Watch 2024 White House Correspondents’ dinner | NBC News NOW

down down e C BL you the BL this says that it is let my e e I a I your spe I I see that I am and I I Sol and I know that it goes imp d down e e e the you I next and I he for is for the e Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats. The show starts in 3 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The show is about to begin. What is happening in your danger zone? It's the White House Correspondence Dinner and some politicians are about to be roasted.

Journalists gathered. to toast free speech at the White House Correspondence Dinner, we have awards, scholarships and laughter on the way, it's Saturday night and Colin Jo is not in New York, prepare to laugh, everyone, the show is on about to begin, this star-studded celebration of the image of the First Amendment. a room full of the most prestigious names in Washington, all in our seats, bright faces, people find your seat, you're in the situation. Ballroom, we're starting on time tonight, please shut up, don't make me take the 160 minute timer. You will download it now to find your seats and enjoy the show.

What's happening. This

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is about to begin. They don't pay you with words. You were told to take a seat and you failed miserably. Just stay quiet. Hush, shit, can we keep it down? Everybody, hush, hush, everybody, there's a volume button somewhere here, hey, shut up, hush, hush, everybody, shut up, shut up, I gotta get down there, hey, shut up. The White House Correspondence Dinner, the White House Correspondence. Dinner White House Correspondence Dinner The White House Correspondence Dinner begins on 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 broadcast live from Washington DC is the White House Correspondence Dinner with special appearances by Eugene Daniels Lester Hello Steve coraki Scott McFarland Karen Travers Kristen Welker the impressionist Matt Bren, the president of the United States and tonight's star, Colin Jo, now here is the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, Kelly Odonnell, now we have your attention, it was a lot of fun and you'll see how lucky I am to have so many friends with great personalities who were willing to be a little silly and help us get started tonight.

Thank you to everyone who said yes when I called across all networks. Thank you friend for attending that Mr. President, Vice President Harris, Dr. Biden and Mr. mhof, we welcome you as we celebrate freedoms that are enduring and repeatedly tested. Your presence here speaks clearly and clearly about the essential connection between freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the democracy we value. Tonight we will honor the honor of excellence. We will look to the future with support for our academic students, but we know that eyes are wide open here, we gather for this great evening in tumultuous times with crises and conflicts all around us, there is no doubt that we also know that life has many dimensions, including Time to Celebrate and Time to Laugh, many of you have reached out to me to tell me how excited you are to see Colin Joost as our entertainer.

Let me be honest with you when you pick your dreams to headline this event and this crowd says yeah, it's a good day. It's a good day, thank you Colin for being here and I know Colin cares about history and thinks about it like many of us at the White House Correspondents' Association and I'm not talking about the dusty books in the library. I learned a lot about Washington from Listening to Laughter on Saturday Nights when I was growing up in Ohio, and it showed me that humor can tackle serious topics and make us feel a little lighter, so I asked Colin and our friends at Saturday Night Live that they opened the Time Capsule with almost 50 years of political humor to take us on a fun and fun journey ladies and gentlemen the president of the United States, no problem, I don't want to be here here here and here and here and here I'm not going to do I don't have to do this I will do this I will do them both together one thing about being a leader is that a leader has to make some very difficult decisions that's why I'm going with the chimy chongas we're almost out of time so I'm going to ask each candidate That Your in one word the best argument for your candidacy Governor Bush strategy vice president Gore lock boox Obama oh my God what happened you made Barack Obama angry and when you make Barack Obama angry he becomes the Rock Obama hey everyone, it's me, your VP Joe Biden and I invite you all to join me this Monday at the Biden party.

Do you think you can jump higher than me? Well now you can find out in the game I call. Do you think you can jump higher than me? And make sure you do it. Join me for my Kung Fu display, Biden time, yes, a Wall Street Journal, okay and you know something, Mr. Cohen? I've never heard of you, his mom said, hey, hey, I can't believe this whole mess happened in Iowa because of an app, hey, I have an idea for an app called mo apps. Senator Mitch McConnell, seen here, is told that a black woman made a country album and has spoken out in favor of a bill that would potentially ban Tik Tok in the US - for McConnell, of course.

Tik Tock is just what the Grim Reaper says while tapping his

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, you know, Jesus did incredible things that some would call The Miracles in terms of fish and regarding bread, this is my speech, there are others similar, but this is mine, I I wrote it. Myself last night while I was screaming into an empty bag of Doritos and we're going to get in there, we're going to get our pole

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es so close that we're going to get close like this, look, this is legally locked, crazy in the back, that's where pole Watcher should be when can we return to the capital and resume voting hello door Dash I'm Chuck Schumer us, your Congressman George Santos, seen here in a porn store reality show promotion was indicted on federal charges including conspiracy, wire fraud and identity theft .

He was also charged with manslaughter when that button came off his jacket and killed a bystander. The whole country has been bullying me just because I'm a proud gay thief. What else is new? America hates to see a Latina queen winning, you see, I'm not only a senator, I'm a wife, a mother, and the craziest one in the Target parking lot. President Mike Johnson said he is blurring the faces in the Jan. 6 footage so that none of them will be charged with a crime, so unfortunately he never will be. I know who they are, it's a terrible time for our country.

