|
Remember in the 80’s when all the villains in the movies were Russian? History is most certainly a loop. But this time the movies have been replaced by cable news and the villains may be in cahoots with some members of our own government. One thing is for sure -- this story is not going away anytime soon. Yet for many of our most vulnerable citizens, danger does not show up in the form of a Russian spy. Danger appears wearing an ICE uniform. So we begin Friday’s read with this…
DREAMer Detained at a Press Conference
Daniela Vargas, a 22-year-old who spoke at a press conference in front of City Hall in Jackson, MS, was driving away with a friend when ICE officials pulled them over and detained her. According to her lawyer, she will be deported without a hearing. More here.
Immigration Activists Open To Negotiating With Trump
Immigration activists say they are open to negotiating with Trump, even if it means setting aside a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) says, “First we want to see what he proposes, but there could be some tough choices for Democrats in there.” More here.
Mexican Lawmaker Proves Point by Climbing Wall
A Mexican congressman tweeted photos of himself at the top of a 30-foot portion of the Mexico-U.S. border wall this Wednesday to prove a point to Donald Trump. “I was able to scale it, climb it, and sit myself right here,” Braulio Guerra, a congressman from Querétaro, said in a video. “It would be simple for me to jump into the United States, which shows that it is unnecessary and totally absurd to build a wall.” More here.
Dr. Ben Carson Confirmed
The Senate voted 58-41 Thursday morning to confirm Dr. Ben Carson. Unlike other Cabinet members chosen by Trump, Mr. Carson, who has no experience running a large federal bureaucracy, did not face much pushback from Democrats during his confirmation process. More here.
Castro Closer to Confirming Senate Run
Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) said that in the coming weeks he will make a decision about whether to challenge Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). “I’m going to take probably about seven or eight more weeks and make a decision about the Senate race,” he said. More here.
POTUS 43 Loves FLOTUS 44
POTUS 44 isn’t the only getting some love. Have you seen the Internet memes about former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Michelle Obama? Turns out, there may be some truth to them. In a recent interview, Bush spoke of one of the more unlikely friendships he has cultivated with Michelle Obama. “She kind of likes my sense of humor. Anybody who likes my sense of humor, I immediately like,” Bush said of the former first lady. More here.
Scott Snubbed In His Own District
Two VA Republican Congressmen, Rob Wittman and Scott Taylor, Thursday flew to Newport News on Air Force One with Trump to watch him give a speech at the company that builds the nation’s aircraft carriers. But Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), one of the most senior members of the VA congressional delegation and whose district Trump visited, was not invited to the event. More here.
Asst Secretary of African Affairs Departs
The steady departure of senior officials at the State Department is continuing, as Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, departs. This leaves only a handful of career diplomats who were holdovers from the Obama administration among the cadre of senior State Department officials. More here.
Kennedy Center Names First Director of Hip-Hop Culture
The Kennedy Center announced their first director of hip-hop culture and contemporary music. Simone Eccleston, currently the director of programming at Harlem Stage in New York, will assume the role on March 13th. Eccleston's new role will include leading a Center-wide commitment to hip-hop culture and contemporary music, which includes R&B, soul, folk and roots, indie, world music and Latin music. More here.
Horseback Riding Secretary
The new Interior Secretary rode into work on a horse. True story. Newly minted Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke pledged he would devote more resources to national parks, boost the morale of department employees, and bolster the sovereignty of American Indian tribes. More here.
Scott and Richmond Make Double Entendre Joke About Kellyanne
At Wednesday night’s Washington Press Club Foundation’s annual awards dinner, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) replied to criticism of WH Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway’s now-infamous couch posture and joked that “a whole lot worse” had happened on that sofa in the 1990s. Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), who was also one of the headliners, said during his remarks, "Tim, you kind of opened the door. I really just want to know what was going on there, because, you know, I won’t tell anybody. And you can just explain to me that circumstance -- because she really looked kind of familiar in that position there.” More here.
Brown Says DOJ Targeted Her Because She is a Black Woman
Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) implied she was unfairly targeted for racial reasons in a conspiracy and corruption investigation. When asked why the Justice Department was targeting her, Brown said “I guess I’m a black woman with a mouth.” Brown is facing federal conspiracy and corruption charges for allegedly using money raised for a scholarship charity as a personal fund for herself, her CoS and the organization’s president. More here.
