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It's Thursday, September 11, today marks the 24th Anniversary of 9/11 attacks and a new generation vows to remember. In today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at: 

• Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah college event.

• The happiest and least happy US states.

• Could eating spicy food really help you lose weight?

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SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Charlie Kirk Shot Dead In Utah; No Suspects Yet

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem. Who is he? Police said he was struck in the neck by a single bullet around 12:20 pm in what Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called was a “political assassination”. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was rushed to a hospital but later pronounced dead. The FBI said the shot likely came from a rooftop and described the attack as targeted. Watch: A person captured running on roof right after shooting.

Authorities initially detained two people but released them, leaving the shooter still at large. “We are following all the leads and all the evidence,” said FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls. FBI Director Kash Patel later acknowledged confusion after prematurely announcing a suspect in custody. Witnesses describe the shooting.

Tributes poured in across the political spectrum. Reaction within White House. Trump called Kirk “a martyr for truth and freedom,” adding, “Charlie was the best of America, and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country.” House holds a moment of silence for Kirk. Vice President JD Vance described him as “a genuinely good guy and a young father.” Former President Joe Biden said, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now.” How the assassination raises political violence fears.

Related Read: After Charlie Kirk’s death, social media erupts in a mix of sympathies and blame.

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Politics

Lawsuit Claims White House Exerts Enormous Influence Over FBI

Three former senior FBI officials on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging they were dismissed on orders from the White House and Justice Department as retaliation for their past investigative work. The plaintiffs — former acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, Washington Field Office chief Steven Jensen, and Las Vegas Field Office head Spencer Evans — claim their removal was part of a broader campaign to purge agents who had handled cases involving President Donald Trump.

According to the lawsuit, Patel acknowledged he “had to fire” the officials to keep his own position, telling Driscoll that “the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.” The complaint further accuses Patel of knowingly violating FBI rules protecting agents from politically motivated dismissals and prioritizing loyalty over independence.

The suit argues that the firings breached the plaintiffs’ First and Fifth Amendment rights and seeks reinstatement with back pay. Both the FBI and the Justice Department declined immediate comment. If upheld, the case could test long-standing protections for federal law enforcement against political interference and intensify scrutiny of the bureau’s independence under Trump’s leadership.

Science

There Might Be Life On Mars After All

NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered intriguing signs that Mars may once have hosted life. In a rock formation nicknamed Cheyava Falls, Perseverance detected minerals such as vivianite and greigite, which are commonly associated on Earth with microbially influenced environments like river deltas and marshlands. The findings, published in Nature, include dark specks called “poppy seeds” and larger “leopard spots,” both containing these minerals, along with organic compounds.

Joel Hurowitz, a geosciences professor and Perseverance science team member, called the evidence “really compelling”, noting it is the strongest potential biosignature he’s seen in two decades of Mars research. NASA officials praised the discovery as possibly “the clearest sign of life” yet, while also stressing that geological explanations remain plausible.

The rover drilled a sample of Cheyava Falls mudstone, which could yield clearer answers if returned to Earth. But the Mars Sample Return mission faces budget cuts and uncertainty under current U.S. space priorities. Without it, the samples may remain stranded—or be retrieved first by China’s planned 2028 mission. For now, the Cheyava Falls rock offers the strongest hint yet that Mars’ ancient rivers may have once nurtured microbial life, but definitive proof remains elusive. Another planet that fits the bill for extraterrestrial life?

In the know

DON’T MISS

📧 Inside Epstein’s email inbox: how Ghislaine Maxwell enabled his empire. 

🤔 Are your friendships toxic? If you aren’t sure, ask these questions (and find out what to do about it). 

🚨 After new PM comes into power, 'Block Everything' protests sweep across France.

🧠 There’s a gruesome reason why psychiatrists are called “shrinks”.

🗣️ Finally, Kamala Harris addresses leaving reelection decision to Biden; calls it ‘recklessness’.

😀 Study shows these are the happiest states across the US.

🇵🇱 Poland invokes NATO’s Article 4 to discuss Russian drones fired in territory.

✈️ Need to fly anywhere? Uber it. 

📉 UK’s Starmer fires ambassador to US over Epstein connection.

👶 It’s settled, babies crying around you has a physical impact on you!

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🏃‍♀️ Let’s settle this, incline walking vs. flat jogging: which is a better workout? Both cardio, but one tests your legs differently and works your muscles harder.

🫀 Microplastics are everywhere — even in your heart. Could they secretly fuel strokes, heart attacks, and early death?

🥫 Behind the scenes, America’s food safety net just lost critical protections. Experts say consequences could be far-reaching.

🦷 We know it’s good for your skin, but should you brush your teeth with niacinamide? Doctors really think it whitens and soothes or are they less convinced!

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👗 From iconic designers to buzzy newcomers, here’s everything you’ll want to watch this New York Fashion Week.

💄 Juicy lip stains are 2025’s beauty breakout. Think glossy hydration meets lasting color in one satisfying swipe.

🧥 Fall layering gets a sleek upgrade with cropped trench coats. Here’s your cheat sheet to the chicest styles ahead of sweater weather.

💍 From studs to signets, meet the jewelry pieces that elevate every outfit without trying too hard.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

💍 From Kim’s diamond to Kate’s sapphire, these celebrity rings are pure legend.

💌 Selena Gomez reveals who’d be the ring bearer at her wedding.

👑 Prince Harry finally gets to see his father.

🎭 Charlie Sheen talks about bizarre things he’s done without feeling sorry about them.

📺 You won’t believe that this is the most-watched Emmy series nominee.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Science says spicy foods can rev up your metabolism, activate “good” brown fat, and even curb appetite. Eating chiles daily might not be a miracle weight-loss solution, but it could help you burn a few extra calories while supporting heart health and longevity. Still, the question is whether the burn is worth the benefits or if it’s all more hype than real impact.

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” 

— John Steinbeck