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So is it us or did that James Comey testimony read like a cross between a House of Cards screenplay and a John Grisham novel? But you know how it goes. The book is always better than the movie. So, as all of DC scatters across war rooms, bars, and sofas to play whatever drinking games as you watch this testimony, send us your pics! Hit us up at info@thebeatdc.com. By the way -- Happy Global Hip-Hop Day! That's right! On June 8th, we celebrate the global and cultural impact of the genre that was started some 40 years ago. How do we think Trump is acknowledging the day? Maybe listening to 99 Problems on repeat while angrily social media stalking Barack Obama, James Comey, Hillary, and Melania? Anywho, a shout out to Kurtis Blow, Rakim, Sugar Hill Gang, Blondie, Salt 'N Pepa, Beastie Boys, Slick Rick, LL Cool J, RUN DMC, and all the other pioneers. With that, here’s what we’ve got as we countdown to Friday:- In "no he didn't" news, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) shut down questioning from Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA).
- SXSW may have to find a new home if Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-CA) have anything to say about it.
- What do you get when you connect Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michael B. Jordan? The Wrong Answer.
- Trump who? That's what Hawaii's governor said when he signed that Paris Climate Accord.
- Want to see Barack and Michelle Obama, Muhammad Ali, Harriet Tubman, and Prince? We got you!
- Souljah Boy Tell 'Em: Black Troops treated unfairly.
- Check out The Beat on iTunes!
- See who we throw it back with this Thursday!
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| The Beat DC Podcast Joins iTunes! Hosted by Jamal Simmons, with guest appearances by Tiffany D. Cross, The Beat DC's podcast delves into personal stories of success and struggle, exchanges ideas, pokes fun, and reveals the intellectual and the intellectually curious. We do it all at the intersection of culture, race, ethnicity, and policy, natch. Tune in!
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Burr Cut Off Kamala Harris During Intel Hearing
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) shut down a line of questioning from Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) at Wednesday's high-profile hearing, admonishing her and other Democrats to stop cutting off witnesses. One of three women on the intelligence panel, Harris was pressing Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein over whether he would sign a letter to give Special Counsel Robert Mueller full independence from the Justice Department in his probe, which would have the same effect as a letter issued for then-Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald in the investigation into the 2003 leaking of then-covert CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity. See the video here.
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Senators Ask SXSW to Change Venue Over Anti-Immigration Bill
Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) called for the organizers of the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals to consider moving the event out of Texas until the new state law targeting sanctuary cities is repealed. The law, known as SB4, authorizes local police to ask about immigration status during routine stops, and threatens police chiefs with misdemeanor charges and fines if they fail to enforce federal immigration laws. Menéndez and Cortez Masto sent a letter this week to Roland Swenson, the CEO of the event. "We respectfully ask that you consider relocating the 2018 South by Southwest Conference and Festivals to a different state until Texas terminates its harmful, shameful immigration policies," the senators wrote. See the full letter here.
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Congressional Caribbean Caucus Talk Economic Development Today
To celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month, the Congressional Caribbean Caucus, co-chaired by Congresswomen Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) will host a briefing on issues facing the Caribbean region during the Trump administration. This briefing will cover security integration efforts, improving rule of law, economic development, environmental threats and implementation of the U.S. -- Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act. The briefing starts at 3:30P. Click here to watch live.
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|  | Lakota language instructor and Native Nation Rebuilder Tipiziwin Tolman discussing media narratives about the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Millennial Engagement Conference in DC on Tuesday. | |  |
DNC Deputy Chair Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) stopped off to meet with the Jewish Community Action Committee in Minnesota on Monday. | |
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Aja Brown, Compton’s Youngest Mayor, Wins Second Term
The Jimmy Gomez victory wasn’t the only election news coming out of California. Compton Mayor Aja Brown defeated former Mayor Omar Bradley by a landslide. Bradley had forced a runoff in the April primary but couldn’t make up more ground on Brown, 35, who was the youngest mayor in the city’s history when elected in 2013. Brown began her political career while still attending USC as an Economic Development Analyst for the city of Gardena. She graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in public policy, urban planning, and development. A year later in 2005, she earned a master’s degree in urban planning with a concentration in economic development. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. More here.
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Villaraigosa Leading in California Polls But Still Trailing Newsom
A poll released today by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies finds Gavin Newsom is leading fellow Democrat, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, among likely voters, 22 percent to 17 percent. Coming in behind the former mayors are a pair of relatively unknown Republicans: San Diego businessman John Cox and former Torrance Assemblyman David Hadley, each with less than 10 percent of respondents. Democratic State Treasurer John Chiang polled a distant fifth with 5 percent. More here.
