Good Morning!

It's Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Nicotine is having a wellness rebrand and influencers are chipping in.

• How did we miss these Girl Scout cookies and wine pairings?

• ‘Bedtime stacking’ is a sleep therapists’ worst nightmare.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Tariff Refund Portal Off To A Bumpy Start

The US government’s new tariff refund portal, CAPE, was launched on Monday but experienced access issues as businesses attempted to file claims. Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, reported receiving a high-volume error message, while Beth Benike of Busy Baby faced account-related errors and long wait times with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CAPE requires importers to register through the Automated Commercial Environment system. CBP said it is investigating reported problems. 

The government owes up to $175 billion in refunds for tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, following a Supreme Court ruling in February. As of April 9, more than 56,000 importers had registered, with refunds expected within 60 to 90 days of approved claims.

Lifestyle

Nicotine’s Having a Wellness Rebrand

A growing wave of wellness influencers is reframing nicotine as a cognitive enhancer and longevity aid. Many influencer figures are now promoting patches, gums, and pouches for focus, Alzheimer’s prevention, and productivity, with some linking it to broader “natural health” narratives. US sales of nicotine pouches nearly tripled between 2023 and 2024. 

However, doctors say these claims overstate limited research. While nicotine may temporarily improve focus, experts warn it carries addiction risks, can harm developing brains, and may increase heart disease risk. Researchers emphasize that evidence for preventing conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s remains preliminary and inconclusive, and nicotine is not recommended as a health treatment.

Science

US Science Hit Hardest For Women Since Trump

Federal research support has slowed sharply under Donald Trump’s administration, with National Institutes of Health grants down by more than half through March compared to last year. Overall, 2,700 fewer projects were funded in 2025, including a 31 percent drop in women’s health research. 

Universities report hiring freezes, fewer PhD admissions and labs shrinking as positions go unfilled. Early-stage grant success rates have also fallen. While officials say funding will catch up, scientists report delays, uncertainty and stalled projects, making it harder to plan research and sustain teams.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🐟 Salmon on drugs? Cocaine traces in rivers build up in salmon brains, altering behavior.

🍪 Girl Scout cookies with wine? If cookies had a grown-up era, this would be it. This pairing guide might ruin milk for you forever.

⚖️ FBI Director Kash Patel is suing this magazine for defamation for a “malicious” piece. The publication called the claims “meritless”.

🧠 Largest US study links teen cannabis use to slower memory, focus, and cognitive development during key brain years.

🏛️ Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns; Deputy Keith Sonderling steps in as acting chief.

🍎 After 15 years in the role, Tim Cook resigns as Apple CEO. This is who’s taking over and the resume is quite impressive.

⚠️ Keir Starmer admits wrong judgment appointing Epstein-linked Peter Mandelson, as pressure mounts for resignation.

🌍 As new peace talks with Iran begin, the stakes are higher than we thought.

⛪ An Israeli soldier was photographed striking a Jesus statue in Lebanon. He now faces a military investigation.

🍲 Stop before you pressure cook. These foods should never go anywhere near that sealed lid.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🛌 TikTok wants you to bring your entire life to bed — laptop, snacks, skincare, a gratitude journal, and the TV remote. Productive? Cosy? Well, a sleep therapist’s worst nightmare. 

🧠 Are you burnt out or just tired? Here’s how to separate a bad week from chronic exhaustion that doesn't improve with rest — and what counteracts it. 

🧬 A new procedure that filters and replaces the plasma in your blood could lower your biological age by 2.5 years. Sounds wild? Because it kind of is.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👙 From retro polka dots to Y2K surfer vibes, this summer’s swimsuits are flirty, fun, and flying off shelves.

✨ This “no-makeup” makeup? It’s glow, skin prep, and just enough effort to look effortlessly perfect.

🧴 Your 10-step skincare routine has competition, K-beauty scalp tonics are the next-level step for stronger roots and seriously good hair days.

👖 This “hard-to-style” trend just got very easy. The latest trendy jeans color is officially your next outfit shortcut.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🏠 Dylan Sprouse finally breaks silence on tackling an intruder at home with Barbara Palvin. 

🎤 Zayn Malik skips ‘The Tonight Show’ to work through health issues.

👗 Lily Collins just walked the red carpet in the most controversial color of the season. It’s definitely not butter yellow.

🎬 Anne Hathaway just bought rights to a tradwife movie.

Weigh In

Supplement Stacking’s Now A Lifestyle Flex

Supplement stacks have gone from gym bro territory to full-blown lifestyle flex. TikTok is packed with routines targeting everything from gut health to glowing skin, with some users spending over $1,000 a month. Celebrity brands are pouring fuel on the trend, while demand for “beauty from within” keeps climbing. But as stacks get more complex, questions around effectiveness, cost, and actual need are getting louder. Is this smart self-optimization or just expensive overkill dressed up as wellness?

“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”

— Tim Ferriss