Ever since the race for the president of 2016 began, the political world has been rife with news. Each candidate has been under scrutiny by the entire country as they rally, speak and debate, and every day there are multiple headlines about each candidate. This media frenzy has spiked since the arrival of 2016 with the beginnings of state primaries and caucuses. Here are a few noteworthy things that you might have missed this past week in politics.

1. Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump win New Hampshire primary

The New Hampshire Primary held on last Tuesday saw Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump taking the victory. The primary “drew a huge turnout across the state,” The New York Times reports, and the success by two “outsider” candidates dealt a remarkable reprimand to the political establishment. This also proves that the two candidates pose a fair match up to their rivals – Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz, both winners of Iowa's caucus.

Donald Trump has been an undeniable running gag for a candidate in the media, where they consistently express their horrification with his blunt language – though, apparently, his dealings have electrified many Republicans. Of course, he ran strongest amongst voters whose biggest concerns were with illegal immigrants, economic turmoil and terrorism.

However, Bernie Sanders potentially drew the biggest victory from the primary, grabbing 60% of the votes. Sanders' victory brought an even stronger edge against his rival, Hillary Clinton, who thought she had a deep connection with New Hampshire voters. Sanders drew support from a wide demographic of voters in the state, even drawing in more women than Clinton. Sanders also made history by being the first Jewish candidate to win a state's primary, and after the polls closed on Tuesday at 7 p.m., his campaign raised $5.2 million by the workday on Wednesday. The reported average contribution was just $34.

2. Hillary Clinton's Campaign Wages War on Women Supporting Bernie

Clinton's campaign has undeniably said a few incredibly odd things these past few months. First, Gloria Steinem said that “young women [who] support Bernie Sanders [only do it] to get dates with young men.” Then, the former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said “there should be a special place in hell for women who support Mr. Sanders over Ms. Clinton,” while Hillary Clinton reportedly laughed and nodded with approval.

While they might aim to convince young women to shift their decision on who to support, they're certainly starting a war between supporters of both candidates.

Ms. Steinem ultimately took back her remark and apologized, but her words had already left an impression and demonstrated a mindset that doesn't help American women or politics. Ultimately, it shows how this presidential race could fit in a dramatic reality show timeslot on E!.

In response, many women who showed up at a Sanders rally at Great Bay Community College said they were insulted and offended by the suggestion of being “anti-feminist” because they support Sanders. Yahoo News asked Jane Sanders for her response to these claims, in which she said: “I think it's ridiculous ... It's crazy.” Eileen Frazier, an attorney, described the remarks as “unbelievable”, and had a good bit to say in response:

“You mean women don’t have a brain, Gloria? I’m for Bernie because Bernie represents the people, not special interests. I certainly would never vote for Hillary just because she’s a woman. That’s insulting to my intellect,” Frazier said, continuing, “I’m an attorney. … I have a brain and I’m choosing the better candidate. I wasn’t a Playboy bunny.”

There is no valid reason for the Clinton campaign to wage a gender war on young women. Saying that they should vote for Clinton because she's a female or shouldn't vote for Sanders because he's a male is not only an insult to young women's intelligent, it's practically demeaning their right to support the candidate of their choice. Young women who support Mr. Sanders don't support him because they want to impress males; they support him because of his beliefs, his progressiveness and the honesty and integrity in which he offers. Young women support Clinton because they believe she has the experience, ideas and integrity to lead the nation – not just because she's a woman.

Meanwhile, Hillary's husband is also getting in on the scandal...

3. Bill Clinton calls 'Bernie Bros' Sexist

Bernie Sanders' supporters are passionate and ever-present. They arrive in bulk at rallies and speeches but also have a large online presence. Of course, with the mention of the 'internet' comes the array of vicious remarks about other candidates that stem from Sanders “supporters.” They've been called an “irate mob of sexist trolls,” but it's not as large of a "mob" as you might think.However, this is always a highlighted discussion in talk shows and interviews, and Bill Clinton joined the discussion recently, accusing these “Bernie Bros” of “vicious trolling and attacks that are literally too profane – not to mention sexist – to repeat.”

