Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first successful flight of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft, flying for 12 seconds and covering 120 feet.

Before digital cameras and inflatable décor, snow days meant buckets, scarves, and whatever you could find for a face. Vintage snowman photos in today’s edition capture that era. What kind of eyes did your snowmen have—coal, buttons, or cookies?

Later today: watch for a partner message from Elf Labs on why Disney’s $1 billion AI deal matters, and what it could mean for you as an investor.

If you’re feeling the year-end crunch, today’s sponsor, Upwork Business Plus, helps you keep projects moving with fast access to top talent.

Fentanyl Named a Weapon of Mass Destruction

President Trump signed an executive order designating illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, directing the Pentagon and Justice Department to take additional steps to combat the drug that killed more than 48,000 Americans in 2024.

The order describes fentanyl as “closer to a chemical weapon” than a narcotic, noting that two milligrams—equivalent to 10 to 15 grains of table salt—can be a lethal dose and could be weaponized for large-scale terror attacks.

The designation allows the Pentagon to assist the Justice Department with defense assets to enforce criminal activity related to fentanyl, while the Justice Department pursues harsher penalties, including tougher sentences for trafficking. See the full executive order here.

Trump Sues BBC for $10 Billion

President Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC Monday, claiming defamation after the British broadcaster aired doctored footage of Trump in a documentary days before the 2024 election.

The lawsuit alleges the BBC spliced together different portions of his Jan. 6, 2021, speech from nearly an hour apart to suggest Trump incited violence while omitting clips where he urged supporters to demonstrate peacefully.

The BBC apologized in November and retracted the documentary, with its director-general and its head of news both resigning over the controversy. However, BBC officials said they would fight the lawsuit. Watch The Telegraph explaining how the footage was doctored.

A U.K. media lawyer said British courts would only enforce a maximum of $300,000 in damages, even if Trump were to win. The U.K. doesn’t recognize punitive damages, and the BBC has no profits or shareholders to draw from.

Last US Pennies Sell For $16.7 Million

The final pennies minted in the U.S. sold for $16.76 million at auction Friday, with 232 three-coin sets each marked with the Greek omega symbol signifying the end of the coin’s 232-year run.

The most expensive set, numbered 232, sold for $800,000 and included the last circulating pennies from both the Philadelphia and Denver mints, as well as the final gold omega penny and canceled dies used to strike the series.

President Trump ordered production halted in February after the U.S. Mint reported losing $85.3 million in fiscal 2024, making pennies that cost more than 2 cents each to produce. See the coins here.

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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 link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ The White House argued that ballroom construction must continue, citing undisclosed national security concerns. (Hear Details)

➤ Gun laws in Australia face scrutiny after the deadly mass shooting. (Hear Episode)

➤ Experts say homeowners should watch for these warning signs to help prevent winter electrical fires. (Listen Now)

➤ President Trump said he will deliver a prime-time address to the nation live tonight at 9 p.m. ET to discuss his accomplishments in his first year. (More)

➤ The U.S. military attacked three suspected drug vessels in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, killing eight people, defense officials announced. The strikes were the latest of about two dozen conducted in the region since early September. (More)

➤ The FBI didn’t believe it had probable cause to raid President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in 2022, but moved forward amid pressure from the Biden Justice Department, according to newly declassified documents. (See Details)

➤ House Speaker Mike Johnson said he won’t allow an amendment vote on extending expiring ObamaCare enhanced subsidies this week, despite moderate Republicans pushing for a chance to go on the record about the issue. (See Details)

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➤ Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning announced he’s returning to play college football for next season, halting talk that he might leave for the 2026 NFL draft. (More)

➤ Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti was named AP Coach of the Year, becoming the first back-to-back winner in the award’s history. (More)

➤ Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 points this week, finishing with 42 against the Jazz on Monday night. The previous record holder was LeBron James. (More)

➤ Michigan football interim coach Biff Poggi said players felt “betrayed” after former head coach Sherrone Moore’s ugly exit from the program. “First [it was] disbelief, then anger,” Poggi said. “What we’re in right now is the kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed.” (More)

