Podcasts about nhtsa

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss Waymo's recall, Tesla's most recent NHTSA letter and Sterling Anderson's surprise move to join GM as EVP & Chief Product Officer.For the first time ever, Waymo had a fleet-wide recall after a series of minor collisions involving stationary objects, a recall that was fixed with a simple over-the-air update. As Waymo updated their vehicles, Tesla was once again under regulatory scrutiny, this time about their upcoming FSD Unsupervised launch in Austin.Could NHTSA's request for more information, give Elon Musk and Tesla an off-ramp as they work to further develop FSD prior to deploying fully autonomous robotaxis. In an unexpected twist, former Aurora co-founder Sterling Anderson joined GM as EVP & Chief Product Officer. His move to GM signals a potential major strategic shift for GM, especially in the wake of its decision to shutdown Cruise.With Mr. Anderson's background in autonomy, software-defined vehicles, and hardware integration from his time at Tesla and Aurora, the hire suggests GM may be quietly rebuilding its autonomy strategy. Whether this positions him as a future CEO candidate or simply as the architect of GM's next-generation vehicle roadmap, it's a development that we will be following on Autonomy Markets.Episode Chapters0:00 Sterling Anderson Joins GM3:34 The Impact of Sterling's Departure on Aurora5:53 Uber's Autonomy Investments7:16 Aurora, a Company in Crisis13:04 Kodiak15:30 Bot Auto17:45 Wayve / Uber Partnership21:58 WeRide's Hong Kong IPO22:46 Waymo's Lingering Zeekr Problem25:27 Waymo's NHTSA Recall27:18 Waymo Road Trips28:47 Is Waymo Expanding Too Quickly?30:10 Could NHTSA Delay Tesla's June Robotaxi Launch?33:38 Market Perception of Tesla FSD36:29 Unforced Error of The Week38:40 Next WeekRecorded on Thursday, May 15, 2025--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/autonomy-economy/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we talk about the NHTSA, CAFE standards, and energy efficiency.We also discuss incentive programs, waste heat, and the EPA.Recommended Book: Africa Is Not a Country by Dipo FaloyinTranscriptIn the United States, fuel-efficiency laws for vehicles sold on the US market are set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. They set the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE standards by which vehicle-makers have to abide, and that, in turn, establishes the minimum standards for companies like Ford or Toyota making vehicles for this market.That CAFE standard is paired with another guideline set by the Environmental Protection Agency that sets standards related to tailpipe emissions. The former says how many miles a vehicle should be able to travel on a gallon of fuel, while the latter says how much CO2, methane, and other pollutants can be legally emitted as that fuel is burnt and those miles are traversed.These two standards address different angles of this issue, but work together to, over time, reduce the amount of fuel consumed to do the same work, and pollution created as that work is accomplished; as a result, if you're traveling 50 miles today and driving a modern car in the US, you'll consume a lot less fuel than you would have traveling the same distance in a period-appropriate car twenty years ago.Back in the final year of the Biden administration, the president was criticized for not pushing for more stringent fuel-efficiency standards for US-sold and driven vehicles. The fuel economy requirements were increased by 2% per year for model years 2027 to 2031 for passenger cars, and the same 2% per year requirement will be applied to SUVs and other light trucks for model years 2029 to 2031.This is significantly lower than a previously proposed efficiency requirement, which would have seen new vehicles averaging about 43.5 mpg by model year 2032—an efficiency gain of 18%. And the explanation at the time was that Biden really wanted to incentivize carmakers to shift to EVs, and if they weren't spending their time and resources on fuel-efficiency tech deployment for their gas-guzzlers, which Biden hoped to start phasing out, they could spend more on refining their EV offerings, which were already falling far behind China's EV models.Biden wanted half of all new vehicles sold in the US by 2030 to be electric, so the theory was that fuel-efficiency standards were the previous war, and he wanted to fight the next one.Even those watered-down standards were estimated to keep almost 70 billion gallons of gasoline from being consumed through the year 2050, which in turn would reduce US driver emissions by more than 710 million metric tons of CO2 by that same year. They were also expected to save US drivers something like $600 in gas costs over the lifetime of each vehicle they own.Since current president Trump returned to office, however, all of these rules and standards have come into question. Just as when he was president the first time around, rolling back a bunch of Obama-era fuel-efficiency standards—which if implemented as planned would have ensured US-sold vehicles averaged 46.7 mpg by 2026, so better than we were expected to get by 2032 under Biden's revised minimum—just as he did back then, Trump is targeting these new, Biden standards, while also doing away with a lot of the incentives introduced by the Biden administration meant to make EVs cheaper and more appealing to consumers, and easier to make and sell for car companies.What I'd like to talk about today is another standard, this one far less politicized and widely popular within the US and beyond, that is also being targeted by the second Trump administration, and what might happen if it goes away.