Subject: POLITICO Playbook, presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co.: OBAMA DROPS MIKE: ‘The last time I was this high, I was trying to decide on my major’ – LARRY WILMORE: ‘tough race between Senator Bernie Sanders and Democrat Nominee Hillary Clinton’ – PARTY PATROL
From: Mike Allen <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 09:51:38 -0600

05/01/2016 11:48 AM EDT

By Mike Allen (@mikeallen; [email-masked]) and Daniel Lippman (@dlippman; [email-masked])

BULLETIN -- East Wing statement at 10:59 a.m.: "The President and Mrs. Obama announced today that their daughter Malia will attend Harvard University in the fall of 2017 as a member of the Class of 2021. Malia will take a gap year before beginning school."

INSIDE THE CAMPAIGNS - "Inside Cruz's camp, confidence crumbles: The candidate is projecting strength, but a string of discouraging signs has his advisers worried," by Alex Isenstadt in Burlingame, Calif.: "[S]everal aides ... expressed growing alarm that Cruz would lose Indiana's primary on Tuesday ... One senior aide said there had been no discussion about dropping out before the final primary contests are held on June 7 but noted that Cruz wouldn't be eager to prolong a campaign he was convinced he couldn't win. ... 

"'A Cruz loss in Indiana means lights out,' said Scott Reed, the chief political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 'Game, set, match.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1de5b65934fb26df0d3c6d53bcbe2b9d11826bfaf2cabc4c73 

OVERHEARD: Paul Manafort, to a guest at last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner, re Ted Cruz: "He's desperate." ... When the crowd was asked to get quiet for Michelle Obama, Jay Carney repeatedly clinked his glass to try to help silence the press but without much success: "They used to listen to me."

SUNDAY BEST ... Hillary Clinton to Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union" (taped Friday at the 21 Club in Manhattan), re Trump: "I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave and how they speak. I'm not gonna deal with their temper tantrums or their bullying or their efforts to try to provoke me. He can say whatever he wants to say about me. I could really care less. I'm gonna stand up for what I think the American people need and want in the next president." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d17216214b50e2cadc26ac6edec3fb8d8bc0515b7f94315b0 

HOT VIDEO, co-produced by Vanity Fair and Funny or Die: "Valerie Jarrett Meets Her New Comedy Adviser, Matt Walsh" of "Veep." Filmed in West Wing. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d549bcfe869e788daf67a0fb2bfc79a5370f17430ab564758 

46 PICS from the afterparty hosted by Michael Bloomberg and Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter at the French Ambassador's residence: grinning Joe Biden (#1), Damian Lewis (#4), John Kerry with Sally Quinn and Leon Wieseltier (#6), Valerie Jarrett (#10), Chris Matthews (#26), Michael Bloomberg (#28), Uber CEO Travis Kalanick (#33), Arianna Huffington with Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar (#35), Tory Burch (#37), Norah O'Donnell and Larry Wilmore (#39), Megyn Kelly (#41), Tom Hiddelston and Helen Mirren (#42), Gayle King and daughter Kirby Bumpus (#44), Tony Romo and wife Candice Crawford (#45), front lawn of French Ambassador's Residence (#46). 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1da6054bbb598b9441b5197b07b6b1c38bdc3ee44a6eac09d8

HAPPY SUNDAY, and welcome to May! PRESIDENT OBAMA took the podium of last night's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner to Anna Kendrick singing, "You're gonna miss me when I'm gone." As the music faded, he began: "You can't say it, but you know it's true. (Laughter.) ... It is an honor to be here at my last -- and perhaps THE last -- White House Correspondents' Dinner. You all look great. The end of the Republic has never looked better. (Laughter and applause.) I do apologize -- I know I was a little late tonight. I was running on C.P.T. -- (laughter) -- which stands for 'jokes that white people should not make.' (Laughter and applause.) ... 

