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It’s going to be a scorcher in the nation’s capital today with temperatures reaching 94. Be sure to wear your flip flops. Donald Trump is definitely wearing his. After spending years as a private citizen spewing an endless amount of opinions on Afghanistan, he has reversed his opinion. Reading from a teleprompter last night, POTUS 45 managed to stay on script and concede that a “big military” approach was needed to prevent the country from becoming a launching pad for terrorism again. He didn’t offer any details regarding how many additional troops would be deployed, he declined to give a timetable, and used the opportunity to throw eclipse-level shade at former President Barack Obama saying, “When I became president, I was given a bad and very complex hand. But I fully knew what I was getting into.” Did ya, though? He also used the opportunity to offer a mea culpa on his Charlottesville remarks that fell short. Read the full transcript of his remarks here. Tensions are still high as evidenced by last night’s Charlottesville City Council meeting that quickly got heated, as residents shouted down the Mayor and Council members and took over the Council chambers in protest over the Unite the Right rally. Another protest took place last night, but this one was on the football field. A dozen Cleveland Browns players took a knee in prayer during the national anthem before Monday night's preseason game against the New York Giants. And today in Alabama, Birmingham will choose their next mayor. The race appears to be between progressive candidate Morehouse grad Randall Woodfin and incumbent Mayor William Bell. We’ll keep you posted. Can’t wait for the tipsheet? Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Did you guys enjoy the eclipse yesterday? It felt super communal. Mark your calendars now. The next one takes place April 8th, 2024. Here’s what we’ve got today:
- CBC Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA) talks Omarosa, ALC, and kicks off #RootingOutRacism
- Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) wants probe of Bureau of Prisons abuse allegations.
- Congressman Rubén Gallego (D-AZ) talks Trump’s trip to AZ today and what he thinks is the real motivation behind potential Sheriff Arpaio pardon.
- Omarosa says HBCU conference still happening.
- Native American candidate looks to flip TX congressional district.
- Latino Dem joins race to unseat Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX).
- Former NAACP president gets new university gig.
- APALA makes history in naming new president.
- Top editor at LA Times ousted.
- NMAAHC adds Colin Kaepernick material to museum’s Black Lives Matter collection.
- Ex Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson calls slavery "good history."
- Minneapolis names first Black police chief.
- DOJ aims to make Native American communities safer.
- Wanna know what happened when two white girls wore #MAGA hats on Howard U's campus? Check out the blogs section.
- The wife of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Louise Linton, posted an incredibly tone deaf Instagram post hashtagging her $10K+ fashion choices. Here’s a hashtag she’d like to forget: #LintonLies. She is the same B-list actress who was criticized for drafting a work of fiction that she tried to pass as an autobiographical account of her time in Africa which perpetuated the White savior narrative. Check out the Instagram story below in blogs.
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Aisha Moodie-Mills and the staff of the Victory Fund taking a field trip to the National Mall to view the eclipse. | |  |
Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham's (D-NM) DC staff taking in the eclipse from the Capitol. | |
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CBC Talks Omarosa, ALC, and Rooting Out Racism
The CBC has kicked off a campaign to #RootOutRacism. In a call with reporters yesterday, CBC Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Vice Chairs Karen Bass (D-CA), and André Carson (D-IN), and Caucus Secretary Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) detailed their plan, which includes federal policy the caucus has introduced and The Beat DC has highlighted. The Caucus also calls on the WH to fire advisors Sebastian Gorka and Stephen Miller. Richmond also said that he does not anticipate that the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation would be extending an invite to anyone from the Trump administration to participate in this year’s Annual Legislative Conference which takes place September 20th-24th. He did not say who the Foundation has named as this year’s keynote. Responding to a question about the HBCU conference, Richmond offered this: “Omarosa is still pretending she has influence with this president. I’m just surprised that she’s still there as an African American woman.” To see the CBC’s plan of action to #RootOutRacism, click here.
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Gallego Says Pardoning Arpaio Would Pave Way for Don Jr. Pardon
Congressman Rubén Gallego (D-AZ), Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair Jevin Hodge, and Democratic National Committee CEO and Arizona native Jess O’Connell addressed the media ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to Phoenix today. When asked about the rumor that Trump is considering pardoning embattled Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Gallego said, "The president himself believes he's above the law and it does not surprise me he thinks Arpaio is above the law. It would be a disgrace to the office of president, which at this point we should be used to." Gallego also stated that this could lower the standards for pardons, perhaps paving the way for a pardon of Donald Trump Jr. "He's going to want to pardon his sons at some point or another." Get more here from The Hill.
