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Sunday, July 26, 2026
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Good Morning! On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the U.S. postal system, naming Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general.
For decades, you couldn’t go far without bumping into the latest issue of Reader’s Digest, which once boasted more than 17 million U.S. subscribers. The pocket-size magazine is still around, but on a much smaller scale, as we see in today’s edition of Whatever Happened To…
In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla tackled the weather pattern that could rewrite the entire winter. Forecasters now put the odds at 81% that El Niño reaches “very strong” status by winter, potentially one of the largest on record, and every corner of the country will be affected. When a pattern this powerful takes over, it doesn’t just tweak the forecast, it decides which states get soaked and which dry out. Ayla broke down the five ways forecasters say this El Niño will shape the months ahead. So which side of the split does your state land on? Tune in here!
Today’s sponsor, Blood Sugar Secrets, is highlighting research on an inexpensive breakfast drink that may help support stem cell activity and overall wellness, with more details available through their presentation.
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 Trump Order Cautions Smithsonian Visitors
President Trump on Friday ordered federal officials to install signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to caution visitors about exhibits his administration views as “inaccurate.”
The move follows a report that accused the Smithsonian and the National Museum of American History of failing to present history “in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”
The museum is largely funded by the federal government but operates outside the executive branch. The president lacks the authority to quickly fire the Smithsonian leadership or to order changes to exhibits.
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OpenAI Launches Health Platform
OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Health, a service that allows users to securely connect their medical records and wellness apps to the artificial intelligence chatbot.
The new feature comes in response to nearly 300 million people who already turn to ChatGPT with health-related questions each week. But users are cautioned to consider the likelihood of inaccuracy as well as the issue of sharing sensitive, potentially deeply personal information with a chatbot.
According to OpenAI, “We’re continuing to improve the models behind health conversations so ChatGPT can reason more carefully across complex details, explain health information clearly, ask for missing context, and recognize when professional care may be needed.”
The launch comes days after a Florida man filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT gave him faulty advice prior to a near-fatal medical event.
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List: Most Iconic Food in Each State
No matter where you travel in the United States, there’s an opportunity to enjoy that special dish that puts each state on the map.
Some selections are well known: Illinois boasts deep-dish pizza, Alaska offers king crab, and North Carolina swears by barbecue. For the culinarily curious, Wyoming serves fry bread, South Dakota rolls out lefse, and Kentucky stacks the hot brown.
But save room for dessert. Several states appeal to your sweet tooth: Oregon bakes marionberry pie, Idaho scoops the ice cream potato, and Florida keeps it classic with key lime pie.
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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:
➤ Delivery giants are rushing to keep weight-loss drugs cold. (Hear More)
➤ Thousands celebrated the birthday of the internet’s favorite little monkey. (Listen Now)
➤ A beloved honey farm teetered on collapse, but one beekeeper refused to quit. (Podcast Available)
  
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➤ The National Baseball Hall of Fame will induct Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent this afternoon in Cooperstown. Their plaques will feature Mets, Braves, and Giants caps, respectively. (How to Watch)
➤ San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will participate on a limited basis when the team’s training camp opens as he recovers from non-life-threatening injuries suffered in a car accident last week. (More)
➤ NASCAR’s Cup Series stages the Brickyard 400 this afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on TNT. Points leader Denny Hamlin can complete a career sweep of NASCAR’s crown-jewel races with a victory. (How to Watch)
➤ Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings became the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-point contest Friday night in Chicago, then challenged Stephen Curry: “I’ve been asking for a rematch since high school.” (More)
➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf
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Weekly Market Report Previous Week
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NASDAQ
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations |
24,975.82 |
-2.90% |
| ▼ |
SPX
S&P 500 |
7,411.98 |
-1.03% |
| ▼ |
DJI
Dow Jones Industrial Average |
51,947.25 |
-0.40% |
| ▼ |
BTC
Bitcoin |
$64,098.50 |
-0.91% |
| ▲ |
GOLD
Per Ounce |
$4,067.60 |
1.60% |
| ▲ |
SILVER
Per Ounce |
$58.66 |
3.27% |
| ▲ |
OIL
West Texas Intermediate Crude |
$89.31 |
6.63% |
Bitcoin, gold, silver, and oil are traded 24 hours a day.
➤ Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed the average interest rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.58% this week, the highest level in nearly a year. (More)
➤ Paramount Skydance agreed to delay its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to as late as June 2027 amid legal challenges over antitrust concerns. (More)
➤ More than 1.5 million dozen shell eggs sold in six states have been voluntarily recalled over potential Salmonella contamination. Retail brands include Kroger, Brookshire’s, and Country Morning. (More).