"My eighth and final appearance at this unique event. And I am excited. If this material works well, I'm going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year. (Laughter and applause.) Earn me some serious Tubmans. That's right. (Laughter and applause.) My brilliant and beautiful wife, Michelle, is here tonight. (Applause.) She looks so happy to be here. (Laughter.) That's called practice - it's like learning to do three-minute planks. (Laughter.) She makes it look easy now. (Laughter.) Next year at this time, someone else will be standing here in this very spot, and it's anyone's guess who she will be. ... 

"Eight years ago, I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific. (Laughter.) Eight years ago, I was a young man, full of idealism and vigor, and look at me now. (Laughter.) I am gray and grizzled, just counting down the days till my death panel. (Laughter and applause.) ... And yet, somehow, despite all this, despite the churn, in my final year, my approval ratings keep going up. (Laughter.) The last time I was this high, I was trying to decide on my major. (Laughter and applause.)

"And here's the thing: I haven't really done anything differently. So it's odd. Even my aides can't explain the rising poll numbers ... [SLIDE with side-by-side pics of snarling Trump and Cruz] (Laughter and applause.) Puzzling. ... 

"GOP Chairman Reince Priebus is here as well. (Applause.) Glad to see you that you feel that you've earned a night off. (Laughter.) Congratulations on all your success. The Republican Party, the nomination process -- it's all going great. Keep it up. (Laughter and applause.) ... 

"Bernie's slogan has helped his campaign catch fire among young people: 'Feel the Bern.' ... Hillary's slogan has not had the same effect. Let's see this. (SLIDE: "Trudge Up the Hill.") (Laughter.) Look, I've said how much I admire Hillary's toughness, her smarts, her policy chops, her experience. You've got to admit it, though: Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative just signed up for Facebook. (Laughter.) 'Dear America, did you get my poke?' (Laughter.) 'Is it appearing on your wall?' (Laughter.) 'I'm not sure I am using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary.' (Laughter and applause.) It's not entirely persuasive. ... 

"I am a little hurt that [Trump's] not here tonight. We had so much fun the last time. (Laughter.) And it IS surprising: You've got a room full of reporters, celebrities, cameras, and he says no? (Laughter.) Is this dinner too tacky for The Donald? (Laughter.) What could he possibly be doing instead? Is he at home, eating a Trump Steak -- (laughter) -- tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? (Laughter.) What's he doing? (Laughter.) 

"The Republican establishment is incredulous that he is their most likely nominee ... They say Donald lacks the foreign policy experience to be president. But, in fairness, he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan. ... 

"And with that, I just have two more words to say: 'Obama out.' [Drops mike.] (Laughter and applause.) Thank you. (Applause.)" Full video http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d62005e87dea83723d104a7186242272859af0832a4c4a988

HuffPost banner, "OBAMA OUT" ... DRUDGE banner, "COMEDIAN EATS THE PRESS -- OUTRAGE AT WHITE HOUSE DINNER!" with a TV screenshot of Don Lemon giving the finger back to Larry Wilmore after he called him an "alleged journalist".

--@donlemon: All in good fun. I love @larrywilmore. #WHCD" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d6b4c957ec47bcd0c2cf31631bf95cbb360c5373446445363 

** A message from JPMorgan Chase & Co.: It's no secret that thriving small businesses invigorate communities. The recipe for small business success is access to capital, technical skills and networks. Learn how we're working to give them the connections they need. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d59711eff30fa356aba18b7f6b1cc207c1b1656b8c7f8bcae **

SPOTTED at the pre-parties at the Washington Hilton: ABC's Jonathan Karl introducing Josh Earnest to Eric Trump, a Trump son, in a hallway. Jon also introduced Eric to John Podesta, Jennifer Palmieri and Huma Abedin. Huma complimented Eric for doing a good job speaking on behalf of his father which, she said, cannot be easy. Eric: "It's easy speaking on behalf of somebody you love." Huma: "I agree entirely."

