The Thursday Flyover Replay : Fed Trims Rates, Water Floods American Flight, and Comedy Wildlife Photos

Presented by Russell Sherrard,

Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Our Hosts are Christopher and Jenny,

THE FLYOVER REPLAY,

Thursday, December 19, 2024,

Good Morning! On this day in 1843, Charles Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol was published. The first edition sold out by Christmas Eve, and by 1844, the novella had gone through 13 printings and continued to be a strong seller.

We hope you enjoyed reading today’s Flyover. Let us know how we’re doing by replying to Russell Sherrard at russellsherrard@reagan.com.

The sponsors keep the tanks full around here. Be sure to check out today’s sponsors.

TAKEOFF,

Fed Cuts Rates a Quarter-Point, Stocks Plunge,

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate for the third consecutive time Wednesday, lowering rates by a quarter-point and signaling it expects only two more rate cuts in 2025.

Rates now stand at 4.25%- 4.5%, back to the level they were at in December 2022. Chair Jerome Powell called the decision a reflection of higher inflation readings and “expectations that inflation will be higher in 2025.”

The announcement triggered a market plunge, with the Dow dropping 1,100 points (2.5%), extending its losing streak to 10 days, the longest since 1974. The S&P 500 fell nearly 3%, and the Nasdaq dropped 3.5%.

Defense Bill Passes Senate,

The Senate approved the 1,800-page, $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act in an 85 to 14 vote on Wednesday, authorizing funding for the Defense Department next year.

The bill arrived in the Senate two months late as Democrats fought against a part of the bill that prohibited military health care services from providing sex-change procedures on children.

The House passed the bill 281 to 140 last week, with Speaker Mike Johnson stating that it refocuses “the Pentagon on military lethality, not radical woke ideology.”

The bill has been sent to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

CNN Hits Record Low as Fox News Surges,

CNN’s ratings have hit an all-time low in the key 25-54 demographic, with primetime viewership plunging 52% following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.

MSNBC also saw a steep decline, with ratings dropping over 60%, while Fox News gained 7% and captured 72% of cable news viewers.

CNN is in the midst of a major overhaul that will reportedly include mass layoffs. It averaged only 92,000 total day viewers in the key 25-to-54-year-old demographic this year and suffered a 52% decline in its primetime core audience.

Experts attribute the declines at left-leaning networks to partisan disengagement, though both networks hope for a rebound as political activity ramps up.

POLITICS,

The Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday that it would hear arguments next month regarding a federal law that would ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sells it.

The House Ethics Committee voted to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s investigation into sexual misconduct and obstruction, with two Republicans siding with Democrats.

President Biden made his first public remarks on Tuesday about numerous mysterious drone sightings, stating there was nothing dangerous or “nefarious” about the aircraft.

The Environmental Protection Agency approved California’s stricter vehicle emissions standards and 2035 gas-powered car ban on Wednesday, though a reversal is expected under the incoming Trump administration.

After a word from one of our sponsors Jenny will be Narrating the last half of the news.

And Now, A word From one of Our Sponsors,

Add Audio to your blog posts.

Are you an author or writer with a Blog and wonder if it is being effective?
I have added audio to my blog posts and am getting good comments. I can add voice to your blog posts. You choose Male/Female $5 per post. Direct your inquiries to russellsherrard@reagan.com

Thanks Christopher,

Now, back to the News.

SPORTS,

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 on Tuesday night to win the NBA Cup.

President-elect Donald Trump appointed former Heisman winner and Senate candidate Herschel Walker as ambassador to the Bahamas on Tuesday, citing his contributions to youth sports and veterans.

The New York Yankees acquired former NL MVP Cody Bellinger from the Cubs on Tuesday, sending right-hander Cody Poteet and cash considerations to Chicago.

Michael Vick, one of the most controversial NFL quarterbacks, has agreed to become Norfolk State’s next head football coach.

The Holiday Section

A Christmas Carol inspired countless adaptations. Here’s a ranked list of 24 versions, with Alastair Sim’s 1951 portrayal topping it.

Chrismukkah occurs when one night of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas—as it does next week—and blends traditions of both holidays in a festive combination.

Capybaras shine as the holiday season’s “it” animal, with increased sales of plush toys, mugs, and apparel adorned by the animal’s image, fueled by social media buzz.

FINANCE,

Big Stock Move: Viking Therapeutics stock dropped 18% Wednesday on news that Merck is moving to compete in the same obesity treatment market space.

Honda and Nissan are reportedly in merger talks to form a single holding company, potentially including Mitsubishi, to strengthen their competitiveness, particularly with electric vehicles.

