Kendrick Lamar stays in heavy rotation in a Congresswoman's office. See who
Kendrick Lamar stays in heavy rotation in a Congresswoman's office. See who
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October 20, 2017
Obama the Movie Coming Soon, Cortez Masto Codes Like a Girl, DNC Drama, and Cory Booker Honored
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Remember when former President George W. Bush was a favorite target of the left? Now, nearly a decade after he left office, he sparks nostalgia for people on both sides of the aisle. Without mentioning Trump by name, both Bush and former President Barack Obama directed pointed criticisms at the current administration in separate appearances on Thursday. More on Obama’s remarks below. Meanwhile, Republicans may be on track to approve a tax package by early next year with the Senate passing a budget blueprint that would protect a $1.5 trillion tax cut from a Democratic filibuster. It still needs to pass in the GOP-controlled House as well. Barring something major, we expect it to get through the lower chamber as early as next week. On Tuesday, Donald Trump will be on Capitol Hill to address GOP senators during their weekly Caucus lunch. There’s a lot to tell you today, but we predict many “out of office” messages as numerous HBCU homecoming celebrations are kicking off. And finally, we can take a break from talking about football. Why? Because during an HBCU homecoming the real battle takes place on the field during halftime when the bands belt out true musicianship and alumni, trying to revisit their youth, pull hamstrings. So, if you’re on a flight to Atlanta, DC, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, etc., make sure you stretch, people.  As The Beat DC’s Spanish-speaking writers say, “¡Vamos a Comenzar!”
  • Obama throws shade without naming Trump and tries to smooth tensions in VA.
  • Lawmakers want VP Mike Pence to reimburse Treasury for NFL walkout.
  • Rumors target ‘Colored Girls’ at the DNC’s Fall meeting.
  • Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Codes Like a Girl.
  • Obama the movie coming soon to a cinema near you.
  • WH COS John Kelly criticizes Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
  • UN Ambassador Nikki Haley calls Russian interference in 2016 “warfare.”
  • Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló asks for equal treatment for island residents.
  • Michelle Obama talks leadership in Austin.
  • Oprah is back on 60 Minutes this Sunday.
  • Senators push for an accurate death toll in Puerto Rico.
  • Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) says women can invite sexual assault ...
  • YWCA CEO Alejandra Castillo shares her vision for the organization.
  • LPAC names Urvashi Vaid as interim Executive Director.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars owner says he knows why Trump is obsessed with the NFL.
  • FCC Chair Ajit Pai pauses review of proposed Sinclair takeover.
  • GQ Mexico edition names José Díaz-Balart its International Journalist of the Year.
  • Meet The Daily Beast’s new Senior Editor.
  • Drug policy reformers honor Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).
  • CA blocks state and local jurisdictions from sharing any personal info on religion with the feds.
  • Silicon Valley, top corporations forming new coalition to advocate for “DREAMers.”
  • We’ve got an edition of Beats By, y’all! We talk Kendrick Lamar with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY).
  • 2016 race between then-Congressman Mike Honda and now-Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) revealed divisions among AAPI voters.
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito at a Capitol Hill rally requesting more aid for Puerto Rico.
Actor Joe Morton who turned 70 this week with Debbie Allen. Morton is currently performing in the play Turn Me Loose, which tells the story of the comedic genius of the late Dick Gregory
Obama Reminds Voters Every Election Counts and Seeks to Smooth Intraparty Tension in VA
During his first campaign appearances since leaving the White House, former President Barack Obama urged voters to remember that every election -- from local to national -- is important. "What matters is what's happening in communities. ... You cannot complain if you didn't vote. If you give away your power and then somebody does things that are contrary to your interest, that's not that person's fault, it's your fault because you did not exercise the power that our Constitution gives us, that people fought for,” Obama said. He hit the stump for gubernatorial candidates Philip Murphy in NJ and Ralph Northam in VA. While on his stop in VA, POTUS44 encouraged voters to channel their frustrations with the current political scenario into turnout for Northam. “We’ve got folks who are deliberately trying to make folks angry, to demonize people who have different ideas, to get the base all riled up because it provides a short-term tactical advantage,” Obama said. “So the question for you tonight for the next 19 days: Do you want a politics of division and distraction, or do you believe in a better kind of politics?” Obama also sought to smooth over the tension arising from Northam’s flier leaving off Lt. Gov candidate Justin Fairfax by extolling Fairfax’s virtues and background. Black voters make up nearly a fifth of VA’s electorate and are key to Democratic success. More here.
