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| Another morning when we wake up to tragedy. Teenagers and their parents were apparently victims of a suicide bomber who struck an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester England. The world mourns and our president, the leader of the free world, calls the attackers "losers." Back home, the soap opera that is this administration continues. Today's drama includes the White House's newly released budget that slashes benefits to the poor, the increasingly troubling Russia investigation with the former National Security Adviser pleading the fifth, and the First Lady having none of that faux-affection from the President as cameras catch her swat away her husband’s hand. As the world turns, here’s what else is happening:- The Islamic state has claimed responsibility for a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England that killed 22 people.
- DHS Secretary John Kelly extends stay for Haitians but tells them to start packing.
- SCOTUS knocks down NC districts as illegally based on race so blatant that even Justice Clarence Thomas agreed that the map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Yes, fam. CLARENCE THOMAS.
- Fox News Channel's African American on-air personality breaks her silence.
- Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke stole some words.
- A TX mayor sues the state over sanctuary city law.
- Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) stands up for Black girls.
- The NY State Legislature forms AAPI taskforce.
- Broderick Johnson takes the Path Forward.
- Black Feet Nation ratifies water compact with federal government.
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| The Beat DC Podcast
On this week's podcast, The Beat's Jamal Simmons talks with former State Department official Nayyera Haq about Trump's first foreign trip. Haq is uniquely positioned to offer insightful perspective of this administration's standing on the global stage. Check it out here.
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Making America Great on the Back of the Poor
Donald Trump is well on his way to make America great again. According to his budget, this includes slashing benefits to the poor. The White House’s $4.094 trillion budget request for fiscal 2018 calls for cuts that hit Medicaid, food assistance, and other anti-poverty programs. It would cut funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides benefits to the poor, by roughly 20 percent next year. Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, contends that the spending plan, “A New Foundation for American Greatness,” is focused on protecting taxpayer money and cutting spending on programs that are ineffective or encourage people not to work. According to him, that includes shrinking programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the modern version of food stamps, which grew rapidly after the financial crisis and had 44 million beneficiaries in 2016. More here.
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Menéndez and Booker Talk ACA Repeal Today
Today at 10:30A, Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) will join Voto Latino, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), and NLIRH to highlight the ACA repeal and the effects on communities of color. They plan to call on Senate Republicans to work with Democrats to improve the current healthcare system instead of repealing it. You can watch the livestream here.
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| On Monday night, guests celebrated the marriage of NALEO President Arturo Vargas and Michael Fitzgerald, a district judge in California. The wedding took place in LA last year and they just got to celebrate with friends last night. They were toasted by Janet Murguía, president of NCLR; Brent Wilkes of LULAC; CNN political contributor and Dewey Square's María Cardona; Ingrid & Catherine Pino Durán of D&P; AT&T’s Susan Santana; Silvia Aldana, PG&E; Former Obama appointee Alejandra Castillo; Google’s Stephanie Valencia; Mónica Gonzales; USCCR’s Karen K. Narasaki; Angela Manso, and a host of other friends and family. Congrats to the happy couple!
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DOJ Narrows Scope of EO on Sanctuary Cities
On Monday, the DOJ asked a federal judge to reconsider a ruling which blocked Donald Trump's attempt to cut off federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities, citing a new memo from AG Jeff Sessions. In the new memo, the AG defines the cities narrowly -- as places that "willfully refuse to comply" with federal law. Sessions also made clear the threats apply only to a modest pool of grants administered by the DOJ and the DHS, not the entire stream of U.S. funding for states and localities. A federal judge in California last month blocked a key part of that order, reasoning that the Trump administration had overstepped by threatening to yank federal money from those places. More here.
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Cummings Says Flynn Lied About Info Provided in Security Clearance
The top Dem on the House Oversight Committee says documents he's reviewed suggest that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn lied to federal security clearance investigators about the source of payments he received from a Russian state-sponsored television network. Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) says Flynn told the investigators during an early 2016 security clearance review that a trip to Moscow was "funded by U.S. companies." Cummings says the actual source of the funds was "the Russian media propaganda arm." More here.
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Trump supporter Katrina Pierson and Trump staffer Lynne Patton at a Trump property in DC last week. | |  |
María Teresa Kumar and her husband Raj enjoyed a double date on Sunday night to see Prairie Home Companion. | |
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Haitians Granted Reprieve But Admin Says Start Packing
More than 58,000 Haitian nationals in the U.S. since a 2010 devastating earthquake will be allowed to legally stay for another six months, but Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said those enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program -- and the Haitian government itself -- should start making plans to eventually return to Haiti. “(This extension) should also provide the Haitian government with the time it needs to prepare for the future repatriation of all current TPS recipients,” Kelly said. More here.
