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The past election cycle has highlighted just how influential the media can be and the real world consequences it can bring. Certainly the ubiquitous fake news that can frequently flood our timeline is a challenge. However, at times, the “real” news can be inaccurate and disappointing due to a lack of perspective and diversity in newsrooms. Take for instance the innumerable outlets that cover DC. Many of these outlets frequently bypass the politics, policy, and social comings and goings of people of color simply because we're not on their radar. This is why The Beat is such an important platform at this time. At a certain point, we stopped asking for a seat at the table and built our own. And in this polarizing political climate, a diverse lens should be an integral part of any news outlet. So we begin today’s Beat with some disappointing news from The New York Times…
The Old Gray Lady is All White
The New York Times announced their new White House team that will cover the Trump administration for the next four years, and they all have one thing in common: none of them are people of color. Mark Landler, Mike Shear, Julie Davis, Maggie Haberman, Peter Baker, and Glenn Thrush will be responsible for bearing witness and dissecting the politics and policy of the Trump White House with an arguably limited perspective. Yamiche Alcindor, an award-winning journalist (NABJ’s 2013 Emerging Journalist of the Year), is a Times reporter who covered Donald Trump during the campaign and even broke a story on Trump’s talking points document. However, neither she nor any other person of color will be part of this team. The Times Washington Bureau Chief Elisabeth Bumiller did not respond to our request for a comment.
Omarosa Joins Transition Team
Omarosa Manigault is joining President-elect Trump’s transition team. She'll be one of more than two dozen Trump loyalists on the committee, which includes a number of lawmakers, senior advisers and incoming White House aides. In an interview with ABC News's "20/20" last month, Manigault said “I will never forget the people who turned their backs on me when all I was trying to do was help the black community." Fair enough. The Black community will likely not forget those who helped elect this president. More here. Trump Transition Team Met with Native American Leaders
President-elect Trump’s transition team convened a meeting of Native American leaders on Wednesday to assuage concerns over how the new administration will deal with issues important to tribal leaders. Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) the head of the Trump Native American Coalition, organized the meeting, which nearly 200 people attended. A number of former Interior officials and transition staffers were also there as well as Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK). The summit addressed topics like Native American sovereignty, energy development, resource protection and the battle over the Dakota Access Pipeline. More here.
WH Council on Women and Girls
The White House is hosting an event this morning at 8 to look back at the Obama administration’s work to advance equity for women and girls of color, and look forward to innovative solutions and exciting place-based work that is happening throughout the country. As the administration comes to an end, this will be the final forum of its kind hosted by President Obama’s White House Council on Women and Girls. Today’s speakers include Valerie Jarrett, Tina Chen, Kalisha Dessources, Cecilia Muñoz, Vanita Gupta, Quyen Dinh, Melissa Harris-Perry, Catherine Lhamon, Latifa Lyles, and others. To watch the event live, click here.
First Family Departs
Today at 5:25P, the First Family says farewell to this brisk DC chill and heads to Honolulu. This will be their last family holiday vacation as residents of the White House. Sigh.
Ryan Makes History with African American CoS
At a time when Capitol Hill diversity is a pressing issue, House Speaker Paul Ryan has made history by naming an African American as his new CoS. Longtime aide Jonathan Burks did stints in the George W. Bush White House, the Senate and the House, and has worked for Ryan for much of the past six years, most recently advising the Speaker on national security issues. Ryan said this of 38-year-old Burks, “No one is better suited to step into this role at this time than Jonathan Burks. Simply put, he can do it all.” More here.
Other New Staff Hires
Congresswoman-elect Nanette Barragán (D-CA) has named Marsha Catron, of New Mexico, as her CoS. Catron, a deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Public Affairs, brings a wealth of experience in addition to working for Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. She has served in various communications roles on the Obama campaign, and with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
Congressman-elect Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) picked up the former CHC Executive Director, Valeria Carranza, to be his Legislative Director and Candace Pearson to be his Communications Director. Candace joins Espaillat’s office from the Congressional Black Caucus where she held the same job. "I’m excited to share that he has all women of color in his top senior positions,” said Carranza. Congrats to all on the new positions.
