OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it plans to shut down the video creation platform Sora, which launched in 2024. The company did not give a reason for their decision.
“We’re saying goodbye to Sora. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you. What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing,” OpenAI’s Sora team said in a <a href="https://x.com/soraofficialapp/status/2036532795984715896">statement</a> shared on social media.
&#8220;We’ll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on preserving your work.”
This news comes on the heels of Disney announcing a major $1 billion partnership agreement with the tech company, which would have allowed OpenAI to use characters from Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel franchises in its Sora video generator.
Much ado was made about users having the opportunity to create “fan-inspired” videos with Disney’s licensed characters, like Mickey Mouse, with Disney+ adding some of those Sora-generated videos as part of the exclusive deal.
But that’s all reportedly off the table now as Disney ends its partnership with OpenAI.
“As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere,” Disney <a href="https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/openai-shutting-down-sora-video-disney-1236698277/">said</a> in a statement, per Variety. “We appreciate the constructive collaboration between our teams and what we learned from it, and we will continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and the rights of creators.”
Hollywood was up in arms over the newest release of the second-generation Sora model in September, with many critics saying the realistic videos posed a threat to human talent and opened the floodgates for massive copyright infringement and deepfakes.
Now social media users are weighing in on the abrupt closure, speculating that Sora could be facing a massive lawsuit. That rumor has not been confirmed by the company. 
OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, will not give up AI video generation completely. They are just abandoning the standalone Sora app for reasons that are yet to be revealed.

Walt Disney World

Disney’s Big Bet For Fans Just Fell Apart Before It Even Began

Artificial Intelligence

Big Tech

Disney

Entertainment

General

OpenAI

U.S.

A surface radar detection system used by air traffic controllers to monitor movements on runways did not alert before an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Sunday night, a crash that killed both pilots and injured crew members and dozens of passengers.
As authorities continue to investigate the deadly crash, the National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday that LaGuardia&#8217;s &#8220;Airport Surface Detection System — Model X&#8221; (ASDE-X) did not alert air traffic controllers before a fire truck <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-video-shows-air-canada-jet-erupting-on-impact-with-fire-truck-at-laguardia">drove onto the runway</a> in front of Air Canada Express Flight 8646.
The detection system uses radar and satellite technology to provide controllers with &#8220;detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways&#8221; and is &#8220;equipped with visual and aural alarms that will alert controllers of possible runway incursions or incidents,&#8221; <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/asde-x">according</a> to the Federal Aviation Administration.
On Sunday night, however, LaGuardia&#8217;s surface detection system failed to notify controllers of the looming disaster on runway 4, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told reporters. Quoting the analysis from a replay of the detection system, Homendy said the system did not alert controllers because the fire trucks on the ground were in close proximity and were &#8220;merging and unmerging near the runway, resulting in the inability to create a track.&#8221;
Homendy said the truck that collided with the jet did not have a transponder. While surface detection systems can track vehicles without transponders, Homendy said that transponders help the effectiveness of the system.
&#8220;In order for ASDE-X to work well, you have to know where ground vehicles and aircraft are, and in this case, that ground vehicle did not have a transponder,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And it would&#8217;ve been helpful — when you have a radar target, it does not provide you with the information that you need like it would for an aircraft as a controller.&#8221;
The NTSB chairwoman added that when investigators watched a replay of what the detection system showed controllers, it did not show any &#8220;blobs&#8221;— which represented the emergency vehicles — move in front of the plane, indicating that the system failed to accurately track the fire trucks.
The NTSB also revealed on Tuesday that there were two controllers on duty at the time of the deadly crash, which Homendy said was consistent with normal operating procedures for many airports, including LaGuardia, for the midnight shift. The midnight shift at LaGuardia begins at 10:30 p.m. and ends at 6:30 a.m. The Air Canada jet crashed into the fire truck at approximately 11:40 p.m.
The NTSB chairwoman said that officials would look into whether it &#8220;makes sense&#8221; for LaGuardia to operate with just two air traffic controllers on the midnight shift, or if the airport should change its procedures.
Homendy cautioned reporters about &#8220;pointing fingers at controllers,&#8221; arguing that there are many factors officials still must investigate before pinning the blame on air traffic controllers. Audio from the air traffic control tower revealed one of the controllers saying that he &#8220;messed up&#8221; after the collision. Another controller replied, &#8220;No man, you did the best you could.&#8221;
According to the NTSB, 25 seconds before the crash, truck 1 requested air traffic controllers to allow it to cross runway 4 as a group of emergency vehicles were responding to an issue with another jet on the tarmac. Twenty seconds before the end of the radio correspondence, &#8220;the tower cleared truck 1 and company to cross runway 4 at Taxiway Delta.&#8221;
When the truck was cleared to cross, the Air Canada jet was 100 feet from the ground as it approached runway 4. Nine seconds before the radio transmission was cut off, however, the air traffic controllers told truck 1 to stop, just one second before the Air Canada jet&#8217;s landing gear was heard touching down on the runway.

Air Canada Express Plane Collides With Fire Truck At LaGuardia Airport

There’s A System Meant To Prevent The Deadly LaGuardia Plane Crash. Why Didn’t It?

Airplane crash

National transportation Safety Board

New York City

Plane Crash

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shut down rumors that a deadly runway crash at New York&#8217;s LaGuardia Airport was caused by a lack of air traffic controllers, telling reporters on Monday that the airport is well-staffed.
Duffy, flanked by Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) along with several others, took several questions about the collision — between an Air Canada flight 8646 and a Port Authority fire truck — that occurred late Sunday night. While he deferred most questions to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is handling the full investigation, Duffy responded immediately when a reporter asked whether a lack of air traffic controllers had been a factor in the crash.
Several reports have included audio from Air Traffic Control that features one air traffic controller calling for the fire truck to stop — and then a short time later saying that he&#8217;d &#8220;messed up.&#8221; Another voice could be heard saying that he&#8217;d done &#8220;the best he could.&#8221;
One reporter asked Duffy at the press conference whether there was any truth to rumors that only one air traffic controller had been working at the time — and whether he thought such an incident might discourage people from choosing to become air traffic controllers, and Duffy said that it shouldn&#8217;t.
&#8220;I told you I am not going to talk about specifics, but for that question, I will say that is inaccurate,&#8221; Duffy said. He went on to note that the Transportation Department is doing everything possible to retain experienced air traffic controllers and train new recruits in order to fill vacancies, but he went on to say, &#8220;As airports go, LaGuardia is a well-staffed airport &#8230; I did want to clarify, I have heard the rumor there was only on controller in the tower and that is not accurate.&#8221;
Duffy laid out several key updates that he wanted Congress to approve funding for, saying that providing for the safety of the American people while they travel should not be a partisan issue. &#8220;There is bipartisan agreement so they should come together and figure out a way to give us the rest of the dollars to complete the job.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said LaGuardia is “well-staffed” but still faces a shortage of air traffic controllers. He said there are currently 33 certified controllers but the goal is to have 37. More than one controller was on duty at the time of the accident, he said.… <a href="https://t.co/RfMr5Z1VwA">pic.twitter.com/RfMr5Z1VwA</a>
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC7NY/status/2036178822576382248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Trump Admin Debunks Viral Rumor After Deadly LaGuardia Crash

air traffic controllers

Air Travel

Politics

Sean Duffy

Dramatic footage from LaGuardia Airport in New York captured the instant that Air Canada Express flight AC8646 plowed into a fire truck late Sunday night.
The Bombardier CRJ-900, a relatively small jet that seats 76–90 and is used for commuter travel, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/all-flights-cancelled-at-nycs-laguardia-after-deadly-runway-collision">crashed</a> into a Port Authority fire truck. As The Daily Wire previously reported, two pilots were killed and more than a dozen passengers were injured in the collision.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here’s CCTV footage capturing the exact moment Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900, collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport last night. <a href="https://t.co/qxGMZzKXPD">pic.twitter.com/qxGMZzKXPD</a>
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) <a href="https://twitter.com/Turbinetraveler/status/2036118403904098798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The video shows the plane heading down the runway and a line of emergency vehicles with flashing lights approaching at right angles to the plane. The plane crashes into the first vehicle in that line and grinds to a halt.
The plane, according to several reports, was landing at the time of the collision and had already slowed to approximately 30 miles per hour before striking the fire truck.
The firetruck, and the other emergency vehicles behind it, were traveling to handle a separate incident at LaGuardia at the time — and had been cleared to cross the runway. Audio recordings from the Air Traffic Control suggested a mix-up resulted in both the plane and the firetruck arriving at the intersection at the same time.
&#8220;Stop! Stop! Fire #1 Stop!” the controller could be heard saying.
After the collision, one controller could be heard saying that he &#8220;messed up.&#8221;
&#8220;No man, you did the best you could,&#8221; another replied.
Jazz Aviation issued a <a href="https://flyjazz.mediaroom.com/2026-03-23-Jazz-Aviation-LP-operating-as-Air-Canada-Express-confirms-incident">statement</a> regarding the crash: &#8220;Flight 8646 was en route to LaGuardia (LGA) from Montréal (YUL). The preliminary passenger list indicates the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members, although this is subject to confirmation. The incident occurred at approximately 11:47 PM on March 22, 2026.&#8221;
&nbsp;

