On Saturday, a 155mm artillery shell prematurely detonated during a live-fire demonstration for the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, striking a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle and motorcycle with fragments. The incident occurred on an off-ramp for Interstate 5, a stretch of which had been closed by California Governor Gavin Newsom after being informed of the military's intent to fire munitions over the highway. Military officials claimed I-5 was safe to remain open, according to reporting from The New York Times and Sentdender. Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating a suspicious elevated hunting stand discovered by the U.S. Secret Service within sightline of President Donald Trump's Air Force One landing zone at Palm Beach International Airport prior to his return on Friday. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that no individuals were found at the scene and the FBI has taken the lead on the investigation, deploying resources and cell phone analytics, and is working with DOJ partners. This was confirmed via a statement on X by Susan Crabtree. The Camp Pendleton incident, which involved a "military demo" for Vice President JD Vance, resulted in minor damage to CHP vehicles, according to MeidasTouch. A CHP patrol report indicated that officers were not injured, with one describing the sound as "pebbles hitting his motorcycle" and others seeing "a two-inch piece of shrapnel" dent the hood of their patrol vehicle. Shrapnel was also found on the road near the motorcycle. In other developments, Senator Katie Britt's bill to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for kidnapping Ukrainian children is gaining support, with a hearing scheduled for the following week. Separately, President Trump announced on October 19th, 2025, that the U.S. will cease aid payments to Colombia due to the country's continued drug production, according to The Wall Street Journal. Emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are en route to Israel. During a debate, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa were asked about purchasing cannabis products, with Mamdani giving a "giggle-inducing" answer. Separately, Nvidia's CEO indicated the company is "100% out of China" and has lost its previous 95% market share there. Former Representative George Santos stated on October 19th, 2025, that he is not ruling out a future return to Congress or other public platforms after his release from prison.
