White House Correspondents Insider

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

Bloomberg Government Welcomes Washington Back to K Street

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Bloomberg Government rolled out the welcome mat on Tuesday evening with a lively reception to reopen its newly-renovated offices on K Street.

Guests were welcomed by Bloomberg Industry Group CEO Josh Eastright and Bloomberg Government president Arielle Elliott. BGOV News Director Angela Greiling Keane introduced special guest Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who gave a look-ahead for the next year, as well as BGOV Congressional reporter Emily Wilkins and economic reporter Jack Fitzpatrick.

In the great Bloomberg tradition, guests enjoyed delicious fare and customized specialty cocktails from DC’s own renowned mixologist and winner of Netflix’s Drink Masters, Lauren “LP” Paylor O’Brien.

Renowned mixologist and winner of Netflix’s Drink Masters, Lauren “LP” Paylor O’Brien


 
SPOTTED: Ambassadors Oksana Markarova of Ukraine, Luxembourg’s Nicole Bintner, and Singapore’s Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, DC Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio, Susana Castillo, Doug Jones, Jim Moran, Michael Chertoff, Neil Bradley, Bloomberg’s Cesca Antonelli, Joel Johnson, Reggie Love, Michael Chertoff, Anita McBride, Jen Howard, Giuseppe and Francis Lanzone, Jonathan and Betsy Fischer Martin, Josh Dawsey, ABC’s Rick Klein, David Chavern, Carol Melton, Liz Johnson, Vince Evans, Meta’s Jackie Rooney, Ron Bonjean, Niamh King, Greg Babyak, David O’Brien, Samantha Dravis, Ted Johnson, Steve Clemons, Heather Podesta, Peggy Collins, Julissa Marenco, Eva McKend, Paige Hopkins, Francesca Chambers and Michael Moroney, Amanda Anderson, Zoraida Rodriguez, and Winston Lord.

View the photo gallery here.

Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Honors 7 at 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala

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José Andrés, Clive Davis, Ava DuVernay, Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams honored with portraits at 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Baratunde Thurston, David Rubenstein, Anthony Fauci, Ava DuVernay, Isabel Wilkerson, Clive Davis, Alicia Keys, Hilary Rodham Clinton, Marian Wright Edelman, Kim Sajet, Sonya Haffey, Venus Williams, Isha Price, Lonnie G. Bunch, Mellody Hobson, Serena Williams, Laurene Powell Jobs and José Andrés attend the 2022 Portrait Of A Nation Gala on November 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for National Portrait Gallery)

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery held its 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala on Saturday, November 12 in Washington, D.C., where this year’s seven honorees were feted for their transformative contributions to the country.  The 2022 honorees are:

  • José Andrés, internationally recognized humanitarian, culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator and founder of World Central Kitchen
  • Clive Davis, Grammy Award-winning music industry executive and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
  • Ava DuVernay, Academy Award nominee, Emmy, BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, and founder of ARRAY
  • Marian Wright Edelman, activist for children’s rights and founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund
  • Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health and chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, chief medical advisor to the President, and advisor on global AIDS issues and COVID-19 
  • Serena Williams, tennis champion, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles and entrepreneur
  • Venus Williams, tennis champion, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, entrepreneur and outspoken advocate on equal pay, mental health and physical wellness

The honorees, presenters, and over 750 VIP guests enjoyed cocktails during a private viewing of the Portrait Gallery’s “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition, followed by a seated dinner in the museum’s spectacular Kogod courtyard featuring the award presentations and a special surprise performance by Wynton Marsalis. The evening was hosted by writer, producer, and TV host Baratunde Thurston. The dinner program began with remarks from Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, and Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch.

Established in 2015 by the National Portrait Gallery, the Portrait of a Nation Award recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people across numerous fields of endeavor, ranging from the arts and sciences to sports and humanitarianism. 

Each honoree received the Portrait of a Nation Award based on their contributions to their respective fields, and whose portraits are either in the Portrait Gallery’s collection or are in the process of being acquired. The museum also looks to acknowledge individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. 

Each honoree nominated his or her own presenter, someone with whom they have a close relationship or has affected their careers.  The 2022 presenters were:

  • Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, presented to José Andrés
  • Alicia Keys, 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, musician, producer and entrepreneur, presented to Clive Davis
  • Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winner, National Humanities Medal awardee and New York Times bestselling author, presented to Ava DuVernay
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator (New York), First Lady of the United States, lawyer and activist, presented to Marian Wright Edelman
  • David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group and philanthropist, presented to Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
  • Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, presented to Serena Williams
  • Sonya Haffey, interior designer and principal of V Starr, and Isha Price, entrepreneur, film producer, philanthropist and CEO of Price Consulting Group LLC, presented to Venus Williams

The 2022 Gala was supported by host committee members Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, Robert and Arlene Kogod, David Rubenstein accompanied by Caryn Zucker, and Patty Stonesifer and Michael Kinsley; national co-chairs Eduardo J. Ardiles and Joseph P. Ujobai, Lyndon J. Barrois and Janine Sherman Barrois, and Catherine and Michael Podell; and Washington, D.C., co-chairs Kristin and John Cecchi and Susanna and Jack Quinn. The Gala’s founding chairs are Wayne and Catherine Reynolds.  