I'm weirder than ever. I just gained a degree Celsius, let's do this and remember that we may be from different times, but at the end of the day we are both Joe fucking Biden, and we live. from New York it's Saturday night we're live and our data line is Washington thank you Lauren Michaels Colin and the SNL team now on to our first business 50 years of SNL Can we applaud for a moment that was my entire life flashing before my eyes After seeing all that, we start our awards business tonight and honor Excellence not only to recognize great reporting writing and photography, but to inspire more great work from many of you when you combine true facts, real responsibility and well-informed knowledge.

It was so vital that I turned to a journalist I knew when he was an intern in college and he was a local

news

anchor in Chicago, which means I've admired him for a long time. Please welcome NBC Nightly News anchor and editor-in-chief Lester Holt. Thank you. you and Kelly I'm so proud to be your colleague what an incredible night this is thank you for everything you and the team have done each one here a panel of independent judges review dozens of entries for the five major whca journalism awards it's an honor for me to announce this year's winners the Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage is named after a former president of the Association the late Chicago Tribune correspondent Aldo Beckman goes to Barack Ravid of axios the judges said While Barack Ravid's reporting showed deep, almost intimate levels of sourcing in the United States and abroad that produced stories closely related to events that followed, his stories placed the reader in the room as decisions were made in the tumultuous aftermath of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to present the Aldo Beckman Award to Barack Ravid, which awards two awards for reporting under pressure, one for print and one for broadcast, each including a prize for $2,255,200 This year's print winner is Peter Baker of the New York Times judges said Baker's coverage of President Joe Biden's visit to Israel just days after the October 7 attacks featured on Deadline from Tel Aviv combined a comprehensive account of that whirlwind trip with expert journalist-driven analysis of the president's messages and priorities during a tense moment in which he carefully selected observations of public events combined with well-sourced reports of behind-the-scenes details cleverly summarized the emotional crosscurrents, diplomatic chaos and other challenges surrounding the trip.

His story not only helped improve understanding of the latest events and a fast-moving situation in real time, but included a sensitive assessment of the underlying dynamics. and the historical context that allowed it to stand as a definitive written account of the day despite being submitted on deadline, please welcome the winner of the deadline to print award, Peter Baker, right now, the award of broadcast excellence under deadline pressure, this year's winner is Tamara Keith. NPR addresses last year's president for her work on the president's trip to Israel, judges said her gripping audio report G expertly took listeners behind the scenes on the 31-hour trip to Tel Aviv preparing to his audience for the president's statement to the United States.

Later that night, voiced, textured and written on Air Force One as she returns to the United States, Keith's story exposes President Biden's thinking and takes listeners on the journey with her and onto Air Force One to hear the president himself announce the breakup. News and Keith's quick work as part of the White House press pool to share his audio also speaks volumes about his professionalism and his dedication not only to his employer, NPR, but also to his colleagues at the Correspondence Association. the White House and Washington journalism. is pleased to honor the deadline to report to NPR's Tamara Keith Now Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage by Visual Journalists This award recognizes a video or photo journalist for unique coverage of the presidency from a journalistic point of view, whether in the White House or in the field this could be breaking

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a scheduled event or featured coverage includes a $2,500 prize this year's prize goes to Doug Mills of the New York Times for this photo of President Biden boarding Air Force One in Warsaw with a return trip to Washington DC after meetings and speeches about the war in Ukraine, the judges praised the photo for showing three key elements, action, composition and felt that each also saw the image differently and agreed that whether the image is boing or optimistic, interpretation is left to the viewer of the impressive batch of visual input. they said this photo best captures news-making Year, join me in congratulating New York Times photographer Doug Mills, all together, okay, the Healing State Government Accountability Award is presented by the College of Journalism and Communications at The University of Florida, this is the fifth year they have presented this award at the

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and it comes with a check for $25,000.

This year's award goes to a collaboration between the pro-public Texas Tribune and Frontline reporting on the tragic mishandling of the active shooter situation at Rob Elementary School in Uval, Texas, on May 14, 2022. Titled Unprepared, It is made up of a series of newspaper articles and a Frontline documentary. The meticulously researched report explains why students and teachers at Rob Elementary School remained barricaded in a classroom for 77 minutes with the gunman as more than 100 police and military officers raced to find him. FL flashbang radios Shields and even the key to open the classroom, investigators then surmise that the classroom could have been open throughout the siege for over a year.

Lami Creel, a pro-public investigative reporter for the Texas Tribune, led a team of reporters who examined video footage from two dozen body cameras and hundreds of hours of interviews with 150 law enforcement officers to unravel the actions and inactions that led to the death. of 21 people, including 19 children, Creel and his colleagues Lexi Churchill Jan Z Hernandez Jessica Priest Pea Triso and Zach Depart. contributed to the series one of the beas wrote and directed the documentary Frontline one of the judges saidwhich was a high-profile investigation into the mistakes made by law enforcement during one of the most horrific school shootings in recent US history.

The accompanying Frontline documentary was especially strong using officers' body camera footage and recorded briefings with officers to take viewers inside the investigation of what went wrong and why those charged with protecting children and teachers did not act until it was too late to save some of the victims here to accept the prize is the right eel Lexi Churchill and Zack part love a prize four people and now the Katherine Graham prize for courage and responsibility of course is named in honor of the legendary editor of the Washington Post and this year it goes to the newspaper that she directed the judges They said the Washington Post shows courage, sensitivity and originality in breaking journalism industry norms to inform and show readers how the AR-15 weapon inflicts horrific damage to the human body.

