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Either snow enough to shut down the city OR let the sun shine. This in between slush under cloudy skies is killing our whole “spring in the winter time” vibe. Trump's tax returns, the Obama's global book launch, beefs between Rubio and Snoop AND WaPo and NYT, we've got a lot to get to. Here’s your Wednesday read...
Happening Today
The House meets at 4:30P with votes at 6:30P. On the agenda? Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) introduces a bill to redesignate the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia, and for other purposes. The Senate meets at 9:30A with a procedural vote at 10A related to former Senator Dan Coats' nomination to be the Director of National Intelligence. House Dem Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, Vice Chair Linda Sánchez, and top Dem on Budget Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) will hold a press conference on the Obamacare repeal at 10:30A today.
Three Tri-Caucus MoCs Introduce Bill Condemning Fake News and Alternative Facts
Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) introduced a resolution that calls for “opposing fake news and alternative facts.” Congressmen Ted Lieu (D-CA) and John Lewis (D-GA) signed on as co-sponsors. The measure establishes that “the president must immediately acknowledge his support of the First Amendment and express his support for United States democracy,” and “White House spokespersons should not issue fake news.” More here.
Bowser Summoned to the Oval Office
On Monday afternoon DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser received an unexpected call from Donald Trump who wanted a briefing from Bowser on storm preparations. No one could recall a DC mayor being summoned to the Oval Office to brief the president -- not for nor’easters that paralyzed the city; not when a 2011 earthquake damaged city landmarks; not even after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. More here.
Clarke Wants ICE Agents to Wear Body Cameras
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) introduced a bill -- with 18 Democratic co-sponsors -- that would require immigration agents to wear body cameras, amid concerns over increased immigration enforcement and the hiring of new agents. Clarke said the measure is necessary to protect those targeted by immigration enforcement from potential abuse. More here.
Founding Member of the CHC Dies
Eligio "Kika" de la Garza II, the first Mexican American to represent the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in Congress and former House Agriculture Committee chairman, has died. He was 89. De la Garza, a Democrat, was a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and served from 1965 to 1997. More here.
Obama In Hawaii
The Obamas may maintain a residence in DC, but they missed the snow. Coming off a string of high-profile meetings, former President Barack Obama made an unannounced return to Hawaii on Monday. Just three months removed from his last official holiday visit as president, Obama was spotted dining at Buzz’s Lanikai on Monday evening. More here.
Fake Obama Robocalls
He can definitely use a break. Obama spokesperson Kevin Lewis yet again had to address ridiculous rumors. The former president did not record a robocall raising money off the new White House travel ban -- no matter what you may have read on the Internet. This latest story, inflamed by celebrity Trump supporters, including actor Scott Baio, seems to trace back to a tweet by former NC congressional candidate Thomas Mills. More here.
FLOTUS44 Dined at Kapnos
Meanwhile, FLOTUS44 was spotted dining at Kapnos on Monday. The snowstorm didn’t stop Michelle Obama from warmly greeting chef George Pagonis and dining on salt-baked fish. More here.
Gutiérrez Handcuffed After Refusing to Leave ICE Meeting
On Monday, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) was briefly handcuffed after refusing to leave a meeting of ICE officials in Chicago, saying he planned to risk arrest by staying at the agency’s office in The Loop until demands are met. Gutiérrez led a sit-in following a meeting that began around 10A on Monday with a delegation of activists that included some 22 advocates, attorneys, community leaders, and other local elected officials. More here.
Acosta Hearing Postponed
Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta's confirmation hearing will be rescheduled to Wednesday, March 22nd at 9A. The executive session for committee members to vote on Mr. Acosta's nomination will be scheduled for the following week. More here.
“Blacks and Hispanics will be Fighting Each Other”: GOP Rep. Steve King
During a radio interview, Congressman Steve King (R-IA) was asked about comments made by Univisión anchor Jorge Ramos last week on Fox News that whites are on track to become a minority in the U.S. by 2044. "Jorge Ramos' stock in trade is identifying and trying to drive wedges between race (sic)," King said. "He's adding up Hispanics and Blacks into what he predicts will be a greater number than whites in America. I will predict that Hispanics and the blacks will be fighting each other before that happens." More here.
