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Well, that didn’t take long. Barely 24 hours later, and people on both sides of the gun debate are wondering where exactly Donald Trump stands. The NRA claimed late Thursday that the president had retreated from his surprising support a day earlier for gun control measures. But this morning, WH Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said nuh-uh and that POTUS45 still supports some gun control legislation. Where the truth lies is anyone’s guess. In more confusion, Trump’s sudden decision on Thursday to impose stiff, sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports rattled markets and his pro-trade advisors. This has thrown into question National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn’s future with the administration. And more rumored staff shifts from The Apprentice, the White House edition. Reportedly, H.R. McMaster will be replaced as National Security Advisor as early as next month, in a move orchestrated by Chief of Staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis. And, First Daughter Ivanka Trump has also come under scrutiny now as the FBI is looking at some of her international business deals. With all this happening, what were the president’s first words to his Twitter followers this morning? A misspelled, poorly written tweet insulting “Alex” Baldwin’s SNL portrayal of him. He later corrected the misspellings in the tweet. But it did little to spur belief that all is well in the East or West Wing. Speaking of Spurs … former President Barack Obama said he’d play for San Antonio if he were an All-Star free agent in the NBA. Ball until you fall, 44. We're here for it. And in other news, the Utah House of Representatives drops bars! Well … they try. They made a rap video about how a bill becomes law and … we can’t. But right on time: Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to the rescue! In honor of the Music Modernization Act and Women’s History Month, Jeffries is dropping his top female rap collaborations, focusing on one artist per day, posting the newest additions to the list each day on Twitter and Facebook. Congressman, we fully expect to see in your feed some Lauryn Hill, MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, and whoever the two female MCs are in Knuck if you Buck. The Beat DC has bars, and we know about lists. Now it’s time to kick the weekend off with this...
- Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) announces a plan to combat gun violence.
- Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) wants to know if Trump knew about allegations of shady investors in Panama property.
- A former congressional aide allegedly tried to bribe weed shop. Read to the bottom.
- Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen announce United State of Women Summit.
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has a new business liaison; Read about her below.
- Tech entrepreneurs pitch former President Barack Obama.
- Senators intro bill to give minors access to lawyers in immigration courts.
- Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) probes SBA on HBCUs.
- CHC calls on DHS to protect “Dreamers” facing deadline uncertainty.
- Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) intros Israel defense legislation.
- Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) takes aim at “no poach” business agreements.
- Barack Obama alum heads to MediaMath.
- Former SBA Administrator María Contreras-Sweet finally reaches a deal to buy the Weinstein Co.
- Hasan Minhaj lands a deal with Netflix for a weekly political talk show.
- Meet the new News Editor at CNBC.
- Settlement reached with Ebony freelancers over money owed.
- Wunderkind doctor launches PA congressional bid.
- Former HI state Senator announces he’s running for Governor.
- Miami schools superintendent tells NYC to fuggedaboutit.
- Judge bars Indiana from blocking Syrian refugees.
- HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson says he doesn’t need that expensive dining set after all.
- FCC Chairman Ajit Pai says no thanks to NRA rifle award.
- Diplomat with decades of experience stepping down as Ambassador to Mexico.
- Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) intro bipartisan bill on sickle cell disease.
