Good Morning!

It's Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Social media apps go on trial in LA.

• Sitting at work might be a-ok.

• This is how you know if you’re eating too much protein!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Social Media Is On Trial

Beginning this week, Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube will face jury trials in Los Angeles over claims their platforms are addictive and harm young users. The first case involves a 20-year-old Californian, identified as KGM, who said she developed anxiety, depression and body-image issues after using YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat as a child. 

Plaintiffs argue features like infinite scroll, algorithms and autoplay caused compulsive use and personal injury. The companies deny a proven link to addiction and cite federal liability protections. Executives including Mark Zuckerberg are expected to testify. What to know about the trial.

Health

Menopause Can Cause Alzheimer's-Like Brain Changes

A large UK study of nearly 125,000 women, including about 11,000 who had MRI scans, found menopause is linked to loss of grey matter in brain regions tied to memory and emotion. The research, published in Psychological Medicine, identified changes in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. 

Senior author Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge said these areas are commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease and may help explain higher dementia rates in women. Hormone replacement therapy did not appear to prevent the brain changes, researchers reported.

Economy

Health Insurance More Expensive Than Mortgages?

Health insurance costs are climbing sharply for many middle-income Americans who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act, with some now paying more each month for insurance than their mortgage. The increases follow the expiration of expanded ACA subsidies at the end of last year, which Congress did not renew. 

Households earning just above the subsidy cutoff are seeing the biggest jumps, particularly self-employed workers and small-business owners without employer coverage. As new bills arrive, some families are dropping insurance altogether, while others are cutting spending elsewhere to keep coverage.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🏛️ Amid Minneapolis shooting backlash, Trump holds 2-hour meeting with Noem; orders immigration chief to leave Minnesota. 

🪑 Apparently, sitting at work might not be as terrible as we have known it to be.

🎥 Melania Trump screened her documentary at private screening. You wouldn’t believe who the guests were!

⚠️ Yes, you can be eating too much protein. Here’s the signs that can tell you so!

💸 These are the cities with the highest cost of living. We didn’t think Zurich would be the most expensive!

🏀 When was the last time you were truly bad at something? Try a new sport — the beginner’s struggle might be exactly what your brain needs!

🕊️ Israel recovers last hostage’s remains from Gaza as the ceasefire moves into tricky next phase.

🧠 Do you overthink for a hobby? These are therapist-approved ways to snap out of it.

❄️ At least 22 deaths linked to winter storm in the US. Where were the highest snowfall totals? 

👑 Gold soars beyond $5,000 as tensions grow globally.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🚰 Most people buy bottled water for their health, but it might be introducing things that your tap water doesn't. Have you guessed what?

🧪 We’ve been told intermittent fasting is a miracle fix, but it turns out a lot of those big promises were …. well, mostly for mice. 

🦵 You’ve never been this age before, and neither have your joints — just like skin, your tendons lose their snap over time. The good news? You can actually train your way out of that stiffness. 

🏠 It feels like every time you scroll, there’s a new “cancerous” item in your house you’re supposed to throw away. So, is everything toxic?Here are all the health questions, keeping you up at night, answered.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👟 The celebrity obsession with red sneakers is only getting bigger — and we get it. Even if you’re a total minimalist, a pop of cherry or crimson doesn’t hurt! 

🔴 First it was face masks, now it’s full-body mats — red-light therapy is coming for your wellness routine. Is this high-tech “healing blanket” truly the secret to better skin? 

🧣 Let’s be real, most winter hats just ruin your hair and turn it into a static-electric mess. You will thank us for this snood recommendation later. 

🎀 A side ponytail comeback …. in this economy? Looks like the 80’s staple is getting some justice on the Paris runways.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

👙 Sydney Sweeney draped the Hollywood sign in bras. There’s a legal challenge brewing since she skipped the permit. 

📰 Kanye ‘Ye’ West took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal to apologize for his antisemitic comments. 

🎤 Nicki Minaj is heading to D.C. to join President Trump at the launch event of Trump Accounts. 

💔 Bella Hadid and Adan Banuelos have reportedly split after two years of being together. 

📱 Taylor Swift reportedly feels “violated” after a slew of text messages between her and pal Blake Lively were made public.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

From free gym memberships to meditation apps and wellness stipends, corporate wellness perks were once sold as proof your job cared about you. Lately, companies are pulling back. Rising healthcare costs and tighter budgets are forcing employers to cut pricey, underused perks and swap Equinox-style benefits for cheaper gym chains and bundled apps. Surveys show many employees barely use what’s offered, raising questions about whether wellness perks actually improve health or just look good on paper.

“You don’t have to be fearless. Doing it afraid counts.” 

— Glennon Doyle