Good Morning!

It's Tuesday, July 1, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• More women in their 20s and 30s are working than ever.

• What ‘it’ factors make someone cool?

• Do Americans not like being American?

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Deadly Heat Wave Grips Europe

A brutal heat wave is gripping southern Europe, with temperatures soaring past 104°F (40°C) across Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and France, prompting health alerts, work bans, wildfires, and even deaths. In Portugal, two-thirds of the country was placed on high alert Sunday, with Lisbon expected to hit 107°F (42°C). Parts of Spain and Portugal recorded their highest-ever June temperatures, with El Granado reaching 46°C, just a day after Mora broke previous records. In Barcelona, June was the hottest month in over a century, with an average temperature of 26°C, breaking a 2003 record. What to know.

Italy placed 21 of 27 cities on red alert, including Rome, Milan, and Naples. Some regions, like Lazio and Tuscany, planned to ban outdoor work during peak heat. Two deaths have been reported: a 47-year-old man at a construction site in Bologna and a 70-year-old during flash flooding west of Turin. In France, the prime minister canceled a trip due to the heat, and a nuclear reactor in the south was shut down to protect river wildlife. The Eiffel Tower's top was also closed. Meanwhile, tens of thousands were evacuated in western Turkey due to wildfires.

Tourists across the region sought relief in ancient monuments, misting fans, and shaded fountains. Watch. Yet, with limited access to air conditioning — often seen as unhealthy or environmentally harmful — many locals struggled. Municipal workers checked on the elderly, and unions in Italy pushed for nationwide protections for outdoor workers. Experts blame climate change for the frequency and severity of such heat waves, warning that extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common.

More Women Are Working Than Ever While Men Stay Home

A record number of women in their 20s and 30s are in the workforce, while more young men are stepping into caregiving roles, according to new Brookings research. 78% of women born in the 1990s are working, compared to 75% of their mothers’ generation. Meanwhile, men’s workforce participation has dropped from 92% in the 1960s to 88% today.

Remote work is a big driver. A third of mothers with kids under five now work from home — the highest among all demographics. Fathers of young kids are also leading remote work rates among men. Financial pressure matters too. Rising costs of childcare, housing, and debt are pushing women to delay childbirth and prioritize income. “It’s impossible to think that need is not a dominant force here,” Bauer said.

Yet, the “motherhood penalty” remains. Pay gaps widen after childbirth due to employer bias and resume gaps. And with no guaranteed paid parental leave in the U.S., many women are pushed out of work altogether. Still, women have powered the post-pandemic recovery. In September 2023, labor force participation among moms of kids under five hit a record high.

Americans Not Proud Of Being American: Poll

Just 58% of U.S. adults say they are “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, a record low in Gallup’s tracking since 2001. The drop is mainly due to a decline in those “very proud,” falling five points below the previous 2020 low. Democrats drove this year’s plunge, with only 36% expressing high pride — down from 62% last year. “This is only the second time Democrats’ pride has fallen below the majority level,” Gallup notes, with the other being in 2020, amid COVID-19 and the George Floyd protests. 

Independents also hit a record low (53%), while Republicans remain consistently high at 92%. Pride divides generations, too. From 2021–2025, just 41% of Gen Z reported high pride, compared to 58% of millennials, 71% of Gen X, and 83% of the Silent Generation. Gen Z Democrats, in particular, are starkly disengaged: only 24% are proud to be American, while 32% say they have little or no pride.

Once near-universal — 90% in 2002 — American pride has sharply eroded over the past 25 years. The steepest declines have occurred since 2016, amid deepening partisan divides, economic uncertainty, and dissatisfaction with both political parties.

Click-Worthy

🌍 Trump’s global aid cuts could cause 14 million deaths by 2030.

🧠 Struggling to solve a problem? A deep power nap could help. For real!

🎵 Do we have a new TikTok buyer? Trump says so.

🧬 Turns out, a common assumption about biological aging might be wrong.

💰 Richest 20% win with Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’; Elon Musk threatens with a new political party.

💵 Dollar sees its worst year, first time since 1973.

📞 Thai PM suspended over leaked phone call that sparked nationwide unrest.

😎 What makes someone cool — determining the ‘it’ factors.

🧃 What does the drink less, content obsessed Gen Z want from alcohol brands?

📜 Trump administration looks to revoke citizenship of naturalized Americans.

Her Hustle

☀️ Summer jobs might be a thing of the past as fewer businesses are hiring teens this summer amid economic uncertainty, rising unemployment, and adult competition  leaving many young jobseekers frustrated.

🧑‍💻 How a millennial secretly worked three remote tech jobs and made $500K a year — juggling roles, time zones, and expectations.

The Style Edit

👡 Prada acknowledges Indian roots of new footwear line after facing backlash over missing credit as sandal designs resemble India’s famous Kolhapuris.

👗 Summer’s unofficial dress code? Head-to-toe white. From brunch to beach to rooftop nights — all-white outfits scream quiet luxury, cool confidence, and clean-girl summer.

The Fame Frame

⚖️ Diddy Trial: Jury ‘concerned’ that one of them can’t follow instructions.

😘 Harry Styles spotted kissing a woman no one could figure out!

💉 After Kylie, Khloe Kardashian breaks down “all” her cosmetic work done.

🤳 Drake roasted online for “fake” six-pack abs selfie.

🕯️ A rare glimpse into Jennifer Aniston’s private life — it has Courtney Cox. 

Weigh In

“Hope is rebellious when despair is expected.”

— Ai-jen Poo