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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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Chris Reeves join Kyle this morning to recap the travel week that Kyle and Paul had, and then to share about how Liza Borches and the Carter Myers Automotive group brought in 12,805 lbs of food in their Cans and Cans Drive.

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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Episode #1081: Today’s episode sounds the alarm on EV shipping risks after a $560M shipwreck, dives into the dealer-driven defense of EV tax credits with Alex Lawrence at the helm, and bids farewell to Microsoft’s iconic Blue Screen of Death.

• The June sinking of the Morning Midas cargo ship—loaded with Chinese EVs—has sparked serious concern across the shipping and auto industries. Estimated losses are pegged at $560 million, but the implications go far deeper.
  • The ship was carrying 3,048 vehicles, including 750 EVs and hybrids, when it caught fire en route to Mexico.
  • It’s the third major EV ship incident in just over three years, bringing total damages from these disasters to nearly $1.8 billion.
  • The fire’s cause remains unknown, but experts say EVs increase the chance of thermal runaway turning into catastrophe.
  • “This is a huge cost, and another blaring warning claxon to the industry,” said AEG CEO Patrick Anderson, pointing to the growing frequency of these incidents.
  • Calls are growing for stricter EV shipping protocols—better fire detection, increased vehicle spacing, and limits on how many EVs can be transported per vessel.

• A coalition of 19 dealers including Carmax, Carvana, and Utah’s EV Auto is urging the Senate to reconsider abrupt EV tax credit rollbacks. At the center of the push is Alex Lawrence, who’s making a strong case for used EV affordability.
  • Lawrence says converting the credit into a down payment changed everything for middle-class buyers.
  • He argues that without it, many families couldn’t qualify for financing or reliable transportation.
  • Though confident in EV Auto’s future, he warns a sudden end “would disrupt the used car market,” calling for a multi-year phase-out instead.
  • The letter emphasized the vital role of the used EV rebate as “a bridge” for working-class Americans.
  • At ASOTU Con last month, Alex quipped “I didn't realize when I got into the car business five and a half years ago I was getting into politics. But boy, did I ever.”

• Microsoft is officially phasing out one of the most recognizable (and dreaded) elements of the Windows experience: the Blue Screen of Death. After four decades, Windows crashes are getting a new look—and a new name.
  • The classic BSOD will now become the “Black Screen of Death” in an upcoming Windows 11 update.
  • The redesign ditches the frowny face and QR code in favor of a cleaner, more focused layout.
  • The new format will show the stop code and faulty driver right on screen, simplifying diagnosis for IT teams.
  • The update is part of broader efforts to boost Windows 11 stability, especially after last year’s CrowdStrike-related crash wave.
  • “This is really an attempt on clarity and providing better information so we can fix it faster.” says David Weston, Microsoft’s VP of Enterprise and OS Secur

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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JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/