Can and will Hollywood ever change? That’s been one of the many questions spearheading the #MeToo conversation. But long before the #MeToo movement, there was Amaani Lyle fighting it all by herself. Lyle recently sat down with Bustle to talk about bringing the most popular television series to court. 

At 27, Amaani Lyle was hired as a writer’s assistant for the sixth season of the popular television show “Friends” in 1999. Her job was to write down everything the team brainstormed “jokes, anecdotes, anything the writers said that might lead to a story,” Bustle reports. According to her testimony, Lyle’s supervisors Adam Chase, Gregory Malins, and Andrew Reich often made graphic sexual and racist comments. She claimed later in the legal documents that the men would often talk about the type of women they preferred, personal stories about their sex lives, and how one of the writers missed his chance to sleep with one of the shows stars. The conversation would often turn to the cast or show and veer completely off course, Lyle told Bustle. According to the court documents, they referred to a lead actress as “having dried branches in her vagina.” Lyle claims that they repeatedly brought up a fantasy about having Joey’s character enter the bathroom while one of the female characters were showering and rape her.

Lyle mentioned how she spoke up about the lack of diversity on the show and the need for a black character. She also noticed their racist jokes, often mocking “black ghetto talk.”  Lyle also claimed that comments like these were constant and continued to happen. 

Lyle mentioned how she spoke up about the lack of diversity on the show and the need for a black character. She also noticed their racist jokes, often mocking “black ghetto talk.” 

She told Bustle that this type of behavior, “was so ingrained and ubiquitous at the time that nobody thought about it. The female writers would say something, and [the male writers] would huff and puff and get mad, and then we would just move on,” she said. 

In 1999, Lyle was unexpectedly fired for “poor job performance: she typed too slowly,” Bustle reports, but she suspected her typing wasn’t the actual reason. Lyle initially brought suit to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing for wrongful termination and racial discrimination, but it was dismissed. The appeals court did reinstate the harassment claims. For six years, Lyle fought this.

Chase, Malins, and Reich confirmed that Lyle’s accusations were true, but it was “necessary parts of the creative process,” Bustle Reports. 

The case was eventually brought to California Supreme Court, where they decided that the writers comments weren’t directed at her, thus her rights weren’t violated. 

“This case has very little to do with sexual harassment and very much to do with core First Amendment free-speech rights,” the court decision stated. “The writers of [“Friends”] were engaged in a creative process—writing adult comedy—when the alleged harassing conduct occurred. The First Amendment protects creativity.” 

It basically said that the right for these writer to belittle and harass women must be protected, as long as it wasn’t directed at someone. What happened to Lyle in the writer’s room wasn’t their fault, according to the statement. 

While the general public hasn’t heard much about Lyle vs. Warner Brothers, it has been used in other harassment cases and proven effective defense, according to Bustle. Lyle said that she feels her case did allow for more people to fight for their jobs, but in regards to harassment, the industry hasn’t changed. 

“At the heart of the matter, this isn’t just about harassment. It’s about diversity and inclusion, and all of those things that we didn’t take for granted. I would love to say that Hollywood has had this collective epiphany. But I think, no. It’s just—the lights are on now,” Lyle told Bustle. 

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.) 

A Remote Hawaiian Island Completely Wiped Off From The Map

An 11-acre Hawaiian island disappeared underwater, after a powerful hurricane struck earlier this month. 

In a statement from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Tuesday, East Island, which is the second-largest islet in French Frigate Shoals, “appears to be underwater” after Hurricane Walaka. 

The island was major habitat for critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, green sea turtle, and multiple species of seabirds. 

The Honolulu Civil Beat first reported East Island’s dramatic vanishing act. The Satellite images collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show how the white sand is practically gone.

“I had a holy shit moment, thinking ‘Oh my God, it’s gone,” said University of Hawaii climate scientist Chip Fletcher to Honolulu Civil Beat. “It’s one more chink in the wall of the network of ecosystem diversity on this planet that is being dismantled.” 

He said that he knew the island would eventually be underwater, but he thought it would take a couple more decades. The hurricane’s pathway wasn’t a function of climate change, he said, but instead bad luck. The trajectory of the Category 4 hurricane aimed right for the island. It’s strength and timing though he said were consistent with the consequences of a warming ocean and rising temperatures, which made the storm more intense. 

Police Arrest Two Middle School Girls, Who Allegedly Planned to Kill 15 Students & Scatter Their Body Parts

Two middle school girls at Bartow Middle School, in Bartow, Florida, were arrested on Wednesday, after they were discovered in a bathroom at the school with several knives, according to Bartow Chief of Police Joe Hall in a press conference.

Authorities say that the 11 and 12-year-old girls admitted to plotting to kill roughly 15 other students and “leave body parts at the entrance” of the school. 

When teachers realized that both girls didn’t show up for class, the administrators went looking for them. The administrators found them in a bathroom stall and took them back to their offices. There they found that both girls were in possession of four knives, a pizza cutter, and a knife sharpener, according to the Orlando Sentinel. 

As of right now, the girls face charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, possession of weapons at school, and other charges. They were sent to a juvenile detention facility on Wednesday.

Federal Judge Stops Georgia From Throwing Out Absentee Ballots Based On Signature Mismatches

A federal judge blocked Georgia from removing absentee ballots and application due to signature mismatches on Wednesday. 

Judge Leigh Martin May, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, issued a temporary block that allows voters to challenge the states first rejection and prove their identity. 

In Georgia, there’s a law that basically allows election officials to throw out absentee ballots if they see a signature mismatch on a voters paperwork. It doesn’t happen too often, but it does mean that voters can’t contest the decision. 

May’s proposal would require officials to mark mismatched signature ballots as provisional, notify voters of the rejection, and solve the issue within three days after Election Day, according to CNN. 

Two federal lawsuits have been filed, stating that election officials have violated voters rights by rejecting hundreds of absentee ballots because of the signature mismatches. May said that both parties in the suit will have until noon Thursday to suggest changes to the judges proposed instructions, CNN reports. 

What to look out for… 

Today is National Greasy Food day, so basically it’s your perfect excuse to get a slice of pizza or a delicious burger! 

Over the last four episodes of Manifest, the focus of the show has been on the passengers of Flight 828 who returned home and have had to adjust to a life that has jumped five-and-a-half years forward. On this week's episode, however, it seemed like half the episode consisted of flashbacks concentrating on what happened to everyone who wasn't on Flight 828 and what they went through during those five-and-a-half years. It was an emotional episode that really gave some insight into the way the people around Ben and Michaela have been acting and why everyone is having such a hard time adjusting to the return of these lost passengers. 

The Past

Grace, Olive and Danny

This week's episode opened with flashbacks focusing on young Olive (Jenna Kurmemaj), Grace and her in-laws on the first flight out of Jamaica, where Olive is having a hard time being away from Cal. The space, however, allows Grace to talk with her mother-in-law about the problems Ben and her have been going through due to the pressure Cal's leukemia has placed on them. They reach the airport in New York safely and are debating whether or not to wait for everyone on the second flight when Flight 828 switches from "on time" to "talk with agent" on the board of flight arrivals. 

