White House Correspondents Insider

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

Comedian Michelle Wolf to Headline White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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Fred Humphries, Mark Ein, Joe Goldman, Mark Testoni, Hilary Rosen, and Matt Walsh at the 2017 Washington Correspondents’ Garden Brunch

Michelle Wolf, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” contributor will serve as the night’s entertainment for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 28th. The dinner acts as an annual gathering of the nation’s top journalists and a who’s who of government and business leaders. The event, which will be carried live on all the major television networks, will surely be Wolf’s most high-profile performance yet.

Margaret Talev, president of the WHCA and a Bloomberg White House reporter, said of the announcement, “Our dinner honors the First Amendment and strong, independent journalism. Her embrace of these values and her truth-to-power style make her a great friend to the WHCA. Her Pennsylvania roots, stints on Wall Street and in science and self-made, feminist edge make her the right voice now.”

Wolf is also set to host an as-yet-untitled weekly late-night series on Netflix, which is set to premiere this year. According to Netflix, the show “will take a break from the seriousness of late night comedy. Instead of making the news fun, she’ll make fun of everything and everybody. There will be no preaching or political agenda…unless it’s funny.” The comedian is gearing up for a big 2018, having hosted an HBO special “Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady” earlier this month.

Curious about what Washington’s big weekend is all about? Check out the links below for podcasts on all the best moments and memories.

Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett on comedy’s role at the White House Correspondents’ Weekend here.

Robin Bronk on the power of celebrity to drive policy here.

George Condon’s candid history of the White House and the press here.

You can find more coverage of the entire White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weekend here.

Uber Welcomes Danielle Burr at DC Reception

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Justin Kintz and Danille Burr at Uber’s DC Office, Photo Courtesy Haddad Media

Danielle Burr, Uber’s head of federal affairs, hosted DC’s top influencers from politics to advocacy and media on Tuesday, February 20th at Uber’s Washington, DC office.

Justin Kintz, the head of policy and communications for Uber’s American operations, took the stage to introduce Burr and noted her policy experience including working on the Hill with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in the House, to working with Jon Kyl in the Senate.

Kintz also talked about Uber’s recent inroads in DC, “In addition to having a local presence here in the district, this is also our east coast hub for the US. We have our operational leaders here in the room tonight who run UberEats in the US, and who run our US operations. This is a nerve-center for Uber, our third-largest office in the country. We’re very proud of our presence here.”

Burr thanked Justin for his guidance in helping her make the transition to the company. Burr told the crowd of policy and media influencers that “there’s an opportunity here to make some change, there’s an opportunity here to grow.”

She went on to discuss some of Uber’s latest initiatives saying, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the team, whether that is to help educate drivers about human trafficking, or whether that is the work we have been doing with the National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children. There’s so many powerful things we can do with this fast, fast platform, not to mention the work that we will do on the federal level with regards to infrastructure.”

Megan Cepiak, John Coale, Rick Klein, Greta Van Susteren, Carly DeBeikes, Photo Courtesy Haddad Media

Among her Uber colleagues at the event were Raj Naik, the general manager of Uber Eats for the mid-Atlantic region, Todd Brewer, from Uber Military, Dave Marmore from the Policy team, Malcom Glenn who coordinates Partnerships, Bill Gibbons from comms, and Carly Debeikes from comms and operations.

Hill colleagues and friends included Ron Bonjean, Yebbie Watkins, Marty Reiser, Todd Inman, Grover Norquist, Yebbie Watkins, Sage Peterson, Tess Glancey, Tom Forrest, Tom Hoare, Jeff Solnet, Emily Beyer, Tom Manatos, Stephanie Cutter, Lisa Barclay, Ron Bonjean, Kathy O’Hearn, and Meredith Balenske.

Media guests included Rick Klein, David Sanger, Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer, Daniel Lippman, Patrick Steel, Alexis Williams, Sara Fisher, Dave McCabe, Craig Gordon, Steve Clemons, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Tony Romm, Garance Franke Ruta, Shawn McCreesh, Naomi Nix, Kevin Cirilli, Carl Cannon and Lachlan Mackay.

 

Uber Danielle Burr Reception - 2/20/18

NYU’s Mitchell Moss: Scorn from NYC’s Elites Fueled Donald Trump’s Presidential Ambitions

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Mitchell Moss, NYU’s Henry Hart Rice Professor of Urban Policy & Planning, Director of Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management, Photo Courtesy of NYU

 

In an op-ed for Zocalo Public Square on February 6th, Mitchell Moss, the head of New York University’s Director of Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management, writes that Donald Trump’s political ambitions were fueled by the resentment and disdain he received from elite New York social circles.

