Good Morning!

It's Thursday, May 7, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• The ship at the center of the Hantavirus outbreak leaves for Spain.

• 2026’s “most contaminated” fruits and vegetables.

• Are our attention spans shrinking?

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Top Headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Luxury Cruise Ship Leaves For Spain After Deadly Virus Evacuations

The MV Hondius — the luxury vessel currently turned into a floating quarantine ward due to hantavirus outbreak — has finally departed for Spain. After being marooned for days off the coast of West Africa, three more passengers were medically evacuated on Wednesday as the death toll from a rare hantavirus strain hit three. This specific strain is the "black sheep" of hantavirus, unlike most, it actually spreads through close human contact. While 150 passengers are currently trapped in a "socially distanced" nightmare on the high seas, the ship is racing toward the Canary Islands after being rejected by multiple ports. The countries linked to the outbreak.

The Bottom Line: Don’t cancel your summer plans just yet — the CDC says the risk to the general public is "extremely low". However, the agency is now monitoring residents in Georgia, California, and Arizona who were previously on the ship. Because this virus mimics a bad flu before turning deadly, and there’s no official cure, health officials are scrambling to ensure the "scramble" doesn't hit US soil.

World

Iran-US Deal Faces Threats, Deadlines

The White House is currently "pinballing" between claiming the war is over and threatening total destruction. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared military operations "concluded" on Tuesday, President Trump spent Wednesday morning on Truth Social warning that the bombing will resume at a "much higher intensity" if Tehran doesn't sign a new 14-point peace deal immediately. 

The Bottom Line: It’s a high-stakes waiting game. The US is pushing a one-page "memorandum of understanding" to freeze Iran’s nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz — where 20% of the world’s oil is currently stuck. Iran’s parliament dismissed the proposal as a "wish list", but with gas prices soaring and midterms looming, Trump is desperate for a win before his trip to China. If a deal isn't reached in the next 48 hours, "Project Freedom" could turn back into "Epic Fury" overnight. 

Related Read: Iran hit more US military assets then reported, Washington Post reports.

Economy

Gas Prices Are Not Calming Down

If your wallet feels lighter, it’s not just you — gas prices have officially surged 50% since the conflict with Iran kicked off. We’re now looking at a national average of $4.48 a gallon, a brutal 31-cent jump in just one week. The culprit? A "perfect storm" in the Strait of Hormuz. With the world’s most vital oil artery effectively clogged, crude oil has hit a staggering $112 a barrel, leaving gas station owners with no choice but to pass the bill to you. 

The Bottom Line: We’re living in a "K-shaped" nightmare. While wealthy households are barely tapping the brakes, lower-income Americans are cutting their driving by 7% just to survive. Experts warn there’s no "quick fix" here; even if a ceasefire holds today, insurance hikes and "risk premiums" mean it could take months, or longer, to see those $3.00 signs again.

In the know

DON’T MISS

📰 A judge unsealed Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged suicide note, found by his cellmate, a convicted quadruple murderer. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced a congressional grilling over "inexplicable" visits to Epstein’s island. 

🚫 This common travelling habit is now banned on American Airlines!

🔥 Costco is dropping some serious heat this month, as these new items hit the shelf.

⚠️ A group of women meet FDA officials to demand solutions as estrogen patches hit shortage. 

🚨 Check your crisper. Here are 14 fruits and veggies officially on 2026’s "most contaminated.

🏛️ From wedding DJ to White House press secretary — Marco Rubio is having a moment.

📂 FBI agents search Virginia State Senator L Louise Lucas’s office amid push for redistricting.

🚨 A man, who fired at officers near the Washington Monument, seen walking JD Vance’s motorcade path.

📺 CNN founder and media titan Ted Turnerdies at 87.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

📱 Funnily enough, it might not be your attention span that’s shrinking by the day. But it’s worth listening to the science and putting that phone in the other room for a moment.

🏃 No, exercising is not wearing out your heart by “using up” beats. It’s actually the opposite —- consider it a longterm investment to safeguard it.

🥗 A European cardiologists society has published a new clinical consensus that prescribes …. more time in the kitchen to cut your UPF intake. More things heart experts warn against, especially after a long, winding day. 

📼 TikTok just rediscovered a beloved workout that had everyone buying VHS tapes in the ‘90s. Call it a retro “step” in the right direction, it’s just the gift that keeps on giving, even decades later.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👖 Denim at the Met? You bet. See how stars turned the "Fashion is Art" theme into a high-fashion denim dream on the red carpet.

🌸 Give your hair a signature scent! Discover why "sensory wellness" and hair perfumes are the latest must-haves for your daily beauty ritual.

🔥 Ditch the plain tees! From "anti-jean" capris to baseball shirts, these are the five trendy basics every It-Girl is rocking this summer.

👗 Move over, canvas! Stars used their faces to recreate iconic paintings at the Met Gala, turning the red carpet into a living art gallery.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

📺 The kitchen is closing: ‘The Bear’ Season 5 drops June 25 as the show’s final installment.

😂 Maren Morris jokingly wonders if she "trashed" a real Taylor-Travis wedding invite thinking it was spam.

🌟 Before the curtain falls, Stephen Colbert reveals his dream guest at ‘The Late Show’.

 😳 Khloé Kardashian recalls her scary 2007 DUI arrest, leading to sharing a cell with 23 prostitutes.

⚖️ Justin Baldoni’sall smiles following his "It Ends With Us" settlement with Blake Lively.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Science has a secret: Red doesn’t actually exist. According to neuroscientist Christof Koch, the world is just a mess of light wavelengths; "color" is a subjective hallucination cooked up by your brain. This "perception box" explains why the internet nearly imploded over The Dress in 2015 — night owls and early risers literally saw two different movies on the same screen because their brains made different assumptions about light. From the "redness" of a rose to the sting of a breakup, these experiences are entirely your own. While we agree on a shared reality to survive, we’re all technically trapped in unique, invisible filters shaped by our genes and habits.

"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality."

— Seneca