Notable guests in attendance included Speaker Nancy Pelosi, HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud (Saudi Arabia), Sec. of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch, III and Maria Marable-Bunch, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Chris Coons, opera singer Denyce Graves, singer-songwriter Jewel, Calvin Ripken, Jr., film director Ron Howard, Martin Luther King, III, Capitol Hill police officer Caroline Edwards, Secretary Elaine Chao, Rep. Maxine Waters, and Amb. Stuart and Gwen Holliday.

Media stars included Don Lemon and Tim Malone, Bret and Amy Baier, Dana Bash, Philip Rucker, Jeffrey Goldberg, and Symone Sanders.

Honoree portraits from the Portrait Gallery’s collection are on view in the “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition on the museum’s first floor from Nov. 10, 2022, through Oct. 22, 2023. All of the portraits this year will be on view for the first time, including six new commissions and one never-before-shown photograph. 

The 2022 portrait artists are: Ruven Afanador (Edelman), Hugo Crosthwaite (Fauci), Kenturah Davis (DuVernay), David Hockney (Davis), Kadir Nelson (Andrés), Toyin Ojih Odutola (S. Williams), and Robert Pruitt (V. Williams). 

The “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition was curated by Rhea L. Combs, NPG’s director of curatorial affairs, in collaboration with Taína Caragol, curator of painting, sculpture and Latinx art and history, and Leslie Ureña, curator of photographs.

Proceeds from the gala, which takes place every two years, support the National Portrait Gallery’s endowment for exhibitions and the museum’s commitment to commissioning artworks for its collection by working with contemporary artists. 

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery was established by an Act of Congress in 1962 to recognize the individuals who have had a significant impact on the nation’s history and culture. It opened its doors to the public in 1968.

New York Times Reports The Return of Aviator Joe

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Courtesy of The New York Times 

Today, The New York Times reported on President Biden’s infamous aviator sunglasses. The aviators, as reported, are back after Covid, vacation and legislative victories for President Biden. 

Dynamite political strategist Lis Smith and our very own Tammy Haddad were quoted in the article. Here’s an excerpt: 

“You know Joe Biden is having a good day when he wears his aviators,” said Lis Smith, the author of the recent book “Any Given Tuesday” (buy it here) and the political strategist who helped craft Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign. See, for example, Mr. Biden’s appearance last April when he, Vice President Kamala Harris and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared on the South Lawn after Ms. Jackson’s Senate confirmation as an associate justice of the Supreme Court.

“You know he’s having a good month when you see him day after day wearing his aviators,” Ms. Smith continued. “It’s a sign he’s on a roll right now.”

…

“They represent, “I’m a cool guy, but I’m a responsible person, and I’m going to wave the American flag and save you,” said Tammy Haddad, a consultant on “Veep” and the founder and chief executive of Haddad Media. It’s a familiar, comfortable semiology, which harks back to the myths of the silent generation, and the promise of Mr. Biden.

“People loved seeing Cruise in his aviators again, and responded,” Ms. Haddad said. “The president is following the same path hoping for the same results.”


You can read the full article here.

Inaugural DC Power Index Prize Honors Six Outstanding Women Leaders

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(L to R) Hosts Joanna Coles and DeDe Lea, Honorees Sheila Johnson, Dr. Christine Grady, Officer Caroline Edwards, Denyce Graves, Melora Hardin, and Host Teresa Carlson 

In a city known for its power lunches, the new DC Power Index tops them all. Building on the incredibly successful Power 100 Lunch created by legendary magazine editor Joanna Coles, on Wednesday, July 20th, Coles was joined by Microsoft corporate vice president and cloud pioneer Teresa Carlson, and media powerhouse DeDe Lea, Paramount Global’s executive vice president for global public policy and government affairs, as hosts of the DC Power Index Prize and awards lunch at Cafe Milano in Georgetown.

“Women from D.C. have been traveling to New York for the last decade for the Power 100 lunch, but there are so many extraordinary women here in Washington, we wanted to broaden the scope of those we honor,” Coles told The Hill.

