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- It’s a girl! Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) welcomes a daughter.
- Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló has a plan to influence the midterms.
- Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto orders his Cabinet to “DTR” with the U.S.
- House and Senate Dems want to know if the National Park Service violated its scientific integrity policy.
- Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) intros bipartisan bill to improve farmland conservation.
- Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) want to help protect animals rescued in federal animal fighting cases.
- It’s complicated in CO-1 for the Dem who broke up with the party but is still running as a Dem.
- Immigration attorney joins race for Second Congressional District in North Carolina.
- Rochester, NY Councilman announces bid to replace the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter.
- Public Religion Research Institute has a new Director of Comms.
- Meet the 2018 Human Rights Campaign Foundation Global Innovators.
- CEO of Gizmodo Media Group is stepping down.
- CBS Evening News has a new team.
- Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) go Hollywood.
- Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) to receive GRAMMY honor.
- Don’t forget to tune in today -- and every Tuesday -- at 1:20P ET as The Beat DC’s Tiffany D. Cross co-hosts Keepin’ It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton.
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Hoboken, NJ Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla celebrating #TurbanDay in NYC on Saturday. | |  |
NV congressional candidate Steven Horsford with Agassi Elementary Principal Crystal Jones on Tuesday at the school's Black Girls Rock ceremony. | |
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It’s a Girl for Tammy Duckworth
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday became the first Senator to give birth while in office. Duckworth and her husband, Bryan Bowlsbey, welcomed daughter Maile Pearl Bowlsbey. The baby’s name holds a special significance: former Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka blessed her name before he passed. In a statement, Duckworth said, “Bryan, Abigail [Duckworth’s older daughter] and I couldn’t be happier to welcome little Maile Pearl as the newest addition to our family and we’re deeply honored that our good friend Senator Akaka was able to bless her name for us — his help in naming both of our daughters means he will always be with us.” Duckworth continued: “Parenthood isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s an economic issue and one that affects all parents—men and women alike. As tough as juggling the demands of motherhood and being a Senator can be, I’m hardly alone or unique as a working parent, and my children only make me more committed to doing my job and standing up for hardworking families everywhere.” Duckworth is one of only 10 women in U.S. history to give birth while in Congress, with the others serving in the House of Representatives. Congrats, Senator! More here.
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Harris Intros Bipartisan Bill to Protect Animals
Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) yesterday introduced the Help Extract Animals from Red Tape (HEART) Act to help protect animals rescued by the federal government. The bipartisan legislation would expedite the disposition process for animals seized in federal animal fighting cases, hold offenders financially responsible for the care of animals in custody, and allow courts to take into account the animals’ welfare when considering legal delays. “All animals must be treated humanely, free from cruelty and abuse, as they often become extended members of our families,” said Harris. “We must do all we can to ensure that the welfare of these animals who have been victims of cruelty is a priority, and remove any red tape that prevents them from being properly and safely cared for.” The Senators introduced the legislation in recognition of National Dog Fighting Awareness Day, which fell on Sunday, April 8th. The companion bill in the House was introduced last year by Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) and Congressman John Katko (R-NY). More here.
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President of Mexico to Re-evaluate Relationship with U.S.
Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto met with his cabinet on Sunday and ordered them to review the country’s collaborative efforts with the U.S. on border security, trade and more in response to Donald Trump’s increasingly combative comments. The review will last over the next few weeks, where Peña Nieto will make a decision on how to proceed. Trump repeatedly called on Mexico to stop “caravans” of immigrants last week and urged the U.S. Congress to pass stricter immigration laws. Shortly after, Peña Nieto responded in a video advising Trump to “take out his frustrations on U.S. lawmakers, not Mexicans.” More here.
