The event hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, is normally full of banter and humour, but this year’s version was a little less vivacious

 
Most years, the White House Correspondents’ dinner is known for its humour and banter.

But this year, it was a slightly more solemn affair.

It follows Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovish being detained by Russian authorities over spying charges – charges Gershkovish, his employer and the U.S. government all deny.

Biden recognised both Gershkovish and Austin Tice, a journalist who’s been held in Syria for over a decade.

The families of the men sat in the audience as Biden called for their loved ones to be “released immediately”.

Bruce Wolpe from the U.S. Studies Centre gave us an insight.