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Hawaii Becomes the First State to Support the Paris Agreement
Hawaii has become the first state to enact a law that aligns with the Paris agreement, after its governor signed two bills into law Tuesday that "support the commitments and goals" of the accord, Gov. David Ige's office announced Tuesday. The governor, as well as the state's county mayors and state representatives, gathered in Honolulu to sign two bills and a mayor's agreement in support of the Paris agreement. Read more.
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Singer Mavis Staples with Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) at the Gordon Parks Foundation dinner in NYC. photo: Getty Images. | |  |
Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) welcoming her interns to Capitol Hill. Boy, did they pick a good week to start. Good luck young people! Send your pics to info@TheBeatDC.com | |
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Carson Hails Program Trump’s Budget Plans to Eliminate -- Oops
Speaking before a Senate committee on Wednesday, HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson offered no objections to the budget proposed by the Trump administration, which envisions a funding reduction of $7.4bn compared to 2017, or almost 15%. In a surprising turn, Carson praised the work of a federal homelessness agency that the Trump budget eliminates. Carson was asked how he would ensure collaboration between federal agencies, and in his answer he highlighted the work of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), praising it as “effective”. Ummm ... does he not know that the Trump budget does away with USICH? Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) politely brought this up, adding that she regarded it as a “huge mistake”. That’s the thing about running a government agency-something Carson has never done. You see Mr. Secretary, it’s a state of mind. More here.
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Holder Honored by Washington Lawyers
On Wednesday, the Washington Lawyer’s Committee honored former AG Eric Holder with the Wiley Branton Award. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) presented Holder with the award at the ceremony, which was held at the JW Marriott. Lewis called Holder a brother and a great attorney general and compared him to Robert Kennedy. Holder said that the need for activism and advocacy by lawyers is greater now than ever. Spotted at the event: Joe Onek, Peter Adelman, Marcia Dyson, Janson Wu, Kelby Ballena, Shelly Brazier, DC judges Eric Washington and Rufus King, and a host of others. Congrats, Mr. Holder!
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Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) met with AARP California on Wednesday. | |  | HACR's Cid Wilson, Jennifer Sevilla Korn from the White House Office of Public Liaison, and Latino Magazine's Dalia Almanza-Smith at Wednesday night's Latino Magazine reception. | |
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Ben’s New Mural
Just as Bill Cosby’s trial was kicking off (don’t worry, we’re not touching that one) and WGN canceled Underground (time for you to step up Netflix), Ben's Chili Bowl unveiled the new artwork on U Street that we all needed. Barack and Michelle Obama, Muhammad Ali, Harriet Tubman, and Prince are some of the people featured in the new mural at the DC landmark. Artist Aniekan Udofia began the mural last week. Named The Torch, it pays tribute to African American culture. The work is scheduled to be complete with the artist's signature vibrant colors by mid-June. How’d they come up with who to feature? The restaurant compiled a list of more than 50 people and asked customers to vote on who they would like to see on the new mural. More here.
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DC Police Incorporate Blacksonian Tour As Part of Training
DC Police officers on Tuesday took a tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as part of an effort to foster a deeper understanding of race in the city’s neighborhoods, and as part of training for new police officers in the district. “I tell my police officers that there are people who live in our community who grew up where police were enforcing Jim Crow laws, and when they have an automatic distrust of the police, it’s completely understandable, and that’s something we have to overcome,” said Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham. More here from NBC Washington.
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Rockefeller Foundation President Raj Shah at the Yale Club in NYC on Monday. | |  |
Obama alumni gathered on Monday night in Chicago for an Access Living event. | |
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Ta-Nehisi Coates Teams Up with Michael B. Jordan for the Wrong Answer
When this group of talent and intellect meet, you get a trifecta of Black Boy Joy. Intellectual thought leader Ta-Nehisi Coates is trying his hand at writing a script, and he’s teaming up with Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan (of Fruitvale Station, Creed, and the upcoming Black Panther). Coates’ script is based on an education scandal called Wrong Answer. Coogler will direct the film, which will be produced by Coogler, New Regency Productions, and Brad Pitt’s Plan B, and Jordan will star as math teacher Damany Lewis. Based on Rachel Aviv’s 2014 New Yorker article of the same name, Wrong Answer tells the story of the 2006 standardized testing scandal in the Atlanta public schools. Check out more here.
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NABJ Kicks Off Black Male Media Project on Saturday
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is launching its Black Male Media Project, an initiative to help change the narrative around the lives and images of Black men in the news and in society, with a series of workshops nationwide on Saturday. The project will launch with 19 NABJ affiliate chapters hosting events in various cities across the country, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis, all on the same day. The initiative is designed to inspire, support and develop training and mentorship opportunities for Black men working in or aspire to work in journalism and media. "NABJ has created the Black Male Media Project to combat the blotter-to-mugshot images of Black male faces, to create a fresh and real view of Black men in America and across the diaspora and to help build trust in communities nationwide," said NABJ President Sarah Glover. The New York Association of Black Journalists event will include Rev. Al Sharpton and New York Daily News senior justice writer Shaun King. More here.
