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- Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) talking possible 2020 run.
- Congressional Black Caucus meets with FBI over “Black Identity Extremist” report.
- WH Initiative on AAPIs has a new Executive Director.
- Perez, Richmond, and Clyburn not saying whether Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) should resign. Breaking this morning -- he has been hospitalized.
- Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) offers tax bill amendment to expand child tax credit.
- Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) asks ex-staffer’s attorney to release the lawmaker from confidentiality rules so he can offer details of a settlement.
- Congressman Al Green (D-TX) is adamant about an impeachment vote before Christmas.
- LGBTQ Latina expected to announce Texas gubernatorial run.
- Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) settles World Series bet with colleague Ted Cruz (R-TX).
- DOJ shuts down questioning over affirmative action.
- Meet the new Managing Director of Fox News Digital.
- First Black spacewalking astronaut named CEO of STEM nonprofit.
- A Latina enters race to replace Gutiérrez.
- North Chicago doctor sets eyes on DC.
- Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) gets another GOP challenger.
- Higher Ed bill sets asides funding for minority-serving schools, but there’s a catch.
- House passes bill sponsored by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to eliminate “negro” and “oriental” from federal regs.
- Latino judge allows DNC to depose ex-WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer on whether he violated rules on election night.
- Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) lead effort to increase funding for Hep-B research.
- Vernon Jordan to return to alma mater as commencement speaker.
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Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro out on the town with his wife Erica. | |  | Former Michelle Obama staffer and MD gubernatorial candidate Krish Vignarajah celebrating her daughter Alana's first Thanksgiving. | |
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Conyers Hospitalized and Pérez, Clyburn, and Richmond Stay Mum on Next Steps
Just this morning, it's being reported that Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) has been hospitalized due to stress related ailments. Family spokesperson Sam Riddle confirmed Thursday morning that the 88-year-old is seeking treatment at a local hospital. He declined to detail exactly what Conyers is suffering from. “Monica Conyers, Mrs. Conyers, is by his side and we just ask, really the nation, to pray for this Congressman that has done so much for the nation,” Riddle said. The news comes as Dem colleagues have stayed mum on Conyers' future. DNC Chair Tom Pérez, during a radio interview on Wednesday, would not say if he thinks Conyers should resign over allegations of sexual harassment. On Wednesday, reporters cornered Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Assistant Minority Leader Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) on Capitol Hill and questioned the pair about Conyers, making the comparison to other public figures who have been recently accused of sexual misconduct and have promptly been fired or otherwise removed from their positions. Richmond replied that he would need to hear examples. Reporters offered the names of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and TV anchors Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer. Clyburn replied, "Who elected them?" Conyers' attorney Arnold Reed tells AP that the congressmen is innocent and has no plans to resign. " He’s going to fight these allegations tooth and nail if he has to with evidence, with documentation, witnesses, whatever he has to do and the accusers will have to prove up their case." More here.
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Gutiérrez Talking 2020 Run
As soon as Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) announced his retirement earlier this week, the rumor mill about his next steps started churning. While Gutiérrez said that he was not running for Mayor of Chicago or Governor of Puerto Rico or Illinois, he did not close the door to future political runs. Now, Gutiérrez is setting a schedule for the first six months of 2018 that would take him across the country, to test the waters for a 2020 presidential bid. "I will be reaching out to people across the country. I am going to take the steps to guarantee [Federal Election Commission] regulations and rules about campaign financing, first and foremost, make sure I'm following the law," Gutiérrez told Politico. "This is what I can tell you — anybody really wanted to listen to me — look, I'm not retiring, I'm not retiring ... I want to build something, I want to build something national." Read more here.
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CBC Meets with FBI Over Black Identity Extremist Report
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus met on Wednesday with FBI Director Chris Wray to discuss concerns over their "Black Identity Extremist" report. Records from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, which Al Jazeera released Tuesday, detail that the FBI is not only surveilling Black Lives Matter groups but also feared that "Black supremacist extremists" would target the 2016 presidential conventions. The documents were originally obtained through a lawsuit by the Center for Constitutional Rights and Color of Change. CBC Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA) said the meeting was a good first step, adding, "It’s a breath of fresh air to talk to this director compared to our relationship with the Justice Department. With that, he’s the Director, he’s not the agents, and we just have to always be very cautious and diligent about making sure that the people we represent all across the country, and all the citizens of the country, are treated fairly." He also said that labeling protesters as extremists is very alarming and a mischaracterization. "We don’t want anybody to view Black Lives Matter and other organizations that protest as an extremist group or a domestic terrorist group." More here.