PICS: @KateBennett_DC: "@BernieSanders at #WHCD, as promised, no tux." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d76094f1518e43689f3a4ab6c9acc9e645b98df0a015cc374 ... @seanmspicer: "Team @gop at #whcd" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d6223ce301fca81383385d0742dbedb831bbff6faefb86dae ... The giant ballroom http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d9008a5fd0720aedff8d55e0272ebe490a25e68d7eda7b9e8 ... DJ Ben Chang spinning at the Thomson Reuters pre-party http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1ddec918636ddf37c5f99644e50995faca5545951916c2ddc6

LARRY WILMORE, host of Comedy Central's "The Nightly Show," followed Obama, finishing off the night: "Nice to be here ... at the White House Correspondents' Dinner - or, as ... they're gonna call it next year: 'Donald Trump Presents a Luxurious Evening Paid for by Mexico.' I'm VERY scared of that. ... Seriously, you gotta give Mitch McConnell credit: At this point, he could block LeBron James. ... And I have to admit: It's not easy to follow the president, man. You got some JOKES, Mr. President. President's funny. Stay in your lane, man. You don't see me goin' around, presidentin' all the time, right? I don't go around passin' health care and signin' executive orders, pardoning turkeys, NOT
 closing Guantanamo. ... 

"But I have to say it's great: It looks like you're really enjoying your last year of your presidency. I saw you hanging out with NBA players like Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors. That was cool. That was cool, yeah. You know, it kinda makes sense, too, because both of you like RAINING DOWN BOMBS on people from long distances, right? [President makes 'Oooo' face.] What? Am I wrong? ... You guys are TOUGH, man. [Laughing.] 

"Senator Bernie Sanders is here tonight! Senator? Which I'm surprised: You never come to these things. He usually goes to the White House Correspondents' EARLY BIRD Dinner. ... But, man, you have to admit it IS a really tough race between Senator Bernie Sanders and Democrat Nominee Hillary Clinton. ... But I have to say, when it's all said and done, Mr. President after eight years in the White House, we are REALLY going to miss Michelle. We really are. Thank you for being a good sport, Mr. President.

"But all jokes aside, let me just say how much it means for me to be here tonight. ... When I was kid, I lived in a country where people couldn't accept a black QUARTERBACK. ... And NOW, to live in YOUR time, Mr. President, when a black man can lead the entire free world." Full video http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d6b37cc7962b75c6b0e6d367fee228d6fb80d03e158d295ca ... Transcript http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d031475e0d6cd48f4d5d40e982c93d7d66e73f79de70ce272

DAILY DONALD - N.Y. Times p. A1, top of col. 1, "Run on Ticket Beside Trump? Big Names Flee: In a Rarity, Politicians Are Seeking a Snub," by Patrick Healy and Ashley Parker: "'Never,' said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for Gov. John Kasich of Ohio ... 'No chance.' 'Hahahahahahahahaha,' wrote Sally Bradshaw, a senior adviser to Jeb Bush, when asked if he would consider it. 'Scott Walker has a visceral negative reaction to Trump's character,' said Ed Goeas, a longtime adviser ... Or, as Senator Lindsey Graham put it, 'That's like buying a ticket on the Titanic.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dafba7d83256c255f79c45699734e35c0202b48e88619590e

TRUMP'S MESSAGE: I WIN -- L.A. Times 2-col. lead, "Presidential hopefuls woo state GOP: Trump, Kasich and Cruz make their cases in terms of unity, electability and fish," by Cathleen Decker in Burlingame, Calif. (near SFO): "As if he were the political reincarnation of the late Oakland Raiders owner Al 'Just Win, Baby' Davis, Trump insisted that the point was a November victory - and that his campaign has proved he's a winner. His speech at the three-day state GOP convention had almost nothing to do with California. ... 

"The convention seemed to lean toward Trump's inevitability; no giant groundswell rose on behalf of Cruz, despite his red-meat speech that touched on the environment, immigration and the 2nd Amendment, or for Kasich's more laid-back approach." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d4797a122d1ce8c3b85083f3e0c60cdbd5de9d325ad119dce

OUT AND ABOUT: Dozens of Politico reporters and editors, including publisher and editor-in-chief John Harris, descended on The Sovereign in Georgetown Friday night to bid au revoir to Nirvi Shah, who's departing for Politico Europe's HQ in Brussels. The group enjoyed a wide array of Belgian beers and classic Belgian style frites with mayonnaise. 

