Good Morning!

It's Thursday, December 11, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Federal Reserve cuts interest rate by 0.25 percentage points.

• How monogamous are humans?

• Make your sad lunch salad slightly better!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

Economy

Fed Cuts Interest Rate, Third Time This Year

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, lowering it to 3.5%-3.75% in a 9-3 vote. Three officials dissented: Governor Stephen Miran favored a 0.5-point cut, while Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid opposed any change. 

The Fed signaled a slower pace of future cuts, projecting one reduction in 2026 and another in 2027. Chair Jerome Powell said the move addresses a cooling labor market and rising inflation. The Fed also announced it will resume $40 billion monthly Treasury bill purchases starting Friday.

Related Read:Bessent says Trump likely to name Fed chair before Christmas.

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US News

Trump Administration Moves to End Biden’s SAVE Student Loan Plan

The Education Department announced on Tuesday it reached a proposed settlement to end the Biden-era Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven student loan repayment plan. The program, offering payments as low as $0 and potential forgiveness after 10 years, had been challenged by GOP-led states in court. 

If approved, over 7 million borrowers will be moved to other repayment plans and new applications will be denied. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said the settlement corrects “unlawful” debt cancellation under Biden. Advocacy groups, including the Student Debt Crisis Center and NAACP, criticized the decision, citing increased financial strain for borrowers.

World

US Seizes Oil Tanker Off The Venezuela Coast

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that US forces seized a large oil tanker, the Skipper, off Venezuela’s coast. Trump said the vessel was taken “for a very good reason” and suggested the US would keep the oil. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a video showing Coast Guard members, supported by the Navy, boarding the tanker via helicopter. Bondi said the tanker had long been sanctioned for transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran linked to terrorist organizations. The seizure followed a US military buildup in the region and came amid ongoing tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In the know

DON’T MISS

✈️ Homeland Security buys Boeing 737s to expand ICE deportation flights.

💇‍♀️ Settle this — does hair grow faster when you regularly trim it.

🥗 This one ingredient can make you feel like your kale salad is a little better. 

📄 The most recent contention at the State Department? Font type. Yes, seriously!

🚪 Glassdoor revealed its word of the year, and it’s deeply telling.

🍎 Six more states join Trump plan restricting SNAP purchases of junk food.

🐕 Elon Musk just revealed how he feels about DOGE. He has put his foot down though.

🛡️ House passes defense bill challenging Pentagon boat strikes and shifting commitments.

⚖️ Judge orders Trump to withdraw National Guard troops from Los Angeles.

🦦 A study showsthat a beaver is more loyal than most men. How monogamous are humans?

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🧬 A massive aging study just spotlighted one fatty acid that might quietly influence how long and how well we live.

💊 This everyday mineral won’t prevent a cold, but taken correctly, it might nudge symptoms to end a little faster.

🦠 After alleging Covid shots killed children, the FDA now says it’s reviewing potential vaccine-linked deaths in other age groups.

🧠 How long should you stay on antidepressants?Psychiatrists say the real answer is more complicated than most expect.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

✨ Sequins are forever, but the holiday season is particularly kind to a dazzling sparkle it brings along. Here’s a style inspo for getting bejewelled.

💆‍♀️ Microdermabrasions are back on everybody’s beauty radar, and honestly, why not? You have the promise of smoother skin, tighter pores, and an instant glow with zero recovery time. Here’s why it works.

👢 Borrow Taylor Swift’s knee-high boots look for your next girls’ night out in the chilling temperatures.

🧪 This is the mighty (and lesser-known) ingredient that may fade hyperpigmentation as effectively as top brightening serums, without irritating your skin.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

👑 Beyoncé will return to the Met Gala after nearly a decade, though as a co-chair this time.

🎤 What’s Taylor Swift’s favorite Taylor Swift song? The singer picks these two hits from her catalog. 

🗣️ Amanda Seyfried says she’s “not f—ing apologizing” for calling Charlie Kirk “hateful”. 

🏹 Jennifer Lawrencereturns to Hunger Games prequel, sparking massive fan nostalgia.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

The US plans to require some tourists to provide five years of social media history and upload selfies when applying to visit the country. The move, announced by US Customs and Border Protection, is part of a broader ramp-up of travel restrictions under President Donald Trump, including expanded travel bans and enhanced vetting measures. The proposal is open for public comment before finalization, but it signals a more intrusive approach to screening foreign visitors.

“I didn’t come this far to be quiet about my dreams.” 

— Ariana DeBose