white house correspondents association dinner
Definition
An annual event held in Washington, D.C., attracting journalists, politicians, and celebrities, traditionally featuring a comedic roast of the President by both a satirist and the President themselves.
A prestigious black-tie gala often referred to as the 'nerd prom,' designed to celebrate the role of a free press while simultaneously testing the administration's capacity to laugh at its own political blunders.
Examples
The White House Correspondents' Association dinner remains the only night of the year when the most powerful person in the free world voluntarily submits to being roasted by someone who primarily makes a living telling jokes about bad catering.
It is truly inspiring to see the administration pretend to tolerate rigorous investigative journalism for three hours, provided everyone remembers to keep their forks down during the punchlines.
Securing an invitation to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner is a supreme achievement for any social climber, offering the rare opportunity to accidentally step on the gown of a Cabinet member while pretending to discuss policy.