HEADLINE HISTORY -- FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY - N.Y. Times front page May 2, "Bin Laden Killed by U.S. Forces in Pakistan, Obama Says, Declaring Justice Has Been Served -- An Emblem of Evil in the U.S., an Icon to the Cause of Terror - President's Vows Fulfilled -- Amid Cheers, a Message: 'They Will Be Caught'" - See the page. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dcb8858bb25c9dfcf5852c385d76f27670b8f16f05e462b0b ... WashPost, "'Justice Has Been Done.'" See the page. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d52c78f080a0f9e9671e28c7d82e9417fab18b81bb75cd2b6 

MAYOR OF THE WORLD - Mike Bloomberg's commencement address to the University of Michigan's class of 2016, adapted into a Bloomberg View op-ed, "Here's Your Degree. Now Go Defeat Demagogues": "The most useful knowledge that you leave here with today [is] how to study, cooperate, listen carefully, think critically and resolve conflicts through reason. Those are the most important skills in the working world, and it's why colleges have always exposed students to challenging and uncomfortable ideas. The fact that some university boards and administrations now bow to pressure and shield students from these ideas through 'safe spaces,' 'code words' and 'trigger warnings' is, in my view, a
 terrible mistake. 

"The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations -- not run away from them. A microaggression is exactly that: micro. And one of the most dangerous places on a college campus is a safe space, because it creates the false impression that we can insulate ourselves from those who hold different views. We can't do this, and we shouldn't try -- not in politics or in the workplace. In the global economy, and in a democratic society, an open mind is the most valuable asset you can possess." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d5ec814adac2cfed6ed3ab644571c989e5987a9a9b301aae6 ... Video -- Bloomberg starts at 53 mins http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dd6b6352bb52b21aa7a9ba71f6ad2d989e583a83ae96864e0 

REMEMBERING JULIE SODERLAND - Sacramento Bee's Dan Smith and Alexei Koseff: "Soderlund, a communications specialist who worked for former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carly Fiorina and other Republican causes in a career spent largely in Sacramento, died Thursday evening after a nine-month battle with melanoma. She was 38. Soderlund was known at the Capitol as a cheerful, skilled and respected communicator, working in Schwarzenegger's press office and helping with his political pursuits outside the government. ... In 2011, Soderlund took a job as a vice president with Philip Morris International, for which she worked extensively in Europe and Asia." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d59877d16aca2142bcb847eaa70e6873a7a38e0c6e911cf5c 

BONUS GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman:

--"The Post-Imperial Moment," by Robert D. Kaplan in The National Interest: "Vulgar, populist anarchy will define the twenty-first century." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dde5c34d852f130b3ff344c434d4af09948be1cfe283013a4 

--"Madness," by Eyal Press in The New Yorker: "In Florida prisons, mentally ill inmates have been tortured, driven to suicide, and killed by guards." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d5caa3e50ad793a1ff3f450ffc3653920860da3dab66b4cfe (h/t Longreads.com)

--"Nestl&eacute;'s Half-Billion-Dollar Noodle Debacle in India," by Erika Fry in Fortune:

"Nestl&eacute; spent three decades building a beloved noodle brand in India. Then the world's biggest food and beverage company stumbled into a public relations debacle that cost it half a billion dollars. A cautionary tale of mangled crisis management on an epic scale." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1da0e73a85eaf30bdcf3550ff9bda51268c681f3caf30eab6f 

--"What Happened to Worcester?" by Adam Davidson in today's N.Y. Times Magazine: "A central Massachusetts city enabled the author's ancestors to move into the good life of the middle class. That move is more complicated now." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d46488ac052db53363186e78e530e1870965c1589c43469ee 