—In 1992, the US Environmental Protection Agency, under the endorsement of then-president George HW Bush, launched the Energy Star program: a voluntary labeling program that allowed manufacturers of various types of products to affix a little blue label that says Energy Star on their product, boxes, and/or advertising if their product met the efficiency standards set by this program.So it's a bit like if those aforementioned fuel-efficiency standards set for vehicles weren't required, and instead, if your car met the minimum standards, you could slap a little sticker on the car that said it was more energy efficient than cars without said sticker.A low bar to leap, and one that wasn't considered to be that big a deal, either in terms of being cumbersome for product-makers, or in terms of accomplishing much of anything.Energy Star standards were initially developed for the then-burgeoning field of personal computers and accessories, but in 1995 things really took off, when the program was expanded to include heating and cooling infrastructure, alongside other components for housing and other buildings.From there, new product categories were added on a semi-regular basis, and the government agency folks running the program continued to deploy more technical support and testing tools, making it easier and easier for companies wanting to adhere to these standards to do so, relatively easily and inexpensively.And to provide a sense of what was required to meet Energy Star standards in the days when they were really beginning to take off and become popular, in the early 2000s, refrigerators needed to be about 20% more efficient, in terms of electricity consumption, than the minimum legal standard for such things, while dishwashers needed to be 41% more efficient. Computers around that time, more specifically in 2008, were required to have an 85% efficiency at half load and something close to that at 20% and 100% power load—which basically means it they needed to use most of the energy they drew, and release less of it as waste-heat, which was a big issue for desktop computers at the time.Energy Star TVs had to use 30% less energy than average, with more modern versions of the standard requiring they draw 3 watts or less while in standby mode, and a slew of 90s and early 2000s-era technologies, like VCRs and cordless home phones were required to use something like 90% less electricity than the average at the time.This standard helped push the development of more energy efficient everything, as it was a selling point for companies making things for real estate developers, in particular. Energy-hogs like light fixtures, which cost a fortune to power if you're thinking in terms of skyscrapers or just building a bunch of houses, became far more energy efficient after the folks in charge of buying the lighting for these projects were able to eyeball options and use the Energy Star label as a shorthand indication that the cost of operation for those goods would be far less, over time, than their competition; it was kind of pointless to buy anything else in many cases, because why would you want to spend all that extra money over time buying less-efficient fluorescent lights for your office buildings, especially now that it was so easy to see, at a glance, which ones were best in this regard?And the same general consensus arrived on the consumer market not long after, as qualified lighting was something like 75% more efficient than non-qualified, legal-minimum-meeting lighting, and Energy Star verified homes were something like 20% cheaper to own.It was estimated that US homeowners living in Energy Star certified homes saved around $360 million on their energy bills in 2016, alone, and another estimate suggests that US citizens, overall, have saved about half a trillion dollars over the past 33 years as a result of the program and the efficiency standards it encourages.So this is a relatively lightweight program that's optional, and which basically just rewards companies willing to put more efficient products on the market. They can use the little label if they live up to these standards, and that tells customers that this stuff will use less energy than other, comparable products, which in turn saves those customers money over time, and puts less strain on the US electrical grid.This program, consequently, has been very popular, for customers, for the companies making these products—because by jumping through a few hoops, they can get some of their products certified, and that gives them a competitive advantage over companies that don't do the same, and especially over companies selling cheaper goods from overseas, which tend to be a lot less efficient because of that cheapness—and it's been popular for politicians across the political spectrum, because people who buy things and pay energy bills vote those politicians into office, and companies that make such goods hire lobbyists to influence their decisions.All of which brings us to today, mid-May of 2025, a point at which the second Trump administration seems to be considering possibly getting rid of the Energy Star certification program.Initial reports on the matter are seemingly well-sourced, but anonymous, as is the case with a lot of White House briefs right now, so some of this should be taken with a grain of salt, because of how it's being reported and because this administration has flip-flopped a whole lot already, and on things much bigger and more prominent than this, since returning to office, so this could just go away after being reported upon, even if they actually intended to do it before that pushback.But what seems to have happened is this:In January of 2025, after returning to the White House, Trump's administration put a big Trump supporter and Republican politician, Lee Zelden, in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency.Zelden publicly holds a lot of standard Republican talking points, including what's often called skepticism about climate science and vehement support of oil drilling, including fracking. He did say that climate change is a real issue that needs to be addressed during his EPA head confirmation hearing, however.Under Trump's second administration, many government agencies have been either completely done away with, or wiped out, in terms of funding and staff, so that they're basically just zombie agencies at this point, and the EPA is an agency that Trump has historically not been a big fan of, and which he seems to be trying