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Get that skinny repeal outta here. That’s what Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John McCain (R-AZ), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said when they narrowly voted down a plan to repeal parts of the ACA. Obamacare remains the law of the land. If Barack Obama were petty he might tweet a pic of himself wearing a Make America Great Again hat with a pic of his signed ACA legislation. But if you’re a world leader, do you really have time to tweet?? Meanwhile, Russia has seized two American diplomatic properties and ordered the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to reduce its staff, the first retaliatory steps against new American sanctions. Back in the homeland, the Pentagon says that transgender people could remain in the military until it clarifies Trump’s announcement barring them from uniform. On Wednesday, the DOJ intervened in a private employment lawsuit on Wednesday, arguing that the ban on sex discrimination in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect workers on the basis of their sexual orientation, and 45 announced that he would nominate vocal gay rights opponent Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to be the nation’s ambassador at large for international religious freedom. More on that here. And finally -- Anthony Scaramucci. This dude. His interview with The New Yorker reads like a Martin Scorsese film. When the movies about this time period of American history are made, the dialogue will write itself. The made-for-TV versions will require a lot of bleeping. So ummm .. .what’s up with recess? We legit don’t know and we were kind of looking forward to some chill time in August. There will be a recess, right? RIGHT?? Because seriously folks. We all need a breather. And we don’t want to have our laptops in the sand. Here’s what’s up this Friday:- Barack Obama watches two goals happen -- one in soccer, the other on the Hill.
- Beloved journo Jim Vance gets a spot in NMAAHC.
- Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) makes emotional healthcare appeal amid last night’s vote-a-rama.
- CBC Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA) tells Inspector General that New Orleans will not give back funds from Hurricane Katrina.
- Will Packer teams with Oprah.
- Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) intros smart wall bill despite House maneuver to roll it into defense legislation.
- Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) calls for a probe into whether Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke threatened Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
- 42 senators ask Trump to keep DACA.
- MLB card manufacturer gives thumbs down to disparaging mascots .
- Lawyer wants to trademark the n-word; find out why.
- Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) introduces bill to strengthen U.S.-Africa trade.
- MOCs appeal to not shutter State Dept. Office of Global Criminal Justice.
- Congressmen Gallego and Lieu up ante on Jared Kushner: they want him fired.
- Capitol police officers awarded Medal of Valor for actions in congressional baseball shooting.
- Senators Booker and Graham introduce bill to prevent president from firing Robert Mueller.
- Historically Black beach enclaves fighting to save their history and identity. Read about it in blogs. #ForTheCulture
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The Joint Center and INSIGHT America with HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on Thursday. | |  |
Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) celebrating 52 years of Medicare and Medicaid on Thursday. | |
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Hirono’s Emotional Appeal on the Senate Floor
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) held the floor on Thursday night and appealed to her colleagues while fiercely denouncing the GOP's ACA repeal efforts (click image to play video). The Beat DC reported that Hirono was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in May and had surgery to remove a lesion a month ago. “Where is your compassion?” Hirono asked. “Where is the compassion you showed me when I was diagnosed with my illness?” Hirono choked up as she explained how her sister died of pneumonia and as she detailed her upbringing as an immigrant in America. “I lost a sister to pneumonia when she was only 2-years-old in Japan,” Hirono said. “She died at home — not in a hospital where maybe her life could have been saved.” When Hirono immigrated to the U.S., she said her greatest fear was how her family would afford healthcare if her mother ever got sick. Repeal efforts failed. More here.
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House GOP Want Second Special Counsel to Investigate Obama Officials Including Loretta Lynch
On Thursday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and other Republicans on the committee sent a letter to AG Jeff Sessions and DAG Rod Rosenstein requesting the appointment of a second special counsel to investigate Obama administration officials, including former AG Loretta Lynch, James Comey, and Hillary Clinton. The letter says that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigative scope is too narrow and that a second counsel is needed. “We are writing to you to request assistance in restoring public confidence in our nation’s justice system and its investigators, specifically the Department of Justice and the FBI,” the letter says. “We need to enable these agencies to perform their necessary and important law enforcement and intelligence functions full unhindered by politics.” Read more here.
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We turned one year old this week. Here's a look back at some of the laughs we've had along the way. Thank you for riding with us on this labor of love.
