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The White House is a dump. According to Golf Magazine, that’s how the president of the United States describes his new home when explaining his repeated visits to the Bedminster, NJ golf course (the WH denies this report). Taxpayers aren’t inclined to provide golden toilets to the candidate who claimed to be the voice of the working class. In healthcare, the struggle continues. After Trump’s threat to cut off subsidies, known as cost-sharing reduction payments, which reimburse insurers for cutting deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for millions of low-income people, the GOP is maneuvering around the president toward bipartisan legislation to shore up insurance markets under the ACA. At the WH, CoS John Kelly still has his job and is reportedly setting some stern rules and protocols in the West Wing. One report claims that he and Defense Secretary James Mattis made a pact to never leave the country at the same time so someone could always be around to keep tabs on Trump. Speaking of keeping tabs, Special Investigator Robert Mueller has added to his team a former DOJ lawyer who specialized in targeting illegal foreign bribery. On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed Christopher Wray as FBI Director. Oh, and did anybody watch CNN last night? Apparently, Trump’s WH worked with Fox News and a wealthy Republican donor to concoct a story about the murder of DNC staffer Seth Rich, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. Republican businessman Ed Butowsky, who hired a private investigator to look into Rich’s death, spoke with Chris Cuomo about it. It was pretty much an SNL sketch. Except -- there’s nothing funny about any of this. Here’s what we’ve got today:
- DOJ to investigate higher ed discrimination -- against whites!
- Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) leads congressional call to save DACA.
- Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) intros sweeping marijuana legislation.
- Former Congresswoman Donna Edwards pondering what’s next.
- Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) agree on most things. So why are the Bernie supporters shading the California senator?
- Word on the street is that Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will be named House Democratic Representative to the United Nations. Stay tuned.
- Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) gets first serious Dem challenger.
- Omarosa’s infamous dossiers have resurfaced, and HBCU leaders have accepted her meeting requests.
- Meanwhile, Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA) fights to save the accreditation of the oldest HBCU in the U.S.
- AG Jeff Sessions calls Black law enforcement “crucial ambassadors” in the community.
- Facial recognition is being deployed to fight visa overstays.
- Accenture fills key inclusion and diversity position.
- Disabled Veterans of America makes history with first African American female commander.
- Court allows state AGs led by CA’s Xavier Becerra to defend key ACA subsidies.
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UnidosUS CEO Janet Murguía last week celebrating with Mickey Ibarra of Ibarra Strategies the 50th luncheon series event of the Latino Leaders Network. | |  |
The Beat DC's Tiffany D. Cross joined Ray Baker, Liz Copeland, and Dr. Greg Carr for Wednesday morning's edition of NewsOne Now with Roland Martin. | |
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Booker Intros Sweeping Legislation on Pot
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Marijuana Justice Act, which would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances, making it legal at the federal level. The bill would also incentivize states through federal funds to change their marijuana laws if those laws were shown to have a disproportionate effect on low-income individuals and/or people of color. The bill is retroactive and would apply to those already serving time behind bars for marijuana-related offenses, and provides for a judge’s review of marijuana sentences. “Our country’s drug laws are badly broken and need to be fixed. They don’t make our communities any safer – instead they divert critical resources from fighting violent crimes, tear families apart, unfairly impact low-income communities and communities of color, and waste billions in taxpayer dollars each year,” Booker said. Supporters of decriminalizing pot say that the laws against marijuana disproportionately impact low-income and people of color. Under current federal law, marijuana is illegal even in states that have legalized it. Eight states and DC so far have legalized marijuana. More here from Vox.
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Grijalva and 156 Members Call on Trump to Protect DREAMers
In a letter sent on Tuesday, Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) led 156 fellow Members in urging Donald Trump to take necessary action to protect more than 787,000 DACA recipients. In addition to continuing to accept requests for DACA, the letter asks the Trump administration to oppose Texas AG Ken Patton and nine other AGs threats to the program; they have issued an ultimatum threatening a legal challenge to DACA unless he ends the program by September 5th. “I strongly urge President Trump and his administration to take immediate action to protect the more than 787,000 DREAMers currently being threatened with deportation and eliminate the painful uncertainty they face,” Grijalva said. “This ultimatum posed to President Trump by a handful of domineering state officials is ... beyond their authority and morally bankrupt would be an understatement. Trump should exert his authority and defend the better interest of our nation by protecting DREAMers.” Read more here.