--"How the CIA Writes History," by Jefferson Morley in The Intercept: "By the early 1960s, [James Jesus] Angleton ... is one of America's archetypal spies. He was the model for Harlot in Harlot's Ghost, Norman Mailer's epic of the CIA, a brooding Cold War spirit hovering over a story of corrupted idealism. ... In real life, Jim Angleton was a formidable intellectual and canny bureaucrat who helped shape the ethos of the Central Intelligence Agency we have today." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dae15299ac417a0d6aa853823b2135d7c31a75b63db6491a8 

-- "We witnessed the birth of Trump University," by Joe Mullin and Jonathan Kaminsky in Ars Technica: "Meet the infomercial experts who inspired Donald Trump to enter the get-rich seminar business." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dd3425e85ec08ecaa49d477cacea0823fe7e5bcf187416ca3 

FROM THE FRONT ... "Nerdy fight breaks out at WHCD afterparty between Fox News and Huffington Post reporters," by WashPost's Emily Heil: At the MSNBC afterparty in "the early-morning hours of Sunday, a scuffle broke out between Fox News correspondent Jesse Watters and Ryan Grim, the Huffington Post's Washington bureau chief. ... Grim and Watters were ... in a heated tent just outside the main party area. ... Grim realized who Watters was and recalled a beef he had with the 'O'Reilly Factor' correspondent that dated back to 2009, when Watters, known as an 'ambush journalist,' had engineered an on-camera confrontation of writer Amanda Terkel, now a HuffPo colleague of Grim. ... 

"Grim decided to give Watters a taste of his own medicine, whipping out his camera phone and filming him. Watters didn't take well to this, eventually snatching the phone away from Grim and putting it in his pocket. Grim set out to retrieve it, and a scuffle ensued. ... 

"[T]he two flailed around a bit, upending a table and bumping into several people. 'Punches were definitely thrown,' said one witness. Before any damage was done, several bystanders, including RNC [chief strategist and comms director] Sean Spicer [and Politico's Ken Vogel], separated the two. ... Grim was unrepentant. 'Ambush guy can't take getting ambushed,' he said. 'Maybe he should think about his life choices.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d479395ebdeb0f94422d6913cbb70b6677e72a4e7b3fccb8b

--@ryangrim: "there's probably video. Ambush guy snatched my phone, didn't like being filmed, he tried to keep it. That didn't happen. ... I approached him filming, asking him about his confrontation of @aterkel on vacation years ago. He snatched my phone." 

PIC: @daveweigel: "Brawl between @ryangrim and @jessebwatters at MSNBC party." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1de1aa81621da6138176a290fe55562be65001319a9ec2ec37

CLICKERS - "Behind the scenes on the White House Correspondents' Dinner red carpet," by M. Scott Mahaskey - 26 pix http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d1e2cf8948f12075e613ef667b54c9605fc4471be670aa39c 

--"An inside look at the White House Correspondents' Dinner" -- 50 pix http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d8a0f148669e7233c22b86d24446d1d2cc9a39ef2ede8f10b 

--"Obama's top 10 jokes at the correspondents' dinner," by Kristen East http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d34d07edaeaaff9ae2f60036b8ccf45e89191369115b8f694 

--"Kendall Jenner Met President Obama at WHCD: 'He Was Like, Say Hi to Kim and Kanye'" - People http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dd782f656455aaabc5929d922714a09d293cd7ab04a1ddafa 

#WHCD PARTY CIRCUIT: The highlight for Bloomberg and Vanity Fair guests who stayed to the end of the party came at around 2:45 a.m., when Mother Jones' David Corn played the piano, while remaining partiers gathered around and sang songs like "Purple Rain" and "Let It Be." Darren Criss from Glee, The Daily Beast's John Avlon, who used to sing in bands, Jamie Kirchick, and Bloomberg's Sahil Kapur sang along next to piano accompaniment from David; Darren had played earlier. Pics http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d5331a95afc6545dc019f7d85332b7675da2de381bb348025 ... http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1dafdebc94600e6c5da42efe8c3554a05d84069947b8f972df

--@SuzanwithZ: "Getting some air outside Embassy of France, Joe Biden motorcade pulls up. By mistake. Was [supposed to] be at Ambassadors residence. #starstruck" ... @michaelcrowley: "Straight out of 'Veep'! I live nearby and saw the motorcade come and go myself".