The publication was transparent about its reporting methodology and brave in publishing graphic images of mass shooting victims, including children, and after the effects on survivors and families, it handled this sensitive topic well with prominent warnings to readers that the images There may be disturbing conversations with victims' families before publication about the article's methodology and the intentions of the publication's executive editor, Sally Busby. She also published an extensive explanation outlining the newspaper's decisions. He acted with sensitivity toward victims and survivors and elevated our nation's important national conversation about gun safety, gun ownership rights, and the tragic effects of the AR-15 explosion.

The post's decision to publish the story exemplifies the courage and journalistic skill that Katherine Graham regularly exhibited under her leadership, let's welcome the Washington Post's Katherine Graham Award winners Nick Kirkpatrick Sylvia Foster fra Todd Frankle and Peter Walston congratulations, let's hear it once again for all of this year's winners ladies and gentlemen, and now to meet the press, we're taking you inside the White House Correspondence Dinner for By the Numbers Night, our own Steve Coraki is on the great dashboard to break it all down. Steve, okay, Kristen has been doing some numbers and why not? We start with a map, not an electoral map, but a map of the banquet hall.

You can see right here, there are 260 counts, 260 tables, each set up for 10 people, some really advanced math here that equals 2600 people now. It feels a little cramped around you, it's for good reason that the whole place is less than 30,000 square feet, so good luck maneuvering and leave a little extra space, if you want, for your servers. Here's a statistic about that catering staff 25 years a quarter of a century ago, that's the average dining experience of each Banket team member. Now let's get to the most pressing question that I know is on your mind right now. What's on the menu?

Let's check that out, holy potatoes, since 675 pounds of them said this could be a nod to a certain president of Irish roots and speaking of presidents, here's another number to keep in mind, that number is 16, since there are 16 sitting presidents who have attended this dinner during the year that began with Calvin kulage in 1923, but enough about Presidents, I want to talk about you for a minute because by being at this dinner you are doing something very important: you are contributing to scholarships for the next generation of journalists, 30 of them are waiting in the wings tonight and that brings me to the simple one.

The most important number I can share with you tonight is 3.5 million. $3.5 million in scholarships awarded by WHCA and its partners since the 1990s, so congratulations to the recipients. These are the details of his dinner as an ABC News correspondent at the White House. can be heard on 1,600 ABC News 50 radio stations and seen on 200 ABC News affiliate television stations and broadcast channel 247 ABC News live here's Karen Travers good evening success in the news business News sometimes comes from being in the right place at the right time. Leveraging that stroke of luck into a great story that can make you stand out, but then there are those special colleagues who built their success day by day and then, year after year, with skill, dedication and perseverance, tonight we award the Dunan Award Pain for your career covering the White House to two deeply respected and admired veterans of our press corps, Rodney Batton and Edward Lewis, if you have seen any of the major events that took place in the White House over the past few decades, from presidential interviews to meetings in the Oval Office and summits around the world. world, you've seen Rodney and Ed's work, they always got their shot when needed, time and time again Rodney Batton, a senior White House photographer, will turn 50 with NBC News next month 50 years Edward Lewis, senior White House photographer White House video, spent nearly 40 years behind the camera first at C-SPAN and then at Fox SS, retiring last year.

Rodney and Ed are masters of their craft with technical skills and a sense of what makes great television news, but they also built personal relationships across different administrations that gave them the advantage of getting the inside scoop that put them in the right place. to capture the moment and cover history this award is named after the first two African American women in the White House press corps Alice dunigan and Ethel Payne her toughness in covering President Truman broke barriers with her sheer determination forced President Eisenhower to take your questions. Rodney Baton and Ed Lewis built their reputations through hard work.

Their great personalities made them well-known and well-liked throughout the White House press corps. We asked Rodney and Ed to reflect on their incredibly long career. races in the White House I was stunned, I just couldn't believe it and, uh, this is a great honor, I really feel honored, very flattered, um, I also shared some tears, how many people can come here every day and be like that ? near the president of the United States of the leader of the Free World born and raised in Washington DC I spent many years passing by this building and I would always pass by and look inside and wonder if I could ever work there and that dream came true.

It is true that being surrounded by presidents gave me a sense of pride, honor and hard work that I did because the world is waiting for the video. That Ry didn't shoot being a travel group, which we've both done, is probably the pinnacle of coverage. the White House particularly abroad because we represent the United States press corps. I have the honor of covering the night the US had the Bin Laden situation. They called me and we were shocked to see what was happening, but I knew there was something big and we had to get to work quickly.

This job requires teamwork. I've been here a little longer. So a lot of things have changed. I had many things. I mean, witness that. It's just amazing when Obama became president and I was sitting behind the shelf and I just missed it. This country had elected a man who was black when I first got that call from Kelly. We talk about the two African American women who carry this award. "I thought about what they endured during that time and I was very proud of it. I like to think that I came here every day. I did what was expected of me.

I really admire the change that Bri

correspondents

made. They made sure that the people of color and ethnic groups from other nations also had access through this press environment because this is a center. Okay, where you go, you might think about it, but this is a press center in the United States. ​​arrived. I am delighted to present the Dunan Pain Award for Professional Achievement to Edward Lewis. Congratulations, Ed and Rodney were unable to be here tonight. You are on a very special journey, but it is accepted on your behalf by your son James. Please photograph, yes, yes, sorry, thank you, I earned that, ladies, once again, congratulations to Ed and Rodney, and thank you all so much for decades of correspondence dinners Presidents have criticized so. peaceful but comical to his political rivals and detractors in 2011, roasted Barack Obama. a private citizen, Donald Trump, is here tonight and obviously we all know his credentials and his breadth of experience, um, for example, uh, no, seriously, recently on an episode of Celebrity Apprentice at the steak

house

, The men's cooking team did not impress the Omaha Stakes judges. and there was a lot of blame to go around, but you, Mr.

Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership and ultimately you didn't blame Little John or Meat Loaf, you fired Gary Buing and these are the kinds of decisions that Keep me up at night What was Donald Trump thinking? How did you recover from this tonight? Your answer, well, I'll tell you. I will tell you that it really is a tremendous opportunity to be at the most failed dinner party that anyone has ever seen. It's great to see you guys as losers. of people say that hello everyone why is it so quiet what is happening it is calmer than sleep Joe hello Joe how are you great to see you we are going to debate right that is what they are saying there are many stars here there are many Excellent people, it is Scarlet Johannesburg.

Scarlet is here from Black Widow. I love black people. I really love black people. It's true. You have a lot of people who could potentially be vice president. You have Lara Trump, who is much better than R. McDonald, who is who. I don't love R McDonald, right, I love who likes a Happy Meal, right, he does, but I'll tell you this dinner is so tight, it's so tense, right? This dinner is sadder than the new album by Taylor Swift. The tortured president's apartment, right? Look at him in the

white

tuxedo, he doesn't like me much right, but I'll tell you, Chinese apps are getting banned, it's horrible, we have to post our David penises on Snapchat, that's what they say, let's be real guys.

I'm on fire right now like the guy outside the court

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, not soon enough, not soon enough, but I'll tell you I'm killing this dinner harder than Christe Gome kills puppies. Let's move on please, even Bernie has something to say. Mr. Trump, he has nothing. I have some idea what the common experiences of everyday Americans are. I worry about fighting ruthless dictators like Vladimir Putin. Can we all agree on that? Can we all agree? Even Mitch would agree with that right now. Mitch, well let me start by stating what a privilege it is. being at this dinner celebrating everyday Americans and African Americans, let me give it to Barack to close it out for everyone DC, you guys have been a lot of fun and I have to close it out by saying when I was on the campaign trail in 2008.

I left a chant with the crowd and I I'd say you got it on, the crowd would say I'm ready to go, so you're in for a long show. Are you excited, excited? I'm ready to go, good night guys, back to Kelly, thank you. Good evening, thank you, thank you, Mr. President, talk about making an impression. You just saw a man of over 200 voices who can capture the essence of anyone, so please leave it for Matt, man, thanks Matt, organizing this night is just one part, an important part of being president of our association. I am happy to welcome a good friend who will succeed me later this summer and we promise a peaceful transition.

Welcome from Politician Eugene Daniels. Good night, good night and now the best part. at night, the scholarship students don't worry, Mr. President Colin, I'm sure people are waiting to hear from you too. The story spans 110 years, but we are also very focused on the future and on young journalists who aspire to report on government policy and the White House itself. One day in 1991, our association began this commitment to give back and, most importantly , elevate promising students, not only financial aid, but mentors commit for a year to working with these students offering advice and encouragement, and all of us.

Know the difference you can make. None of us would be here without opportunities and support and, most importantly, again, people who are ready and willing to help us. We have created important partnerships to expand the reach of our donations and our dinner is the main fundraiser. for our partnership and our scholarships so thank you for your support and your checks thank you very much tonight we congratulated 30 students from 16 colleges at universities across the country on Friday they received a tour of the White House they received a briefing with the senior advisor of the president Anita dun and received incredible advice from journalists who have literally been in her shoes.

I can tell you whyexperience that they are bright and ready to take all our jobs. Let's get to know them. I believe in the first amendment. I believe in the first amendment. I believe in the First Amendment I'm Amaya gika from boy Idaho Alex and Wally from Columbus Ohio Trinity Mass from Jacksonville Florida CHR Ki and I'm from Hudson Ohio Gabe Castor root from San Francisco California SEL goo from San Ramone California Eli Bolts from Tombo Texas Danelle Blen from Mission V Hill California has galani from Philadelphia Pennsylvania Clayton Vickers I'm from Boise Idaho JD Jean from Greenwich Connecticut Julianne Ventura from Indianapolis Indiana Kyle from Georgia chrisy I'm from Pal Ohio pet bi I'm from Arizona black Tyra from boo Maryland Matthew patillo from lawren Kansas Kaya Winters I am from Upper M brother Maryland Katherine Mahoney only from Maryland Megan Ward from Orlando Florida Juan Pablo López from bogot columia Mara fredman from Silver Spring Maryland n Downey from Molton Connecticut Nar ja originally from Iran Currently living in the Bay Area of ​​California Ava Thompson from Chicago Illinois R Weston from De Mo Iowa Grace Kenyon from Fort Collins Colorado Sahar from Scottdale Arizona we are the future of journalism we are the future of journalism I believe I believe I believe in a strong and free society friend we are the voice of the people we are the voice of the people We are the voice of the people now part of this very special experience is that our academics were able to meet the president, take a photo and most importantly, they are here with Us in the ballroom, you all stand up and greet your future employees and when you see them tonight, give them your time, your advice and your cards because, believe me, they will follow up.