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Uber’s Bernard Coleman kicking off the Phenomenal Women Campaign and Equal Pay Day for Black Women with Bozoma Saint John on Monday. | |  |
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) last week reading Congressman Jim Clyburn’s (D-SC) book Blessed Experiences. | |
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Bernie Supporters Are Not Feeling Harris
Skepticism about Senator Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) alleged ties to Wall Street and accusations of having a lack of commitment to populist economic issues are weighing down support for the rising star from Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) legion of supporters. A strange accusation, considering the senator has already come out and endorsed most of Sanders' platform in one way or another. In a recent NYT profile of Harris, a high-profile Sanders supporter, National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro waved off Harris’ prospects as a progressive 2020 contender, saying, “She’s not on our radar.” Ms. DeMoro -- if Senator Kamala Harris is not on your radar, you might want to expand your scope. Anyway, some point to Harris' refusal to prosecute now-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin when she was California’s AG for his role in the foreclosure of homes when he was with OneWest Bank, and subsequent donations he made to her campaign, as a basis for their fear that big money donors within the Democratic Party will have considerable sway over Harris. However, many supporters have already cried foul over Mic's perspective in this article. Joy Reid tweeted, "This piece would have been more convincing had it quoted Millennial voters, rather than 3 alt left activists." Daily Kos Founder Markos Moulitsas tweeted, "The alt-left is no longer the Bernie wing. These people are uncompromising extremists with a cult of personality." Check it out for yourself here.
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Edwards Thinking About What’s Next
Former MD Congresswoman Donna Edwards says the road trip she took across 27 states after losing a hard-fought Senate race in Maryland’s Democratic primary last year, was very beneficial and is helping her think what to do next, including looking at a career in academia or even another run for political office. As The Beat DC reported, Edwards recently wrote a letter to her former colleagues saying she has multiple sclerosis and pleaded with them to keep provisions of ACA. In her road trip, Edwards logged 12,000 miles in a 25-foot RV she nicknamed Lucille, and along the way met with a variety of Americans and talked about a slew of topics, from healthcare and immigration to where to get the best barbecue in town -- with other RV owners not knowing she was a former member of Congress. “It was just an amazing experience, the vastness of the country and just how beautiful and different it is,” Edwards tells Roll Call. “But it’s the same in some ways once you just start talking to people.” More here.
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Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) on Monday congratulating New Mexico’s National Guard Adjutant General Kenneth Nava on his promotion to the rank of Major General on Monday. | |  |
Spencer Overton on a summer road trip with his son in Ferguson, MO on Sunday. | |
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Mucarsel-Powell Will Challenge Curbelo in FL-26
Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) has drawn his first serious challenger for the 2018 midterm election. The Miami Herald reports that Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who ran a stronger-than-expected state Senate campaign in 2016, will announce at a news conference later today that she is challenging Curbelo. Last month, Mucarsel-Powell traveled to DC for meetings with Emily’s List and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The bilingual Mucarsel-Powell, 46, was born in Ecuador, where she lived until she was 14. That’s when she and her single mother and three sisters moved to southern California before settling in Florida. She has a master's in international political economy from Claremont Graduate University and earned her bachelor's in political science from Pitzer College. After years of working in various nonprofit organizations, including ZooMiami, and for Florida International University, Mucarsel-Powell opened a consulting firm on strategic planning. “I’ve spent my entire life in nonprofits trying to bring change, positive change,” she said. “People are really charged. They’re angry. They’re frustrated. They want change.” Get more here.
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Want to help lead the movement for gun safety in the U.S.? Everytown for Gun Safety wants you to join their team.
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Michelle Gadsden-Williams Joins Accenture as Diversity Lead
Accenture has hired Michelle Gadsden-Williams to lead inclusion and diversity in North America. She will be responsible for further strengthening and accelerating the company’s efforts to foster an inclusive culture. Gadsden-Williams joins Accenture with more than 20 years of experience as an advocate for equality within corporate America and a thought leader around diversity and inclusion. She was a co-founder and CEO of Ceiling Breakers, a consulting organization focused on women’s empowerment and diversity initiatives. Prior to founding her own business, Gadsden-Williams served as the global head of diversity and inclusion at Credit Suisse and as chief diversity officer at Novartis. She has been widely recognized for her work as a diversity practitioner, including receiving the Maya Way Award for Diversity Leadership by Dr. Maya Angelou. Gadsden-Williams received bachelor’s degrees in marketing and communications from Kean College of New Jersey and a master’s in organizational dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. Get more here.
