Good Morning!

It's Monday, August 11, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Trump and Putin are set to meet in Alaska this week. 

• Is ‘super skinny’ back?

• ‘The Office’ spinoff is almost here!

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SPILL THE NEWS

Trump, Putin To Meet In Alaska

President Donald Trump announced on Friday he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Alaska to push for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking at the White House, Trump suggested the deal could involve “some swapping of territories,” adding, “We’re going to get some back, and we’re going to get some switched… to the betterment of both.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly rejected Trump’s idea, saying, “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.” What Putin hopes to gain from the summit.

The proposed meeting marks the first in-person U.S.-Russia presidential summit since 2021. For Putin, it is a diplomatic opening after months of isolation. Vice President JD Vance said one breakthrough was that “Vladimir Putin said that he would never sit down with Zelensky… and the president has now got that to change,” though Kyiv may join talks only after the Trump-Putin session. European allies have also insisted that peace talks must include Kyiv and follow a ceasefire. What NATO ambassador said regarding the meeting.

Trump, who once claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, said, “It’s complicated,” but maintained that territory exchanges remain under discussion. The exact Alaska location is unannounced, and the White House remains “open to a trilateral summit” if conditions allow. 

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Azerbaijan, Armenia Sign Peace Agreement At White House

President Donald Trump on Friday hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House for the signing of a peace accord aimed at ending 35 years of conflict. “Thirty-five years they fought, and now they’re friends, and they’re going to be friends a long time,” Trump said, calling the summit “a big, beautiful honor”.

The agreement includes the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a U.S.-developed transit corridor through Armenia linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, while respecting Armenia’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Aliyev hailed the deal: “We will turn the page of standoff, confrontation and bloodshed… today we are writing a great new history.” Pashinyan called it a “significant milestone,” adding, “I think President Trump deserves to have the Nobel Peace Prize. … We will promote for that.”

Both countries pledged to end fighting “forever” and open travel, business, and diplomatic ties. Trump announced separate U.S. bilateral agreements with each nation to expand cooperation in energy, technology, trade, and infrastructure. The accord sidelines Russia, historically the region’s chief mediator, and strengthens U.S. influence in the South Caucasus. Aliyev praised Trump’s speed, saying, “In six months, [he] did a miracle.”

Does Pete Hegseth Really Think Women Shouldn’t Vote?

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposted a CNN segment in which pastors, including Doug Wilson, say women should not be allowed to vote. Wilson, co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, told CNN: “I would like to see this nation being a Christian nation, and I would like this world to be a Christian world.” Pastor Toby Sumpter added: “In my ideal society, we would vote as households… having discussed it with my household.”

In the same video, Wilson said women should not hold military leadership or high-profile combat roles. Hegseth captioned his repost: “All of Christ for All of Life.” A Pentagon spokesperson said Hegseth “is a proud member of a church affiliated with” the CREC and values many of Wilson’s teachings.

Doug Pagitt, of the progressive evangelical group Vote Common Good, called it “very disturbing” that Hegseth amplified such views. Hegseth’s repost comes amid the Trump administration’s promotion of Christian nationalism, including new federal initiatives and White House faith offices. In May, Hegseth invited his pastor to lead prayer services inside the Pentagon. The First Amendment bars establishing a state religion, though courts note its definition remains contested alongside religious freedom protections.

DON’T MISS

📈 Netanyahu defends extensive military offensive in Gaza, killing journalists and drawing criticism at home and abroad.

🦸‍♂️ It takes money to make money, but is a $10,000 job search justified?

🤖 Where the world is flying, which country flies the most and in what, data reveals.

💼 CDC shooting leaves officer dead; suspect blamed COVID-19 vaccine for depression.

👮‍♂️ Can you possibly do anything when your manager doesn’t work, like at all!

❤️‍🔥 With the new map and repost features, what is Instagram even now?

💊 How and where you can see Tuesday’s Perseid meteor shower.

🏆 Chatbots can go into a delusional spiral — and take you with them!

🧢 FBI deploys agents in Washington at night as Trump mulls National Guard.

⚰️ Who are the conservative women that are “having it all” on their own terms?

IN GOOD HEALTH

🏋️‍♂️ New study finds that working out twice a week might do wonders for your body. However, is training to failure the new workout technique we’re swearing by? 

🧠 What if Alzheimer’s could be slowed by fixing a tiny brain glitch? A new study shows stunning memory recovery in tests.

🌿 You touched poison ivy, now what? Most adults are allergic. One wrong step can mean weeks of itching — unless you act fast.

⚡ Creatine isn’t just for bodybuilders. Science now points to a broader, surprising audience. However, these are the people who truly benefit from it!

IN STYLE, IN BEAUTY

👖 From satin trousers to skirt-over-pants, fall’s chicest pant trends can be worn now — perfect for beating the heat while getting ahead of autumn style.

💧 Say goodbye to cakey finishes — these foundations deliver hydration, radiance, and a flawless blend on mature skin.

🏖️ Meet summer’s style hero: the gingham co-ords. Think bubble shorts and poplin tops that invoke beach breezes and lobster-roll dreams. 

✂️ The short hair with bangs trend is in full swing — these styles work for every vibe, from soft and romantic to sharp and fashion-forward.

THE FAME FRAME

🎬 Is Sydney Sweeney going to appear in ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’?

🌞 Inside Kylie Jenner’s 28th birthday — sunshine, painting, and lots of sunflowers!

💰 Box office: ‘Weapons’ debuts at $42.5M.

📄 ‘The Office’ spinoff ‘The Paper’ is here. Are we excited?

💌 Oscar-winning actress reiterates that Donald Trump asked her out on a date.

WEIGH IN

"If you’re going through hell, keep going." 

— Winston Churchill