Thank you. Have a good night. I am a White House. correspondent, of course, I have learned to disconnect from these spectacles. I'm a White House audio technician, of course, I'm a good guy for the material I'm willing to listen to. I'm a radio correspondent, of course, I can go on the air from anywhere I'm a White House correspondent, of course, I don't care if the National Park Service mows the grass during my live shot. I'm a White House photographer, of course, I don't need to climb the corporate ladder. I passed my I'm already up here I'm a White House Radio correspondent, of course, my office is a windowless closet in the basement.

I'm a White House hearings technician, of course, I'm a professional accountant. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I'm a White House correspondent, of course, I listen to the calls to the wall to find out what's really going on around here I'm a White House correspondent, of course, I know you're listening Peter, enough is enough . I'm a White House reporter, of course, so a real name isn't necessary to go on the record. Senior US officials. I'm a White House producer, of course, I have a glass. from Air Force One or maybe a little bit more we're White House

correspondents

, of course, we spend half our time in Scranton.

I'm a White House photojournalist, of course, we call this the cafeteria because we eat where we are from. I'm

white

. White House Reporter, of course, I'm desperate for an interview with any Biden. I'm a White House correspondent, of course, asking multiple questions on multiple topics with multiple follow-ups. I'm the White House press secretary, of course, I avoid some. probing questions here and there with I don't want to get ahead of the president tonight I want to get ahead of the president and I have his speech right here and there are some great jokes this is my favorite no no no we.

White House Press of Of course, we got the press out of the opal, thank you PR, thank you. I am also a White House correspondent and of course I appreciate the good humor of colleagues who wanted to take you behind the scenes. This is a night where we celebrate, hopefully, laugh. We ourselves take a breath and a heartbeat before returning to work with a world in suspense, a tired but resilient nation, a campaign that is not the echo of four years ago, no matter how familiar the names and themes, all of this is a big story Our White House Correspondence Association includes more than 800 journalists from all branches of the news business.

We are 250 news organizations and our members represent 39 countries covering news emanating from the White House and around the world. Our work at its best. seeks information and accountability, not specific results, in that sense we ask questions, we often shout questions, we would welcome more opportunities to ask them in a calm and measured way, we strive for knowledge, not noise, these days with the unlimited resources of contributors and donors and ability. from marketing experts any white house or campaign can create its own content we believe that the independent professional journalists available to document the events of a presidency are stewards of something precious and more lasting than any news cycle or current affairs issue we preserve the part of the record historical legacy of the First Amendment, our association serves as the leading voice supporting an expanding press core with many separate employers.

We advocate and organize press access at all daily events, domestic and overseas travel and then address things like workspace facilities and membership activities. I'm thankful. to our board of directors for all their hard work and a special thanks to our direct CEO Steve thma for his expertise and dedication thank you Steve my gratitude is multiplying because this week marks a career anniversary for me 30 years with NBC News. I'm very lucky, I'm very lucky, Mr. President, I think that might have been applauding age there. Don't know. I am optimistic that we can do more to demonstrate that a free press serves democracy even when the truth may be difficult to discern and trust is difficult. to win and maintain even when some of our fellow citizens ignore us we have work to do to understand the difference between reporting and publishing using our voices to inform and not to inflame those close to me know that I have been counting down the days until this dinner for months, but I knew that there are others in our news community who have also been counting for very different reasons in the Wall Street Journal are counting for Moscow correspondent Evan grovich 396 days since he was imprisoned in Russia that the US government . has designated Evan was unjustly detained and Evans parents and his family are with us tonight and we are with you we always remember Austin TI 4,276 days almost 12 years since he was kidnapped in Syria his mother Deborah is with us and Mrs.

Ty we are with you and Mr. President again we humbly ask you to do everything possible to bring them home our profession can be dangerous since October around 100 journalists have been killed, the majority of those deaths in Gaza according to the committee to protect Journalists around the world More than 320 reporters imprisoned as of December, including an American with dual Russian citizenship, ALU kmev, who works for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, funded by the FSU, has been imprisoned in Russia since October. Here at home there are different challenges, online threats, hostility towards journalists at work and anxiety it is about a Pay cuts have hit our business hard this year, as news consumers who believe a free press is essential demonstrate that belief with a subscription, they show that professionally collected news is a product you value and we owe you our best efforts and our highest standards, so I have a ritual that started years ago when I started the beat: no matter what Whatever is happening, I make it a point to think about this every time I walk through the doors.

I remember that I am the granddaughter of Irish immigrants who came here with little and believed in a great bright future I recognize that any day could go from calm to momentous upset by unexpected events history could turn that very day so I asked myself: will I be ready? Will I be worthy? Will you stop by when the presidents are in the air? audience tonight I can see our press corps please stand up former WHCA board members please stand up our chief White House correspondents please stand up our current correspondents reporters producers Broadcast and visual journalists about this feat please stand up colleagues who have previously covered the White House I am I am very proud of all of you and join me in a tradition in which we show our respect for the office we cover tonight, a toast to the First Amendment and to the president Mr.

President, and now I can say words of those Irish grandparents and My mom and dad never thought it was possible. It is my honor to welcome the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden. Thank you thank you thank you. Do you think your Irish grandparents are wondering? My great-great-grandparents, who came here in 1846 and when and in what. What the hell is going on I want to thank you for the warm welcome, but please not so loud Donal was listening sleepily Don I like being able to use that again Kelly O'Donnell president of the White House Correspondence Association thank you for inviting me, thank you Mr.

