SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1786, Winfield Scott was born near Petersburg—Virginia’s future war hero nicknamed “Old Fuss and Feathers.”

Does intelligent alien life exist? Government files released Friday offer new documents related to UFOs, and a new poll asked thousands of Americans what they think, along with whether we’ve already made contact. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Amy Hess discusses the new evidence and what Americans believe about life beyond Earth, including the surprising percentage who say they’ve already seen a UFO. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, EnergyX, is helping meet surging lithium demand from AI, EVs, and battery technology with patented extraction tech, major industry backing, and an early-stage investment opportunity before its July 16 deadline.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Virginia Shutdown Clock Ticks

Virginia’s government could shut down July 1 despite Democrats holding the governorship and both chambers of the General Assembly, with the deadlock rooted in a fight over data center tax breaks.

At stake is a $928 million tax exemption Virginia granted data centers in fiscal 2023 alone. Senate Democrats, led by Finance Chair Louise Lucas, want to end it early; House Democrats want to preserve it, with state spending set to expire June 30.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has sided with the House, opposing an early phase-out while insisting data centers pay their “fair share” for the energy they consume. Yesterday, House Speaker Don Scott unveiled a proposal to create a data center commission as a possible compromise.

The package also includes billions in raises for state employees and teachers, plus a legal marijuana market provision. Scott said the plan was still open to negotiation as the July 1 deadline approaches.

DOJ Sues Commonwealth Over Mask Law

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging three Virginia laws that regulate how federal officers operate in the Commonwealth.

The laws under challenge include a ban on masked federal officers, an ID requirement for plainclothes federal agents, and restrictions on local governments entering ICE cooperation agreements. Virginia legislators passed the measures arguing they protect residents from unidentified law enforcement amid concerns over federal officers conducting immigration arrests in plain clothes.

The DOJ argues all three laws are unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause, which holds that federal authority supersedes conflicting state law. The Commonwealth of Virginia, Attorney General Jay Jones, and Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano are named as defendants.

Extreme Drought Reaches Nearly Every County

Virginia’s drought continues to intensify, with extreme drought now covering 38% of the state and mandatory water restrictions taking effect in several communities as rainfall remains well below normal.

State officials kept drought warnings in place across most of Virginia, while parts of Hampton Roads remain under a less severe drought watch. Groundwater, streamflow, and soil moisture levels continue to decline in many regions.

Localities including Caroline, Louisa, Orange, Fauquier, and Shenandoah counties have enacted mandatory conservation measures that limit outdoor water use and other nonessential activities. Officials say prolonged rainfall will be needed to restore water supplies and warn additional restrictions could follow if conditions worsen this summer.

AI’s 80,000-Ton Battery Problem

As AI infrastructure explodes, so does lithium demand. Google’s AI data centers currently use 100M+ lithium-ion cells for reliable, always-on power.

The problem? Big Tech’s race to build massive new data center capacity has Morgan Stanley forecasting an 80k-ton lithium shortage this year.

Few companies are better positioned to benefit than EnergyX. Their patented tech produces up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at speeds 500X faster than evaporation ponds.

Beyond the tech, they have rights to ~150,000 acres of lithium-rich land across North and South America, and they’ve just announced plans for their second lithium production plant in America. Now, they hold rights to up to 13M tons of lithium across North and South America.

Industry leaders like General Motors and POSCO have already invested. Join them as an early-stage EnergyX shareholder before the 7/16 deadline.

➤ Sterling: Six people, including a child, were injured when a vehicle crashed into a Goodwill store on Wednesday. Authorities charged the driver with reckless driving following the incident. (More)

➤ Albemarle County: The School Board has reportedly asked Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas to resign and is negotiating a separation agreement, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. (More)

➤ Buckingham County: A measles outbreak has grown to 88 confirmed cases in less than a month, prompting state health officials to urge unvaccinated residents and those with symptoms to avoid large gatherings. (More)

➤ UVA tennis players Dylan Dietrich and Keegan Rice qualified for the ATP Next Gen Accelerator Program, which grants top college players entry to professional Challenger Tour events. (More)

➤ The Virginia Tech–Clemson football game earned a spot on ESPN’s list of the ACC’s five most compelling matchups of 2026, with major conference standings implications on the line. (More)

➤ The Washington Wizards’ No. 1 overall pick has drawn six reported trade offers ahead of the June 26 NBA Draft, with the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets among teams angling to move up. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Wizards guard Trae Young said on the Pivot Podcast this week that he’s “the most slept on I’ve been in my whole life” and predicted Washington will finish as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference next season. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | NCAA World Series | WNBA | Golf

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Exxon Has an Unlikely New Competitor

Energy giants like Exxon have been buying land in America’s lithium hotspot. Now they’ve got a new neighbor.

EnergyX acquired the rights to 35k gross acres of lithium-rich land right next door. It’s not just the acres turning heads, either. Their tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than usual methods.

Now they’re preparing to drill and unlock America’s next major lithium supply. General Motors and 50k+ everyday people already invested. Invest in EnergyX before their July 16 investment deadline.

➤ The Vinton History Museum and Roanoke Bear Theatre will present “Land and Liberty, The Vinton Story,” a one-act play exploring the town’s founding through an 1781 land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson. The production is part of Virginia’s 250th anniversary celebration. (More)

➤ Chantilly IKEA opens its doors June 18 with a ribbon cutting and giveaways, the Swedish giant’s long-awaited full-size store in Northern Virginia. (More)

➤ The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke is caring for more than 300 animals during its busiest season of the year, including baby birds, bobcats, foxes, owls, and reptiles. (More)

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