SPOTTED: Sec. John Kerry and Christine Lagarde gripping hands and chatting ... Arianna Huffington talking about sleep and Uber ... Jay Roach, Helen Mirren, Mike Bloomberg and Diane Taylor huddled together ... Jim Rutenberg meeting Robert Allbritton ... Helen Mirren and Tammy Haddad (Helen's favorite New Orleans restaurant? Herbsaint on St. Charles Ave.) ... Josh Tyrangiel, Sarah Feinberg, and Jim Kelly chatting with John Micklethwait ... Tony Romo smoking a cigarette on the patio ... Reince Priebus chatting with Josh Earnest ... Joanna Coles with Jim Steyer ... David Corn, Jay Roach and Neera Tanden taking a selfie ... Showtime's David Nevins telling Justin Smith how when he flew into D.C.,
 the driver of the car that picked him up at the airport was an old Walt Whitman classmate ... Lawrence O'Donnell chatting with Steve Clemons ... Marc Adelman saying his favorite phrase: "get excited".

ALSO SPOTTED: Graydon and Anna Carter, French Amb. G&eacute;rard Araud and Pascal Blondeau, Amb. Yousef Al Otaiba and Abeer Al Otaiba, Huma Abedin, Tim Armstrong and Nancy Armstrong, Evan Ryan and Tony Blinken, Wolf Blitzer, Secretary Ash Carter and Stephanie Carter, Rep. Joaquin Castro and Secretary Julian Castro, Tina Tchen, Priyanka Chopra, Elena Allbritton, Craig Gordon, Emilia Clarke, Rachel Tashjian, Fred Ryan, Lauren Menoud, Jon Favreau, Gary Cohn, Sir Evelyn & Lady de Rothschild, Jim VandeHei, Michelle Dockery, Maureen Dowd, Jeff Fager, Tom Freston, Jeff Goldblum, Tony Goldwyn, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Mandy Grunwald, Tom Hiddleston, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Walter Isaacson, Valerie Jarrett,
 HRH Queen Rania of Jordan ...

... Bill Keller and Emma Gilbey Keller, Michael Kelly, Alexandra Kerry and Julien Dobbs-Higginson, Secretary John Kerry and Theresa Heinz Kerry, Dr. Vanessa Kerry and Dr. Brian Nahed, Michael Kinsley and Patty Stonesifer, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Ed Markey, Karlie Kloss, Jim Lehrer, Claire Tonneson, Megan Murphy, Gillian Tett, Jared Leto, Damien Lewis, Adriana Lima, Reggie Love, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Rachel McAdams, Peggy Noonan, Norah O'Donnell and Chef Geoff Tracy, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi, Amb. Samantha Power and Cass Sunstein, Sally Quinn, Steve Rattner, Jason Rezaian, Shonda Rhimes, Susan Rice, David Rhodes. 

MSNBC held its annual after-party last night at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Among the food created and served: pancakes that look like politicians. 

SPOTTED: Anthony Terrell, Sean Spicer, Katy Tur, Ari Melber, former RNC chair Michael Steele, Ken Vogel, Glenn Thrush, Nick Merrill, Roy Schwartz, Ben Schreckinger, Shane Goldmacher, Bill Nye, DWS, Kasie Hunt, Alex Seitz-Wald, Benjy Sarlin, Ben Ginsberg, Rick Tyler, Catherine Frazier, Tina Tchen, Reggie Love, Nene Leakes, Tamron Hall, Jason Miller, Valerie Jarrett, Alex Jaffe, Ben Terris, Brian Kilmeade, Craig Melvin, Alex Seitz-Wald, Kim Kingsley, David Brock. 

