|
|
A fourth bombing Sunday night in Austin has injured two more people. Black leaders continue to raise the alarm, as two people killed in previous attacks were African American and a seriously wounded victim is a 75-year-old Hispanic woman. Law enforcement officials say that they do not have conclusive evidence that race played a role in the bombings, but that they are continuing to explore the possibility. No comment so far from the president. In a weekend Twitter storm, Donald Trump focused on impugning Special Counsel Robert Mueller, continuing his attacks on ousted FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe who was fired on Friday, the “fake news” media, Hillary Clinton, and others. He did not, however, mention another brewing storm. For the first time, a sitting U.S. president is pursuing a $20 million lawsuit against a private citizen, Stormy Daniels, whose highly anticipated 60 Minutes interview is scheduled to air this Sunday. You want to party with the King, you’ve got to sign a non-disclosure. According to reports, Trump may have pressured senior White House staffers into signing NDAs, though they are members of the federal government, not his personal employees. This morning, 45 will release a plan to combat the opioid epidemic that includes the controversial move to use the death penalty for some drug dealers. The news comes as hundreds of millions of dollars in funding that Congress sent to states to combat the opioid crisis remain unspent more than a year later. To the Hill … Congress is facing yet another deadline this week to avert a government shutdown. Lawmakers have until Friday to reach a deal on a massive omnibus spending package to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. Congressional Hispanic Caucus member Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) decided against running for re-election after all. And Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) died early Friday morning. The 88-year-old was the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee and was celebrated for breaking down barriers for female lawmakers during her more than 30 years in Congress. The nation’s capital is preparing to host hundreds of thousands this weekend for the March For Our Lives to combat gun violence. And just in time, Broadway stars Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt announced they plan to donate a portion of the proceeds from their new mashup song, Found/Tonight, to the big event on Saturday. We’re kicking off the week with this...
- Barack Obama kicks off four-nation tour today.
- Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduces bill to protect animals on airlines.
- CBC launches NCAA task force to assist student-athletes.
- Congressmen Ami Bera (D-CA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) launch bipartisan healthcare caucus.
- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) wants women honored on quarters.
- Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke defends “konnichiwa” remark.
- Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) says Donald Trump is no racist.
- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) summon HUD Secretary Ben Carson over mortgage discrimination.
- Top HUD official resigns amid fraud allegations.
- Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) are the go-tos on bipartisan IT legislation.
- Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) wants students to be financially literate.
- Secretary Ben Carson announces he’s fighting waste and fraud at HUD.
- Exclusive! Meet the DCCC’s new Director of African American Media and Deputy National Press Secretary.
- The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators has new leadership.
- TX congressional candidate Verónica Escobar sued by former rivals.
- Activist becomes first undocumented immigrant appointed to statewide post in California.
- NPR adds to its White House team of reporters.
- The money and politics site Sludge announces new hires.
- Speaking of money and politics: the DCCC has a record-breaking February.
- Key cases before SCOTUS this week.
- Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) wants answers to reports that career fed employees were targeted for lack of Trump loyalty.
- Native American groups sue Trump administration over humpback whales.
- Haitians allege racism in a lawsuit against the administration for ending TPS.
- Roll Call’s Nate Gonzales profiles Dan Sena, the first Latino Executive Director of a party campaign committee. And Vogue profiles Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA). Check it out in Blogs.
- Don’t miss The Beat DC’s Tiffany D. Cross today at 1:45P on Fox News’ Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner!
| |
|  |
Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro and his wife Erica last Tuesday in Paris. | |  |
UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on Thursday with Nobel Peace Prize nominee Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh, UN Women Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. | |
| | |
New CBC Task Force Aims to Protect College Athletes
The Congressional Black Caucus has launched an NCAA task force, which will be led by CBC Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), in light of reports that the NCAA violated rules regarding the payment of student-athletes. In addition to Richmond, the task force includes Joyce Beatty (D-OH), James Clyburn (D-SC), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). “The purpose of this taskforce is to assess the treatment of student-athletes, including the extent to which they are able to get a college education, and the money that influences college sports, including the revenue that is generated by the student-athletes themselves,” said Richmond. “In the coming weeks, the CBC will engage college players, coaches, and administrators, as well as leaders at the NCAA to determine what if anything needs to be done at the federal level to ensure student-athletes are getting what they’re giving to our most prestigious colleges and universities.” Richmond, who played college baseball at Morehouse, said the task force expects to meet after Congress returns from its two-week recess in early April. More here.