The next time we are focused on Grace, it's a few months after Flight 828 goes missing and it is clear that Grace is not handling the supposed deaths of Ben and Cal well. While she has been lying in bed unable to deal with the events, Olive has been taking care of her, even making her soup after trying to make a sandwich with moldy ingredients left her with burned fingers. Grace realizes that she can't continue on like this and needs to start getting her life in order, for Olive's sake if nothing else. 

The first step in regaining control of her life is to join a support group with other people who have gone through the loss of a family member. During the first meeting, Grace opened up about how she felt she had no one left after losing Cal and Ben, but eventually realized that she had Olive and that was what led her to the meeting. She also talked about how every time people told her she looked great or that she was strong, she knew they were being polite and she just wanted someone to tell the truth and say that she looked like hell. After the meeting, Danny (Daniel Sunjata) appears and gets her to smile by telling her she looks like hell. It's a cute moment that brings some happiness into Grace's life and is the start of their relationship.

Two years after the disappearance of Flight 828, Grace invites Danny over for dinner, angering Olive. Danny works to understand her, realizing that she is struggling with losing Cal (she's unwilling to admit he's dead) and that this is aggravated by Grace sometimes mistaking Cal's favorite things for hers, in this case creating a meatloaf dinner. Though Olive runs off after this conversation, it is clear Danny has made an impact and that Grace is incredibly grateful to him. 

The last flashback we see is Danny leaving after the news of Flight 828's return. It is clearly a painful moment for everyone—they're all crying in a group hug before he leaves. For the last three years or so, Danny has been a surrogate father for Olive and though he could get over Grace, he is not sure he could ever move past losing Olive. It is clear that both Olive and Grace have lingering feelings for Danny, and in the present day, Grace realizes that she can't end Olive's relationship with Danny, creating a conundrum on how these familial relationships will continue in the future (Ben certainly doesn't seem very welcoming to Danny). 

Jared and Lourdes

In their first flashback, we are introduced to Jared and Lourdes at a café where he is freaking out about the possibility of Michaela turning down his proposal. Lourdes is clearly a good friend of Jared's, making the foundations of their romance more solid than if it was just based around the loss of Michaela. In the middle of getting reassurance from Lourdes that Michaela will say yes, Jared gets a call from Grace, learning that Flight 828 is missing. When he finds out that Michaela chose to take a later flight, he assumes that she was going to say no, an assumption that is part of why all of the events following occurred.

The next time we see Jared and Lourdes, they are taking Michaela's stuff to her parents house. They come across Michaela's memory box full of photos and reminisce over their relationship with her, which leads to laughter, something Michaela's mother is very happy to see. She believes that Michaela would want them to be happy and gives the memory box to Lourdes. 

Two years later, Jared and Lourdes meet in a bar to celebrate his promotion to detective. It is clear that both hold feelings for each other, and the romantic tension builds until Jared kisses her. While he is willing to call it a mistake and move on, she calls him out and they realize that they both were happy he did it and that they don't want to have regrets. This kiss is the start of a more serious relationship that Michaela's mother, now showing signs of the cancer that eventually kills her, wholeheartedly approves of, though Michaela's father still believes Jared loves his daughter.

Five-and-a-half years later, on Jared and Lourdes' three-year kissaversary, Jared gets another call from Grace—the plane is back. 

The Present Day

In the present, Ben spends the day with Cal trying to ignore the mysterious voice in his head that keeps on telling him "It's all connected." The two of them decide to let destiny guide their decisions that day by flipping a coin every time there is a choice to make. Towards the end of the day, Cal takes the lead and, following his own instincts, runs through the subway, leading Ben to Thomas, the stowaway from last week's episode, who needs their help. In between the last episode and this week's, Bethany, the stewardess, and her wife had hid Thomas, but Bethany was arrested by the NSA before they could take him to a safe house, leaving Thomas unsure of what to do. Luckily for Ben, Bethany's wife arrives and takes care of Thomas, leaving Ben's main worry to be over what Cal is experiencing. Ben decides he cannot ignore the voice he is hearing and starts work on a comprehensive data collection about all the passengers on Flight 828. 

In the meantime, Michaela is dealing with the fact that she still loves Jared, something she reveals to her father who advises her to tell him. Just as Michaela is about to, after she finds out he only got 10 days docked from his paycheck for his actions in last week's episode, he blows her off and returns home to Lourdes. There, Jared reassures Lourdes that he loves her and that all he feels for Michaela is pity. Whether this is just Jared telling himself that to avoid any guilt due to his association with the NSA is unclear. Clearly Lourdes loves Jared, but she also loves Michaela and there is no clear solution to this love triangle.

The Revelation

The last important flashback we get is of Cal on the plane. While everyone was asleep, Cal looks out the window and sees a glowing white ball of light. While looking at it, he says that "everything is connected," exactly what the mysterious voice has been telling Ben. It is clear Cal will play a bigger part in the coming episodes and the overall mystery of Flight 828's disappearance.

This article contains spoilers for Riverdale season three, episode three. Read at your own risk. 

Since the beginning of Riverdale, most of the show’s drama has been centered around the youth of the town. Archie’s love triangles, Jughead’s investigative reporting, everything with Veronica’s family, Dark Betty—the list goes on. But in this season of Riverdale, we are getting a whole new batch of drama and mystery courtesy of the parents of Riverdale aka the ‘Riverdale ‘Rents’ (as I like to refer to them). 

From a secretive meeting in Mayor McCoy’s office to FP Jones and Alice Cooper seeming awfully suspicious as they talk about the deaths of Ben and Dilton, it is clear that the ‘Rents know something about the mysterious events linked to the Griffins and Gargoyles role playing game. 

And while things are getting more tense by the minute (I mean Ethel was seeing some pretty creepy stuff in the final moments of last night’s episode), it’s time for dedicated Riverdale fans to put on their thinking caps and come up with the best explanations for what the Riverdale ‘Rents are up to. 

Here are five theories about what the Riverdale ‘Rents are hiding.

It was simply a game gone wrong. 

This seems like the most likely theory. The crazy antics of this season all started when Dilton, Ben and Ethel got involved with the role playing game, Griffins and Gargoyles. As they followed the rules laid out in a mysterious book, bad things happened (read: people died). And when FP and Alice found the rule book in Jughead’s things, they had what could safely be described as a strong reaction (they literally threw it into a fire). When you combine the anger towards the book with the ominous warning in episode two (“We can’t let it happen again”), it seems like the ‘Rents made a mistake in their youth, someone died and now they want to protect their children from making the same mistakes. 

The Riverdale ‘Rents are using scare tactics to keep their children in line. 

It goes without saying that Archie and the gang don’t always listen to their parents (they chase serial killers, go in to the woods unattended at night, have affairs with their teachers, experiment with jingle jangle, etc), and after years of this behavior, maybe Fred and the rest of the ‘Rents are just simply frustrated and tired of parenting teenagers. So, instead of once again warning their kids about the dangers of Riverdale, the parents have decided to scare their kids straight using some scary creature and role playing game. I’ll be honest, this seems like the least likely scenario, but it’s just ridiculous enough to fit with the Riverdale brand that even though it seems pretty lame, I’ll consider it. 