Cortez Masto Intros Code Like a Girl Act
Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) joined forces and introduced the Code Like a Girl Act, legislation that will create two National Science Foundation grant programs to encourage young girls to pursue STEM studies. “The idea that science, tech, engineering or math are gendered is patently false,” said Cortez Masto. “We must continue to support young women and remind them there is no limit to their potential and that careers and interests are not determined by gender." According to Pew Research, in 2016, women comprised only a quarter of America's tech workforce. More here.
Michelle Obama Speaks in Austin
This week, former First Lady Michelle Obama joined Spredfast in a moderated conversation at the company’s Smart Social Summit in Austin, TX. Virginia Miracle, Spredfast’s Chief Customer Officer, spoke with Mrs. Obama to a crowd of more than 1200 global digital leaders and 300 students from the Austin community. FLOTUS44 gave advice on how to build trust as future leaders. She conveyed the importance of leading with empathy, positivity, and consistency throughout their lives. She closed her remarks with a call to action for the audience: be kind, be open and be human. More here.
Former Deputy Labor Secretary Chris Lu with OH AG candidate Steve Dettelbach.
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and his staff hamming it up for the camera.
Rumor Targets “Colored Girls” at the DNC Vegas Meeting
After DNC Chair Tom Pérez nominated a diverse list of at-large members, James Zogby -- a key Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) ally and a longtime DNC member, found out he would lose his spot on the party’s executive committee. According to reports, he and other progressives cast the move as a form of retaliation against those who did not support Pérez in his bid for chair earlier this year. DNC Members are in Las Vegas for their fall meeting and Buzzfeed’s Darren Sands and Ruby Cramer report that by Thursday afternoon, a rumor circulated that Zogby and other pro-Sanders Dems wanted to flout Pérez’s picks for at-large DNC members by proposing an alternate slate, one that would swap out three: Leah Daughtry, former DNC convention chair; Minyon Moore, veteran Democratic strategist; and Symone Sanders, former National Press Secretary to Bernie Sanders. By Thursday evening, the rumor changed to Daughtry, Moore, and swapped out Symone for former DNC chair Donna Brazile. This trio is affectionately known as “The Colored Girls,” a self-given moniker for their work within the party on behalf of Black women. Zogby flatly denied the rumor saying he has known these women for decades and would never turn against them. Reportedly, the women all believe him. Yet still, there is frustration among the Black women about why a rumor would target them. “For the life of me I still can't figure out how Black women continue to get the brunt end of the stick in this party," Symone Sanders said. "It's disgraceful." Read the full piece here.
Hurd Holding Strong on Fundraising
In a new financial disclosure statement filed with the Federal Election Commission, Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) reported just over $400,000 in quarterly receipts, thanks in part to support from Google, Facebook, and other tech industry leaders. Hurd had $1.4 million in the bank on October 1st. Hurd's leadership on cybersecurity and technology issues is yielding campaign wherewithal at a time when Facebook and other major tech companies are being scrutinized by the House Intelligence Committee related to Russian meddling in last year's election. Hurd sits on that committee. Nonetheless, Dems have him in their crosshairs. Hurd's district, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, has long been one of the nation's most notable swing districts, and Hillary Clinton won it last year by 3.4%. But two straight victories by Hurd over Democrat Pete Gallego have begun to change the view from outside. More here.
What happens in Vegas ... DNC members in Las Vegas on Thursday for the party's fall meeting.
San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz with BBC reporter Yalda Hakim in San Juan to talk about hurricane recovery efforts.
