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Hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, skeleton staff at the Capitol and the White House, national parks closed -- ISSA shutdown. As we enter day three, we’re just hours away from the Senate holding a procedural vote at noon on a bill to fund the government through February 8th. But don’t hold your breath for a happy ending. The big dividing line? “Dreamers.” After contentious negotiations, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took to the Senate floor Sunday night and promised to “proceed to legislation that would address DACA, border security and related issues” if the government reopens. The Democrats’ response? We don’t believe you, you need more people. Meanwhile, the art of the deal seems lost on the Commander-In-Chief, who does not appear to be part of any negotiations. He is, however, blaming Dems for the shutdown even though the GOP has control of the White House, the Senate, and the House. Remember on the campaign trail when candidate Trump enumerated the many challenges America was facing and promised, “I alone can fix it?” Sigh … memories. Meanwhile, POTUS45 is set to deliver a "special" closing address at the World Economic Forum's 48th annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, despite protests over his attendance. But, if the shutdown continues, he may have to miss the four-day assembly, which brings together more than 2,500 world leaders, business titans, and renowned activists from around the world. Over the weekend, women -- from Eva Longoria to Whoopi Goldberg to Olivia Munn -- took to the streets across the country to march alongside activists, moms, daughters, workers, and even a few men, to recapture the spirit of last year’s Women’s March. But it was Viola Davis who brought down the house with an impassioned and fiery speech that began with a history lesson in Jim Crow laws and the Black, Latinx, and Native Americans they oppressed. And last night, Sterling K. Brown made history again, becoming the first Black actor to win Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor at the SAG Awards. Lastly, the New England Patriots will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Super Bowl Sunday. But the real question is this: will Janet Jackson make a surprise appearance during Justin Timberlake’s halftime performance? I mean … he too was part of Nipplegate. #NeverForget. Okay, we’re kicking off the week with this...
- Feds to try Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) ... again.
- Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) is donating shutdown salary to “Dreamers” group, while Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) offers support for border wall in exchange for legislation protecting the “Dreamers.”
- Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) intros bail reform bill.
- Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) calls Trump “Cadet Bone Spurs.”
- Former First Lady Michelle Obama heads to Dallas.
- Former Obama appointee tapped as Airbnb’s new Director of Policy Initiatives.
- Meet the 2018 Rockefeller Foundation Fellows.
- Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) at odds with PR Governor Ricardo Rosselló.
- Omarosa signs with speakers bureau and is rumored to have recorded WH conversations.
- SCOTUS Justice Sonia Sotomayor treated by paramedics and back at court the same day.
- Group launches initiatives to increase number of Indian Americans elected to office.
- There’s a new collaboration to help Native-Serving Institutions.
- Van Jones to begin new show with JAY-Z as the first guest.
- Former WSJ reporter starts news service.
- GMA’s Robin Roberts to be honored by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation.
- PBS launches new four-part series on Native Americans.
- Axios publishes its 1st-anniversary staff photo and causes an oh-so-white Twitter storm.
- Did CMS Administrator Seema Verma violate an ethics agreement? The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee wants to know.
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|  | Symone Sanders, former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie-Rawlings Blake, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Maryland Delegate Angela Angel earlier this month at the United State of Women event. | |  |
Congressmen Jimmy Gómez (D-CA) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) with Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) on Saturday in DC at the Women’s March. | |
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DOJ to Retry Bob Menéndez
The Justice Department said on Friday that it plans to retry Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and co-defendant Dr. Salomón Melgen, despite a jury failing to reach a verdict in the federal corruption case. The first trial took place last fall -- more than two years after the pair was indicted in 2015. Federal authorities allege that Melgen, a Florida eye doctor, provided Menéndez with lavish gifts and hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions in exchange for Menéndez encouraging federal officials to help the doctor resolve a $9 million Medicare billing dispute and assist him in obtaining a port security contract in the Dominican Republic. Menéndez, who is up for reelection this year, released a statement saying, “We regret that the DOJ, after spending millions and millions of taxpayer dollars, and failing to prove a single allegation in a court of law, has decided to double down on an unjust prosecution. Evidently, they did not hear the overwhelming voices of the New Jerseyans who served on the jury this fall. Senator Menendez fully intends to be vindicated — again.” More here.