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Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) with Death Cab for Cutie singer Ben Gibbard at a Planned Parenthood luncheon in Hawaii last week. | |  |
GMA's Robin Roberts on Wednesday sporting a t-shirt inspired by Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" poem. | |
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Cory Booker and Mike Lee Intro Bipartisan Bill to Improve Conservation Program
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Improvement Act. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program in the Farm bill that provides farmers and ranchers with federal cost-share grants to implement environmentally-beneficial conservation practices on working agricultural land. An analysis of EQIP between 2009 and 2016 showed that just 14% of all EQIP funding went towards certain conservation practices, while more than 20% of EQIP funds were spent on infrastructure practices that produce relatively little environmental benefit. This bill would readjust funding to prioritize conservation practices with significantly greater environmental and water quality benefits. “With the changes proposed in this bill, we’ll see more federal funding go toward providing critical financial support to our small family farmers, all while better protecting water quality and soil health,” Booker said. More here.
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House and Senate Dems Question Interior on Scientific Integrity Violation
Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D- IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) wrote to Department of Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall asking her to investigate whether the National Park Service (NPS) violated its scientific integrity policy. The letter came following news that the agency had scrubbed any mention of climate change from a report on the impact of sea level rise and storm surges at NPS sites. At a Senate hearing last month, Secretary Ryan Zinke told Hirono that his department does not censor science. The House side also weighed in. In a letter signed by Congressmen Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Donald McEachin (D-VA), Donald Beyer (D-VA), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), with Congresswoman Nike Tsongas (D-MA), they question officials on a report that showed NPS officials “deleted every mention of humans’ role in causing climate change” in the drafts of the long-awaited sea level rise report. The report -- which still has not been publicly released -- highlights the climate risks at 118 coastal national park sites. They quote Zinke’s statements to their Committee last month where he “vehemently denied” any wrongdoing related to a separate U.S. Geological Survey scientific report. Yet, after analyzing 18 different versions of the report, first drafted in the summer of 2016, it was discovered that the word “anthropogenic” was crossed out by an official in a February 2018 draft. And three references to “human activities” causing climate change were removed. As both letters state, this may violate NPS' scientific integrity policy, which states that managers are prohibited from engaging in “dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, coercive manipulation, censorship, or other misconduct that alters the content, veracity, or meaning or that may affect the planning, conduct, reporting, or application of scientific and scholarly activities.” More here.
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ABC's Deborah Roberts, chef Fidel Baeza, and her son on Sunday representing Wakanda. | |  |
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and friends on Saturday. | |
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Kenyan American Lawyer Runs for Congress
Jeff Matemu, an immigration attorney, is jumping into the race for North Carolina's Second Congressional District. Matemu, who is running as a Libertarian, hopes to unseat Congressman George Holding (R-NC). He says he is avoiding party labels that “have controlled politicians’ decision.” His platform includes affordable college education through the modernization of the Pell Grant program, Earned Income Tax Credit, and criminal justice system reform. A native of Kenya, Matemu will also advocate for immigration reform. "As a Libertarian, I support the rights of all the people all the time. Immigrants are people too and must be protected from unfair and discriminatory laws," he stated. Matemu graduated from the University of Nairobi, in Kenya, and from American University with a Master of Law degree, where he specialized in immigration law and policy. He will be the sole Libertarian on the ticket in the May 8th primary. Republican Allen Chesser II will face Holding. And three Dems will faceoff with each other: former state Representative Linda Coleman, Wendy May, and Ken Romley. More here.
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She Broke Up with the Democratic Party, But It’s Complicated -- She’s Running as a Dem
Saira Rao is running for Congress in Colorado’s first district and she has raised more than $250,000 in the first quarter in her upstart bid against eleven-term incumbent Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO). Rao is not accepting PAC money and self-contributions did not factor into her first-quarter donations, according to her campaign. The 43-year-old attorney and entrepreneur jumped into the race after feeling shunned by the Democratic Party establishment; she penned a viral Huff Post op-ed last December titled I'm A Brown Woman Who's Breaking Up With the Democratic Party. She owns a media publishing company that focuses on putting kids of color in more children's books. Previously, Saira was a TV news Producer in DC and Miami; a Policy Associate at the Center for Educational Innovation at The Manhattan Institute; a Law Clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; and a lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in NYC. The University of Virginia graduate earned her law degree from NYU. “I think we're at a real crisis point in this country when it comes to income inequality ... our country has become more xenophobic in the last fourteen months, my concerns have largely been racial,” Rao said. Among the issues she hopes to address, if elected, include ending gun violence, ensuring healthcare for all, supporting Black Lives Matter and ending police brutality, and reproductive justice and access to abortion services.The district covers all of Denver as well as slivers of Arapahoe and Jefferson counties. This is the first year there's an open primary in Colorado so independents will be able to vote in the June 26th primary. In addition to DeGette, she will also face David Sedbrook. More here.