SPOTTED at David Brock's after-party in Cathedral Heights: Katie Fraas, Meagan Riley (1776) chatting it up with David Brock, Tim and Kiki Burger, Ken Vogel, JC Chasez, IJ Gangster Ryan Coyne, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, Tony Romo and his wife Candace Crawford, Alex Skatell, Gabrielle Union, Billy Eichner.

--Becca Glover Watkins and other GOP communications mavens at the Columbian Embassy party: Katy Summerlin, Becca, Rachel Hicks and Taylor Holgate, where they dined on lamb chops, empanadas and short ribs and danced until 2 a.m. to a live band. Pic http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d85560f70fdfe55389bfe20f9444b497e59eb9cb536a11d85 

--The famed annual Garden Brunch was held yesterday at the Beall-Washington House, hosted by Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Dr. Sachiko Kuno, Fred Humphries, Mark & Sally Ein, Constance Milstein, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler, and Franco Nuschese. Pics http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d7832fb8dc2a067f91ec06db494a4d4c3f817dec656b06dab ... http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1df0d2afb69db75c45a1664e344f49d99b7a9617e00d02bd76 

SPOTTED at this year's fete: Dame Helen Mirren, Rosario Dawson, Valerie Jarrett, Russell Simmons, Neve Campbell, Jeff Goldblum, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sheila Johnson, Charlie Rose, Megan Smith, Bryan Cranston, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Mike and Kristi Rogers, Len Amato, Tara Grace, Rachel Whetstone, Steve Hilton, Susan Molinari, John Micklethwait, Michael Kelly, Constance Zimmer, Tina Tchen, Debra Lee, Matthew Morrison, Gayle King, Lawrence O'Donnell, Joanna Coles, Wolf Blitzer, Jen Psaki, Tony Goldwyn, Scott Foley, Guillermo Diaz, Katie Lowes and Jeff Perry, Arianna Huffington, Bret Baier, Kevin Plank, Greta van Susteren, Jim Bankoff, Todd Harris, Ben and Josh Ginsberg, Joy Behar,
 Kristina Schake, Jay Roach, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michael Kelly, Ellie Schafer, Grace Para, Sean Spicer, Chad Griffin, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Ryan Williams, Travis Kalanick, and many more. 

VOTO Latino's Mar&iacute;a Teresa Kumar and Brunswick Group's David Sutphen hosted the 7th annual "Our Voices: Celebrating Diversity in Media" reception during the WHCD weekend festivities at the Hay-Adams Hotel rooftop overlooking the White House. The event, known for having the most diverse guest list in town, joined together hundreds of influential leaders from media, politics, and business. 

--SPOTTED: Valerie Jarrett, Rosario Dawson, Ed O'Keefe, Tamron Hall, Cenk Uygur, Dede Lea, Van Jones, Cecile Richards, Jonathan Capehart, Nia-Malika Henderson, Julie Rodriguez, Leslie Sanchez, Robert Raben.

SPOTTED at CBS News and Atlantic Media pre-reception: Aretha Franklin, Morgan Freeman, Bridget Moynahan, Bernie and Jane Sanders, Neve Campbell, Ash Carter, Valerie Jarrett, Reggie Love, John Dickerson, Bob Schieffer, David Rhodes, Steve Capus, Chris Isham, Samantha Power, Rick Stengel, Damian Lewis, David Nevins, Wendi McLendon, Walter Isaacson, Gayle King, Norah O'Donnell, Carl Bernstein, Jim Rutenberg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Steve Battaglio, Brian Stelter, David Corn, Josh Elliott, Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan, Jake Tapper, Gloria Borger, Peggy Noonan, Alex Wagner, Bret Baier, Reps. Will Hurd and Steny Hoyer, Will Thorne, Rick Stengel, Leah Daughtry, Pam Stevens, David Stapf, and Tim Scott.
 Pic of Chris Isham, Gayle King and David Rhodes http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d7699c6948bc4e642a7ad70776f8e60d362113f10b970476a 