Air Canada plane collides with fire truck at LaGuardia, killing 2, injuring others

New Video Shows Air Canada Jet Erupting On Impact With Fire Truck At LaGuardia

Absences among transportation security workers this weekend reached their highest since a partial government shutdown began five weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security said on Sunday, as immigration enforcement agents prepared to fill in for them at some of the busiest U.S. airports.
Nationwide, about 11.5% of Transportation Security Administration staff were absent on Saturday, DHS said, but that figure soared to 42.4% at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, 33.4% at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and 33.6% at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Overall, more than 9% of TSA employees have been absent from work over the past seven days, leading to lengthy lines for passengers trying to get to their gates, according to DHS.
To help fill the staffing gaps, hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will deploy to airports starting on Monday, officials have said.
DHS said on Sunday it would not publicly share details about the ICE deployment, in order to preserve operational security. Sources briefed on the matter said the current plan calls for deploying ICE agents to 14 locations, although that figure may change.
Tens of thousands of airport security personnel have been working without pay for weeks while congressional Democrats and Republicans argue over a budget for DHS.
&#8220;Many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars — forcing them to call out sick from work,&#8221; a DHS spokesperson said on Sunday.
Trump announced on Saturday that ICE agents would be sent to airports unless Democratic lawmakers agree to fund DHS. Democrats have criticized the department&#8217;s immigration operations and are demanding a change in rules.
For now, ICE agents will not be deployed in areas behind security checkpoints because they lack the specific clearance needed, the sources said.
Border czar Tom Homan said on Sunday that sending out immigration agents to bolster short-staffed TSA teams will speed up airport lines, but the union for TSA workers said that does not solve what they see as the underlying problem of pay.
In appearances on Sunday news shows, Homan and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argued that ICE personnel can help with airport security screening, starting on Monday, even though they have not been specifically trained for it.
&#8220;When we deploy tomorrow, we&#8217;ll have a well thought-out plan to execute,&#8221; Homan said on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; program.
Hundreds of TSA agents have simply resigned, according to their labor union and TSA.
&#8220;ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!&#8221; Trump wrote in a Sunday morning social media post.
Details of how ICE agents would help with the lines were scant, although Homan told CNN a plan would be in place by the end of the day &#8220;to move those lines along.&#8221;
Homan and Duffy, in separate interviews, had different ideas about how the ICE agents might be deployed. Homan said he doubted ICE agents would operate X-ray baggage and passenger screening machines because they did not have experience. Duffy, in contrast, said ICE agents &#8220;know how to pat people down, they know how to run the X-ray machines.&#8221;
The labor union representing TSA workers criticized Trump&#8217;s decision, saying their members spend months in training learning to detect explosives and weapons.
&#8220;Our members at TSA have been showing up every day, without a paycheck, because they believe in the mission of keeping the flying public safe,&#8221; Everett Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, said in a statement. &#8220;They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.&#8221;
Unlike TSA employees, ICE agents have continued to get paid by the government through a separate funding provision while lawmakers debate whether ICE funding should be tied to new rules and procedures.
Democrats have said new rules are needed after masked ICE agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in the streets of Minneapolis earlier this year. The two had come out to protest or observe Trump&#8217;s deportation surge in Minnesota.
Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat and the minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, told CNN that his caucus is open to a separate funding agreement for TSA employees while lawmakers debate measures to &#8220;get ICE under control.&#8221; But there has been little movement on an actual deal so far, especially in the Senate.
&#8220;We have an obligation to not fund an agency that is acting this lawlessly,&#8221; Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, told NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; program.
(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York, David Shepardson in Washington and Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Additional writing by Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Aurora Ellis, Sergio Non and Edmund Klamann)

