Tuesday, November 18, 2025

 
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Trump says 'sort of' decided what to do with Venezuela as military tensions rise

France24
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Trump says 'sort of' decided what to do with Venezuela as military tensions rise

Senior Trump administration officials have held three meetings at the White House this week to discuss options for possible military operations in Venezuela, officials said on Friday, amid a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump has deployed F-35 aircraft, warships and a nuclear submarine to the region as part of a military buildup following two months of deadly strikes against boats off Venezuela. Earlier this week, the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group moved into the Latin America region – bringing with it more than 75 military aircraft and over 5,000 troops. Story by Simon Moritz.


This story originally appeared on France24

O.C. city leaders designate street to honor Charlie Kirk

LATimes
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O.C. city leaders designate street to honor Charlie Kirk


A small street that runs parallel to the Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster will soon bear a new name — Charlie Kirk Way.

During a heated meeting rife with accusations of partisan politics and debate over the role of local government, leaders in the Orange County city voted 4 to 1 Wednesday to partially rename All American Way for the slain conservative activist. Kirk’s name will appear in 3-inch font below the official street name.

Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, a Republican who is running for Congress next year, brought forth the change because he said Kirk “reflects the values that make Westminster truly special: pride in our country, belief in our freedom and the spirit of civic engagement.”

Kirk, a founder of Turning Point USA and one of the Republican Party’s most influential figures, was fatally shot by a sniper at Utah Valley University in September.

The death of the 31-year-old, who rejoiced in the back and forth of debates, has triggered a range of emotions and nationwide discussions about how to memorialize the conservative icon.

In Villa Park, a high school teacher allegedly removed a memorial to Kirk that was set up by students. In Calabasas, a teacher was placed on leave after officials said she was linked to a social media post allegedly likening Kirk to a Nazi who “got what he deserved.”

In Huntington Beach, another Orange County city frequently at the center of national culture war debates, a September memorial for Kirk at the pier took a dark turn when a group of men joined the crowd chanting, “White men fight back.”

Westminster Vice Mayor Carlos Manzo, the lone Democrat on the dais and the sole vote against designating the street in Kirk’s honor, at times appeared at a loss for words over Nguyen’s proposal. He said it was inappropriate given that Kirk didn’t live in Westminster and had no ties to the community. He accused his colleagues of exploiting Kirk’s death to score political points.

“That’s what you’re doing — exploiting a tragedy for political gain,” he said. “You’re going to go out there and campaign with it and say, ‘Look, I got this done in my city.’”

Councilmember Amy Phan West, on the other hand, criticized the small font on the street sign as an inadequate way to honor Kirk. A separate proposal she introduced to designate Oct.14 — Kirk’s birthday — as Charlie Kirk Day in the city also passed on Wednesday.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize Charlie Kirk as an American patriot and a steadfast champion for freedom of speech,” she said. “His commitment to protecting the principle of open dialogue and opposing tyranny has been a significant impact on our nation’s conversation.”

Manzo chastised his colleagues for forcing Westminster into a national political debate rather than focusing on the city’s fiscal challenges and making life better for residents, a complaint echoed by many residents who spoke at the meeting. At one point, Manzo said West and Nguyen were trying to “out Republican each other.”

Replacing the street signs to add Kirk’s name is expected to cost $3,000, according to a city staff report.

Westminster has faced its share of fiscal challenges in recent years and in 2022 appeared on the brink of financial collapse. That year, residents voted to extend the city’s 1% sales tax until 2043 to help shore up the city’s budget. Without the funds, Westminster was projected to go bankrupt by 2024, even with drastic cuts.

“The fact that you are using our tax dollars for your pet projects, your partisan politics, is bull—,” resident Tami Hammell said during the meeting. “Stop stealing our time and money with your crap. Get back to all city business and not your partisan business.”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

2 low-risk, high-yield FTSE 100 shares to consider for 2026

Motley Fool
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2 low-risk, high-yield FTSE 100 shares to consider for 2026


Image source: Getty Images

Building a passive income portfolio in the UK doesn’t just require a bucketload of patience and dedication (although they help). Equally as important is a portfolio made of the right FTSE 100 shares.

But what are the ‘right’ shares?

