Sunday, January 12, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1969, the New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, fulfilling quarterback Joe Namath's guarantee that his team would win. (See Highlights)

Jigsaw puzzles are a great Sunday activity (especially in January), and if you know the original purpose of puzzles—you're ready for today's trivia question. (Check the bottom of today's edition.)

Think a market downturn is around the corner? Diversify beyond stocks with today's sponsor, Percent.

Zuckerberg's Meta to End DEI Programs

Meta is ending its key diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, joining corporate giants Ford, McDonald's and Walmart that have pulled the plug on DEI initiatives.

Meta announced last week that it would stop third-party fact-checking of content on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, said his company is "going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms."

The company will stop using the "Diverse Slate Approach," a program that ensures a diverse set of candidates is considered for each open position, as well as its supplier diversity efforts, which were aimed at sourcing from diverse-owned businesses.

Sam Moore, "Soul Man" Singer, Dies at 89

Sam Moore, the voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave known for hits "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin,'" died on Saturday at 89 due to complications while recovering from surgery.

Moore, who was inducted with Dave Prater into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, influenced musicians like Michael Jackson, Al Green, and Bruce Springsteen.

"Soul Man" hit the charts again in the late 1970s when the Blues Brothers—John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd—recorded it with many of the same musicians as the original.

Moore's influence was so great that his 2006 solo album was backed by a who's who of music legends, including not only Springsteen, but Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Sting, Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Winwood, Wynona Judd, and Vince Gill.

Wildfire Death Toll Climbs

The death toll climbed to 16 in the Southern California wildfires on Saturday, and that number is expected to rise as cadaver dogs go through leveled neighborhoods. The massive Palisades fire now stretches to more than 21,500 acres and is only 11% contained. The Eaton Fire has expanded to more than 14,100 acres with 15% containment.

Winds shifted the fires on Saturday, prompting more evacuations as the Palisades fire edged toward the Brentwood neighborhood and San Fernando Valley foothills.

Meanwhile, more than 50,000 Los Angeles residents are demanding the ouster of mayor Karen Bass in a new petition, ripping her "gross mismanagement" of the disaster response.

Residents have begun returning to their homes, only to find debris and rubble in the densely populated, 25-mile expanse north of downtown Los Angeles.

Many residents were already facing hardship after State Farm dropped close to 1,600 policies in Pacific Palisades in July, reflecting a trend among private insurers to drop California policies or halt underwriting.

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

Flying together with our sponsor

Goldman Sachs projects U.S. stocks to return only 3% annually over the next decade. With the market at all-time highs, a correction could be just around the corner. For investors heavily exposed to equities, private credit offers a strategic way to diversify and drive growth potential in 2025.

Private credit has been a go-to for institutional investors, particularly during market downturns, and has historically delivered stability and strong returns even when equities struggle.

Hedge Against Volatility: Private credit has historically outperformed during the last 3 stock market corrections.
Higher Yield Potential: Percent's Q2 and Q3 net returns exceeded 13%.
Flexible Terms: Most deals on Percent mature within 9 months, providing liquidity.
Monthly Income: Many deals generate steady income with regular interest payments.

Protect and grow your portfolio with private credit. Sign up with Percent and earn up to $500 on your first investment.

Alternative investments are speculative and possess a high level of risk. No assurance can be given that investors will receive a return of their capital. Those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest. Investments in private placements are highly illiquid and those investors who cannot hold an investment for an indefinite term should not invest. Private credit investments may be complex investments and they are subject to default risk.

➤ The Houston Texans kicked off the NFL playoffs yesterday with a 32-12 win over the Chargers. Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert threw four interceptions, and Texans running back Joe Mixon finished with 106 yards and a touchdown. (More)

➤ The Baltimore Ravens won the second game of the day, advancing with a 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ravens running back Derrick Henry rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns. (More)

➤ The MLB issued a permanent ban yesterday to a New York Yankees fan who went viral for interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts in the middle of a World Series play. (More)

➤ NFL draft prospect Kyren Lacy is wanted on charges of negligent homicide and hit-and-run after killing a 78-year-old man in a car crash. (More)

➤ Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is expected to enter the 2025 NFL draft after the team's loss to Ohio State on Friday night, despite receiving major NIL offers to transfer to a new school. (More)

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

Today's White House section is brought to you by:

➤ A new Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 54% of likely U.S. voters approve of the way President-elect Trump is handling his presidential transition, including 35% who strongly approve. (More)

➤ Trump selected Bill Briggs to serve as the Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Ed Russo for the Environmental Advisory Task Force. (More)

➤ In a break with tradition, foreign leaders are angling for invitations to Trump's inauguration. According to a source, representatives from Chile, Peru, Nigeria, Mozambique, and more countries have requested inauguration invites. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ "Big Plastic" Hates Them. From water bottles to shrink wrap, Timeplast has a $1.3T market opportunity with its patented plastic that dissolves in water. Learn more about the opportunity to invest in Timeplast stock as they expand globally.

