The conclusion of MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown” comes with a segment called “Shameless Plugs.” But today, theGrio.com‘s Perry Bacon wasn’t shameless at all.

“BuzzFeed doing great coverage,” Bacon said. “You should check them out if you’re not already.”

Host Chuck Todd mostly agreed. “I’m not crazy about the name,” said Todd. “I agree, I agree, the work is good, but the name sort of bothers me. BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed? Sounds like electroshock [unintelligible word] therapy.”

Noteworthy: BuzzFeed wasn’t always BuzzFeed. Previous it was “Contagious Media LLC” and then switched to BuzzFeed because a feed of buzz was apparently an easy catch all.

We reached out to BuzzFeed to inquire about Todd’s slight… Read more

Filing from the bar of Husk restaurant in the Holy City – this is Fishbowl Charleston. As the state prepares to vote in the GOP primary this Saturday, we trudged through the beautiful weather and fine dining to bring you a report from the front lines.

Our Thursday began with a slow start when the closest thing we could find to a D.C. celebrity was Bob Livingston, disgraced former Speaker-designate of the House, trolling radio row of the Southern Republic Leadership Council at the TD Arena. Once we left, we saw a blurry eyed John Roberts from Fox News entering the arena, presumably for J.C. Watts‘s speech to the Council. Walking back to the hotel, we spotted Perry Bacon, from the Grio in an animated phone conversation outside of iconic Charleston restaurant, Jestine’s Kitchen. Considering we saw a reporter named Bacon outside of a restaurant well known for it’s pork laden dishes, we were quite pleased with ourselves.

After an uneventful afternoon, we decided to spice things up with a Rick Santorum speech. Upon arriving, we saw pundit extraordinaire, Michael Barone. While chatting with him, we ALMOST missed the diminutive Lindsey Graham, on his way to fire up the DOZENS of people who had showed up to see the “Sweater Vest of Truth”, Santorum.

Oh, and Perry Bacon was THERE, too. Before Santorum began his speech, we were treated to the arrival of Herman Cain himself. We were tipped off when we saw THIS guy hanging around outside, cigarette firmly ensconced in his mouth, naturally.

That’s right, Mark Block is BACK. We asked him if he tires of posing with his now famous cigarettes. He says he’s “gotten used to it,” but one person in New York recently asked him to SIGN a cigarette butt. The most interesting part of the Mark Block story is that when we made our way into the arena, he sat down just a few seats away from Josh Kraushaar from National Journal. It wasn’t long ago that Block famously butchered the relationship of Kraushaar to Cain sexual harassment accuser KAREN Kraushaar in the news. Block claimed on Fox News that she was Josh’s mother. (They aren’t related at all.) We asked him about that incident when it happened.

Kraushaar even acknowledged the weirdness on Twitter.

Mark Block a couple rows back in crowd as Herman Cain readying to address audience. Still haven’t heard from him since the Hannity botch.

— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) January 19, 2012

We settled into our seats in the arena, which wasn’t hard. The place was nearly empty. We’ll give a conservative estimate and say there were roughly 150 people there. Easily half were reporters. As we settled in, we noticed a loud rustling behind us and turned to spot 11 members of the Duggar family, from TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, filing in to catch the Santorum address.

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NBC News announced today that theGrio.com is “expanding its editorial team and building out its political coverage” with WaPo‘s Perry Bacon, Jr. as the site’s Political Editor. He’ll be based at NBC News’ Washington bureau starting December 19, 2011. In his new role, Bacon will both write and help develop theGrio.com’s political coverage. He will also be a contributor to MSNBC. (Politico‘s Mike Allen had an item about the news in this morning’s Playbook.)

His past…Bacon was a congressional and White House correspondent for WaPo and before that, a national political correspondent at TIME magazine. A native of Louisville, Ky., Bacon graduated from Yale with a degree in political science.

WaPo brass announced a slew of beat changes and a few open positions for their National team today.  The shuffle is well summarized in the memo below: 

“We are pleased to announce several staff moves that will enhance our coverage of Congress and the White House as we head into the postelection future.

Shailagh Murray, one of this town’s keenest observers of the legislative process, will remain anchored on the Hill but take on a new role that focuses more broadly on the political dynamic between the White House and Congress. She will pay special attention to the relationship between Democrats and the president as their party regroups for 2012. Shailagh’s sophisticated understanding of politics and policy will help us chart how a divided government confronts the great economic challenges that are sure to be themes of the next campaign.

Paul Kane, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of Congress and its members, will lead our coverage of the new GOP House majority. Paul is one of the most respected correspondents on Capitol Hill. And his deep experience and sourcing will help us aggressively and authoritatively chronicle the biggest congressional power shift since 1948.

Phil Rucker, one of our most versatile writers, will bring his energy and eye to the Capitol, capturing the spectacles, dramas and small tales that animate Congress. Whether covering the news on the Senate floor or illuminating the hallway chit-chat, he will help bring to life the institution and its characters.