Well, in all honesty, there’s no definitive list of correct shares for such an endeavour. And the fact that the goal posts are constantly changing doesn’t help. Fluctuating interest rates, political instability and foreign tariffs all play a part in where share prices go daily.

That’s why the ideal shares are those that keep a steady head even when times get tough. If your investment outlook is 10 to 20 years (and it should be), then you need shares that will survive the journey.

With that in mind, I’ve identified two dividend shares on the FTSE 100 that have a super-reliable history. Whether preparing for retirement or saving up for a house, I think both are well worth considering.

Unilever

Despite a typically moderate yield, Unilever (LSE: ULVR) is popular for passive income because of its exceptional dividend track record. Spanning nearly a century, it’s paid dividends consistently since 1929, with almost 20 years of uninterrupted growth before Covid.

That alone is impressive — but the real attraction is its resilience to market downturns. Even during the most severe economic downturns (the Great Depression, World War II, the 2008 Financial Crisis, and Covid), Unilever maintained its dividend payments.

The reason for this is the company’s recession-resistant business model. Selling essential goods like food, personal care, and household products means its revenues flow regardless of economic conditions.

It’s worth noting, there’s a risk of unexpected currency fluctuations affecting dividend payments, as Unilever reports in both sterling and euros. Furthermore, its global diversification means returns are at risk from political instability, currency crises and economic volatility.

Still, history has shown it’s one of the most stable of FTSE 100 dividend stocks.

Severn Trent

When thinking of a good utility stock for income, many people turn to National Grid. But while the nation’s core energy grid operator is a great option, Severn Trent (LSE: SVT) actually has a better dividend track record.

What’s more, it’s also performed slightly better over the past 20 years.

Created on TradingView.com

Similar to National Grid, Severn Trent is a regulated utility company serving approximately 4.7m households and businesses across the Midlands and Wales. As a regulated monopoly, the company benefits from predictable, inflation-linked revenue streams with minimal competition.

While nowhere near Unilever’s record, in its 20-year-long history, it’s done surprisingly well. Despite two minor dividend reductions in the past 20 years, overall, dividends have grown at an average rate of 3.53% per year. For example, the company increased dividends from 81p in 2016 to £1.19 in 2024 — approximately 47% growth over eight years.

Another bonus of regulation adds provisions for inflation indexation, ensuring dividend payments keep pace with rising costs. And the essential need for water means revenue remains stable regardless of economic conditions.

But there is one elephant in the room that can’t be ignored: £8.65bn in debt. At that level, even a regulated business is at risk of defaulting — or at least cutting dividends.

Still, with a long-term view, I expect debt will come under control and the company will continue delivering stable income to shareholders.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

UK households told to open windows for 10 minutes every day

Express.co.uk
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UK households told to open windows for 10 minutes every day


As the colder months set in and the temperatures start dropping, you’re likely keeping your windows shut; however, you actually need to keep them open for a certain amount of time each day. If you fail to do so, you may be allowing something potentially dangerous to creep around your home.

Hidden damp and mould affects millions of properties every winter in the UK, and now experts are warning of the early signs that are often missed. Ben Snape from IntelOptic, a home  health app that helps identify early signs of damp, says it can start to form behind walls, under floors or in lofts long before any damp patches appear.

There are things you need to do and tasks you need to complete to keep you and your family as safe as possible. There’s a simple trick you can use to prevent condensation too. 

“A musty smell, cold walls and soft, bubbling paint are early warning signs that moisture is trapped even when everything looks fine on the surface,” they explained. In fact, mould can start forming in as little as 48 hours after humidity levels exceed 70%.

This can remain hidden for up to 18 months before it becomes visible. It’s not just a cosmetic problem either. Mould can trigger asthma, chronic coughing, skin irritation, fatigue and even sleep issues, with children and older adults being most at risk. 

Condensation typically appears on glass and mirrors, and dries once the room is well ventilated, leaving no smell. On the other hand, damp lingers on walls, ceilings and skirting boards, often in the same spot and brings a musty smell that persists. 