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Podesta Group's Oscar Martínez with his wife, Google's Stephanie Valencia, taking in the eclipse. | |  |
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin got to see the full eclipse in South Carolina. | |
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HBCU Conference Forges Ahead
After reading The Beat DC’s exclusive story highlighting conflict around the HBCU conference, BuzzFeed’s Darren Sands was on the story. He emailed Omarosa about the troubles and she replied, “President Trump’s commitment to the HBCU community remains strong and unwavering. Registration is currently at capacity and we are looking forward to welcoming HBCU presidents, students, and guests.” At capacity? Not according to what sources are telling The Beat DC. While the official conference website directs registrants to a waiting list, we attempted to book a room at the host hotel and had no issues as they were not sold out. On Monday, we reported that after Trump’s Charlottesville comments, HBCU presidents had begun to pull out of the 2017 National HBCU Week Conference which is scheduled to take place just outside of DC on September 17th-19th. Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC), Co-Chair of the HBCU Caucus, called for the conference to be postponed. On Friday, Thurgood Marshall College Fund President Johnny Taylor sent a letter to Omarosa echoing the Congresswoman’s sentiments and was joined by WH Policy Council’s Ja’Ron Smith who also recommended the conference be postponed. Darren picked up the story here.
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Velázquez Probes Bureau of Prisons on Alleged Sexual Abuse
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) spearheaded a letter to the Bureau of Prisons on Monday asking for answers regarding the agency’s policies and data collection pertaining to sexual assault in correctional institutions. Her letter, which was signed by 12 other lawmakers, follows a recent NYT story exposing a history of sexual abuse by guards at the Metropolitan Detention Center, which is located in Brooklyn -- the Congresswoman’s district. “The reported sexual assault incidents at Metropolitan Detention Center raise questions not only about how that facility is run, but about what safeguards the Bureau of Prisons has in place to prevent sexual assault,” Velázquez said. “We need a better sense of what led to the abuses at MDC, whether these problems are widespread throughout the federal prison system and whether these crimes are underreported.” Read the letter here.
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Soledad O'Brien on Saturday hanging out with Ice-T in LA. | |  |
CA congressional candidate Sam Jammal taking a break from the campaign trail last week to try a little fencing. | |
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Native American Seeks to Flip Texas’ 3rd District
The President and CEO of Holisso Hakv Inc., a mergers and acquisitions advisory consulting firm, has announced his run for Congress. J.D. Colbert, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, kicked off his campaign on Monday to represent the 3rd congressional district in Texas. Voters there haven't elected a Democrat in 50 years, but the banker and business leader is counting on a shift in demographics to send him to DC. “America is in the crucible of seismic demographic transition. The impending death of the White majority and the rise of a more diverse New America is the fundamental cause of divided America and is the basis of the divisive cultural Wars,” said Colbert, who is also a descendant of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The district is currently represented by Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), who is retiring. At least three candidates besides Colbert have announced their intentions to run. More here.
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Another Joins Race to Unseat Hurd
On Friday, Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) got another Democratic challenger: Rick Treviño, a teacher from San Antonio who ran for its City Council earlier this year and narrowly missed a runoff. He had the backing of Our Revolution, the group headed by Nina Turner and aligned with former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. He joins Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, and Jay Hulings, a former prosecutor and ally of Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX), and his brother, former HUD Secretary Julián Castro. Former Congressman Pete Gallego is also considering running for his old seat. Manny García, the Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party, said the only role the local and the national party have in primaries is administering them. He said their job is to talk to Hurd’s constituents and hear their concerns -- “just like Hurd isn’t.” More here.
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Omarosa and other White House staff taking in the eclipse. | |  |
AURN's April Ryan on the South Lawn of the White House getting ready to view the eclipse. | |
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Former NAACP President Gets New Gig
The Boston University School of Theology and the Boston University School of Law have announced that Reverend Cornell William Brooks, former president and CEO of the NAACP, will join both faculties as a visiting professor of Social Ethics, Law, and Justice Movements for the 2017–2018 academic year. Brooks is expected to teach one course each semester that will be offered to students enrolled at either school and will also be available for activities such as lectures and seminars, with a particular focus on theology and/or law. His fall semester 2017 course, titled “Violence, the Vote, and Hope: An Examination of Ethics, Law and Justice Movements,” will allow students to explore efforts to secure the right to vote and end racialized violence through advocacy in the streets, from the pulpit, and through the courts. More here.
