White House Correspondents Insider

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

Global Virus Network Party Hosted by Cafe Milano’s Franco Nuschese

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Only Franco Nuschese could bring together such an esteemed crowd to talk about global health concerns. At his fabulous home in Northwest Washington he brought together top scientists and advocates at a reception for the Global Virus Network. Dr. Robert Gallo, who co-discovered the AIDS virus and is also the co-founder and scientific director of the GVN, gave remarks to help the crowd understand the importance of the GVN and its funding.

In welcoming the group, Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, President of GVN, noted that “the toll of viral diseases goes beyond human health, making enormous impacts on economies, as in the case of SARS and HIV/AIDS as only two examples, and in national security, when put in terms of military preparedness. We cannot think of viral disease only with respect to the health sector.”

Surrounded by GVN Board Chairman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and new board members including Dr. William Haseltine, Dr. Zaid Al Siksek and Gina Adams among other members of the board. Dr. Gallo warned the crowd of the importantance of having a non-governmental private network of scientist who can coordinate a Response to viruses as they come up.

Recommending “centers of excellence” with top virologists to immediately respond and coordinate information for viral threats. Kennedy Townsend related the importance of giving to a group like the GVN. “It is a global network,” she told the crowd. “These scientists talk to one another and learn form one another.” She recalled at a GVN event when scientists from Michigan met a group from Japan and learned of the similarities between two viruses each team thought were one-of-a-kind.

Guests included Ambassador Louis Moreno, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, Daryl Edwards on behalf of the Australian Ambassador along with Washington media types like Steve Clemons, Jim Pinkerton, Janet Donovan and Tammy Haddad enjoying a reception buffet with Mary Katherine Steel, Ellie Schafer, Heather Rothenberg and Heather Baker.

You can watch select parts of the program below:

You can learn more about GVN here.

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.

Christie Names Interim NJ Senator

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Seems like a Jersey Boy picked a Chiesa boy when it comes to Frank Lautenberg’s seat. Chiesa, the current New Jersey attorney general, was announced by Gov. Chris Christie to act as interim senator according to the New York Times.

This comes days after Newark Governor Cory Booker announced his own attempt to explore a Senate run before October 16th’s special election. This means all of the 2014 pundits desperate for a red-meat race will get their meal early this year in a race that’ll go through a Dem and GOP primary before the big show.

Best of all, this brings up the chance to do it all over again in 2014. Suddenly all the Hardballs, Newshours and New Days have a vested interest in the Garden State.

John Dingle on the last 57 Years in Washington

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This week Rep. John Dingle celebrates 57 years on Capitol Hill, going over 30 terms and 11 different presidents. In the interview with the New York Times, Dingle reflects on the changes in policy and a greatest hits of what’s happened in Washington. Choice quotes include:

  • “Nixon was, according to Eisenhower, a great bad man.”
  • “Obama…has probably got the smallest rolodex of anybody in this town.”
  • “I never wanted to be president. You’re never a human being after that.”
    It’s a quick runthrough of Dingle’s greatest hits without his wife Debbie or children. No sign of Michigan’s newfound holiday, “John Dingle Day,” in 2009 or the time he read a poem responding to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly’s “War on Christmas” speech. Instead Dingle’s reflections go over the many presidents that came and went, while leaving the survivor of three redistricting in Michigan in office for half a century.

    • Celebrating 20 Years: 2011 Garden Brunch

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    David and Susan Axelrod (middle) and Rupert Murdoch (right)

    2011 represented a remarkable year of change for the Garden Brunch. The event moved from its historic location in the Palisades of Washington, D.C. to a new location: the historic Georgetown Beall-Washington House, the residence of Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham. Co-presented by the residence’s current owner, Mark Ein, the Garden Brunch spread itself out into yet another staple of Washington’s architectural history.

    Hollywood guests included Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black, “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, “Gossip Girl’s” Chase Crawford, The Social Network’s Joe Mazzello, Jeremy Piven and Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Also representing the entertainment industry were Joan Rivers, Morgan Fairchild and Rosario Dawson among others.

    Attending their first Brunch, Sarah and Todd Palin made a huge impression. Seen mingling with President Obama’s political strategist David Axelrod, CURE epilepsy’s Susan Axelrod and many other Washington correspondents–both White House and political.

    Olympic snowboarder phenom Shaun White was visible among the crowd, as were media moguls like Sean Parker, David Carr and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.

    The brunch happeneda week before Mother’s Day, which let co-chairs Wendi Murdoch and Susan Axelrod take the opportunity to honor all mothers by honoring The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy at the reception. Take a look at the video below:

    2011 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch from whcinsider on Vimeo.

    VEEP Season 2 Premiere Party Photos

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    Veep Season 2 screening

    The second season of HBO’s Veep premiered yesterday as Julia Louis-Dreyfus took up the Second-in-Command role of Selina Meyer for her next term. As the victional V.P. battles the results of a mid-term election, the actual star came to Washington last week for a special screening at the MPAA.

