White House Correspondents Insider

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

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.

White House Correspondents’ Association to Honor First Two Black Women of the White House Press Corps

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The White House Correspondents’ Association has announced that African American Reporters Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne to be First Recipients of the newly created “Dunnigan-Payne Prize” named after the first two African American women to serve as members of the White House press corps.

Dunnigan-Payne Prize for Lifetime Career Achievement will be awarded on an occasional basis at the discretion of the WHCA board to recognize meritorious service throughout an individual’s career as a White House correspondent.

Alice Dunnigan in 1977, for the Black Women Oral History Project 

The namesakes of the award, the late reporters Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne, will be the first recipients of the prize. Their relatives will be on hand to accept the posthumous honor at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on April 30.

Gayle King, co-host of “CBS Mornings,” will present the award at the dinner.

“This association of White House reporters has never given its due to these two pioneering WHCA members who paved the way for so many,” said WHCA president Steven Portnoy.  “We are proud to see to it that Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne will be forever remembered for their service to the profession and to the American public.”

Ethel Payne, Courtesy of the Styberg Library 

Ms. Dunnigan was the first African American female reporter to be credentialed at the White House in 1947.  She was joined on the beat by Ms. Payne a few years later.  Both women distinguished themselves during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, regularly pressing him at his press conferences – when no other reporters would – about his administration’s support for civil rights for Black Americans.

“In the face of the racism and sexism of the era, these two women fearlessly brought the concerns of their readers directly to the most powerful man in the world,” Portnoy said. “It is our honor to lift up their legacies.”

The WHCA board voted to approve the creation of the Dunnigan-Payne Prize in January 2022. Portnoy credited board members Fin Gomez and Justin Sink, whom he said were key to the efforts to bring the honor to fruition.

Welcome Back to the Festivities: The Garden Brunch Makes it’s Long-Awaited Return in DC

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Yesterday, Axios covered the return of The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, warmly referring to it with the infamous DC nickname- Nerd Prom. 

They outlined the festivities in the Tuesday article, announcing that Washington’s biggest bash, the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, is back along with a weekend full of parties. 

Steve Clemons and Gerard Butler at the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The festivities are set to be one of the biggest events in D.C. since COVID hit, cranking up the city’s party planning machine and its legions of caterers and hospitality workers. And for the first time since 2016, a sitting president will attend. 

Comedian Trevor Noah will host (and roast). Page Six also reports that Kim Kardashian and beau Pete Davidson will stop by. They also touched on Tammy Haddad, co-founder of White House Correspondents Insider. 

The one party all of A-list Washington will hit: Tammy Haddad’s 27th-annual garden brunch, held at the Georgetown home of co-host Mark Ein, owner of the recently slashed Washington City Paper.

Among the out-of-town VIPs expected to attend are actresses Diane Lane and Lynda Carter, filmmaker Jay Roach, actor Danny Strong, and Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. 

Haddad wouldn’t share how many people would be attending — although she says there is a cap on the number of attendees for COVID-19 reasons. 

The Jonas Brothers at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The first Garden Brunch took place in Tammy Haddad’s backyard 29 years ago, ahead of the 1993 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. She started the Brunch as a way to gather her friends from New York and Los Angeles when they were visiting DC for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Now, over 27 years later, the Garden Brunch is still celebrating great Washington journalism. 

We look forward to the festivities and encourage everyone in Washington to remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Wear comfortable shoes, black tie attire, and make sure you have your game-day attitude on, because you never know what or who to expect during White House Correspondents’ Weekend.

Inspector General of the United States Army, Lt. General Donna W. Martin, to Receive the 2022 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award 

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The White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch is pleased to announce Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin as the recipient for the 2022 “Courage” Award.

Lt. General Donna Martin, Courtesy of the US Army

Lt. General Martin is the 67th Inspector General of the United States Army, the first woman to hold the post. A native of Yorktown, Virginia, and a graduate of Old Dominion University, Martin was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Military Police Corps in 1988.

LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, criminal intelligence corrections, biometrics and forensics, physical security, high-risk personnel security, antiterrorism, and detention operations. Concurrently, LTG Martin served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, serving as the Department of the Army’s independent criminal investigative authority. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan.

LTG Martin’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; and an Army Achievement Medal.

