Good Morning!

It's Tuesday, April 22, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• White House looks to boost birthrate with “baby bonuses”.

• Defaulted student loans face collections.

• Spending on weight-loss drugs rose 500% in five years.

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Spill The News

White House Finding Ways to Boost Birthrate

The Trump administration is weighing proposals to boost marriage and birthrates as part of a broader conservative push to promote family values, the New York Times reported. Ideas include reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for married applicants or parents, offering a $5,000 “baby bonus” for new mothers, and funding fertility education programs for women.

The White House birthrate advocates see an ally in Elon Musk, who’s long warned that declining birthrates could doom humanity. He’s part of a growing conservative movement pushing pro-natalist policies — now with unprecedented political influence.

This comes as the Trump administration has scaled back federal programs that monitor IVF clinic safety and fertility data. Experts warn this could hurt patients by limiting access to critical information on treatments, clinics, and success rates, especially affecting women and children’s health.

Should Gun Rights Come With Age Limit?

The Supreme Court declined to review a case on whether 18- to 20-year-olds can be restricted from carrying guns. 

The case involved a Minnesota law that criminalizes public gun carrying for those under 21. Last year, the Eighth Circuit overturned the law, ruling that the Second Amendment protects the right for individuals as young as 18 to carry firearms.

Lower courts have struggled to apply recent Supreme Court rulings that reshaped Second Amendment law, introducing a new test for evaluating the constitutionality of gun control measures. As Justice Clarence Thomas stated in his 2022 majority opinion in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, such laws must be struck down unless they are "consistent with this nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Defaulted Student Loans Face Collections from May 5

The Department of Education announced on Monday that 5 million Americans with defaulted student loan payments will have their loans sent to collections on May 5. This will mark the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic pause that the department will collect debts from borrowers who had defaulted — those who hadn’t made payments for about nine months —  before the pandemic.

The announcement signals the end of a lenient period. Since March 2020, no federal student loans have been sent to collections, including those in default.

Currently, about 5.3 million borrowers have defaulted on their federal student loans. Starting May 5, the Department of Education will begin involuntary collections through the Treasury Department’s offset program. This program withholds payments such as tax refunds, federal salaries, and other government benefits from borrowers with overdue debts. Following a 30-day notice, wage garnishment will also begin for defaulted borrowers.

A Quick Recap

⚖️ Harvard sues Trump Administration after threats to pull another $1 billion in funding.

💊 Americans’ spending on weight loss drugs soared 500% in five years.

💔 Will Google and Chrome breakup?

🩺 Obamacare back at SCOTUS, with preventive care in question.

📰 Political news can be depressing, is it okay to tune out?

👜 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse stolen, costing her more than $3,000 in cash.

🕊️ Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday. What happens when a Pope dies?

📱 Signal row: As Trump “stands strongly behind” Hegseth, the latter blasts media.

⏰ Can intermittent fasting really help you lose weight? What science says.

📊 Gold prices set another record at $3,500 as unease prevails among investors.

She’s Got Game

🤸‍♀️ Simone Biles flips her way to another crown — named Laureus Sportswoman of the Year.

🎾 Jelena Ostapenko stuns at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, beating the No. 1 and 2 players — first since Serena's 2012 Madrid feat!

The Style Edit

🧥 Fashion’s in its recession era. Tariffs, tight budgets, and stealth-wealth are pushing us all toward “rich-but-bored” energy.

👗 From flirty colorful cardigans to satin pants — this spring season, think cool-girl comfort with celebrity-level slay.

The Fame Frame

🎤 Kendrick Lamar is the new Brand Ambassador for Chanel.

🤯 George and Amal Clooney never fight. WHAT?

🐶 Sydney Sweeney is now a dog mom!

🙏 Celebrities pay tribute to Pope Francis.

🕷️ Andrew Garfield wants to play Spiderman again?

Weigh In

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

 — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry