The Wednesday Flyover Replay : Smoke Chokes Midwest, Pet Costs, and 100-Year-Old Blimp.

Presented by Russell Sherrard.

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

We are also a Podcast, if you want to listen there instead. Plus current and all previous episodes The Wednesday Flyover Replay

THE FLYOVER REPLAY.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Good Morning! On this day in 1989, the Chinese government violently suppressed pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, resulting in the deaths of hundreds, possibly thousands, of unarmed civilians. The event remains a highly sensitive and censored topic in China.

Yesterday’s question about your earliest memory sparked a flood of responses—thank you to everyone who wrote in. One reader says they remember their own birth (yes, including the birth canal). Another shared a cinematic tale involving a crazed horse, a baby carriage, and a narrow escape through a paint store in 1940s Brooklyn.

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.

Midwest, Southeast Choke on Smoke and Dust.

Hundreds of thousands were told to stay indoors Tuesday as smoke from over 200 Canadian wildfires pushed air quality to “very unhealthy” levels across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Additionally, a massive Saharan dust plume is expected to reach Florida and the Gulf Coast by Thursday, bringing hazy skies, reduced visibility, and possible “dirty rain” through the weekend.

The dust, driven by dry winds from Africa, can suppress tropical storms but may coat surfaces when mixed with rainfall.

Over 17,000 people have been evacuated in Canada, where U.S. firefighters have been deployed to assist.

Ukraine Hits Crimea Bridge.

Ukraine damaged the Kerch Bridge linking Russia to Crimea with underwater explosives early Tuesday, temporarily halting traffic on the key military supply route.

The Security Service of Ukraine said 2,400 pounds of TNT were used in the months-long operation targeting the bridge’s foundations. Watch a video here.

Satellite imagery confirmed that a weekend drone strike destroyed or damaged several long-range Russian bombers used in missile attacks on Ukraine, in what some have called a “Russian Pearl Harbor.”

Meanwhile, Russian officials launched a manhunt for Artem Timofeev, a former Ukrainian DJ who runs a trucking company, and his wife, Ekaterina Timofeeva, an erotic novelist, accusing them of helping organize the drone attacks.

Pet Owners Feel the Bite of Rising Costs.

The cost of owning a dog in the U.S. now ranges from $22,125 to $60,602 over 15 years, according to a new study, while cat care runs $20,073 to $47,106.

Veterinary costs are up 42% since 2019, with over half of pet owners reporting they’ve skipped or declined care due to cost—14% said their pet’s condition worsened or died as a result. Here’s a breakdown of overall costs.

Only 23% recall being offered payment plans, and 73% say vets didn’t present cheaper alternatives.

Smaller pets remain far less costly: a hamster’s lifetime care totals under $1,000, and even rabbits typically cost less than $6,000 over 10 years.

POLITICS.

The family of Mohamed Soliman, accused of attacking pro-Israel demonstrators with a flamethrower in Boulder, Colorado, has been taken into ICE custody and could be deported as early as Tuesday night, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The White House has formally asked Congress on Tuesday to approve $9.4 billion in budget cuts, primarily reducing funding for foreign aid and NPR and PBS, as identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

President Trump’s trade agenda is on hold as the White House awaits a long-delayed phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with rising tensions over critical minerals and tariff enforcement.

A federal judge in D.C. ruled Tuesday that prisons must continue providing hormone therapy and accommodations to transgender inmates, temporarily halting Trump’s executive order.

Just days after leaving his White House role, Elon Musk on Tuesday slammed Trump’s spending bill on X, calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill” and a “disgusting abomination.”

Joe Walsh, former Republican congressman and 2020 presidential candidate, announced Tuesday he’s formally joining the Democratic Party after five years as an independent.

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 someone 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. $10 per post. Direct your inquiries to russellsherrard@reagan.com

Thanks Christopher.

Now, back to the News.

SPORTS.

Olympic boxer Imane Khelif was reported to have XY chromosomes, according to a leaked medical report. Khelif won the women’s boxing gold medal in Paris last summer.

The Women’s College World Series matchup is set: Texas Tech will take on Texas in a Lone Star State showdown.

Meanwhile, the Men’s College World Series has entered Super Regionals after a bevy of first-round upsets. Play will resume this weekend to further narrow the field.

Warriors superstar Steph Curry said he will attempt to play golf professionally after he retires from basketball, and may even consider a career in broadcasting.

The New York Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau yesterday following the team’s exit from the NBA playoffs. Thibodeau led the Knicks to consecutive 50+ win seasons for the first time since the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

FINANCE.

Big Stock Move: Pony.ai stock fell 21% after announcing a deal to deploy over 1,000 robotaxis with Shenzhen’s largest taxi operator, as investors reacted to the lack of a clear timeline.

U S job openings jumped nearly 200,000 in April, beating forecasts and signaling a steady labor market.

Temu, a Chinese-owned discount shopping app, saw its daily U.S. users drop 58% in May after the Trump administration ended a tariff loophole that let it ship low-cost items duty-free.

McDonald’s Snack Wraps return next Tuesday with spicy and ranch flavors, marking their first appearance since 2016. The comeback coincides with Popeyes’ debut of their limited-time Chicken Wraps, reigniting the fast-food wrap wars.

SCIENCE AND TECH.

A robotics startup designs robots with emotional intelligence by syncing biometric data, such as sweat, heart rate, and skin temperature, with natural body movements. The goal is to mimic how humans express emotion through subtle gestures rather than words or facial cues.

Pediatric experts say parents shouldn’t be surprised if their baby’s eye color changes in the first year, as those changes are often influenced by sunlight, melanin levels, and inherited traits.

Scientists genetically modified fruit flies to crave cocaine so they can better study how addiction works in the brain and speed up the search for new treatments.

THE ROTATOR.
WISDOM WEDNESDAY.

It’s not whether couples argue that predicts relationship success, but how. The key difference between thriving and miserable relationships often lies in subtle habits during conflict.

Spending too long on big decisions drains clarity, says a decision coach. The real danger isn’t bad choices, it’s ignoring key factors that make choosing easier.

How you age mentally may depend less on luck and more on how you live. Researchers studying “superagers,” adults over 80 with the brainpower of someone decades younger, say key lifestyle habits make the difference.

ET CETERA.

Two Chinese nationals have been charged with smuggling a dangerous fungus—classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon—into the U.S., authorities said Tuesday.

A Norwegian Cruise Line passenger fell into the water while disembarking in Catania, Sicily, after strong winds caused the ship to detach from the pier on Friday.

The Goodyear Blimp is celebrating a century in the skies with commemorative flights over Mogadore, Ohio, near the site of its original 1925 launch.

With the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards still accepting entries through the end of the month, photographers from around the world are submitting their funniest shots of nature caught mid-mishap or mid-mug.

Daily Quote.

“Stop whining and get to work. You can’t just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn’t agree with you.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger, on why climate advocates should prioritize action over despair.

Inspirational Verse of the Day.

Proverbs Chapter 1 Verse 15. My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: KJV

And thats the news for today.

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