The Vanity Fair/Bloomberg White House Correspondents’ Dinner after-party, held this year at the French ambassador’s residence, was – as always – one of the hottest and most glamorous tickets in town.
Google/HBO White House Correspondents’ Weekend Party
Google, HBO and the Smithsonian American Art Museum partnered on Friday night for a White House Correspondents’ Weekend party to celebrate HBO Films’ “All the Way.” Actor Bryan Cranston and Director Jay Roach were the featured guests.
And if Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren are having this much fun, you know it was a great party. Thank you, HBO and Google!
Entrepreneurs and Military Families in Spotlight at Annual Garden Brunch for White House Correspondents’ Weekend
Media notables, Hollywood stars, and leaders from the business and non-profit sectors came together on Saturday for the annual Garden Brunch in honor of White House Correspondents’ Weekend. The mission of this year’s brunch was to recognize entrepreneurs who are ‘starting out and starting up’, along with initiatives that support members of the military and their families.

Dr. Sachiko Kuno with Halcyon Incubator Cohort4: Jeffrey Prost-Greene, Eric Shih, Kathleen O’Keefe, Daniel Hill, Charlene Brown, Faran Negarestan and Kristof Grina
The brunch raised awareness for Halcyon Incubator, an organization founded by Dr. Sachiko Kuno that supports early stage social entrepreneurs through an immersive 18-month fellowship program. As guests arrived, they were asked to share their advice for individuals who are seeking to launch a new career and change the world. The notes were shared on an interactive PPI board provided by Microsoft.
Tony Goldwyn, who plays President Fitz Grant on ABC’s Scandal, shared: “Commit 100% to your dream. That will lead you to places you can’t even imagine!”
Sheila C. Johnson, co-founder of BET, philanthropist and the first African American female billionaire, knows a thing or two about success. Her advice? “Be bold and be fearless!”
Arianna Huffington and Travis Kalanick, who arrived at the brunch together, are two of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Huffington’s tip: “Remember failure is a stepping stone to success!” And Kalanick shared insights based on his own experience of creating Uber: “You can bend reality but don’t break it!”
Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles focused on practical advice: “Do not argue with your boss when u are drunk, even if u are right.” Under Armour CEO and Founder Kevin Plank also offered sound business advice with “Find out if your product can sell!!!”
Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren encouraged individuals to broaden their horizons: “Travel! See the world so that you know something!” And CNN’s Wolf Blitzer gave advice that is often heard in Washington: “You may be smart, but other people may be smarter. Listen and take advantage and learn. Two heads are smarter than one.”
The focus on entrepreneurship and Halcyon Incubator was highlighted during the event as Dr. Sachiko Kuno, CEO of S&R Foundation, took the stage to talk about the work of her organization and to introduce the program’s current cohort.
This year’s Garden Brunch also raised awareness for Yellow Ribbons United and their initiative #PlayfieldInThePark, which serves approximately 500 children and teens attending the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Good Grief Camp and Honoring Our Heroes Camp over Memorial Day Weekend. The program was created by Derrick and Emma Dockery, and has recently received the support of Constance Milstein, who was also a co-host of the Garden Brunch.
In addition to sharing their mission with brunch guests, Emma Dockery also had advice for budding entrepreneurs: “Never give up, for every no you may receive there is someone who will say yes!”
Additional guests from the entertainment industry included Bryan Cranston of HBO’s All the Way, Director Jay Roach, Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren, House of Cards’ Neve Campbell, Daredevil’s Rosario Dawson, Lisa Edelstein from Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Constance Zimmer of UnREAL, The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk, Blindspot’s Jaimie Alexander, House of Cards’ Michael Kelly, actress Sela Ward, Blue Bloods’ Bridget Moynahan, Concussion’s Gugu Mbatha-Raw, model Anne V, Independence Day’s Jeff Goldblum, Valeri and Candace Cameron Bure, Omarosa, Eric Podwall, Dule Hill, Matthew Morrison, HBO’s Len Amato, Scandal’s Scott Foley, and model Daniela Lopez.
Media in attendance included Charlie Rose, Jim Bankoff, Kevin Merida and Marie Donoghue from ESPN, Gayle King, Wolf Blitzer, Laura Ingraham, Bret and Amy Baier, Brian and Jamie Stelter, Betsy Fischer-Martin, Stephanie Ruhle, Joy Behar, and April Ryan. Tech was also represented by Josh Ginsberg, CEO of Zignal Labs, Erin Egan of Facebook, Snap Chat’s Nick Bell and Instagram’s Charlton Golson, John Tass-Parker and Charles Porch.
From the world of government and politics, guests included Valerie Jarrett, Tina Tchen, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Heather Podesta, Tony Podesta, Jeremy Bernard, Megan Smith, Robert and Capricia Marshall, Heather Rothenberg and Ellie Schafer, Representative Joaquin Castro, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Fauci of NIH, World Bank President Jim Kim, Mike and Kristi Rogers, Ben Ginsberg, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
The crowd was kept up-to-the moment on the presidential election with Zignal Labs‘ realtime analytics.
Dessert treats were provided by Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis of Georgetown Cupcakes.
The 2016 Garden Brunch was held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown. The event host committee consisted of Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Sachiko Kuno, Fred Humphries, Mark and Sally Ein, Connie Milstein, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler, and Franco Nuschese.
CNN’s Reliable Sources: WHCD Dinner and Presidential Campaign Coverage
The morning following the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, CNN’s Reliable Sources featured Betsy Fischer-Martin, Ron Fournier and Tammy Haddad in a roundtable discussion with host Brian Stelter to talk about the relevance of the annual event. The conversation also included an analysis of this year’s presidential campaign coverage.
Fischer-Martin commented on how the tone of the dinner has evolved over the past 15-20 years, stating that media used to “invite our own sources” and “had one-on-one access,” which has changed as the Hollywood presence has increased over the years.
Defending the dinner, Haddad stated, “how bad can it be bringing all these people together? It’s getting more people involved in the process.”
Discussing how presidential campaign coverage has also changed over the years, Haddad said, “what we should also talk about is how reporters covering the Trump campaign have no access. The other thing about Trump is that he calls into shows…he’s so smart because he has figured it out, he can control the show. You have to listen to him until he finishes.”
Fournier commented that reporters need to “stop writing about what he says and how it affects poll numbers, and dig into what he’s really saying,” further suggesting that the media, “needs to hold him (Trump) accountable.”
“Scrutiny is what’s lacking. Candidates no longer do hour long interviews,” explained Fischer-Martin. “Investigative journalism costs money, it’s expensive to produce. A lot of news organizations don’t have those resources anymore.”
Responding to a question about the level of coverage the Trump campaign receives, Haddad said, “this man is running for president. Millions of people are following him. We’re not supposed to carry coverage? Isn’t that our responsibility?”
Live Stream: 2016 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch
2016 Garden Brunch Celebrates ‘Starting Out and Starting Up’
This weekend’s annual Garden Brunch in honor of White House Correspondents’ Weekend will celebrate the next generation of ‘starting out and starting up.’
On Saturday, April 30, members of the media, Hollywood celebrities and studio heads, business executives, and non-profit leaders will come together to support causes that reflect issues facing our society today.
The brunch will raise awareness for Halcyon Incubator, an organization that supports early stage social entrepreneurs “seeking to change the world” through an immersive 18-month fellowship program.
Dr. Sachiko Kuno, who was recently recognized on the Forbes list of self-made women, was the first woman to receive an Industrial Biochemistry Ph.D. from Kyoto University. She is now CEO of S&R Foundation and has been widely recognized for her contributions to the pharmaceuticals industry. Her “entrepreneurial mind and deep desire to empower social change” is what drives her to support initiatives such as the Halcyon Incubator. The organization supports “talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in the arts, sciences, and social entrepreneurship, especially those who are furthering their cultural celebration.”
