Good Morning!

It's Monday, April 27, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect arrested.

• Is US facing a date-flation?

• Feel that rain on your skin!

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting Suspect Arrested

A gunman was arrested after opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton. President Donald Trump, described by officials as a likely target, was unharmed and evacuated from the ballroom along with Vice President JD Vance and other attendees. See photos.

The attack occurred shortly after 8:30 pm ET when a 31-year-old man rushed a security checkpoint carrying a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. Secret Service agents intercepted him near the lobby as shots were fired. Guests inside the ballroom took cover while security cleared the room. One Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a bulletproof vest and later released from the hospital.

The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen of California, was detained at the scene. Authorities said he acted alone and had traveled to Washington for the event. Investigators recovered writings indicating he intended to target Trump administration officials. The dinner was canceled shortly after the incident began.

Dating

Date-Flation Hits US

Dating isn’t just emotional anymore, it’s increasingly financial. The average cost of a date in the US has reached $189 in 2026, up 12.5% from $168 in 2025, according to BMO’s Real Financial Progress Index. That total includes grooming, transportation, and the date itself. The increase is outpacing overall inflation, which stands at 3.3% annually. 

Millennials now spend an average of $252 per date, a 32% jump, while Gen Z spends $205, also rising year over year. Around 50% of Gen Z and 40% of millennials say dating costs are affecting their financial goals. As a result, about half of those surveyed report going on fewer dates or choosing lower-cost options like outdoor activities instead.

Tech

We Ain’t Talking Enough

Daily life is becoming quieter as digital habits replace in-person interaction. People are speaking far less than they did before, with average daily word counts dropping from 16,632 in 2005 to 11,900 in 2019, a 28% decline, according to researchers from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Arizona. That means roughly 120,000 fewer words spoken per person each year. The decline spans age groups, though people under 25 are losing words faster. 

Factors include increased smartphone use, fewer shared community spaces, and lifestyle shifts like self-checkout and fewer multigenerational homes. Researchers say the drop may have worsened after the pandemic. Studies also show parents speak 16% fewer words to infants while using phones, potentially affecting early language development.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🌍 Trump cancels his envoys’ trip to Islamabad for Iran war negotiations as Pakistan rushes to save the day.

🍱 Feel hungry every two hours? Whether it’s the midmorning hump or the afternoon slump, this snack tin can save you.

⚖️ US Department of Justice approves firing squads as permitted execution method to speed up capital punishment.

🌧️ Rain isn’t just romantic, science says there are a lot of benefits of feeling the droplets on your skin!

🏛️ Senator Thom Tillis lifts block on Kevin Warsh after DOJ drops probe into Jerome Powell.

🥗 Skip cottage cheese, this low-sodium, high-protein snack is the upgrade you need!

☕ Trader Joe’s being sued by customers over the caffeine levels in their coffee. Yikes!

🦠 South Carolina measles outbreak ends with nearly 1,000 cases, mostly among unvaccinated children.

🍿 Settling the ultimate snacking debate, what’s healthier — popcorn or pretzels?

🔍 A true crime podcast helps solve 43-year-old murder case, leading to four arrests.

🍽️ Hosting a dinner party?Science is weighing in.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

⏰ When motivation alone isn’t enough to get you out of bed and start your day, a little trick of “habit-stacking” might come in handy. 

📱 Guilty of doomscrolling while you eat your lunch? One study says distracted eating doesn't just make you eat more in the moment; some of its effects linger into your next meal too. 

😴 The simplest way to work out more often might be …. to go to bed early the night before. Yes, really. 

💸 If you believe wellness has to break your bank, these nine hacks cost next to nothing. Plus, science also backs them up.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👗 The “Cortisol Closet” is here, and yes, your outfits now double as mood stabilizers. This spring trend is emotionally stable with calming colors quietly taking over closets everywhere.

☕ Your morning coffee add-on just got ambitious. From glow goals to gut health, marine collagen is pitching itself as your body’s new multitasking overachiever.

👟 Your everyday sneakers are getting replaced, and the upgrade makes every outfit look instantly sharper this spring.

😷 Forget complicated routines, turns out the glow-up isn’t a serum — it’s a slightly terrifying mask doing all the heavy lifting nightly.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎧 Madonna debuts two new songs during a packed late-night DJ set at West Hollywood club event.

🎶 Sydney Sweeney spottedon Scooter Braun’s shoulders at Stagecoach Festival set.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Watching kids grow into independent adults is the goal, but staying emotionally close is the real win. A parenting coach studying 200 families found lasting bonds come from connection over control, emotional safety, acceptance, and accountability. It’s less about raising “perfect” kids and more about being someone they still choose, even when they don’t have to.

“Your new life is going to cost you your old one.” — Brianna Wiest