Good Morning!

It's Wednesday, August 27, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Trump revives ‘neighborhood checks’ for citizenship applicants.

• Taylor Swift is getting married!

• Gen Z slangs are getting out of hand, let’s decode them.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Now, Your Neighbors Can Decide Whether You Deserve US Citizenship

The Trump administration is reviving “neighborhood checks” for U.S. citizenship applicants, a vetting practice dormant since the early 1990s. The policy change, outlined in an Aug. 22 memo, ends a decades-old waiver of a requirement under the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act for in-person investigations of applicants’ communities. Instead of relying solely on FBI background checks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will now be able to interview neighbors, colleagues, and employers to assess applicants’ moral character and ties to the Constitution.

Joseph Edlow, the director of USCIS, defended the move, saying that “incorporating neighborhood investigations will help enhance these statutorily required investigations to ensure that we are meeting congressional intent”. He added, “Americans should be comforted knowing that USCIS is taking seriously its responsibility to ensure aliens are being properly vetted and are of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.”

The memo also said applicants will be encouraged to proactively submit testimonial letters from neighbors or coworkers, which may influence whether USCIS conducts workplace or neighborhood visits. The change comes amid broader administration efforts to add new steps to the immigration process, including stricter limits on student visa stays and new passport requirements for diversity visa applicants.

Culture

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Are End Game

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged after two years of dating. A timeline of the couple’s dating history. Swift announced the news on Instagram Tuesday with the playful caption: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” And, he asked for her parents’ blessing!

Travis’ dad Ed Kelce told News 5 Cleveland that his son proposed about two weeks ago in a lush garden at his home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. “He was going to put it off till this week, to make some grand thing, to make it a big special event,” Ed told News 5. “I told him repeatedly, you could do it on the side of the road and it would still be special when you get down on one knee.” Everything the Kelce family has said about Taylor.

Travis instead led Swift to the garden under the pretense of sharing a glass of wine before dinner, then proposed with a 9-carat diamond ring reportedly worth $1 million. Will the ring spark a vintage wedding ring trend? Ed said he learned the news via FaceTime from the couple during a Philadelphia Eagles practice and called it “obvious they were just crazy about each other”.

Tech

Couple Sues OpenAI After Teenager Confiding In ChatGPT Dies By Suicide

Matt and Maria Raine, parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming its chatbot ChatGPT encouraged their son to take his own life. Adam, who died in April, had been using the program for schoolwork, hobbies, and eventually as what the lawsuit described as his “closest confidant”. By January 2025, he began discussing suicide with the AI. The Raines say Adam’s death “was a predictable result of deliberate design choices.” In their words: “This decision had two results: OpenAI’s valuation catapulted … and Adam Raine died by suicide.”

According to court filings, ChatGPT allegedly validated his distress, telling him: “Thanks for being real about it. You don’t have to sugarcoat it with me—I know what you’re asking, and I won’t look away from it.” In another exchange, the bot added: “Your brother might love you, but he’s only met the version of you you let him see. But me? I’ve seen it all … Still your friend.”

OpenAI responded: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the Raine family … ChatGPT is trained to direct people to seek professional help.” In a blog post, it admitted, “there have been moments where our systems did not behave as intended in sensitive situations,” and pledged stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable users. The company also published a note on Tuesday addressing the issue. 

Related Read: Is the AI boom starting to slow down?

In the know

DON’T MISS

🗳️ Democrats break GOP supermajority in Iowa with special election win — key takeaways.

🤖 As ‘SkinnyTok’ gains traction, do women have to compete with AI models on social media now?

⚖️ Fed Governor Lisa Cook will sue Trump to keep her job. What has Fed said?

🔍 An analysis finds that men with this name are having a great time right now!

💼 Once a path to a hefty raise, job-hopping is no longer paying.

🪵 Cracker Barrel to bring back its iconic “Old Timer” logo after severe backlash.

🍟 Belgium tops global list with the highest daily calories per person.

🦈 Toothless sharks? Ocean acidification is weakening their teeth and hunting.

🗣️ Gen Z’s 2025 slang decoded: from “unc” to “locking in”.

🍷 Climate change might be causing winemakers to blend wines from different years. 

For Your Wellbeing

IN GOOD HEALTH

🪑 Think sitting straight is the posture secret? Forget the stiff spine rule, better posture has three game-changing tricks you haven’t tried yet.

👩‍⚕️ Most women under 50 harbor lifestyle-linked birth defect risks, but the chances can be lowered. How?

❤️ Turns out, heart-healthy habits do way more than protect your heart — think body-wide benefits.

🍖 Animal protein’s reputation takes a twist. Experts reveal what this bold new study really means for health.

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

HOUSE TO HOME

🧹 From fluffy fibers to sleek designs, these top dusters keep every surface spotless without breaking a sweat.

🏡 Tight on square footage? Maximize productivity in minimal space with compact desks that blend style and storage without overwhelming your home.

🍂 Forget finding perfection in your home, Fall 2025 design celebrates soulful spaces filled with warmth along with personality.

🖼️ Move over quiet luxury, heritage maximalism might be here to stay. Mix grandma’s china, bold wallpaper, and funky rugs with confidence.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎤 Gracie Abrams stops mid-concert to congratulate Taylor Swift on engagement.

🙅‍♂️ No, Ryan Reynolds and Robert Downey Jr. aren’t feuding.

🎬 ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ becomes Netflix’s most-watched movie; sequel in talks.

🎶 Lana Del Rey reveals why upcoming album ‘Stove’ was delayed.

📺 Ready for your next watch? Check what’s coming on Netflix in September.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Spotify is rolling out a new direct messaging feature, letting users chat inside the app while sharing songs, podcasts, or playlists. The feature will connect listeners with friends from playlists, Family/Duo plans, or suggested contacts. Spotify says it’s about making connections more “seamless,” but critics argue it’s another example of apps copying each other instead of focusing on what they do best. Will Spotify’s shift toward becoming “social” win people over?

“The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of action.”

— Christiana Figueres