Dr. Kuno’s latest project is to develop the Fillmore School in Georgetown into an arts incubator, which will serve as “a platform to grow talented artists in the fields of fine, visual and performing arts, maintaining the educational use of the building and its place as part of the vibrant arts landscape in the nation’s capital.”
Also in the spotlight will be #PlayfieldInThePark, an initiative supported by Yellow Ribbons United that serves approximately 500 children and teens attending the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Good Grief Camp and Honoring Our Heroes Camp over Memorial Day Weekend.
The 2016 Garden Brunch is hosted by Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Sachiko Kuno, Fred Humphries, Mark & Sally Ein, Constance Milstein, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler, and Franco Nuschese.
Watch the video from the 2015 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch below.
Volta Insider Episode 9: Ambassador Capricia Marshall
As White House Correspondents weekend approaches, Volta Insider’s Rachel Greenberg – a podcaster and budding journalist herself – has released the latest episode of her podcast, Volta Insider.
This episode featured a conversation with Ambassador Capricia Marshall who gave Rachel some incredible insights about the inner workings of the White House. From her role as a Special Assistant to First Lady Hillary Clinton, to her time serving as U.S. Chief of Protocol for President Barack Obama, Amb. Marshall has witnessed many a historical moment.
Download the podcast on AudioBoom or iTunes. And be sure to subscribe while you’re there!
White House Correspondents’ Association Announces Winners of 2016 Journalism Awards
The Boston Globe, CBS News, InsideClimate News, the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post each took home the top prizes in this year’s WHCA awards.
The White House Correspondents’ Association reported the following winners earlier this week:
The winner of the Aldo Beckman Memorial Award for excellence in White House coverage is Carol Lee of the Wall Street Journal. Carol is also president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, which hosts the White House Correspondents Dinner (#WHCD) every year. Lee was not a judge for the awards.
The winner of the Merriman Smith Award for outstanding White House coverage under deadline pressure is Matt Viser of the Boston Globe.
The Winner of the Merriman Smith Award for broadcast journalism is Norah O’Donnell of CBS News.
Last but not least, the Edgar A. Poe Award which recognizes excellence in coverage of events or investigative topics of regional or national interest will be shared this year by Terrence McCoy of The Washington Post and Neela Banerjee, John Cushman Jr., David Hasemyer and Lisa Song of InsideClimate News.
Masters in Politics: DNC Chair Says 2008 Primary ‘Far More Divisive’ Than Clinton-Sanders Race
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says she isn’t worried about the sniping between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in the party’s presidential primary.
“At the point that we’re at in the process, it’s understandable,” Wasserman Schultz said in an interview with Bloomberg Politics’ Masters in Politics podcast.
While Sanders and Clinton have clashed over campaign finance, breaking up the big banks, and whether gun manufacturers should be held liable for mass shootings, Wasserman Schultz said the tenor of the campaign has been less heated than the last time two candidates fought for the Democratic nomination.
“Of course, you know, both of our candidates feel passionately about the issues that are important to them, and they’ve taken slightly different approaches to achieving the same goals,” Wasserman Schultz said. “But ultimately, if you look back to our primary in 2008 between then-Senators Obama and Clinton, it was far more divisive than this primary has been.”
Wasserman Schultz brushed aside Sanders’ suggestion that Clinton and the DNC may have broken campaign finance laws by raising money jointly. “It’s just simply, completely and patently false,” Wasserman Schultz said, adding, “We followed the rules and followed the law and have done so to the letter.”
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Google/HBO/Smithsonian WHCD Party Announced

Google, HBO and the Smithsonian American Art Museum are partnering on a Friday night party for White House Correspondents’ weekend. Actor Bryan Cranston and director Jay Roach are the featured guests.
Read more via FishbowlDC: WHCD Party Invites: The Google/HBO/Smithsonian Party
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