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Episode #1083: We’re talking tough trade talk from Trump, Jim Farley’s fiery pitch for industrial self-reliance, and the viral ChatGPT graduation moment that’s sparking serious debates—and wild experiments—in education.

Show Notes with links:

• At the Aspen Ideas Festival, Ford CEO Jim Farley called for bold action to rebuild U.S. industrial strength, warning that the country’s economic security—and even its defense—depends on making essential products at home.
  • Farley backs modest tariffs to help U.S. automakers compete with countries that heavily subsidize manufacturing.
  • He also emphasized blue-collar job growth, urging more focus on skilled trades over white-collar positions.
  • Farley shared about recent three week stoppages at Ford plants caused by a shortage of rare-earth magnets sourced from China, critical to systems like seats and windshield wipers.
  • Farley used the example to push for “industrial independence,” saying supply chain reliance on China is a strategic risk.
  • “What, is Google going to make the tanks?” Farley asked. “We’ve talked about energy independence, now we need industrial independence.”

• In a blunt Fox News interview, President Donald Trump threatened to scrap ongoing trade negotiations with Japan, proposing to impose hefty auto tariffs by simply mailing out unilateral notices.
  • Trump said he may skip further negotiations and assign tariffs directly, calling out Japan’s auto exports.
  • “Dear Mr. Japan, here’s the story,” he quipped, proposing the 25% tariff on imported Japanese cars remain.
  • Japan has pushed hard to eliminate the auto tariff but has gained little ground in ongoing talks.
  • A U.S. tariff hike to 27.5% already took effect in April, pressuring Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda.
  • “They won’t take our cars... We take millions of theirs. It’s not fair,” Trump stated, citing the trade imbalance.

• UCLA student Andre Mai went viral for “flexing” his use of ChatGPT at graduation, but it spotlit the deep confusion around AI in education—just as new, radical models like Alpha School are reshaping what school can even look like.
  • UCLA grad Andre Mai used ChatGPT with his professor’s approval, but reactions revealed how fractured AI policy is in schools.
  • Teachers are stuck between enabling learning and policing AI use, often without reliable tools or consistent rules.
  • 90% of college students tried ChatGPT within two months of launch; now, 1 in 4 teens use it regularly.
  • Meanwhile, Alpha School in Austin is pioneering a bold approach: AI tutors handle core subjects in just 2 hours a day.
  • Students spend the rest of the day on real-world skills like financial literacy, survival training, and entrepreneurship.
  • The model, called “2hourlearning,” claims kids learn 2x faster—raising questions about the future of traditional ed

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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