Kellyo, let's be honest, you are too young to be president, it's been a year since I gave this speech and my wife Jill was with me tonight and she was worried about how I do. I told him not to worry, like riding a bike. she said that's what worries me of course the

2024

elections are in full swing and yes age is an issue. I'm a grown man and I'm running against a six-year-old boy. Well, I feel great, I really feel great. I'm campaigning everywhere. the country Pennsylvania Georgia North Carolina I've always done well in the original 133 colonies, and speaking of History, did you hear what Donald just said about the important Civil War battle?

Gettysburg Quote Wow, Trump's speech was so embarrassing that Robert El's statute gave up again, but Look, age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president really has my back. I had a great period since the State of the Union. Well, Donald has had some rough days lately. You could call it stormy weather. What the hell did Trump start with such desperation? reading those Bibles he's selling then he got to the first commandment you shall have no other gods before me that's when he put it down and said this book is not for me look, being here is a reminder that people think that what's going on in the political theater of congress is not true Congress or the theater that expelled Lauren bobert a long time ago to all my friends in the press and Fox News some of you complain that I don't take enough of your questions without comment, for Of course, the New York Times issued a statement criticizing me for actively quoting and effectively avoiding an independent journalist.

Hey, if that's what it takes for the New York Times to say I'm active and effective, I'm for it, okay, I have higher standards, I do interviews with strong independent journalists that millions of people actually listen to like Howard Stern and I know you're looking around and saying this guy's been doing this for 50 years, he's had his moment, give it a little, give it someone else the opportunity to say that, I say, Lauren, ignore the critics, ignore the critics. Lauren is a great friend who has had eight comedians play me over the years on Saturday Night Live eight and who the hell says I'm not a real job.

Creator's look. Lauren had even more comedians and actors making jokes about me, like the funny guy on Weekend Update, Michael. Shay, this is hilarious Scarlett Johansson, you did such an incredible job on your rebuttal of the state of the union that you should be here this weekend to do Weekend Update clearly you are the funny one in the family, look at people on a serious note besides getting married . top Colin and I have another thing in common we both find strength in family. Yesterday I spent time with his family in the Oval Office. Colin's father was a high school teacher in Staten Island and his mother is an incredible woman.

A family of firefighters. was medical director of the New York City Fire Department in 911 as a doctor, rushed to Ground Zero risking her own life trying and saving other first responders running into danger for others is my definition of patriotism and heroism and so is what you all do. when you report the truth over lies, that is why I want to close tonight with my genuine thanks to the Free Press, there are some who call you an enemy of the people, that is right, wrong and dangerous, you literally risk your lives doing your job , you cover everything.

From natural disasters to pandemics, wars and much more, and some of your colleagues have given their lives and many have suffered serious injuries, other reporters have lost their freedom, journalism is clearly not a crime, neither here nor there, nor anywhere. place in the world, and Putin should do it. release Evan and also immediately we are doing everything we can, we are doing everything we can to bring home the journalists, fellow journalist Austin and everyoneAmericans like Paul, do you know who stopped unfairly around the world and I give you a word like Biden, we are not going to give up until we bring them all home, all of them, on the third anniversary of January 6th.

I went to Valley Forge and said the most pressing question of our time is whether democracy is still America's sacred cause is the question the American people must answer this year, and you, the president, play a critical role in ensuring that the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision. A defeated former president has made no secret of his attack. about our democracy he said he wants to be a dictator from day one and much more he tells his followers that he is their revenge and retribution when in the name of God did you ever hear another president say something like that and he promised a bath of blood when you lose again.

We have to take this seriously eight years ago it could have been ruled out as just Trump's talk, but not after January 6. Honestly, I am not asking you to take sides, but rather to rise to the seriousness of the moment. beyond the horse racing numbers and the necessary moments and the distractions, the side shows that come to dominate, they sensualize our sensationalism, our politics and focus on what's really at stake and I think in your heart you know that It was that state that was at stake. higher, each of us has a serious role to play in ensuring that democracy endures.

American democracy. I am more my role, but with all due respect, so do you, in the age of misinformation, credible information that people can trust is more important than ever and what makes you, and I say this from the bottom of my heart, makes you more important than ever, so tonight I would like to toast a free press, an informed citizenry, an America where freedom and democracy endure. God bless America now. I'm going to hand it over to Kelly and then you'll hear from a real comedian. I think I know what awaits me. You know, Colin Joose has criticized me before with his jokes.

Oh, I'm sure you're ready to say after you win. In the South Carolina primary, Biden barely edged out his closest rival, Colin, when I won. I'm going to have plenty of time and I'll be watching my friend Kelly. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much, thank you. You, Mr. President, thank you very much for being here and for your words and supportive journalists, and now we turn to Colin Jo, our main artist. Not only does Colin bring the thrill of his own charisma and talent, but his guests are strictly top-notch, in fact. I've been watching tonight as many of you have been trying to take a selfie and hoping to get close to a very special woman who is a big star in Colin's life, his mother, Dr.

Carrie Kelly, and I know Scarlet is happy. I agree that Colin's mother. In fact, she is a star in her own right, as the president indicated. Dr. Kelly spent nearly four decades with the New York City Fire Department. She became the first woman named medical director of the fdn Y and her service included 911, as the president indicated, where she directed triage. efforts, so Dr. Kelly, we thank you for your good work and as your mother, you know that yes, Dr. Kelly and Mr. Jo, as you know, Colin has a lot in common with many of us here tonight , we're all Scarlet Johansson fans, so for a while. moment I'll take you back to when Colin himself was a reporter for the esteemed publication at Regis High School the owl a young Colin Joe discovers 10 ways not to start an English newspaper an in-depth report on teachers' summer plans at that time and Now Colin Joost is essentially a talented writer, which is why I wanted him here tonight and now he's the longest-serving host of Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update.

