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.)
The Justice Department’s Inspector General Watchdog Report Released
The inspector general report about the FBI’s actions during the 2016 presidential election was released on Thursday. The 500 page report details former FBI Director James Comey’s handling of the probe into Hillary Clinton’s emails, communication between FBI officials, and more. Most notable, though, was the contradiction of President Trump’s repeated claim that Comey’s investigation was rigged in Clinton’s favor. FBI director Christopher Wray — who Trump himself appointed — said at a press conference the report “did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations actually impacting the investigation under review.” However, Wray admitted that FBI officials involved in the case communicated with each other in a way that “created the appearance” of political bias.
Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz found that Comey himself didn’t act ouf of political bias, but he still engaged “in his own subjective, ad hoc decision-making,” among other mistakes. Ironically, Comey also used his Gmail for FBI business.
Top Facebook Strategist Resigns
Elliot Schrage, Facebook’s top policy and communications executive, announced his resignation on Thursday. According to CNN, Schrage “played a key role” in crafting Facebook’s response to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, which allegedly involved more than 50 million Facebook users having their data stolen.
“After more than a decade at Facebook, I’ve decided it’s time to start a new chapter in my life,” Schrage wrote in a public Facebook post. “Leading policy and communications for hyper growth technology companies is a joy — but it’s also intense and leaves little room for much else.”
CNN called the resignation a “rare departure” for Facebook since it’s known for retaining top execs. Schrage said that he’ll lead the search for his replacement, and even stay with the company to oversee particular projects.
Antarctica Is Melting Three Times Faster Than In 2007
A report published on Wednesday revealed that Antarctica is melting fast, and it’s only going to keep speeding up. By 2100, scientists predict that the continent alone will contribute 6 inches to sea-level rise.
“Between 60 and 90 percent of the world’s fresh water is frozen in the ice sheets of Antarctica, a continent roughly the size of the United States and Mexico combined,” The New York Times reported. “If all that ice melted, it would be enough to raise the world’s sea levels by roughly 200 feet.”
Andrew Shepherd, a professor of earth observation at the University of Leeds and who authored the study, put things into perspective. “Around Brooklyn you get flooding once a year or so, but if you raise sea level by 15 centimeters then that’s going to happen 20 times a year,” he told the Times.
What to look out for…
This Sunday is Father’s Day! There’s still time to grab your dad a gift, so check out our suggestions for things he’ll actually use.