Michelle Obama hugs players of the USA men's basketball team

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The USA men’s basketball team celebrated with the First Lady following its win over France at the Olympics over the weekend. Led by LeBron James, the players each hugged the First Lady who watched the game from a front row seat. "It was a very special moment," Carmelo Anthony said afterward, according to the AP. "For her to be sitting over there and supporting us, we just wanted to thank her for coming." More from Politico’s Click.

U.S. wrestler gives the First Lady a lift

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Michelle Obama was front and center in London, cheering on Team USA as they compete in the Olympic games. Politico says, “U.S. wrestler Elena Pirozhkova didn’t just want a handshake or hug from Michelle Obama on Friday. She wanted to pick her up. And Elena Pirozhkova did just that – lifting up the first lady during her visit to the U.S. Olympic team’s training center in London. The moment was captured by Pirozhkova’s teammate Clarissa Chun who posted a photo on Twitter afterward. In case you’re wondering, Pirozhkova did ask Obama for permission first. "I hugged her, and then I asked her if I could pick her up. I think she was nervous,” she said in a statement from USA Wrestling via USA Today. “I went slow. I just picked her up. I wanted to ask her permission. There was security all around. And she gave it. I will only meet her once. I wanted to do something different.'' More from USA Today.

Kimmel admits he was nervous at the WH Correspondents' Dinner

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Comedian Jimmy Kimmel says he nearly got sick from nerves before headlining the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April. According to Parade: On September 23, Jimmy Kimmel will host the Emmy Awards and had a high-profile warm up of sorts this spring when he hosted the 2012 White House Correspondents' Dinner. "I almost threw up that afternoon," Kimmel said at the ABC upfronts on Friday. "That audience is very different and I didn't know whether they would laugh or get angry. Ultimately I think they did both." He joked that what he learned from the experience was that "the president is a little funnier than I am." More from Politico’s Click.

Congressman prefers to be alone on Election Day

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You can expect to see a lot of election night parties planned for November, but don’t expect to see Congressman Jim Clyburn at any of them. In the Know says, “Many lawmakers and political operatives view Election Day as a big party, especially if their team comes up big. But Rep. Clyburn (D-S.C.) is not one of them. Clyburn prefers to be alone on election night, he told ITK earlier this year. “I always watch election returns in private,” he said. He explained that even when he’s home, he goes into another room, shuts the door and doesn’t take calls. More from the Hill’s In the Know.

DC leads the nation in office profanity

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This article speaks more to the culture here inside the Beltway. Career Builder is out with a new survey that places D.C. atop a list that leads the nation in office profanity. DCist reports, “Nationwide, 51 percent of respondents told Career Builder they let slip dirty words in front of their colleagues, but in D.C., that number goes up to 62 percent. Denver came in second, at 60 percent, followed by Chicago, where 58 percent of Windy City denizens freely admit to cursing up a storm at the office. Career Builder did not respond to DCist's question if "swear words" were defined along the rubric of George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television" or a more expansive list.” More from DCist.com.

Upcoming movie inspired by real-life politics

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The director for Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis‘s upcoming movie The Campaign says the film was inspired by real-life political squabbling — particularly, those recent GOP presidential debates. Mediaite says, “The movie,  follows two congressional candidates playing increasingly dirty as they vie for political office. Vanity Fair writes, “Director Jay Roach, who also helmed Game Change and Recount, says he did a lot of research on the pressure candidates are under to go negative early, and turn bad things into good things and vice verse. “That’s fascinating to me, the spin-doctor thing. And now with billions of dollars pouring into every campaign, paying the spin doctor, the commercial guy, the opposition-research guy, it’s such a heated battle,” he told VF Daily. “ More from Vanity Fair’s VF Daily.

First WH staffer to appear on "Parks and Recreation"

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As you know, a few Senators made cameos on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” when the show recently filmed in D.C. Patrick Gavin asks, “But behind every politician is a great staffer, right? Avital Barnea, a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, will also be featured on the program — the only Capitol Hill staffer to do so, she claimed. Barnea said that she responded to the “Parks and Recreation” casting call after reading about it on POLITICO. ”I initially cast it off, but upon casually mentioning the opportunity to a colleague, was encouraged to apply,” she said via email. “So, I emailed my photo and biographical information to the casting company.” Check it out at Politico.com.

