White House Correspondents Insider

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

Russian State-Owned Sputnik Denied Congressional Press Credentials

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay / Geralt.

For the second time in a month, online news outlets have been rejected in attempts to obtain press credentials in the U.S. Congress.

The Russian state-owned news website Sputnik has been denied a permanent congressional press pass, based off a decision by the Congressional Periodical Press Gallery committee.

Gallery rules state that members cannot “act as an agent for, or be employed by the Federal, or any State, local or foreign government or representatives thereof.”  Senate Periodical Press Gallery Director Justin Wilson stated that no member of the gallery is a state-sponsored news outlet.

Andrew Feinberg, the Washington correspondent for Sputnik and former staff member for The Hill, declined official comment on the committee decision.  He posted on his personal Facebook page that the decision “is the most absurd thing I’ve ever encountered in a decade of work as a Washington-based journalist.”

Launched in 2014, Sputnik was founded with the mission of promoting “alternative interpretations that are, undoubtedly, in demand around the world,” according to the website head, Dimitry Kiselyov.  The site was formed by combining wire services Voice of Russia and RIA Novosti.

Also on Friday, the website LifeZette, founded by Laura Ingraham, was approved for a press pass.

Newseum Hosts Trump Press Sec Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway for Press Summit, Discusses First Amendment, Democracy, and Media

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

On Tuesday, the Newseum was ground zero for a discussion on the the First Amendment, democracy, the Trump White House, and the press, from the people who are in the spotlight everyday. Panelists included current and former White House Press Secretaries led by Sean Spicer, Jen Palmieri, and Ari Fleischer, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Fahrenthold, and writers Glenn Thrush, Mike Allen, Michael Wolff, Charlie Spiering, David Kirkpatrick, and commentators like the legendary Bob Schieffer, Brian Stelter, Bret Baier, Greta Van Susteren, Kristen Welker, Julie Pace, Carrie Budoff Brown, and Cecilia Vega.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer made headlines by continuing his apology tour for comments he made in a press briefing Monday concerning the atrocities committed by Hitler and Assad saying, “I have let the president down,” and calling his comments “inexcusable.”

Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Presidential Counselor Kellyanne Conway, in conversation with author Michael Wolff, graded the presidency so-far and gave it an “I” for incomplete, saying it was “Too early to tell,” what would happen.

Photo courtesy Haddad Media

The New York Times’ Glenn Thrush, in a panel moderated by FOX’s Bret Baier, said, “The presidency shapes the president, not the other way around.” Breitbart’s Charlie Spiering said of senior advisor to Present Trump Steve Bannon that “[He] probably talks more to the New York Times these days than Breitbart.”

Schedule of the day’s events:

WELCOME

Jeffrey Herbst, President and CEO of the Newseum

SESSION 1: THE PRESS AS A WATCHDOG

Guest: David Fahrenthold, The Washington Post

SESSION 2: COMMUNICATING FOR THE PRESIDENT

Moderator: Mike Allen, Co-Founder and Executive Editor, Axios

Guests:

Ari Fleischer, Former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush

Jennifer Palmieri, Former White House Communications Director for President Barack Obama

SESSION 3: CONVERSATION WITH WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SEAN SPICER

Moderator: Greta Van Susteren, MSNBC Anchor

Guest: Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

SESSION 4: COVERING THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE

Moderator: Bret Baier, Fox News Anchor

Guests:

Jim Acosta, White House Correspondent, CNN

Julie Pace, White House Correspondent, Associated Press; board member, White House Correspondents Association

Charlie Spiering, White House Correspondent, Breitbart News

Glenn Thrush, White House Correspondent, The New York Times

Kristen Welker, White House Correspondent, NBC News

SESSION 5: CONVERSATION WITH KELLYANNE CONWAY, COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT

Moderator: Michael Wolff, The Hollywood Reporter

Guest: Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President

SESSION 6: FUTURE OF NEWS IN A DIVIDED AND CONNECTED WORLD

Moderator: Brian Stelter, CNN

Guests:

Carrie Budoff Brown, Editor, Politico

David Kirkpatrick, journalist and author of “The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World”

Cecilia Vega, White House Correspondent, ABC News

SESSION 7: A LOOK TO THE FUTURE

Guest: Bob Schieffer, former CBS News Anchor

Breitbart Application for Permanent Congressional Press Passes Rejected

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Photo courtesy Pixabay.

Breitbart News, the right-wing online news site formerly run by White House Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon, has been denied permanent press credentials by the U.S. Senate press gallery.