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They Tried to Silence Maxine Waters. Again. Haven’t They Learned?
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) was in the middle of a rousing speech against Trump on Saturday night in Los Angeles when she was approached by a man who appeared to work for the convention center. "Hey, leave her alone," audience members shouted as he interrupted to speak to her privately. "That's all right, that's OK -- they try to shut me up all the time," Waters quipped to loud cheers as she continued to speak. But apparently the contractor hired to handle audio for the event disagreed and the sound from her microphone was cut off shortly thereafter, sending the room of about 300 people into confusion. That didn't stop Waters. As a few voices shouted in anger, she got down from the podium, telling the audience they could still have a conversation. She finished her speech from the floor, as the crowd chanted "Impeach 45." More here.
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SCOTUS Smacks Down NC Districts as Illegally Based on Race
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that North Carolina illegally packed Black voters into two voting districts. In a 5-3 ruling, the justices affirmed the decision of a lower court. That ruling said North Carolina officials used race as the predominant factor in drawing district lines without a compelling reason when they created two districts -- the 1st District and the 12th District -- with majority-Black voting-age populations. Both of those districts are represented by CBC members. Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) represents the 1st District, while Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) represents the 12th District. It was so blatant that even Justice Clarence Thomas agreed that the map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Yes, fam. CLARENCE THOMAS. More here.
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Artist Prince Royce with Congressman José Serrano at the Bronx Ball on Saturday. | |  |
Symone Sanders and Julie Mason were ready to hit the cable news circuit but a fire alarm canceled their segment. | |
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DCCC Puts Duncan Hunter in Their Crosshairs. Will That Help Bring Campa-Najjar Back to DC?
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) unveiled 20 new targets on Monday, bringing the total number of districts in their crosshairs to 79. Among them is Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who is dogged by accusations of improperly using campaign funds for personal expenses such as airfare -- including for his family’s pet rabbit -- and his children’s school tuition, along with video games and jewelry. This possibly clears the path for one of his challengers, Ammar Campa-Najjar, who is the first Latino Arab American to run for Congress. Campa-Najjar, who grew up in San Diego, has a Mexican mother and a Palestinian father. He previously worked in the Obama White House, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and as a Public Affairs Officer at the Department of Labor. Serving as his own campaign manager, Campo-Najjar joins four other Dems looking to unseat Hunter. More about Camp-Najjar here.
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Blue Words Matter
Last week, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke announced that he will be joining Donald Trump's administration as Assistant Secretary in the Department of Homeland Security. CNN reports that he plagiarized sections of his 2013 master's thesis on U.S. security. Clarke, a visible surrogate for Trump during the campaign known for his incendiary rhetoric, earned his graduate degree in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In his thesis, "Making U.S. security and privacy rights compatible," Clarke failed to properly attribute his sources at least 47 times. More here.
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Fox News Channel’s African American Host Breaks Her Silence
The Root’s Jason Johnson spoke to an African American female employee of Fox News. Ebonie K. Williams was recently promoted from regular contributor to co-host of Fox News’ newest show, The Specialists, which debuted this month, airing Monday through Friday at 5P. “What I see as my role, as a current employee in the midst of these horrific challenges and circumstances, is to make change. I have gone to human resources and given them very plainspoken ways in which they can improve upon those dynamics, and ways to make it easier to report those instances.” When asked how it feels to work for a network that consistently gives a platform to racists, she says, “It feels like shit, but I have decided that for me, it has some value to correct the record on occasion. My experience has been that the longer I am in front of the Fox News audience, the more I get that opportunity (to correct the record). A gentle but consistent reminder of what the facts really are.” Read the full piece here in The Root.
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|  | Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) at a mentoring meeting in Bayonne, NJ on Monday. | |  |
Congresman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) greets Omar Blanco, President of the Metro-Dade Fire Department. | |
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Don’t Touch My Hair
Apparently, a Massachusetts charter school was not listening when Solange melodiously sang, “don’t touch my hair.” In a policy that clearly targets students of color, The Mystic Valley Regional Charter School first came under fire earlier this month for its hair -- which ban hair extensions and hair more than two inches in height -- after the parents of twin 15-year-olds Mya and Deanna Cook spoke to local media. They said their daughters had been kicked off school sports teams, banished from prom, and received hours of detention for refusing to change their professionally braided hair. Now the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. has been retained to represent the Cook family. Along with the ACLU of Massachusetts and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice of Boston, the groups are working with partner organizations to take a stand and to help fight back against racist hair policies. They are starting a conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #OurHairOurRights. More here.