Elton John in DC for International AIDS Awareness Conference

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English crooner Sir Elton John sported a colorful ensemble — including a lovely lavender-hued shirt, pink plaid tie, and rose-colored glasses — during a Tuesday visit to Capitol Hill. He has been in town speaking at the International AIDS Conference. He also attended a breakfast Tuesday with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) sponsored by UNAIDS and the Elton John Foundation. Legendary musician Sir Elton John is visiting Washington to raise awareness about AIDS. He was a keynote speaker at the International AIDS Awareness Conference on Monday, and, that night, appeared at an event with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others. The Human Rights Campaign, the Global Equity Fund and the Elton John AIDS Foundation honored them at this event. More from The Hill. 

Lawmakers cheer on local 2012 London Olympics competitors

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Lawmakers on the Hill are cheering on their hometown heroes as they prepare to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. The Hill says, "When Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings (D) tunes in to this summer's Olympic Games, he'll be cheering on a local legend, swimmer Michael Phelps. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) will be rooting for super heavyweight boxer Dominic Breazeale, who comes from Schiff's Alhambra district. Fellow California Rep. John Garamendi (D) has also reached out to several Olympians in his district. "There are about half a dozen people from my district going to the Olympics...I've been sending congratulatory letters to them, he said." More from the Hill.com. 

No more tweeting VP Joe Biden

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No more tweeting the Veep—at least not until he’s finished his conference call. Politico’s Dylan Byers reported on Tuesday that “Vice President Joe Biden would take questions from reporters on a White House press call today, and as has been the case in the past, the on-the-record conversation will be embargoed until the end of the call. The curious caveat he says “barring reporters from the beloved habit of tweeting remarks in real-time. White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest emailed: "The embargo will allow journalists to hear the entirety of the Vice President’s remarks and get the benefit of having their questions answered -- before trying to condense a 30-minute conference call about a 20-page NEC report into a 140 characters." More from Politico’s On Media.

Congressional candidate changes his name to Thomas Jefferson

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A congressional candidate has legally changed his name to help raise his profile in the election. Politico and Mediaite are reporting that, “The Kansas man formerly known as Jack Talbert has legally changed his name to Thomas Jefferson.” According to POLITICO, Jefferson is challenging Kansas Republican Mike Pompeo for his seat, and acknowledged that not everyone would have a positive reaction to his name change. “When people see that Thomas Jefferson’s on the ballot, half will think I’m committed to the Libertarian Party, and the other half will probably think I should be committed… But whether you think it’s crazy or not, hopefully it gets people thinking about the Founding Fathers and Thomas Jefferson in particular and whether we have that form of government still.” More from Mediaite.com.

Michelle Obama's "Healthy Lunchtime Challenge" winners are announced

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The child winners of First Lady Michelle Obama's Healthy Lunchtime Challenge recipe contest were announced by event co-sponsor Epicurious.com on Tuesday. Obamafoodorama says, “The 54 winners, from each US state and territories, will visit the White House on Monday, August 20th for a special 'Kids State Dinner,' which is actually a luncheon hosted by Mrs. Obama. Designed to support the Let's Move! campaign, the contest was co-sponsored the US Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture, and open to kids 8-12 years old. Epicurious.com editor Tanya Steel announced the names of the kids and their winning recipes on the website.” More from ObamaFoodorama.com.

YouTube: Bush and Blair "at the Gay Bar"

YouTube's latest hit features a mash-up of  George W. Bush and Tony Blair singing the Electric Six's "Gay Bar." Here is the video!

'Real Housewives' star wants to run for office

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New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenburg may face a reality star in his bid for reelection in 2014. The Hill’s In the Know says, “Danielle Staub, the firecracker from the first two seasons of “Real Housewives of New Jersey," was on Capitol Hill Thursday where she told ITK about her aspirations to run for political office.“I would like to do something in the Senate,” Staub said. “I think that I can make a difference as a name and as a voice, and I’m definitely strong and can throw myself out there in many, many ways.” More from the Hill’s In the Know.

