Will Dems remember how to party?

Mar 25, 2024

By Lauren Egan, Eli Stokols and Ben Johansen

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If you thought the competition to throw the best White House Correspondents’ Dinner after-party was stiff, party planners organizing events around the Democratic National Convention in Chicago are taking it to another level.

Every election cycle (global pandemic allowing), thousands of party officials, celebrities, lobbyists, business executives, donors and reporters flood the host city to witness the official business of nominating a candidate for president. But, honestly, a lot of them are there to party.

Various groups — such as super PACs and advocacy organizations — host dozens of events throughout the week outside of gavel time. The luncheons, cocktail parties and late-night concerts are a time for President JOE BIDEN’s supporters from around the country to blow off steam before entering the most grueling phase of the election cycle.

And after the 2020 convention went almost entirely virtual due to Covid, the anticipation among Biden supporters to partake in the real thing is off the charts. That means no more sad at-home balloon drops, MEGHA BHATTACHARYA!

“There’s a thirst and there’s a hunger for coming together again,” said MICKEY IBARRA, the founder and chairman of the Latino Leaders Network, who has hosted a convention luncheon honoring Latino leaders since 2004.

Ibarra already booked Chicago’s Navy Pier, which has emerged as one of the most sought-after venues this convention cycle. The DNC used it for an event with state Democratic parties in September. And party planners hired to put together large events the week of the convention say there’s a lot of excitement to throw a blow-out event this year.

“It’s been so long since we all gathered, it’s going to feel like a reunion,” said KIMBALL STROUD, an event planner and fundraising strategist who has consulted on convention events since 2000. “The competition is who is going to have the hottest party.”

While there is a decent possibility that the convention becomes the site of some unruly protests, as the president faces blowback from progressives over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war, it's also clear that some Democrats are looking to unwind.

Party planners quickly booked venues shortly after the Democratic Party selected Chicago for the convention, going up against each other to snag spaces that have a water view and are within walking distance to the downtown hotels. (JOSÉ ANDRÉS’ Bar Mar along the riverfront would make a nice party venue, we feel compelled to note, as would The Kitchen — although that could get weird since KIMBAL MUSK, ELON’s brother, is a founder and owner.)

Planners have hired bartenders and caterers and are working their publicist contacts to try to figure out which A-List celebrities plan to be in town that week. At the 2016 DNC in Philadelphia, LENNY KRAVITZ, MERYL STREEP, ALICIA KEYS and ANGELA BASSETT were just some of the non-political royalty in town.

The DNC recently also released a directory to help state parties and other Biden-allied groups navigate Chicago’s vendors. The DNC estimates that more than 70,000 visitors will travel to the convention, bringing in around $150-200 million in business to the Chicagoland area.

“The demand is phenomenal,” said DAVID FLOM, managing partner at Chicago Cut Steakhouse, which overlooks the Chicago River and has received more booking inquiries during the DNC week than it will be able to accommodate. “Space is getting tight.”

But all eyes will be on which entertainers get booked for the post-gavel parties, which take place each night after the convention speeches and tend to be the most anticipated events of the week. Party planners have already begun to reach out to agents to express interest in certain artists, although those performances typically don’t get locked in until about six weeks out.

Stroud, who planned a 2012 DNC party with PITBULL as well as a 2016 party with SNOOP DOGG, declined to say who she was eyeing for the post-gavel event she’s organizing. But, like Eli, we imagine she’s noticed that TAYLOR SWIFT conveniently wraps up her Europe tour two days before the convention ends.

“We’re starting to hear rumblings about a lot of talent that want to be supportive,” Stroud said. “It’s a very important election for a lot of people. So I do feel like there will be a large number of artists and activists that will want to be in Chicago.”

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POTUS PUZZLER

What was BENJAMIN HARRISON’s pet goat OLD WHISKERS known for?

(Answer at bottom.)

The Oval

QUITE THE GAMBLE: Moments after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution Monday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza — with the U.S. abstaining — Israeli Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU canceled an Israeli delegation trip to D.C. that had been scheduled for this week, our ERIC BAZAIL-EIMIL and MONA ZHANG report. The move is one of the starkest examples of the growing tension between the two governments since the war began.

The UN resolution called for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, which the White House insists is in line with U.S. policy. But it didn’t condemn Hamas or link the cease-fire to the release of hostages, which the U.S. has wanted.

President Biden had requested that a delegation be sent to Washington to discuss Israel's planned operation in Rafah and potential alternatives to the invasion. Spokesperson JOHN KIRBY said the White House was “disappointed” and “perplexed” over Netanyahu’s decision, emphasizing that the resolution was non-binding and suggesting that Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu is fine.

NOT RUSHING INTO IT: After openly considering a string of executive orders aimed at curbing migration at the southern border, President Biden has not acted. Not only that, no moves appear imminent, our MYAH WARD reports. Even as administration officials still weigh actions, aides do not feel the sense of urgency they once did. A downtick in migration numbers and an ease in media coverage have been part of the administration’s change in posture.