Lt. General Martin has shown courage and exhibited extraordinary leadership throughout her military career, and we are more than honored to present her with this year’s “Courage” Award. The spirit of the Garden Brunch is recognizing and celebrating veterans and active-duty members of the military like Lt. General Martin who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. While we celebrate the freedom of the press this weekend, it’s important to shine the spotlight on and give back to those that ensure our safety and secure our freedom across the world.

The Official Guide to White House Correspondents’ Week

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According to Politico’s Playbook today, The White House Correspondents Day Weekend is no longer a weekend. Get ready to say hello to the White House Correspondents’ Week. Here’s a complete list of the events to get you ready for the festivities. Just remember, these parties are invite-only, as reported by Playbook:

Jeff Goldblum, Emilie Livington, Robin Dearden, Bryan Cranston at the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch

THURSDAY: The weekend has become so crowded with high-profile parties that some organizations have moved their events to Thursday. These tend to be more civilized and casual affairs that allow you to practice your rusty social skills and get a preview of who’s in town before the historically fancier (and drunker) events that begin Friday.

6 p.m.: Washington Women in Journalism Awards. This year’s honorees include ABC’s Martha Raddatz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker and NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe.

6:30 p.m.: National Geographic reception, followed by screening of “We Feed People,” a documentary about José Andrés and directed by Ron Howard. Both will be on hand for a Q&A. 

6:30 p.m.: Bytes & Bylines, hosted by the Irish ambassador. We’ve never been to a bad party hosted by the Irish, so this is a good choice to start the festivities.

FRIDAY: This has become a big night for parties, and is now dominated by two talent agencies, CAA and UTA. There are tons of smaller events all over Washington scheduled for Friday, but you’re probably having a good night if you’re shutting down the dance floor at the UTA party at 2 a.m.

5 p.m.: Vanity Fair and Power to the Patients cocktail reception.

6 p.m.: NBCUniversal shows off its new digs on Capitol Hill with Chair Cesar Conde.

6 p.m.: Motion Picture Association reception. This one has historically attracted a big Hollywood contingent. 

6:30 p.m.: CAA WHCD Cocktail Party. Always a classy affair.

6:30 p.m.: 14th annual Our Voices event hosted by Maria Teresa Kumar and Rosario Dawson. (No word on whether Sen. Cory Booker is invited.)

7 p.m.: Politics & Inclusion Dinner, which promises to “bring together 50 diverse leaders in politics and media, both established and rising stars.” This year’s hosts: CNN’s Abby Phillip and ColorComm’s Lauren Wesley Wilson. 

7 p.m.: Semafor party. Justin Smith, Ben Smith, Gina Chua, Steve Clemons and Rachel Oppenheim are hosting an informal get-together to talk about their new media venture. 

7:30 p.m.: The Creative Coalition is hosting the #RightToBearArts Gala Dinner. They promise celebrities from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Young Sheldon” and “Barry.” 

9 p.m.: Funny or Die/People Magazine party. How it’s being pitched: “In a town filled with famously unfunny parties, Funny Or Die and PEOPLE Magazine present the funniest party this town has ever seen.” Also: “celebrities galore.”

9 p.m.: UTA Celebration of America’s Journalists.

Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington share a laugh at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

SATURDAY:

Brunches: There’s actually only one. Known simply as “Tammy’s brunch,” this party, now in its 27th year, has become as famous as the WHCD itself. Tammy Haddad, along with her 2022 co-hosts, Mark & Sally Ein, Kevin Sheekey, Stephanie Ruhle, Yamiche Alcindor, Craig Minassian, Teresa Carlson and Franco Nuschese, will be honoring ABC News’ Bob Woodruff and Lt. Gen. Donna Martin, inspector general of the Army, with special awards.

11 a.m.: The 27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch. A reminder from the hosts: “Aside from designated press areas, the event is off the record. We ask that you follow the same rules established by the WHCA for the dinner: No professional cameras or audio/video recorders are allowed inside the Party. Interviews are not permitted inside the event. Reporting on ‘overheards’ is strongly discouraged.” 

Pre-parties: One of the longest-running traditions of the dinner is the pre-party cocktail receptions throughout the Washington Hilton, hosted by news organizations. These often spill out into the hallways, and you can hop from one to the other. It’s typically easier to see and talk to people at these receptions than inside the ballroom itself, and you’ll get your first glimpse of interesting guests as you wander around. (One of us remembers chatting with Matt Drudge and Paula Jones at one of these back in 1998.) Here are a couple, but there are many more:

5:30 p.m.: ABC News reception, hosted by ABC News President Kim Godwin.

