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Donald Trump completed the Saudi Arabia leg of his trip on Sunday. Addressing dozens of leaders from across the Muslim world who had gathered there, Trump made yet another pivot and rejected the idea that the fight against terrorism was a struggle between religions, and he promised not to scold them about human rights in their countries. He challenged Muslim leaders to step up their efforts to counter a “wicked ideology” and purge the “foot soldiers of evil” from their societies. He’s landed Tel Aviv this morning and will dine this evening with PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Back in the homeland, a host of troubles await the president. The Senate is dissecting the House-passed ACA repeal and Robert Mueller is hard at work on his investigation into the ubiquitous question of Russian collusion. Finally, Trump’s budget is set to be released tomorrow. It's expected to propose jagged cuts to many federal departments and even eliminating some pertinent programs, entirely diverting those funds to boost defense spending. VP Mike Pence is on the Hill meeting with lawmakers today. We’ve got a lot to tell you about. Here’s what awaits you in this Monday's read:- The Obamas rock Italy. Next stop: Germany.
- Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) wants you all to know that he was the first to call for impeachment. Got that?!
- Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) talks about the tense interactions between Latinos and the police and checks AG Jeff Sessions on his latest directive.
- Melissa Harris-Perry tells NABJ "remove me from your list."
- NAACP changes leadership. See who's steering the ship now.
- Fox News has yet another racist incident which led to an on-air personality getting fired.
- Much like Black Twitter, Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) has zero chill. He offers Trump words of advice on his first foreign trip and introduces a bill to help drain the swamp.
- Colin Kaepernick is getting his spot in the Blacksonian.
- NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio honored comedian Hasan Minhaj.
- There's a bilingual diversity job fair this week. Want to go? Check out the deets below in FOMO.
- Who wants to take a ride on the Barack Obama Freeway? You'll be able to soon!
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|  | Ava Duverney was honored at the 76th- annual Peabody Awards for her documentary "13th" last Thursday.
She is congratulated here by actress Lupita Nyong'o. | |  |
Activist José Antonio Vargas with the crew from his film festival, Define America. | |
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Ciao, Bella! The Obamas Rock Italy
On Friday, Barack and Michelle Obama flew into a Tuscany military base escorted by six fighter jets. They were ferried in a 13-car motorcade to Borgo Finocchieto, a refurbished 14th-century village. The five-building, six-acre space is owned by John Phillips, Obama's former ambassador to Italy. It features 22 bedrooms, multiple saunas and jacuzzis, a swimming pool, a gym, and a basketball court. It's also surrounded by beautiful rolling hills that can be explored by car, helicopter, or even hot air balloon. The Obamas will reportedly visit Florence and Siena during their vacation. POTUS44 has already been spotted playing golf on the course of Castiglione del Bosco in Tuscany on Saturday while FLOTUS44 was spotted strolling around in Montalcino. Okay. Obamas. If you happen to read this, hit us at info@thebeatdc.com. We’re not saying we can go on every vacay, but we can roll on some. See, the way our bank account is set up ... Nevermind. Just hit us up! More here.
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Next Stop: Berlin
On Thursday, Obama heads to Germany where he will participate in a conversation with Chancellor Angela Merkel on the topic of “Being Involved in Democracy: Taking on Responsibility Locally and Globally.” The Obama Foundation is a sponsor of the event as part of celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Joining the two world leaders on stage will be four young leaders from a Kirchentag-related exchange program between Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and the Konkordiengemeinde -- a Protestant organization in Mannheim. Teacher Sierra Sims and actress Imani Abernathy from the South Side of Chicago and social worker Filiz Kuyucu and student Benedikt Wichtlhuber from Mannheim will take the stage for the second part of the conversation. This is part of the Obama Foundation’s efforts to support and develop the next generation of active citizens and emerging young leaders around the world. The Foundation, which will be based at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, will have projects, programs, and digital networks all over the world. Many will be formed in partnership with local organizations already doing work in their communities. More here.
