White House Correspondents Insider

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

When Chris Christie Comes Calling at Politico Cocktails

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Last night may’ve been the Night of Many Book Parties in Washington. While entertaining a “audience of 500+” at Politico Cocktails, Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski got a surprise visit from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

“Is that Chris,” Scarborough asked in the middle of a self-proclaimed great story. “You son of a…” but Mika cut him off and let the good governor speak. Per Playbook: “Mika puts Christie on speakerphone to discuss his surgery, and their blunt conversations for her new book about body image, “Obsessed: America’s Food Addition – And My Own.” The audience of 500+ repeatedly applauds the chatty, jovial Christie, including when he tells why he kept the surgery a secret.”

Allen claims the event drew a larger crowd than even March’s Cocktails with Bill Gates. Which makes sense when you think about Washington having an on/off affair with people’s two favorite addictions on Capitol Hill: Starbucks and Microsoft.

R.I.P. Axelrod's Mustache 1972-2012

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History was made today on Morning Joe as we all saw David Axelrod‘s mustache for the last time. Well, that’s being overly dramatic since it’ll probably be back in a month, but you know what we’re getting at.

Axelrod promised to put his famed facial hair under the razor if his Slash the’Stache could raise a million dollars–and it did! After presenting New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg with an award at a CURE Epilepsy reception last night, Axelrod showed up to have his public shaving. Surrounded by the MoJoe regulars, his wife Susan and even Willie Geist and Savannah Guthrie beamed in from the set of Today it finally came time to make good on CURE’s promise to slash the ‘stache.

Words can’t describe a stache-less Axelrod. Which is why there’s the now-iconic still of a grinning man who received a million dollars to help fund research for a great cause.

Reckless 'Stache Endangerment Plagues Axelrod

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David Axelrod

Woe unto the man who wields his mustache for personal gain, or at least that’s the thought coming from Alexandra Petri at  WaPo’s ComPost. Taking a second shot at David Axelrod‘s carefree attitude when it comes to putting his ‘stache up for collateral when it comes to bets. Only this time it’s more against the CURE’s new Slash the ‘Stache fundraiser.

This shall not pass! Does he dislike epilepsy research? First, he pits Mustache Preservation against Civic Duty; now, Mustache Preservation must go head-to-head with Supporting Good Causes? Has he no shame? After his loyal mustache fought its way out of the electoral gladiatorial arena, staggering but victorious, he demands that it turn again and battle for its life? At least allow the thing to rest.

Mustaches should not be so lightly bandied about. A mustache is a terrible thing to waste, and it is this cavalier attitude that has made them retreat in terror to their traditional haunts on the upper lips of hipsters and ’70s porn stars.

Tough words! In fact, the toughness is something that every reaction across the Internet seems to have when it comes to a ‘stache-less Joe Scarborough. While sites clamored to come up with the best puns in their headers (Politico: “Scarborough’s close shave”) others felt more of ak “J’accuse” was in order (NY Mag and WaPo: “Joe Scarborough Buys His Way Out of Mustache Bet”).

But even a joke can be helpful, as The Hill chronicled a rare online interaction between Axelrod and Donald Trump that ended with The Donald promising some funds–no confirmed amount–to bring a trimmer ever closer to ending the gloriously preserved mustache. Even without the construction magnate, donations are still coming in to Slash the ‘Stache, which you can donate to here even if you’re concerned about the recklessly endangered facial hair.

CURE Epilepsy Announces Slash The 'Stache

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Joe Scarborough and Susan Axelrod

It may be  Movember, but CURE Epilepsy raised the bar for slashing mustaches.

Earlier today on Morning Joe, David Axelrod came calling after last week’s on-air bet when the senior adviser to Obama’s reelection campaign put up his prized flavor saver if the president lost Pennslvania, Michigan or Minnesota.  But Scarborough would have to grow his own ‘stache if the president swept all three and took North Carolina or Florida.

While the votes are still being sorted in Florida, it was looking likely that Scarborough would have a warm upper lip. As he got a few pop culture examples (the Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation, the Borat, the Dali), Axelrod offered to let the MSNBC morning host off the hook by donating to CURE Epilepsy’s new campaign: Slash the ‘Stache. Within seconds, Mika and Joe offered $10,000 for the cause, which you can donate here.

In honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, David Axelrod will follow through with the original bet and shave the mustache that he’s had for the last 40 years–but only if donations reach $1 million. Slash the ‘Stache will culminate with CURE’s Boston event on the 28th, where we’ll find out if Joe and Mika get the first attempt at shaving off the greatest mustache in modern politics–and help  Susan Axelrod see her husband sans ‘stache.

See the original announcement from Morning Joe:

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Chris Licht Book Party in DC [Photos]

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Chris Licht, Vice President of Programming for CBS News and former Executive Producer of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, will be celebrating the release of his new book What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life tonight at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC.  The reception was hosted by Constance Milstein, Jon Meacham, Kevin Sheekey and Tammy Haddad.

Here are some photos if you missed the live stream of the event:

Chris Licht puts down his BlackBerry

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Chris Licht, former “Morning Joe” Executive Producer, returned to the familiar MSNBC set to talk about the near-fatal cerebral hemorrhage he suffered more than a year ago after a “particularly challenging morning” at work.

Licht wrote about the experience in the newly released book “What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life.”

