White House Correspondents Insider

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

Anthropic Brings on DC Public Sector Heavyweight Teresa Carlson

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Photo Credit: Kristina Sherk Photography

Teresa Carlson—known for pioneering the adoption of Amazon Web Services across the U.S. government and around the world—has been named Anthropic’s first Global Head of Public Sector.

Carlson built AWS’s Worldwide Public Sector business from the ground up, later led Microsoft’s Federal Sales organization, and most recently co-founded and served as CEO of the Washington-based General Catalyst Institute where she has worked to advance policies that strengthen national resilience through AI, healthcare, defense, energy, and education.

Carlson will lead Anthropic’s global public sector strategy, overseeing the company’s work with governments and public institutions across the United States, the United Kingdom, and international markets. 

Teresa Carlson attends the 2026 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch with Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, his wife Jen, and Tammy Haddad. Photo Credit: Haddad Media

Beyond her business accomplishments, Teresa Carlson has built a reputation as a civic and philanthropic leader dedicated to expanding opportunity through technology, education, and public service. She has championed initiatives that help governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions adopt emerging technologies while advocating for greater representation of women in STEM and technology leadership. Carlson has also served in leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the White House Historical Association, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, the American Red Cross National Capital Region, the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and the USO of Metropolitan Washington. Her philanthropic work reflects a long-standing commitment to using technology and public-private partnerships to create lasting societal impact.

NobleReach CEO Arun Gupta pens new book, The Mission Generation, out today

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The future of work is being rewritten in real time—and according to two-time author and NobleReach CEO Arun Gupta—the only constant professionals can rely on is their sense of purpose.

In a new episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast, Gupta joins host Tammy Haddad to discuss his new book, The Mission Generation, released today. In the book, Gupta and co-author Dr. Thomas Fewer make the case for why traditional career paths are rapidly becoming obsolete in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and geopolitical uncertainty.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 25: The WHCD Weekend Garden Brunch on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Arun Gupta receives the Garden Brunch Award from Van Jones and David Urban. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

For decades, careers followed a predictable arc: learn, earn, then return. Gupta argues that model has collapsed. In its place is a more fluid, nonlinear path where individuals will likely navigate multiple careers over a lifetime—and must take greater ownership of defining their own direction.

At the center of this shift is what Gupta calls “The Mission Generation”—not a demographic group, but a mindset. “It’s people who want to combine personal ambition with civic responsibility,” he explains. “For years, we’ve defined ourselves by where we work and what we do. Going forward, the only durable anchor is why we do it.”

That emphasis on purpose is especially critical as AI accelerates disruption across industries. Roles, institutions, and even entire sectors are evolving so quickly that what once felt stable may now carry greater risk. As Gupta puts it, “Stability is the new risk. Searching for stability is riskier than finding what you really care about and going and doing it.”

The conversation also explores how this shift is reshaping how people enter—and move between—sectors. Through his leadership as CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, Gupta is helping to build new pathways for technologists to work in government, including through initiatives like the new U.S. Tech Force. His approach reframes public service not as a lifelong commitment, but as part of a broader, more dynamic career journey.

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 14: (L-R) Tammy Haddad, OPM Director Scott Kupor, and Arun Gupta speak onstage at the U.S. Tech Force Conversation at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center Theatre on January 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Washington AI Network)

“We’re not saying, ‘Come here and be a public servant for your career,’” Gupta says. “We’re saying, ‘Come be a dual citizen.’”

That idea—moving fluidly between the public and private sectors—is central to addressing one of today’s biggest challenges: declining trust across institutions. Gupta argues that siloed career paths have created disconnects between government, industry, and academia, making collaboration more difficult at a time when complex global problems demand it.

“The problems aren’t siloed,” he notes. “But if the talent doesn’t trust each other, we’re not going to be able to solve them at scale.”

Another key concept from The Mission Generation is the “mission flywheel,” which flips the traditional idea of planning before acting. In a fast-changing world, Gupta argues, waiting for clarity can lead to paralysis. Instead, individuals should act, experiment, and allow clarity to emerge through experience.

“You can’t wait for clarity to take action,” he says. “By the time you get clarity the old way, the conditions have already changed.”

The discussion also addresses the growing number of professionals who feel stuck—particularly mid-career workers navigating uncertainty driven by AI and economic shifts. Gupta reframes that feeling not as failure, but as a signal: an indication that priorities, interests, or circumstances have evolved.