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| COMING TOMORROW! The BeatDC Podcast!This week, host Jamal Simmons talks to former Obama White House and State Department staffer Nayyera Haq about Donald Trump on the global stage, as 45 hits the road from Saudi Arabia to Israel and Vatican City. But first, just a little taste of this week’s Beat … The News with Tiffany D. Cross.
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Massachusetts Could See Second Black Governor
Iraq War veteran and two-term Mayor Setti Warren of the city of Newton, MA on Saturday made official his bid for governor of Massachusetts at a block party in front of his family home. Declaring that combating economic inequality is the challenge of our time, Warren issued a "generational call to service," asking hundreds of supporters, "What kind of Commonwealth do we want to be?" Warren enters the race for governor along with two other Democratic candidates hoping to unseat Republican Governor Charlie Baker in next year's election, although Baker has not yet formally announced his intentions. Setti already has some endorsements, and former Governor Michael Dukakis is on Warren's finance committee. More here.
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Oprah has been on the graduation tour as the girls from her South African school graduate college. | |  | Obama DHS alumnus Leonard Joseph and former Senate Diversity Initiative Director Maria Meier got a special tour of the Canadian parliament courtesy of MP Greg Fergus as part of a conference on transatlantic cooperation hosted in Ottawa by the German Frederich Naumann Foundation. | |
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Move Over Maxine Waters -- GOP Congressman Wants You to Know He Was the First to Talk Impeachment
Republicans are usually pretty good at holding their nose and riding hard for their candidate. Especially when he’s the president. But as we know, these are not usual times. One of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House, Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), is so intent on getting credit for being the first GOP lawmaker to discuss impeaching Donald Trump that his office called up Mother Jones magazine and got them to add a correction to a recent story. The sophomore lawmaker had a tough reelection fight last year and made a point of declaring publicly that he would not vote for Trump. Curbelo has lately been more visible than normal in local and national media to discuss the controversies engulfing the Trump White House. More here from NBC Latino.
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EPA Greenlights a Nasty Chemical and a Month Later, it Poisons a Dozen Farmworkers
In March, the EPA abruptly changed its stance on chlorpyrifos, a highly toxic pesticide, greenlighting it instead of banning it. The decision, among the first major ones made by Scott Pruitt in his tenure as EPA chief, caused outrage in public health circles. The result? On May 5th, more than 50 farmworkers outside of Bakersfield, CA were exposed. According to reports, twelve people reported vomiting and nausea, and one fainted. Fearing ICE agents, many left before receiving any medical attention. More here.
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Cárdenas Checks Sessions
Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) checks AG Jeff Sessions on his recent directive resurfacing mandatory minimums. In an op-ed for The Hill Latino, he highlights the challenges many Latinos face with tense encounters with law enforcement, recounting his own experience being pulled over by the LAPD after he graduated from college and being asked, "what gang are you in?" The congressman writes, “The attorney general’s decision directing federal prosecutors to more zealously charge individuals with the most serious crimes possible and increasing the use of mandatory minimum sentences will negatively impact young people, disproportionately impact communities of color and raise taxpayer costs.” Read the full piece here.
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Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) delivering remarks next to HBNA President Pedro Torres Díaz during the organization's Advocacy Day on the Hill last Thursday. | |  |
Conservative commentator Tara Setmayer officially joined ABC News as a political commentator, making her debut on Saturday's Good Morning America. | |
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Melissa Harris-Perry Beefs with NABJ
Melissa Harris-Perry, who had a public split with MSNBC last year, lashed out at the cable news outlet when the National Association of Black Journalists announced it will honor Yvette Miley, MSNBC’s Senior Vice President of Talent and Diversity. The NABJ said, “Miley was early in identifying the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement, the impact on the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the unrest in Ferguson (Mo.).” Harris-Perry responded in an e-mail to the org: “You MUST be kidding right? She is the one who identified Trayvon Martin’s importance? ... Where is the part where she systematically fired, dismissed and gaslit black folk in national media while hiding behind the white boys at MSNBC? Please remove me from the NABJ mailing list.” More here.
