Sunday, March 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1820, Maine became the 23rd U.S. state after separating from Massachusetts through the Missouri Compromise, which allowed it to enter as a free state in exchange for the entrance of Missouri as a slave state.

Australian singer Olivia Newton-John enjoyed worldwide appeal in the 1970s and '80s, first with wholesome ballads, then later with more risqué pop songs. In between, her star power skyrocketed, playing opposite John Travolta in the film musical Grease, as shown in today's "Whatever Happened To..."

Today’s sponsor, United States Tungsten Corp, is giving investors early access to America’s largest historic tungsten mine as the U.S. looks to secure a domestic supply of this critical defense metal amid rising prices and reduced reliance on China.

US Forces Strike Iran's Oil Operations

U.S. forces carried out “large-scale” strikes on Kharg Island, a critical hub of Iran’s Gulf oil operations.

U.S. Central Command said Saturday that naval mine storage facilities and missile storage bunkers were among targets destroyed, hitting 90 Iranian military targets while “preserving the oil infrastructure.”

The island, which is about the size of New York City’s Central Park, has a loading capacity of about 7 million barrels per day, and roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass through it. Most of those exports are shipped to China and India.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is deploying the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, and thousands of military service members to break Iranian influence over the vital Strait of Hormuz as global oil prices spike.

The expected two-week voyage from East Asia could help re-open the crucial waterway by the end of the month.

Meta Planning Layoffs Over AI Costs

Tech giant Meta is planning sweeping layoffs that could affect 20% or more of the company as it looks to offset rising artificial intelligence costs.

The company aims to offset the cost of AI infrastructure and prepare for greater efficiency brought about by AI-assisted workers.

The company has committed $600 billion to build data centers by 2028. Its 2026 capital expenditure is expected to reach as high as $135 billion, after spending $72 billion last year.

With a workforce of nearly 79,000, the cuts could potentially affect 15,800 jobs.

List: Best, Worst States for Tipping

South Carolina checks in as the only state that averages better than 20% for tips.

Payment app JIM evaluated nearly 90,000 point-of-sale tipping transactions across all 50 states in 2025. After the Palmetto State (20.71%), the top five included Wisconsin (19.15%), Connecticut (18.43%), (Maryland 18.40%), and Nevada (16.88%).

Which states have skimpiest tippers? Oregon doles out an average tip of 13.10%, followed by Virginia (13.58%), New York (13.72%), Alaska (14.11%), and Illinois (14.37%).

The likelihood of tipping generally increases with age. Gen Zers and Millennials stand out as the least frequent tippers, while Gen Xers and Boomers are more likely to tip.

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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:

➤ Naval buildup aims to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. (Hear More)

➤ A Common Viagra ingredient shows promise against deadly childhood genetic disease. (Listen Now)

➤ The great wealth transfer may put trillions into women’s hands. (Podcast Available)

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Tungsten Price Up 200%: Invest in America’s Largest Mine Before Operations Begin

Tungsten prices surged 200% last year after China halted exports. That’s because China currently controls 84% of the global tungsten supply, and it’s one of the most important metals on earth.

Since the U.S. military relies on tungsten for everything from armor-piercing rounds to jet engines, they’re racing to find a way of sourcing tungsten without relying on China.

This is a huge opportunity for United States Tungsten. They hold the lease to the “Tungsten Queen,” once America’s largest tungsten mine. It’s a massive asset containing 1 million tons of minerals worth an estimated $450M.

And as the U.S. moves to ban mineral imports from China in 2027, it’s expected to only get more valuable. Plus, the White House just proposed raising the military budget to $1.5T next year. A bigger budget means more spending on the hardware that requires tungsten. As new laws require that money be spent on American-mined minerals first, United States Tungsten is positioned to become a supplier for one of the world’s most reliable customers.

They’re already in talks with the U.S. Government. You can get a piece of this 1M+ ton mine right before they start digging. Become a United States Tungsten shareholder now.

➤ The United States will face the Dominican Republic tonight at 8 p.m. ET in the World Baseball Classic semifinals. The two teams are widely considered to be the two best in the tournament. (More)

➤ The NCAA tournament brackets for men’s and women’s basketball will be revealed today. The men’s bracket will be revealed at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, while the women’s will be shown on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. (More)

➤ Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history at 19 years old after finishing first in the qualifying round of the Chinese Grand Prix. (More)

➤ WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters in a recent interview that the league needs to agree to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement before Monday in order not to impact the start of the season. (More)

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➤ Doctor uncovers secret to youthful energy inside 3,000-year-old elixir. For over 3,000 years, civilizations across the Mediterranean treated one golden substance like it held the secret to a longer, more vibrant life. Turns out — they were right. According to a leading heart surgeon, just 1 spoonful of this golden “elixir” can not only help support healthy aging and a healthier heart…It may also help shed unwanted belly fat and flood your body with feel-young-again-energy. Which is why he recommends ALL Americans to take 1 spoonful of this daily >>