Now, for anyone else to say this, it wouldn't be that remarkable. But this is Bill Clinton — the former president who has been the subject of various sexual harassment allegations over the years.

These 'Bernie Bros' have had a dramatic transformation since the beginning of Sanders' campaign, and Matt Bruenig notes that the group were first merely thought of as only over-enthusiastic but then drew sexism claims, and then were accused of outright misogynistic harassment. While the Bernie Bros have been under intense scrutiny, Bruenig explained:

“The problem with shifting explanations and shifting descriptions is that they are usually signs of motivated dishonesty. When you tell me someone is bad because he did A and then later you say he didn’t do A but he did B, and then later again you say he didn’t do B but he did C, the natural inference is that you just don’t like the guy, but that you aren’t being forthcoming about why.”

A few examples of this are the ones held up by the pro-Clinton media as an example of his online harassment, but it's been proven that most of them were actually made by Republican trolls. Another anti-Clinton comment was made by a woman, not a Bernie Bro. As the concluding quote of this article by Robby Soave states:

“Perhaps it’s even the case that some of Sanders’ supporters are turned off by Hillary’s long history of taking Bill’s side over his numerous female accusers. Maybe that's not quite the pro-woman record Hillary would like to pretend it is.”

Bill, you might want to hold off on making controversial comments for a bit.

4. Bernie is Backed By the Largest Peace Group

A variety of organizations have begun to back Bernie Sanders' campaign, but there are a few notable ones who haven't backed a candidate in a few decades until Sanders came along. Peace Action PAC, the largest peace group in the United States, is one of these, and for the first time in 25 years, they chose to endorse Sanders this past week, releasing the statement:

“Peace Action PAC is proud to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) for the Democratic presidential primary. With Sanders’ opposition to both Iraq Wars, support for the significant reduction of nuclear weapons, endorsement of the Iran agreement, championing the reduction of Pentagon spending and general support of diplomacy over war, he best represents the values that Peace Action and its 200,000 supporters have espoused for nearly 60 years,” said Kevin Martin, Peace Action’s executive director.

The group's board has had a notoriously high-bar for presidential endorsements, requiring the agreement of at least two-thirds of its directors. They reported that Sander's received 85% support.

5. Donald Trump: “I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding”

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both weighed in on the use of waterboarding during the last Republican debate on the Feb 6. Waterboarding, or simulated drowning, has been a dominant topic in the debate, and Trump's republican rival, Cruz, was asked whether or not the practice was used during the era of the Bush administration. He denied it was saying: “under the definition of torture, no, it's not. It is enhanced interrogation ... It does not meet the generally recognized definition of torture.” He also added: “I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use. And indeed I'd join with Senator [John] McCain in prohibiting line officers from employing it.”

However, Trump was in favor of the practice, and even stated that he would “bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.” Future American war prisoners, watch out for Trump!

6. Carly Fiorina drops out of the race

Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina dropped out of the race on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with a post to her Facebook account. Here's the full statement:

“This campaign was always about citizenship—taking back our country from a political class that only serves the big, the powerful, the wealthy, and the well connected. Election after election, the same empty promises are made and the same poll-tested stump speeches are given, but nothing changes. I've said throughout this campaign that I will not sit down and be quiet. I'm not going to start now. While I suspend my candidacy today, I will continue to travel this country and fight for those Americans who refuse to settle for the way things are and a status quo that no longer works for them.

Our Republican Party must fight alongside these Americans as well. We must end crony capitalism by fighting the policies that allow it to flourish. We must fix our festering problems by holding our bloated, inept government bureaucracy accountable. Republicans must stand for conservative principles that lift people up and recognize all Americans have the right to fulfill their God-given potential.