to rewire toward deregulation: so regulations like fuel efficiency standards are not good according to some strains of usually more conservative politics, and for some business owners, because these are additional rules they have to legally abide by, which costs them money.And back in March of 2025 Zelden announced that the EPA would be pulling back on regulations related to power plants, would incentivize rather than disincentivize the production of oil and gas, would do away with a bunch of pollution-related standards, especially those related to coal power plants and how much pollution they can emit, and many other similar things, which—to shorthand all this—may be somewhat popular if you think climate change concerns are overblown and that it's more important to keep coal mines operational than to keep streams and rivers clean, but which will generally look really, really bad if you're any kind of environmentalist and/or are concerned about climate change.The government also recently cut the EPA's budget by 54.5%, dropping said budget back to where it was when Ronald Reagan was president. This cut, along with cuts to other agencies responsible for tracking dangerous weather, saving sea turtles, and keeping US National Parks clean and functional, will, according to the government, save US taxpayers $163 billion.According to reports from a recent all-hands meeting of the EPA's Office of Atmospheric Protection, Trump administration officials announced that that office would be dissolved, and that the Energy Star program would be eliminated.Now, there's a chance that this is just the result of the administration's at times seemingly blind cutting of budgets, backtracking only when there's sufficient pushback, and there's a chance this is a continuation of a political moment a few years back when the Biden administration was considering doing away with Energy Star certification for gas ranges, the idea being that if it uses gas instead of electricity, it's part of the problem, even if it's more efficient than other ranges.Republican politicians responded to lobbying efforts from the US gas industry and stirred that up into a big frenzy, to the point that people were vehemently defending their right to own a gas stove, which was never under threat, but that's how these sorts of astroturfed moral panics work, and it could be that they're looking to replicate some of that magic now, taking down a standard that they hope to frame as an example of liberal overreach, telling people that these things take away their right to choose what they want to buy, and how much energy or fuel to burn, even when that's not actually true.There's also a chance, as I mentioned earlier, though, that this is just a trial balloon, and that once they realize there's a decent amount of bipartisan support for this program, they'll step back from this cut, and maybe even claim it for themselves, using it as an example of American exceptionalism: look how great American-made goods are, we're more efficient than anybody else—not bad messaging at a time in which that kind of competitive language is popular with those in charge, though that competition might not be the real point of all this, at least for some of the people making some of these decisions, right now.Show Noteshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/05/09/trump-budget-cuts-environmental-programs/83441472007/https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-launches-biggest-deregulatory-action-us-historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Zeldinhttps://web.archive.org/web/20201214180957/https://www.energystar.gov/about/origins_mission/energy_star_overview/about_energy_star_residential_sectorhttps://web.archive.org/web/20161202012204/https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.ab_milestoneshttps://web.archive.org/web/20170622184250/http://www.dailytech.com/New+Energy+Star+50+Specs+for+Computers+Become+Effective+Today/article15559.htmhttps://insideclimatenews.org/news/08052025/energy-star-program-could-be-eliminated-by-trump-administration/https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/10/energy-star-program-gets-the-kiss-of-death/https://www.theverge.com/news/664670/water-energy-efficiency-standards-trump-dishwasher-washing-machine-showerhead-toilethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Starhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/06/climate/energy-star-trumphttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/climate/epa-energy-star-eliminated.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/05/06/energy-star-program-epa-trump/https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/energy-starhttps://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/g-s1-64905/energy-star-program-cutshttps://apnews.com/article/trump-appliances-consumers-energy-efficiency-3b6100e001a2629dfea9be231f467841https://www.reuters.com/article/business/environment/trump-finalizes-rollback-of-obama-era-vehicle-fuel-efficiency-standards-idUSKBN21I25R/https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-mpg-fuel-economy-standards-automakers-0ef9147a0c3874a50a194e439f604261https://apnews.com/article/vehicle-fuel-economy-requirement-nhtsa-epa-85e4c3b7bbba9a9a9b7e5b117fe099bdhttps://apnews.com/article/epa-electric-vehicles-emissions-limits-climate-biden-e6d581324af51294048df24269b5d20ahttps://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/corporate-average-fuel-economy This is a public episode. 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A new recall, spotted by Electrek, is targeting the ID.Buzz for having too much space for passengers in the third row. The vehicle was designed to have two designated seating positions in the back row, so the bench seat is logically equipped with just two seatbelts. But, as the NHTSA puts it, the calculated seating surface width of the third-row rear bench exceeds the maximum value allowed by federal motor vehicle safety standards. In other words, it's too comfortable, making it too easy to squeeze in a third passenger who'd be left without a seatbelt.