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The Beat DC's Brenda Arredondo at the JAY-Z concert at DC's Capital One Arena in DC on Wednesday night. | |  | National Urban League President Marc Morial speaking out against the GOP tax plan. | |
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Grijalva Wants to Come Clean About 2015 Settlement
Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) has asked the attorney for a former staffer to release him from confidentiality rules so he can share the details of their workplace settlement. In 2015, Grijalva gave a female staffer a $48,395 "severance package" after she alleged the Congressman was often drunk and created a hostile work environment, and threatened to sue. Grijalva wants to be transparent about the settlement but said he "can’t unilaterally do it without exposing myself to getting sued on a personal level." He is still waiting for a response from the former staffer’s attorney. More here.
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House Passes Jeffries Legislation and Strikes “Negro” and “Oriental” From Federal Regs Lexicon
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) got a win on Tuesday when the House passed legislation to eliminate dated references to racial minorities, such as “Negro” and “Oriental,” that remain in parts of federal regulations. The bill targets the use of the terms in two specific regulations regarding Agriculture Department programs of financing loans for properties in rural areas and the 1974 development plan for Pennsylvania Avenue in DC. Any reference to the term “Negro” would be replaced with “Black or African American”; “Spanish surname” with “Hispanic”; “Oriental” with “Asian American or Pacific Islander”; and “Eskimo” and “Aleut” with “Alaska Native.” “Words definitely matter. They can cause great harm and division, particularly when they are embedded in federal statute,” Jeffries said during House floor debate. More here.
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Green Slams Trump and Says Impeachment Vote to Come Before Christmas
In a fiery speech on the House floor yesterday, Congressman Al Green (D-TX) slammed Donald Trump’s retweets of anti-Muslim videos, and once again vowed that he would force a vote on the impeachment of Trump. "When hate emanates from the highest office in the land; when hate emanates from a person who has more power than any other person in the world; when hate emanates from the presidency, the solution is impeachment," Green said. "Impeachment will be voted on before Christmas." Watch his speech here.
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Kamala Harris Didn’t "Wine" as She Made Good on Ted Cruz Bet
Senator Kamala Harris (D-TX) made good Tuesday on her promise to gift Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) with some of California’s finest food if the Houston Astros beat the LA Dodgers in the World Series. In October Harris tweeted, “Hey @TedCruz - when the @Dodgers bring that trophy home to the Golden State, lunch is on you, right? #WorldSeries2017." Cruz shot back, "Looking forward to enjoying some of CA's finest food courtesy of @SenKamalaHarris once the @Astros beat the @Dodgers in the #WorldSeries!" The Astros cost Harris a California care package when they beat the Dodgers in seven games on November 1st, capturing their first World Series in the franchise's 56-year history. The Senator showed up at Cruz’s office with bottles of red and white California wine and a box of See’s Candies. See video here.
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|  | Tamron Hall on Tuesday with Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer-songwriter and activist Angélique Kidjo. | |  | Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and colleagues at the White House speaking about the GOP tax plan. | |
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NYT Reporter Carries Gwen Ifill Legacy at PBS Newshour
NYT Reporter Yamiche Alcindor is joining PBS NewsHour as a White House Correspondent -- the show previously anchored by the late Gwen Ifill who Alcindor considered a mentor. In this new role Yamiche plans to not just to tell the story of Trump's presidency from DC, but also to travel and talk to working-class Americans about why they support this president and why they're frustrated with the policies he's passing. Yamiche joined the NYT in 2015 after getting her start as a reporter at Newsday and then as a National Multimedia Journalist for USA Today. While at the Times, she wrote about the legacy of President Barack Obama, outreach to voters of color, the anxiety of working-class Americans as well as how police killings affect communities and children. She also spends time producing videos and documentaries about societal concerns such as wrongful convictions and gun violence. The 2009 Georgetown University grad went on earn her Master’s from NYU in 2015. Congrats, Yamiche! More here.
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Yang Named PBS National Correspondent
PBS NewsHour correspondent John Yang has been named the broadcast’s new National Correspondent. The Wesleyan University graduate has covered the Trump Administration as well as Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. He previously worked for NBC as a Correspondent and Commentator, covering issues for all NBC News programming, including NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, and MSNBC. He has also worked for ABC News as a Correspondent. He got his start as a Reporter for the Boston Globe. He worked as a correspondent for TIME from 1981 to 1986, and he also served as a reporter for the WSJ in the late 1980s before becoming a Reporter and Editor at the WaPo. As a reporter he covered domestic politics, including Congress and the White House; as an editor, he directed coverage of economic policy in the paper's business section and also directed political features in the Style section. He’s one of a few openly gay newsmen on TV. More about him here.
