Good Morning!

Good Morning! It's Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• HHS cuts childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11. 

• Is brain-boosting dancing really a thing?

• Commuting is specifically bad for women!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Maduro Pleads Not Guilty In Federal Court

Nicolás Maduro appeared in federal court in New York on Monday and pleaded not guilty to US drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. Wearing a blue jail uniform, Maduro said he was “captured” and declared, “I’m innocent.” His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. Everything you need to know.

Prosecutors unveiled a new four-count indictment alleging Maduro used government power over decades to facilitate cocaine trafficking and protect criminal networks. Did Trump really tip off oil companies? US officials say the charges justified his capture during US military operations Saturday and his transfer to New York. Which other countries could be in Trump’s sight?

Related Read: Who is Venezuela’s interim president?

Health 

Trump Administration Cuts Childhood Vaccine Schedule

The Trump administration on Monday overhauled the US childhood immunization schedule, cutting routinely recommended vaccines from 17 to 11, effective immediately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the changes followed a December executive order directing alignment with peer countries. 

Vaccines for measles, polio, and others remain universally recommended, while shots for Covid-19, influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, and meningococcal disease moved to shared decision-making or high-risk categories. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the review was exhaustive. President Trump praised the move as science-based.

Lifestyle

Commuting Is Bad — Especially For Women

Research across multiple countries shows that long commutes play a significant role in reducing mothers’ employment and earnings after parenthood. Studies in the United States, Belgium, Norway, and Germany find that longer commute times lower workforce participation for moms, especially those with young children. 

US research covering 272 cities found a 10-minute increase in average commute time reduced married mothers’ employment probability by 4.4 percentage points. Researchers including Jordi Jofre-Monseny and Brenden Timpe reported that mothers often switch to lower-paying jobs, part-time work, remote roles, or closer workplaces to manage child care and reliability demands.

In the know

DON’T MISS

⚖️ Pete Hegseth launches proceedings against Senator Mark Kelly over “seditious” remarks in military video.

🌡️ Flu reaches highest level in the US in the last 25 years.

🏳️ Minnesota Governor Tim Walz drops re-election bid.

🥂 Are your friends passing the “brunch table theory”? If not, time to look for new ones!

🚨 Man in custody after windows broken at JD Vance’s home.

🇬🇱 Denmark leader warns Trump “should be taken seriously” about Greenland.

👩‍⚖️ Paris court convicts 10 for cyberbullying France’s first lady with false transgender claims.

🎆 Why are new years resolutions different for men and women!

🍕 America might be falling out of love with pizzas. 

🧔 Are men really giving up on “performative masculinity” in 2025?

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🏋️‍♂️ More workout isn’t always a good idea — pushing past your limit only yields fatigue and burnout, not results. So, what’s the actual blueprint for sustainable strength?

😴 You’re likely ignoring the single most effective way to improve your sleep quality. Luckily, it’s not even about the total hours you clock — but a consistent bedtime routine. 

💔 Not that time can’t heal all your heartbreak wounds, but there are ways — all therapist-approved — to make the process more bearable as you get out of the loop.

🧠 Most brain-boosting habits feel like a chore — but this one is a party, quite literally. While most people do it for the social life, the 76% reduction in dementia risk is what’s catching attention.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👢 Brown boots with jeans? This is the duo you can carry from winter into spring with endless styling options. 

🧖‍♀️ You can actively (no pun intended) look forward to these skincare trends in 2026. After years of fancy placebos, everybody deserves a little switch-up! 

👗 A tasteful staple every IT girl is eyeing is nothing but a humble quarter zip. Even better —  you have Chanel’s stamp of approval to trade your blazer for a preppy pivot.

☀️ Dark spots that linger for an eternity? If so, Vitamin C is your best friend for a brighter, spot-free skin. You’d have to use it the right way, though.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🧘‍♂️ Did you know Michael B. Jordan sought therapy after playing the antagonist in Black Panther?

📺 ‘The Stranger Things’ might not be getting the extra Jan 7 episode but it has one last adventure to close with season 5’s behind-the-scenes documentary.

💔 No dates in months? Sophie Turner clears up the Chris Martin romance buzz. 

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Across the US, people joining social movements say the work offers more than political change. Activists, volunteers, and organizers describe finding community, purpose, and belonging through shared values and collective action. For many, movement spaces counter loneliness and isolation, especially as traditional civic engagement declines. Psychologists note activism can foster deep connection, though high-risk actions may also bring stress or burnout. Still, participants across generations say organizing reshaped their relationships and daily lives.

“I am allowed to outgrow what once kept me alive.”

— Warsan Shire