STAFFING UP: Paul Lindsay is joining the American Petroleum Institute (API) as its new Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the end of next month. Lindsay will succeed current Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Rolf Hanson, who is retiring after nearly 30 years at API. Lindsay previously served as Head of Global Public Affairs at Intuit and is a PhRMA, American Crossroads, Powell Tate, and NRCC alum. “Strengthening America’s energy security is more important than ever, and there is no better organization than API to confront that challenge,” Lindsay said. “It’s an honor to join this team and help tell the story of an industry that powers nearly every aspect of modern American life. I’m looking forward to working alongside API’s members to advance policies to help meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable energy.”
GUESS WHO’S BACK: Andrew Eisenberger is back with Rep. Mike Collins (R., Ga.) as his chief of staff.
WELCOME TO THE NEWEST REPUBLICANS: Corinne Day and Walter Smoloski welcomed Walter John “Jack” Smoloski IV to the world on June 16. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance also welcomed another child, Alec Neel Vance, on July 19.
WORK SMARTER: Regulate Smarter kicked off a new video campaign spotlighting the threat that illicit Chinese vapes pose to Americans of all ages. Its first video features Jon Adler, President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation. Adler notes that China is “targeting our children. That is a major problem. They’re also adaptable to Internet access which can cause a security problem if they corrupt our internet-based systems. And then there’s also the connection with the cartel and money laundering. And that in and of itself is a problem as well.”
HISTORY 101: Hasan Piker, who Republicans have been eagerly elevating as one of the Democratic Party’s top surrogates, recently said that Chinese dictator Mao Zedong was one of the great leaders of the 20th century. “I never would and never will” make fun of Zedong, Piker added. Piker, who has been a surrogate for Senate candidates like Graham Platner and Abdul El-Sayed, recently went to China on a propaganda trip.
JOB WELL DONE: The Washington Reporter wants to congratulate both President Donald Trump and Andrew Giuliani on a successful, and safe, World Cup. Next time, we are confident that Team USA will walk away victorious.
NEW ROLE: Josie Sawyer started as the press secretary for the Rep. August Pfluger-led Republican Study Committee. Sawyer is a veteran of the House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee.
BANNER TOTS YEAR: The Taste of the South (TOTS) had one of its biggest years yet this year, raising $1.7 million to support STEM and workforce development organizations across both the South and in D.C. Among those spotted were Anna Claire Stietenroth, Anna Marian Block, Andres Bascumbe, Micki and Chris Kelly, Ainsley Bice, Josie Sawyer, Victoria Garrastacho, Hannah Eddins, Grace Newton, Erika Bone, Jeff Naft, Logan Luse, Riley Pingree, Annie Price, Kerrington Maggard, Brent Cooper, Calli Cooper, Will Mascaro, Katelyn Bledsoe, Rep. Brian Jack (R., Ga.), Savannah Russell, Rep. Craig Goldman (R., Texas), David Bader, Emily Sturge, Giulia DiGuglielmo, Parker Armstrong, Jill Kinder, Maria Giannopoulos, Alex Stroman and Kevin Walling, Kennedy Stowater, Sarah Martin, Rob Placek, Lyssa Bell, Lisa Shoemaker, Patrick Hishta, Paige Ash, Wesley Baker, Shelby Haney, Shane Waller, Carey Turner, Grace Evans, Sam Somogye, Katherine Robbins, Jamie Johnson, Benjamin Luke, Trenton Hoekstra, Wendy Hamilton, Frances Weatherbee, Laurel Lee Chatham, Seven Sassano, Lauren Kaldenberg, Reilly Knecht, Ian Pigg, Tony Polcari, Landry Cunningham, Ava Verzani, and a life-size Buc-ee.
TASTE OF PARC RIVERSIDE: Ahead of the annual Taste of the South fundraiser, Grace Newton, Jeff Naft, Hunter Lovell, Angela Ryan, Krista Perkins, Paycen Brouillette, Brooke Nethercott, Michael Shea, Payne Hill, Stephen Lewerenz, and Anna Margaret Burnett hosted a reception featuring a who’s who of Washington, D.C. Among those spotted were Hannah Eddins, Victoria Garrastacho, Grace Carnathan, Lauren Pels, Jenna Cooper, Hannah Levins, Logan Luse, Chris Russo, Erika Bone, JP Freire, Kerrington Maggard, Annie Price, Anthony Cruz, CJ Pearson, Tabitha Rosenthal, Will Lane, Parker Walters, Lawson Walters, Mason Greenwald, Benjamin Sumner, Mike Marinella, Zach Bannon, Gaden James, Chloe Kolakowski, Chandler Rebel, AnnaGrace Stallings, Trenton Hoekstra, Peyton Harvey, Katherine Grayson, Grant Lawlor, Benjamin Luke, Ali McDaniel, George Alderman, Logan Van de Water, Bryce Billiot, Perry Mains, Katy Foley, and Madison McGinley.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: The Washington Reporter wants to wish Jenna Cooper at the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) a happy birthday!
