Good Morning!

Good Morning! It's Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Who’s paying for Trump’s tariffs, research sheds light. 

• Try 2/3 rule to get ready quicker in the morning. 

• A tiny sticker to replace your morning coffee?

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

This Is The Reason Why Trump Wants Greenland, He Texted About It

President Donald Trump sent a text on Jan. 18 to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre complaining about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize and stating he would no longer think “purely of Peace”. Trump wrote that “Complete and Total Control of Greenland” by the US was necessary for global security. How Republicans are criticizing Trump’s move.

The message, first reported by PBS journalist Nick Schifrin, was confirmed by Støre’s office. Støre said the text responded to a joint message from him and Finnish President Alexander Stubb urging de-escalation on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine, and tariffs. NATO chief meets Danish, Greenland officials.

Economy

This Is Who’s Paying For Trump’s Tariffs

New research published on Monday by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy found that Americans are paying nearly all costs from recent US tariffs. Analyzing $4 trillion in shipments from January 2024 to November 2025, researchers found foreign exporters absorbed about 4% of tariff costs, while US consumers and importers absorbed 96%. 

President Donald Trump has said foreigners pay the tariffs. Julian Hinz of Bielefeld University said the $200 billion in added tariff revenue last year was paid “almost exclusively by Americans.” The study said tariffs reduced trade volumes and are likely to raise US prices over time.

World

China’s Birth Rate Crisis

China’s birth rate fell to its lowest since 1949, with 7.92 million births recorded in 2025, according to the National Statistics Bureau. The population decreased by 3.39 million to 1.404 billion, marking the fourth consecutive year of more deaths than births. 

The United Nations projects China’s total fertility rate at 1.02, lower than the U.S. (1.62), Europe (1.41), Asia (2.24), and Africa (3.95). Experts including Yi Fuxian and RAND Corporation researchers attribute the decline to historical policies like the one-child policy and social and economic barriers, noting that recent incentives have had limited impact on reversing the trend.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🧘‍♀️ Want to make the best of your time off? Well, have you tried PTO-maxxing! 

📱 TikTok has a new viral trick to get ready in the morning. Have you heard of the “2/3 rule”. 

✝️ Protests at Minnesota church service add to tensions over ICE operations.

🩲 Health-obsessed bros have a new fitness obsession — underwear.

🌍 Trump confirms inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the Gaza “Board of Peace”.

🕊️ Valentino Garavani, legendary Italian couturier, dies at 93.

📊 Just 6% of Americans satisfied with government’s release of Epstein files, poll finds.

🌌 Northern lights may be visible across much of the US during severe solar storm.

🌍 Trump heads to Davos emboldened, signaling a more aggressive bid for global dominance.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

✨Could a tiny sticker replace your morning coffee or a good night’s sleep? The market is brimming with options — but is only fueled by Gen Z aesthetics and placebo therapies.  

🤧 The same cold that barely fazes one individual can trigger a week of misery for another. Don’t shoot the messenger, but your immune system is to blame! 

♥️ Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, yet their symptoms are frequently dismissed. How do you advocate for yourself amidst systemic bias and misdiagnosis?

🧠 Johns Hopkins scientists found "dormant" GluD proteins are actually active brain switches playing a role in communication and forming connections.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

 ✂️ Nobody does the Millie Bobby bob better than Millie Bobby Brown herself — and she’s back at it again with a fresh chop that’s already taking over our feeds.

📸 2026 is the new 2016? We are seeing a resurgence of fashion trends from a decade ago. Good or bad —  that’s for you and your camera roll to decide. 

🧴 Can you use Hyaluronic acid with retinol? Well, you're probably mixing them already. Good news: your skin barrier is likely thanking you for it. 

👖 When in doubt, take a page out of ‘90s Jennifer Aniston’s style book — she made the humble jeans a high-fashion staple.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

⚖️ Brooklyn Beckham slams his parents as he alleges shocking bribes … and a battle over his name.

🎂 Happy birthday, Dolly Parton! The icon turns 80 and is celebrated by gifting fans a star-studded anthem to fund pediatric cancer research.

🗣️ Don Lemon tells Nicki Minaj to "sit down" after she targeted him with a homophobic slur.

😏 Rihanna isn't easily rattled, even if she has to dodge a closing door with a sarcastic quip.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

European lawmakers are pushing to ban AI tools that generate nonconsensual “nudified” images after sexualized deepfakes spread via X’s Grok chatbot. While the EU’s AI Act already bans certain harmful uses, nudification apps are not explicitly prohibited. The European Commission says it is reviewing whether such tools can be banned under existing rules or require new restrictions. Lawmakers argue the harm was always intended to be covered, while experts warn reopening bans could complicate enforcement.

“You may not control the wind, but you can adjust the sails.” 

— Artemis Cooper