Early warning signs include:

  • A persistent earthy smell behind furniture or in corners 

  • Cold and damp patches on the wall and skirting boards

  • Frequent condensation in the same area

  • Shadowing or discolouration on paint

  • Small black dots on bathroom silicone or grout

If you notice any of these signs, experts recommend improving the airflow around your home immediately. You can do this by opening windows, moving furniture away from walls and monitoring humidity with a hygrometer. Avoid cleaning the area with bleach as this can cause deeper mould growth. 

Should I open my windows during autumn and winter?

If you didn’t know, you should open your windows during the autumn and winter months. This should be done for brief, intense periods.

Opening windows provides fresh air, limits condensation, prevents mould growth and also improves air quality. This is because it helps to remove stale, polluted air and harmful indoor pollutants that develop when homes are sealed from the cold.

For those who suffer with condensation, it’s a moisture problem, not just a temperature issue. If you open windows every now and then it will allow moisture to escape, which aids in preventing the damp conditions that promote mould growth.

Opening windows also helps to regulate indoor temperatures by exchanging stale, warm air for cooler, fresh air. This is beneficial, even during colder months.

Not to mention, it can also aid your health too. Poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, nausea and respiratory infections, so it has many more benefits than you may realise.

Even though it’s cold, experts generally recommend people open their windows for between five and 10 minutes once or twice a day in November and the months ahead. Ideally, do this when it’s warmest and sunniest, and open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze. 



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene claims Epstein files ‘sent him over the edge’ | World News

SkyNews
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Former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene claims Epstein files ‘sent him over the edge’ | World News


It is an earthquake for the MAGA ecosystem.

Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene were a formidable alliance on the Republican Party’s hard-right flank.

For years, the congresswoman for Georgia embodied the combative, conspiracy-tinged politics that define Trump’s presidency.

She called him “the father of the America First movement,” campaigned to be his running mate, and was quick to defend him.

“David Cameron can kiss my ass,” she told Sky News when asked about the former UK Prime Minister’s concerns about US fading support for Ukraine.

Door-stepped by my colleague Martha Kelner, she said: “We don’t give a crap about your country or your reporting.

“The Trump administration is doing a great job and I stand by their statements,” she added.

“I’m thankful to President Trump that he is leading us out of wars.”

Watch Sky’s Martha Kelner’s encounter with Taylor Greene from earlier this year…

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But in recent months, she had expressed concerns about Trump’s involvement in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere.

It escalated when she stood with victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to demand justice and joined Democrats in demanding a vote on the release of all files.

Just days ago, President Trump told reporters Taylor Greene had “lost her way”, but something triggered a war of words late on Friday.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player


1:35

‘Shame on everyone that protected Epstein’

The president had taken questions on Air Force One, with two reporters citing Taylor Green’s demand that the files be released.

Moments later, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he was withdrawing his endorsement of the congresswoman.

He branded her a “ranting lunatic”, “wacky Marjorie”, and said all she ever does is “COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN.”

Her reply came very quickly, in a post claiming she had sent the president text messages about Jeffrey Epstein.

“Apparently this is what sent him over the edge. The Epstein Files,” she posted.

Read more on Jeffrey Epstein:
Ghislaine Maxwell ‘wants Trump to commute sentence’
What Epstein’s right-hand woman said about Trump and Andrew

She accused him of “coming after” her to “scare all the other Republicans” before next week’s vote to release the Epstein files.

“It’s astonishing how hard he’s fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level,” she added.

For years, they were joined at the hip – Trump the movement’s figurehead, Taylor Greene its megaphone – but it has now descended into open hostility.

Epstein, the story that won’t go away, has just cost Trump one of his most loyal allies, and rocked the internal dynamics of his political movement.



This story originally appeared on Skynews

Trump cuts ties with Marjorie Taylor Greene : NPR

NPR
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Trump cuts ties with Marjorie Taylor Greene : NPR


Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., presides over a House Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington.

Rod Lamkey/AP


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Rod Lamkey/AP

President Donald Trump has publicly called it quits with one of his most stalwart MAGA-world supporters, calling Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene “‘Wacky’ Marjorie” and saying he would endorse a challenger against her in next year’s midterms “if the right person runs.”

