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It's Wednesday, July 2, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• ‘Big, beautiful bill’ passed in Senate, comes back to the House. 

• Malaysia is done with the West’s trash. 

• Are we all a little lactose intolerant?

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Senate Passes ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’; Back To The House

After three days of intense debate, the Senate on Tuesday passed President Trump’s sweeping tax and immigration bill in a razor-thin 51–50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the decisive tie-breaker. Watch. Three Republicans — Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul — voted against the measure alongside all Democrats. Who are they? The bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” saw its title stripped just before final passage after Senate Democrats challenged it under reconciliation rules. What’s next? 

The Senate-passed bill includes roughly $4 trillion in extended Trump-era tax cuts, new breaks on tips and overtime, and hundreds of billions in funding for border security and the military. It also rolls back Biden-era clean energy programs, slashes social safety nets like Medicaid and SNAP, and raises the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 — hailed by Republicans as the crown jewel of their legislative agenda. Five takeaways.

The bill now heads to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson can afford no more than three GOP defections. The House votes on Wednesday could decide the fate of Trump’s first-year domestic agenda. But several Republicans who were pressured to back the original House version — which passed in May by just one vote — are now vowing to oppose the Senate changes, putting Trump’s July 4 deadline at risk. Democrats, meanwhile, are preparing to make Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” a central attack line in their 2026 bid to retake the House. Fact-checking the bill’s effects.

Related Read: Poorest Americans to suffer biggest blow under Senate’s bill.

Trump Visits Florida’s 'Alligator Alcatraz' Amid Immigration Crackdown

President Donald Trump on Tuesday toured a new migrant detention center deep in the Florida Everglades — already nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” — where up to 3,000 migrants are set to be held as part of his immigration crackdown. 

With marshland teeming with alligators, crocodiles, and pythons, administration officials claimed the surrounding wilderness would serve as a natural deterrent against escape. The facility includes a medical unit and air-conditioned tents enclosed with chain-link fencing. A second center — designed to hold 2,000 detainees — is planned near Jacksonville. 

During the visit (watch), Trump called the facility home to “the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet. We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is, really, deportation.” Despite local opposition from environmental groups, lawmakers, and residents who fear damage to the Everglades ecosystem, Trump said the site “could be” a model for future facilities, and confirmed discussions with other Republican-led states like Louisiana. Was Trump’s tour a way to celebrate the dystopian?

Malaysia Says No To U.S. Trash

Amid rising global frustration over plastic pollution, Malaysia has banned all plastic waste imports from the United States, halting shipments that topped 35,000 tons last year. The country was the largest developing-world recipient of U.S. plastic waste in 2023. The move follows Malaysia’s seizure of over 100 mislabeled containers from Los Angeles. “We do not want Malaysia to be the world’s rubbish bin,” said Environment Minister Nik Nazmi. The ban was enacted through an amended Customs Act targeting countries not party to the Basel Convention — such as the U.S. — and imposes strict contamination limits on all imported plastic waste.

Malaysia’s action echoes China’s 2018 ban on plastic and paper waste, which upended the global recycling trade. Countries like Thailand and Indonesia have followed suit, forcing wealthier nations to grapple with their mounting trash. The U.S. recycles less than 10% of its plastic waste. Much of what Americans believe is being recycled is instead redirected to landfills, incinerated, or dumped overseas. Plastic waste has more than doubled in two decades. An estimated truckload enters the ocean every minute, harming wildlife and ecosystems. 

Experts warn that without robust global oversight, plastic waste may simply shift to countries with weaker regulations. To curb the crisis, experts say the solution isn’t just better recycling but cutting plastic production, especially single-use plastics. Some countries are pushing for a global treaty with production caps and design standards to reduce waste. In the U.S., such policies are gaining ground. On Tuesday, Illinois banned small plastic toiletry bottles in large hotels, while Delaware enacted restrictions on foam containers and single-use plastics in restaurants.

Click-Worthy

⚡ As Musk-Trump feud reignites, President threatens to deport Tesla CEO.

🛒 Grocery prices have risen unevenly across the U.S. — where is it cheaper?

🎩 After hats and mobile phones, Trump is now selling perfume.

🧠 In AI’s hiring race, Zuckerberg’s calling OpenAI top talent, offering $300M packages.

⚖️ Lululemon sues Costco over “dupes”.

🥛 Is it really true — are we all a lil lactose intolerant?

🏛️ Texas passes act, closing sexual assault loophole for intoxicated survivors.

🗽 Trump questions Mamdani’s citizenship, NYC mayoral candidate hits back.

🚽 Have an overactive bladder? Turns out, those sneaky leaks can be stopped.

🧘‍♂️ Dalai Lama claims sole authority over his succession, directly challenging China.

Her Hustle

😴 For younger Americans, success isn’t a corner office anymore. It’s sleep, sanity, salad bowls, and seeing your kid’s soccer game.

🏠 Forget dream homes — Gen Z grads are chasing square footage with side hustles, skipped drinks, and ten-year savings plans.

House to Home

🛋️ Interior designers have a few unspoken wishes — things they really wish clients understood before starting any design project.

🚪 Closet doors don’t have to be boring. In fact, they can completely transform a room when treated as design features, not just functional afterthoughts.

The Fame Frame

🎬 Penn Badgley, Meghann Fahy set to star in rom-com ‘You Deserve Each Other’.

🌍 BTS set to stage a comeback with world tour and new album in 2026!

📺 Jennifer Aniston to star in Apple TV’s adaptation of ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’.

⚖️ Diddy Trial: Jury reaches a partial verdict, continues deliberating.

🎧 Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap feud now faces federal court scrutiny.

Go. See. Do.

🎥 Watch | The best movies of the 21st century.

🥩 Cook | Collagen-rich food offering anti-aging benefits.

🧠 Find | Is your brain aging faster than you are?

💪 Workout | To fix the tech-neck — soothe your neck and shoulders.

"We don't heal by going back to what broke us."

— Thema Bryant