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DAV Makes History With First African American Female National Commander
Retired Army veteran Delphine Metcalf-Foster is the first African American and first female veteran to lead the nearly 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans (DAV), having been elected National Commander of the organization at DAV’s 96th national convention in New Orleans on Tuesday. Metcalf-Foster followed in the footsteps of her father, a Buffalo soldier, by pursuing a career in the U.S. Army. She retired in 1996 after 21 years of service. Metcalf-Foster was injured in January 1991 while serving in Saudi Arabia in support of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. A Vallejo, CA native, Metcalf-Foster has been active within the DAV department of California, becoming the first female commander in the state. “When a man or woman raises their hand and says ‘send me’ when our nation calls, no one knows better than the members of DAV that they’re writing a blank check to our country, and the ultimate payment could be their lives,” Metcalf-Foster said during her acceptance speech. “For those who have sacrificed for our country and their survivors, we must insist on a strong VA and healthcare system to meet their needs. I look forward to continuing DAV’s nearly century-old mission of service as National Commander.” More here.
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FCC Chairman Ajit Pai meeting Monday with Yasmina from Morocco and Sarah from Egypt, who are both part of the Tech Girls class. | |  |
The White House's Jennifer Korn with Miami businesswoman and former RNC State Director of Faith Engagement Lourdes Aguirre and Pastor Paula White-Cain at the WH. | |
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Omarosa’s Dossiers Are Back -- This Time With Entries for Roland Martin and Jamal Harris Bryant
Omarosa’s dossiers have resurfaced. According to The Daily Mail, the Apprentice star turned Special Assistant to the President told Donald Trump that three high-profile personalities are the 'biggest threats to sow discord in the African American community against the White House agenda." Those personalities are April Ryan (which The Beat DC reported earlier this year), TV One’s Roland Martin, and Baltimore pastor Jamal Harris Bryant. Omarosa has denied that she is carefully monitoring the three high profile personalities. “Roland Martin and Jamal Bryant are both friends of my friends,” she reportedly said to The Daily Mail. “Pastor Jamal Bryant has been a friend for many years and even appeared on a reality TV Show that he co-produced and starred in for Trump Productions, the Ultimate Merger, and Roland Martin and his wife are both long time friends who I have immense respect for. April Ryan was a friend for nearly 20 years. Unfortunately our relationship ended after it was disclosed in the WikiLeaks emails that she was unethically coordinating media strategy with John Podesta for the Clinton Campaign.” If anyone is keeping a dossier on the promises the Honorable Omarosa made on the campaign trail regarding this president's commitment to the African American community, we’d love to see it. Get more on this foolishness here.
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HBCU Leaders Accept Omarosa’s Calendar Invite
In an email to Morning Education, Omarosa, Trump's point person on HBCUs, said she is conducting nearly 20 meetings over the next four days at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) conference in Florida. It seems some HBCU leaders are not taking a cue from the Congressional Black Caucus. The Beat DC first broke the news of her invitation last week. Omarosa also said that she is "working closely with the HBCU community in preparation for the official launch of the White House HBCU office,” and that they will have an announcement soon. To date, HBCUs have not seen helpful policy come out of this administration. Moreover, on the heels of the DOJ annoucing that its Civil Rights Rivision will be investigating and suing colleges and universities that have affirmative action admissions policies they say discriminate against white applicants (yep-we've got that story for you below. Keep reading), we're a bit skeptical of the Honorable Omarosa's self proclaimed advocacy for Black communities. But for sake of HBCUs, we would love to be proven wrong here. See the original invite to HBCU presidents here.
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Evans Fights to Save HBCU in PA
Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to Frank T. Brogan, Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, outlining why Cheyney University’s accreditation is crucial. Cheyney University, located just outside of Pennsylvania’s Second Congressional District, is the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the country. After years of financial and enrollment trouble this September, it is on the verge of collapse and in danger of losing its accreditation. “We cannot let Cheyney cannot (sic) collapse under our watch,” Evans said. “Our HBCUs play an incredibly crucial role in the stability and strength of our neighborhoods. If Cheyney loses its accreditation the school will experience a negative domino effect; as enrollment numbers will plummet and keep students from obtaining an invaluable academic education. In order to build stronger neighborhoods block by block, we must celebrate the diversity and rich contributions our HBCUs have made and will continue to make in our communities.” See their letter here.
