Sunday, May 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1775, John Hancock was elected president of the Second Continental Congress. He is famous for his large signature on the Declaration of Independence, which he jokingly remarked the British could read without spectacles.

For a time in the 1960s and 1970s, fondue was at the center of American dinner-party culture. Young couples embraced the social interaction of dipping breads and other treats into melted cheese cooked over a flame. Fondue is still around today, but mostly in nostalgic settings, as shown in the Whatever Happened To… section below.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlighted new research on a kitchen staple that scientists say could play a surprising role in protecting brain health. Multiple long-term studies found people who ate it regularly had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, adding to growing evidence that everyday diet choices may have a bigger impact on memory and cognition than once thought. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, Qnetic, says it may have solved one of the energy industry’s biggest problems by replacing lithium batteries entirely with a motion-powered system already attracting major commercial interest and more than $110 million in potential orders.

Gunman Killed near White House

The U.S. Secret Service fatally shot a gunman who opened fire at a White House checkpoint on Saturday evening, locking down the complex.

The suspect, known to D.C. police, pulled a pistol near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue around 6 p.m., firing toward the executive mansion before officers returned fire. A bystander was also wounded.

President Trump was in the Oval Office and unharmed. The gunman never breached the grounds, and the FBI is assisting at the scene.

The shooting marks the third White House security scare in a month, after the April assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and the May 4 Washington Monument shooting.

California Chemical Leak Forces Evacuations

Southern California filled evacuation centers on Saturday as authorities worked to cool an overheated chemical storage tank and keep it from exploding less than a mile from Disneyland's two theme parks.

A tank holding between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate began venting vapors into the air on Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility in Garden Grove, a city in Orange County.

The chemical is a highly flammable industrial liquid used to make acrylic plastics. If it leaks into the atmosphere, any spark or flash could lead to an uncontrolled fire or explosion.

The initial evacuation order was lifted when vapor conditions improved. However, the order was reissued and expanded on Friday due to what police called an "unprecedented" event.

LIST: Best Breakfast in Each State

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, and a new list of favorite breakfast options in each state reveals both classic favorites and intriguing options.

For those who want to start the morning with sweets, Arkansas offers a sugary wake-up call: biscuits and chocolate gravy.

Ohio calls on an old-world German recipe for goetta (pronounced GET-uh), a blend of pork, spices, and oats that is sliced into patties and pan-fried.

In Montana, the native huckleberry finds its way into both pancake batter and syrup.

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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, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gives West Point graduates a message on discipline, merit, and readiness. (Hear More)

➤ Hospitals say therapy dogs can bring comfort and encouragement to kids facing serious medical treatments. (Listen Now)

➤ The rising cost of dinner, drinks, and entertainment has changed the modern dating landscape. (Podcast Available)

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SoftBank Bets Millions Against Lithium Batteries

In the soon-to-be $3 trillion energy-storage market, lithium’s become one of the biggest bottlenecks.

It’s why SoftBank invested millions in a Japanese company exploring alternative chemicals to lithium in hopes of creating a new standard. But here’s the thing. Qnetic already did that by ditching chemicals altogether.

Qnetic invented a battery that runs entirely on motion. That’s how it’s able to operate like-new for 30+ years at a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion.

Eight major energy players have already signed $110M in potential orders. A pilot project launches in Massachusetts soon. By 2029, Qnetic is targeting thousands of annual deployments.

And unlike SoftBank's million-plus-dollar bet, you can invest in Qnetic today. Become an early-stage Qnetic shareholder now.

➤ Álex Palou will start from the pole in the No. 10 car today as he looks to win back-to-back Indianapolis 500s. The 110th edition of the historic race will be aired on Fox, with the national anthem scheduled for 12:20 p.m. Eastern. (More)

➤ NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died from severe pneumonia that progressed to sepsis, his family announced. Richard Childress Racing said it will suspend use of Busch's No. 8 car and hold it in reserve for his son, Brexton Busch. (More)

➤ New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Trump at a rally in Suffern, New York, on Friday, prompting a social media post from teammate Abdul Carter, who appeared to take issue with Dart's appearance at the event. (More)

➤ The NCAA enforcement staff opened an investigation into the Ole Miss football program following accusations by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney that the Rebels tampered with linebacker Luke Ferrelli. The investigation remains ongoing. (More)

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➤ Following sports can feel a lot more interesting when there’s actually something on the line. Kalshi lets sports fans trade on outcomes tied to major games, championships, and sports moments in real time, creating a new way to engage with the teams and events everyone is already watching. Flyover readers can also get a free $10 bonus when signing up through our link.

Weekly Market Report Previous Week

▲	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	26,343.97	0.21%
▲	SPX S&P 500	7,473.47	0.79%
▲	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	50,579.70	2.22%
▼	BTC Bitcoin	$75,488.24	-2.50%
▼	GOLD Per Ounce	$4,521.00	-0.92%
▲	SILVER Per Ounce	$75.89	1.31%
▼	OIL West Texas Intermediate Crude	$96.60	-8.87%

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

➤ Reddit shares fell almost 6% on Friday on concern that Meta’s new Forum app could create an alternative avenue for internet users to create discussion groups. (More)

➤ Two top Walmart executives are leaving the company as new CEO John Furner reshapes leadership following strong e-commerce growth and the retailer's latest mixed quarterly earnings report. (More)

➤ The Securities and Exchange Commission is delaying a plan to provide broad exemptions for U.S. crypto firms to trade tokenized assets linked to stocks. (More)

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➤ Women over 40 are ditching expensive injections for a simple morning gelatin ritual that activates your body's own fat-burning hormones naturally. No prescription. No side effects. No $1,200/month. => See the one-cube ritual Big Pharma won't talk about