Rubio Has Words for Snoop
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) criticized rapper Snoop Dogg, saying he shouldn't have shot a toy gun at a clown dressed as Donald Trump in a music video released over the weekend. Rubio told TMZ that "Snoop shouldn't have done that…we've had presidents assassinated before in this country, so anything like that is something people should really careful about." He adds that if the "wrong person sees that and gets the wrong idea, you could have a real problem." More here.
Jayapal Dances in September
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is proud to bring diverse perspectives to Congress. She starts her mornings with yoga, travels with her green tea, and likes to rock out to the elements -- Earth, Wind, & Fire, that is. Who does she walk the halls with? Her congressional crew includes Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Keith Ellison (D-MN), and a bunch of people in her freshman class. #NobodyFresherThanHerClique. She talks all this and more in Roll Call’s Take Five. Click here to read.
Harris Joins Bipartisan Group to Form National Criminal Justice Commission
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill to create a National Criminal Justice Commission, which would work for 18 months to review every aspect of the nation’s criminal justice system. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), one of the co-sponsors, said, “As a former prosecutor, I have been privileged to see our criminal justice system up close -- how it works and how it doesn’t work…I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and organizations across the political spectrum to continue this important conversation and propose constructive and innovative ways forward.” More here.
USHCC Legislative Conference
The US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce kicked off their annual Legislative Summit yesterday. They host a luncheon today at the Mayflower Hotel. Expected attendees include Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Congressman Ron Desantis (R-FL), and other lawmakers. The black tie gala happens tomorrow at the Mellon Auditorium. Energy Secretary Rick Perry will keynote the event. More here.
Red Nation Film Festival
Today, Red Nation Film Festival is bringing indigenous leaders, filmmakers, and activists to DC for films, talks, and performances promoting a greater understanding of the impact the historic Standing Rock protests have had on preserving indigenous rights, promoting social change, and breaking the racial barrier in Hollywood and mainstream media. MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell is moderating one of the panels. Click here for more information.
CBO Slams ACA Replacement Bill
Approximately 20 million people have gained coverage since the launch of Obamacare. But, with the replacement bill, healthcare advocates say the poor and people of color are going to be hit the hardest. The legislation drastically cuts financial assistance for people living at or below the poverty line, undermines and places severe limitations on the Medicaid expansion, and proposes to defund Planned Parenthood centers from the Medicaid program. Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are sounding an alarm. More here.
Pierson Turned Down Top Press Job
Katrina Pierson, a spokeswoman for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, was reportedly offered the job of Deputy Press Secretary by Sean Spicer but turned it down. She instead decided to become a part of America First Policies, a nonprofit that includes a handful of prominent Trump campaign veterans. It looks to capitalize on the grassroots support that led Trump to the Oval Office and support his agenda from outside the White House. More here.
Obama Books
If ever you're considering writing a book, be sure to solicit the services of Williams & Connolly's Deneen Howell. She ensured that publishing the upcoming books by Barack and Michelle Obama will be a global event. Penguin Random House announced Monday that it has lined up publishers from Ireland to South Africa for the two books, to be released by the Crown imprint in the U.S. and Canada. Titles and release dates have not been announced. More here.
First African American President of Federal Reserve Bank
Raphael Bostic has been selected as the President of the Atlanta Federal Reserve, making him the first African American and person of color to assume this important role. In the Federal Reserve’s 100-year history, no person of color had never served as president, until now. More here.
Trump Supporter Sheriff Clarke Being Groomed to Challenge Baldwin?
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has been largely silent about the possibility of a challenge by Trump supporter and Blue Lives Matter advocate Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr. But over the weekend, Baldwin's campaign sent out an email solicitation that suggests the conservative sheriff is "being groomed" to run against her in 2018. Meanwhile, Clarke has said that he's not ruled out challenging Baldwin but says there is a less than 50% chance he would run, adding that he would need to be pulled "kicking and screaming" into the race. More here.
