President Barack Obama will write a cover story for Newsweek magazine about Haiti, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal's Russell Adams.

Obama has already pledged $100 million in U.S. aid to the earthquake-ravaged island nation, and when Newsweek editor Jon Meacham asked senior adviser David Axelrod if the president would write about the recovery effort, he said yes.

Already a best-selling author, the piece will be Obama's first major story for a U.S. magazine.

The issue is due to hit newsstands on Monday.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) -- a well known opponent of college football's Bowl Championship Series (BCS) -- sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting that the undefeated Boise State Broncos join the undefeated University of Alabama Crimson Tide at the ceremony.

But a White House spokesman indicated to The Hill that Boise's presence at the ceremony is unlikely, but did not rule it out completely.

"The president has previously articulated his displeasure with the BCS system, but he’s focused on more important things right now," White House spokesman Adam Abrams said in an e-mail.

Obama has criticized the BCS and backed a playoff system in past media appearances but today's indication shows that he is not quite willing to make a large-scale statement on the issue.

The president is simultaneously trying to shepherd healthcare reform legislation through Congress before his State of the Union address in a few weeks and help coordinate U.S. disaster relief efforts in Haiti after a massive earthquake struck there this week.

In 2008, Hatch's home state Utah Utes went undefeated but were not selected to play in the national championship game. The Utes were not invited to the White House when the BCS national champion Florida Gators made their appearance in April 2009.

President George W. Bush did invite both Southern California and Louisiana State to the White House in 2004 but while LSU won the BCS national championship game, USC also finished number one in the final AP poll. Boise State finished number four in final polling.

Today's announcement is a bit of good news for BCS supporters who appear to have averted a moment that would have called into question the legitimacy of the system. 

A new poll showing that 73 percent of college football coaches support the current BCS system was released this week and could help buoy the White House's announcement.

The anti-BCS political action committe PlayoffPAC criticized the president for missing an opportunity to "make a statement" against the BCS without spending taxpayer dollars. 

"No one's saying this is a top-tier issue on the President's agenda, but college football's off-the-field impact on schools isn't trivial either," PlayoffPAC official Matt Sanderson said in an e-mail. "He promised a year ago to 'throw his weight around,' but now it looks as if he may pass-up a golden opportunity to make a statement without spending one extra taxpayer minute or dollar. An overwhelming majority of college football fans will be disappointed if the President doesn't make good on his word."

First Lady Michelle Obama read Green Eggs and Ham to children of federal employees while encouraging them to try new foods during a visit to the Labor Department Thursday.

The first lady read the Dr. Seuss classic during a stop at a daycare center on the premises and then answered questions from pre-school-aged children about her own daughters and the family dog, Bo.

“I’m a sucker for kids,” Mrs. Obama said.

Michelle Obama did share that the girls enjoy playing on their computers and the swing set, but do not own horses.

Bo, the family dog, has never had pizza, as one child asked. Before she left, Mrs. Obama encouraged the children to try new things to eat, responding to one that she’s never eaten a crabby patty (from Spongebob Squarepants fame).

After many months of “will it or won’t it air?” D.C.’s Blonde Charity Mafia debuted in the U.K. and will air this Sunday on MTV here in the U.S. at 9:30 p.m., MTV U.K. reported.
 
The show is a combination of The Hills and Gossip Girl. It follows six women as they navigate D.C.’s social scene.

A bipartisan group of congressional staffers is throwing an impromptu fundraiser Thursday after work at the Hawk n' Dove on Capitol Hill to help raised money for Haitian relief efforts. 

The event is from 6-8 p.m., donations of any amount are appreciated (no minumum), and will go directly to the Red Cross and to musician Wyclef Jean's charity, Yele Haiti.

Organizer David Barnes stressed that the hosts are participating in the event as private citizens, not congressional staffers (who are forbidden from engaging in fundraising). Nevertheless, the Hill-centric group should guarantee a fun crowd.

Host Committee

David Barnes, House Foreign Affairs Committee (majority)
Yuri Beckelman, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.)
Teresa Bravo, House Natural Resources Committee (majority)
Cory Crowley, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
Brian Greer, Office of the Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md)
Annie Minguez, Ways & Means Subcommittee on Trade (majority)
Kristal Quarker, House Republican Policy Committee
J. Williams, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)

UPDATE, Jan. 15: Organizers report that the event raised more than  $2100 for Haitian relief, and that Linda Mathes, CEO of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, made an appearance. 

Here are some pics: 

Brian Greer, Yuri Beckelman, Annie Minguez, Linda Mathes, David Barnes, Teresa Bravo

President Barack Obama spoke by phone Thursday with four world leaders, two former U.S. presidents, and the United Nations secretary general to drum up international support for Haiti.

Among those on his call list: President Lula of Brazil, Prime Minister Harper of Canada; President Calderon of Mexico; President Bachelet of Chile; former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton; UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon; and the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Ken Merten.

So far, Obama has been unable to reach President Rene Preval of Haiti, but Amb. Merten relayed a conversation he'd had with Preval following Tuesday's earthquake, where he conveyed the United States'  commitment to helping the island nation recover from the tragedy

Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have agreed to help the U.S. disaster relief efforts in Haiti, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill Thursday.

Amtrak announced Thursday that its trains will now have free Wi-Fi. USA Today said that Acela Express trains serving D.C., New York and Boston will be able to use the new technology by March.
 
This comes with addition of leather seats, more electrical outlets and new tray tables, all an attempt to make passengers happy.

A new book about the 2008 election, Game Change, has comedian Stephen Colbert questioning author John Heilemann of New York Magazine about the accuracy and reliability of his sources. Heilemann was on The Colbert Report last night to talk about it.

John Heilemann on 'The Colbert Report'

Posted to New York Magazine by video on January 13, 2010

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