Good Morning!

It's Friday, September 12, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Manhunt continues for Charlie Kirk shooter.

• Mosquitoes have human preference too, and it isn’t blood type!

• Happier life can be achieved, but it comes with rules.

Love this newsletter? Don’t keep it all to yourself—share it with your friends!

Reading for the first time? Join over 50,000 intellectually curious women.

Help us be better, write at: [email protected]

Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Manhunt Continues For Charlie Kirk Shooter

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday released surveillance images of a person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as investigators intensified their search for the gunman. Watch: Shooter seen fleeing the scene. Kirk, 31, was killed on Wednesday at Utah Valley University when a single bullet, fired from a rooftop, struck him while he addressed a crowd of roughly 3,000 people. Authorities said the suspect appeared to be college-aged, dressed in dark clothing, a baseball cap, and sunglasses, and moved through campus stairwells before firing and fleeing. Dangerous conspiracy theories surge the internet.

Investigators recovered a high-powered Mauser .30-06 rifle, found wrapped in a towel near the scene, along with a cartridge, shoe impressions, and palm prints. Officials said the precision of the shot suggested experience with firearms. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, noting they have already received more than 7,000 tips. Watch: Vigils held across the country.

President Donald Trump called Kirk’s death a “heinous assassination” and announced he will award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. He urged supporters to honor Kirk’s commitment to nonviolence even as he condemned “radical left lunatics” for fostering an atmosphere of political violence. Will Trump attend the funeral? The investigation remains ongoing.

Related Read:After Charlie Kirk killing, America agrees — there’s something wrong.

US News

California Extends Abortion Protections For Women

California lawmakers have passed one of the country’s strongest protections for abortion pill providers and patients, aiming to shield them from states with abortion bans. The bill, approved this week by wide margins in both chambers and expected to be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, allows health care providers to mail abortion medication with minimal identifying information. Labels and paperwork could omit patient, prescriber, and pharmacist names, though records would still be kept internally.

Supporters say the measure will have national impact because California pharmacies handle most abortion pill shipments across the U.S. Removing patient names from packaging, advocates argue, will reassure women in states with bans who fear exposure and legal action. Shield-law providers now serve an estimated 12,000 patients monthly, roughly one-eighth of all abortion patients nationwide. Opponents, including National Right to Life counsel James Bopp Jr., argue the bill eliminates accountability. “How are you going to prove that the pills she took in this box with no names on it were the ones that he prescribed?” he said. 

Other states like New York, Washington, and Massachusetts have already adopted similar laws, but California’s role as a national hub made a broader step necessary.

World

Even After Trump’s Warnings, Brazil’s Bolsonaro Sentenced To Prison In Coup Attempt

Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison after convicting him of plotting a military coup to overturn his 2022 election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Four of the five justices ruled against him, also barring him from holding office until 2060. Bolsonaro, 70, is under house arrest as a flight risk and vows to appeal, calling the ruling a “witch hunt”.

Prosecutors said Bolsonaro conspired with military allies to reject election results, sowed doubts about Brazil’s voting system, and knew of plans to assassinate Lula, his running mate, and a Supreme Court justice. While the coup failed to gain full military backing, it culminated in the January 8, 2023 storming of government buildings by his supporters. All you need to know.

The verdict has triggered global tensions. President Donald Trump, a close ally, denounced the conviction as politically driven, imposing 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports and comparing Bolsonaro’s prosecution to his own. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the case “unjust”, warning Washington would “respond accordingly.” Brazil’s government condemned such threats as attacks on its sovereignty, vowing that outside pressure would not intimidate its democracy.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🛒 Grocery inflation is highest across US since 2022, so what’s getting more expensive?

😊 Want a happier life? Guess, we just need to follow the rules of adulting!

⚖️ Opening arguments put forth as Trump assassination attempt suspect goes to trial. 

📊 For the first time ever, more children are obese than underweight.

🤯 Gen Alpha slangs that have NO meaning. Are we missing the plot?

👀 We know where Barron Trump is, and it was so obvious!

💪 So many women in their 40s and 50s are getting strong, there’s a reason why.

🦟 Mosquitoes are likely to be drawn to you more if you just had beers or sex. Seriously!

🇺🇸 Without immigration, the US population is going to shrink — fast.

🙃 Do your friends think you’re mean and start avoiding you? Here’s some great advice.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

💊 From capsules to nasal sprays, anti-aging supplements are booming. But doctors warn your wallet may age faster than your body.

🏋️‍♂️ Skipping warm-ups? Science says your muscles are missing the memo. A pre-workout ritual that could turn your gym session from meh to mighty.

🧬 This single exercise session would not only help you prevent cancer but also it could fight it at a cellular level.

📉 Global deaths from chronic diseases are dropping, but progress is slowing — especially in high-income countries like the US.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👛 Michael Kors wants you to wear your wallet as a necklace and with flair. This fashion season, turn everyday essentials into runway-ready statement jewelry.

💅 Europe recently banned them but we can’t stop loving them. So, are gel manicures a harmless beauty trend, or a health hazard?

👗 The black dress and this sandal combo is back, proving itself the simplest shortcut to ‘90s-inspired elegance.

💇‍♀️ Move over sleek bobs, this shaggy, boho-inspired haircut is taking over fall and might be 2025’s it-haircut.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

💔 Nina Dobrev and Shaun White end their engagement, split after five years.

😂 Steven Colbert says he auditioned for ‘Friends’ and Jennifer Aniston’s response is hilarious!

🚫 Comedy Central pulls ‘South Park’ episode parodying Charlie Kirk after his death.

🎶 Brittany Spears wants you to leave Justin Bieber alone.

👴 A grandpa's advice that shaped Serena Gomez’s work ethic.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

We all have our own “happy place” when life feels overwhelming. Yale expert Marc Brackett says emotions can be better managed through his RULER method: recognize, understand, label, express and regulate. Whether it’s a grocery store, a playlist, or a corner of your couch, finding your calm spot matters. Some lean on movement, others on journaling, or simply talking it out. The point is—self-awareness is the first step to balance.

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” 

— Sam Levenson