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Today at 3P, Donald Trump is hosting a briefing on the opioid epidemic, according to a tweet sent at 7:11A this morning. Meanwhile, the beef between the U.S. and North Korea has intensified. A statement from the totalitarian regime reads, “Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation. They should be mindful that the D.P.R.K.’s strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength.” The statement is the strongest indication yet that the country could conduct another nuclear or missile test, as it had often done in response to past United Nations sanctions. In climate change news, according to a draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, the average temperature in the U.S. has risen dramatically since 1980, and is the highest it has been in 1500 years. The report obtained by the NYT contradicts claims by the Trump administration, whose approval is required for the document to be released officially. Just this morning UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said on NBC’s TODAY Show that climate change is real. And Kenya is not the only African country with an important vote today. In South Africa, President Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote which could remove him from office. Congress is out until September. It’s a cool and breezy week in the nation’s capital. And, again -- strictly for research purposes, we’ve carefully studied the photo of Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) poolside. Have more research for us? Be sure to send us your vacay pics to info@TheBeatDC.com. Here's what we've got today:
- Former President Barack Obama weighs in on today’s vote in Kenya.
- Google CEO speaks out as the author of the anti-diversity manifesto is fired.
- Tim Scott for President?
- A member of the Obama family has joined the Knicks front office.
- Ex Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s fate hinges on a judge and “the Holy Spirit.”
- Phil Donahue reportedly wants to mentor TV veteran Tamron Hall.
- WSJ reports an alarming drop in Black-owned banks.
- FCC chairman Ajit Pai pushes to close rural digital divide.
- National Geographic Magazine names new Executive Editor: an African American woman.
- Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) blasts RAISE Act as bad news for the country.
- A September showdown expected for DACA.
- DNC chair Tom Pérez stands with Native American community.
- New Spanish-language streaming service is unveiled.
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|  | Women's March organizer Tamika Mallory on vacation in Jamaica on Sunday. | |  | Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) enjoying a Caribbean vacation with family and friends. | |
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Obama Weighs in on Kenya’s Elections
Former President Barack Obama weighed in on Monday about the tense political situation in his father’s home country, Kenya. The hotly contested presidential election scheduled for today will be closely watched and supervised because voting in recent years has been followed by violence. “I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people; urge security forces to act professionally and neutrally; and work together no matter the outcome,” he said in a statement. “I urge all Kenyans to work for an election — and aftermath — that is peaceful and credible, reinforcing confidence in your new Constitution and the future of your country. Any disputes around the election should be resolved peacefully, through Kenya’s institutions and the rule of law.” The NYT reports that in recent days, the campaign has been marked by a break-in at the country’s VP’s estate, the killing and possible torture of a senior election official, and reports of plans to rig the vote for President Uhuru Kenyatta and stage an armed raid on one of the opposition’s tallying centers. Talk of “fake news” has flavored the campaign debate as international observers, including CBC Vice Chair Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) and former Secretary of State John Kerry seek to ensure a fair vote. More here.
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President Tim Scott?
WaPo’s Theodore Johnson contends that the next president could be a Black Republican. Namely: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). In an article, Johnson cites a recent study on white conservatives in the GOP’s base which found that partisanship is so strong and has become so central to the identity of white Republicans that their views on race take a back seat when they enter the voting booth. The study found that “white conservatives are either more supportive of minority Republicans or just as likely to vote for a minority as they are a white Republican,” and that “the base of the GOP does not discriminate against minority nominees in high-profile contemporary general elections.” Some credit this to the relative surge in Black Republicans in Congress since the tea party movement, including Scott, Congresswoman Mia Love (UT), Congressman Will Hurd (TX), and Allen West (FL) -- and Indian American former governors Nikki Haley (SC) and Bobby Jindal (LA). Johnson also notes the growing dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party among some African Americans and says this sentiment could carry over in a general election. Agree or disagree, it’s worth a read as race appears to be a central part of the way American politics are evolving. More here.