    While we had a minor SNL cast-of-1985 reunion between Louis-Dreyfus and Senator Al Franken, MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd welcomes the HBO star to the real District (Veep films up in Maryland sharing space with Netflix’s House of Cards).

    Below we have photos from the reception from last week’s premiere, along with some notable appearances from Washington regulars and the occasional former Senator-turned-Chairman Chris Dodd.

    SEE YOU AT THE 2013 WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS GARDEN BRUNCH, GRETA!

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    Greta’s classic invites include Ozzy Osbourne himself.


    Greta Van Susteren stunned the Washington political media establishment by
    telling Politico’s Dylan Byers that she will skip the White House
    Correspondents Dinner this year but she made the brunch co-hosts very
    happy. Van Sustern and her husband John Coale created some of the most
    memorable moments since she switched careers from law to television. Her
    2001 move (check year) to Fox News Channel was chronicled with the cover
    of People and her show, On The Record, have been number 1 for “45 quarters.”

    She told Dylan she won’t be attending and explained further at Gretawire. The reason? Supposedly this Washington Post article detailing this year’s guests.

    Still, Greta has been a main stay at the WHCA Dinners of past. She’s the prime reason why Kardashians and Lohans show up:

    Shawn Champan Holley, John Coale, Greta van Susteren, Kris Jenner and Lindsay Lohan

    Greta is so instrumental she can make once-in-a-lifetime-shots like this happen:

    Todd Palin, John Coale, Greta van Susteren, David and Susan Axelrod, Sarah Palin, Wendi and Rupert Murdoch

    While she’s not attending the dinner this year, you can be sure she’ll be at our brunch on the day of the White House Correspondents Dinner. It’s not the same as the dinner–the brunch is much more loose and laid back when it comes to photos, off-the-record conversation and general fun. Of course, it’s invitation only. Like all the quality stuff in Washington.

    This year, for the first time, the brunch is being held to raise awareness for the Miss America scholarship program. They’re devoted to STEM (or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Mallory Hagen, the 2013 Miss America and Miss New York, has engaged young women in STEM issues. Miss America Board Chairman Sam Haskell announced the STEM initiative before January’s broadcast on ABC:

    “The Miss America Organization will work with national and community partners to create an unconventional approach to driving young women’s interest in STEM.

    Our efforts coincide with the national momentum to teach STEM curricula outside traditional school settings, targeting female students who are currently underrepresented in STEM professions. Our hope is to help shift girls’ attitudes about STEM and boost the percentage of women employed in STEM-related industries. It’s not just the right thing to do, but is also the smart thing to do for America’s future and our economy.”

    We continue to support the research efforts of CUREepilepsy and see their latest research at their site. We’re pleased to announce we will be broadcasting the brunch program live on Saturday April 27th.

    DCI's Meyers: "Be mindful of the rise of these Republican millenials"

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    Dan Meyers

    Enough with comparing Lena Dunham to millenials when Dan Meyers is taking the same issue to Politico’s Op-Ed page. The DCI Group Vice President is bringing the millenial focus directly to the GOP and proving the party’s need to acknowledge this emerging group.

    The main point Meyers gets at is same-sex marriage and how it effects millenial voters.

    “Nearly every recent public poll has shown extraordinarily high and growing support for freedom to marry among younger voters. A recent survey by ABC News/Washington Post stands out. TargetPoint’s survey revealed that 64 percent of evangelical millennials support the freedom to marry. This number further highlights the generational shift on issues such as marriage equality — even among those who strongly align their personal belief systems with their faith.”

    Only in Washington can you get an idea of how the other half of the political spectrum lives. While the entertainment niche is an easy foothold, can’t we all agree on how to live regardless of politics? Or even choosing which HBO show best represents us? Granted, Game of Thrones could inspire both Dems and GOP to come together if dragons ever show up. As for which generation will claim to have that title is left to a future op-ed in Politico.

    Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, Dies at 87

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    Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the first female British Prime Minister, passed away this morning after experiencing a stroke according to her spokesperson. Thatcher served as leader for the Conservative Party in Britain for 13 years.

    President Obama released the following statement:

    “With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend. As a grocer’s daughter who rose to become Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered. As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best. And as an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom’s promise.

    Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history—we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will. Michelle and I send our thoughts to the Thatcher family and all the British people as we carry on the work to which she dedicated her life—free peoples standing together, determined to write our own destiny.”

    Thatcher was immortalized in the 2011 biopic, The Iron Lady, where Meryl Streep played the former Prime Minister and won an Academy Award for her performance among other accolades from the BAFTA Awwards and New York Film Critic Circle.

    Thatcher has battled poor health over the last few years and, according to CNN, has suffered a series of strokes following her first major reported case in 2002.

    Thatcher is survived by her two children, Carol and Mark.