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Sunday, December 28, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1846, Iowa became the 29th state when President James K. Polk signed the bill admitting it to the Union.

Perhaps we all have someone in the family or friend group who keeps making the same bad choices, no matter how many times it blows up. As we report below, new neuroscience suggests there is a reason for that.

Today's sponsor, Dr. Steven Gundry, MD, is sounding the alarm on a hidden chemical in bottled water that he says may be quietly disrupting metabolism and contributing to weight gain.

Major Winter Storm Slams Northeast

States of emergency were declared Friday in New Jersey and parts of New York as a post-Christmas storm dumped up to 11.5 inches of snow in upstate areas.

Over 7,600 flights were delayed on Saturday at major East Coast airports, despite warnings having expired, but officials cautioned about the risk of black ice as temperatures remained below freezing.

The storm ended Saturday morning, but a second bomb cyclone is expected to hit Sunday through Monday, bringing blizzard conditions to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, with snow totals of a foot or more.

Meanwhile, the Colorado mountains are bracing for 5 to 10 inches of snow through Sunday, with another system possible from Jan. 2-5, following the worst snowpack start on record.

Iran Declares "Total War" on West

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared his country is in a "total war" with the U.S., Israel, and Europe, claiming the conflict is worse than the devastating 1980s Iran-Iraq war.

The statement comes six months after Israel and the U.S. struck Iranian military and nuclear sites in a 12-day war that killed over 1,000 people, followed by UN sanctions orchestrated by France, Britain, and Germany over Tehran's nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Trump on Monday at Mar-a-Lago to pitch new strikes on Iran's rebuilt ballistic missile facilities.

Pezeshkian warned that any renewed Israeli attack would face "a more resolute stance," while claiming Iran's military is now stronger than before June's conflict.

Cities Cancel New Year's Celebrations

Major cities worldwide have canceled or scaled back New Year's Eve celebrations amid security concerns following recent attacks and an FBI-foiled bombing plot in Los Angeles.

Paris canceled its traditional Champs-Élysées concert over crowd safety fears, replacing it with a pre-recorded broadcast while keeping fireworks at the Arc de Triomphe, while Tokyo scrapped the Shibuya Countdown Event, citing public drunkenness and crowd control risks.

Sydney's Bondi Beach canceled its fireworks following the recent ISIS-inspired Hanukkah attack that killed 15 people, while Hong Kong replaced its Victoria Harbour fireworks with a smaller laser show.

The cancellations come as Times Square prepares for a million revelers with heightened NYPD security, though travel advisers report more people are opting for private, exclusive celebrations over massive public gatherings.

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Cardiologist Discovers A “Fat-Causing Chemical” in Bottled Water

Most people wouldn’t expect this from bottled water.

However, a leading cardiologist with over 300 published studies suggests that much of the water Americans drink may contribute to weight gain, due to a hidden “fat-causing chemical” that can disrupt metabolism.

That's why he's urging Americans not to take another sip until they watch this urgent video.

Last-minute travelers can still find cheap New Year's trips, with round-trip flights from New York to West Palm Beach starting at $70 and Orlando at $90. (See Deals)

These festive ski resorts combine excellent slopes with holiday celebrations, twinkling lights, and seasonal activities for unforgettable winter getaways across America. (Hit Slopes)

Here are 18 crowd-pleasing New Year's Eve finger foods, including bacon-wrapped tater tots, jalapeño popper puff pastry sticks, and baked brie with garlic butter. (See Recipes)

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Stay warm through even the coldest winter days—this heated vest from HeatArmor delivers cozy, battery-powered warmth directly to your core, allowing you to skip bulky layers and stay comfortable whether you're hiking, commuting, or working outdoors. Adjustable heat settings and a slim, weather-ready design make it ideal for chilly mornings and frosty nights alike. (SHOP NOW)

➤ Russia launched missiles and drones at energy and military targets inside Kyiv early Saturday, killing one person and wounding 27. Moscow says it was in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on civilian sites. (More)

➤ Karoline Leavitt, the youngest-ever White House press secretary at 27, announced she's expecting her second child—a baby girl due in May 2026. She'll be the first person to hold the position while pregnant, adding to her history-making tenure in the Trump administration. (See Details)

➤ Names expected to surge in 2026 include Juniper, Eloise, Helena, Jaylin, Kelsey, Rose, Francis, Daisy, Holden, and Finn, pulled from TV hits, sports stars, Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter era, cottagecore style, and classic literature. (See Names)

➤ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicts that 2035 college graduates could work space exploration jobs with sky-high salaries as AI reshapes the workforce. A tech billionaire says he's envious of Gen Z starting their careers now, claiming that future jobs will make current work look "boring" by comparison. (See Prediction)

➤ Neuroscientists revealed why some people can't stop making bad choices: they focus on reward-predicting cues rather than actual rewards, struggling to update beliefs when situations change. (See Research)

➤ Here are 22 unusual driving laws, including Alaska's ban on animals attached to cars, Georgia's prohibition on using any body part to support a phone while driving, and Washington's ban on hugging while driving. (See Laws)

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➤ Recent studies reveal a chemical found in 96% of toothpaste brands may react with saliva to create a toxic foam that attacks your gums, causing inflammation, pain, gum disease, loose teeth, and bad breath. The FDA has recalled millions of tubes. Watch this video to see if you're at risk and learn a simple household fix.

One final joke before the ornaments are boxed up, the leftovers are gone, and we officially say goodbye to Christmas for the year.

Whatever happened to New Year's Resolutions?

In the U.S., the act of making New Year's resolutions doesn't look like it's vanishing so much as settling into a steady minority habit: roughly two-fifths of adults say they make one in a given year.

What's changed more is the content—and the vibe—of the promises. In years gone by, resolutions read like a fairly classic self-improvement checklist: spend less/save more, exercise, lose weight, eat healthier, "be a better person."

Notably, "quit smoking" once showed up as a common aim. That made sense for that era: smoking was more prevalent, so "this is the year I quit" had a bigger pool of would-be quitters. Today, with cigarette smoking hovering near historic lows in polling, "quit smoking" naturally slips down the list.

In newer polling, the menu expands. Health and money are still the backbone—diet, weight, fitness, budgeting, debt—but resolutions now more openly include mental health, productivity/organization, career goals, hobbies, travel, and being closer with friends and family.

There's also a subtle shift in framing: more people talk about "goals" and "wellness," not just quitting something. That lines up with research suggesting that approach-oriented goals (what you'll do more of) tend to work better than pure avoidance goals (what you'll stop doing). Either way, surveys show only 13% of U.S. adults say they can keep up with their resolutions for a full year.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? Let us know what they are by replying to this email.

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MD: If You Drink Bottled Water Daily, This Is What Happens

Bottled water may not be as harmless as it seems.

A renowned cardiologist says he's found a hidden “fat-causing chemical” in store-bought water that could be sabotaging metabolism and digestion.

In this urgent video, he connects the dots—and shares a simple at-home water hack you can try today.