After it was announced that the world of Riverdale would be getting a spinoff in the form of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, fans went wild wondering what would be different about this incarnation and the lovable, cute version that starred Melissa Joan Hart once upon a time.

As it turns out, everything. 

Today, Netflix released two of the first promotional images from the new show entitled Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

The series stars former Mad Men powerhouse, Kiernan Shipka, as our main witchy character. According to Netflix, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is set to premiere on October 26, "imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature—half-witch, half-mortal—while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit."

This is clearly evident in one of the pictures. The first is merely a shot of Sabrina in the woods, where she is seen donning a red woolen coat and a bag draped over her shoulder, and potentially an axe based on the shaft in her hand.

The second image, however, is much more sinister. It shows Sabrina kneeling on the ground surrounded by her aunts Hilda and Zelda, played by Lucy Davis and Miranda Otto respectively, and what looks to be a coven of witches. Could this be Sabrina taking her vows as a witch?

Already this show is looking like it's going to be one of the most binge-worthy shows of the year! You know, even if there's no Salem the talking black cat.

Let’s talk about Nick Young. He’s the leading man of Crazy Rich Asians, and is portrayed by Henry Golding, a newcomer to the Hollywood scene. Nick is the heir to his family’s fortune, he’s a brilliant history professor, and he’s a ridiculously attractive Asian man.

Let’s talk about that a bit more...

Nick doesn’t have many characters like him—a leading man of Asian descent who is the subject of romantic desire in an American studio film, that is. Where Asian women are often fetishized and hypersexualized, Asian men are often conversely desexualized and seen as unattractive. The most infamous example of this was Steve Harvey’s comments from early 2017 in which he laughed at a book titled How to Date a White Woman: A Practical Guide for Asian Men.

“That’s one page,” he said, doubling over in laughter. “‘Excuse me, do you like Asian men?’ No. Thank you.”

His jokes, of course, received swift backlash and spawned think pieces from The New York Times and Quartz about the harm of these stereotypes about Asian men being inherently unattractive. When American TV show hosts are outright laughing at the idea of a desirable Asian man and movies and American films and series are doing little to combat it (hello, Asian and Nerdy trope), these ideas can be extremely damaging to Asian-American men’s self-esteem and distort the way they see themselves, and the way others see them.

That’s not the case for Nick. From the get-go, we understand that he is someone people pay attention to, and someone who is highly desired by almost every woman in the film. The trailer shows main character Rachel (Constance Wu) outright calling him the “Prince William of Asia,” to which he replies, “That’s ridiculous. I’m much more of a Harry.” (After seeing his rakish smile, I’d have to agree.)

American movies rarely ever have Asian men as princes, let alone direct comparisons to two of the most sought-after men on planet Earth. Nor have we ever had an Asian man be the Bachelor on the eponymous loved/hated ABC reality show, yet we hear Awkwafina’s character Peik Lin Goh refer to Nick as the “Asian Bachelor” over a shot of Golding’s bare chest. Refinery29 noted that this gratuitous shirtlessness is “momentous” for presenting Golding as attractive and masculine. POPSUGAR tapped him as a “leading man to love,” Vanity Fair called him a “classic leading man” and Cosmopolitan dubbed him “swoon”-worthy. (All true, BTW.) Some people on Twitter are already calling for Golding to be the next James Bond, arguably the epitome of masculinity and desirability in the Western pop culture canon.

As Refinery29 said, these small nods to Nick’s masculine beauty—and the reactions they cause—have value. It’s no secret that media influences the way we think about people and places, and how much love or disdain we have for them. In online dating, Asian men are one of the least-preferred groups, as found through OkCupid data, and when there are far fewer examples to point to for Asian men who are ogled over and discussed about the same way that, say, the four white Chrises and the two white Ryans are, it’s hard not to believe that the media we are and aren’t exposed to has an impact.

But Crazy Rich Asians, as suggested by Vanity Fair, makes a case for casting more Asian and Asian-American men in leading roles.Vanity Fair points to Golding’s upcoming film, A Simple Favor, in which he plays Blake Lively’s mysterious husband, and the upcoming Netflix film Flash Boys, which centers on a Japanese-Canadian man. Crazy Rich Asians is even seeking to better its own perception of Asian men: The Hollywood Reporter noted that Constance Wu persuaded director Jon M. Chu to remove a line in which Rachel takes pride in never having dated an Asian man before Nick. The more attention we pay to how Asian men are portrayed, the more respectful our perceptions of them can be—and the more we can realize that, honestly, Asian men are hot AF, too. Golding told Deadline’s New Hollywood Podcast that he hopes sex symbols will be born from Crazy Rich Asians—after seeing the reaction to Golding’s excellent performance, there’s almost no doubt in my mind that he’ll get his wish.

The Boston Globe asked newspapers across the country to take a coordinated response against Trump’s “war on the press." The Globe has asked numerous publications to publish an editorial on Thursday, according to CNN. 

“We propose to publish an editorial on August 16 on the dangers of the administration’s assault on the press and ask others to commit to publishing their own editorials on the same date,” The Globe said in the pitch. 

More than 100 publications have enlisted to participate in these editorials as of Saturday, said The Globe's deputy editorial page editor Marjorie Pritchard to CNN. She expects the numbers to grow even more in the next few days. 

The Houston Chronicle, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Miami Herald and Denver Post are some of the larger publications that will take part in this movement, according to the Associated Press. Major media organizations like the American Society of News Editors and the New England Newspaper and Press Association have been aiding the effort, CNN reports. 

“The response has been overwhelming,” Pritchard said. “We have some big newspapers, but the majority are from smaller markets, all enthusiastic about standing up to Trump’s assault on journalism.” 

Each newspaper will write and publish their own editorial, which will allow each publication to include different perspectives and voices on the topic. Pritchard told newspapers to write about how Trump’s attacks on news media impacts their communities, The Hill reports. 

“Our words will differ. But at least we can agree that such attacks are alarming,” said Pritchard in The Globe’s appeal. 

In the past few weeks, there has been a recent intensity in Trump’s anti-media rhetoric. He has more often used dehumanizing language such as “enemy of the people." He has also been speaking less to reporters, and has been limiting the opportunities for questions, according to The Boston Globe. 

“What ever happened to the free press? Whatever happened to honest reporting?” Trump said as he pointed to several journalists covering the political rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on August 2nd. “They don't report it. They only make up stories.” 

A Republican candidate for Florida State House is accused of falsifying a college diploma and posing with a fake degree in photos. Melissa Howard, who is seeking the GOP nomination for a seat in Florida’s House of Representatives 73rd District, said she graduated with a degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The political drama began when FLA News Online reported that Howard didn’t graduate from the college. Howard claimed the story to be false and posted a photo of herself and her mother with a framed diploma on Facebook.

The publication briefly retracted the story and published a correction, after the post. But, according to the Washington Post, the university then sent an email to Florida news outlets revealing that Howard didn’t graduate from the school like FLA News previously reported. The diploma in the photo is also reportedly a fake. 

A spokeswoman for the school told Huffington Post that the diploma “does not appear to be an accurate Miami University diploma.” She also said that Howard was studying retail between 1990 and 1994, but she never graduated. 

The photographed degree suggests that Howard graduated with a degree not offered at the university. According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Miami University doesn’t offer a bachelor of science in marketing. According to the spokeswoman who spoke with HuffPost, there is also a signature on the degree from a university official at the graduate school and not from the school where Howard claims to have earned her degree.   

FLA News Online updated the article to state that the publication has reached out to the National Student Clearinghouse to confirm that the degree is fake. The organization verifies degrees and enrollment of students across the country.

Howard has yet to respond to the incident. It’s also not clear whether Howard will continue her campaign, in which she’s running against Tommy Gregory. 

We all have that moment at the end of summer when we get hit with a scary realization — oh my god. I didn’t doanything this summer.

In late August, just about two weeks shy of September, you start to remember all the big summer dreams that haven’t been fulfilled: all the beach days that never were, the ice creams uneaten, and the untanned skin that never got to see the sun’s warm light. Once reality hits, you have the urge to cram as much summer-related fun as you can into the precious remaining weeks of August.

To beat the dreaded end-of-summer scaries, you might sit out in the sun until you fry or drink your body weight in pink lemonade. However, the best way to end the season on a high note is by scoring some last minute summer pieces for your wardrobe. Lucky for you, Tipsy Elves has got you covered. Known for their hilarious ugly Christmas sweaters, Tipsy Elves makes some of the best (and most outrageous) themed clothing out there. From St. Patrick’s Day-themed suits to shark onesies, they’ve got it all. But most importantly, they have every bathing suit, tank top, and romper you’ll ever need to complete your end-of-summer wardrobe.

