Good Morning!

It's Friday, March 13, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Pentagon reported spending millions on lobsters, steak.

• Yes, eat your breakfast like a queen!

• The Californian city that’s happiest in America.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

World

The Oil In Strait

Tensions from the escalating Iran–Israel–US conflict continued to ripple across global politics and energy markets. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should remain a pressure tactic and warned US bases in the Middle East could be targeted. The shipping disruption has already pushed oil prices higher. Why is Iran blocking it?

Meanwhile, four US service members died when a US Air Force refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq during operations linked to the conflict. As energy prices surge, the Trump administration temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil shipments, a move aimed at stabilizing global supply. Donald Trump also criticized Khamenei’s appointment, saying he doubts Iran’s new leader will “live in peace.”

US News

Pentagon Spent Millions On Steak, Lobsters

A new report from watchdog group Open the Books found the US Department of Defense spent a record $93.4 billion on grants and contracts in September 2025, including millions on luxury food and electronics. 

The analysis says the Pentagon purchased $15.1 million in rib-eye steaks, $6.9 million in lobster tails and $2 million in Alaskan king crab, along with $5.3 million in Apple devices. It also highlighted nearly $100,000 spent on a Steinway & Sons grand piano for the home of the Air Force chief of staff. The group said much of the spending occurred in the final days of the fiscal year, blaming the government’s “use-it-or-lose-it” budget rules for encouraging agencies to spend remaining funds quickly.

Culture

Gen Z Women Aren’t Thinking Marriage

A global survey by King’s College London and Ipsos of more than 23,000 people in 29 countries found Generation Z men hold more traditional views on gender roles than older generations. The study found 31% of Gen Z men believe a wife should always obey her husband and 33% say husbands should have the final say in major decisions, compared with 13% and 17% of Baby Boomers men. 

Twenty-four percent of Gen Z men also said women should not appear too independent. Separate analysis by Tufts University Tisch College’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found 63% of white men aged 18–29 supported Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. election.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🚗 Driver dies after crashing vehicle into Michigan synagogue; FBI probes targeted violence against Jewish community.

🔫 Suspected terrorist with ISIS ties opened fire at Old Dominion University, killing one and injuring two.

😊 This Californian city is the happiest in America. Can you take a guess?

🛒 A consumer sues Costco over tariff refunds, but will they get it?  

🥤 This might be the new “it” straw … and we thought paper straws were bad news.

💉 US FDA warns Novo Nordisk over unreported side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy.

🗺️ Google Maps gets a makeover with more AI features. Um, where does Dora want to go?

✈️ TSA workers set to miss first paycheck of the shutdown as Senate stalls on DHS funding.

⏳ These are four signsthat you’re getting older. Those grays don’t seem to bad now, do they?

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

 😴 Rest easy, side sleepers! Dermatologists say sleeping on your side is unlikely to be the cause of all your skin woes. 

👑 Want to make breakfast the healthiest meal of your day? There’s an old saying that goes “eat your breakfast like a king ….” and science confirms it!

💊 Beta-blockers are blowing up on social media as a hack for a big job interview or a wedding speech — and have experts worried about this off-prescription trend. 

🪑 Here’s how to stop being glued to a chair all day long. Respectfully, from the people who used to spend all day at a desk.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👟 From delicate satin sneakerinas to retro runners, spring’s coolest shoes prove comfort and fashion can absolutely share the spotlight.

👀 Tired eyes? Undereye masks deliver quick hydration, de-puffing, and glow — think skincare’s fastest shortcut to looking well-rested.

👗 Forget prairie and babydoll. These four spring styles are the cooler, fresher alternatives fashion girls want.

🧴 Not quite serums, not quite boosters — Korean ampoules are concentrated treatments promising bigger skincare results in smaller doses.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🏡 Inside Nicole Kidman’s life following split from Keith Urban.

📸 Katy Perry offers rare peek at relationship with Justin Trudeau in candid photos.

🏆 Winners, record breakers and more — here are the fun facts about this year’s Oscars.

📺 Netflix confirms ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ sequel.

🍿 ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ has us eyeing this popcorn purse so bad!

Interactive

WEIGH IN

The first jury trial over social media’s impact on young people has wrapped, with jurors now deciding whether platforms like Meta and YouTube are responsible for harm caused by addictive design. The case centers on a young woman who says she developed depression and self-harm behaviors after years of heavy use starting in childhood. Her lawyers argue features like endless scroll, autoplay, and “likes” are engineered to keep kids hooked. The companies deny wrongdoing, saying their platforms are safe for most users and pointing to other factors in her life.

“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.”

— Frida Kahlo