Eddie Bernice Johnson Says Women Have Responsibility to Protect Themselves from Sexual Assault
As the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations continue to mount, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) weighed in saying she was angry and disappointed. But then her comments took a very tone-deaf turn. She said she also believes women bear as much responsibility for preventing sexual harassment and assault. "I grew up in a time when it was as much the woman's responsibility as it was a man's -- how you were dressed, what your behavior was," she said. "I'm from the old school that you can have behaviors that appear to be inviting. It can be interpreted as such. That's the responsibility, I think, of the female. I think that males have a responsibility to be professional themselves.” Regardless of a woman’s behavior or attire, no one is asking to be sexually assaulted any more than a Congresswoman who is victim blaming is asking to be dragged on Twitter for clearly not understanding sexual predators. "I think we also need to start talking about the power that women have to control the situation. There's law enforcement, you can refuse to cooperate with that kind of behavior. I think that many times, men get away with this because they are allowed to get away with it by the women," Johnson said. The Congresswoman did try and clarify her comments saying she was speaking specifically about adults, does not blame victims, and that she supports women. Actress Mayim Bialik expressed a similar sentiment in a controversial NYT op-ed for which she later apologized. Rape survivor actress Gabrielle Union replied via Twitter with this: “Reminder. I got raped at work at a Payless shoe store. I had on a long tunic & leggings so miss me w/ "dress modestly" shit.” Watch a video of Johnson's comments here and judge for yourself.
Silicon Valley, Top Corps Forming New Coalition to Advocate for “DREAMers”
Google, Microsoft Corp, Facebook, Intel, Uber, IBM, Marriott, Univisión, and other top U.S. companies are in the midst of forming the Coalition for the American Dream to push Congress to act on legislation to protect “DREAMers,” according to documents seen by Reuters. Some of the companies confirmed their involvement in the developing coalition, which, in addition to lobbying Congress, is planning to take out ads in news publications. A signup form for the group said 72% of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies employ DACA recipients. “Dreamers are part of our society, defend our country, and support our economy,” said one of the coalition documents, which is being shared by the group to recruit additional companies. Read more here.
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Kelly Criticizes Frederica Wilson Over Call to Slain Soldier’s Widow
The White House is scrambling to change the narrative around Donald Trump's engagement with military families. WH Chief of Staff John Kelly on Thursday criticized Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) over the growing controversy surrounding Trump’s call to the widow of Sgt. La David T. JohnsonKelly, whose own son was killed in battle in 2010, said, “I was stunned when I came to work yesterday, and brokenhearted, when I saw what a member of Congress was doing. What she was saying, what she was doing on TV.” Kelly said that he was angry and frustrated that the phone call was made public, adding that he considered what the Congresswoman had done to be “selfish” and thought that the phone call would have been “sacred” to the family. During Kelly's remarks he said, “When I was a kid growing up, a lot of things were sacred in our country. Women were sacred and looked upon with great honor. That’s obviously not the case anymore as we see from recent cases.” We agree there. We too remember a time when elected leaders were not bragging about grabbing them by the p*ssy. He went on to say, “Life, the dignity of life was sacred. That’s gone,” Kelly added. “Religion, that seems to be gone as well. Gold Star families, I think that left in the convention over the summer.” More here.
Lieu Wants Hearings on Niger Attack
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA)
sent a letter yesterday to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Congressman Ed Royce (D-CA) calling for the committee to hold hearings on the October 4th attack in Niger on U.S. Special Forces that killed four soldiers. Lieu expressed concern that basic facts about the attack still remain unclear, and mentions Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) indications that the admin has not been upfront about the circumstances surrounding the operation or the attack. “One of the ways to honor the sacrifice of our four fallen soldiers in Niger is to ensure that they did not die in vain, and that more service members do not fall because we failed to conduct basic oversight of U.S. strategy,” Lieu, an Air Force veteran, wrote. See more here.
PR Gov in DC to Push For “Equal Treatment” and More Aid to Devastated Island
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló met with Donald Trump and members of Congress on Thursday to appeal for further help as the island continues recovery efforts after the devastating Hurricane Maria. Despite the fact that a majority of the island remains without electricity, and some sectors have no running water a month after the storm hit, Trump pressed Rosselló to grade him on the federal government's response; Rosselló sidestepped the question. “What we're searching for is the best resources for our people so that we can get out of the emergency so that we can stabilize and rebuild again," Rosselló said after meeting with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), adding that as U.S. citizens, island residents deserve to be treated the same as residents of the 50 states and DC. More here.
Lawmakers Push for Accurate Death Toll in Puerto Rico
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ)
, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) are among a group of senators who signed on to a letter led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) urging the Department of Homeland Security to help ensure an accurate account of Hurricane Maria fatalities in Puerto Rico, echoing similar calls from Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS). The official death count is currently 48, but the senators cited a comprehensive analysis of numerous media reports indicating "deaths of more than 450 additional people since the hurricane, and 69 people have been reported missing." In the letter they write, "The need for an accurate death toll is especially important because President Trump seems to be using the number of fatalities to determine the quality of the disaster response.” More here.
