Good Morning!

It's Wednesday, February 04, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Trump asks GOP to “take over” US elections. 

• “Horse breathing” calms your nerves down. 

• Sleeping to sound does more harm than good.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Trump Urges GOP To “Take Over” US Elections

President Donald Trump said on a podcast with former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino that Republican officials should “take over” and “nationalize” elections in 15 states, framing it as a response to alleged undocumented immigrant voting. Trump repeated claims of widespread election fraud and referenced the recent FBI raid on Georgia’s Fulton County election office, which sought 2020 voting records. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump supports legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register. Senator Mark Warner warned Trump’s remarks signal efforts that could affect future elections.

US News

Trump Signs Bill To End Partial Govt Shutdown

President Trump signed a spending package on Tuesday to end an 11-day partial government shutdown. The package would also temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security for 10 more days while immigration-related negotiations continue to avoid another shutdown. The House passed the bill 217–214 after Speaker Mike Johnson worked to secure Republican support. 

Senate Democrats had demanded limits on immigration enforcement after a fatal shooting by federal agents derailed an earlier deal. White House and congressional leaders, including Senator Chuck Schumer, Representative Jim McGovern, and Senator Lindsey Graham, stated their positions on funding, enforcement changes, and proposed restrictions for immigration agencies. The democrats that helped pass the bill.

Relationships

Rise Of The Placeholder Partners

A “placeholder partner” is someone considered good enough to date or live with but not the person a partner ultimately plans to commit to. The idea has gained cultural traction, reflected in examples like Taylor Swift’s reflections on a long relationship that never progressed and Vanessa Hudgens finding commitment soon after leaving a decade-long partnership. 

Experts say people stay in stagnant relationships due to fear of loneliness, sunk emotional investment, and uncertainty about self-worth. Therapists note it can be painful to admit being valued less than one’s partner, a dynamic increasingly seen in friendships as well.

In the know

DON’T MISS

👨‍👧 New research finds early father and child interactions, not mother, may strongly shape kids’ later health.

😮‍💨 Melinda Gates had a very honest reaction to ex-husband Bill Gates being mentioned in Epstein files.

🐴 “Horse breathing” might be the way to calm your nerves. Giddy up?

🏰 Disney chooses Josh D’Amaro to become the chief executive officer.

😴 That sleep noise that you pass out to, might be making things worse than better.

🗞️ Did Trump really slam a CNN journalist for “not smiling enough”?

🍳 Oncologists are begging you to stop using this cooking method!

📵 Spain becomes first European country to ban social media for under-16s.

🍴 Handles up or down? Here’s how to perfectly load up the silverware in dishwashers.

🚨 Jill Biden’s ex-husband accused of killing current wife.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🏃‍♀️ Rethink everything you know about working out. Experts are now pointing to studies showing that tiny, regular bursts of effort — like taking the stairs — can capture the same effects as gym. 

📱 Is your TikTok feed diagnosing you? A new book reveals how social media algorithms have turned health into a marketplace. As it turns out, “science” might just be a cloak for dubious supplements and undisclosed ads. 

🦐 If you find yourself curling over your laptop like a desk shrimp — it’s not just your spine that’s at risk. Good news: the solution to this common habit is surprisingly easy!

🍽️ Should you stick to three square meals or switch to six mini-meals to keep your mind sharp? We might have an answerto this age-old question.

Decor & More

HOUSE TO HOME

🛌 Regular blankets might not be enough in this winter chill. Might we introduce “cuddly blankets”?  These weighted, faux-fur essentials are all you need for comfort this season!

🥂 If you’ve found yourself envying a friend’s vintage glassware collection, there’s a way to build one for your home even better. We’ll tell you — the secret is in knowing which finds actually hold their value. 

🧽 There are corners in your home that you clean often — and then there are spaces you’re likely overlooking entirely. Experts say these five invisible zones are likely the reason you’re feeling under the weather.

🏠 You don’t need a full remodel to escape a stressful home, visual noise is causing you trouble.Good news: the most effective fix costs $0!

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎬 How did Ryan Reynolds’ ex Scarlett Johansson get dragged into Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni lawsuit?

💄 This might be the real reason why Timothee Chalamet has been thanking Kylie Jenner.

🏈 Travis Kelce says Taylor Swift would kill him for doing this. As a woman, who wouldn’t!

💚 Charlie xcx’s response to Jason Bateman talking about having kidsis giving max ‘Brat’ energy.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

French authorities raided Elon Musk’s X offices in Paris as part of a cybercrime investigation into possible algorithmic bias, prompting the company to call the search “abusive law enforcement theater”. Prosecutors say the raid followed a formal inquiry launched last year, while X claims officials bypassed proper procedures and are pressuring its US leadership. The platform has already faced multiple probes after its AI tool Grok produced sexualized deepfakes, sparking investigations across the EU and UK into its handling of illegal content.

“You don’t bloom by staying where you wilted.” 

— Morgan Harper Nichols