In this episode, we dive into the latest Request for Proposal (RFP) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for technical support services under its Traffic Records Program. This IDIQ contract opportunity focuses on improving state traffic records systems through expert assessments, technical assistance, training, and user support. We cover the scope of work, key labor categories, proposal submission requirements, and what evaluators are looking for.

Commercial driverless trucks are on the road in Texas. A big accomplishment for Aurora! Plus.. a DOT research grant gets terminated, Waymo's safety study and partnership with Toyota and NHTSA amends ADAS reporting rules. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 388 of Smart Driving Cars.

This week, we survey intricacies and discrepancies in driver and pedestrian safety data. Intermixed are a few recent anecdotes and observations from a week in New York City spent exploring with landscape architects, developers, and friends alike. It's always a reinvigorating trip for a pedestrian and transit-adorer; a few of my recs are found in this audio.We discuss:00:00 On recent travels to NYC.02:06 On road safety and traffic fatality data.05:50 Analyzing traffic data and trends.11:38 Car bloat, unsafe streets, sprawl, and other contributing factors.27:33 The pedestrian experience in New York City.47:37 Upcoming.For context:⁠Pedestrian and traffic deaths, compared to other high-income nations (2013-2022) (via the CDC).⁠⁠NHTSA data projections (via the NHTSA).⁠⁠On cyclist fatalities, and interpreting the data (via Ken McLeod of the League of American Bicyclists).

OpeningGolfJustin Thomas on improving putting.MarketsGoogleEarnings on April 24, 2025MicrosoftRevenue up 13% and Operating income up 16%. MetaRevenue up 16% YoY and operating income up 27%!3.4 billion unique users they estimate. Investment thesis: Instagram and Reels. WhatsAppAIPhysical glassesPlay at 2:05. Morning routine. Dropping F-bomb! Socially awkward. “I'm really smooth!”  Does wonders for confidence!!  

April is Driving Awareness Month. Manny Munoz speaks with Jane Terry, NHTSA's Director of the Office of Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection, about how big an issue distracted driving has become on our nation's roads.April is also Alcohol Awareness Month. Dr. Nzinga Harrison, a board-certified psychiatrist with a specialty in addiction medicine, explained that it isn't only about alcoholism.