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The View's Sunny Hostin heading back to NYC after visiting friends in MD in July. | |  |
BET CEO Debra Lee recently with rapper and music producer 50 Cent promoting their new show 50 Central coming out this fall. | |
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AG Sessions Calls Black Law Enforcement Officers “Crucial Ambassadors”
AG Jeff Sessions spoke before a major Black law enforcement group on Tuesday, just days after Donald Trump made some controversial remarks that police shouldn't be "nice” when arresting those suspected of crimes. The White House later said the president had been “joking.” Sessions didn’t directly address Trump’s comments when he spoke at the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), but he did state that police presence in minority communities serves an important role. “You, more than perhaps any other law enforcement organization, represent crucial ambassadors to some of the communities that trust law enforcement the least," Sessions told the officers. African American police officers told CBS News they have a very hard task."We live in some of the same communities that are affected by this disparate treatment. We go to church in those neighborhoods. We go to the barbershops. Certain things people don't realize: It's really hard being Black and being a police officer when these things happen," said Clarence E. Cox III, former chief of Clayton County Schools in Georgia and incoming president of NOBLE. More here.
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The Future is Here: Border Agents Testing Facial Recognition on Immigrants
A new pilot program being used by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officials using new facial recognition technology to help identify those who overstay their visas. The pilot is part of a decades-long push to more accurately identify people who overstay their visas and remain in the U.S. The Hill reports that border agents take photographs of foreign visitors and then use the software to check if the images match a facial scan that travelers submitted to CBP, either through their visa application or when they entered the country in addition to being run through and verified by both law enforcement and intelligence databases. This is starting to go Minority Report. More here.
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Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD) attending the Save a City/Back to School event at the Ebenezer Church of God last weekend. | |  |
NEA Secretary/Treasurer Princess Moss on Monday thanking Marilyn Sneiderman, Lane Windham, and Sheri Davis-Faulkner for promoting women in the labor movement. | |
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DOJ Civil Rights Will Investigate Higher Ed Discrimination ... Against White Applicants
The Abigail Fishers of the world have a new advocate in the fight against equal access to higher education -- the federal government. According to a document obtained by the NYT, the Trump administration is getting ready to redirect resources of the Justice Department’s civil rights division toward investigating and suing colleges and universities that have affirmative action admissions policies they say discriminate against white applicants. Yup. A reminder that as recently at 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that admissions programs can use race as one factor among many, as long as they don’t have blunt racial quotas or race-based point systems. Vanita Gupta, who ran the civil rights division in the Obama administration and is now president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, noted that Trump administration political appointees, not career officials, will run the affirmative action project. “The fact that the position is in the political front office, and not in the career section that enforces antidiscrimination laws for education, suggests that this person will be carrying out an agenda aimed at undermining diversity in higher education without needing to say it,” Gupta said. More here.
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Brittany Packnett with a message for the people. | |  |
IR Media's Jarvis Stewart in a fitting on Monday. | |
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MSNBC Has an Identity Crisis and Diversity Challenges
Mic explores the identity crisis and diversity challenges at MSNBC. The challenges have been amplified with the arrival of some conservative on-air personalities like former Fox News host Megyn Kelly and the departure of some talent of color. The departure of Melissa Harris-Perry and Jose Díaz-Balart -- who was regularly preempted for election coverage -- raised concerns. Díaz-Balart is no longer an MSNBC host but he remains a host on NBCUniversal’s Telemundo and on NBC News. In January, the abrupt departure of NBC News and MSNBC host Tamron Hall, who reportedly decided to leave the network after discovering she would lose her Today show hour to Kelly, prompted backlash for the network. No one Mic spoke to believed MSNBC Chairman Andrew Lack intentionally targeted hosts of color, but four MSNBC insiders said they do not believe Lack actively prioritizes on-screen diversity. MSNBC pushed back on this claim, pointing to diversity among the upper echelons of the company, including Yvette Miley, who heads diversity and inclusion, as well as Rashida Jones who was promoted earlier this year to SVP of Specials for NBC and MSNBC. The Beat DC reported the high ratings Joy-Ann Reid gets on her weekend show, which outperforms Morning Joe. It appears the network has since tried to brand the former Republican congressman as an activist who “speaks truth to power” in some of their promotional videos but some audience members of color aren’t buying it. In the age of Trump, it’s an identity crisis they have yet to figure out. More here.