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Davis Intros Bill to Reform Cash Bail System
Last week, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) introduced the Bail Fairness Act of 2018, which would help stop the practice of keeping people imprisoned while they await trial simply because they cannot afford bail. The bill would require that states release persons charged with first-time, non-violent crimes and encourage the states to replace such procedures with diversion programs. There are approximately 500,000 people sitting in local jails nationwide awaiting their day in court, which in some cases can be much longer than expected. Davis’ bill is similar to one introduced last summer by Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA). More here.
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Tammy Duckworth Calls Trump Five-Time Draft Dodger and Cadet Bone Spurs
One lesson Donald Trump learned this weekend -- don’t come for Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). The Iraq war vet, who lost both legs in combat, took to the Senate floor on Saturday and gave POTUS45 a lesson in patriotism. She didn’t stop there. “I spent my entire adult life looking out for the well-being, the training, the equipping of the troops for whom I was responsible,” she said. “Sadly, this is something that the current occupant of the Oval Office does not seem to care to do -- and I will not be lectured about what our military needs by a five-deferment draft dodger.” She went on, “And I have a message for cadet bone spurs: If you cared about our military, you'd stop baiting Kim Jong Un into a war that could put 85,000 American troops, and millions of innocent civilians, in danger." See her remarks in full here.
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|  | Congressman Henry Cuéllar (D-TX) meeting with Peruvian Ambassador Carlos Pareja on Thursday to talk about a variety of issues, including Peruvian DACA recipients. | |  | César Moreno Pérez from the American Federation of Teachers last week donating ten inches of his hair to Locks of Love. | |
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Michelle Obama Heads to Dallas
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is heading to Dallas in March. She will be taking part in the #hearhere Speaker Series at Winspear Opera House on March 8th. She won’t be the only big name to take the stage. Other speakers slated to participate include actor Rob Lowe, actress Rita Moreno, This American Life host Ira Glass, actor Bill Murray, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The #hearhere Speaker Series is described this way on the website: “From poetry to performance and beyond – experience the radical imaginations, passion, humor and knowledge of these iconic personalities who shape the way we experience our world and each other.” More here.
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Airbnb Taps Longtime Obama Staffer
Airbnb has tapped Crystal Brown as its new Director of Policy Initiatives. The former Obama administration appointee was most recently a Counselor and Senior Policy Advisor reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer of the White House Office of Management and Budget, where she counseled staff, advised WH senior advisors, and ran cross-agency issue resolution processes to implement presidential initiatives. She also served as Senior Director in the WH Office of Cabinet Affairs, where she worked with chiefs of staff from key agencies on operations, policy, and communications coordination, including the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Before that, the Duke University and Temple Law School graduate served as a top advisor to the DOJ’s Deputy Attorney General, functioning as the Chief Operating Officer. Her tenure in the Obama administration began as a WH lawyer vetting potential candidates for key posts requiring Senate confirmation. Before that, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member worked on the 2008 Obama for America presidential campaign, was a litigator at an international law firm in NYC, and clerked for a federal judge in Philadelphia. Her new job has taken her to San Francisco, where she officially starts today with the online marketplace and hospitality service. Congrats, Crystal! More about her here.
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Meet the 2018 Rockefeller Foundation Fellows
The Rockefeller Foundation has announced the inaugural class of a new Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, which will support their work for up to two years on an independent project that will ultimately lead to meaningful results to improve people’s lives around the world. Karan J. Capoor will use his more than 25 years of global experience at the interface of public policy and private sector transactions in energy, infrastructure, and climate change to identify and demonstrate the viability of innovative business and financing models to scale up investment in resilient infrastructure development and services. Trooper Sanders previously served as a White House policy advisor during two administrations -- including as an advisor to former First Lady Michelle Obama, leading her efforts supporting America’s military families. His fellowship project will identify opportunities of technology-related career pathways for traditionally marginalized populations and will also focus on forging closer ties between traditional civil rights and equal opportunity communities and newer networks shaping the economic, ethical, and social norms of the digital age. “With their notable accomplishments and commitment to improving the lives of poor and vulnerable around the world, The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support this cohort of Rockefeller Foundation Fellows,” said Foundation President Rajiv Shah. Meet the rest of the Fellows here.
