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San Diego

Axios San Diego

Part of the law enforcement squad protecting Vice President JD Vance was accidentally hit by an artillery shell during a military display marking the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California, police said Sunday.

The big picture: The California Highway Patrol said no one was injured in Saturday's incident, which occurred during a live-fire military demonstration at the base, on the edge of San Diego County. A CHP vehicle was damaged. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the White House had been "reckless."

Vice President JD Vance, wearing a dark gray jacket and light gray pants, points as 2 soldiers look on during an amphibious capabilities demonstration on Red Beach at Camp Pendleton, California, on October 18, 2025 as part of the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary celebrations. 

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance participate in a briefing during an amphibious capabilities demonstration on Red Beach at Camp Pendleton, California, on Saturday as part of the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images

Driving the news: The incident happened in the area where CHP officers were supporting a traffic break along I-5 near Camp Pendleton during a U.S. Marine Corps live-fire training demonstration over the freeway, and where the CHP had elected to stop traffic during the live-fire exercise, per a CHP statement.

Metal shrapnel from explosive ordnance fired over the highway "detonated overhead prematurely, striking and damaging a CHP patrol vehicle," according to the CHP.

"CHP personnel immediately notified the Marine Corps at the scene, who then canceled firing additional live ordnance over the freeway, and the area was swept for further evaluation."

State of play: Officials closed a 17-mile stretch of the highway for hours during Saturday's "Sea To Shore" amphibious assault demonstration, which halted train service.

Explosions shook the beach and artillery shells were fired over I-5.

The live-fire military demonstration at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, on the edge of San Diego County, occurred as "No Kings" protests were taking place in San Diego.

About 35 demonstrators gathered outside the main gate at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, where Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and thousands of service members watched the military marking the 250th anniversary of the Marines and Navy.

The White House filmed the event for a primetime TV special to air Nov. 9, per The San Diego Union-Tribune.

What they're saying: "We love our Marines and owe a debt of gratitude to Camp Pendleton, but next time, the Vice President and the White House shouldn't be so reckless with people's lives for their vanity projects," said Newsom, who had voiced his objections to the military exercise ahead of the event, on X Sunday.

CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado said in a statement: "This was an unusual and concerning situation. It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway."

Representatives for the White House, Vance and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Axios' Sunday evening request for comment.

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Police: Shrapnel hits California patrol car escorting Vance at military event

A shell "detonated overhead prematurely, striking and damaging" the vehicle, California Highway Patrol said.

Sign alerting drivers about the closure of the 5 Freeway on October 18, 2025 in San Clemente, California, saying "LIVE FIRE WEAPONS OVER FREEWAY"

A signs alerts drivers about the closure of the 5 Freeway on Saturday in San Clemente, California. Photo: Apu Gomes/Getty Images

Media

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

The U.S. economy will be left struggling if the Supreme Court strikes down most of the tariffs imposed this year, President Trump said in a Fox News interview Sunday.

Why it matters: Trump and other cabinet members have framed the tariff case in apocalyptic terms, saying it would "literally destroy the United States" if the high court finds the president overstepped his authority.

What they're saying: Trump, in an interview with Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures," said the revenue and diplomatic leverage from tariffs made it vital to win the case.

"If we don't, we'll be struggling for years to come," Trump said.

He went on to claim that he's ended eight wars and that five of the eight were stopped as a direct result of tariff leverage, including the conflict between nuclear powers India and Pakistan.

Catch up quick: Most of the tariffs Trump imposed this year were implemented via a 1970s-era law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The Court of International Trade ruled in May that IEEPA didn't give Trump the authority to levy sweeping global tariffs. An appellate court later upheld that ruling. 

The Supreme Court is due to hear oral arguments in the case in early November. 

Economists estimate that roughly 70% of the tariffs imposed so far would fall if the court upholds the IEEPA ruling — though the administration has more recently made more aggressive use of different and better-tested trade authorities, like Section 232 sectoral tariffs. 

"This is being fought by radical left lunatics that don't even know what they're doing and people that represent foreign countries that have taken advantage of us for years," Trump said of the IEEPA case.

The plaintiff in the case, V.O.S. Selections, is a New York-based, family-run wine importer. 

What to watch: What happens if the administration loses.

"I'll have to figure something out. I don't want to even think about it, we're doing so well," Trump said. 

"If they took away tariffs, then they've taken away our national security."

U.S. will struggle "for years" if tariffs struck down, Trump says

Trump and other cabinet members have framed the tariff case in apocalyptic terms.

President Trump, seated at a table and leaning into a microphone. 

President Trump during a White House meeting in the Cabinet Room. Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Tariffs

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

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Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) said Sunday he found out that President Trump had commuted his sentence from a news story playing on a prison television.

The big picture: Trump's commutation of Santos' seven-year sentence for charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft sparked a flood of criticism, including from fellow New York Republicans.

In a Truth Social post announcing his clemency action, Trump wrote that "at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!" and claimed he had been "horribly mistreated."

Driving the news: In a Sunday appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" less than two days after Trump's announcement, Santos said the commutation came as a "surprise." 

Santos said he had been served "a very large slice of humble pie." But he argued his sentence was "disproportionate" and called for his former campaign staffer to also receive a commutation.

