Good Morning!

It's Thursday, August 14, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Americans are done with drinking, consumption hits 90-year low.

• Stalking can cause heart disease among women!

• World’s best cities for 20-somethings. 

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SPILL THE NEWS

US Alcohol Consumption Hits New Low

A new Gallup poll shows U.S. alcohol consumption at its lowest in 90 years, with just 54% of adults saying they drink — down from 60% or more for decades. The decline is especially sharp among middle-aged adults: only 56% of those 35 to 54 reported drinking, a drop from 70% last year. Younger adults remain the least likely to drink, with just half saying they consume alcohol.

The survey also found a shift in perceptions: for the first time, most Americans believe even one to two daily drinks harm health. Experts point to mounting research linking alcohol to cancer, DNA damage, and rising alcohol-related deaths, alongside cultural trends like “sober curious” movements and a booming nonalcoholic beverage market.

Public health specialists say education campaigns and changing norms may be paying off, though pandemic-era drinking habits and rising cannabis use may also play roles. While self-reported data has limits, the Gallup findings align with other national surveys showing steady declines in drinking, especially among younger generations. Researchers say the message about alcohol’s health risks appears to be sinking in across all ages.

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State Dept Trims Human Rights Reports, Omits Key Abuses In Allied Nations

The State Department released a scaled-back version of its annual human rights report on Tuesday, significantly reducing details on abuses in some politically allied nations. Sources told CNN the 2024 report was largely complete before President Trump’s second term began but was “edited down … to the bare minimum,” according to former official Michael Honigstein.

Compared to last year, reports on countries like El Salvador were drastically shortened, with the latest claiming “there were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses” in 2024 — despite noting arbitrary killings and prison deaths. Israel’s report omitted past references to “significant human rights issues” and left out allegations of torture of Palestinian detainees and corruption charges against Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Asked about perceptions of political favoritism, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the reports reflect “our point of view in general, that there’s no country that is singled out for condemnation or singled out for praise”. What has Rubio said? An appendix said the reports “select illustrative examples” and minimize data to streamline content. A senior official insisted U.S. policy “has not changed,” even as staff cuts and bureau restructuring shifted the focus toward “advancing the Administration’s affirmative vision of American and Western values.”

Being Stalked Is Harmful For Women, And Their Heart

Women who have been stalked face a significantly higher risk of heart disease and stroke later in life, according to a study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. Researchers tracked 66,270 U.S. women aged 36–56 without cardiovascular disease in 2001 and followed them for 20 years.

Women who reported stalking incidents had a 41% greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those who did not report such experiences. Those who obtained a restraining order faced a 70% increased risk. The findings held even after accounting for health behaviors, medications, other conditions, and depression symptoms. About 3% of participants developed new-onset heart disease or stroke during the study period.

“Stalking can be chronic, and women often report making significant changes in response such as moving,” said lead author Rebecca Lawn of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The psychological toll may disrupt biological systems for years, experts noted. “The effects of stress can be long-lasting, possibly because it’s human nature to rethink things that happen and experience the situation again and again,” Harmony Reynolds, professor of cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine told Axios.

DON’T MISS

📊 Trump’s BLS nominee was captured near Capitol on January 6.

👑 This place just got crowned world’s best city for Gen Z and 20-somethings.

🚔 Man charged after hurling sandwich at federal agent in D.C.

🏢 We’ve heard of quiet quitting, now workers struggle as “quiet cracking” spreads.

⚖️ Why is Melania Trump threatening to sue Hunter Biden for $1bn?

🗺️ What your European vacation destination says about you!

⚠️ Trump warns Putin of ‘severe consequences’ if Ukraine peace is blocked.

🤖 GPT-5 might not hate you, it just needs emotional intelligence benchmark.

✈️ EU sends planes to Spain as deadly wildfires intensify.

💰 Billionaires buying clustered properties for privacy and status, is getting their neighbors richer.

IN GOOD HEALTH

🌿 Could weed spark schizophrenia? Researchers race to uncover answers as psychosis cases climb in the legalization era.

🥩 For years, red meat’s been painted as a dietary villain — but new findings suggest the story may be more complex and there is a severe cancer risk attached.

🚗 Motion sickness ruining your rides? New innovations for cars could change how your body handles travel entirely.

🥤 Drinks promising relaxation are booming but do they actually calm you, or is the peace just clever marketing and ritual?

IN STYLE, IN BEAUTY

👔 From office meetings to casual brunches, pleated trousers are back in rotation, adding structure, comfort, and a touch of polish to outfits without feeling too formal.

🌸 Explore Japanese skincare products that blend botanical heritage with modern tech for gentle, effective steps toward lasting skin health and glow.

🧼 pH-balanced products promise better skin but dermatologists caution they're often just gentle cleansers, not miracle fix-alls.

👗 Petite dress products that you can actually wear right off the rack — no tailoring needed, whether for work or weekend.

THE FAME FRAME

🎤 Taylor Swift crashes ‘New Heights’ podcast live stream; details new album!

📺 'South Park’ episode mocking Kristi Noem becomes most-watched since 2018.

😢 Kim Kardashian breaks down in reaction to Kanye declaring quitting meds.

📄 Drake seeks Kendrick Lamar’s contract, financials, and domestic-violence records in lawsuit.

🔍 Dan Levy’s Netflix crime comedy “Big Mistakes” reveals full ensemble cast.

WEIGH IN

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 

– Theodore Roosevelt