1. For your (first) day at the beach

Don’t just wear any old sundress over your bikini — try a punny slogan tank top instead. This adorable tank is reminiscent of the classic movie Jaws and comes in a very fitting ocean blue color. (Beaches Be Crazy Tank, $25)

2. For your (second) day at the beach

We all know that one beach day won’t be enough to rid you of end-of-summertime sadness. If you’re relaxing in the sun and someone tries to bring up the dreaded “I can’t believe summer’s almost over” line, just sit back, smile and point to your tank top. Don’t let anybody kill your vibe. (Beach Don’t Kill My Vibe Tank, $25)

3. For pretending you’re on a tropical island

Tropical vacations are the dream way to spend the summer. But if you didn’t get to go on one, just pretend you did with clothes that fit the mood. These printed pineapple items are both stand-out pieces (that also happen to pair perfectly with a slice of pineapple). (Vacay All Day Tank, $25 and Pineapple Beach Shorts, $29)

4. For the best backyard barbeque ever

Everyone loves a good backyard barbeque. The grill is on, the smell of smoke is in the air, and the homemade hamburgers are ready to be devoured. What better way to enjoy a classic summer's day than to pair it with a fun and fruity romper? (Watermelon Romper, $45)

5. For a day by the pool

While lounging by the pool, channel your inner “H2O: Just Add Water” character with this unique one-piece. Even though you might not be able to grow a mermaid tail, you can wear a bathing suit that makes you feel just like the mythical creature. And for good measure, "MERMAID" is printed right across the front (just so nobody mistakes you for a plain old fish). Bonus points for being able to use it as a Halloween costume when fall quickly rolls around. (Mermaid Bathing Suit, $48)

6. For the rest of the year when you wish it was summer again

If you long for summer all year round, this tank top can help you out. It lets everyone know that you’re daydreaming of being on the beach even in the dead of winter (just make sure to wear a coat with it). (Sunshine State of Mind Tank, $25)

Whether you wear just one or you wear them all, these fun pieces are guaranteed to help you keep your summer vibes strong even when the season is winding down. And if you're someone who loves the colder months instead, Tipsy Elves also has you covered with some of the best holiday sweaters around. After all, it's just around the corner!

If you were to ask a group of women what’s the first thing they remembered wanting to be when they were little, a good handful will probably say ballerina and maybe a few wanted to be an astronaut or the president—but a big chunk will most likely say they wanted to be a princess.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and a real-life princess, is no different. In an entry on her now defunct blog The Tig, Markle talked about her childhood dream of becoming a princess. The old saying must be true then—if you dream it, you really can achieve it.

But, while many of us wanted to be ball gown-wearing, glass-slipper-losing Disney Princesses, Markle wanted something different. In 2014, Markle interviewed another real-life princess, Alia Al Senussi, a descendent of Libyan royalty for her blog. While Markle was fangirling over talking to a princess, she also talked about her childhood dream of becoming one herself (without knowing her dream would actually come true in just four short years).

In the blog entry, Markle said how she once wanted to be the “sword-wielding royal rebel” princess She-Ra, from the 80s cartoon She-Ra: Princess of Power. Definitely not Cinderella, She-Ra was known for her strength and she was basically just a bad-ass. Fast forward to adulthood and it can definitely be argued that Markle has turned into the strong and inspirational woman she once dreamed of becoming.

In the post, Markle raves about Al Senussi and her philanthropy, which is something Markle herself is known for today. The goal of her post was to empower women with Al Sanussi’s story, which she continues to do through charity events focused around women’s empowerment and social justice.

Markle even talked about how the fantasy of becoming a princess doesn’t leave women once they get older. “And grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy. Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate,” she wrote.

But what about the pomp and circumstance surrounding her own wedding? Or the fact she can now have her own endless conversations with Princess Kate?

So although it might seem far-fetched to dream of becoming a princess, it might not be that impossible. If the dream can come true for Markle, it can come true for us, too.

We were really rooting for Lindsay Lohan’s triumphant comeback. Maybe we have a soft spot for our now-former fave Parent Trap twin. Or maybe it’s because we’re all about petty queens who use their clout to fend off bankruptcy rumors. Regardless, we’re overlooking Lohan’s comeback in beauty line form. I mean, we were skeptical from the start. But her whole comeback might have hit a bump after she made some public comments that shame the#MeToo movement and women who speak up about their sexual assault. IMO, even before this, Lohan defended Harvey Weinstein in a deleted tweet and then in an Instagram story.

Speaking with UK's The Times, Lohan had some troubling things to say when asked about the #MeToo movement. “If it happens at that moment, you discuss it at that moment. You make it a real thing by making it a police report. I’m going to really hate myself for saying this, but I think by women speaking against all these things, it makes them look weak when they are very strong women. You have these girls who come out, who don’t even know who they are, who do it for the attention. That is taking away from the fact that it happened,” Lohan said.

Honestly, we’re still confused as to how Lohan thinks people who are speaking out against their abusers are weak. Are we talking about the same #MeToo movement here, Lo? You know, the same movement that helped call attention to a huge issue. The very movement that helped Terry Crews find his voice to speak out against his abuser. And Chloe Dykstra. And Lucy Hale.

But the fact that Lohan insinuates that some women are abusing the movement for attention or publicity is a dangerous, and statistically improbable, claim to make. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the organization’s extensive study on sexual assault statistics, only 2-8% of sexual assault crimes are reported under false pretenses.

Last month, Lohan told The New York Times, “I’m a normal, nice person. A good person. I don’t have any bad intentions. And my past has to stay in the past.” But this isn’t that far in the past because Lohan’s anti-MeToo interview happened as recent as last week. Though Lohan might not have bad intentions and wants the public to see her for her niceness, Twitterverse hasn’t necessarily perceived her statements in a positive light.

One user counteracts Lohan’s comments by encouraging people to continue to tell their stories, regardless of what Lohan might think.

Whereas, another adds that Lohan’s previous in-interview statements contradict her remarks about the #MeToo movement.

After all, prior to her comments on the movement, Lohan prefaced her statements with, “I don’t really have anything to say. I can’t speak on something I didn’t live, right? Look, I am very supportive of women. Everyone goes through their own experiences in their own ways.”

While Lohan might say she’s supportive of women, accusing some women of lying or manipulating an empowering cause for their own personal gain doesn’t seem very supportive. Beyond her contradictory definition of what it means to be supportive, Lohan’s initial statements seem rather invasive.

At the first, Lohan notes that she can’t talk about the movement because she hasn’t experienced what the movement is discussing (i.e. sexual assault and sexual harassment). Yet, in an odd culmination of self-awareness and exploitation, she continues to insert her opinion about a narrative that she admittedly knows nothing about.

While Lindsay Lohan might want to keep up the allegedly “nice person” image, her comments can hinder the #MeToo movement in a troubling way. As Vox adds, a high percentage of people are already worried that women falsely claim that men sexually assault them. Coupled with Lohan’s interview about the movement, this could influence the public’s already skewed perception about the factually low percentage of false claim cases.

Since Lohan's initial comments circulated the social media ecosystem, she's issued an addendum to her comments. We'd say she apologized for her apparent insensitive comments about the movement, but she didn't necessarily apologize for what she said. She just apologized for how people reacted to her remarks in her now-infamous interview with The Times.

"I would like to unreservedly apologize for any hurt and distress caused by a quote in a recent interview with The Times," Lohan told PEOPLE. IMO, it makes it seem like she's oddly saying sorry for people's reactions rather than owning up to what she said and apologizing for it. Still, her non-apology continues. 

"I feel very strongly about the #MeToo movement and have the utmost respect and admiration for the women brave enough to come forward and speak out about their experiences. Their testimony has served to protect those who can’t speak, and give strength to those who have struggled to have their voices heard," Lohan expands. I mean, who are we to judge? Maybe Lohan educated herself about the purpose of the movement. Or maybe she had a moment of clarity while she was scrolling through the Twitter-driven backlash from her initial interview. Regardless, we're glad that her PR team she allegedly changed her mind about the movement. 

Despite what the undercover mean girl may or may not think about the #MeToo movement, it’s important to speak up about sexual assault. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about your sexual assault, then surround yourself with a legitimately supportive group of people who can continually empower you through this process.

If you or someone you know is having a difficult time after experiencing sexual violence of any kind, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or access the 24/7 help chat.

If you are looking for something a little more bubbly in your life, I just may have the thing. Ruffino Wines and Sweet Saba candy couture created Prosecco-infused candy straws, and they will surely change the way you drink wine for the better. They also promise to make your Insta sparkle. 

Artist Maayan Zilberman is responsible for the cute and limited-edition Prosecco-infused straws. Each straw is made out of paper and hand-painted for a customized look. The straws are also decorated with a large edible candy at the tip for an even sweeter taste to your wine night. The edible candy charm comes in a peach emoji, flower, or gold bar. Flavors are inspired by “bubbles and celebration,” and come in peach, elderflower, and, of course, Prosecco. All are infused with Prosecco and topped with an edible gold decor, so you can feel even bougier. While the straws sound SO delicious, they are almost too pretty to even eat. 

The straws come in a three-piece set and cost $45 each. You're also in luck because they are available to order today, but the downside is they won’t be shipped to your doorstep until the first week of September.  So go ahead, pop the straw into your fav glass of bubbly and enjoy! 

The pumpkin spice trend is not new to us. I mean, how many of your bank accounts suffered during Starbucks' PSL season? Since then it feels like pumpkin spice has popped up everywhere. From Ghirardelli’s Pumpkin Spice Caramel Chocolate Squares to Pumpkin Spicemallows, it feels like basically every food now has its own pumpkin spice version. Well, hold onto your horses (or pumpkins?) because Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes now come in a pumpkin spice flavor!

