Finance Foggle

Trump Will Slow, but May Not Stop, the Rise of Electric Vehicles Key Takeaways Trump's team plans to kill the $7,500 federal EV tax credit immediately, making new EVs significantly more expensive for buyers While federal EV mandates would disappear, 12 states including California have their own clean car rules that'll keep pressure on automakers Charging infrastructure growth has already reached critical mass - there's over 150,000 public ports nationwide that won't just vanish Auto companies like Ford and GM have invested too much in EV factories to back out, even if they slow rollout pace Global emissions rules and battery cost drops mean the EV shift continues regardless of U.S. politics, though progress may hiccup Trump's "Day One" EV Policy Promises When Trump said "I will end the electric vehicle mandate on Day 1" at the Republican convention , he meant scrapping Biden's tailpipe rules requiring 56% of new cars sold by 2032 to be electr...

Vinay Prasad Exits FDA: Abrupt Resignation of CBER Director & Chief Medical Officer After 3 Months | Sarepta Gene Therapy Controversy, Political Pressure & Regulatory Impact Key Takeaways Abrupt Exit : Vinay Prasad resigned as FDA’s biologics chief after less than three months amid political pressure and drug approval controversies . Sarepta Controversy : His scrutiny of  Elevidys , a Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapy, led to shipment halts after a patient death, reversed days before his departure . Political Targeting : Right-wing activist  Laura Loomer  spearheaded a smear campaign, branding Prasad a “progressive saboteur” for past critiques of Trump and COVID policies . Scientific Clash : Prasad overruled FDA scientists on COVID vaccines, limiting boosters to high-risk groups, drawing ire from public health experts . The Resignation Heard ‘Round the Beltway Vinay Prasad quit on a Tuesday. The FDA’s biologics chief walked out after 89 days, a blip in bureaucra...

  Key Takeaways Lockheed Martin faces significant pressure from agile defense startups despite record US defense budgets, leading to stagnant stock performance . Internal bureaucracy and risk aversion stifle innovation at major contractors, while startups like Anduril and Palantir embrace rapid iteration and failure . Lockheed responds through AI integration (LMText Navigator, AI Factory), mission-focused upgrades (ER GMLRS, Black Hawk digital backbone), and startup collaborations like "AI Fight Club" . The "valley of death" – the gap between prototype development and mass production – claims 40% of small suppliers over the past decade, weakening traditional contractor ecosystems . Political influence remains a core strategy, with Lockheed’s PAC donating $256,500 to 147 lawmakers during 2022 Ukraine aid debates . The Startup Disruption: Why Lockheed’s Missing Out on Defense Budget Booms Honestly, it’s kinda wild—global defense spending’s hitting records, but Lockhee...