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|  | Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) kicking off his Dairy Queen tour in his district over the weekend. | |  | UN Ambassador Nikki Haley with her team of negotiators in NYC on Saturday. | |
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Corrine Brown’s Fate Still Unknown in Part Because of the Holy Spirit
Former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown was back in court on Monday trying to overturn her conviction on charges of fraud and tax evasion connected to a sham charity. Brown's case hinges on a juror who was dismissed from the trial in May when he argued that Brown was innocent because "the Holy Spirit" told him so. The judge dismissed him, swapped in an alternate juror, and the jury reached their verdicts the next day. But her fate is still up in the air after the judge announced he would not decide on two major motions from her attorney during Monday’s hearing. A jury found Brown guilty on 18 counts including mail fraud, wire fraud, and filing false tax returns. Judge Timothy Corrigan will issue written decisions on the motion to acquit and motion for a new trial but said he did not know when that would happen. If the judge decides not to acquit Brown or grant her a new trial, he will set a date for sentencing. More here.
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Anti-Immigration Group Protests Student Painting of Statue of Liberty in a Hijab in Lou Correa’s Office
A student painting that depicts the Statue of Liberty wearing a Muslim hijab is displayed in the district office of Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA). We the People Rising, a Claremont-based activist group that advocates stricter enforcement of immigration laws, is calling the painting an unpatriotic violation of the separation of church and state. The group has asked without success that Correa remove the painting. Correa said he asked the House Office of General Counsel for advice and was told there was no legal issue. So now these anti-Muslim activists are tentatively planning a September 11th protest at Correa’s district office. More here.
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CNN's Jim Acosta boating on MD's Magothy River over the weekend. | |  |
Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock on stage Saturday at Radio City Music Hall. | |
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Michelle Obama’s Brother Hired by the Knicks
In some sports news ... the NY Knicks have hired Craig Robinson, brother of Michelle Obama, as a front office executive. Robinson was the head coach of Oregon State men’s basketball team before he was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks as an executive in August 2016. Once a college basketball player at Princeton, Robinson was also an assistant at Northwestern and head coach at Brown. While at Princeton, he was teammates with Steve Mills -- who was recently hired as the executive president of the Knicks. They were also part of the same major, both graduating with degrees in sociology. Who normally wins in a one-on-one with Craig and POTUS44? We’d watch that match up. More here.
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National Geographic Magazine Names Executive Editor
National Geographic Magazine has named Debra Adams Simmons as its Executive Editor of Culture. She was formerly the top editor at the Plain Dealer in Cleveland. “Debra has had a remarkable 30-year career in journalism as a leader, manager, editor, and reporter,” Susan Goldberg, Editorial Director of National Geographic Partners and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, wrote. Simmons was most recently Vice President of News Development at Advance Local and a 2016 Nieman Fellow. She will be based in DC. More about her here.
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|  | Reverend Al Sharpton on stage for a one-on-one conversation with Van Jones at the Apollo Theater on Saturday. | |  | DJ Khaled and Fat Joe at the Apollo Theater in NYC on Saturday for Van Jones' We Rise Tour. | |
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Phil Donahue Wants In on the Tamron Hall Talk Show
The NY Post's Page Six is reporting that famed talk show host Phil Donahue wants to mentor former “Today” host Tamron Hall on her new talk show being developed by Harvey Weinstein. Their tipsters reportedly overheard the talk-show pioneer dishing about Hall while dining out on the Upper East Side on Wednesday night. “He thinks she’s a great pick and will be really successful if she follows the right way to do it,” the source told Page Six. “He would love to mentor and give her advice on direction and topics and how to avoid going into tabloid territory -- walking the fine line of what’s interesting and going in other directions.” No one can deny that Donahue is the pioneer. But Tamron already has a lot of dopeness on her own. Let’s see if these two partner up. More here.
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PANTAYA-- The New Spanish Language Streaming Service
Lionsgate and Hemisphere Media Group have partnered up to offer a streaming service all about Spanish-language content. It’s called PANTAYA, which nicely combines the Spanish word for screen (“pantalla”) with the sense of urgency with which you’ll get your content (“ya!”). “We’re proud to launch a Spanish-language streaming movie service distinguished by its breadth, quality, and diversity,” said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer in a statement. “This platform is the next logical step in Lionsgate’s track record of serving the Hispanic consumer with high-end premium content through our Pantelion Films venture with Televisa.” More here.