Moss claims that Trump, the son of a Queens real estate developer, was met with derision due to his harsh style and lack of credentials or business acumen as he began developing real estate properties in Manhattan. Moss writes, “His failure to make it into the upper echelon of New York’s business community is what drove him to run for president, and that, “Trump didn’t care about being right or smart or ethical, only about being known.”

This contempt on behalf of New York’s business and philanthropic communities, Moss claims, led Trump to seek attention in the city’s tabloid papers. According to Moss, New York papers “Loved to feature Trump, in stories about his three marriages and his calls for proof of President Obama’s birth. The front page of the New York Post is the equivalent of a daily billboard, which the local radio and television news programs treat as raw material for their evening programs. Trump was a master at getting the New York Post to cover his words, his wives, and his fights with Ed Koch and Barack Obama. He became famous as someone New Yorkers loved to ridicule.”

Now that Trump’s political ambitions have paid off, “News reports now have him marveling that New Yorkers who once wouldn’t give him the time of day—like the former Goldman Sachs chieftain Gary Cohn—now work for him.”

 

Jill Zuckman Named President of SKDKnickerbocker Public Affairs for DC

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Jill Zuckman, SKDKnickerbocker’s newest President of Public Affairs for DC

 

Public relations firm SKDKnickerbocker has named Jill Zuckman President of Washington, DC’s public affairs on Tuesday, February 6th. Jill moves to the new role from a previous stint as a Managing Director at the firm. Before joining SKDK, Jill served as Assistant to the Secretary and Director at the Department of Transportation under Ray LaHood, an Obama Appointee.

SKDK has also named five new managing directors to their ranks:

Greg Minoff, Director of the Content Studio and the head of the broad portfolio of creative advertising and digital services offered by SKDK

Cecelia Prewett, former Federal Trade Commission official who leads the firm’s Regulatory, Investigations and Litigation practice

Morgan Hook, former journalist and former chief communications officer for the State University of N.Y. and head of SKDK Albany

Stephen Krupin, former White House speechwriter for President Barack Obama and head of SKDK’s Executive Communications practice

Nell Callahan, former press secretary for Senator Jeanne Shaheen, head of the Woman’s Practice and Chief of Staff in the Washington, D.C., Public Affairs office

According to their website, SKDKnickerbocker “provides the full range of communications services, including public relations, digital communications, executive communications, litigation support, television advertising, direct mail and research.”

 

‘VEEP’ Wins Big at SAG Awards

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The cast and producers of VEEP, Photo courtesy of Haddad Media

 

The Veeples took the stage at the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which were held Sunday evening, January 21st, as HBO’s VEEP took home the night’s biggest trophy for comedy for its sixth season, and the show’s star Julia Louis-Dreyfus won the award for best actress in a comedy. Haddad Media CEO Tammy Haddad serves as a consultant on the show.

“I was hand chosen because I play a spokesperson — I’m very well-spoken on the show and in real life,” said Matt Walsh, who plays press spokesperson Mike McLintock, on the show.

VEEP has a long list of awards, winning outstanding comedy at the Emmys for three consecutive years, while Louis-Dreyfus has won best comedy actress at the Emmys six years running!

While HBO has not announced the premiere date, VEEP’s seventh and final season is sure to be can’t-miss TV.

Zignal Labs Charts Response to Hillary’s DNC Speech, Tammy Haddad Interviews Zingal’s Michael Venet

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Haddad Media CEO Tammy Haddad caught up with Zignal Labs’ Michael Venet on Facebook Live, who demonstrated their famous smartboard, which charts social media mentions graphically. You can check out their conversation below.

Zignal Labs tracked millions of mentions on Twitter during this year’s RNC and DNC. According to Zignal’s Anthony York, Zignal “tracked about 6.4 million media mentions of the RNC, compared to more than 9.7 million mentions of the Democratic Convention,” making the DNC the drew much more interest online than the RNC.

Zignal created a chart that shows the most mentioned moments of the DNC:

DNCTotalIssues

They also calculated which DNC-related Tweets were the most popular:

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Tammy Haddad Speaks With Former Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski

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Screen Shot 2016-07-20 at 9.55.39 PM

Tammy Haddad, President and CEO of Haddad Media and co-host of Bloomberg’s Masters in Politics podcast caught up with Corey Lewandowski.

