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AI Surge Lifts Markets as Investors Shrug Off U.S. Shutdown Fears

  U.S. stock futures climbed Thursday morning, buoyed by a wave of optimism surrounding artificial intelligence that overshadowed concerns about the ongoing government shutdown. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.3% and 0.5% respectively, with the S&P 500 closing above 6,700 for the first time ever. Driving the rally was OpenAI’s meteoric rise in valuation to $500 billion following a $6.6 billion employee share sale, making it the world’s most valuable startup and surpassing SpaceX. The company also inked major chip supply deals with Samsung and SK Hynix, sparking a global rally in semiconductor stocks. Despite the shutdown halting nonessential government functions and delaying key economic data like the September jobs report, investors remained focused on tech gains and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Weak private payroll data and signs of a softening labor market have further fueled expectations for monetary easing. While the Dow Jones futures remained flat...
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Shutdown Showdown: White House Halts Billions in Blue State Funding

                                            The U.S. Capitol 

In a dramatic escalation of the federal government shutdown, the White House has frozen $26 billion in funding earmarked for Democratic-leaning states, intensifying partisan tensions in Washington. The move, announced Wednesday, targets $18 billion in transit projects in New York and $8 billion in green energy initiatives across 16 Democratic-run states including California and Illinois.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have framed the freeze as a strategic response to Democratic resistance in Congress, with Vance warning that permanent layoffs of federal workers could follow if the shutdown persists. The administration has also signaled that it may continue purging federal agencies, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of employees.

Democratic leaders have condemned the action as political retaliation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of using Americans as “pawns” and called the funding freeze a form of “blackmail”. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that the cuts could devastate infrastructure and employment in New York.

Republican lawmakers are divided. While some, like Senator Thom Tillis, expressed concern over the toxic fallout, others defended the freeze as leverage to reopen the government. Senate Leader John Thune dismissed criticism, stating, “Vote to open up the government and that issue goes away”.

As negotiations stall and federal services grind to a halt, the shutdown marks a new chapter in the battle over budget priorities—one where partisan lines are drawn not just in Congress, but across state borders.

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