6 p.m.: POLITICO-CBS reception hosted by POLITICO CEO Goli Sheikoleslami and CBS News President Neeraj Khemlani.

7:30 p.m.: The White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. 

After-parties: There are more this year than ever. The Vanity Fair party used to be the hottest ticket, but Graydon Carter canceled it in 2017, and the magazine isn’t returning this year. NBC’s shindig became the go-to destination from 2017-2019. Now, party newcomer Paramount is hosting an afterparty that is being buzzed about as the new Vanity Fair. We’ll see!

9 p.m.: Vice News’ “Break the News” party to celebrate “our friends in the field.” This one goes until 1.

9:30 p.m.: Modern Luxury DC party. Don’t worry if you didn’t go to the dinner and aren’t wearing black tie — the dress code for this one is “Cocktail Chic.”

10:30 p.m.: theGrio’s “A Seat at the Table” party celebrating Black media and April Ryan’s 25th anniversary covering Washington. Mary J. Blige is performing, and comedian Chris Tucker is hosting.

10:30 p.m.: An Evening of Magical Realism, hosted by the ambassador of Colombia. This one, billed as “an exclusive soirée,” sounds interesting. Music: Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton.

11 p.m.: The Paramount After Party.

11:30 p.m.: The NBCUniversal After Party. There’s no end time on the invitation, so that bodes well. 

Emma Watson mingling at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

SUNDAY: You’re hungover. You were dancing late into the night with MSNBC bookers. Or perhaps you couldn’t sneak into the Paramount party and ended up at Black Whiskey until closing time. However the night went, you need a bloody mary and some eggs. The city is scattered with some smaller gatherings Sunday, but the two main events are hosted by CNN and yours truly.

10:30 a.m.: CNN Political Hangover Brunch.

11 a.m.: POLITICO Brunch.

We look forward to this week’s events and encourage everyone to stay safe!

27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch Honoring the Press and Our Military Veterans Returns on Saturday, April 30th, 2022

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Washington, DC – The annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch returns for its 27th year on April 30, 2022. Traditionally held on the afternoon of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the event brings together journalists, politicians, government officials, celebrities, and other notable individuals to honor the press and America’s military veterans. See preview video here. 

The 2022 Garden Brunch co-hosts are Tammy Haddad, Mark and Sally Ein, Kevin Sheekey, Stephanie Ruhle, Yamiche Alcindor, Craig Minassian, Teresa Carlson, and Franco Nuschese.

Bob Woodruff Foundation co-founders Bob and Lee Woodruff will be presented with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” Award for their work providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families. The couple launched the foundation after Bob Woodruff, an ABC News journalist, recovered from a ​​life-threatening traumatic brain injury he sustained while reporting on the war in Iraq.

Lt. General Donna W. Martin, the first woman to serve as Inspector General of the United States Army, a position she has held since September 2021, will be honored with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award. LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan.

The Brunch will also highlight the work of Blue Star Families, an organization committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors, and Dog Tag Bakery, which provides a bridge from military service to the civilian world by helping veterans, military spouses, and caregivers find renewed purpose.  Brunch guests will be invited to write notes thanking service members and their families, including those deployed in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, and pin them onto an 8-foot-tall “Honor Wall” erected by Blue Star Families.

This year’s event will be held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown, once the home of former Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham, now owned by Mark and Sally Ein.

The first Garden Brunch took place in Tammy Haddad’s backyard 29 years ago, ahead of the 1993 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. For background and interviews on the history of the White House Correspondents’ dinner and the events surrounding it, see Haddad’s podcast series, “Cone of Silence” on Audioboom or iTunes.

Photos and videos of previous White House Correspondents’ weekends and Garden Brunches can be found at WHC Insider.  

The 27th Annual Garden Brunch is made possible by the generous support of the Web3 Foundation, GM, and Flex.

Hashtag: #GardenBrunch

Photos of award recipients Bob and Lee Woodruff and LTG Donna W. Martin are attached below.