As told to Today, these revamped frosted flakes are coated in pumpkin spice frosting and the pumpkin flavor mixes with the wonderful aromas of cinnamon, allspice and ginger. Sounds like the perfect companion for cold mornings during the upcoming holiday season.

Although the cereal hasn’t hit stores yet, some food bloggers have still managed to get their hands on a box. Markie Devo rated it 10/10, describing the cereal as having a “strong pumpkin spice essence”  and giving off a “very sweet with a hint of pumpkin puree/cinnamon vibe.” Sounds promising to me!

Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes will join Pumpkin Spice Cheerios and Kellogg’s Special K Pumpkin Spice on shelves in September and can be bought for $4.29. Until then, we’ll just have to look for other ways to indulge in the Pumpkin Spice Life.

The summer is getting shorter and our reading list keeps getting longer. Though we still aren't ready to part with the summer weather, we're definitely gearing up to read Amanda Stauffer's novel, Match Made in Manhattan. The main character in the book is already hyper relatable, seeing as she's confused, lonely and just trying to navigate her love life. 

In this exclusive chapter reveal, Alison finally takes the risk and downloads a dating app, and it she goes on some ~adventures~ in her dating ventures. From getting dumped before the first kiss, wearing a HAZMAT suit on another and going on a date with an undercover federal agent, Alison's dating experience help her become open-minded and allow her to scrap her perfect bae checklist. 

“Wait—what?” I bolt upright from my chaise longue. Stay calm, I coach myself. Deep breath. Deep breath. “I just don’t . . .” Dave sighs, sips his margarita, picks up a nacho, and shrugs his shoulders. “I just don’t think it’s necessary right now.” “‘Necessary’? ‘Right now’?” I repeat his words back to him, with a little more heat than intended. “We’re talking about five months from now. We’re talking about five months from now, three and a half years into a relationship.” Oops. I didn’t intend to whine either. “I know. But.” He stares at the nacho platter. “Why don’t we just wait until we’re married? I don’t think there’s any reason we have to do it before we’re married.” I sniff quietly, trying to clear my filling tear ducts. It’s New Year’s Day, the last night of vacation, and we’re having dinner on the beach. Until thirty seconds ago, we’d been planning to move in together when my lease expires in June. Deep breath. Until now, except for fleeting thoughts about getting engaged, usually precipitated by the engagement announcements of friends, I’d never felt in any hurry to massage the relationship in any particular direction. It’s comfortable, we love each other, and I figured we’d get married someday. The logistics of how or why previously hadn’t felt important, and I’d never felt the need to set a timeline, laminate it, and stick it on the fridge. (I actually have a friend whose girlfriend—now wife—did this.) But this about-face on a move-in plan hatched nearly a year ago feels not only like an insult but also like a giant step backward. I grit my teeth to hold back tears. Deep breath. Deep breath.

Without intending to, we spent the next week hashing out the reasons to break up and the reasons not to. Dave kept making the case that he loved me! And he loved our relationship! So we should stay together! . . . Just not live together. One morning I’d say I needed a night off to think; that afternoon, he’d text me asking if I wanted to grab dinner. And out of force of habit, or a naïve hope that his position would change, I’d find myself in his kitchen after work. And each night, we calmly, amicably, rationally debated the future of our relationship. My eyes would water. His voice would crack. Yet while he pled his case, I found myself tuning him out, psyching myself up to do what I knew needed to be done: if it’s not going to work after three-plus years, it’s never going to work. It was sad and draining. But in a way, that week of romantic purgatory gave me clarity, and all those interior-monologue pep talks gave me confidence: You can do it! Life will go on. Now three weeks later, for the first time, at twenty-seven years old, I am a single New Yorker. When I ultimately allowed my rational side to take over, Dave’s broken promises made breaking up with him a fairly cut-and-dried decision. Because there was no deception, no wondering what if I’d done x, y, or z differently, and really no regrets—other than having stayed in the relationship for perhaps one year too long (that is if I could have discerned that this wasn’t to be The Relationship with a capital R)—there isn’t much point in licking my wounds. Instead I need to pull myself together, dust myself off, and ask: What now?

***

I’ve never been on a first date. I didn’t pique the interest of many boys in high school, and in college, I was fortunate enough to have my meet cute on a freshman orientation backpacking trip, which sparked a fouryear relationship with a really stellar guy. Throughout college I had a wide circle of kindhearted, intelligent, funny, and attractive guy friends; when my college relationship ended around graduation, some of them, like Dave, naturally morphed into dating prospects. But with friends, before even going on a “date,” you’ve both (hopefully) weighed the pros and cons of dating and decided you’re into it, lest you risk damaging the friendship . . . and that means it’s really not a first date at all: no first impressions to be made, red flags already flying in the open, minimal high jinks, et cetera.

Until now I haven’t had to worry about what kind of signal I’m sending out. I haven’t debated which blouse will communicate that I’m classy but casual, nor have I obsessed over how high my heels should be or how much makeup to put on. For the last three years, I showed up at Dave’s apartment after work in paint-splattered, chemical-stained jeans and company-emblazoned polos. Before Dave, my college boyfriend Scott lived so close by I sometimes walked over to his apartment in my flannel pajama pants. I’ve spent countless hours perched on the edge of the bathtub, chatting with Cassie and Nicole as they curled their hair, applied their smoky eyes, and primped for their dates in our tiny tiled bathroom. I suppose it’s my turn now to learn how to make a smoky eye? Dave and I, Scott and I, we were pals. They knew what I looked like. And they knew what I was like. I didn’t have to brainstorm topics of conversation or worry I might say the wrong thing. So now, in the last third of my twenties—most people’s dating prime—I’ve had two three-plus-year relationships, two or three mini-relationships, and not one blind date, setup, or genuine first date. And I haven’t the foggiest clue as to what a typical date looks like. But of paramount importance, it’s high time I figure out how to find people to date—assuming I want to branch out beyond the alumni population of my college. The world is big and I am small. Where do I begin?

***

Nicole swipes at her screen and tosses it to me. I snort with laughter at

the profiles before me.

“Come on, I’m way too prudish for Tinder. Can you picture me

bringing home random dudes?”

“I haven’t brought home that many random dudes, have I?”

“Yeah, but, I think there’s an expectation there that things will

move faster physically than . . . my slowpoke pace.”

“What about Hinge?”

“Assuming I don’t want to date any more college classmates, I

should probably cast a wider net, no?”

Nicole reads aloud from Match.com’s homepage: “‘If you don’t find

someone special during your initial six-month subscription, we will

give you an additional six months at no additional cost to you to continue

your search.’”

My cursor hovers over the Subscribe button.

“I think you’re really going to like it, Ali,” Nicole coaxes.

One hundred and fifty dollars for six months, nay, a potential year

of possibilities and new horizons doesn’t sound like a bad deal. Right?

“Please let me help craft your profile?” she begs. “There is literally

nothing I’d rather do with my evening.”

With Nicole looking over my shoulder, I begin to type.

In My Own Words:

What can I say that distinguishes me from every other girl on this site?

Let’s play a little game called “Two Truths and a Lie:”

1. I once medaled in the women’s lightweight division of the World Championship Wild Hog Catching Contest in Sabinal, TX.

2. I have a cameo appearance in not one, but two music videos: one for U2 and one for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. If you squint, you can see me!

3. I have a pet hermit crab named Poseidon.

My Interests:

I’m an architectural conservator, which means that I spend my days donning latex gloves and wielding scalpels and syringes, attempting to save historic buildings one paint chip at a time. When I’m not working, I like to glassblow, bake cakes, soufflés, and all manner of desserts that require a blowtorch, and/or seek out BYOB restaurants with my friends. I’ll never turn down a run along the East River, a walk through Central Park, a mojito, an adventure, or chocolate-covered anything.

About My Date:

I am looking for someone who is intellectually curious, has a big heart, and can make me laugh. Bonus points if you won’t protest when I try to drag you to screenings of Italian neorealist cinema or to the barbecue festival in Madison Square Park, even though I fully acknowledge that it is overcrowded and far too touristy (but still, so fun!). I look at Nicole, who gives me a thumbs-up. “Alright,” she says. “Let’s publish this thing and let Match.com work its magic.”

Ready. Set. Post.

**************************************************************************

Before our second date, I decided to do a little digging on Dan. Given that his username is Nadatsoca, it didn’t take a cryptologist to determine that his full name is Dan Acosta. Based on just that keyword search, I found out that he works for Honeywell’s industrial technology, went to

Princeton, posts too many photos of the city skyline on Instagram, and overuses the hashtag #nofilter. Working backward through his public profile on Facebook, I can pinpoint the day he and his last girlfriend broke up and see pictures of her. She looks like she stepped out of a Pearl Jam-groupie beauty pageant with bleached blonde hair, leather pants, and leopard-print everything. Maybe she hurt him so badly he’s seeking her polar opposite? Even barring that, the gold cross he wore around his neck at Auction House, his Facebook profile photo displaying him shirtless, steering a boat, with a bottle of Captain Morgan in hand . . . something tells me that soul mates we are not.