Espaillat CBC and CHC
Speaking of Espaillat, he is said to be caucusing with both the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus when the 115th Congress commences in January. This will be the first time both caucuses will share a member. Espaillat won retiring Congressman Charlie Rangel’s seat and is the first Dominican American elected to Congress. He is also the first former undocumented immigrant to serve in either the House or Senate. Stronger together. More here. Headed Back to the Hill
LaDavia Drane, former HRC campaigner and executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, is returning to the Hill. This time she will be the CoS for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY). In an email to friends and colleagues, Drane writes, “I am excited about the opportunity and I look forward to working with you again. I really have missed the Hill!”
Hurd and Lieu Talk Digital Infrastructure
Lawmakers from both parties are trying to make sure digital infrastructure is part of the legislation. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) said digital infrastructure is as vital to the country as roads and bridges. “From hardening our electric grid to making sure we put broadband out in all communities in the U.S., we need to invest in digital capacity as much as in concrete,” Lieu said. Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) said increased access to broadband can help improve health care. “When we want to talk about telemedicine, if you don’t have cell phone service or broadband, you are going to have some problems,” Hurd said. Hurd, whose district encompasses nearly half of the U.S.-Mexico border, also said fiber optic cables could improve homeland security. More here.
Pérez Makes it Official
Labor Secretary Tom Pérez made his bid to chair the Democratic National Committee official on Thursday. “We have a lot of fighting to do. We have a lot of advocating to do. And I’ve been doing that all my life,” Pérez said on a call announcing his decision. He will face Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), SC Party Chair Jaime Harrison, and NH Party Chairman Ray Buckley. A new chair must be elected by March. More here.
Latino Victory Fund Endorses Pérez
Latino Victory Fund President Cristóbal J. Alex issued a statement supporting Pérez’s bid for DNC Chair. “Tom Perez is a proven and qualified progressive leader who has fought for the rights of communities of color, immigrants, women, the LGBTQ community and young people throughout his entire career…Coming out of an election filled with hate, racism, sexism, and violence, it is more important than ever that the Democratic Party remain united and grounded in our values of inclusion and opportunities for all,” Alex says. See the full statement here.
Sanders Stomping for Ellison
Not without his own powerful endorsement, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) campaigned this week in favor of Ellison's DNC chairman bid. Speaking to a packed room of enthusiastic labor union members at the American Federation of Teachers headquarters in DC on Wednesday night, Sanders said, “Now is the time for real change in the Democratic Party, to revitalize the Democratic Party and to bring in people who have not been welcomed in the past.” You can see the video here. HLA Selects New Leadership
The Hispanic Lobbyists Association on Thursday elected its new leadership for 2017. The new officers are: The Raben Group’s Larry González as President; Max Trujillo of MJT Policy as Vice President; Allen Gutiérrez, Executive Director of the Latino Coalition, as Treasurer; and Liz López, Executive Vice President of Public Policy for the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), as Secretary. Board members include: Raben Group’s Zuraya Tapia, AT&T’s Susie Santana, Solidarity Strategies’ Chuck Rocha, GM’s Rich Lopez, T-Mobile’s Anais Carmona, NEA’s Al Campos, Becker & Poliakoff’s Omar Franco, Shell’s Patricia Tamez, and Ibarra Strategies’ Christopher Guerrero. González tells The Beat that in 2017, HLA will focus on one of the key tenets of their mission: increased diversity in the lobbying profession and on Capitol Hill. For more about HLA, click here.
Meeting with Schumer
Newly elected HLA President Larry González wasted no time getting started in his new position. On Thursday, he was joined by a group of advocates including Dean Aguillén with Ogilvy Government Relations, and Ingrid Durán, Catherine Pino, and Roberto Fierro of D&P Creative Strategies, for a meeting with Mike Lynch, the CoS of incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to discuss the ongoing challenges with diversity on Capitol Hill. Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA) President Verónica Durón, who is also a Schumer staffer, helped broker the meeting. The group discussed working together to ensure diverse candidates are getting opportunities in entry-level positions, advancement within offices, and at the highest levels for senior positions. “It was a very positive meeting. But we didn’t mince words that Democratic senators will be held accountable for their efforts,” said González. More on Capitol Hill diversity challenges here.
