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The haunted House of Cards is falling. Where to even begin today? We’ll start with Paul Manafort. He and and Rick Gates, a close associate of Manafort who also worked on the Trump campaign, were indicted on 12 counts, including money laundering. It was also revealed that George Papadopoulos, not Webster’s dad but a former foreign policy advisor to the campaign, secretly pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to the FBI and is now cooperating with investigators. Tony Podesta is stepping down from the Podesta Group after his firm was referenced in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment. And the dominoes keep falling. Netflix announced that Frank Underwood’s reign in DC is coming to an end. They will pull the plug on House of Cards after the upcoming sixth season next year. They say while they are deeply troubled over allegations accusing the show’s star Kevin Spacey of making advances on a 14-year-old in the ‘80s, they were already considering canceling the show. It’s Halloween! Are you scared?? Not as scared as former President Barack Obama is of Michelle, according to former House Speaker John Boehner. In an interview, Boehner credits FLOTUS44 as the reason Obama has not touched a cigarette in years, saying, “He's scared to death of his wife. Scared. To. Death." Oh, and this story about immigration officials snatching a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who had just undergone emergency surgery is not a nightmare. It’s real life. #FreeRosa. We’re kicking off your Halloween with this... - Obama summit kicks off today.
- Defense rests in Senator Bob Menéndez’s (D-NJ) bribery trial after judge denies mistrial motion.
- Senate committee holds hearings today on federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico while House Republicans cancel hearing with San Juan Mayor Cruz.
- Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) returns to DC today as WH Chief of Staff stands firm in false accusations.
- Obama Foundation kicks off its International Summit today in Chicago amid community concerns over the Obama Presidential Center.
- Move over Beyoncé, Michelle Obama has a new favorite song.
- Univisión’s top lobbyist heads to law firm.
- Joy Villa mulls congressional run. Where? Not even she knows.
- Washington state and Texas field new candidates aiming for Capitol Hill.
- New York state could see its first Latina mayor.
- HUD is working on a plan that could bring thousands of displaced Puerto Ricans to the mainland.
- Paul Manafort isn’t the only thing the FBI is investigating. Now, they’re also looking into that Whitefish contract.
- Women’s March organizers named Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year.
- Check out the follow up to the bizarre case of the Miami Beach City Commission candidate.
- The LA Times sat down with NAACP President Derrick Johnson. Check it out in blogs.
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|  | The White House's Rebecca Lee channeling actress Ali Wong with a friend getting ready for Halloween. | |  | Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) on Sunday with MSNBC's Joy-Ann Reid on AM Joy. | |
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Judge Denies Menéndez Defense Motion for Mistrial
U.S. District Judge William Walls has denied the motion filed by attorneys for Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) to dismiss the bribery case against him. Menéndez’s attorneys had asked for a mistrial because they claimed Walls had prejudiced the case by not allowing certain witnesses or certain pieces of evidence to be heard by the jury. "You're not getting it because there's not even palpable merit," said Walls, ruling from the bench and scolding the defense attorneys for what he called "silly" arguments. “For the defendants to feel as though their rights have been for the exclusion of a woman whose name I can’t remember right now — it causes me to lose any respect I have for your judgement as far as remaining legal challenges to what I do,” Walls said. Neither Menéndez nor co-defendant Dr. Salomón Melgen will testify, and the defense has rested its case. Get more here.
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Senate Committee Today Holds Hearing on Federal Response to Hurricane in Puerto Rico
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is holding a hearing this morning to look at the federal response to post-Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and will be hearing testimony from the Department of Defense, HHS, and FEMA, among others. Federal agencies have come under scrutiny for what critics say is a slow response to the hurricane that devastated the island. More than a month after the storm hit, nearly 70% of residents still are without electricity and several sectors are without running water. While not on the official committee agenda, the newly cancelled controversial contract between the island government and Whitefish Energy Holdings in Montana could come up for discussion, as FEMA is one of the agencies that questioned the transaction. Inquiries are ongoing on the issue on both the federal and local (PR) level, and Whitefish has hired former Congressman Dennis Cardoza to lobby on the company’s behalf. More here on the hearing (in Spanish).