Over dinner at Maz Mezcal, Dan tells me about his close-knit enormous family and band of thirty cousins. He tells me he’s half Puerto Rican (“Oh, I thought you might be Irish.”—“I get that a lot.”) and that he grew up on Latin cuisine. “Do you want another round?” Dan asks, when the waiter comes by to check in.

“I will if you will.”

I like talking to Dan and his piercing blue eyes. But I’m kind of over dating people who I have no future with. When our drinks arrive, I take a sip of liquid courage and begin, “You seem like a fun guy. So, do you want to play a game? My friend Paige and I have this thing we call the ‘three-martini question.’. . . When you’ve had three martinis, and you’re a little more . . . open? . . . you get to throw caution to the wind and ask really probing questions that you might normally save for awkward conversations further down the road. I know we don’t have martinis per se, but . . . can I tweak that and ask you a three-margarita question?”
“I don’t know that I’d say this sounds like a fun game necessarily, but I’m up for it if you are. . . . This means I get to ask, too, right?” I nod.

“Okay. Shoot.”

“Okay. So.” I take another sip of my margarita. “You wear a cross

around your neck.”

He nods.

“Which I take to mean that you are religious.”

He nods.

“Do you go to church?”

He nods.

“Like, on your own? Or only with family?”

He looks at the ceiling and ponders this. “Honestly? Only with

family.”

“But it’s important to you,” I state, and he nods. “So . . . can I

ask why you’re on a second date with a half-Protestant, half-Jew who,

according to her Match.com profile, is a self-professed agnostic?” I

smile.

He nods, as if to himself. “I’m not gonna lie, you’re the first

non-Catholic girl I’ve gone out with.”

“Because normally that’s a deal breaker?”

He nods a few times, again to himself. Then says, “Yeah.”

“So. Are you going to . . . just . . . throw your religious morals out

the window here? Or . . . was this just an experiment in crossing over

to the dark side?” I smile.

“No. Not that,” he says, nodding. “You know, I thought about it.

It’s not like I ignored that detail or missed it. . . . I just, I guess over the

years, I’ve decided that there are more important things.”

“Okay.”

“Would it be a deal breaker for you? That I’m Catholic?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Keep in mind my parents both diluted

their own religious backgrounds through an interfaith marriage. . . .”

“Does it bother you at all, though?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I just figured if you were going to turn around and say, ‘Ehh, forget it, I can only marry a Catholic,’ I’d rather throw in the towel now.” I add quickly, “Not that I want to marry you. I don’t want to marry you.” I feel my cheeks flushing again. I really need to start speaking more slowly so my brain can keep up with my mouth. I hang my head in embarrassment and sip on my margarita without looking up.

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to ask until at least the third date.” He

smiles. “Okay. So, my turn?”

I nod.

“Why are you on here? Match, I mean.”

“Really? That’s your question? That’s not a three-martini question.

That’s, like, a sober coffee-date question.”

“Well . . .”

“That’s easy.” I give him a quick summary of my serious relationships, explain my need to branch out beyond the population of my college graduating class, the same unintentional script I’ve been spewing off since January.

He nods. “Cool, that makes sense.”

“I don’t know. Doesn’t everyone use websites or apps or platforms

these days? Tinder, Bumble. . . . What about you? Why are you on?”

“I don’t have that many friends in New York, so I feel like my circle’s

kind of small.”

“From Princeton? I find that hard to believe . . .”

“Well, right out of college everyone was here. But at this point, most people have left. . . . So when the girlfriend I lived with,” I get a mental picture of Nikki with her black choker necklace and fishnet tights, then try to abolish this picture from my mind, “and I broke up . . . I took a while to get over it. And then moved to New York. And then needed a way to meet people.” “Did she go to Princeton, your last girlfriend?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“No.”

“So how did you meet?”

“It started from a random hookup.”

“Huh. Really?”

“Yeah, I woke up in the morning and she was gone, but she’d written her number in lipstick on my mirror.”

That is one classy chick! “Wait, seriously?”

He nods.

And you are on a date with me because . . .? “How long were you

together?”

“About five years.”

“And you said you lived together. . . . Why did it end?” He looks taken aback, and although he’s right—this question may have been a bit too probing for date number two—I wave my margarita glass in my hand. “Three-margarita question.”

He smiles. “Honestly?”

I nod.

“I proposed and she said no.”

And suddenly, all the feelings I’ve been grappling with come back at once, and my heart aches. For Dan this time, though. “I’m so sorry, Dan,” I say softly.

“No, it’s fine,” he says confidently. “But, you know, when you live together for multiple years and propose and get rejected, you’ve kind of got no choice but to pick up and move on.”

I nod. “That’s terrible. Did she explain it? Her reasoning?”

“Kind of. Not really. She said she didn’t feel ready to settle down.”

“But isn’t living together kind of settling down anyway? I feel like

the marriage license is just the ribbon on the box or something.”

“I agree. But that’s what she said.”

“So I imagine you didn’t stay friends?”

“No. But it’s kind of a funny story. We both moved out, and two

months later, she calls me, asks to come over, and tells me that it was

the biggest mistake of her life and she’s been . . . I don’t know . . . devastated

ever since . . . and she asks me to get back together and to get

married.”

“What’d you say?”

“I said no.” He shrugs.

“Why’d you say no?”

“I don’t know. I think maybe it was a combination of things. I spent so long being angry at her, you can’t just shove that aside and get over it. Also, during the time that I was angry, I spent a lot of time thinking about all the things that were wrong with her. Or with the relationship.”

“No, but mostly with her,” I say, half-smiling, and he raises an eyebrow.

“Come on, you’d be right to. I’m not judging.”

“Well, yeah. Mostly all the things that were wrong with her.” He

twirls his fork and watches it. “So, this time I said no.”

“That must have been confusing. And hard.” I nod, then he nods. “I’m sorry.”

He blinks hard and shakes his head as if clearing it of these thoughts.

“Whoa, your three-martini questions can get deep.”

“Yeah, I’ve never actually had them be that deep before.” I laugh.

“Usually it’s dumb stuff like, ‘I kind of think you’re hitting on me. Are

you hitting on me?’ Or,” I add quickly, “that’s how Paige always uses

it at least.”

Dan gets up to go to the bathroom. While he’s gone, I check my phone. When Dan sits back down at the table, his demeanor seems to have changed. It’s not that he’s not being nice, or polite; he is, but he seems a little off, a little distracted perhaps? He walks me home after dinner, we hug goodbye, and he asks if I want to get together later in the week. I say yes and head inside. I open up my laptop and go back to Dan’s Facebook page to take a closer look at this heartbreaker ex-girlfriend. And there, on his wall, is a new message from her:

September 12 at 9:23 p.m.

Hey Danny. You must be done with school by now. Was thinking about you and just wanted to say congratulations! You deserve it. xx

Posted today at 9:23 p.m. Aha! He must have received this notification on his phone when he got up to go to the bathroom. Which explains his distractedness from that point forward. How completely bizarre that without him ever telling me so much as her name, or his own last name, the Internet has enabled me to tease out Dan’s emotional hangups. Also, why doesn’t the girl use email or text for this kind of thing?

Match Made in Manhattan by Amanda Stauffer is available for purchase now.

If you’re a lover of alcohol and all things spicy, then look no further! Draper’s Liqueur has got you covered with their Jalapeño Liqueur. Draper’s is already known for their other yummy concoctions (Coffee Liqueur, anyone?) but this is perfect for anyone who finds themselves cringing at the idea of a super sweet alcoholic drink (can I hear a heck yes?).

So you love jalapeños in your tacos, but what do they taste like in your drink? Draper’s has an answer for you: “light, pepper, refined.” In other words, it tastes summery, hot and elegant — sounds perfect for us busy college women! Worried about what to pair it with? Let your imagination run free and add the liqueur to any of your favorite boozy drinks. If you're not that creative when it comes to cocktails, why not try a Spicy Jalapeño Margarita or a crazy hot Jalapeño gin and tonic for starters? The liqueur will certainly add some new buzz to your go-to drink. 

Draper’s isn’t the first to come up with the genius idea of combining flaming hot spice with hard hitting liquor. If Jalapeno just doesn’t do it for you, why not try Soltado Spicy Añejo Tequila, which uses serrano peppers to give you that lovely mouth-burning sensation. Or maybe take a sip of Vodka mixed with Chipotle pepper aka Hangar 1’s Chipotle Vodka? Honestly, the choices are endless.

So, are you convinced to give it a try or scared that you won’t be able to handle the hotness? I know I’ll certainly be testing this out. The best part is that you don’t even have to leave your house — just order it for $9.99 online and pick it up from your local store. JALA-llujah!

What department did you intern in and what year? What is your current role/department?

MC: I interned in the marketing department in integrated advertising and events and currently work in the marketing department in enterprise marketing as a marketing analyst.

NG: I interned in insurance in 2013. I am currently a senior pricing analyst in auto finance, and prior to this role I spent two years in Insurance (2014-2016) and two years in risk in consumer auto credit (2016-2018).

RV: I interned in audit and am currently a lead auditor, data analytics in audit.

What was your hiring timeline- right after your internship?

MC: I was hired right after I graduated from college. I finished my internship August 2016, graduated April 2017 and started at Ally full time May 2017.

