How do politicians feel about the Iran Deal? What percentage of women make up the New Horizons mission team? How did renowned political activist and Nobel-prize winning Malala Yousafzai celebrate her 18th birthday? Julia Louis-Dreyfus took a selfie with who? Find out the answers to all these questions with this week’s edition of That’s what she said!
1. Kristin Lee
Nine and a half years ago, we might have lived without iPhones, Twitter or Netflix Instant, but we did launch a spacecraft on a 3-billion-mile journey. The New Horizons mission, which reportedly survived its Pluto flyby, is thought to include the most women in NASA history with women making up approximately 25% of the team. White House staffer Kristin Lee, who serves as a Senior Policy Analyst and Assistant Director for Strategic Communications for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, commends their groundbreaking efforts.
Learn about the incredible women of @NASANewHorizons #Pluto mission: http://t.co/bkNWRVeSP2 #PlutoFlyby pic.twitter.com/4izlVArBXh
— Kristin Lee (@Lee44) July 14, 2015
The military’s ban on gay and lesbian soldiers (“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”) was repealed four years ago, yet transgender troops still face obstacles. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York been an advocate for transgender servicemembers and applauds Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s efforts in dissolving the ban. The Pentagon is expected to announce that the armed services will have six months to end discriminatory policies towards transgender troops.
In March, @RepSusanDavis & I sent letter to #SecCarter urging open service for transgender men & women, glad he's making this a reality.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) July 14, 2015
3. Laverne Cox
Actress, activist, Alabamian – Laverne Cox has made a name for herself through her role on award-winning Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black” and as an advocate for the LGBT community. Cox shows her support via Twitter for “Hunger Games” actress Amandla Stenberg, who recently called out Kylie Jenner for cultural appropriation and ultimately ignited a social media brawl.
On Sunday I wasn't familiar with @amandlastenberg. Now I am & deeply moved by much of what she has to say & share. Sending lots of love.
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 14, 2015
After 20 months of negotiation talks, President Obama has finally announced that the U.S. along with the U.K., France, China, Russia and Germany has settled on a nuclear deal with Iran. Many Republicans, like Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, have voiced their concerns with the agreement and have pledged to vote against the deal when it reaches Congress.
The administration conceded too much from the beginning on the #IranDeal
— Kelly Ayotte (@KellyAyotte) July 14, 2015
On the other opposite end of the partisan spectrum are Democrats, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who laud the negotiated deal with Iran. The debate might become null, however, if President Obama vetoes Congressional disapproval of the deal and if Congress then fails to muster the two-thirds overriding vote.
.@POTUS, @JohnKerry & @ErnestMoniz deserve great credit for working with our allies to reach a negotiated solution without military action.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 14, 2015
Malala Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt by a terrorist organization, wrote an award-winning memoir and jointly received the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize all before turning 18. Malala celebrated her 18th birthday by opening a secondary school for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon as part of her new education project, using the hashtag #BooksNotBullets to spread the message. Yousafzai has achieved more in her 18 years than most can in a lifetime and we look forward to being mesmerized by her future successes!
#NEWS Malala announces new education program for Syrian refugee children in Jordan http://t.co/PUKGgGENGp pic.twitter.com/2BHHx0askc
— Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) July 13, 2015









