White House Correspondents Insider

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

Ellen Tauscher receives Commander’s Cross of the Legion of Merit

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A reception and award presentation was held in honor of the Honorable Ellen O’Kane Tauscher on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at the residence of German Ambassador Wittig. The Ambassador thanked Ms. Tauscher for her long, successful work in U.S.-German relations, adding that the world needs more “Tauscherism,” a more moderated approach for successful outcomes.

Tauscher gave a history lesson on the arrival of Irish and German immigrants to the U.S. and tickled the crowd by talking about how Germany got it right with Angela Merkel and how wonderful it will be with another woman leader of a country, President Hillary Clinton.

Guests included House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, General Jim Jones, Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley, Hilary Rosen, Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, Franco Nuschese, and members of the Tauscher family.

WHCD Garden Brunch Supports Veterans

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The 2015 Annual Garden Brunch on the morning of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner once again brought a parade of Hollywood elite and celebrities to gather and mingle before primping for the dinner, but all for a good cause. This year’s beneficiaries, Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families are both groups created for the benefit of veterans and their family members. Video courtesy of Hollywood on the Potomac.

Tommy McFly at the 2015 Garden Brunch

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During his coverage of the 2015 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch, Tommy McFly featured the two organizations that were honored at the event, Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families. He also spoke with Tara Lipinski who shared her thoughts on Washington style!

Bloomberg Vanity Fair Party at 2015 WHCD

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The conversations continued into the very early morning at the Bloomberg Vanity Fair party at the French Ambassador’s residence. Attendees included Elon Musk; Obama administration cabinet officials Ash Carter, Shaun Donovan and John Brennan; stars of Washington inspired TV shows, Carla Gugino and Aasif Mandvi from the upcoming HBO comedy series, The Brink, and Constance Zimmer and Michael Kelly from House of Cards; and television stars Connie Britton and Gina Rodriguez.

Washington guests were Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, RNC Chairman Reince Preibus and wife, Sally, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest and speechwriter David Litt, and former Obama speechwriters Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett. Media guests included Andrea Mitchell, Ronan Farrow, Maureen Dowd, Fred Ryan, and Bret Baier. Also in attendance were Samantha Power, Susan Rice, Valerie Jarrett, Heather Podesta, Tammy Haddad, Marc Adelman and Liz Robbins.

View photos of all the action at the Bloomberg Vanity Fair Party after the 2015 White House Correspondents Dinner.

2015 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch Coverage

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Taya Kyle honored at 2015 Garden Brunch benefiting veterans, military families
“The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is coming up tonight, but things kicked off earlier Saturday in Washington with the 2015 Garden Brunch, which benefits both Blue Star Families and Dog Tag Bakery. Among the honored guests was Taya Kyle, widow of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, who spoke briefly about the benefits of hiring veterans.”

Political TV Takes the Spotlight at Garden Brunch
“Media figures like Katie Couric, Chris Matthews and Jake Tapper were in the mix with political and legal figures like attorney Ted Olson and FCC chairman Tom Wheeler or showbiz figures like Norman Reedus, Sophie Turner and Alfre Woodard.”

White House Correspondents’ dinner: Hollywood stars dish at D.C. brunch
“The celebrities that swarmed Washington, D.C. this weekend for the dinner weren’t always stuck discussing politics though during the party-filled weekend that brings together the two worlds of entertainment and politics — a weekend where Tammy Haddad, the brunch’s host, said she witnessed National Security Advisor Susan Rice riding in a golf cart with “Homeland”‘s Rupert Friend, who plays a CIA operative in the show.”

White House Correspondents’ Dinner: Tara Lipinski Is Prepared for Anything
“This year, the event has finally put Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead and presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett in the same room.”

Worlds collide at the pre-correspondents’ dinner ‘garden brunch’
“When we said “mashups,” we meant that quite literally. The crowd was so dense that one barely had time to register the VIPs among the cheek-to-jowl throngs. Spotted in the mob: “Scandal” actress Darby Stanchfield, top White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, Tim Daly of “Madam Secretary,” outgoing White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard, CBS “This Morning” co-host Gayle King and “Veep” actor Timothy Simons.”

Today’s WHCD 2015 Round Up

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CBS nabs real, fictional secretaries of State for WHCD
“Two secretaries of State — a real-life former one, Madeleine Albright, and the Hollywood version, Téa Leoni, — will attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner this weekend. Albright and Leoni, who plays the fictional title role on “Madam Secretary,” will both be guests of CBS News at the April 25 festivities in Washington.”

Gov. Kasich takes flirtation with White House run to next level, creates ‘New Day for America’ fund
“Kasich will be traveling to Washington, D.C. later this week for a number of stops including the White House Correspondents Dinner and an appearance Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.””

Listen Up, D.C.! Here Comes the White House Correspondents’ Jam.
“Leavell recruited five correspondent-fronted bands — Fortune Senior Editor-at-Large Brian Dumaine, Esquire scribe Tom Junod, CNBC Senior Economics Reporter Steve Liesman, New Yorker Editor David Remnick and Vanity Fair Contributing Editor Mark Rozzo are all slated to play with their respective outfits — to blow the doors off the Fairmont Hotel (2401 M St. NW) on April 24 from 7 to 11 p.m.”

Téa Leoni, Gina Rodriguez, Tim Daly Join WH Correspondents’ Guestlist
“The network is also bringing actress Gina Rodriguez and her actor boyfriend, Henri Esteve; “Madam Secretary” actor Tim Daly; Virginia Sen. Mark Warner; former CBS newsman and now NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counter-terrorism John Miller; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro; Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro; Lebanon Ambassador to the U.S. Anotine Chedid; and former U.S. Ambassador to Italy David Thorne.”

Funny Girl Gig: Cecily Strong Fourth Female Entertainer at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
“Strong follows Wanda Sykes (2009), Elayne Boosler (1993) and Paula Poundstone (1992).”

How To Stream The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Live, Because It’s The Hottest Place To Be Saturday Night
“The cast of Modern Family is expected to attend, as well as Michael Kelly, Gina Rodriguez, Gabourey Sidibe, and Naya Rivera. We’ll see you Saturday night.”

‘SNL’s’ Cecily Strong Promises Hard Laughs at White House Correspondents Dinner
“She said that it “felt like the right year” to do the dinner as President Obama also has Chicago-area roots. “It was really sort of like, ‘Well, it’s now or never,’” she says of taking the gig.”