A White House Holiday

The following is only for those who like joy

This week, my friend and co-host of The Daily Beans podcast Dana Goldberg and I attended one of the White House holiday parties. These parties are held every holiday season as a thank-you to those who supported the administration in any number of ways. This week, for example, featured a gathering to show appreciation for the Capitol Police, a Hanukkah gathering, and multiple gatherings for digital media and content creators.

During President Biden’s remarks, he acknowledged the content creators who, without compensation of any kind, helped platform the joy, diversity, and campaign messaging from the Democratic National Convention this year. Not because Russians pay us like they do the right wing noise machine, but because we want to. We find joy in the work. And this week, we got to celebrate that joyful work while discussing strategies for how to continue the fight in the months and years to come.

But mostly, we marveled at the amazing decorations, generous presidential toasts, and each others’ company this holiday season. As promised, here are a collection of photos from our visit - shared with immense gratitude and joy.

No cold hamburders and warm Diet Cokes at this party. The spread was incredible, and everything was considered - down to real flowers on the tables, crystal stemware, and the silver flatware. The mac and cheese was a hit.

From left to right: Myself, Heather Cox Richardson, Dana Goldberg, JoJo from Jerz, and Politics Girl Leigh McGowan. Photo by Sean McGowan. You best believe we have some ideas about how to counteract the right wing noise machine, and we’re ready to work with anyone and everyone on the left to make that happen.

It was truly a pleasure to speak to Hunter Biden. I thanked him for his courage to publicly discuss recovery, the love between a father and son - and how it helped combat the stigma associated with addiction and mental health care. Then we spoke at length about the VA Health System in Los Angeles. When I worked there, our director had to testify to Congress about why she was leasing VA land to private businesses when by law, that land must be used to benefit Veterans. Hunter talked about turning all that land into recovery centers for our Veterans, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s amazing how much he sounds like his dad, both in speech and deed. I’ll never forget our chat.

I snapped this photo of the lovely Dana Goldberg and the portrait of Michelle Obama by Sharon Sprung.

Dana and I being goofballs.

I got to chatting with the inimitable Keegan-Michael Key. You should hear him say “Put some beans on it!” I wish I’d gotten it on video.

This room was entirely devoted to those ceramic Christmas trees we all had in the 1970s and 1980s, and if you look closely, the main centerpiece is surrounded by glass jars of ribbon candy. Epic nostalgia.

Drink in the majesty of the White House during the holidays, because I’m sure it will be back to Gilead with whatever Elon and Melania decide to do to it next year.

Thanks again to all my beloved friends, and the Biden/Harris administration. It was truly an honor to work with you these past four years. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and none of us is backing down from the fight ahead.

~AG

(Please forgive any typos. My dexterity isn’t what she used to be.)