Riverdale is a town founded by a cult and the ‘Rents were part of the founding group. 

I can’t be the only one who is getting serious cult-like vibes from this ever present “Farm.” And while they were only mentioned in passing in prior seasons, their ideologies are slowly seeping into town this season (I mean, there is a Farm Support Group at the school now!!!). If all of the parents were involved in whatever happened in the past, chances are their involvement was due to them participating in an activity together. Maybe that activity was The Farm? If they were all participating members (or former members), one of the cult practices may have contributed to whatever happened 30+ years ago—and the reemergence of The Farm is responsible for whatever is happening now. 

In an occult ritual, the parents summoned a mythical and evil being. 

It’s hard to tell if this Gargoyle King is a hallucination seen by those under the influence of some substance, or if the Gargoyle King is a real being. But we’ve seen two ritual-like situations this season—the weird floating baby scene that preceded Betty’s seizure and Dilton’s death scene—which makes me think the Gargoyle King may be real after all. If the Griffins and Gargoyles rule book is a spellbook of sorts, perhaps in their youth, the Riverdale ‘Rents conjured some sort of being that has cursed the town and reappears after a certain period of time (kind of like Pennywise in Stephen King’s It). That could explain why all of these supernatural things are happening now, when the show has never before leaned in to the supernatural and occult. 

Hiram Lodge is up to something…

Hiram Lodge was one of the main villains of season two, but he has been oddly quiet in season three, mostly lurking in the shadows of speakeasies, prison yards and libraries. He’s obviously still a part of the show, and his cronies (Penny Peabody, Sheriff Manetta) are still showing up with regularity. Hiram Lodge was also present when all of the parents gathered for their mysterious meeting. I have a sneaking suspicion that all of this Gargoyle King madness is somehow connected to his evil plan to take over Riverdale. I just can’t figure out how yet. 

While any of these theories could be true, we will have to wait two whole weeks to find out what’s up (ugh! The agony!). In the next episode, we get to journey back to yesteryear to find out what the Riverdale ‘Rents know. 

Riverdale returns Wednesday, November 7 at 8 p.m. on The CW. 

Authorities are investigating mysterious packages containing potentially “explosive devices” that were sent to multiple prominent Democrats including Hillary and Bill Clinton, former president Barack Obama, as well as CNN. 

Around late Tuesday night the Secret Service intercepted a package addressed to Hillary Clinton’s home in Westchester County, New York. Secret Service also stopped a package addressed to former president Obama in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday. 

“The packages were immediately identified during the routine mail screen procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such,” the agency said in a statement to Huffington Post. “The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.” 

Hillary Clinton later extended her gratitude to the Secret Service.

“We are fine, thanks to the men and women of the Secret Service who intercepted the package addressed to us long before it made its way to our home,” Clinton said. 

“It is a troubling time, isn’t it?” she said. “It’s a time of deep divisions and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together.”

CNN’s newsroom in New York City was evacuated hours later after a suspicious package containing a pipe bomb and white powder was discovered in the mailroom, CNN reports. The package was sent by courier. 

According to CNN, the package was addressed to former CIA director John Brennan, who has been a leading critic of president Trump. Brennan is currently a contributor to MSNBC and NBC News, but he does not work for CNN. 

According to Huffington Post, the packages all listed Rep.Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, as the return sender. A suspicious package was discovered at her office in Sunrise, Florida on Wednesday. It was addressed to former attorney General Eric Holder, but the package was rerouted to her address. A package addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters was also intercepted, according to Huffington Post.

The packages have a similar appearance and contain “potentially destructive devices,” the FBI said in a statement Wednesday. Each were mailed in manila envelopes with a bubble wrap interior, with computer-printed labels, and six American flag Forever stamps, according to the FBI. The return address misspelled the return address as “Shultz”. 

“This investigation is of the highest priority for the FBI. We have committed the full strength of the FBI’s resources and, together with our partners on our Joint Terrorism Task Forces, we will continue to work to identify and arrest whoever is responsible for sending these packages,” siad FBI Director Christopher Wray. 

Each package will be sent to the agency’s lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis, and the FBI warned that there may have been more packages mailed to other locations. 

The same individual or group of these incidences might also be behind the explosive device sent to Democratic donor George Soros earlier this week, according to the New York Times. 

As of right not it’s unclear what the motive was, but all of the victims have been subjects of President Trump’s anger. He’s attacked CNN as “fake news”, called for Hillary Clinton to be thrown in prison, and claimed to be a victim of a takedown by Soros and Democrats, according to the New York Times.

Trump spoke to the press on Wednesday, denouncing the attempted attacks. 

“In these times, we have to unify, we have to come together and send one very clear strong and unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence have no place in the United States of America,” he said. “We’re extremely angry, upset, unhappy about what we witnessed this morning and we will get to the bottom of it.” 

CNN President Jeff Zucker called out the White House for its repeated attacks against the media on Wednesday. 

“There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” Zucker said in wake of the bomb threats, CNN reports. “The President, and especially the White House Press Secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that.”

We all love a good birthday. Who doesn’t want to celebrate a full year around the sun? It’s a perfect excuse for cake, balloons, friends and carefree behavior for a day. So, when food companies celebrate their birthdays it’s always a big deal full of promotion and cheer.

This year is Auntie Anne’s 30th birthday, so that’s pretty worthy of a party. A gift from them to anyone addicted to sweet and savory pretzels is the Pretzel Nation Creation poll. The company posted about it this year and received over 650 ideas for new flavors. Last year the infamous sriracha pretzel was the breadwinner.

image via Auntie Anne’s

After much deliberation Auntie Anne’s filtered it down into 10 choices for the public. These included birthday cake (obviously), caramel apple crème brûlée, chocolate coconut, pineapple upside down cake, tiramisu, chocolate covered cherry, cookies & cream, red velvet cheesecake, lemonade cake and cotton candy. Which of these sound overall appealing in general? Well, birthday cake won over caramel apple crème brûlée by a mere 662 votes.

According to Bustle, the new birthday cake flavor will be “dusted with vanilla, drizzled with chocolate syrup topped with fun confetti sprinkles.” The latest customer voted nuggets will be available for a limited time so get your hands on it fast.

It is bound to be your much needed sugar rush while at the mall or any food court. If you’re looking for an excuse to celebrate something definitely make your way on over to Auntie Anne’s ASAP.

Ahhh, November. The month where the weather is chilly, the leaves are fully orange, and we're not much farther from the holidays. Not only that, but there's nothing better than staying inside on a cold day, wrapped up in a blanket, and binge-watching Netflix because, who doesn't want that?

That being said, here's what's coming to Netflix this November: 

1. Julie & Julia - November 1

A movie starring Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, and Chris Messina? Count me in! This charming film revolves around New Yorker Julie Powell (Amy Adams) who embarks on a daring project, vowing to prepare all 524 recipes in Julia Childs' landmark cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Intertwined with Julie's story is the true tale of how Julia Child (Meryl Streep) herself conquered French cuisine with passion, fearlessness, and plenty of butter.