The press gallery has requested Breitbart to clarify questions about its ownership and funding, such as several links between the site and employees and the wealthy Mercer family, who supported President Trump during the 2016 election.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the Mercers spent $10 million in acquiring a majority interest in Breitbart News in 2011.

Senate passes are often seen as a step toward membership in the White House Correspondents Association, which would allow being part of the official White House “pool” of journalists that file reports on the president and administration activities.

Any media outlet wishing to obtain permanent access to the Capitol through press passes are required to reveal certain financial information to guarantee the news organization is not tied to a special interest group.

Additionally, the Senate press gallery committee was concerned over the office location of Breitbart, which is not zoned for office use.  Breitbart had said it was in the process of moving offices.

The committee has granted a two-month extension on Breitbart’s temporary press passes, and requested new information on the application by April 18.

Heather Podesta + Partners Rebrands as Invariant

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Heather Podesta at the GOP Convention in 2016. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

The powerful bipartisan lobbying firm founded by Heather Podesta a decade ago is rebranding itself as Invariant.

Heather Podesta + Partners started out with two employees – including its namesake, Heather.  After the first year, the firm boasted a roster of six lobbyists.  Today, the multi-million dollar firm is the largest woman-owned lobbying firm in the nation and prides itself on professionals working with key policymakers across party lines.

Podesta said in a statement that “Now in our 10th year, this firm is so much bigger than just me. We need a name that captures our team’s commitment to clients. The more Washington changes, the more our clients need us to be constant. Dependable. Invariant.”

Clients include the American Beverage Association, Cigna Corp, News Media Alliance, Fitbit, Red Bull, Herbalife, the National Cannabis Industry Association, Prudential Financial and Home Depot.

The firm’s name change is effective as of March 29.  For more information, please visit their website at Invariantgr.com.

State-Owned Russian News Site Applies for Press Pass

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Photo courtesy Pixabay.

Sputnik, a Russian state-owned news outlet, has applied for a White House Press pass.

The Russian news source is asking for membership in the White House Foreign Press Group.  This group of about 22 foreign outlets covers President Trump alongside pool reporters from U.S. news outlets.

Philip Crowther, White House correspondent for France’s News24 and head of the White House Foreign Press Group, stated that there “shouldn’t be any reason” for the Russian publication to not join the press pool if they meet the required criteria.  These include membership in the White House Correspondents’ Association, verification that Sputnik is based in Russia through the U.S. State Department, and a White House-approved hard pass.

Sputnik is one of the newer Russian state-sponsored news outlets, launching in 2014.  It has received criticism of a staunch pro-Putin position and has been viewed as a mouthpiece for the Kremlin.

President Trump’s campaign and several of his top advisors have been under investigation by the FBI, as confirmed under oath by FBI Director James Comey during a Congressional hearing last week.  The agency is reviewing the possibility of any links or coordination between the campaign and Moscow.

President Trump Ignores Mainstream Media at White House Press Conferences

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Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

At the three most recent press conferences held by President Donald Trump, he has exclusively called on conservative-leaning firms and sites for questions.

On February 10, during a joint conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump called on the New York Post and Fox Business News.  Three days later when taking questions alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump picked Sinclair-Broadcasting-owned WJLA and the Daily Caller to ask questions.  And on Wednesday when appearing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump chose the Christian Broadcasting News and Townhall.com.

Neither CBN nor Townhall.com asked President Trump about national security advisor Michael Flynn’s resignation or the slew of reports about contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence agents.

Mainstream media journalists have been locked out from directly asking Trump any questions at all.  CNN’s Jim Acosta voiced a question about Russia, which the president ignored.

Reporters have been blasting the president and Spicer both for avoiding difficult questions by cherry-picking only favorable, conservative sites.

Typically, past presidents have traditionally called on the Associated Press for the first question in a press conference, followed by major news organizations.

Spicer himself has taken questions from some mainstream outlets such as USA TODAY, ABC News and Reuters, although he has called on right-leaning media such as Breitbart, the Daily Mail and the Washington Times, far more frequently.

Volta Insider: Rachel Greenberg Covers the Women’s March on Washington

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On the latest episode of the Volta Insider podcast, host Rachel Greenberg discusses her experience covering the Women’s March on Washington on Saturday, January 21st.  The Women’s March was one of the most attended national protests in American history with an estimated 2.9 million attendees.

Greenberg talked about meeting men and women that have never protested, travelling from across the country to our nation’s capital.  Many of the people she interviewed supported different causes, but held the common belief they were showing their support for the equal rights of women in America.