NG: About a month after my internship ended I got a call from Ally recruiting offering me a full time role for after graduation. It was great timing, as I had not gotten fully into fall recruiting, and it was great to have a job locked down at the beginning of senior year.

RV: I received an offer two weeks before my internship ended and I started full time right away.

What were your intern responsibilities and do they translate into your current role?

MC:  My main internship responsibility was managing project workflow and effectively communicating a lot of information to people. Clear communication and attention to detail were essential components of my daily work as an intern. I still use those skills every day in my fulltime role.

NG: My main summer project centered around job aid documentation for a new system insurance had implemented. Another big project I worked on dealt with report creation and figuring out the causes of data quality issues and report discrepancies. That project helped me build valuable technical and problem solving skills that I still use to this day when pulling and analyzing data sets.

RV: As an intern, my responsibilities mirrored the entry-level staff auditor role. I assisted the team with audit testing for one insurance audit and had other responsibilities to help the department (create a new layout for Audit’s Sharepoint site/TeamRoom). In my current role, I am still performing audit testing at a more advanced level and now have more of an oversight/admin role with the Sharepoint site/TeamRoom.

How was your Ally intern experience? Did you know you wanted to be at the company long term and did you make any special connections like a mentor?

MC: As an intern, my team really took the time to understand my career goals so they could make the program most beneficial for me. I learned valuable skills, did meaningful work, and truly felt like I had a seat at the table. Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities, the Ally family is so willing to help out and share their experiences. Every employee I met with that summer raved about their experience working for this company and encouraged me to make the most of my internship.

NG: I loved my internship experience, which I didn’t expect going in. I figured getting an internship was a “check” you needed on a resume for future employers and that I’d hopefully learn a bit along the way. I can honestly say looking back that it was an awesome summer that set me on the path to where I am today. Coming into it I figured it would be a very “stiff” culture since it’s financial services, and that I’d have to play the “be seen but not heard” role, but I was proven wrong very quickly. Everyone was friendly, willing to lend a hand, and valued my opinion and questions even though I was an intern. I also really appreciated the open-door policy that the executives had. Overall there was a big emphasis on learning, even amongst those employees who had years of experience. Plus, the teams kept it fun for us. As soon as I left I knew I was going to strongly consider Ally after graduation, and luckily they offered me a role very shortly thereafter! I did consider one other offer out of state, but in the end Ally’s culture was a perfect fit, and I knew the company was going to continue to grow and that would mean a lot of opportunity to gain exposure to different areas. I would absolutely recommend the program to students. You will learn a lot just by being in a corporate environment and absorbing how the company works and how people interact. On top of that, projects are picked intentionally to give students the ability to make an impact and to ensure they learn a wide range of skills. 

RV: I had an amazing intern experience! At the time, I knew I wanted to be at the company fulltime and made a lot of special connections outside my department (with HR, Communications, Auto Finance, Marketing) which attributed to my awesome experience. I had an assigned mentor in my department but leaned on one of the Early Talent leaders who led the internship program at the time as an additional mentor. I would highly recommend the Ally internship experience! The program has grown since 2014 and now includes events (panel sessions, social/volunteer events) that I wish we had in my intern class.

Was it important to you to join a company like Ally that supports diversity and inclusion and has benefits in place that support women in particular? 

MC: It was important for me to join an organization that supports diversity and has policies that support women to know that everyone is seen, heard and respected. I needed to know that my company does not first look at my identity as a way to dictate my professional potential in an organization. Seeing diverse women represented in leadership roles throughout the organization and concrete actions like forming employee resource groups shows me that Ally encourages me to be my authentic self and my professional aspirations are not limited by my identity here. It is abundantly clear that Ally is invested in building an inclusive workplace not just because it is good for business, but because it’s the right thing to do.

NG: I believe it says a lot about a company and its culture when they take actions to support diversity in the workplace. It signals that they want employees who will bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to the table, which in turn can help make the workplace better and drive better business results. I also think it makes employees more comfortable and willing to be themselves, and that makes coming to work each day more enjoyable. I’m very proud of Ally’s Employee Resource Groups. They give employees a real sense of belonging, and can serve as a great way for people to develop their skills, grow their network, volunteer in the community, and get involved in a broader purpose at the organization. I serve as one of the Talent Pillar Leads for Women ALLYs in Detroit and we work to form relationships with female groups on campuses and at various professional organizations. The financial services industry has a bit of a reputation for being heavily male, and the work we do gives college students the opportunity to see other young females succeeding in the financial services industry. We enjoy getting to provide career guidance to the students and talking to them about paths here at Ally. The company also has fantastic benefits for all employees; in particular, we have 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, which is industry-leading. While I’m not at that stage in my life yet, it’s comforting to know that later down the line I’ll have that benefit available to me. Plus, I think it says a lot about who we are as a company that we provide it; it shows that we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion, but we take actions that make a difference and make our workplace better.

RV: Being the first woman in my family to graduate with a Bachelor’s in the United States, it was very important to me to work for an organization that supports diversity and offers work/life benefits. With the relationships I’ve created through my internship, I was fortunate to land a spot on the Talent and Development pillars of the Women’s Employee Resource Group to plan events for the Detroit chapter and network with upper management within the company. I love that it’s important for Ally to engage women in the workplace. I was part of a sorority in college and being involved with the Women’s Resource Group reminds me of the relationships I created and the camaraderie that was built to encourage and empower the career-oriented woman. In addition, Ally’s generous maternity leave benefit makes me proud knowing I work for a company that values employees and their families.

What did you learn in your internship that you carry with you to this day in your role?

MC: I learned that while it is important to be knowledgeable, it is just as important to do your daily work with empathy. Understanding is more than subject matter, it is recognizing the humanity of those around you. Through that lens, applying your knowledge and ideas will make a much larger impact not only on the organization’s goals, but also workplace culture.

NG: No matter your title or where you’re at in your career, you have an ability to make an impact. What might seem like a small task to you can be a big win for your department or the company as a whole. Take accountability for your mistakes. They are going to happen, especially when you’re new to a role or take on growth projects, and that’s to be expected. Don’t let them bog you down mentally, and make sure you learn from them. I’ve often found that the mistakes I’ve made in the past are some of the biggest learning opportunities I’ve had so far. Never stop learning. The employees I interacted with were always pushing us to learn, and it amazed me how many sessions the company had for their employees. The more you can learn about different groups and areas of the business, the better your work product will become and you’ll start to really pull in those perspectives, ideas, and knowledge into everything that you do.

RV: Don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge the status quo.  

What are some tips you would offer first time interns to make the most out of their experience?

MC:  I would encourage interns to ask questions, learn as much as possible, work as hard as you can, and meet with as many people as possible!

NG: Network: This doesn’t mean trying to meet as many people as you can, but rather making an effort to form meaningful connections with people and to learn from them. I found throughout my summer here that anyone I reached out to, no matter their level, was willing to teach me and give me insight into their career path. As someone who was unsure of what I wanted to do after college, this was invaluable. Plus, you never know who you’ll end up working with in the future.

-Put yourself in uncomfortable situations: I’ve noticed both during my internship and when I’ve taken on new roles that while it feels awkward at the time, situations where you’re out of your comfort zone are where you grow the most. 

-Never turn down an opportunity: Always raise your hand and don’t turn down projects, even if they don’t seem interesting to you. It’ll show that you’re energetic about taking on new tasks, and you will learn a lot along the way. For example, if you are really strong analytically but want to work on your communication and organization skills, and you’re given the opportunity to manage a small project with a few people, go for it. The more well-rounded you can become, the better.

-Challenge us: You’re bringing in a fresh perspective, and we need that! If you see a process that seems inefficient, or have ideas about a new way of doing things, share that with your team. It’s a way to pick people’s brains on how and why we do things, and it’s also another opportunity for you to leave your mark long after your internship is over.

-Be open to feedback: The internship is a great opportunity to develop a wide range of skills, and you’re surrounded by people who have years of experience on you. Come into the summer knowing that this can be a transformative experience; a big way of achieving that is seeking out feedback from peers, managers, and executives who are all here to help you get better.

RV:  Reach out to others outside your intern class and your department to grow your network. You never know what connections might help you later in your career or in your personal life. To make the most of your “real world” experience, don’t be afraid to shadow entry-level associates in your department or ask if you can help with some of their tasks. Not only do you get a glimpse of what you could be doing full-time, being proactive goes a long way.

If an intern wants to get hired at their company, what advice would you give?

MC: I encourage all the incoming interns to work hard, meet with as many people as you can, and be present. Go beyond your day-to-day responsibilities at your desk. Ultimately, be curious, hard-working, and enthusiastic.

NG: Show an interest in the company – where it’s been, where it’s going, and how the big picture ties together. If you ask those kinds of questions, it shows that you are interested in being here long term. I’d also say do your best to integrate yourself into the culture as quickly as possible. Ally is a large company, but we have many communities within it that you can get involved with.

RV: Participating in an internship doesn’t guarantee you a spot full-time. You are consistently being evaluated so make the most of your experience by mastering the assignments you’ve been given and challenging yourself to go above and beyond with either the work you performed or the relationships you build.

To the devoted rosé followers, the pink-hued drink is more than just a tasty beverage — it’s a lifestyle. It also seems to be the epitome of summer, especially since our Insta feeds are clogged with the perfectly placed shots of the pink-hued drink against a sunset, poolside backdrop. 