Fun fact: it wasn't until I had finished watching The Mindy Project and re-watched Julie& Julia that I realized Chris Messina was in this movie.

2. The Great British Baking Show (Collection 6) - November 9 

This favorite from the great land of England is coming to your screen this November! Collection 6 of GBBS (which is technically season 9 in the UK) will feature another round of wholesome, polite, British competition with mouthwatering sweet and savory baked goods we all want to try. It's a must-watch if you want to regain hope in humanity.

3. Sex and the City: the Movie - November 1

In this chick flick classic, four years after the earlier adventures of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her best friends, she and Big (Chris Noth) are in a committed relationship. Samantha (Kim Cattrall), after surviving cancer, is in a monogamous relationship with Smith Jerrod, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and her husband live on Park Avenue, and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), now in Brooklyn, begins to feel the pressure of family life.

Here are the rest of what's to come on Netflix:

• Angela's Christmas - November 1
• Bram Stoker's Dracula - November 1
• Bring It On: In It to Win It - November 1
• Cape Fear - November 1
• Children of Men - November 1
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind - November 1
• Cloverfield - November 1
• Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo - November 1
• Doctor Strange - November 1
• Fair Game: Director’s Cut - November 1
• Follow This: Part 3 - November 1
• From Dusk Till Dawn - November 1
• Good Will Hunting - November 1
• Jet Li's Fearless - November 1
• Julie & Julia - November 1
• Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles: Pt. 1 - November 1
• National Lampoon's Animal House - November 1
• Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow - November 1
• Planet Hulk - November 1
• Scary Movie 2 - November 1
• Scary Movie 3 - November 1
• Sex and the City: The Movie - November 1
• Sixteen Candles - November 1
• Stink! - November 1
• The English Patient - November 1
• The Judgement - November 1
• The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin - November 1
• The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep - November 1
• Transcendence - November 1
• Vaya - November 1
• Brainchild - November 2
• House of Cards (Season 6) - November 2

• ReMastered: Tricky Dick & The Man in Black - November 2

• The Holiday Calendar - November 2
• The Other Side of the Wind - November 2
• They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead - November 2
• Trolls: The Beat Goes On! (Season 4) - November 2
• Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil - November 3
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - November 4
• Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj- November 4
• Homecoming (Season 1) (2016) - November 5
• John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons - November 5
• Into the Forest - November 7
• The Sea of Trees - November 8
• Beat Bugs (Season 3) - November 9
• La Reina del Flow - November 9
• Medal of Honor - November 9​
• Outlaw King - November 9
• Spirit Riding Free (Season 7) - November 9
• Super Drags - November 9
• The Great British Baking Show (Collection 6) - November 9
• Treehouse Detectives (Season 2) - November 9
• Westside - November 9
• Green Room - November 12
• Loudon Wainwright III: Surviving Twin - November 16
• Oh My Ghost - November 16
• Warrior - November 13
• May The Devil Take You - November 15
• The Crew - November 15
• Cam - November 16
• Narcos: Mexico - November 16
• Ponysitters Club (Season 2) - November 16
• Prince of Peoria - November 16​
• She-Ra and the Princesses of Power - November 16
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - November 16
• The Break-Up - November 16
• The Kominsky Method - November 16
• The Princess Switch - November 16
• The Pixar Story - November 18
• The Last Kingdom (Season 3) - November 19
• Kulipari: Dream Walker - November 20
• Motown Magic - November 20
• Sabrina - November 20
• The Final Table - November 20
• Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia - November 20
• The Tribe - November 21
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi - November 22
• Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gauntlet - November 22
• The Christmas Chronicles - November 22
• Frontier(Season 3) - November 23
• Fugitiva - November 23
• Sick Note (Season 1 & 2) - November 23
• To Build or Not to Build (Season 2) - November 23
• My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Best Gift Ever - November 25
• Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attel - November 27
• Pocoyo(Season 4) - November 29
• 1983 - November 30
• A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding - November 30
• Baby - November 30
• Death by Magic - November 30
• F is for Family (Season 3) - November 30
• Happy as Lazzaro - November 30
• Rajma Chawal - November 30
• Spy Kids: Mission Critical (Season 2) - November 30
• The World Is Yours - November 30
• Tiempo compartido - November 30

If Riverdale isn’t enough drama for you, fear not, the brains behind Riverdale, have a new show hitting Netflix on October 26. 

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, starring Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men) and Ross Lynch (Austin and Ally, My Friend Dahmer), is a spookily updated version of the classic character, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. On the eve of her 16th birthday, Sabrina must choose between becoming a witch (for real) or spending eternity with her boyfriend—and she also has to deal with an evil being known as Madam Satan (sounds spooky). 

Given that they share a creator, and the characters both occupy the Archie universe, it seems likely that there may be a few connections between Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, guaranteed to thrill dedicated fans of the shows. Here are some of the biggest clues about how the shows may be connected 

The Farm feels very spooky. 

The Farm could just be a cult, but…it could also be a coven. Everyone knows that witches operate in covens, and if The Farm originates in Greendale (Sabrina’s home), it’s a real possibility that the members of The Farm are simply witches that are using their powers to help the citizens of Riverdale cope with the intense events that have plagued their town (i.e. Jason Blossom’s death, The Black Hood, whatever this Griffins and Gargoyles nonsense is). This theory seems even more plausible when you consider the fact that both Polly and Alice Cooper, as well as Ethel, found solace with The Farm after experiencing significant trauma. Also, Sabrina’s father, a powerful warlock, is named Edward. The head of The Farm is named Edgar. Edward and Edgar sound awfully similar. I’m just throwing that out there…

Rituals have been prominently featured in the episodes leading up to Sabrina’s premiere. 

Spells and ritual-like scenarios have been featured very prominently in previous iterations of Sabrina, so when spooky things started happening in the Riverdale season premiere, that was a good indicator that a connection to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was forthcoming. Floating babies, large demonic beings, peculiar anti-seizure drugs… these could be the result of drugs or contamination of some sort, but since they coincide with the arrival of The Farm in Riverdale, there is a large possibility that they are connected.

Evelyn’s entire vibe feels very retro… kind of like Sabrina.

If you have read the source material or watched the trailer for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, it’s clear that there is a distinct vintage vibe (1950s-1960s) to be exact. Riverdale also has a vintage feel at times, but it’s not as consistent as Sabrina. And when Evelyn, a member of The Farm, made her first appearance, it was clear that she had a vintage vibe similar to that of Sabrina. If she is connected to the cult/coven that is The Farm, she may lead the teens of Riverdale to Greendale.

The Archie characters make multiple appearances in the comic that Sabrina is based on. 

If you have read the comic version of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (and you definitely should), you will know that Betty and Veronica make appearances in Sabrina’s story. And while their appearances are brief, they play an important role in the plot of Sabrina comic. Given that Sabrina was originally supposed to be a guest arc on Riverdale, it will be interesting to see how the overlap of characters is handled. 