Depertment of Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs John Tahsuda III with an attendee at the National Council of American Indians conference discussing programs.
Former Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett hanging out with Common at the Black YouTube Creator Summit.
LPAC Names Interim Executive Director
LPAC, the first lesbian political action committee, has named Urvashi Vaid, a longtime attorney and organizer in LGBTQ and social justice movements, as the organization’s Interim Executive Director while the search for a permanent Executive Director begins. Vaid has held senior executive positions at the Arcus Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the National LGBTQ Task Force. She is CEO of The Vaid Group, a social innovation firm focused on strategies to advance equity and justice and is a founder of LPAC. A board search committee has been formed and is chaired by LPAC San Francisco-based board member Joyce Newstat. The search process and timeline will be announced later this year. More here.
Obama Alumna YWCA CEO Shares Her Vision for the Organization
YWCA CEO and former Barack Obama appointee, Alejandra Y. Castillo, shares her vision for the organization with Forbes magazine. “As a Latina, I embrace this opportunity to make sure that YWCA USA is at the forefront of the national discourse and to continue to raise the voices of women and girls across the country,” she said. “While we are among the largest women’s organization, we recognize the need to develop a robust pipeline of women leaders, forge strategic partnerships and alliances with other organizations that share our vision and mission, while developing programs that reflect the need of a diverse nation.” She also weighed in on the current state of political affairs under Trump. “The national discourse has taken a turn for the worst (sic), especially when divisive words continue to emanate from the highest level of political office.” Castillo formerly served as National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency within the Department of Commerce. She was also Executive Director of the National Hispanic Bar Association and Senior Policy Advisor at the WH Office of National Drug Control Policy. Read the full piece here.
Beats By Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Did you know that Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) keeps hip hop in her daily music rotation? She listens to it all the time. But what else would we expect from a Brooklyn-born-and-raised daughter of Jamaican immigrants who calls Flatbush home? Her faves these days include JAY-Z, Chance the Rapper, and Kendrick Lamar. Maybe because she has loyalty and royalty inside her DNA. She succeeded her mother, former City Council member Una S. T. Clarke, in 2001 and was elected to Congress in 2007. She says the best thing about being a woman of color is “having a perspective grounded in a history of struggle for advancement and inclusion, having a high level of social consciousness and a unique sense of obligation to help people of color progress.” She says her Jamaican roots keep her passionate about advocating for immigration reform, Temporary Protective Status, and working with Congresswomen Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI) as co-chairs of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus. “Being the voice and face of people of African descendant who are immigrants and sponsoring key legislation related to Haiti Temporary Protected Status,” is something Clarke says she is committed to. We ask her what was the most unlikely alliance she had to form to move policy. See what she said here.

Jaguars Owner Diagnoses Trump’s Obsession with NFL Players
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan is one of the few people of color who owns a football team. He says he thinks he knows the real reason Donald Trump is so obsessed with how the NFL does business. Khan, a self-made billionaire who emigrated from Pakistan and who bought the Jags in 2011 for $760 million, contends that the president is jealous because 45’s bid to buy the Buffalo Bills in 2014 failed. "This is a very personal issue with him," Khan told USA TODAY Sports. “The attacks on Muslims, the attacks on minorities, the attacks on Jews. I think the NFL doesn’t even come close to that on the level of being offensive. Here, it’s about money, or messing with — trying to soil a league or a brand that he’s jealous of.” Interestingly, Khan was one of seven NFL owners (also: Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, Stan Kroenke, Robert McNair, Dan Snyder, and Woody Johnson) who donated significantly to Trump, providing $1 million to his inauguration fund. More here.