Representatives' "put-you-on-hold music" matters

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Ever thought about that hold music your Congressional Representative uses? Me either, but Roll Call’s Kate Tummarello says there’s a method behind the music to wait to. She writes, “On the House side, members get two choices, silence or patriotic music. Senator have more options: silence, classical, instrumentals of popular music, patriotic music and country.” Although the options are limited, the hold music each office chooses, make a difference when constituents call according to marketing professor James Kellaris.” Find the story at Roll Call.com.

Man sings tune to help Romney with copyright issues

Last week YouTube pulled down—and later restored—an ad by the Romney for President campaign. Well to help the campaign avoid any more sticky copyright issues, one man took it upon himself to pen a little tune for the campaign, “Mitt Romney a Hero In My Mind” (above).  Created by YouTube User Third Eagle Book, Distriction recommends you check out some of his other playlists. More from Distriction.com.

Mitt Romney in Baseball Hall of Fame, well kind of...

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Mitt Romney has made it into the Baseball Hall of Fame—in a roundabout sort of way. NY Mag says, “Sitting in the hallowed halls of the Cooperstown museum these days is the uniform of a theatrical protest troupe called the Tax Dodgers, a "team" that debuted along with a giant Mitt at a Donald Trump fund-raiser for Romney in April. The Times reports, “Inside a glass case was a white jersey with flowing blue lettering that reads the Tax Dodgers; the hat displayed a 1 percent logo.” That the Occupy group "have been included in the Hall of Fame Museum not because of their political content but because they reflect baseball’s prominent place in the national landscape." According to a curator, "It's a language we all speak." More from NYMag’s Daily Intel blog.

Vogue Editor to host another Obama fundraiser

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Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour’s hosting another fundraiser for the President. Page Six says, “Harvey Weinstein and Anna Wintour are teaming again to throw a fund-raiser for President Obama. The shindig will take place Aug. 6, in Greenwich, Conn. The movie mogul and the Vogue editor will co-host, sources said, while other co-chairs remain to be announced. Tickets will go for $35,800 per head. Guests at Weinstein’s fund-raiser last year included Gwyneth Paltrow, Tory Burch, Alicia Keys and Quentin Tarantino.” Find the full scoop at the New York Post’s Page Six.

Cast members from "The Wire" to attend Obama fundraiser

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Some characters from one of President Obama’s favorite shows are raising some campaign cash on his behalf. Politico reports, “The cast of “The Wire” is getting into the political game for President Obama. A few actors from the HBO show will attend a reception benefiting Obama’s reelection campaign on Aug 15 on Martha’s Vineyard, according to an invitation posted online.” Tickets cost $500 per guest or $2,500 for host committee members. The event will be held at the Oak Bluffs home of Judy and Ron Davenport.  According to the Sunlight Foundation, the President will not be attending the event. More from Politico’s Click.

WH Executive Chef goes abroad



Photo Credit: Huffingtonpost.com



With both her bosses spending loads of time on the campaign trail, White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford has plenty of free time. ObamaFoodorama says, “Comerford is currently in Berlin, Germany for the week-long meeting of Club des Chefs des Chefs, the exclusive fraternity of chefs who work for Heads of State and Royal Families. The group annually visits a different member country to explore local cuisine and engage in culinary diplomacy. This year's confab, celebrating the group's 35th anniversary, is split between Germany and France to mark the 50th anniversary of the post-war reconciliation. Comerford, the first female White House Executive Chef, is the only woman in the world's most elite group of cuisinaires, which has about 40 members. Find more at Obamafoodorama.com.

Larry King interviews the Huntsman girls

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Last week we posted the story that Larry King was back with a brand new talk show. Although he’s gone online with Hulu this time. His first guest was Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. Next, it’s Daily Beast columnist Meghan McCain. And while Fishbowl DC doesn’t seem to have high hopes for any of the interviews Larry’s doing, they’re still anxious for the next set—the Huntsman girls. Elizabeth Huntsman, posted a photo of her sisters with King to Facebook. The caption reads “Just had quite an entertaining sit down with Larry King! Will let everyone know when it airs.” More from Fishbowl Dc.

