Good Morning!

It's Wednesday, July 16, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:  

• Floods in NYC, New Jersey leave two dead. 

• Have you been getting the ‘Gen Z stare’?

• America’s protein obsession reached dairy products.

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SPILL THE NEWS

The Epstein Saga Continues

President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed renewed uproar around the Jeffrey Epstein case, expressing confusion over his supporters’ fixation on the issue. “I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring,” Trump told reporters. “I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.” What does this mean for hard- conservative lawmakers?

The comments came as pressure mounts within the MAGA movement following a Justice Department and FBI memo concluding Epstein died by suicide and had no “client list”. Many Trump allies have rejected those findings, fueling online conspiracy theories and turning their ire toward Attorney General Pam Bondi, who earlier suggested such a list existed. Trump also defended Bondi, saying she’s “handled it very well” and should release “whatever she thinks is credible”. Why Epstein’s prison video had a 3-min cut.

Post Trump’s remarks, Bondi refused to address the files or her reported clash with FBI deputy director Dan Bongino. Speaker Mike Johnson urged her to clarify her earlier comments, while House Republicans blocked a Democratic attempt to force a vote on releasing Epstein documents. The issue continues to fracture Trump’s base and reignite scrutiny of Epstein’s powerful connections.

Floods Reach NYC, Killing Two

Torrential rain hammered the Northeast on Monday, flooding New York City subway stations and killing two people in New Jersey. Flash flood warnings blanketed all five boroughs as streets turned to rivers and stormwater overwhelmed city infrastructure. Why NYC subway floods even after millions invested.

New York City recorded over 2 inches of rain in less than an hour—more than the subway system is designed to handle. Floodwater gushed into subway cars, prompting riders to climb onto seats. Watch.

Across the river in New Jersey, two people died in Plainfield after their car was swept into Cedar Brook. Roads closed, homes flooded, and emergency rescues were carried out across the tristate area. Additional storms are expected Tuesday, with more flash flooding possible in Virginia, Florida, and the Midwest. Officials continue to warn residents: do not ignore flood advisories.

Weight-Loss Drug Use Surges In Kids

Use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy surged among children and teens after the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended them in 2023 alongside lifestyle changes. A review of over 310,000 health records showed a 65% immediate rise in prescriptions for youths aged 8 to 17, followed by a 5% monthly increase.

The study, conducted by researchers from Truveta and Harvard Medical School, noted public hype and advertising may be fueling demand, while high drug costs remain a barrier. Semaglutide use grew from 2.5% to 26.8% among pediatric patients, while metformin, the most prescribed drug overall, saw a decline. Meanwhile, nutritional counseling rose more gradually.

Despite concerns of overuse, fewer than 10% of children received anti-obesity medications, with most prescriptions targeting adolescents with severe obesity. "Prescribing decisions generally appear to be cautious," said lead author Tricia Rodriguez of Truveta.

CLICK-WORTHY

🏢 Return-to-office rules push more women to opt out.

🕵️ Mike Waltz grilled over Signal leaks, vows UN overhaul.

👀 Have you been getting the “Gen Z stare”?

🪖 Trump orders 2,000 National Guard troops withdrawn from LA.

🧑‍💼 This manager only hires attractive candidates, but how do you speak out?

✈️ U.S. resumes third‑country deportations, flies five migrants to Eswatini.

🥩 America’s protein obsession has now entered the dairy industry.

📈 U.S. inflation accelerates to 2.7%, highest since February.

🍅 Trump slaps 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes.

🌍 Why getting that health insurance before your international trip essential?

IN GOOD HEALTH

🏃 Exercise isn’t the obesity culprit, diet might be to blame!

💉 No, aluminum in vaccines doesn’t cause autism or asthma.

🏛️ RFK Jr.'s HHS swaps big pharma for big wellness influence.

🏋️ Turns out, lifting weightshelps you lose fat more efficiently than cardio.

IN STYLE, IN BEAUTY

👻 Ghost lashes are the barely-there beauty trend that’s made for summer!

👖 High-rise jeans and chunky sneakers are replacing ballet flat combos.

🧴 Smooth, glow, repeat — body scrubs your skin will thank you for.

🎨 Summer 2025 color trends: powder pink, butter yellow, dill green, and more.

THE FAME FRAME

🚗 Unreleased Beyoncé tracks, tour plans stolen from car during Atlanta tour.

🍦 Sydney Sweeney’s Laneige x Baskin-Robbins collab is summer’s sweetest.

🧙‍♂️ First look reveled of the young star of new Harry Potter TV series.

🏆 ‘Severance’ leads Emmy nominations with 27 nods!

👠 30 years later, ‘Clueless’ outfits still slay the style game.

WEIGH IN

“You will be too much for some people. Those aren’t your people.”

— Glennon Doyle