This is how I ended up in the briefing room

Behind the scenes as a reporter covering the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting Dylan Wells WASHINGTON POST CREATOR HOST This is how I ended up in the briefing room for the president's first remarks after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. My day started super normally at the AAPI Correspondents Brunch, and then I ran home and changed and finished getting ready before going to meet up with friends to take pictures before the event. It really is nerd prom. Then we headed to the Hilton and had to walk the last block because the streets around the hotel are always closed to cars around the dinner. When we got to the perimeter of the hotel, we had to show either an invitation to the dinner or an email, or a screenshot of an invite to one of the pre-parties, but we didn't have to show any form of ID or have our bags checked, or go through any mags. Inside the hotel outlets hold various pre-parties for the event. These are invite only and it's a mix of journalists and flaks and politicians and elected officials and an occasional celebrity. I went to two. My name was checked at the door, but again, you didn't have to go through any further security to get into these. Everyone takes a bunch of pictures and gets some drinks before heading into the dinner, or going to whatever other event you're going to, which in my case this year was the Substack event for new media. Here my ID was checked and I did go through a metal detector, and I got into the party at exactly 8:30pm. I ran into a friend and made a beeline to grab some food. We took a quick photo with the butter cow. All of that took less than five minutes, during which time I was not looking at my phone. Then I rounded the corner and went to say hi to Aaron Parnas who actually broke the news to me by recording in real life one of his breaking news videos that something was awry at the dinner. I immediately started texting friends in the ballroom to try to make sure that they were okay and safe. Soon after the Substack CEO announced what had happened to attendees and said that because of Secret Service and the party's location right across the street from the White House, we were on lockdown and not allowed in or out. More reporters sprang into action, while some creators found quiet corners to record videos and update their followers, while a lot of others just kind of proceeded partying as normal, which kind of created an odd dissonance in the room. Then President Trump announced that he would be having a press conference in the briefing room in 30 minutes, and I realized that I was the Post reporter closest to the White House, because everyone else had been at the dinner. In a particularly odd moment, I had to negotiate with a bunch of party staffers who were dressed as cowboys to let me down to the bottom of the stairs at the entrance, from where we could see Vice President Vance's motorcade return to the White House, as well as other members of the cabinet. As soon as Secret Service opened the streets back up to pedestrians, myself and another reporter with a hard pass took off, running across the street to get into the complex. We're going to the briefing room. And then, you're good. Thank you. This entire time I was freaking out because I couldn't remember what my pin was, which you need to get into the White House as well as your hard pass. And thankfully, I remembered it when we got there, but was worried about that. We ended up getting to the gate right as the pool vans pulled inside, which are the reporters who are traveling with the president, and we were the first in after them. As I got to the gate, there were a bunch of reporters appearing from different sides of the building, all running to the same entrance and through security now that the streets were finally open. Just got to the White House. Closest Post reporter to here with a hard pass, and we are running over from our party, and I don't even have my shoes on yet because that is the situation we are operating in. Made it in. Everyone was frantically preparing to get up on air and reporting out in advance of this press conference. Then more reporters started trickling in. We are now waiting for the president. One of my colleagues who covers the White House arrived, so I gave her the Post seat and moved back right before Trump and members of the cabinet arrived. President Donald Trump Well, thank you very much. That was very unexpected. But, incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law enforcement. In addition to all of the cabinet officials and vice president the first lady was also in the press briefing room, which is very unusual. Trump then took questions. I wasn't called on but tried to get one in. Then it was over and I checked in with some friends who had been at the dinner, and then made it to the White House to see how they were doing. Leaving the White House, after a very unexpected evening. Had to trek out of the perimeter to get an Uber, and then went to one of the after parties for the evening hosted by MS NOW. Very weird vibes. I was very curious to see what the scene would be like, and was planning to meet some friends there to debrief. This was definitely not your normal correspondents' weekend after parties. It was very weird vibes. Although the event staff was wonderful and they were clearly doing their best to make sure everyone had a good time. The same was true at the Swiss Ambassador's residence for the annual Time after party, which is normally packed and overflowing with a huge line, but this year was relatively empty. I was exhausted, so left and went home around 3 a.m. All in all, a crazy weekend and a reminder that no two days are ever the same as a reporter.