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Booker, Graham Working on Bill to Prevent Trump from Firing Mueller
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Thursday that he and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) are writing a bill that will limit Donald Trump's ability to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The WSJ says that the bill, which will be introduced next week, would block the president from firing the special counsel without a federal judge’s approval if the special counsel is investigating the president or his administration. “It has to be for cause and the judicial branch should have a say in whether there is legitimate cause or not,” Booker said. Read more here.
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Obama Meets with FC Barcelona President
ESPN reports that Fútbol Club Barcelona President Josep María Bartomeu met on Wednesday with former President Barack Obama during halftime of the Catalán club's International Champions Cup 1-0 win against Manchester United. Obama was present as a special guest at FedEx Field to witness Barça win their second successive match in the U.S., with Neymar scoring the only goal of the game in the first half. In a statement, Barça said that Obama was very "cordial" during the meeting, in which he talked with Bartomeu about the possibility of working with the club's foundation in the future. More here.
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Inspector General Wants New Orleans to Pay Back $2 Billion, and CBC Chair Says Nah
A federal inspector general says the Federal Emergency Management Agency should take back more than $2 billion from the city of New Orleans. The money was awarded to fix streets and drains after Hurricane Katrina. The Sewerage & Water Board is using the money for major infrastructure repairs across the Big Easy. The city said it's not giving any money back and that the report from the DHS inspector general is off base. Moreover, FEMA doesn’t want to take the money back. New Orleans native CBC Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) said, "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused substantial damage to New Orleans roads, drainage systems, and utilities. After much scrutiny and negotiation, FEMA and the City reached a fair settlement that allows badly needed repairs to proceed ... For a third-party party to come in over a decade after the storm, and years after the settlement, and claim otherwise is just wrong. It defies common sense to take back over $2 billion in funding without relying on any engineering or subject-matter experts."I am heartened by FEMA's objection to this report and trust they will continue to push back on its recommendation." More here.
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|  Managing Director, Organizing & Engagement (NYC)
Everytown for Gun Safety is looking for a Managing Director, Organizing & Management to focus on developing and executing national and state level strategy while helping to expand their grassroots network into other constituencies.
| | Chief of Public Affairs Officer (NYC)
Everytown for Gun Safety is seeking a Chief of Public Affairs Officer with a nuanced understanding of political landscapes, strong relationships with a wide variety of influencers, and management and problem solving skills.
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Hurd Introduces Smart Wall
Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) joined a coalition of other southern border state lawmakers and moderates looking to take charge of the wall debate, and they’re offering their own plan to build a "smart" wall that draws from the insight of Silicon Valley and virtual reality entrepreneur Palmer Luckey. The Secure Miles with All Resources and Technology Act, or SMART Act, was introduced Thursday morning by Hurd, whose Texas district has more than 800 miles of the southern border, one-third of the total border with Mexico, and more than any other lawmaker. CNN reports that to back up the bill, Hurd has been using the estimates and insights of Anduril Industries, a Silicon Valley-based defense technology company founded by Luckey. His proposal estimates on the high side a solution of $500,000 per mile -- far below the $24.5 million per mile price tag of the government's fiscal year 2018 wall money request. The House on Thursday used a procedural maneuver to add the controversial $1.6 billion proposal for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Lawmakers won’t have to vote on the funding since GOP leaders tucked it into legislation that provides funds for defense programs. More here.
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Grijalva Probing Alleged Zinke Threat to Alaska Senators
Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, is calling for a probe into whether Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke threatened to retaliate against Alaska Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. Both Murkowski and Sullivan said they received a call from Zinke on Wednesday, informing them that the Trump administration will not support key projects in Alaska after Murkowski voted against the GOP healthcare bill in the Senate a day before. Grijalva said in a statement Thursday that he plans to request a formal investigation into whether the Trump administration threatened the Alaska lawmakers, pointing out that he believes Zinke is serving Trump's "political vendetta" over the public interest. “Running a department of the federal government means you serve the American people as a protector of their rights and freedoms,” the congressman said. “It doesn’t mean you serve the president as a bag man for his political vendettas." More here.