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Fox News Fires Bob Beckel for Allegedly Making Racist Remark to Black Employee
Fox News Channel is parting ways with Bob Beckel, the co-host of its primetime program, The Five. “Bob Beckel was terminated last week for making an insensitive remark to an African American employee,” the network said in a statement. Douglas Wigdor, an attorney who represents several current and former employees who have alleged racial discrimination at Fox News in a lawsuit, said in a statement that Beckel allegedly “stormed out of his office” when an African American IT employee came to service his computer, “telling our client that he was leaving his office because he was Black.” Wigdor alleged Fox News executives tried to get the employee to withdraw the complaint. More here.
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HuffPo Aims to Win Over Trump Supporters
HuffPo’s Lydia Polgreen is the first woman of color and openly gay person to take the helm as Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post. One of her goals? To win over Trump supporters. In an interview with HuffPo, Polgreen says, “I think you need to look in a more holistic way at what the bucket of people who voted for Trump actually looks like ... I think there’s actually a much broader group of readers who voted for Trump because they felt frustrated by business as usual.” She goes on to say, I have a very clear sense of who should be outraged in our audience, and that’s ordinary people who are wondering what the big powerful institutions that govern their lives are up to. That’s where we aim our outrage machine.” More here.
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Florida Memorial University President Dr. Roslyn Artis last week presented the parents of Trayvon Martin with a posthumous degree in his honor. | |  |
On Saturday, Sybrina Fulton (mother of Trayvon Martin) hosted a Circle of Mothers retreat in Miami. The organization is comprised of mothers who lost children to gun violence. | |
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Cornell William Brooks Out at NAACP
On Friday, the national board of the NAACP voted to dismiss the organization’s president, Cornell William Brooks, after only three years, pledging a “systemwide refresh” at the nation’s largest and most storied civil rights group, in order to confront President Trump more vigorously. Mr. Brooks, who said in an interview that he was “baffled” and saddened by the decision, will leave the organization at the end of June when his contract expires. The group will search for a new leader while Leon W. Russell, the chairman of the board, and Derrick Johnson, the vice chairman, head up day-to-day operations. More here.
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NAACP’s Transition to the “Next 100 Years”
Getting right to work, NAACP, Board Chair Leon Russell and Vice Chair Derrick Johnson penned an op-ed for NBCBLK explaining the organization's course forward. In it they write that as the NAACP reimagines itself, they want to be formed in the likeness of the people they serve. “Amidst this transformation, one thing will never falter -- our steadfast and unmovable commitment to fighting for justice and equality for our community. The times may change, but the NAACP has never been readier to face them. We will continue to advocate for the advancement of communities of color in this country, stronger and more resilient than ever before. Today is the first day of our next 100 years.” Read the full piece here.
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Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) poses with graduates after delivering the commencement address at WG University in Nevada. | |  |
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) presented the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library with the Network Library of the Year Award last week. | |
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| IL Votes to Make Obama Birthday a Holiday
Members of the Illinois House on Friday voted 87-0 in favor of a bill that would recognize President Barack Obama's birthday, making August 4th an honorary holiday. A similar proposal -- which would have given state workers a day off for Obama's birthday -- was voted down in the House in March. The current bill would create Barack Obama Day in honor of the former president, "who began his career serving the people of Illinois in both the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, and dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Americans." More here.
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| President Barack H. Obama Freeway
The California state Senate on Friday moved forward with plans to name a stretch of the Ventura Freeway -- running between the Glendale and Pasadena areas in Los Angeles -- after President Barack Obama. The proposal, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 34 to one, now heads to the state Assembly. Freeway signs with Obama's name would only be erected after enough money from private donors is gathered. More here.