It’s become so popular that a version of the drink can be seen literally from any wine brand. You can even find it in cotton candy and popsicle form. While elegant whites and sultry reds are poured into pristine glasses, rosés are often subjected to our red solo cups. You’d think with the popularity of the summertime drink that we would already have a designated, classy glass for it. Well, apparently not. 

Riedel obviously was smart and hopped onto the rosé bandwagon. The wine glass company launched a line of high-end glasses specifically for rosé.  Each glass is meant to enhance the flavor and experience of the wine. According to the company's website, rosé glasses similar to champagne glasses, except it's wide in the middle and narrow at the top. These small differences in the glass change the way you drink rosé and heighten the experience, according to the company. 

The glass has a “diamond shape [that] creates a wider surface area at the midpoint of the glass, allowing a greater rate of alcohols evaporation intensifying the wine’s fruit and floral aromas and silkiness as it enters the mouth,” said Maximilian Riedel to Huffington Post. It basically unleashes the rosé's more fragrant qualities. 

But for a better rosé experience, the shape of the glass is apparently important. The wine director at Provence Marinaside Josh Carlson told HuffPost that “the olfactory sense are about 80 percent of the experience, so our nose integrates with our mouth and that’s where taste comes from. The shape of the glass really allows that sense to be affected.” 

Seminal producer Domaines Ott also wrote to HuffPost that “rosés need a wide bowl so they can swirl easily and exhale their fruity and floral notes. A narrow rim concentrates and guides those scents to the nose.” 

Who knew glass shapes were so important! The glasses run $45 each, so it is on the expensive side. If you are feeling the luxe life, you might want to invest in these glasses pronto. 

Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who came under fire for sending anti-Trump texts from his work phone during the 2016 presidential election, has been fired from the FBI.

According to Strzok’s attorney, the now former FBI agent was fired on Friday after serving in the agency for 21 years.

“The decision to fire Special Agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical Bureau practice, but also contradicts (FBI) Director (Christopher) Wray's testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters,” Aitan Goelman, Strzok's attorney, said in a statement.

Strzok shared his lawyer’s statement on Twitter, adding that he was “deeply saddened” by the agency’s decision.

“Deeply saddened by this decision,” Strzok posted Monday on Twitter. “It has been an honor to serve my country and work with the fine men and women of the FBI.”

The FBI said in a statement that Strzok “was subject to the standard FBI review and disciplinary process after conduct highlighted in the IG report was referred to the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility.”

According to ABC News, Goelman said Strzok’s firing “departed from established precedent by firing” Strzok, particularly because FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich orders went further than the recommendation of the FBI’s ethics office.

The office, however, said it reviewed the investigative materials, along with Strzok and his lawyer's written and oral responses before issuing a decision, adding that the deputy director had the authority to modify disciplinary penalties if it is in the agency’s best interest.

Strzok had been publicly pressed for his anti-Trump tweets during an open hearing in July with Republican on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees. Strzok had been overseeing the FBI’s probe of Russia’s interference in the election when the text messages were sent, CNN reports.

Strzok also helped lead the Hillary Clinton email probe, and Republicans insisted that both investigations had been tainted by political bias.

Goelman said Strzok's firing “should be deeply troubling to all Americans.”

“A lengthy investigation and multiple rounds of Congressional testimony failed to produce a shred of evidence that Special Agent Strzok’s personal views ever affected his work,” Goelman said in the statement.

“In fact, in his decades of service, Special Agent Strzok has proved himself to be one of the country’s top counterintelligence officers, leading to only one conclusion – the decision to terminate was taken in response to political pressure, and to punish Special Agent Strzok for political speech protected by the First Amendment, not on a fair and independent examination of the facts. It is a decision that produces only one winner - those who seek to harm our country and weaken our democracy,” the statement said.

President Donald Trump criticized Strzok Monday on Twitter and weighed in on his firing.

“Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction - I just fight back!” Trump wrote.

“Just fired Agent Strzok, formerly of the FBI, was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!” Trump wrote in a second tweet.

Online dating and relationship articles are oversaturated with helpful tips about sex tips and masturbation. While resourceful advice on how to have safe oral sex might seem vital to every pseudo-couple who’s trying to navigate that confusing time in pre-DTR limbo, it can be strenuous to scroll through Google for dating advice when your sexual orientation itself is scarcely represented.

Because there’s a lack of representation of asexual people in the media and entertainment, there’s a lot of misinformation about asexuality. While you might know that people who identify as asexual typically don’t have sexual desires, you might have some ignorant fallacies about what it means to be asexual.

Just like the LGBTQIA+ community houses an array of people, identities and sexualities, asexuality hosts a spectrum of non-sexual and somewhat non-sexual sexualities. The reality is that asexuality can mean something different for every person—because Jughead isn’t the universal spokesperson for every person who identifies as asexual especially since his asexuality is largely ignored on Riverdale, at least for the moment. Whether you’re questioning your sexual orientation or you just found out that your SO is asexual and you’re afraid to ask bae oblivious questions, here are some things you should know about asexuality:  

• Asexuality, like any sexuality, is not a choice. Unlike abstinence, which is a choice for a myriad of reasons, asexuality isn’t a choice; it’s a part of someone’s personhood. Because it’s a part of a person’s sexual, non-sexual or somewhat-sexual identity, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being asexual.

• Asexuality means that you ~typically~ don’t feel sexual attraction (or at all). Though you might not feel sexual attraction, that doesn’t mean you can’t be attracted to someone, emotionally or otherwise.

• Conversely, some people who’re asexual can also like sex but not be sexually attracted to anyone. Because the definition of asexuality is centered on sexual attraction, you can still enjoy sex or sexual acts without being sexually attracted to another person.

• Asexuality and romance are not mutually exclusive. Because asexuality is a sexual orientation that doesn’t mean that a person who is asexual can’t be emotionally or romantically attracted to you or anyone else. However, you can be asexual and aromantic (meaning you aren’t into romantic affection, or you are—just under specific circumstances), just like you can also be asexual and polyromantic. Nevertheless, asexuality doesn’t inhibit being in a relationship or falling in love.

• In fact, you can have sex as an asexual person. Because everyone defines their asexuality a bit differently, there’s a spectrum of asexuality that houses a slew of specific asexual orientations. Gray asexuality, or gray-sexuality, establishes a slew of asexual orientations and can include people who only experience sexual attraction at certain times (under specific situations). However, experiencing sexual attraction at times doesn’t make you any less asexual.

Because asexuality can describe a diverse group of sexualities and sexual attractions (or lack thereof), it’s essential to have a discussion with your SO about what your asexuality means to you—so there aren’t any misconceptions. 

Related: 3 Little Things You Should Stop Doing For a Healthier Relationship

1. Help your SO understand your sexuality

When your sexual orientation isn’t widely discussed in media, it can be draining to explain your sexuality to every new Bumble match or date.

While you could burden yourself with being the unofficial spokesperson of asexuality and explain every detail of your asexuality to each new SO and fling, you don’t need to burden yourself by coming out as asexual 200 times in your lifetime—that’s just daunting and unnecessary.

Instead of creating a lengthy presentation about your non-sexual awakening, explain your asexuality to your partner like the lazy gal you are. You can use a variety of innovative lazy girl hacks to help educate your SO, without curating a formal lecture yourself.

Though you can briefly explain how you interpret your asexuality, you can show your SO some resourceful websites, blogs and forums about asexuality. Granted, this might seem like the laziest of the lazy girl tips, but this can prevent a serious conversation from turning into an interrogation. Because a lot people aren’t familiar with what asexuality is, let alone the full extent of the asexuality spectrum, this method allows your SO to explore the broad definition of asexuality. After all, you’re helping your SO understand your asexuality, not doing all the work for them.

Since your SO’s homework assignment will probably inspire a few follow-up questions, especially if they’re a diligent researcher, this method will allow your SO to think of more concise (and hopefully less ignorant) questions about your sexuality. This approach will also help foster a less hostile discussion because it doesn’t put the responsibility of “coming-out” entirely on you. While you explain what asexuality is and answer subsequent questions (probably at a later date), your SO is also involved in researching and curating questions—so they’re actively thinking about you and your asexuality.

Plus, this group effort and could strengthen your relationship even more.

Related: Send This To Your Loved Ones Who Need To Understand Asexuality

2. Don’t compromise in the bedroom

If you’re comfortable with having an honest discussion with your SO about sexual boundaries, then you and your beau might be able to come to a compromise about intimacy. However, sex isn’t synonymous with intimacy.  

There’s a misconception that sex is vital to any healthy relationship. However, if you don’t want sex, now or ever, then you shouldn’t feel pressured to compromise—regardless of why you don’t want to have sex. After all, you don’t need to validate any part of your identity (including your sexual or non-sexual identity) to anyone, especially not to your SO.

Although your SO might think they need sexual acts to feed your relationship’s metaphorical flame, they might just need an outlet for physical intimacy. Albeit physical intimacy sounds like a middle schooler’s innuendo for sex, physical intimacy can take on many forms, from hugging to cuddling to kissing. Because any sexual act requires discussion, and subsequent consent, you can try to brainstorm other meaningful methods of intimacy that work for everyone in your relationship.