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|  | Hillary Clinton campaign alumna and Sirius XM's Zerlina Maxwell on Wednesday with lawyer Gloria Allred. | |  | Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez on Tuesday meeting with Congressman Paul Cook (R-CA). | |
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Rubio’s New Proposed Gun Violence Plan
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) yesterday announced his plan to combat gun violence in response to the Parkland, FL shooting. First, Rubio and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) announced the Stop School Violence Act, which would grant federal dollars to states to increase safety in schools, provide school training to identify threats, and create school threat assessment and crisis intervention teams. Rubio also announced his intention to introduce a bill that will lead to the creation of Gun Violence Restraining Orders, which would give law enforcement and close family members the option of obtaining a court order to prevent gun sales or remove guns from individuals who pose a threat, while providing due process protections. The Senator will also be proposing changes to the federal youth PROMISE program; pushing for the immediate passage of the Fix NICS Act to improve reporting of all relevant information to the national background check database; filing the “Lie and Try” bill, which will require the FBI to notify states when a prohibited person tries to buy a gun so they can be investigated and prosecuted; and presenting a new law to go after those who buy a gun for someone who could not pass a background check. “In order to successfully achieve passage of these ideas, they will need to be crafted in a way that actually contributes to greater public safety, while also not unnecessarily or unfairly infringing on the Second Amendment right of all law abiding adults to protect themselves, hunt or participate in recreational shooting,” said Rubio. More here.
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Norma Torres Has Questions About Trump Investors with Ties to Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering
Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, want to know if the Trump Organization was aware of allegations that real estate agents and investors involved in the Trump Ocean Club in Panama had ties to money laundering and drug trafficking. The pair sent a letter on Wednesday to the Trump Organization’s General Counsel, Alan Garten, asking what due diligence was done on investors and agents involved in the project, which earned Donald Trump between $30 million and $50 million for lending his name to it. Torres and Engel largely based the questions in their letter on the findings of a Reuters and NBC News investigation into the Trump Ocean Club published in November. “Given widely reported allegations of money laundering and drug trafficking in connection with Trump Ocean Club Panama, we believe it is imperative to understand the Trump Organization’s knowledge of and role in sales at this property,” the lawmakers wrote. More here.
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Senators Intro Bill to Provide Legal Representation for Minors Appearing in Immigration Court
Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), Kamala Harris, Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined nine of their Democratic colleagues in introducing the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act to provide unaccompanied immigrant children with access to legal representation when they appear in removal proceedings before an immigration judge. The bill would require that unaccompanied immigrant children be represented by government-appointed counsel during removal proceedings and any subsequent appeals. The Act would mandate that these children are informed of this right and have access to a lawyer even if they are being detained in a government facility. The Act would also encourage the recruitment of attorneys willing to help these children on a pro bono basis and would create professional requirements and guidelines for legal representation of these children. The complex immigration system is difficult enough for an English-speaking adult to navigate with the assistance of an attorney, yet children as young as three years of age are expected to advocate for themselves -- a situation that has been challenged as unconstitutional. More here.
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Alma Adams Probes SBA on HBCUs
Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC), a member of the Small Business Committee, sent a letter to the U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro this week requesting that he instruct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether HBCUs are receiving adequate support from the SBA to help develop successful entrepreneurs. The letter requests that the GAO review: SBA outreach procedures, the number of SBA research partners associated with HBCUs and the services they provide, SBA outreach to HBCUs specifically, and the benefits this outreach has yielded so far. “HBCUs train a disproportionate number of African American entrepreneurs who go on to start small businesses and create economic opportunity and growth in their communities,” said Adams. “It’s imperative that these entrepreneurs have access to the support and tools necessary to become successful business owners.” She was joined in the letter by Congressman Dave Brat (R-VA). More here.
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|  | The Hill's Scott Wong on Wednesday with Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr after a win over the Washington Wizards. | |  | Actor Larenz Tate on Wednesday reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me. | |
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CHC Calls on DHS to Protect “Dreamers” Facing Looming Deadline Uncertainty
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM) and the rest of the CHC’s leadership team -- Congressmen Joaquín Castro (D-TX), Caucus First Vice Chair; Rubén Gallego (D-AZ), Caucus Second Vice Chair; Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Caucus Whip; and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Caucus Freshman Representative -- sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urging her not to target DACA recipients who have fallen out of status and to use prosecutorial discretion to protect from detention and deportation those who may otherwise be apprehended in the course of operations, and to fully protect DACA applicants’ confidential and sensitive information from use in immigration enforcement matters. This letter comes the day after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released data showing a backlog of tens of thousands of initial DACA applications waiting to be processed, and thousands of pending renewal applications filed by individuals who will begin losing status on March 6th. “Unfortunately, President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not truly want to solve this DACA crisis… Given this posture, it is critical that DHS ensure that DACA recipients are not deported from the only country they have known and protect the confidential information DACA recipients submitted to the government,” they wrote. See the letter here.
