White House Correspondents Insider

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

Chelsea Clinton Named Honorary Chair for Day of Service

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The Presidential inaugural Committee announced that Chelsea Clinton will act as an Honorary Chair for the 2013 Day of Service.

“We are thrilled that Chelsea Clinton will play such a critical role in mobilizing Americans across the country to take part in the National Day of Service,” said PIC President and CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Through her work with the Clinton Foundation and her recent efforts to help communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Chelsea sets a remarkable example for serving and strengthening our country. As Honorary Chair, she will be instrumental in helping lead the President’s call to service and growing this important tradition.”

Politico rounds up Clinton’s quotes from earlier today on CNN:

“I’m proud to be the honorary chair of the National Day of Service happening this Saturday, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. It’s the perfect way to kick off the inauguration weekend because anyone can participate, and we know that when we work together, we will achieve more than one person could on his or her own.

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of Congress and their families will be rolling up their sleeves at service projects in our nation’s capital. But you don’t have to be in Washington to get involved. From repairing fire-damaged homes in Colorado and cleaning sidewalks in Detroit to spending time with children with disabilities in New Orleans, every state will offer opportunities to volunteer.”

“There is no more fitting way to mark a presidential inauguration than a day of service,” said Chelsea Clinton. “Coming together as a country to strengthen our communities has always been part of the American spirit. I am deeply grateful that President Obama and his administration have put service at the center of the Inauguration weekend and I am proud to be part of a nation-wide service effort, honoring the service and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and building a brighter future for all of us.”

Alicia Keys, fun., Smokey Robinson and More To Play Inaugural

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The Presidential Inaugural Committee released a short-list today of the artists performing for the Kids’ Inaugural Concert. It will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, January 19, and is the same venue as the official Inaugural ball on Monday, January 21.

The events will include appearances by Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Far East Movement, fun., members of the cast of Glee, John Legend, Katy Perry, Marc Anthony, Mindless Behavior, Nick Cannon, Smokey Robinson, Soul Children of Chicago, Stevie Wonder and Usher.
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Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Resigns Before Inauguration

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Susan Axelrod, Secretary Solis, Wendi and Rupert Murdoch,

Hilda Solis, the 25th secretary of labor, resigned this afternoon according to Buzzfeed.

The resignation is abrupt as almost no one saw it coming. In their examination of Obama’s second-term cabinet, Politico mused “There’s not much discussion about Hilda Solis — who did not play a significant campaign role despite being a Latino woman with deep connections to unions. Labor isn’t seen as a department that’s likely to face a change soon[.]”

She previously served in the House of Representatives from 2001 until her appointment as Secretary in 2009.

Update: the official statement from President Obama:
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Cliff's Notes For 2013

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President Obama makes a lay-up
Great news, everyone! The Fiscal Cliff happened and then didn’t happen and now everyone is a winner!

No, we’re serious. Politico‘s epic reveal of the event that lead up to and enveloped the District could be summed up with John Boehner’s own advice from an F-bomb:

The harsh exchange just a few steps from the Oval Office — which Boehner later bragged about to fellow Republicans — was only one episode in nearly two months of high-stakes negotiations laced with distrust, miscommunication, false starts and yelling matches as Washington struggled to ward off $500 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts.

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Looking Back at 2012 From The 'Cliff'

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Welcome to the end of 2012 and the start of 2013 just beyond the (fiscal) cliff!

After a particularly rough election year, it almost seems unfair that we’re ending on the threat of the fiscal cliff. While the president is due to speak at 5:45 p.m. today, sources have already been spilling out as fast as they can to say there isn’t a deal. The National Journal already consultated their crystal ball to see what this means for Obama’s second term:

“After the debacle that resulted from Boehner’s pre-Christmas effort to pass a GOP fallback plan for resolving the cliff, Republicans seem poised to shoulder a bigger share of the blame if Washington misses the Jan. 1 deadline. Going over the cliff would also bring some tactical advantages to Obama and the Democrats. Once the Bush tax cuts lapse, the conversation will shift away from tax increases to enacting tax cuts, putting pressure on Republicans to drop their opposition to legislation that would renew the tax cuts only for the middle class.”

