Word on the Hill: Inauguration Planning
Wi-Fi and portable potties
What’s your plan for the inauguration? There are plenty of galas and balls to try and get into mainly on Thursday and Friday.
Thanks to Comcast, you can look up something to do at the last minute or contact your friends easily. Through Jan. 26, the internet provider has more than 6,800 Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots outdoors around Washington for the public to connect for free.
The D.C. neighborhoods with the hotspots include Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Chinatown, Dupont Circle, Eastern Market, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, and the U Street Corridor. Comcast suggests you download the Xfinity Wi-Fi app for a map.
Portable potty watch
Suppliers of portable restrooms for D.C.’s outdoor events are facing some issues with people putting tape over their logos as they set up for Friday’s inauguration. On Tuesday, Roll Call photographer Bill Clark spotted five of the units now labeled “Trump’s Tower.”
Happening today
Breakfast with outgoing White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, hosted by The Christian Science Monitor at 9 a.m. at the St. Regis, 923 16th St. NW. Earnest is keeping up a tradition set by previous White House press secretaries Tony Snow, Dana Perino and Jay Carney.
Debate among candidates running to chair the Democratic National Committee, hosted by The Huffington Post and George Washington University, 7 p.m. at the university’s Jack Morton Auditorium.
U.S. Conference of Mayors: Welcome reception with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Colombian Ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzon, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the ambassador’s residence, 1520 20th St. NW.
Staffer shuffle
Signal Group’s senior manager Lauren French is leaving to become communications director for the House Democratic Caucus and Chairman Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. She starts Jan. 23.
Elizabeth-Burton Jones is the communications director for Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas. She previously served in the same role for former Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va.
Overheard
“Total BS. Everybody here knows it.”
-Senate Finance Chairman Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, on allegations that HHS nominee Rep. Tom Price took part in insider trading while in Congress.
“I think you’re all scared I’m going to run over you.”
– Sen. Susan Collins told reporters as they parted way for her to move forward in her scooter.
“I should have spent more time quoting from ‘Dumb and Dumber.’”
— Earnest, during his final daily briefing on Tuesday.
D.C. cultural event of the day
Special performance of “Roe” at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 Sixth St. SW, at 8 p.m. Watch for HOH’s coverage of the play.
Happy birthday to …
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., 66.
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, 74.
Health Care Decoded
As a new administration takes over, the nation’s evolving health care system — valued today at more than $3 trillion — will face significant changes again.
On March 16, Roll Call Live, in partnership with the editorial powerhouse of CQ News, invites you to a packed morning of expert analysis and nonpartisan discussion to examine the many questions that health care industry stakeholders and policymakers will face. Check out the agenda and register!
What’s going on?
Have any tips, announcements or Hill happenings? Send them to AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.com.
John Bennett and Bridget Bowman contributed to this report.