Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1868, Secretary of State William Seward formally certified the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, declaring citizenship for all born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people.

Today’s Finance section reports a shake-up at a certain country-cooking chain that bet big on ditching its roots, heard back from its customers loud and clear, and is now handing the keys to new management. When’s the last time you rocked one of their front-porch chairs? Let us know in the poll below.

Depending on when you claim, picking the wrong time to start collecting Social Security could cost you tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Yet most Americans rush the decision instead of running the numbers. Where does your break-even age fit into it? What about your spouse’s check, or the paycheck you’re still earning? In today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla breaks down the three claiming options on the table and the one number that reveals which path actually fits your plan. So do you know which of the three is right for you? Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is helping you plan your ideal retirement with a free guide that aligns your goals, timeline, and investment strategy for lasting financial confidence.

Wildfires in Europe Force 300,000 to Flee

Wildfires tearing across France and Spain have forced more than 300,000 people from their homes, triggering the largest peacetime evacuation in French history since World War II.

The blaze near Bordeaux has burned an area four times the size of Paris in under a week and spawned a rare “fire thunderstorm,” a towering cloud that generates its own winds and lightning capable of igniting new fires. See the maps here.

Spain has declared a national emergency as crews battle the largest fire in the Madrid region’s history. A 78-year-old man was killed near Valencia, and two firefighters died near Bordeaux.

Chilling CCTV captured flames racing from distant mountains to a home’s doorstep in just eight minutes. See the footage here. A fourth heat wave arrives midweek, with temperatures near 104 degrees.

Sen. Rand Paul Releases Fauci Diary Details

Newly released diary entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci show he privately estimated COVID-19’s case fatality rate at 0.2–0.3% in February 2020, but told Congress weeks later the mortality rate was around 1%, or 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu.

Sen. Rand Paul, a longtime critic of Fauci’s pandemic performance, released the 1,141-page diary ahead of Fauci’s subpoenaed Senate testimony Wednesday. Paul chairs the committee investigating the federal COVID response and origins of the virus.

The entries also reveal a striking fixation on fame. As U.S. deaths climbed into the tens of thousands, Fauci pasted flattering headlines into his journal and wrote it was “not hyperbole” to call himself the most famous person in the country.

Sailor Survives a Month Adrift in Pacific

A California sailor stranded in the Pacific for over a month was rescued by a passing container ship after drifting hundreds of miles off course toward Hawaii.

Kai Sato, 39, left Catalina Island on June 7, attempting his first solo Pacific crossing. Two weeks in, his mast snapped, his fuel ran out, and his phone, his only way to call for help, died.

Sato lived on oatmeal, plus fish and squid that landed on deck, and licked condensation off plastic bags stretched over buckets of seawater. See photos here.

A makeshift rig he built from PVC pipes and kayak paddles took nearly a month to carry him back to the shipping lane, where a cargo crew pulled him aboard. Next up, he says: the Philippines.

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Rushing the Social Security claiming decision could cost retirees tens of thousands over a lifetime, so which choice makes sense for you? (Listen Now)

➤ Gunfire erupted at a crowded Seattle food festival, leaving three dead and forcing thousands of visitors to flee. (Hear Episode)

➤ Authorities say a Secret Service agent took part in a fraternity hazing that nearly killed a University of Miami pledge. (Listen Now)

➤ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet President Trump at the White House today while in Washington for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral. (More)

➤ Sen. Mitch McConnell is out of the hospital but remains in rehab, not yet medically cleared to return to the Senate. (More)

➤ President Trump said Morocco is naming a 660-mile highway in the disputed Western Sahara after him, reflecting his official 2020 recognition of the kingdom’s sovereignty over the territory. (More)

➤ Thomas Goldstein, a prominent Supreme Court litigator and the co-founder of SCOTUSblog, was sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion and fraud tied to a secret poker career. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

Is Your Retirement Plan Built to Last?

Planning for retirement means preparing for the unexpected: increased cash flow needs, heightened health care costs or a longer life than you might think. One key risk many retirees face is underestimating how long their savings need to last. Another is inflation, which can quietly reduce your purchasing power over time.

The 15-Minute Retirement Plan can help you navigate these challenges. With this guide, you can learn ways to account for a longer time horizon and manage the effects of inflation. If you have $1,000,000 or more saved, download your free guide to start building a more resilient financial future.