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House GOP Cancels Hearing with San Juan Mayor
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Homeland Security was set to hear from San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and FEMA Administrator Brock Long at a hearing tomorrow about FEMA’s preparedness and response capabilities. But yesterday, Committee Republicans cancelled it without reason or rescheduling. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), the Ranking Dem on the committee, was not happy with this and accused the GOP of canceling the hearing to protect the Trump administration and having “no interest in conducting oversight or hearing the truth.” In a statement, Thompson said, "I invited the Mayor of San Juan to testify before our Committee’s hearing on FEMA’s preparedness and response capabilities so our entire Committee could receive an accurate picture of what is happening in Puerto Rico from someone who has been on the ground since day one. It is inexcusable that the Republicans have delayed this hearing for the third time with no rational reason in a blatant attempt to silence the Mayor and shield the Trump Administration from another bad news story. It is clear that House Republicans and the Administration fear the Mayor and her telling her story.” Read his full statement here.
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The Nathan Cummings Foundation is looking for a VP of Finance. Responsible for overseeing the entirety of the Foundation’s finance function, the VP will balance setting a strategic vision for the finance team with a hands-on approach to managing financial operations.
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Obama Summit Kicks Off
The Obama Foundation is kicking off its first global summit today and Wednesday with about 500 folks attending sessions in Chicago on a variety of subjects, with the emphasis on “active citizenship” more than the specific causes Barack Obama championed when he was president. Obama will be joined by former First Lady Michelle, Prince Harry, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dolores Huerta, Chance the Rapper, Common, actress Rashida Jones, Melody Hobson, former Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. This will also be a gathering of major figures in the Obama administration: his Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy; U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice; Senior Advisors Valerie Jarrett and David Plouffe; top Food Policy Advisor Sam Kass; plus Domestic Policy Advisor Cecilia Muñoz. The summit is designed for people deemed by the Foundation to be rising or established leaders. Participants are from 60 nations and 27 states, with 102 participants from Chicago. About 20,000 applied for the 500 slots. Many of the Chicagoans are from the South Side communities near the future Obama Center, to be constructed in Jackson Park (more on that below). Today will be devoted to talking about problems. Wednesday will be a look at solutions to the world’s “most pressing” problems. Some sessions include: The adventure of civility; Getting women in the room where it happens; Civic tech: What’s working and what needs to change; Building entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets; Redesigning civic education for the 21st century, a forum with an emphasis on the Chicago Public Schools; Building the civic leadership pipeline; Organizing and operating at scale. The main venue is the Marriott Marquis, with a dinner tonight at the Museum of Science and Industry and a concert Wednesday night at the new Wintrust Arena near McCormick Place. More here.
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Obama Center Worries Amid Community Discord
As the Obama Foundation kicks off its first star-studded International Summit today, Chicago South Side activists who campaigned to bring the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) to the neighborhood are worried about the atmosphere of infighting within the community that is serving as the Summit’s backdrop. The Community Benefits Agreement Coalition continues its vocal push for a contract that guarantees jobs and a property tax freeze for the neighborhood, while green space advocates are hiring attorneys to fight a proposed above-ground parking garage that they say would significantly cut into Jackson Park’s greenery. All of the objections have left activists who worked to bring the OPC to the South Side concerned that infighting will cause the Center to give up on the project. Michael Strautmanis, the Obama Foundation’s VP for Civic Engagement, said that while there have been accusations of a lack of transparency, he has conducted dozens of small, private meetings to talk about the facility. "We know people want the positive economic impact in the community the center will bring, so we do work with a sense of urgency. We’re moving forward with that in mind,” he said. More here.