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Nat Geo Expands Grants to Reach People of Color
Last week Journal-isms’ Richard Prince hosted a roundtable of journalists. While there, National Geographic’s president stated that the organization is expanding the pool of people eligible for its grants and launching new funds to encourage more racial and ethnic diversity in its grantmaking. “I would say bluntly that National Geographic’s diversity in terms of its reach has underrepresented African Americans and Latinos, and part of that was the underrepresentation mirrored in the environmental movement,” Knell said. Current reports that Gary Knell noted the lack of diversity in race and experience among its grantees, who receive up to $50,000 to support research, education and journalism projects. Photo courtesy of Jason Johnson. More here.
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Town & Country Features Abby Phillip
Town & Country Magazine is out with their annual list of influential and talked-about young women. WaPo’s White House reporter Abby Phillip made the list. The Harvard grad began her journalism career as a WH reporter and blogger for Politico. She later joined ABC News as a fellow in NY and was then a digital reporter for the network in DC where she worked on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Nightline, and ABCNews.com. She has been with the Post since 2015 and is frequently seen on CNN offering insightful political analysis. Check out her feature here.
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|  | Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) celebrating being home in Hawaii for the Senate's state work period. | |  | Symone Sanders at a luncheon last week with the Douglas County Democrats in Nebraska. | |
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Disappearing Black Banks
The WSJ reports that the number of Black-owned banks operating in the U.S. has been dropping steadily for the past 15 years and fell to 23 this year, the lowest level in recent history, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. That has left many African American communities short of access to capital and traditional financial services, according to some banking experts. “We have a crisis among Black banks,” said Doyle Mitchell (pictured), CEO of Industrial Bank, based in the District. “We met...to save the industry. To save ourselves.” The 2008 recession hit the Black banking sector especially hard, and if the current rate of closures of about two a year, as well as the industry-wide reluctance or inability to start banks continues, the article says that Black-owned banks could disappear entirely within the next eight to 12 years. A worrisome trend to some analysts who argue fewer banks serving low-income, minority groups could expand “financial deserts” -- communities with few or no banking institutions -- and increase the likelihood that Black and Hispanic communities could become susceptible to redlining. Another concern is that if larger institutions step in, they won’t be as accommodating in lending to Black-owned businesses. A survey of entrepreneurs by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2014 found that 47% of Black business owners had gotten the full amount of funding requested from banks, credit unions or other financial institutions, compared with 76% of whites. More here from the WSJ.
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Ajit Pai Pushes to Bridge Rural Digital Divide
At Chairman Ajit Pai’s urging, the FCC on Thursday took steps to boost incentives for carriers to expand broadband service. The WSJ reports that the FCC voted to overhaul one of its existing programs for extending wireless broadband, with the aim of better targeting the funds. The Mobility Fund program will distribute about $4.5 billion over the coming decade. The FCC also sought to help increase broadband availability by moving forward with redesigning another existing subsidy program, the Connect America Fund, which will distribute about $2 billion over a decade. The agency also voted to begin exploring the idea of expanding wireless carriers’ obligations to expand broadband access as part of their licensing agreements, and it voted to consider more ways of using airwaves for new communications technologies that could help expand access. More here.
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Google CEO Speaks Out as Author of Controversial ‘Anti-Diversity Manifesto’ Reportedly Fired
Recode and Bloomberg are both reporting that the Google engineer who wrote a controversial anti-diversity ‘manifesto’ has been fired. The essay, “Google’s Ideological Echo Chamber,” whose author has been identified as James Damore, began circulating within the company last week and suggested that the company encourage “ideological” diversity and contends women don’t comprise 50% of the company’s tech and leadership positions because of differences in their preferences and abilities. The ‘manifesto’ caused such an uproar that Google CEO Sundar Pichai (pictured) told employees on Monday evening that he was cutting short his family vacation to come back for a town hall meeting this Thursday. In an email to employees, Pichai said the engineer’s writings crossed the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes. “To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct,” Pichai wrote. Google has not confirmed the firing, but Damore confirmed that he was let go in an email to the NYT. More here from USA Today.
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Trump supporter Katrina Pierson and HUD's Lynne Patton join friends at Trump Tower in DC for brunch on Sunday. | |  |
Omarosa ventured back to Ohio over the weekend for her family reunion. | |
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Khanna Says Proposed Changes to Legal Immigration Harm Community and Country
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) says the Trump administration’s support of proposed changes to the legal immigration system is detrimental to his constituency in California which covers most of Silicon Valley. Among other things, the RAISE Act introduced last week bases entry into the United States on several new criteria, including knowing English beforehand and having an offer of a high-paying job. “People are not just software engineers. They have mothers and they have sisters and they have family,” Khanna told The San Francisco Chronicle. “There are so many people in the valley, by the way, who didn’t speak fluent English when they came here and are now ... leading innovators and have great startups. So this idea that you would be required to have a proficiency in English before you come here, I guess the question is that what problem are they trying to solve ... that’s what I don’t understand.” More here.
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September Will Bring Crucial DACA Deadlines
When Congress returns in September, the Trump administration will face an ultimatum from challengers to the DACA policy, as well as a potentially nasty government funding fight that could require an 11th-hour deal to avert a shutdown. The administration's biggest defender of DACA, Gen. John Kelly, is now the WH Chief of Staff, and as Homeland Security Secretary, he spoke frequently about preserving the program under this administration, telling CHC members that he personally supports the program. But he also told them he couldn't commit to the Trump administration defending it, and now as WH CoS he recently warned Democrats on the Hill that the program's prospects are dim. CNN reports that the earliest trigger will be September 5th -- the deadline in an ultimatum issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and nine other state attorneys general to the Trump administration: Rescind DACA or we will challenge it in an unfriendly court. They have already succeeded in stopping a similar program to protect the parents of childhood arrivals to the US. More here from CNN.
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|  | Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) back home in her district visiting the Whittier Senior Center. | |  | CA congressional candidate Dave Min at a town hall meeting on healthcare. | |
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Pérez Stands with Native American Communities Amid Broken Promises
In an op-ed for the LA Times, DNC Chairman Tom Pérez details the ways that the current administration has broken promises and let down Native American communities. In the piece, he mentions the healthcare battle, the border wall (which would cut through sovereign land), and the GOP’s push for the privatization of Indian lands and resources as just a few areas. He writes, “Every president since Nixon has embraced a policy of “self-determination without termination” — the idea that Native Americans are best equipped to govern themselves. Trump is breaking with this position. He has even gone so far as to question the constitutionality of programs designed to assist tribes. In a signing statement that accompanied an appropriations bill he approved in May, Trump suggested that Native American housing block grants represent an unconstitutional privilege. This perverse reading of the relationship between the U.S. government and Indian Country flies in the face of the Constitution, including its Indian Commerce Clause, and two centuries of court rulings.” Read his full op-ed here.
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| FOMOWednesday, 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. Thursday, August 10th, 5P: Reception for Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Hosted by Ambassador Andrew Young, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston, and Ebenezer Baptist Church Senior Pastor Dr. Rev. Raphael G. Warnock. Zucot Gallery, 330 Chapel Street, S.W., Atlanta. To RSVP, call 443.525.8262.
Thursday, August 10th, 7P: Jotaka Eaddy, Symone Sanders, Dr. Ikenna Myers, Waikinya Clanton, Nicholas Wiggins, and Moyer McCoy host a pool party. Penthouse Pool Club. 1612 U Street, N.W. Click here to RSVP. 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. Tuesday, August 15th, 2P: Immigrant youth and allies rally in front of the White House in support of DACA on its fifth anniversary. Click here for more information.
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. Thursday, August 25th, 8P: The film Hidden Figures will be shown as the final movie of the season at the MLK Memorial. Free. Sponsored by The Memorial Foundation and MPAA. 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W. For more information, click here.
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
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. Saturday, September 30th, 8P: Join Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) for Bruno Mars' 24K Magic Tour. The Verizon Center, 601 F Street, N.W. For more information or to RSVP, contact Sierra Kelley-Chung or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or email: Sierra@ABConsultingDC.com 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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