Why ICE Agents In Airports May Be Arriving Just In Time

Atlanta

Houston

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Border czar Tom Homan detailed the plan to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to U.S. airports beginning on Monday to aid TSA workers in the wake of the ongoing DHS shutdown.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday with host Dana Bash, Homan first explained that he is working with the administrator of TSA and the director of ICE to develop a game plan.
“First of all, are ICE agents even remotely trained to handle security at airports?” Bash asked, to which Homan replied that ICE already operates at airports, and this new wave of agents would be helping in mostly non-specialized security-related areas.
“[We’ve] got TSA agents covering exits — you know, people that enter through the exits. Certainly a highly-trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit, make sure people don&#8217;t … enter the airport through the exits, and stuff like that relieves that TSA officer to go to screening and to reduce those lines,” Homan said. “So, wherever we can provide extra security.”
The border czar went on to note that he doesn’t foresee ICE agents manning X-ray machines because they’re not trained to do so. However, agents can be utilized in broad security roles allowing TSA workers to focus on specialized passenger screening jobs.
Bash pressed Homan on the exact roles ICE agents would fill, but Homan noted that discussions are “a work in progress” and will be finalized by the end of the day Sunday.
“Are there specific airports that you&#8217;re thinking about starting with, and how many ICE agents are you considering deploying to do this?” Bash asked.
While discussions are ongoing, Homan said, he believes airports experiencing the longest TSA wait times should be the priority.
Bash pressed Homan on timing: “With respect, if you&#8217;re doing this in 24 hours, how well thought out could it possibly be again?”
Homan hit back: “How much of a plan does it mean to guard an exit to make sure no one comes through that exit?”
“And we were talking about security options, and these officers are well trained in security, and they&#8217;re well trained in identification, and we&#8217;re going to do what we can to help TSA move those people to the line,” the border czar added.
Bash attempted to catch Homan at the end of the segment, asking him: “Is it just going to be crowd control, or will ICE officers also be doing immigration enforcement while they are at the airport?”
“We do immigration enforcement at airports all the time,” Homan replied. “So it&#8217;s not going to change. This is about helping the men and women with TSA. They&#8217;ve lost several hundred employees; the lines are really slow because the shutdown. This is about going to helping TSA do their mission and get the American public through that airport as quick as they can while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEWS: White House Border Czar Tom Homan confirms President Trump will send ICE agents into airports across the country tomorrow. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have a plan by the end of today what airports we&#8217;re starting with and where we&#8217;re sending them,&#8221; Homan tells <a href="https://twitter.com/DanaBashCNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DanaBashCNN</a>. <a href="https://t.co/Ue2VNlpKw6">pic.twitter.com/Ue2VNlpKw6</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/2035707177583747455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has been ongoing since February 14, leaving TSA agents — as well as FEMA and the Coast Guard — without pay. As a result, over 300 TSA agents have quit and lines at major airports across the country have begun to extend dramatically.
On Friday, the <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/tsa-wait-times-update-airports-delays-friday-11709401">wait</a> at Atlanta&#8217;s Hartsfield-Jackson — the busiest airport in the United States — surged beyond two hours during the morning travel rush, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, saw 90-minute wait times with one checkpoint closed altogether. Shocking videos circulating on social media have shown lines stretching significantly longer in recent days as the shutdown drags on.
President Trump recently blasted Democrats on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116268396341038197">Truth Social</a> over the shutdown: “What they have done to the Department of Homeland Security, our fantastic TSA Officers, and, most importantly, the great people of our Country, is an absolute disgrace. If the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before! The Fascist Democrats will never protect America, but the Republicans will.”

