By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Monday, Aug. 17, and we’ve disappeared down a rabbit hole after reading about the conspiracy theories surrounding the fate of this beloved eagle. Let’s catch up.

	President Donald Trump is shifting his justification for his White House ballroom.

• He initially said it was for hosting VIPs: Now he says it is key for national security. Yesterday, he made his point by posting an AI-generated video of him and George Washington.

• Why? Earlier this month, a lower court ordered a halt to construction. Officials are invoking security to bolster their case as they ask the Supreme Court to allow the work to continue.

Trump ordered a reduction of military exercises with U.S. ally South Korea.

• Why? He cited his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump also criticized South Korea for not helping the U.S. with its effort to denuclearize Iran.

• In other military news: The Navy is considering a major redesign of new aircraft carriers to better match Trump’s preferred aesthetic, current and former officials told The Post.

• One more thing: Officials fear AI may lead to a new kind of bioweapon.

Todd Blanche refused to say he’ll be independent from Trump as attorney general.

• Yesterday: Blanche said he’ll take Trump’s views into account when directing federal law enforcement. Critics have expressed concerns that Blanche may politicize the Justice Department.

• At the Supreme Court: Democrats are proposing adding more justices, limiting their terms and more as they grow increasingly frustrated with the court’s rightward turn under Trump.

Hayden Panettiere, the star of TV shows “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died at age 36.

• Last night: Panettiere’s father announced her death, calling her “a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her.” No cause was announced.

• She began her career as a child actor: But it was her role as a cheerleader with superpowers in “Heroes” that propelled her to fame in 2006.

Millions of drivers have been warned to park outside because of fire risks.

• The issue: Modern cars are packed with electronics and batteries. They don’t need to be moving, or even turned on, to burst into flames. That is causing many safety recalls.

• How widespread is the problem? An estimated 3.2 million vehicles nationwide currently have an outstanding “park outside” recall. Many drivers are facing tough choices.

The most common type of cancer in the U.S. is easy to miss.

• It’s called basal cell carcinoma: About one in five adults in the U.S. will be affected by it in their lifetime. It can easily be mistaken for dry eczema or an acne scar.

• Take action: Experts told us how to spot, treat and prevent the disease. They recommend using the “ugly duckling sign,” a self-check method to find unusual skin patches.

We combed through Goodreads data to find this summer’s most-read books.

• There’s a clear standout: “Yesteryear,” the tale of a tradwife influencer who appears to wake up in 1855, is the season’s runaway hit. (Our colleagues have a lot of questions about it.)

• Already ticked that off your list? Find your next summer read here. We’re keen to try “Theo of Golden,” which became one of the hits of the year with practically no marketing.