His advice is to experiment, reassess, and think beyond traditional metrics of success. In the book, he introduces a broader definition of “net worth” that includes not just financial capital, but also mission, health, learning, experience, and trust.

Ultimately, Gupta’s message is both practical and urgent: in a world defined by constant change, individuals must become more intentional about aligning their work with what matters most to them.

“If something feels personal,” he says, “it will sustain you over time.”

The full conversation offers a roadmap for navigating this new reality—one where ambition and impact are no longer competing forces, but increasingly intertwined.Watch the full interview on YouTube and listen to the Washington AI Network Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audioboom or wherever you get your podcasts.

White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 2025: A Look Back

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Every year, the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch hosts pull off the impossible: a room where Fortune 500 CEOs, A-list politicians, top journalists, and a Hollywood star or two actually talk to each other — and mean it.

The 32nd Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch didn’t disappoint. The Hollywood Reporter recently called it “legendary,” and this year reminded everyone why. Investor and co-owner of the Commanders Mark Ein again generously offered Georgetown’s historic Beall-Washington House, once the home of Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, as the elegant setting – and it was packed, the energy electric, with a guest list that read like the very best dinner party on steroids.

But as always, the power of the day’s event was its soul.

The spotlight was on the first responders from the January 29, 2025 mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport — the men and women who ran toward the chaos while the rest of us watched in horror. White Lotus star Jason Isaacs and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) presented the honors, including one to rookie D.C. firefighter and Marine vet Sean Wathen, who was barely out of training when the call came in. The room felt it.

The rest of the brunch had that signature Tammy Haddad magic. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) worked the coffee line. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) spoke about the importance of the free press. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey posed for lots of pictures. Kevin O’Leary showed off his very cool watches. Kaitlan Collins from CNN was front and center. Chef Bobby Flay revealed his news junkie side, and Jonathan Karl from ABC brought his adorable daughter. CNN’s David Urban with actors Michael Chiklis and Dean Norris delighted the room explaining how often they are all constantly mistaken for one another. And the Washington Commanders’ mascot, Major Tuddy, was the most popular subject of many selfies.

That’s the thing about the Garden Brunch. In a city that runs on talking points and transactional relationships, this is a genuine gathering. At its core is an unbroken commitment — thirty-two years strong — to honoring the people who serve. First responders. Firefighters. Veterans. The ones who don’t make the guest list anywhere else, but who belong at every table. 

Thirty-two years in, Tammy Haddad’s brunch remains one of Washington’s most unlikely and essential traditions. Not because of the power in the room. Because of the values it refuses to forget.

POLITICO’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns welcomed by Washington Women Technology Network

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The Washington Women’s Technology Network held an exclusive breakfast co-hosted by Jessica Nigro and Tammy Haddad on February 25 at the House at 1229 to welcome POLITICO Playbook’s new editor Jack Blanchard and Politico’s new White House bureau chief Dasha Burns. The event brought together leaders in media, politics, and business.

L to R: Symone Sanders, Jessica Nigro, Jack Blanchard, Dasha Burns, and Tammy Haddad

Blanchard recently relocated to Washington, D.C. from London, where he wrote the London Playbook for over 5 years. At the breakfast, he shared his take on new British PM Keir Starmer and his relationship with President Donald Trump. Burns, fresh from covering the Munich Security Conference, where she interviewed Sen. Mark Warner, provided a firsthand account of key global security discussions and their implications for U.S. foreign policy. With shifting geopolitical dynamics and fast-moving developments in Washington, their perspectives were both timely and invaluable.

L to R: Jack Blanchard, Jessica Nigro, and Dasha Burns

Attendees debated how recent White House actions would influence media access, the challenges of political coverage in a polarized landscape, and the broader implications for journalism’s role during Trump 2.0.

Jack Blanchard and Adam Verdugo take a look at the Lucid Air.

Attendees included: MSNBC’s Symone Sanders; NobleReach Foundation’s Tina Anthony; Elizabeth Falcone, chief of staff to Sen. Mark Warner; Disney’s Susan Fox; GlobalWIN’s Helen Milby; LinkedIn’s Caitlin O’Neill; AWS’s Olivia Igbokwe and Alla Seiffert; BSA’s Victoria Espinel; Politico’s Alisa Vasquez; Shannon Ricchetti; Liz Johnson; Adrienne Elrod; Adam Verdugo; and Rufus Gifford.

Dasha Burns discusses covering Trump 2.0 at a Washington Women’s Technology Network breakfast.

