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The Thursday Flyover Replay : Student Loan Penalties, Methaphone Fix, and Retro Steaks.
Presented by Russell Sherrard.
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Our Hosts are Christopher and Jenny.
THE FLYOVER REPLAY.
We are also a Podcast, if you want to listen there instead. Plus current and all previous episodes The Thursday Flyover Replay
Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Good Morning! On this day in 1948, the Berlin Airlift began when U.S. and British pilots delivered food and supplies by airplane to Berlin after the city was isolated by a Soviet blockade.
This week’s Throwback Thursday below is serving up a feast for fans of all things retro—on the plate and in the closet. We’re spotlighting the return of classic steakhouse favorites and vintage fashion moments.
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.
Updated Reports: Iran’s Facilities Badly Hurt.
U.S. and Israeli airstrikes severely damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to the CIA, Israeli intelligence, and Iran’s own foreign ministry.
The assessments contradict U.S. news media reports citing anonymous sources who claimed the bombing would only set Iran back by several months.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe cited “credible intelligence” sources confirming multiple key sites were destroyed.
Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission report said the strikes have set Iran’s nuclear progress back “many years,” and Tehran also publicly acknowledged its facilities were “badly damaged.”
Iran also confirmed the deaths of senior military leaders in the attacks, while Israel revealed IDF commandos operated on the ground inside Iran.
Student Defaults Could Cost Wages.
Nearly 2 million student loan borrowers are at risk of default in July and could face wage garnishment this summer, according to a TransUnion analysis.
About 6 million federal student loan holders are now at least 90 days delinquent, with one-third expected to default by August. The Department of Education resumed collections two months ago.
Default can trigger serious consequences, including garnished wages, seized tax refunds, and reduced Social Security checks.
Borrowers are urged to contact loan servicers now to avoid collections.
‘Methaphone’ Aims to Break Phone Addiction.
The Methaphone, a clear acrylic slab shaped like a smartphone, has gone viral as a tool to curb screen addiction.
It’s just plastic, no screen, no buttons, but it feels like a real phone. Users carry it in their pocket and “check” it as usual. The idea is to ease digital dependency by replacing the physical reflex without the mental overload.
A social media video showing someone absentmindedly scrolling the Methaphone racked up over 50 million views, sparking a wave of parody and commentary posts.
Dozens of creators filmed themselves trying the “Methaphone check,” highlighting just how deep the phone habit runs. The first batch, which sold for $20–$25, quickly sold out after a small crowdfunding campaign.
POLITICS.
NATO countries, under pressure from President Trump, agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, up from the current 2%.
A federal judge ordered the White House to release billions of dollars of funds approved by former President Biden to build electric vehicle infrastructure in 14 states. The Trump administration had frozen the funds.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, defeated in Tuesday’s New York City mayoral primary, says he’s still deciding whether to run against winner Zohran Mamdani in the general election in November as an independent candidate.
Sen. Chuck Schumer was hospitalized Wednesday morning for dehydration after feeling lightheaded while riding a stationary bike in the Senate gym. The 74-year-old Democrat was treated and released the same day.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday he wasn’t calling Trump “daddy,” clarifying the term was a metaphor for Europe’s dependence on U.S. support. His quip—“sometimes daddy needs to use strong language”—came after Trump cursed while talking tough on Iran and Israel.
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.
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Thanks Christopher.
Now, back to the News.
SPORTS.
The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke star forward Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 pick in Wednesday night’s NBC draft.
An independent arbitrator reported that a group of NFL executives, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s approval, encouraged teams to collude and decrease the amount of guaranteed money in player contracts.
The 2025 NHL Draft will be held without all 32 teams in the same place for the first time (excluding the pandemic) to make the event more fit for television.
Major League Baseball has banned a Chicago White Sox fan indefinitely after he made a derogatory comment about the mother of Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
FINANCE.
Big Stock Move: Bumble stock jumped 25% Wednesday after the dating app announced plans to cut 30% of its workforce—about 240 jobs—in a move expected to save $40 million annually.
Sales of new single-family homes dropped nearly 14% in May compared with April, with high interest rates driving down demand.
Moor’s Brewing Company in Chicago, winner of the 2025 Sam Adams craft beer competition, said it plans to add 500 more taprooms and retail outlets across the U.S. over the next five years.
A ranking of America’s top eCommerce retailers by web traffic shows Amazon in first place by a wide margin, drawing more than double the traffic as Walmart, the No. 2 retail site.
SCIENCE AND TECH.
Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson led three rookie crewmates from India, Poland, and Hungary on a private mission to the International Space Station, each paying about $65 million for the flight.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that AI company Anthropic did not violate copyright law’s fair use doctrine by using legally purchased copyrighted books to train its chatbot. The AI company might still be liable for its use of pirated books.
California startup Bootstrap Bio is seeking funding to develop gene-editing technology for human embryos to eliminate inherited diseases or enhance desirable traits.
THE ROTATOR.
THROWBACK THURSDAY.
A new feature offers an intimate look at Martha Stewart’s legendary homemaking legacy through 20 photos of her in her element.
A roundup revisits 37 amusement park rides from the past that were either groundbreaking, terrifying, or both.
Once staples of American dining, vintage steak dishes like Steak Diane, Salisbury steak, and Swiss steak have mostly vanished from modern menus, replaced by trendier cuts and cuisines.
This week’s best-dressed celebrities turned back the clock, blending vintage silhouettes with modern flair.
ET CETERA.
A new biography, JFK: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli, reveals a long-secret affair between John F. Kennedy and flight attendant Joan Lundberg, including her pregnancy and Jackie Kennedy’s strained response.
A leaked image of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding invite is getting slammed for its “tacky” design. The card asks guests to skip gifts and donate to Venetian charities instead.
A German-made e-bike weighing just 22 pounds claims to be the world’s lightest bike, combining minimalist design with electric power.
Daily Quote.
“Leaking that type of information—whatever the information, whatever side it comes out on—is outrageous. It’s treasonous.”
— White House envoy Steve Witkoff on the leak to news media of preliminary intelligence about the damage caused by the U.S. bombing of Iran
Inspirational Verse of the Day.
Proverbs Chapter 1 Verse 31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. KJV
And thats the news for today.
And Now, a word from our sponsor, Spurgeons’ Morning and Evening Devotionals.
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