Weekly Market Report Previous Week

▼	NASDAQ Natl. Assoc. of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	22,105.36	-0.35%
▼	SPX S&P 500	6,632.19	-1.01%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	46,558.47	-1.72%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$70,968.27	7.58%
▼	GOLD Per Ounce	$5,061.70	-1.81%
▼	SILVER Per Ounce	$81.34	-1.26%
▲	OIL West Texas Intermediate Crude	$98.71	0.72%

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

➤ Mortgage rates on the 30-year fixed loan hit 6.41% on Friday, their highest level since September, as bond yields moved higher due to the war in Iran. (More)

➤ President Trump signed two executive orders on Friday aimed at making homeownership more affordable, easing access to mortgage credit and revising guidance to focus on “prudent underwriting.” (More)

➤ The NFL is seeking an increase of about 50% in negotiations with Paramount that would give CBS the right to carry its Sunday package of NFL games through the 2033-34 season. (More)

Today's Rotator section is brought to you by:

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

➤ Laurence Tureaud rose to fame as Clubber Lang in the film Rocky III and as Mr. T in the television series The A-Team, survived lymphoma, embraced faith, and at age 73, shares workout videos while living quietly. (See Mr. T)

➤ Rainier-than-normal conditions triggered Death Valley’s most dramatic wildflower superbloom in a decade, covering the desert landscape with pink, purple, and yellow flowers expected to peak at lower elevations. (See Flowers)

➤ Students at Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology created a 4-millimeter 3D-printed Carlsberg beer bottle about the size of a sesame seed, breaking the company’s previous record for the world’s smallest bottle. (See Bottle)

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The Only Crew with Access to a $450M ‘Gold Rush’

Decades of combined experience working with finance leaders like Goldman Sachs is a business advantage. Add that to operating America’s largest tungsten mine, and it’s a massive opportunity. Now, United States Tungsten is sharing access to 1 million untapped tons of precious metals with investors.

The amount of tungsten-bearing minerals in the “Tungsten Queen” is estimated to be worth $450 million at today’s prices. That’s because the metal is in urgent need for military tanks, aircraft, missiles, and more. Don’t miss this chance to back the company that holds the lease.

Become a shareholder in United States Tungsten before they start digging.

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Company’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela raised the American flag Saturday, seven years after lowering it, signaling renewed diplomatic ties after the country’s political transition. (More)

➤ The Trump administration ordered the restart of offshore oil operations in California on Friday, aiming to boost domestic supply after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and global energy prices surged. (More)

➤ Georgia authorities on Friday dropped charges, including vehicular homicide, against an 18-year-old student accused of fatally striking his math teacher during a prank outside the teacher’s home. (More)

➤ Wind gusts up to 59 mph hit the Pittsburgh area Friday night, toppling trees, damaging homes, downing power lines, and causing widespread outages. (See Damage)

➤ Dolly Parton told fans at the opening of the Dollywood season that grief and minor health issues left her “worn down and worn out” after husband Carl Dean’s death, but said she’s recovering. (More)

➤ A recent survey found 71% of parents and 60% of teens believe future adults will depend heavily on AI tools, as experts warn misinformation and bias still require careful oversight. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ ATTENTION: Are you an American taxpayer? Are you over the age of 54? Thanks to President Trump's Executive Order 14155, you are entitled to a new health benefit. Click here to claim it now.

Whatever happened to Olivia Newton-John?

Olivia Newton-John’s career followed a familiar arc in pop music: a fast rise, a spectacular peak, then a gradual fading as tastes changed. Yet unlike many, the late star remained beloved long after the hits stopped coming.

Born in England in 1948 and raised in Australia, Newton-John began performing as a teenager and broke through internationally in the early 1970s. Her soft, country-tinged pop sound produced a string of hits, including Let Me Be There, Have You Never Been Mellow, and the Grammy-winning ballad I Honestly Love You. With her clear voice and wholesome image, she quickly became one of the decade’s most recognizable singers.

Her career reached another level in 1978 when she starred opposite John Travolta in the film musical Grease. Here’s a live version of their massive hit, You’re the One That I Want.

The movie became a cultural phenomenon and turned Newton-John into a global superstar. Three years later, she reinvented herself with the hit single Physical, an upbeat, slightly risqué anthem that spent 10 weeks at No. 1 in the United States.

But pop music was changing quickly. By the late 1980s, younger artists and new sounds dominated radio, and Newton-John’s brand of polished pop began to feel dated. She also stepped back from the spotlight to focus on family life.

A far more serious turning point came in 1992, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The illness shifted the focus of her life and career. Newton-John became a prominent advocate for cancer awareness and fundraising while continuing to record music and tour occasionally.

When she died in 2022 at age 73, she left behind more than chart hits. She left the memory of a star who adapted, endured, and remained admired long after her pop-chart reign ended. Here are photos from her career.

Were you a fan of Olivia Newton-John and Grease? Let us know your thoughts by replying to this email.

An adorable baby beaver takes a break for some self-care, scrubbing his cute belly in the pool. 🦫💦

Do you think future generations will become too dependent on AI tools?

Yesterday's Results:

When showering, do you wash your hair or body first?

Hair: 57%
Body: 23%
Depends on the day: 10%
I don't think about it: 10%

Daily Quote

“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”

— President Trump, in a social media post on Saturday.