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It's Thursday, November 20, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Could “brain rot” be good for your grandparents!

• Fiber or protein “maxxing”, which is better?

• You wouldn’t believe how long kissing has existed for.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

James Comey Hangs Amid Errors

The Justice Department’s case against former FBI Director James Comey appeared to unravel on Wednesday after prosecutors acknowledged that the operative indictment was never shown to the full grand jury. Under questioning from US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, Assistant US Attorney Tyler Lemons confirmed that only the grand jury foreperson signed the revised indictment, an edited version created after jurors rejected one of the original counts. Interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who alone presented the case to the grand jury, also conceded that only two jurors were present when the indictment was returned in court.

Comey’s attorney, Michael Dreeben, argued that the procedural error means “no indictment was returned,” and that the statute of limitations on the false statements and obstruction charges has already expired. Nachmanoff did not issue a ruling but ordered prosecutors to address the matter in writing. All you need to know about it.

The revelation overshadowed Comey’s broader effort to dismiss the case as a politically driven prosecution fueled by President Donald Trump’s long-running hostility toward him. The judge repeatedly pressed prosecutors about internal deliberations, including whether career officials initially recommended against charges. With multiple judges questioning Halligan’s handling of the grand jury process and her appointment itself under review, the case faces growing legal and procedural peril.

Related Read:Opinion | The Comey case is a comedy full of errors.

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Tech

“Brain Rot” Might Be Good For Your Grandparents

“Brain rot” may dominate the cultural conversation, but new research suggests technology could actually support cognitive health in older adults. A meta-analysis of 57 studies published in Nature Human Behaviour found adults over 50 who regularly use computers, smartphones, or the internet have a 58 percent lower risk of cognitive impairment. Researchers say the link likely runs both ways: people with healthier cognition may be more inclined to use technology, and engaging with digital tools may, in turn, help preserve cognitive function.

Even after accounting for socioeconomic status, education, and health conditions, the association remained consistent. Long-term studies tracking participants for about six years also found more tech use correlated with better cognitive outcomes. Still, researchers note that these studies can’t prove cause and effect, and tech use comes with risks, from online scams to replacing physical activity and face-to-face interactions. Overuse may even increase dementia risk, as one large 2023 study suggested.

Experts say technology’s benefits for older adults fall into three categories: mental complexity, social connection, and compensatory tools like reminders and GPS. Used intentionally and in moderation, digital devices may help support independence and stimulate the mind as people age.

Health

Study Suggests Smoking Cannabis Can Reduce Alcoholism

For years, students have casually experimented with mixing alcohol and cannabis, but a new study brings that curiosity into a controlled lab. Researchers at Brown University recruited 157 adults who regularly use both substances and observed their behavior inside a mock bar after smoking research-grade cannabis. The trial, one of the first to rigorously examine how marijuana affects alcohol consumption, used three sessions: high-THC cannabis, low-THC cannabis, and a placebo joint. Participants followed a standardized “paced puffing” routine before entering the faux bar, which was stocked with their preferred drinks.

The results were striking. After smoking high-THC cannabis, participants drank about one-third less alcohol compared with the placebo day; low-THC cannabis led to roughly a 20 percent reduction. The findings come as “California sober” culture grows and more people replace drinking with cannabis. Still, researchers caution against overinterpreting the results. The study’s controlled doses don’t reflect the higher-potency products widely available today, and much remains unknown about how alcohol and cannabis interact in real-world settings.

Experts say larger studies are needed to understand how different cannabis compounds, potencies, and methods of consumption influence drinking. For now, the science of cross-fading remains intriguing but far from settled.

In the know

DON’T MISS

📄 Trump signs bill ordering DOJ to release the Epstein Files, but it comes with conditions. 

💋 Kissing has existed since before humans even evolved. How long has it been?

🏫 Larry Summers goes on leave at Harvard, resigns from OpenAI board.

👗 Melania Trump’s outfit color at dinner with Saudi Crown Prince was a silent nod.

🥚 Fiber-maxxing or Protein-maxxing? What are we supposed to follow again!

😅 Don’t want to listen to relatives rave about boring things this holiday season? These are some graceful ways to change the subject!

🍟 Chips are known to be pretty unhealthy, choose these on your next craving spree. 

⚖️ This could be the most restrictive abortion bill — it is stalling in South Carolina.

👠 Remember the Miss Universe viral video of contestants walking out? Well, judges are doing the same.

📉 US trade deficit drops sharply as Trump’s tariffs drive imports down.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🍿 Your snack aisle favorites may be messing with your health more than you think. Scientists say ultra-processed foods may be quietly harming long-term health, prompting pressure for tougher rules and clearer food labels.

🎨 From paint nights to poetry clubs — a new trend has doctors prescribing hobbies instead of pills to patients, and early evidence says connection might be real medicine.

😴 That dreamy, drifting moment before real sleep? Researchers are mapping the hazy boundary between wakefulness and sleep, uncovering why your brain acts so bizarre on the way down.

🫁 A tiny screening rate, a massive death toll: America’s deadliest cancer has a fix hiding in plain sight and a new study says tens of thousands of lives could be saved if more people got one simple yearly scan.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

🧥 This season’s breakout staple is a leather skirt, delivering effortless polish and chic styling possibilities for every silhouette. These are the hit ones.

👀 Eye bags and shadows aren’t always about fatigue. Dermatologists break down why they form, how genetics influence them, and the simple habits that may actually improve appearance.

🧶 This winter’s must-have is this colored sweater, balancing comfort and minimalism while instantly elevating everything from jeans to tailored trousers.

💅 Could your gel manicure be sneakily causing those random facial rashes? Dermatologists explain the unexpected connection many people never see coming.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🇨🇦 Justin Trudeau apparently is making big efforts to see Katy Perry.

🧴 Shay Mitchell is standing by her kids’ skincare line amid backlash.

✉️ Daniel Radcliffe says he wrote a letter to the new Harry Potter actor.

👶 Cardi B shares first photos of her newborn son, and they’re the sweetest.

⚖️ Post Malone settles custody battle for 3-year-old daughter.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Sex education is now a geography lesson: what kids learn about their bodies, relationships, consent and contraception depends almost entirely on where they live. Some states teach medically accurate, LGBTQ+-inclusive, consent-focused courses. Others push abstinence-only messages, "Baby Olivia" videos and laws limiting what teachers can say. As politics tighten around classrooms, students are left with wildly uneven information—and advocates warn that gaps fuel teen pregnancy, misinformation and unsafe situations. Supporters say comprehensive sex ed keeps teens safer; critics argue it goes too far.

“You don’t find the happy life. You make it.”

— Camilla Eyring Kimball