Good Saturday morning, Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Hannukah!
ONE BUZZY IDEA bouncing around Washington and New York journalism circles is for MSNBC to hire Greta Van Susteren for its 6 p.m. hour. Van Susteren, who left Fox earlier this year, would bring gravitas to the anchor desk and a massive online following. Van Susteren told us in September in her first post-Fox interview (http://politi.co/2i4YPAt) that she wanted to return to TV. No word yet if she’s interested in the gig. Who will take over the vacant timeslot is the subject of much speculation in and around 30 Rock. Our colleague Hadas Gold reported earlier this week that MSNBC is already hiring producers for whoever gets the job and that the show is expected to be based in Washington. “I have more than one offer on the table....not sure what the future brings,” Van Susteren tweeted on Friday.
OBAMA’S PARTING SHOT -- 14-0 VOTE -- “Rebuffing Israel, U.S. Allows Censure Over Settlements,” by NYT’s Somini Sengupta and Rick Gladstone at the United Nations, with Peter Baker in Jerusalem and Mark Landler in D.C.: “Defying extraordinary pressure from President-elect Donald J. Trump and furious lobbying by Israel, the Obama administration on Friday allowed the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction.
“The administration’s decision not to veto the measure reflected its accumulated frustration over Israeli settlements. The American abstention on the vote also broke a longstanding policy of shielding Israel from action at the United Nations that described the settlements as illegal. While the resolution is not expected to have any practical impact on the ground, it is regarded as a major rebuff to Israel, one that could increase its isolation over the paralyzed peace process with Israel’s Palestinian neighbors, who have sought to establish their own state on territory held by Israel. …
“‘Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms,’ Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement. ‘At a time when the Security Council does nothing to stop the slaughter of half a million people in Syria, it disgracefully gangs up on the one true democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and calls the Western Wall ‘occupied territory.’ Mr. Netanyahu immediately retaliated against two of the countries that sponsored the resolution. He ordered Israel’s ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal to return home for consultations, canceled a planned visit to Israel next month by Senegal’s foreign minister and cut off all aid programs to Senegal.” http://nyti.ms/2i4R91f … Kerry’s statement on the UN vote http://bit.ly/2iqpjsz
-- PETER BAKER in Jerusalem on A7 of the NYT: “Obama’s last clash with Netanyahu”: “When President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel met in September for the last time before Mr. Obama leaves office, the session was marked by forced smiles and strained jokes about playing golf in retirement, as if bygones were bygones after nearly eight years of clawing conflict. Of course it was never going to end that way. How could it? The narrative of the tense and tetchy relationship between liberal president and conservative prime minister instead reached a climax in a hyper-politicized showdown over war, peace, justice, security, human rights and, at last, the very meaning of international friendship. Mr. Obama’s decision on Friday not to block a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements laid bare all the grievances the two men have nursed since shortly after they took office in 2009. For Mr. Netanyahu, it was the final betrayal by a president who was supposed to be an ally but never really was. For Mr. Obama, it was the inevitable result of Mr. Netanyahu’s own stubborn defiance of international concerns with his policies.” http://nyti.ms/2iobuz4
HEADLINES -- WSJ: “U.S. Allows U.N. to Censure Israel” http://bit.ly/2aVNXyP … NYT: “U.S. Abstains in U.N. Vote Against Israeli Settlements … Measure Passes, 14-0, in Major Rebuff After Pressure From Officials and Trump” … N.Y. POST: “BAM BETRAYS ISRAEL -- US lets UN condemn our ally” http://nyp.st/2id3iyr … N.Y. DAILY NEWS: “Obama shafts Israel -- BLESSES UN CONDEMNATION OF JEWISH STATE” http://bit.ly/2i2vwfj
--@blakehounshell: “Reading Samantha Power’s statement on settlements — might it be the last time a top U.S. official defends the two-state solution?” Her statement http://bit.ly/2i4XoCh
TRUMP SPEAKS -- @realDonaldTrump at 3:14 p.m. yesterday: “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.”
JUST ASKING… If Hillary Clinton had won on Nov. 8, would Obama have done anything differently?