19th International AIDS Conference held in US

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Expect some well known celebs here in D.C. this week at the 19th International AIDS Conference: The Post notes, “It’s the first time in two decades that the global gathering is being held in the United States, and A-listers are turning out in droves. So who’s coming to town? Bill Gates, Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox, Sean Penn, Herbie Hancock, Barbara Bush, John Corbett, and Tyson Beckford. As for the speeches, panels and other forums, the six-day conference will feature Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, former Pres Bill Clinton, and former First Lady Laura Bush. The Reliable Source has all the details.

Senator uses Pinterest for campaigning

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Sen. John Cornyn joined Pinterest on Thursday to highlight Texas "entrepreneurs whose success came from hard work and personal creativity." The Hill reports, “The new-media campaign is Cornyn's response to the President Obama “you didn’t build that” line for a campaign rally in Roanoke, Virginia. Senator Cornyn said in a statement. “Texans know — but the president doesn’t understand — the recipe for success is limiting government intervention, keeping taxes low and reducing harmful regulations that threaten innovation.” Texas companies featured on Cornyn's Pinterest page so far include Conner Industries (Fort Worth), Austin Glass & Mirror (Austin), Mayo Furniture (Texarkana) and Sunbelt Machine Works (Stafford). More from the Hill’s Twitter Room.

Rumor circulating that Romney camp bought Twitter followers



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Mitt Romney’s campaign is denying that they have ever purchased Twitter followers. Buzzfeed says, “Romney's presidential campaign is stumped by the candidate's rapid Twitter follower growth, with the candidate's account gaining more than 75,000 followers in less than a day. Zac Moffatt, the Romney campaign's digital director, rejected accusations that the campaign was "buying" followers for Romney, who trails @BarackObama's account by more than 16 million followers. "We have reached out to Twitter to find out additional information

regarding the rapid growth," he told BuzzFeed.

Check out the story at Buzzfeed.com.



Obama's old apartment is on the Market

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President Obama’s old New York apartment is on the Market. According to Newsday, “The Upper West Side third-floor walk-up where Obama lived while attending Columbia University in the 1980s hit the market this week. The two-bedroom prewar apartment will run you $2,400 a month, quite a jump from the $360 Obama and a roommate paid in 1981. Zak Kneeder, the Citi Habitats broker listing the apartment said, "The apartment has a little charm, but other than that, it is a typical apartment." "Nothing is out of the ordinary except for that Obama lived here." More from Politico’s 44.

Larry King's Hulu talk show



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In media news, Larry King is going online. Mediaite says, “For 25 years, Larry King interviewed everyone from celebrities to world leaders on his CNN talk show. Now he’s taking his schtick to the web with an online talk show on Hulu called Larry King Now. The half-hour show debuted on the online service Monday afternoon, with King sitting down with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane in the first episode. Instead of taking phone calls, King takes audience questions via Twitter. More from Mediaite.com.

Romney's Bain/Bane issues

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It seems that Romney’s Bain/Bane issue is ramping up with the release of the Dark Knight Rises this week. NYMag says, “there is now chatter about Mitt Romney‘s Bain Capital and its more sinister homonym: Bane, the antagonist of The Dark Knight Rises. And, believe it or not, people see an association there. Jon Stewart made light of the point on his show, but some political advisers and analysts are now taking the comparison seriously and speculating that it may have an actual impact on the campaign. Whether it is spelled Bain and being put out by the Obama campaign or Bane and being out by Hollywood, the narratives are similar: a highly intelligent villain with offshore interests and a past both are seeking to cover up who had a powerful father and is set on pillaging society,” said Democratic advisor and former Clinton aide Christopher Lehane. Find more at NYMag’s Daily Intel blog.

'The Romney Boys' on NBC's Rock Center

Mitt Romney’s sons are making another television appearance. They showed up last month on Conan O’Brien’s couch. This week, they’re featured on Rock Center in their first joint television news interview of the 2012 campaign. The boys discuss some serious concerns they had as their father decided to run for president (above). In another lighthearted moment, they defend Mitt Romney’s corny jokes on the campaign trail (below). Catch them Thursday evening on NBC’s Rock Center.

