Good Morning. Emergency rooms ran out of lobby seats as flu cases reach levels not seen in a decade, and children hit hardest.

We also share Tom Brady’s iconic morning smoothie, how the Bears beat the Packers, and best cities for job hunters in 2026 (forwarded this email? Join 523k readers).

The CDC estimated at least 15 million flu illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations, and 7,400 deaths this season, according to data released Friday. Children under 4 are visiting doctors for flu at the highest rate in a decade.

Twenty-six states report "very high" flu levels, while 16 show "high" levels. Most cases link to subclade K, a new H3N2 variant that previously drove spikes in Canada, Japan, and the UK (understanding strain names).

CDC officials expect flu activity to remain elevated for several weeks, potentially continuing into spring. Only 43.5% of adults and 42.5% of children received flu vaccines as of late December. Seventeen pediatric deaths have been reported this season. Is this a super flu?

Walmart plans to expand drone delivery to 150 additional stores over the next year, reaching 270+ locations by late 2027. Partnering with Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary, the expansion would serve over 40 million shoppers compared to 2 million today.

The service currently operates in Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta. Wing's drones carry items up to 5 pounds within a 6-mile range, delivering orders in 30 minutes or less. Delivery costs $19.99 or is free for Walmart+ members.

Walmart will add drone delivery in Los Angeles, Houston, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Florida cities. Federal regulators proposed rules in August allowing drones to fly beyond visual line of sight, potentially easing expansion challenges.

▲ Drone trash pickup on Apple’s Pluribus.

Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci holds quarterly family meetings where he shares his net worth and transfers wealth to his children (WSJ). Ricci said he prefers giving money while alive rather than waiting until death.

The private aviation billionaire requires his children to disclose their finances and investments to siblings at each session. He distributes inheritance unequally based on age differences, dismissing concerns that transparency about family wealth might spoil children.

The type of advice? Ricci spends roughly $750,000 annually on Italian summer vacations and tips $1,000 at restaurants on first visits. He avoids economical travel, preferring to pay for preferred accommodations or not go (interview here).

Winter Is Coming. Will Your Appliances Survive?

Homeowners insurance won’t help when everyday wear and tear takes out your appliances or home systems. That’s where American Home Shield steps in.

For a manageable monthly fee, American Home Shield can help cover the repair or replacement of major systems like plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling — as well as essential appliances such as refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers.

Considering a new gas furnace can run up to $12,000, having coverage in place means real peace of mind. Keep your home running smoothly this winter — explore American Home Shield plans today.

Get a free quote.

_{Thank you for supporting our sponsors!}

Altman goes through a spiral notebook every two to three weeks. He rips out pages to view multiple notes simultaneously, then crumples and discards them after typing key insights.

Process: Altman takes any 11 uninterrupted minutes available. He speaks ideas aloud, then asks ChatGPT to clean transcriptions. His work rhythm alternates: weekdays packed with meetings, weekends provide long quiet blocks for writing and deep thinking.

Watch video.

This simple morning smoothie delivers protein, omega-3s, and antioxidants in every delicious sip.

Watch video | TB12 Diet

▲ Stock futures fall after Powell confirms Trump administration opened criminal investigation into Federal Reserve over renovations

▲ Treasury Secretary Bessent says US could lift Venezuela sanctions next week to facilitate oil sales and production

▲ Chicago Bears erase 21-3 halftime deficit stunning Packers 31-27 for first playoff victory since 2010

▲ Tech executives turn on Democratic Rep. Khanna threatening primary challenge over proposed California billionaire tax

▲ Golden Globes awards "Hamnet" best drama and "One Battle After Another" top comedy with Nikki Glaser hosting | All winners

Con artist vs Music legend [Blog]

Mel Brooks documentary [Video]

Use physics for perfect pour [Video]

Best cities for job hunters [List]

How water towers work [Video]