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Did anyone see the movie Superman v. Batman? The reviews were pretty bad. It kind of feels like we're watching the political version of that film as Trump starts a Twitter beef with the Freedom Caucus. Apparently he thinks there is someone fresher than his clique.
Who’s snitching? Maybe former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. He has offered an interview to House and Senate investigators examining the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia in exchange for immunity. In the words of Biggie Smalls, he's got a story to tell.
Meanwhile, scroll to the bottom. We've got Omarosa chatting with reporters outside the WH, the only Latino Cabinet pick just moved one step closer to confirmation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) named a woman of color to a senior staff post, and the Library of Congress just named NWA's Straight Outta Compton to the prestigious National Recording Registry. There's a lot happening in these DC streets. But first, let us tell you what's happening with The Beat!
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Communities of color are driving policy in the Beltway and will always count in The Beat. But...maybe not to the 2020 Census. So let's get started with the news. Here's your Friday read...
Communities of Color May Not Count in the 2020 Census
Already underfunded, the 2020 Census could miss Latinos, African Americans and certain other populations at disproportionately high rates because the 10 percent hike in funding for it requested by the Trump administration is not enough. Trump's 2018 budget proposal for the U.S. Census Bureau is lower than what the Obama administration requested for 2017. Congressional underfunding of the Census as what happened in previous years could mean inaccurate counts, particularly of minority communities. More from Patricia Guadalupe here.
NFL Players on the Hill
NFL players Anquan Boldin, Malcolm Jenkins, Johnson Bademosi, and Donté Stallworth were on the Hill on Thursday to build support for their work on criminal justice reform and improving police and community relations. They met with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Mike Lee (R-UT); Congressmen Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), John Conyers (D-MI), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Trey Gowdy (R-SC), Scott Peters (D-CA), and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). More here.
MoCs Introduces Legislation to Protect Safe Zones for Immigrants
On Thursday, Congressmen Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), José Serrano (D-NY), Don Beyer (D-VA), and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced new legislation to expand safe zones to stop immigration enforcement efforts at various public locations. The legislation would prohibit immigration enforcement, including arrests, interviews, searches, and surveillance at "sensitive locations" that include areas such as medical or healthcare facilities, public and private schools, places of worship, courthouses, DMV offices, and locations that provide emergency services. More here.
What Ted Said
What’s beef? Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) lets Donald Trump know one tweet at a time. In his second term, the congressman has called out the administration for a myriad of gripes from accusations of colluding with Russia to questions of mental instability. Lieu found his voice in 140 characters or less and the twitterverse appears to love it. Since the beginning of the year, followers of his personal @tedlieu account have exploded, going from fewer than 10,000 to more than 122,000. The official @reptedlieu account, managed by his staff, is generally more cautious, like Lieu’s former public profile. WaPo profiles him here.
Black44 Hosts Call with DNC Chair Tom Pérez
Next Wednesday, Black44 will host a conference call with DNC Chair Tom Pérez on the new direction for the DNC. Pérez will be introduced by Obama alumnus and NY State Assemblyman Michael Blake, Vice Chair of the DNC. The conversation will be moderated by Natalia Merluzzi, former Counselor to Pérez when he served as Labor Secretary. This call is off the record and only for members of Black44. More details here.
DNC Leadership Makes Case to Georgetown Millennials
Georgetown University hosted DNC Chairman Tom Pérez and Deputy Chair Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) for a discussion on Millennials and the Democratic Party on Wednesday evening. The conversation was moderated by GU Politics Executive Director Mo Elleithee, and covered policy issues of interest to students, as well as DNC strategies for communicating to and engaging young voters. More here.
Trump Meets with Condi Rice
Donald Trump will meet with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House at 10AM today. She recently shared her hopes for the current administration in an interview with the Golf Channel. More here.
