1. The U.S. government shutdown, which started on October 4, 2025, is the first in seven years.
- This shutdown could pose a significant problem for startups that are waiting on permits, visas, or regulatory approvals, as even a few weeks can become existential issues for them.

2. On the latest episode of Equity (TechCrunch's flagship podcast), Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Max Zeff discussed how uncertainty caused by the shutdown is affecting startups in ways that might not be immediately noticeable.

3. The podcast also touched upon the ongoing struggle of AI companies to establish sustainable business models, highlighting the messy reality of this industry's current state.