Good Morning!

It's Monday, November 3, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Zohran Mamdani is NYC Mayor. 

• Are performance reviews dead?

• “Protein windows” might be a myth.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

As Democrats Win Big, It’s Mayor Mamdani To You

Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, secured a historic victory in the New York City mayoral election, netting just over 50 percent of the vote against former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani's win cemented him as a rising, yet divisive, figure within the Democratic Party. Read Mamdani’s winning speech. Cuomo, running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June, lost amid his increasingly bitter campaign. Can Mamdani deliver on his promises?

Mamdani will become the city’s first Muslim mayor and only the second to identify as a democratic socialist in modern history. What challenges await Mamdani? The mayor-elect focused his victory speech on working-class New Yorkers, pledging increased assistance from his City Hall. Reasons why Mamdani won over his opponents. Cuomo, who conceded for the second time in less than five months, emphasized that almost half of New Yorkers did not vote for Mamdani and stressed the need for public safety and combating antisemitism. The billionaires who tried to stop Mamdani and how much they paid. Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly criticized the election, stating it cemented the Democratic Party's move toward being a "radical, big-government socialist party." What Trump said on Mamdani’s big win?

The New York City outcome was part of a larger Election Day where Democrats were cruising in the first major contests since President Trump returned to the White House. Democrats won the only two gubernatorial races, with Abigail Spanberger becoming Virginia's first female governor and Mikie Sherrill winning the governorship in New Jersey. Both moderate candidates successfully focused their campaigns on economic issues, public safety, and health care. 

The combined results demonstrated a crucial sign of life for the Democratic Party and a level of voter determination and energy that was previously missing. The wins, particularly Mamdani's ability to drive a record turnout in New York by focusing on affordability, suggest that kitchen-table economic anxieties may be problematic for the GOP heading into the 2026 midterms, despite Trump's claims that his not being on the ballot and the government shutdown were the reasons for Republican losses. Six takeaways from Democrats’ win. While the party secured victories through both socialist and moderate candidates, a fierce intraparty battle over the future ideological direction of the Democrats appears to be looming.

Related Read: Did Gen Z loneliness cause Mamdani win?

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US News

Cargo Plane Crashes in Kentucky, Killing at Least Seven

A UPS cargo plane bound for Honolulu crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring 11, officials confirmed. Governor Andy Beshear warned that the toll could rise as search efforts continued late into the night. 

The MD-11 aircraft erupted into a massive fireball moments after departure, igniting nearby businesses and spilling thousands of gallons of jet fuel that fueled an intense blaze visible across the city. Two workers at an auto shop struck by the plane remain unaccounted for.

Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order that initially spanned five miles around the airport, later reduced to one, as more than 100 firefighters battled the inferno. Louisville’s mayor called the crash “an incredible tragedy our community will never forget,” noting the city’s deep ties to UPS, whose Worldport facility serves as the global hub for its air operations. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive on Wednesday to determine what caused the deadly crash.

Health

Melatonin Is Giving Us Heart Issues

New research suggests long-term melatonin use may be linked to a higher risk of heart failure and early death, though experts caution the findings are preliminary. The study, presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting, analyzed five years of health data from over 130,000 adults with insomnia. What taking melatonin reveals for heart health. Those who regularly took melatonin for at least a year were nearly twice as likely to develop heart failure, three times more likely to be hospitalized for it, and twice as likely to die during the study period.

However, researchers emphasized that melatonin itself may not cause heart issues. Instead, needing it long-term could signal underlying heart problems, since insomnia can raise blood pressure, stress hormones, and inflammation. Experts also note the study’s limits: over-the-counter melatonin use isn’t always reflected in medical records, and insomnia severity wasn’t measured. Why are experts asking to not panic yet?

While melatonin is often viewed as a safe, “natural” sleep aid, cardiologists urge caution with chronic use. “People should not take it regularly without proper medical guidance,” said Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge of Columbia University. All you need to know. More research is needed to determine whether melatonin itself poses cardiovascular risks or if it simply reflects deeper sleep and heart health issues.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🛑 Trump says SNAP benefits will only be released after the end of the longest shutdown in US history.

👨‍🔬 How differently do men and women spend their days?

🛥️ Trump administration confirms 16th deadly strike on alleged drug boat.

🗳️ In major win for Democrats, California approves new House maps. What’s next?

📝 With no one liking to go through them, are performance reviews dead?

🚭 The Maldives has banned smoking for all born after 2006.

👑 It’s Sir David as Beckham is knighted by King Charles.

😴 Is it normal for us to wake up in the middle of the night to pee?

👶 These are the most popular baby names of 2025!

🚨 Two young men arrested for explosions at Harvard University.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

💪 Is the “protein window” a myth? The truth about timing might just change your entire post-workout routine.

🦠 At-home gut tests are the latest wellness flex — and these pricey tests claim to have the answers. Do they?

🥗 Eating smart just got literal. The “portfolio diet” is turning kitchens into investment plans — it treats your meals like investments for long-term heart gains.

📵 Emails, texts, to-do lists — feeling fried? Take an “invisible day”, a 24-hour digital detox that hits reset on your mind, body, and sanity.

🚶 A brisk stroll might do more than clear your mind — it could help delay Alzheimer’s symptoms, researchers say. So, how many steps do you need to clock in?

Decor & More

HOUSE TO HOME

🧼 Be honest, when did your rug last get a deep clean? Here’s how to make it spotless again.

🤩 Why settle for hidden style? Embrace the maximalist kitchen: vintage finds, rich surfaces, and daring design all front and center.

🏚️ Some flooring decisions end up haunting homeowners. Which are the ones that people regret the most and why are they a mistake?

✨ From deep hues to vintage treasures, the design trends that are still chic in 2026, and the ones that we need to be done with.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🍿 Netflix’s rom-com hit ‘Nobody Wants This’ is officially green-lit for Season 3.

👖 Sydney Sweeney just addressed American Eagle jeans campaign backlash.

🔥 It’s official, Jonathan Bailey is the Sexiest Man Alive in 2025, and we agree!

🎬 ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ sets up a Hollywood food-drive as SNAP benefits hang in the balance.

👨‍⚖️ Judge grants Sean “Diddy” Combs expedited appeal schedule, which could speed release.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Parenting toddlers isn’t for the faint-hearted and one dad’s viral post about “toddler burnout” has struck a chord with exhausted parents everywhere. Psychologists say it’s real: the emotional strain of caring for little humans with big feelings and tiny coping skills. From sleepless nights to snack meltdowns, the constant emotional labor can leave parents feeling drained, distant, and guilty for not enjoying every moment. So how can parents manage the burnout without feeling like failures?

“A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until she’s in hot water.” 

— Eleanor Roosevelt