JULIAN ASSANGE on DONALD TRUMP in Italy’s La Repubblica -- “Hillary Clinton’s election would have been a consolidation of power in the existing ruling class of the United States. Donald Trump is not a DC insider, he is part of the wealthy ruling elite of the United States, and he is gathering around him a spectrum of other rich people and several idiosyncratic personalities. They do not by themselves form an existing structure, so it is a weak structure which is displacing and destabilising the pre-existing central power network within DC. It is a new patronage structure which will evolve rapidly, but at the moment its looseness means there are opportunities for change in the United States: change for the worse and change for the better.” With a pic of Assange holding a cat http://bit.ly/2icYhWo
TRUMP’S POPULARITY PROBLEM -- “Trump’s unpopularity threatens to hobble his presidency,” by Steven Shepard: “President-elect Donald Trump will descend on Washington next month, buoyed by his upset victory and Republican control of Congress to implement his agenda. But he’s facing a major obstacle: Trump will enter the White House as the least-popular incoming president in the modern era of public-opinion polling … On Election Day, just 38 percent of voters had a favorable opinion of Trump, compared to 60 percent who viewed him favorably — unheard of for a presidential-election victor. (Still, Trump won about 15 percent of the vote among those who had an unfavorable opinion of him.)
“While Trump has received a boost in public opinion after his victory, he still badly lags past presidents-elect when it comes to personal favorability. Currently, his average favorable rating stands at 43 percent, according to HuffPost Pollster, while a 49-percent plurality views him unfavorably. More respondents viewed Trump unfavorably than favorably in the most recent batch of public polls from NBC News/Wall Street Journal, Suffolk University/USA Today, Fox News, CBS News and POLITICO/Morning Consult, all conducted in early- or mid-December. Compare that with President Barack Obama, who entered 2009 with a 68-percent favorable rating – and only a 21-percent unfavorable rating.” http://politi.co/2hmm35n
TRUMP INC. -- “Trump’s Firm Winds Down Deals That Prompted Complaints of Conflicts,” by WSJ’s Alexandra Berzon in L.A., Nathan Hodge in Tbilisi, Georgia and Georgi Kantchev in Sofia, Bulgaria: “In recent weeks, the company has backed away from a partnership with links to an executive tied to a now-outlawed Georgian militia and a financial-crimes investigation, moved to extricate itself from problematic development contracts and settled high-profile lawsuits. Four years ago, Donald Trump publicly celebrated his partnership with former Soviet republic of Georgia developer Giorgi Ramishvili.Now his company is trying to end the relationship. ...
“The Trump organization also has recently canceled hotel-licensing contracts in Azerbaijan and Brazil and settled litigation involving allegations of fraud at the now-defunct Trump University, which promised it would teach enrollees real-estate investing strategies.” http://on.wsj.com/2hT7O7i
PRESIDENT TRUMP -- “Inside Trump’s dalliance with Democrats: ‘Anytime you have a good idea, give me a call,’ he told one moderate [Sen. Joe Manchin] after an hour-long chat,” by Maggie Severns: “While Trump has dismayed many Democrats with his vows to dismantle Barack Obama’s initiatives and the ideological slant of some of his Cabinet picks, he has struck a more amicable tone in recent meetings at Trump Tower with members of the opposition. In those encounters, he has been collegial, inquiring about visitors’ expertise and expressing interest in collaborating with them, especially when that might mean an early victory for the White House, according to several Democrats who have either met with Trump or been briefed on the discussions. [But] Trump’s early interactions with Democratic moderates are unlikely to signal the dynamic of his relationship with the opposition party.” http://politi.co/2hbI9Ty
-- “Trump aide tries to soothe lower-level staffers left out of West Wing,” by Alex Isenstadt: “A top aide to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday tried to tamp down junior campaign staffers’ expectations of getting plum West Wing jobs. Rick Dearborn, who is helping lead the transition, said on a conference call with lower-ranking campaign aides that the senior-most White House jobs were few and far between. ... The 20-minute call came as many of Trump's most loyal and longest-serving campaign workers worry about whether they will land administration jobs. ... Perhaps looking to soothe any hard feelings, Dearborn on Friday painted West Wing jobs in something of an unflattering light. He described them as a ‘meat grinder,’ saying they demanded long hours and low pay. West Wing employees, he said, might have to decide between going to a child’s soccer game or working on the weekends.” http://politi.co/2i2lDyt
NEWT GOES ROGUE? -- @realDonaldTrump: “Vladimir Putin said today about Hillary and Dems: ‘In my opinion, it is humiliating. One must be able to lose with dignity.’ So true!” … @newtgingrich: “So Russia having illegally occupied Crimea and eastern Ukraine votes to condemn Israel for ‘occupied lands’. we are supposed to be impressed”.