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Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) with Rabbi Mara Nathan of San Antonio. Rabbi Nathan led the morning prayer on the House floor on Friday. | |  | Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Friday night outside the U.S. Capitol speaking out against a government shutdown and in support of "Dreamers." | |
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Gutiérrez and Curbelo: Different Parties, United on Protecting "Dreamers"
The administration and GOP are hoping to kick the can further down the road, as they remain adamant that Congress vote to reopen the government before negotiating on immigration policy. Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) -- one of the staunchest supporters of “Dreamers” -- said that he would be open to funding the border wall to protect them. Speaking to CNN on Saturday, Gutiérrez said, “I think it will be a monumental waste of taxpayers money to build a monument to stupidity ... But if that’s what it’s going to take to take 800,000 young men and women and give them a chance to live freely and openly in America, then I will roll up my sleeves. And I will go down there with bricks and mortar and begin the wall.” The latest Senate deal would fund the government for three weeks with the understanding that if no deal is reached on “Dreamers” and other immigration issues by February 8th, the Senate would move to an immigration debate with an open amendment process; the House has yet to commit to anything of the sort. Yet, several members of the GOP continue to stand with “Dreamers.” Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) announced on Twitter that, “For every day the government is shut down, I will donate my Congressional salary to TheDream.us, an organization dedicated to helping #DREAMers pursue college degrees. @thedream_us #GovtShutdown #DACA.” More on the ongoing negotiations here.
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Rubio v. Rosselló
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) have been at odds publicly since Rosselló called Rubio out over the GOP’s tax bill and said he would campaign against those who “turned their backs” on Puerto Rico. Well, Rubio is hitting back at Rosselló for time spent away from the island, as well as throwing cold water on the Governor’s efforts to bring attention to the territory’s push for statehood. “If I were the governor of a state or territory that does not have power, I would spend more time [there] than in Orlando,” Rubio told the island daily El Nuevo Día. Of the statehood push, Rubio said: “At this moment, frankly, we don't have the votes in the Senate ... What I want is to avoid a defeat. That would be regrettable, because then people would say, ‘That was already voted on in the Senate’ and unfortunately many people who would vote against it still don't understand the issue.” Learn more about their beef here.
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|  | Singer/Songwriter Joy Villa last week hanging out at a diner in Miami. Villa is mulling a congressional run in FL. | |  | NEA President Lily Eskelsen García on Thursday spreading some good vibes. | |
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Justice Sonia Sotomayor Treated by Paramedics
Paramedics were called to the home of Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday, according to a Supreme Court spokesperson. The 63-year-old suffered symptoms of low blood sugar. The SCOTUS spokesperson said Sotomayor was treated and then returned to work. Sotomayor even attended the court's weekly closed-door conference on Friday morning where justices discussed whether to take up a challenge to Donald Trump's latest version of his travel ban -- which they later announced they would do so. The Associate Justice was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of eight and has been public about her struggle with the disease, writing about it in her memoir My Beloved World. More here.
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Omarosa Signs with Speakers Bureau and May Have Recorded WH Convos
In a yet-to-be-announced deal, ousted White House staffer Omarosa -- whose official last day was Saturday -- has joined the Massachusetts-based speaker’s bureau, American Programs Bureau. The top booking firm is headquartered in Newton and their speakers sometimes command more than $50,000 an appearance. They also represent Larry King, Al Pacino, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Sarah Palin. Their website describes the 43-year-old this way: “Known by only her first name, OMAROSA utilizes the backdrop of her tumultuous childhood and her own personal tragedies to fuel her life lesson, she takes listeners on a journey that celebrates triumphs over tragedies." On Friday, the NY Daily News reported that the reality TV villain may have secretly recorded confidential WH conversations. Hence, it may be Mueller time for the provocateur. In anticipation of a potential call from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Omarosa has met with both Harvey Weinstein’s former attorney Lisa Bloom and former Bill Cosby lawyer Monique Pressley, among others. We reported last week that WH Chief of Staff John Kelly recently instituted a ban on all personal cell phones at the White House. More here.