In covering the march, Greenberg said:

“I was not surprised by the enthusiasm of the crowd, but what struck me was the sense of camaraderie that encompassed the march. It was entirely peaceful, even joyous occasion for the protesters. Young children, the elderly, people of color, all marching side-by-side in peaceful solidarity. For as big of a protest as it was, not a single arrest was made.”

You can view a front-row seat to Greenberg’s podcast on the Women’s March on Washington here.  Also, remember to subscribe to the Volta Insider podcast on AudioBoom or iTunes.

Sessions Non-Committal On Prosecuting Journalists

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Sessions speaking at a campaign event for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on August 31, 2016. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), nominee for Attorney General under President-election Donald Trump’s incoming administration, dodged a question posed to him during his Senate confirmation hearings on whether he would prosecute journalists for their work.

During the confirmation hearing, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asked Sessions whether he would continue current regulations in the Justice Department that require federal prosecutors to receive approval for subpoenaing or prosecuting reporters.  She probed him to pledge not to “put reporters in jail for doing their job.”

His answer was non-committal.

“Senator Klobuchar, I am not sure,” Sessions replied. “I have not studied that, those regulations. I would note that when I was the United States Attorney, we knew, everybody knew, that you could not subpoena a witness or push them to be interviewed if they’re a member of the media, without approval at high levels of the Department of Justice. That was in the 1980s. So I do believe the Department of Justice does have sensitivity to this issue.”

He expanded his answer to take a pessimistic view on journalists reporting about classified information from sources in the federal government.

“For the most part, there is a broadly recognized and proper deference to the news media,” he testified. “But you could have a situation in which media’s not the unbiased media we seen today, and they could be a mechanism through which unlawful intelligence is obtained. There are other dangers that could happen with regard to the federal government that normally doesn’t happen to the media covering murder cases in the states.”

Sessions has opposed a federal shield law in the past, which would prevent journalists from being forced to reveal their confidential sources during investigations by the federal government.

Past Attorneys General, including Loretta Lynch and Eric Holder both serving in the Obama administration, publicly pledged not to imprison journalists.  The Obama administration has subpoenaed reporters to testify in cases prosecuting government employees.  Members of the media refusing to comply were threatened with jail time.  Although no journalists were jailed during the current administration.

Ann Hand Releases Inaugural Gift Collection

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Inauguration Scene By White House photo by Paul Morse [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Jewelry

An American staple and the go-to jewelry designer to Washington, DC’s most famous residents and visitors, Ann Hand has been accessorizing women and men for the past three decades.

Hand continues her tradition of creating inaugural jewelry celebrating the swearing-in of another president.  She predicts that it is “going to be interesting to watch this incredibly different family.” Her $75 “Made in America” Trump inaugural pin is already on back order. “The factory is rushing to do as many as they can.”

“My jewelry reflects our pride in government, the military, our faith, our family and the various organizations, corporations and charities that make up the national tapestry of our country and the values we hold dear,” she recently stated.

In 1993, Hand received her first commission to design a brooch commemorating the reinstatement of the Freedom statue atop the US Capitol. Since then she has received dozens of commissions from a wide variety of groups, corporations, and national organizations such as the Smithsonian, the White House, the Departments of State and Defense, all of the branches of the United States Military, the Ritz Carlton, Mount Vernon, the National Historic Trust, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

You can see Ann’s fabulous work and find more information on ordering from her jewelry collection celebrating President-elect Trump’s upcoming inauguration at AnnHand.com.

U.S. CHAMBER UPS SUZANNE CLARK TO NUMBER 2 EXECUTIVE

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Rich Galen, Suzanne Clark, and Dr. Faruk Taban. Photo courtesy of Haddad Media.

Rich Galen, Suzanne Clark, and Dr. Faruk Taban. Photo courtesy of Haddad Media.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced the promotion of Suzanne Clark as senior executive vice president, the Chamber’s number two executive, leading their Government Affairs division.

“Suzanne is the ideal choice to lead this all-star team,” said Chamber president and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. “Her prior experience as the Chamber’s chief operating officer, as president of the National Journal Group of Atlantic Media, and as CEO and owner of a Washington-based public policy research organization gives her an unparalleled perspective on the issues and public attitudes facing our members. She is an individual of high energy, keen intelligence, and total integrity who enjoys the trust and confidence of the Chamber’s board, key members, federation partners, and me.”

Sullivan succeeds Giovanni Coratolo, who retired earlier this year.

“With a new administration and Congress on the way, we couldn’t have assembled a better team at such an important moment for the business community and our country,” concluded Donohue. “We are well positioned for success in 2017 and beyond.”