--@dominicholden: “Here is Putin’s chummy letter to Trump about collaborating ‘on the international scene’ and Trump’s statement saying Putin is ‘so correct.’” http://bit.ly/2iqvPzH
-- “Kissinger, a longtime Putin confidant, sidles up to Trump,” by Halley Toosi and Isaac Arnsdorf: http://politi.co/2hmgcxd
FOR THE RECORD, as Trump gets closer to Putin, it’s important to keep in mind that Putin has banned the following people from entering Russia: Former House Speaker John Boehner, retiring Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), retiring Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), former Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).
-- @ABCPolitics: “Vladimir Putin on visiting the US under President Trump: ‘If he invites me of course I will go.’” 37-second video http://bit.ly/2hmf2BT
DIANE REHM’S LAST SHOW -- “Radio icon Diane Rehm signs off after 37 years: ‘I’ve been proud to be your host,’” by WaPo’s Caitlin Gibson: “It began the way it always has: ‘From WAMU in Washington, I’m Diane Rehm,’ she said, and then she paused, because this time was different. ‘I’ve said those words for so many years, thousands and thousands of times. I’ve always been so proud to say them.’ Over nearly 40 years on the air, Diane Rehm has hosted writers, artists, philosophers, Hollywood celebrities, foreign leaders and U.S. presidents. But on Friday, during the final airing of NPR’s ‘The Diane Rehm Show,’ she spent most of her time speaking to the loyal fans who have listened to her every week for so many years.
“There were, of course, a few high-profile cameos: singer and songwriter Judy Collins called and sang a verse of ‘Amazing Grace’ at Rehm’s request. Isabel Wilkerson, author of ‘The Warmth of Other Suns,’ also phoned in: ‘Oh Diane, you’re such a national treasure.’ Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) thanked Rehm for her ‘incredible service’ to the country, and legendary actress Julie Andrews and her daughter gushed their love and gratitude, calling Rehm ‘a beacon of light in our lives.’” http://wapo.st/2hiklRf
TWEET DU JOUR -- @DRUDGE: “I just loved 2016! Big, bold, crazy, sad, happy, fresh, scary, dramatic, lonely, thrilling, frantic, romantic. Easily my favorite year.” With an idyllic pic of the sea at sunset with some sailboats in the background http://bit.ly/2ioafji
REVOLVING DOOR -- “Trump appoints his business attorney to manage international negotiations,” by CNN’s Elise Labott and Teddy Schleifer: “Jason Greenblatt, the executive vice president and chief legal officer for Trump’s business empire, will take on the title of special representative for international negotiations. A source familiar with the appointment told CNN that Greenblatt will primarily will be working on Israel-Palestinian peace process, the American relationship with Cuba and trade agreements.” http://cnn.it/2hSZBQx … Katie Glueck’s Aug. 4 profile of Greenblatt http://politi.co/2aKH84b
-- “Trump team seeks names of officials working to counter violent extremism,” by Reuters’ Warren Strobel and Arshad Mohammed: “President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has asked two Cabinet departments for the names of government officials working on programs to counter violent extremism, according to a document seen by Reuters and U.S. officials. The requests to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security involve a set of programs that seek to prevent violence by extremists of any stripe, including recruitment by militant Islamist groups within the United States and abroad.” http://reut.rs/2i56IWr
-- “Bush aide [Tom Bossert] seen as top contender for Trump counterterrorism aide,” by Alex Isenstadt: “Tom Bossert ... has emerged as the favorite to become President-elect Donald Trump’s homeland security and counterterrorism adviser ... Bossert, a former deputy homeland security adviser in the Bush White House, has earned the support of Stephen Hadley ... [who] has already emerged as a key player in Trump’s appointments; he also recommended Rex Tillerson for secretary of state. Bossert, currently a fellow at the Atlantic Council, would replace Lisa Monaco.” http://politi.co/2hmcSlu
