Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1965, the Charlie Brown Christmas special made its TV debut, breaking several TV rules along the way: It featured actual kid voices, a jazz piano soundtrack, and a reading from the Bible about the birth of Jesus. All of these elements worried CBS executives, but viewers adored it, making it a perennial classic.

Between wrapping gifts and wrapping up the year, your brain might be running on low battery. As we report below in The Holiday Section, doctors recommend a few small tweaks that can make a big difference.

🎄 If you’re still hunting for the right gift, The Flyover Christmas Guide is the easiest place to finish your list.

🎁 Later today, we’ll send you a quick Brad’s Deals roundup of Amazon Prime perks you might be missing this holiday season.

If you’ve ever wished your generosity could stretch even further, today’s sponsor, Convoy of Hope’s Matching Challenge, lets every dollar you give right now be doubled to feed hungry families and bring hope around the world.

Trump Sets $12B Farm Package

President Trump announced a $12 billion aid package for farmers on Monday, calling it “bridge payments” to help producers weather the impact of his tariff policies.

The assistance includes $11 billion in one-time payments under the Agriculture Department’s new Farmer Bridge Assistance program, with the remaining $1 billion reserved for specialty crops not covered initially.

Trump stated that the money would come from tariff revenue and will be distributed by Feb. 28, with payment amounts to be announced by the end of December.

The program targets farmers earning under $900,000 annually who grow soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat, rice, and other crops hit hard by the China trade war. Trump also promised to remove environmental regulations on farm machinery to lower equipment costs.

Paramount Makes Hostile Warners Bid

Paramount launched a $108 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery on Monday, just days after losing the studio to Netflix in a months-long bidding war.

Paramount CEO David Ellison’s all-cash offer of $30 per share—$17.6 billion more than Netflix’s cash-and-stock deal—went directly to shareholders after Warner Bros. repeatedly rejected Paramount’s proposals.

Unlike Netflix’s plan to acquire only the studio and streaming assets, Paramount’s bid includes the entire company, meaning CNN, HBO, Discovery Channel, and TNT Sports would stay under one roof rather than being spun off.

The financing comes from Larry Ellison and RedBird Capital, plus a $24 billion commitment from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner‘s Affinity Partners—all agreeing to forgo board seats and voting rights.

Trump already flagged concerns about the Netflix deal’s market dominance and said he would be involved in the approval process.

Original Star Wars Cut Finally Returns

Disney has announced that the 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars will be released in theaters on February 19, 2027, to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

The newly restored version features the original unaltered film—not the 1997 Special Edition with dated CGI additions and the infamous Greedo-shoots-first scene that controversially absolved Han Solo of any guilt in the cantina shooting in Mos Eisley.

Director George Lucas has been adamant that this original version would never return, insisting the Special Edition “was the one I wanted out there.” Fans have clamored ever since for a chance to see the 1977 version again.

The limited theatrical release will come out a month ahead of Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, arriving March 28, 2027.

Love reading The Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A newly uncovered memo shows that Biden was warned that his immigration proposals would cause “chaos,” but he ignored it. (Hear Details)

➤ New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani appointed a formerly incarcerated rapper-turned-activist to his criminal justice committee. (Who is it?)

➤ Yellowstone National Park is warning winter tourists not to wear this popular fabric. (Listen Now)

➤ President Trump said Monday he’ll sign an executive order this week to promote “one rulebook” for AI, rather than a patchwork of state laws. The order is expected to draw legal challenges from some states. (More)

➤ U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett filed paperwork on Monday to run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator in Texas. (See Details)

➤ Alina Habba is stepping down from her contested position as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey after federal courts ruled she was unlawfully appointed. She said she’ll continue to serve the Justice Department as a senior advisor to Attorney General Pam Bondi. (More)

➤ President Trump lambasted former ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Truth Social Monday morning, after the Georgia Republican told CBS News’ 60 Minutes that the president has forsaken his base. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

Double the hope for families in need!

For a limited time, your generosity can go twice as far for families facing hunger and hardship.

Through Convoy of Hope’s $1 Million Delivering Hope Matching Challenge, every dollar you give will be doubled—up to $1 million—to strengthen programs that bring lasting change around the world.

Your matched gift:

Provides daily meals for more than 639,000 children in the U.S. and 39 additional countries, ensuring they can learn, grow, and thrive.
Equips vulnerable farmers with the tools, seeds, and training necessary to support their families.
Responds to disasters with immediate aid and long-term recovery.
Empowers women with business start-up support, breaking cycles of poverty in their communities.
Fuels efforts across Africa to combat severe food shortages, providing meals for tens of thousands of children and new income opportunities for their mothers.

Here’s your opportunity to make an even greater impact when it’s needed most. But the deadline to see your gift DOUBLED is Dec. 31, so please don’t wait!

Give today, and your support will be doubled to feed the hungry and offer hope!