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Michelle Obama Has A New Favorite Girl Group
Move over Beyoncé. Michelle Obama has a new favorite tune. A group of young, female students who produced and starred in a music video in which they rap about higher education and their own bright futures has captured the attention of FLOTUS44. She commented on the video, which was posted on the Instagram account of BlackGirlsRock, a nonprofit mentoring organization. “Young Queens – Stay focused. Stay motivated. Never quit. I’m with you, and couldn’t be prouder,” Obama wrote, signing off as “Mo” and adding a high five emoji. And you guys -- the song is lit. Here are a few bars: “I’m talking MBA then PhD/PharmD OB and of course Ed D/I gotta appetite for education/So I’m going to feed it/ And think I’ll start my dissertation because I’ll need it.” The former first lady is not the only one who took notice. Everyone, from P. Diddy to Jada Pinkett Smith, has shared the song on social media. Check out the video here.
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|  | Can you guess who this is? That's none other than Symone Sanders rocking the skeletal look at André Wells' Studio 54-themed Halloween party. | |  | Cynthia Valentine slaying as Lil' Kim and Alix Dejean at André Wells' Studio 54-themed Halloween party. | |
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Becker & Poliakoff Expands Lobby Team
The law firm Becker & Poliakoff has named Bert Gómez as Senior Corporate & Government Relations Director at its DC office. In this role, the noted industry executive will strengthen the firm’s federal lobbying team. Most recently, Gómez served as SVP of Government Relations for Univisión Communications. He opened Univisión’s Government Relations office here in DC and started their PAC. The Cuba native is credited with elevating the office's relationships and influence in the political, policy, and third-party outreach arenas. Before joining Univisión in 2007, he spent more 20 years in varied corporate functions with RJR Nabisco, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Dow Chemical Company. Gómez is a founding board member of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, served two terms on the board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and is also one half of a DC power couple -- he's married to AT&T's Susie Santana. The University of Miami graduate earned his MBA from City University of Seattle. Congrats, Bert! More here.
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Frederica Wilson Returns to Capitol Hill
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) returns to DC today after staying away from Capitol Hill last week over threats she received after feuding with Donald Trump over a call he made to the family of a fallen soldier. The highly public clash led to a series of threats against Wilson, who skipped votes last week because of security concerns. Wilson spokeswoman Joyce Jones said the threats came in the form of “calls, tweets [and] weird things sent in the mail.” Jones declined to describe the nature of the threats, but said the office takes them “very seriously.” WH Chief of Staff John Kelly claimed Wilson had boasted of securing "$20 million" in federal funding to build a new FBI field office in Miami during the dedication ceremony for the building in 2015. He said her remarks focused more on her own actions than the heroism of the two FBI agents for whom the new building had been named. But a video of the building dedication ceremony confirmed that she had not taken credit for the building's funding. In an interview with CNN on Monday, Kelly was asked if he felt like he needed to apologize for his comments about Wilson. He replied, "Oh, no. No. Never. Well, I'll apologize if I need to. But for something like that, absolutely not. I stand by my comments." More here.
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|  | AAPI Data's Alton Wang on Sunday with poet G. YMZWA at a Midwest Asian American Students Union event at the University of Missouri. | |  |
CNN's Juana Summers, Abby Phillip, and Nia-Malika Henderson with WaPo's Vanessa Williams brunching in DC over the weekend. | |
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Villa Mulls Run for Congress
Joy Villa, the musician who infamously wore a pro-Trump dress (pictured) to the 2017 GRAMMYS, has announced that she is mulling a congressional run. But where? Not even she knows. “If I run, I’m going to win,” she told Fox News. She’s looking at Florida, California, or New York because “those are places I live and work and have grown up in.” Villa was appointed to the president’s Campaign Advisory Board -- a part of Trump’s 2020 campaign which is run by Trump daughter-in-law, Lara Trump. Villa’s father was Italian, and her mother is African American and Choctaw. Her father, the late Joseph Villa, was a Reverend, and her mother, Angela Villa, sang gospel. Joy's background has helped her develop “unique perspectives on politics, society, education and Black American culture,” her website says. In addition to being a musician, she is also a vegan health coach, model, and author, as well as a Scientologist. Learn more about her here.