Alicia Keys wants a president who is "human"

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Alicia Keys is looking for a human quality in her next president. The singer explained why she supports President Obama at a summit in Philadelphia on Monday. PoliticsPA reports: She said, “President Obama cares about the issues we care about… That’s something I know deep in my core and I think we all relate to. You see him speak, whether it’s on TV or if you get a chance to see him in person, you know that there’s a really genuine spirit that comes from him, it’s a really human spirit. That’s the spirit of a person that I’d like to see run the country – someone that’s human. Thank you! Give me someone human!” More from PoliticsPA.com.

Oprah's interviews with the Obamas and the Romneys

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Oprah Winfrey didn’t just interview Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, last week. The talk show queen also made a trip to the White House to sit down with President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Winfrey spoke with the Obamas on Thursday before heading up to New Hampshire to meet the Romneys on Friday. Both interviews will be published in the November issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. More from Politico’s Click blog.

Romney ad pulled from YouTube.



Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

After forcing YouTube to pull a Mitt Romney campaign ad featuring a snippet of President Obama singing Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” a major music publisher is yanking clips of the president’s crooning. Politico says, “Romney’s ad disappeared Monday, and the Obama clips — shot at a January fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in Harlem — began coming down Tuesday. BMG Rights Management, one of the world’s largest music publishing companies, filed a request with YouTube to pull the ad down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. A Romney spokesman told the Huffington Post their

 use of “Let’s Stay Together” qualified as

fair use, and said the campaign would work to

get the ad back up.” More from Politico.com.

Obama likes to doodle

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Like Ronald Reagan before him, Barack Obama has a not-so-unusual presidential hobby: He likes to doodle. Obama told WJLA's Scott Thuman about his habit in an interview in Virginia Beach. The president's habit isn't a complete surprise -- in 2007, he submitted a drawing to the National Doodle Day fundraising campaign. That doodle, created while he was presiding over the Senate, depicts Sens. Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, Dianne Feinstein and Ted Kennedy. It sold for $2,075 on eBay. More from Politico’s 44 blog.

Louisiana senators are happy Brees is staying with the Saints

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Louisiana’s senators were thrilled on Friday that Drew Brees, the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, signed a contract to stay with the team. Brees announced the “deal is done” on his Twitter feed. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) called it a “great day for ‘Who Dat’ nation.” “Great news!” tweeted Louisiana’s other senator, Democrat Mary Landrieu. More from the Hill’s Twitter Room.

Arne Duncan can't keep off the court

Photo Credit: The Washington Post

Two weeks ago, he was playing with the Georgetown Kenner League and Hoops for Troops. Last week, Education Secretary Arne Duncan was spotted hitting the court again Thursday afternoon — this time joining a team at the Barry Farm Dwellings in Southeast during a Goodman Basketball League game. Duncan turned out Thursday in a spectacular pair of yellow kicks according to the Washington Post. Check it out at the Reliable Source.

Beyonce's letter to Michelle Obama

We told you a while back that Beyonce had written a letter to Michelle Obama, thanking her for being such a wonderful role model. In a new video released by the president's re-election campaign, the singer reads the open letter she previously posted on her blog (above). Obama took her daughters to Beyonce's May concert. Around the same time, Obama chose Beyonce as the one person she would want to switch places with. The dynamic duo also collaborated on "Move Your Body," a fitness video geared at getting children exercising. More from the Huffington Post.

Newark mayor participates on Reddit message board

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Newark mayor, everyday superhero, and Twitter regular Cory Booker took to Reddit on Sunday to participate in the message board's "IAmA" question-and-answer feature. Some of the highlights: What Cory Booker thought when he charged into that flaming building: "'Please Lord get me and my neighbor out of here alive' .... other brilliant things that probably flashed through my big bald head: 'Fire - hot'; 'can't believe I'm so out of shape climbing a flight of stairs'; And 'I wish I was faster.'" See more from the convo at Reddit.