The dismissal of Greene — once the epitome of “Make America Great Again,” sporting the signature red cap for President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address and acting as a go-between for Trump and other Capitol Hill Republicans — appeared to be the final break in a dispute simmering for months, as Greene has seemingly moderated her political profile. The three-term U.S. House member has increasingly dissented from Republican leaders, attacking them during the just-ended federal government shutdown and saying they need a plan to help people who are losing subsidies to afford health insurance policies.

Accusing the Georgia Republican of going “Far Left,” Trump wrote that all he had witnessed from Greene in recent months is “COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!” adding, of Greene’s purported irritation that he doesn’t return her phone calls, “I can’t take a ranting Lunatic’s call every day.”

In a response on X, Greene wrote Friday that Trump had “attacked me and lied about me.” She added a screenshot of a text she said she had sent the president earlier in the day about releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, which she said “is what sent him over the edge.”

Greene called it “astonishing really how hard he’s fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level,” referencing next week’s U.S. House vote over releasing the Epstein files.

Writing that she had supported Trump “with too much of my precious time, too much of my own money, and fought harder for him even when almost all other Republicans turned their back and denounced him,” Greene added, “I don’t worship or serve Donald Trump.”

Trump’s post seemingly tied a bow of finality to fissures that widened following this month’s off-cycle elections, in which voters in the New Jersey and Virginia governor races flocked to Democrats in large part over concerns about the cost of living.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise chat while on their way to talk with reporters after the vote to re-open the government on Nov. 12. Johnson sent members home after they voted on a continuing resolution to fund the government in mid-September.

Last week, Greene told NBC News that “watching the foreign leaders come to the White House through a revolving door is not helping Americans,” saying that Trump needs to focus on high prices at home rather than his recent emphasis on foreign affairs. Trump responded by saying that Greene had “lost her way.”

Asked about Greene’s comments earlier Friday as he flew from Washington to Florida, Trump reiterated that he felt “something happened to her over the last month or two,” saying that, if he hadn’t gone to China to meet leader Xi Jinping, there would have been negative ramifications for jobs in Georgia and elsewhere because China would have kept its curbs on magnet exports.

Saying that people have been calling him, wanting to challenge Greene, Trump added, “She’s lost a wonderful conservative reputation.”

Greene’s discontent dates back at least to May, when she announced she wouldn’t run for the Senate against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff, while attacking GOP donors and consultants who feared she couldn’t win. In June, she publicly sided with Tucker Carlson after Trump called the commentator “kooky” in a schism that emerged between MAGA and national security hardliners over possible U.S. efforts at regime change in Iran.

Police remove a man from the town hall as onlookers watch.

That only intensified in July, when Greene said she wouldn’t run for governor. Then, she attacked a political “good ole boy” system, alleging it was endangering Republican control of the state. Greene embarked on a charm offensive in recent weeks, with interviews and appearances in media aimed at people who aren’t hardcore Trump supporters. Asked on comedian Tim Dillon’s podcast if she wanted to run for president in 2028, Greene said in October, “I hate politics so much” and just wanted “to fix problems” — but didn’t give a definitive answer.

That climaxed with an appearance on Bill Maher’s HBO show “Real Time,” followed days later by a Nov. 4 appearance on ABC’s “The View.” Some observers began pronouncing Greene as reasonable as she trashed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana for not calling Republicans back to Washington and coming up with a health care plan.

“I feel like I’m sitting next to a completely different Marjorie Taylor Greene,” said “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin.

“Maybe you should become a Democrat, Marjorie,” said co-host Joy Behar.

“I’m not a Democrat,” Greene replied. “I think both parties have failed.”



This story originally appeared on NPR

Highlights From RHOSLC, Southern Charm & More

TVLine
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Highlights From RHOSLC, Southern Charm & More








Bravo

TVLine has boots on the ground at BravoCon 2025 — here are the buzziest bits from Friday’s red carpet. (Well, the carpet was actually blue, but you get the point.)

First up: Angie Katsanevas is not burying the hatchet with her “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” co-star Lisa Barlow any time soon. Angie revisited the Episode 8 moment when she casually mentioned that Lisa had been spreading a rumor about Brownyn Newport’s husband, who apparently was seen making out (and farting!) with another woman. What possessed the Bravo star to bring up such a bizarre rumor so nonchalantly aboard such a lovely “Below Deck Down Under” vessel?