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PFAW's Diallo Brooks wearing orange for National Gun Violence Prevention Month. | |  |
Cambridge College presented Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) with an honorary degree over the weekend. | |
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ID Cards for Immigrants in Jeopardy
The Faith Action ID card was created in North Carolina four years ago to give undocumented immigrants in the area a form of identification and prevent their arrests for not providing proper identifications. It's not government issued and can't be used as a driver's license, but 16 local law enforcement jurisdictions in the state accept the ID. However, the NC General Assembly wants it gone and has proposed legislation for the third year in a row to ban it as part of a larger immigration bill. Opponents say there aren't enough checks on people who get them. Others say they facilitate illegal immigration. The legislation has been passed by the Senate and is awaiting House committee approval. More here.
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Puerto Rico’s Future
On Wednesday, The Hill Latino launched "Special Report: Puerto Rico’s Future," in which they convene voices from both sides of the aisle to discuss what’s happening in Puerto Rico and why it matters. For the first time, The Hill is publishing editorial coverage in both English and Spanish. Features include op-eds from Congressmembers Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), José Serrano (D-NY), and Darren Soto (D-FL), insights from industry experts, and a digital component with bilingual videos and editorial coverage. Check it out here.
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Study Finds Racial and Geographical Gaps in Welfare Benefits
A new study released Tuesday by the Urban Institute shows wide racial and geographic disparities in how much cash welfare assistance low-income families receive. The study found that states with larger populations of African Americans tend to have less generous welfare benefits and more restrictive policies, such as shorter periods of eligibility for assistance, stricter requirements to maintain benefits, and more severe sanctions for people who don’t follow their state’s welfare rules. Researchers also found that welfare benefits have diminished in every state except Oregon since President Clinton’s “welfare reform” became law 20 years ago. More here from The Washington Post.
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Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduces some middle school students to Senator Al Franken (D-MN) on Wednesday. | |  | A bipartisan group of 11 members of Congress traveled to Mexico City on Monday for the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group (IPG) meeting. | |
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Black Troops As Much As Twice As Likely To Be Punished By Commanders, Courts
Black troops are far more likely than their white comrades to face court martial or other forms of military punishment, according to a new study. Black service members were as much as two times more likely than white troops to face discipline in an average year, according to an analysis by Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy organization for victims of sexual assault and military justice. The group combed through Pentagon data from 2006 to 2015 for its report. “Over the past decade, racial disparities have persisted in the military justice system without indications of improvement,” the report states. “These disparities are particularly striking for Black service members, who face military justice or disciplinary action at much higher rates than white service members in every service branch. In fact, the size of the disparity between white and Black service members’ military justice’s involvement has remained consistent over the years, and, in the case of the Air Force and Marine Corps has increased.” More here.
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Espaillat Says Trumpcare Hurts Millennials
Millennials have seen dramatic gains in health insurance coverage since passage of the ACA, more so than any other age demographic. But Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) says that instead of building on these historic gains, Trumpcare would have devastating effects on young people. According to Young Invincibles, low- and moderate-income young individuals would pay more under Trumpcare than under current law, ultimately impacting over four million young people and harming the lowest-income young people the most. On top of that, Espaillat says Trumpcare allows insurers to impose penalties on those who experience gaps in coverage. Who is most likely to experience a gap in health coverage because of a move or a job transition? Young adults. In fact, as many as one-third of young people between the ages of 19 and 34 could face a 30 percent coverage gap surcharge under Trumpcare. Read his entire piece here.
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Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) provided a legislative update to the Met Council in NYC last weekend. | |  |
Melissa Harris-Perry showing support for immigrants. | |
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It’s Bias That Hobbles People of Color, Not Lack of a Leadership Pipeline
Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and other racial and ethnic minorities reported that they did not have the relationships with donors, role models, and the other types of networks that they thought would help them succeed as leaders. In other words, they were less likely than whites to say they had the contacts and relationships needed to advance and were more likely to fear they would have a hard time raising money. Data from The Chronicle of Philanthropy suggests that rather than needing more skills training, people of color need professional connections and access to sources of funding that are key factors in successful organizational leadership. Hence, the data shows that grant makers should assess their practices to think about ways they can connect grantees and staff members of color to networks that can open doors for career advancement and funding. More here.