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Stephanie Murphy Intros Israel Defense Bill
Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL)unveiled a bill this week that will allow the U.S. to send Israel additional funds outside the current $500 million a year Israel receives to defend itself against missile attacks. Murphy noted that Deterring and Defeating Rocket and Missile Threats to Israel Act would show the current $500 million annually is not a ceiling, and the U.S. could send additional funds under exceptional circumstances. Back in 2016, the U.S. and Israel entered into an MOU indicating the U.S. would send more funds to Israel if needed for missile defense, but Murphy’s bill would codify the agreement into law. “When I traveled to Israel last summer, I experienced firsthand how truly special the U.S.-Israeli relationship is and gained a clear understanding of the threats Israel faces on multiple fronts,” said Murphy. Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL) co-sponsored the legislation. More here.
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Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren Take Aim at "No Poach" Business Agreements
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Thursday introduced a bill to crack down on collusive "no poach" agreements that are often used by large franchisors to prohibit franchisees from hiring each other’s workers. The End Employer Collusion Act would ban these "no poach" agreements, which economists have found are a key factor in wage stagnation and limited worker mobility. Worker advocacy groups have long opposed such agreements, arguing they hurt employees' leverage in negotiating raises and stifle worker pay. “As corporate concentration leads to fewer and fewer options for workers to improve their bargaining power, we must crack down on anti-competitive practices that keep workers stuck and wages down,” Booker said. "More than half of the largest franchisors in this country - companies like Wendy's, Carl’s Jr., and H&R Block - use some form of anti-competitive ‘no poach’ agreements that prevent their workers from translating their value into higher wages. More concerning - most workers don’t even know such agreements exist.” Their bill reflects the rising concerns among some academics and lawmakers about the role of “monopsony” power -- a monopoly held by a purchaser or employer, rather than by a seller -- in restraining wages, a theory that has gotten increasing attention among Democratic policymakers since the 2016 election. More here.
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|  | Comedy Central's Jordan Shepard last month with former Education Secretary John King. | |  |
Spencer Overton, President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, last week at a Washington Capitals game. | |
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Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen Announce United State of Women Summit
Valerie Jarrett and Tina Tchen, who both led the Obama administration's White House Council on Women and Girls, are coming together to put on the second United State of Women Summit. The Summit will take place in LA on May 4th and 5th, and is aimed at bringing together organizations and advocates to talk about issues affecting women and girls, such as the gender pay gap, campus sexual assault, and accessibility to childcare and healthcare. The speaker lineup is shaping up, and so far includes: #MeToo Founder Tarana Burke; Actress Kelly Marie Tran; Commentator Symone Sanders; Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center; Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance & Co-Director; Activist Brittany Packnett; Black Girls Rock Founder Beverly Bond; Activist Mónica Ramírez with Alianza Nacional de Campesinas; and former Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Elaine Welteroth, among many others. Organizers have not yet disclosed whether Michelle Obama will be involved this year. "I'm passionate about continuing the work that we dedicated ourselves to when President Obama was in the White House," Jarrett said. "I'm optimistic, and that optimism is based on ordinary people doing extraordinary things." Tchen weighed in, saying, "We do our work as women and activists in silos and that's not how women live their lives." Often, she added, they're juggling aging parents, getting mammograms, finding childcare and earning a living. "That's how your average woman is struggling with her issues in her life and can't figure out the alphabet soup of policies that are coming our of Washington and elsewhere," Tchen continued. That's why the Summit -- and organization at large -- aims to educate women on the issues and marry challenges with tangible action. See all the speakers here.
