Good Morning!

It's Tuesday, July 29, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle ad.

• Lifestyle choices can delay Alzheimer’s.

• Gen Z workers need your help, not judgement.

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SPILL THE NEWS

New York Shooting Kills Four; Gunman Dead

A deadly shooting unfolded Monday evening at a Manhattan skyscraper that houses the NFL’s headquarters and offices of major financial firms, leaving five dead, including the gunman. Authorities say 27-year-old Shane Tamura, a Las Vegas resident with a history of mental illness, drove cross-country before opening fire with an assault-style rifle inside the Park Avenue tower. What we know so far.

Among the victims was NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, a Bangladeshi immigrant and father of two with a third child on the way. Islam was working security under an NYPD commercial detail program.  Mayor Eric Adams called him a “true blue” hero, while Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry said, “Pure evil came to the heart of our city and struck innocent people and one of our police officers who were protecting those people.” Witnesses recount horror.

Tamura began shooting in the building lobby before moving to the 33rd floor, where he shot himself in the chest. Two men and a woman were also killed; another man remains critically injured. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Tamura acted alone, and investigators have yet to determine a motive. The FBI is assisting. “I just saw a lot of commotion and cops and people screaming,” said witness Russ McGee. Why the site of shooting matters.

Trump Meets UK PM In Hopes Of Trade Deal

During a meeting at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, U.S. President Donald Trump met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and asked him to cut taxes, reduce immigration, and combat crime if he hopes to defeat populist Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK. “Politics is pretty simple,” Trump said, adding, “The one that’s toughest and most competent on immigration is going to win the election.”

The two leaders, despite emphasizing mutual respect, clashed publicly over domestic policies. Trump criticized wind energy, inheritance tax hikes on farmers, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him a “nasty person.” Starmer defended Khan and affirmed his support for clean energy and a tax mix. Track the economic effect of each of Trump’s tariffs.

As Saudi Arabia and France called for Palestinian state, Starmer pressed Trump to help address Gaza’s “desperate situation”, urging the U.S. to pressure Israel to allow more humanitarian aid. Trump responded, “Those children look very hungry.” The leaders also discussed trade, including a deal cutting tariffs on aerospace and auto goods and raising U.K. beef imports. Trump said, “The U.K. is very well-protected... because I like them.” Talks are ongoing over tariffs on steel and Scotch whisky. Starmer reaffirmed support for Palestinian statehood as part of a broader two-state solution.

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Great Jeans’ American Eagle Ad Fuels Controversy

American Eagle’s new fall campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney has sparked both enthusiasm and controversy. Titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” the campaign plays on the phrase “great genes,” referencing Sweeney’s physical traits and starring her in provocative denim visuals. In one viral video, Sweeney says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color,” as the camera pans to her blue eyes. “My jeans are blue.”

The backlash was swift, with some critics accusing the campaign of promoting eugenics and white supremacy. The campaign tagline was also edited in a social media post, showing the word “genes” crossed out and replaced with “jeans.” Neither American Eagle nor Sweeney have publicly responded to the criticism.

Despite the controversy, the campaign has fueled a stock surge, briefly sending American Eagle shares up 10%. The collection includes a limited-edition denim jacket and “The Sydney Jean,” featuring a butterfly motif symbolizing domestic violence awareness. All proceeds benefit Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering 24/7 mental health support. The campaign marks American Eagle’s most expensive to date and has ignited widespread online conversation, underscoring the deepening cultural divide around marketing, identity, and beauty standards.

IN GOOD HEALTH

🧠 Lifestyle choices like exercising, eating well, and stimulating the brain can delay Alzheimer’s, with even stronger effects among genetic high‑risk individuals. 

🚶‍♂️ Walking faster — even slightly — can significantly improve strength, endurance, and mobility in everyone, even older adults. It’s a small shift with powerful, long-term benefits.

🫂 Surrogates experience significantly higher rates of new-onset mental illness than women carrying own babies, even two years after birth — raising concerns about grief and gaps in emotional support systems.

💉 The under-the-radar injections fitness junkies swear by for muscle growth, faster recovery, and summer cuts — including the so-called “Wolverine” shot.

🧘 Feeling anxious about things you can’t control? A two-word phrase that trains your brain to focus on solutions, not spirals — “So what?”

IN STYLE, IN BEAUTY

👟 Minimal, low‑profile sneakers like Adidas Sambas, Taekwondo shoes and ‘torpedo’ runners are summer’s biggest footwear trend — slim silhouettes are officially in.

👃🏻 Masculine? Feminine? Try unforgettable. These gender-neutral perfumes range from smoky, spicy, floral, to sweet — proof that your scent should suit your soul, not store labels.

👖 The jeans-and-flats pairing that’s quietly taking over closets this season — timeless, polished, and made for real life.

🌾 Shiny hair from your pantry? Rice water is back, with beauty lovers claiming it strengthens strands, soothes the scalp, and speeds up growth.

THE FAME FRAME

🎬 ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ sequel is finally in the works!

👶 Justin and Hailey Bieber share new glimpses of baby Jack ahead of birthday. 

🌊 Sydney Sweeney seen jet skiing with mysterious, muscular man in Idaho. 

⚖️ Blake Lively drops investigation against three YouTubers over ongoing case.

🎤 Zayn Malik shares rare moment with daughter Khai at BLACKPINK concert.

DON’T MISS

🪖 Trump has shrunk Russia’s time to end the war — to under two weeks.

💔 It’s official, you can literally die of a broken heart. 

🤔 Why does Trump think visiting Epstein island is a “privilege”?

🧑‍💻 It might be time to stop blaming the Gen Z workers and start helping them.

🌍 Trump is eyeing a 15-20% “world tariff” on most countries. 

🌞 Why is this it-drink for summers is a sign of recession?

🤷‍♂️ As Israelis question morality of Gaza war — Trump speaks up on “real starvation”.

📦 Brands are trying to deliver to you within 15 minutes!

🤖 Tesla inks $16.5B deal with Samsung for AI chips. 

🧳 American employees are feeling guilty about taking vacations, why?

WEIGH IN

“Fall in love with the process of becoming the version of you you’ve always dreamed of.”

— Vex King