THE MAP HASN’T CHANGED, BUT GREENLAND WILL EFFECTIVELY BECOME A US PROTECTORATE:

Protrumptorate?

THE PRESS CAN STILL AMPLIFY, OR MUTE, STORIES AND MOODS: A Booming Economy: Who Cares?

I believe President Trump’s approval rating on his “handling of the economy” now stands consistently below 40%. This is rather weird, given that the U.S. economy is as strong as it has ever been. I suppose when most people say “the economy,” what they mean is gas prices.

But the most recent numbers released by the Census Bureau indicate that in 2025, the U.S. poverty rate was the lowest it has ever been, while median household income was the highest it has ever been, at $87,460. The stock markets hit record highs, too.

One would think that Americans would be happy about such a strong economy, but my guess is that most aren’t even aware of it. Either that, or the current anxiety about gas prices has overshadowed everything else.

Trump isn’t on the ballot, though.

THE EV BUBBLE IS DEFLATING: Blue BlueOval City? Tennessee Taxpayers Deserve an Explanation.

The original vision was clear: Ford and SK would build a vertically integrated campus producing next-generation electric F-Series trucks and batteries. Production was scheduled for 2025. Ford later said the plant could eventually produce 500,000 electric trucks annually.

That is no longer the project being built. Ford now calls the assembly facility the Tennessee Truck Plant. Approximately 2,300 Ford employees are expected to manufacture new gas-powered “Built Ford Tough” trucks beginning in 2029.

The original electric truck is gone. The 500,000-EV annual production target is gone. Vehicle production has been delayed four years. Ford and SK On have also dissolved their BlueOval SK joint venture, with SK On taking ownership of the Tennessee battery operation. Layoffs were announced in March.

Will the AI boom turn out to be similar?

HUMANS WILL NEVER BE ANGELS, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO CLEAN THE CULTURE SOME:  Land of corruption.

HOW MUCH OF 2020’S SUMMER OF BURNING LOVE WAS PAID FOR OUT OF USAID?  A Quiet Summer.

OPEN THREAD: Ring in the weekend.