Good Morning!

It's Friday, December 5, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• These are the loneliest Americans.

• Pantone’s colour of the year might be too vanilla.

• Love might just literally heal.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

Health

CDC Panel Delays Vote On Limiting Newborn Hepatitis B Shots

CDC vaccine advisers delayed a contentious vote on restricting hepatitis B shots for newborns, pushing the decision to Friday after confusion and disputes over wording. The advisory committee, now filled with appointees of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who have expressed vaccine skepticism, debated rolling back universal birth-dose recommendations despite decades of strong evidence showing the vaccine is safe and prevents lifelong liver disease.

Experts watching the meeting warned that even considering such limits risks alarming parents and undermining trust in childhood immunization, especially as US vaccination rates continue to fall. What to know about the shot.

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US News

Federal Agents Launch New Immigration Crackdown in New Orleans, Minneapolis

The Trump administration has launched immigration enforcement operations in New Orleans and Minneapolis, following the president’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Louisiana. DHS says it is targeting individuals released after arrests for serious crimes, blaming sanctuary policies for obstructing federal detainers. 

Many families in New Orleans are staying home, skipping work and school, worried about being detained. Local volunteers are delivering groceries and driving children to class. The crackdown is also stirring political tension, as Trump continues attacking Minnesota’s Somali population and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Trump’s federal crackdown — city by city.

Mental Health

The Loneliest Americans Are Not Gen Z

Americans are growing lonelier, according to new research released Wednesday, even when they’re not actually alone. A new AARP report shows loneliness rising among adults 45 and older, with 40 percent identifying as lonely, up from 35 percent in 2018 and 2010. 

Men now report more loneliness than women and are more likely to lack close friends. Adults in their 40s and 50s feel it most, as work, caregiving and shifting social circles leave less time to maintain relationships. Researchers warn that many don’t realize their isolation runs deeper than it seems.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🗳️ Supreme Court lets Texas run 2026 elections under new map favorable to GOP. Where redistricting stands in key states.

🧀 FDA recalls over a million shredded cheeses after safety warning.

🎨 ‘Cloud dancer’ — For the first time ever, Pantone names this as the color of the year.

🗣️ These are the most mispronounced words of 2025. Are you saying them correctly?

📉 US jobless claims hit 191,000, lowest levels since 2022; even as jobless announcements highest since 2020 pandemic.

⚖️ The New York Times takes Pentagon to court over press restrictions.

📸 House Oversight Committee releases never-before-seen photos of Epstein’s private island. 

🚧 Israel says it’d open the Rafah crossing but only for Palestinians willing to leave Gaza strip forever. 

💼 Who earns more, who earns less? Here’s how your salary compares to others.

🚔 FBI arrests man over planting pipe bombs before Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

💧 Can’t drift off at night? Hydration is the key — even for sleep! Here’s how your water habits might be secretly keeping you up, and a few quick fixes to make you rest better. 

🛏️ Yikes! Your pillowcase is collecting everything you don’t want on your face. How often do you swap it, or is it already too late?

❤️‍🩹 We’ve long said love heals, but it isn’t just metaphorically anymore. New research shows that physical intimacy plus oxytocin may literally make wounds heal fast.

🎨 Playing music, dancing, or even splattering paint on a canvas isn’t just child’s play. Research shows hitting a “flow state” might just slow down brain aging.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

😴 Eye bags seem like your skin’s biggest woes—and even worse, they're just harder to deal with. Use these doctor-approved methods to finally get a refreshed glow.

👟 Will “sneaker heels” ever become cool? Doja Cat puts them to the test, strolling through an Australian zoo on her day off.

📈 Many are betting on these hair and fashion trends to take off in 2026. Check in before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon. 

💅 A green manicure for Christmas isn’t old-school, and is definitely not “playing it safe.” Here’s the inspiration you need to go all in.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

💍 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may be tying the knot in Rhode Island. Invisible string? 

😳 Justin Baldoni told Blake Lively he’s circumcised — though she never asked. 

💸 Miley Cyrus jokes that her ring was a “Black Friday deal”. 

✨ Kim Kardashian revealed she changed her name just before hitting reality TV stardom.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Global child mortality is projected to rise for the first time this century, with 200,000 more preventable deaths expected next year. A Gates Foundation report blames sharp cuts in global health funding by wealthier nations, including the United States, which has historically contributed the most to childhood vaccinations and disease prevention abroad. Experts warn that without restored investment in primary care and immunizations, millions more children could die from treatable illnesses in the coming decades. The foundation calls it a wake-up moment: the science exists to save these lives — but the funding no longer does.

“Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.”

— Ruth Gordon