The hour was marked by a sharp divergence in Big Tech, where market reactions to AI spending strategies split investors: Microsoft shares climbed 8% on capital expenditure plans, while Meta shares plummeted 11% over concerns regarding monetization and rising costs. This volatility unfolded alongside significant public sector activity, highlighted by over $120 billion in new Pentagon defense commitments, including a $58.62 billion contract for Lockheed Martin. Political friction also intensified, as the Senate moves toward a contempt vote for Anthony Fauci and the Trump administration navigates delays in confirming its attorney general nominee amid rising regional tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, broader corporate earnings remain mixed, with Samsung reporting record profits while Robinhood and other firms face specific market headwinds.