Who knew a boring White House briefing could be so exciting? We knew. We always knew. One NBC correspondent called it “radical normalcy,” as in hiring qualified officials with expertise. If that’s radical, I’m all over it. Take White House press secretaries, for instance. For 31 minutes Wednesday after the inauguration, newly appointed White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (pronounced “SOCK-ee”) treated journalists with dignity, respect and professionalism. She was honest, free of insults, snark and, thankfully, pearls. “I have a deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy, and for the role all of you play,” she said answering her first question from…
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Inaugural visit
You can tell by the car models in the above photo that it’s not a recent shot of the U.S. Capitol. In fact, it’s from October 1985 – more than 35 years ago – when I traveled to Washington, D.C., for the first time. My inaugural visit, so to speak. Back then, I was 25, thin and working at my first real newsroom job in Miami, barely earning $300 a week. Life was good. Little did I know that in less than a year, the company I worked for would grow tired of losing millions, close up shop, and I’d be out of a job. Then every day would be…
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‘Magnificent ruin’
And to think I thought ending 2020 with a “Dear John” letter was over the top. Not a week into the new year, we’re seeing these front-page, all caps headlines all over the world: “INSURRECTION.” “CAPITOL SIEGE.” “MOB INVASION.” My God, what is happening to us? More than 200 years ago, the last time the U.S. Capitol was invaded, America was at war with the British. It was August 1814, as The War of 1812 against Great Britain neared its conclusion. British troops sailed into the Chesapeake Bay and up the Patuxent River, then fought their way toward Washington. On August 24, using torches and gunpowder paste, British forces burned…
