Kamis, 23 April 2026

Cost of Raising a Kid, UFO Videos, and a Turkish Moustache

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1985, the Coca-Cola Co. debuted New Coke, changing its signature formula after 99 years, but the new, sweeter drink sparked fierce backlash and became a textbook marketing blunder. See the debut commercial here.

The NFL Draft kicks off tonight from Pittsburgh, its first time hosting since 1948, and we have all the details below.

The cost of living varies wildly across the United States, and for retirees, choosing the wrong state can cost up to six figures a year. On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown shares new data that ranks the cost of living in every U.S. state, what groceries, housing, and healthcare actually cost depending on where you live. Plus, which states give retirees the most financial breathing room? Where does your state land, and what does it mean for your retirement? Tune in here!

Mother's Day is closer than you think. Our 2026 Gift Guide has something for every kind of mom, from thoughtful to practical to a little over-the-top. Don't sleep on it.

Today’s sponsor, Mode Mobile, the fastest-growing software company of 2023, is turning everyday smartphones into passive income generators, with a pre-IPO opportunity now available for early investors.

Iran Seizes Ships as Ceasefire Teeters

Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired on at least two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and took custody of both ships, the first such seizures since the war began. Iran's parliament speaker called the U.S. blockade a "flagrant breach" of the ceasefire.

President Trump, who extended the ceasefire Tuesday after a planned second round of peace talks in Pakistan fell apart, said Wednesday there is "no time pressure" on a deal and that the blockade "scares them more than bombing."

Trump also announced that Iran agreed to spare eight women protesters who had been scheduled for execution, with four released immediately and four sentenced to one month in prison.

Senate Republicans blocked a fifth attempt from Democrats to invoke the War Powers Resolution on the 54th day of the conflict, with the fast-approaching 60-day deadline set to force Congress to formally weigh in on continuing military operations.

NFL Draft Kicks Off Tonight

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off tonight from Pittsburgh, with the Las Vegas Raiders on the clock at No. 1 overall. It’s the Steel City’s first time hosting the event since 1948. See the draft order.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the odds-on favorite to be the Raiders’ selection, meaning the draft really starts at pick two. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is this year’s X-factor—if the Cardinals take him at No. 3, he’d be the highest running back drafted since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

The 2026 class is widely considered weaker than usual because there's only one franchise quarterback (Mendoza) and fewer elite prospects at the top. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach predicted “a lot of trades” as teams jockey for prospects with nearly identical grades.

Round 1 wraps up tonight before Rounds 2-3 on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday. Coverage airs across ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network, with the full broadcast starting tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Here's how to watch it.

Cost of Raising a Child Per State

The national average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 topped $300,000 for the first time, reaching $303,418 according to a new analysis that tracked housing, food, daycare, transportation, and health insurance.

Hawaii is the most expensive state at $412,661, nearly $50,000 more than second-place Alaska at $365,047. New Hampshire came in cheapest at just under $202,000.

Daycare remains the biggest driver, averaging $17,264 a year for infants, though that figure actually fell slightly from a year ago. The total doesn't include college, which could add another $152,000.

Overall, the 18-year price tag has risen nearly 28% since 2023, and a recent poll found 77% of Americans believe raising a family is harder now than for previous generations. See the full state-by-state breakdown 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 links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ New data reveals which states are draining retirement accounts and which ones aren't. (Hear Details)

➤ The Department of Justice has charged a civil rights nonprofit with fraud, alleging it secretly paid informants inside extremist groups and misled donors about the practice. (Hear Episode)

➤ The United Kingdom just banned future generations from ever buying cigarettes under a sweeping new anti-smoking law. (Listen Now)

➤ Navy Secretary John Phelan left the Trump administration "effective immediately" on Wednesday with no explanation, a sudden departure that comes as the Navy enforces a high-stakes blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. (More)

➤ Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., died Wednesday at 80 after serving 12 terms in Congress, narrowing the House margin to 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and one Independent (Kevin Kiley, who caucuses with Republicans) and triggering a special election in his Atlanta-area district. (More)

➤ The Trump administration is expected to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III soon, the most significant federal shift in cannabis policy in decades that would ease research barriers but stop short of legalization. (More)

➤ Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said he has seen UFO videos that "defy any reason," days after President Trump teased that the first release of government files on unidentified aerial phenomena will come "very, very soon." (More)

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➤ President Trump urged Congress to pass college sports legislation this week, calling the current system “a total and complete mess.” He also warned that the U.S. “won’t have much of an Olympic team anymore” without new regulations. (See Details)

➤ The Royals unveiled plans for a $2 billion-plus ballpark in downtown Kansas City, which would be the largest private investment in the city's history. (More)

➤ A group of rowdy hockey fans shattered the glass panel behind the LA Kings’ bench in Denver on Tuesday night, pounding the barrier in celebration after the Avalanche saved a penalty shot. The mishap forced a 20-minute delay. (More)

➤ OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA Clutch Player of the Year after leading the league with 175 total points in clutch time this season. (More)

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Daily Market Report 04/22/2026

▲	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	24,657.57	1.64%
▲	SPX S&P 500	7,137.90	1.05%
▲	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	49,490.03	0.69%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$78,548.00	2.88%
▲	GOLD Per Ounce	$4,751.70	1.13%
▲	SILVER Per Ounce	$77.62	1.58%
▲	OIL West Texas Intermediate Crude	$92.60	0.51%
▼	CAR Avis Budget Group Inc	$443.94	-37.82%

Bitcoin, gold, silver, and oil are traded 24 hours a day.