Amazon workers in Southern California authorized strikes at four warehouses over fair wages and conditions, joining New York and Illinois in using holiday-season pressure.

Walmart employees in select U.S. stores are testing body cameras to deter conflicts and enhance safety during escalated interactions and retail theft concerns.

SCIENCE AND TECH,

NASA announced Tuesday that safety concerns will again delay astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ return from the International Space Station to March 2025. It was originally set for February.

Scientists identified, for the first time, twin stars orbiting a black hole, offering new insights into how stars are propelled through space.

In another first, California squirrels were observed hunting and eating voles, stunning scientists with their unexpected carnivorous behavior.

THE ROTATOR,
THROWBACK THURSDAY,

Florida’s attractions have transformed over decades, blending history and modernity. Take a look at then-and-now photos of iconic sites like Kennedy Space Center and Disney World.

1960s fashion wowed with bold prints, miniskirts, and a distinctive style. Vintage family photos highlight its iconic look.

Here are 15 comforting casseroles inspired by recipes grandmas everywhere love, including Tex-Mex, chicken hash brown casserole, and sweet potato classics.

ET CETERA,

Passengers panicked as water flooded the aisle mid-flight on an American Airlines trip from Dallas to Minneapolis, leading to viral posts and safety concerns.

A photo of a potential Bigfoot sighting near Cornfields, Arizona, on Navajo Nation land has sparked cryptozoology buzz after resurfacing online.

The winners of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards include a “stuck” squirrel, a grinning frog, and “smooching owlets.”

Daily Quote,

“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in two years!”

— Elon Musk on the short-term funding bill before Congress.

And thats the news for today.

And Now a word from our sponsor, The Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Go to https:// payhip.com/ Christian NonFiction eBookStore then scroll down and click on The Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon

In publishing the life of the late CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON, the publishers feel a peculiar pleasure and believe themselves especially fortunate in having secured the Rev. Russell H. Conwell, D.D., LL.D., pastor at The Temple, of Philadelphia, to prepare the work. There are many reasons why the popular preacher, who might justly be called the Spurgeon of America, should in this way pay a loving tribute to the memory of his great English ecclesiastical brother, and why such a book must have an absorbing interest for all readers. Foremost among these might be considered his personal acquaintance with the great divine of gigantic efforts and wonderful achievements, and the deep study he has ever given to his popular brother preacher’s life and the measure of its successes.

As a fellow-preacher of the Gospel, he knew better than any layman how to interpret the hidden springs of success to count the cost of Herculean efforts made, and better, understand the great man’s life-work in all its thousands of minute details which he, as an intimate personal friend had the opportunity to observe.

Like Spurgeon, he has the power to earn and raise large sums of money, but he devotes every dollar beyond a reasonable living expense to the cause he has so much at heart. His remarkable line of work, also, in many ways corresponds with that of Spurgeon,

The similarity in the work of the English Spurgeon and the American Conwell has often been commented upon by press and people. Spurgeon made, and Conwell is making, a complete sacrifice of talents, time and health to the one aim in life-the salvation of souls. Each commenced life a poor boy, and had an early life fraught with discouragements and temptations.

The author’s grand work for the Grace Baptist Church, of Philadelphia, has justly distinguished him as the greatest preacher of his denomination in this country. He was a student at Yale College, and graduated in the Law Department of Albany University and was admitted to the New York bar in 1865. His health not permitting the practice of law, he began as traveling correspondent of the Boston Traveler and the New York Tribune, during which his constant companion and warmest friend was Bayard Taylor, with who he traveled all over the world, and obtained distinction as a journalist.

In addition to the pastorate of a church which has one of the most remarkable houses of worship in the world, open every hour of every day and night in the year, and is never untenanted, Dr. Conwell is the head of Temple College, connected with the church fostered by him, which is for the free education of working-men and women in the classic collegiate branches, with fourteen professors, a preparatory department that sends pupils to Yale, Harvard and Amherst, and giving itself decrees equal to those of Princeton. He is the head of the Samaritan Hospital, also an outgrowth of his personal effort and example, which is doing incalculable good in Philadelphia.

In addition. to his church work, Dr. Conwell lectures all over the United States, to large and delighted audiences.

He is also a prolific author, The most important of his works are a ” Life of Garfield,” which he wrote at the home of the martyred President, in Mentor; “Why and How the Chinese Immigrate,” the material for which he gathered in the Chinese Empire Life of Hon. James G. Blaine,” Life of Bayard Taylor,” and “Acres of Diamonds,” each of which has been appreciatively read by thousands of readers in this and other countries.