Good Morning. Can $1,776 military bonuses fix 42 percent approval? Trump announces "warrior dividends" while polls sink. We break down his national address.

We also share Oscars moving to YouTube, Chinese tea invasion, and the great cash gift debate (forwarded this email? Join 523k readers).

President Trump delivered a 17-minute address Wednesday marking his first year back in office. He announced $1,776 "warrior dividend" payments for 1.4 million military members. The speech focused on immigration, crime, and cultural issues.

Recent polling shows Trump's approval at 42 percent with 54 percent disapproving (Economist/YouGov). Trump claimed $18 trillion in new investment, though the White House lists $9.6 trillion. He pointed at Democrats for rising healthcare and living costs.

The address contained no major announcements on Venezuela despite speculation. Trump repeated claims about inflation being historically high, though the rate was 3.0 percent both when he took office and in September. Full speech here.

The Trump administration awarded $10,000 bonuses to select air-traffic controllers and TSA officers who worked during the 43-day government shutdown this fall. Only 311 controllers (out of 13,000) and 423 technicians (out of 6,000) qualified, drawing union criticism.

Perfect attendance was required. Controllers who missed even an hour for fatigue or scheduled leave were disqualified. Unions criticized unclear eligibility criteria and workforce division. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the "100% test" standard.

The FAA has struggled with understaffing, requiring six-day workweeks. The agency hired 2,000 new controllers in fiscal 2025. Federal funding expires in January, potentially triggering another shutdown.

James Cameron says Avatar: Fire and Ash will determine if Avatar 4 and 5 get made. The 3-hour-15-minute film releases soon. Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter he's ready to move beyond Avatar, calling it a "crossroads" moment.

Cameron spent 18 months filming using performance-capture (video). The first two Avatar films grossed $5.2 billion globally. He defended his work against AI comparisons, emphasizing its performance-centric nature. Future films may involve more collaboration and less control.

Cameron is developing a new Terminator film without Arnold Schwarzenegger and co-directing a Billie Eilish concert documentary. He's pursuing Ghosts of Hiroshima about nuclear survivor Tsutomu Yamaguchi. At 71, he says he has many remaining ideas.

▲ JC’s advice on not being “paralyzed by options.”

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Jessica Biel, 43, built her defined back and arms for The Better Sister using full-body workouts, not traditional body-part splits. Her trainer Ben Bruno explains she combines upper-body, lower-body, and core exercises for maximum efficiency while minimizing cardio needs.

Each session includes one back exercise (hitting biceps), one shoulder move, one triceps exercise, plus lower-body and core work. Key exercises include:

Bruno notes Biel trains at "7 out of 10" intensity year-round, ramping up only when preparing for roles.

Read article | Video

Most Americans say yes. An AP-NORC poll found 60 percent consider cash or gift cards "very" acceptable holiday presents, with 90 percent finding them at least "somewhat" acceptable. Younger adults embrace cash more readily—two-thirds under 45 call it very acceptable versus 55 percent of older Americans. Supporters cite rising costs and avoiding unwanted purchases. Critics argue cash removes gift-giving's charm and personal touch.

Read article | Clever way to give cash

▲ Steven Spielberg unveils terrifying "Disclosure Day" UFO trailer starring Emily Blunt dropping June 12, 2026

▲ Chevron Venezuela continues shipping 300,000 barrels daily despite U.S. seizure paralyzing other oil vessels

▲ Chinese tea brands target young Americans with 53,000-store Mixue leading global expansion wave

▲ Oscars YouTube deal begins 2029 streaming free worldwide through 2033 after ABC contract ends

▲ Warner Bros rejects Paramount's $77.9 billion hostile bid, favoring Netflix's $72 billion studios deal

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