They are ready? They are ready? It is my pleasure to welcome Colin Jo, thank you all, hello. That was the hard-hitting journalism he saw in the owl. I didn't know you were going to show pictures of me from high school. I have some surprises. Yeah, it's not really fair. You can't do it for President Biden because the technology wasn't invented when he was in high school. It's not really fair. Good night all. Colin Joost and I will give the Republican response. I'll be honest with you. I do not have much time. I need to get back to New York because I'm juror number five in a big trial that Trump's lawyer took. he looks at me and says you have to be on our side thank you Kelly for that kind introduction Mr.

President Dr. Biden vice president Harris Doug Doug, as you can see from all the comments about my wife, I am also used to being the second gentleman, and to I'm honored, Ed, to be here hosting what, according to undecided state polls, is the last White House correspondence dinner. I hope that tonight will be an unforgettable night for most of us. I was thrilled to be here on stage with President Biden. tonight mainly to see if I could figure out where Obama was pulling the strings. I have to admit that it is not easy to follow President Biden.

I mean, it's not always easy to follow what he says, but before we start tonight, can we just acknowledge how refreshing it is to see a president of the United States at an event that doesn't start with a bayth saying everyone stand up and me I would like to point out that it is after 10 p.m. Sleepy Joe is still awake, while Donald Trump spent the past week falling asleep on the patio every morning, although Fox News said he was just being anti-woke. We're all here tonight at the nerd prom. Well, Matt Gates is at the normal prom, but I actually thought.

I saw Matt Gates here tonight, but he was really just my own reflection on a spoon, like many of you here tonight. I intend to do news on television. My Weekend Update co-host Michael was going to join me here tonight, but in solidarity with President Biden. I decided to lose all my black support. Chay told me to say that and I'm realizing he was prepared. I've been doing weekend updates for a while now, but most people don't know that I started out doing the actual news. His first job after leaving college was as a reporter for the Staten Island Advance newspaper.

They don't have a table here tonight, but they asked me to pass this message on to the other print journalists in the room. "You think you're better than me." In some way I want to point out that when I worked at St. Now, beforehand we had a daily circulation of 100,000 copies. The Washington Post would kill for that, so as a former aspiring journalist, I want to genuinely congratulate all the award winners here tonight, congratulations on the correspondence. The association offers scholarships to promising young journalism students who could one day be sent to cover geopolitical hotspots like Columbia University tonight, this event will be televised live on C-Span woo and if you're at home watching C-SPAN a Saturday night.

I hope they find your body soon before your cats arrive. There are many incredible news organizations here tonight and some credible ones, too. The Washington Post is here. Washington Post. They were the ones who took your coats to the door. Please make sure you tip Fox. The news is here tonight, it's the end of an era, but Murdoch resigned from Fox News, which is strange. I didn't think there was a step back from Fox News. Trump's media is here. Trump media, eh, not at a table, just yelling loudly in the corner. no one Wordle is here tonight sorry, sorry, I meant the New York Times.

I forgot they do things besides puzzles. I have to say it's not a good sign when the only thing keeping a print media company alive is the games people play on their phones are too creepy for you, the room froze faster than Mitch McConnell and I have to ask Apologies for the timing, but as a Staten Island native I still get all my news from the New York Post, thank you, the only paper where the front page always has the same 200 point font, whether the headline says World War II begins tomorrow or a Central Park owl dying in a building collision, the New York Post is like having the New York Times summarized by a crack addict;

The times will tell that a border agreement continues to evade Congress. and the post is like these mexicans are taking my stuff. There are so many amazing people here tonight. Laura Trump is here tonight. Okay, I have a courtship. She recently released a cover of the song I Wo n't Back Down upon hearing it. Tom Petty died again. I can't believe he's saying this to a member of the Trump family, but maybe let's stick with politics. Senator Bernie Sanders is here because he's not the type to pass up a free hot meal, and there are so many influential, hard-working senators in general.

People in Congress here tonight and I just want to say on behalf of everyone I know, stop emailing us, stop it, we get it. Democracy is at stake and your plan to save it is to flood our inboxes like your Crate and Barrel, okay, that's wonderful too I'll be back in Washington I love being in Washington last time I was in DC I left my cocaine in the White House fortunately the president was able to put it to good use for a state of the union. I'm kidding, of course, the president doesn't call it cocaine, he calls it high-speed rail, that's good, by the way, can the guy be blamed for turning to cocaine?

He must be exhausted, orchestrating four separate trials against his rival, rigging the Superbowl, and preparing to steal a second election. Wow, Biden. By the way, Trump's two attacks on President Biden are that he is a sile old man and a criminal mastermind. I think you have to choose one personally. I don't know any criminal mastermind who also rides a bike to buy ice cream. It's not that Trump himself is young and clever. I'm not saying that both candidates are old, but you know, Jimmy Carter is out there thinking that maybe he could win this. He is only 99 years old.

There are elections. There are elections in six extremely long months. Let me see if I can summarize where this race is at right now. The Republican presidential candidate owes half a billion in fines for bank fraud and is currently spending his days farting during a hush money trial from a porn star and the race is tied. It's tied now nothing makes sense the candidate who was a famous Playboy from New York City took away your right to abortion and the guy who is trying to give you back your right to abortion is an 80 year old Catholic, how does that make sense, By the way, President Biden?