"This isn't about ... glitter, stars and glam or going back to Congress," he said, adding, "This is a very personal journey and road for me ahead."

Catch up quick: Santos, who was expelled from Congress in a historic 2023 vote, was released from prison after serving less than three months of a more than seven-year sentence.

He pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in his federal fraud case, avoiding a trial. He had faced 23 federal criminal charges, to which he previously pleaded not guilty.

A head-turning House Ethics Committee report released in 2023 alleged that Santos "blatantly stole" from his campaign and included accusations that he misused funds for lavish trips, botox and OnlyFans.

Flashback: In April, after receiving his 87-month sentence, Santos wrote that "7 years is an over the top politically influenced sentence." 

He continued, "I implore that President Trump gives me a chance to prove I'm more than the mistakes I've made." On Friday, Trump gave him what he requested.

Zoom in: Asked about criticism that his commutation was an example of the president rewarding another political ally, Santos said "there's always going to be critics," adding, "I'm pretty confident if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the off the cross, he would have had critics."

What they're saying: Asked on ABC's "This Week" about the president's commutation of Santos' sentence, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who voted against expelling Santos, pointed instead to former President Joe Biden's pardons for his family members.

He argued Santos' Republican voting record was not part of the reasoning behind his commutation, despite the president citing Santos' "Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence" to vote with the GOP.

"I hope Mr. Santos makes the most of his second chance," Johnson said.

What we're watching: Santos, 37, said he does not foresee making any political runs — at least for the next decade.

Go deeper: George Santos turns to Cameo after House expulsion

George Santos turns to Cameo after House expulsion

No "glitter, stars and glam": Santos dismisses critics after Trump commutation

Santos said the commutation came as a "surprise" and that he learned about it on TV.

George Santos, wearing a grey suit and sunglasses, holds his hand near his face and points his thumb to the side.

George Santos exits federal court in New York on April 25.  Photo: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Finish Line

Axios Finish Line

Resistance to AI is bubbling up among some workers, students, coders and creatives.

Some are placing new value on work that's untouched by AI.

Why it matters: The pace at which AI takes off depends in part on its users — and there's a cohort that's just saying no.

The big picture: Some AI resisters worry about its carbon footprint. Others take pride in human-made work and don't trust AI's output. Plenty just don't want to become overly reliant on it.

America's "cultural commitment to rugged individualism" could be a factor, writes Julia Freeland Fisher, director of education at the Clayton Christensen Institute and author of the Connection Error newsletter.

Zoom in: "I think it's important I do this myself" was the top reason college students in the class of 2026 gave for avoiding AI in brainstorming, writing, and research, according to a new report from Handshake, a career network.

49% of Gen Zers surveyed by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation are worried AI will corrode their ability to think critically. 41% say generative AI tools make them anxious.

In Silicon Valley, some programmers are revolting against using AI to write code. "Partly that's because the AI coding tools have some obvious technical limitations — sometimes producing error-ridden code," The Information's Rocket Drew reports. And "partly it's because human coders worry any sort of adoption of the tools will hasten their own obsolescence."

Some artists, actors, writers and other creatives are expressing similar discontent. When Semafor's Ben Smith asked author and chef Alison Roman if she uses AI for recipes, she said: "It's the antithesis of my vibe."

Reality check: Many of the same skeptics are also users. More than one-third of college-aged adults regularly use ChatGPT, according to OpenAI. Nearly all have at least tried it.

40% of U.S. workers say they've used AI at work a few times a year or more, Gallup found.

What's next: AI is already embedded in the way we learn, work and live. So fully opting out isn't really an option.

Helen Toner, director of Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, tells Axios' Megan Morrone there's an opening for a company to develop "AI for the people" — "actually useful for things that they actually care about."

The AI resisters

The pace at which AI takes off depends in part on its users — and there's a cohort that's just saying no.

Animated illustration of a robot with its hands over its ears and its eyes shaking. It flinches while word balloons with text reading "NO," "BEAT IT," "GET OUT OF HERE," "LEAVE ME ALONE, " "NOOOOOO," "BOOOOO," "$%&# YOU," "KEEP IT TO YOURSELF," and "THAT'S ENOUGH OUT OF YOU," pass over it.

Artificial Intelligence

Big Tech

Privacy & tech regulation

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

Nearly 7 million protesters gathered across the U.S. on Saturday to take part in rallies against President Trump and his administration. 

Why it matters: This latest round of protests comes as the government shutdown approaches its third week and opposition to Trump's military crackdown on Democratic-led cities grows.

"No Kings" protests draw huge crowds across U.S.

More than 2,700 events were planned across 50 states.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Police: Shrapnel hits California patrol car escorting Vance at military event

U.S. will struggle "for years" if tariffs struck down, Trump says

No "glitter, stars and glam": Santos dismisses critics after Trump commutation

The AI resisters

"No Kings" protests draw huge crowds across U.S.

Vance plans Israel visit Tuesday to push Gaza deal implementation

What to know about Oct. 18 "No Kings" protests

How the shutdown enabled the Trump administration's mass firing spree

Bernie-backed Maine Senate candidate melts down

Exclusive: W.H. cites George Washington for Trump paying troops without Congress