Tom Homan

Tom Homan Lays Out What Americans Can Expect As ICE Moves Into Airports Monday

Dana Bash

Department of Homeland Security

Government Shutdown

Elon Musk recently offered to personally cover the salaries of TSA agents as a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown stretches into its second month, leaving tens of thousands of federal workers without pay.
“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” Musk wrote Saturday on <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2035306094281855336">X</a>.
The proposal comes as Congress remains deadlocked over funding for DHS, which oversees the TSA. While most of the federal government has been funded, DHS has been left out of a broader agreement, triggering a prolonged lapse that is now rippling across the country’s airports.
The shutdown has left TSA officers, who are classified as essential employees, working without pay, a situation that has translated into staffing shortages and mounting delays.
At major hubs including Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, security wait times have reportedly stretched beyond three hours. Footage out of Philadelphia showed hundreds of passengers backed up through escalators and checkpoints in the early morning hours.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN🚨: Major disruption at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this morning 😳 Several TSA checkpoints (including A-West, C, and F) are temporarily closed due to staffing issues from the ongoing partial gov shutdown. Lines shifting—arrive early! <a href="https://t.co/j0zYpyBLPG">pic.twitter.com/j0zYpyBLPG</a>
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) <a href="https://twitter.com/officer_Lew/status/2034572310724686061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Similar footage has been shared from Atlanta&#8217;s <a href="https://x.com/Ella__Dorsey/status/2034953731322638680">Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport</a>, <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/2035026818034495759">George Bush Intercontinental Airport</a> in Houston, and others. According to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/airport-tsa-wait-time-live-updates-vis">CNN&#8217;s</a> TSA wait times dashboard, the average wait times in Houston are the longest at 120 minutes, followed by Atlanta at 70 minutes, and New York&#8217;s LaGuardia at 46 minutes.
The strain is expected to worsen. A leading TSA union official <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/tsa-union-leader-warns-airport-security-risks-get-worse-major-travel-events-loom">warned this week</a> that security risks tied to the shutdown are likely to “get worse,” particularly as the agency had already been operating under a hiring freeze.
Behind the delays is a growing financial crisis among TSA officers. Roughly 50,000 workers are now approaching a second missed paycheck, many still recovering from a previous 43-day shutdown just months ago. <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/tsa-union-leaders-demand-end-dhs-shutdown">According to union officials</a>, some officers are taking on gig work, delivering packages or driving for rideshare apps, while others are turning to food banks or applying for public assistance.
Union representatives say officers have been sleeping in their cars, facing eviction, or selling plasma to cover basic expenses. Airports across the country have responded with emergency measures: food drives, free meals, gas cards, and even on-site pantries.
At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, officials are distributing meal vouchers for each shift. Other hubs, including Seattle-Tacoma and Dallas-Fort Worth, have begun directly supplying food to screening checkpoints.
Despite the hardships, officers are still required to report to work or face disciplinary action.
In Washington, Republicans have pushed for funding of individual branches of DHS, while Democrats have refused to go along with funding branches like TSA until immigration reform is promised. The dispute has left the agency in limbo, even as ICE and CBP continue normal operations, having been funded by the &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
Lawmakers say negotiations are ongoing, but no clear resolution has emerged. In the meantime, the consequences are becoming increasingly visible, not only in airport delays, but in workforce attrition. Hundreds of TSA officers <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/airports-rush-feed-unpaid-tsa-workers-belts-tighten-2026-03-21/">have already quit</a> since the shutdown began, raising concerns that staffing shortages could persist even after funding is restored.
Musk’s offer, while attention-grabbing, raises significant legal and logistical questions. It remains unclear whether a private individual could directly pay federal employees, or how such an arrangement would be structured within existing labor and appropriations laws. Federal pay is tightly controlled by Congress, and outside compensation could present conflicts with ethics rules and federal employment statutes.
Even still, the shutdown drags on and the strain only intensifies. TSA officers working without pay, airports buckling under delays, security concerns quietly mounting in the background, and no deal in sight. The episode is becoming a stark illustration of a deeper question: how long a system can function when the government falters, and whether figures like Elon Musk are willing, or able, to fill the gap.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk Offers To Pay TSA Salaries As DHS Shutdown Drags On

