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There's a lot to get to. Here's your weekend read...
First Latino Cabinet Nominee
Trump has officially nominated his first Latino cabinet nominee. Alexander Acosta is Trump’s choice for Secretary of Labor. He currently serves as the dean of the Florida International University College of Law, is of Cuban descent, and was raised in Miami. He is well known and respected on both sides of the aisle in DC circles. If confirmed, Acosta would be one of only three minority Cabinet members in the Trump Administration. More here.
HUD Employee Fired for Criticizing Trump
Shermichael Singleton, a top aide to Dr. Ben Carson, was fired and led out of the department’s headquarters by security on Wednesday after writings critical of Mr. Trump surfaced in his vetting. Singleton, one of the few Black conservatives in the Trump administration, had previously been critical of Trump in an article he penned for The Hill. Singleton plans to return to a previous job he held as a vice president with Howard Stirk Holdings, a media company run by Armstrong Williams. To read his piece in The Hill, click here.
CHC Iced Out of Cap Hill Meeting
Meanwhile, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) and Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) were asked to leave the room, while several other members of the CHC were not allowed into a meeting with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Tom Homan. More here.
Sixteen AAPI Presidential Advisory Commissioners Call it Quits
Sixteen members of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) submitted their resignations to Donald Trump. In the letter addressed to the president, the ten members (six had previously resigned in January) -- approximately two-thirds of the commission -- stated their objection to the president's "portrayal of immigrants, refugees, people of color and people of various faiths as untrustworthy, threatening, and a drain on our nation." More here.
A DREAMer’s Nightmare
During yesterday’s press conference, Trump claimed some DREAMers are "gang members" and "drug dealers," suggesting there's plenty of room to improve the screening process. "But," he was quick to add, "you have some absolutely incredible kids -- I would say mostly." More here.
The CBC Requested A Meeting
Trump also mentioned at yesterday's presser that he would love to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus. He even asked reporter April Ryan to set it up, saying, “are they friends of yours?” Turns out, the CBC sent a letter to the president on January 19th inviting him to meet with them, but he never responded. More here.
Cummings to Trump: Huh?
Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) responded to Trump’s claim that Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urged him to skip a meeting the two had planned. “I have no idea why President Trump would make up a story about me like he did today. Of course, Senator Schumer never told me to skip a meeting with the President.” See full statement here.
ICE Detains Alleged Domestic Violence Victim
Federal immigration agents went to the El Paso (TX) County Courthouse last week and arrested an undocumented woman who had just received a protective order as a victim of domestic violence. The agents detained the woman Feb. 9th after apparently receiving a tip, possibly from her alleged abuser, whom they already had in custody. More here.
Dreamer Arrested and Sues
Daniel Ramírez Medina, a 23-year-old who was detained by ICE agents in Seattle on Feb. 10th, says his constitutional rights have been violated, and he is suing the U.S. government for his release. His appears to be the first arrest by ICE of a DACA recipient since Trump took office. A federal judge in Seattle has scheduled a hearing today in the case. More here.
Melania Tours NMAAHC
On Wednesday, First Lady Melania Trump toured the National Museum of African American History and Culture. She was joined by Sara Netanyahu, whose husband, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was meeting with Trump at the White House. More here.
“Get Rid of the Blacks in the Building” ~Fred Trump
The FBI released a 389-page file of interviews and other material that was used by the Justice Department in its 1973 housing racial bias case in New York against Donald Trump and his father, Fred. One affidavit from a former Trump Management employee -- who said that he had been fired -- claimed that Fred Trump told him “it was absolutely against the law to discriminate” but later told him “he also wanted to get rid of the Blacks that were in the building.” More here.
A Day Without Immigrants
Celebrity chef José Andrés joined thousands of other business owners and immigrants and closed his businesses on Thursday to participate in “A Day Without Immigrants,” a boycott that called for immigrants and others to stay home from work and school in solidarity with those opposed to Trump's immigration policies and his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. More here.
Pence and Scott Hosts African American Listening Session
VP Mike Pence, along with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), hosted an African American economic opportunity listening session on Thursday with small business owners and community and finance industry leaders. The group discussion focused on ways to empower and revitalize distressed communities through economic development so that all Americans, including African Americans, can improve their quality of life.
EO Clap Back
Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and 14 other senators introduced legislation to rescind Trump’s executive order on "interior enforcement," which directs the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the deportation of a vast majority of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. The order also intends to cut off funding for communities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. See legislation here.
DNC Races Splits Hispanics
With nine days until the election to determine who will chair the DNC, prominent Latino Democrats are split. While former Labor Secretary Tom Pérez is a leading contender for the race, many liberal Latinos are backing his main rival, Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN). More here.
Protester Interrupts Pérez
On Wednesday night, as DNC Chair candidate Tom Pérez was answering a question at a forum sponsored by the Women's National Democratic Club in DC, an activist rose from the audience with a banner reading #Resist. She asked whether he would “commit to supporting primary challengers to fight against Democrats who refuse to resist Donald Trump’s agenda.” As the protester was led away, Pérez said that Democrats needed to “lock arms” on principles of “inclusion, opportunity and respect for everyone.” More here.
