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After last night’s State Dinner, which was filled with the fanfare of double air-kissing on the cheek, the questions around the Iran nuclear deal remain. Trump signaled that he was open to negotiating a new deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear efforts. However, he left unclear whether he would pull out of the current agreement by his self-imposed deadline of May 12th. German Chancellor Angela Merkel? You’re up. And speaking of the State Dinner, one of the few faces of color to make the invite list was Barack Obama alumna and former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who attended the event with her new boss, Apple CEO Tim Cook. On the Hill, French President Emmanuel Macron will address a joint session of Congress today at 10:30A. And more details have surfaced around allegations against Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson -- Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hence, the president has begun the clever move of “supporting” Jackson but also understanding if he wants to back out of the nomination process. And, in another nomination process, the Senate meets at noon to resume consideration of Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo. On the campaign trail, Republican Debbie Lesko claimed victory over Democrat Dr. Hiral Tipirneni keeping Arizona’s 8th district red. But Lesko’s relatively narrow victory margin on Tuesday will do little to calm Republicans nervous about the midterm races. In criminal justice news, Rapper Meek Mill walked out of prison Tuesday after Pennsylvania's highest court granted his bail request. There’s a lot to get to today. We’re kicking off Wednesday with this...
- The Congressional Black Caucus has their eyes on House Leadership.
- Tri-Caucus members demand that the Justice Department reverse its suspension of immigration legal services program.
- Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) intros bipartisan Opioid Addiction Action Plan.
- Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (D-FL) want an update on the admin’s efforts to secure the release of American hostages in Iran.
- Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) creates Congressional Solar Caucus as part of his push to encourage renewable energy.
- Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) wants to increase oversight of federal agencies that impact women in the workforce.
- Judge rules DACA program must accept new applicants in biggest blow to Trump admin yet.
- María Hinojosa’s Futuro Media acquires Latino Rebels.
- Meet Sony Picture TV’s new Managing Director of International Production for Latin America.
- Speaking of Sony, Steph Curry just signed a deal with them.
- MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid says her old site has been hacked.
- Congressional Native Staff Association announces new officers.
- Executive Director of the Asian American Journalists Association resigns.
- Judge orders Fox News to defend pundit’s accusations against Charles Payne.
- Uber released its second annual diversity report. Read on to find out more.
- Airbnb nabs former Michelle Obama aide to lead its executive operations.
- Obama alumnus named General Counsel to top Johns Hopkins University division.
- New Ed Department data show disparities grow for students of color, especially Black children.
- SCOTUS divided over claims that Texas voting maps discriminate against minorities.
- Variety profiles Jim Acosta and April Ryan and more details about Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s plan to mobilize Boricuas in the mainland, in Blogs.
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Univisión and Fusion host Jorge Ramos keeping Saturday soccer traditions alive with friends this weekend. They’re 15 years strong! | |  |
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) earlier this month visiting the newly protected land at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Reserve in Hawaii. | |
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CBC Eyes Leadership Roles
There’s only one Black lawmaker in the Democratic leadership ranks: Assistant Minority Leader Jim Clyburn (D-SC). But in interviews with 15 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, several said it’s time for that to change. Clyburn declared over the weekend that the entire Democratic leadership team should be replaced if the party fails to flip the House in the 2018 midterms. At the same time, he was calling for a regime change. Politico reports that multiple Democratic aides said they interpreted Clyburn’s remarks as a boost to CBC Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Clyburn’s protégé, who is term-limited in his current post, and rumored to be eyeing a potential leadership bid. Richmond could run for Majority Leader if Dems take back the House, and the current top three are forced out because of a desire for a generational change in leadership. But in an interview with Politico, he denied that he is already preparing to run for leadership. “I just don’t know how we can talk about what’s warranted, justified or deserving and we haven’t finished the election cycle,” he said. “They’re trying to figure out who’s going to be the MVP and the game’s not over.” Richmond is just one of several CBC members looking to move up the ranks. Congresswomen Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and Karen Bass (D-CA), along with Congressmen Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), are also rumored to have leadership ambitions. Within the Caucus, Politico reports that both Bass and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) have been quietly campaigning for months to succeed Richmond as CBC Chair, but members say there is no clear front-runner so far. More here.