BIRTHDAYS: Leonard Downie Jr. is 74 ... "The Artful" Roger Conant, chairman and founder of Magni Global Asset Management and former member of the Sunfish Lake, Minn., City Council (h/t son Alex, just back from two weeks of vacation with Caitlin in Australia) ... Abby Huntsman ... David Winston ... Alex Wellen, SVP and chief product officer at CNN, who once won the New Yorker Caption Contest ... Tom Walsh, speechwriter for Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Boston native and alum of O'Malley, Ted Kennedy, Bev Perdue, who is known for his plucky wit and boyish, 19 year-old looks (h/t Geoff Burgan) ... Maria Pica Karp, VP and general manager of gov't affairs at Chevron ... Amy Smith (hubby tip: Jack) ...
 Molly Levinson, former CNN and CBS political director ... Meredith Schultz, AEI's manager of academic programs, a grad of Patrick Henry College and Frank Wolf alum ... 

... Peter Schulz, Pam Stevens' son, celebrating with a Game Truck party at home with the entire team of West Springfield high school's Varsity baseball team ... Shivam Mallick Shah, a strategy and education policy consultant extraordinaire (h/t Anna Gohmann) ... Alan Kaye of Corporate Care International is 46 ... Anthony Cimino, SVP for risk management and gov't affairs at the Financial Services Roundtable ... Abby Huntsman, anchor/reporter for Fox News, is 3-0 ... Seth London, Obama campaign, White House and Revolution alum, now managing director at Tusk Ventures, but still a table-tennis prodigy, is 31 ... Stacie Paxton Cobos, SVP of Hill & Knowlton and a DNC, and Lieberman 2004 alum ...
 Jordan Quinn, associate director of gov't affairs at The Hartford ... Rachael Dean, Sen. McCain's comms. director (h/t Eric Wilson) ... Josh Tonsager, senior legislative director of the National Association of Wheat Growers and a Tim Johnson alum ... 

... Jeff Wice, national Democratic elections and redistricting attorney, celebrating at The Palm in D.C. and breakfast at Martin's Tavern ... Shaina Goodman, policy manager for National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and pride of Wash U, is 3-0, celebrating by honoring her St. Louis heritage (and the end of Passover) with pizza/beers at Pi Pizzeria (h/t boyfriend Zach Baron) ... John Bridgeland, founder and CEO of Civic and a Bush WH alum ... Liz Stark ... Graham Veysey, principal of North Water Partners - see last October's Vanity Fair article, "How One Couple Turned a 'Toxic Corner' of Cleveland into a Development Hotbed" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1da9f176bdbdcb69f56c5b73eeed21953b25c357d86b401a10 ... 

... The Guardian's Ben Jacobs, a Daily Beast alum ... Bloomberg's Caroline Chen ... Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) and Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) ... Anjana Padmanabhan ... Dawn Livingston ... Joe Gillespie of KXNT-FM, helping Vegas wake up since Aug. 2010; longtime newscaster in San Diego, NYC, Cincy ... Elizabeth Stanley, chief of staff to Rep. Nita Lowey ... Pete Jeffries is 52 ... Jessica Marie Gallo (h/ts Phil, Gracie, Owen, Alivia) ... Arash Ghadishah ... Frank Fougherty ... Fox News alum Nelson Lewis is 32 ... Emily Lamont, Ned's daughter ... Maureen Garde ... Jane Danowitz ... Ellen Moran ... Susan Mudd ... Rebecca Carson ... Mary Hughes ... Nan Gibson, Obama CEA alum ... Jake Hajdu ...
 Mike Zeitlin (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... singer Judy Collins is 77 ... Hall of Fame jockey Steve Cauthen is 56 ... country singer Tim McGraw is 49 ... actress Kerry Bishe is 32 (h/ts AP)

** A message from JPMorgan Chase & Co.: Small business success has the potential to power more inclusive growth. What are the keys to success? Access to networks and funding. See how we're helping provide small businesses with the capital, technical skills and connections needed to grow. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c4b27d36c81eae1d59711eff30fa356aba18b7f6b1cc207c1b1656b8c7f8bcae **

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