The Road to Obama
A joint resolution in the Illinois House that would name Interstate 55 after former President Barack Obama passed by a vote of 6-5 with Democrats approving and Republicans opposing. It has been placed on the calendar order of resolutions. The Regulation, Roads and Bridges Committee approved the bill that would name I-55 the Barack Obama Presidential Expressway from East St. Louis to the Tristate Tollway near Chicago. More here.
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Strategist Cornell Belcher with actress Lisa Raye after taping a segment for a CBS affiliate in Memphis. | |  | Ana Navarro was honored with the Capital Award for Public Service during the 30th annual NCLR Capital Awards Gala on Wednesday night. | |  |
NCLR's Janet Murguía with Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) during NCLR's summit on Wednesday. | |
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In Crowded LA Race, Money Flows to Just Five Candidates
In the crowded field of two dozen candidates vying to replace Xavier Becerra in Congress, the most of the $2.4 million that has been raised since December -- nearly 75% -- has gone to just five campaigns: Assemblyman Jimmy Gómez, Sara Hernandez, Robert Lee Ahn, Alejandra Campoverdi, and Yolie Flores. And an overwhelming majority of that money has come from outside the 34th Congressional District. More here.
WSJ Reporters Demand More Diversity in the Newsroom
Reporters and editors at The Wall Street Journal have signed a letter to management expressing concern about the roles of women and people of color in the newsroom. "Diversity in the newsroom is good for business and good for our coverage," says the letter addressed to The Journal's editor-in-chief, Gerard Baker and his deputy Matt Murray. It was signed by 160 staffers. "We would like to see The Journal undertake a more comprehensive, intentional and transparent approach to improving it." More here.
Omarosa Walks Out on Black Press
Last week, Omarosa walked out of a breakfast meeting she had requested to attend, hosted by the National Newspaper Publishers Association. She became agitated after a reporter asked a question following up on a story stating that Manigault promised the “first interview” with Trump to NNPA President Benjamin Chavis during a Jan. 4th Trump transition team meeting with Black leaders. Omarosa doesn’t dispute having promised the interview. However, she was incensed because the story said she promised Chavis “the first” interview. More here.
From the Corner to the Classroom -- Learning The Wire
The University of Pittsburgh's School of Law will host a course titled Crime, Law and Society in The Wire. The course will focus on the political, social and legal impact the series has had on society and will use HBO's The Wire as a text to study many of the most important and intractable problems in the criminal justice system in the United States today, including drug enforcement, race, confessions, police manipulation of crime statistics, mass incarceration, use of force, gender, criminal organizations, gun violence, and honesty and accountability in law enforcement. It’s all in the game. More here.
Black Women’s Agenda
The Black Women's Roundtable, a national civic group led by Melanie Campbell, released its fourth-annual report today about African American women in the U.S., providing a "prescriptive agenda" of key political, economic, and social issues that impact the nation's 23 million Black women, their families, and communities. When polled, top issues for Black women include jobs, quality education, and affordable healthcare. See the full report here.
Sanders Names Woman of Color to Senior Staff Position
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has named Britt Weinstock as Staff Director on the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The Georgetown MA /Howard Ph.D. graduate previously worked as Senior Health Policy Advisor for Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI). Fun fact, she’s married to former Hill staffer and The Group’s Darrel Thompson. More about Britt here.
Two BET Execs Step Down
BET President of Programming Stephen Hill is leaving BET after 18 years. Connie Orlando, Senior VP for Specials, Music Programming and News, will take over as interim head of programming at BET. EVP Head of Original Programming Zola Mashariki is also exiting the network. BET CEO Debra Lee announced the transition to staff Wednesday afternoon. More here.