Before you get all excited, take a breath. In a recent interview with Collider, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said that while he’s open to it, we may have to wait for that Riverdale/Sabrina crossover. “I’m a big fan of cross-overs,” he said. “So, I feel like, where there’s a will, there’s a way. I think it would probably be easier if maybe the Riverdale kids go to Greendale. On a dare, they could go spend the night in a haunted house.”

Aguirre-Sacasa also said he could see Sabrina going to Riverdale to learn what it’s like to be a mortal teenager. 

“I definitely think there is a way to do it, and my hope is that one day we get a chance to do it.”

I will definitely be counting down the days until the crossover.

The third season of Riverdale is airing now on The CW. The first season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will be available to stream on Netflix starting October 26. 

Okay I get it. Pumpkin spice is a fan favorite. It is a nice flavor to drink and pair with some, SOME, food. But, what I cannot begin to understand is where this nice new fall drink has become such an insane frenzy. Where has our sense of taste gone?

Pumpkin spice has been added to just about anything you can imagine food wise. In the spirit of jumping on this bandwagon, Buffalo Wild Wings has introduced their new monthly flavor and it is of course pumpkin spice. They will now have BBQ pumpkin ale sauce smothered over perfectly good chicken wings for all of October.

Why is this combination of cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and clove so unbelievably obsessed over? We truly don’t know. BBC suggests its due to a combined force of nostalgia, media coverage, hype and clever marketing. So I guess we’re adding to the fire of PSL. It’s been 15 years since Starbucks came out with the revolutionary latte, and our news feeds have truly never been the same.

Just for a nice mathematical understanding of this enormous industry, pumpkin spice everything made $488.8 million of the 12 month calendar before August 25th, 2018. This saw a 15.5% growth from the previous year. Pumpkin spice truly can’t be stopped.

So, now Buffalo Wild Wings has decided to try their hand at this trend and we can’t blame them. But, seriously, who wants to add pumpkin to meat? I can’t begin to understand. Guess we’ll have to get used to it though because pumpkin spice is clearly not going anywhere.

As if! Twenty-three years after the original Clueless became an instant cult classic, the super popular 90s teen comedy is getting a remake. While a lot of details aren’t known at this time, it has been reported that the film is already in early development at Paramount Studios.

Paramount Studios has hired Netflix GLOW writer Marquita Robinson to write the script for the remake, and Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver to produce, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The original 1995 film directed and written by Amy Heckerling was loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma, and provided a satirical window into the Beverly Hills high school scene at the time. Alicia Silverstone starred in the lead role of Cher, a Queen bee who is trying to navigate high school relationships by playing matchmaker to her friends and teachers. The movie also put several young actors and actresses onto the map, including Paul Rudd, Breckin Meyer, Jeremy Sisto, Stacey Dash and the late Brittany Murphy.

via Shutterstock

Paul Rudd played Cher’s former stepbrother, who she ends up developing a crush on, and Stacey Dash portrayed Cher’s best friend, Dionne. Brittany Murphy played the new girl who receives a makeover from Cher.

But perhaps the best part of the classic teen comedy was the catchphrases, like “Ugh, as if!” as well as other famous lines, “You’re a virgin who can’t drive,” and “buggin’.”

This isn’t the first news of Clueless getting a remake, though. A Clueless musical recently made headlines, with Disney Channel star Dove Cameron playing Cher. The off-Broadway music is set to open next month, Deadline reports.

Silverstone recently reprised her role as Cher for an appearance on Lip Sync Battle in June, according to PEOPLE. The actress wore her iconic yellow plaid pleated skirt and matching blazer as she performed Iggy Azalea’s Fancy, which gives a nod to Clueless in the music video.

Federal investigators are racing to find who sent the 10 mail bombs to former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other public figures, and are now chasing leads pointing to South Florida as the potential origin of these dangerous parcels.

Sources told ABC News Thursday that law enforcement agencies are sending additional resources to the Florida area in an effort to pinpoint who exactly mailed the bomb packages that authorities are saying were meant to maim or kill the recipients.

“We are investigating all this with great precision. I can say with certainty that we will identify and arrest the person or people responsible for these acts,” New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. “Law enforcement professionals do not care about the politics involved in these acts.”

Bill Sweeney of the FBI’s New York office said the investigation “is a nationwide investigation involving multiple jurisdictions coast to coast,” with agents “fully engaged” in this investigation.

X-ray photographs of the explosive devices obtained by ABC News shows that each device had a digital clock, explosive powder, a battery power source and wiring to channel a spark for detonation. Each device also contained glass as potential shrapnel. None of the explosive devices detonated.

obtained by ABC News

The devices, which all went through the U.S. Postal Service, are now being examined at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, and being studied for fingerprints and DNA, CNN reports.

The FBI, Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are looking into where components of the explosive devices might have been purchased, which could help to locate the individual or individuals responsible.

While investigators have not yet been able to identify a motive for the mail bombs, all of the individuals that have been sent one of the bubble-wrapped-lined manila envelopes have all been critics of President Donald Trump, with several of the recipients having been publicly disparaged by the president either in a tweet on social media or in a political rally.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro are the latest prominent public figures in the series of 10 mail bombs to be sent explosive devices.

Former President Jimmy Carter has been warned to be on alert for suspicious packages being sent to him, his spokesperson told ABC News.

Philip Bartlett, head of the New York office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said postal police have been actively searching for any additional potential mail bombs, but have not found any other explosive devices as of Thursday morning.

“In terms of tracking, we have over 600,000 postal employees out there right now. We have the eyes and ears looking for these packages,” Bartlett said. “I will say in the postal network, we have found nothing in the last eight hours. So what we have so far is what we have, 10 parcels.”

Trump has said that his administration is “extremely angry” about the mail bombs, but Trump has blamed the media for causing the recent events.

“A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News,” Trump tweeted Thursday morning. “It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”

Former CIA Director John Brennan, whose name appeared on the package sent to CNN, called out Trump on his criticism of the media, saying the president needs to “stop blaming others” and “look in the mirror.”

“Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act....try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better. BTW, your critics will not be intimidated into silence,” Brennan tweeted.

The Pentagon is preparing to deploy at least 800 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to confront a migrant caravan that President Donald Trump has called a “national emergency,” according to administration officials.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis may sign an order to mobilize these troops as early as Thursday, according to two administration officials that spoke to USA Today on the condition of anonymity. The number of troops could range anywhere from 800 to 1,000 troops.

Mattis’ decision follows the president’s Thursday morning tweet where he said he would bring the migrant caravan to a halt by "bringing out the military.”

"I am bringing out the military for this National Emergency,” Trump tweeted of the migrant caravan, hinting at the possibility of deployment. “They will be stopped!”

According to BBC News, Trump first threatened such action last week, saying he would use the military to close down the U.S.-Mexico border, and also threatened to cut financial aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

These troops would add to the roughly 2,100 National Guard soldiers that are already spread out across the border from an order from Trump earlier this year.