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Mona Das Wants to Rep Washington’s Eight
In Washington state, Democratic congressional candidate Mona Das is hoping to fill a seat being vacated by Congressman Dave Reichert (R), the retiring seven-term incumbent. Most recently, Das co-founded MOXY Money, a mortgage company. Prior to that, the University of Cincinnati graduate held positions with several other mortgage companies. She was born to Indian parents who immigrated to the United States when she was eight months old. Das will face ten opponents in the Democratic primary in August 2018. More about her here.
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Panda Wants to Rep Texas’ 25th
Democrat and economist Chetan Panda is hoping to unseat Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX). Until recently, Panda was an Associate at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he says he was entrusted with handling billions of dollars in retirement funds and leading a program that earned additional revenue for retirees. “I worked to protect and grow the retirement savings of police officers, teachers, and other hard-working Americans," says Panda. His campaign has raised nearly $60,000 for the race this quarter. The Indian American Panda grew up in Austin, TX and says he owes the community everything. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Georgetown University. He will battle it out with fellow Democrats Christopher Perri and Kathi Thomas in a March 6th primary next year. More here.
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Meet the Woman Who May Be New York’s First Latina Mayor
According to the latest data, Latinos make up almost 30% of New York state’s population. So how is it possible the state has never had a Hispanic mayor? Juanita Pérez Williams is planning to change that. She is running for Mayor of Syracuse and has already raised $250K. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego, Juanita earned her law degree from California Western School of Law. She then served five years in the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps, where she handled high-profile criminal cases and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After her military service, she switched coasts and made a home in NY, where she eventually became Assistant AG for the state. After winning the Dem primary in September, Pérez Williams now faces Howie Hawkins, Laura Lavine, and Ben Walsh on November 7th. More here.
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Former Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett with daughter, CNN's Laura Jarrett, and friend Rebecca Williams out celebrating Laura's birthday. | |  |
Actress Rose McGowan and Fox News analyst Jehmu Greene at the Women's Convention in Detroit. | |
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HUD Working to Bring Thousands of Displaced Puerto Ricans to the Mainland
HUD officials have started to develop a plan to provide housing on the U.S. mainland to some of Puerto Rico’s displaced population. According to reports, HUD would be using large cruise ships to move residents en masse. Bloomberg reports that agency officials in the past two days have contacted executives in the housing industry, investment managers with ties to Puerto Rico, and others in an attempt to brainstorm potential solutions. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s request to FEMA for Transitional Sheltering Assistance initiated a larger conversation within the Trump administration about the territory’s future, including conversations involving HUD. More here.
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FBI Investigating Whitefish Contract
The FBI’s San Juan field office is investigating that $300 million contract awarded to the tiny Montana energy firm Whitefish Energy Holdings for rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure damaged in Hurricane Maria. According to several people familiar with the matter, agents are looking into the circumstances surrounding the deal that the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority signed with Whitefish. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló canceled the contract on Sunday, saying it had become a distraction from the U.S. territory’s efforts to restore the devastated grid. Only 30% of power customers on the island have had electricity restored. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, an acquaintance of Whitefish Chief Executive Andy Techmanski, issued a statement last week denying he had any involvement in the company securing the deal. More here.
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André Wells channeling the King of Pop at his Studio 54-themed Halloween party over the weekend. | |  | Uber's Chief DIversity Officer Bernard Coleman with his wife and kids pregaming onHalloween weekend. | |
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Native American Activist and Civil Rights Leader Dies
Dennis J. Banks, the militant Chippewa who founded the American Indian Movement in 1968 and led insurrections to protest the treatment of Native Americans and the nation’s history of injustices against its indigenous peoples, died on Sunday night at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He was 80. Banks first won national attention for declaring a “Day of Mourning” for Native Americans on Thanksgiving Day in 1970. In 1972, Banks and Russell Means organized cross-country car caravans on “Trails of Broken Treaties.” They converged on DC with 500 followers to protest Indian living standards and lost treaty rights, occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs and held out for nearly a week, destroying documents and the premises, until the government agreed to discuss Indian grievances and review treaty commitments. In 1973, after a white man killed an Indian in a saloon brawl and was charged not with murder but with involuntary manslaughter, Banks led 200 American Indian Movement protesters in a face-off with the police in Custer, SD. It became a riot when the slain man’s mother was beaten by officers. His protests won some government concessions and drew national attention and wide sympathy for the deplorable social and economic conditions of American Indians. His life took many turns as he led a worthy resistance that’s too much to capture here. Read a full reflection of his life here.
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Women’s March Organizers Named Glamour’s Women of the Year
Glamour magazine has named the organizers of the Women’s March their 2017 Women of the Year. Tamika D. Mallory, Bob Bland, Carmen Perez, Janaye Ingram, Linda Sarsour, and Breanne Butler grace the pages of the magazine as writers help capture the movement they sparked. “These women, and hundreds around the country, put most everything else in their lives on hold, working around the clock to build websites and marketing materials and, most of all, to make sure intersectionality was a feature, not a bug.” Coming off a successful convention in Detroit over the weekend, the writers note that the anger felt by many women back in January was not an endpoint but rather a beginning. See the full piece here.
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|  | Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) on Saturday arriving in the Florida Keys to look at post-hurricane recovery efforts. | |  | Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) meeting with North Korean dissident Ji Seong-ho. | |
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Exposed -- What’s Up with These Miami Dems?
We told you yesterday about the Miami Beach City Commission candidate Rafael Velásquez, who was accused of exposing himself to his former friend and supporter, Kristen Rosen González. Well, on Monday a second person came forward and accused Velósquez of sexually inappropriate behavior. Local publicist Frances Albán says Velásquez groped her at an event four months ago and then sent her a text message telling her she “felt good." After Rosen González’s accusation, the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party -- which backed Velásquez in next week’s nonpartisan race -- told the Miami Herald it would suspend its digital ads and fliers supporting Velásquez. More here.
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| FOMO
Today, 9A: The New Abolitionism: Symposium on Money Mechanics & A Moral Economy. Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, 9832 Piscataway Road, Clinton, MD. Free. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Wednesday, November 1st: The Pop-Up Magazine performance where writers, radio producers, photographers, filmmakers, and illustrators perform new, mostly reported stories in all kinds of media mixes together. Topics include politics, social issues, music, and crime, among others. Contributors include LeVar Burton, Aparna Nancherla, and Daniel Alarcón. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, November 1st, 6P: Join the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund for the launch of Staff UP Congress, a National Initiative for a Representative Congressional Workforce. Majority Group Townhouse, 19 D Street, S.E. RSVP to:
bmoz@naleo.org
Thursday, November 2nd, 10A: The National Action Network Legislative and Policy Conference Hill Day. Congressional Auditorium, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, First Street, N.E.
Thursday, November 2nd, 6P: Join the Film, Gun Violence Prevention, and Hillary for America alumni communities for a reception in support of Lucy McBath for Georgia House District 37. NYC. Click here for more information and to register. Address provided upon RSVP.
Wednesday, November 15th, 8:30A: The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Chairman Conversation with former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, moderated by Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ken Biberaj. NY Law School, 385 West Broadway, NYC. RSVP to: events@manhattancc.org
Friday, November 17th: The 24th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards to honor visionaries from across the Caribbean. J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. To learn more about the Caribbean American Heritage Awards, visit: www.caribbeanheritageawards.org Sunday, November 19th: The National Portrait Gallery Second biennial American Portrait Gala, honoring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, HIV/AIDs researcher Dr. David D. Ho; artistic director, choreographer, and dancer Bill T. Jones; film director, producer, writer, and actor Spike Lee; and multi-award-winning actress Rita Moreno. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, November 29th, 8P: Join Congressman André Carson (D-IN) for JAY-Z's 4:44 Tour. Capital One Arena, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Courtney Hodges or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Courtney@ABConsultingDC.com
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