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APALA Names New National President
During the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) annual conference in Anaheim, CA, the organization elected Monica Thammarath as its new President. At 31, Monica becomes the youngest and first-ever Southeast Asian American to lead the organization. Monica currently leads Asian American Pacific Islander outreach for the National Education Association and their three million members. She will continue in her capacity at NEA and wear both hats. Prior to the NEA, the UC Berkeley graduate was the education policy advocate for the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), where she oversaw the organization’s education program. The daughter of refugees from Laos was born and raised in San Diego. She recently completed her Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in policy analysis at American University’s School of Public Affairs. Congrats, Monica! More about her here.
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Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) back home in his district on Sunday speaking with anchor Jackie Nespral. | |  |
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) on Friday at the Queens Jewish Community Council's annual testimonial dinner. | |
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The March on Washington Film Festival Names Executive Director
Samantha Abrams has joined the March on Washington Film Festival (MOWFF) as Executive Director. In this role, Samantha will be responsible for leadership of the organization which includes overseeing MOWFF's strategic direction, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. MOWFF, a production of The Raben Group, increases awareness of the events and heroes of the civil rights era and inspires a renewed passion for activism using the power of film, music, and the arts. Before joining MOWFF, Samantha was responsible for strategy and development at the Black Women’s Health Imperative. Prior to joining the Imperative, the Bowie State graduate served as a consultant to government interest companies, nonprofit associations, and business owners. During her 17 years in corporate and nonprofit roles, she became a seasoned expert in creating successful for-profit and nonprofit partnerships, leading corporate social responsibility initiatives and fundraising. She is also a successful co-owner of her local family restaurant. Congrats, Samantha! More about her here.
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LA Times Top Editor Davan Maharaj Ousted
In a dramatic shake-up Monday morning, the parent company of the LA Times ousted top Editor and Publisher Davan Maharaj, who had been serving in both roles since spring 2016 and had been with the paper since 1989. The Chicago-based Tronc company brought in two media executives, Ross Levinsohn from Fox News and Yahoo News, and Justin Dearborn, a Tronc executive. The executives say that among other things, they want more DC coverage, more Asia and South America coverage, and to be more competitive with East Coast papers such as the NYT and WaPo. The new leaders come into a news organization with low morale after years of management changes. In an email to staff, Maharaj said, “During the last 28 years, it has been an honor working with the best journalists in a great American newsroom. They are indomitable, and I wish them well in their continued fight to serve our community. I'm proud of the work we've done.” No word on his next move. Managing Editor Marc Duvoisin, Deputy Managing Editor for Digital News Megan Garvey, and Assistant Managing Editor of Investigations Matt Doig were also let go on Monday morning. More here from the LA Times.
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Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) on Monday at an eclipse viewing party in South Carolina. | |  |
The Leadership Conference's Vanita Gupta with Valarie Kaur earlier this month in Oak Creek, WI to commemorate the fifth anniversary of a shooting at the temple. | |
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Kaepernick Joins Black Lives Matter Exhibit at NMAAHC
In May, we told you that Colin Kaepernick would be getting his own place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Well, now we know where he will be placed. Items related to his national anthem protest and his other efforts to call attention to racial inequality and police brutality will be displayed as part of a Black Lives Matter collection. "The National Museum of African American History and Culture has nearly 40,000 items in our collection," Damion Thomas, the Washington museum’s sports curator, said in an email to USA Today. "The Colin Kaepernick collection is in line with the museum's larger collecting efforts to document the varied areas of society that have been impacted by the Black Lives Matter movement." More here.
