| 
 | Monday, March 30, 2026 | | | Good Morning! On this day in 1867, Secretary of State William Seward signed a deal to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, roughly two cents per acre. Critics called it "Seward's Folly," but the laughter stopped when gold strikes in the territory helped prove the land's vast worth. NASA can't explain why astronaut Mike Fincke suddenly lost the ability to speak aboard the International Space Station in January. What they do know is it wasn't a heart attack, it lasted 20 minutes, and it triggered the first medical evacuation in the station's history. The full story is below. Big news for our West Coast readers: The California Flyover launches this Wednesday, April 1, bringing the same daily briefing to the Golden State. If you've got friends or family in California, share the signup link, so they're in from day one. Sign up here. Later today, watch for a quick note from our partner, Upwellness, sharing a simple approach to help tackle stubborn fat, low energy, and digestive issues. Save hundreds on GLP-1 meds with these top providers from today's sponsor, ChooseGLP-1. | | | |  Pentagon Plans Ground Operations in Iran
The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, including possible raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report citing multiple U.S. officials. The plans would involve special operations forces and conventional infantry but fall short of a full-scale invasion. About 3,500 Marines and sailors aboard the USS Tripoli arrived Friday, and soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division are also deploying. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it's "the job of the Pentagon to make preparations," but that it "does not mean the President has made a decision." Iran's parliament speaker responded Sunday, warning that Iranian forces are waiting for American soldiers "to rain fire upon them." | Astronaut's Mystery Illness Still Baffles NASA NASA astronaut Mike Fincke revealed that he suddenly lost the ability to speak while eating dinner aboard the International Space Station on Jan. 7, an episode that triggered the first medical evacuation in the station's history and remains unexplained. Fincke, 59, said the episode hit "like a very, very fast lightning bolt," lasted about 20 minutes, and left his six crewmates scrambling to help. Doctors have ruled out a heart attack, but after months of testing, everything else is still on the table, possibly linked to his 549 days in weightlessness. The mystery comes as NASA prepares to launch the Artemis II crew around the moon on Wednesday, a 10-day mission in which a quick return to Earth wouldn't be an option. | Thieves Swipe 12 Tons of KitKat Bars Thieves stole a truck carrying more than 413,000 KitKat bars somewhere between Italy and Poland last week, and the vehicle and its 12 tons of chocolate are still missing. The shipment left a Nestle factory in central Italy and was headed to distribution points across Europe, but never reached its destination. Nestle did not say where along the 800-mile route the truck disappeared. The company warned the stolen bars could pop up in unofficial sales channels but said each one is traceable through a unique batch code. A KitKat spokesperson couldn't resist: "We've always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat, but it seems thieves have taken the message too literally."
Love reading The Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.  | |  | | 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: ➤ Bank of America agreed to pay $72.5 million to Epstein survivors who allege the bank serviced accounts tied to his trafficking operation. (Hear Details) ➤ Vanessa Trump reportedly gave Tiger Woods an ultimatum after his DUI, while the Trump family says Secret Service was already driving the grandkids. (Hear Story) ➤ A professor says one word is a dead giveaway that a student used AI to write a paper. (Hear Word)   
| |  | | ➤ A record 57 House members have announced they won't seek re-election, including 36 Republicans, the most GOP retirements ahead of a midterm in nearly a century. (See Details) ➤ Politico pulled a cartoon depicting President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu covered in blood after backlash, with the outlet stating it didn't meet their standards. (See Cartoon) ➤ TSA agents should start seeing paychecks as early as today after President Trump signed an emergency order, border czar Tom Homan said, though the broader DHS shutdown remains unresolved. (More) ➤ Sen. Cory Booker said he is definitely not ruling out a 2028 presidential run, joining a growing list of Democrats positioning themselves for a potential White House bid. (More) | | | Flying together with our sponsor 
| |  | | ➤ Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday for his second straight victory, and the 19-year-old became the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history. Antonelli was denied champagne on the podium in Suzuka for being under Japan's legal drinking age of 20. (More) ➤ Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić was suspended one game after picking up his 16th technical foul, forcing him to miss the Lakers' matchup with the Wizards. He received the technical during an altercation against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. (More) ➤ Belgium beat the United States 5-2 in men's soccer in a friendly match on Saturday after trailing 1-0, with goals from Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana, Charles De Ketelaere, and two from Dodi Lukébakio. Weston McKennie and Patrick Agyemang scored for the U.S. (More) ➤ The Vikings announced Sunday that Ring of Honor safety Joey Browner died at age 65. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Browner recorded 37 interceptions during his nine seasons with Minnesota and was a key part of the team's defense in the 1980s. (More) ➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | MLB | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA | Tennis | NASCAR | F1 | |  | | Today's March Madness section is brought to you by: 
➤ No. 2 seed UConn forced a turnover in the closing seconds, and guard Braylon Mullins hit a game-winning 3-pointer to upset No. 1 overall seed Duke, 73-72, and send the Huskies to the Final Four. UConn once trailed by 19 points. (Watch Moment) ➤ The NCAA men’s Final Four is set after UConn shocked Duke, and No. 1 seed Michigan routed No. 6 seed Tennessee. On Saturday, UConn will face No. 3 seed Illinois, while No. 1 seeds Arizona and Michigan will meet in the other semifinal. (See Schedule) ➤ No. 1 seeds UConn and UCLA opened the NCAA women’s Elite Eight with wins over No. 6 seed Notre Dame and No. 3 seed Duke, respectively. Today, No. 2 seed Michigan faces No. 1 seed Texas, while No. 3 seed TCU looks to upset top-seeded South Carolina. (See Schedule) Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Spring is the perfect time to protect your home and save. With this limited-time Spring Sale from Service Plus Home Warranty, you can get comprehensive home warranty coverage at a discounted rate. From appliances to major systems, avoid costly repairs and unexpected breakdowns. Lock in peace of mind today and keep your home running smoothly all season long.