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Obama Alum Heads to MediaMath
Daniel Sepulveda, a former senior public official, has joined MediaMath as VP for Global Government Relations. While the tech, media, and marketing company is based in NYC, Sepulveda will be based in DC. He was most recently at the State Department, where he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy during the Obama administration. Prior to that, he also spent time on Capitol Hill serving as a Senior Legislative Aide to three Senators, including then-Senators Barack Obama and John Kerry. He also served as an Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, leading a team that managed Congressional Affairs for then-U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk during the Obama presidential transition. Sepulveda received his Master's from the University of Texas at Austin after graduating from Emory University. He is fluent in both English and Spanish. More about him here.
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Contreras-Sweet Says She’s Reached Deal for Weinstein Co.
Former SBA Administrator María Contreras-Sweet last night announced that the group she represents had reached an agreement with NY AG Eric Schneiderman to buy Weinstein Company assets in order to launch a new firm. In a statement, Contreras-Sweet said the plan to build a movie studio led by a majority of independent women remained the same. She said that they aim to save about 150 jobs, protect the small businesses that are owed money, and create a victims compensation fund. “[W]e are grateful to our investors who have believed in this process and in the compelling value of a female-led company. ... I have had a long-standing commitment to fostering women ownership in business. This potential deal is an important step to that end,” Contreras-Sweet said. Read more here.
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Tech Entrepreneurs Pitch Barack Obama This Week
A group of entrepreneurs met with former President Barack Obama in his DC office this week to kick off the Rise of the Rest Summit -- a nationwide effort to work closely with entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems started by AOL Founder Steve Case. Among them was Jacob Hsu, a former Silicon Valley executive who moved to Baltimore in January 2017 to become CEO of Catalyte, a company that develops software using teams of non-traditional, algorithm-identified engineers. Once in Baltimore, Hsu says he was overwhelmed by the talent. He could work with city leaders and executives; he could recruit high-up federal employees -- opportunities that would be impossible in the Bay Area. The group met with Obama because there’s still work to be done. Tech companies, and the jobs they bring, are still clustered on the coasts. In part, it’s a funding problem. In 2016, 75% of VC dollars were invested in companies in three states -- California, Massachusetts, and NY. Each week, Case says, California companies receive more venture funding than Wisconsin companies do in a year. Additionally, as the backlash against powerful tech companies continues, business opportunities building around technology that’s integrated into other fields such as healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities look more appealing. More here.
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Elizabeth for MA is planning to organize training sessions for promising college students, recent graduates, and others interested in gaining practical skills in digital communication, organizing, and grassroots political action. This will develop the next generation of progressive campaign volunteers and staffers and give them immediate campaign experience. Elizabeth for MA is looking for a Training Director to develop and coordinate this program.
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NDRC is the first-ever strategic hub for redistricting focused on winning targeted elections and ballot initiatives, advancing legal action, and building the infrastructure to achieve a fairer redistricting process. Job Openings: | |
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Hasan Minaj Gets His Own Political Show on Netflix
The Daily Show’s Hasan Minhaj has landed a deal with Netflix for a political weekly talk show which will “explore the modern cultural and political landscape with depth and sincerity.” The yet-to-be-named program will be the first comedy talk hosted by an Indian American. Minhaj -- whose star has seen a rapid rise since he hosted the first White House Correspondent Association Dinner of the Trump era -- will continue as a Correspondent on The Daily Show until July. Netflix has already committed to 32 episodes, but a launch date has not yet been announced. “I’m thrilled to be joining the Netflix family as the country braces for another election season,” the 32-year-old said. “And like you, I cannot wait to find out who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin picks this time.” Congrats, Minaj! More here.