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Tri-Caucus Members Demand DOJ Reverse Suspension of Immigration Legal Services
Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) led members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus in sending a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeking an immediate reversal of his decision to suspend the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) and the Immigration Court HelpDesk. Both programs have been shown to save taxpayer dollars and improve efficiencies in the court system. “While you have made statements, and issued memorandums calling on immigration courts to run more effectively and alleviate immigration court backlogs, suspending the LOP Program is in diametric opposition to this desired outcome,” the members wrote. The letter highlights a 2012 study by the Justice Department, which found that in one year the LOP saved the government nearly $18 million and reduced the amount of time needed to complete immigration proceedings by nearly two weeks. They closed the letter by asking Sessions to respond to a series of questions about his decision to suspend the program. Read the full letter here.
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Brenda Lawrence Intros Bill to Increase Oversight on Federal Agencies That Impact Women in the Workforce
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) has introduced the Women’s Equality Workforce Oversight Act (WE Work Act), which would increase oversight of federal agencies that impact women in the workforce, to ensure they are fulfilling their supportive mission and hold the White House accountable. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an annual study evaluating agencies and programs that focus on women in the workforce. The congresswoman says the bill is necessary in light of evidence that the Trump administration has undermined and undervalued these programs. The legislation tasks the GAO to determine whether they have changed their policies and efforts on women’s participation in the workforce, fair compensation, paid leave, workplace supports for pregnancy and families, participation in non-traditional and higher-paying jobs, and enforcement of workplace rights. They bill would also require the GAO to determine whether they have decreased their services to women, including: outreach to community organizations, constituent services, grants and small business loans, apprenticeship programs, actions against discriminatory companies, and public education on key workplace issues. “Millions of working women in the United States still face significant barriers to economic security and stability, including low wages, unequal pay, discrimination and harassment, barriers to better jobs and new occupations, and inadequate workplace flexibility. Fairness and equality for women is essential to the success of American families and our nation as a whole. We need more than just words and promises, we need oversight, we need facts, and we need accountability,” said Lawrence. More here.
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Krishnamoorthi Pushes Solar Energy and Creates New Caucus
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) has created the Congressional Solar Caucus as part of his push to encourage his colleagues to learn more about and support solar energy. The freshman lawmaker arrived in DC last year to find that many of his colleagues did not share his interest in promoting solar energy. So, he and Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC) -- also a first-term member on the opposite side of the aisle -- created the Solar Caucus this Spring. "At the end of the day, from a very practical standpoint, the cost of solar power is going down rapidly, the penetration of solar into the energy landscape is accelerating and both red states and blue states are now seeing a renaissance in solar power," said Krishnamoorthi. Learn more about his efforts here.
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Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Friday visiting with leaders of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. | |  |
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) with former Commerce & Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta at the Japanese American National Museum Gala in Los Angeles, CA over the weekend. | |
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Lieu and Ros-Lehtinen Want Admin to Disclose Info About American Hostages in Iran
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (D-FL) led 46 of their colleagues in bipartisan letter requesting information from Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan on the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the release of American citizens and permanent U.S. residents being held hostage by Iran’s government. Today, there are more than six American citizens and permanent U.S. residents held by the Iranian regime “as an attempt to have leverage over the United States.” In the letter, the members write that “The United States has a moral responsibility to devote resources to these hostages and make their return a priority. ... According to media reports, the State Department has increased efforts in recent months to secure the release of these hostages, including outreach to the Iranian regime in December 2017 that has gone unanswered. On April 6, 2018, the Department outlined efforts that have been undertaken in a report to Congress pursuant to Section 110 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. We request that the Department provide some additional details to Congress.” Lieu and Ros-Lehtinen were joined by Congressmen Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) as the leads on the letter. See the full letter here.