| |
Ami Bera and Markwayne Mullin Launch Healthcare Caucus
Congressmen Ami Bera (D-CA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on Thursday launched the Health Care Innovation Caucus with Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ron Kind (D-WI). “As a doctor, I know that health care is rapidly changing and it’s important Congress understands new innovations and ideas that can improve patients’ lives and lower costs. The Health Care Innovation Caucus will provide a bipartisan space for these important conversations,” Bera said. Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, stated that, “[o]ld and outdated payment models stand in the way of innovation and quality care. We need to make sure that the federal government doesn’t stand in the way as medical innovation brings health care into the 21st century. I’m proud to be a part of the Innovation Caucus which will serve as a bridge for the novel developments of the medical field as they navigate the pre-digital age laws of Congress.” The lawmakers plan to push federal policies on value-based care models and accompanying technologies -- another step in the federal government's shift away from fee-for-service. However, it’s unclear what role the lawmakers will immediately play. “The main focus of the Health Care Innovation Caucus will be to explore and advance successful, innovative payment models as well as the technologies needed to support these models," the Caucus Co-Chairs said. More here.
| |
Barbara Lee Wants Women Honored on Quarters
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) have teamed up to introduce a bill to have the U.S. Treasury issue quarters -- one from each of the 50 states and the U.S. territories -- in honor of women who have made significant contributions to the United States. The bill directs the governor or executive of each state or territory to recommend a woman and design to the Treasury. “Since our nation’s founding, women have played an instrumental role in shaping this country – even though their sacrifices and accomplishments have often gone unrecognized by history,” said Lee. “This important bill, introduced during Women’s History Month, is designed to correct this historic wrong. By uplifting women on our currency, Americans will have an opportunity to learn more about the unsung pioneers who built the United States.” If signed into law, the quarter program could coincide with the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. More here.
| |
Maxine Waters and Keith Ellison Want to Hear from Ben Carson
Following recent reports of mortgage discrimination in 61 cities, Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) on Friday sent a letter to Financial Services Committee Chairman Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) to request a hearing with HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “As members of the committee it is our duty to examine the findings of this new study, determine whether our federal regulators, including Secretary Carson, have fallen down on the job, and, if so, hold them accountable,“ the members wrote. “Given recent reports that Secretary Carson has proposed removing the clause ‘build...communities free from discrimination’ from HUD’s mission statement, the Committee should also assess whether Secretary Carson disagrees with the HUD Secretary’s statutory obligations under the Fair Housing Act.” Friday’s letter follows a February letter authored by Ellison and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), signed by 38 Democrats, which asked Carson to provide more information on HUD’s decision to effectively suspend the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule. Read the full letter here.
| |
|  |
Vanita Gupta from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in support of non-discrimination among businesses. | |  |
Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) showing off the newest member of the Carbajal family after adopting the pup this weekend. | |
| | |
Cortez Masto Intros Bill to Protect Animals on Flights
Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the Welfare of Our Furry Friends Act (WOOFF) to prohibit airlines from putting animals in danger by placing them in overhead baggage compartments. The bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to create regulations to prohibit the storing of a live animal in any overhead compartment of any flight in air transportation and establish civil fines for violations. “Too many animals have died as a result of human neglect and carelessness,” said Cortez Masto. “The Welfare of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) Act is designed to protect the well-being of our beloved family members—our pets—when traveling.” The bill was introduced following a much-publicized incident on United Airlines, where a flight attendant reportedly forced a traveler to put their dog in an overhead bin for the duration of a flight, and the pet died. More here.
