Latest news with #GridironClub
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Kamala Harris aides held ‘mock soiree' to practice socializing: book
Aides to then-Vice President Kamala Harris were so paranoid about her navigating social events that they held a 'mock soiree' ahead of an intimate DC dinner party in the spring of 2022, according to a new book detailing the dysfunction of the Biden administration. In 'Original Sin,' co-authors Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper note that Harris advisers made it a literal dry run — deciding not to serve wine to see if the veep could 'practice with a glass or two.' There are no reports of awkward moments at the 'salon-style dinner' Harris attended at the home of media mogul David Bradley, whose portfolio includes ownership of National Journal and a partnership in the Atlantic magazine. Advertisement However, Thompson and Tapper do detail frustrations with the VP among Biden loyalists, describing the Californian as a 'regular headache' for the White House. 'She often shied away from politically tough assignments when Biden had accepted such assignments as vice president,' the authors write. 'She even turned down seemingly simple asks, such as headlining DC's Gridiron Club dinner.' 3 Kamala Harris' team was paranoid about her performance during hobnobbing events. Bruce Glikas/WireImage Advertisement 3 Many elements of former President Joe Biden's team were wary of Kamala Harris. Getty Images Six months prior to the 'mock soiree,' Harris and her team drew mockery for releasing a strange video about space exploration that featured child actors who auditioned for their roles. Harris had been picked in May 2021 to head up the National Space Council, a Cabinet-level position that Thompson and Tapper describe as 'politically safe ground' that she still found 'difficult' to navigate — though she reportedly wasn't helped by aides who 'internally mixed up astrology and astronomy.' 'Many on the Biden team felt that Harris didn't put in the work and was also just not a very nice person,' the book reads. 'Several quietly expressed buyer's remorse: They should have picked [Michigan Gov. Gretchen] Whitmer' as Biden's running mate in 2020. Advertisement 3 Kamala Harris is now mulling over her options for her political future. Cameron Smith Biden had vowed to select a woman as his No. 2, and Harris and Whitmer were the two finalists, according to the book. Biden confidants, such as future White House chief of staff Ron Klain, had strongly backed Harris behind the scenes. Jill Biden, however, had been vexed by Harris for raking her husband over the coals during a Democratic primary debate in June 2019 over the issue of busing. Advertisement After Harris joined the ticket, friction ensued between staffers in both camps — continuing once they were in office. 'Harris aides began dividing Biden advisers between the helpful and what one called 'the cabal of the unhelpful,'' according to Thompson and Tapper. 'Anthony Bernal, the First Lady's office, and [White House Deputy Chief of Staff] Jen O'Malley Dillon, along with many in the political and communications shops, were often in the latter group.' Ironically, O'Malley Dillon would go on to chair Harris' campaign after Biden dropped out of the 2024 race in late July. 'Original Sin' is slated to hit bookshelves on May 20.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wes Moore: ‘I'm not running' for president in 2028
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a rising star within the Democratic Party who's been floated as a 2028 contender, surprised many Thursday when he said he will not run for president in the next cycle. 'I am not running,' Moore said when asked by co-host Joy Behar on ABC's 'The View' if he would run in 2028, noting actor George Clooney's recent praise of him. 'You're not,' Behar responded, to which Moore doubled down, 'I am not running.' 'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin said at one point that the Maryland Democrat was 'doing a pretty bang-up job in Maryland.' 'Wait a minute, what if we really, really, really need you, though?' Behar asked to laughter. Moore's announcement that he's not interested in running for a White House bid in 2028 is surprising given as his popularity has risen within the party, including making notable appearances at events like the Gridiron Club in March. He raised some speculation at the event about potential presidential ambitions when he said, 'If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn't do any of this.' 'Instead, I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy: the Kremlin,' he added. Moore is among a handful of Democratic governors who have been floated as 2028 White House potentials, which also include Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky. While he made it clear he wasn't interested in running for the presidency, it's also possible that Moore could change his mind, particularly as the contours of a 2028 Democratic primary shape up in the next year or two. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Wes Moore: ‘I'm not running' for president in 2028