THE NEW NUCLEAR ARMS RACE -- NYT A12, “Trump, Promising Arms Race, Could Set World on Uncertain Path,” by Max Fisher: “[A]nalysts say that Mr. Trump’s stated desire to provoke an arms race does have a foreseeable range of outcomes. ... The two countries most likely to respond are Russia, whose nuclear arsenal is comparable to that of the United States, and China, which has a far smaller program. ... [A]nalysts warn that, in part because the United States is already so much more powerful in conventional terms, Russia and China may feel forced to take actions that are destabilizing and put all parties at risk.” http://nyti.ms/2hbWdfx
--“Trump Said the U.S. Should Expand Nuclear Weapons. He’s Right,” by Matthew Kroenig, a Georgetown SFS professor and Atlantic fellow, in Politico Magazine: “The United States needs a robust nuclear force, therefore, not because anyone wants to fight a nuclear war, but rather, the opposite: to deter potential adversaries from attacking or coercing the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons of their own. Under President Barack Obama, the United States mindlessly reduced its nuclear arsenal even as other nuclear powers went in the opposite direction, expanding and modernizing their nuclear forces. Such a path was unsustainable and Trump is correct to recognize that America’s aging nuclear arsenal is in need of some long overdue upgrades.” http://politi.co/2ioji3S
-- @kylegriffin1: “.@morningmika says she spoke w/ Trump on nukes tweet, he told her ‘Let it be an arms race. We will out-match them.’” 2-min. video http://bit.ly/2i4SGEB
ld’s biggest problem”: “Trump is not new to nuclear matters. He has been thinking about how he’d handle nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation for more than a quarter-century, at least since 1987.” http://slate.me/2icQW9j
-- Bruce Blair in Politico Magazine, June 11, “What Exactly Would It Mean to Have Trump’s Finger on the Nuclear Button? A nuclear launch expert plays out the various scenarios.” http://politi.co/2hBkcG0
PICKING UP THE PIECES -- “As Democrats ponder their future, Joe Biden makes a plea for a focus on the middle class,” by L.A. Times’ Michael Memoli: “[A]s he sat in his office one day in October and watched footage of a Donald Trump rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., not far from his childhood home, Biden sensed trouble. ‘Son of a gun. We may lose this election,’ Biden said, recalling his reaction during an interview in his West Wing office. ‘They’re all the people I grew up with. They’re their kids. And they’re not racist. They’re not sexist. But we didn’t talk to them.’” http://lat.ms/2iqk3VY
VIDEOS DU JOUR -- “Best of Trump on MTP: Twitter, Rhetoric and the Big Show”: “After 18 interviews with Meet the Press, we’ve learned quite a bit about Donald Trump’s leadership style”. 5-min. video http://nbcnews.to/2i4ZK3J
-- AFP’s year-end review of the news in 2016 http://bit.ly/2ibb9MW (h/t Leila Macor)
WHAT KEVIN MCCARTHY IS CRINGING AT -- “The hunt for dollars to build the $64-billion bullet train,” by L.A. Times’ Ralph Vartabedian: “The California High-Speed Rail Authority quietly approached federal officials in July to discuss an ambitious solution to its most pressing problem, one that has hung over the project for more than five years. The state does not know where to find all of the $64 billion it will cost to get the first passengers rocketing between San Francisco and Los Angeles on a bullet train. With the Obama administration on its way out, it seemed like a good time to nail down more long-term federal support on the assumption that Hillary Clinton would be the next president. So the state set up a meeting to ask the U.S. Department of Transportation to publicly announce a federal loan of up to $15 billion that would help build an initial rail segment from San Jose to Shafter, northwest of Bakersfield, which would cement federal support during the transition to a new presidential administration. … But federal officials did not go along with the state’s suggestion. ‘At this time, California has not submitted a financing request,’ said Clark Pettig, press secretary for the Transportation Department.” http://lat.ms/2ioiawT