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The Guardian's Sabrina Siddiqui with former CIA Deputry Director and CNN contributor Phil Mudd last week. | |  |
CA congressional candidate Dave Min (D) and a supporter on Saturday at a town hall for his campaign. | |
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Rochester County Councilman Announces Congressional Bid
Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden announced that he is running for Congress in New York’s 25th Congressional District -- the seat previously served by late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter who passed away last month. McFadden is currently is the Executive Director of Quad A for Kids, a nonprofit agency dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty of children in Rochester. For eight years, the Claflin University graduate was the comptroller for Sophitec Inc. a local software development firm. McFadden was also employed as the Financial Analyst at Fleet Bank. The 47-year-old has the distinction of being both the youngest person on the City Council and also the council’s most senior member. He will face School Board President Van White, Robin Reynolds Wilt, former broadcast journalist and Rochester Mayoral Candidate Rachel Barnhart, and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle in the June 26th primary. More here.
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Latino Victory Fund Endorses Five Latina Congressional Candidates
Latino Victory Fund (LVF) has launched “Year of the Latina” to foster excitement among Latina voters and elect a record number of progressive Latinas this November. As part of this effort, LVF has endorsed congressional candidates Debbie Mucarsel-Powell who is running for Florida’s 26th Congressional District, Virginia Madueño for California’s 10th Congressional District, Antoinette Sedillo López for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, Xochitl Torres Small for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District and Arizona AG candidate January Contreras. To empower Latinas running for office, LVF will increase the number female candidates it supports and make endorsements in competitive races with viable Latina candidates. “Faced with an anti-woman, anti-Latino Trump Administration, Latinas are answering this generation’s call for courageous leadership,” said Mayra Macías, Political Director for Latino Victory Fund. “These five candidates embody Latina values; they are strong, hard-working, and deeply dedicated to their communities. Together, we’ll work to ensure that Latinas have a seat at the table at every level of government.” More here.
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Ricardo Rosselló’s Plan to Influence Midterms
After nearly six months, 55,000 Puerto Ricans still don’t have electricity. Now Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló and allies are harnessing another type of power. They are planning to influence this year’s midterm elections by rewarding the politicians who’ve helped the island since being devastated by Hurricane Maria; and by punishing those who haven’t. “We need to demonstrate that we have a hammer,” Rosselló said in a Politico podcast. “Congressmen need to know that if we go to their office, they can’t just give us a happy talk, as has happened in the past. So, if you’re going to give us happy talk and then take actions that clearly affect the people of Puerto Rico, then the only strategy that we have left ... is to go to your districts.” With Senate and House races getting priority, Rosselló and allies have already started voter-registration drives in Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, and are eyeing New Jersey, Ohio and Texas. They plan to build a list of voters to activate. Rosselló’s model: Cuban Americans, who for 60 years have mobilized what is still fewer than 2 million people into a force that’s shaped American politics and foreign policy. Compare that with the 5.6 million Puerto Ricans concentrated in just a few states. More here.
