Good Morning!

It's Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• “Midcareer stall” is as real as it gets.

• Is that the world’s most abundant protein?

• This divisive 90s microtrend is coming for your summer outfits.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

A Midterm Battleground

Tuesday’s primary elections across California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota serve as a high-stakes referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term. With public opinion hardening amid a costly war with Iran and soaring $4.34-a-gallon gas prices, Trump is pushing loyalist candidates to secure his agenda. Conversely, Democrats are fighting to capitalize on voter frustration to flip key seats. Key races include:

California: Silicon Valley tech billionaires are spending historic millions to influence a chaotic, 61-candidate gubernatorial "jungle primary" to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. Progressive populist Tom Steyer and former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra lead the Democratic field, while Trump-backed Steve Hilton tops the GOP ticket. Meanwhile, AI deepfakes and paid social media influencers are completely overtaking the hyper-competitive Los Angeles mayoral race. What to expect.

Iowa: In a solid-red state crushed by Trump's agricultural tariffs, Democrats are testing whether a moderate or anti-establishment message can flip retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat. Chuck Schumer-backed paralympian Josh Turek faces progressive Zach Wahls, who openly slams party leadership. The open governor's race is an equally chaotic toss-up after Trump’s last-minute endorsement of Rep. Randy Feenstra. Who’s the Democrat making Republicans feel uncomfortable?

World

Trump Insists Iran Talks on After Tehran Dismisses All Negotiations

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that talks with Iran ​were ongoing, despite a report that Tehran had ‌suspended indirect negotiations with the United States to end hostilities. "Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump ​said in a Truth Social post. Earlier in the day, Iran announced suspension of talks to protest Israel’s deepest military offensive into Lebanon in 26 years. Iran threatened severe military retaliation, including choking off the vital Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb waterways, sending global oil prices surging over $6 a barrel.

Behind the scenes, an enraged President Trump reportedly slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a profanity-laced phone call, calling his disproportionate escalation "crazy" and warning it would destroy the broader peace deal, Axios reported. While Trump publicly claimed on Truth Social that he successfully brokered a mutual ceasefire to protect Beirut, Netanyahu quickly countered on social media, insisting the IDF will still strike the Lebanese capital if Hezbollah attacks continue.

Employment

Midcareer Stall is Real

Under 40, no recent promotions, and your paycheck feels frozen in time? Don't panic — you’ve officially hit the "midcareer stall," and you've got plenty of company. A massive new study tracking 1.3 million professionals reveals that a whopping 25% of Americans completely hit a wall right before their peak earning years. Despite high employment, a brutal combo of corporate layoffs and a sluggish hiring market has turned career stagnation into the new normal. Public administration and real estate are the biggest culprits, leaving millions trapped in an invisible rut.

The fix? It's all about the "adjacent pivot". Experts say leveling up with specific certifications, mastering relationship-building, or rebranding your existing skills is the ultimate weapon to bust through the barrier and get your momentum back. How to efficiently break the midcareer slump?

In the know

DON’T MISS

⚓ A diverse group of Navy officers was set for promotion — until Pete Hegseth quietly stepped in. Guess which groups took the biggest hit?

🌳 America’s next major healthcare strategy isn't a new drug — it's just touching some actual grass.

💰 After much contention, the DOJ reluctantly agrees to freeze Trump’s controversial $1.8 billion government payout fund.

🚨 This "Sexual Chocolate" supplement was just recalled for hiding Viagra. Talk about an undisclosed ingredient. 

🤖 Fresh off a historic meeting with Pope Leo, Anthropic surprise-filed for a massive, multi-billion-dollar IPO.

🥦 Forget fancy superfoods, doctors say this humble vegetable is the absolute best for your heart. For that healthier gut, these fiber-rich foods are it.

💸 Planning to hit the World Cup? Between tickets and hotels, this is how much you could be paying.

🔥 Guess who's back? Serena Williams just announced she's ending her retirement for a pro tennis return.

☀️ Clear your freezer! Trader Joe’s just brought back its absolute best summer dessert of all time.

⚖️ OpenAI's legal drama just moved south. Sam Altman gets slapped with a fresh Florida lawsuit.

🏛️ The Pentagon just classified its press office, completely blocking journalists from entering without escorts.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🦷 Research suggests one of the best ways to protect your heart and brain is hiding inside your mouth. Your dentist is going to love this! 

🏋️‍♀️ Should you sync your workout routine to your cycle to build muscles effectively? Scientists want you to hold off for a bit before you commit to a strict calendar — it could be mostly useless. 

🍽️ Food tech companies are trying to put the world's most abundant protein on your plate. Currently, that looks like dealing with a giant sticky mess.

🍹 Nothing like the happy hour that leaves a $50 dent in your pocket and a big headache the next morning — wait, there’s something better (and healthier) to do.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

🌀 This 90s-inspired spiral trend is swirling into summer fashion, leaving everyone either completely obsessed or totally divided. Dizzy yet? 

🧴 Sweating through your shirt already? Dermatologists officially swear by minimal, fragrance-free formulas to save your sensitive underarms this summer.

🤍 Bella Hadid might’ve just made "granny pants" cool. She is romanticizing the ultimate underwear-as-pants look with lace bloomers.

🌸 Summer lips are ditching sharp edges for a romantic, freshly-kissed blurred effect and wearable mattes. Pucker up for a plot twist.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎶 Taylor Swift just dropped a massive ‘Toy Story’ Easter egg — a new song — and fans are spiraling.

🏠 Sabrina Carpenter just secured a restraining order against a stalker who targeted her home.

❤️ Shaun White was just spotted out with a mystery date months after his Nina Dobrev breakup.

🤔 Britney Spears broke her silence with a cryptic "Mean Girls" post following her rehab stint.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Nearly 1 in 5 teens and young adults now turn to AI chatbots for help when they're stressed, anxious, sad, or overwhelmed. Many say the advice feels helpful and easier to access than traditional therapy. But experts worry that AI can reinforce unhealthy thinking, blur emotional boundaries, and become a substitute for real human connection. As mental health support remains difficult to access for many young people, the rise of AI therapy is raising big questions about where comfort, companionship, and care should come from.

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

— Carl Bard