This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast's Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.

Weekly Market Report Previous Week

▼	NASDAQ Natl. Assoc. of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	19,161.63	-3.48%
▼	SPX S&P 500	5,827.04	-2.60%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	41,938.45	-2.09%
▼	BTC Bitcoin	$94,701.45	-3.68%
▲	GOLD Per Ounce	$2,708.50	2.38%

➤ IRS tax filing season will begin on Monday, Jan. 27 with new tools available to taxpayers amid the IRS' modernization efforts. (More)

➤ Shares of Delta Air Lines (DAL) rose on Friday after a December-quarter profit of $843 million, or $1.29 per share. (More)

➤ The high price of eggs could extend into the second half of 2025 as egg producers rebuild their flocks following the return of the bird flu. (More)

Ladies and Gentlemen: our most-clicked stories of the week. Enjoy!

➤ This fire map charting progress in battling the raging California wildfires was our No. 1 clicked link this week. (See Map)

➤ Here's a list of the top waffle houses in every state, ranging in variety from savory chicken-and-waffles to whipped-cream-topped dessert delight. (See List)

➤ A Washington Post political cartoonist quit her job last week after editors rejected a cartoon showing Post owner Jeff Bezos offering cash to President-elect Donald Trump. (See Cartoon)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why Some People Never Gain Weight After 50 (Their Secret Revealed) The answer might lie in a powerful plant compound that's been hiding in plain sight for centuries. While most doctors reach for prescription pads to handle blood sugar issues, researchers have discovered something fascinating about berberine that's making them rethink everything. (Learn more)

Flying together with our sponsor

Concerned about the recent stock market pullback? Discover the potential returns and stability of private credit.

With equities facing renewed volatility after the Fed's announcement, portfolios heavily weighted in stocks may feel the strain. Private credit, favored by institutional investors for its resilience, has consistently outperformed equities during past market corrections.

On Percent, accredited investors can access private credit opportunities to diversify their portfolios, providing potential stability and steady cash flow even in turbulent equity markets.

Low Correlation to Public Markets: Private credit returns are less impacted by stock market swings.
Double-Digit Yields: Percent's Q2 and Q3 net returns exceeded 13%.
Shorter Terms for Flexibility: Most deals mature within 9 months.
Monthly Cash Flow: Enjoy steady income through regular interest payments.

Sign up with Percent and get up to $500 on your first investment.

➤ Explainer: Changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico is actually not that complex a process. Here's how it would work. (See Details)

➤ The Nature Photographer of the Year awards highlight incredible images from around the world. (See Photos)

➤ At some bars, ordering an "angel shot" is a code asking the bartender to help you deal with a threatening problem. (See How It Works)

➤ The oldest olive tree in the world is more than 3,000 years old and still produces olives. (See Photos)

➤ What mountain is the snowiest in America? No one's quite sure, but the leading contender once received over 1,000 inches of snow in one season. (See List)

➤ One of the fascinations of artificial intelligence is the fantastic imagery it can produce, such as these striking visualizations of underwater fireworks. (See Images)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Common "Breakfast Mistake" Linked Directly To Weight Gain. Did you know that what you eat for breakfast, sets the tone for your body for the rest of the day? The common belief is the timing of when you eat in the morning is everything when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, however, this is simply not true. Click here to find out the common "Breakfast Mistake" now.

Libraries aren't only for people. Here's a beachfront library featuring assorted sticks for its patrons to choose from.

Can you drive a manual transmission car?

Saturday's Results:

Who's the first person you call with good news?

1. Spouse: 46.0%
2. Child: 15.4%
3. Friend: 11.2%
4. Sibling: 10.5%
5. Parents: 9.2%
6. Other: 7.7%

Daily Quote

"If you can't cover the basics, get out of our city. You are useless to us. You are a liability and you have destroyed people's lives because you didn't do your job."

— Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman, ripping Los Angeles County officials for their response to the wildfires.