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  June 18, 2013, 2:20 pm

Alex Trebek: Running for office 'a possibility'

By Meredith Bentsen and Judy Kurtz

Could one city soon be calling Alex Trebek its mayor? [WATCH VIDEO]

The longtime “Jeopardy!” host says the answer is: yes.

Trebek was one of several high-profile honorees — including filmmaker James Cameron, skydiver Felix Baumgartner, philanthropist Howard Buffett and oceanographer Sylvia Earle — at Thursday’s National Geographic Explorers Symposium and Gala at Washington’s National Building Museum.

When The Hill asked the trivia show pro, who was born in Canada, about a report that he was toying with the idea of running for mayor of Toronto, Trebek replied, “I have no idea. I don’t make plans too far in advance. But I’ve always been interested in politics, and it’s a possibility.”

He added, “But for the moment, I’m still the host of ‘Jeopardy!’ and I’m going to continue for a while.”

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  June 18, 2013, 12:14 pm

Ex-Montana Gov. Schweitzer mulling 'Call Me, Maybe' ringtone

By Cameron Joseph

Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) is a fan of country music — and ring-back tones.

Those calling the former governor's cellphone are greeted with the lyrics "God is great, beer is good, people are crazy.”

That the populist former governor likes country star Billy Currington may not be a shock: The son of ranchers has a much-professed love for his pickup truck and often sports bolo ties and cowboy boots.

But he’s mulling a song change that may surprise some, in order to simplify conversations with reporters wondering when and if he’ll jump in the Senate race. He just needs to remember the song’s title first.

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  June 18, 2013, 9:54 am

Abe Lincoln impersonator to teach kids about the budget

By Judy Kurtz

Don’t be surprised if you happen to spot Abraham Lincoln walking the halls of the Capitol on Tuesday.

A former staffer for Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) will be donning Honest Abe’s signature top hat and beard to teach school kids about the 16th president and how lawmakers manage moolah.

Michael Shank, who works as the director of foreign policy for the Friends Committee on National Legislation, will play presidential host to 40 third graders in the House Budget Committee room Tuesday morning.

The former communications director and senior policy adviser to Honda says he’ll have the kiddos imagine they’re on the Budget Committee and help decide how the federal budget should be spent. Using pennies (which bear the profile of Lincoln, natch) the students from Oyster-Adams Bilingual School will divvy up the federal budget into areas they’d like to fund. The daughter of Honda’s chief of staff attends the Washington school. After the penny pinching is done, Shank plans on showing the group exactly how federal tax dollars are spent.

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  June 18, 2013, 8:59 am

First lady, daughters dine with Bono

By Emily Goodin

Michelle Obama and daughters had lunch with Irish rock star Bono on Tuesday.

The first lady, Sasha and Malia joined the U2 frontman for a meal at Finnegans’ pub in Dublin, according to reports in Irish newspapers.

Joining Bono was his wife, Ali, and their two sons.

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  June 17, 2013, 2:13 pm

Congressman saved after popcorn-choking incident

By Judy Kurtz

A piece of popcorn almost spelled doom for Rep. Ted Poe. [WATCH VIDEO]

The Texas Republican was dining alone last Thursday when he began munching on the popcorn that’s typically served before meals at the Capitol Hill Club. That’s when Poe, 64, suddenly started choking at the swanky GOP haunt.

Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) was seated for dinner right behind the congressman when he and another diner jumped into action. The pair performed the Heimlich maneuver and gave the ailing lawmaker back blows as they yelled for someone to call 911.

A GOP aide who doubles as a physician also rushed over to help, according to the National Review Online, which was first to report the incident.

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  June 17, 2013, 12:28 pm

It's FAH-lay-o-mahv-uh-EN-guh from American suh-MOH-uh

By Pete Kasperowicz

Monday afternoon, Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich.) had just one job as Speaker pro tem: introduce Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-A.S.) to speak for five minutes.

Normally, members would struggle over the last name. But in this case, Bentivolio struggled with the U.S. territory he represents.

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  June 17, 2013, 11:35 am

Dodd: There's more cursing on 'Veep' than in the Senate

By Judy Kurtz

While the f-bombs fly frequently in the popular HBO show “Veep,” Motion Picture Association of America Chairman and former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says cursing wasn’t so common behind his Senate office’s closed doors.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who stars as a fictional vice president in the comedy series, is constantly heard throwing out profanity-laced one-liners on the show, which wraps up its second season this week.

So ITK had to know, is there really that much cussing around Capitol Hill?

“Maybe in some offices, not in mine,” Dodd said with a big laugh earlier this year.

“Although I don’t think so,” he continued. “I once asked my staff, having watched ‘Veep,’ did you guys talk like that behind my back or something? They said, ‘Of course not, senator.’ "

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  June 16, 2013, 9:21 pm

Celebs push Obama to eliminate nuclear weapons

By Meghashyam Mali

Hollywood celebrities are pressing President Obama to honor his pledge to eliminate nuclear weapons ahead of his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit in Belfast.

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  June 14, 2013, 3:01 pm

Chelsea Clinton: I hope my mom can 'relax a little bit' on Twitter

By Judy Kurtz


Chelsea Clinton says she has no hand in what her mom writes on Twitter.

Since joining the site last week, Hillary Clinton — who describes herself on her Twitter bio as a “hair icon” and “pantsuit aficionado,” among other things — has racked up nearly half a million followers.

When asked Friday on MSNBC’s “Now with Alex Wagner” whether she was involved with the former first lady and secretary of State’s Twitter account, Clinton, 33, replied, “Oh, gosh. Well I deserve no credit at all on her biography. That was completely her own doing.”

But Clinton says her mom does discuss her tweets with her, telling Wagner during the interview about her work with the Clinton Global Initiative, “She still like treats them all with this like a great kind of, you know, so much thought goes into them.”

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  June 14, 2013, 1:58 pm

John Kerry, Jim Belushi both eyed eating at same DC restaurant

By Judy Kurtz

SPOTTED: In what sounds like the makings of a new “Odd Couple”-type sitcom, Secretary of State John Kerry and comedian Jim Belushi were both eyed dining at the same restaurant (albeit separately) Thursday night in Washington.

The former senator was seen sitting down for dinner with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, at the super swank Blue Duck Tavern. A female companion, along with the ambassador of Kuwait, joined the couple.

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