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Fox News Names Managing Director of Digital
Fox News has named Joanne Po its Managing Director of Fox News Digital. Po joined Fox News in May from sister company WSJ, where she was digital executive producer. The Boston College grad got her start as a Producer at CNBC before heading to Fox in 2007. Fox News Channel is beefing up its digital editorial team and combining the digital video group with the rest of the digital editorial team. More here.
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|  | Paris Dennard and Leah LeVelle at the Trump Hotel in DC ready to celebrate the holidays. | |  |
Janet Murguía from UnidosUS with Latino community activists and sisters BB and María Otero. | |
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LGBTQ Latina Expected to Announce Texas Gubernatorial Run
Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez is considering a run for Governor of Texas. First elected in 2004, 70-year-old Valdez is serving her fourth term as Sheriff of Dallas County, the second-most populous county in the state and a Democratic stronghold. Valdez was born to migrant farmworkers and raised in San Antonio, attained the rank of Captain in the Army and worked stints as a jailer and federal prison guard. She subsequently served as an investigator in federal agencies, including the U.S. Customs Service, where she led an anti-smuggling campaign, and as a Senior Agent in the Department of Homeland Security, from which she retired in 2004 to run for Sheriff. She is the first openly gay female Sheriff in the state, and the only Hispanic female Sheriff in the country. Rumors are circulating that Valdez is expected to resign to announce her candidacy very soon. Dems in the Longhorn State have been eagerly looking for a serious gubernatorial contender to challenge Republican incumbent Governor Greg Abbott ahead of the December 11th deadline for candidates to file for the 2018 primaries. Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) had also been a name Dems tried to recruit. However, for now, Castro appears to be content in Congress. More here.
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Meet the Only Woman in the Race to Replace Gutiérrez
Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) may have given his blessing to Chicago Alderman Jesús "Chuy" García. But Sol Flores ignored that memo. The Latina community activist and founding Executive Director of La Casa Norte is entering the race, and Politico reports that she is already in talks with EMILY’s List about possible support. Flores is the only woman running in a pack of five men (so far), and since 2002 has done work through La Casa Norte -- a community organization assisting homeless families and young people -- in addition to serving on the boards of various social service agencies. Her family came to Chicago in the 1950s from Puerto Rico. Flores was born and raised in Chicago. More about her here.
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North Chicago Doctor Sets Eyes on Washington
Dr. Sapan Shah is seeking the Republican nomination in Illinois’ 10th district, which includes North Chicago and is currently represented by Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL). Shah, the son of Indian immigrants, is the President and Founding Partner of a malpractice insurance brokerage in Chicago and has also invested in 25 start-ups over the past three years. He received both his MD and JD from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. He is also active in his neighborhood Hindu Temple. Shah will face Douglas R. Bennett and Jeremy Wynes in the March 20, 2018 primary. More about Shah here.
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Krishnamoorthi Gets Second Indian American Challenger
TV Asia’s Midwest Bureau Chief Vandana Jhingan has declared her candidacy, aiming to unseat incumbent Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). She launched her petition drive to garner the 750-1,000 signatures required to be submitted to make her candidacy official, and said her work as a community activist and businesswoman qualified her to take on the rough and tumble of the race. Backed by the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC), she will face businessman Jitendra Diganvker for the Republican Party’s ticket in the March 20, 2018 primary. Whites make up 70% of the district’s population and only 12% are Asian American. Krishnamoorthi is the first non-white person to be elected from the community. More here.
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|  | Can you guess who that is? We put a little "wrinkle in time" to throw it all the way back to Ava DuVernay's high school days. We see those bangs, Ava! | |  |
The future AG Eric Holder rocking a strong afro in a 1973 Columbia University yearbook pic. We see those sideburns, Mr. Holder! | |
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WH Initiative on AAPIs has a New Executive Director
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has named Holly Ham its new Executive Director. Her immediate priorities are to fill the President's Advisory Commission (#TBT to January and February of this year, when 16 members of the 20-member commission resigned) and to tour the country to meet with community leaders. Ham, who was appointed in April as Assistant Secretary of Education for Management after serving as a Special Assistant to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, was a Program Advisor for Data Operations for the Trump campaign. Before that, she was a sales executive at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The University of Houston grad is also a Fellow at the Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute through the Center for Asian Pacific American Women. "I am excited to step into this role at a time when Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are now the fastest growing racial group in the country," Ham said in a statement. "This is a wonderful opportunity to connect this diverse community to federal programs and resources, and I look forward to meeting with community members across the country." More here.