Gallego, Lieu, Jayapal, and Others Want VP to Reimburse Cost of Travel to/from Colts Game
Congressmen Rubén Gallego (D-AZ), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD), joined by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), wrote a letter on Thursday to VP Mike Pence urging him to direct the Trump-Pence campaign to reimburse the Treasury for the cost of his trip to Indianapolis for the NFL game between the Colts and the San Francisco 49ers, the one where the VP walked out after peaceful protests by several players. The lawmakers also urgently requested full disclosure of the cost of Pence’s travel to and from the game, as well as any and all communications between the VP’s staff and campaign personnel. “We are writing in response to your office's use of taxpayer funding to orchestrate a costly publicity stunt at a National Football League (NFL) game on October 8th, an act which was then employed by the Trump-Pence reelection campaign for the purpose of soliciting donations. Given the inappropriate nature of this conduct, we strongly urge you to instruct your campaign to reimburse the Treasury for the full cost of your travel and expenses that day.” Read the full letter here.
NV congressional candidate Amy Vilela with Our Revolution's Nina Turner on Wednesday at the Unity Reform Commission.
Journo Suzanne Malveaux presenting the International Women's Media Foundation inaugural Gwen Ifill Award to fellow journo Michele Norris.
Magnolia Pictures Acquires Obama Doc
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the HBO documentary The Final Year, which chronicles President Barack Obama’s foreign policy team during their last year in office. The Final Year offers a behind-the-scenes look at key members of Obama’s foreign policy team, including Secretary of State John Kerry, UN Ambassador Samantha Power, Deputy National Security Advisor and presidential confidant Ben Rhodes, as well as National Security Advisor Susan Rice, and Obama himself. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month and will next screen as the Opening Night Selection of DOC NYC on November 9th. Magnolia will then launch a multi-city theatrical release on January 19th, nearly one year after Donald Trump’s inauguration. More here.
Pai Pauses Review of Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Billion Dollar Takeover
Ajit Pai is pausing the FCC’s review of the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed $3.9 billion takeover of Tribune Media, to allow more time for the filing of public comments. The FCC is more than halfway through its 180-day timeline for review of the merger, which would create a broadcasting giant with 223 TV stations serving 108 markets, including 39 of the top 50 -- covering about 72% of U.S. households. Pai defended the agency’s review of the mergers, as he has faced criticism that he relaxed a media ownership provision that will allow the conservative conglomerate Sinclair to acquire such a large number of stations. More here.
Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) earlier this week visiting the children's science museum Discovery Cube LA.   
NEA Secretary Treasurer Princess Moss on a call with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to talk about fighting tax cuts that will hurt schoolchildren.
GQ MX Names Jose Díaz-Balart Its ‘Periodista Internacional del Año’
The Mexico edition of GQ has named Miami journalist José Díaz-Balart its International Journalist of the Year, noting that he is “a real bridge between the information and the people of Latin America.” The Spanish-language magazine adds that “if we’re talking about Latino journalists, there’s one name at the top of the list,” stating that Díaz-Balart is not one to sit idly by at his desk, traveling all over to cover the news first-hand. A video of him reporting live from downtown Miami during Hurricane Irma has more than three million views. Díaz-Balart is the anchor for the nightly newscast Noticiero Telemundo and is also the host of the network’s Sunday news program, Enfoque con Jose Díaz-Balart. Additionally, he is the anchor of the NBC Nightly News on Saturdays. The son of a prominent Cuban American family in Miami, Díaz-Balart’s brothers are former Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart and current Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL). More here from GQ Mexico (in Spanish).
Oprah’s Next Report on 60 Minutes
Oprah Winfrey is filing her second report for 60 Minutes this Sunday. She visits California's Pelican Bay State Prison and the infamous Security Housing Unit that has been controversial for years and once earned the "supermax" prison  nickname "Skeleton Bay." California, which long sent thousands of inmates to solitary confinement, is now on the leading edge of a reform movement aimed at curtailing the practice of limiting prisoners' human contact -- which many say can cause mental illness. She reports on conditions in the "SHU" isolation unit that critics charge constitutes torture. More here.
Former WH Pooler Leads Daily Beast Science Desk
The Daily Beast is launching a new science section next month and they named Tanya Basu its Senior Editor. Basu used to be a White House press pooler for Reuters before heading to The Atlantic as an editorial fellow. The University of Chicago/Northwestern University graduate spent time as a reporter for Time magazine and a Science Editor for Inverse.com. The Chicago native is based in Brooklyn now and is fluent in Bengali, French, and English. More about her here.
Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD) on Wednesday speaking out against a hate crime that happened in his district.
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Angélica Salas of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, and Congressman Jimmy Gómez (D-CA) in LA showing support for DREAM Act legislation.