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CNBC Names News Editor
CNBC.com announced that Anjali Athavaley would join the outlet as a News Editor, and will help edit and manage the website. Anjali was previously with Reuters, where she held various positions, including Food and Beverage Reporter, Online Editor/Social Media Reporter, and, most recently, Telecom Reporter. Anjali also spent time at the WSJ. She earned her Bachelor’s from the University of Texas at Austin and received her Master’s from Columbia University, where she was a Knight-Bagehot Fellow. More here.
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Affirmative Reaction with Xorje Olivares
Openly gay Latino millennial talk show host Xorje Olivares is the host of SiriusXM's newest show, Affirmative Reaction w/ Xorje Olivares. Starting this Saturday, March 3rd from 12-2P, Affirmative Reaction is a new two-hour, weekly call-in show on SiriusXM Progress that will feature diverse, progressive political commentary. Guests will include writers, authors, social influencers, and others who, SiriusXM writes, “themselves, are likely subjected to forms of discrimination within society because of their respective identities.” The University of Texas grad is also a producer and engineer for SiriusXM’s Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang and will continue his interview-based Web series, Hey Xorje, which premiered earlier this year. He previously worked for Let's Talk with Ari Melber, ABC News, ABCNews.com, ABC News Radio, and World News with Diane Sawyer. Xorje has been published by VICE, Vox, OUT Magazine, The Advocate, and Flama and has been profiled on ABC News Nightline, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, PBS, and Al Jazeera America, among other outlets. Congrats, Xorje! More about him here.
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Settlement Reached With Ebony Magazine and Freelancers
The National Writers Union has reached a final settlement agreement with the Ebony Media Organization and CVG Group LLC (which acquired Ebony magazine in 2016), over the magazine’s failure to pay freelance writers, editors, and designers for contracted and published work. This settlement covers 45 freelancers who are collectively owed $80,000 by the new owners of the iconic magazine. The union filed a lawsuit in Cook County Court in Chicago after a months-long #Ebonyowes social media campaign, and after trying to reach an agreement for nearly a year, including a personal call to the owners from Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) on the writers’ behalf. According to the terms of the agreement, Ebony will pay all of the freelancers 100% of their owed invoices in four quarterly payments, starting with the oldest invoices first. Almost half of the invoices go back to 2016. More here.
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|  | Angela Rye and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms last weekend at the Power RIsing Summit in Atlanta. | |  | Miami Mayor Francis Suárez on Monday during his first State of the City Address, with iHeart Latino COO Enrique Santos, who emceed the event. | |
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Wunderkind Doctor Launches Bid for Congress
Pennsylvania’s newly redrawn Fourth Congressional District has become a lot more competitive. Enter Dr. Eric Ding. He is an epidemiologist, nutritionist, and health economist. He’s also on the faculty at Harvard, a founder of Toxin Alert, and a Chief Health Economist for Microclinic International. His family migrated to Pennsylvania from China. In high school, doctors diagnosed him with likely terminal cancer. Overcoming the odds, while losing several organs and part of his lung, Eric survived his baseball-sized tumor. As a congressional candidate, healthcare will be among his chief issues. “Health insurance is too expensive. Prescription drugs cost too much. The opioid epidemic is raging with no simple solutions,” he says on his website. “But all of that can change with a clear strategy and strong leadership.” Receiving his BA from Johns Hopkins University, he completed his dual doctorates in epidemiology and nutrition from Harvard University at age 23. Over 14 years at Harvard, he has taught a dozen courses and received the Derek Bok Distinction in Teaching Award from Harvard College. He will face state Representative Madeleine Dean, Barack Obama alumna Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson, and George Scott in the May 15th primary. More here.
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Former State Sen. Launches Campaign for Governor
Former Democratic Hawaii State Senator Clayton Hee announced his candidacy for Governor on Tuesday. The 64-year-old says one of the reasons he decided to run is to create a better Hawaii. “I concluded, based on present candidates, not much will change in government. It’s the same old, same old (with) nothing to suggest things will be different,” he said. “If I’m lucky and fortunate enough to get in, there would be several things I would do differently.” Hee says as Governor, he would work to legalize recreational marijuana and introduce a multi-state lottery to Hawaii. Hee says both initiatives would bring much-needed revenue into the state without raising taxes. He faces the incumbent Governor David Ige and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI). More here.