“Well, she had already told multiple people in the group,” Angie said. “And in that moment she said, ‘I’m a good person. I try and do the right thing. I don’t talk about other people,’ and it was sort of an opportunity for me to present [to] her, ‘Yes, you do.’ And I said it directly to her face.” 

But Angie’s directness is coming to back to bite her. 

“I’m being stopped by Bravo celebrities all over the place telling me that she’s not being nice about me,” Angie said, adding that Lisa has been telling other press in the media room that Angie is fake.

Elsewhere, Britani Bateman and Heather Gay were seen walking the carpet with the infamous unicorn gifted to her by on-again-off-again boyfriend Jared Osmond, which they had just stolen from the Bravo museum. 

“It smells like sea water,” Britani said. Though the voice recording didn’t work — it was thrown into the ocean, after all — Britani assured us that Jared will be creating another message. 

We also caught a quick flash of a lively Meredith Marks riding high after performing an early morning DJ set. 

Are Souther Charm’s Craig and Austin Headed for a Friendship Breakup?


bravocon 2025 southern charm austen craig
Bravo (2)

“Southern Charm” is facing another breakup — and this one might hit harder than Paige and Craig’s.

TVLine spoke to Craig Conover and Madison LeCroy about the Season 11 “Southern Charm” trailer, which sees Craig and Austen Kroll facing off — again. (The new season premieres on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 9/8c.)

After so much conflict between these two former besties, we couldn’t help but ask whether it might be time to call it quits on the whole thing. 

But Craig said he thinks he and Austen are forever “stuck together” because they share so much history, but Madison said she’s been advocating for the guys to part ways. 

We later caught up with Austen himself, who said ending the friendship is something that needs to be considered, and admitted the idea has crossed his mind. 

But what are these two even feuding about?

“Austen and I love each other, but our behavior frustrates each other,” Craig said. “Everything he does, I disagree with how he does it, and however I live my life, he disagrees with it. We haven’t figured out how to not butt heads in that.”

Married to Medicine Men Are Acting Up


bravocon married to medicine simone jackie
Bravo (2)

But the best part of the BravoCon red blue carpet was, unsurprisingly, the women of “Married to Medicine.”

TVLine spoke with Dr. Jackie Walters and Dr. Simone Whitmore, who teased some fun husband drama coming up in Season 12, which premieres Sunday, Nov. 30, at 9 pm.

Dr. Simone admitted she and Cecil are in need of some couples trip therapy, but also made time to call out her bestie’s husband, Curtis. 

“I must say that one of my closest friends, she needs help with her husband,” Dr. Simone teased. “Her name is Dr. Jackie.” 

Dr. Jackie didn’t disagree: “Sometimes the husbands talk too much.” Dr. Jackie’s husband Curtis will apparently get a little too honest about “his thoughts and opinions” about other women in the group in Season 12. 

The ladies went on to joke about their men’s inability to read a room — a problem with no solution, per Dr. Jackie: “If you trade him in for a new model, you still get a man!”

Plus, we caught up with Dr. Contessa Metcalfe and Toya Bush-Harris, who offered even more teases about next season’s couples trip. 

More BravoCon Scoop…


bravocon summer house kyle amanda divorce
Bravo

In other BravoCon news…

* At Friday’s Bravos Awards, Andy Cohen offered Vicki Gunvalson an orange as a symbol of his invitation for her return as a full-time housewife to “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” (She accepted, of course.)

* “Summer House” star Kyle Cooke addressed the rumors that he and wife Amanda Batula are reportedly living separately: “We’re very much together… We’ve been dealing with rumors forever.” (Though they did walk the carpet separately.)

* “Real Housewives of Potomac” star Stacey Rusch called out Gizelle Bryant: ‘One clown doesn’t ruin the circus.’

* Dorit Kemsley addressed her meeting with Kyle Richards’ ex-husband Mauricio Umansky in the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” Season 15 trailer.

* For the first time in seven years, Jeff Lewis is “Flipping Out” at Bravo: The cabler announced that it has greenlit “Still Flipping Out,” a new reality series focused on Lewis and the convergence of his personal and professional lives.