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Cummings Wants Subpoenas for Info on Census Citizenship Question and Whistleblowers
Under Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the top Democrat of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, all of the Democrats on the Committee sent a letter to its Chairman, Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC), asking him to issue a subpoena to compel the Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau to produce documents they have been withholding for nearly three weeks relating to the Trump administration’s sudden decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. “We believe these documents are critical for our Committee to understand the concerns raised internally by career experts at the Census Bureau itself about the dangers of adding this untested new citizenship question to the census — as well as why the Trump Administration disregarded these concerns,” they wrote. They asked Gowdy to act fast and issue the subpoena this week so that they have time to review documents before the Committee’s hearing on the issue on May 8th. Then, Cummings and Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, sent a letter asking Gowdy to issue subpoenas to force DOJ and DHS to produce documents they have been withholding for more than a year as part of the Committee’s bipartisan investigation into the Trump administration’s violations of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act. “The protection of whistleblowers and the right of federal employees to communicate with Congress have been longstanding bipartisan priorities of this Committee,” they wrote. “Unfortunately, you have refused to issue even a single subpoena to any agency or official during your entire tenure as Chairman, and it appears that this abdication of oversight may be emboldening the Trump Administration to simply ignore our requests, knowing the Committee will do nothing to compel its compliance. Rather than protecting whistleblowers, the Committee appears to be more interested in protecting President Trump.” Get more on the Oversight Dems’ Medium page here.
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Yvette Clarke Joins Republican to Intro Opioid Addiction Action Plan
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) crossed the aisle and joined Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) to introduce the Opioid Addiction Action Plan. The legislation would require the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid to develop an “Opioid Addiction Action Plan” with stakeholder feedback and then report it to Congress by January 1, 2019. The members say the bill is needed to make sure policies include coverage, treatments, and information that serve the overall goal of preventing opioid abuse. Under this plan, they say Medicare and Medicaid will better be able to identify ways to be more adaptable to innovative treatments for both pain that would normally require opioid prescriptions and for treatment of substance abuse disorders. “We are in the midst of a nationwide opioid crisis. What has been largely perceived as a rural white problem has now become widespread among Black Americans in urban communities. Studies show that Black Americans are dying at alarming rates of fentanyl overdoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2017 that drug deaths for Black Americans increased by 41% – outpacing any other racial or ethnic group,” Clarke said. We’re both committed to stopping this deadly epidemic in its tracks. Our bi-partisan legislation creates a National Action Plan to help address challenges in combating this very serious and very real issue.” Clarke and Kinzinger were joined by their colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressmen Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Danny Davis (D-IL), in introducing this legislation. More here.
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Senate Confirms New Leader of NSA and U.S. Cyber Command
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone as the new leader of the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command. Nakasone, whose father is a second generation Japanese American, was unanimously confirmed by voice vote to serve as the "dual-hat" leader of both organizations. He will replace retiring Navy Adm. Mike Rogers after a nearly four-year term. Prior to being promoted to Lieutenant General in 2016, Nakasone was Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Cyber Command and later commander of the Cyber National Mission Force at Cyber Command. He has twice served as a Staff Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the Director of Intelligence, J2, for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. On October 14, 2016, he took command of the United States Second Army and United States Army Cyber Command. Nakasone was also given control of United States Cyber Command's Joint Task Force-ARES, a task-force designed to coordinate electronic counter-terrorist activities against the Islamic State. He served as commander of the Second Army until it was inactivated for the fourth time in its history on March 31, 2017, and remains commander of United States Army Cyber Command. He attended St. John’s University where he received his commission after graduation in 1986 through a reserve officer training program. Nakasone has also attended the University of Southern California, the National Defense Intelligence College, and the U.S. Army War College, holding master's degrees from each. He also is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College. Nakasone, who possesses a deep background in digital warfare, will also receive a fourth star, a new requirement to lead Cyber Command after Trump administration decided last year to place the unit on par with long-standing military outfits like Central Command. Last month Nakasone told the Armed Services Committee that the U.S. must "impose costs" on its digital adversaries and said countries that launch cyberattacks on the U.S. aren't afraid of retaliation. More here.
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Hoboken, NJ Mayor Ravi Bhalla on Saturday supporting his wife Navneet K. Bhalla, who is the interim Executive Director of Manavi, an organization for South Asian Women. | |  |
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) in Gardena, CA with Vietnam veterans this weekend after introducing legislation recognizing the importance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. | |
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Futuro Media Acquires Latino Rebels
María Hinojosa’s Futuro Media is expanding its media portfolio with the acquisition of Latino Rebels. Julio Ricardo Varela launched the digital news outlet in May 2011, which now reaches millions through its website, radio programming, and podcasts. Varela announced the acquisition on April 18th in Miami at Hispanicize, where he received a 2018 Positive Impact Award. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. With Latino Rebels under the Futuro umbrella, Varela anticipates taking his media outlet to the next level. “I’m super excited,” he says. “We’re going to be doing a lot of great things.” Varela has been working at Futuro Media since 2015 as the nonprofit’s digital media director. He also co-hosts the political podcast, In the Thick, with Hinojosa. “Over the years, Julio has built Latino Rebels into a trusted, smart, cutting-edge source of news and commentary,” noted Erika Dilday, Executive Director of Futuro Media. “We’re excited to make it part of the Futuro family and couldn’t be more proud to add it to the portfolio.” The Futuro Media Group is an independent nonprofit organization committed to producing ethical multimedia journalism from a POC perspective and representing the new American mainstream. Latino Rebels is one of the top Latino media outlets comprising a collective of writers, editors, journalists, bloggers, opinion makers, and content curators, the group uses social media, news, humor, and commentary to analyze and observe the U.S. Latino world and Latin America. More here.