Team USA is heading to the finals of the World Baseball Classic after a gritty win over a stacked Dominican Republic squad Sunday, and Paul Skenes couldn&#8217;t be happier leading the charge for his country in what he calls his &#8220;proudest&#8221; moment.
&#8220;The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey,&#8221; Skenes told <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/paul-skenes-talks-representing-usa-rare-interview-a-rod-its-different-level">Alex Rodriguez</a> in a sit-down interview ahead of the win over the DR. &#8220;You’re playing for a whole lot more. It’s great to play for a city, great to play for Pittsburgh in the regular season, but playing for your country, it’s a different level.&#8221;
Skenes is arguably a generational baseball talent, and while he shines on the diamond, he&#8217;s never shied away from his love of country.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace once thought he would be flying fighter jets in the United States Air Force. The Cy Young winner, an award for the best MLB pitcher, was fresh out of high school when he took an oath to put his life on the line for our country. Even after Skenes was the overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the MLB Rookie of the Year, and already a Cy Young award winner, he says taking that military oath is still &#8220;one of the highlights&#8221; of his life.
&#8220;I got the chills reciting that pledge just from how proud I am of this country,&#8221; Skenes penned in a letter published by <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-skenes-mlb-baseball-pittsburgh-pirates-wbc-usa">The Players&#8217; Tribune</a> ahead of the international baseball tournament. &#8220;I’m actually getting chills right now remembering back to that time. Because when you love something so much that you’re willing to lay down your life for it? It’s pretty meaningful stuff.&#8221;
He played the first two years of his college career at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU, where he won a National Championship. But during his time wearing both an Air Force serviceman uniform and baseball uniform, Skenes said he developed the skills that have made him into the pitcher and person he is today.
&#8220;I truly believe that regardless of what you’re doing, if you want to accomplish great things and be the best version of yourself, you’re going to have to work extremely hard — be disciplined, focused,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t put in that time at the Academy, I probably would&#8217;ve spent a lot more time in the minors than I did. So I’m incredibly grateful.&#8221;
His military background is why playing on Team USA is such an honor.
&#8220;I was never deployed myself, but I know how much pride those individuals take in wearing that uniform with your name on the right side of your chest and the U.S. Air Force or Army lettering on the left side … because that’s what you put over your heart,&#8221; Skenes said, adding that the players putting on the red, white, and blue aren&#8217;t doing it for the fame or money, but to simply represent their country.
&#8220;Our team, we’re not cadets or anything like that. (These hairstyles would never fly). But everyone on this team … we all understand that when you put on those colors, you’re not just playing baseball, you’re representing something deeper,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;When you’re watching us in this tournament, we hope you feel that too.&#8221;
Skenes set the all-time record for most strikeouts at seven by a Team USA pitcher at the World Baseball Classic in his first appearance in the tourney. In the biggest test of the WBC, Skenes went 4.1 innings and gave up one run, a first-inning homer to Junior Caminero. Skenes got two strikeouts in the win over the previously undefeated Team DR filled with MLB all-stars including Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Skenes, aside from his Players&#8217; Tribune letter, is a man of few words — still after Sunday&#8217;s win, Skenes explained the significance of the semi-final victory, calling the Team DR lineup &#8220;the toughest lineup&#8221; he&#8217;s ever faced.
Now Team USA awaits the winner of Monday&#8217;s semifinal between Venezuela and Italy before taking the field one last time on Tuesday in the WBC Final.
Team USA entered the tournament as the favorites to bring home the hardware, and entering the finals, Skenes&#8217; mindset isn&#8217;t focused on adding another trophy to his case — but winning to honor the real heroes of the United States.
&#8220;Our servicemen and women don’t have the luxury of losing, it’s not really an option for them,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;We’re not going to war, but [this] is what we do in America: we fight and we win. That’s our responsibility.&#8221;

Credit: Daily Wire Staff/Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images

‘The Proudest I’ve Ever Been Wearing A Jersey Is The USA Jersey’: Paul Skenes Is America’s Ace

