Good Morning!

It's Monday, November 24, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• US-Ukraine discuss peace plan to stop war with Russia.

• People are putting bathtubs in unusual spots. 

• These “bad” foods aren’t really bad.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan Forces Europe To Stand Up

US and Ukrainian negotiators said they made “meaningful progress toward aligning positions” on President Donald Trump’s controversial peace plan during high-stakes talks in Geneva. The draft framework, which Trump wants resolved “as soon as possible”, would require Ukraine to give up additional eastern territory. Did Marco Rubio really tell senators the peace plan is Russia’s ‘wish list’? Along with that, it would mean Ukraine would have to forswear NATO membership and accept amnesty for Russian war crimes, while receiving an unprecedented US-European security guarantee modeled on Article 5. Key elements of Trump’s peace plan.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Sunday “the most productive day we’ve had”, adding the plan is a “living, breathing document”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his team held “thorough discussions,” noting that Trump’s envoys “are hearing us”. But tensions flared as Trump accused Kyiv of showing “zero gratitude”, insisting, “I inherited a war that should have never happened.” Zelensky publicly thanked him hours later. The two European leaders that spoke to Trump on Ukraine. 

Russia has welcomed the proposal, with Vladimir Putin saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement”. Did US-Russia secret talks lead to the current peace plan? European leaders remain wary, warning the terms could leave Ukraine “vulnerable to future attack”. The final word will rest with Trump and Zelensky. But, Trump said it isn’t his “final offer”.

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Economy

Black Friday Or Thanksgiving — Americans Have Budget On Mind

Deep discounting on turkeys pushed the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal down for the third straight year, landing at $55.18, its lowest since 2021. Retailers leaned hard into price cuts, with Walmart promoting a basket under $4 per person by swapping in more store-brand items. But even with cheaper turkeys, the Farm Bureau notes that the overall meal is still 13% higher than in 2019 and that many sides have grown more expensive as farms struggle with labor shortages, rising wages, and trade uncertainty. How to plan a bougie Thanksgiving dinner in budget?

Those pressures reflect a broader affordability squeeze shaping not just holiday dinners but how Americans shop heading into Black Friday. Inflation remains sticky at 3%, household staples are climbing faster, and political tensions around tariffs have kept food prices at the center of national debate, prompting the Trump administration to roll back levies on hundreds of imported items. With budgets tight, consumers are becoming more selective, gravitating toward value-focused retailers like Walmart and T.J. Maxx while pulling back from pricier chains.

That same caution is driving a surge in Buy Now, Pay Later use as holiday shopping ramps up. What to know before you use BNPL. Analysts warn the short-term relief can quickly turn costly, but for many households, BNPL has become the only way to stretch their spending through the season.

Health

Major Trials Study Puberty Blockers In Young People

The new “Pathways” programme aims to address this evidence gap through a clinical trial of about 220 participants aged under 16, randomly assigned to begin treatment immediately or after a 12-month delay. What even are puberty blockers? Their mental health, physical development, and wellbeing will be monitored over two years, with findings compared to a separate group receiving no blockers. A second study, Pathways Connect, will use MRI scans to explore the drugs’ effects on brain development.

The studies have sparked ethical debate. Advocates argue the trial is coercive because it is now the only route to access blockers, while critics question whether delaying treatment for some participants is harmful. Others, including study lead Prof Emily Simonoff and Dr Hilary Cass, say rigorous research is overdue and essential for safe, evidence-based care. First results are expected in roughly four years, alongside an observational study tracking 3,000 young people.

In the know

DON’T MISS

📰 Trump and Mamdani meet has left the internet running for crumbs; Mamdani reaffirms he thinks President is a fascist.  

🦃 Thanksgiving’s biggest surprise could be — stoned guests. How to single them out?

📝 Once a Trump favorite, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene just announced resignation amid falling out.

🛁 Wait, people are putting bathtubs where! It can’t be okay, right?

🇮🇱 Almost a year after ceasefire, Israel struck Lebanon and killed top Hezbollah official.

💍 Usha Vance just cleared up why she was briefly spotted without her wedding ring.

🧸 An AI toy bear is speaking to kids about sex, knives, and worse. 

🏛️ ‘That doesn’t exist’: Was DOGE quietly disbanded before the scheduled date? 

🍽️ This dinner adjustment in winters, might make the cold season better for you.

🤏 Trader Joe’s just dropped viral new tiny totes. They’d fit (almost) nothing.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

✨ Near-death survivors say their “almost gone” moments reshaped everything. What happens in those “between life and death” moments? These people experienced something unforgettable and the aftereffects linger long after survival.

🧐 Not every “bad” food is actually bad. We love calling foods unhealthy, even when science says otherwise. From carbs to frozen veggies, many maligned foods are secretly nutrient-packed. Experts share which ones need a rebrand.

🧠 Your workout might be doing more for your brain health than you realize. If you train this body part well, your mind may get a boost too, a neuroscientist says. The reason is worth knowing.

🚬 Celebs are suddenly embracing an old vice. Pop culture is flirting with cigarettes again as they show up everywhere from concerts to Instagram feeds. However, experts fear the influence on young people.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👖 Thinking about revisiting skinny jeans? They’re trending quietly, but styling them right matters. If you really have to wear them, try these hacks.

🧖‍♀️ Don’t blame the pillow! Here’s how textured hair experts say you can wake up knot-free without the dreaded morning matting. 

🧣 If your winter outfits feel predictable, your go-to sweater and pants can feel brand-new with a few clever winter styling moves you’ll want to copy immediately.

💉 Just when you thought beauty trends peaked, a new craze is making waves. Beauty lovers are lining up for a trending injection with ocean vibes, and it’s origin might surprise you.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎂 Four-tier cake, fringes, and friends — inside Hailey Bieber’s 29th birthday party.

🎤 Billie Eilish announces new 3D concert movie hitting theaters next March.

😱 ‘Stranger Things’ drops new season 5 trailer for part 1, coming out Nov 27, and we’re screaming!

💔 Five-time Grammy winner Donald Glover reveals he suffered a stroke during last year’s tour.

🏈 Taylor Swift spotted at Travis Kelce’s game — she cheered, and he won.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

ChatGPT’s new group chat feature lets you add friends into a shared chat where the AI can jump in with suggestions, answers, or planning help. While it shows promise for studying, work tasks, and organizing plans, early testers say it’s also intrusive, overly chatty, and a bit awkward socially. Privacy concerns linger, and most personal group chats may not want an AI piping up uninvited. Still, the multi-user functionality could be useful in the right context.

“Do not shrink so that others can feel comfortable. You were born to expand.” 

— Danielle Doby