David Fahrenthold, a graceful writer known for decoding complex subjects, will leave the environmental beat for the challenge of making Congress accessible. He will help explain the institution’s rules, rhythms, people and legislation—whether drawing portraits or distilling complicated policy debates.

Felicia Sonmez, one of our sparkling new talents, will anchor a congressional blog aimed at breaking news and housing all that is hot and relevant in Congress. She and fellow Deputy Fix Aaron Blake had splendid runs as campaign bloggers under The Fix banner. This new blog, to which others will contribute, will provide quick, fun, edgy takes that drive the Capitol Hill conversation. PostPolitics Managing Editor Chris Cillizza will post a separate note seeking a successor to Felicia.

On the White House beat, Perry Bacon will take on a new role: following the president. He will be the reporter who most closely tracks the president’s movements, traveling with him often and mining the daily schedule for newsy developments, features, analyses and surprises. Perry is an astute analyst of the political landscape and will bring a fresh voice to the second phase of the Obama presidency.

His arrival will create more room for ace correspondents Scott Wilson and Anne Kornblut to drill deeper into White House decisionmaking and presidential relationships, to unearth news and mount significant enterprise that will help readers better understand the man in the Oval Office.

We are adding to our White House team a fourth player whose charge will also be to discover the undiscovered. There will be a separate posting for that assignment. ”

Kevin      Marilyn     Wes     Steven

Roll Call’s Emily Heil and MSNBC’s Ken Strickland.

A slew of journalists gathered at the Tabard Inn last night to raise a glass to Terence Samuel and his new book “The Upper House,” a behind-the-scenes journey with the Senate’s ’06 freshmen class.

Present were Senator Jon Tester and Senator Amy Klobuchar who both recounted amusing stories from working with “Terry.” Klobuchar, who once took Samuels to a butter carving contest in Minnesota was shocked by everything that she had shared and “had forgotten until the articles and book came out.”

Spotted at the event were Roll Call’s Emily Heil, Chicago Sun Times’ Lynn Sweet, David Corn of Mother Jones, WaPo’s Mary Ann Akers, Garance Franke-Ruta and Perry Bacon, Newsweek’s Mike Isikoff, MSNBC’s Ken Strickland, Glenn Simpson, Evan Perez and Mike Crittenden from the WSJ, Tim Burger and CBS’ Christine Delargy.

L: Sen. Amy Klobuchar R: Terence Samuel

Cox, Hovell, Summers, Aigner-Treworgy and Memoli. Photo courtesy of Campus Progress.

Ana Marie Cox moderated a panel discussion with former 2008 presidential campaign embed reporters at GWU this week, in conjunction with Campus Progress and the Institute for Politics.

The first panel was made up of ABC’s Bret Hovell, former NBC embed turned “Colbert Report” researcher Adam Aigner-Treworgy, Newsweek‘s Nick Summers and former Biden embed turned RealClearPolitics White House reporter Mike Memoli.

NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, former Hillary Clinton campaign staffer Jamie Smith and former McCain campaign staffer Justin Germany rounded out the second panel.

We learned they can identify hotel chains by just the carpet, they gained and lost a second freshman fifteen, supplied campaign staffers with booze (something O’Donnell calls “a great journalism tradition”) and even managed to break some news along the way…

But would they do it again? They all agreed it’d be hard to beat the historic nature of the ’08 campaign, but answers were mixed on whether they’d go back.

“You swear you’ll never do it again, but there is a certain sexiness to being out there,” Summers said. Germany’s also in, “it’s the Superbowl of politics.” Hovell was a hard no.

Among those not receiving GWU credit to attend… Congress Daily‘s Erin McPike who covered the Romney campaign for NBC and the National Journal, msnbc.com’s Carrie Dann who was embeded in Iowa for NBC/NJ, Roll Call‘s Tricia Miller who covered the Edwards campaign for NBC/NJ and WaPo‘s Perry Bacon.

Juleanna Glover and Richard Wolffe with Rebecca Project’s Malika Saada-Saar and a party guest.

Juleanna Glover opened the doors of her Kalorama home Saturday night to some of DC’s most powerful women in media to benefit the Rebecca Project for Human Rights. This is a group founded by executive director Malika Saada-Saar and Autumn VandeHei to advocate for women who have survived addiction, incarceration and poverty.

Women who have benefited from the Rebecca Project, the “Mother Leaders” attended the party, sharing their stories with special hosts Carol Browner, Tammy Haddad, Betsy Fischer (who had to leave early for a “Meet the Press” pretape with Secretary Hillary Clinton), Norah O’Donnell, Amy Holmes, Robin Sproul, Sally Quinn and Jessica Yellin.