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Former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell is stepping down as CEO and executive director of the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Matt Floca, the current vice president of facilities operations, will replace Grenell, subject to approval by the board of directors, President Donald Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116223780884576729">post</a> on Truth Social.
“Ric Grenell has done an excellent job in helping to coordinate various elements of the Center during the transition period, and I want to thank him for the outstanding work he has done,” Trump said in the post.
The change in leadership comes as Trump announced last month that the center will close for two years for extensive renovations beginning after July 4, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-proposes-plan-to-shut-down-rebranded-trump-kennedy-center-promises-spectacular-result?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Proposes+Plan+To+Shut+Down+Rebranded+Trump-Kennedy+Center%2C+Promises+%E2%80%98Spectacular%E2%80%99+Result">reported</a>.
“THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER will be, at its completion, the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the World!” Trump wrote.
He posted renderings of the renovations to Truth Social yesterday.
<iframe loading="lazy" class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116223100937937927/embed" width="600" height="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">﻿﻿﻿</iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>
Grenell has led the Trump-Kennedy Center for more than a year after Trump overhauled the board and took over as chair. His departure, first reported by <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/grenell-kennedy-center-president-renovation">Axios</a>, comes as the center has received backlash after changing its lineup, which included ending drag shows for children.
Earlier this year, Philip Glass announced he was canceling the premiere of his latest symphony, scheduled for June, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-kennedy-center-reacts-to-latest-cancellation-no-place-for-politics-in-the-arts?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump-Kennedy+Center+Reacts+To+Latest+Cancellation%3A+%E2%80%98No+Place+For+Politics+In+The+Arts%E2%80%99">reported</a>. The composer said the leadership of the center conflicted with the themes of the symphony, which is about Abraham Lincoln.
Roma Daravi, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Kennedy Center, told The Daily Wire that the center aims for unity and celebration of the arts.
“We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision,” Daravi said. “We have not canceled a single show. Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel but the public wants artists to perform and create—not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division.”
In December, the board voted to change the center’s name to The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, causing mass uproar from leftists.
Artists have canceled shows before and after the name change. Jazz musician Chuck Redd was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-kennedy-center-hits-musician-with-1m-lawsuit-for-anti-trump-political-stunt">criticized</a> for canceling his Christmas Eve performance days before it was supposed to take place. The center said they would seek $1 million in damages for the abrupt cancellation, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-kennedy-center-hits-musician-with-1m-lawsuit-for-anti-trump-political-stunt">reported</a>.
Trump was clear there would be changes to the center when he took over as chairman of the board, writing at the time, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA.”

Richard Grenell, Donald Trump

Leadership Shakeup At Trump-Kennedy Center As Major Renovations Loom

Donald Trump

Ric Grenell

The Kennedy Center

The NBA has canceled the Atlanta Hawks&#8217; &#8220;Magic City Monday,&#8221; which was set for next week, after some NBA players raised concerns about having a promotional themed night celebrating a strip club.
The Hawks were set to honor one of Atlanta’s &#8220;iconic cultural institutions&#8221; with special food, merchandise, and a halftime performance by Atlanta rapper T.I. for their matchup against the Orlando Magic next week, per a team release.
But San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet voiced concerns about having a night that brings attention to Magic City, the historic strip club in Atlanta, calling the move a poor decision.
&#8220;The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,&#8221; Kornet wrote. &#8220;We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love&#8230;we desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-team-to-honor-strip-club-during-international-womens-month">NBA Team To Honor Strip Club During International Women’s Month</a>
Warriors center Al Horford, who played for years for the Hawks, also pushed back against &#8220;Magic City Monday,&#8221; saying he agreed with Kornet&#8217;s assessment of the evening not creating an environment for fans of all ages — and the league agrees.
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The following has been released by the NBA. <a href="https://t.co/jzbUW8t73Y">pic.twitter.com/jzbUW8t73Y</a>
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/2031116613986971749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement on Monday: &#8220;When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks&#8217; scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale. While we appreciate the team&#8217;s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. I believe cancelling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.&#8221;
&#8220;Magic City Monday&#8221; was scheduled for the Hawks on March 16.
&#8220;The Hawks have worked with Magic City to bring the ‘best of’ the phenomena for fans in attendance at the award-winning State Farm Arena,&#8221; the announcement for the promotional night read.
&#8220;From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, true to Atlanta-inspired game experience,&#8221; said Hawks Executive Vice President &amp; Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Proctor.
Atlanta&#8217;s NBA team responded to the cancellation in a statement Monday evening on <a href="https://x.com/ATLHawks/status/2031132956379533698?s=20">X</a>.
&#8220;While we are very disappointed in the NBA&#8217;s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we full respect its decision. As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta with authenticity in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.&#8221;
The Hawks never referred to Magic City as a strip club, though the widely-known entertainment space has been known for that since the 80s; instead, the organization planned to focus on other aspects of the club, including its lemon pepper wings that were set to be a special menu item for the March 16 game.
There is no word on if famed rapper T.I. is still set to perform, despite the promotion being called off.
The tip-off for the Hawks and Magic is set for next Monday at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Credit: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire/Prince Williams/Wire Image via via Getty Images/Daily Wire staff