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), a rising star within the Democratic Party who's been floated as a 2028 contender, surprised many on Thursday when he said he was not running for president next cycle. 'I am not running,' Moore said when asked by co-host Joy Behar on ABC's 'The View' if he would run in 2028, noting actor George Clooney's recent praise of him. 'You're not,' Behar responded, to which Moore doubled down, 'I am not running.' 'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin said at one point that the Maryland Democrat was 'doing a pretty bang-up job in Maryland.' 'Wait a minute, what if we really, really, really need you, though?' Behar asked to laughter. Moore's announcement that he's not interested in running for a White House bid in 2028 is surprising given as his popularity has risen within the party, including making notable appearances at events like the Gridiron Club in March. He raised some speculation at the event about potential presidential ambitions when he said, 'If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn't do any of this.' 'Instead, I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy: the Kremlin,' he added. Moore is among a handful of Democratic governors who have been floated as 2028 White House potentials, which also include Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky. While he made it clear he wasn't interested in running for the presidency, it's also possible that Moore could change his mind, particularly as the contours of a 2028 Democratic primary shape up in the next year or two.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wes Moore's star is rising as Democrats look for a comeback
When Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) took the stage at the annual Gridiron Club dinner on Saturday night, he mockingly made mention of the thing Democrats have been buzzing about for months: his presidential ambitions. 'If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn't do any of this,' Moore said. 'Instead I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy. The Kremlin.' The comment, made at a dinner where the motto is 'singe not burn' and journalists mingle with lawmakers from both parties, got a rousing reaction from Democrats. Moore's political prospects have only gained steam in the party in recent months, as Democrats desperately try to find someone to lead them out of the wilderness, to save them. Lately, the 46-year-old's name is among the first to come up in conversation. 'Wes Moore is the Captain America of Democratic politics,' said Jamal Simmons, a prominent party strategist who worked for former Vice President Kamala Harris. 'He's a veteran, an athlete and a Rhodes Scholar who still connects with everyday people. 'He's the best of us but doesn't act like he's better than any of us,' Simmons said. As they seek to rebuild — and in some ways, reinvent — their party, Democrats have been testing the waters on a number of potential candidates for 2028. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now a mayoral candidate for New York City, are admired for their bullishness. Democrats find Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro interesting for their appeal in the swingiest of swing states. Moore, many Democrats think, is worthy of the spotlight because of his authenticity and his appeal to a wide swath of voters. 'Look at his Instagram,' one Democratic strategist said. 'He is us.' There he is throwing his hands in the air, spinning around, and rooting for the Baltimore Ravens. In another frame he's wishing his mom a happy birthday. And then there are the reels of his workouts and the images of Moore — a former wide receiver — playing football with the University of Maryland football team. John Ronquillo, the director of the Institute for Public Leadership and a professor at the University of Maryland, said Moore has 'given us a master class on how to draw attention to oneself.' 'I can't think of another governor of Maryland who has gotten so much attention,' Ronquillo said. 'He's crafting an image of someone who has an interesting story to tell.' In some ways, Ronquillo said, Moore is reminiscent of another young upstart who came out of nowhere, quickly rose through the ranks and inevitably ended up in the White House: Barack Obama. 'While I want to be careful with comparisons — Barack Obama is Barack Obama and Wes Moore is Wes Moore — there's no denying that they've both had a meteoric ascent to political prominence,' Ronquillo said. 'They've been outside disruptors that have skillfully permeated the Democratic establishment. They've both turned heads with a confident demeanor evoking a calm amidst a storm that says, 'I've got this.'' But that part also gives Democrats some pause. 'We're always in search of the next Barack Obama, and on the surface I wonder if we're pinning all our hopes and dreams on this guy because he looks good on paper,' the Democratic strategist said. 'I'm a little skeptical.' Moore has sought to step up in the early weeks of the Trump administration, at a time when Democrats are begging the party's leadership to take an active role in opposing the president. After a meeting at the White House last month, Moore quickly landed upon the decision that not only could he not work with President Trump, he said Maryland and other states have to rally to oppose layoffs and other decisions imposed by Trump. 'I come back from Washington with no illusion about what kind of partnership that this administration is trying to forge with our nation's governors,' Moore told reporters, according to the news site Maryland Matters. 'And … with a clear understanding that if this first month is any indication of where things are going, we as lawmakers had better take this moment seriously and make sure that we're moving forward.' Maryland was also one of 20 states that decided to legally challenge the Trump administration on the dismissal of 1,300 workers at the Department of Education, and Moore opposed the administration's implementation of tariffs. 'Tariffs are a tool. They're not an ideology, but this administration is using it like an ideology,' Moore said on CBS's 'Face the Nation' earlier this week. 'The decisions are being made — made not with us, they're being made to us.' At the Gridiron dinner, as Democrats continued to whisper about his future prospects, Moore made several attempts to speak about his rising-star status within his party — with good humor. 'In the middle of the chaos, people are asking if I will be the new leader of the resistance,' he began. 'My answer is always the same: That job is filled. And I wanna thank Sen. Mitch McConnell for fighting the good fight.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Wes Moore's star is rising as Democrats look for a comeback
When Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) took the stage at the annual Gridiron Club dinner on Saturday night, he mockingly made mention of the thing Democrats have been buzzing about for months: his presidential ambitions. 'If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn't do any of this,' Moore said. 'Instead I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy. The Kremlin.' The comment, made at a dinner where the motto is 'singe not burn' and journalists mingle with lawmakers from both parties, got a rousing reaction from Democrats. Moore's political prospects have only gained steam in the party in recent months, as Democrats desperately try to find someone to lead them out of the wilderness, to save them. Lately, the 46-year-old's name is among the first to come up in conversation. 'Wes Moore is the Captain America of Democratic politics,' said Jamal Simmons, a prominent party strategist who worked for former Vice President Kamala Harris. 'He's a veteran, an athlete and a Rhodes Scholar who still connects with everyday people. 'He's the best of us but doesn't act like he's better than any of us,' Simmons said. As they seek to rebuild — and in some ways, reinvent — their party, Democrats have been testing the waters on a number of potential candidates for 2028. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, now a mayoral candidate for New York City, are admired for their bullishness. Democrats find Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro interesting for their appeal in the swingiest of swing states. Moore, many Democrats think, is worthy of the spotlight because of his authenticity and his appeal to a wide swath of voters. 'Look at his Instagram,' one Democratic strategist said. 'He is us.' There he is throwing his hands in the air, spinning around, and rooting for the Baltimore Ravens. In another frame he's wishing his mom a happy birthday. And then there are the reels of his workouts and the images of Moore — a former wide receiver — playing football with the University of Maryland football team. John Ronquillo, the director of the Institute for Public Leadership and a professor at the University of Maryland, said Moore has 'given us a master class on how to draw attention to oneself.' 'I can't think of another governor of Maryland who has gotten so much attention,' Ronquillo said. 'He's crafting an image of someone who has an interesting story to tell.' In some ways, Ronquillo said, Moore is reminiscent of another young upstart who came out of nowhere, quickly rose through the ranks and inevitably ended up in the White House: Barack Obama. 'While I want to be careful with comparisons — Barack Obama is Barack Obama and Wes Moore is Wes Moore — there's no denying that they've both had a meteoric ascent to political prominence,' Ronquillo said. 'They've been outside disruptors that have skillfully permeated the Democratic establishment. They've both turned heads with a confident demeanor evoking a calm amidst a storm that says, 'I've got this.'' But that part also gives Democrats some pause. 'We're always in search of the next Barack Obama, and on the surface I wonder if we're pinning all our hopes and dreams on this guy because he looks good on paper,' the Democratic strategist said. 'I'm a little skeptical.' Moore has sought to step up in the early weeks of the Trump administration, at a time when Democrats are begging the party's leadership to take an active role in opposing the president. After a meeting at the White House last month, Moore quickly landed upon the decision that not only could he not work with President Trump, he said Maryland and other states have to rally to oppose layoffs and other decisions imposed by Trump. 'I come back from Washington with no illusion about what kind of partnership that this administration is trying to forge with our nation's governors,' Moore told reporters, according to the news site Maryland Matters. 'And … with a clear understanding that if this first month is any indication of where things are going, we as lawmakers had better take this moment seriously and make sure that we're moving forward.' Maryland was also one of 20 states that decided to legally challenge the Trump administration on the dismissal of 1,300 workers at the Department of Education, and Moore opposed the administration's implementation of tariffs. 'Tariffs are a tool. They're not an ideology, but this administration is using it like an ideology,' Moore said on CBS's 'Face the Nation' earlier this week. 'The decisions are being made — made not with us, they're being made to us.' At the Gridiron dinner, as Democrats continued to whisper about his future prospects, Moore made several attempts to speak about his rising-star status within his party — with good humor. 'In the middle of the chaos, people are asking if I will be the new leader of the resistance,' he began. 'My answer is always the same: That job is filled. And I wanna thank Sen. Mitch McConnell for fighting the good fight.'