MoC Suggests Using Drug Cartel Money to Pay for Border Wall
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) says “Having the money seized from Mexican drug cartels would mean that the bad Mexicans end up paying for the wall, and the bad Mexicans have been terrorizing the good Mexicans with crimes and kidnappings and murders within Mexico itself,” the House Judiciary Committee member added. More here.
Border Agents Searching Cell Phones of American Citizens
In 25 cases examined by NBC News, American citizens said that CBP officers at airports and border crossings demanded that they hand over their phones and their passwords, or unlock them. The travelers came from across the nation and were both naturalized citizens and people born and raised on American soil. Businessmen, couples, senior citizens, and families with young kids were questioned, searched, and detained for hours when they tried to enter or leave the U.S. None were on terror watch lists. What most of them have in common -- 23 of the 25 -- is that they are Muslim. More here.
PA Senator Says Inner City Students May Succeed with Less Intensive Track
Republican Pennsylvania state Senator John Eichelberger criticized state education programs that direct students of color toward college rather than vocational courses, calling it a matter of ill-used funding. "They’re pushing them toward college and they’re dropping out," said Eichelberger, who is chair of the Senate Education Committee. "They fall back and don’t succeed, whereas if there was a less intensive track, they would." Eichelberger, amid blowback, has insisted that his words were taken out of context. More here.
$100 Fine for Masturbating
TX state Representative Jessica Farrar proposed new legislation that would fine men $100 for masturbating, and require a 24-hour "cooling off period" before they can buy Viagra. "HB 4260 was written to highlight the glaring inequalities in how medical and reproductive health care legislation is handled for men and women," the Houston Democrat wrote. It "mimics how legislators, with no formal knowledge of medical norms or practices, attempt to govern women's health in the Texas Legislature." More here.
Ex-Felons Sue FL Gov. Rick Scott Over Voting Rights
The Fair Elections Legal Network, a national voting rights group based in DC, filed a class action lawsuit against FL Governor Rick Scott in federal court on Monday. The suit claims the method that the state uses to grant clemency to former felons is unconstitutional and wants voting rights restored to seven plaintiffs immediately. Scott’s office, meanwhile, defended the state’s clemency process. More here.
WaPo v NYT
First, it was Remy Ma v. Nikki Minaj. Now it’s WaPo v. NYT. Dean Baquet, the gray lady’s Executive Editor, poked fun at the Post's new slogan. "I think their slogan -- Marty Baron please forgive me for saying this -- sounds like the next Batman movie," Baquet said on Sunday at the South by Southwest conference. Earlier this year, the WaPo introduced a new slogan, "Democracy Dies in Darkness." More here.
Zuckerberg Flops Diversity Answer at HBCU
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of a 1% Black company, visited North Carolina A&T State University on Monday, where he fielded questions from students about technology, politics, media, and, of course, diversity. A student asked, “What do you intend to do about that and what advice would you give to us as minorities to strategically navigate the entrepreneurial world so that we can be included?” According to one blog, his answer was not well received. Click here for more.
CHSA CoS Event
On Monday, March 20th, Latina CHSA members will host a panel discussion with leading Latina CoS. Attendees will hear from Bianca Ortiz Wertheim, CoS for Senator Tom Udall (D-AZ); Angela Ramírez, CoS for Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Marsha Catron, CoS for Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA). CHSA members may RSVP here.
Tri-Caucus Staff Associations Hosts Panel on Succeeding as Women of Color on the Hill
The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA), and the Congressional Black Associates (CBA) will host a brown bag lunch to discuss best tips and practices for succeeding on Capitol Hill as a woman of color. CoS and LDs from both chambers offer their advice and success stories on navigating through the Hill. More details coming soon.
CHCI and HHF Form Partnership
In an effort to guarantee Latino youth access to educational opportunities and leadership programs, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced a partnership to ensure deserving students have the knowledge and resources to assist them in obtaining educational grants and support services. Click here to read how the collaboration will work.
People See Black Men as Larger, More Threatening Than Same-Sized White Men
People have a tendency to perceive Black men as larger and more threatening than similarly sized white men, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. “Unarmed Black men are disproportionately more likely to be shot and killed by police, and often these killings are accompanied by explanations that cite the physical size of the person shot,” said lead author John Paul Wilson, PhD, of Montclair State University. More here.