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Did Seema Verma Violate Ethics Agreement?
The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) wants to know if Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma violated her ethics agreement. In a letter sent to HHS, Wyden says that Verma reviewed waiver applications from three states that were clients of her consulting business, SVC Inc., which would appear to violate the terms of her ethics agreement. "Recent statements by governors representing multiple states indicate that Administrator Verma has personally and substantially participated in waivers submitted to CMS by states that were clients of her previous consulting business," the letter reads. "Such participation appears to violate Administrator Verma's ethics agreement." More here.
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|  | Actor Danny Glover with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) last week at the NAACP's Image Awards, where Glover received the President's Award. | |  | AP's Errin Haines Whack last week speaking with Dr. Bernice King. | |
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Group Launches to Help More Indian Americans Get Elected to Office
A group of Indian American philanthropists, community leaders, and political operatives have come together to formally launch the Indian American Impact Project and the Indian American Impact Fund -- collectively known as “Impact" -- to build a nationwide pipeline of Indian American leaders in politics, policy, and government. Co-founded by Raj Goyle, CEO of the consultant group Bodhala and former member of the Kansas State House, and Deepak Raj, Chairman of Pratham USA and founder of the Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia University, the new initiatives will help to elect Indian Americans to office. Goyle will chair the Impact Project, a nonprofit focused on leadership development and training, while Raj will chair the Impact Fund, a political action committee that will endorse and support viable candidates who reflect the Indian American community’s values. Currently, five Indian Americans are serving in federal elected office: Congressmembers Ami Bera (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA). Both initiatives are led by Gautam Raghavan, who previously served as VP of Policy for the Gill Foundation, and as an advisor in the Obama White House, in addition to various roles for the 2008 Obama campaign and the DNC. More here, including Impact’s Board of Directors.
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Native-Serving Institutions See New Collaboration to Boost Graduation
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has launched a new collaboration of Native-Serving Institutions. Funded by the Lumina Foundation, the initiative -- which was officially launched in December -- is part of a three-year, nearly one-million-dollar grant that will help cultivate a network within the 26 colleges and universities that have at least ten percent Native Americans in their student populations. “What we want to do is help institutions that are currently serving a high percentage of Native students and help them improve their outcomes,” said Joe García, president of WICHE. “One of the biggest gaps exists between Native and non-Native students, where we see lower enrollment and certainly lower retention and graduation rates.” According to WICHE’s data, only about 24% of Native students earn an associate’s degree or higher -- approximately half the rate for White students. Learn more here.
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|  | Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) with Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) on Thursday at a meeting to discuss immigration legislation. | |  | Blavity CEO & Co-Founder Morgan DeBaun on Thursday at the site's annual 2018 kickoff celebration. | |
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JAY-Z Joins Van Jones on CNN Show
Van Jones' new CNN show premieres on Saturday and will be taped before a live studio audience. He hopes The Van Jones Show will be a place where both average and above-average Joes (and Janes) feel at home talking about what’s going on in the country. “We will have cultural icons and political leaders on the one hand, but we will also be going out into the country, talking to ordinary people.” His first show, however, will have some superstar appeal, with Beyoncé’s husband JAY-Z appearing as the first guest. The network says Jigga will talk about activism and some of the themes behind his recent album, 4:44. The album “is a real social justice classic, and I want to talk to him about that,” says Jones, as well discuss topics such as economics and race. The two know each other through Roc Nation, JAY-Z's entertainment company, which counts Jones as a client. We’ll be watching! More here.
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Former WSJ Reporter Launches Private Equity News Service
Shasha Dai, a former Senior Reporter at the WSJ, has launched Dai1 Media LLC, a New York-based subscription news service focused on private equity, private credit, structured finance and special situation deals in China. “My thesis is that there is a lack of dedicated source of news about private deals in China for U.S. investors despite the size of the Chinese market and the increasing amount of capital being raised for deals there,” said Dai in an email to Talking Biz News. “We try to be one source of info that helps fill in the gap.” Dai most recently served as the NY Bureau Chief of CapitalStructure Ltd., a London-based subscription news service focused on leveraged finance and distressed debt. Prior to that, she had covered private equity for about 12 years at Dow Jones and WSJ. She also previously worked at the Reuters Beijing Bureau and at China’s state television as an on-air correspondent covering Chinese economy and financial markets. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, Dai earned two Master's; one in journalism from Columbia University and the other in Economics from the University of International Business and Economics in China. More here.