➤ The NFL, TikTok, and Fanatics are facing a federal antitrust lawsuit from a memorabilia seller who alleges they pushed independent livestream sellers off the platform unless they sold Fanatics products exclusively. (More)

➤ Members of the Stanford football team formed the first campus chapter of the College Football Players Association yesterday, making Standford the first school to reach the necessary membership threshold to elect representatives. Eventually, the group wants to start collective bargaining. (More)

➤ The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted three new members this weekend: Mets outfielder Carlos Beltrán, Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, and Giants second baseman Jeff Kent. (More)

➤ Mia Bieniemy, the wife of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, remains in stable condition after being shot multiple times at their home in Virginia. The family’s 27-year-old son Elijah was arrested and charged with the attack. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Tennis | Soccer

Daily Market Report 07/27/2026

▼	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	24,932.08	-0.18%
▲	SPX S&P 500	7,413.18	+0.02%
▲	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	52,210.08	+0.51%
▼	BTC Bitcoin	$64,863.18	-0.73%
▲	GOLD Per Ounce	$4,083.90	+0.40%
▲	SILVER Per Ounce	$58.78	+0.21%
▼	OIL West Texas Intermediate Crude	$81.94	-8.25%
▲	BMNR Bitmine Immersion Technologies	$17.90	+13.36%

Bitcoin, gold, silver, and oil are traded 24 hours a day.

➤ Big Stock Move: Bitmine stock jumped over 13% on Monday after the Ethereum treasury company neared its goal of owning 5% of the supply of Ethereum, with a market value of over $11 billion. (More)

➤ Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino will step down effective Aug. 10 and be replaced by David Deno after the chain’s controversial rebranding effort drew backlash last year. (More)

➤ Apple reclaimed the title of world’s most valuable company from Nvidia, with a market cap near $4.94 trillion as investors rewarded its restrained approach to AI spending. (More)

➤ NBCUniversal and YouTube struck a deal to bundle NBC’s Peacock service with YouTube Premium subscriptions in the U.S. starting early next year, Peacock’s largest wholesale distribution partnership to date. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ America’s $2.1Trillion* Energy Comeback: Reforming coal into hydrogen, diesel, and more without burning it is a Trillion-dollar opportunity. Ground is broken on an $850M flagship facility and the “FASF” NASDAQ ticker is reserved. Invest in Frontieras by 8/6 to lock in the $9.01 share price.

Flying together with our sponsor

The 15-Minute Retirement Plan

A comfortable retirement requires a plan that accounts for all your cash flow needs, as well as inflation’s quiet erosion of your savings. Our guide offers insights to help you prepare. If you have $1 million or more, get your guide to help build a portfolio that lasts.

➤ An eye implant the size of a grain of rice has been approved in Europe to restore vision lost to age-related macular degeneration. In trials, 84% of patients regained functional central vision. (More)

➤ A humanoid robot collapsed mid-demo at Qualcomm’s Computex showcase in Taipei, and the internet can’t stop replaying it. Qualcomm says the robot was executing a designed “safe-collapse.” (See the Fall)

➤ About 600,000 male mosquitoes infected with bacteria that stop eggs from hatching are being released around Washington, D.C., this summer, by the private company Bee Safe Mosquito Control. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why Your Ibuprofen Might Soon Be Obsolete. Unlike ibuprofen, which offers temporary relief while potentially creating health risks, this powerful marine-derived substance works with your body’s own systems to resolve inflammation permanently. Even more remarkable? It simultaneously supports heart, brain, and liver function instead of jeopardizing these vital organs. (Learn More)

Travel Tuesday is brought to you by:

➤ An $85 million James Bond-inspired mansion built to impress billionaires sits on 2.5 private acres in Delray Beach, Florida, and hides secret passages, a poker room, and a rainforest-style spa. (See Mansion)

➤ Thirty Italian phrases could be the difference between blending in on your next trip to Italy and being “that annoying tourist.” How many do you know? (Learn Them)

➤ A curious traveler strapped a camera to his checked suitcase and captured its wild ride through airport conveyor belts, scanners, and sorting machines. (Watch Journey)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Are you paying more for car insurance than you need to? Car insurance rates change more often than many people realize. If it’s been a while since you compared your options, you could be missing out on savings. With this quick tool from Money.com, you can start by entering your ZIP code to see what options may be available in your area. Complete the short questionnaire to see personalized options based on your vehicle and coverage needs. (Check Your Options)

➤ A leaked copy of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey racked up 2.1 million views on X in under three hours before the account was suspended. The film has already earned over $650 million worldwide. (More)

➤ An 85-year-old former TV chef who flunked every art class she ever took now lives inside her own art installation. She picked up a marker at 58 and never looked back. (Meet Sue)

➤ An Idaho man burned off his eyebrows learning to juggle flaming torches on a unicycle, then landed 175 consecutive catches to more than quadruple the world record. (Watch Him)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ What cold feet tells you about your heart. Cold feet can be a warning sign for a much deeper circulation problem that comes from a weak heart and clogged arteries…And could lead to serious clots or cardiac events. 7-second “feet test” can predict a heart attack (could SAVE your life).