Foreign Affairs Congressional Staff Association
The Foreign Affairs Congressional Staff Association is bipartisan, bicameral, has a little more than 150 dues-paying members and 1,500 people on its mailing list. The president, Aaron Allen, is also the co-founder and a senior legislative assistant for Congressman Juan C. Vargas (D-CA). CHSA President Francisco Bencosme is a member as well. The association’s agenda includes networking opportunities with the State Department, the USAID, the World Bank, as well as professional development seminars on how to become a Foreign Service officer, how to join the UN, and diplomatic protocol 101. Roll Call highlights them here.
Off to Vegas
The cool kids head to Vegas this weekend for BOLD PAC’s largest winter retreat to date at the Aria Resort & Casino. This annual retreat serves as a way for CHC BOLD PAC members to discuss shared priorities. It kicks off tonight with a welcome reception. Saturday’s program will include a dinner at Rao’s at Caesars Palace, followed by a showing of Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil. Fun times!
MBKA’s Broderick Johnson Aims to Change Lives
Broderick Johnson, chairman of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, pens a piece for HuffPo highlighting the successes of MBKA and outlines the organization's future goals. “We help to identify, invest and build what works -- focusing on work that is happening at a local level to address issues such as education, employment, violence prevention, and reentry.” Read the entire piece here.
Controversial Graffiti on HU’s Campus
Hours after the president of Howard University met with Trump on Monday, graffiti appeared on campus. Someone wrote, “Welcome to Trump's Plantation. Overseer Wayne A.I. Frederick.” Frederick is Howard University's president. More here.
Will Trump’s Executive Order Be a Boon or a Bust for HBCUs?
The Beat first previewed the thoughts of the former executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs on Wednesday, following Trump’s signing of the EO. On Thursday, Dr. Ivory Toldson penned this NYT op-ed. “Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, deserved the hammering she received for her widely reviled comments characterizing HBCUs as early examples of “school choice.” But when it comes to the fate of HBCUs under the Trump administration, her apparent misunderstanding of their history is a distraction.” Read the entire piece here.
Can DC Keep Its Younger Population?
Millennials have been flocking to DC for nearly a decade, lured by the promise of plentiful jobs and high wages in the aftermath of the Great Recession. But will they stay? Researchers say it’s doubtful. By 2020, millennials will make up half of the U.S. workforce, making it especially important for the region to be able to attract - and keep - well-educated workers. More here.
Wells Fargo Commits to Bolstering African American Home Ownership
By 2027, Wells Fargo intends to have helped 250,000 African Americans become homeowners, announcing a $60 billion lending commitment over the next ten years. “Wells Fargo’s $60 billion lending goal can contribute to economic growth by making responsible homeownership possible for more African Americans in communities across the country,” said Brad Blackwell, EVP and head of housing policy and homeownership growth strategies for Wells Fargo. More here.
CHCI and HSF Partner to Help Latino Youth
In an effort to guarantee Latino youth across the country benefit from access to one another’s educational opportunities and leadership programs, CHCI and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) announced a partnership to ensure deserving students have the knowledge and resources to assist them in obtaining scholarships and support services. Both organizations will also collaborate on networking and career development events for students, alumni of their programs, and other young professionals. More here.
Gwen Ifill PBS NewsHour Journalism Fellowship
The PBS NewsHour and the Washington Press Club Foundation have created the Gwen Ifill/PBS NewsHour Journalism Fellowship. The 10-week summer fellowship was founded in honor of award-winning anchor, reporter, and author Gwen Ifill. The annual fellowship will begin in June and is open to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need and are pursuing careers in journalism. More here.
Day of Empathy
On March 1st, Van Jones and #cut50 organized the Day of Empathy, which provoked advocates across the country to converge on their state capitol offices to call for criminal justice policies that keep families together and communities safe. Dozens of events nationwide brought lawmakers face-to-face with individuals impacted by crime, violence, addiction, and incarceration. More here.
