Monday, January 15th, 2024

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024

Good Morning! On this date in 2009, U.S. Airways pilot Chesley Sullenberger pulled off “The Miracle on the Hudson,” safely putting his plane down in the Hudson River after a bird strike took out both engines. (Hear Cockpit Recording)

It was a frigid weekend, and temps are about to drop down into “why do I live in this state, again?” territory—at least where The Editor resides. Do we have any Flyover readers who live in a tropical paradise and are trying not to laugh as you read about our frozen escapades? Drop us a line if you think your temperatures were the highest in all of Flyover Country this weekend (or the coldest!)

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Arctic Blast Snarls Thousands of Flights

Over 1,000 flights were canceled and 4,000 flights delayed over the weekend as subfreezing cold, winter storms, and strong winds battered much of the country, leaving millions under a winter weather advisory.

An Arctic blast is dropping temperatures as much as 50 degrees below average across the U.S. Today’s windchills could hit -17 in Des Moines, -10 in Kansas City, and 14 degrees in Dallas, according to weather maps.

Along with the flight disruptions, the winter blast could impact voter turnout in Iowa, already caused a Sunday NFL game to be delayed until today, and is likely to bring snow and ice even to southern states.

Congress Pushes Stopgap Deal to Avoid Shutdown

Congressional leaders have reached a deal to avert a government shutdown next week by agreeing on a two-step stopgap funding bill that runs to early March. The government was set to begin shutting down on Friday before the agreement was made.

It faces opposition from some Republicans who oppose stopgap funding. Speaker Mike Johnson, who backs the plan, was expected to brief the GOP conference last night.

The bill would be the second round of temporary funding passed by Congress. The first one, shepherded by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, helped spark the GOP rebellion that led to McCarthy’s ouster.

Iowans Caucus Today to Kick Off 2024 Election

The first actual voting of the 2024 presidential election comes in today’s Iowa caucuses, as citizens gather to be counted at their local precincts in the face of sub-zero wind chills.

The latest poll by the Des Moines Register shows 48% of likely GOP caucus-goers selecting Donald Trump as their first choice. Nikki Haley now sits in 2nd place at 20%, an increase of 4 points since December.

Ron DeSantis is in third at 16%. Vivek Ramaswamy is at 8%, but he has been crisscrossing the state, visiting all 99 counties twice hoping for a high-enough finish to propel him to New Hampshire, the next primary.

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➤ Hunter Biden’s lawyer says his client is now willing to testify in a deposition-style hearing if the House issues a new subpoena. The offer comes after two House committees recommended Biden be cited for contempt. (More)

➤ President Biden’s approval rating dropped to 33%, a record low for any president in the last 15 years, in a new ABC News/Ipsos poll. Donald Trump’s approval rating sits at 41%. (See Survey)

➤ The House GOP says it will push for punishment of any federal worker who walks off the job to join a pro-Palestinian protest tomorrow. Staffers at nearly two dozen agencies have said they plan to walk out. (More)

➤ A federal judge ruled that a U.S. law barring people from carrying guns into post offices was unconstitutional. The ruling dismissed part of an indictment against a postal worker who brought a gun to work. (More)

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➤ In the NFC playoffs, the Packers had an easy 48-32 victory over the Cowboys while the Lions just edged past the Rams, 24-23. Here’s a look at next weekend’s brackets so far. (See Schedule)

➤ In the AFC, the Texans romped over the Browns 45-14, and the Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 26-7 in the NFL’s 4th-coldest game. Texans’ rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud became the youngest QB ever to win a playoff game. (More)

➤ The Chiefs game was so cold that quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ helmet cracked open after a tackle, and head coach Andy Reid’s mustache was dripping with icicles. (See Photos)

➤ Washington Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer will replace Nick Saban as head coach of Alabama’s Crimson Tide. DeBoer took Washington to the college championship game this year but lost to Michigan. (More)

Market Report Previous Week

▲	NASDAQ Natl. Assoc. of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	14,972.76	+0.02%
▲	SPX S&P 500	4,783.83	+0.08%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	37,593.24	–0.31%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$42,661.0	+2.21%
▲	WIT Wipro Limited	$6.28	+16.95%

➤ Microsoft is now the world’s most valuable public company after passing Apple in market valuation on Friday. Microsoft has a market cap of $2.89 trillion compared to Apple’s $2.87 trillion. (More)

➤ Paramount is looking to cash in on its blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick” film with a third “Top Gun” movie starring Tom Cruise, using the same writer, director, and co-stars. (More)

➤ The market for high-end Wagyu beef is expected to grow by $3.6 billion, or 7%, over the next few years due to increased Asian production and trade. A new report says the biggest obstacle is its high price. (More)

➤ Reminder: The stock market and other federal services, including the Post Office, will be closed today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (More)

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➤ NASA unveiled its new X-59 “quiet supersonic” jet, designed to break the sound barrier without making a thunderous boom. Instead, it should sound more like a quiet “thump.” (See Video)

➤ Mercedes’ new G-Class electric vehicle can do 360-degree synchronized turns, thanks to electric motors on each wheel. Four of the cars showed off the feature in choreographed spins in Las Vegas. (See Video)

➤ Scientists have developed a trackpad chip that attaches to the roof of the mouth and functions like a computer mouse, allowing disabled users to use the “MouthPad” to scroll touchscreens using their tongue. (See Photo)

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➤ Leaders from over 60 countries converge on Davos this week to discuss war and trade, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. (More)

➤ NFL fans get a surprise double-header today, with the Bills-Steelers playoff game, delayed by weather from Sunday, scheduled for 4:30 ET, followed by the Eagles-Bucs game at 6:15. (More)

➤ Frigid weather means more indoor time. Here’s a list of new shows and movies available on TV and in theaters this week. (See New Shows)

➤ A Vermont state trooper plunged into icy waters to save a drowning 8-year-old in a feat captured on her body-cam. The child survived after several days recovering in the hospital. (See Video)

➤ A new photo project captures pictures of kids’ school lunches from around the world, including from U.S. school cafeterias. Take a look and see which lunch you’d prefer. (See Photos)

➤ A Tasmanian garden won the first-ever “World’s Ugliest Lawn” award for its parched moonscape of shriveled plants and pitted craters. The award is meant to encourage water-saving techniques. (See Photos)