If your SO tries to give you an ultimatum regarding sex, then you might want to consider deleting all the couple-y photos you have on your Instagram—because if bae puts sex with you before you as a person, then they don’t deserve to be in any form of situation-ship with you. Seriously, no relationship can withstand an ultimatum. (Likewise, having sex with someone else because you may not want sex isn’t an excuse for cheating.)

After all, you shouldn’t feel pressured into having sex, especially if you aren’t attracted to the idea of sex.

Obviously, if you like sex (and you’re comfortable with getting frisky) and you just don’t feel sexual attraction, then you and your bae can just have a conversation about consent and sexual boundaries instead—because consent is fundamental for any relationship. '

Related: 6 Things You Should Never Say To Someone Who's Asexual

3. If your SO blames your asexuality on themselves, you might want to consider going to couple counseling

While you know that your asexuality isn’t anyone’s fault, your partner could take offense to the fact that you don’t have any sexual attraction or you don’t feel sexual desire.

There’s a chance that your partner might think your lack of sexual attraction could be because you don’t explicitly find them physically or sexually attractive, but in reality you might not be sexually attracted to anyone. However, your SO might take this personally (even though it’s not), which can obviously cause a slew of issues in your otherwise beautiful relationship.

Reassuring your partner could help solidify the fact that your asexuality isn’t their fault (mostly because there’s nobody to blame because sexuality isn’t blameworthy), but sometimes couples therapy can aid in this process. Other components could factor into why your SO feels accountable for your lack of sexual attraction or asexuality in general. Whether your SO has issues with self-esteem or seeks validity through sex, a licensed couples counseling can help pinpoint these underlying elements. From there, your couples counselor can help resolve any lingering feelings of blame or resentment.

Regardless, consulting a relationship therapist is a good method to foster a healthier and happier relationship. Even if you and bae have the most Insta-envy coupledom, a therapist can help prevent impending relationship quarrels by discussing them in a controlled environment (with an unbiased third party).

While couple counseling might seem like an expensive luxury for a college student, you might be able to use any on-campus counseling services for your relationship. If you university offers free or discounted therapy, then you can ask inquiry about bringing along your other half. (Because relationships and friendships can impact your mental health, and therapist recognize this.)

Whether you’re in a traditional relationship or a third in a committed throuple, there is a void of material about asexuality and dating. Nevertheless, there are countless ways to facilitate a healthy and happy relationship with your sexual, or non-sexual, orientation and your SO.

Disney announced that it began production on the live-action Mulan, and shared a first look of the titular heroine.

Disney tweeted a photo of Liu Yifei, the star of the title role.

The movie is based on the 1998 animated film, and is the latest of the ‘90s Disney movies to be adapted into a live-action film.

According to Hello Giggles, the live-action Mulan will be a looser adaptation. The film won’t have some of the original songs featured in the animated film, and won’t feature Mulan’s army captain and love interest Li Shang.

Despite the fact there will be some changes, the movie will mostly be the iconic story we grew up with.

According to Disney, the film’s official plot follows “the epic adventure of a fearless young woman who masquerades as a man in order to fight Northern Invaders attacking China. The eldest daughter of an honored warrior, Hua Mulan is spirited, determined and quick on her feet. When the Emperor issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army, she steps in to take the place of her ailing father as Hua Jun, becoming one of China’s greatest warriors ever.”

The film also starsStar Wars: Rogue One star Donnie Yen as Mulan’s mentor, Commander Tung; Yoson An as Mulan’s fellow soldier and later love interest, Chen Honghui; and Jet Li as the Emperor of China, ABC News reports.

Mulan is set to come out in theaters on March 27, 2020, and we know Mulan will bring honor to us all.

We’ve all seen the stereotypical bubbly sorority girl in various movies. If you’re an introverted PNM (sorority slang for Potential New Member) considering sorority recruitment, don’t let this scare you off! Sororities are full of diverse members and there’s certainly a home for you even if you’re not the loudest voice in the room. However, the process of recruitment revolves around meeting and talking to young women from sororities on your campus, so here are some tips to help you shake the nerves off and have an amazing rush week!

1. Prepare for rush as much as possible ahead of time

Study up, ladies! You don’t want to go into recruitment blind. Set yourself up ahead of time for success by learning about the Greek system and recruitment process at your school because aspects of Greek life vary widely in different schools and regions of the country!

Find out when your school holds sorority recruitment, how to sign up and whether sororities expect to receive information from you such as headshots, resumes and recommendation letters by checking out your school’s Panhellenic Association website. If your school holds any pre-recruitment events, such as “meet the chapter” events or house preview days, go, go, go!

Finally, pick out your recruitment outfits way before recruitment starts. That’s the last thing you need stressing you out during rush. Taking these steps can help calm your nerves by knowing what to expect going into rush, so you’re completely focused on the conversations you’re having with active members of sororities, because as Huffington Post explains, introverts may be easily distracted.

Related: What to Wear For Every Step of Rush 

2. Talk to your recruitment guide

At most schools with formal sorority recruitment, you will be assigned a recruitment guide who will basically serve as your mentor during recruitment. Schools have different Greek terms for recruitment guides such as Rho Gams and Rho Chis.

If you’re an introverted PNM, your recruitment guide is your best resource throughout rush! They are sorority members themselves and have undergone extensive training for this position, so they can provide you with all the advice and answers you need.

“I went to college really far away from my house plus I was very shy at that age, so I talked to my recruitment guide a lot during rush about how I was feeling and she was so helpful,” shares Kristin Wolfe, an alumna of Sigma Kappa at Arizona State University. “She helped me come up with interesting things to share about myself and my home state to the different sorority members I was meeting, and these ideas helped my conversations feel so effortless.”

3. Smile, smile, smile

Knowing and using basic, but very important, conversational skills can go a long way during recruitment when you’re talking to active members of sororities. These little tips will keep you better engaged in conversations at the different houses, and show the woman you’re speaking that you’re genuinely interested in her sorority and what she has to say.

Smile! Act like you want to be there, because if you made the decision to rush, you should want to be there. Smiling shows the women you’re speaking with that you’re excited about their chapter, and in return, they’ll be excited about you as a potential member. Making eye contact is very important as well. Eye contact shows you’re engaged in the conversation and not distracted or thinking about another house.

Make sure to show the sorority woman you’re chatting with that you’re interested by calling the woman by her name after she introduces herself, and occasionally throughout the conversation. Don’t reply to anything she says with one-word answers! “I consider myself an introvert who has a hard time with small talk, so after the first day of rush I changed my conversation strategy. I tried to see the girls I was meeting as potential friends and sisters, instead of strangers,” shares Lexi*, a sophomore and sorority member at Lehigh University. “You may start to relate more to the girls this way and then have the types of deeper conversations introverts love.”

4. Prepare interesting answers to questions beforehand

Speaking of no one-word answers during recruitment conversations, you could even think of possible answers to inevitable rush questions ahead of time. You will most likely be asked basic introductory questions by every woman you meet such as where you’re from, what you’re majoring in, if you’re enjoying the rush experience and other basic questions.

Don’t be afraid to answer these questions with more than a “New York” or “Biology” or “Yes." The women you’re speaking to are trying to see if you would fit in with their sisterhood, and that’s going to be very hard for them if you don’t open up about yourself.

Morgan Patrick, Director of Recruitment and a senior at The University of Alabama, which has the largest sorority membership in the nation, advises anticipating questions such as these and thinking of interesting answers ahead of time, so you don’t feel put on the spot. “Be aware that it’s not an interview. Especially the first couple rounds, it’s going to be a lot of where are you from [and] where are you living on campus. It can feel repetitive. For an introverted PNM, it’s difficult to start conversations, but if you have cool answers to those questions, it might lead to a different conversation. For example, if you’re asked where you’re from, instead of saying Memphis, Tennessee, you can say I’m from a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, so being from a suburb but near a city I had two types of experiences growing up.”

5. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not invited back to a sorority

The recruitment process at any school is a mutually selective process, meaning that you can be not invited back to a house (commonly referred to as being "dropped") even if you ranked that house highly. In fact, almost every PNM is dropped from multiple houses.

If and when this happens, it’s very important to not completely shut down. More on this later, but you shouldn’t change yourself or act like someone else if this happens! Everyone, even the girl who seems crazy confident, gets upset by being dropped by a favorite house. You’re not alone and it’s not personal. Sorority women are meeting hundreds of PNMs a day, so they can’t invite back everyone and they may feel some would fit in better at another chapter.

“Chapters are very large, so even if you’re not in the chapter you originally thought you would be in, there’s going to be someone in that chapter you can click with or befriend. Even if, especially early on in the week, you’re not back in the chapters you originally thought you would really love, give the other ones a chance,” says Morgan.

6. Relax and destress every night

We’re not going to lie: recruitment days are long and tiring. You will be walking all over the place (probably in heels!) and meeting so many people and making so many decisions. It’s important to remember to take care of yourself and your mental health.