BUSINESS BURST -- “In American Towns, Private Profits From Public Works,” by NYT’s Danielle Ivory, Ben Protess and Griff Palmer as part of the paper’s “Bottom Line Nation” series: “Desperate towns have turned to private equity firms to manage their waterworks. The deals bring much-needed upgrades, but can carry hefty price tags.” http://nyti.ms/2iqpKU1
CLICKER – “The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics,” edited by Matt Wuerker – 12 stocking stuffers http://politi.co/2io7Jp2
GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman, filing from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico:
--“How Journalists Covered the Rise of Mussolini and Hitler: Reports on the rise of fascism in Europe was not the American media’s finest hour,” by Case Western Reserve history professor John Broich in Smithsonian: “‘No people ever recognize their dictator in advance,’ [journalist Dorothy Thompson] reflected in 1935. ... ‘When our dictator turns up you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American.’” http://bit.ly/2ilj1i7
--“The American Leader in the Islamic State,” by Graeme Wood in the forthcoming Atlantic: “John Georgelas was a military brat, a drug enthusiast, a precocious underachiever born in Texas. Now he is a prominent figure within the Islamic State. Here’s the never-before-reported story of his long and troubling journey.” http://theatln.tc/2hm9OWD
--“The Secret Life of Time,” by Alan Burdick in The New Yorker: “It may seem slippery and maddeningly abstract, but it’s also deeply intimate, infusing our every word and gesture.” http://bit.ly/2hicdQu
--“How a Grad Student Found Spyware That Could Control Anybody’s iPhone from Anywhere in the World,” by Bryan Burrough in Vanity Fair: “Last summer, Bill Marczak stumbled across a program that could spy on your iPhone’s contact list and messages—and even record your calls. Illuminating shadowy firms that sell spyware to corrupt governments across the globe, Marczak’s story reveals the new arena of cyber-warfare.” http://bit.ly/2hQSkkj
--“Why time management is ruining our lives,” by Oliver Burkeman in The Guardian: “All of our efforts to be more productive backfire – and only make us feel even busier and more stressed.” http://bit.ly/2iatglX (h/t TheBrowser.com)
--“Christmas: Embattled From the Beginning,” by Gerry Bowler on the cover of WSJ’s Review section: “For 2,000 years, believers and nonbelievers alike have fought over the meaning and traditions of a repeatedly reinvented holiday. … In the Puritan colonies of North America, those who celebrated Christmas were fined five shillings.” http://on.wsj.com/2hg9gA9
--“Napping in Public? In Japan, That’s a Sign of Diligence,” by Bryant Rousseau in the NYT: “[I]n Japan, napping in the office is common and culturally accepted. And in fact, it is often seen as a subtle sign of diligence: You must be working yourself to exhaustion. The word for it is ‘inemuri.’ It is often translated as ‘sleeping on duty.’” http://nyti.ms/2hBa2p7
--“The Great A.I. Awakening,” by Gideon Lewis-Kraus in the NYT Magazine: “How Google used artificial intelligence to transform Google Translate, one of its more popular services — and how machine learning is poised to reinvent computing itself.” http://nyti.ms/2i2aFZD
--“I Was All Set to Become the Most Popular Guy in the Cancer Ward. Then I Met My Nemesis: Ben,” by Washingtonian’s Luke Mullins: “I’d watched enough medical procedurals on TV to know that the plucky cancer patient with the positive outlook is always the real hero. So from the moment I was diagnosed, I understood that my attitude during chemotherapy would be viewed as the defining expression of my character.” http://bit.ly/2iqinfc (h/t Longform.org)
--“‘Generation KKK’: Why A&E is Considering Rebranding Their Show After Post-Trump Era Backlash,” by Michael Schneider in IndieWire: “In a world where white supremacists have become emboldened, a new crop of Klan-themed shows that want to fight hate now risk being politicized.” http://bit.ly/2i0Eud6
--“The Life and Death of Wasil, the Taliban-Hunting Child Warrior,” by Joshua Hammer in GQ: “When his father was murdered, Wasil Ahmad vowed revenge. He was barely old enough to hoist a rifle, but still he trained to fight the Taliban. Finally, when the insurgents returned, Wasil found his chance. What he did next made him a legend. And then it made him a target.” http://bit.ly/2iqgQ8N