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Keith Ellison and Joy Ann Reid Honored by AAPF on Saturday
The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) will host its 20th Anniversary Gala “Say Her Name: 20 Years of Intersectionality in Action” at Columbia University in NYC. The gala will celebrate AAPF's work advancing and expanding racial justice, gender equality, and human rights both in the U.S. and internationally. In addition to commemorating AAPF’s work, the event will honor four individuals who have been champions of intersectional change: Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), playwright Eve Ensler, MSNBC anchor Joy-Ann Reid, and Black feminist scholar and activist Barbara Smith. AAPF’s 20th Anniversary Gala will be co-chaired by actress Thandie Newton and Ann Thomas, with host committee members including Michelle Alexander, Jane Fonda, Alicia Garza, Cecile Richards, Tavis Smiley, Gloria Steinem, Bryan Stevenson, Opal Tometi, and Cornel West. More info here.
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Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) met with members of the Nevada education system in his DC office on Wednesday. | |  | Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) brought greetings at the 103rd Hampton University Ministers' Conference on Monday. He's pictured here with Vera Riddick & conference president Dr. Dwight Riddick. | |
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Massachusetts Considers Bill to Drop Native American Mascots from School
Massachusetts legislators held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss a bill that would ban the use of Native American mascots in state public schools. Supporters of the legislation say the mascots, especially when accompanied by a cartoon logo, perpetuate a stereotype, while opponents say mascots are part of a school’s culture. The bill defines a Native American mascot as a "name, symbol or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian tribe, individual, custom or tradition that is used by a public school as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead or team name," and include examples such as “Redmen” and “Chieftains.” Forty public schools across the state use such mascots. More here from WBUR.
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Who is that leaping off their desk on to the bed after finals at Stanford? You guessed it. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). | |  |
Who's that cutie in the front? That would be the first Latina in the Senate. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) with her sister Cynthia and father Manny. | |
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| FOMOToday, 10A: Comey Watch Party. JR's Bar. 1519 17th Street, NW. Specials on Moscow Mules and Dark & Stormy drinks.
Today, 6P: Meet & Greet with Yvette Simpson, candidate for mayor of Cincinnati, OH. 1324 T Street, NW. RSVP to: Molly@YvetteSimpson.com
Today, 7P: STARZ sponsors the DC premiere of Season 4 of the series Power. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. By invitation only.
Friday, June 9th, 6P: BET Farewell DC party. 1235 W Street, NE. By invitation only.
Saturday, June 10th, 1P: Socialmovements.org invites you to join LGBT44, Funny or Die, and Tumblr for "NOT the White House Pride Party," a gathering of LGBTQ and allied community leaders, activists, public servants, and anyone who cares about the cause of equality. Special guests include former Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett. The Brixton, 901 U Street, NW. Click here to purchase tickets.
Monday, June 12th, 6:30P: Author Sheryll Cashin reads from her new book, Loving: Interracial Intimacy in America and the Threat to White Supremacy. Busboys & Poets, 14th & V Streets, NW. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, June 13th, 11:30A: The Raben Group and The Black Church Center sponsor "Wade in the Water," a panel discussion on faith communities and the progressive movement. 1341 G Street, NW. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, June 14th, 9A: The Raben Group sponsors a policy breakfast with Vanita Gupta, incoming President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, June 14th, 5:30P: Celebrate the release of Season Five of Orange is the New Black, and support Lesley López, candidate for the Maryland General Assembly, at Orange is the New Black Trivia Night with host Jillian Rubino. Penn Social, 801 E Street, NW. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, June 14th. 6P: A special screening of the award-winning documentary Indivisible, a film about the fight to reunite families separated by deportation. Remarks by CHC Chair Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM) and Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL). The evening includes a Q&A discussion with director Hilary Linder and two DREAMers featured in the film, Renata Teodoro and Antonio Alarcón. Click here to RSVP.
Thursday, June 15th, 8A: The Hill sponsors a Latina Leaders Summit. Participants include Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Jennifer Korn, Sarita Brown, Alejandra Castillo, Nina Vaca, Geisha Williams, and Mónica Gil. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, June 21st, 6P: Reception and fundraiser for Kia Hamadanchy for Congress. 408 East Capitol Street, NE, RSVP at: info@KiaForOrangeCounty.com
Wednesday, June 21st, 6:30P: Reception and fundraiser for David Min for Congress. Rooftop at Steptoe and Johnson, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Click here to RSVP.
Thursday, June 22nd, 6P: MALDEF hosts its 2017 Chicago Awards Gala honoring Carlos Tortolero, President and Founder of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, and Mary Meg McCarthy, Executive Director of the National Immigrant Justice Center. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, June 22nd - Saturday, June 24th: NALEO holds its 34th-annual conference in Dallas. Click here to register.
Saturday, June 24th, 4P: The DC chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) hosts its annual BBQ and fundraiser. Click here to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, July 26th - Friday, July 28th: ColorComm, Women of Color in Communications, holds its 2017 conference in Miami, FL, featuring keynote speaker Whoopi Goldberg. Click here to register.
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