| |
Tim Scott: Trump Is No Racist
In an interview with Politico, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) said he does not think Donald Trump is racist. Reporter Tim Alberta listed Trump’s history of race-based controversies, including housing discrimination suits, the Central Park Five, lying about Obama’s birthplace, Mexican “rapists,” and the Muslim ban, among others, and Scott replied by bobbing his head up and down and said, “I am not unaware of the president’s past.” Alberta asks blatantly, “Do you think he’s a racist?” Scott shakes his head. “I don’t. I don’t,” he replied. “Is he racially insensitive? Yes. But is he a racist? No.” Scott also said he declined to join the Congressional Black Caucus because he did not want to be viewed through the prism of race. Scott also discussed his friendship with fellow Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and the prism with which he views his ethnicity. “God made me Black on purpose. For a specific reason. It has helped me to help others who have been locked out of opportunity in many ways,” he said. Read the full profile here.
| |
Will Hurd and Robin Kelly on Bipartisan IT Initiatives
Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL), who serve as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Information Technology, respectively, have established themselves as go-to partners in crafting bipartisan IT legislation, and they attribute a focus on common goals to their success. “I think the fact that we’re known as being able to work together; that’s a major accomplishment in such a partisan environment. But I would think that the MGT [Modernizing Government Technology] Act is something that’s going to have dividends for years to come. And, while I think procurement is not sexy, it’s going to change the way the federal government operates,” Hurd tells Federal Times. The MGT allows federal agencies to reprogram unused IT budget allocation to fund future modernization projects. “I think that everyone realizes that we need to have modernized technology. We need to be up to date. I think everyone realized that it is expensive, but we have to work out something. And, actually, we seem to have a certain amount of members that have a background in IT, that people have a particular interest also in seeing that we’re successful,” Kelly added. More here.
| |
Joyce Beatty Wants College Students to Learn Financial Literacy
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) want to ensure that students have the necessary tools to plan and make sound financial decisions. Beatty and Stivers, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus, introduced the Financial Literacy College Education Act to provide colleges, universities, and other high institutions of learning with the tools and information to better empower their students to make informed financial decisions. “At a time when U.S college-aged students’ financial literacy rates lag behind those of their peers from a whole host of other countries, I am proud to join forces with Congressman Stivers to introduce the Financial Literacy College Education Act to help instill the financial knowledge and know-how so that more college students can effectively manage their future financial obligations,” said Beatty. More here.
| |
|  |
Activist and former Marine Tayyib Rashid, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Ifty Ahmad meeting on Saturday to discuss immigration and human rights issues. | |  |
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) with Pima County Democratic Party Chair Jo M. Holt in Tucson. | |
| | |
Barack Obama Kicks Off Four-Nation Tour Today
Former President Barack Obama kicks off a tour today of Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan starting Monday. Obama will hold talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his visit from Monday to Tuesday participating in the Bank of Singapore’s Thought Leadership Series. Obama will also convene an Obama Foundation event involving young leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Obama will spend Wednesday to Friday in New Zealand. He’ll meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and participate in separate moderated conversations hosted by the New Zealand-United States Council and his foundation. Obama also plans to see former Prime Minister John Key. On Friday and Saturday, Obama will visit Sydney, Australia, for another New Zealand-United States Council conversation and meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He will attend a marquee function for just 350 guests at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Friday. His visit to Tokyo, the last leg of the four-nation tour, will take place on Sunday. While in Japan, he will attend an international conference but currently has no plans to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, though that could change as the date approaches. More here.
| |
Ben Carson Orders New CFO to Fight Waste and Fraud at HUD
Secretary Ben Carson has announced new measures to protect HUD’s “financial integrity” and correct lax internal processes and controls. Carson has directed HUD’s recently appointed Chief Financial Officer, Irving Dennis, to design and implement a plan and lead an internal task force to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. “We simply need to do better. An updated system of internal controls will provide our agency with greater certainty that the dollars we spend are spent in a manner that satisfies all laws and regulations, and most importantly, the American people,” said Carson in a statement. The announcement came hours before the WH said it was "looking into" the now-infamous $31K dining room set reportedly authorized by Carson and his wife, Candy. More here.