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|  | The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng last week guffawing over covering the Consumer Electronics Show. | |  | FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on Friday meeting with NC Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. | |
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The Radio Television Digital News Foundation Honors Robin Roberts
The Radio Television Digital News Foundation has announced that they will honor Robin Roberts at their 28th-annual recognition of First Amendment champions. The co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America has helped the show earn five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team. Roberts has been honored with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame as well as the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year. Other honorees include NBC’s Meet the Press, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, CBS’ David Rhodes, and former Fox News personality, Gretchen Carlson. This year’s dinner is called the First Amendment Awards: Freedom Fails Without A Free Press. The biggest names in broadcast and digital journalism will gather at the Washington Marriott Marquis in DC for the black-tie dinner and awards ceremony on March 8th. More here.
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PBS Launches Native America
PBS is launching a new four-part series, Native America, that will premiere this fall on PBS stations nationwide. Weaving history and science with living indigenous traditions, the series brings to life a land of massive cities connected by social networks spanning two continents, with unique and sophisticated systems of science, art, and writing. The series was made with the active participation of Native American communities. It highlights intimate Native American traditions and follows field archaeologists using 21st-century tools, such as multispectral imaging and DNA analysis to uncover incredible narratives of America’s past. More here.
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Axios So White?
Axios is an American news and information website founded in 2016 by Politico co-founder Jim VandeHei, Politico's former Chief White House Correspondent Mike Allen, and former Politico Chief Revenue Officer Roy Schwartz. The company launched with a mission statement that consisted of, "Media is broken—and too often a scam." It planned to focus on "business, technology, politics, and media trends". They are one of the many outlets that produce morning tip sheets. In November 2017, Axios announced that it had raised $20 million to fund an increase in staff and expansion of operations. Last week, the company tweeted out an anniversary photo of their entire team (pictured here). What do you notice immediately? We counted three. Apparently, no one at their team saw this photo of predominantly white employees as a challenge. Their Twitter followers certainly did -- and called out the platform for their lack of diversity. The Beat DC has no competitors because we’re the only platform in the country highlighting the diversity that leads the nation’s capital. We do, however, hope that our platform shines a light for other platforms to be mindful of diversity and inclusion across their ranks. See the thread here.
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| FOMO Wednesday, January 24th, 6P: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the African American Mayor’s Association host the 2018 African American Women Mayors Reception. Rare Steakhouse, 1595 I Street, N.W. RSVP to: tomas.talamante@dc.gov.
Friday, January 26th, 12P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association hosts a roundtable discussion with Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.S., Gerónimo Gutiérrez. Capitol Visitors Center, SVC 212-210.
Monday, January 29th, 10A: A memorial service for trailblazing civil rights journalist Simeon Booker is being held at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Simeon Booker Scholarship at Youngstown State University. All gifts designated for this minority scholarship are matched by the Youngstown State U Foundation. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, February 13th, 7P: The Women’s Fund of Central Indiana hosts “A Moderated Conversation with Former First Lady Michelle Obama." Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 South Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 12th at 10A. Click here for more information and click here to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, February 21st - Friday, February 23rd: The NFL, along with Morehouse College and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), hosts a program in Atlanta to educate athletes on how to develop and implement effective advocacy platforms that positively impact society. Click here for more information.
Saturday, February 24th: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History hosts the 92nd Annual Black History Month Luncheon. Washington Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street, N.W. Click here for more information and to register.
Friday, March 9th - Saturday, March 10th: The Progressive Caucus Center hosts the 2018 Strategy Summit. Baltimore, MD. Click here to register.
Tuesday, March 13th, 7P: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials presents Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) with the 2018 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service during the organization’s annual Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala in DC. JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, April 12th - Sunday, April 15th: The inaugural Black Millennial Political Convention. The gathering aims to increase engagement of Black Millennials in the political sphere and shed a light on policy issues impacting the Black community. Hyatt Regency Hotel. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
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.
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