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Judge Order Fox News to Defend Pundit’s Accusations Against Charles Payne
A federal judge ordered 21st Century Fox Inc. to defend a lawsuit by a former Fox News contributor, Scottie Nell Hughes, who claimed she was raped by a longtime anchor Charles Payne and that her complaint was ignored by the company. Hughes claims she was banned from the network after reporting she was raped by the Fox Business host. In her suit filed last year, Hughes alleges that Payne had raped her in a New York City hotel room in 2013. She also charges that the network retaliated by blacklisting her from the network after she reported she was attacked. Payne admits to the affair but denies that he coerced the pundit. Shortly after the suit, a series of racy emails emerged that were purportedly sent to Payne by Hughes. Allegedly sent in September 2013, the emails graphically describe a sex dream Hughes supposedly had about the pair, as well as seeming innuendo. One of the emails read, “Do you know what I keep dreaming about.. You and I in the pool… My legs wrapped around your waste [sic] and you have me pressed up against the wall of the pool. Skin glistening and smelling of coconut… You thrusting yourself deeper inside with each push… And your fingers grasping each of my cheeks. Holding me to you.” Hughes’ lawsuit names Fox, Fox News, Payne and two other individuals associated with the company. Payne was suspended by Fox last July pending an investigation. He was reinstated in September. Hughes also won an order blocking four subpoenas to men not involved in the case seeking communications of a “sexual or romantic" nature, information about her background and reputation, and any media files "of a sexual or romantic nature" featuring her. More here.
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Joy-Ann Reid Says Site Hacked
After a series of homophobic posts surfaced on MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid’s now-defunct, decade-old blog resurfaced on social media, the MSNBC host apologized for them. Then her lawyer looked into the matter and found foul play. They noticed a new batch of homophobic writings from that same period, and Reid says she had been the victim of hackers. Those new writings just surfaced to the public this week, though Reid’s team had already been looking into the matter. Reid’s lawyers alerted Google and the Internet Archive to the alleged hacking in December, shortly after her public apology and long before the latest batch of posts appeared on social media. A cybersecurity expert working with Reid said in a statement to HuffPost on Tuesday that he found evidence five months ago of “suspicious activity” and that there was alleged hacking that is now the subject of an ongoing federal investigation. Jonathan Nichols, identified as an independent security consultant by a representative of MSNBC, said the posts in question had been “entered with suspicious formatting and time stamps.” The Internet Archive, the meticulous online record-keeping nonprofit that hosted the archived version of her site, said it had found no evidence of hacking. “Now that the site has been compromised I can state unequivocally that it does not represent the original entries. I hope that whoever corrupted the site recognizes the pain they have caused, not just to me, but to my family and communities that I care deeply about: LGBTQ, immigrants, people of color and other marginalized groups,” Reid said in a statement. More here.
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Meet Sony Picture TV’s New Managing Director International Production Latin America
Sony Pictures TV announced that Ana Bond was joining as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of International Production for Latin America. The Universidad Católica Andrés Bello of Venezuela graduate, who received an MBA from the University of Miami Business School and an LLM from the University of Chicago Law School, was most recently Senior Vice President of Business & Strategy at W Studios, a Spanish-language production joint venture between Univisión Communications and producer Patricio Wills. Before that, Bond was VP Business Development and Legal Affairs for RTI Productions in Miami, and VP Business & Music Affairs at Telemundo. At Telemundo, Bond also held multiple positions in the legal department, including Corporate Counsel, Media Counsel and Senior Director of Business & Legal Affairs. ¡Felicidades Ana! Más aquí.
