Good Morning!

It's Monday, February 02, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• DOJ releases 3 million pages of Epstein files. 

• Heinz is selling KegChup.

• How to get “unstuck” from procrastinating.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

In More Epstein Files, More Powerful Men Turn Up

The Justice Department released three million pages of Jeffrey Epstein–related materials on Friday, along with 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, as required by a law Congress passed in November and signed by President Trump. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the White House “had nothing to do” with vetting the files. The powerful men that turn up in the files.

The documents include unverified public tips involving Trump, extensive emails referencing Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and thousands of messages between Epstein and Steve Bannon. How President Trump appears in the files. Some Democratic lawmakers said the department violated the law by releasing only half of the six million pages initially identified.

Related Read: Damning evidence against Andrew Mountbatten emerges.

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US News

Another Government Shutdown Brews

A partial US government shutdown began on Saturday after Democratic senators refused to support a Department of Homeland Security funding bill without new restrictions on federal immigration agents involved in the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Here’s everything you need to know.

The blockade halted a broader Republican funding package. The Senate passed five departmental funding bills and a two-week DHS extension, requiring House approval when it reconvenes Monday. Chuck Schumer outlined demands including bans on masks, mandatory body cameras, independent investigations, and limits on roving patrols. Speaker Mike Johnson said the House “may inevitably be in a short shutdown situation,” while Hakeem Jeffries sought “dramatic change” at DHS. Will the shutdown continue till Tuesday?

Relationships

To Have And Too Old?

Age-gap relationships reveal more about culture than romance. Most people worldwide still choose partners close to their own age, yet the older-man, younger-woman pairing remains the dominant norm, shaped by long-standing social expectations. 

While critics often assume these relationships signal power imbalances or questionable motives, research shows they’re generally as stable and satisfying as same-age unions. Pew data puts the worldwide average age gap at 4.2 years, ranging from 2.2 in North America to 8.6 in sub-Saharan Africa. Evolutionary theories and social norms both play roles, with stigma still highest for gaps over ten years. Yet research consistently shows these relationships are just as stable and satisfying as same-age unions.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🍅 Heinz just released KegChup. It’s for the Super Bowl season!

💼 Trump has nominated the Federal Reserve Chair. 

⏳ Do you procrastinate a lot? Well, here’s how to get “unstuck”.

🌪️ “Bomb cyclone” blasts Carolinas, as Southern states battle lingering power outages.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 You might have your parents to thank, after all, for all those friendships. 

🕊️ As Israeli airstrikes kill over 30 Palestinians in Gaza, Rafah border opens.

🛍️ Just in time for Spring, Trader Joe’s might be releasing a micro tote!

⚖️ Trump is shutting the Kennedy Center for two years for a reconstruction project.

👦 Remember the five-year-old boy that was detained by ICE? Judge just ordered his release.

🦠 South Carolina’s measles outbreak becomes nation’s largest in decades.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🧠 Ever wonder why you zone out after skimping on sleep? A new study shows your brain might actually be trying to clean itself while you’re awake — so, that’s a midday “wash” ruining your focus. 

🚶‍♂️ The hour-long gym routine is not for everyone. If you’re short on time, exercise snaking is a hack that can fit into your commute, your mundane chores, and even the ritualistic morning coffee run. 

🍫 Protein bars are convenient, easy to grab on the go, and a total lifesaver when you’re traveling — but should they replace your kitchen staples? 

🎯 If your new year resolutions are gathering dust, you’re in good company — over 40% of people drop theirs by mid to late-January. However, there’s still some hope.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

🧶 Fashion people have picked their favorite — this bold sweater shade is selling out in minutes, and it’s definitely not a neutral! 

🧘‍♀️ What’s wellness looking like in 2026? Well, everybody’s moving past the influencer hype for one, and it’s all about body literacy now. Consider rigid routines done and dusted. 

👟 We’re seeing wedge sneakers crawl out of the 2012 archives. Whether you loved them or hated them the first time around, Gen Z makes this relic of the past look surprisingly fresh. 

🧴 There’s no need to just save retinol only for your face — you’ll thank yourself later for finally smoothing out those arms and legs. Also, don’t forget to layer on the SPF.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🏆 Here’s everybody who won at the 2026 Grammy Awards — Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny ate it up. Several winners called for “ICE out”. 

👠 The first Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer is here — gird your loins, as they say! 

📺 Catherine O’Hara, best known for ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Home Alone’, passed away at 71.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

President Donald Trump said the federal government will not intervene in protests in Democratic-led cities unless local leaders explicitly request help, telling them they must “ask” and even say “please”. He said DHS, ICE, and Border Patrol will strongly guard federal buildings but only as backup, following clashes that erupted nationwide after two fatal Minnesota shootings tied to the administration’s immigration crackdown. A federal judge rejected Minnesota’s effort to block incoming federal agents, drawing praise from Attorney General Pam Bondi and criticism from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who called the operation an “invasion”.

“You are the answer to every moment you thought you wouldn’t survive.”

 — Brianna Wiest