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First Black Space Walker Named CEO of NMSI
Veteran astronaut and STEM education advocate Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr. has been named the new CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative, a nonprofit focused on increasing students' access and achievement in rigorous math, science, and English courses through programs rooted in local partnerships. On February 9, 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform a spacewalk during the second of his two Space Shuttle flights. He is a founding member of the NMSI board, where he has served for 10 years. The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity member is a 1978 graduate of the University of Houston and earned his MD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in 1982. Harris is also the founder of The Harris Institute, a non-profit organization that supports math and science education programs for America's youth. More here.
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NYU Professor Mohamad Bazzi, CNN's Jim Acosta, AP's Darlene Superville, and Guardian US' Sabrina Siddiqui in conversation at NYU about being a minority journalist in the age of Donald Trump. | |  | Rockefeller Foundation President Raj Shah in Puerto Rico visiting World Central Kitchen preparing meals for island residents. | |
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DOJ Shuts Down Questions on Affirmative Action
During a press briefing yesterday about the opioids initiatives being launched by the DOJ, CBS News’ Paula Reid attempted to ask AG Jeff Sessions about the Civil Rights Division's investigations into claims of racial discrimination, particularly DOJ’s pending decision on whether or not to file a lawsuit against Harvard University for discriminating against Asian American students. Reid asked Sessions why this is a priority for DOJ -- at a time when it is halting most other discrimination investigations. Reid was cut off and chastised for asking a question off-topic. She was quick to point out that Sessions had taken questions about accused pedophile Roy Moore and the Alabama Senate race and on sanctuary cities. Sessions’ spokesperson told him to disregard the question and move on -- which he did. Watch the exchange here.
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Higher Ed Bill Adds Catches for Minority-Serving Institutions
The federal government sets aside roughly $600 million in grants for colleges that serve large populations of minority students, but the proposed reauthorization of the Higher Education Act includes a few new catches from House Republicans. The WSJ reports that for any of the 1,700 eligible schools to get funds under Title III and Title V -- which cover a range of Minority-serving, HBCUs, and Hispanic-serving institutions -- they must graduate or transfer at least 25% of their students. It’s the first time that Congress is tying the grant money to a completion benchmark, and lawmakers could increase that threshold down the line. The bill will also require grantees to prove they are making progress on their projects to get continued funding, and urges schools to use the money for programs that improve academic quality and the institutions’ own long-term sustainability. The bill allocates $183 million annually to designated Minority-serving Institutions in Fiscal Year 2019 through Fiscal Year 2024, and just over $308.3 million to HBCUs. It gives another $108 million specifically for Hispanic-serving Institutions for program development. More here.
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Facebook Tells CBC They Temporarily Blocked Advertisers From Excluding Audiences by Race
Facebook said it would temporarily stop advertisers from being able to exclude viewers by race while it studies the use of its ad targeting system. The social media network had agreed to kill the feature but ProPublica disclosed last week that Facebook was still allowing advertisers to buy housing ads that excluded audiences by race, despite its promises earlier this year to reject such ads -- potentially in violation of the Fair Housing Act. In a letter to Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg wrote, “We know that African Americans have been the victims of divisive and abusive content online and we appreciate the leadership the CBC has shown in speaking out in defense of democratic values and in favor of more diversity in technology.” Sandberg also said the company will examine how advertisers are using its exclusion tool, focusing particularly on potentially sensitive segments such as ads that exclude LGBTQ communities or people with disabilities. More here.
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|  | HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson meeting with VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin and VA staff to talk about homelessness among veterans. | |  |
Newly inaugurated Birmingham, AL Mayor Randall Woodfin with Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL). | |
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Rubio Works to Expand Child Tax Credit on Tax Bill
The current version of the Senate tax bill increases the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000, but Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) hopes to expand it even more. He teamed up with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) to make that tax credit refundable up to the payroll tax liability of 15.3 percent of earnings, allowing more low-income families to be able to take advantage of it. They offered their amendment on Wednesday evening when the Senate began debating the bill. More here.
