Good morning, and thank you for tuning in to your update for the Dear Creative newsletter.

Our lead story continues to be the political impasse in Washington. The U.S. government shutdown is now on the verge of becoming the longest in history, entering its 34th day. The primary sticking point remains federal funding, which has delayed supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits for millions of Americans. While federal judges have ordered the administration to use contingency funds, House Speaker Mike Johnson noted this is complicated by a significant shortfall in those very funds.

For our creative and media-focused audience, this shutdown is having tangible impacts. Reports indicate the president has fired all members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency. Furthermore, the shutdown has been cited as a reason for Radio Free Asia suspending its news operations, a significant blow to media and content creators.

On the international stage, several major events are unfolding:

• In the Middle East: As part of a fragile ceasefire deal, Israel and Hamas have exchanged the bodies of soldiers and Palestinian individuals.

• Humanitarian Crises: A powerful earthquake in Afghanistan has tragically left at least 20 people dead. Meanwhile, aid agencies are warning of a worsening humanitarian disaster in Sudan following the RSF's takeover of el-Fasher.

• Global Economy: In news that will surely impact the global creator economy, the U.S. and China have agreed to a framework for a trade deal, and President Trump has concluded a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

That is the news as it stands. We will continue to follow these stories and how they impact the decentralized world and the creator economy. This is Bridgett, reporting for Dear Creative.