Your BRIGHT Week in Review

Plus: Dinner and a Movie 🎩

Photo of the Week

At the Thursday State Dinner, King Charles presented President Trump with a bell that launched from the UK in 1944 and happened to be named the HMS Trump. In case you missed any of the congressional speech, here is a compilation of the King of Jokes best quips.

Two Kings 👑

No “no kings” protestors in D.C. this week. Judging by the White House’s post, they’re not slowing down on trolling the Left.

In his remarks at the White House, President Trump said, “Honoring the British King might seem an ironic beginning to our celebration of 250 years of American independence — but in fact, no tribute could be more appropriate. Long before Americans had a nation or Constitution, we first had a culture, a character, and a creed. Before we ever proclaimed our independence, Americans carried within us the rarest of gifts: moral courage, and it came from a small but mighty kingdom from across the sea.”

The Hill reported King Charles III delivered a rare address to Congress urging renewed U.S.-U.K. cooperation during global instability, emphasizing shared democratic values and collective responsibility. “The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone,” he said, warning that alliances cannot “rest on past achievements.”

The speech, only the second by a British monarch to Congress, highlighted 250 years of reconciliation since American independence. “From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history,” Charles noted.

He concluded. “To the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world.”

Fox News reported, “Buckingham Palace said King Charles III was ‘deeply honoured’ to deliver a joint address to Congress, adding he was ‘greatly touched by the warmth and generosity of the response he received.’”

Supreme Court Sets New Standards for Fair Maps

The Hill reported the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Louisiana’s newly drawn second majority-Black congressional district is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, narrowing how race can be used under the Voting Rights Act. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said, “That map is an unconstitutional gerrymander, and its use would violate the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.”

The ruling limits Section 2 lawsuits that have long pushed states to create majority-minority districts. In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan called the decision a “now-completed demolition” of the law, adding it “ushered in awe-inspiring change” and should be altered only by Congress.

The decision could reshape redistricting nationwide, affecting maps at all levels and fueling new legal battles ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Fox News reported:

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Joe Gruters praised the ruling in a statement provided to Fox News Digital, describing it as a “win for fairness, the rule of law, and anyone who opposes racial gerrymandering.”

“The American people don’t want to see Americans segregated by race in their congressional maps, which is exactly what was happening in Louisiana,” he added. “Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a basic constitutional principle: the government cannot discriminate on the basis of race when drawing congressional maps.

DNC Chair Ken Martin, meanwhile, lamented the ruling as a “dark day for America,” adding that the “Supreme Court just rolled back the clock on the Civil Rights Movement.”

In response to the Left’s hysterical reaction, America’s favorite CNN pundit Scott Jennings wrote, “Must be exhausting to be for gerrymandering one week and against it the next.”

Gen X Beauty Boom

Gen X is emerging as a major force in the beauty industry, with brands increasingly targeting women who are entering peak earning years. Elle magazine reported the shift reflects long-overlooked demand. Founder of her namesake brand Sarah Creal noted, “There’s been a lot of tokenism: Here are our twentysomethings and our 70-year-olds with gray hair and wrinkles. And I was like, ‘Where are the 40- to 60-year-olds? Do you think that the person shopping in their 30s at Sephora is suddenly going to go to department stores?’”

Industry voices highlight changing habits and attitudes. Makeup coach Erica Taylor said, “We’ve been tricked, so we’re in an education era. We want to see facts and studies before we just go ahead and buy anything.” Influencers also stress confidence over trends. Content creater Tennille Jenkins saying Gen X women like herself are “very proud about where I am in life, my age, my history, the things that bring me joy and happiness. We are spending more money and time on ourselves. We’re taking that trip. We’re just feeling emboldened to just embrace and live life. These are beautiful years.” (I couldn’t agree more!)

Elle noted, “Being seen by the beauty industry also means being marketed to—the kind of “progress” many Gen X women are hardwired to resent. Cynics may argue that 40-year-olds are the youngest reasonable target for antiaging products (nobody wants to watch baby beauty influencers apply concealer), and that the flood of marketing could spark age panic in a new group of consumers. But this generation’s beauty pros are practical.”

RELATED: The Beauty Industry Is Suddenly All-In On Gen X (Whatever Nevermind)

What I’m Reading This Week

Even though Dana Perino has the advantage of being on Fox News every day, it’s still a gamble to write a book that isn’t red meat when you’re part of the political world. (Ask me how I know 😂). This week I’ll be reading her first novel, Purple State. From the description:

Dorothy “Dot” Clark, a buttoned-up PR professional from New York City feels stuck in her career and her love life. At twenty-five, she expected more from her choices. Seizing a chance to follow her passion, she’s sent to Cedar Falls, Wisconsin, a swing district in a swing state that could decide the next presidential election. Joined by her two best friends, Mary and Harper—both excited to escape the city for reasons of their own—Dot quickly discovers that small-town Midwestern life is far outside her urban comfort zone.

Nestled along the banks of the picturesque Cedar Creek, the charming town of Cedar Falls is everything Dot, Mary, and Harper have been missing. The close-knit community takes pride in its cozy cafes, locally brewed beer, family farms, and, of course, the beloved Reader Falls Bookshop. There, Dot meets the mysterious Danny Dawson, a big-hearted, truck-driving guy who follows hockey, not headlines—a man so unlike anyone she’s ever dated that she finds herself falling fast. And Mary and Harper, both tired of dating finance bros and influencer wannabes, soon also discover that guys outside New York might just be hotter, smarter, and more grounded than they’d imagined.

Dinner and a Movie

The King’s Speech is fitting this week! For dinner this week, another Blue Apron that you could also make at home — Smashed Beef Kebab with Tzatziki, Walnuts & Pita.