➤ Big Stock Move: Avis Budget Group stock plunged over 37% on Wednesday after a short squeeze rally that had driven shares up 258% this year lost steam, with fears the company could issue new shares to cover its heavy debt. (More)

➤ The Trump administration is in advanced talks for a roughly $500 million rescue package for Spirit Airlines, which faces liquidation after years of losses compounded by surging fuel costs from the Iran war. (More)

➤ Speaking of airlines, United plans to raise summer fares 15% to 20% to offset jet fuel costs that have doubled since the Iran war began, even as the carrier reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profits. (More)

➤ Anthropic is investigating a possible breach of its new Mythos AI model, designed to detect software vulnerabilities, after unauthorized users reportedly gained access through a third-party vendor environment. (More)

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Apple’s Starlink Update Sparks Huge Earning Opportunity

Apple just secretly added Starlink satellite support to iPhones through iOS 18.3.

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➤ NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now fully assembled and ahead of schedule for a September launch, with surveying capabilities over 1,000 times faster than Hubble's that could unlock mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. (See Telescope)

➤ Italian researchers grew potatoes under commercial solar panels for four years and found that adjusting the panels during key growth stages produced yields on par with those in open fields. (See Study)

➤ A study of more than 3,400 children found that exclusive breastfeeding for at least three months leaves chemical marks on a baby's DNA linked to immunity and development, with changes still detectable at age 12. (See Study)

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

➤ Eighteen vintage photos show spring breakers from the 1960s through the 1990s living it up at Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Springs, all without a filter in sight. (See Photos)

➤ Twenty once-common baby names from the early 1900s, including Mildred, Ethel, and Wilbur, have virtually vanished from modern birth certificates. (See Names)

➤ Rare vintage photos of Hollywood's Golden Age capture icons like Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and Gregory Peck at their glamorous best on Oscar night. (See Photos)

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➤ Elizabeth Smart, abducted as a teenager in 2002 and held captive for nine months, revealed she's been competing in bodybuilding competitions as a way to reclaim her body and celebrate what it's carried her through. (See Photos)

➤ A popular MAGA influencer with millions of followers turned out to be an AI creation built by a medical student in India who used the fake persona to sell merchandise and adult content to conservative men online. (More)

➤ A black bear in Albany, New York, climbed a tree in a residential neighborhood and sat there for more than four hours before wildlife officials tranquilized it and caught it in a net. (Watch Video)

➤ A Turkish politician became an overnight internet sensation after his official portrait revealed a mustache so enormous that fans claim it has developed a face of its own. (See Mustache)

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Do you remember trying New Coke?

Yesterday's Results:

What's the ideal retirement age?

60 to 65: 39%
66 to 70: 24%
Before 60: 20%
After 70: 9%
Never, I love working: 8%

Daily Quote

"My body has risen to every single challenge life has presented it with, and carried me through, so I refuse to be ashamed of it."

— Elizabeth Smart, on competing in bodybuilding after surviving her 2002 abduction

Today's Trivia

Which state is home to North America’s largest food buffet?

Show me the answer

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Cursive Writing Returns, Mayor Arrested, and OpenAI Subpoenaed

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1982, the Keys seceded from the Union and declared independence as the Conch Republic after Mayor Dennis Wardlow declared war on the United States.

After Virginia voters approved a new congressional map on Tuesday, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Democrats would carry out "maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time," including efforts to take the current House seats held by Florida Republicans.

Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to Jeffries' comments with an invitation, "Please, be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida and campaign. I’ll put you up in the Florida Governor's mansion."

A special session about redistricting in Florida is set to begin on April 28.

The cost of living varies wildly across the United States, and for retirees, choosing the wrong state can cost up to six figures a year. On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown shares new data that ranks the cost of living in every U.S. state, and what groceries, housing, and healthcare actually cost depending on where you live. Plus, which states give retirees the most financial breathing room? Where does your state land, and what does it mean for your retirement? Tune in here!

Later today, watch for a note from our partner, Incogni, on how to get your personal data off the internet, plus a special discount code for our readers.