(L to R) CBS News EVP of Newsgathering Ingrid Ciprian Matthews, New CNN Global Communications Chief Kristine Coratti, and VP of Government Affairs at Chevron Karen Knutson 

“Washington is where women are running congressional committees, newsrooms, museums, embassies, and foundations. We’re breaking stories, creating public policy, interpreting the law, and enforcing it,” the former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief said.

Host DeDe Lea with CBS Evening News Anchor Norah O’Donnell 

The DC Power Index celebrates women who exemplify resilience, foster innovation, exhibit flexibility in times of crisis and make a social and cultural impact. Recipients of the first DC Power Index Prize included: Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Denyce Graves, the Emmy and Grammy award-winning mezzo-soprano, director, and alumna of DC’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts; Sheila Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts and a partner in Monumental Sports & Entertainment; Melora Hardin, the Emmy-nominated actress, director, singer, and activist, known for her roles on The Office, The Bold Type, Monk and Transparent; Dr. Christine Grady, chief of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health and wife of Dr. Tony Fauci; and Officer Caroline Edwards of the United States Capitol Police, for her bravery and sacrifice in defending the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection of January 6, 2021.

Joanna Coles presents the DC Power Index Prize to Dr. Christine Grady 

The 120 powerful women gathered at the red-carpeted event to mingle over champagne before taking their seats for the lunch. Joanna kickstarted the event by first presenting the Power Index Prize to Dr. Christine Grady for her contributions to the field of bioethics, particularly surrounding ethical challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Grady has been married to Dr. Anthony Fauci for the last 37 years, and in the wake of his recently announced retirement, we asked Dr. Grady what she and her husband’s plans were. Her response? “We have some plans, you know, going from a 16 to 18-hour workday to something else is going to be very different.” It certainly will be. 

Dr. Grady’s award acceptance was followed by Melora Hardin, for her authenticity in Hollywood, and for her groundbreaking and empowering performances; and then  Yaroslav Brisiuck, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Ukraine, who accepted the award for Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova for her tireless advocacy and representation of her country during this year of crisis and war in Ukraine.

Yaroslav Brisiuck Making Remarks on Behalf of Ambassador Markarova 

Brisiuck made a powerful and moving speech on the tumultuous year that Ukraine has had, and the importance of the US’s allyship with the struggling nation. “This means a lot. It shows recognition of her role as an advocate of Ukraine at these most challenging times in our history. We’re at war, we’re fighting, and she’s advocating for more support of the United States for Ukraine in this fight” Brisiuck said.   

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Presenting the DC Power Index Prize to Officer Caroline Edwards 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) then introduced and honored U.S. Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards for her bravery and sacrifice in defending the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection of January 6, 2021. 

Officer Edwards touched on the importance of women across all industries, especially within her experience with the January 6th Committee Hearings. “Women have also been an integral part of the hearings. I find myself in a sisterhood with Shaye Moss, Ruby Freeman, Cassidy Hutchinson and tomorrow, Sarah Matthews will take the stand. Among us are countless women in Congress like Sen. Klobuchar who are working tirelessly to make sure that justice will be served. It gives me hope and it gives me joy to see so many women finding their voice, so many women saying ‘I will not be silent in the face of injustice,’ so many women who have found the courage to continue despite threats, obstacles, and suffering. I don’t believe that the future is female. I believe the present is female.”

Sheila Johnson Making Remarks 

DeDe Lea awarded Sheila Johnson for leading the way for women entrepreneurs, championing women in sports, and her extensive philanthropic work. Finally, Teresa Carlson presented the prize to Denyce Graves for her more than three decades of contributions to the musical arts, and for her leadership of the Denyce Graves Foundation, which shares the untold stories of underrepresented musicians who helped shape what American classical music is today.

Host Teresa Carlson Presenting Denyce Graves with the DC Power Index Prize 

The audience of 120 women collaborated and connected together, while listening to the awe-inspiring speeches made by the six dynamic women who were honored. Other guests included Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Norah O’Donnell, Kristine Coratti Kelly, Kathleen Buhle, Karen Knutson, Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, Rima Al-Sabah, Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar, Nigerian Ambassador Uzoma Emenike, Amna Nawaz, Deborah Rutter, Julie Kent, Sali Christeson, Aya Kanai, Sophia Narrett, Sally Quinn, Carol Melton, and Kimberley Fritts.

Uber DC Hosts 2022 Midterm Election Preview feat. Jonathan Martin, Symone Sanders, and Liam Donovan 

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Symone Sanders, Jonathan Martin, and Liam Donovan

Uber’s federal affairs team hosted a conversation previewing the midterms at their D.C. office on Monday evening. The New York Times’s Jonathan Martin moderated the conversation with Symone Sanders, Host of MSNBC’s Symone, and Liam Donovan, NRSC veteran, and GOP commentator.