Haley Calls Russian 2016 Interference ‘Warfare’
In her strongest rebuke of interference by Russia in last year's presidential election, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said on Thursday that the Russian government had committed “warfare.” During an event at the George W. Bush Institute with former secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice, Haley said, “When a country can come interfere in another country's elections, that is warfare ... It really is, because you're making sure that the democracy shifts from what the people want to giving out that misinformation." Rice also opined on the issue, saying, “I hope we are on top of what really happened to us, that we're really investigating it in ways that bring all of our tools — including what people in places like Google and Facebook will know about how this is done. ... And then we've got to fix it, because my own view is that if they do this to us once, it's their fault, if they do this to us twice, it's ours.” More here.
Drug Policy Reformers Honor Cory Booker
During last weekend’s International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Atlanta, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was presented with an award for his position on drug policy. In a video message accepting the award, Booker said, “The war on drugs, our criminal justice system right now, is a cancer on the soul of our country.” The biennial conference is hosted by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) and brings together thousands of activists, scientists, lawmakers and others concerned with the failed war on drugs. Booker has introduced two far-reaching marijuana bills this year. One would allow states to set their own medical cannabis laws without federal interference. Another would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and punish states with racially disproportionate arrest and incarceration rates for cannabis. More here.
Based on the Congressional Salary, Ro Khanna Can Barely Afford to Live in His District
A recent housing affordability index produced by the California Association of Realtors said an annual income of at least $179,390 is now required to purchase a median-priced home in the Bay Area. Know what that means? Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), who represents part of Silicon Valley, can barely afford to live in his own district. The Congressman makes an annual base salary of $174,000. Members of Congress are allowed a maximum of $27,495 in outside income each year but are allotted additional funds for expenses including staff, office space, and travel. That doesn’t leave a lot for a decked-out crib (we still say crib, right?). Hopefully, he had the foresight to purchase years ago. In 2012, the minimum income required to purchase a median-priced Bay Area home (then costing $447,970) was $90,370. More here.
The Beat DC's Tiffany D. Cross and Jamal Simmons accidentally twinning on Thursday. 
Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA) on Thursday touring a school in his district.
California Law Blocks Sharing of Information for Any ‘Muslim Registry’
Earlier this week, CA Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 31, the so-called California Religious Freedom Act, which bars state and local governments from releasing personal information to the federal government for the creation of any religious list, registry, or database. Introduced by state Senator Ricardo Lara (D), the new law was one of the few bills that faced a smooth path through the legislature this year. The LA Times reports that out of a package introduced by Democrats to counter Donald Trump's proposals and policies, this was the only proposal to gain bipartisan support. More here.
What the Honda/Khanna Race Revealed about Asian American Voters
Using the Democratic California primary between then-candidate Ro Khanna and then-Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Sara Sadhwani -- a doctoral candidate in the political science and international relations program at the University of Southern California -- breaks down the disaggregation of the Asian American voting bloc. Research suggests that Chinese Americans and Indian Americans in particular voted heavily in favor of Khanna in 2016. An estimated 81.2% of Chinese American voters and 89.82% of Indian American voters in the district lent their support to Khanna in 2016, while Honda garnered an estimated 70.41% of support from Vietnamese Americans. Sadhwani also notes that in previous primary challenges, Honda relied heavily on Latino support as well. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population group in the United States. As political operatives gear up for 2018 midterms, this research is worth a review. Check it out here.
FOMO
Today - Saturday, October 21st: The Brooklyn Conference: Inspiring Social Change. Featured speakers and performers include Charles BlowLinda Sarsour, Neera Tanden, Touré, and more. Brooklyn. Click here for the full schedule and for ticket information.

Today, 11A: The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, and the Islamic Society of North America, among other groups, sponsor a “Hacking Racism, Bias & Bigotry” at Brown University in Providence, RI. Click here for more information.

Today, 12P PT/3P ET: A conversation entitled, Advancing Equity and Civil Rights in the Trump Era with former AG Eric Holder. He will be joined by The San Francisco Foundation CEO Fred Blackwell and The Raben Group’s Michael Torra. San Francisco. Livestream available here.

Today, 8P: Celebrate Howard University's 150th anniversary with the 20th Annual Howard on the Harbor. Music by DJ D-Nice, with a performance by Doug E Fresh. Tony & Joe's Georgetown Waterfront.

