announcer for the night. >> thank you. >> lakshmi is with npr's newscast team. you know her voice and let me tell you the good news about these tote bag, you do not even have to donate $12 a month as a sustaining member to get them, they are just $15 in the merch store and a portion of the proceeds support the work we do. there's a postcard at your seat with a qr code that takes you there and also we have wi-fi. there you can purchase hat, stickers, limited edition shirts to prove you were here tonight. and, of course, tote bags. there's also a donate button if you're not into merch. that's on our website, all right. you have all survived the pledge drive portion of this dinner. now i'm going to take a brief moment, a personal privilege, being whca president, i would