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|  | CBS This Morning's Gayle King on Tuesday outside the Cannon Building. | |  | Labor Secretary Alex Acosta with The Heritage Foundation's Kay Coles James last week at CPAC. | |
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Ambassador to Mexico Steps Down; Business Exec Reportedly Top Pick
The U.S. foreign affairs core is facing a shake-up. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson, a career Foreign Service officer with more than 30 years of diplomatic experience, on Thursday announced she would be stepping down effective May 5th. Jacobson’s departure comes amid tense relations between the two countries, with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto over the weekend cancelling a trip to the U.S. after a testy phone call with Trump, and 45’s continued insistence on a border wall, an increase of security measures along the border, and a redo of NAFTA. Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), Ranking Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Jacobson’s departure was “yet another critical moment in the exodus of expertise from a State Department suffering under poor management and dangerous political guidance.” Jacobson wrote that “[t]his decision is all the more difficult because of my profound belief in the importance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship and the knowledge that it is at a crucial moment ... Llevo a México en mi alma y en mi corazón” (I carry Mexico in my soul and in my heart). Reportedly on deck to replace her? Ed Whitacre Jr., the former Chairman and CEO of General Motors and AT&T and friend of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Jacobson speaks fluent Spanish; Whitacre does not. More here.
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Miami Schools Superintendent Makes an Abrupt About-Face with NYC Chancellor Job
Remember yesterday when we told you that Alberto M. Carvalho, the Superintendent of the Miami-Dade County public school system would become the new Chancellor of the NYC public school system? Yeah ... about that. In a dramatic turn of events, Carvalho changed his mind. “I am breaking an agreement,” Carvalho said. “I shall remain in Miami-Dade as your superintendent.” His renunciation came during a special board meeting that turned into a three-and-a-half-hour spectacle of supporters begging him to stay before a speech by Carvalho tantalizing the crowd with hints he might leave. He interrupted his remarks to speak privately by telephone with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio before coming back and delivering the news. It was an embarrassing turn of events for the de Blasio administration, which appeared to be caught off guard and reacted with anger. At a news conference Thursday afternoon, the Mayor said he was “very surprised by Mr. Carvalho’s decision,” adding that the superintendent had indeed accepted the job offer. More here.
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Judge Bars Indiana from Blocking Syrian Refugees
A federal judge has permanently barred Indiana from trying to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in the state under an order VP Mike Pence championed as Governor. The AP reports that U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt (pictured) approved a judgment Tuesday permanently enjoining Indiana from withholding authorized payments to Indianapolis-based Exodus Refugee Immigration, which resettles refugees in the state. Pence cited terrorism fears in issuing a November 2015 order barring state agencies from making payments to help relocate Syrians to Indiana. The ACLU filed suit in 2016. More here.
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Carson Cancels $31K Dining Set
HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson is saying never mind to a $31,000 dining set for his office suite after the agency came under scrutiny for the cost of the furniture. "At the request of the Secretary, the agency is working to rescind the order for the dining room set," Communications Director Raffi Williams said in a statement. Documents produced to ABC News by HUD show that the agency spent $1,100 to try to repair the table and chairs before staff decided to purchase the more expensive replacement. But it might be too little, too late. The House Oversight Committee is already investigating. Carson tweeted Wednesday night that "there has been no dishonesty or wrongdoing" and that they plan to disclose all the information related to the purchase. As we reported earlier this week, Helen Foster -- who worked as the agency's Chief Administrative Officer -- filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel that she was told to approve funds to redecorate Carson's office even after she told her superiors that there was a legal $5,000 limit for decorating expenses. More here.
