White House letting news media do something unusual

Each day the White House sends out a schedule of public events for both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden so the news media can prepare their coverage. Many of the events, such as Obama attending meetings in the oval office, are not open to the press.

Here's Wednesday's schedule, though, following a report in a new book by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Biden severely lacks sound policy judgment:

via White House

In a rare move, the White House is letting news media snap photos of a lunch between Obama and Biden. The decision also comes after photographers with the White House Correspondents' Association took aim at the Obama administration for what they called excessive restrictions on access to the President...

NBC Capitol Hill Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell's reaction:

The weekly Obama Biden lunch meeting tomorrow ...maybe discuss new books they hope to read?

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) January 8, 2014