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AAJA Executive Director Resigns
Kathy Chow is resigning from her post as the Executive Director of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). She has accepted a position to be the first female Executive Director of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, a national association with 94 years of advancing the beauty and wellness profession. “Together we have accomplished a lot including launching Media Institute, securing the largest foundation funding the organization has ever received for programs such as the Criminal Justice Project, the Heartland Project and enhancing professional opportunities for the membership,” Chow said. Before assuming the help of AAJA in 2009, Chow was Director of the nonprofit Hands On Sacramento. Before that, she worked for six years at the Sacramento Bee in public affairs. Chow’s appointment was the association’s second try at replacing Rene Astudillo, who held the post for 10 years. Her last day will be May 15th. More here.
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Steph Curry Signs with Sony Pictures
Steph Curry has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment on a wide-ranging, multi-year development deal with the Golden State Warriors' newly formed production company Unanimous Media. The deal, according to the Hollywood Reporter, will involve first-look film and TV projects, partnership opportunities, electronic gaming, and virtual reality. In keeping with Curry’s personal beliefs, film and TV development will focus on faith and family-friendly content as well as sports-themed projects. “I’ve been blessed to have this platform and I want to use it to affect the world positively,” Curry said. “Partnering with Sony to share inspiring content with a global audience was a foregone conclusion." The 30-year-old founded Unanimous Media with Jeron Smith and Erick Peyton, who serve as CEO and CCO, respectively. Unanimous Media will be located on the Sony Pictures studio lot in Culver City, CA. The star point guard last year signed the NBA’s richest contract, worth $201 million over five years -- the biggest sports deal ever outside of baseball. More here.
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Congresswoman Mia Love (R-UT) with actor and activist Bradley Whitford discussing environmental issues last Wednesday. | |  |
Playwright and activist Lin-Manuel Miranda presenting the Hispanic Federation’s Humanitarian Award to artist Ricky Martin last week, in recognition of his work to end human trafficking and rebuild Puerto Rico. | |
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Uber Diversity Report Shows Slight Progress
Uber released its second annual diversity report on Tuesday -- the the first under the company’s new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. The report shows how the company is improving, but there’s still a significant amount of work to do. Uber looked at their employees’ ethnicities and genders and found that the its workforce is 48.6% white and 62% male -- an improvement. In the past year, Uber’s female workforce has grown by almost 2%, and the number of Latinx people at the company has increased slightly as well, from 5.6 to 6.1%. The bad news? The percentage of Black employees dropped from 8.8% to 8.1%, and Uber still does not have Black and brown people in tech leadership roles. "While we've made some good steps as it relates to diversity at the company, we want that to be reflected in the senior leadership as well," Khosrowshahi said. The company's diversity "needs to improve across the board," he continued. “To define a goal at this point would be too soon. Goals are easy, actions are hard ... Judge me based on what I do, not by what I say." More here.
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Airbnb Nabs Former Michelle Obama Aide to Lead Executive Operations
Airbnb has named Kristen Jarvis West Head of Executive Operations. In this newly-created role, Kristen will build out and manage the team for the Office of the CEO and advise the CEO on a range of strategic matters. She will be leaving her job as Chief of Staff for the Ford Foundation to assume the position. Before that, the 2003 Spelman College graduate spent six years as the right hand of former First Lady Michelle Obama as her Deputy Senior Advisor and Director External Relations. Her relationship with the Obama family began in 2005 when she joined then-Senator Barack Obama’s Capitol Hill office. Jarvis later took traveling positions during his presidential campaign, uprooting her life to move to Las Vegas for a while before joining Michelle Obama’s then-two-person campaign staff in 2008. After the election, it was Jarvis’s job to accompany the new First Lady wherever she went. She got her start in politics as a Staff Assistant to former Senator Tom Daschle. A native of Columbia, MD, the 36-year-old has quite the testimony. Both of her parents and a brother died before she was 30. Hence, the former First Daughters became like family to her, even serving as bridesmaids in her wedding. She officially assumed her new role last week. More about her here.