It remains unclear if these newly deployed troops would be National Guard or active military forces, but The Washington Post reported an official saying some active Army personnel would be deployed.

These troops, however, will likely not engage with the migrant caravan, but rather provide support to Customs and Border Protection by monitoring video of the border and performing other tasks so Border Patrol agents are free to complete their jobs, USA Today reports.

Members of Congress, however, have been skeptical of Trump’s reaction to the migrant caravan, which is making its way through southern Mexico to the U.S.

When asked about deploying troops to the border, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin told CNN this week that the president “should be looking for ways of providing the needs for these individuals before they hit our borders.”

“There should be a way that they can present (asylum) claims and know that they'll be presented fairly when they reach the border,” Cardin said.

Other members of Congress, such as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, and Republican Sen. Mike Lee, want the Trump Administration to reach a “safe third country” asylum agreement with Mexico. This “safe third country” agreement would require asylum-seeking migrants to make their asylum claim in their first country of arrival rather than passing through that country to another.

“Entering into a safe third country agreement with Mexico would send a message to our partners across Central America that they too must share the burden of unsanctioned mass migration,” Grassley and Lee said in a joint statement.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has already asked the United Nations to help the Mexican government process the thousands of migrants who are trying to claim asylum, USA Today reports. 

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.)

Megyn Kelly Is Reportedly Out As NBC’s “Today” Show Host

Megyn Kelly will reportedly no longer be hosting NBC’s morning “Today” show host, NPR reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.

The news of Kelly leaving from the “Today” show comes just days after the host came under fire for defending Halloween costumes involving blackface. Reports from Daily Mail, TMZ and US Weekly on Thursday indicated that Kelly was out at NBC altogether, but the reports have not been confirmed.

Kelly, a former Fox News host, draw criticism on Tuesday when she suggested on her morning show that it wasn’t racist for white individuals to darken their skin for Halloween costumes.

via Wikimedia Commons

“When I was a kid, that was OK, so long as you were dressing up as a character,” Kelly said Tuesday to an all-white panel during her show. “I can’t keep up with the number of people we’re offending just by being normal people.”

Kelly apologized later that day to fellow NBC staff in an internal email, writing that she had reconsidered her views after “listening carefully” to her friends and colleagues.

“I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry,” she wrote in the email to her coworkers. “The history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent; the wounds too deep.”

She delivered an on-air apology Wednesday, followed with a discussion on race in the U.S. Kelly did not appear on the show on Thursday morning, and the network said it is airing reruns for the rest of the week.

According to The Huffington Post, Kelly had supposedly met with NBC News chairman Andy Lack to end her morning show prior to the blackface controversy, citing an interest in covering more news and politics.

Lack said he condemned Kelly’s comments to NBC employees during a town hall on Wednesday.

“There is no other way to put this but I condemn those remarks, there is no place on our air or in this workplace for them. Very unfortunate,” Lack said. “As we go forward, my highest priority remains, and as we sort through this with Megyn, let there be no doubt that this is a workplace in which you need to be proud and in which we respect each other in all the ways we know is foundational to who we are.”

Grassley Refers Kavanaugh Accusers to the DOJ for Criminal Probe

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley referred attorney Michael Avenatti and his client, Julie Swetnick, to the Justice Department on Thursday for a criminal investigation into whether the two made false statements during the sexual misconduct scandal that nearly derailed Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

In a 12-page letter requesting the DOJ and FBI to investigate, the senator outlined claims made by Avenatti and Swetnick, who signed an affidavit of allegations concerning Kavanaugh’s drinking and partying as a young man, Politico reports. Swetnick also claimed Kavanaugh was present at parties where girls were assaulted.

Grassley’s referral cites failed attempts to obtain corroborating evidence from both, as well as statements that Swetnick made during a television interview that appear to contradict her story, and cites potential conspiracy, obstruction of Congress and false statements, Politico reports.

“When charlatans make false claims to the Committee — claims that may earn them short-term media exposure and financial gain, but which hinder the Committee’s ability to do its job — there should be consequences,” Grassley wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Christopher Wray. “These laws exist to ensure there are.”

In response to the senator’s referral, Avenatti tweeted that it was “ironic” that Grassley wanted to investigate now.

“It is ironic that Senator Grassley now is interested in investigations. He didn’t care when it came to putting a man on the SCOTUS for life,” Avenatti wrote. “We welcome the investigation as now we can finally get to the bottom of Judge Kavanaugh’s lies and conduct.”

Avenatti later tweeted that he would make Swetnick available to Grassley to interview, adding that the senator could “make Judge Kavanaugh available for a sworn interview. We also have 9 other witnesses we want interviewed and specific documents we want requested. Let’s go.”

Chelsea Clinton Says She Wouldn’t Rule Out a Run for Office

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said ahead of an appearance to promote her new children’s book that she wouldn't rule out a run for office.

“I think if someone were to step down or retire and I thought I could do a good job and it matched my talents, I’d have to think if it’s the right choice for me,” Clinton told The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News.

via Gage Skidmore - Flickr

According to USA Today, when asked why she hasn’t run for political office given all of the women that were motivated by her mother’s run for president in 2016 and decided to run for office themselves, Clinton said she didn’t “have any plans to run for office, but it is something I think about as I hope every young person thinks about it.”

“If you care about what’s happening in the world, you have to care about running for and holding elected office. I hope it’s a question that we ask ourselves,” Clinton said.

“For me, I live in a neighborhood in the city and in a state where I feel my family, and what I hope for the world, is well represented,” Clinton continued. “It’s at the national level where I disagree deeply with President Trump on, l think, everything practically.”

“But I like my City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, I like my senators and I love my public advocate Letitia James who I hope is the next attorney general,” Clinton added. “For now, I am really focused on trying to make the change I want to see in the world through my work in the foundation, my writing and my teaching.”

When asked if her mother would run for the presidency in 2020, Clinton said her mother not spoken with her about a repeat presidential run.

“I know she’s really excited about working with Steven Spielberg to turn Elaine Weiss’ book, The Women’s Hour, into a movie; and we are doing some work together to help save the elephants (fighting to end elephant poaching), so I know her head is very much on projects that she’s committed to now,” Clinton said. “I support my mom in whatever she wants to do, but she’s never once mentioned that (a presidential run) to me.”

What to look out for…

Starbucks dropped a purple “Witch’s Brew” Halloween Frappuccino, and it sounds wickedly awesome.

FINALLY, LGBTQ characters have hit record-high representation numbers as stated in GLAAD’s annual “Where We are on TV” report, a comprehensive forecast of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) characters expected in primetime scripted programming in the 2018-19 television season.

According to the study, LGBTQ series regulars on broadcast have hit 8.8% (75 characters), with 50% of those characters being LGBTQ people of color. Another 38 LGBTQ characters fell into the recurring category. Additionally, LGTBQ characters on broadcast television are made up of equal percentages of male and female characters, improving upon last year, when it was split 55/45 in favor of men.

On cable, LGBTQ people of color make up 46% of the regular and recurring LGTBQ characters (120 series regular, 88 recurring), and on streaming they make up 48% (75 series regular and 37 recurring).