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Hirono and Meng Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Increase Funding for Hepatitis B Research at NIH
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), along with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), led a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging the head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a sustained research effort to find a cure for the Hepatitis B virus. The letter was also signed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA). “Lack of public awareness is a major obstacle to curing hepatitis B. The millions of Americans living with hepatitis B can’t wait any longer for advancements in treatment,” said Hirono. “Hepatitis B is also of particular concern to minority communities who are disproportionately impacted by the virus. Despite these alarming statistics, NIH research funding for hepatitis B has declined by 12.5 percent since 2012,” added Meng. Learn more here.
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Activist Tamika D. Mallory in a photoshoot styled by Sinceré Armani. | |  |
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) with some young fans on Sunday during a visit to the Centro Cristiano Calvario -- a new church on his block. | |
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Vernon Jordan Returns to DePauw
A blast from the past on this #ThrowbackThursday. Vernon Jordan Jr. -- long time Bill Clinton friend and former President of the National Urban League -- will return to his alma mater to deliver the commencement address to DePauw's Class of 2018. The university's 179th commencement will take place on Sunday, May 20th. Vernon graduated from the institution in 1957. This will be Jordan’s third commencement speech at DePauw. He previously addressed graduates in 1973 and 1993. He is the first person in DePauw’s 180-year history to be called upon three times as commencement speaker who was not a bishop of the Methodist Church. DePauw University was founded in 1837 by the Methodist Church. More here.
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Latino Judge Allows DNC to Depose Sean Spicer
Hopefully, everyone who worked for the president doesn’t share his views on Latino judges. On Wednesday, Judge Michael Vázquez said that he’ll allow the DNC to depose former WH Spokesperson Sean Spicer -- the RNC Communications Director before he went to the White House -- on whether he violated a 35-year-old consent decree barring the RNC from engaging in ballot security or voter suppression efforts. Politico reports that the consent decree is set to expire on Friday, but its future is uncertain as the judge said he’s not yet ready to rule. Vázquez said the deposition should not last more than four hours and gave permission for a “targeted” search of Spicer’s emails from the day relating to his presence on the fifth floor of Trump Tower on election night -- the campaign’s poll-monitoring operation and data war room that day. Spicer was with the RNC at the time and RNC staffers were barred from that floor. However, Vázquez warned Democrats not to get their hopes up, saying he’s unlikely to grant them further depositions. More here.
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| FOMO
Today, 12P: The Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, an interfaith coalition comprised of 37 organizations, hosts a congressional briefing on the need to pass a Faithful Budget. CV 201-00 (Capitol Visitor Center). Click here to RSVP.
Today, 6:30P: A reception in support of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). 3205 R Street, N.W. Click here to RSVP.
Sunday, December 3rd, 5P: Comunicad is hosting Hope for the Holidays, a Christmas fundraiser to buy gifts and toys for the children in Puerto Rico. Taberna del Alabardero Restaurant, 1776 I Street, N.W., Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, December 6th, 6P: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute holiday reception in honor of retiring Hispanic members of Congress. Library of Congress, Madison Hall, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, December 6th, 6P: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee 2044 Leadership Council holiday party. To RSVP contact: Gisele Aceves at gaceves@dscc.org or 202.545.3565
Thursday, December 7th, 6P: The Ladies of Twelve Days of Christmas, Inc. Metro DC Chapter’s 15th Annual Holiday Party. SAX Lounge 734 11th Street, N.W. Click here to RSVP.
Monday, December 11th, 6P: A reception with former Attorney General Eric Holder in support of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Click here to RSVP. Location provided upon RSVP.
Monday, December 11th, 6P: The Hispanic Lobbyists Association hosts its annual holiday party. UPS Townhouse 421 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, December 13th, 2P: The Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls is hosting a roundtable discussion, Leading From The Black: How Black Women Lead Even When Ignored. 2168 Rayburn HOB. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Wednesday, December 13th, 5P: Join Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) for her Ho Ho Harley Holiday Reception and fundraiser. 413 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. To RSVP, contact Caroline Stonecipher or Randy Broz at: 202.403.0606 or Caroline@ABCConsultingDC.com.
Thursday, December 14th, 6P: Solidarity Strategies hosts a Holiday Fiesta. Invite only.
Saturday, December 16th, 8P: The National Black MBA DC Chapter Annual Holiday Party. Hard Rock Cafe, 999 E Street, N.W. Click here to purchase tickets.
April 19, 2018: The University of North Dakota sponsors a conference on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Standing Rock protests. Click here for more information.
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