When asked about his plans for the convention Lewandowski says, “I’m just here to sit back and take it all in and enjoy it,” adding “I’m really excited for the Trump team and the Trump family tonight.”

On Eric Trump’s primetime speech he said, “It’s going to be a fantastic speech.”

You can watch the full clip here.

Masters in Politics: Roger Stone Calls John Kasich a “Pathetic Stoner” and a “Sore Loser”

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The host of Bloomberg Masters in Politics podcast Tammy Haddad and Betsy Fischer Martin are in Cleveland, Ohio this week for the Republican National Convention and they spoke with longtime GOP operative Roger Stone, who has worked on the presidential campaigns of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Stone is a longtime friend and adviser to Donald Trump and hosted a pro-rally Trump rally on the first day of the RNC. He spoke to Haddad and Martin about Ohio’s governor and Trump’s rival during the primaries, John Kasich, calling him a “pathetic stoner who will never be elected President of the United States,” and “a sore loser.”

According to Stone, “As far as John Kasich is concerned, he signed a pledge to endorse the candidate.” Referring to the document each candidate signed early in the Republican primary battle that asked each candidate to pledge support for the eventual nominee.

Roger Stone also promised a different sort of convention from the ones we have seen in previous years, “I think that what you’re going to see over the next couple of days will be far preferable than a bunch of cigar-chomping politicians talking from the podium, and politics is entertainment. So I do not think we are going to present a boring convention of career politicians going on and on about their nine-point plans for America that they never have any intention of implementing.”

He also made some predictions for Trump’s cabinet picks if he were to become president. “So I would not be shocked to see Newt Gingrich as a policy advisor in the White House, or the Secretary of Defense, or any number of other jobs for which he would be extremely well qualified.”

You can check out the full interview here.

Entrepreneurs and Military Families in Spotlight at Annual Garden Brunch for White House Correspondents’ Weekend

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Media notables, Hollywood stars, and leaders from the business and non-profit sectors came together on Saturday for the annual Garden Brunch in honor of White House Correspondents’ Weekend. The mission of this year’s brunch was to recognize entrepreneurs who are ‘starting out and starting up’, along with initiatives that support members of the military and their families.

Dr. Sachiko Kuno with Halcyon Incubator Cohort4: Jeffrey Prost-Greene, Eric Shih, Kathleen O'Keefe, Daniel Hill, Charlene Brown, Faran Negarestan and Kristof Grina

Dr. Sachiko Kuno with Halcyon Incubator Cohort4: Jeffrey Prost-Greene, Eric Shih, Kathleen O’Keefe, Daniel Hill, Charlene Brown, Faran Negarestan and Kristof Grina

Hilary Rosen introduces Connie Milstein and Derrick & Emma Dockery of Yellow Ribbons United

Hilary Rosen introduces Connie Milstein and Derrick & Emma Dockery of Yellow Ribbons United

The brunch raised awareness for Halcyon Incubator, an organization founded by Dr. Sachiko Kuno that supports early stage social entrepreneurs through an immersive 18-month fellowship program. As guests arrived, they were asked to share their advice for individuals who are seeking to launch a new career and change the world. The notes were shared on an interactive PPI board provided by Microsoft.

Tony Goldwyn shares advice on the Microsoft PPI

Tony Goldwyn shares advice on the Microsoft PPI

Tony Goldwyn, who plays President Fitz Grant on ABC’s Scandal, shared: “Commit 100% to your dream. That will lead you to places you can’t even imagine!”

Sheila C. Johnson introduces Dr. Sachiko Kuno

Sheila C. Johnson introduces Dr. Sachiko Kuno

Sheila C. Johnson, co-founder of BET, philanthropist and the first African American female billionaire, knows a thing or two about success. Her advice? “Be bold and be fearless!”

Arianna Huffington and Travis Kalanick

Arianna Huffington and Travis Kalanick

Arianna Huffington and Travis Kalanick, who arrived at the brunch together, are two of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Huffington’s tip: “Remember failure is a stepping stone to success!” And Kalanick shared insights based on his own experience of creating Uber: “You can bend reality but don’t break it!”

Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles focused on practical advice: “Do not argue with your boss when u are drunk, even if u are right.” Under Armour CEO and Founder Kevin Plank also offered sound business advice with “Find out if your product can sell!!!”

Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren encouraged individuals to broaden their horizons: “Travel! See the world so that you know something!” And CNN’s Wolf Blitzer gave advice that is often heard in Washington: “You may be smart, but other people may be smarter. Listen and take advantage and learn. Two heads are smarter than one.”

The focus on entrepreneurship and Halcyon Incubator was highlighted during the event as Dr. Sachiko Kuno, CEO of S&R Foundation, took the stage to talk about the work of her organization and to introduce the program’s current cohort.

This year’s Garden Brunch also raised awareness for Yellow Ribbons United and their initiative #PlayfieldInThePark, which serves approximately 500 children and teens attending the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Good Grief Camp and Honoring Our Heroes Camp over Memorial Day Weekend. The program was created by Derrick and Emma Dockery, and has recently received the support of Constance Milstein, who was also a co-host of the Garden Brunch.

In addition to sharing their mission with brunch guests, Emma Dockery also had advice for budding entrepreneurs: “Never give up, for every no you may receive there is someone who will say yes!”

Neve Campbell, Derrick Dockery, Emma Dockery, Tammy Haddad

Neve Campbell, Derrick Dockery, Emma Dockery, Tammy Haddad

Additional guests from the entertainment industry included Bryan Cranston of HBO’s All the Way, Director Jay Roach, Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren, House of Cards’ Neve Campbell, Daredevil’s Rosario Dawson, Lisa Edelstein from Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Constance Zimmer of UnREAL, The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk, Blindspot’s Jaimie Alexander, House of Cards’ Michael Kelly, actress Sela Ward, Blue Bloods’ Bridget Moynahan, Concussion’s Gugu Mbatha-Raw, model Anne V, Independence Day’s Jeff Goldblum, Valeri and Candace Cameron Bure, Omarosa, Eric Podwall, Dule Hill, Matthew Morrison, HBO’s Len Amato, Scandal’s Scott Foley, and model Daniela Lopez.

Media in attendance included Charlie Rose, Jim Bankoff, Kevin Merida and Marie Donoghue from ESPN, Gayle King, Wolf Blitzer, Laura Ingraham, Bret and Amy Baier, Brian and Jamie Stelter, Betsy Fischer-Martin, Stephanie Ruhle, Joy Behar, and April Ryan. Tech was also represented by Josh Ginsberg, CEO of Zignal Labs, Erin Egan of Facebook, Snap Chat’s Nick Bell and Instagram’s Charlton Golson, John Tass-Parker and Charles Porch.

From the world of government and politics, guests included Valerie Jarrett, Tina Tchen, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Heather Podesta, Tony Podesta, Jeremy Bernard, Megan Smith, Robert and Capricia Marshall, Heather Rothenberg and Ellie Schafer, Representative Joaquin Castro, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Fauci of NIH, World Bank President Jim Kim, Mike and Kristi Rogers, Ben Ginsberg, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

The crowd was kept up-to-the moment on the presidential election with Zignal Labs‘ realtime analytics.

zignal

Dessert treats were provided by Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis of Georgetown Cupcakes.

The 2016 Garden Brunch was held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown. The event host committee consisted of Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Sachiko Kuno, Fred Humphries, Mark and Sally Ein, Connie Milstein, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler, and Franco Nuschese.

Miss America Announces STEM Scholarship at Capitol Hill Briefing

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Miss America on Capitol Hill

Sam Haskell, Chairman and CEO of the Miss America Organization, annnounced that on September 15th the 93rd Annual Miss America pageant on ABC-TV would present a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Scholarship to one of the 53 contestants. As the historic event returns to Atlantic City, New Jersey in three months, Haskell spoke along with the current Miss America–and Miss New York–Mallory Hagan about the importance of education and funding for those that need it.

In a packed room at the Capitol Building, Miss America Mallory Hagan, applauded the decision telling her story of a lack of resources and emphasis on STEM when she was growing up.

Tammy Haddad, White House Correspondents Insider founder and editor-in-chief, was named President of the Miss America Foundation Development to engage a larger audience in the scholarship opportunities with the Miss America programs.

Senator Roger Wicker and Rep. Alan Nunnelee shook hands with guests and took pictures with Miss America. Former Miss America Judge Greta Van Susteren and husband John Coale, joined House top aides Doug Heye and Michael Steel, DCI Group’s Tom Synhorst and Dan Meyers, AHA’s Robyn Bash, and Miss America board member Regina Hopper. Longtime women’s advocate Anita McBride and Josh Randle from the Duke of Edinburgh Award as well as Third Way educational staff also were in attendance.