Bomb scare on Broadway keeps the First Lady and her girls from seeing 'Spiderman'

Photo Credit: NYPost.com

First Lady Michelle Obama’s trip to the theater over the weekend was interrupted thanks to an ill-advised joke. The Post reports, “Mrs. Obama and daughters were on their way to see “Spiderman, Turn Off the Dark” at the Foxwoods Theater in Times Square when a man threatened to “blow up” the place if he didn’t like the show. “If the show’s no good, I’m going to blow it up,” the unidentified patron said as Secret Service agents were screening the theater before the start of the matinee. Obama and her girls were still in their motorcade after a brunch fund-raiser in Pocantico Hills in Westchester, headed to Midtown, when the "threat'' was made. Agents “just slowed [the motorcade] down” to allow more time for a full security sweep before they arrived, the source said, adding that the First Lady was not affected by the stunt.” More from the New York Post.

"The Harry Reid"



Photo Credit: Roll Call



Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has something in common with Rick Santorum. For years now, the former GOP presidential candidate has had a Google problem, and now the Senate Majority Leader might have one too … albeit one with a slightly more boring definition. According to Urban Dictionary, “The Harry Reid is “[named] for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Under his lack of leadership, the Senate failed to pass a budget in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. He also blocked votes on numerous jobs bills passed by the House of Representatives.” Roll Call hears that the phrase “Harry Reid” might have even made it into the new “Anchorman” film.” More from Roll Call’s Heard on the Hill.

Duncan's Slam Dunk

Photo Credit: The Washington Post

It’s always hoops season for Arne Duncan, the basketball-obsessed Secretary of Education: To the delight of surprised fans, the 6’ 5” former Harvard player showed up at Georgetown’s Kenner League Sunday afternoon and played for a team named “Can’t Be Stop.” The annual summer college showcase always gets some VIP drop-ins, but this was the first time a Cabinet secretary hit the court, reports the Post’s Dan Steinberg. Secretary Duncan will be at the USA Basketball “Hoops for Troops” men’s practice Saturday at the D.C. Armory The Source jokes— unclear if he’ll suit up, but he’s not really a sit-on-the-bench kind of guy, is he?” Find the story at the Washington Post’s Reliable Source.

Nancy Pelosi: Dancing Queen

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was caught cutting a rug. The Boston Globe says Pelosi was burning up the dance floor over the weekend at the wedding of Barney Frank and Jim Ready in Newton, Massachusetts. In a video posted on YouTube, she’s seen dancing with co-Best Man Terry Bean, the Portland-based developer and former member of President Obama's National Finance Committee. The song: ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man." Among other wedding-reception tunes Pelosi was said to have "swayed" to was "It's Raining Men." More from The Boston Globe.

Obama is a Harper fan



Photo Credit: Screenshot via NatsEnquirer.com



President Obama may be a Chicago White Sox fan, but he knows about the nation’s captial’s latest baseball star—Bryce Harper. In an interview with KSNV-TV Las Vegas, the President was quizzed about the Nationals, who at the All-Star break possess the best record in the National League. DCist writes, “Reporter Jim Snyder started talking baseball near the end of the interview, mentioning his own loyalty to the Chicago Cubs. And though Obama was unsympathetic as ever toward the North Side squad, the president did have kind words for someone else in the National League. More from DCist.com.

C-SPAN CEO visits gravesite of every US President

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C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb has visited every single gravesite of the country’s commanders in chief. “I had interviewed Richard Norton Smith, the historian, and in the interview he told me he had been to every gravesite. And it just intrigued me, so I thought I’d do it,” Lamb told The Hill. It took him 18 months to check out all the presidential final resting places when he gave the challenge a try about 15 years ago. He snapped a photo at each of the spots to prove his presence. While he says his main motivation was to learn about members of the nation’s executive branch and where they’re buried, he wasn’t done there. He wanted to one-up Smith. “I decided after I’d shown him that I had been to all the gravesites, just like he had — I went to the vice presidents’ gravesites,” Lamb laughed. More from The Hill’s In the Know.