It was most certainly a ladies night… CNN’s Dana Bash and Edie Emery, WaPo‘s Liz Spayd and Ceci Connolly, Politico‘s Nia-Malika Henderson and Kiki Ryan, Politics Daily‘s Emily Miller, msnbc.com’s Carrie Dann, Congress Daily‘s Erin McPike, Time‘s Jay Newton Small, The Hill‘s A.B. Stoddard, Washington Life‘s Janet Donovan, Christina Sevilla, Miss DC 2008 Kate Marie Grinold and Katie McCormick Lelyveld from First Lady Michelle Obama’s office attended. And the Glover sisters- TWT‘s Liz Glover, Becca Glover and Kristin Glover.

These ladies were joined by Politico‘s Jim VandeHei, host Autumn’s husband, O’Donnell’s husband Chef Geoff Tracy, NYT‘s Mark Liebovich, WaPo‘s Perry Bacon, Richard Wolffe, Winston Lord, Mix 107.3′s Tommy McFly, Lee Brenner, Mark Paustenbach, Pepper Watkins, Marc Adelman, Michael Feldman and White House economic advisor Austan Goolsbee. Also Susanna Quinn and Jack Quinn, and Shanti Stanton and Matt Stanton.

In remarks at the party, Saada-Saar thanked VandeHei and the women involved, “Our organization stands on the shoulders of many people.” “We come together to honor the work of these women, to honor the work of mothers and to really recognize what happens when we as women and mothers come together across the divides of race, class, education, lived experience and honor ourselves,” she said.

The event was sponsored by Goldman Sachs’s 10,000 Women, and Brown-Forman generously donated the party’s wine and martinis. Attendees could donate online or by pledge cards.

For more on these women’s stories, check out Emily’s Post on Politics Daily, and for video of Saar’s remarks, check out Politico Click.

Photos by Emily Miller.

NPR’s Michel Martin, Autumn VandeHei and Amy Holmes.

CNN’s Dana Bash and Jessica Yellin.

More photos after the jump…

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In case you haven’t already heard, Bloomberg’s Karen Leigh is ditching DC and the White House for Phnom Penh.

Press corps friends gathered at Stetson’s last night to send her off to Cambodia… Bonney Kapp, Mike Memoli, Christina Bellantoni, Athena Jones, Lizzie O’Leary, Heidi Przybyla, Kristen Jensen, Kim Chipman, Phil Elliott, Jeff Mason, Rebecca Sinderbrand, Rachel Streitfeld, Perry Bacon, Andrew Jones, Liz Reiter, Christina Jamison and Devin Symons were all there.

Bloomberg’s Karen Leigh is “trading in golf pool and helo landings for the splendors of Phnom Penh.” She’ll still be working for Bloomberg, and additionally the Cambodia Daily, just now in the home country of Maddox Pitt.

FBDC caught up with Leigh as she packs her bags for a big move from Washington…

Why Cambodia? Credit my overwhelming desire to see monks riding tandem bikes.

What differences do you anticipate going from covering the White House to working in the “splendors of Phnom Penh,” as you put it? How are you preparing? It’s going to be hot, loud and crowded — a lot like White House briefings. To prepare, I’ve been getting massages, spending as much time as possible with the friends and getting on a seriously first-name basis with Jack and Stella.

What and who will you miss most in DC? Late night walks around the monuments. Biking along the canal. Fighting with White House security when I forget my Hill pass. Forcing Georgetown tourists onto the street. Running home to shower after Marine One departures. Our Colonel, Al Hunt. My favorite boss, Robin Meszoly. Descriptions of Phil Elliott‘s home cooking. Making Jeff Mason sing (ask him for selections from “South Pacific.”) Soliciting life advice from the goddess-like Julie Mason. Tennis with Perry Bacon. Never having to pay for drinks (Mike Memoli). The questionable tie fashion of Keith Koffler and Hans Nichols. Julianna Goldman, Athena Jones, Christina Bellantoni and Sunlen Miller, all lovely, who have brightened many a pool. And Roger Runningen, who was there on my first day at the White House last January and coined my nickname — Annette — based on the “American President” character who, like me, was excited on day one she could barely get through the Northwest Gate.

You campaigned hard for Julie Mason‘s White House Correspondents Association (successful) election and now you’re skipping town. What does this mean for campaign promises of White House South Lawn ice luges and briefing room massages? I’ll be working from afar to ensure that each promise is fulfilled. The luge tournament will be timed for the Vancouver Olympics and I’m working on getting Gibbs to cut a hole in the podium so we can use it as a massage table.

After the jump, Leigh’s goodbye messages for her media friends…

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Katie Couric takes us behind the scenes of her interview with President Obama this week, with guest appearances by CBS’ White House correspondents Chip Reid and Bill Plante, CBS political director Steve Chaggaris, Deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton (“the enforcer”), White House director of broadcast media Dag Vega and even WaPo‘s Perry Bacon (grilled by the CBS Evening News anchor on his stake-out notes).