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The Friday Flyover Replay : IRS Staff Cuts, Fort Knox Audit, and Golden-Tipped Pyramids.
Presented by Russell Sherrard.
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Our Hosts are Christopher and Jenny.
THE FLYOVER REPLAY.
Friday, February 21, 2025.
Good Morning! On this day in 1995, Steve Fossett landed in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada, after taking off from South Korea, becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon.
Sporadic sightings of a Scottish Highland bull have been reported in Connecticut. The bull resembles an adorable bigfoot as it evades capture.
We hope you enjoyed reading today’s Flyover. Let us know how we’re doing by replying to Russell Sherrard at russellsherrard@reagan.com.
The sponsors keep the tanks full around here. Be sure to check out today’s sponsors.
TAKEOFF.
IRS Cuts 6,700 Workers as Trump Eyes Overhaul.
The IRS began terminating approximately 6,700 probationary employees on Thursday as the Trump administration pursues broader plans to abolish the agency.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Wednesday that President Trump’s ultimate goal is to “abolish” the IRS and replace it with an “External Revenue Service” funded primarily through tariffs.
Unions have raised concerns that the cuts could disrupt taxpayer services and delay the processing of returns.
The IRS workforce had grown to over 100,000 employees in fiscal 2024, up from 80,000 at the start of the Biden administration, following efforts to improve operations and customer service.
Sen. Mitch McConnell to Retire.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, announced his retirement Thursday on his 83rd birthday, stating he will not seek reelection in 2026.
First elected in 1985, McConnell has served seven terms as the U.S. senator from Kentucky and has recently dealt with several health issues, including freezing episodes and falls that have resulted in his need to use a wheelchair.
Although he supported much of Donald Trump’s agenda during his first term, McConnell has since become a more vocal critic, voting against cabinet nominees Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Four potential contenders have surfaced for McConnell’s seat: Rep. James Comer, businessman Nate Morris, Rep. Andy Barr, and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who announced his candidacy less than an hour after the news of McConnell’s retirement broke.
SS United States Takes Final Voyage.
The historic SS United States ocean liner began its final voyage, departing Philadelphia on a two-week journey to the Gulf of America, where it will become the world’s largest artificial reef.
The 1,000-foot vessel set the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, crossing the Atlantic in three days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes—10 hours faster than the RMS Queen Mary. It still holds the record for the fastest ocean liner crossing.
From 1952 to 1969, many of America’s rich and famous, including presidents and movie stars, sailed to Europe on the ocean liner. Notable passengers included Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, and Walt Disney.
The SS United States will dock in Alabama for final preparations before reaching its resting place off the coast of Destin, Florida, where it will serve as an artificial reef to support marine life and attract divers and anglers.
POLITICS.
Congressional Democrats hit a record-low 21% approval among voters, while Republicans reached a record-high 40%, according to a new national Quinnipiac poll.
President Trump announced Wednesday he is considering a Department of Government Efficiency dividend, returning at least 20% of savings from DOGE to taxpayers.
In other presidential announcements, Trump expressed his support for a congressional effort to put Washington, D.C. under direct federal control, similar to its original status when it was founded.
After a word from one of our sponsors Jenny will be Narrating the last half of the news.
And Now, A word From one of Our Sponsors.
Are you an author or writer with a Blog and wonder if it is being effective?
I have added audio to my blog posts and am getting good comments. I can add voice to your blog posts. You choose Male/Female $10 per post. Direct your inquiries to russellsherrard@reagan.com.
Thanks Christopher.
Now, back to the News.
SPORTS.
Team USA was defeated 3-2 by Canada in overtime in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers scored the game-winning goal.
San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder of the NBA season after it was discovered that he has a severe blood clot in his shoulder. The team doesn’t expect this to be a recurring issue.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet made the first-ever successful strike zone challenge in an MLB game yesterday, changing the count from 1-1 to 0-2.
Juan Soto, who signed the largest contract in professional sports history with the New York Mets this offseason, bought his teammate Brett Baty a new car for being willing to give him his jersey number.
The White House Transition.
The Senate confirmed former public defender and House Intelligence Committee staffer Kash Patel as FBI director in a 51-49 vote Thursday, marking another Trump administration Cabinet approval.
President Trump on Wednesday called for an audit of the U.S. gold reserves at Fort Knox, Kentucky, stating he wants to verify whether the gold is actually there.
Sen. Rand Paul apologized to President Trump on social media this week, admitting he was wrong to withhold his endorsement before but now fully supports him.
FINANCE.
Big Stock Move: Unity shares surged 30% Thursday after the video game software company reported stronger-than-expected revenue and a narrower quarterly loss.
Walmart shares fell more than 6% after the retailer forecast slower profit growth for the year, despite reporting strong holiday-quarter sales and e-commerce gains.