Bob Kerrey's wife mocks her husband and disses Nebraska in Vogue article

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Sarah Paley, wife of Nebraska Senate candidate Bob Kerrey, may have caused some headaches for his campaign with an essay she penned for Vogue's July issue the Reliable Source points out. In the magazine piece, Paley mentions "misgivings" about her husband's run and jokes about feeling out of place in Nebraska. The World Herald reports, “Her latest piece has been making the rounds in Nebraska political circles, going from inbox to inbox. Some Republican bloggers and others, including one letter writer to The World-Herald, have been critical of the article, calling it condescending. Kerrey pointed out that his wife is a "comedian" (she used to write for "Saturday Night Live"), and said she was aiming to be funny, not offensive.” More from The Washington Post’s Reliable Source.

Obama's new campaign font resembles Cuban propoganda

Photo Credit: In the Capital

President Obama is using a brand new font for the 2012 campaign. A BuzzFeed reader points out that President Obama's new typeface is Revolution Gothic, a style inspired by retro Cuban propaganda posters. They note, "The original font is inspired by retro propaganda posters and wall paintings in Cuba from the 60s to 80s." So BuzzFeed asks, "Who vets the fonts? Obama press secretary Ben LaBolt emailed this response: "Your GOP operative should have had the courtesy to stay sober before noon, and BuzzFeed should go back to labeling cat slideshows." Burn. Find the story at BuzzFeed.

Voting goes social

Photo Credit: San Francisco Chronicle

Facebook plans to launch an "I'm voting" app that allows users to share their vote with friends. The social networking site announced Monday, the upcoming application will allow users to endorse candidates and advocate issues as part of their social profile, with information shared in real time with friends. There's no release date as of yet, but the site says they will also be partnering with CNN to gain real-time opinion data from voters. CNN will ask app users questions and report answers on air. More from The Hill's Twitter Room.

John Bryson's hit-and-run 911 call obtained

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TMZ claims they have obtained the 911 call placed moments after former Commerce Secretary John Bryson allegedly committed a hit-and-run last month. They write, "It all unfolds during the phone call placed by a passenger in the first car Bryson allegedly hit. The passenger tells the operator, "We have a drunk driver that just hit us and fled. He hit us twice, we're pursuing him now." During the pursuit, the driver says Bryson hit a second car. Bryson was cited for hit-and-run in connection with the first accident, but the District Attorney rejected the case and no charges were filed. More from TMZ.

Obama appears on "True Blood"

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First it was former President George W. Bush's head on Game of Thrones, and now it's masks of President Obama on True Blood. Deadline Hollywood reports, "Just a few weeks after controversy erupted over the head of President George W. Bush appearing atop a pike on the network's Game of Thrones, Barack Obama showed up on True Blood last night. Actually it was several Obamas: On the episode, a truck full of gun-toting thugs in Obama masks. "True Blood's production team purchased several Obama masks from us earlier this year, and we've been waiting in suspense for them to appear," mask provider "Costume Craze" wrote today on its blog about the "pretty scary scene." More from Deadline Hollywood.

Spike Lee's 2012 Election Prediction

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Despite fundraising for President Obama, Spike Lee is predicting a "tooth and nail," "nasty" race to the White House. On President Obama, he told New York Magazine, "I support him; my wife and I gave a benefit for him at our house. But I think this election is going to be close. Bottom line, there are many people in America who look at themselves and say, "Am I better now than I was before?"" As for Mitt Romney, he spoke of how the two met a few years ago, "I met him in an airport, Reagan National Airport, and we said hello. It was, like, two, three years ago. I was just in D.C. and he was there and he said, "What's up, Spike?" and I said, "What's happening, Mitt?" We were in line getting something to eat." More from NYMag's Vulture.

Congressman's deleted tweet recovered

Photo Credit: Rep. Bill Huizenga Twitter Account

For those paying close attention to the Sunlight Foundation's Politwoops site, which captures deleted tweets from the country's politicians, a particularly colorful tweet was deleted from Rep. Bill Huizenga's account on Sunday. "Zombie theme park planned for #Detroit #HellYeah," the tweet read, linking to a story about transforming a blighted section of the city into a live-action park. The congressman's communications director Brian Patrick explained to Yeas and Nays that he clicked the wrong button, and that the exuberant tweet was supposed to be sent from his personal account. "I don't think he has any comment on that," Patrick said, regarding the Michigan Republican's actual opinion on a zombie-themed park. "But I would say he would be for almost anything
that creates jobs in Michigan." More from the Examiner's Yeas and Nays blog.