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TX gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez (D) at the Harris County’s Women Making History luncheon on Saturday. | |  |
David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, speaking in NY over the weekend at Brothers Thrive, a mental health initiative for Black men. | |
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Congressional Native Staff Association Announces New Officers
The Congressional Native Staff Association (CNSA) late last week announced their new slate of officers. Helping to lead CNSA is House Co-Chair, Alexa Old Crow -- an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. She studied at the University of Oklahoma and is currently a Legislative Assistant for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. On the Senate side, CNSA will be led by Co-Chair Jacqueline Bisille. The Arizona native is a member of the Navajo Nation and a proud graduate of Arizona State University. Currently, she is a Policy Advisor for Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The new CNSA Treasurer is Philip Bennett, who is also the Secretary for the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. The Knox College Grad is a Staff Assistant for Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA). Previously, Philip worked for the City of LA in various capacities. Renée Gasper is the new CNSA Secretary and is one of the founders of CNSA. The Arizona State University grad, who also has her Master of Public Administration from Baruch College — City University of New York, is the Administrative Director for Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). She also previously served as a staffer for former New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman. Renée is from Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico. And Jaxon Wolfe, Scheduler for Congressman Denny Heck (D-WA), is the new CNSA Director. Jaxon started as an intern on Capitol Hill in January of last year, and after graduating from the University of Washington last spring, he was hired as a full-time staffer in Heck’s DC office. Congrats, all!
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Johns Hopkins APL Names New General Counsel
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has named Paul L. Oostburg Sanz as General Counsel. The native of Puerto Rico will also oversee APL’s Office of Technology Transfer and remain a strategic advisor to the APL director for commercialization, a role that he has held since joining the Lab in 2017. Before coming to APL, Oostburg Sanz was appointed by President Barack Obama as General Counsel of the Navy. As the longest-serving presidential appointee in that position, he was the department’s chief legal officer and advised the secretary of the Navy, the service chiefs, and other senior Navy and Marine Corps officials in the annual obligation of more than $160 billion and the management of nearly 900,000 service members and civilians. He led 24 Senior Executive Service members and nearly 1,000 attorneys and professional support staff in 140 offices across seven countries on four continents. Prior to his Navy post, he served as General Counsel and Democratic Deputy Chief Counsel for the House Armed Services and International Relations committees, respectively. After graduating from Georgetown University and obtaining an MBA from Princeton, he completed law school at Harvard. After law school, he clerked for Judge José A. Fusté of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He conducted political party training in South Africa during the 1994 South African election, as a Project Officer for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea-Bissau. More here.
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FCC Chair Ajit Pai meeting with leaders of Northern Arapaho Tribal Industries, a tribe-owned professional services firm in Wyoming. | |  |
AP's Race & Ethnicity writer Errin Haines Whack interviewing Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, who made headlines after their arrest at a Philadelphia Starbucks last week. | |
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Bush-Appointed Judge Rules DACA Program Must Accept New Applicants
In the biggest blow yet to the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind DACA, a third federal judge has ruled against the end of the program and even went one step further: he ruled that the program must accept new applicants. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates called Donald Trump’s decision to end DACA “arbitrary and capricious.” Bates, a judge nominated to his position by former President George W. Bush gave the administration 90 days to defend its decision before the ruling would take effect. Bates also wrote that the decision to phase out the program starting in March “was arbitrary and capricious because the Department failed adequately to explain its conclusion that the program was unlawful.” More here.
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New Ed Department Data Show Disparities Grow for Students of Color, Especially Black Children
The Department of Education on Tuesday released two reports highlighting civil rights data collection on school safety and discipline and on students’ access to science and math courses. Among the most remarkable findings of the Civil Rights Data Collection? The data show a significant increase in disparities in arrests and referrals to police for Black students. While Black students made up 15% of the total student population across U.S. public schools and districts, 31% of students who were arrested or referred to law enforcement were Black. Black children made up just 8% of enrolled students, but Black boys made up 25% of students suspended at least once, and Black girls accounted for another 14%. Black boys accounted for 23% of students expelled, as did 20% of Black girls. Overall, Black, Hispanic male, and Native American students face harsher discipline than their white counterparts. Black, Native American, and multiracial students also were disproportionately likely to be the targets of reported harassment based not just on race, but also on sex and disabilities. Students with disabilities remain vastly over-represented among students involved in police interactions. The new data come as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Ed Department consider changes in how its office for civil rights guides districts and handles complaints around equity in education. However, DeVos spokeswoman Elizabeth Hill said the Secretary is reviewing the school discipline guidance because she believes it does not sufficiently account for the cause of the disparities. The data “doesn’t answer the ‘why’ question; for instance, in terms of why black students, students with disabilities, and males are referred to law enforcement at a higher percentage rate than their enrollment figures,” Hill said. The reports themselves are a must-read. More here.