To young girls and women across the country, I say: do not let others define you. Do not listen to anyone who says you have to vote a certain way or for a certain candidate because you're a woman. That is not feminism. Feminism doesn't shut down conversations or threaten women. It is not about ideology. It is not a weapon to wield against your political opponent. A feminist is a woman who lives the life she chooses and uses all her God-given gifts. And always remember that a leader is not born, but made. Choose leadership.

As I have said to the many wonderful Americans I have met throughout this campaign, a leader is a servant whose highest calling is to unlock potential in others. I will continue to serve in order to restore citizen government to this great nation so that together we may fulfill our potential.”

Fiorina didn't qualify for the last GOP debate and she placed seventh in the New Hampshire primary this last week. The media catching onto her lies must have caught up to her.

And on the same day...

7. Chris Christie drops out of the race, too

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie concluded his run for the White House on the same day Fiorina did after his flop in New Hampshire's primary. He came in sixth in the primary, which was considered an embarrassment because the majority of his campaign focused on that state. He was also on the edge of not being eligible in the next Republican debate due to his poor showings in the Iowa caucus and in New Hampshire.

He announced the end of his campaign on his Facebook page, as well:

I ran for president with the message that the government needs to once again work for the people, not the people work for the government. And while running for president I tried to reinforce what I have always believed - that speaking your mind matters, that experience matters, that competence matters and that it will always matter in leading our nation. That message was heard by and stood for by a lot of people, but just not enough and that’s ok. I have both won elections that I was supposed to lose and I’ve lost elections I was supposed to win and what that means is you never know what will happen. That is both the magic and the mystery of politics - you never quite know when which is going to happen, even when you think you do. And so today, I leave the race without an ounce of regret. I’m so proud of the campaign we ran, the people that ran it with me and all those who gave us their support and confidence along the way. Mary Pat and I thank you for the extraordinary display of loyalty, friendship, understanding and love.

Christie, maybe your attack on Marco Rubio during the Feb. 7th debate and your strong, threatening stances on marijuana hurt you, but who knows? Either way, you did good, buddy.

8. Obama pushes for automatic voter registration

President Obama returned to the site of his campaign kickoff – Springfield, Illinois – to deliver a speech at the Illinois State Capital. While his lecture touched on an abundance of issues, perhaps the most prominent was his call to “reduce ... barriers to voting”.

“[Bills are pending in the state legislature] that would automatically register every eligible citizen to vote when they apply for a driver’s license. That will protect the fundamental right of everybody. Democrats, Republicans, independents, seniors, folks with disabilities, the men and women of our military – it would make sure that it was easier for them to vote and have their vote counted.”

Currently, the American system of voting has placed the burden on the individual, stating simply that if you're eligible to vote, then it's up to you to take the steps needed to register to actually do it. Obama's automatic registration plan flips the model: those who would want to withdraw from the system can do so voluntarily and without any sort of penalty, but Americans would be automatically added to the voters' list.

Right now, two states have this in place: Oregon and California. Two down, 48 to go, but the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law keeps a record of pending proposals at the state level, and as of last week, 14 states are at least looking at the possibility of adapting this voter-registration policy this year.

9. Erica Garner stars in a powerful Sanders Advertisement

Bernie Sanders' campaign has been consistently releasing a barrage of powerful ad campaigns since the year began, but the most recent one is perhaps the most powerful. It features the daughter of Eric Garner, a victim of police brutality who died after a police officer put him in a chokehold in 2014, Erica Garner. She gives a moving account of losing her father stating, “No one gets to see their parent's last moments. And I was able to see my dad die on national TV. They don't know what they took from us ... he was loved dearly.” In the video, she goes on to explain her support for Sanders by saying, “I believe that Bernie Sanders is a protester. He's not scared to go up against the criminal justice system. He's not scared.”

View the tear-jerking, powerful ad here: