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 | Thursday, December 19, 2024 | | | Good Morning! On this day in 1843, Charles Dickens' classic story A Christmas Carol was published. The first edition sold out by Christmas Eve, and by 1844, the novella had gone through 13 printings and continued to be a strong seller. Later today, we'll be sending you a special email featuring our partner, GoldCo, offering free financial advice to help safeguard your retirement savings. We hope you find their offer valuable! Today, we're sponsored by Brad's Deals; check them out in today's edition. | | | |  Fed Cuts Rates a Quarter-Point, Stocks Plunge
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate for the third consecutive time Wednesday, lowering rates by a quarter-point and signaling it expects only two more rate cuts in 2025. Rates now stand at 4.25%- 4.5%, back to the level they were at in December 2022. Chair Jerome Powell called the decision a reflection of higher inflation readings and "expectations that inflation will be higher in 2025." The announcement triggered a market plunge, with the Dow dropping 1,100 points (2.5%), extending its losing streak to 10 days, the longest since 1974. The S&P 500 fell nearly 3%, and the Nasdaq dropped 3.5%. | Defense Bill Passes Senate The Senate approved the 1,800-page, $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act in an 85 to 14 vote on Wednesday, authorizing funding for the Defense Department next year. The bill arrived in the Senate two months late as Democrats fought against a part of the bill that prohibited military health care services from providing sex-change procedures on children. The House passed the bill 281 to 140 last week, with Speaker Mike Johnson stating that it refocuses "the Pentagon on military lethality, not radical woke ideology." The bill has been sent to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. | CNN Hits Record Low as Fox News Surges CNN's ratings have hit an all-time low in the key 25-54 demographic, with primetime viewership plunging 52% following President-elect Donald Trump's victory. MSNBC also saw a steep decline, with ratings dropping over 60%, while Fox News gained 7% and captured 72% of cable news viewers. CNN is in the midst of a major overhaul that will reportedly include mass layoffs. It averaged only 92,000 total day viewers in the key 25-to-54-year-old demographic this year and suffered a 52% decline in its primetime core audience. Experts attribute the declines at left-leaning networks to partisan disengagement, though both networks hope for a rebound as political activity ramps up. | |  | | ➤ The Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday that it would hear arguments next month regarding a federal law that would ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sells it. (More) ➤ The House Ethics Committee voted to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz's investigation into sexual misconduct and obstruction, with two Republicans siding with Democrats. (More) ➤ President Biden made his first public remarks on Tuesday about numerous mysterious drone sightings, stating there was nothing dangerous or "nefarious" about the aircraft. (More) ➤ The Environmental Protection Agency approved California's stricter vehicle emissions standards and 2035 gas-powered car ban on Wednesday, though a reversal is expected under the incoming Trump administration. (More) | | | Flying together with our sponsor 
Once upon a time, we had to make lists and physically go to stores when we needed things. Sometimes, we'd have to go to several stores or even shopping malls for what we needed. Then, one day, out of the heavens, came Amazon. For many of us, free shipping and access to exclusive shows and movies are enough reasons to fork over the $14.99 per month to get Prime. But if those reasons haven't been enough to entice you to join Prime, maybe some of these lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up. Here are 10 of those perks. | |  | | ➤ The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 on Tuesday night to win the NBA Cup. (More) ➤ President-elect Donald Trump appointed former Heisman winner and Senate candidate Herschel Walker as ambassador to the Bahamas on Tuesday, citing his contributions to youth sports and veterans. (More) ➤ The New York Yankees acquired former NL MVP Cody Bellinger from the Cubs on Tuesday, sending right-hander Cody Poteet and cash considerations to Chicago. (More) ➤ Michael Vick, one of the most controversial NFL quarterbacks, has agreed to become Norfolk State's next head football coach. (More) ➤ Yesterday's results: NCAAF | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | |  |  Daily Market Report 12/18/2024
| ▼ | NASDAQ
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations | 19,392.69 | -3.56% | | ▼ | SPX
S&P 500 | 5,872.16 | -2.95% | | ▼ | DJI
Dow Jones Industrial Average | 42,326.87 | -2.58% | | ▼ | BTC
Bitcoin | $100,729.46 | -5.10% | | ▼ | GOLD
Per Ounce | $2,601.90 | -1.61% | | ▼ | VKTX
Viking Therapeutics | $38.28 | -18.03% | Gold and Bitcoin are traded 24 hours a day. ➤ Big Stock Move: Viking Therapeutics stock dropped 18% Wednesday on news that Merck is moving to compete in the same obesity treatment market space. (More) ➤ Honda and Nissan are reportedly in merger talks to form a single holding company, potentially including Mitsubishi, to strengthen their competitiveness, particularly with electric vehicles. (More) ➤ Amazon workers in Southern California authorized strikes at four warehouses over fair wages and conditions, joining New York and Illinois in using holiday-season pressure. (More) ➤ Walmart employees in select U.S. stores are testing body cameras to deter conflicts and enhance safety during escalated interactions and retail theft concerns. (See Details) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. On top of all that, this top credit card offers an insane 5% cash-back perk that gets matched after your first year. Click through to see what all the hype is about. | |  | | ➤ NASA announced Tuesday that safety concerns will again delay astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' return from the International Space Station to March 2025. It was originally set for February. (More) ➤ Scientists identified, for the first time, twin stars orbiting a black hole, offering new insights into how stars are propelled through space. (See Images) ➤ In another first, California squirrels were observed hunting and eating voles, stunning scientists with their unexpected carnivorous behavior. (See Photos) | |  | | 
| | ➤ Florida's attractions have transformed over decades, blending history and modernity. Take a look at then-and-now photos of iconic sites like Kennedy Space Center and Disney World. (See Photos) ➤ 1960s fashion wowed with bold prints, miniskirts, and a distinctive style. Vintage family photos highlight its iconic look. (See Photos) ➤ Here are 15 comforting casseroles inspired by recipes grandmas everywhere love, including Tex-Mex, chicken hash brown casserole, and sweet potato classics. (See Recipes) Last week's Throwback Thursday section included an item with an incorrect link. We apologize for the error. The corrected item follows below. ➤ When rotary telephones were new, people had to be taught how to dial a phone rather than use a switchboard operator. Here's a 1954 video teaching people how to use one of those new dialing devices. (See Video) | | |  | | ➤ Passengers panicked as water flooded the aisle mid-flight on an American Airlines trip from Dallas to Minneapolis, leading to viral posts and safety concerns. (Watch Video) ➤ A photo of a potential Bigfoot sighting near Cornfields, Arizona, on Navajo Nation land has sparked cryptozoology buzz after resurfacing online. (See Photo) ➤ The winners of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards include a "stuck" squirrel, a grinning frog, and "smooching owlets." (See Photos) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ The #1 Mistake That Makes Bad Knees Worse Harvard reveals: 1 mistake ruins joint health. 77% make this error daily. But there's hope! Boston MD's protocol transforms lives. Former couch potatoes now walk miles. Viral video exposes joint-destroying mistakes and easy fixes. Ready to move freely? Watch now. Knees Hurt? Avoid This Mistake | |  | | Have you ever gone caroling? - Yes
- No
Yesterday's Results: Do gift cards make good presents? - Yes: 72%
- No: 28%
| |  Daily Quote |  | "Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in two years!"
— Elon Musk on the short-term funding bill before Congress. | | | |
A Christmas Carol inspired countless adaptations. Here's a ranked list of 24 versions, with Alastair Sim's 1951 portrayal topping it. (
Unwrap Unforgettable Moments This Holiday Season! 
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