Good Morning!

It's Friday, December 19, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Democrats release more photos from the Epstein Estate.

• Is Chipotle really serving an Ozempic bowl?

• A Labubu movie — who needed that!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Brown University Shooting Suspect Found Dead

The suspect in the Brown University mass shooting that killed two and injured nine was found dead in Salem, New Hampshire on Thursday night. He is also suspected of killing MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, 47, earlier in Brookline, Massachusetts. Authorities identified him as 48-year-old Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown student. 

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Valente acted alone and was found with firearms and evidence linking him to the Providence shooting. Valente entered the US on a student visa in 2000 and became a permanent resident in 2017. Motives remain unclear. What we know so far.

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US News

Democrats Release More Photos From Epstein Estate

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released 70 new photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate on Thursday. The images include heavily redacted passports from women in Eastern Europe, text messages referencing recruiting women for Epstein, and photos of tech figures including Bill Gates and Sergey Brin. 

Some photos show phrases from Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita handwritten on a woman’s body. The release comes ahead of the Justice Department’s December 19 deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia said the photos raise questions about what the DOJ possesses. None of the images indicate criminal activity.

Work

Trump Signs Order To Ease Marijuana Restrictions

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, easing federal restrictions and allowing expanded research. Why it matters. The order does not legalize marijuana or affect recreational use, senior administration officials said. It also authorizes a pilot Medicare program to cover cannabidiol (CBD) treatments. What to know.

Trump said the move responds to patients in pain and could improve medical research. Health experts, including Ilana Braun and Nora Volkow, supported the order for research purposes. How the industry leveraged a big win. Rescheduling also allows cannabis businesses to claim federal tax deductions previously barred under Schedule I.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🤔 Did Chipotle just launch an Ozempic bowl?

📸 The Vanity Fair photographer is defending those close-up shots of White House officials.

🏥 HHS cuts millions in pediatric grants targeting infant deaths, autism

🪧 White House installs mocking plaques aimed at Obama and Joe Biden.

🎶 The woman involved in Coldplay “Kiss Cam” scandal just broke her silence.

🍗 Tired, cranky, snacky? Here are signs you might not be eating enough protein.

🎭 Kennedy Center is set to be renamed as the Trump-Kennedy Center.

📅 Trump adds Christmas Eve and day after Christmas as federal holidays.

📱 TikTok strikes US investor deal, ending long-running Washington security standoff.

⚖️ Trump targets gender-related medical care for minors with threats.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

⚠️ The FDA just added an additional warning to this birth control option after a massive class-action lawsuit. How high is the risk for long-term users?

🥤 Protein this, protein that! If protein creeping into literally every aisle of the grocery store wasn’t enough, check that clear, transparent bottle in your hand!

🤔 Better digestion, cramp relief, and even bloating — TikTok is convinced that rubbing this on on your … belly button is a miraculous fix. But everybody’s asking the same question: is it even possible? 

🚫 Gearing up for a dry January? Believe it or not, saying no to alcohol doesn’t have to overhaul your social life.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

🧦 Socks and heels sound (and honestly, look) like a cardinal fashion sin most of the time. But who knew you could actually turn this into a style that’s as cute as it is cozy? 

🍯 It’s beginning to look a lot like brown hues are taking over our winter moodboard — especially in the form of "toffee makeup." The sweet, caramelized aesthetic is over our feeds for all the good reasons. 

👞 They don’t know you’re wearing Margiela, but they will definitely have questions about your “horse hooves” (Tabi, anyone?). If you’re heading home these holidays, it’s time to master the art of fashion code-switching. 

👜 Gen-Z is obsessed with shoulder bags — they might not fit your actual baggage, but these do make for the coolest fashion accessory.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🧸 A Labubu movie is officially in the works. Who’s surprised? 

💖 Pete Davidson is now a girl dad! These adorable photos have fans awestruck. 

🌶️ This is Justin Bieber’s idea of a fun date night. The dress code is spicy too.

🪶 Kylie Jenner leans full showgirl in pink feathers at holiday party.

🌿 Romania sentences Wiz Khalifa to nine months for smoking cannabis onstage.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are helping people lose weight, but some users, say they feel dependent on them. Experts explain there’s no physical addiction, but the fear of regaining weight or underlying eating habits can make stopping tricky. Doctors suggest tapering doses, focusing on diet and lifestyle, and seeking mental health support. Drug makers stress these medications are for obesity treatment, not cosmetic weight loss.

“Sometimes survival looks like leaving.” 

— Nayyirah Waheed