| |  | | ➤ Fannie Mae will accept crypto-backed mortgages for the first time, allowing homebuyers to pledge bitcoin as down payment collateral through a new partnership with Coinbase and Better Home & Finance. (See Details) ➤ Eli Lilly reached a $2.75 billion deal with Hong Kong-based Insilico Medicine to bring AI-discovered drugs to the global market, with $115 million upfront and at least 28 compounds already in development. (See Deal) ➤ Rare Pokémon cards have outperformed the S&P 500 in recent years, with spending on the collectibles jumping 350% since 2020 as investors treat them like alternative assets. (See Values) | |  | | ➤ Japanese scientists cloned a single mouse for 20 years across 58 generations before the line went extinct, finding that mutations pile up three times faster than in natural reproduction. (See Study) ➤ Just in time for March Madness, researchers found that the difference between making or missing a basketball shot comes down to brain stability, with successful shots showing more focused neural activity and less mid-shot correction. (See Study) ➤ Anthropic's Claude is surging among paying consumers, with the AI company's subscription revenue skyrocketing as it competes with OpenAI's ChatGPT for the consumer market. (See Growth) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Feminine product companies have faced lawsuits over a hidden chemical linked to bladder leaks, even years after use, according to Harvard research. This issue has affected thousands of women, leading to frustration and discomfort. But there’s hope: a simple, 7-second, Harvard-backed method is helping over 52,000 women regain bladder control, no surgery or Kegels required. | |  | | 
| | Beyond Our Borders is brought to you by: 
➤ Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt met in Pakistan on Sunday to push for direct talks between the U.S. and Iran, with Pakistan's foreign minister saying both sides have expressed "full support and confidence" in the effort. (See Talks) ➤ European allies are telling American diplomats that Russia is directly helping Iran's war effort beyond what the U.S. has publicly acknowledged, including sharing satellite imagery of a U.S. air base days before an Iranian attack. (See Report) ➤ North Korea's Kim Jong Un observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, calling it a major boost to the country's strategic arsenal. (See Details) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Tired of switching between reading and distance glasses? Clario View uses adjustable lens technology to deliver clear vision at any distance with a simple twist of a dial. Lightweight and comfortable, they replace multiple pairs of glasses, helping you read, work, and see clearly throughout your day. (SHOP NOW) | | |  | | ➤ Two delivery robots crashed into bus shelters in Chicago within days of each other, shattering glass panels in separate incidents, one of which was caught on camera. (See Crash) ➤ A Las Vegas man reclaimed a Guinness World Record by dining at 28 Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City in 24 hours, spending just under $1,000 on food alone. (See Feast) ➤ Cake Picnic, a viral event requiring every attendee to bring a whole cake, drew more than 500 people to Sydney's Botanic Gardens after selling out dates in four countries. (See Cakes) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ After analyzing weight loss patterns in 600+ patients aged 45–75 and conducting extensive tests, a doctor developed a simple, affordable chocolate-based method to help shed extra pounds in just weeks—without yo-yo dieting. Best of all, you can start from home today. Discover how to reach your ideal weight with this doctor-vetted chocolate hack. | |  Daily Quote |  | "This wasn't you. This was space, right? You didn't let anybody down." — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator, to astronaut Mike Fincke after his unexplained medical episode aboard the International Space Station | | | |
Today's Trivia 
Siblings Indicted for MacDill AFB Explosives
