Gossip: In The Know

CNN’s Brianna Keilar to host 2014 Congressional Dinner

Brianna Keilar of CNN will be the master of ceremonies at the 70th Annual Congressional Dinner on Feb. 5, ITK has learned.

The award-winning journalist has covered both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for CNN. She will share the podium with two congressional headliners, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), according to a Roll Call report.

{mosads}Traditionally, the members poke fun at one another, as well as other lawmakers.

There’s some good material for both Flake and Edwards to play with.

For example, Flake — just for fun — has visited a deserted island a la “Cast Away.” Oh, and he didn’t bring any food, lost a lot of weight and later leaked a photo of himself shirtless.

He later did it again (minus the no-shirt photo) with his kids.

Edwards, meanwhile, has proposed legislation that would establish a national historic park on the surface of the moon to mark where the Apollo missions landed. [Insert Newt Gingrich joke here.]

The dinner is a major fundraising event that supports the work of the Washington Press Club Foundation. It will take place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.