CR Wooters presenting Symone Sanders with a bottle of champagne

CR Wooters, Uber’s Head of Federal Affairs, presented recently married Symone Sanders with a bottle of champagne when she arrived to kick off the evening. Guests mingled over light appetizers and drinks, and Jonathan Martin signed copies of his new book, This Will Not Pass. 

CR Wooters making remarks

The panel touched on every aspect of politics today and the top issues facing voters in November. Symone, Jonathan, and Liam discussed President Biden’s dismal approval rating, hot states for the midterms like Georgia and Michigan, the January 6th committee hearings, and whether former President Trump will announce a run for 2024.

Jonathan Martin poses as he autographs books
Uber’s CR Wooters with Symone Sanders, Jonathan Martin, and Liam Donovan

SPOTTED: Paul Kane, Josh Dawsey, Adrienne Elrod, Steve Benjamin, Heather Podesta, Ali Rubin, Rachel Levitan, Dan Meyers, Daniel Strauss, David Schnittger, Alex Conant, Alice Stewart, CR Wooters, Meridith McGraw, Rebecca Buck and Bryan DeAngelis.

Kim Sajet and Kris Coratti Host National Portrait Gallery Watergate Breakfast Not Break-In

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Washington Post Chief Communications Officer Kris Coratti and National Portrait Gallery Executive Director Kim Sajet hosted an all-female breakfast at The National Portrait Gallery on May 25th. The event was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Watergate and the newest exhibit in the gallery, Watergate: Portraiture and Intrigue.

Sally Quinn, Jessica Nigro, and Kim Sajet

Light breakfast was served in the director’s suite as guests mingled before Kim and Kris began with some remarks about the exhibit, and introduced the special guest, Washington Post veteran Sally Quinn. 

Sally began by recounting her history and her memories from the Watergate era, discussing the likes of Ben Bradlee, Kay Graham, Bob Woodward, and Carl Bernstein, and disclosing exclusive insider details on the scandal. After the conversation and breakfast wrapped up, guests were invited to go downstairs for a private tour of the new exhibit, lead by the Portrait Gallery’s senior historian and exhibit curator, Kate Clarke Lemay. 

Watergate: Portraiture and Intrigue, explores the 50th anniversary of the watershed moment through portraiture of the era. Displaying 25 objects in various mediums spanning from fine art to pop culture, the exhibit looks at the specific types of media published around Watergate, and looks at the intersection of investigative journalism, activism, and politics. 

Kris Coratti, Kim Sajet, and Ashley Etienne

The exhibit opened on March 25th and will be open to the public through September 5th as part of the museum’s “One Life” series. You can learn more about it here.

You can see the full set of photos from the event here.

The Financial Times Hosts First US FTWeekend Festival at The Reach 

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Henry Kissinger speaking at FTWeekend Festival: US Edition (Courtesy of The Financial Times) 

The Financial Times hosted its inaugural FTWeekend Festival: US Edition at The Reach at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C this past Saturday, May 7th. The Festival showcased the best of The Financial Times and FT Magazine journalism, exploring big ideas in politics, economics, climate and culture. The launch of the US edition follows the success of the annual FTWeekend Festival in London, which began six years ago.

Topics ranged from the new world order and fresh perspectives on communism and capitalism, to style in a post-Covid world, and writing in an age of intolerance and southern cuisine. The theme of the event was The Bigger Picture: A Global Take on the Ideas Stimulating, Diverting – and Unsettling – Our Age.

Alice Lascelles, FT Drinks Columnist, and Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, Distilling & Whisky Stocks, during their talk about the future of innovation in whisky (Courtesy of the Financial Times) 

The FT Festival featured renowned experts and commentators, including veteran statesman Henry Kissinger; author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; author of The Palace Papers Tina Brown; historian Simon Schama; and restaurateur Daniel Humm. 

Alongside these speakers, some of the FT’s most distinguished journalists took the stage, including editor Roula Khalaf; US managing editor Peter Spiegel; US editor-at-large Gillian Tett; and chief economics commentator Martin Wolf; FTWeekend editor Alec Russell; and How to Spend It editor Jo Ellison.

2022 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch Co-Hosts Congratulate Award Recipients

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White House Correspondents’ Co-Hosts Teresa Carlson, Craig Minassian, Yamiche Alcindor, Tammy Haddad, Mark and Sally Ein, and Stephanie Ruhle congratulate 2022 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch award receipients Bob and Lee Woodruff of The Bob Woodruff Foundation and U.S. Army Inspector General LTG Donna Martin.

View more images from the 2022 #GardenBrunch

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.