The hard-charging producer told hosts and friends Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski about the “pop” he heard in his head while riding back to his Washington hotel that April morning. He was just 38 years old.

The married father of two says the experience helped him streamline and get rid of all the clutter, finding time for the things that matter in life. Licht admits that leaving “Morning Joe” for his new gig as VP of Programming at CBS News was part of the experience, learning it was time to take chances.

Check back to WHCInsider this Thursday at 7:00PM where you can watch Jon Meacham‘s interview with Chris Licht LIVE. To read an excerpt from the book click here and watch the “Morning Joe” interview below:

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Jon Stewart's New Friend: Gordon Brown

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It’s a British invasion of a different sort: Gordon Brown, the Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has taken America by storm while on book tour for “Beyond the Crash: Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalization.” Monday night, Brown exchanged bon mots with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, even sticking around for an extended interview that can be seen exclusively online.

“But in Globalization, you know, we would very much like to sell them our products, and we have quite a few of them,” stated Stewart. “But, the demand in the rest of the world. Globalization – isn’t this the problem that Western countries face in a post-Imperial world? Life was so much easier when we had colonies. We could go in and just suck out every last bit and exploit.”

“Look, Jon, it was easier for us when you were the colony,” joked Brown. “We should never have let you go.”

Then Brown faced the crew over at MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Tuesday morning. Joe Scarborough wrapped up the interview by saying, “This is so important, because, coming from him – not because he’s a former Prime Minister – but Chancellor of the Exchequer for a very long time. This is a book Americans need to read.”

But it all started here in Washington, DC on Saturday night at The Jefferson Hotel with Connie Milstein. See Washington’s famous faces and hear Brown’s remarks on WHC Insider.

Campaign 2010 Prep Storms D.C.

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It may feel like a balmy day in the District, but vacation is about to drop out for a storm the likes of which the Beltway has rarely seen–at least every two or so years.

The big news comes from the New York Times with Politico’s unveiling of two weekly opinion columns from Joe Scarborough and Michael Kinsley; the buried lede, however, is Kinsley will depart The Atlantic to do this. As Jeremy Peters notes, “[Kinsley’s] departure will be a blow to the Atlantic Media Company, which has been establishing a stable of journalistic talent in an effort to broaden its reach in Washington.”

[Read more…]

Brzezinski Mother and Daughter Bring Art from Beltway Roots

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Being a family with one of Washington’s most famous political surnames (Brzezinski) can be tough to inherit. That’s why it’s inspiring to get to know  Mika the TV host and Mark the public policy maker from their mother Emilie the artist, whose show presents the literal roots of her family from the Beltway.

Emilie Brzezinski‘s Family Trees opened in May at American University’s Kazan Arts Center alongside her daughter (and Morning Joe co-host) Mika’s book release party for All Things At Once.

Mika tells WHC Insider that her mother’s  dialog with wood” takes images and prints them within trees. Mother Emilie tells us, “It’s a very natural process.”

RTCA Evening Picked up the Pace at MSNBC's Neon After-Party

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By Neil Grace and Catherine Hill

MSNBC threw a memorable Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner after-party that stood apart from parties past.  Held directly across the street from the main event at the Washington Convention Center, MSNBC turned the traditionally staid Historical Society of Washington, D.C. into a brightly-lit fete of themed cocktails, glowing neon necklaces and comfort food.

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As guests walked down the blue carpet entrance, we asked them the question of the night: are you a nerd or a jock? Politico’s Mike Allen said he was “all of the above!” and Patrick Gavin thought he was a hybrid of the two.  NBC’s Andrea Mitchell exclaimed she was a “total jock.” John “I’m a PC” Hodgman discussed the modern cultural divide at length during the dinner.

Inside the party, the scene downstairs included a Starbucks-sponsored coffee bar where guests ate ice cream sundaes and desserts.  From the main bar, guests walked outside to a large outdoor patio, where dance music had the party-goers on their feet for “Don’t Stop Believing.”  Faces and heads glowed in the light of neon necklaces and headbands.

Upstairs, special guest bartender Rachel Maddow was mixing up cocktails at her heavily-branded “Rachel Maddow’s Bar”– complete with MSNBC napkins and “Rachel’s Bar” menus.  Maddow’s signature cocktail was listed as a Hearst: a mix of gin, sweet vermouth and bitters (though she told us she actually served more of her cava drink, “Airmail” which mixed rum, fresh lime juice, honey and the bubbly cava on top).  Afterwards, Maddow relinquished her bar duties to catch up with Ana Marie Cox and John Hodgman.

Later in the night passed treats included mini-pancakes and mini-ham, bacon and cheese croissants.  As the bars began to close, guests went out back. Among the last to leave at 3:00 a.m. were MSNBC Morning Joe’s Willie Geist, Luke Russert and many of the cable network’s junior staffers.

Media heavy-hitters spotted at the party: Steve Capus, Tamron Hall, Norah O’Donnell, Contessa Brewer with Matt Ackland, Joe Scarborough with Mika Brzezinski, David Shuster, Carlos Watson, Chris Matthews, Lynn Sweet, Margaret Carlson, and Eugene Robinson.

Politicos rounded out the guest list, including Obama senior adviser David Axelrod, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Obama economic adviser Larry Summers, as well as Hilary Rosen, Alex Castellanos, Brad Dayspring, and Kevin Madden.