➤ Men’s Basketball AP Poll: Purdue dropped five spots to No. 6, while Arizona filled in as the new No. 1 team in the country. Arkansas rose the most this week, moving up eight spots to No. 17. (See Full Poll)

➤ College football teams across the country will be playing in bowl games throughout the holiday season—including a highly anticipated matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines on New Year’s Eve. (See Bowl Game Schedule)

➤ Meanwhile, Notre Dame withdrew from bowl game consideration after missing the final cut for the College Football Playoff rankings, which athletic director Pete Bevacqua called a “farce” and “total waste of time.” (More)

➤ Former San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame this week, while his teammate Barry Bonds was left off the list yet again. If Bonds fails to secure five votes on the ballot by 2031, he’ll be left off future ballots under current guidelines. (More)

➤ 37 freaking awesome gadgets. Why is everyone talking about these 37 gadgets? The answer is simple: they work. These aren’t random impulse buys… they’re the smart solutions people keep recommending to friends and family. Each one delivers on its promise, whether it’s decluttering your space, upgrading your tech setup, or just making daily tasks easier. The reviews speak for themselves, and so do the empty shelves. These top picks are moving fast, with several already on backorder. (Learn More)

Feng shui experts warn against Christmas decorating mistakes that disrupt home energy. (See Tips)

Neurologists share five easy ways to boost your brain health during the busy holiday season. Simple daily habits can significantly support mental well-being when stress levels peak. (More)

The oldest Christmas song is believed to be Jesus Refulsit Omnium, written by St. Hilary of Poitiers around 336 AD after the first recorded Christmas celebration. (Learn History)

Flying together with our sponsor

Practical meets powerful. The Cobra Fire Blanket quickly extinguishes small fires without mess, chemicals, or panic. Compact and reusable, it is a thoughtful gift for any home, camper, or garage. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that make you feel prepared. Shop the Cobra Fire Blanket today.

Daily Market Report 12/08/2025

▼	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	23,545.90	-0.14%
▼	SPX S&P 500	6,846.51	-0.35%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	47,739.32	-0.45%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$91,201.55	0.88%
▲	GOLD Per Ounce	$4,219.40	0.15%
▲	CFLT Confluent Inc	$29.87	+29.08%

Bitcoin and gold are traded 24 hours a day.

➤ Big Stock Move: Confluent stock jumped 29% on Monday after IBM announced it was acquiring the tech company for $11 billion. (More)

➤ The Federal Reserve opened its two-day December meeting today, with analysts expecting it to announce an interest rate cut on Wednesday despite concerns about a soft labor market and continuing inflation. (More)

➤ The Social Security Administration released a breakdown of how much the average Social Security payment is in each state. Connecticut tops the list, and Mississippi is No. 50. (See Your State)

➤ More than half of U.S. homes lost value over the past year, the highest rate of depreciation since 2012. The decline in home values is especially pronounced in many Sun Belt and West Coast metro areas, where rapid growth during the pandemic is now unwinding. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ No. 1 hot stock to watch today: They called it the cancer “kill switch.” Now, one patient has survived over 900 days… and insiders just bought in big. Click to see why analysts think there could be over 700% upside ahead for this tiny biotech stock.

Flying together with our sponsor

Your gift doubled to save lives!

Every dollar you give to Convoy of Hope will be DOUBLED through the $1 Million Delivering Hope Matching Challenge—but only until Dec. 31.

Your donation—matched dollar for dollar up to the challenge total—delivers twice the impact.

Following Hurricane Melissa, Convoy of Hope has provided meals, clean water, and supplies such as generators, tarps, and tents to families recovering from the storm.

But the need is still great.

Please give by Dec. 31 to double your impact in helping disaster survivors. Your gift also provides nutritious meals for children, agricultural training, empowerment for women, and aid for Convoy’s response to the African hunger crisis.

Your generosity today means twice the hope, twice the transformation, and twice as many lives changed. Give now for 2x Impact!

➤ A geomagnetic storm triggered by a solar flare is expected to hit Earth today, potentially making the northern lights visible across the northern United States, including Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Maine. (More)

➤ Warby Parker and Google announced plans to launch lightweight AI-powered smart glasses in 2026, marking Google’s renewed push into augmented reality after shelving its Google Glass product nearly a decade ago. (More)

➤ NASA’s Jonny Kim and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky left the International Space Station Monday night after a 245-day mission, touching down in Kazakhstan early morning today. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤This common mistake can age your memory by 20–30 years. If you’re over 55 and finding it harder to recall names, words, or where you left your keys—this could be why. Northwestern University researchers uncovered a hidden cause of memory decline—and a natural way to reverse it. See how one brain-supporting herb can boost clarity, focus, and recall—starting in as little as 45 minutes. (Learn more)

Travel Tuesday is brought to you by:

➤ Englewood, Florida, was ranked as America’s most affordable warm-weather winter destination, with a median nightly rate of $64. The Gulf Coast community offers mid-70s temperatures and beaches just 30 miles south of Sarasota. (See Photos)

➤ A travel expert said he wears long sleeves at airport security after conducting over 200 experiments showing tattooed passengers are pulled aside nine times more often than those without visible tattoos. (See Details)

➤ A barista went viral on social media for making espresso at 35,000 feet using a hand grinder and portable espresso machine. The flyer faced mixed reactions, with critics calling it “insufferable” while supporters enjoyed the fresh coffee aroma. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stay warm through even the coldest winter days—this heated vest from HeatArmor delivers cozy, battery-powered warmth directly to your core so you skip the bulky layers and stay comfortable whether you’re hiking, commuting, or working outdoors. Adjustable heat settings and a slim, weather-ready design make it ideal for chilly mornings and frosty nights alike. (SHOP NOW)

➤ Critics melted down over Pantone’s 2026 color of the year, Cloud Dancer, an off-white shade. Social media users accused the company of being tone-deaf and whitewashing. (See Reactions)

➤ Over 800 care packages intended for overseas military members during the holidays were rejected because “toiletries” was deemed too vague a description under the new international shipping requirements. Most won’t arrive in time for Christmas. (More)

➤ Armed thieves stole 13 artworks from São Paulo’s library, including eight Matisse engravings as well as his 1947 book Jazz. (See Details)

➤ AI-generated characters like actress Tilly Norwood are generating substantial earnings, with top AI-generated performers like Brazil’s Lu of Magalu earning an estimated $2.5 million annually from sponsored posts. (See AI Actors)