Still there’s more to 2012 than cliff crisises and elections–Think Progress goes over the year that was for bills blocked by the GOP. Even if there is “no White House bill” there was still so much that the last year gave us.

We found out Joe Biden could crash a party AND give a moving speech to a gathered crowd in Georgetown. That films shown at 48 frames per second need to be about hobbits, dragons and giant eagles. That Daniel Day-Lewis is a very convincing Abraham Lincoln. That anthropomorphic eggs are more fun at the White House than anywhere else. But more importantly, we learned in 2012 that no matter what cold or dark thing that happens that there’s always a silver lining.

Whether it’s a lifelong Star Trek fan getting his last wish or the WMATA not completely ruining the trains for one weekend. Also, that tickets for the Redskins/Dallas game this weekend are crazier than some of the things being said around the House and Senate aside from “cliff” talk. We even beat the apocalypse! So on that note, as the rest of Washington nervously watches the cliff talks now, be as calm as an Egg-man at the White House Easter Egg hunt.

We’ll be back in the new year with more insider intrigue and finding ways to help explain why the Beltway is so addictive despite it just being two loops inside of a larger loop. So why not leave a comment about what you’re thankful for in 2012 while we say Happy New Year.

Starbucks Comes Together for DC Despite Slushy Cliff

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The holiday cheer still lingers around DC, despite the slushy weather topped off with sleet. Except instead of the gingerbread and tickets to Les Miz—or Mis!–the Capitol is chugging back to work on the looming fiscal cliff. The White House Pool reports that President Obama is heading back from Hawaii tonight to DC, which seems like a positive sign for the cliff standstill. Heck, even Starbucks is getting an opinion about the cliff.
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Barbara Bush on Why You Should Apply to Global Health Corps

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Have you ever thought about working in policy, or just dropping everything to travel the world and gain insight to how “everything” works? Then why not start by applying to the Global Health Corps? Started in 2008 by a collection of like-minded and global-conscious individuals like Barbara Pierce Bush, her sister Jenna, Jonny Dorsey and Dave Ryan from FACE AIDs and Google’s Charlie Hale and Andrew Bentley. The Corps announced last week what positions would be avaliable for 2013 applicants. We reached out to the president of the Global Health Corps, Barbara, over email to find out what makes an ideal GHC candidate, how applicants could prepare for the role and the start of the corps.

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John Kerry Nominated for Secretary of State

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Sen. John Kerry meeting the President of Liberia (via Press Office for Senator Kerry)


Christmas comes early for Senator Kerry with this nomination for secretary of state. Let’s run down what we’re all saying about the expected nomination from President Obama at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon:

WaPo: “Kerry has long sought the post as America’s top diplomat, but appeared to be Obama’s second choice after U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice. Rice withdrew her name from consideration earlier this month because of Republican opposition based on her role as administration spokeswoman in the fatal Sept. 11 attack on U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya.”

CNN: “It’s ironic that several prominent Republicans are rallying behind Kerry, just eight years after their party demonized him during his failed 2004 presidential campaign against President George W. Bush.”

Los Angeles Times:”Kerry, 69, has chaired the Senate Foreign Relatons Committee since 2009. His selection gives the White House a veteran foreign policy hand who has demonstrated his willingness to work with Obama’s inner circle of advisors over the last four years.”

Politico: “Kerry’s Republican colleagues have indicated that the confirmation process will be a smooth one — far easier than the one United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice would have faced had Obama nominated her. Rice withdrew her name from contention last week.”

Politico also reports that current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will not attend while still recovering from a slight concussion. But that hasn’t stopped the rumor will for who’ll be gunning for his seat. The Atlantic Wire toplines a scruffy Ben Affleck, Scott Brown, Ed “Ted” Kennedy, Jr. while The Hill likes Rep. Ed Markey.

Slate wishes there was a special election because why not make 2013 more than just a regular ol’ “election year.” But maybe being will help?