Good Morning!

It's Friday, September 5, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Afghanistan earthquake rescuers biased towards men. 

• Can you really turn anxiety into adventure?

• America’s ideal family size is 2.7!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

Politics

RFK Jr. Grilled In Senate Hearing

Defiant Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his sweeping shake-up of federal health agencies during a heated three-hour Senate Finance Committee hearing on Thursday, facing sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Watch.

Since taking office seven months ago, Kennedy has fired the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) director, dismissed its entire vaccine advisory panel, and installed critics of immunizations in their place. Three key moments. He has also canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine research while narrowing eligibility for updated Covid-19 shots. Senators accused him of undermining public health. “Effectively, we’re denying people vaccines,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who previously voted to confirm Kennedy but has grown critical. What JD Vance said about the hearing.

Democrats pressed Kennedy over contradictions between his confirmation testimony and recent actions. Former CDC director Susan Monarez, ousted last week, accused him of demanding she endorse recommendations without scientific backing. Kennedy called her “a liar”, further inflaming tensions. Several top CDC officials have since resigned, and more than 1,000 health employees signed a letter urging him to step down. Kennedy, combative throughout, insisted he was exposing corruption and restoring trust. “We’re going to reorganize the CDC,” he said. “I need to fire some of those people.” What Kennedy got wrong on vaccines.

Culture

Italian Fashion Designer Giorgio Armani Dies At 91

Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian designer who transformed global fashion with his sleek, minimalist style, has died at 91, his company announced Thursday. Known as “Re Giorgio” — King Giorgio — Armani built one of the world’s most influential fashion houses, remaining its sole owner throughout his five-decade career.

Armani founded his label in 1975 with Sergio Galeotti, redefining modern elegance through his unstructured jackets and tailored silhouettes. His breakout came in 1980 when Richard Gere wore Armani in American Gigolo, cementing the brand’s place in Hollywood and beyond. Stars from Diane Keaton to Julia Roberts made his designs iconic on red carpets, while his power suits became synonymous with women’s rising influence in the workplace. Beyond fashion, Armani expanded into cosmetics, fragrance, homeware, and more, with annual revenues surpassing €2.3 billion. Forbes estimated his fortune at $12.1 billion. Colleagues remembered him as meticulous, tireless, and down-to-earth, often mingling with employees well outside the runway. His life in photos.

Tributes poured in from across the fashion world. Donatella Versace called him a legend who “made history,” while Anna Wintour praised his “clear force of personality” and vision that reshaped how women dressed. Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni hailed him as “a symbol of the best of Italy.” What’s next for the fashion empire?

World

Afghanistan Earthquake Rescue Efforts Have A Sexist Angle

Days after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake devastated eastern Afghanistan, survivors say women remain last in line for rescue and care. In Kunar Province, 19-year-old Bibi Aysha recalled being pushed aside with other women and girls as male responders tended only to men and children. “They gathered us in one corner and forgot about us,” she said.

Afghanistan’s strict gender rules, enforced by the Taliban, prohibit physical contact between unrelated men and women, leaving injured women trapped or untreated until female helpers could arrive from other villages. “It felt like women were invisible,” said volunteer Tahzeebullah Muhazeb, who watched male teams hesitate to pull women from rubble. How many earthquakes have hit Afghanistan?

The quake killed more than 2,200 people and injured over 3,600, according to government figures. A shortage of female medical workers — compounded by the Taliban’s ban on women’s medical education — has deepened the crisis. Aid groups warn women and girls face disproportionate neglect. “We must ensure their needs are at the heart of the response,” said U.N. Women’s Afghanistan representative Susan Ferguson. Even as aftershocks continue, survivors like Aysha fear the disaster exposed more than collapsed homes. “Being a woman here means we are always the last to be seen,” she said.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🪖 Trump is set to rename the Department of Defense to ‘Department of War’.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Americans’ ideal family size is 2.7, even though birth rate hits new low.

⚖️ Washington DC sues Trump over National Guard deployment.

💼 Office romance rules are slowly but steadily catching up with European executives.

🤯 Mark Zuckerberg is suing Mark Zuckerberg — and no, they aren’t the same!

🌄 Think about it, can you truly turn your anxiety into adventure?

🍀 Ireland is the most peaceful country in the world. Um, where does the US stand?

🩺 Biden undergoes surgery to remove skin cancer lesions. 

💸 Your health insurance copays, deductibles and premiums might surge next year. 

🤖 From Sam Altman to Tim Cook, tech leaders dine with Trump at White House AI dinner.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

New U.S. tariffs have pushed the cost of European luxury goods high enough that affluent Americans are now flying overseas — often combining vacations with shopping sprees — to sidestep hefty markups. According to CNBC, some are saving thousands on high-end items like designer watches and handbags when they factor in VAT refunds and reduced import duties. Still, travelers must declare these purchases at customs or risk penalties.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

😏 Narcissists may seem confident but vulnerabilities like hypersensitivity and poor emotion control can quietly fuel depression. 

💊 What if a pill could help the brain regrow after trauma? New research suggests it might be possible.

👂 Most of us use Q-tips in the shower but experts say we’ve been doing it all wrong. So, should we stop?

🧀 This Mediterranean cheeseoffers surprising health perks, from digestion support to high protein, while still tasting delightfully indulgent.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

💇‍♀️ Think your hair won’t grow past a certain length? Invisible “micro-breakage” may be silently sabotaging your progress. BUT, it’s fixable.

👗 Fall’s runways ditched neutrals for a moody, unexpected palette you’ll want in your closet immediately.

🌸 Want coverage without commitment? Learn root tricks that are quick, damage-free, and surprisingly chic.

👖 Still unsure about capris? Here’s how to make them feel fresh, cozy, and runway-ready through fall.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

👗 Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz make their couple's style official.

🍺 Did you know Travis and Jason Kelce’s have a beer brand?

🎬 Lady Gaga’s ‘Wednesday’ appearance sparks backlash over screentime.

📸 Sydney Sweeney refuses to address American Eagle campaign.

🎵 Justin Bieberdrops surprise ‘SWAG II’ album, doubling down on .

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” 

— Vince Lombardi