Breakfast and Brunch 2012) is offering cocktails inspired by swing states across the nation.  There you may sip on “The Granite State” with rye, bitters, sugar and an orange slice, or “The Great Lakes” made with bourbon, vermouth and cherry juice.

Or stop in at Bourbon Steak in the Georgetown Four Seasons Hotel for “Freedom fries” cooked in duck fat, complimentary for guests wearing “I Voted” stickers.  While there, be sure to enter their contest to win dinner for two and a night in the Four Seasons’ Presidential Suite.

Even the Dupont seafood haven Hank’s Oyster Bar is getting in on the action.  Serving “Wanna Go to Canada?” poutine and “Bi-Partisan” platters, it seems everyone is sharing in the patriotic spirit this year.

 

Howard Fineman Discusses Democracy in Action in Iowa

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Hillary Clinton wowed the crowd at her noontime rally at Grand View University outside of Des Moines, Iowa. Students and supporters of all ages filled the room, pairing their sweatpants and jeans with Hillary memorabilia. Chatter bounced around the room, absorbed by the many microphones poking out of the masses.

Photo by Rachel Greenberg

Photo by Rachel Greenberg

Some of the happiest faces in the room at the Clinton rally were the reporters. The Iowa Caucuses are a robust playground for political journalists. Howard Fineman, famed political reporter for the Huffington Post and MSNBC Political Analyst, interviewed supporters, and WHCInsider interviewed him.

Hillary Clinton Rallies the Faithful

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With the Iowa Caucus just around the corner, candidates are squeezing in as many rallies as they can before the caucuses begin Monday evening.

Students and supporters filed into the gymnasium of Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa to see and hear the words of presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Before the rally began, we caught up with CNN reporter Jeff Zeleny, a former Iowa reporter, and asked about the voters of Iowa and the possible outcome of these very important caucuses.

James Carville Steps Up For Hillary

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James Carville threw his support behind Hillary Clinton with a fundraising email sent to supporters in advance of tonight’s CNN debate featuring Democratic presidential candidates.

The number one thing us Hillary supporters need to do to get ready for the first debate is let her know we’re with her.

Donate $1 or whatever you can to become a Debate Donor and join the group of folks who pledge to stand with Hillary during this important moment in the campaign. No flash cards or policy prep-work required.

Hillary Comes to Virginia

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Hillary Clinton will headline the Democratic Party of Virginia’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner at George Mason University’s Patriot Center in Fairfax this coming Friday, June 26. This will be her first campaign stop in the state since announcing her presidential campaign.

The event, usually hosted in Richmond, will instead take place in the highly populated and diverse Northern Virginia. President Obama and the former Secretary of State both spoke at the dinner in 2008, days before Virginia Democrats sided with Obama for the February primary.

Clinton is moving into Virginia with momentum. According to a recent Wall Street Journal and NBC national poll, Clinton has a 60 point margin ahead of her closest Democratic opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, and substantial leads against her Republican counterparts. The poll also showed that 92% of Democratic primary voters see themselves supporting her.

Virginia is an historically swing state. In both the 2008 and 2012 presidential general elections, however, the state voted blue for President Obama, while Virginia Democrats have not lost a statewide election since 2009.

George Mason University and its Patriot Center have hosted presidential hopefuls in the past. Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee recently announced that he would seek the 2016 Democratic Party presidential nomination at George Mason University’s Arlington campus on June 3, 2015. In 2012, Former Governor and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney held a rally at the Patriot Center on the eve of the presidential general election. President Obama also chose the venue for a last chance rally before the controversial health care reform vote in 2010.

To purchase tickets, visit virginiademshrc.tumblr.com. For any questions or inquiries, email events@vademocrats.org. All funds will benefit the Democratic Party of Virginia.

House of Cards Creator Beau Willimon Wants to Put an End to Sexual Assault

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“With her students, she (Katie Cappiello) wrote SLUT: The Play — about a 16-year-old girl who’s sexually assaulted by three guy friends, and the backlash that follows. Slut debuted in New York in February 2013, with the same teenage girls who helped develop the project as its actresses.

“After getting attention from the likes of Hillary Clinton and Amy Poehler, Cappiello is preparing for Slut’s Washington premiere. On May 19 at the Warner Theatre, theatergoers will catch a glimpse of Beau Willimon, the creator of House of Cards and a big supporter of the project, who will be speaking alongside US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Glamour Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive, and others.”

Read more via Washingtonian: House of Cards Creator Beau Willimon Wants to Put an End to Sexual Assault