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Doctors Prescribing Socializing | Panic Pouch For Stress? | Office Air Ruining Your Makeup

Plus, the best free restaurant bread in US!

April 16, 2026

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Good Morning!

It's Thursday, April 16, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

  • Doctors are now prescribing — socializing!

  • Gen Z’s new stress reliever is a panic pouch.

  • Is office air ruining your makeup? Well…

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

Personal Finance

Your Tax Refund Is Up, Just Not As Much As Expected

If your bank account felt a little hopeful this tax season, you’re not alone. Refunds are bigger this year, with the average at $3,462, roughly 10–11% higher than last year. That’s thanks to new tax changes, including deductions for tips, overtime, and seniors, plus a higher standard deduction quietly doing its work. PS, you can file for an extension here.

But the bump isn’t as big as many expected. Most people are seeing closer to a $300 increase, not the larger gains forecast earlier. And since refunds double as a yearly financial reset, that gap matters, especially when many rely on it for rent, bills, or savings.

There’s also a catch: some benefits show up as owing less, not getting more back. Which means even when taxes are lower overall, it doesn’t always feel like a win. Moreover, there’s no way to know if you win or lose under new law.

Politics

More Younger Men Show Religious Inclination

A new Gallup survey shows a sharp rise in religiosity among men under 30, with 42% saying religion is “very important” in 2025, up from 28% in 2023. The data supports reports from churches seeing increased attendance, particularly among young men. In contrast, religiosity among young women has declined, with only 29% saying religion is very important, creating a widening gender gap. Historically, women have been more religious than men.

Other studies indicate US religious decline may be stabilizing, with some growth among young adults. However, overall affiliation remains lower than older generations, and 28% of American adults report no religious identity.

Someone just spent $236,000,000 on a painting. Here’s why it matters for your wallet.

Late last year, a Klimt sold for the highest price ever paid for modern art at auction.

An outlier sure, but it wasn't a fluke. U.S. auction sales grew 23.1% in 2025. The $1-5mm segment even grew 40.8% YoY.

Now, the S&P, teetering on all time highs, just posted its worst quarter since 2022, oil was up 94% (briefly), and Moody's puts recession odds at 48.6%.

Each environment is unique, but after dot-com, post war and contemporary art grew about 24% annually for a decade. After 2008, about 11% for 12 years.

It’s also had near-zero correlation with the S&P 500 since ‘95.*

Now, Masterworks lets you invest in shares of artworks featuring legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso.

  • $1.3 billion invested across over 500 artworks.

  • 28 sales to date.

  • Net annualized returns on sold works held 12 months+ like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8%.

Shares can sell quickly, but my subscribers can skip the waitlist:

*Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. See important Reg A disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.

Health

Quiet Rise Of “Social Prescribing” Is Here

“Social prescribing” is gaining traction as doctors recommend non-medical activities like art, music, exercise, and community groups to improve health. The approach aims to address issues such as loneliness and reduce pressure on health systems. In England, the National Health Service has issued more than 5.5 million referrals since 2019, far exceeding initial targets, with common prescriptions including housing support and debt counseling.

Research suggests benefits: regular creative activity is linked to lower depression risk, and music interventions can reduce pain and opioid use. Programs are expanding in countries like the Netherlands and through pilot initiatives in U.S. states, though measuring outcomes and standardizing evidence remains a challenge.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🌍 US-Iran move towards finalising a framework deal, officials say, as Washington deploys more troops to the middle east.

🤖 Trump posts another AI-generated photo — this time with Jesus. Also, this is who he discussed the contentious healing post with. But, Iran seems to be having fun with the meme.

📦 Gen Z does have a smart tool to deal with stress — enter, panic pouches!

🏛️ House Democrats move to introduce five articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth over Iran war, abuse of power, and Pentagon handling

🥦 The freezer-friendly superfoods that will make healthy eating much easier for you.

💸 President Trump threatens to fire Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell, again. Honestly, we’ve lost count.

💼 As AI takes over mundane tasks in offices, human reassuring still stays of utmost importance. So next time, don’t skip that Teams meeting.

😬 JD Vance heckled at surprisingly empty Turning Point USA event … and his response to anti-war hecklers is not what we expected!

🌴 US influencer Ashly Robinson dies in Zanzibar, days after getting engaged. Boyfriend’s passport withheld as family seeks answers.

✈️ A writer travelled over 13,000 miles,only to find the best free restaurant bread across America — and she’s back with an answer.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🍟 Is your air fryer working against you? Unfortunately for most of us, a common (and overlooked) health mistake is costing us a lot more. 

🤝 Go ahead, have a “dull” conversation with your coworker. There’s a scientific argument for leaning into the boring chitchat more often. 

😴 Falling asleep gets harder as you age — but doctors say these hacks can help you steal back hours of rest.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

💄 Is office air really ruining your makeup? If your face gives up by 2 pm, you’re not imagining it. That flat, oily, tired look has a surprisingly environmental cause.

👟 Trends may flirt with suede and satin, but leather sneakers stick around. Now they’re back with just enough edge to feel exciting again.

💇‍♀️ Good hair days aren’t luck, they’re learned. Turns out, less effort and smarter tricks make all the difference.

👖 Everyone’s still wearing jeans, just not the ones you think. This subtle switch is quietly upgrading every outfit right now.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🕷️ This Gossip Girl actress was hospitalized for spider bite while on tour.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Are We In A “Job Recession”?

The US job market looks stable on paper, but for job seekers, it feels like a recession. Hiring has slowed to pandemic-era lows, searches are dragging for months, and many are dipping into savings without the safety nets past downturns offered. Add AI reshaping roles and fewer openings overall, and landing a job suddenly feels harder than expected. The economy may be “fine,” but the experience of it? Not so much.

What do you think?

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“Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become.”

— James Clear

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