White House Correspondents Insider

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

Kid President Announces This Year's White House Easter Egg Roll

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If the Obama administration ever had a clear challenge, it may be overcoming the charm and charisma of Kid President. A part of the Soul Pancake Channel, this time Kid President is bringing word of the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll to us through a somewhat more official channel:

The lottery to get a ticket for the annual roll, being held on April 1, starts today and closes on Monday, February 25. The theme this year, chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama, is “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!”

This year’s souvenir eggs come in four bold colors – purple, blue, yellow, pink – and include the stamped signatures of the President and First Lady. A commemorative teal “Bo” egg featuring the First Dog’s paw print is included only in the 2013 5-pack Collector’s Egg Set.

The White House also invites all elementary and middle school students to submit poster designs for the 2013 Easter Egg Roll. Designs should reflect this year’s theme, “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!” The First Lady will select the winning design, which will be used as part of the White House 2013 Easter Egg Roll program. Submissions are due by March 5 and can be sent here.

We have to admit, even Robert Frost would probably be allowed to think this is cool.

Kevin Spacey on Shakespeare and Bill Clinton for House of Cards

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Netflix CEO Reid Hastings had a big smile on his face as he watched some of Washington’s most influential media grabbing a seat for a first look at two episodes of House of Cards. Howard Fineman, George Stevens,Jr. , Jim Hoagland, and Joanne Horowitz, Spacey’s manager joined Reema alSabah, Bonnie Lepard , Buffie Cafritz and Ambassador Lloyd and Ann Hand for the stylish screening and dinner that followed. T.Rowe Price tech whiz Henry Ellenbogen chatting with Living Social CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy, Reggie Love in Wharton school appropriate glasses, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Linda Douglass and John Phillips. Bloomberg View’s chief Frank Wilkinson beamed standing with actress wife Sakina Jaffrey, and David Haddad. At the Step n’ Repeat ABC’s Rick Klein, Janet Donovan, and Media Bistro’s Eddie Scarry asked questions of Oscar nominated writer Beau Willimon, actors Kate Mara, Robin Wright,Sebastian Arcelus,and finally Kevin Spacey. The entire reporter gaggle together into one giant ball of cameras, microphones and iPhones to talk about what inspired Rep. Frank Underwood from Shakespeare to a certain former president that stole Spacey’s Academy Award in 2000.

All thirteen episodes of “House of Cards” on Netflix Instant, so you can see how much of Bill Clinton Spacey can channel past his Richard III.

Biden Breaks Out at the 113th Congress

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The 113th United States Congress was sworn into office Thursday with the traditional smooth moves of Vice President Biden.

CNN frames the 113th by the numbers while Buzzfeed keeps running with them into the 11 Surprisingly Endearing Pictures of Congressmen Getting Sworn In. MSNBC breaks down the race and sexuality of the new congress–also by the numbers–while the National Journal completes its own link dump.

Which is why we come back to the Veep video. You can break down Congress all you want with your lists of numbers, numbered lists and numerals followed by links. At the end of the work day all hardworking people care about is how smooth is that man that made it cool to commute from Delaware to D.C. While the actual staffers are fretting about upcoming legislation or freaking out about jobs numbers. Stop. Relax.

And then sign this petition to have an official reality show about Biden:

Vice President Joe Biden has a demonstrated ability to bring people together, whether at the negotiating table or at the neighborhood diner. We, therefore, urge the Obama Administration to authorize the production of a recurring C-SPAN television program featuring the daily activities and interactions of the Vice President with elected officials, foreign dignitaries and everyday American families. Such a program would educate the American public about the duties and responsibilities of their Vice President, while providing a glimpse of the lighthearted side of politics even in the midst of contentious and divisive national debates.

We’ve got until February 3rd.

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.

Montgomery Burns on the Fiscal Cliff

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Mr. Burns on the Fiscal Cliff (via Fox)


It’s unfair to say The Simpsons have a monopoly on politics. Leading up to the election this year, we’ve had the unusual pleasure of Mr. Montgomery Burns–billionaire and owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant–discussing his political rhetoric and theory with us.

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SNL's Real Winner? Politics and Prose.

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We couldn’t care less about an abandoned Guy Fieri sketch from Saturday Night Live last weekend when Christmas had already come early for Beltway junkies.

Our beloved Politics and Prose, a local D.C. bookstore and required shopping destination for bibliophiles/political wonks/caffeine junkies, has finally made it to New York. Appearing as the setting for SNL’s cold open, which finds Paula Broadwell (played by Cecily Strong) reading from “All In: The Education of General David Petraeus.”
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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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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.”