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Gregory Cendana and John Singleton at a screening at the Landmark E Street Cinema in DC on Thursday. | |  |
Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) on Thursday successfully adding his consumer privacy amendment to the SELF DRIVE Act. | |
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Durbin Staffer Heads to the House
After three years in the Senate, Lakeisha Steele, lead advisor on K-12 education for Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), is heading to the House. Steele will serve as a Legislative Assistant for Education in the office of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Vice Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee. Prior to working in Congress, Steele was a conflicts analyst for top law firms in Chicago and DC. A native of Kankakee, Illinois, Steele holds degrees from Western Illinois University and American University. Congrats, Lakeisha! Learn more about her here.
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Anna María Farias Nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing
A long-time member of various Republican administrations, Anna María Farias has been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing. Farias grew up in the housing projects of Crystal City, Texas and graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor's in Political Science. During the second Bush administration, Farias was made Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Initiatives in the Office of Community Planning and Development. Over the years, Farias has been a board member of MANA: a National Latina Organization, and the Wintergarden Women’s Shelter. When Trump became a presidential candidate in 2016, Farias focused her work on teaching Hispanic voters how to split their ballot and vote for Republicans for local offices. In her new role, she is charged with ensuring that there is no discrimination in housing on the basis of race, sex, family status, among other grounds. More here.
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Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) meeting on Wednesday with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to discuss expanding broadband internet access for rural and impoverished communities in Florida. | |  |
Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Thursday celebrating the 52nd anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. | |
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Waters and Ellison Get Heated with Mnuchin
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) let Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin know he was on her time during a House Financial Services hearing on Thursday. The Hill reports that Waters was probing Mnuchin on why she hadn’t received a response to a May letter she sent him about Trump's financial connections to Russia. Instead of immediately answering, Mnuchin started complimenting the ranking member. "First of all, let me thank you for your service to California, being a resident of California I appreciate everything that you’ve done,” he said. But Waters stopped him mid-sentence to reclaim her time and thanking him for the compliment but said she didn’t want to waste time on how great she is, and she pressed him on the question. “I was going to answer that,” Mnuchin said about responding to the letter. “Mr. Chairman, I thought when you read the rules you acknowledged that I shouldn’t be interrupted and that I would have (time),” he said looking at Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Later in the hearing, Mnuchin and Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) also had words over the secretary’s role in OneWest Bank's aggressive foreclosure policies during the financial crisis. Mnuchin told the panel that he takes “great offense” to being called "the foreclosure king." Then Mnuchin and Ellison exchanged words over whether OneWest was involved in the robo-signing of thousands of mortgages. Get the full story here.
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Capitol Police Officers Awarded Medal of Valor at WH
Donald Trump presented the Medal of Valor on Thursday to five law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting at a congressional baseball practice last month that seriously wounded Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA). The honorees were U.S. Capitol Police Special Agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner, and Alexandra, VA police officers Nicole Battaglia, Kevin Jobe, and Alexander Jensen. The LA Times reports that they received a standing ovation when they entered the East Room at the White House. Griner, who was among those injured in the confrontation, stood on crutches as Trump draped the medal around her neck. More here.
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Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) with Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) at the Creative Thread Foundation on Wednesday. | |  |
NUL CEO Marc Morial opening the National Urban League’s annual conference on Wednesday. | |
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Fusion Kicks Off Creative Thread Foundation in DC
The Beat DC originally reported Fusion TV’s launch of its Creative Foundation in May. On Wednesday, Fusion announced that it is joining more than 60 other leading companies, public interest groups, and associations and launching the Creative Thread Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on breaking down barriers of entry for underrepresented content creators and those working behind the scenes in media and entertainment. The Creative Thread Foundation was unveiled at an event in DC on Wednesday with the Congressional Multicultural Media Caucus Co-Chairs members Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), and Judy Chu (D-CA). “We are committed to moving the dial when it comes to ensuring we see more accurate representation and diversity across the media and entertainment industries, but we know that it takes more than one company to make a difference,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., who will serve as the chair of the new foundation. “Part of NAN’s basic principles include diversity, how people are projected, and who makes the decisions. Being a part of this venture with FUSION helps NAN to address and empower our community,” Rev. Al Sharpton said in a message at the DC event. Check out the full story.