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Pai Turns Down NRA Award
Last week, we told you that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai had received the NRA’s Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire award for his work to repeal the Obama-era net neutrality rules. In letters to the NRA and to the American Conservative Union -- which puts on the Conservative Political Action Conference, during which he received the award -- Pai let them know on Thursday that he would be passing on the gun award. Citing the advice of ethics officials at the FCC, Pai said he had to decline the award. “As you know, once my staff became aware of what was happening, they asked backstage that the musket not be presented to me to ensure that this could be first discussed with and vetted by career ethics attorneys in the FCC’s Office of General Counsel ... Therefore, upon their counsel, I must respectfully decline the award. I have also been advised by the FCC’s career ethics attorneys that I would not be able to accept the award upon my departure from government service.” More here.
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|  | Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) Tuesday on Capitol Hill with HBCU Presidents who participated in the second-annual HBCU Fly-In. | |  | Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) on Wednesday at the Circuit Summit policy dinner. | |
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McConnell Names New Business Liaison
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has tapped Erica Suares to take over as his liaison for the business community. The Auburn grad, who has Master’s degrees from Harvard and Vanderbilt, has been with McConnell for more than five years and was most recently handling conservative coalition work for the Senator. Before joining McConnell’s office, Erica served as Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs to the Romney campaign, specifically as liaison to the Senate. Erica started her career in state politics, working for former Governor of Alabama Bob Riley. She then worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs under George W. Bush, at The Heritage Foundation in Senate Relations, and as a Policy Advisor and Legislative Director to former Senator Jim DeMint. Congrats, Erica! More about her here.
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Jury Deliberations Begin in Trial of Former Congressional Aide Over Alleged Marijuana Shop Bribe
Jury deliberations began this week in the trial of Michael Kimbrew, a former congressional aide who allegedly threatened to close down an illegal Compton medical marijuana dispensary -- even though he lacked the authority to do so -- unless the owner handed over a $5,000 bribe. Kimbrew, who worked for former Congresswoman Janice Hahn, could face up to 18 years behind bars if convicted of one federal count each of attempted extortion and bribery of a public official. The 44-year-old was working out of Compton City Hall in March 2015, when he allegedly told the marijuana shop’s owners -- and later, an undercover FBI agent posing as one of the owners in recorded conversations -- that the shop would be shut down by the city unless he was paid. The defense alleges that the $5,000 in cash was handed over not as a bribe but as a token of friendship. Kimbrew did not take the stand in his defense. More here.
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Cory Booker and Tim Scott Introduce Bipartisan Sickle Cell Bill
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) on Wednesday introduced a bipartisan bill to improve sickle cell disease (SCD) treatment, research, monitoring, and prevention. Sickle cell disease is a group of rare red blood cell disorders that cause debilitating pain, severe infections, and countless other health complications, including organ damage and stroke. It is estimated that the disease affects 100,000 Americans - an estimated 90% of whom are African American. An exact figure is unknown due to limited efforts to collect data on the disease. The average life expectancy for a patient with the condition remains 20 to 30 years lower than the average American. Nearly one-third of SCD African American patients report they experienced discrimination when going to the doctor. The legislation creates the National Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment program to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to issue grants to no more than 20 eligible entities that would collect data on the demographics and prevalence of sickle cell disease; conduct public health initiatives with respect to the disease; and identify and evaluate strategies for SCD prevention and treatment. As part of the introduction of the Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act, Booker hosted a roundtable with patients. See it here.
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| FOMO
Saturday, March 3rd, 6P: The Howard University Charter Day Dinner Dance, Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Click here to purchase tickets.
Monday, March 5th, 5:30P: A reception and fundraiser for Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA). Kith/Kin Restaurant, The Intercontinental Hotel, 801 Wharf Street, S.W. RSVP to Brandon Neal, 202.714.3832 or Pylorus.Contact@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 6th, 12P: A lunch and reception honoring CA Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The City Club, South Flower Avenue, 51st. Floor, Los Angeles. RSVP to Elizabeth Tauro, 310.795.3977 or etauro@capstratca.com, or click here to RSVP online.