Today - Monday, October 23rd: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s 17th Annual Leadership Institute. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W.
Click here for more information. Members of the media who wish to cover the event must obtain press credentials by contacting Paris Dennard at: paris.dennard@tmcf.org
Sunday, October 22nd - 25th: The National Minority Supplier Development Council annual conference in Detroit, MI. Click here for more information and to register.
Monday, October 23rd, 5:30P: Join Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) for a reception in support of One Fair Wage, an initiative to raise the wages of tipped workers. Special guests include DC Councilmember Elissa Silverman and actress Jane Fonda. Click here to RSVP and purchase tickets. Location revealed with RSVP.
Monday, October 23rd, 5:30P: The Raben Group hosts Monday Night Politics: The Intersection of Sports & Social Justice, with Colin Allred, ex-NFL player turned Obama-era civil rights attorney; D’Qwell Jackson, 11-year NFL veteran; and award-winning journalist Chris Jenkins of The Washington Post. Join the waitlist here.
Tuesday, October 24th, 10A: The National Urban League hosts a panel, "Future of Work: The Impact of the Tech Revolution on People of Color.” Room G-11 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Click here to RSVP.  
Wednesday, October 25th, 11A: A presentation ceremony in the U.S. Capitol to honor Filipino World War II veterans. The event will be livestreamed on speaker.gov/live. More here.
Wednesday, October 25th, 6P: An evening reception in support of Stacey Abrams, candidate for Governor of Georgia. Skadden, Arps, 4 Times Square. NYC. Click here to RSVP or contact zach@gstrategiesllc.com with any questions.
Thursday, October 26th, 4P: Lobbyists and Friends Happy Hour, one last outdoor get together before the cold sets in. Dirty Habit, 555 8th Street, N.W. 
Thursday, October 26th, 5:30p: A happy hour to benefit the DCCC. 777 6th Street, N.W. RSVP to: Teresa Skala at 202.741.1851 or email: skala@dccc.org
Thursday, October 26th, 5:30p: Artist Amy Sherald will give a free talk at Room 101 of the F. Ross Jones Building, Mattin Center, on the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.
Thursday, October 26th, 6P: The Women's Media Awards 2017 honors María Hinojosa, April Ryan, María Elena Salinas, and Gail Tifford, and also recognizes the film Hidden Figures. Capitale, 130 Bowery St., NYC. Click here to purchase tickets.
Friday, October 27th - 29th: The Women's Convention, Reclaiming Our Time. Cobo Center, Detroit. Click here for more information and to register.
Saturday, October 28th - October 30th: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 31st Annual Conference in San Diego. Click here for more information and to register.
Monday, October 30th, 5:30P: The 23rd annual ADL In Concert Against Hate. This year's honorees are Gavin Grimm, Tolu Olubunmi, Ann Jaffe, and Chief Louis M. Dekmar. Kennedy Center. Click here to purchase tickets.
Tuesday, October 31st, 9A: "The New Abolitionism: Symposium on Money Mechanics & A Moral Economy." Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, 9832 Piscataway Road, Clinton, MD. Free. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Wednesday, November 1st, 6P: Join the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund for the launch of Staff UP Congress, a National Initiative for a Representative Congressional Workforce. Majority Group Townhouse, 19 D Street, S.E. RSVP to:bmoz@naleo.org
Thursday, November 2nd, 6P: Join the Film, Gun Violence Prevention, and Hillary for America alumni communities for a reception in support of Lucy McBath for Georgia House District 37. NYC. Click here for more information and to register. Address provided upon RSVP.
Thursday, November 9th: Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund's Los Angeles Awards Gala. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Friday, November 17th: The 24th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards to honor visionaries from across the Caribbean. J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. To learn more about the Caribbean American Heritage Awards, visit: www.caribbeanheritageawards.org
Sunday, November 19th: The National Portrait Gallery Second biennial American Portrait Gala, honoring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, HIV/AIDs researcher Dr. David D. Ho; artistic director, choreographer, and dancer Bill T. Jones; film director, producer, writer, and actor Spike Lee; and multi-award-winning actress Rita Moreno. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, November 29th, 8P: Join Congressman André Carson (D-IN) for JAY-Z's 4:44 Tour. Capital One Arena, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Courtney Hodges or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Courtney@ABConsultingDC.com
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