CEO confidence in the U.S. rose to its highest level in three years, signaling optimism, despite Trump tariffs raising fears of trade disruptions, a survey found.
European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with Trump administration officials in Washington, D.C., seeking to ease tariff tensions and prevent a broader trade conflict.
SCIENCE AND TECH.
A SpaceX rocket stage fell to Earth early Wednesday, blazing a trail of fire through European skies. Residents from England to Germany reported seeing a fireball in the sky, and a large object fell in Poland.
Tech startup Clone Robotics unveiled Protoclone V1, a new humanoid robot that replaces human skeletal, muscular, vascular, and nervous functions with synthetic systems, offering anatomical and movement accuracy.
Historians say the Egyptian pyramids once had smooth, angled sides covered in white Tura limestone with gleaming golden tops, visible from the mountains in Israel.
THE ROTATOR.
ENTERTAINMENT.
Amazon MGM announced Thursday it will take creative control of the James Bond franchise, ending decades of stewardship by producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and his family.
In other Amazon news, the first three episodes of Reacher’s third season are out now, with a fourth season and a spinoff of author Lee Childs’ popular thrillers already in the works.
A guide to this year’s top Oscar-nominated films includes synopses and streaming details to watch before next month’s Academy Awards.
ET CETERA.
A Scottish Highland bull has been roaming western Connecticut for over a month after escaping its enclosure, evading capture despite frigid winter temperatures.
A massive sinkhole measuring about 65 feet across opened in the village of Godstone, Surrey, forcing evacuations and swallowing at least one garden.
An award-winning wildlife photographer captured images of elusive snow leopards in the Himalayas using remote camera traps.
Daily Quote.
“DON’T cinematic universe James Bond. It is one of our last great theatrical events. Don’t dilute that with a plethora of streaming spin-offs.”
— Avengers: Endgame Director Joe Russo warning Amazon against spinning off James Bond titles across all media.
And thats the news for today.
And Now a Word from Our Sponsor, The Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Go to https:// payhip.com/ Christian NonFiction eBookStore then scroll down and click on The Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon
n publishing the life of the late CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON, the publishers feel a peculiar pleasure and believe themselves especially fortunate in having secured the Rev. Russell H. Conwell, D.D., LL.D., pastor at The Temple, of Philadelphia, to prepare the work. There are many reasons why the popular preacher, who might justly be called the Spurgeon of America, should in this way pay a loving tribute to the memory of his great English ecclesiastical brother, and why such a book must have an absorbing interest for all readers. Foremost among these might be considered his personal acquaintance with the great divine of gigantic efforts and wonderful achievements, and the deep study he has ever given to his popular brother preacher’s life and the measure of its successes.
As a fellow-preacher of the Gospel, he knew better than any layman how to interpret the hidden springs of success to count the cost of Herculean efforts made, and better, understand the great man’s life-work in all its thousands of minute details which he, as an intimate personal friend had the opportunity to observe.
Like Spurgeon, he has the power to earn and raise large sums of money, but he devotes every dollar beyond a reasonable living expense to the cause he has so much at heart. His remarkable line of work, also, in many ways corresponds with that of Spurgeon,
The similarity in the work of the English Spurgeon and the American Conwell has often been commented upon by press and people. Spurgeon made, and Conwell is making, a complete sacrifice of talents, time and health to the one aim in life-the salvation of souls. Each commenced life a poor boy, and had an early life fraught with discouragements and temptations.
The author’s grand work for the Grace Baptist Church, of Philadelphia, has justly distinguished him as the greatest preacher of his denomination in this country. He was a student at Yale College, and graduated in the Law Department of Albany University and was admitted to the New York bar in 1865. His health not permitting the practice of law, he began as traveling correspondent of the Boston Traveler and the New York Tribune, during which his constant companion and warmest friend was Bayard Taylor, with who he traveled all over the world, and obtained distinction as a journalist.
In addition to the pastorate of a church which has one of the most remarkable houses of worship in the world, open every hour of every day and night in the year, and is never untenanted, Dr. Conwell is the head of Temple College, connected with the church fostered by him, which is for the free education of working-men and women in the classic collegiate branches, with fourteen professors, a preparatory department that sends pupils to Yale, Harvard and Amherst, and giving itself decrees equal to those of Princeton. He is the head of the Samaritan Hospital, also an outgrowth of his personal effort and example, which is doing incalculable good in Philadelphia.
In addition. to his church work, Dr. Conwell lectures all over the United States, to large and delighted audiences.
He is also a prolific author, The most important of his works are a ” Life of Garfield,” which he wrote at the home of the martyred President, in Mentor; “Why and How the Chinese Immigrate,” the material for which he gathered in the Chinese Empire Life of Hon. James G. Blaine,” Life of Bayard Taylor,” and “Acres of Diamonds,” each of which has been appreciatively read by thousands of readers in this and other countries.