Call to Delay Sessions Hearing
A coalition of civil rights and labor organizations are requesting a delay in the confirmation hearings of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who Trump intends to nominate as attorney general. “The Senate Judiciary Questionnaire (SJQ) submitted by Sen. Jeff Sessions as a prerequisite for his confirmation hearing to become U.S. Attorney General lacks hundreds of entries that should have been included and is woefully inadequate in its current form, according to a number of organizations that have examined the publicly available document and its appendices,” the coalition says in a statement. See full statement here.
CA Assemblyman Picks Up Endorsements to Replace Becerra
Endorsements keep rolling in for California Assemblyman Jimmy Gómez in the race to replace outgoing Congressman Xavier Becerra, who has been tapped by Governor Jerry Brown to be the state's first Latino attorney general. Gómez has now been endorsed by many local and national Hispanic political leaders, including California members of Congress Grace Napolitano, Pete Aguilar and Juan Vargas, Texas Congressman Filemón Vela and Arizona Congressman Rubén Gallego. The assemblyman will be up against journalist and activist Wendy Carrillo, Green Party candidate Kenneth Mejía, former L.A. City Council aide Sara Hernández, and Arturo Carmona, of the digital media group Mitú and a former deputy political director for Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. More here.
Cuéllar: Trump’s Wall is 14th-Century Solution
Congressman Henry Cuéllar (D-TX), who represents a district that runs along the Texas-Mexico border, said Wednesday that a “virtual border” would be more effective than the wall that Trump wants to build. Cuéllar made the statement near Rio Grande City, Texas, where the Department of Homeland Security has placed unmanned aerostat surveillance balloons. “We can’t come in with the new administration and have a very simplistic view that you have a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem,” said Cuéllar. More here.
March On, Women!
The Women’s March on Washington is shaping up to be the largest demonstration around the Trump inauguration, expecting close to 200,000 participants the day after he is sworn-in. Janaye Ingram, the march's head of logistics, said they plan to start their rally at Independence Avenue and Third Street SW, in front of the Capitol. From there, demonstrators will march west on Independence. More here.
DC High School Bands Sit Out Inauguration
Ballou High School has participated in the past five inaugurations, but this year they are opting out. Dunbar High's band marched in President Obama's first inauguration in 2009 but the school will sit this one out too because they are rebuilding the band, the principal said. Eastern High School also chose not to participate, the principal said, without elaborating. Other area high schools have also decided to forgo the inauguration festivities. More here.
African American Mayors Association Gets Two New Board Members
Mayors Muriel Bowser of DC and Lovely Warren of Rochester, NY will officially join the Board of Trustees of the African American Mayors Association this week. They'll now be part of strategic and policy decisions for the organization that represents the 500 Black mayors across the country. It's a major step forward in the representation for female local leaders, especially Black women -- Lovely Warren is the first-ever female mayor of Rochester, and Muriel Bowser is only the second in DC's history. Perry and DAPL
According to Indianz.com, the connections between Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline continue to get stronger. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Trump's pick to head up the Department of Energy, sits on the board of directors for Energy Transfer Partners. That's the company behind the controversial project whose fate rests in the hands of the incoming administration. More here.
Immigrants and Advocates Are Here to Stay
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and Javier H. Valdés, the co-executive director of Make the Road New York- the largest participatory immigrant-led organization in New York, say immigrants – and those who fight for them – are here to stay. “The American people will not allow President-elect Trump to trample the rights of immigrants or anyone of any other color, race or creed. Democrats in Congress, working with community organizations around the country, will staunchly defend the needs and rights of immigrant families. And we will prevail.” To read the entire piece in The Hill Latino, click here.
New Appointments
On Thursday, POTUS announced he is appointing Dr. Mort Sajadian to the National Museum and Library Services Board, and Debo P. Adegbile and Catherine E. Lhamon as commissioners on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. More here.
Spotted
Hidden Figures screened at The National Museum of African American History and Culture on Wednesday night. Spotted: actors Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and Kevin Costner, and Pharrell Williams, Tasha Cole, Nadia Garnett, Nelson Watkins, Shuanise and Donald Washington, Leah Daughtry, Robert Harris, Joseph A.C. Smith, Secretary Tom Pérez, and Joylette Johnson, who is the daughter of Katherine Johnson, portrayed in the film by Taraji P. Henson.