This story originally appeared on TVLine

Olivia Rodrigo Wears $200K Earrings With Sparkly Sequin Dress

RealityTea
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Olivia Rodrigo Wears 0K Earrings With Sparkly Sequin Dress


There is luxurious, and then there is Olivia Rodrigo-level luxurious, who recently stepped out in a pair of $200,000 diamond earrings and a sequin dress from Tom Ford. In true pop icon fashion, she wore them effortlessly. The 22-year-old stepped out in a dazzling Tom Ford dress for GQ’s Men of the Year party. With women stealing the show at the event, leading the charge was none other than the “Deja Vu” singer.

Olivia Rodrigo’s diamond earrings come with a $200K price tag

Olivia Rodrigo’s look was theatrical on the GQ Men of the Year party’s red carpet, with her bold sequin dress from Tom Ford stealing the show. A Tom Ford Resort 2026 piece with thin straps, the gown had a late 90s runway vibe. As she turned, the dress seemed to shift colors as well. From inky black to indigo blue, the soft ombre effect at the hem added to the magic of the ensemble. It was subtle and the perfect detailing that gives the dazzling piece its impact.

Then came the showstoppers, Rodrigo’s earrings. As per InStyle, the diamond earrings were a whopping $200,000. What made them wasn’t their price tag but rather their glamor and impact. They weren’t grand and theatrical, but the ice-toned sparkle complemented the dress’s shimmer perfectly. The pair of earrings completed the sparkly look, adding a hint of bling without drawing attention away from her Tom Ford number.

The “Happier” singer finished the look with black heels that were made to accentuate, not distract. She styled her hair to match the theme of the party ‘Party like it’s 1995’ seamlessly. The Pamela Anderson-inspired updo was a great match for the daring gown, bringing a hint of retro to her glam as well.

In a room full of dialled-up glam, it was not the $200,000 earrings that were the talk of the red carpet. It was the confidence and grace with which Rodrigo rocked the look.

Originally reported by Sejal Singh on theFashionSpot.



This story originally appeared on Realitytea

Ford CEO Jim Farley says he can’t fill 5,000 mechanic jobs paying $120K per year: ‘We are in trouble in our country’

NYPost
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Ford CEO Jim Farley says he can’t fill 5,000 mechanic jobs paying 0K per year: ‘We are in trouble in our country’

Ford has been unable to fill some 5,000 openings for mechanics despite offering a salary of $120,000 a year — prompting the company’s chief executive to warn of a dire shortage of skilled tradespeople in the US.

“We are in trouble in our country. We are not talking about this enough,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said on an episode of the “Office Hours: Business Edition” podcast published earlier this week.

“We have over a million openings in critical jobs, emergency services, trucking, factory workers, plumbers, electricians and tradesmen.”

Ford has been unable to fill roughly 5,000 openings for mechanics despite offering a salary of $120,000 a year, CEO Jim Farley said. Getty Images

Farley added: “It’s a very serious thing.”

The $120,000 pay is nearly twice the average annual American salary, according to the Social Security Administration.

It takes about five years to learn the skills needed to pull a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck — and the country isn’t training enough people to do it, Farley said.

“We do not have trade schools,” he fumed.

Earlier this year, Ford rolled out a $4 million initiative to fund scholarship for auto technicians.

“We are not investing in educating a next generation of people like my grandfather who had nothing, who built a middle class life and a future for his family,” Farley said.

His granddad was employee 389 at Ford and worked on the company’s flagship Model T.

The $120,000 pay a Ford mechanic makes is roughly twice what the typical American worker earns. Shutter2U – stock.adobe.com

Rich Garrity, a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers, agreed with Farley’s grim assessment.

“I think his comment was spot on,” he told The Post.

“We’re not just missing bodies, but we’re really missing, I’d say, skill sets that can connect to 21st-century manufacturing needs,” said Garrity, who’s chief business unit officer at the additive manufacturing firm Stratasys.

The mechanic shortage at Ford is part of a broader crisis hitting manufacturing and the skilled trades.

As of August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted more than 400,000 open manufacturing positions — despite 4.3% unemployment.

Last year, the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte surveyed 200 manufacturing firms and found recruiting and retention topped the list of challenges for more than half of them.

The automotive industry alone faces an annual shortfall of about 37,000 trained technicians, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.

The BLS projects an average of 67,800 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year through 2033.