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Oprah/Discovery Communications and Universal Pictures Back Will Packer Media to Create Diverse Programming
Producer Will Packer is best known for his work in movies including Girls Trip, Straight Outta Compton, the Ride Along films and The Wedding Ringer. Now, the NYT reports that Packer is starting a new company, Will Packer Media, with backing from Discovery Communications and Universal Pictures. The new entity aims to develop a wide range of programming, from television shows and documentaries to short-form digital videos and advertising campaigns. “This gives me the ability to tell a story the way that story should be told,” the 43-year-old FAMU graduate said. “I don’t have to look at it as one particular type of content for one particular medium.” The investments Discovery and Universal are making in Mr. Packer’s new enterprise underscore the determination of media giants to support content aimed at younger and more diverse audiences. As part of Discovery’s participation in the company, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) has the right of first refusal for all scripted and unscripted television shows that Will Packer Media comes up with. More here.
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Congressman Donald McEachin (D-VA) talking about the importance of diversifying the environmental movement at a Green 2.0 event on Thursday. | |  |
Paris Dennard with one of his CNN buddies, Kate Bennett, on Wednesday night at The Hill 50 Most Beautiful party. | |
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New Report Analyzes State of Black Women in American Politics
On Thursday, the Higher Heights Leadership Fund and the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University released “Black Women in American Politics: 2017 Status Update,” an analysis of the 2016 election which highlights key wins across the country, as well as areas of underrepresentation for Black women. The report found that Black women were 3 of the 14 non-incumbent women elected to the U.S. House or Senate in 2016 (and the majority of female newcomers were Black, Asian, or Latina): Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) became the second Black woman to ever serve in the U.S. Senate; Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) was the first woman elected to represent Delaware in Congress; and Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) joined Florida’s congressional delegation. Similarly, all of the net gain for women in state legislatures from 2016 (24.5%) to 2017 (24.9%) came from women of color, including a net increase among Black women state legislators from 257 (3.5%) to 271 (3.7%). View the report here.
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Google Pays Homage to NAACP’s Silent Parade Today
When you google something today, be sure to check out the Doodle. It’s an homage commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Silent Parade, one of the first mass protests against lynching and anti-Black violence in the United States bringing together more than 10,000 marchers. The parade's NAACP organizers wrote in a promotional flyer for the parade that they were marching to rouse the “conscience of the country.” The parade took place on July 28, 1917, along NYC’s Fifth Avenue and the only sound “was the muffled beat of drums.” Google chose the Silent Parade for a Google Doodle to honor “those whose silence resonates a century later.” Learn more about the SIlent Parade here.
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Bass Introduces Legislation to Strengthen U.S.-Africa Trade
Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) joined members Ed Royce (R-CA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Chris Smith (R-NJ) on Thursday and introduced the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act. The bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen both the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Act (MCA). AGOA first passed in 2000 to develop a trade relationship between the United States and the nations of sub-Saharan Africa. And MCA established the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which provides large-scale grants to promote economic growth opportunities in developing countries committed to good governance. Specifically, the legislation provides stability for MCC’s operations by enabling its private sector board members to extend their terms for up to two years, until a replacement has been confirmed by the United States Senate. “Moving developing countries away from aid and toward trade helps African companies, especially women. But it also benefits U.S. farmers, manufacturers and small businesses by providing new markets for their goods,” the members said in a statement. See more here.
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Scott and Ellison Talk Raising Minimum Wage
Congressmen Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) want to raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour. Earlier this year, Scott introduced the Raise the Wage Act which aims to increase the minimum wage over a seven year period. In an op-ed for The Hill, the pair wrote this week, “Sixty-two percent of workers making minimum wage are women - and 6 million of those women are mothers. This hurts our communities and is bad for our economy. But most importantly, it’s just not right. If you work hard and play by the rules, you shouldn’t be struggling to survive.” It has been eight years since the last wage hike. Read the entire piece here.
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Bipartisan House Bill Introduced to Bring Back Deported Veterans
Earlier this week, Congressmen Vicente González (D-TX), Don Young (R-AK), and Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) introduced the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, a bipartisan bill that provides deported veterans a path back to the U.S. and expedites their citizenship application process. The bill would allow deported veterans who were honorably discharged or released to go through the naturalization process abroad. This excludes those who have been convicted of crimes such as voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and/or terrorism. The legislation would have the Attorney General cancel or rescind a removal order that affects any eligible veteran, and subsequently change his or her status to legal permanent resident, and veterans who meet the bill’s requirements would also regain access to all military and veterans benefits. “These veterans served our nation honorably,” González said. “This legislation is our chance to bring back our deported veterans and make sure that the federal government takes better care of all those who put their lives on the line for our freedom.” Learn more here.