Today's Rotator section is brought to you by:

Ladies and gentlemen, here are our most-clicked stories of the week:

➤ New research is strengthening the connection between diet and long-term cognitive health. Scientists found that people who regularly consumed this nutrient-rich food showed substantially lower rates of Alzheimer’s. (Podcast Available)

➤ The Pentagon released 64 new UFO files this week, including videos, audio, and a 2025 intelligence officer’s account of orange orbs near a helicopter. (More)

➤ House Republicans advanced legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, reviving a long-running effort to end twice-yearly clock changes. (More)

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➤ What Collagen Companies Don't Want Seniors to Know
Why do some people see amazing results with collagen while others notice nothing at all? The answer isn't in your age or biology – it's hidden in the supplement label. Most consumers over 50 are missing 5 crucial signs that reveal whether their collagen supplement is the real deal or just expensive protein powder. Before you spend another dollar on collagen, discover what leading researchers say you must look for. This could be the most important label-reading lesson you'll ever get. Learn More

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The Grid Doesn’t Need Another Gas Tank

Today’s batteries are just like the one in your car, filling up and depleting. The difference is, that cycle leads to batteries inevitably needing to be replaced.

When talking about something as important as grid-scale energy, that’s an expensive problem. So Qnetic asked, what if a gas tank isn’t what our energy grids need?

They invented a battery that has more transmission than gas tanks. Instead of chemicals, Qnetic spins a carbon-fiber rotor at 12,000 RPM, similar to a transmission storing momentum in a car.

Customers are already lining up, too. Eight major energy players have signed $110M in potential orders to date.

With the global energy storage market projected to reach $3 trillion, this opportunity is just getting started. Claim your stake in this battery breakthrough as an early-stage Qnetic investor today.

This is a paid advertisement for Qnetic Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.qnetic.energy/

➤ Mediators are nearing a deal to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire by 60 days as President Trump reviews Tehran’s draft agreement ahead of a possible decision today, according to reports. (More)

➤ The Trump administration announced on Friday that noncitizens seeking green cards must leave the U.S. indefinitely to obtain lawful permanent resident status, ending a long-standing policy allowing many applicants to remain in the country. (More)

➤ A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Hawaii’s Big Island near Honaunau-Napoopoo on Friday night as officials assessed possible impacts on the erupting Kilauea volcano. (See Volcano)

➤ A coal mine explosion in northern China killed at least 82 people Friday night, leaving nine missing after carbon monoxide levels exceeded safety limits underground. (More)

➤ SpaceX launched its upgraded Starship V3 rocket on Friday, carrying 20 mock satellites during the 12th test flight of the massive spacecraft NASA plans to use for moon missions. (See Test Flight)

➤ A Greek island once marketed as a luxury resort destination is headed to auction with a starting price of about $290,000, less than many U.S. homes, though the buyer would inherit more than $23 million in debt and tax claims. (See Island)

➤ Communication experts called saying "no" an underrated negotiation superpower because polite, firm refusals help people avoid awkward back-and-forth negotiations. (More)

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➤ Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale is here with major discounts on TVs, kitchen gadgets, outdoor gear, home essentials, electronics, and more. Shoppers are finding limited-time deals across thousands of top brands before summer officially begins. These holiday savings won’t last long, so now’s the time to grab the best bargains before they’re gone. (SHOP NOW)

Whatever happened to fondue?

For a brief stretch in the late 1960s and 1970s, the fondue pot was the center of American social life. If you hosted a dinner party, chances were good that a small flame was heating melted cheese in the middle of your table.

Fondue arrived in the United States through postwar travel and savvy Swiss promotion. American tourists encountered it in Alpine resorts, while Swiss cheese producers pushed the dish abroad to increase exports.

The 1964 New York World’s Fair helped introduce fondue to a mass audience, and by the end of the decade it was showing up in cookbooks, department stores, and suburban kitchens.

The concept fit perfectly with the era’s dinner-party culture. Young couples entertaining at home liked foods that were interactive and informal. Fondue turned dinner into a group activity. Guests gathered around a pot of melted cheese, dipping cubes of bread with long forks.

Variations followed. Some hosts used hot oil to cook meat at the table, while chocolate fondue became a popular dessert. Buying a fondue set became almost a rite of passage for new households.

Restaurants joined the trend as well (see this video), and a few managed to outlast the fad. Despite the collapse of the home fondue party craze, the concept survived in a narrower niche. The biggest example is The Melting Pot, founded in Florida in 1975 and now operating roughly 90 locations across the United States and Canada.

Today fondue occupies a strange place in American food culture. It is mostly nostalgia. Many people associate it with 1970s entertaining or romantic restaurants. Yet the idea never fully disappeared. Interest rises from time to time as people rediscover communal dining, and some observers point to renewed curiosity about slower, shared meals in a digital era.

Were you a fondue fan with your own fondue set? Do you still enjoy a good fondue on occasion? Let us know your thoughts by replying to this email.

More than 900,000 baseballs are used across the MLB every year, from spring training and batting practice to the regular season and the World Series. But before every pitch, hit, and home run, each one starts the same way: a small red rubber pill. Here’s how baseballs are made.

Do you have a hard time saying “no”?

Yesterday's Results:

How would you rate economic conditions today?

Good: 34%
Fair: 34%
Poor: 25%
Excellent: 7%

Daily Quote

"My guess is there’re probably 45 senators in the room, at least half of them were blasting the attorney general, and they were pissed.”

— Texas Senator Ted Cruz, describing a meeting with Senate Republicans and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.