Friday, May 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2023, Arizona, California, and Nevada struck a landmark deal to cut Colorado River water usage by 3 million acre-feet through 2026, a breakthrough moment for the drought-stricken West.

The Democratic National Committee just released its long-buried 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election. What went wrong? Who was to blame for their losses? While the report assigns blame across the board, it leaves some of the biggest questions still unanswered. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown shares the 5 biggest revelations from the report, what it quietly leaves out, and how both sides are reacting. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, RAD Intel, is drawing attention for its explosive growth and AI-powered marketing platform, already being used by Fortune 1000 brands to predict campaign performance before ad dollars are spent.

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.

Obamacare Sign-ups Drop

Arizona recorded one of the steepest drops in Obamacare enrollment in the country this year, with sign-ups falling 16% to roughly 357,000, down from a record 423,000 in 2025.

Pandemic-era enhanced premium tax credits that had lowered out-of-pocket costs for most enrollees expired at the end of 2025.

Arizona's enrollment drop was the sixth biggest in the nation. The decline reverses years of growth, as Arizona's enrollment surged 177% between 2020 and 2025.

Analysts project sign-ups could fall further over time.

Surgeon General Nominee a Scottsdale Native

Dr. Nicole Saphier, nominated by President Trump to become the next U.S. surgeon general, was once an Arizona teen mom who went on to become a doctor.

Saphier grew up in Scottsdale and became a mother at 17 before earning her medical degree and rising to direct breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey.

She received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and completed her medical residency and a radiology fellowship in the Phoenix area. She's also built a national profile as a Fox News medical contributor and author.

The Surgeon General serves as the country's chief public health spokesperson. Saphier replaces Trump's previous nominee, Dr. Casey Means, whose confirmation stalled in the Senate. Saphier's confirmation hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Massive Gold Nugget Heads to Auction

The largest gold nugget ever found in the Western Hemisphere, unearthed in Mexico and now housed in Arizona, will head to auction on June 12 at EJ's Auction & Appraisal in Glendale.

Known as the Boot of Cortez, the 383.10-troy-ounce specimen was discovered by a prospector in the Sonoran Desert in 1989. The nugget earned its name from its striking resemblance to a Spanish conquistador's boot.

Glendale's EJ's Auction expects significant interest from collectors worldwide. Previous owners include private collectors who have kept the nugget largely out of public view for decades, making the upcoming sale a rare opportunity.

Help Us Test Flyover Updates

Several days ago, we announced something new coming to The Flyover: Flyover Updates, a quick afternoon message with the top breaking stories of the day, delivered straight to your phone while the news is still happening.

The response so far has been encouraging.

Before we officially launch in June, we’re inviting The Arizona Flyover readers to help test the experience and give us feedback.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A simple afternoon text message
• The biggest developing stories you haven’t seen yet
• No apps, clutter, or endless notifications
• The same straightforward Flyover reporting you already trust

A lot happens between this morning’s edition and tomorrow’s. Flyover Updates is designed to help you stay informed without spending all day chasing headlines.

If you’d like to be part of our early test group, sign up here.

We’d love to have you help shape what Flyover Updates becomes before the full launch.

Thank you for reading The Arizona Flyover and being part of what we’re building.

Flying together with our sponsor

This AI Company Has F1000 Traction and 5400% Growth

Most AI companies are still asking investors to bet on what might happen someday.

RAD Intel is already operating with real traction.

The company’s AI-driven platform helps brands predict marketing performance before campaigns launch, allowing decisions to happen while budgets are still flexible and outcomes can still be influenced. As marketing costs continue rising, that kind of decision advantage is becoming more valuable to brands and agencies trying to improve efficiency before money is committed.

That traction is already showing up in the business. RAD Intel doubled sales in 2025, secured recurring 7-figure enterprise contracts, and reported 3.5x ROI across campaigns with Fortune 1000 brands and agencies. Over the past five years, the company has delivered 5,400%+ valuation growth, raised $85M+ from 24,000+ investors, been selected by the Adobe Design Fund, and has backing from multiple institutional funds.*

Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI. Shares are currently available at $0.95, with the offering 95% allocated.

Lock in $0.95/share now.

➤ Southern Arizona: Arizona DPS troopers issued 67 cell phone citations in a single enforcement detail on I-10 after drivers were caught filming the scene of a nearby fatal crash instead of watching the road. (More)

➤ Surprise: An Arizona man faces federal charges after prosecutors say he broke a lobby window at an ICE facility and used a propane torch to try to ignite the building in the early morning hours. (More)

➤ Prescott: Prescott National Forest enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions and a shooting ban, prohibiting open campfires and target shooting across the forest due to elevated wildfire danger. (More)

➤ Tucson: Teachers are developing targeted classroom strategies to reverse a learning slide that deepened during the pandemic, reflected in a national Education Scorecard report that ranked Arizona as behind in improving elementary reading scores. (More)

➤ Nogales: A federal grand jury indicted a Phoenix woman on weapons trafficking charges for allegedly attempting to smuggle an RPG launcher tube, multiple rifles, and firearm parts through the Nogales port of entry. (More)

➤ Statewide: A poll finds rising gasoline prices are shaping Arizona voters' candidate preferences heading into the 2026 primary season, with respondents saying pump costs are a key factor in their decisions. (More)

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➤ Arizona State softball travels to play No. 2 Texas tonight after upsetting Texas A&M in the regional round. It is the Sun Devils' first super regional appearance since 2022. (See Schedule)

➤ Phoenix Suns games will remain broadcast for free on over-the-air television for Arizona residents through 2030 after the team extended its broadcast deal with Gray Media. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat skipped the start of voluntary drills this week, with analysts speculating that he may be unhappy with the team's direction or his contract. (More)

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➤ Freeport-McMoRan's Morenci Mine is one step closer to geothermal power after the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission approved new wells, aiming to run North America's largest copper mine on underground heat. (More)

➤ A Mesa teenager built ScamSafe, an AI-powered site that helps senior citizens detect phone and email scams by analyzing suspicious messages and screenshots. (More)

➤ Amkor Technology secured 67 additional acres in Peoria and announced it's working with AMD on advanced chip packaging, expanding its Arizona campus to 171 acres ahead of a 2028 production launch. (More)

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RAD Intel Shares Are Available at $0.95

RAD Intel shares are currently available at $0.95 through an SEC-qualified offering, but the current window is closing.

The round is now 95% allocated as investor demand continues rising. Support now includes operators from Google, Meta, and Amazon as the company expands its AI platform across Fortune 1000 brands, agencies, and enterprise workflows. Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI.

Learn more before the $0.95 pricing window closes soon.

This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The valuation is set by the Company and there is currently no public market for the Company's Common Stock. Nasdaq ticker “RADI” has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai.

➤ Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo was certified as America's newest Dark Sky Park, recognized for some of the darkest skies in the continental U.S. (More)

➤ Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, married archaeologist Cat Jarman in a private Sedona ceremony on May 15, with Cathedral Rock as the backdrop. (More)

➤ The new Arizona Wallet app lets drivers store vehicle registrations and titles on their phones, with expiration alerts and a direct link to renew at AZMVDNow.gov. (More)

➤ A Scottsdale woman accused of faking a pregnancy to defraud a former contestant of The Bachelor was back in court this week. (More)

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