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Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Broad Education Bill Includes Cursive Mandate

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 182 into law on Monday, a broad education bill that requires Florida schools to teach cursive writing proficiency by fifth grade and to display portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

The law, effective July 1, establishes a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program. It also makes it legal for private schools to use or acquire buildings such as churches, museums, theaters, colleges, and former schools or day care centers without requiring rezoning or special land-use approval.

The legislation began as a measure aimed at improving teacher training by allowing retired teachers to mentor new or struggling educators, sponsored by Miami Gardens Democrat Sen. Shevrin Jones and Gainesville Democrat Rep. Yvonne Hinson.

Supporters say the expanded requirements reset traditional literacy skills and provide students with a way to connect with history. Critics counter that they add more testing and act as an unfunded mandate for districts that already run on tight budgets.

Phillies Spring Training Renovation Advances

Pinellas County Commissioners voted to support renovations to the Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training complex, which includes BayCare Ballpark and the Carpenter Complex. The Clearwater City Commission will vote on the project tonight.

Under the agreement, Clearwater would contribute up to $30 million to the overall $205 million cost of revamping the Phillies' campus. Pinellas County would provide up to $85 million in tourist development dollars.

The term sheet voted on Tuesday does not authorize spending. Once Clearwater votes, then both city and county commissioners will vote on the final term sheet, a document outlining the renovations and how they will be paid for.

The Phillies have called Clearwater their spring training home since 1947. Proposed upgrades include a new video board and field lights, a larger concourse, expanded concessions, new seats, and new suites. As part of the deal, the team would provide $850,000 in annual marketing value.

Florida NFL Teams Set for Draft Night

The NFL draft kicks off tonight, and two of Florida's three NFL teams have first-round picks: the Miami Dolphins at No. 11 and No. 30, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15. Coverage begins at 8 p.m.

The Dolphins are firmly in rebuild mode after cutting Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle this offseason, which leaves them with a massive hole at wide receiver. Mock drafts predict they will target pass catchers like Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson or USC's Makai Lemon at No. 11.

The Bucs remain a bit of a wildcard after losing All-Pro wideout Mike Evans in free agency. Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Akheem Mesidor is a popular projection at No. 15, but they may look for a replacement on offense, like Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, are sitting out of Round 1 after trading their pick in last year's blockbuster deal for Travis Hunter. They'll be back in the thick of things with four picks tomorrow.

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➤ Starke: Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday for the 1990 murder of Marlys Sather during a burglary at her Palm Bay home. It was the fifth execution in Florida this year. (More)

➤ Ochopee: Alligator Alcatraz, the state-run immigration detention facility, will remain open following a decision from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a district court ruling to close the facility. (More)

➤ Coral Gables: Voters in a special election on Tuesday approved a charter amendment moving municipal elections to November of even-numbered years, with 66% support. Seven other measures were decided. (See Results)

➤ Naples: Mayor Teresa Heitmann was arrested on Monday after testing positive for cannabinoids on March 26, a violation of her probation in a 2024 DUI case. (More)

➤ Manatee County: The Atlanta Braves turned in an 18-year-old Braves minor league catcher to FHP. Jonathan Matos Morales was sought for leaving the scene of a hit-and-run crash that killed a semi-tractor-trailer driver on I-75 on Monday. (More)

➤ Tavares: The city council called for a referendum this November to extend its terms from two to four years. The proposed charter amendment would provide staggered four-year terms and align municipal elections with statewide general elections. (More)

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➤ Florida forward Thomas Haugh will return for his senior season instead of entering the NBA draft, where he was projected as a lottery pick. (More)

➤ J.J. Moser scored in overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 of their playoff series. The series is tied at 1-1, with the next two games in Montreal. (More)

➤ Florida State named Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels their starting quarterback for the 2026 season after he beat out redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry for the job. (More)

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➤ OpenAI was subpoenaed on Tuesday by Attorney General James Uthmeier as part of a new criminal investigation into how the company approaches user threats of harm. This is in addition to the previously announced probe, described as a civil investigation. (More)

➤ The Miami Association of Realtors and Broward, Palm Beaches, and St. Lucie Realtors have merged into one association and MLS to create the largest local Realtor association in the country with a total of about 93,000 members. (More)

➤ Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas set sail for sea trials from Finland ahead of the vessel's Mediterranean debut in July and its Florida arrival in November. The 248,663-gross-ton megaship is the third to join the Miami-based cruise line's Icon class. (More)

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➤ Florida dominated WalletHub's list of best large cities to start a business in the U.S., boasting six of the top 10 locations. Tampa took the top spot, followed by Orlando (No. 2), Jacksonville (No. 3), Hialeah (No. 4), St. Petersburg (No. 5), and Miami (No. 10). (See List)

➤ Hillsborough County schools are getting high-tech help in the classroom from a program called the Magic School, which uses artificial intelligence to cut down on teacher workload. (More)

➤ A gopher tortoise is back in the wild after rehabilitation at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the tortoise had been sprayed by someone with what appeared to be insulating foam. (See Photo)

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