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It's Wednesday, May 28, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• U.S. halts student visa appointments and calls for social media vetting.

• Maternal mental health is increasingly on a decline.

• Sperm donor unknowingly passes cancer gene to 67 children.

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U.S. Halts International Student Visa Appointments

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered U.S. embassies to halt all student visa interview scheduling as the Trump administration considers stricter vetting of applicants’ social media profiles. The directive, issued in a cable to diplomats Tuesday, is the latest move in the administration’s push to curb foreign student entry over concerns they could “threaten U.S. national security or promote antisemitism”.

This comes as the Trump administration is planning to escalate its fight with Harvard, urging federal agencies to terminate contracts with the school — a move that could jeopardize billions in funding for the elite institution. In a letter sent Tuesday, the General Services Administration accused Harvard of racial discrimination in admissions and campus life, instructing agencies to “review for termination or transition” their federal contracts with the university. Harvard President Alan Garber responded, calling the government’s actions “perplexing”. All of Trump’s actions against Harvard. 

The move escalates tensions between the White House and universities — a clash that began with antisemitism controversies at schools like Harvard and Columbia, but has since grown into a broader fight over the role of American higher education — one that could reshape who has access to American universities. If the administration continues restricting international student access, it risks driving top talent toward other countries eager to attract the innovation and expertise that has long fueled U.S. global leadership.

Maternal Mental Health on a Decline

The mental health of U.S. mothers has worsened sharply since 2016, according to a major new study published Tuesday in JAMA Internal Medicine. The percentage of mothers rating their mental health as “excellent” dropped significantly between 2016 and 2023, while the share reporting poor mental health rose — especially among single mothers and those with children on Medicaid or without insurance.

The study arrives amid renewed political focus on parenting and declining birthrates. The Trump administration is reportedly considering policies to encourage marriage and childbearing. Yet just last year, then–Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy issued a warning about the mental toll of parenting, describing many parents as “exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind”.

Motivated by Murthy’s advisory, researchers analyzed data from nearly 200,000 mothers in the National Survey of Children’s Health. Between 2016 and 2023, the share of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health fell from 38.4% to 25.8%. Those reporting “good” mental health rose from 18.8% to 26.1%, while “fair/poor” mental health increased from 5.5% to 8.5%. Meanwhile, “excellent” physical health declined from 28.0% to 23.9%, “good” physical health rose from 24.3% to 28.1%, and “fair/poor” physical health saw no significant change.

‘Strong and Free’: King Charles Addresses Canadian Parliament

King Charles III received a standing ovation in Ottawa on Tuesday as he opened a new session of Canada’s parliament, declaring, "all Canadians give themselves far more than any foreign power or any continent can ever take away." 

He is the first British monarch to deliver the speech from the throne there since Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. His visit comes as President Trump imposes tariffs and floats Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. 

“The ‘True North’ is indeed strong and free,” King Charles III said, referencing Canada’s national anthem in a speech to Canadian lawmakers. “Every time I come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream and from there straight to my heart,” he continued. “I’ve always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognized across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defense of national values and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.”

Without naming Donald Trump, Charles stressed, “Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear and ones which the government is determined to protect.”

Click-Worthy

🤷‍♂️ Elon Musk calls Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” disappointing.

🥗 AI tool likely to slash food waste, saving 1.5 million meals.

🎓 More and more college graduates are unemployed.

💊 America is hooked on weight-loss meds.

🧬 This sperm donor fathered 67 children; unknowingly passed cancer gene to 10.

🚫 CDC halts COVID shot recommendation for kids, expecting moms.

🏫 Supreme Court bans ‘Only Two Genders’ t-shirts from schools.

➡️ Record number of Americans seeking UK citizenship.

💥 Watch: SpaceX’s Starship’s ninth test ends in explosive failure.

🏔️ Sherpa Kami Rita conquers Everest for a record-breaking 31st time.

Her Hustle

🕳️ Are happiness surveys a hoax? Workers say honesty backfires and feedback vanishes into a black hole of HR silence.

👩‍💻 Tech moms share how return-to-office mandates reshaped their lives: some embraced the change, others sought new paths..

House to Home

🌿 Make your home germier — in a good way! Open windows, add plants, and let your dog track in healthy microbes.

👋🏽 Say goodbye to mass-produced decor and hello to unique, character-filled items that tell your home's story.

The Fame Frame

🧙‍♂️ Meet the ‘Harry Potter’ main cast in upcoming series.

📺 FX’s new show ‘Adults’ is ‘Friends’ for an anxious generation.

💍 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have engagement on the cards?

🎶 Miley Cyrus debuts 'Something Beautiful' in intimate performance.

⚖️Diddy trial: Former assistant testifies Combs threatened to kill Kid Cudi. 

Go. See. Do.

☕Drink | Healthy, energy-boosting coffee alternatives.

🏃‍♂️Do | 20-min on-the-go workout.

🌌View | Dazzling images from 2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year. 

📚Read | Best summer beach books.

"If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be."

— Maya Angelou