| |
Top HUD Official Resigns After Fraud Allegations
Naved Jafry, a Senior Advisor to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, last week resigned amid allegations that he had inflated his military record, as well as over past fraud accusations, after The Guardian uncovered and reported on both issues. During an interview, Jafry -- whose aliases include Jafari and Jafri -- claimed he was a veteran of the U.S. Army and said he had been deployed to Kosovo. However, when asked about his service, he said that he had been a reservist in the Army National Guard and had been in CA giving “logistics support” to colleagues in Kosovo. A biography on Jafry’s personal website said he had a law degree from National University in La Jolla, CA, but the university said that they do not offer law degrees; Jafry later said he received a Bachelor’s in pre-law studies. The Guardian also uncovered three separate business dealings where Jafry was sued or attempted to be sued. In one instance, a judge ordered Jafry and a fuel company he chaired to repay more than $800,000 to the family of Alfred Oglesby, a former NFL player and investor in the fuel firm, after Oglesby’s widow accused Jafry of fraud. Jafry has not paid the money back yet, and debt collectors said they had been trying to locate him for years. “If he is advising Donald Trump, we’re screwed. We should just surrender to North Korea right now,” David Freedman, an attorney for Oglesby’s family, told the newspaper. More about Jafry here.
| |
Zinke Defends “Konnichiwa” Remark
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is attempting to defend himself after he replied "konnichiwa" to Japanese American Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing. “How could ever saying ‘good morning’ be bad?” Zinke asked reporters following a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday, according to The Arizona Republic. Zinke’s remarks came when Hanabusa had asked Zinke if he would commit to refunding a National Park Service program that offers grants toward the preservation of confinement camps where Japanese Americans were held during World War II. Following the “konnichiwa” remark, there was a brief and awkward silence and Hanabusa corrected Zinke. "I think it's still 'ohayo gozaimasu,' but that's OK," she said. Hanabusa's grandfathers were held in internment camps. The remarks drew immediate backlash across social media. "The internment of nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans is no laughing matter, @SecretaryZinke. What you thought was a clever response to @RepHanabusa was flippant & juvenile," tweeted Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI). More here.
| |
|  | Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) last week sponsored a Hill visit with colleagues and two survivors of the Boko Haram kidnapping, Hauwa and Ya Kaka. | |  | Al Roker last week in NYC with Tamron Hall at an event supporting CityMeals on Wheels. | |
| | |
DCCC Names Director of African American Media and Deputy National Press Sec
Kamau Marshall has joined the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as the new Director of African American Media and Deputy National Press Secretary. Most recently, Kamau was in his second stint on Capitol Hill as the Communications Director for Congressman Al Green (D-TX). He left his position as a Special Assistant to Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) to work in the Obama administration as a Communications Advisor and Speechwriter at the Department of Agriculture. He has also previously worked for Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), the firm SKDKnickerbocker, and the Obama 2012 re-election campaign. After earning both a BA and MPA from Texas Southern University, he got his start in Houston, TX, working on a host of local campaigns. “We’re thrilled to have Kamau join the DCCC team as we move full speed ahead to take back the House. Kamau is a skilled communicator and strategist who will be an important asset for the Committee and our candidates as we work to earn the trust of voters all across the country,” DCCC Communications Director Meredith Kelly said. Congrats, Kamau! More about him here.
| |
DCCC’s Record-Breaking February
In its largest February haul ever, Congressman Ben Ray Luján’s (D-NM) DCCC brought in $10.6 million. Roll Call reports that $3.38 million of the total for the month was raised from online donations, with an average online gift of $18, bringing the DCCC’s online fundraising to more than $50 million so far this cycle; it also has had 300,000 first-time online donors this cycle. The DCCC had $49 million in the bank as of the end of the month. “It’s been clear all cycle long that the grassroots are energized and unified around the goal of taking back the House,” said Luján. More here.
| |
TX Congressional Candidate Sued By Former Rivals
There’s intra-party trouble brewing in West Texas. Verónica Escobar -- who is aiming to become one of the first Latinas to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives -- is being sued by fellow Democrats who allege that Escobar and El Paso County Elections Administrator Lisa Wise committed voter fraud and rigged the election in favor of Escobar. The lawsuit was filed last week by Enrique García, John Carrillo, and former state Representative Norma Chávez, all of whom were challenging Escobar for the Democratic nomination for the 16th Congressional District seat. In a statement, Escobar said that "concerns over voter fraud are serious and should be examined. However, it is concerning that there are accusations being made in a lawsuit without any shred of evidence. If these accusations are proven baseless — as I believe they will be — my concern is that such an irresponsible act will have unfortunately fed public cynicism against our electoral system and may negatively impact voter turnout in a community that already struggles to get voters to the polls.” The lawsuit currently provides no evidence to back up the claims. More here.
