Good Morning!

It's Wednesday, July 9, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Eating disorders are not just young women’s issue anymore.

• Americans are feeling worse for their jobs than the pandemic.

• First-ever malaria treatment for newborns approved!

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SPILL THE NEWS

You Don’t Have To Open Shoes At Airport Security Anymore

Travelers in the U.S. will no longer be required to remove their shoes at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday. Citing advancements in “layered” screening technology, including biometric systems and improved scanners, Noem said the change is effective immediately nationwide. 

Noem emphasized that while passengers can now keep their shoes on, other protocols like removing laptops and liquids remain — though they’re under review. “Every rule is being evaluated,” Noem said. “It’s important we keep people safe, but also make the process more enjoyable,” she added.

The rule, in place since 2006 after the attempted “shoe bombing” on a 2001 flight, had long been unpopular with fliers. Airports like LaGuardia and Atlanta had already begun easing the rule before the formal announcement. TSA PreCheck benefits, including skipping belt and jacket removal, still apply. The agency is also piloting automated security lanes at select airports to streamline screening further.

AI Impersonation Hits Trump Administration

The U.S. State Department is investigating a case where an unknown individual used artificial intelligence to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress via the encrypted app Signal. A July 3 cable sent to all diplomatic posts revealed the impersonator used a fake Signal account with the display name “[email protected]” and left AI-generated voicemails. While the hoax was reportedly unsophisticated and unsuccessful, the State Department warned that any information shared with the impersonator could have been compromised.

“We are aware of this incident and are currently investigating,” the department said, adding that it continues to improve its cybersecurity posture. Rubio, who has not commented, is known to use Signal which has sparked past scrutiny over potential record-retention and security vulnerabilities. The incident follows earlier AI-driven impersonations, including a fake Biden robocall during the 2024 primaries and a deepfake video of a former State Department spokesman in 2024 aimed at sowing disinformation over U.S. foreign policy.

In related news, a special team under Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard is seeking access to U.S. spy agency emails and chat logs to enforce Trump’s anti-“weaponization” agenda. The group, known as the Director’s Initiative Group (DIG), plans to use AI tools to sift through data and declassify documents. They've begun testing on unclassified archives and are set to deploy AI, raising concerns over data privacy and intelligence compartmentalization.

Eating Disorders Aren’t Just A Young People Problem

Eating disorders are rising among women over 40, with menopause playing a key role. Experts say hormonal shifts, body changes, and life stressors are triggering a surge in midlife disordered eating — often undiagnosed due to age stereotypes. “Nothing is more invalidating than being told by your doctor that you’re too old for an eating disorder,” says Cynthia Bulik of UNC’s Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.

While binge eating is most common, specialists also report spikes in bulimia, anorexia, and orthorexia. “We’ve definitely seen an increase,” says Elizabeth Wassenaar of the Eating Recovery Center. Hormonal changes during menopause impact mood, metabolism, and body composition—leading to fat gain, lower energy, and dissatisfaction. “Puberty and menopause are the reproductive and metabolic bookends of life,” Bulik notes.

Disordered eating can also stem from a need to regain control amid midlife transitions. “It is never too late to seek treatment for disordered eating and to have a peaceful relationship with your body,” says Wassenaar. Social pressures — from weight-loss drugs to #SkinnyTok — further intensify struggles. While midlife relapse is common in those with past eating disorders, effective treatment is possible. “Eating disorders are serious illnesses that require attention,” Bulik adds. 

Related Read: Anorexia in middle aged women and beyond.

CLICK-WORTHY

🏛️ Trump administration says churches can endorse political candidates without losing tax exemptions.

😞 Americans feeling worse about their jobs now than during the pandemic.

🗽 Trump suggests federal takeover of New York City and Washington.

🤖 Middle managers are fading as AI takes over roles.

📦 Trump says August 1 tariff deadline final, hours after saying it wasn’t!

📶 Could Trump’s new law be a threat to your wifi-speed?

⚖️ Supreme Court allows Trump administration to proceed with federal layoffs.

🌊 Texas floods: Republican senator vacationing in Greece; officials face scrutiny over response.

👩‍⚖️ Taliban leaders face ICC warrants for persecuting women, girls.

🗑️ Trash overflows in Philadelphia as workers’ strike hits second week.

IN GOOD HEALTH

☀️ What are sunlight’s benefits to your health?

😮‍💨 Bloating be gone! This fruit’s basically nature’s belly reset.

🧠 What is “dopamine deficit” and can you fix it?

👶 First-ever malaria treatment for newborns approved for global use.

🌡️ Extreme heatwaves are silent killers and they’re becoming much more deadly.

IN STYLE, IN BEAUTY

💉 What are skin boosters? Injectable moisturizers are THE glowing skin solution.

👠 French girls swear by these classic black heels.

💁‍♀️ Easy breezy hairstyles for next time you want to feel like you’re at the beach!

💅 Dua Lipa’s chic polka-dot French manicure is playful, iconic nail fashion.

THE FAME FRAME

📵 Sarah Jessica Parker defends not posting political opinions online.

📺 Sophie Turner says she got “more than enough” sex ed while filming GOT.

😈 Which actors have joined the ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ cast?

💌 Jennifer Aniston’s pre-vacation move fuels rumors about Jim Curtis romance.

🔒 Canceling streaming subscriptions could get harder after new court ruling.

WEIGH IN

“The real test is not whether you avoid failure, but whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction.”

— Barack Obama