Tuesday, March 6th, 5:45P: Raúl Alvillar, Alex Wagner, Adrienne Cooper, Dawn Huckelbridge, Jesse Boateng, and Square One Politics co-host a conversation about the future of progressive politics. Special guests include IL congressional candidate Lauren Underwood and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). 270 Strategies, 722 12th Street NW, Floor 3. Click here to RSVP. Tuesday, March 6th, 6:30P: Sherrilyn Ifill, President of the NAACP LDF, and Anthony Thompson, Director of the Center on Race, Inequality and the Law at NYU, discuss the book they co-authored with former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and death penalty lawyer Bryan Stenson, A Perilous Path: Talking Race, Inequality, and the Law. National Press Club, 529 14th Street, N.W. 13th Floor. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Tuesday, March 6th, 7P: The Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Stanford University welcomes NYT Executive Editor Dean Baquet as their third Media Innovator Series Speaker for 2017-2018. Free. Click here for more information and to register.
Thursday, March 8th, 6P: The Too Young to Wed Inaugural Gala on International Women’s Day, celebrating empowered former Boko Haram child brides Ya Kaka and Hauwa, as they share their journey from survivors to advocates. Journalist Ann Curry is among the hosts. Bathhouse Studios, 538 East 11th Street, NYC. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, March 8th, 6P: The Radio Television Digital News Foundation honors ABC’s Good Morning America's Robin Roberts with the 2018 First Amendment Lifetime Achievement Award. Washington Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Friday, March 9th - Saturday, March 10th: The Progressive Caucus Center hosts the 2018 Strategy Summit. Baltimore, MD. Click here to register.
Sunday, March 11th, 9A: The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park Bus Trip, 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD. Click here for more information and RSVP to dmvblackhistoryfieldtrips@gmail.com.
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.
Tuesday, March 13th, 7:30P: National Geographic conversation, “Environmental Justice | What's Next?” Talia Buford, Robert Bullard, Jon Waterhouse, Mustafa Ali, and Adrianna Quintero on how the environmental justice movement must adapt in the face of a changing planet. National Geographic, Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M Street, N.W. Click here for more.
Wednesday, March 14th, 9A: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute sponsors the CHCI Energy Summit: A World in Transition. Newseum, 5 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, March 14th - Sunday, March 18th: The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 7th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit: Time for A Power Shift!!! Crystal City Marriott, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Friday, March 16th, 6P: The Greater Washington Urban League celebrates its 80th anniversary at the 46th annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Gala. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) will receive the COURAGE UNDER FIRE Impact Leadership Award. Congressman Lewis will also be interviewed by retired AMEX CEO Ken Chenault in a live, one-on-one discussion. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, March 22nd - Sunday, March 25th: The National Hispanic Medical Association 22nd Annual Conference, "Conquistando el Futuro: Clinicians Leading Latino Health Care.” Gaylord National, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD. Click here for more information and to register. Congressional staffers or federal government workers: email pmontenegro@nhmamd.org for a discount code.
Thursday, March 29th, 8P: Jazz, hip hop, and soul combine in August Greene, the newly formed supergroup featuring emcee Common, pianist and composer Robert Glasper, and percussionist and producer Karriem Riggins. Kennedy Center. 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, 6P: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) 2018 Gala and Awards. Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. To purchase tickets, contact Heaven Ocampo, hocampo@maldef.org or 213.629.2512 ext. 143.
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.
Wednesday, April 25th - Friday, April 27th: The African American Mayor Association 2018 Annual Conference. DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. Click here to purchase tickets.
Saturday, July 7th - Tuesday, July 10th: The 2018 UnidosUS annual conference, DC. Click here for more information and to register.
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