Take time to relax every night after rush. If you have a tried and true tactic to destress, stick to that. If not, try watching a funny Netflix show, reading, writing in a journal, eating some comfort food or hanging out with friends. However, if you’re hanging out with friends, avoid discussing recruitment, especially negatively or comparing which houses you were invited back to. Introverts often find socializing, especially introductions and small talk, draining, so take this time to recharge for the next day.

“After each day was done, I would change into comfy clothes, put on a face mask and listen to music. I tried not to text my friends about rush either so it was completely off my mind. It really helped me be reenergized each day!” advises Lexi.

7. Most importantly, be yourself

As an introvert, you may feel pressured to act like someone you’re not to impress sororities. That’s the last thing you want to do! Sorority women want to see the real you, just like you expect them to be honest with you about themselves and their sororities. The right house will love you for who you are, not who you pretend to be or think you should be.

“I had a hard time going through recruitment because I’m very intimidated by people who are super outgoing, but I made sure to not try to be someone I wasn’t to impress anyone. Chapters genuinely want to get to know you, and you’ll be way more uncomfortable if you join a sorority that wants the fake version of you as opposed to the real version of you,” says Madelyn Dukart, an Alpha Chi Omega member at The Ohio State University.

Danielle Meller, another member of Alpha Chi Omega at The Ohio State University, adds, “What comes out of your mouth doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter perfect, but at least say it with meaning, passion, and enthusiasm.” 

We wish you the best of luck with recruitment, ladies. Now get ready to find your home!

*Name has been changed.

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.)

Oramosa Unveils New Tape, Trump Calls Her “Wacky” &“Vicious”

Former top White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman released a new audio tape that she says is a recording of a call from President Donald Trump to her after Chief of Staff John Kelly fired her, ABC News reports.

In the recording, which aired on NBC's “Today” show Monday, a voice that Manigault Newman identified as Trump’s appears to be surprised and upset about her departure from the White House.

“Omarosa, what's going on? I just saw in the news you're thinking about leaving. What happened?” the voice asks in the recording.

“General Kelly – General Kelly came to me and said that you guys wanted me to leave,” Manigault Newman responds.

“No. Nobody even told me about it,” the voice continues. “You know, they run a big operation but I didn't know it. I didn't know that. God [expletive]. I don't love you leaving at all.”

On Monday, White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley declined to “talk about what [Trump and Manigault Newman] talked about on the phone,” but said the “thought of doing something like that to a fellow employee, not to mention, the leader of the free world is completely disgraceful.”

“Her character and her integrity have been impugned beyond measure,” Gidley said in an interview with “Fox and Friends.”

Trump took to Twitter to criticize Manigault Newman, but also acknowledged that he had initially resisted Kelly’s attempts to fire her.

Since serving as the White House Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison, Manigault Newman has unleashed her criticism of the president.

In an interview following the release of the audio recording, Manigault Newman called herself a whistleblower and warned her former White House colleagues “they should be concerned” about further information to come from her book.

“There's a lot of very corrupt things happening in the White House, and I am going to blow the whistle on a lot of this,” Manigault Newman said.

Manigault Newman added that she didn’t know if the president was truly as shocked about her firing as he supposedly appeared to be in the recording, but said it should be alarming to Americans if Trump did not know that Kelly was dismissing a top member of the White House before notifying him first.

“As we heard on the recording you just played, he doesn't even know what's happening in the White House,” Manigault Newman said. “General Kelly, John Kelly is running the White House and Donald Trump has no clue what's going on. He's being puppeted. That's very dangerous to this nation.”

Special Counsel Wraps Up Manafort Case

Prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team rested the government’s case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on Monday, concluding nearly two weeks worth of testimony that Manafort had allegedly hid millions of dollars in offshore accounts and failed to pay taxes on that money.

Manafort faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on 18 counts of financial charges, including money laundering and tax fraud. Manafort has plead not guilty to the charges.

According to ABC News, the case has rarely referenced to Manafort’s role in the Trump campaign, making it unclear of how this case fits into the larger picture of the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

via Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE

Prosecutors had called in bookkeepers, accountants and Manafort’s longtime business partner, and final witnesses appeared on Friday to discuss Manafort’s financial wrongdoings. The prosecution’s case was supposed to wrap up last week, but a delay left one final witness for Monday.

One of the last witnesses on Monday was a mortgage banker with The Federal Savings Bank, which had loaned money to Manafort in 2016.

Over the past two weeks, an array of witnesses revealed that Manafort had evaded taxes on $60 million from overseas lobbying and consulting work for a Russian-backed Ukrainian political party, ABC News reports.

Manafort’s longtime business partner and Mueller’s key witness, Rick Gates, admitted to depositing millions of dollars into offshore accounts to evade taxes, but maintained that all actions he took were done at Manafort’s direction.

The defense team is expected to identify its witness list, but it declined to say whether Manafort will take the stand.

Both teams are expected to give their closing statements this week.

GOP Congressman's Son Donates to Democrat Running For Father's Seat      

Bobby Goodlatte, son of retiring Rep. Bob Goodlatte, announced his support for a Democratic candidate running for his father’s seat.

The congressman’s son tweeted Sunday that he had given the maximum amount allowed to Jennifer Lewis, a mental health worker and community advocate seeking to represent Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, The Huffington Post reports.

“2018 is the year to flip districts ― let’s do this!” Bobby Goodlatte tweeted.

On Monday, the young Goodlatte, tweeted that he was “deeply embarrassed” that his father’s “political grandstanding” contributed to the recent firing of FBI agent Peter Strzok.

Rep. Goodlatte, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, accused Strzok of being politically biased against President Donald Trump while assisting special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Rep. Goodlatte announced in November that he would not seek reelection in 2018.

When asked before the primary if he would support the Republican nominee for his seat, Rep. Goodlatte told theRichmond Times-Dispatch, “If they want my help, they’ll have it.”

According to HuffPost, Lewis supports “Medicare for all,” a $15-per-hour minimum wage, legal marijuana and an end to corporate “personhood.” Her Republican opponent, Ben Cline, is a Trump supporter and former aide to Rep. Goodlatte.

What to look out for...

Today is National Creamsicle Day! Summer has been miserable, so enjoy a delicious, cool treat!

Stephen Miller, senior advisor to President Trump, was called out by his uncle in an essay for Politico on Monday. 

You may know Miller for his far-right activism, but he’s come under even more scrutiny for his role in the Trump administration. Inspired by Miller’s view on immigration, a family member spoke out against him. 

Calling Miller an “immigration hypocrite,” David Glosser wrote to Politico about the family’s history as immigrants — and speak out about Miller’s actions.

The first generation of the family to come to America, “set foot on Ellis Island on January 7, 1903, with $8 to his name,” and rose to success in the department store business, wrote Glosser. Glosser said he “watched with dismay and increasing horror” as Miller’s ideas about immigration came out and believes that the ideas “repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this country.”

While Glosser mostly confronts his nephew’s stance, the essay speaks to the larger anti-immigrant ideas of the Trump administration. Glosser recognizes that his family’s journey wasn’t always easy, but they “largely had the protection of the law, there was no state sponsored violence against us, no kidnapping of our male children, and we enjoyed good relations with our neighbors,” unlike what immigrants face today.

Glosser details many of his specific issues with current policies, but what starts as harsh words for Miller ends as a call to action to all Americans. 

“As free Americans, and the descendants of immigrants and refugees,” says Glosser, “We have the obligation to exercise our conscience by voting for candidates who will stand up for our highest national values and not succumb to our lowest fears.”

Miller is known for his hand in writing the executive order that made the Muslim ban into law and taking part in designing the policies that separate families at the border. According to Forward, Miller is currently pushing to stop legal residents from becoming citizens if they have participated in government programs like public assistance or health care subsidies. 

If we told you that a 14-year-old boy was campaigning for an election, you’d probably assume said election was for a spot on his class council. Not this time—14-year-old Ethan Sonneborn is hoping to be the next governor of Vermont.

According to the Associated Press, Sonneborn claims he has “practical progressive ideas,” and decided to run after the Charlottesville rally in Virginia—clearly, he wanted to make a change. He found out that the state’s constitution doesn’t actually have an age requirement for candidates (oops?), and started putting together his campaign.

“My message transcends age,” Sonneborn said in a video.

And he didn’t come to play. CNN says that the focus of his campaign is on gun control, healthcare reform, economic development and education. It’s clear that he’s a precocious teenager, but it’s probably unlikely he’ll get much farther than the primary—the Associated Press reports that he managed to raise $1,700 for his campaign, which is no doubt impressive for a teen, but won’t cover the expenses needed for a successful statewide campaign.

The Cook Political Report rates the Vermont governor race as “solid Republican,” and it looks like incumbent governor Phil Scott has it in the bag. Vox, however, points out that Scott’s ratings have decreased among Republican voters since this spring, when he signed some bills that strengthened gun control laws.

Within the Democratic primary, Sonneborn is up against three other candidates, one of whom, Christine Hallquist, would be America’s first transgender governor if elected.

Despite his tough competition, Sonneborn is hopeful. “I think if I can get one person who wasn’t involved in the political process before involved now, then my campaign will have been a success,” he said.

He also says that even if he lost, he would continue to be involved in politics in some way. One of his main goals is to get more young people engaged in politics, and whether or not you think a kid who can’t drive yet should be in office or not, you have to admire his determination.