Good Morning!

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

• DOJ pulls federal oversight of several police departments.

• Abortion time-off is not mandated anymore. 

• Banking your sleep might work better than we thought.

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Spill The News

Another Oval Office Showdown — South Africa edition

President Donald Trump met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday in a meeting that turned tense after Trump was asked about the U.S. decision to admit white South Africans as refugees. Trump reiterated an unsubstantiated claim (watch what happened) that there is a “genocide” against white people in South Africa — a narrative South African officials have strongly denied. Fact-checking the claim.

The tension reflects growing strain between the U.S. and South Africa, fueled in part by Trump and Elon Musk’s repeated criticism of South Africa’s racial equity laws. Musk, who was born in South Africa, has repeatedly claimed there is a white genocide in the country — a statement Trump has begun echoing.

Pressed by reporters, Trump played a video montage in the Oval Office featuring inflammatory clips, including one of someone talking about “cutting the throat” and shooting white people. Ramaphosa responded: “That is not government policy.” South Africa’s agriculture minister later clarified that individuals in the montage belonged to minority parties not part of the ruling coalition.

Insight: Why two champion golfers accompanied Ramaphosa.

Federal Oversight Plans for Police Reform Ends

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced it will pull back from federal oversight of nearly two dozen police departments accused of civil rights violations, effectively ending efforts to reform local law enforcement following high-profile killings of Black Americans. The move has drawn sharp criticism.

The Justice Department plans to withdraw from agreements with departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, and to close investigations into police in Memphis, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Trenton (NJ), Mount Vernon (NY), and the Louisiana State Police. Federal oversight agreements in cities like Baltimore, Cleveland, Newark, and Ferguson remain in place but are under review. What could happen to policing as federal oversight ends?

“I would get rid of some of them today if I could,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s civil rights division, who noted that “many if not all” remaining oversight arrangements could also be dropped.

Trump’s Golden Iron Dome

President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, pledging it would be completed by the end of his term. Modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome, the system is aimed at intercepting rockets and missiles to guard against “catastrophic attacks”. The U.S. is more than 400 times larger than Israel, making nationwide coverage far more complex. Trump estimated the project would cost $175 billion, though the Congressional Budget Office projects it could reach $542 billion. 

He also said that Canada had expressed interest in joining the program. Experts remain uncertain about how the U.S. would implement such a vast system, and Canada’s role and financial contribution are still unclear. On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that "high level" discussions are underway about Canada joining the "Golden Dome" missile defense system. "It's something that we are looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level," Carney told reporters.

China has voiced strong opposition to the missile defense shield, adding international pushback to the project. “We are gravely concerned,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, warning the $175 billion plan could “exacerbate the risk of turning outer space into a battlefield” and spark a global arms race.

Click-Worthy

🤝 OpenAI buys iPhone designer Jony Ive’s AI startup for $6.5 million.

🍽️ Trump’s crypto dinner cost over $1 million a plate.

🚰 PSA: Your trusty water pitcher might be a mold magnet.

⚖️ Abortion time-off mandate for workers overturned by federal judge.

🥣 American breakfast cereals are getting more unhealthy.

🛌 Turns out, sleep banking is real, and science says it boosts performance.

🤑 America’s richest earned $365B this year. Their reward? A massive tax cut.

👶 Newborns to receive $1,000 in 'Trump Accounts' under new bill.

📵 Half of U.S. states now limiting phones in schools.

✈️ Amid controversy, Trump accepts $400M jet from Qatar.

Biz & Beyond

💼 Final job offers aren’t brick walls. People are cracking them open for bonuses, flexibility, and better titles — walking out with more than what was “possible”.

🤖 Women might be three times more likely to lose their jobs to AI, especially in admin roles, a UN report warns.

The Style Edit

👜 Woven leather, sculptural shapes, and buttery yellows — discover the top handbag trends making waves this summer.

👖 Denim short shorts are getting a glow-up this summer. Think silk blouses, statement belts, and serious main-character energy.

The Fame Frame

🤔 Is this Selena’s way of subtly supporting Hailey Bieber?

🎓 Kim Kardashian (finally) gets her Law degree.

😖 Miley Cyrus suffered an onstage ovarian cyst rupture. Yikes.

💸 Chris Brown released from UK jail after posting $5M bail.

📺 Slick, satirical, and sinister — Netflix’s ‘Sirens’ dives deep into dysfunction.

Weigh In

"The future isn’t just something that happens. It’s something we shape."

— Barack Obama