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Donna Brazile with the famous butcher Dario Cecchini in Chianti, Italy in July. | |  |
New Mexico congressional candidate Deb Haaland with the team from Progressive Change over the weekend. | |
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Court Allows Democratic AGs to Defend Obamacare Payments
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will allow 16 Democratic attorneys general, led by California's Xavier Becerra and New York's Eric Schneiderman, to defend the Affordable Care Act’s subsidy payments to insurance companies, a crucial piece of funding that Donald Trump has threatened to cut. Trump’s frustration with congressional GOP’s inability to repeal and replace Obamacare has led to the president’s threats to stop funding the so-called cost-sharing subsidy -- payments which help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses for low-income Americans. The court's ruling allows Democrats who back the law to have a say in the legal fight, potentially giving them the power to block a settlement. Learn more here.
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CNN’s Don Lemon on the road on Monday heading to the beach with the family. | |  |
Baltimore’s State Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, on Tuesday launching the My Bmore campaign. | |
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Velázquez Presses NYC's Housing Authority on Lead-Based Paint
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) sent a letter to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) asking for information on lead-based paint in the agency’s housing developments -- an issue that is pervasive across the country's public housing. This recent letter follows up on an inquiry Velázquez sent in July 2016. Since then, it has been publicly reported that NYCHA is not in compliance with federal and local lead-based paint rules. “While NYCHA has previously said there’s low risk of contamination from lead, we’ve since heard other troubling facts causing us to question the safety of many of these units,” noted Velázquez. “NYCHA needs to make clear what they are doing to ensure residents’ health.” See her letter here.
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| FOMO Friday, August 4th, 5:30P: Black 44 sponsors a happy hour to celebrate former President Barack Obama's birthday. Invite only.
Saturday, August 5th, 3P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association hosts a tailgate before the DC United v. Toronto FC game. For more info, email James Hauser at: jph86@georgetown.edu
Wednesday, August 9th - 13th: The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) holds its annual convention and career fair in New Orleans. Click here for more information and to register. Thursday, August 10th - 13th: The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute sponsors the 2017 Mississippi Policy Conference in Tunica, MS. Click here for more information and to register. Monday, August 14th, 4P: The Center for American Progress sponsors a panel discussion, "The Power of Black Media and Journalists During the Trump Administration." Click here to RSVP. Wednesday, August 16th - 17th: The annual U.S.-Mexico Border Summit. El Paso, TX & Cuidad Juárez, Chihuahua. Featured guests include keynote speaker Ana Navarro, Republican strategist and CNN analyst. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, August 16th - 20th: The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance holds its 14th biennial convention in Anaheim, CA. Click here for more information.
Friday, August 18th: The deadline to apply for the Poynter Institute and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 2017 Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media, to be held Dec. 3rd - 8th in St. Petersburg, FL. The tuition-free program trains journalists of color to work in digital media. Click here for more information and to apply.
Friday, August 18th - 20th: A weekend on Martha's Vineyard with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and special guests Congressmen James Clyburn (D-SC), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), and Richard Neal (D-MA), and Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). For more information and to RSVP, contact Mariko Bennett: mariko@cocobproductions.com or call 301.741.3443. Monday, August 28th, 9A: The Collective hosts the 2017 Black Power Summit to discuss possibilities, challenges, and plans to capitalize on historic political opportunities and also economic and civil rights challenges the Black community will likely face in the 2018 and 2020 political cycles. For more information, contact Quentin James at: quentin@collectivepac.org
Thursday, September 7th - 9th: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Native American Journalists Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) sponsor the Excellence in Journalism 2017 conference in Anaheim, CA. Click here for more details and to register.
Sunday, September 10th: Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park. MN about her years in the White House. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Monday, September 11th - 13th: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute annual Hispanic Heritage Month conference and awards gala. Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center,1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information.
Friday, September 15th, 9A: Dialogue on Diversity holds its 2017 Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Conference. AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to register.
Saturday, September 30th, 8P: Join Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) for Bruno Mars' 24K Magic Tour. The Verizon Center, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Sierra Kelley-Chung or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Sierra@ABConsultingDC.com
Wednesday, November 29th, 8P: Join Congressman André Carson (D-IN) for JAY-Z's 4:44 Tour. The Verizon Center, 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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