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|  | IPG & The Advertising Club of NY hosted their first-ever summit on Black Women in Advertising. Pictured: Carol's Daughter's Tai Wingfield, CHWA's Carol H. Williams, FCB's Vita Harris, NBA's Pam El, MSNBC's Joy Reid, SoulTranSync's Jocelyn Carter-Miller, and BET's Jeanine D. Liburd. | |  |
Attendees pose for a selfie during CBCF's AVoice Heritage Foundation celebration on Wednesday. | |  |
HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson throwing a pitch in Dallas on Thursday during his listening tour. | |
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Two Potential Challengers for Cruz
Congressman Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) signaled that he's planning to challenge Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), setting up what some are calling a longshot bid against the former Republican presidential candidate seeking re-election in 2018. O'Rourke says he plans to make an announcement today. Eager ears are still waiting to hear from Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX), who has also hinted at challenging Cruz. More here.
Straight Outta Compton…Straight Into the Library of Congress
First, it became the basis for an Oscar-nominated movie. Now, Straight Outta Compton -- the groundbreaking album from rap group N.W.A. and a one-time flashpoint in the nation's culture wars -- has been selected for the prestigious National Recording Registry. The album was one of 25 additions to the registry announced Wednesday by the Library of Congress. More here.
To Rubio -- From Russia with Love
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) says that a hacking attempt was made against former members of his GOP presidential campaign team. Speaking Thursday at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election, Rubio says his campaign team was targeted during the election and again within the past 24 hours from an unknown Internet address in Russia. More here.
Latino Dems: Dump Border Wall, Improve Healthcare
Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Robert Menéndez (D-NJ) signed on to a letter with 42 other Dem colleagues urging the Trump administration to abandon efforts to continue trying to repeal ACA and instead work with Democrats on a bipartisan effort to improve the law. The senators met with Latino members of the press on Wednesday to say they're also pushing back on a border wall. More here from Patricia Guadalupe.
Succeeding on Capitol Hill as a Woman of Color
The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA), and the Congressional Black Associates (CBA) today will host a Tri-Caucus brown bag lunch to discuss best tips and practices for succeeding on Capitol Hill as a woman of color. Attendees will hear from women of color who are CoS and Legislative Directors from both chambers who will give their advice and success stories on navigating through the Hill.
Tri-Caucus Professional Development Tracks
The Tri-Caucus is also joining the Senate Black Legislative Caucus to host a series of professional development panels. On Wednesday, April 19th, the groups will discuss how to become a staff assistant. On Thursday, April 21st, they will discuss how to become a Legislative Correspondent. And on Friday, April 22nd, they will discuss how to become a Legislative Assistant.
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|  | Maricela and Maritza Huerta of The Twins PR with Ana Navarro at the NCLR CAP Awards on Wednesday. | |  | Nathalie Rayes of Grupo Salinas with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh at the NCLR Awards on Wednesday. | |  |
LCCHR's Wade Henderson, NCLR Board Chair Renata Soto, and HACR's Cid Wilson at the NCLR CAP Awards on Wednesday. | |
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Michelle Obama Surprises Students This Week
Former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised students from Browning High School during their visit to the Sidwell Friends School -- where Sasha Obama attends. A week-long cultural exchange program brought the Browning students to DC, where they were doing an exchange centered around Native life back in their home state of Montana. FLOTUS44 was reportedly already on school grounds for a meeting with her daughter's counselor when the head of school asked her if she would come meet the nine visiting students, to which she said yes. More here. Travel Ban Slapped Down By Hawaii Courts. Again.
A federal judge in Hawaii, District Judge Derrick Watson, who temporarily blocked Donald Trump's revised travel ban hours before it was set to take effect, issued a longer-lasting order Wednesday night. During a hearing, the judge issued a 24-page order blocking the government from suspending new visas for travelers from six Muslim-majority countries and from halting the U.S. refugee program. Hawaii AG Douglas Chin argued that even though Trump's revised ban has more neutral language, the implied intent remains. He likened it to a neon sign flashing "Muslim Ban," which the government hasn't turned off. More here.
Seattle Is Not Having It
On Wednesday, the city of Seattle filed suit to clarify an executive order signed by Trump that would end funding for so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with federal immigration officials. Asking a federal district court judge to declare that the city is acting in accordance with federal law, the lawsuit also asks the judge to declare that Trump’s order is an unconstitutional violation of the 10th Amendment by attempting to force the city to enforce federal immigration law. More here.