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Obama alumnus and Google Public Policy Counsel Albert Sanders, Jr. at the Google offices in Singapore. | |  |
Rev. Al Sharpton in Brooklyn on Monday addressing the media where Saheed Vassell was killed last week. | |
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Gizmodo Media Group CEO Steps Down
Raju Narisetti, the CEO of Gizmodo Media Group, is stepping down later this month. His decision comes amid a recent report by the WSJ that Univisión is considering extensive budget cuts after halting its plans for an initial public offering. Narisetti said he didn’t have anything lined up yet, but that it was a “welcome, new experience for me in three, non-stop decades in journalism and the business of journalism.” In September 2016, Narisetti was named as the lead for Gizmodo Media Group, formerly known as Gawker Media, to oversee titles that included Gizmodo, Jalopnik, Jezebel, Deadspin, Lifehacker, and Kotaku. He had been News Corp’s Senior VP of Strategy before his appointment to CEO of Gizmodo Media Group. GMG’s Editorial Director Susie Banikarim will now have direct oversight of all GMG newsroom staff and related journalism budgets and work with Sameer Deen, recently named as the new head of Univisión Digital, to manage GMG, The Onion, and Univision.com. More here.
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New Team at CBS Evening News
Brinda Adhikari has been named Senior Broadcast Producer for the CBS Evening News. The Oberlin College graduate joined CBS in 2015 after a dozen years at ABC News. Before that, Brinda worked for UNICEF as a Communications Officer, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is proficient in Bengali and also speaks French, Italian, and Hindi. She was born in Kolkata, India, and moved to the U.S. when she was eight. She is based in Brooklyn. Javier Guzmán is now Senior Producer for the broadcast. He will be responsible for features and planning. Guzmán joined CBS News last spring and was part of the senior team at CBSN: On Assignment, the streaming service’s prime time program. Before joining CBS, Guzmán was a Senior Producer for HBO’s Vice News Tonight and an Executive Producer for Fusion Media Group. He began his career as a Researcher and Production Associate on NBC’s Weekend Today Show. More here.
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Blavity's Morgan DeBaun at their LA headquarters last week. | |  |
Philippine Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno with Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) last week. | |
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PRRI Names New Director of Comms
The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) has named J. Jioni Palmer as their new Director of Communications. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy nabbed Palmer as he transitioned from running his own business. Before joining PRRI, Palmer owned and operated a media and public affairs firm and served as Associate Commissioner of External Affairs for the Social Security Administration. He is also the former Deputy Chief Policy Officer for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation during the Barack Obama administration. Prior to his work during the Obama administration, the UCLA graduate worked on Capitol Hill as the Communications Director for the Congressional Black Caucus, as National Press Secretary at Media Matters for America and as Press Secretary for the Ways and Means Committee in the House. He was also a Reporter with Newsday, covering government and politics in New York. He joined the Washington bureau in September 2004 as Newsday‘s Congressional Correspondent, reporting on the daily activities on Capitol Hill, with a focus on the New York delegation. More here.
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Meet the 2018 Human Rights Campaign Foundation Global Innovators
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation this week is welcoming their 2018 cohort of Global Innovators as part of their third annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit. The global advocates for LGBTQ equality were selected from hundreds of applicants “because of the creative, inspiring and impactful work they do to advance equality around the globe.” This year, the Innovators are from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East/North Africa, and Central Asia. Among them is Hazel Tshepang from Botswana. She is with AWOSHE and worked with litigants who went to the High Court in 2016 to force the Botswana government to register the country’s first LGBT organization, Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO). Harish Iyer, the host of India’s first LGBT show on FM radio, also works with and supports LGBT suicide survivors and children facing sexual abuse and plays a key role in the organization of the biggest pride parade in India -- Queer Azaadi Mumbai. Brazil’s Gabriel Alves de Faria founded Not Only Voices, an organization that aims to connect human rights activists with one another and advocates for human rights and law through unconventional ways like filmmaking and storytelling. Working through her Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative "Feminita," Zhanar Sekerbayeva conducted a needs assessment of LBQ women in Kazakhstan to develop an evidence-based and cooperative program for the empowerment and protection of lesbian, bisexual and queer women. “Our 2018 Global Innovators are some of the most impressive and creative advocates for LGBTQ equality in the world. We are thrilled to have them with us in Washington, D.C. this week and we welcome them to HRC’s growing global network of equality champions,” said Jay Gilliam, HRC Foundation Senior Global Programs Officer. Meet the full, very diverse 2018 class here.