A majority of Americans plan to spend less on holiday gifts this year compared to last year, according to a new poll. Two-thirds of those with household incomes under $50,000 say they’ll cut back, while 62% of women plan to spend less, compared to 48% of men. (See Poll)

Vintage snapshots show snowmen and snow people from the 1930s through the 1980s, capturing families building winter creations before digital cameras. (See Photos)

Here’s a collection of Southern Christmas recipes including pimento cheese, cornbread casserole, collard greens, candied sweet potatoes and glazed ham. (See Recipes)

You can sponsor Christmas Care Packs to bring hope and joy to the children of persecuted Christians. Each pack is $35 and tailored to fit their needs, including a children’s Bible, clothing, school supplies, and a toy.

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Daily Market Report 12/16/2025

▲	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	23,111.46	0.23%
▼	SPX S&P 500	6,800.26	-0.24%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	48,114.26	-0.62%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$87,868.90	1.68%
▼	GOLD Per Ounce	$4,302.90	-0.09%
▼	NAVN Navan, Inc.	$12.90	-11.86%

Bitcoin and gold are traded 24 hours a day.

➤ Big Stock Move: Navan stock fell nearly 12% on Tuesday after the business-travel software company reported that it lost $225 million in the quarter, more than five times its losses a year ago. (More)

➤ The economy added 64,000 jobs in November as the unemployment rate crept up to 4.6%, its highest level since September 2021, according to new Labor Department data. (See Details)

➤ Ford Motor Co. announced it would take a massive $19.5 billion writedown tied to pivoting to a new electric vehicle strategy, but the automaker said it would keep the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup in production. (More)

➤ Kraft Heinz announced that former Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane will lead the company ahead of its planned split next year. After the split, Cahillane will serve as CEO of the business temporarily called Global Taste Elevation, which will include high-growth brands like Heinz, Philadelphia, and Kraft Mac & Cheese. (More)

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➤ Inflation is rising, recession fears are growing, and traditional dollar-denominated assets may be at risk—so why could physical gold owners soon be celebrating? A proposed “Gold Reset” would revalue the nation’s gold reserves overnight, skyrocketing the value of government gold by 9,000%. Learn how to protect your savings and potentially benefit with the FREE 2025 Wealth Protection Guide today.

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➤ Tesla partnered with a paddle manufacturer to create a $350 pickleball paddle using aerodynamic modeling tools from car design, featuring an “edgeless” perimeter and carbon fiber face. (See Details)

➤ Comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar visitor, will make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19, passing at a safe distance of about 168 million miles. A free livestream of the flyby will air Dec. 18 at 11 p.m. EST. (Watch Livestream)

➤ A wildlife photographer discovered thousands of dinosaur footprints etched into a nearly vertical rock face in northern Italy’s national park, just a mile from a 2026 Winter Olympics venue. (See Discovery)

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➤ This mind-bending research shook the medical world to its core! It seems 97% of the people who get Alzheimer’s and dementia use specific words in conversations three years before the disease strikes. This word is especially a precise indicator of early Alzheimer’s. Find out all about it here: Alzheimer’s Words in Conversation

Wisdom Wednesday is brought to you by:

➤ Psychologist says the happiest couples do seven things on weeknights that most neglect, including guilt-free decompression time and cuddling before sleep. (See Tips)

➤ A guide explains how to become your family’s archivist and preserve stories, rituals, and relics across generations. (See Guide)

➤ Which human emotion are you? (Take Quiz)

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➤ Anthony Geary, who rose to fame as Luke Spencer on General Hospital and won eight Daytime Emmys, died Sunday in Amsterdam at 78 from complications following surgery. (See Details)

➤ The Powerball jackpot hit $1.25 billion, making it 2025’s second-largest prize and only the second time Powerball generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots. (See Details)

➤ Google revealed the 10 most viral recipes of 2025, with protein-packed dishes like hot honey cottage cheese bowls and Turkish pasta dominating searches and social media. (See Recipes)

➤ “Cozy lit” has exploded in popularity as a literary genre featuring cats, bookstores, bakeries, more cats, tea, rain, and perhaps even a few more cats. (See Story)

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