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Videos of the Day
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| MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and David Cay Johnston discuss how Johnston obtained the summary pages of Donald Trump's 2005 tax returns and what they say about the president's tax burden. Maddow also reads a response from the White House.
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| The WaPo breaks down the Congressional Budget Office's estimates for how the House Republican proposal to revise the Affordable Care Act might affect Americans.
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| Michelle Obama challenges the little chefs to create a healthy dish with ingredients that can be found in the WH kitchen garden, for an episode of Master Chef Junior. The full episode will air on Thursday.
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| Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) addresses comments made by Congressman Steve King (R-IA) on race in America.
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| Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and Mexican-born journalist Jorge Ramos engaged in a heated debate about immigration on Carlson’s namesake TV show last week.
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| Given the news on wire tapping vs wiretapping, we revisit TDS' Trevor Noah's take on the entire story.
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| CA Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León demands former GOP Congressman Tom Tancredo (D-CO) "control yourself" railing against immigrants.
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| Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) criticized rapper Snoop Dogg for shooting a clown dressed as Donald Trump in this video.
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Super mom to the rescue. In their first interview, Korea expert Robert Kelly and his wife, Kim Jung-A, describe the circumstances, chaos, and global reaction to their now-infamous home office Skype catastrophe; "she was in a hippity-hoppity mood."
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| Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) questions FEMA officials on flood insurance for communities in SC and LA.
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| Senator Robert Menéndez (D-NJ) questioned the same official during Tuesday morning’s hearing on the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.
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| It was a crowded exit for fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as he left his office for the last time on Monday.
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| These entrepreneurs brought 100 Black college students to SXSW. NBCBLK's Amber Payne sits down with Rodney Sampson, Derrick Morgan, and Howard University junior Alston Clark to hear about how to build and diversify the tech pipeline.
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Pics of the Day
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| DC Mayor Muriel Bowser was summoned to the Oval Office on Monday to brief Donald Trump on the mild snowfall that covered the district.
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| On Monday, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) was briefly handcuffed after refusing to leave a meeting of ICE officials in Chicago.
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| Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) sat down with Soledad O'Brien to discuss immigration issues.
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| Because of messed-up flights due to the storm, Congressmen Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) and Will Hurd (R-TX) rented a car Tuesday morning in San Antonio and drove back to DC in a bipartisan marathon 24-hour trip.
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| USHCC President Javier Palomarez delivering remarks at the legislative conference opening session.
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| Rev. Al Sharpton braving the NYC snow on Tuesday.
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| Tiffany Moore, VP of Congressional Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association, leading a SXSW panel discussing tech policy in the Trump administration. Other panelists include Koch Institute's Jesse Blumenthal, Nielsen's Karen Kornbluh, and Intel's Norberto Salinas.
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| Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) enjoying some sunshine at the opening of Sheldon Skate Park in LA on Sunday.
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Tonight, 5P: The Society of Women Engineers hosts a reception in 2034 Rayburn. RSVP to Roby Chatterji at rchatterji@wpllc.net.
Monday, March 20th, 9AM: A panel discussion on "The State of Skills Development in Latin America" hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue (1155 15th St NW Suite 800). RSVP here. Tuesday, March 21st, 6P: George Washington University Presents "Cornell Belcher A Black Man in the White House" with Cornell Belcher. RSVP here.
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.
Friday, March 25th, 7P: CHSA hosts Dominoes night at Los Hermanos, 1428 Park Rd., NW. RSVP here.
Wednesday, March 29th, 1PM: The Latina Maternal and Child Health Project will be hosting a Congressional Staff Briefing in Cannon Room 122. It will be held in cooperation with the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care. RSVP here.
March 31st, 6:30P: A Celebration of Women with Johnnetta B. Cole as she prepares to retire from the National Museum of African Art. DJ Sabine Blaizin, Afro-fusion band Eme and Heteru, and vocalist Loide Jorge turn up the volume for an evening of African music, dance, and art. Click here for more info.
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