Castro-1, Cruz-0
On Wednesday, the Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek tweeted a quote of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) saying “As a Cuban, I’m quite familiar with standing up to the Castro brothers,” referring to Cuba’s President Raúl Castro and his late brother Fidel. In response, Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) tweeted, “The same way you've stood up (down) to Donald Trump?” If (when) Castro decides to challenge Cruz in the Senate, this race will surely be one to watch. More here.
C-SPAN Hits HBCUs
C-SPAN added 17 HBCUs to their annual bus tour, asking students, “What issue would you like Congress or the administration to address in the first 100 days?” The answers will be featured on C-SPAN’s social media channels under the hashtag #cspanvoices as well as in brief segments on the network that will appear in between C-SPAN programming. More here.
Sliding Down the Poll
The latest Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday shows Trump at a historic low compared with prior presidents in their first weeks in office, finding that just 39% approve of his job performance while 56% disapprove. This level of strong disapproval already surpasses disapproval for Barack Obama at any point during the eight years of his presidency. More here.
No Love for the Press
Congresswoman Mia Love (R-UT) was asked by a constituent to hold a town hall on the ACA. The constituent said, “I was told that we could do a meeting with four to five people at a time, in the office.” She was also informed that no recording devices or media would be allowed. More here.
First African American to Lead American Psychiatric Association
Dr. Altha Stewart has been named the president-elect of the 37,000-member American Psychiatric Association (APA). Stewart, a native of Memphis, will be the first African American to lead the 173-year-old organization, which sets policy, establishes practice guidelines, and represents the field of psychiatry nationally and internationally. More here.
Different March Madness for Trump
ESPN reached out to Trump’s staff and invited him to fill out a bracket on-camera, just as President Barack Obama had in the past several years. Trump passed. Perhaps he anticipates having enough March Madness without involving basketball. More here.
Pope Stands with Standing Rock
Pope Francis has appeared to back Native Americans fighting the proposed Dakota Access pipeline. He said indigenous cultures had a right to defend "their ancestral relationship to the earth." The Pope did not specifically name the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, who are opposing the pipeline in North Dakota. More here.
Army Lifts Ban on Dreadlocks
The United States Army revised regulations that permit hair locks, ending what critics said were years of scrutiny and confusing enforcement of rules about their appearance. The change surfaced last month in an Army directive that focused largely on grooming policy changes related to religious accommodations. Buried in the directive was text allowing female soldiers to wear “dreadlocks/locks,” which were previously banned. More here.
Study: Trump Fuels Growth of Hate Groups
The number of hate groups in the United States has risen for the second year in a row, no thanks to Donald Trump, says the Southern Poverty Law Center's annual report of hate groups. The SPLC study also found that the most dramatic increase has been among anti-Muslim hate groups, increasing from 34 in 2015 to 101 last year. More here.
NOW Strategies
A group of former Democratic National Committee and congressional staffers have launched NOW Strategies – a progressive communications and public relations firm based in DC. Principals José Aristimuño, former Deputy National Press Secretary for the DNC, and Antonio Armendáriz, who served as Press Secretary of Regional and Specialty Media for former House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, launched the bilingual communications firm in early January. More here.
Civil Rights Groups Pressure Senate to Reject Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee
On Wednesday, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and more than 100 other groups sent a letter to senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, calling on them to hold a “full and fair” hearing on Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination, and then reject his confirmation. More here.
Senate Shoots Down Obama-era Gun Rule
Senators voted 57-43 to strike down an Obama-era regulation that requires the Social Security Administration to report to the FBI's background check system those persons who receive disability benefits and have a mental health condition. The database is used to determine eligibility for buying a firearm. More here.
Impeach Trump PAC
Boyd Roberts, a California Democratic congressional candidate, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to create the Impeach Trump Leadership PAC while also filing paperwork to run against Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) in the 2018 midterm elections. More here.
New Release of The Souls of Black Folk
With a lens on the Black Lives Matter era, Restless Classics is releasing a new edition of W.E.B. Du Bois' 'The Souls of Black Folk.' With a striking new introduction written by Atlantic journalist Vann R. Newkirk II and riveting artwork from printmaker Steve Prince, the new edition is presented as a crucial work of sociology that applies to the current political, economic and social climate more than a century later. More here.
LGBTQ Politicians Are Winning Elections in Conservative Areas
One hundred and ninety-one openly LGBTQ candidates ran for office in 2016; the Victory Fund endorsed 135 of them, and 87 ultimately won their races. Running as an LGBTQ candidate no longer means campaigning with the presumption that voters will be unable to look past one's sexuality to see who they are as a citizen and community member. More here.
Obama CoS Heads to Markle Foundation
Denis McDonough, the last White House chief of staff in the Obama administration, has joined the Markle Foundation as a Senior Principal. The organization is putting a focus on boosting employment opportunities and expanding job training for Americans. More here.
