Good Morning!

It's Friday, February 20, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Trump hosts the first Gaza Board of Peace meeting. 

• Is the “period steak theory” even real!

• Yes, your indigestion can be fixed.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Trump Pledges $10 Billion To “Help Gaza”

Former President Donald Trump held the first meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, focusing on Gaza’s ceasefire and global conflict intervention. Trump said the board would “help Gaza” and pledged $10 billion from the US, alongside $7 billion in commitments from members, including $75 million from FIFA for soccer facilities. 

At least 40 countries participated, though key allies like the UK, France, and Sweden sent envoys but did not join. Who are the nations that joined in? Trump highlighted potential US action on Iran within 10 days. Palestinian officials criticized the board’s lack of representation.

Health

Pre-Natal Care Is Being Overlooked

A new CDC report shows early prenatal care in the US declined from 78.3% in 2021 to 75.5% in 2024. Second-trimester care rose from 15.4% to 17.3%, and late or no care increased from 6.3% to 7.3%. Dr. Clayton Alfonso, OB-GYN at Duke University, said early care improves maternal and fetal outcomes, while delays reduce opportunities for interventions. 

The decrease was more pronounced among minority women, with first-trimester care for Black mothers falling from 69.7% to 65.1%. Experts cite maternity care deserts, post-Roe abortion restrictions, travel barriers, and insurance issues as contributing factors.

Wall Street Just Named the Most Crowded Trades of 2026

AI stocks. Metals. Crypto.

Surprise, surprise; gold crashed 16%. Silver plunged 34%. Bitcoin dropped to 1 year lows.

All supposedly "uncorrelated" assets moving in lockstep largely because of overleveraged margin.

JPM strategists warn that the same leverage is still a risk.

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Work

Gen Z Is Feeling The AI Anxiety

In 2026, internet users are embracing nostalgia amid AI fears, layoffs, and political unrest. Many are reminiscing about 2016 — or even 2006 and 1996 — sharing throwback posts, music, and old tech like digital cameras, GPS devices, and iPods. Gen Z and millennials are adopting “analog” lifestyles, bricking phones, and focusing on in-person activities.

Thomas Roulet, University of Cambridge sociology professor, told INC normalization of AI has left workers disillusioned. Researchers Stephanie McNamara and Joseph Thornton at the University of Florida identified “AI replacement dysfunction” (AIRD), describing psychological distress linked to AI-driven job displacement, urging clinical recognition and treatment protocols.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🛸 President Trump claims Barack Obama leaked classified secrets by saying aliens are real — and now he’s vowing to declassify the UFO files himself. 

😣 Bloat ruining your day? These quick, realistic expert habits keep digestion running smoothly.

📺 RFK Jr. pulls in Kid Rock, a sauna, and a workout jeans in the new HHS ad.

🥩 Just when you thought beef prices were rising, the industry is indicating it ain’t getting better.

🚓 Police search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home after the ex-Prince was released post arrest.

🌮 Taco Bell just dropped a fan favorite midnight meal as a snack!

⏳ President Trump says he will make a decision on Iran strikes in 10 days.

⚖️ South Korea convicts former president Yoon Suk Yeol of insurrection, sentencing him to life.

🥇 USA wins gold against Canada in women's hockey at Winter Olympics.

😴 Do you feel tired all the time?These habits might be to blame.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🔋 Remember “the powerhouse of the cell”? Health influencers are now obsessed with mitochondria as the secret to longevity. 

❤️ Statistically, this is what’s most likely to kill you than any other cause. But heart disease isn’t inevitable — doctors say these 8 habits are your best defence. 

🛁 If your nights feel rushed and restless, try bathing in the dark. It might be the quickest way to slow down a racing mind. Heads up: keep things bright enough to see what you’re doing! 

🤔 Can a steak really cure your period? TikTok has everybody convinced a juicy ribeye is going to soothe your cramps. We really wish the science was that simple!

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👖 Don’t ignore your light-wash jeans — if you're pairing them right (we mean these ways), they’re the easiest route to a cooler outfit this season.

💅 When the internet says “embrace your inner child”, it means skipping the boring manicure for nails that are fun to look at! 

🧥 The trench is (ironically) going short — but this boxy layer might turn out to be your most cherished piece for the transition days when a full coat feels too much.

🫧 Foam is back? And it’s fun? Unlike the skin-stripping formulas that left you squeaky clean (ahm …. bone dry), the new ones actually repair your skin while you wash.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

😢 'Grey's Anatomy' and ‘Euphoria’ star Eric Dane passes away at 53. 

💋 Sophie Turner and Kit Harington were caught gagging after an onscreen kiss. We suppose, playing lovers is indeed weird when you used to be siblings. 

⚠️ James Cameron calls the potential Netflix-Warner Bros. merger “disastrous” for the future of movie theaters.

🖤 The trailer for ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ is out! By the looks of it, we’re expecting a dark family reckoning. 

🎂 Millie Bobby Brown celebrates her 22nd birthday with a rare photo of her daughter. The internet can’t stop fawning.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Bill Gates canceled a high-profile keynote at an AI summit in India just minutes before he was set to speak, as newly released Justice Department files reignited scrutiny over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The files include messages, photos and Epstein’s own notes alleging behavior Gates’s team calls “absurd and completely false.” The resurfaced material has already triggered fallout for other global figures and renewed questions about powerful men once connected to Epstein.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” 

— Theodore Roosevelt