Trump to decide on attending the RNC

Photo Credit: PBS Newshour

Donald Trump still hasn't decided whether he'll attend the Republican National Convention, Politico reports. Said a Trump aide: "He's considering it. Many people want him to go, but he's considering it. He's got an extremely busy schedule and it all depends on other commitments that he has." Just two months ago Trump himself floated the idea of being the keynote speaker. More from Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

Chris Christie's altercation on the Shore

Things got a little hostile on the Jersey Shore boardwalk over the weekend. TMZ caught NJ Governor Chris Christie getting into a verbal altercation (video above) right in Seaside Heights. They write, "Gov. Christie was hangin' with his family and had just ordered an ice cream cone when a passerby fired off some snide comments about Christie's policy on education. Needless to say, the Governor wasn't very happy about it. Soon after, someone in Christie's party put his arm around the 49-year-old and escorted him in the other direction. Christie's camp had no comment on the story. More from TMZ.com.

The Bidens sign books at the beach

Photo Credit: Delmarvanow.com

Vice President Joe Biden spent some time on the beach this weekend. The vice president and his wife, Jill Biden, made the trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on Thursday. While in town, Jill Biden made an appearance at Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue, signing copies of her new children's book, "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops." During the signing, the vice president made a cameo at Browseabout Books and then strolled along Rehoboth Avenue, stopping at local shops and taking photos with members of the public. More from Delaware Online.

Charlotte strip clubs expect big profits during the DNC

It's not just city officials in Charlotte and business leaders rolling out the red carpet for the DNC. The Observer reports, "So is the adult entertainment industry. The same thing is happening in Tampa, the site of the Republican National Convention. Strip club owners, managers, and dancers are all hoping to cash in on the excitement. David “Slim” Baucom (below) has been in the strip club business in Charlotte for almost 30 years and owns seven clubs. Clubs typically thrive during big sporting events. NASCAR race weeks are especially lucrative. But a political convention is uncharted territory. Slim is optimistic that the week of the DNC will be his most profitable of the year. Find the story at the Charlotte Observer.

Photo Credit: WFAE.org



Robert Blagojevich writes a book about brother and ex-governor, Rod

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Because one Blago book isn't enough, the brother of Rod Blagojevich is writing his own book about his battle with the feds. In 2009, the former Illinois pol wrote his version, called "The Governor," on filling the Senate seat vacated by President Obama. Now his brother, Robert, is penning a memoir about his three-year ordeal: "How I Survived the Federal Justice System." The brothers were initially tried together; prosecutors dropped all charges against Rob and re-tried his brother Rod. More from the Washington Post's Reliable Source.

Rep. Barney Frank ties the knot

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Rep. Barney Frank married his longtime partner, Jim Ready, in Newton, Massachusetts on Saturday evening. Politico says, "Frank, 72, and Ready, 42, tied the knot at the Boston Marriott hotel in a ceremony officiated by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. More than 300 guests were in attendance. Though he didn't plan the wedding around his retirement, Frank has said that the timing worked out well. "There's an unintended benefit," he told New York magazine earlier this year. "I want to get married. I do think, to be honest, if I was running for reelection, I might have tried to put the marriage off until after the election, because it just becomes a complication." More from Politico's Click blog.

Some like it hot — Hillary Clinton sure does

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Somewhere between 75-100. That's the number of bottles of hot sauce stashed in the White House by Hillary Clinton when she was first lady, as estimated by former White House Chef Walter Scheib. Yeas and Nays says, "As secretary of state, Cliton's interest in food is in the spotlight — she's ushered in a new era of cuisine at the State Department (think watermelon-tomato gazpacho with Maryland crab meat). Recent meals have drawn rave reviews from visiting dignitaries, including Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Clinton told The New York Times that "showcasing favorite cuisines, ceremonies and values is often an overlooked and powerful tool of diplomacy." Natalie Jones, a deputy chief of protocol at the department, described the importance of food in blunter terms: "Tough negotiations take place at the dining table." More from the Examiner's Yeas and Nays blog.