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Angela Rye, Tamika Mallory, Michael Dyson, and Tishaura Jones at NUL's annual conference in St. Louis on Wednesday. | |  |
Thurgood Marshall College Fund President Johnny Taylor with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) Wednesday night in DC. | |
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Lieu Presses State Department on Office Holding War Criminals Accountable
On Thursday, Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) sent a letter signed by Lieu and 28 other members of Congress to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in response to reports that the State Department is preparing to close its Office of Global Criminal Justice (GCJ), the sole agency in the U.S. government dedicated exclusively to the prevention of atrocities and holding war criminals accountable. “Closing this office would unilaterally degrade the U.S. Government’s knowledge base on criminal accountability at a time when we are witnessing some of the worst war crimes and crimes against humanity in a generation,” the members write. “From bringing Syria’s Assad to justice to addressing mass rape in the Central African Republican (sic), it is the GCJ that stands ready to design a legally-sound international tribunal based on best practices.” Read the full text of the letter here.
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Senators Push Trump on DACA
Forty two senators, including Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (R-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), on Thursday signed on to a letter to the president asking him to use his executive authority to keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides temporary relief from deportation to more than 800,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. While Trump has so far left the program intact, administration officials have hinted that it won’t last forever. Texas AG Ken Paxton and others have threatened to sue the admin over the program. “While we appreciate your commitment to DACA, we are concerned that some members of your Administration have taken a different position. As a United States Senator, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was the Senate’s most vocal opponent of the Dreamers. While he is now a member of your cabinet, the Attorney General has refused to defend your position on DACA. We urge you to respond to this threat to your executive authority by directing the Attorney General to use all legal options to defend the DACA program ...” See the entire letter here.
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Gallego and Lieu Want Kushner Fired Over Russian Contacts
Congressmen Rubén Gallego (D-AZ) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) are leading a group of House Democrats in circulating a letter to send to Donald Trump urging him to fire his son-in-law and senior advisor on all the things, Jared Kushner, over his contacts with Russian officials during the campaign. The Hill reports that among the signatories is the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). “Your son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner is currently under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller,” says a draft version of the letter obtained by The Hill. “He is also plainly unfit for the highly influential position he currently occupies. We write to urge you in the strongest possible terms to dismiss him immediately.” Dems have called for Kushner’s clearance to be revoked, but the letter takes it one step further. “Why is he even still there? The idea that he still has a job is absolutely ridiculous,” Gallego said Thursday. “Anyone else would have already been fired or had federal charges filed for erroneous entries into SF-86.” Read more here.
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Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) on Thursday learning some sign language from a Gallaudet University intern. | |  |
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Congressman Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) on Wednesday supporting the 113 Chibok Girls still detained by Boko Haram. | |
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NMAAHC Director Lonnie Bunch Makes Place for DC Anchor Jim Vance
Jim Vance, a longtime DC news anchor at Channel 4, was a staple in the nation’s capital. He occupied the desk for 45 years until his death this week due to lung cancer. Now he will find a new home at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Founding Director Lonnie Bunch has been a fan of Vance’s since he was a student at Howard University. “Jim Vance was my generation. Here was somebody who was cool, who understood the importance of hard work. But who was committed to making Washington, not just Black Washington, but Washington better. What Jim Vance really did was he symbolized possibility,” Bunch told NBC news anchor Barbara Harrison. Bunch wants to create an exhibit honoring Vance that would feature pads he wrote his questions on and images of the news man spanning the decades to show his commitment to his craft. “People trusted Jim Vance. And they trusted him in a way that they knew he would be true, that he would be candid, that he would be professional. But more importantly that he would be human,” Bunch said. He says America was changing and Vance’s presence was a symbol of that change. See video here.