For more information, please contact: WHCgardenbrunch@haddadmedia.com 

The Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch and White House Correspondents Insider (WHC Insider) are not affiliated with, or approved by, the White House Correspondents’ Association, which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

Bob Woodruff Foundation Co-Founders Bob and Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin, Inspector General of the United States Army, to Receive 2022 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” and “Courage” Awards

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The annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch returns this year to honor Bob Woodruff Foundation co-founders Bob and Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin, Inspector General of the United States Army.  

The Garden Brunch is held on the afternoon of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the event brings together journalists, politicians, government officials, celebrities, and other notable individuals to honor the press and America’s military veterans. Watch a preview video here. 

Bob and Lee Woodruff (Courtesy Bob Woodruff Foundation)

Bob and Lee Woodruff will be presented with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” Award for their work providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families. The couple launched the foundation after Bob Woodruff, an ABC News journalist, recovered from a ​​life-threatening traumatic brain injury he sustained while reporting on the war in Iraq.

Lee Woodruff has been a contributing reporter for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning.” As co-author of the New York Times best-selling In an Instant, Lee Woodruff garnered critical acclaim for the compelling and humorous chronicle of her family’s journey to recovery following her husband Bob’s roadside bomb injury in Iraq. Since Bob’s injury, Lee has made it her life’s mission to help put a face on the serious issue of traumatic brain injury among returning Iraq war veterans.

Since Bob and Lee launched the Bob Woodruff Foundation, they have invested over $80 million to their Find, Fund and Shape™ program initiatives and began their “Got Your 6” Network that has empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members across the nation.

The Got Your 6 Network is the nation’s largest non-governmental cohort of organizations serving veterans. They work to address and solve veteran homelessness and re-integration of veterans after combat. The network includes best-in-class grantees and a national network of local partners providing support to millions of veterans, service members, and their families in the communities they call home. 

The network works in the continued support from our friend, Craig Newmark of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which has given over $18 million to the Got Your 6 Network since its inception. Together, Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the Bob Woodruff Foundation reinforce a message of support for veterans and their families, noting they are here to help and have “got your six” during this period of increased uncertainty.

Bob Woodruff Presenting at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The network provides grants via application to get access to health resources, job training, and vital funds to help veterans get back on their feet. They produce military based networking events for veterans, free webinars on things like fundraising and advocating for yourself, and connect veterans with each other across the country. They also partner with a nation-wide network of organizations that provide funding, employment, and health resources specifically designed for veterans. 

Bob has been in The Hague, Netherlands this week, reporting on the Invictus Games, an international sports event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. He met with both American and Ukrainian servicemen. We are excited to celebrate both him and Lee at the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch next week to recognize the incredible service done for veterans in need.  

 LTG Donna W. Martin (Courtesy U.S. Army)

In addition, Lt. General Donna W. Martin, the first woman to serve as Inspector General of the United States Army, a position she has held since September 2021, will be honored with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award. LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan. As a woman who broke many glass ceilings and highlights the essence of courage, we are honored to give Lt. General Martin this award. 

The White House Correspondents’ Association Will Require Those Who Plan to Attend its Annual Dinner to be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

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The White House Correspondents’ Association said Sunday it will require those who plan to attend its annual dinner this month to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Correspondents Association President Steve Portnoy said in an email that the board voted earlier Sunday to require attendees to show proof of vaccination in addition to an existing requirement to show a same-day negative test to attend the dinner on April 30.

“Same-day testing has been our plan for months, and now we’re closing the loop by adding the vaccine requirement. We’ll ask all guests to demonstrate their compliance with both via the Bindle app. Our exec director, Steve Thomma, is working with bureau managers and ticket buyers to ensure guidance on the use of the app is widely disseminated and understood by all attendees,” Portnoy wrote.

The association is also encouraging attendees to obtain a fourth booster shot if they are eligible as soon as this week for maximum protection by White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. This is critical, as Hollywood and Washington alike will flock to the District to celebrate not just at the Washington Hilton, but at the other multiple events taking place that weekend. 

What many Washingtonians describe as the “pregame” to the White House Correspondents Dinner: The Garden Brunch. This photo is from the 2017 brunch honoring the work of NS2 Serves, Sedrick Banks of Dog Tag Bakery and the Democracy Fund.

“The board’s policy is aimed at preventing anyone who is known to be infectious (as indicated by a positive result on a rapid antigen test) from spreading the virus at the dinner. But nothing we implement to protect the ballroom can reach the many social events other organizers throw around our dinner. Bear that in mind,” Portnoy wrote.