Apple Stays Green
Apple Inc. is one of the companies sticking by its pledge to fight climate change even as Trump guts Obama-era environmental policies. Companies say their pledges, coordinated by the Obama administration, reflect their push to cut energy costs, head off activist pressure, and address a risk to their bottom line in the decades to come. Obama’s former EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, oversees Apple's green initiatives. More here.
“That Was Some Weird Sh*t”
According to three people present for Donald Trump’s inauguration, those were the words uttered by former President George W. Bush after departing the scene. The only brief assessment of Trump’s inaugural after leaving the dais he offered? “That was some weird shit.” More here.
Locked Up Abroad: Mexican AG in US Prison
Edgar Veytía, the attorney general for the Mexican state of Nayarit, was in a federal jail in San Diego on Wednesday night on charges of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and meth, according to court documents. He was arrested Monday at a border crossing near San Diego after he was flagged for an open federal warrant issued in New York. More here.
Stamp of Approval
The U.S. Postal Service and the National Hispanic Cultural Center celebrate the issuance of a new series of stamps dedicated to the influence of Central and South American, Mexican and Caribbean foods and flavors on U.S. cuisine. The dedication ceremony for the Delicioso Forever Stamps will be held in April at the cultural center in Albuquerque, NM. Artist John Parra designed the stamp artwork under the direction of Antonio Alcalá. More here.
State Department: Venezuela is Acting Up
This week, the Organization of American States in DC concluded two days of meetings focused on the precarious political situation in Venezuela. “The Government of Venezuela resorted to procedural antics, ad hominem insults, and a combative stance, but they failed in both of the sessions to prevent member-states from stating their concerns about the state of Venezuela’s democracy and failed to prevent member-states from proposing means by which the OAS can now support a peaceful resolution to the situation in Venezuela,” said a senior State Department official. More here.
Latino Lawyers: No to Gorsuch
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has come out against the confirmation of Colorado Judge Neil Gorsuch for a SCOTUS spot. “MALDEF’s decision to oppose the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court stems from troubling indications in his judicial record that he does not understand or that he does not appreciate the legal concerns of the Latino community,” said MALDEF President Thomas Sáenz. Click here for MALDEF’s full statement.
NCLR Honors Leaders
NCLR on Wednesday honored Mayor Martin Walsh of Boston, Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, and Republican strategist and political commentator Ana Navarro with the Capital Award for Public Service, during the 30th Annual NCLR Capital Awards Gala, which recognizes elected officials on both sides of the aisle who promote policies and legislation that positively impact Hispanic Americans. More here.
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Indigenous people from the Tohono O'odham ethnic group protest against Trump's intention to build a border wall. The US-Mexico border runs through more than just the deserts of Sonora and Arizona. For the TohonoO'odham, it divides their people.(AFP Photo/PEDRO PARDO) | |  |
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) defending women's access to healthcare during Thursday's Title X fight. | |  | Attendees enjoying the Hispanic National Bar Association kicking off its annual corporate counsel conference in Miami, FL on Thursday. | |
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| Videos of the Day
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| A group of current and former NFL players visited Congress Thursday to tell them -- again -- to act on criminal justice reform and community policing. That's NFLPA's Joe Briggs in the background.
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| Angela Rye defends President Barack Obama against racist comments by Joe Walsh on CNN on Wednesday.
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| Flashback Friday: Omarosa speaking on the meeting between the CBC and Donald Trump.
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| FOMO
(Fear of Missing Out) March 31st, 6:30P: A Celebration of Women with Johnnetta B. Cole as she prepares to retire from the National Museum of African Art. DJ Sabine Blaizin, Afro-fusion band Eme and Heteru, and vocalist Loide Jorge turn up the volume for an evening of African music, dance, and art. Click here for more info.
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