They could still move forward unilaterally in the weeks or months ahead, but the president is feeling much less pressure to deal with the issue after congressional Republicans rejected the bipartisan border deal.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This piece by AP’s JILL COLVIN and ZEKE MILLER, who (like CNN did) break down the contrast in campaign schedules between Biden and DONALD TRUMP. Biden, who visited five cities last week, has touched down in all 2024 battleground states since his State of the Union address. Trump has held one public campaign event since he locked up the Republican nomination on March 12, and instead, spent his time playing golf and courting donors.

The campaign's director of rapid response, AMMAR MOUSSA, latched onto the story when responding to a Fox News segment criticizing the president’s schedule today. The White House's communications director, BEN LABOLT, also shared the piece on X.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: It’s been a pretty decent news day for the Biden camp. But if there’s something they might not want us drawing attention to, maybe it’s that someone tossed manure in front of National Security Adviser JAKE SULLIVAN’s house this morning, our DANIEL LIPPMAN learned. We can only assume it was done in protest over the administration’s foreign policy. But maybe, it was one particular Auburn fan’s frustration over Sullivan’s Yale Bulldogs knocking them out of the NCAA tournament over the weekend.

Daniel reports that “It’s unknown at this time who did the tossing.” He also failed to find out what type of manure it actually was. Some reporter.

CAMPAIGN HQ

FLACK ATTACK: The Biden campaign is bulking up its communications team, adding four new hires, The Hill’s ALEX GANGITANO reports. MIA EHRENBERG and CHARLES LUTVAK will each serve as a national spokesperson for the campaign. Ehrenberg was previously deputy press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security and Lutvak worked as the principal deputy press secretary for New York City Mayor ERIC ADAMS.

— FABIOLA RODRIGUEZ will be the campaign’s deputy director of Hispanic media and was previously deputy national press secretary and Hispanic media adviser at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2020 cycle.

— KATARINA FLICKER will also join the team as deputy director of strategic communications. Flicker recently served as deputy press secretary for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

BETTER BUNDLE UP: The Biden campaign is tapping three Democratic operatives to head its Minnesota operation, Star Tribune’s BRIANA BIERSCHBACH reports. RON HARRIS, who is a Democratic National Committee executive member, will be the state director. Harris also recently ran to replace Rep. DEAN PHILLIPS (D-Minn.) in Congress before suspending his campaign in February.

ALANA PETERSEN and JUSTIN BUOEN will also join the Minnesota team as senior advisers. Both Peterson and Buoen have previously worked on statewide Senate and presidential campaigns.

THE BUREAUCRATS

IN LIMBO: The Pentagon’s acting policy chief will step down this spring, leaving the position once again vacant as the Biden administration struggles to get a permanent replacement through Senate confirmation, our LARA SELIGMAN reports. Acting Undersecretary for Defense SASHA BAKER is departing the Pentagon to spend more time with her family, Seligman notes.

Baker assumed the position in July after COLIN KAHL, Biden’s only confirmed undersecretary of defense for policy, left the office.

PERSONNEL MOVES: RAFFI FREEDMAN-GURSPAN has been promoted to be principal deputy director of public engagement for the Department of Transportation, our Daniel Lippman has learned.

Agenda Setting

SLAPPING THEM DOWN: The U.S. imposed sanctions Monday on Chinese hackers, accusing them of being a front for Beijing's top spy agency as a part of an effort to install malware into American electric grids, water systems and other critical infrastructure, NYT’s DAVID E. SANGER and ALAN RAPPEPORT report. The sanctions, which represent a major escalation in tensions between D.C. and Beijing, target Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company, calling it a “front company” for China’s ministry of state security.

While there have not been incidents of the Chinese government interfering with American infrastructure, intelligence officials have warned that the malware has been intended to be used in case the U.S. were to come to aid of Taiwan.

DECARBONIZING MAC & CHEESE: The Energy Department on Monday announced $6 billion in funding for projects that would cut carbon emissions emitted from the industrial sector, AP’s ISABELLA O’MALLEY and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT report. The funding is the largest ever U.S. investment into decarbonizing the industry to fight climate change.

Among the companies getting funding is Kraft Heinz, which will install heat pumps, electric heaters and electric boilers to decarbonize food production at 10 facilities. Finally, you can enjoy your gooey Mac & Cheese without fear you’re warming the planet.

What We're Reading

This Is the Best Way for Biden to Talk About the Economy (Tim Wu for NYT)

Biden’s Trustbuster Draws Unlikely Fans: ‘Khanservative’ Republicans (WSJ’s Molly Ball and Brody Mullins)

Harris steps up her role as ambassador to voters shaky on Biden (WaPo’s Sabrina Rodriguez and Cleve R. Wootson Jr.)

POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER

When Harrison was inaugurated in 1889, he brought his grandchildren to live with him at the White House. After gifting the kids a goat named Old Whiskers, the animal was harnessed so that it could ferry the children around the grounds in a cart, according to The Atlantic.

But drama ensued when, one day, Old Whiskers darted out of the White House with the child. Harrison chased after them down Pennsylvania Avenue. “It was an exciting race, too, and it looked for a time as if the goat were to be victorious,” one witness put it. But Harrison eventually caught up to Old Whiskers, saving the day.

A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it!

Edited by Sam Stein.

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