Portnoy cited an appearance by Anthony Fauci on ABC’s “This Week” where Fauci highlighted protocols by some places that are requiring both proof of vaccination and same-day negative test as part of the reasoning behind the enhanced protocols for the White House Correspondents dinner.

Several White House officials and congressional lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, many of whom attended the Gridiron Dinner, leading to questions as to whether Washington should continue to hold large indoor events, some for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Comedy legend Jay Leno presenting awards at the 2019 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

“There are risks attendant to everything we’ll do over the next few weeks— hanging out with friends, going to briefings, attending Easter Sunday services or Passover Seders, and, of course, celebrating the First Amendment at our annual dinner. Each of us should judge our respective risk thresholds before engaging in any of these activities,” Portnoy wrote.

We look forward to a safe and fun White House Correspondents Dinner weekend and encourage everyone to be mindful and follow proper COVID-19 restrictions ahead of all festivities. 

Top Biden-Harris Strategist Symone Sanders To Join MSNBC 

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Symone D. Sanders, the former Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris, joins MSNBC as an anchor, hosting a new weekend program on the cable channel. The hire marks the first big programming move for new MSNBC President Rashida Jones, who took charge of the channel in February 2021 after its longtime head Phil Griffin departed.

Tammy Haddad, Symone Sanders, former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, and Rachel Greenberg at the 2016 WHC Garden Brunch

Sanders’s new MSNBC program will air on Saturdays and Sundays starting in the spring, although the title, format, and time slot are all to be determined, according to NBC. She will also serve as a fill-in anchor on the network and host a show on “The Choice,” the streaming arm of MSNBC on NBCUniversal’s digital service, Peacock.

The release states that “Sanders will bring her expertise, spirited rhetoric and sharp political insight to MSNBC’s multi-platform channels. Her program will explore issues at the intersection of politics, culture and race and break down how decisions made in Washington impact electorates, industries, and communities across the country. She will also interview law and policy makers, top government officials, scholars, and thought leaders.” 

Highly accomplished, Sanders was one of the highest-ranking Black women in the Biden White House. In her mid-20s, she became national press secretary for Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign, then joined CNN as a quick-witted and creative commentator. When a Republican official told her to “shut up” during a live interview, her viral response later became the title of her memoir, “No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America.”

Sanders joined the Biden campaign in 2019 as a senior adviser, with particular passions for issues of women and Black voters. She strongly advocated for her candidate, so much so that in March 2020 she tackled a protester who rushed the stage during President Biden’s speech on Super Tuesday. In the transition to the White House, she played an integral part of Vice President Kamala Harris’s team. 

In an interview with The New York Times, Sanders expressed her interest in moving beyond politics and transitioning into media. “I’m a young woman, a young Black woman from the Midwest,” said Ms. Sanders, who grew up in Omaha. “Yes, I do politics, but I’m also a consumer of pop culture. I watch the news, I check Twitter, but I’m also into ‘Real Housewives.’ I’m interested in reaching what I call the nonpolitical group chats, the discussions that are penetrating outside of Washington.”

Sanders isn’t the first White House alum to transition into television news. “I’m going to tell the truth, and sometimes the truth is critical,” she told the New York Times of her new role at MSNBC. “This administration has its critics, just like everyone does — I have my critics — and we’re going to have those conversations.”

As a political spokesperson, Sanders understands the full perspective of the intersection between politics and media. “Oftentimes, when it came to the vice president over the last year, people were not reporting on the truth, they were reporting on the gossip.” 

Speaking last month to The Omaha World-Herald about her decision to leave the Biden Administration, Sanders said that she planned “to continue to be a reliable voice for this White House on the outside, regardless of whatever I do next.” Sanders will remain based in Washington, D.C., as she begins her new role, and she plans to marry her fiance, Shawn Townsend, in August 2022.

2013 White House Correspondents Brunch Video

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The 2013 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Annual Brunch are over, but it doesn’t stop you from giving to important organizations that need your support the Miss America Foundation for scholarships and CURE epilepsy for brain research. Retired Army Captain Pat Horan and his wife Patty received the Garden Brunch Heroes Award and WHCA President Ed Henry was presented with an award to salute 99 years of White House Correspondents. The Garden Brunch was a great opportunity for the Washington media to interact with charities, tech pioneers and bold-faced names that attended the dinner.

You can donate to Miss America Foundation and CURE from these links.