NBA Strips Atlanta Hawks Of ‘Magic City Monday’ Promotional Night After Backlash

Adam Silver

A Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale diverted to Atlanta on Friday night after a possible security concern.
Footage from the incident shows passengers inside the plane seated with their heads down and hands up as Atlanta Police travel to the back of the plane. A man is then removed from his seat and placed into handcuffs.
The pilot and flight attendants can be heard repeatedly saying &#8220;heads down, hands up&#8221; as passengers comply.
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✈️ Shocking video: plane in the U.S. makes emergency landing over security threat on board
Atlanta — A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was forced to divert and land in Atlanta late Friday night due to a reported security threat, authorities said.… <a href="https://t.co/PJDCbRfQBi">pic.twitter.com/PJDCbRfQBi</a>
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) <a href="https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/2030306044446900587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Flight tracking software from FlightAware shows the plane landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at about 9 p.m. WSB-TV 2 reports the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined there was no credible threat.
Southwest told 11Alive, &#8220;Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Friday evening after diverting to respond to a possible security matter. We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew and apologize to our Customers for the delay. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees.&#8221;
The Daily Wire has reached out to the Atlanta Police Department and the FBI for comment.
The incident comes as the United States is on high alert following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
In the immediate aftermath of the strikes, Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese man wearing an Iranian flag shirt underneath a hoodie with the phrase “Property of Allah” emblazoned on it, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/austin-shooters-iran-linked-attire-becomes-central-focus-in-terror-probe">opened fire</a> in Austin, Texas, killing three and injuring 14.
Authorities have not yet definitively linked the terror attack to the Iran strikes.
Jake Braun, a former senior counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, recently <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/federal-agencies-us-cities-alert-potential-retaliatory-attacks-amid-israel-iran-war-conflict-no-specific-threats-il/18669574/">spoke</a> with ABC7, a Chicago affiliate, about the risk of homeland attacks, both cyber and physical, noting that multiple targets are potentially vulnerable.
An Iranian ayatollah called on Thursday for President Trump&#8217;s blood to be shed during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iranian-ayatollah-calls-for-the-shedding-trumps-blood">message</a> on Iranian state TV.
“We are now on the verge of a great test and we must be careful to fully preserve this unity, to fully preserve this alliance,” said Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli in the message, <a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-march-05-2026#0000019c-bcd4-d21d-a1dc-fefd3c7e0000">going on</a> to call for “the shedding of Zionist blood, the shedding of Trump’s blood.”
Invoking the &#8220;Imam of the time,&#8221; Amoli said, &#8220;Fight the oppressive America, his blood is on my shoulders.”
In a separate development on Thursday, another Iranian official <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2029435610922996100?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> the United States following the sinking of an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka by a U.S. naval torpedo strike.
&#8220;The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran&#8217;s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India&#8217;s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning. Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set,&#8221; said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
Leif Le Mahiew contributed to this report.

Southwest

Stunning Video Shows Police Raiding Southwest Flight After Security Threat

Southwest Airlines

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has gone viral on social media after a video of him tasting the new Big Arch burger started circulating online.
Viewers made comments about the fast food chain exec’s awkward demeanor and wording, saying it was clear that he hated the “product” and didn’t really want to eat it.
“I love this product, it is so good. I’m going to do a tasting right now, but I’m going to eat this for my lunch, just so you know,” Kempczinski says in the video, which was shared to drum up interest in the new addition to the McDonald’s menu.
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He explained how the burger has “two quarter-pound patties, a delicious Big Arch sauce, and of course, some lettuce, along with crispy onions and pickles.”
Kempczinski awkwardly approached the burger, noting that he “didn’t even know how to attack it,” before taking a hesitant bite, which he described as being bigger than it actually was.
“Mmm, that is so good, that’s a big bite for a Big Arch,” the CEO said, showing the camera the tiny nibble he took out of the massive burger.
Social media commenters didn’t hold back with their mockery.
“What’s the opposite of genuine and authentic?” one popular Instagram comment said.
“That was the smallest first bite I’ve ever seen,” another person agreed.
“This man does not like that ‘product,’” another person wrote.
“Watching the McDonald&#8217;s CEO tentatively nibble on the Big Arch like it&#8217;s a radioactive artifact from the dollar menu, calling it &#8216;product&#8217; instead of food, is the most unintentionally hilarious endorsement fail since New Coke,” one X commenter <a href="https://x.com/RoyalMelanite/status/2028020316644249747">added</a>.
The video was posted to Kempczinski’s Instagram last month, but didn’t go viral until now, just days before the Big Arch is set to debut on McDonald’s menus nationwide on Tuesday, March 3. This fact led to some fans wondering if the awkward video and its promotion is nothing more than a way to get attention for the new fast food menu offering.

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