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Monday, December 23, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1823, the beloved poem A Visit from St. Nicholas—better known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas—was first published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel. (Read Poem)

Christmas and Hanukkah are just a few days away, and The Flyover will adjust its coverage this week so that our team can spend time with their families. Beginning Christmas Day, we'll publish shorter editions until the weekend and then return on Monday with our regular schedule.

Today, we're sponsored by World Concern, a non-profit dedicated to helping Christian children in Somalia. Be sure to check them out in today's edition.

Friendly Fire Downs U.S. Plane

U.S. forces shot down one of its own planes over the Red Sea on Sunday, forcing the two Navy pilots on board to eject, with one sustaining minor injuries.

The incident occurred as the U.S. was conducting airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, highlighting the persistent risks in the Red Sea corridor as Houthi attacks on shipping continue.

The downed plane had just taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and was hit by friendly fire from the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg.

It is not yet clear how the plane was mistaken for enemy aircraft.

Trump Targets Panama Canal

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reclaim U.S. control of the Panama Canal, citing "excessive" fees charged by Panama for its use.

Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona, Trump warned Panama to honor what he called moral and legal conditions of the canal's 1999 transfer to Panamanian control.

The canal, a critical global trade route handling 14,000 ships annually, accounts for 2.5% of worldwide sea commerce, and Trump's remarks suggest a possible shift in U.S. foreign policy.

List: Satisfying vs. Reliable in Car Brands

New rankings of the most satisfying and most reliable car brands reveal that the two often aren't linked in consumers' minds.

Rivian, BMW, and Tesla took the top three spots in the satisfaction rankings, while Japanese automakers took all the top six reliability spots, with Subaru, Lexus, and Toyota leading the way.

Satisfaction indicates the likelihood of auto owners buying another car of the same make, while reliability is based on complex, proprietary calculations.

Only Lexus broke the top five in both lists, which you can see here.

➤ Lara Trump, the President-elect's daughter-in-law, said she's removing herself from consideration to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, who is Trump's pick for secretary of state, as a Florida senator. (See Details)

➤ Meanwhile, Trump has selected Mark Burnett, producer of The Apprentice reality TV show, as special envoy to the United Kingdom. (More)

➤ Former Democrat and outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W. Va.) described the Democratic Party as "toxic" and warned the party that the nation is "not going left" in an interview Sunday. (More)

➤ Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), 81, was found in a memory care unit after being missing from Washington for six months. She is set to retire in January. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

Somalia is facing a devastating combination of natural disasters, global conflicts, widespread poverty, and disease outbreaks. East Africa has just endured its worst drought in 40 years, leaving tens of millions without access to clean water, wiping out millions of livestock, and destroying crops. With domestic food production crippled, Somalia has relied heavily on imports—90% of its wheat coming from Russia and Ukraine—until those shipments stopped.

Now, two in five children in Somalia suffer from acute malnutrition, and cholera is spreading in some regions. The food crisis, compounded by global humanitarian aid being redirected to Europe and the Middle East, has created a perfect storm, leading to a sharp rise in child malnutrition.

Be Doers

We're asking the Flyover Community to join us in partnering with World Concern to help get emergency nutrition packs (a peanut paste fortified with nutrients), water, and hygiene products to those with the most need.

Every $12 feeds a child for a month. We're matching the first $3,000; just give through this link.

➤ The Washington Commanders edged out the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33 with six seconds remaining, and the Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 34-17 in Sunday NFL action. (See Scores)

➤ Penn State beat Louisville 3-1 to win this year's women's NCAA national volleyball championship in front of a record-breaking crowd. It's the 8th time Penn has taken national honors. (More)

➤ Victor Wembanyama became just the sixth player in NBA history to record 10 blocks in a game on Saturday. (More)

➤ Charlie Woods, son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, sank his first-ever hole-in-one on Sunday. (Watch Video)

➤ Yesterday's results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA

Today's Holiday section is brought to you by:

A stolen Baby Jesus figurine from a Fort Collins, Colorado, nativity scene was returned anonymously with a note reading: "I'm really sorry. It was a dumb mistake. It won't happen again." (See Note)

How many of the top 10 Christmas specials have you seen? Favorites include How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). (See Specials)

Here are six holiday party habits hosts secretly dislike, from arriving too early to spending too much time on your phone. Keep the cheer flowing effortlessly! (See Habits)

Flying together with our sponsor

Make Your Microwaved Food Taste Better (And So Much More!) Duo Cover by Two Pillars is a next-generation microwave food cover that gives you better-tasting leftovers, a splatter-free microwave, and finger protection from hot dishes — all in one convenient plastic-free device.

Turn your leftovers into tasty chef-like dishes with Duo Cover.

➤ Big Lots is offering going-out-of-business sales at all its remaining locations after the discount chain announced that the sale of the company had fallen through. (More)

➤ The IRS is paying $1,400 each to about 1 million taxpayers after determining that about 1 million taxpayers had not claimed a credit they were owed in 2021 related to COVID stimulus payments. (See Details)

➤ FedEx announced a spinoff of its "less-than-truckload" freight division, vaulting its stock price up 10% in after-hours trading. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Somalia faces a crisis from natural disasters, conflict, poverty, and disease. The worst drought in 40 years devastated crops and livestock, while food imports from Russia and Ukraine halted. Two in five Somali children now suffer from acute malnutrition. Join us in partnering with World Concern to get emergency nutrition packs and clean water to children. $12 feeds a child for a month.

➤ Scientists discovered new forms of virus-like life inside human bodies that had gone undetected until now. They dubbed the lifeforms as "obelisks." (More)

➤ Researchers have created a lickable, lollipop-shaped virtual reality device allowing users to taste and smell nine different flavors. (See Photo)

➤ Fossil remains of the oldest saber-toothed animal on record—a predator resembling a bald dog—were uncovered in Mallorca. (See Image)

➤ After 16 weeks, France's shocking trial of the year ended: Dominique Pelicot received 20 years for drugging his wife and enabling her rape by 51 men. (More)

➤ Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow, a rare EU leader visit since the Ukraine invasion, to discuss natural gas and global issues. (More)

➤ Bolivian shamans in El Alto refuse evacuation orders, claiming that cliff-top huts used for rituals are safe despite deadly mudslides and government warnings. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Simply by holding it in your hand, The Chill Pill quickly relieves anxiety and insomnia. This revolutionary new drug-free method is safe, has zero side effects, and is proven to be effective for people of all ages. (See It Here)

➤ A driver fleeing police in Killeen, Texas, drove a truck through a mall's glass entrance, injuring five people before officers fatally shot him. (See Details)

➤ A Delta passenger downgraded from first class for a service dog expressed outrage, fueling online debate about airline policies and passenger priorities. (More)

➤ Archaeologists in Alkmaar, Netherlands, uncovered a rare medieval floor made of cattle bones. (See Photos)

➤ An Icelandic photographer won the International Wedding Photographer of the Year award for capturing a glacier-top wedding set against a breathtaking landscape. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Puppies are naturally curious and energetic, which makes them more likely to get into accidents like swallowing something they shouldn't or injuring themselves while exploring. Pet insurance can help you help your new furry family member—without breaking your wallet. View Money's top pet insurance picks to compare plans. (Compare Plans)