Flying together with our sponsor
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Sunday Rewind is brought to you by:
Ladies and gentlemen, here are our most-clicked stories of the week:
➤ Winter’s forecast probably has less to do with normal seasonal shifts than with a single pattern now given an 81% chance of reaching “very strong” status, potentially one of the largest on record. So, which five ways do forecasters say this El Niño will rewrite the months ahead, and which states get soaked while others dry out? (Podcast Available)
➤ A new study comparing weekdays and weekends shows Americans spend nearly two more hours on leisure and 55 more minutes sleeping on weekends, while working three fewer hours. (See Study)
➤ New Jersey officials said a software glitch registered about 6,600 noncitizens between June 2023 and June 2024, roughly 400 of whom voted, though no evidence shows the ballots changed election outcomes. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Brighten every step with the Skechers x Romero Britto collection. Featuring the artist’s signature colorful designs, these limited-edition shoes combine eye-catching style with Skechers’ renowned comfort. Add a fun, artistic touch to your everyday wardrobe while enjoying the all-day support Skechers is known for. (SHOP NOW)
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➤ Maine Democrats nominated Troy Jackson on Saturday to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins after primary winner Graham Platner ended his campaign over a sexual assault allegation. (More)
➤ California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna joined New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest under an ICC warrant during his U.S. visit. (More)
➤ Wildfires in France and Spain forced more than 250,000 people to evacuate as strong winds pushed flames toward Bordeaux and hampered efforts to contain dozens of blazes. (More)
➤ A Hawaii grand jury indicted Democrat Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on bribery, conspiracy, and campaign-report charges tied to an alleged $35,000 bribe involving a state COVID-19 testing contract. (More)
➤ An 83-year-old Utah hiker missing near the Grand Canyon was rescued after a cell phone ping guided crews to him, ending an overnight search involving drones, dogs, and a helicopter. (More)
➤ Actor Rick Moranis received a standing ovation at Comic-Con while promoting Spaceballs: The New One, his first film in 20-plus years, calling his return “the best decision I’ve ever made.” (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Collagen is the “glue” holding your body together, making up 30% of all proteins—but you lose 1% yearly after 30, causing wrinkles, brittle nails, and faster aging. Most powders are incomplete, but this “super collagen” contains all 5 types plus a vitamin for maximum absorption, promoting glowing skin, strong nails, and healthy hair. (LEARN MORE)
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Whatever happened to Reader’s Digest?
For decades, Reader’s Digest was everywhere. On your grandparents’ coffee table. In every doctor’s waiting room. Tucked into a purse or a back pocket, because the little magazine was designed to fit.
At its peak in the 1970s, it reached more than 17 million U.S. subscribers and tens of millions more worldwide, making it the most widely read magazine on Earth.
DeWitt Wallace dreamed up the idea while recovering from shrapnel wounds in World War I: to condense the best magazine articles into one pocket-sized digest.
He and his wife, Lila Bell Acheson, pictured at the link, self-published the first issue in February 1922 from a basement beneath a Greenwich Village speakeasy, mailing circulars on their wedding day to drum up charter subscriptions at $3 each.
It worked. By the 1950s, Reader’s Digest was a cultural institution, and not just for the articles. Millions of Americans grew up flipping to Laughter the Best Medicine, swapping jokes from Life in These United States and Humor in Uniform, and testing themselves with the monthly Word Power vocabulary quiz.
The Reader’s Digest Condensed Books series, launched in 1950, became a living-room staple of its own, delivering abridged bestsellers by direct mail for nearly five decades before being renamed Select Editions in 1997. You can still buy original sets on eBay.
But the digital age hit hard, and a debt-laden 2007 leveraged buyout made things worse. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and again in 2013. Today, the U.S. print edition still publishes about six times a year with a circulation of around 1.6 million, a fraction of its former reach.
The parent company, now called Trusted Media Brands, has pivoted to digital and streaming video. The little magazine that once outsold everything but the Bible is still around, but it’s a (should we say it?) condensed digest of what it was.
Did you grow up reading Reader’s Digest? Which features were your favorites? Let us know your thoughts by replying to this email.
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Vintage educational short films used dramatic storytelling to teach students everyday concepts, social norms, and expected behavior from the 1940s through the 1970s. This film stars a young Dick York of Bewitched as a shy high school student who learns how helping others can lead to friendship and popularity.
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 Daily Quote
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“It was unheard of at the time, especially for someone in Stallone’s economic situation which was dire. Just like his character, Stallone had the confidence his story was a true winner, so he held his ground knowing that this was his shot at stardom both as an actor and as an author.”
— Film historian Dwight Cleveland, on Sylvester Stallone’s insistence that he would only sell the screenplay for “Rocky” if he were cast in the lead role.
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 Today’s Trivia
Which legendary candy was sold exclusively to the U.S. military during World War II?
Show me the answer
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