Good Morning. How do you hide 117 drones in Russia without anyone noticing? Turns out, fake hunting cabins and a married couple running logistics from enemy territory. We break down Operation Spiderweb.
We also share Brad Stulberg's rules for living well in chaos, McConaughey’s spicy margarita recipe, and how to make the perfect snowball (forwarded this email? Join 523k readers who get a little better every day).
TOP STORY TODAY
Ukraine's Drone Operation
Ukraine's Security Service executed Operation Spiderweb on June 1, launching 117 drones from pre-fabricated cabins hidden on trucks near Russian airfields. The attack struck 41 Russian aircraft, with at least 12 damaged irreparably.
The 18-month operation (full timeline), led by Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, used custom-designed cabins with sliding roofs and autonomous drones carrying four pounds of explosives. Four trucks positioned near airfields released the drones, piloted remotely from Kyiv.
Ukrainian couple Artem and Kateryna Tymofeyev coordinated the operation from inside Russia, assembling drones and managing logistics from Chelyabinsk. They escaped to Kazakhstan five days before the attack. Significance and impact here.
Globes Exclude Conservatists
The Golden Globes announced six nominees for its inaugural podcast category on December 8, excluding conservative shows like The Joe Rogan Experience and The Ben Shapiro Show that made the initial 25-podcast short list determined by Luminate.
The selection sparked controversy over Penske Media's ownership of both the Golden Globes and Luminate. Ben Shapiro ran aggressive campaigns including Times Square billboards and paid promotions across Penske outlets. Marketing packages ranged from $25,000 to $75,000.
Nominees include Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess, and NPR's Up First. The ceremony airs January 11, 2026 (Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and Tucker Carlson listed are 3 of top 5 most listened podcasts).
YouTube TV Price Drop
YouTube TV will introduce genre-specific channel packages in early 2026, offering viewers more flexible content choices at lower prices than its current $82.99 monthly base plan. The announcement came Wednesday from Google-owned YouTube.
The new lineup includes a sports package featuring major broadcasters, FS1, NBC Sports Network, and ESPN's networks. NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone will be available as add-ons. Pricing hasn't been released yet.
YouTube TV has approximately 10 million subscribers. The move follows similar efforts by competitors like DirecTV's MySports package and ESPN's recent $29.99 monthly streaming service launched after the cancelled Venu joint venture.
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TODAY’S LIFE ADVICE
Rules for an Excellent Life in a Chaotic World
Brad Stulberg, author of Peak Performance and The Practice of Groundedness, just dropped a list of wisdom nuggets. Our favorites include:
Everyone faces anxiety, fear, and doubt. Try not to let it shrink your life. Courage means taking these emotions along for the ride and doing it anyways.
Just. Get. Started. You’re never fully ready. Nobody is. Lower the bar to ready enough, step in the arena, and learn (and grow) as you go.
Better is about more than just objective results and points on the scoreboard; it also means becoming stronger, kinder, and wiser.
Motivation is overrated. You don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance at feeling good.
Confidence comes from evidence. If you want to be confident about something, put in the reps and give yourself the evidence.
Surround yourself with the right people. (This may be most important of all.)
The #1 Tip for Cooking with Beer
Beer enhances everything from steak to cookies with deeper flavor and lighter texture. Karen Malzone of Odd Bird Brewing says the secret isn't following rules—it's experimentation. Cook creatively, not habitually. Find inspiration from friends, chefs, or The American Craft Beer Cookbook. Let beer spark culinary adventure in your kitchen.
TRENDING
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▲ Terry Ball breeds snails in London offices claiming farm status to avoid £286,000 Westminster tax bill
▲ Homeland Security buys six Boeing 737s for $140 million to expand ICE deportation operations
Fun Links
Matthew McConaughey’s spicy margarita [Recipe]
Hack for the perfect snowball [Video]
Most accurate CIA portrayals TV/Film [Video]
White House Christmas decorations [Photos]
The downfall of the KC Chiefs [Blog]