White House Correspondents Insider

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

Survey: Plurality of Republican Adults Favor Courts Shutting Down Media Outlets for “Inaccurate” Stories

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Photo courtesy Pixabay.

A new survey released by The Economist and YouGov suggests that a plurality of Republican adults favor courts being able to shut down media outlets.

“Generally speaking, do you favor or oppose permitting the courts to shut down news media outlets for publishing or broadcasting stories that are biased or inaccurate – or haven’t you heard enough about that yet to say?” the poll asked of 1,500 U.S. adults.

By a margin of 45% to 20%, Republicans said courts should have the authority to control the media and free speech.  (35% of respondents said they haven’t heard enough to make a choice.)  The number dipped when looking at conservative respondents, 37% in favor to 23% opposed.

Similarly, respondents that voted for President Trump in 2016 agreed with the notion that courts should be able to curtail the First Amendment and shut down media outlets by similar margins, 45% supporting to 24% opposing.

Reports: Attorney General Jeff Sessions to Announce Criminal Investigations of Intelligence Leaks

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By U.S. Customs and Border Protection (160120-H-NI589-0103) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Unnamed officials are saying that Attorney General Jeff Sessions will announce in the upcoming few days a number of criminal leak investigations based on news reports containing sensitive intelligence information.

During an interview on Wednesday morning’s “Fox & Friends” program, White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci confirmed plans exist to launch the probe.

“I think he has got a plan that he has put together and at some point, I don’t know if it will be today, tomorrow or next week, he will announce that plan,” he said on the program.

Sessions’ actions come amid a days-long public admonishment of the attorney general by President Donald Trump, primarily on Twitter and in various interviews.  The president has strongly suggested that Sessions will not remain in his cabinet for much longer, but the attorney general has refused to resign his position.

MSNBC Edges Out Fox News as Most-Watched Prime Time Cable Network

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Photo courtesy Jeff Maurone via Wikimedia Commons.

For the first time ever, Nielsen data shows that MSNBC was the most-watched cable network during weekday prime time.

Averaging approximately 90,000 viewers more than second-place rival Fox News, during the week of July 17 through July 21, MSNBC had 2.34 million viewers during weekday prime time. Fox News racked up 2.25 million viewers. In third place, Disney Channel received 1.74 million viewers. USA Network and HGTV made up the remainder of the top five channels for the week.

Rachel Maddow continued winning the 9 PM time slot over all other news programs. During the week, hers was also the second most-watched program of all cable, behind only WWE Entertainment.  The network’s lineup from 7 PM through midnight also was first among cable networks.

“MSNBC was previously #1 in cable news in weekday prime during the weeks of May 15, 2017 (behind TNT) and September 3, 2012 (behind USA) among total viewers, but this was the 1st time MSNBC was #1 among all of cable,” the network commented in a statement.

Fox News still held in at first place in “total day” viewers, which measures from 6 AM to 6 AM, extending its streak over all basic cable channels to its 29th week.

CNN finished in ninth place in total viewers in prime time, averaging 875,000 viewers.

Scaramucci Expected To Be Named White House Communications Director

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SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci speaks at the 2016 SkyBridge Alternatives “SALT” Conference at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Multiple news agencies are reporting Friday morning that President Donald Trump has selected his close friend and ally, Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci, to be the new White House communications director.

The director position has been vacant since May, when Mike Dubke resigned after only three months on the job. Since then, press secretary Sean Spicer has assumed most of the responsibilities of this position. NBC News and Axios both report that sources say Spicer is expected to stay on as press secretary.

Scaramucci is a former Goldman Sachs banker and was a member of Trump’s transition team. He is a major Republican donor, having held fundraisers for Scott Walker and Jeb Bush during the 2016 presidential primary, and supported Trump in the general election last year. Known as “Mooch” to his friends, he is a regular guest on Fox News and longtime friend of Sean Hannity.

High School Journalist Lands Interview with Defense Secretary James Mattis

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Mercer Island High School. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Teddy Fischer, a student at Mercer Island High School in Washington state about to enter his junior year, snagged an exclusive 45-minute phone interview during the Memorial Day weekend with Defense Secretary James Mattis.

Having discovered a photo published by the Washington Post where the cabinet official’s phone number was visible, Fischer sent Mattis a text message.

“I never really thought it would work,” Fischer told Seattle’s KING5.  After sending a message to the number he found stating he was a student working for his school newspaper and a native of Washington state, the defense secretary called back and agreed to a phone interview.  Secretary Mattis is also from Washington state.

After preparing with his teacher and editor on questions, Fischer conducted an insightful, thorough discussion with Mattis, covering topics such as national politics, foreign policy, and issues facing teenagers today.  Fischer also said he learned an important lesson beyond public affairs.

“It never hurts to ask anybody anything,” he said.  “Even if they seem like they’re a distant figure, even if they seem like a powerful figure.  There’s a human side to politics and people are much more approachable than you think.”

