A Charged Night

The 2024 Academy Awards. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( March 11, 2024 Good morning! It was an eventful — and politically charged — evening at the Oscars: From [the full list of winners]( to [the best red carpet looks](, we've got it all. Then, take a gander at [the first official post-surgery photo of Kate Middleton]( — and the controversy surrounding it. In health, we're sharing [the alarming link between microplastics and heart health]( and [foods that may lower your risk of colorectal cancer](. Read on...   In the News [Robert Downey Jr. holding an Oscar]( Getty Images A Politically Charged Night The 96th annual Academy Awards offered all the usual glitz, but there were serious undertones as well. Here's what went down. Oppenheimer won big: Christopher Nolan's epic about the "father of the atomic bomb" won seven awards including best picture and best director, with stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. winning best actor and best supporting actor respectively. Its blockbuster nemesis Barbie didn't go home empty-handed, though — [check out the full list of winners, here](. The political backdrop: Writer and director Jonathan Glazer used his win for best international feature film for The Zone of Interest to speak out against the war in Gaza. "Our film shows where dehumanization leads at its worst," he said. And accepting the award for best documentary for 20 Days in Mariupol, Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov stressed: “I wish to be able to exchange this for Russia never attacking Ukraine." Serving looks: After last year's controversial color switch, the red carpet returned, and the fashion was just as show-stopping as ever. We’ve got [the best-dressed at this year’s ceremony]( — plus the meaning behind the one accessory that was all over the red carpet. [READ MORE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fkatiecouric.com%2Fentertainment%2Fmovies-tv%2Foscar-winners-2024%2F   More Stories [Caitlin Clark celebrating]( Getty Images Politics: The woman whose sex trafficking nightmare Alabama Sen. Katie Britt appeared to refer to in her rebuttal of [President Biden's State of the Union address]( says Britt misrepresented her story. Karla Jacinto told CNN she was held captive between 2004 and 2008 — during George W. Bush's administration, not Biden's — and was never trafficked in the U.S. Britt, who was parodied by Scarlett Johansson on SNL over the weekend, has doubled down. She told Fox News Sunday: "This is a story of what is happening." Law and order: The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX door plug blowout that shook an Alaska Airlines flight in January, the Wall Street Journal reports. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is flying extra security to the U.S. Embassy in Haiti — and evacuating nonessential personnel — as gang violence in the region escalates. Unlocking homeowners' "golden handcuffs": The Biden administration may have a solution for would-be home sellers who are unwilling to give up the mortgages they got back when rates were low. It's planning a $10,000 tax credit for those who sell their "starter homes," in hopes this will //link.katiecouric.com/click/34636522.734373/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTEvYmlkZW4taG91c2luZy10YXgtY3JlZGl0LWdvbGRlbi1oYW5kY3VmZnM/64ad542fa06bf6ade80ad77fCa26a335b//link.katiecouric.com/click/34636522.734373/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTEvYmlkZW4taG91c2luZy10YXgtY3JlZGl0LWdvbGRlbi1oYW5kY3VmZnM/64ad542fa06bf6ade80ad77fEa26a335b[free those properties up for others who are yet to get on the ladder](.   Must-Reads [spoon with microplastics on light yellow background]( Big Danger Microplastics are everywhere, even in our bodies. A new study found a scary link between these tiny particles and heart disease. [Read More »]( [Kate Middleton]( Breaking Her Silence The first official photo of the Princess of Wales since her surgery has been released — but it's creating more drama, not squashing it. [Read More »]( [Image of intestine filled with fruits and vegetables]( Eat Up For National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we asked an expert about the foods that may help prevent this terrible disease. [Read More »](   Extra Credit [Illustration of Planet Earth in a plastic bag]( KCM Under water: Did you get caught in a storm recently? This week in Ripple Effect, we're looking at extreme weather, how we measure it, and how these crises impact people across the U.S. [Sign up for free]( so you don't miss this fascinating issue! Meal prep Monday: Who has the energy to cook an elaborate meal after we just lost an hour of sleep? Not us. Thankfully, [this one-pot pasta wonder]( is coming to the rescue to save dinner. Drift away: If your head is in an uncomfortable position — or if you're trying to sleep on a pancake pillow that's folded in half — it can be tough to fall asleep. Chin up, because we found [the Holy Grail of pillows]( to cradle your neck as you doze off.   Sweet Dreams [Sea salt chocolate blend from Beam]( Beam Sailing away into the subconscious realm just got as easy as… a mug of hot chocolate. The Dream blend from our partners at Beam is clinically shown to help you get a more restful night’s sleep and wake up feeling energized, and it doesn’t hurt that it comes in [a delicious sea salt caramel flavor](. For the next 24 hours, [take up to 40% off]([all]([Beam products with code KATIECOURIC](. [SHOP HERE](   [Good Taste by Katie Couric Media]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you've got questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2023 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.