| |
Like what you read here? Tell a friend. Want to get a message to tens of thousands of influencers across the country? Email us at info@thebeatdc.com.
| |
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Announces New Leadership
The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) on Friday announced its 2018-2019 leadership team. The newly sworn-in leadership of NHCSL consists of: Puerto Rico Senator Carmelo Ríos as President; Utah state Representative Ángela Romero as 1st Vice-President; Rhode Island state Representative Carlos Tobón as Vice President for Public Policy; Texas state Representative Roberto Alonzo as Vice President for Membership; Utah state Representative Mark Archuleta Wheatley as Treasurer; and Connecticut state Representative Juan Candelaria as Secretary. The NHCSL also signed a historic agreement with Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics to “hold a yearly leadership academy to provide skills training to NHCSL Latina members, and eventually help recruit aspiring Latina candidates for elected office.” More here.
| |
First Undocumented Immigrant Appointed to State Post in California
For the first time, an undocumented immigrant has been named to a statewide post in California. Lizbeth Mateo, an attorney and immigrant rights activist, was appointed to the California Student Opportunity and Access Program Project Grant Advisory Committee, or “Cal-SOAP,” for short -- an advisory committee that seeks to improve access to college for low-income California students. In announcing the decision, California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León appeared to recognize the move as an act of defiance in the face of the Trump administration's current immigration crackdown. "While Donald Trump fixates on walls, California will continue to concentrate on opportunities," de León told The Sacramento Bee in a statement. "Ms. Mateo is a courageous, determined and intelligent young woman who at great personal risk has dedicated herself to fight for those seeking their rightful place in this country." Mateo was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and was brought to LA by her parents at age 14. She didn’t learn English until high school but became the first person in her family to graduate from college. The 33-year-old went on to earn a law degree from Santa Clara University in 2016, passed the California State Bar exam last year and currently has a private practice in the Long Beach suburb of Wilmington. In 2014, California became the first state in the U.S. to allow undocumented immigrants to practice law. “While undocumented students have become more visible in our state, they remain underrepresented in places where decisions that affect them are being made,” Mateo said. “I hope to be able to draw from my own experiences as an undocumented, first generation college graduate, and from experiences of students like myself who are currently navigating or will soon navigate the higher education system.” Congrats, Lizbeth! More here.
| |
|  |
Congressman Rubén Gallego (D-AZ) (center) with tribal leaders James Adakai, Carleton Bowekaty, Clark Tenakhongva, and Terry Knight, representing the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Ute tribes, meeting to discuss saving the Bears Ears National Monument. | |  | Artist Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni and Shondaland's Liz Dwyer last week at a showing of A Wrinkle in Time. | |
| | |
NPR Names Reporter to White House Team
Ayesha Rascoe is joining NPR as the fourth member of their White House team. She joins NPR from Reuters, where she has spent her entire career. She began as an Energy reporter and then expanded to covering energy and the environment. For the past two years, the 2007 Howard University graduate has been covering the White House for Reuters. The Durham, NC native will join Mara Liasson, Scott Horsley, and Tamara Keith, making her the sole person of color on the team. She starts on April 2nd. Congrats, Ayesha! More here.
| |
Sludge Announces New Slate
Sludge, a forthcoming money and politics site from blockchain journalism startup Civil, has added Josefa Velásquez. She comes to the outlet after working at the New York Law Journal. Prior to that, the 2013 University of Albany grad covered politics and healthcare at Politico. She started her career as a Reporter at the Associated Press. She’ll be covering statehouse lobbying in Albany. She’ll be joined at Sludge by Jay Cassano, a veteran of International Business Times (IBT) and Fast Company, who'll be covering secrecy in government actions and technology policy, and Alex Kotch, who also comes from IBT, as well as The Young Turks. He’ll be writing about tax policy, lobbying money, and campaign finance. More here.