Brazile Has Words for Mulvaney
DNC interim chair Donna Brazile did not mince words on the confirmation of Congressman John Mulvaney (R-SC) as Budget Director. “If Congressman Mulvaney hadn’t already disqualified himself for this job with more than $15,000 in unpaid taxes, his disdain for ordinary Americans and the men and women serving in our military certainly does…Donald Trump just got another alligator for his swamp, and this one is willing to gamble with our economy.”
Spotted
The 2018 cycle kickoff of the DSCC 2044 Council took place Wednesday night at Mott House. The DSCC 2044 Council focuses on three areas: more diversity in the Senate -- top to bottom in offices and on committees; more diversity in Senate campaigns and on DSCC staffing and contracting; and more diverse candidates running for the Senate. The council raised over 35k at the event and has pledges of 150k+. The event was hosted by Robert Raben, Paul Brathwaite, and Priya Dayananda. Spotted at the event: senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), John Rogers, Marcus Jadotte, Paul Brathwaite, Cristina Antelo, Martina Bradford, Darrel Thompson, Wendi Wallace, Estuardo Rodríguez, Daron Watts, Tiffani Williams, Eloy Martínez, Jill Normington, Dontai Smalls, Chris Kang, David Morgan, Arshi Siddiqui, Jamal Simmons, Steve Phillips, Olivia Igbokwe-Curry, Doug Thornell, Paul Thornell, Howard Woolley, Mike Lynch, Cietta Kiandoli, Andy Winer, Matt Klapper, and Mindy Myers, among others. The African American caterer provided the crowd with tasty treats, including some rich honey biscuits.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Wall Street Project
Last night in NYC, Rev. Jesse Jackson hosted his 20th Wall Street Project anniversary dinner. Awards were given to George Fraser of Frasernet, Susan Taylor of Mentoring Cares, and the widow of Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson. Spotted: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, John Rogers, Gilbert García and Ruby Dang from Garcia Hamilton, Alphonso David, Richard Edelman, and William Goodloe from SEO -- people who know that whomever controls our money, well, controls...
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Videos of the Day
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| NBC's Peter Alexander fact checks Trump on Electoral College results from previous elections.
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| Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) sits down with Bill Press of The Young Turks to discuss Trump. She claims he is unfit to hold the office, and his ties to Putin are worrisome.
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| More than 50 progressive organizations send a strong message of united resistance to the Trump administration.
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| Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) talks Black History with Roll Call.
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| The new, animated cover of Time Magazine.
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| Congressman Al Green (D-TX) discussed efforts to address high unemployment in the African American community with Fed Chair Janet Yellin on Wednesday.
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Pics of the Day
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After ICE Director Thomas Homan canceled a meeting with members of the CHC, the legislators were not admitted into a room where ICE officials were gathered on Thursday afternoon. | |
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Trump and VP Pence meet with Lilian Tintori, the wife of prominent Venezuelan dissident and political prisoner, Leopoldo López, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) at the White House on Wednesday. Trump later tweeted, “Venezuela should allow Leopoldo Lopez, a political prisoner & husband of @liliantintori (just met w/ @marcorubio) out of prison immediately.” | |
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 | Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) met with SCOTUS nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch on Wednesday. | |
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NMAAHC Director Lonnie Bunch gives the First Lady a tour of the museum, along with Sara Netanyahu. | |
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On Wednesday, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) met with Puerto Rico Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marín (in red tie), to discuss how Congress can help the island. | |
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Cartoonist Glenn McCoy drew a controversial editorial cartoon of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in the place of Ruby Bridges, the African American girl in the iconic Norman Rockwell painting "The Problem We All Live With," which was a statement about the violence surrounding the desegregation of public schools. | |
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VP Mike Pence, along with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), hosted an African American economic opportunity listening session on Thursday with small business owners, and community and finance industry leaders. | |
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Activist Deray McKesson with attorney Sally Yates at the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta on Tuesday. | |
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Former HRC campaigner and current Georgetown University fellow Marlon Marshall kicks off his discussion group series on Thursday on political organizing in the Trump era. | |
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Voto Latino's Jessica Reeves at the 2017 LULAC National Legislative Conference on Wednesday speaking about using technology for social change. | |
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Mickey Ibarra accepting the Presidential Commendation award presented by Abi Zapote, Vice President of LULAC Young Adults. | |
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Dominique Sharpton, Rev. Al Sharpton, Santita Jackson, and Rev. Jesse Jackson at the Wall Street Project Economic Summit's 20th anniversary minister's luncheon on Wednesday. | |
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Pedro Jaime Torres-Díaz, President of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), and The Raben Group’s Zuraya Tapia attending the LULAC conference this week. | |
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 | NUL's Don Cravins discusses his career as an attorney with Howard University Law School students. | |
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Saturday, Feb. 18th, 7P: The fourth-annual Black Love Experience, one of the largest gatherings of Black artists and creatives in the DC area. The event includes arts, music, and thought-provoking sessions. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd, S.E. Click here for ticket information
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.
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