“With anti-LGBTQ policies being debated here and abroad, the stories and characters on television are more critical than ever before to build understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ people,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO, in a statement.

Television shows that GLAAD specifically called out for moving the needle culturally and reaping ratings rewards for its inclusive storytelling include Will & Grace, Supergirl, Empire and How to Get Away with Murder.

The report dives deeply into the 2018-19 season to examine series across broadcast and cable networks, and streaming services Amazon, Hulu and Netflix. Across all of these platforms, it found that the total number of bisexual series regular or recurring characters is 117 (up from 93 last year), while there are 26 transgender regular or recurring characters (up from 17 last year) and seven HIV-positive regular or recurring characters (up from only two last year).

With the rise in LGBTQ representation on television, it's important to support these shows by regularly watching and engaging with them via social media, and I am all for it.

The tense Florida gubernatorial race has gone viral, as Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum attacked Republican nominee Ron DeSantis during a heated debate Wednesday night.

"Now, I'm not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist, I'm simply saying the racists believe he's racist,” said Gillum, referencing the rumored neo-Nazis campaigning for DeSantis and DeSantis’ public appearances at conferences hosted by anti-Muslim political activist David Horowitz.

DeSantis has denounced the neo-Nazis working on his campaign and claimed that he was “unaware” of Horowitz’s inflammatory comments against Muslims when agreeing to make an appearance.

However, race has always been a focus of this Florida election—if Gillum wins the election, he will be the first black governor of Florida.

Following the viral comment made by Gillum on Wednesday night, DeSantis appeared agitated and denied being a racist.  Yet, this isn’t the first time DeSantis has been in hot water while running for governor.

After winning the primary, he implored Florida voters not to “monkey this up” and vote for Gillum. The Republican was immediately criticized for his choice of words, a seemingly racist jab at Gillum. DeSantis denied the phrase was a reference to Gillum’s skin color, and instead was an attack on Gillum’s “socialist politics.”

When questioned about accepting support from white nationalists (including monetary donations), DeSantis appeared visibly agitated and instead flipped the attack on the press.

“I am not going to bow down to the altar of media correctness,” said DeSantis.

The gubernatorial race has been consistently close, with Gillum and DeSantis frequently trading leads. Gillum has also undergone heavy criticism this week as it was revealed he accepted Hamilton tickets from an undercover FBI agent in 2016. This supposedly under-the-table gift further casts suspicion on the FBI probe into Tallahassee corruption—the city where Gillum serves as mayor.

Despite the FBI probe, Gillum seemed relatively calm about the situation during the debate.

“We got 99 issues and Hamilton ain’t one of them,” Gillum said to uproarious applause.

Gillum and DeSantis will continue to face off in the polls until midterm elections November 6. You can follow the results here.

Police say the white man who killed two black people in a Kentucky Kroger tried to enter First Baptist Jeffersontown, a predominantly black church, just minutes earlier, CNN reports.

CNN affiliate WDRB adds that the shooter, 51-year-old Gregory Bush, was seen pulling and banging on the church doors, both on surveillance video and by a witness in the parking lot. When he couldn’t get into the church, he went to a nearby Kroger.

Witness Ed Harrell was shopping there when the shooting occurred, the Courier Journalreports. Harrell had gone out to the parking lot to wait for his wife when Bush walked past.

When Harrell, who had a revolver, asked Bush what was happening, he says Bush replied “Don’t shoot me. I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”

This, combined with Bush’s attempt to go into the church, have led many to believe it was a racially motivated attack.

According to WDRB, Bush has a long history of violence and mental health issues.

He’s had run-ins with the law since the 1990s, but 2009 was a particularly busy year. He was convicted of 4th-degree assault after allegedly punching his father and picking his mother up by the neck, both of whom claimed he locked them in the house against their will.

In that same year, two different judges ordered that Bush’s weapons be taken away and he comply with a mental health treatment. In May 2009, he was arrested for domestic violence, making it illegal for him to own a gun.

Though mental health disorders are serious, it’s important that we don’t conflate them with racism and violence. Plenty of people struggle with mental health problems, and never harm themselves or anyone else.

This shooting took place at the intersection of a number of different issues: mental health, racism, and guns.

Yes, literally speaking, guns do shoot people. But guns can’t pull their own triggers.

Bush wasn’t supposed to have a firearm, but he got his hands on one anyways. Somewhere along the way, there was an oversight.

An unnamed bystander in the Kroger parking lot had a concealed carry permit, and fired at Bush as he left the scene, CNN reports. This didn’t prevent the deaths of Maurice Stallard and Vickie Jones. 

We’ve all heard about the magical effects charcoal has on skin, but how many of us have actually taken the dive? The thought of smothering your face with a burnt, black goop might not be the most tempting concept for some, but we want to change that! So, let’s chat about charcoal, shall we?

Why choose charcoal?

Charcoal is a natural anti-inflammatory, and it’s the ultimate toxin evacuator. Many people use charcoal for things like digestive issues, face masks, to teeth whitening! According to Medical News Today, charcoal has several benefits. For starters, it’s an antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal agent. You can find activated charcoal in several different over the counter forms, like powder, tablets, and pills. It’s super easy to access, so we wouldn’t suggest grinding up whatever is left over in your fireplace.

Most activated charcoal is made of burnt wood, peat, and coconut shells, and isn’t diluted with any chemicals or additives when bought in powder form. Charcoal powder can be used to make several different types of DIY facemasks and home remedies.

Charcoal skincare has become one of the biggest trends of the late 2010’s, and you can benefit from it too.

Skin types are best-suited for charcoal care

The fact of the matter is, charcoal can really be used for all skin types. However, those of us with oily skin tend to reap more benefit of the charcoal than those of us with dry skin. Why? Well, when you have oily skin, your pores tend to clog more easily than others. Charcoal is a perfect vacuum for your pores. It penetrates deep into the skin, and draws out all of the toxins and oil clogging them. Charcoal also easily soothes redness and irritation that occurs. However, if you’re someone who suffers from sensitive skin, it’s always best to use charcoal products labeled as “gentle” to avoid any mishaps. Better safe than sorry!

Dry-skinned girls can apply charcoal into their regimen to help reduce pore size, and it’s a great cleanser! Charcoal cleans your face without stripping away natural oils that aid in softening your skin, if used appropriately. If you have dry skin, limit your use of activated charcoal to once or twice a week to avoid irritation.

And the charcoal products we're loving rn

Charcoal products can come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the best quality products that won't bust your budget.

1. SHEAMOISTURE Green Coconut & Activated Charcoal Cleansing Bar Soap

Looking for an all over cleanse? This charcoal body soap is perfect for all skin types. It’s gentle, moisturizing, and smells like coconut. No complaints here!

2. BIORÉDeep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

This cleanser is perfect for in-shower use! The steam works to enlarge your pores, which allows the charcoal to really get in and work its cleansing magic! The best part? It’s $8 at Ulta Beauty.