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Top Five In February 2014, President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), a call to action to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color, and ensure all young people can reach their full potential. On Wednesday at the White House, nearly 300 leaders from MBK Community Challenge cities, towns, counties and tribal nations, federal, state, and local policy makers, and business, foundation, and nonprofit executives gathered for the final MBK National Summit.
Here are five commitments from the public and private sector to continue this work.
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National Student Attendance, Engagement, and Success Center: Leveraging Early Warning Systems and MBK Success Mentors to Keep Kids on Track.
In order to keep all of our students on track toward college and career success, the Department of Education launched the National Student Attendance, Engagement, and Success Center (NSAEC) to support nationwide implementation prevention strategies, cross-sector partnerships, and Early Warning Systems (EWS) to prevent and address chronic absenteeism.
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New Federal Investments to Meet the Needs of Current and Former Foster Youth.
The Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), in consultation with the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will invest $1.35 million of Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act funds to provide technical assistance to public housing authorities participating in HUD’s Family Unification Plan and Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration, to connect emancipated foster youth and those exiting the foster care system with high-quality career and technical education programs that strengthen academic, technical, and employability skills.
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Increasing Data Transparency to Understand and Develop Strategies to Improve Youth Outcomes.
To encourage analyses of important life outcomes for all youth, including boys and young men of color, the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force compiled relevant statistical indicators from a range of federal data sources and made them available for download. Today, several of these indicators are now available through a set of My Brother’s Keeper APIs built by the Department of Education.
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Multiplying Commitment to Inspire and Recruit Mentors
In July of 2014, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) announced a five-year commitment to support My Brother’s Keeper. As part of this commitment, the NBA family partnered with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership to support their “In Real Life” campaign and set a goal to recruit 25,000 new mentors over five years, with a focus on adult males of color. Less than three years into the partnership, already more than 25,000 Americans have signed up to become mentors and been connected directly to a mentoring program in their community.
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Expanding Support for the MBK Community Challenge.
In 2017, MBKA will launch a wide array of investments available to the nearly 250 cities, towns, counties, and tribal nations that accepted the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge. These include: a comprehensive online support platform that will house local and national data dashboards; interactive mapping and milestone components; a webinar and events portal and a curated resource library; a suite of online trainings to build a community of learning and practice and mentoring strategies; and building off of the success of the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper National Summit, a My Brother’s Keeper Alliance in 2017.
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Videos of the Day
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 | Van Jones calls for solidarity with the Muslim American community.
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 | POTUS and Stephen Curry highlight mentorship in this hilarious video that's worth a watch.
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 | The cast of Hidden Figures discuss the importance of healthcare coverage with WH Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett.
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 | Take a peek inside the West Wing as it has been transformed into a winter wonderland. | |
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 | Omarosa Manigault speaks about frayed relationships because of her support of Donald Trump. | |
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Pics of the Day
(click images for more info)
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The 2016 Hispanic Lobbyists Association board. | |
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 | Activist DeRay McKesson pictured with Tracee Ellis Ross in Vogue's "Stronger Together" issue due to hit stands in January.
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 | Danielle and Aisha Moodie-Mills at the White House on Tuesday.
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 | For Insecure fans who profess to be Team Lawrence, actor Jay Ellis joined the My Brother's Keeper summit at the White House on Wednesday. | |
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Actor DL Hughley tells a youth panel he could not be prouder of them at Wednesday's My Brother's Keeper summit at the White House. | |
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IL State Representative Juliana Stratton with Valerie Jarrett at the White House on Wednesday. | |
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| Digital Download Congressman Adriano Espaillat
Twitter: @EspaillatNY
Instagram: @adrianoespaillat
Facebook: facebook.com/SenAdrianoEspaillat
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Friday, December 16th, 5:30P: MALDEF Holiday Party at 1016 16th St, NW Suite 100. Invite only.
Wednesday, Dec. 21st, 6P: Ibarra Strategies Group Holiday Party. Invite only.
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