Good morning, Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.
But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)
Indian-American Woman to Head DNC, Seema Nanda, to Head DNC
Seema Nanda has become the first Indian-American woman to be appointed as CEO of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in recent history.
“This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, for which I am incredibly honored and humbled,” Nanda said in a press release on Friday.
Nanda will replace Jess O’Connell, who resigned as the DNC’s CEO in January; Interim CEO Mary Beth Cahill will hand over duties to Nanda this month, The Huffington Post reports.
“People are hurting all across our country. And I believe that Democrats are offering the positive solutions so desperately needed right now ― solutions forged by the strength of our diversity, the rigor of our ideas and the decency of our values,” Nanda said. “I am grateful to Chairman [Tom] Perez and Mary Beth for selecting me, and I look forward to joining my new DNC colleagues in the fight for our nation’s values and future.”
“I’m beyond excited that Seema is bringing her talent and brilliance to the DNC,” Perez said in a press release. “I’ve seen firsthand Seema’s exceptional ability to lead. She is a seasoned manager who has a proven track record of success and a well-documented history of fighting for our Democratic values, whether it’s on immigration, civil rights or leveling the playing field for our workers.”
Perez added that he is “one hundred percent certain” that Nanda’s leadership will be the key to regaining power in Congress after the midterm elections.
Prior to be appointed to CEO of the DNC, Nanda the Executive Vice President and COO at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, HuffPost reports. Nanda also served as Perez’s Chief of Staff when he was the Department of Labor Secretary.
Trump Met With Potential SCOTUS Nominees
President Donald Trump has met with four potential Supreme Court nominees, and is expected to meet with a second potential female nominee as early as Tuesday, a source told ABC News on Monday.
The four potential nominees who could fill retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat are: Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Raymond Kethledge and Amul Thapar.
Trump is expected to meet with Justice Joan Larsen of the 6th Circuit as early as Tuesday, according to the source.
Trump Family Photos Only Allowed in “Positive” Stories
An NBC News report released on Monday found that news organization indirectly paid as much as $1 million to First Lady Melania Trump for family photos that were only allowed in positive stories.
According to President Donald Trump’s recent financial disclosure, Mrs. Trump earned between $100,000 and $1 million last year in royalties when someone licensed the nearly 200 family photos, The Huffington Post reports.
The photos include Mrs. Trump playing tennis in a ball gown, wearing Chanel while floating on a swan and posing on the couch while her son, Barron Trump, takes a photo of her.
Each of the photos, which are featured on Getty Images through its paid Getty Contour platform, includes the stipulation that the photos must be used for “positive stories only,” HuffPost reports.
The collection of photos also features images of the president adjusting Barron’s tie, taking a picture of himself and playing chess. Each of these pictures also includes the “positive stories” stipulation.
While this “positive stories” stipulation might rare, it’s not unusual for the photographer and subject to wield more power over the use of the photos.
NBC News did find nearly a dozen news outlets that had paid to use some of these photos last year, Yahoo News, Marie Claire, The Daily Mail, Houston Chronicle, SF Gate and NBC News itself.
According to an NBC News spokesperson, it “did not agree or sign a statement that the image would be used for positive coverage, and was never informed that a portion of the royalties would go to the Trump family.”
What to look out for…
The new Incredibles rollercoaster, known as the Incredicoaster, is open at the Disneyland Resort! Disney trip anyone?