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CNN's Symone D. Sanders with rapper Killer Mike at Harvard University last week. | |  |
BET CEO Debra Lee in a 'Phenomenal Woman' t-shirt, in support of womens organizations. | |
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Mazie Hirono and Catherine Cortez Masto Head to Hollywood
Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) are heading to the West Coast for a tri-city fundraiser. Their first destination will be in Los Angeles on April 20th, at the home of Hollywood philanthropists Leslie and Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, with additional stops in Menlo Park and Seattle. Joining Cortez Masto and Hirono on the fundraising tour are Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), as well as Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who is running for a Senate seat. The fundraisers will benefit Women on the Road California 2018, a joint fundraising committee for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, as well as the campaigns of Feinstein, Hirono, Cantwell, Klobuchar, Rosen, and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). More here.
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Judy Chu to Receive GRAMMY Honor
The Recording Academy, the U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other recording professionals which puts on the GRAMMY Awards, will honor Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) during its annual GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards. Chu is a long-time champion of music creators and serves as one of the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus. “We also are privileged to recognize the significant contributions of Reps. Chu and Collins, who have long supported the creative community’s right to be fairly compensated and to have meaningful copyright protections, advocating for the current comprehensive legislation, and supporting our continuing campaign for a terrestrial performance right,” said Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow. In addition to the CA Dem, the Recording Academy will honor Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA) and three-time GRAMMY winners Little Big Town during the April 18th awards. More here.
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| FOMO Wednesday, April 11th, 8A: The Hill Latino hosts the second in their "Leadership in Action" event series. This newsmaker conversation will feature Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Sponsored by American University's School of Public Affairs and the Kennedy Political Union. RSVP to events@thehill.com.
Wednesday, April 11th, 7P: Rally for Criminal Justice Reform with MD gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous and special guest, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, April 11th - Friday, April 13th: The 2018 Advancing Justice Conference, at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from across the U.S. to address issues facing these fast-growing communities. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, April 11th, 2P: Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) hosts a member Roundtable on Automation and Its Impact on Workers of Color in the Transportation Sector. Cannon House Office Building, Room 234 Washington, DC 20003. Click here for more information.
Thursday, April 12th, 2018, 7P: The GW LULAC Student Chapter and the GW Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute host “Latinos and the Future of Constructive Politics.” Speakers will include Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón (R-PR) and Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), moderated by Laura Maristany, Associate Director, Constructive Politics, Democracy Fund. Marvin Center Amphitheater, 800 21st Street. RSVP here.
Thursday, April 12th - Saturday, April 14th: The 9th Annual Women in the World Summit, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. The event is presented and co-hosted by Toyota. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, April 17th, 8A: The Hill Latino hosts "Latinos in College: Closing the Graduation Gap." The program will feature lawmakers, university presidents, education officials, and students in a series of conversations exploring strategies to boost Hispanic college completion rates. The event is sponsored by Excelencia in Education and Gallup. 901 F Street, N.W. RSVP to events@thehill.com.
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.
Wednesday, May 2nd, 6P: The Latino Victory Fund hosts Latino Talks 2018, on how Latinos are changing America. Special guests include former Univisión anchor María Elena Salinas. Click here to purchase tickets.
Friday, May 11th, 9A: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights holds a public briefing on hate crimes and bias-related incidents. The Commission will examine best practices for local law enforcement on collecting and reporting data, and the role of the Education and Justice Departments in prevention and prosecution. USCCR, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 1150. RSVP to publicaffairs@usccr.gov. Click here to watch a livestream of the briefing.
Monday, May 21st - Tuesday, May 22nd: Common Cause Pennsylvania will host their Democracy Works Summit. Sheraton Downtown Hotel on 201 N. 17th Street in Philadelphia, PA. Click here for more information.
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.
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