As America wakes up to the third week of a grinding government shutdown, security concerns, political tension, and AI controversies dominate the national conversation. 

Hunting Stand Discovered Near Trump’s Arrival Zone in Florida

Federal authorities have launched a high-priority investigation after Secret Service agents discovered an abandoned hunting stand within direct sight of Air Force One’s landing zone at Palm Beach International Airport — just hours before President Donald Trump returned to Florida.

The stand, elevated and appearing to be months old, was empty when spotted during a routine sweep. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed agents deployed cell phone analytics tools and collected evidence, though no suspects have been identified.

“This incident underscores the importance of our layered security measures,” said Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi. The discovery comes amid heightened concerns following the attempts on Trump’s life last year, including a sniper plot in Palm Beach and a shooting at a Pennsylvania rally.

Shutdown Deepens, Trump Threatens Permanent Program Cuts

In a fiery weekend interview, President Trump blamed Democrats for prolonging the government shutdown and said he’s using the moment to eliminate "welfare giveaways."

“They're kamikaze pilots right now,” Trump said Sunday. “They have nothing going.” He claimed the standoff has empowered his administration to freeze and potentially permanently eliminate Democratic-backed programs.

The deadlock began after Democrats refused to approve a funding bill that excluded enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Trump’s team says Democrats are also pushing Medicaid expansions for illegal immigrants — something the White House claims “jeopardizes” Americans’ care.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain unpaid as the standoff drags on.

Trump also turned his attention to New York City’s mayoral race, saying the city is “in big trouble” if voters elect Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani — a state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist.

“I watched him be interviewed — slick, but he doesn’t have what it takes,” Trump said, adding that Mamdani’s past criticisms of the NYPD make him unfit to lead.

Mamdani, who once called the police “racist” and “a threat to public safety,” has since walked back those comments and recently stated he’s willing to partner across the aisle to tackle crime.

OpenAI Blocks MLK Content Amid AI Ethics Backlash

In the tech world, OpenAI has paused video generations of Martin Luther King Jr. on its “Sora 2” platform after users created offensive depictions of the civil rights icon — including videos of him stealing and evading police.

Following a request from King’s daughter, Bernice A. King, OpenAI and the King Estate issued a joint statement condemning the misuse of Dr. King’s likeness and announcing tighter controls for historical figures.

“Public figures and their families should have control over how their likeness is used,” the statement read.

Hollywood unions continue to raise red flags about AI replacing human talent and exploiting real people without consent.