In an appearance on CSPAN today, PBS’ Tavis Smiley brought up the fact that while Barack Obama used to make routine appearances on Smiley’s radio and television programs, these days he can’t even get an invite to White House press events–let along land an interview with the President.

“He’s the first president in my professional history that has not invited me to the White House.”

As Cornel West noted on the same program, however, election season is coming up. That will probably change shortly.

H/T Romenesko

This week, there may be no better way to get a sense of why China is taking it to the U.S. than Thursday’s edition of Tavis Smiley‘s PBS talk show. As part of a special “China Week” of programs that begins tonight, Smiley sits down on July 14 with students from Beijing’s Middle School 101, consistently ranked as one of the top two high schools in China.

Smiley spent two weeks in Beijing and Shanghai to put together his special string of programs. The Thursday show is actually something that was synced up as well with his NPR radio show “Smiley & West.”

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Pop On The Pop is much, much more fun than any of those big-boy celeb gossip sites, and here’s one reason why: Joy A (pictured here showing off her lovely eyelids). We ask Joy A our patented 20 Questions to find out what makes her “pop.” The answer? Jake Gyllenhaal, being mistaken for Brandy and a unicorn named Magical. Natch.

1. What newspapers do you read?
I don’t actually read any newspapers right now, because I’m real busy. But I do glance! Haha. I take a good glance at The LA Times, sometimes USA Today. I also visit news sites.

2. Which ones do you move your lips to while reading?
I think I read too fast for moving my lips simultaneously.

3. Which Web sites are on your favorites bookmark?
As far as celeb gossip goes, I’m a sucker for People’s website and TMZ. But some of my fave bloggers are Evil Beet and Seriously? OMG! WTF?.

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