Farley sounded incredulous about the dire shortage, adding: “A bay with a lift and tools and no one to work in it — are you kidding me? Nope.”

Part of the problem is demographics. Baby boomers are retiring from the trades faster than millennials and Gen Zers are entering them.

But it’s not just about numbers. The skills required to work in manufacturing have evolved, according to Garrity.

“A lot of the openings that we see today, it’s not just manual of days past, but combining manual and digital skill,” he said.

“That’s an area that we continue to see a real gap in.”

To make matters worse, trade schools and community colleges haven’t kept pace with the technology, according to Garrity.

Last year saw a 16% spike in trade school enrollment — a record high since the National Student Clearinghouse began collecting data in 2018. Meanwhile, four-year college enrollment is down 0.6% from fall 2020 to fall 2023. KOTO – stock.adobe.com

“The community colleges, the career tech programs do a solid job in providing foundational training, but we often see that they’re out of date when it comes to keeping up with how fast things are moving from a technology standpoint,” he said.

“If we talk about additive manufacturing, robotics, automation, EV batteries, we see very few focus curriculums that can keep up with that.”

There are signs of change. Last year saw a 16% spike in trade school enrollment — a record high since the National Student Clearinghouse began collecting data in 2018.

Meanwhile, four-year college enrollment is down 0.6% from fall 2020 to fall 2023, and trade school enrollment grew 4.9% over the same period.

Garrity said the shift reflects a changing reality about education and career paths.

“For many years in the US, it was, you go to a four-year college and things are set up for you,” he noted.

“And the reality is, that path is not necessarily what it used to be. A more valuable path, in many cases, is getting a technical college or apprenticeship and starting to learn certain skills very early on.”

Ford has tried to make its jobs more attractive. The company ditched its lowest-wage tier and committed to 25% raises over four years in its latest contract with the United Auto Workers union.

But higher wages alone can’t solve the problem if there aren’t enough trained workers to hire.

“There’s a different level of skill that’s needed, and frankly, we don’t have the pipeline of workers that are coming ready with those skills,” Garrity said.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Gavin Newsom’s pathetic reasons for pulling SOME illegal truckers’ licenses

NYPost
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Gavin Newsom’s pathetic reasons for pulling SOME illegal truckers’ licenses

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s critics took a victory lap this week when California revoked 17,000 Commercial Drivers Licenses it had issued to migrant truck drivers whose legal permission to be in the United States ended before the CDLs’ expiration dates.

Yet the Golden State may still be defying federal law: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the 17,000 the “tip of the iceberg,” warning that Team Trump will keep investigating Cali for issuing CDLs to illegal migrants or to drivers who flunked English proficiency exams. 

Case in point: Video seems to show Harjinder Singh ignoring signs barring a U-turn on the Florida Turnpike before the deadly crash that killed three in August.

Investigators said that he had received CDLs in Washington state and California, despite failing the tests several times. 

He also failed an English proficiency test after the crash. (He entered the country illegally in 2018; California claims he later obtained legal status.)

Certainly, the state is still openly defying President Donald Trump’s August executive order requiring English proficiency for CDLs: Newsom ordered the California Highway Patrol to ignore it. 

That led Duffy to pull $40 million in federal highway funding; he threatens to withhold $160 million more for not enforcing other new rules.

In the Biden years, Cali handed out CDLs easily, casting its lax standards as a way of securing US supply chains in the wake of the pandemic.

Newsom’s office boasted in 2021 of “issuing 60 percent more CDLs this year compared to last” thanks to Biden administration cooperation in cutting “bureaucratic red tape.”

Sometimes — especially in California — red tape makes life impossible. But some rules exist to save lives. 

As governor, Newsom has the power to choose which rules to enforce and which to ignore. He wants to crack down on gas-powered trucks — but not on drivers who can’t read road signs and shouldn’t even be in the country.

He had to be dragged into enforcing the law.

Newsom’s belated decision to cut 17,000 CDLs is an admission of bad policy, perhaps with an eye on avoiding queries on the presidential campaign trail about why he let illegal aliens who can’t speak English turn 18-wheelers loose on the roads. 

That, and Duffy’s threat to withhold funds, are the only reasons Gavin is finally doing the right thing.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

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