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New Mexico congressional candidate Deb Haaland on the campaign trail on Sunday meeting business owner Steven Paul Judd. | |  |
A DIY tip from astronaut José Hernández yesterday on one way to safely see the eclipse. | |
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Katrina Pierson Says Slavery is Good History
Disclaimer: The following story actually happened and is not an outtake from Jordan Peele’s Get Out. On Monday morning, former Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson appeared on Fox News to argue that the recent trend of rightfully taking down monuments to the Confederacy is stripping away our country’s “good history.” When asked about efforts to remove confederacy monuments, Pierson’s response was, “Those monuments have been there for a very long time and suddenly Nancy Pelosi wants to actually help these anarchists and these violent protesters tear down pieces of America, American culture, and American history.” In a back and forth with Johns Hopkins professor Wendy Osefo, who tried to explain that any iconography honoring the Confederacy is nefarious, Pierson retorted, “It absolutely deserves a place, because bad history is still good history for this country.” “Slavery is good history?” Osefo shot back. “Considering where we are today, where we are today, absolutely,” Pierson finished. Click the image to play the video. More here.
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Gregory Cendana and his sister Jessica on Friday at APALA's annual conference in Anaheim, CA. | |  |
NEA Secretary-Treasurer Princess Moss last week in Eau Claire, WI, meeting with NEA affiliate members. | |
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Minneapolis Names First Black Police Chief
Minneapolis has named its first Black police chief. Medaria Arradondo, a 28-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, was confirmed unanimously by the City Council and was greeted by lengthy applause. The Minneapolis native told council members he was determined to serve "the 400,000 bosses that I'm responsible for." Arradondo, 50, replaces Janee Harteau, who stepped down after the mayor asked for her resignation following the July 15th shooting of Justine Damond, an Australian woman who had called 911 for help. More here.
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Members of the Hispanic National Bar, American Bar, the National Bar associations, and the National Association of Asian Pacific American Attorneys unite last week for fun and fellowship. | |  |
Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) on Saturday with Hampton Roads Mayor Donnie Tuck and Councilman Will Moffett. | |
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DOJ Moves to Help Strengthen Safety in Indian Country
Last week, the Justice Department announced recent developments under the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety to strengthen law enforcement and public safety in Indian country, including the continued expansion of a program that gives tribes access to federal crime data, addressing the opioid crisis, serving victims of sex trafficking, and strengthening investigations into crimes against children. Listening sessions with tribal law enforcement in May and June clarified some of the most pressing public safety issues in Indian country. Among the solutions, the DOJ is expanding the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information, which provides federally-recognized tribes access to national crime information databases for both civil and criminal purposes. TAP supports the selected tribes in analyzing their needs for national crime information and provides access, technology and training. To see other action, click here.
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| BLAH BLAH BLOGS In solidarity with Virginia protesters, activists renew efforts to remove McKinley statue
(Hawaii News Now)
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| FOMOThursday, August 25th, 8P: The film Hidden Figures will be shown as the final movie of the season at the MLK Memorial. Free. Sponsored by The Memorial Foundation and MPAA. 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W. For more information, click here.
Monday, August 28th, 9A: The Collective PAC 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 Tuesday, August 29th, 1P: NAACP President Derrick Johnson speaks at the National Press Club in downtown D.C. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Tuesday, August 29th, 7P: The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) hosts an advanced screening of the movie Dolores, focusing on the life and work of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta. A moderated conversation with Dolores Huerta and filmmaker Peter Bratt will follow the screening. Free but registration is required. Click here for more information and to sign up. Thursday, August 31st: The deadline for scholarship applications of the Native American Journalists Association for high school students entering college, or current college and graduate students. Click here for more information and to apply. Click here for more information and to apply. Wednesday, September 6th - 7th: The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement's (LCLLA) National Latino Workers Conference and 45th Anniversary Event. Click here for more information.
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, 6:30P: The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts hosts its Noche de Gala. Honorees include actors Lina Esco and Benito Martínez. The Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Invite only.
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. Thursday, September 14th, 7:30P: The Hispanic Heritage Foundation hosts the 30th Hispanic Heritage Awards, Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street, N.W. Invite only.
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. Capital One Arena, 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 Thursday, October 5th, 6P: InnerCity Struggle honors Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) with the Esteban E. Torres Award at the 14th Annual Awards Dinner and Celebration. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. Wednesday, October 10th, 6P: We Act for Environmental Justice's 2017 Awards & Gala honors changemakers New York City Councilmember Costa Constantinides, Native American activist Dallas Goodtooth, The Raben Group's Robert Raben, Hip Hop Caucus Senior Vice President Mustafa Santiago Ali, NYC Council legislative attorney Samara Swanston, and 1199 SEIU Executive Vice President Estela Vázquez. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
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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