3. BOSCIA Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask

This is the priciest product on our list of faves, but it honestly works wonders! This jet black mask looks like liquid latex when applied to the skin, and it digs deep into your pores as it dries to take hold of black heads. So, when you peal it off your face, you get to see all the gunk that comes out! It’s pretty awesome…

4. SHEAMOISTURE African Black Soap and Bamboo Charcoal Gelee Moisturizer

This product might not be the best suited for those of us with dry skin, but it does some pretty great stuff for acne-prone, oily-skinned girls. This moisturizer isn’t greasy, absorbs quickly, and is lightly scented for sensitive skin. It’s an overall win.

5. GARNIER Online Only SkinActive Super Purifying Charcoal Sheet Mask

Who doesn’t love a sheet mask? This little guy works to extract pores and delivers up to 24 hours of hydration. Skin feels soft and supple after 15 minutes. Amazing!

How will you include charcoal in your skincare routine?

At 11 a.m. on Friday authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc, 56, at Auto Zone in Plantation, Florida in connection with the string of 13 pipe bombs sent to Democratic officials and supporters such as former President Barack Obama, billionaire George Soros, and Hillary Clinton. Florida’s Local 10 News says he was reportedly tracked using a cell phone.

In the Auto Zone’s parking lot, law enforcement also confiscated a white van plastered with pro-Trump stickers. After covering the truck in a blue tarp, FBI and US Postal Inspection Service officials took the van to the FBI’s headquarters in South Florida.

Sayoc was not only a registered Republican, but, as BuzzFeed News reports, he was also an ardent fan of President Trump. His social media feeds contained many pictures of him in MAGA hats, at Trump rallies, and even at Trump’s inauguration. He also appeared to have a deep hatred for the Left and prominent Democrats. In a 2016 Facebook post he wrote that “America will celebrate” Hillary Clinton’s death and promoted the conspiracy theory that Clinton used a body double to hide her declining health from the American public.

Sayoc's criminal history is extensive enough to give anyone pause. According to The New York Times, he has previously faced charges related to felony theft, drugs and fraud, and he has even been arrested in connection to bomb threats.

After news of the arrest broke, President Trump applauded law enforcement’s work to apprehend the suspect and made an uncharacteristic call for unity among the American people.

"We must show the world that we are united together in peace and love and harmony as fellow American citizens,” he said. “There is no country like our country."

Since the initial pipe bombs were first sent out, authorities and mailroom workers have heightened their vigilance. Just recently pipe bomb packages addressed to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, California Senator Kamala Harris, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper were all been intercepted, bringing the total number of packages discovered so far to 13. Thankfully, none of the pipe bombs have caused any casualties, and let’s hope it stays that way.

Over the last few years, I've tried really, really hard to start embracing my curly hair. Especially with the natural hair movement, I've felt more support to just let my hair do its own thing. And it's nice. I feel empowered when I'm not straightening my hair. It makes me feel like I'm being kinder to myself, and I always feel especially good when I see other, younger girls with curly hair take notice of the fact that my hair isn't straightened. But that doesn't mean my curls are always super easy to work with.

When I was younger, the biggest reason I didn't leave my hair curly was that I didn't feel comfortable or confident with it curly. The natural hair movement really wasn't a thing until I was in college, so I spent pretty much every single day from middle school to high school with my hair straight. I'd go to the salon and get it done, so I hardly even did it myself, which meant the only time I even saw my own curls was in the span of the few minutes it took my hair dresser to get me from the sink to her chair to flat iron once again.

Now, though, my main deterrent is time, and product. Because keeping your curls happy and healthy takes SERIOUS effort. But I've found a few products that my specific hair type really, really enjoys, and it's made my life SO MUCH EASIER, you guys.

Meet my new friends: NatureLab, IGK, and R&CO.

I think you're really gonna like them, you guys. They're super versatile, and can we talk about this packaging? It's 100% shelfie worthy, and obviously Instagram approved. YES. 

My favorite IGK product is their Thirsty Girl Leave-In Conditioner. 

I've written before about how much I love, love, love hyaluronic acid, and it never occurred to me that it would be so good to my hair. I love this for day-two hair, especially since I only wash my hair once a week.

It's a great refresher to give my curls some life and keep them hydrated all week long.

When it comes to R+CO, my go-to is their AIRCRAFT Pomade Mousse.

It might sound odd, but, despite having curly hair, I've never used mousse. It seems like something that works for less curly hair than mine, like hair that's more wavy than super tight curls. But this mousse might have single-handedly changed that for me. It just works SO WELL.

I apply it to damp hair when I'm fresh out of the shower (or, tbh, still standing in the shower so I don't make a mess). I give it a bit of scrunch, and my hair looks so bouncy and lively. It also smells damn good.

When I'm at my laziest, I live for NatureLab Tokyo's Volume Texture Mist. 

Remember how I said I don't like to wash my hair super often? This stuff gives it life regardless of how dry and kinda gross it really is. It smells like cherry blossoms, which is worth a million heart eyes, and it restores the volume and ~bounce~ I lose when I'm too lazy to really do anything to my hair.

You know how curly hair typically can't go from a bun to down to back up again? This, somehow, makes it happen.

Curly girls, we're in this together. Whether you want to wear your hair curly all the time, some of the time, or rarely, it's always helpful to have some curly hair tips in your back pocket, and these are some of my faves! 

Long lines are always a drag, but in the case of early voting, those endless waits can actually be illegal. After students faced hour and a half waits to for early voting at Texas State University, The Texas Tribune reports that lawyers from the Texas Civil Rights Project sent a letter to the county on behalf of several students and organizations such as MOVE Texas Action Fund and the League of Women Voters of Hays County, demanding action to make on-campus voting more convenient.

The on-campus polling place at Texas State was only open for three days, while most early voting locations are open for up to two weeks prior to the election. With such a small window of time, a lot of students found it hard to fit in voting around their otherwise hectic schedules.

One TSU student Justin Wright told local news outlet KXAN that the lines alone were enough to deter him from voting. “I saw it and realized what was going to happen and said I have so much work to do,” he said.

The demands in the TCRP’s letter included the reopening of the on-campus polling place and the opening another polling site on Election Day. The lawyers stated that the current set up was illegal because it suppressed the vote of a specific group of voters: young people.

Given the fact that the court responsible for establishing the county’s early voting locations is comprised of mostly Republicans, it’s hard not to see these rules through a partisan lens. According to The Pew Research Center, between Millenials, Gen Xers, Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation, Millenials are by far the most liberal. Furthermore, one poll found that only 27% of Millenials approve of Trump’s job as President, compared to 44% of Baby Boomers. With these statistics, it’s easy to see why people interpret limited early voting on campus as a partisan effort to aid Republicans. Although not everyone agrees with this interpretation.

Wally Kinney, president of the North Hays Republican Group, argued in favor of the current system, telling KXAN, “to change it in the middle of the election seems wrong to me no matter who it favors one way or the other.”

On Friday, KVUE reported that the Hays County Comissioners Court unanimously voted to concede to the demands of students and the TCRP, granting Texas State two more days of early voting on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. They also agreed to relocate a polling place, so that one will be open on the Texas State campus on election day.