White House Press Folds to Trump; Is a Blue Wave Forming; LG: Aaron Rouse Campaigns; Ozturk Abduction; Virginia Robinson Retires
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White House Press Folds to Trump on Comedian at Dinner
The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) has folded to President Trump over a comedian who was set to perform at the annual correspondents dinner on April 26.
Comedian Amber Ruffin was the scheduled comedian for the evening. She was critical of the Trump Administration on a podcast. Yesterday, in a story first reported by CNN, Vanity Fair media reporter Brian Stelter, it was announced by WHCA President Eugene Daniels that the Board unanimously decided that Ruffin would not appear at the April 26 dinner. The moment was the latest in a series of capitulations to Trump.
In less than 100 days in office, President Trump has cut media access to news organizations covering the White House who don’t agree with his view or the world (see: Gulf of Mexico) and highlighted others who do.
Trump has also targeting law firms who have provided legal services to those he doesn’t agree with. The Trump Administration has also engaged in sweeping anti-Black decisions that have included the firing of well qualified appointees, such as former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair C.Q. Brown, Jr., and the attempted erasure of several notable Black historic figures from the DoJ website such as Jackie Robinson and Black Medal of Honor winner Charles Rogers. Some of the Trump Administration decisions were reversed after pushback. Others were not.
Much of what Trump and members of his Administration have obsessed over is related to racial diversity.
"I think the single dumbest phrase in military history is ‘our diversity is our strength,’’’ Hegseth said on Feb.7. The former Fox News host repeated the same statement on national television.
RELATED: Pentagon removes, then restores webpage on Jackie Robinson's military career (CBS, March 19, 2025)
Some have pushed back hard on Trump’s attacks, such as the law firms Jenner & Block and Wilmer Hale. Others, such as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, have capitulated to Trump — in Skadden’s case agreeing to give $100 million in free legal services. Jenner & Block and Wilmer Hale are suing the Trump Administration after being targeting in a clear bill of attainder issue by Trump’s Administration.
Media organizations have also been weak against Trump. ABC quizzically decided to settle with Trump in a $15 million defamation case — even though public officials winning such cases is close to impossible. No elected official has won a defamation or libel case against the New York Times in 61 years — since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Times v. Sullivan. Alternatively, The Atlantic did stand up to Trump as the magazine reported on a Signal chat of Trump’s top national security officials regarding top secret information related to an attack on Yemen. The Signal chat also included The Atlantic’s Jeff Goldberg.
“Amber Ruffin was set to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner but was fired after the Trump administration took offense at what she said on The Daily Beast Podcast,” reported the Daily Beast on April 29.
Above: Amber Ruffin
The WHCA has proclaimed that they are focused on press freedom and freedom of speech. But their decision on Amber Ruffin indicates weakness on that priority. The Associated Press is suing the Trump Administration over being taken out of pool coverage at White House coverage.
In a White House with a President who believes in granting media access to those who agree with him, “Tim Pool, A right-wing influencer who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to spread Russian propaganda during the 2024 presidential election has been added to the White House press pool,” reported the Daily Beast on March 28.
“On the night of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Amber Ruffin should do a live feed of the jokes she was planning to tell,” suggested Nick Papas on social media. At past dinners, Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Stephen Colbert and George Carlin have performed at the diner in past years.
Rouse’s Campaign for Lt. Governor Visits Blacksburg, Harrisonburg and Arlington in 7 Hours
Yesterday, State Senator Aaron Rouse, who is running for Lt. Governor of Virginia, was in three cities in seven hours. His final stop was in Arlington where he met a large group of supporters.
Below: State Senator Aaron Rouse, right, Arlington County Board member JD Spain, Sr, center, and Arlington County Board Chairman, Takis Karantonis on March 29.
30 Members of Congress Demand Answers on “Disturbing Arrest and Detention” of Tufts Student
Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Don Beyer are the only two members of the Virginia Delegation to join a letter demanding answers on the abduction of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk.
DUE PROCESS? On March 25, 2025, Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested on her way to a Ramadan dinner event by masked, plainclothes officers. Surveillance video shows officers loading Ozturk into an SUV and departing in three unmarked vehicles. Bystanders observed that the incident “looked like a kidnapping.”
Below: The March 25, 2025 apprehension of Rumeysa Ozturk in Boston, Mass. was captured on a surveillance camera.
Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and over 30 members of Congress in demanding answers from the Departments of Homeland Security and State, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), regarding the arrest and detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk. The members asserted that Ozturk, “appears to have been targeted and detained simply for expressing her political views.”
“The Administration should not summarily detain and deport legal residents of this country merely for expressing their political views. Absent compelling evidence justifying her detention and the revocation of her status, we call for Ozturk’s release and the restoration of her visa,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter dated.
After Democrats Win in Red PA, Stefanik Stays and Red Louisiana Votes Against MAGA Referendums: Is a Win in Wisconsin Next?
In Virginia, Democrats are close to having 100 candidates in all of the 100 House of Delegates races on the ballot this year.
Above: Fergie Reid, Jr. has been recruiting candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates. The latest tally is seen in a post on BlueSky.
On March 25, Democrat James Andrew Malone won a special election in a Pennsylvania state Senate district President Trump won +15.
On March 27, Trump pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations because polls were showing the GOP was going to lose her NY seat to a Democrat.
On March 29, four MAGA Louisiana ballot referendums failed. The moment was a huge victory for grassroots leader and fmr. U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers.
On April 1 a hotly contested race for Wisconsin Supreme Court will determine who will control voting rights. Elon Musk has spent millions in support of the MAGA candidate. Musk is paying voters to vote for his candidate. Wisconsin’s AG is moving to stop him. Musk will campaign in Wisconsin today.
Virginia Robinson, Judge Robert Bryan, Jr.
Below: Two memorable social media posts from Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell.
Tributes to Henry Marsh III 🎙️ Listen to the podcast
Advice for Federal Workers 🎙️ Listen to the podcast
Massive Crowds at Warner Town Hall with Del. Feggans
Senator Mark Warner held two "Community Conversation" town halls yesterday in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Delegate Michael Feggans joined Warner in Virginia Beach.
There were at least 1,000 people in attendance Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach and hundred in Chesapeake at First Baptist South Hill where he was joined by State Senator L. Louise Lucas at Delegate Cliff Hayes.
Below: Photo/Video by Bill Johnson-Miles
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Interview with Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan 🎙️ Listen to the podcast
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