Isn't it crazy that he is only our second Catholic president and what is even crazier is that in just a few months we will have our third in RFK Jr. I'm kidding, like his vaccine card says he doesn't have a vaccine. It All Feels Strange Now, by many measures, President Biden is having a very successful first term, but people don't seem to notice, as with the economy. The vibes are bad, but the numbers say it's strong. The economy is like you on the steps. Air Force One feels like it's stumbling, but somehow there's upward progress. I think more can be done in the economy, sir.

I really think so, for example, have you considered eliminating the national debt by reducing Trump's actions? People keep asking if our lives are better than four years ago, of course four years ago we didn't have online sports betting, what more is needed? By the way, that probably keeps the economy afloat. Online betting and Taylor Swift without it we would be in a recession right now the problem is people are always going to compare her first term to Obama's but I think there are actually a lot of positive similarities they both made great strides in health, Obama got us out of a recession, he got us out of a pandemic, Obama. you have Bin Laden, you have OJ and by the way, now that OJ is dead, who is Trump's new VP favorite, it's didy.

By the way, I bet if Trump selected Diddy as his running mate, I bet this race would still be tied, I think. Even some Democrats say they're disappointed, but I think they're just not living reality. Manage your expectations, people, it's like tonight, I'm sure we all wish we were at the Waldorf right now, but we're at the Washington Hilton and we have to Best of all, just be happy you're not at the Airport Hilton, journalists, these These are difficult times and we need the people in this room to help guide us through this. Their jobs are not easy and it doesn't help that we are living. at the end of traditional media The Guardians are gone, did you know that 90% of people now get their news exclusively from social media and that must be true because I saw it on the Tik Tok of a random guy who was recording the video whileDid you drive a Toyota?

Corolla, but he seemed to know what he was doing, isn't it crazy how Tik Tok could be banned in the US by the end of this year? It's a real shame because we're going to need Tik Tok to document who's breaking into the country. capital next January 6 things are not bad for everyone this may be the worst time in history to be a print journalist it is the best time in history to be a court cartoonist My God, the most famous man on Earth is in trial and there are no cameras allowed only the artists their cakes and their desire to make Trump look as bad as possible.

Every Trump sketch looks like the Grinch had sex with The Lorax to finish it off. I'd really like to take a moment to recognize all the print journalists in this room. your words speak truth to power, your words bring light to darkness and most importantly, your words train the artificial intelligence programs that will soon replace you and finally, I wanted to thank my family and friends for being here tonight to support me. I want to thank my wife for putting up with a lot of teasing and for agreeing to meet everyone individually in this room right after the ceremony, that's really special honey, thank you, don't be shy, come up, she hates privacy and with my family.

In mind, she wanted to share one last thing with you before I leave and I wanted to share one thing with you, Mr. President, before I leave. I lost my grandfather this year, as you alluded to a firefighter, William Kelly, he is the reason our son His name is William, he helped Raise Me growing up and I wouldn't be here today without him. My grandfather was a firefighter on Staten Island for 40 years to earn extra money for his family. He was a substitute teacher and painted houses and, like, Staten Island. I should point out that it's not like the Irishman Scorsese painted houses.

He wasn't a mafia hitman, he actually painted houses. The FBI is here. I don't want to start with everything. My grandfather was another weird Irishman who didn't drink because he lost his father and his brother to alcoholism and I swear to you, Mr. President, this is not an age comparison. You remind me of him. Some of his best qualities remind me of yours. I will say that he was 95 years old and that he was still excellent on stairs. I think it's because he didn't actually try to attack them, but the reason I mention my grandfather and I don't know if he realizes, Mr.

President, but Staten Island firefighters are typically not his demographic. Staten Island voted about 70% for Trump in the last election and the other 30% went for Giuliani, but Staten Island also sided with the British during the Revolutionary War, so we're not always on the right side of the story, remember? But my grandfather, a firefighter from Staten Island, voted for you, Mr. President. He voted for you in the last election he voted in. I mean, I'm sure someone else will vote twice in this election using his name, but that's how the democratic machine works. He voted for you and the reason he voted for you is because you are a decent man my grandfather voted for decency and decency is the reason we are all here tonight decency is how we can be here tonight decency it's how we can make jokes about each other and one of us doesn't go to prison after going to the Newsmax after party and when you look at the levels of freedom throughout history and even around the world today, this is the exception, this freedom is incredibly rare and the journalists in this room help protect that freedom and We can never take that for granted, so Mr.

President, I thank you for your decency on behalf of my grandfather and I thank all of you, almost everyone, also for their decency. I am very honored and grateful that you invited me here tonight, thank you. and good evening, thank you Colin and all of our speakers tonight, especially you, Mr. President, thank you again to our executive producer Bob Bane and his excellent team, thank you to the Washington Hilton, really thank you to the Washington Hilton. I will be forever grateful to our members and Comcast NBC Universal my home at NBC News thanks to our board of directors and good luck Eugene I hope you had fun I had the time of my life good evening ladies and gentlemen please remain in your seats until that the president vice president first lady and second gentleman I have to do it, this was Scott McFarland speaking to the White House Correspondence Association, thank you and good evening and dinner by correspondence, thank you, thank you, you're still here, go home, go away.