New York’s top city specialist, NYU Professor Mitchell Moss says NYC in Terrible Trouble

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Mitchell Moss with Chris Taylor and MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle at the Businessweek relaunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Recently, CBS New York published an analysis of the troubles facing New York City and its deteriorating infrastructure. Mitchell Moss, who runs NYU’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy, was featured in this story, addressing the untenable predicament facing the Big Apple.

Currently, fewer than half of NJ TRANSIT trains during the morning commute arrive on time. Delays on the New York subway are up more than 150 percent in less than five years. And data shows streets in New York City are overcrowded and congested, where traffic crawls along during rush hour at an average of 8 MPH.

“We are now seriously at risk,” Moss told CBS News.

“This is a city and a region that is driven by productivity and work, not by taking it easy. It’s not Portland, where the debate is whether to get coffee with almond milk or soy milk. It’s not Seattle, where you debate whether to get your high in the morning or the evening. And it’s not San Francisco, where the debate is whether or not I should even go to work that day,” he continued. “This is a work-oriented culture. We need the subway and we need the commuter systems working.”

Asked if Governor Cuomo’s plans to spend an additional $1 billion in the Capital Plan would help the situation, Moss concluded that “there’s been a gross exaggeration that more money will do the job.”

Until a solid plan is implemented to revive New York City’s traffic congestion and infrastructure issues, city residents, workers and visitors will face difficult problems on a near-daily basis getting to destinations throughout the city.

SKDKnickerbocker Hires Oren Shur as Senior Vice President and Political Director

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Photo courtesy SKDKnickerbocker.

SKDKnickerbocker has announced that former director of paid media at Hillary Clinton for America and director of independent expenditure at the Democratic Governors Association Oren Shur has joined as senior vice president and political director.

Managing director Bill Knapp praised the news, saying “we’re really excited to have Oren on board. SKDK was born from the desire to provide our clients with best in class service and revolutionize political consulting and advertising… With Oren joining the team, I’m confident that we’ll live up to the legacy we’ve created for ourselves and continue to do great work for our clients and on issues that matter.”

Shur has worked in several competitive campaigns over the past decade and a half, including Hillary for America, the Democratic Governors Association, and campaign manager for the re-election of Go. Jay Nixon (D-MO) in 2012.

Comedian Matt Lucas Dresses Like a Baby to Drum Up Support for Children Under 5

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Photo courtesy Theirworld.

British Comedian Matt Lucas dressed in a baby onesie to raise awareness of five crucial interventions needed for children under 5 years old.

Promoting the #5for5 campaign sponsored by the children’s charity Theirworld, Lucas returned to his Shooting Stars character George Dawes to draw attention to the five most crucial things infants and toddlers under the age of five years old need to thrive.

“I think 5 for 5 is a great campaign to be involved in, it’s a strong message. Theirworld is a great charity. For me, it was a good opportunity to be George Dawes again because I haven’t been George for eight years!” commented Lucas.

The comedian and actor is renowned for his work on the shows Little Britain and Dr. Who, and is the first of several comedians around the globe starring in short films to promote the #5for5 campaign of Theirworld.

Sarah Brown, president of Theirworld, explained the need for the #5for5 campaign. “By the time a child reaches the age of five, 90% of their brain has already developed… Despite the evidence world leaders are not committing funding for programs to make sure all children – particularly the poorest and most marginalized – are given the best start in life.”

The Theirworld campaign is calling on world leaders at the upcoming G20 conference in Hamburg, Germany to commit to a dramatic increase in pre-primary educational funding.

You can watch Lucas drumming up support for infants and toddlers with #5for5 here: http://www.theirworld.org/5for5/

Greta Van Susteren Leaves MSNBC

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Greta Van Susteren at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Legendary news host Greta Van Susteren has parted ways with cable news channel MSNBC.

According to Vanity Fair, Van Susteren will not be on the air Thursday; instead the time slot will be hosted by Ari Melber.

Michael Bonfiglio’s Documentary “From The Ashes” Premiers on National Geographic Channel Sunday

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Photo courtesy Pavlofox / Pixabay.

The documentary From The Ashes, a look at the lives of American communities as they struggle with the legacy of the coal industry and its future, will debut on television on the National Geographic Channel this Sunday, June 25th at 9PM EDT.

Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio and produced by the Academy Award- and Emmy-winning production company RadicalMedia, From The Ashes first premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, followed by a limited theatrical release.

As explained on its website, the documentary aims to tell the story of

“Americans in communities across the country as they wrestle with the legacy of the coal industry and what its future should be in the current political climate. From Appalachia to the West’s Powder River Basin, the film goes beyond the rhetoric of the ‘war on coal’ to present compelling and often heartbreaking stories about what’s at stake for our economy, health, and climate.”

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry described the film as “heartbreaking and enlightening at the same time. A must-watch for everyone because we should all be in this together.”

From the Ashes is produced by RadicalMedia in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and directed by Michael Bonfiglio and produced by Sidney Beaumont. For RadicalMedia, Jon Kamen, Joe Berlinger and Justin Wilkes serve as executive producers. For Bloomberg Philanthropies, Katherine Oliver serves as executive producer. For National Geographic, president, original programming and production is Tim Pastore.