| |
|  |
Paris Dennard earlier this month at a Washington Speaker's Bureau event with former First Lady Laura Bush and former President George W. Bush. | |  | Queen Elizabeth II last week at Buckingham Palace with the High Commissioner for the Republic of South Africa, Her Excellency Ms. Nomatemba Tambo. | |
| | |
Coming Up in the SCOTUS
The Supreme Court justices return to the bench this week for oral arguments after a brief, two-week recess. From the remainder of March through April, SCOTUS will consider a number of high-profile cases, including racial redistricting. In addition to hearing two partisan gerrymandering cases, the justices will also hear a redistricting case that involves challenges to Texas' congressional and state legislative districts, which were deemed “racially discriminatory.” The state’s redistricting plans have been before the courts since 2011, and a three-judge panel put forth an interim redistricting plan used during the 2012 elections. The state legislature then adopted the district court’s interim maps in 2013. In August, lower courts invalidated two Texas congressional districts -- one was deemed an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, and the other violated the Voting Rights Act -- and state legislative districts in four counties. Last September, the high court put the lower court rulings on hold while the justices decided whether to take up the case. The Court will hear two cases, both Abbott v. Perez, that were consolidated for one hour-long oral argument on April 24th. Trump’s third iteration of the travel ban will be before the justices on April 25th. More here.
| |
Haitians Sue Trump, Saying Decision To End TPS Was Racially Motivated
A group of Haitian immigrants is among the latest plaintiffs challenging Donald Trump’s decision to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program which protects immigrants from certain countries from deportation. In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in the Eastern District of New York, they argue that Trump and the Department of Homeland Security “employed an invalid and unauthorized process to terminate Haiti’s TPS designation,” alleging that it was racism which influenced the administration’s decision last November to terminate TPS. The decision to end the program, is rooted in Trump’s “racially discriminatory attitude toward all brown and black people,” said Ira Kurzban, one of the lawyers who filed the suit. The suit represents Haitians from the two states with the largest concentration of TPS holders: Florida and New York. The federal complaint is the fourth TPS-related suit -- and the second one filed last week against Trump and the Department of Homeland Security. More here.
| |
|  |
Musician Mark McGrath and his family with fellow Celebrity Big Brother contestant Omarosa and her husband in Hawaii celebrating McGrath's birthday over the weekend. | |  | Newly appointed Indian Country Today Editor Mark Trahant on Thursday at the National Congress of American Indians discussing the future of the outlet. | |
| | |
Native American Groups Sue Trump Admin for Failing to Protect Humpback
American Indian and conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for failing to protect humpback whale habitats in the Pacific Ocean. The suit, filed Thursday in a San Francisco federal court, alleges that Trump's National Marine Fisheries Service failed to designate critical habitat for humpback whale populations after they were again listed as an endangered and threatened species in 2016. The Trump administration said it is considering expanding offshore oil and gas drilling up and down the East and West coasts, including California, where humpbacks migrate every year. Humpbacks often get tangled in fishing gear around Monterey Bay, where the migrating whales come to feed. Vessel collisions have also become a major cause of death outside the Golden Gate Bridge, where 7,300 large vessels pass every year. An estimated 22 humpbacks are killed by ships off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington state each year, according to a recent study. More here.
| |
Cummings Alarmed Admin Targeted Career Civil Servants Over Loyalty to Trump Agenda
Congressmen Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Eliot Engel (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, sent the White House and State Department a letter and new documents, which they received from a whistleblower. The documents and emails show that political appointees targeted career civil servant employees they believed to be ‘Obama holdovers’ who would not support Donald Trump’s agenda. “We have obtained extremely disturbing new documents from a whistleblower indicating that high-level officials at the White House and State Department worked with a network of conservative activists to conduct a ‘cleaning’ of employees they believed were not sufficiently ‘supportive’ of President Trump’s agenda,” Cummings and Engel wrote. The documents include communications with a network of conservative outside parties -- including former Speaker Newt Gingrich, and conservative activist Barbara Ledeen, among others. Cummings and Engel were particularly concerned about Sahar Nowrouzzadeh, a career civil servant who sought assistance from her boss, Brian Hook, the Director of the Policy Planning Staff, to “correct the record” after she was targeted by a conservative news outlet. Instead of helping Nowrouzzadeh, Hook forwarded her email to political officials at the Department, who then forwarded it to officials at the WH and used it as the basis for a wide-ranging internal discussion that questioned her loyalty to Trump. In their letter, the two Democrats requested all documents regarding any reassignment or proposed reassignment of career or civil service employees by March 29th. More here.
