Good Morning!

It's Thursday, June 19, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• SCOTUS stays ban on trangender care for minors. 

• FDA approves HIV prevention shot.

• Heatwave is set to arrive across the U.S.

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Supreme Court Upholds Ban On Transgender Youth Care

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors to stand. This marked a major blow for trans rights advocates and potentially shaping similar legal battles across the country. Why was this expected?

The case, United States v. Skrmetti, was brought by three families with trans children and a healthcare provider, who argued the law violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause by constituting sex-based discrimination. As one example, the law permits testosterone for those assigned male at birth but not for those assigned female. Tennessee defended the ban as a safeguard against “experimental” treatment. The court left it to the states to decide.

The court split along ideological lines, with all six conservative justices upholding Tennessee’s ban and the three liberals dissenting. Every major U.S. medical and mental health organization considers gender-affirming care medically necessary and opposes legislative bans. Activists warn the ruling could open the door to similar restrictions for transgender adults. 

Related Read: How would it affect Hollywood?

U.S. Unemployment Hovers Historically Low Levels

Unemployment claims in the U.S. fell to 245,000 last week, down from 250,000 the week prior, according to the Labor Department. The figure remains within the historically low range of 200,000 to 250,000 seen since the COVID-19 recovery. Still, the four-week moving average rose to 245,500 — the highest since August 2023 — signaling a gradual cooling in the job market.

Continuing claims for the week ending June 7 dropped to 1.95 million. While layoffs remain modest, weekly claims have recently hovered at the high end of the typical range. So far in 2024, employers are adding 124,000 jobs a month on average — down from 168,000 in 2023 and nearly 400,000 between 2021 and 2023 — suggesting slower but steady hiring.

The hiring slowdown reflects Trump’s sweeping 10% tariffs on most imports. Businesses are uneasy, and consumers fear price spikes. Though the Fed cut rates three times last year as inflation eased, it’s now holding steady in 2025, wary that Trump’s trade moves could reignite inflation. 

Seven Men Charged In ‘Largest Jewelry Heist In US History’

Seven men have been charged in what prosecutors call the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history, stealing roughly $100 million in gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches. The accused are Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, Jorge Enrique Alban, Jazael Padilla Resto, Eduardo Macias Ibarra, Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, and Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano. Four remain at large, according to the Associated Press.

The heist occurred on July 10, 2022, after an international jewelry show in San Mateo, California. Prosecutors say the suspects tracked a Brink’s armored truck overnight for 300 miles before stealing 24 bags of valuables during a rest stop in Lebec.

Some defendants are also linked to three other 2022 California robberies involving Samsung goods and Apple AirTags, with one incident including a knife threat to a truck driver. The thefts devastated several jewelers and stunned law enforcement, prompting a years-long investigation.

Click-Worthy

☀️ U.S. heatwave is set to bring soaring temperatures, and boy will it feel like it!

🎥 Watch: Trump on attacking Iran, ‘may do it, may not’.

✅ FDA approves biannual HIV prevention shot.

🏛️ ‘Any illegal migrants?’: Trump asks workers at White House.

🌀 We’ve always spiralled — thanks to Gen Z, we can call it ‘crashing out’. 

🎓 What are the social media screening rules for student visa applications?

⚠️ U.S. role in India-Pakistan ceasefire sparks tensions between Modi, Trump.

📵 Phone addiction, not screen time, tied to youth suicide and mental health risk.

✊ Arrested Democrats become faces of Trump-era resistance politics.

🤖 Can we find an AI model that is environment friendly?

Her Hustle

💼 AI’s taking jobs, sure — but it’s also hiring. Can you be a vibe checker, consistency cop, or ethics whisperer?

📧 Gen Z secretly loves email — not for chain mail, but for newsletters, job leads, and memes!

The Glow Guide

⭐ Pimple patches now come as stars and hearts — zap zits while looking cute enough to selfie through your breakout.

🧴 Meet your sunscreen soulmate: FDA-approved Korean formulas that feel like moisturizer and leave no white ghost face. 

The Fame Frame

🏆 Springsteen movie trailer hints Jeremy Allen White’s possible Oscar moment.

⏳ Nike delays Kim Kardashian's SKIMS launch due to production issues.

📖 Charlie Sheen’s memoir promises wild truths “directly from the actual guy”.

🏡 Human remains near Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island mansion identified.

📺 TV Academy sticks up for DEI efforts even as others abandon.

Weigh In

"You can be soft and powerful. You can be vulnerable and still a leader."

— Jacinda Ardern