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Bonnie Watson Coleman Knows That This is Bigger Than Braids
The charter school in Massachusetts is definitely not the only outlet to enforce racist hair policies. Until recently, the U.S. military had similar policies. They were rolled back after Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) petitioned then- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to reexamine the rules. This time, it is Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, who is coming to the defense of Black girls citing unfair and disproportionate discipline policies. In an op-ed for NBCBLK, the congresswoman highlights national data that shows that Black girls are 5.5 times more likely than white girls to be suspended from school. “This issue is much bigger than braids. The very existence of Black children, inclusive of their appearance, is not an inconvenience. All educators and policymakers, and parents alike must consider the broader policy implications of their actions. This is not just about hair, but the role of school discipline in the futures of all young people and young women of color in particular.” Read the entire piece here.
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Dr. Ivory Toldson, former Executive Director of the WH Initiative on HBCUs, with Clark Atlanta University President Dr. Ronald A. Johnson on Saturday. | |  |
That's Soledad O'Brien riding her horse Sebastian on Sunday. | |
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Obama Advisor Joins the Path Forward
Former Barack Obama advisor Broderick Johnson has joined the Path Forward Coalition. Path Forward highlights the important role the service industry plays in our economy, empowering millions of people with the jobs, tools, benefits and skills they need to start, learn and build lifelong careers. As the nation’s largest employer, with over 30 million service sector jobs, they have more entry-level jobs than any other industry in the country. Workers at restaurants and retail stores have access to educational offerings, formal training programs, and opportunities to advance. Johnson is also Chair of the Board of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. He previously served as Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary to former President Obama, and Chair of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force. More about Path Forward here.
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Republican Immigration Bill Threatens to Turn Millions of People Into Criminals Overnight
The Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, which appeared in a tweeted photo of White House strategist Steve Bannon’s policy agenda, would see immigration violations traditionally treated as civil infractions transformed into criminal violations, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Speaking before Judiciary Committee members, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said the provision would “turn millions of Americans into criminals overnight.” Debate on this and two other bills -- which will bring sweeping changes to the nation’s immigration enforcement apparatus -- will continue today at 10A. Watch the hearing here.
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Blackfeet Nation Ratifies Water Compact with Montana
In what the Blackfeet Nation is calling their most important development in a century, a majority of tribal members approved the Blackfeet Water Compact and Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act with Montana and the federal government. The compact confirms the tribe’s water quantity and rights, and the tribe’s jurisdiction and its authority to manage those rights on the reservation. Montana’s legislature ratified it in 2009, Congress approved the bill, and it was signed by President Barack Obama in January 2017. The compact provides $422 million in federal funding for water-related projects on the reservation. Montana contributed an additional $49 million. The money will become available to the tribe over a number of years. More here.
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Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) met last week with 502nd Air Base Wing Commander Brigadier General Heather L. Pringle and team. | |  | On Friday, the Hispanic Bar Association Foundation had its 20th-annual PASOS event at American University's Washington College of Law. | |
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| Texas City Sues the State Over Sanctuary City Legislation
The latest battle over undocumented immigration in the Trump era is unfolding in Texas, where a small border town is suing the state over SB4, a new law that bans so-called "sanctuary cities." Critics argue the legislation is unconstitutional and will trigger racial profiling. But Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended the law and blasted opponents who argue that the legislation is anti-Latino. My wife is the first Hispanic first lady" of the state, he said. "They have absolutely nothing to fear.” The town of El Cenizo -- about a half hour's drive south of Laredo -- has 3,800 residents. About 20 percent of them are undocumented immigrants. Mayor Raúl Reyes (pictured) is suing the state of Texas after lawmakers passed SB4. “(The new law) hinders the relationship between police departments and the community," Reyes said. "It decreases the criminal activity reports. It opens up the door to more domestic violence and more sexual assaults against immigrants that would go unreported. And that's dangerous." More here.
