Today was a federal holiday, but that didn’t stop White House staffer Ximena Nkwame Fong-Biswas-Sanchez from visiting my office for an urgently booked consultation. She practically leapt into the chair directly in front of my desk, scooted up close, pulled out a government laptop, opened it with an air of grim determination on the edge,… Continue reading Joe Biden’s Secret Dilemma
Tag: national security
Mr. Alternative Reality Goes to Washington
Tuesday evening, I was relaxing at home, alone with my cat Twinkle, reading Harpers, The Atlantic, Scientific American and The Economist when the phone rang. Caller ID showed that it was the cell number of my brother-in-law Hank, from whom, at that point, I had not heard anything in quite some time. Tom: Hank? Hank:… Continue reading Mr. Alternative Reality Goes to Washington
DOJ Scandals Test Whether Eric Holder is a Quitter
Last night, Cerise and I attended a Ravel concert by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. But before that, we had a dinner date at the Capitol Grille on Pennsylvania Avenue, where I awaited her arrival at a table for two. Then, more or less out of nowhere, Hoffmann appeared. He’s a successful… Continue reading DOJ Scandals Test Whether Eric Holder is a Quitter
Obama Finds His Voice on National Security Leaks
Last weekend, a Russian hacker cracked six and a half million Linkedin user passwords. Monday, he posted them on the Internet. Wednesday, Linkedin came out and admitted what had happened. Thursday, all hell broke loose. Friday afternoon, I had an appointment for a policy consultation with a Linkedin representative. I had Gretchen reschedule her, however,… Continue reading Obama Finds His Voice on National Security Leaks