Good Morning!

It's Wednesday, April 22, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Congress was busy with two very important hearings yesterday.

• The healthy drink that might be quietly damaging your liver.

• Best time of the day to lift weights is this!

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Top Headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Congress Was A Hot Mess Yesterday

Congress had two high-stakes hearings Tuesday, and both quickly spiraled into political theatre rather than clarity.

Fed Chair Hearing: The Senate Banking Committee was holding a confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, Donald Trump’s pick to replace current Fed chair Jerome Powell. The role is one of the most powerful in government, controlling interest rates, inflation, and borrowing costs across the economy. Lawmakers questioned whether Warsh would stay independent as Trump openly pushes for lower rates. Warsh said, “I will be an independent actor” and that “we need to take politics out of monetary policy,” but refused to say Trump lost the 2020 election. Elizabeth Warren called him a potential “sock puppet,” while concerns over his finances and a Justice Department probe into Powell added friction. 

RFK Jr Hearing: In a separate House hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was questioned on his handling of public health and vaccine policy. Lawmakers asked if he would follow guidance from CDC nominee Erica Schwartz. “I’m not going to make that kind of commitment,” he said. Democrats accused him of fueling vaccine distrust during a worsening measles outbreak, while Republicans defended his broader health agenda.

Work

Prized Employment Benefits Disappearing

Workplace perks are quietly shrinking — and it’s not just free snacks or gym discounts anymore. Companies like Zoom and Deloitte are scaling back major benefits, including paid parental leave, PTO, and even support like IVF funding for some roles. 

The shift reflects a broader power swing: with slower hiring and fewer people quitting, employers have more room to cut costs without fearing mass exits. HR experts say once big firms make these moves, it “legitimizes” others to follow. For workers, though, the impact is real — lower morale, reduced loyalty, and a growing sense that flexibility and care are being replaced by performance pressure.

Tech

Apple’s New CEO Has Work Cut Out For Him

John Ternus will take over as CEO of Apple on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook after 15 years. Ternus, Apple’s longtime hardware chief, becomes the first new leader since Steve Jobs. He steps in as Apple maintains a $4 trillion valuation and strong iPhone sales, with revenue recently rising 23% to $85.3 billion. 

However, Apple faces pressure to expand its artificial intelligence strategy, where it lags rivals. The company currently relies partly on partnerships, including Google’s Gemini, while competitors like Microsoft and Meta invest heavily in AI infrastructure.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🌍 President Trump extends Iran ceasefire indefinitely after continuously saying that he won’t. But will the Strait of Hormuz ever return to normalcy — follow live traffic here.

🥤 This “healthy” drink might be silently damaging your liver.

🏛️ Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned less than an hour before ethics review, becoming the third House member to resign since April.

👑 The royal garden party welcoming King Charles III in Washington has a special dress code.

🗳️ Virginia voters approve new redistricting, potentially boosting Democrats’ chances of gaining four House seats in midterms.

🚭 Britain set to welcome law banning tobacco and vape sales for people born after 2009, creating a smoke-free generation.

🐶 This is the rarest dog breed found across the US, American Kennel Club announces.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🏋️‍♂️ Science says there is a specific time window that’s best for lifting heavy weights. You’ll see us there after …. lunch. 

🎨 Ah, the coloring book enthusiasts have a point! Turns out, a few minutes of filling in a page is enough to break your mind’s cycle of stress.

📊 As per a new report, 99% of Americans think brain health matters as much as physical health — but only 9% know how to protect it. Lost in the world of TikTok brain exercises? These expert-approved hacks are here to help. 

🏠 Women handle over 70% of the domestic mental load. And no, it's not because they're better multitaskers — nobody is. Then why do the myths persist?

Decor & More

HOUSE TO HOME

🛋️ Your small living room isn’t the problem. A few clever changes can completely shift how your space looks and functions.

🚿 Still stuffing things under the sink? Your bathroom storage situation is probably worse than you think. These cabinets fix clutter without requiring a full-blown renovation.

🎨 Remember that bedroom paint shade you begged for in middle school? It just staged a quiet comeback in the most sophisticated homes right now.

♻️ Your spring makeover might not need new purchases at all.What it needs is a ruthless edit of what you already own.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

💍 Did Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz get engaged? She stepped out with a ring in THAT finger! 

🎬 Was Sydney Sweeney really cut out from ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’? Well, she might not have been the only one.

👗 Madonna's Coachella performance vintage outfit goes missing with no suspects in sight. 

🍼 Rihanna’s six-month old makes first public appearance on a magazine cover — dressed up in a Dior diaper. Iconic doesn’t even begin to describe it.

💕 Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi could be dating for months, Daily Mail reports.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

TikTok’s Child Skincare Influencers

Skincare is officially getting younger. Kids as young as 10 are showing off “PR hauls” online, while teens join brand ambassador programs for free products or perks. Regulators in Italy are now investigating brands like Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics over influencer marketing aimed at children. Dermatologists warn most of these products aren’t needed, especially stronger ingredients like retinol. But for many teens, content creation builds confidence, community, and real skills. The problem? It’s all happening in a legal grey area, with unclear protections and blurred lines between hobby and labor..

“All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.”

— Robin Sharma