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NY Legislators Form Asian Pacific American Task Force
The New York State Legislature is getting its first task force to work on issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie joined community leaders and elected officials, including New York's only two Asian American state lawmakers -- Assemblyman Ron Kim and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou -- in the New York City borough of Queens on Thursday to kick off the Asian Pacific American Task Force. Officials said the nonpartisan body aims to tackle a range of issues, from disease to mental health to poverty, that disproportionately affects AAPI communities. More here from NBC Asian America.
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Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) speaking with a local media outlet about the Russia investigation. | |  | Freedom Caucus Founder Congressman Raúl Labrador (R-ID) received the Club4Growth "Defender of Economic Freedom" Award. He's only one of 31 MOCs to receive it. | |
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Callers Threaten to Lynch Congressman Green
At a town hall on Saturday, Congressman Al Green (D-TX) played recordings of serious threats against him. There is a sense the threats should definitely be taken seriously. He said the threats came en masse after he called for the impeachment of Donald Trump on the House floor earlier this week in light of the James Comey debacle. “You’ll be hanging from a tree,” one caller said in the recordings Green played. “You ain’t going to impeach anybody. Try it and we will lynch all of you,” said another. Others called Green a nigger. Green persists, saying that he would not be deterred. “We are not going to be intimidated. We are not going to allow this to cause us to deviate from what we believe is the right thing to do and that is to proceed with the impeachment of President Trump,” he said. More here.
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Mississippi Legislator Says Politicians Who Destroy Confederate Symbols 'Should Be Lynched’
Speaking of lynched ... A Mississippi state legislator wrote an incendiary Facebook post over the weekend in response to the removal of Confederate symbols in New Orleans. Rep. Karl Oliver, a Republican from Winona, MS suggested that leaders of the city "should be lynched" if they intend to "destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY." The full post reads: "The destruction of these monuments, erected in the loving memory of our family and fellow Southern Americans, is both heinous and horrific. If the, and I use this term extremely loosely, "leadership" of Louisiana wishes to, in a Nazi-ish fashion, burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED! Let it be known, I will do all in my power to prevent this from happening in our State." He later offered his version of an apology. As of May 20th, New Orleans has removed from public view four monuments that commemorated the confederacy, but the statues have not been destroyed. The city's Mayor Mitch Landrieu has defended the act, saying the city has moved to "correct" history. More here.
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|  | LendUp's Jotaka Eaddy, Former White House Ed czar David Johns, and the Value Partnerships Team, including Joshua DuBois, Michelle DuBois, and Nicholas Wiggins hosted a private screening of the documentary film STEP last week. | |  |
Jason Tangenco, Executive Director of NaFFAA, received the APAICS Trailblazer Award, last week with speaker Gloria S. Chan. | |
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Students Protest Mike Pence at Notre Dame
College students do not appear to be fans of this administration. After the students at Bethune-Cookman University booed Omarosa and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, VP Mike Pence was subjected to quieter protests at the graduation ceremony at Notre Dame on Sunday. Student activist organization WeStaNDFor executed the silent protest, grabbing their belongings, swiftly turning their backs, and exiting the event in a single file line the moment Pence opened his mouth. The VP continued his speech without addressing the public silent treatment, and university officials were mum, having previously stated that they were sure the new graduates would express themselves in a respectful manner. More here.
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Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) spoke with students from Lerner Jewish Community Day School during their visit to DC last Thursday. | |  |
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) participated in a community discussion on healthcare in her district last week. | |
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| FOMO Today, 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, 11A: Health and Fitness Expo, sponsored by Congressman Mark Veasey (D-TX). Rayburn Foyer.
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. Wednesday, May 24th, 8:30A: Breakfast reception and fundraiser with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Avenue, NW. RSVP to: events@cbcpac.org
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: Reception and fundraiser in support of Ceasar Mitchell for Mayor of Atlanta. The City Club, 555 13th Street, N.W. RSVP to: meredith@ceasarmitchell.com
Thursday, May 25th, 6:30P: The Native American Staff Association hosts a meet-and-greet. Romeo & Juliet Garden Cafe, 301 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. For questions contact: nativesonthehill@gmail.com Wednesday, May 31st, 6P: Reception in support of Marilyn Mosby for Baltimore City State's Attorney. City Center, 875 10th Street, NW. RSVP to: mariko@marilynmosby.com
Thursday, June 8th, 7P: STARZ sponsors the DC premiere of Season 4 of the series Power. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. By invitation only.
Wednesday, June 14th, 9A: The Raben Group sponsors a policy breakfast with Vanita Gupta, incoming President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Click here to RSVP.
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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