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Target EVP Laysha Ward and NUL CEO Marc Morial at the annual conference in St. Louis on Wednesday. | |  | Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility President & CEO Cid Wilson getting ready to talk corporate diversity at NUL's annual conference in St. Louis. | |
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Topps to No Longer Print Cleveland Indians Mascot on Cards
Topps has announced that it will no longer print the controversial mascot of the Cleveland Indians, Chief Wahoo, on any trading cards made by the company. Given that Topps is Major League Baseball’s sole baseball card manufacturer, the move means the Cleveland mascot has been struck out. Going forward, Topps will instead print the team’s block C. The company will also no longer print the Atlanta Braves “screaming Indian” logo. In April, the Cleveland Indians were reportedly talking with MLB about distancing themselves from the mascot, but nothing has been announced. For years, Native Americans and non-Native Americans alike have asked the team to change the name and drop the Chief Wahoo mascot entirely. Clashes have occurred between protesters and fans of the team. Read more here.
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The Effort to Trademark the N-Word
A lawyer in Alexandria and his partners are seeking to trademark the swastika and the n-word and produce t-shirts, flags, and baby wipes emblazoned with them. Steve Maynard says he's not a racist. He says he's seeking the trademark to beat back white supremacists. "If we get the right to the swastika," said Maynard, "we'd be able to go into any meeting where they're selling swastika-based flags without our approval, we can confiscate those and frustrate the purpose of those white supremacists." Maynard and his group, Snowflake Enterprises, LLC, plan to produce a swastika flag that is so expensive that no one would want to buy it. They also plan to make sandpaper baby wipes with swastikas on them. More here.
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| FOMO
Saturday, July 29th, 10A: Voto Latino sponsors a Power Summit Pop-Up, a one-day event of high-impact learning and conversations that provide tools to mobilize for change. Click here to register.
Friday, August 4th, 5:30P: Black 44 sponsors a happy hour to celebrate former President Barack Obama's birthday. Invite only.
Saturday, August 5th, 3P: The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association hosts a tailgate before the DC United v. Toronto FC game. For more info, email James Hauser at: iph86@georgetown.edu
Wednesday, August 9th - 13th: The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) holds its annual convention and career fair in New Orleans. Click here for more information and to register. Thursday, August 10th - 13th: The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute sponsors the 2017 Mississippi Policy Conference in Tunica, MS. Click here for more information and to register. Monday, August 14th, 4P: The Center for American Progress sponsors a panel discussion, "The Power of Black Media and Journalists During the Trump Administration." Click here to RSVP. Wednesday, August 16th - 17th: The annual U.S.-Mexico Border Summit. El Paso, TX & Cuidad Juárez, Chihuahua. Featured guests include keynote speaker Ana Navarro, Republican strategist and CNN analyst. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, August 16th - 20th: The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance holds its 14th biennial convention in Anaheim, CA. Click here for more information.
Friday, August 18th: The deadline to apply for the Poynter Institute and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 2017 Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media, to be held Dec. 3rd - 8th in St. Petersburg, FL. The tuition-free program trains journalists of color to work in digital media. Click here for more information and to apply.
Friday, August 18th - 20th: A weekend on Martha's Vineyard with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and special guests Congressmen James Clyburn (D-SC), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), and Richard Neal (D-MA), and Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). For more information and to RSVP, contact Mariko Bennett: mariko@cocobproductions.com or call 301.741.3443. Monday, August 28th, 9A: The Collective hosts the 2017 Black Power Summit to discuss possibilities, challenges, and plans to capitalize on historic political opportunities and also economic and civil rights challenges the Black community will likely face in the 2018 and 2020 political cycles. For more information, contact Quentin James at: quentin@collectivepac.org
Wednesday, September 6th - 9th: The National Hispanic Bar Association hold its 42nd annual convention in Kansas City, MO. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta is a featured keynote speaker. Click here for more information. Thursday, September 7th - 9th: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Native American Journalists Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) sponsor the Excellence in Journalism 2017 conference in Anaheim, CA. Click here for more details and to register.
Sunday, September 10th: Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park. MN about her years in the White House. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Monday, September 11th - 13th: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute annual Hispanic Heritage Month conference and awards gala. Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center,1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information.
Friday, September 15th, 9A: Dialogue on Diversity holds its 2017 Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Conference. AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, November 29th, 8P: Join Congressman André Carson (D-IN) for JAY-Z's 4:44 Tour. The Verizon Center, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Courtney Hodges or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Courtney@ABConsultingDC.com
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