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SCOTUS Divided Over Claims That Texas Voting Maps Discriminate Against Minorities
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a long-running dispute over congressional and state legislative districts in Texas that challengers said discriminated against minority voters. The Justices were sharply divided as they considered a lower court opinion that invalidated congressional and statehouse maps in Texas, holding that they discriminated against Black and Latino voters. It was unclear after nearly 80 minutes of arguments whether a resolution is any closer. The left-leaning justices seemed to favor the challengers, while the conservatives seemed to think that Texas -- now supported by the Trump administration -- has done what it should. A three-judge panel in Texas last summer said two congressional districts and a handful of legislative districts were unconstitutional and called on the Governor to convene the legislature to draw new lines. But before that could happen, Texas went to the Supreme Court. In September, the court on a 5-to-4 vote put that order on hold until it could hear the case. “By not waiting for the remedy in this case, we are not in a position to be fully informed,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Now, there is a real chance that the court could decide that, even after all this time, the case is not yet ready for the Supreme Court to weigh in. More here.
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| FOMO Today, 12P: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) will hold a policy discussion on the Investing in Opportunity Act, as part of his National Opportunity Tour. The Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW. Contact raynard@raynardjackson.com for more information.
Today, 3P: Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) join Planned Parenthood to announce efforts to fight back. U.S. Capitol, House Triangle. Click here for more information.
Today, 5:30P: Please join Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) for an evening of #BlackGirlMagic. CBCI Townhouse 413 New Jersey Ave, SE. RSVP to Brandon Neal at pylorus.contact@gmail.com.
Today - Friday, April 27th: The African American Mayor Association 2018 Annual Conference. DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. Click here to purchase tickets.
Thursday, April 26th, 12P: The Raben Group presents “Being Muslim in America: Current Political Climate and What's Next After the SCOTUS Travel Ban Hearing.” Farhana Khera, Executive Director of Muslim Advocates, sits with Roy L. Austin, Jr. for a discussion. 1341 G Street, NW Fifth Floor, DC. RSVP here.
Thursday, April 26th, 5:30P: Latino/AAPI Unity Event. Join Glen S. Fukushima, Helga Flores Trejo, CAPA21, and Latino Victory Fund on for a joint event celebrating the friendship between the Latino and AAPI communities. Click here for more information.
Thursday, April 26th, 6:30P: Lab 29 presents “Equity in Education: Why Keeping Culture in the Classroom Matters,” a discussion on how the connection between culture and education is a key aspect in empowering Native Americans in the U.S. George Washington University, 2121 I Street Northwest, Funger Hall, Room 209. RSVP here.
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 4th, 5P: Please join the Friends of the American Latino Museum and LatinVIP to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the American Latino Museum Commission report and Cinco de Mayo. Los Gallos Negros perform. VIP admission and specials with donations of $50 and more. Decades DC, 1219 Connecticut Ave NW. RSVP here.
Tuesday, May 8th - Thursday, May 10th: The Wall Street Journal's The Future of Everything Festival. Speakers include Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund Leader Tina Tchen, WSJ Editors, and more. Spring Studios, 50 Varick St, NYC. Click here for more information.
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 14th - Thursday, May 17th: Federal Asian Pacific America Council's 33rd National Leadership Training Program. Keynote address by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Sheraton Pentagon City, 900 South Orme Street, Arlington, VA. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, May 16th, 5:30P: 2018 Mission Forward Spring Reception: “Building Equity and Breaking Bias,” a powerful conversation on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Speakers include Ed Yong, science writer for The Atlantic, and Liz Neeley, Executive Director of The Story Collider. Mission Partners, 7201 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 780, Bethesda, MD. RSVP here.
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.
Sunday, June 10th - Tuesday, June 12th: The ACLU Membership Conference. Speakers include Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), and founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL Bryan Stevenson. Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place NW) and Marriott Marquis Washington D.C. (901 Massachusetts Avenue NW). 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.
Friday, July 20 - Sunday, July 22nd: The 2nd Annual Black Campaign School, hosted by The Collective. Atlanta, GA. Click here for information.
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