Amid conflicts overseas and the intense election, Washington is preparing to celebrate the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner with many events.
The annual WHCA dinner, also known as the “Nerd Prom,” will bring together about 2,700 journalists, lawmakers, White House officials, and Hollywood celebrities at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
The star-studded event will include speeches by President Biden and “Saturday Night Live’s” Colin Jost, as well as performances by Scarlett Johansson, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Rachel Brosnahan, Rosario Dawson, rapper Quavo, Jon Hamm, and Hiro Sanada.
Kelly O’Donnell, WHCA president, and NBC News’s senior White House correspondent, hopes that people will acknowledge the importance of a free press in a democracy during a year with an election and various crises.
O’Donnell says that the event is a chance to recognize the excellent work of their members and raise money for journalism scholarships.
O’Donnell states that journalists, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with complex issues, are likely ready for a night to unwind at the sold-out gala.
O’Donnell believes that the dinner is an opportunity for people to take a break, reflect on their work, and have some fun.
There are rumors in journalism circles that people want to party because they feel that if Biden loses, they won’t get another chance to celebrate for four years.
Rather than engage with left-leaning celebrities and the media, former President Trump refused to attend the dinner while in office, leading to a decline in Hollywood stars coming to the capital. This year’s dinner will be aired live on C-SPAN, and Biden and Jost’s speeches will be broadcasted on CNN as part of special coverage hosted by John Berman and Sara Sidner. Fox News and NewsNation will also air the speeches live. If history is any indication, Biden is likely to incorporate some serious talk into the usual humorous jabs at the dinner.
to advocate for all Americans who have been unlawfully detained in foreign countries before making some brief funny remarks directed at various targets such as the media, Trump’s legal problems, and concerns about his age.
Jost has not shared any plans he has for the big night in Washington, D.C., and the famously challenging audience filled with conservative politicians and reporters. he vowed O’Donnell commended the “Weekend Update” co-anchor as being ideally suited for this particular time.
Jost, she explained, “prior to entering the comedy industry, was a writer, and that’s what attracted me to him — his understanding of our work and the world we cover.
When asked about critics who might be uncomfortable with a media-focused formal evening event at a time when overseas conflicts are dominating the news and economic pressures have led to numerous job cuts at news organizations across the country, O’Donnell stated, “I believe that even during times of crisis, this dinner always takes place. And it’s part of our culture to be able to take moments, in a controlled manner, to allow people to relax and celebrate the reasons that inspired us to pursue this work. And then we’ll promptly return to work the next day.”
More than 25 events are taking place in Washington this week, timed to coincide with the Correspondents’ dinner.
One of the most talked-about gatherings is NBCUniversal News Group’s highly exclusive post-dinner party on Saturday at the French ambassador’s residence. The news organization seems to be hosting an extravagant event to acknowledge O’Donnell’s role at the WHCA, as well as her 30th anniversary with NBC News on Thursday. The event will feature LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton bespoke champagne and rosé bars, as well as iRacing simulators for guests, courtesy of one of the party’s sponsors, Ford.
Some of the other popular events include Friday night’s “Right to Bear Arts” gala from the Creative Coalition, the United Talent Agency’s “Celebration of America’s Journalists” event at Fiola Mare, and Creative Artists Agency’s kick-off party at La Grande Boucherie, all taking place on the eve of the dinner, as well as a Saturday celebration at the Swiss ambassador’s residence, hosted by Time and Amazon MGM Studios, the renowned Garden Brunch on Saturday morning hosted by Tammy Haddad, and CNN’s “Our Cup of Tea” Correspondents’ weekend finale event on Sunday at the British ambassador’s residence.
Amid conflicts overseas and the intense election environment, Washington is gearing up for a series of celebrations in honor of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. The annual dinner, taking place on Saturday and hosted by the WHCA — and sometimes mockingly referred to as “Nerd Prom” — will bring together approximately 2,700 journalists, politicians,…
Some of the other hot tickets include Friday night’s “Right to Bear Arts” gala from the Creative Coalition, the United Talent Agency’s “Celebration of America’s Journalists” affair at Fiola Mare and Creative Artists Agency’s kick-off party at La Grande Boucherie, both held on the eve of the dinner, a Saturday shindig at the Swiss ambassador’s residence hosted by Time and Amazon MGM Studios, the famed Garden Brunch on Saturday morning hosted by Tammy Haddad and CNN’s “Our Cup of Tea” Correspondents’ weekend finale event on Sunday at the British ambassador’s residence.
