In addition to the much-anticipated jokes about Tucker Carlson’s escape from Fox News and Governor Ron DeSantis’ escalating row with Disney, this year’s White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner. Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle, are present as guests of CBS News, prepare for serious conversations about the often dangerous situations journalists face around the world.

Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will open the dinner with a pre-recorded video on the importance of a free and independent press.

Tamara KeithThe President of the WHCA plans to speak about the Russian jailing of Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich, who was in jail arrested in March and charged with espionage. His family is expected to attend the WHCA.

“You are among hundreds of journalists around the world who are being unjustly jailed for simply doing journalism — which is not a crime,” said Keith, White House reporter for NPR.

Alexei Navalny

CNN guests include Yulia Navalnaya and Dasha Navalnaya, the wife and daughter of Alexey Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader, lawyer and anti-corruption activist who is reportedly struggling with severe abdominal pain that many fear is causing her the result being slower-acting poison, according to reports released Friday.

Debra Tice

Also attending will be Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice, who has not been heard from since he disappeared at a checkpoint in Syria in 2012 and returned him home.

grinnerwho gave her first press conference this past Thursday has accepted to work for the release of other Americans imprisoned abroad. Her Detention at a Moscow airport in February 2022 for possession of less than a gram of cannabis oil led to tense diplomatic efforts between the US and Russia, culminating in her release on December 8, 2022, when it was swapped…