White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

White House, National Security Council Brief Influencers on Russia’s War Against Ukraine

By

Ellie Zelier
Kahlil Greene
Marcus DiPaola

Top staffers at the White House and the National Security Council briefed social media influencers from TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram about Russia’s war on Ukraine. According to a White House official, the Thursday afternoon Zoom call included 30 of the top social media content creators chosen to receive important information and the latest news out of the region. 

The briefing was led by Matt Miller, a special adviser for communications at the White House National Security Council, as well as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Psaki informed the influencers about “the United States’ strategic goals in the region” and answered questions regarding aid distribution, NATO, and more. 

One White House official said that “arming content creators with factual information and answers can be a critical tool” to fight misinformation online. With this, the White House is looking to combat online offenses, as the Russian government is now paying content creators to produce pro-Kremlin propaganda content. 

These influencers were chosen because many of them have created “explanatory content about Ukraine.” With these videos generating millions of views, it is a significant information source for young people in America and around the world. Some of the briefing participants included TikTok stars Ellie Zeiler (10m), Marcus DiPaola (3.5m), Aaron Parnas (1m), Kahlil Greene (540.7k), and Jules Terpak (270.9K).


More information can be found in The Washington Post, who first broke this story.

Global Women Advocates Gather in DC

By

Women gathered around the world today for the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. At the State Department, First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton presented the “Women of Courage Awards” and announced a partnership with 10,000 Women and the successful Goldman Sachs Foundation program that goes into the poorest countries and teaches women business skills.

Monday evening some of the nation’s best women’s advocates were brought together by the ONE campaign, the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, CARE, and the US Advocacy Advisory team Mothers Day Every Day at the home of former ONE chief, David Lane. Dr. Helene Gayle, Sheila Nix, Susan McCue and Theresa Shaver urged the crowd to redouble their efforts on behalf of women. Dana Perino, former Bush White House press secretary led a bipartisan call to action with the help of Barbara Bush and sister Jenna Bush Hager.

Barbara Bush’s Global Health Corp is in the process of selecting their third round of fellows. David Lane, who left the ONE campaign to work with Bill Daley at the White House, caught up with old friends as he accepted their well wishes. First Lady Michelle Obama’s chief of Staff Tina Tchen, and Jen Klein from the State Department’s women’s section, greeted colleagues and friends including Stephanie Psaki (sister of WH deputy communications director Jen Psaki), Jodee Winterhoff, Teri Whitcraft, and Anita McBride – fresh off her First Ladies Conference. David Lane was cheered when he walked into his own home, the location of some of the great advocacy work for women.