Good Morning!

It's Friday, October 31, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Prince Andrew stripped of royal titles over Epstein connection.

• Blue light sunscreens save skins from screentime?

• This is the rattiest US city, yikes!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

World

Prince Andrew Stripped Of Royal Title Over Epstein Ties

Prince Andrew has been formally stripped of his royal titles and will be evicted from his Windsor residence, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday, marking an unprecedented fall from grace for King Charles III’s younger brother. What will happen to the titles of his ex-wife and children? In a rare and strongly worded statement, the palace said King Charles had begun “a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” adding that “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.” Read the full statement here. 

The move follows years of scandal surrounding Andrew’s association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and new revelations from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had previously reached a civil settlement with Andrew in 2022. Is this the rock bottom for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor?

Her family released a statement calling the king’s action “a victory,” adding, “Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and countless other survivors.” “This normal girl from a normal family has taken down a prince. We are so proud of her,” Giuffre's brother Sky Roberts told BBC.

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US News

SNAP Benefits Run Out As Shutdown Continues

Nearly 42 million low-income Americans may lose access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on November 1, following the ongoing federal government shutdown and the Trump administration’s refusal to use reserve funds. The program, which provides an average of $187 per person each month, supports roughly one in eight Americans.

At least 25 states and Washington, DC, led by Democratic officials, have sued the administration, seeking a court order compelling the Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to partially pay November benefits. A federal judge in Boston has signaled she may require the USDA to do so, calling for an “equitable way of reducing benefits”.

In the meantime, states are preparing emergency responses. California, Illinois, and Vermont are releasing state funds to support food banks. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency and allocated $106 million to food programs, while Virginia and Louisiana are deploying tens of millions in state and health department funds. National Guard troops and volunteers in states like California and South Carolina have been mobilized to help distribute food as food banks brace for surging demand. 

Related Read: More Americans blame Republicans for shutdown, not Democrats.

Trick or Treat

Have Halloween Decorations Become Too Much?

Halloween decor has gone from spooky fun to full-blown horror. In Brooklyn, one mother told New York Times that her toddler was fascinated yet terrified by a house featuring “dismembered bodies” and “a child’s head”. Across neighborhoods nationwide, residents are debating how far is too far when it comes to gore-filled displays, especially as hyperrealistic props like Home Depot’s viral 12-foot “Skelly” skeleton and bloody animatronics become suburban staples.

Experts say these shock-factor decorations may reflect a cultural obsession with extremity. Psychologist Regina Musicaro argues they highlight “a lack of self-imposed restraint” and desensitization to violence. Yet retailers report record demand, with Americans expected to spend over $4 billion on Halloween décor this year, up from $1.6 billion in 2019. Kristi Noem wants ICE to be in ‘full force’ on Halloween in Chicago.

While some parents now alter walking routes to shield kids from grisly setups, police say such displays generally fall under First Amendment protections unless they’re obscene or violate local ordinances. Still, many argue for “common sense” limits, urging communities to balance free expression with empathy, especially for children and trauma survivors. For some, the question lingers: when did frightful become too real? 

Related Read: Scary yet true workplace stories to read this Halloween!

In the know

DON’T MISS

🤭 Confirmation hearing for Trump’s surgeon general pick was set to take place but she had a really good reason to skip!

🍽️ Should we rinse our dishes before putting them in dishwashers? We finally have an answer.

🛬 Trump just set lowest-ever refugee admission cap to prioritize white South Africans. How did other presidents do?

🐀 Move over Chicago, this is now the rattiest city in the US.

✅ Whether it is safety or caution, passing background checks are becoming the new norm of online dating!

✝️ JD Vance wants his Hindu wife to somehow be moved by Christianity.

📱 Do we really need to save our skin from screentime? Enter blue light sunscreens. 

🕰️ Where do US states stand on making daylight saving time permanent?

⚖️ Is it a plague? Judges are now using AI filed court orders — with fake names and quotes.

🤳 ‘Skinny influencers’ today are selling something crazier than weight loss.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

💉 Fewer Americans are obese, thanks to weight-loss jabs — yet diabetes rates keep breaking records. Progress? Kind of.

😊 Feeling low? Turns out, happiness might just be a few steps, or squats, away. Even a little exercise can take you a long way. Try these!

📱 Depression, meet your digital match. Apparently, text therapy is as effective as video sessions at easing mild to moderate depression. Have you tried yet?

💨 Want to go from gasping to glowing? Trainers share seven easy ways to level up your endurance game.

🥗 Forget just counting calories, count your minerals. Researchers link specific nutrients to mood resilience, proof that food really can change how you feel.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👖 The coolest jeans of winter 2025 prove that denim’s evolution is far from over, and seriously worth watching.

👁️ Black or brown eyeliner? One shade’s bold, the other’s subtle but which one truly makes your eyes pop?

👜 From quiet classics to statement icons, the designer bags everyone’s quietly obsessing over this season and why they’re already selling out fast.

✂️ Thin hair doesn’t have to mean flat. These smart haircuts create volume, shape and confidence without relying on length or layers.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🚀 ‘Go to TikTok’: Kim Kardashian calls Buzz Aldrin's moon landing fake; NASA responds. 

🎤 Billie Eilish urges billionaires to ‘give your money away’ and Mark Zuckerberg was at the event!

👻 ‘The Conjuring’ prequel is coming after Last Rites’ record-breaking run.

⛓️ Diddy reports to New Jersey prison to begin his four-year sentence.

🧘 Selena Gomez says the real glow-up? Logging off for your mind.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Can too much experience hurt in today’s volatile times? The job market’s getting rough for mid-career professionals. Companies are flattening structures, cutting middle management, and avoiding “overqualified” hires who seem too experienced or too expensive. Many veterans now find themselves sidelined for being too good on paper. Some downplay experience to land interviews, while others face veiled age bias. With businesses chasing leaner teams and cheaper talent, experience has become a liability instead of an asset.

“Out of difficulties grow miracles.” 

— Jean de La Bruyère