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Reverend Joseph Lowery with Valerie Jarrett backstage at Spelman Colege on Saturday. Jarrett delivered the commencement address to the 2017 graduates. The Hidden Figure, pioneering physicist and mathematician Katherine G. Johnson, received an honorary degree as well. | |  |
April Ryan received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater Morgan State University on Saturday. She was joined by former congressman and Morgan State University Board Chairman Kwesi Mfume and former VP Joe Biden, who delivered the commencement address. | |
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Neal Kaytal Warns That the Trump Admin or Congress Can Still Stop Mueller
Neal Katyal, the former Acting U.S. Solicitor General and the lawyer who we just witnessed argue against Trump’s travel ban before the Ninth Circuit, warns that the Trump administration or Congress can still block former FBI Director Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump team’s possible collusion with Russia. How does he know? He wrote the rules. In an op-ed for the WaPo, Kaytal writes that the acting AG (for the purposes of the Russian investigation, Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein) can stop the special counsel “for any investigative or prosecutorial step” that is “so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices that it should not be pursued.” Just like most relationship statuses in DC, it’s complicated. Click here to read the full explanation.
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58,000 Haitians Await Trump Admin Decision on Their Fate
After the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the United States government extended a seldom-used lifeline to Haitians who fled to the United States -- Temporary Protected Status or TPS. Under the program, a foreign country is designated for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent their nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. More than 58,000 Haitians registered for the program, many in South Florida, which has the largest Haitian community in the country. But that safeguard could end soon. By tomorrow, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly is expected to announce whether these Haitians’ TPS will expire on July 22nd or extended again. If he does nothing, it automatically extends six months. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote a letter last week to Kelly, as well as to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asking for an extension. More here.
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Ted Lieu Creates Cheat Sheet for Trump’s First Foreign Trip in Office and Introduces the SWAMP Act
As Donald Trump embarked on his first foreign trip in office, Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) was kind enough to offer his thoughts on what the president should keep in mind. "As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I created this simple sheet for Trump’s first overseas visit," he posted Friday on Facebook. Some tips he wrote included: "DON'T leak classified information, Israel = ally/Russia = not ally, DON'T talk about a Muslim ban with the Saudis. Actually, don't talk about banning Muslims ever again." Last week, the congressman introduced the Stop Waste and Misuse by the President ― or SWAMP ― Act. If passed, taxpayers would be reimbursed for the millions of dollars they spend on Trump’s trips to his own properties. More here.
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Counterterrorism expert Malcom Nance with Joy Reid on Saturday. | |  |
Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) poses with members of the military for Armed Services Day on Friday. | |
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Black-owned Construction Company to Replace Pipes in Flint
W.T. Stevens Construction, a Black-owned construction firm with about 25 employees, has been awarded a multi-million dollar service contract to replace more than 18,000 lead corroded pipes across the city of Flint, Michigan. The company is one of just four companies recently contracted under a court order to complete the project. Two months ago, a $97 million settlement (from both state and federal funds) was approved by a federal magistrate mandating that thousands of pipes be replaced. Additionally, the state of Michigan has committed to reserving an additional $10 million in case the job requires it. More here from Blavity.
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Kaepernick Memorabilia to Display at NMAAHC
Eminent sociologist, author, and activist Harry Edwards, who helped to curate the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s most recent sports exhibit, Game Changers, feels that Colin Kaepernick, too, needs pride of place at the Smithsonian. He reportedly donated to the museum late last year a collection of items related to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback. The items include a game jersey, some shoes, and a picture. The Kaepernick items are not currently on display, but the museum’s curator of sports, Damion Thomas, said that he expects new material in their collection will be rotated into exhibits in one to two years. More here.
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The Lawyers’ Committee Issues Report on Sessions’ First 100 Days
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law released a report on Friday evaluating AG Jeff Sessions’ first 100 days at the helm of the DOJ. The report is the first in a series by the Lawyers’ Committee entitled “Where Is Justice,” evaluating the department’s work -- or lack thereof -- on key civil rights matters. “The rapid downward trajectory of civil rights enforcement under United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions in his first 100 days in office cannot be ignored. Attorney General Sessions has shown a disregard for minority communities that rely on the Justice Department to protect their rights and enforce key civil rights laws on issues ranging from voting rights, policing reform and criminal justice,” President and Executive Director Kristen Clarke said in a statement. Click here to read the report.
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Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Val Demings (D-FL) pose with members of the military during Armed Forces Day on Friday. | |  |
Friends gathered on Friday to wish s happy birthday to Yebbie Watkins, CoS to Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC). | |
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Mayor de Blasio Honors Hasan Minhaj
Earlier this month, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio honored comedian Hasan Minhaj at the Asian Pacific American Heritage reception held at Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence. This year, Minhaj became the first Indian American to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Blasio presented Minhaj with a proclamation that declared May 10, 2017, as ‘Hasan Minhaj Day’ in the city. “In our country, we are dealing with two different narratives -- the nativist narrative and the immigrant narrative. I am fighting for the immigrant narrative where regardless of creed, color, class, sexuality, gender, this is the meritocracy and the great place for ideas to rise to the top. If you have a great idea based on merit, this is the great marketplace for ideas, and I am going to continue fighting for that,” Minhaj said to loud cheers and applause. More here.
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Catch The Beat Every Week As We Keep it Real with Rev. Al Sharpton
In these unusual political times, the breaking news banner is now a permanent fixture on the cable news networks. It can be challenging to keep up with the headlines. That’s where The Beat comes in! Our quick daily read is the wokest rundown of all the happenings in politics and policy in communities of color. Now you can catch us every week on Keepin' It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton. The Beat’s Tiffany D. Cross and Rev. Sharpton will tackle what’s happening on Capitol Hill and how it impacts the rest of the country. Tune in every Tuesday at 1:20P on XM channel 126. More here.
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Journalists of Color Honored at Multicultural Event
The Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner was created in 2016 to honor and salute luminaries and highlight the need for greater diversity in telecommunications. This year’s honorees include Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA); Suzanne Gamboa, NBC Latino; Traci G. Lee, NBC Asian America; Joe Madison, Sirius XM - Radio Journalist of the Year; Juan Williams, Fox News; and Dr. Ben Chavis, National Newspaper Publishers Association. This year’s dinner takes place on Thursday, May 25th and is being planned by former American Express executive, David Morgan. Last years’ honorees included actor Jamie Foxx, Richard Lui from MSNBC, Victor Shiblie, Publisher of The Washington Diplomat, Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks, Armstrong Williams, Owner of Howard Stirk Holdings, and a host of trailblazing multicultural media correspondents.
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| FOMO Tuesday, May 23rd, 6:30P: A conversation about Race in the Internet, with PBS' POV and the New York Times, in NYC. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, May 24th, 9A: The Raben Group sponsors a policy breakfast with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). 1341 G St, NW. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, May 24th, 6:45P: CAMBA sponsors an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event at the Washington office of Hogan Lovells, featuring Khizr Khan, noted speaker at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The event will also feature a panel discussion focusing on the challenges facing the Asian American community. Click here to register. Thursday, May 25th: Vote It Loud sponsors the second annual Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner at the National Press Club. By invitation only. Thursday, May 25th, 6P: Atlanta mayoral candidate Ceasar Mitchell hosts a fundraiser at The City Club of DC (555 13th Street, NW). Click here for RSVP info.
Thursday, May 25th, 6:30P: The Native American Staff Association hosts a meet-and-greet. Romeo & Juliet Garden Cafe, 301 Mass. Ave NE. For questions contact: nativesonthehill@gmail.com
Thursday, June 15th, 8A: The Hill sponsors a Latina Leaders Summit. Participants include Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Click here to RSVP.
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