National AI Advisory Committee Celebrated at Washington AI Network’s Haippy Hour

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(L to R) Washington AI Network founder Tammy Haddad, EqualAI President & CEO and NAIAC Chair Miriam Vogel, and NobleReach Foundation CEO Arun Gupta co-host “Haippy Hour” in Washington, DC, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

The Washington AI Network welcomed National AI Advisory Committee members and DC AI friends on May 1 for a special Haippy Hour at The House at 1229.

EqualAI President/CEO and NAIAC Chair Miriam Vogel and NobleReach Foundation CEO Arun Gupta joined Washington AI Network founder Tammy Haddad as co-hosts of the event. Gupta is also co-author of the recently released bestseller Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society.

“We’re here to toast these public servants who are working hard to advise the President and make recommendations on how government should approach AI,” Haddad said as she welcomed attendees.

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AI Leaders Attend the Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weekend

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Andrea Saul, VP of Public Affairs at Meta, and Joelle Pineau, VP of AI Research at Meta, attend the 31st Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch at the Beall-Washington House in Washington, DC, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

One of the top AI researchers, Joelle Pineau, VP of AI Research at Meta and featured guest for the inaugural TGAIFriday Lunch, attended her first White House Correspondents’ Weekend. She was joined at the Garden Brunch by former Google chairman Eric Schmidt, founder of the Special Competitive Studies Project (which will host Washington’s first AI Expo for National Competitiveness on May 7-8).

Other AI luminaries included NobleReach Foundation CEO Arun Gupta; Teresa Carlson, President of the General Catalyst Institute; EqualAI President & CEO Miriam Vogel; OpenAI’s Brad Lightcap, whom Bloomberg calls “AI’s secret weapon”; David Ginsberg, VP of Global Communications and Public Affairs at Meta; David Zapolsky, General Counsel of Amazon; John Rizzo of NVIDIA; and Center for AI Safety Action Fund Director of Government Relations and Public Policy Varun Krovi. From the U.S. Government: Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Chief of Staff Asad Ramzanali and Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, as well as Rep. Don Beyer, co-chair of the House AI Caucus, and Senator Mark Warner.

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The 2024 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch

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(L to R) Symone Sanders-Townsend, Eugene Daniels, Tammy Haddad, Savannah Guthrie, Mark Ein, Craig Minassian, Jon Banner, Kaitlan Collins, and Gus Kenworthy on stage at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch in Washington, D.C., Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

Leaders in government, politics, media, business, and entertainment came together yesterday for the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch, held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown ahead of this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

This marks the 31st anniversary of the Garden Brunch, first held in 1993 in founder Tammy Haddad’s backyard during Correspondents’ Weekend. The annual brunch honors the freedom of the press as well as the important work of veterans’ and military family organizations. Joining Haddad as Garden Brunch co-hosts this year were Ruth Porat, Kevin Sheekey, Mark & Sally Ein, Symone Sanders-Townsend, Jon Banner, Craig Minassian, and Franco Nuschese.

During the Brunch’s main program, Sanders-Townsend presented the Garden Brunch “Champion of Journalism” Award to Eugene Daniels – Playbook Author and White House Correspondent for POLITICO, and the next president of the White House Correspondents’ Association.

Symone Sanders-Townsend presents Eugene Daniels with the 2024 Garden Brunch “Champion of Journalism” Award, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

Daniels also led the attendees in a moment of silence to honor fellow journalist Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal, who has been illegally imprisoned in Moscow for more than a year.

Haddad also honored and recognized four Maryland police officers whose actions in the wake of the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore saved many lives. Corporal Jeremy Herbert, Officer Garry Kirts, Sergeant Paul Pastorek, and Officer Timothy Baublitz were in attendance and received an emotional round of applause for their heroism. 

Tammy Haddad recognizes Maryland police officers Corporal Jeremy Herbert, Officer Garry Kirts, Sergeant Paul Pastorek, and Officer Timothy Baublitz at the Garden Brunch, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Olympic medalist Gus Kenworthy also took the stage to present co-host Mark Ein – owner of the Washington Commanders, the Washington Kastles, and the Beall-Washington House – with the Garden Brunch Award, marking the 10th anniversary of the Brunch being held at the historic property.

Mark Ein receives the 2024 Garden Brunch Award, presented by Kaitlan Collins and Gus Kenworthy, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie thanked members of the military for their service and acknowledged two organizations that support veterans and military family members: Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families.

Savannah Guthrie gives remarks at the 2024 Garden Brunch, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

Throughout the Brunch, guests also had the opportunity to write notes thanking our nation’s service members and their families on the Blue Star Families Honor Wall, sponsored by U.S. Steel.

SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman posts a message to the Honor Wall at the Garden Brunch, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

Attendees included Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham; British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce; Ukraine Ambassador Oksana Markarova; Ireland Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason; Luxembourg Ambassador Nicole Bintner; Australia Ambassador and Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; DC Mayor Muriel Bowser; Senator Amy Klobuchar; Senator Mark R. Warner; Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester; Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Steven Horsford;  Former Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway; Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat; Lyft CEO David Risher; TODAY’s Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie; CNN anchors Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and Abby Phillip; MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend; former soccer player Ashlyn Harris; and actors Sophia Bush, Kevin McHale, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Klepper, Wilson Cruz, Joseph Lee, Andrew McCarthy and Desi Lydic.

Also seen were Counselor to the President Steve Ricchetti; White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt; White House Cabinet Secretary Evan Ryan; Speechwriter for the President Vinay Reddy; Senator Chris Coons; Rep. Don Beyer; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick; Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett; Former RNC Chairman Frank Fahrenkopf; Dreamworks Co-Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg; Meta Vice President, AI Research Joelle Pineau; Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank; co-founder and editor-at-large of Recode Kara Swisher; executive editor of The Washington Post Sally Buzbee; Axios CEO and co-founder Jim VandeHei; POLITICO reporter and upcoming WHCA President Eugene Daniels; SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher; Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt; television personalities Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright; and Washington Commanders President Jason Wright.

Special thanks to this year’s Garden Brunch sponsors were GM, U.S. Steel, McDonalds, Verizon, Flex Association, and the Mark and Sally Ein Foundation; our Friends of the Brunch, Brunswick Group, The Ned, and Pernod Ricard; and our hospitality partner, Versus, bringing their Casta’s Rum Bar and Morris American Bar brands to the Garden Brunch.

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Want more history on the Correspondents’ Dinner and related events? Listen to Tammy Haddad’s podcast series “Cone of Silence” on Audioboom and iTunes.

Washington AI Network Hosts Inaugural TGAIFriday Lunch, Presented by Meta

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Tammy Haddad and Joelle Pineau take a group selfie with attendees of the Washington AI Network’s inaugural TGAIFriday Lunch in Washington, D.C., Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)

Kicking off this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weekend, the Washington AI Network hosted the inaugural TGAIFriday Lunch — presented by Meta — today at The House at 1229.

The Washington AI Network is a dynamic bipartisan forum that brings together diverse stakeholders from industry, government, civil society, and academia to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.

In today’s keynote conversation, Joelle Pineau (Vice President of AI Research at Meta) talked with our founder Tammy Haddad on the power and potential of AI.

Tammy Haddad and Joelle Pineau record an episode of the Washington AI Network podcast at the TGAIFriday Lunch, Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo credit: John Harrington)
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It’s Here: 2024 White House Correspondents’ Week

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Stephanie Ruhle (R) speaks onstage during the 30th Anniversary White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch on April 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

It’s that time of year again! With the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner happening this weekend, Washington is gearing up for its biggest week of events – including our annual Garden Brunch this Saturday honoring military veterans and their families.

The following is a running list of events happening across D.C. this week, as reported by Politico – and remember, these are invitation-only.

(For more updates over the next few days, make sure you’re following us on social media at @whcinsider.)

[Read more…]

Washington AI Network and General Catalyst host ‘cocktails and conversation’ on investing in global resilience

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The Washington AI Network and General Catalyst co-hosted an evening of cocktails and conversation on Thursday, November 9 at the House of 1229. The event brought together a diverse group of attendees, spanning the intelligence community, government representatives, the defense industry, and technology innovators for an insightful discussion on investing in global resilience.

The evening commenced with an engaging discussion on responsible innovation featuring Washington AI Network founder Tammy Haddad, along with Paul Kwan, General Catalyst’s managing director, and Teresa Carlton, a new Catalyst advisor for General Catalyst. 

A second panel featured George Barnes, former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency and partner at Red Cell Partners, alongside Matt Steckman, Anduril’s chief revenue officer, and Cameron McCord, co-founder and CEO of Nominal.

Guests included Kara Swisher, Sec. Elaine Chao, Dorothy McAuliffe, Sue Gordon, White House Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Political Engagement John McCarthy, CISA director Jen Easterly, Lt. Gen. Scott Howell (ret.), Daniel Koh and Amy Sennett, British DCM James Roscoe, Elizabeth Falcone, Michael Allen, and CNN’s David Urban.