--“Trump Could Be the Most Corruptible President Ever,” by Zephyr Teachout in Politico Magazine: “The founders wrote the Constitution to limit foreign money in American politics. The 45th president is about to throw that out the window.” http://politi.co/2ha6skB
--“The Man Who Cleans Up After Plane Crashes,” by Lauren Larson in GQ: “Robert Jensen has spent his career restoring order after mass fatalities: identifying remains, caring for families, and recovering personal effects. Here’s how he became the best at the worst job in the world.” http://bit.ly/2icL3ZA (h/t Longreads.com)
--“Eton and the Making of a Modern Elite,” by Christopher de Bellaigue in 1843 Magazine: “The world’s most famous school aspires to become an agent of social change; but, as old boy Christopher de Bellaigue learns when he goes back, it is also an increasingly effective way for the global elite to give its offspring an expensive leg up in life.” http://bit.ly/2hRMcs2
--“Locked & Loaded: The Gun Industry’s Lucrative Relationship with Hollywood,” by Gary Baum and Scott Johnson in the Hollywood Reporter: “The NRA and the entertainment industry interact publicly as mortal enemies. But as the number of weapons shown in movies and TV steadily increases — and stars like Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie make fortunes wielding guns onscreen — a co-dependence that keeps both churning is revealed: ‘making the liberal bias a lot of money.’” http://bit.ly/2haRYkh
ENGAGED – Snapchat’s Rob Saliterman, an alum of Google, the Bush 43 WH, and Treasury, got engaged on Friday to Lara Crystal, co-founder and co-CEO of Minibar Delivery. He proposed in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. Pic by Tom Williams http://bit.ly/2inYmtP … Instapic of the couple celebrating after with champagne http://bit.ly/2iqxXaN
--Charlotte Sellmyer, SVP of external affairs at the National Music Publishers’ Association and a Hill alum, got engaged to Jack Deschauer, SVP at LEVICK and Qorvis alum. Pool report: “Jack and Charlotte met at the original Bullpen after a Nats win over the Dodgers (on Bruce Springsteen’s birthday). The next day, Jack’s detective work (and tips from close friends Paul Kane and Erika Masonhall) resulted in a first date. Seven years, countless Nats games, Springsteen shows and debates about Jersey vs. Texas, Jack surprised Charlotte in front of their Christmas tree with a perfect proposal followed by a surprise gathering with family and their closest friends at her favorite Italian restaurant - Osteria Morini. [After] they flew to Austin to spend Christmas with her family and fittingly, they are then headed to their beloved Avalon, N.J. to ring in the New Year.” Instapic with the caption “Tough Christmas Eve Eve Eve to beat” http://bit.ly/2hipcBD
WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Suzi Emmerling, deputy chief of staff at DOT, and Mike Brennan, on Friday welcomed Calogero Jack Brennan, who is named after his great grandfather and St. Calogero -- both of Sicily. “We are grateful that he is healthy and huge [9lbs 11oz] and was born while Barack Obama is still our president.” Pic http://bit.ly/2hBb980
--Robert Blizzard, a GOP pollster and partner at Public Opinion Strategies, and Julia Blizzard welcomed a second son on Monday: Wesley Robert Blizzard, born 8 lb 7 oz, 20.5 inches, who joins big bro Carter (2 and a half). Pic http://bit.ly/2icOMXt
--Meg Thurlow, senior manager of global public affairs at GE and a DOT alum, and Matt Thurlow, an attorney at Latham and Watkins, have welcomed William Balshone Thurlow, who was born a week early on Dec. 18th, weighing in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 19 inches long. The couple is thrilled with their early Christmas present. Pic http://bit.ly/2hBoJrX
--Scott Knuteson, a former Hill comms director now with PR firm DeMoss in Atlanta, and Ruth Knuteson on Thursday welcomed Emmett. Pic http://bit.ly/2hB9uiW
TRANSITIONS -- Tricia Russell has been named chief of staff for Rep.-elect Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Chris Tully has been named district director and chief of community engagement. Russell had previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) since 2013.
BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Hoyer alum Dan Shott turned 3-0 (Santa cap tip: Andrew Friedman, who was on time) ... Natasha Dabrowski of the New Democrat Coalition (Santa cap tips: Grateful New Dems offices and their staffs)
BIRTHDAYS: Dan Pfeiffer, VP for comms and policy at GoFundMe and the pride of Wilmington, is 41 ... Dennis Cheng, former finance director for Hillary for America ... Gene Sperling is 58 ... Dr. Anthony Fauci is 76 ... former Afghan president Hamid Karzai is 59 ... Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trump’s nominee for attorney general, is 7-0 ... recording company executive Mike Curb is 72 ... former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai is 58 … Walter Pincus, the pride of Brooklyn, is 84 ... WaPo’s Ylan Q. Mui, the pride of New Orleans ... Marsha Catron, DHS’ deputy assistant secretary for public affairs and a Feinstein alum (Santa cap tip: Todd Breasseale) … Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.) is 69 ... Harvard prof Jonathan Zittrain ... Ellen Ochs ... Richard Schlackman ... Atif Harden ... Grace Franceschelli (Santa cap tips: Jon Haber) ...
… Charlie Liebschutz, associate VP at SRCPmedia, is 33 ... Mark Prentice, former comms director at Americans for Responsible Solutions, now senior executive writer at Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc. (Santa cap tip: Sean Simons) ... happily retired Michael Shoaff is 68 ... Barb Nelson … FishbowlDC alum Damon Marx, now a research analyst at JLL, is 27 ... journalist Nizar Manek ... Alix Montes, account exec at Ketchum, is 27 ... William Ward Wyatt ... fundraiser Dorinda Moss Verhoff ... Nathan Carleton, director of executive comms at Walmart ... Corry Schiermeyer ... NYT opinion editor Brian Zittel is 44 ... Sarah Penney Smith ... Sharon Williams ... Jodi Ochstein ... Kelly Collis ... James White ... Mary Higgins Clark … Lauren Hernandez … Grace O’Meara ... Mark Kornblau ... Ken Biberaj ... AJ Sugarman of Rep. Brad Wenstrup’s office ... Roger Lempke of Sen. Fischer’s office ... Kim Caldwell ... Adam Wood ... Ricky Martin is 45 ... Ryan Seacrest is 42 (h/ts AP)
THE SHOWS, by @MattMackowiak, filing from Rome:
-- NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Review of 18 interviews with President-elect Donald Trump over the past 18 months. Panel: Robert Costa, Hugh Hewitt, Joy Reid, Katy Tur
-- “Fox News Sunday”: Newt Gingrich … Jerry Falwell, Jr. Panel: George Will, Ben Domenech, Julie Pace and Gerald Seib. “Power Player of the Week” segment with Wreaths Across America’s Morrill Worcester
--CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Stephen Colbert. Panel with CBS News correspondents: Margaret Brennan, Nancy Cordes, Jan Crawford, Major Garrett, David Martin and Jeff Pegues
--ABC’s “This Week”: Pre-empted for Christmas programming
-- Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” (10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT): Newt Gingrich … Karen Finney … Michael Mukasey. Panel: Ed Rollins and Joe Trippi
-- Fox News’ “MediaBuzz” (SUN 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT): Erin McPike … Mollie Hemingway … Michael Tomasky … Susan Ferrechio … A.B. Stoddard
-- CNN’s “Reliable Sources”: (SUN 11 a.m. ET): Media panel: Ann Compton, April Ryan and David Gregory.anel: Josh Earnest, Jen Psaki and Eric Schultz ... James Risen
-- C-SPAN: “The Communicators” (SAT 6:30 p.m. ET): FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn (D), questioned by Communications Daily’s David Kaut … “Newsmakers” (SUN 10 a.m. ET): AFSCME president Lee Saunders, questioned by Politico’s Ted Hesson and AP’s Chris Rugaber …“Q&A” (SUN 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET): Author, journalist and professor Mark Danner (“Spiral: Trapped in the Forever War”) about the U.S. war on terrorism
-- Washington Times’ “Mack on Politics” weekly politics podcast with Matt Mackowiak (download at MackOnPolitics.com or in the iTunes store): Mark McKinnon … Hugh Hewitt