| |
| FOMO
Today, 7:15P: A conversation on redistricting with former AG Eric Holder, Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Hosted by the Institute of Politics and Public Service at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. ICC Auditorium at the Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Intercultural Center on the main campus. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Today, 9P: Faith and community leaders from around the country join John Legend for a conference call to discuss NBC’s upcoming production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Live in Concert, airing April 1st. Legend will be playing the role of Jesus and will talk about how the story of this powerful musical is more relevant now than ever. Click here to register for the call.
Tuesday, March 20th, 9A: The Historically Black Colleges & Universities STEAM Day of Action. The Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and STEAM Caucus invite you to join this initiative, which will center around how policymakers, educators, and industry leaders can work together to strengthen STEAM pipelines by investing in HBCUs. Events on and off the Hill. Click here to RSVP.
Tuesday, March 20th, 10A: The Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Foreign Affairs and National Security hosts a hearing-style briefing to examine and investigate the FBI’s report that asserted that "Black Identity Extremists" are likely motivated to target law enforcement officers. Participants include Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA), Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX), and other CBC members. 2255 Rayburn HOB. Free. Click here for more information and to register.
Tuesday, March 20th, 2P: Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Democratic leadership will host a forum to examine issues of school climate, school safety, and violence prevention. U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Room HVC-215. Open to press. RSVP to Stephanie Lalle at EdLaborPress@mail.house.gov.
Wednesday, March 21st, 8A: Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY) participate in The Hill and The Hill Latino "Newsmaker Conversation: Leadership in Action." Editor-in-Chief Bob Cusack interviews them about their values, leadership styles, and vision for the nation. To RSVP, email Keely Sullivan at ksullivan@thehill.com.
Wednesday, March 21st, 10A: The Center for American Progress sponsors, "Latinas in the Resistance," a panel discussion examining the power of Latinas in American society. 1333 H Street, N.W., 10th Floor. Open to press. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Thursday, March 22nd, 5:30P: District Democrats House and Senate Chiefs of Staff Meet and Greet. A career development-focused event where junior staffers can talk with some of the Chiefs of Staffs and hear about how they climbed the Hill ladder. National Democratic Club, 30 Ivy Street, S.E. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Thursday, March 22nd - Sunday, March 25th: The National Hispanic Medical Association 22nd Annual Conference, "Conquistando el Futuro: Clinicians Leading Latino Health Care.” Gaylord National, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD. Click here for more information and to register. Congressional staffers or federal government workers: email pmontenegro@nhmamd.org for a discount code. Thursday, March 29th, 8P: Jazz, hip hop, and soul combine in August Greene, the newly formed supergroup featuring emcee Common, pianist and composer Robert Glasper, and percussionist and producer Karriem Riggins. Kennedy Center. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Tuesday, April 3rd, 9A: The National Civil Rights Museum's MLK 50 Symposium. Scholars, historians, and thought leaders from across the country will present on the state of civil and human rights issues including Moving Memphis Forward, Economic Equity & Justice for All, and The Promise of Education. Moderated by NPR’s Michele Norris. Rose Theatre, University of Memphis, 470 University, Memphis, TN. Free. Click here to register.
Wednesday, April 18th, 6P: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) 2018 Gala and Awards. Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. To purchase tickets, contact Heaven Ocampo, hocampo@maldef.org or 213.629.2512 ext. 143.
Wednesday, April 18th - Saturday, April 21st: The National Action Network hosts its annual conference, this year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Sheraton Times Square, NYC. Click here for more information.
Thursday, April 19th: The University of North Dakota sponsors a conference on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Standing Rock protests. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, April 25th - Friday, April 27th: The African American Mayor Association 2018 Annual Conference. DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. Click here to purchase tickets.
Thursday, June 21st - Sunday, June 24th: The Black Millennial Political Convention, which aims to increase engagement of Black millennials in the political sphere and shed a light on policy issues impacting black communities. This year’s theme is The Advocacy of Policy, Pipeline and Power for the People. Hyatt Regency, Crystal City, VA. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