CHSA and CBA Community Service Event Tomorrow
CHSA members will join the Congressional Black Associates tomorrow for a community service event with the Capital Area Food Bank. Volunteers will help provide emergency groceries and nutrition education to qualifying low-income residents in the District of Columbia. To join, sign up here.
An Unknown Latino Tuskegee Airman Has Been Discovered
An exhibit that opened Wednesday at the City College of New York pays tribute to Dominicans who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Among the honorees will be Esteban Hotesse, a Dominican native who immigrated to the U.S. as a child, enlisted during World War II, and served in the lauded Tuskegee Airmen brigade. More here.
First Vietnamese American Female Legislator “Dragged” Off Senate Floor in CA
A Republican Vietnamese war refugee in the CA Legislature, Senator Janet Nguyen, the nation’s first Vietnamese American female state legislator, had been trying to speak out on the Senate floor against the late Senator Tom Hayden, who was one of the most outspoken opponents of the Vietnam War back in the day. But Nguyen was “dragged” off, according to reports. Dems insisted she didn’t get hauled away for trying to denounce a former colleague. She was booted for the timing of her remarks, which violated the rules. Not a good move for the CA Dems. More here.
SXSW Threatens Deportation
SXSW has threatened international artists with possible deportation if they play a show that’s not part of the festival. They say they will “notify the appropriate U.S. Immigration authorities of the above actions…accepting and performing at any non-sanctioned events may result in immediate deportation, revoked passport, and denied entry by US Customs Border Patrol at US points of entry.” More here.
Flint Residents Paying for Water They Can’t Drink
Residents in Flint, MI are about to start paying the full cost of their water again, even though what’s flowing from their taps has yet to be declared safe to drink without an approved filter. At a recent news conference, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said the state should continue to pick up the tab for residents’ water until it is “tap-drinkable without a filter.” More here.
Rachel Dolezal Changes to Nigerian Name
Rachel Dolezal is releasing a book next month. In advance of that, it appears she has legally changed her name to Nkechi Amare Diallo. The name is of the Igbo language of Nigeria, and roughly translates to ‘gift of god’. More here.
| |
|
Videos of the Day
(click images to play)
| |
| Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) says AG Jeff Sessions must resign.
| |
| Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) says about AG Jeff Sessions,"I'm glad he decided to recuse himself, but "for the good of the country he should resign."
| |
| Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) posted a video of her searching for the GOP ACA replacement plan after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) initiated a protest demanding to see the replacement bill.
| |
| President Oprah? The iconic media mogul discusses whether she would run for president and reveals her surprise at the election of Donald Trump.
| |
| Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien went to Mexico to repair US-Mexico relations - if he can make it across the border.
| |
| Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum makes his run for Governor of Florida official.
| |
| Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) does not mince words on her thoughts about the GOP attempt to repeal ACA.
| |
| Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) remarks at Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
| |
| Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) defends her decision to skip the president's joint adddress to Congress.
| |
Pics of the Day
(click image for more info)
| |
| CHC Chair Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM) joins other MoCs at ICE HQ to show support for immigrants.
| |
| CHCI fellows and interns met with Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) on Wednesday.
| |
| Howard Charter Day Panel at the NMAAHC on Thursday featuring a conversation between Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Atlanta Mayor Karim Reed. The discussion was moderated by alumna Fredericka Whitfield of CNN. HU!
| |
| From left, Varun Krovi, Francisco Bencosme, Sean Snyder, Katharine Denby, Aaron Allen, and Michael Mansour of the Foreign Affairs Congressional Staff Association. (Tom Williams/ CQ Roll Call)
| |
|
On Wednesday, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) met with ambassadors from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
| |
| Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) appears on MTP Daily on Thursday.
| |
| Need something warm and fuzzy? Try this. Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) pets a baby kangaroo who came to Capitol Hill to encourage lawmakers to protect animals and their homes.
| |
| Advancing Justice strategy session in Oakland, CA.
| |
|
March 8th, 6P: A reception honoring "Top Latinos in Foreign Policy Under 40," at The Raben Group, 1341 G St. NW, Suite 500.
Friday, March 24th, 12P: The Congressional Staff Association Fair takes place in the Rayburn Foyer. The event is open to all current Senate and House staff.
| |
|
|