Whether you run a business and need to organize drug and alcohol testing for your employees or you just require discreet, accurate screening for personal reasons, Transmetron can help! More details at https://transmetron.com/ Transmetron City: Salt Lake City Address: 1476 Major St Website: https://transmetron.com/

Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk would like to 'delete all IP law' 5 things to know about Meta's upcoming FTC trial Meta's New Tech Wants You Using Phones in Theaters Trump Orders Investigation into Former Cybersecurity Chief Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos Microsoft rolls out Recall AI in preview to Copilot+ PCs, after delaying the feature twice, from June 2024 and October 2024, over security and privacy concerns The Dire Wolf Isn't Back—But Here's What 'De-Extinction' Tech Can Actually Do Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Vizio Shows What Happens When U.S. Fascism And TV Ensh*ttification Meet Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Sam Abuelsamid, Allyn Malventano, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ZipRecruiter.com/Twit threatlocker.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT expressvpn.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit

Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk would like to 'delete all IP law' 5 things to know about Meta's upcoming FTC trial Meta's New Tech Wants You Using Phones in Theaters Trump Orders Investigation into Former Cybersecurity Chief Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos Microsoft rolls out Recall AI in preview to Copilot+ PCs, after delaying the feature twice, from June 2024 and October 2024, over security and privacy concerns The Dire Wolf Isn't Back—But Here's What 'De-Extinction' Tech Can Actually Do Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Vizio Shows What Happens When U.S. Fascism And TV Ensh*ttification Meet Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Sam Abuelsamid, Allyn Malventano, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ZipRecruiter.com/Twit threatlocker.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT expressvpn.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit

Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk would like to 'delete all IP law' 5 things to know about Meta's upcoming FTC trial Meta's New Tech Wants You Using Phones in Theaters Trump Orders Investigation into Former Cybersecurity Chief Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos Microsoft rolls out Recall AI in preview to Copilot+ PCs, after delaying the feature twice, from June 2024 and October 2024, over security and privacy concerns The Dire Wolf Isn't Back—But Here's What 'De-Extinction' Tech Can Actually Do Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Vizio Shows What Happens When U.S. Fascism And TV Ensh*ttification Meet Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Sam Abuelsamid, Allyn Malventano, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ZipRecruiter.com/Twit threatlocker.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT expressvpn.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit

Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk would like to 'delete all IP law' 5 things to know about Meta's upcoming FTC trial Meta's New Tech Wants You Using Phones in Theaters Trump Orders Investigation into Former Cybersecurity Chief Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos Microsoft rolls out Recall AI in preview to Copilot+ PCs, after delaying the feature twice, from June 2024 and October 2024, over security and privacy concerns The Dire Wolf Isn't Back—But Here's What 'De-Extinction' Tech Can Actually Do Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Vizio Shows What Happens When U.S. Fascism And TV Ensh*ttification Meet Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Sam Abuelsamid, Allyn Malventano, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ZipRecruiter.com/Twit threatlocker.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT expressvpn.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit

Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk would like to 'delete all IP law' 5 things to know about Meta's upcoming FTC trial Meta's New Tech Wants You Using Phones in Theaters Trump Orders Investigation into Former Cybersecurity Chief Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos Microsoft rolls out Recall AI in preview to Copilot+ PCs, after delaying the feature twice, from June 2024 and October 2024, over security and privacy concerns The Dire Wolf Isn't Back—But Here's What 'De-Extinction' Tech Can Actually Do Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Vizio Shows What Happens When U.S. Fascism And TV Ensh*ttification Meet Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Sam Abuelsamid, Allyn Malventano, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ZipRecruiter.com/Twit threatlocker.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT expressvpn.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit

Trump gives Apple a giant break with wide-ranging tariff exemptions Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk would like to 'delete all IP law' 5 things to know about Meta's upcoming FTC trial Meta's New Tech Wants You Using Phones in Theaters Trump Orders Investigation into Former Cybersecurity Chief Beyond Showerheads: Trump's Attempts to Kill Appliance Regulations Cause Chaos Microsoft rolls out Recall AI in preview to Copilot+ PCs, after delaying the feature twice, from June 2024 and October 2024, over security and privacy concerns The Dire Wolf Isn't Back—But Here's What 'De-Extinction' Tech Can Actually Do Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA Linda McMahon just handed A.1. steak sauce an unbelievable opportunity Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Vizio Shows What Happens When U.S. Fascism And TV Ensh*ttification Meet Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Sam Abuelsamid, Allyn Malventano, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ZipRecruiter.com/Twit threatlocker.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT expressvpn.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit

In this episode of Restoring Darkness, Michael Colligan, Mark Baker, and Scott Wachter unpack the hidden dangers of light pollution, from LED-induced migraines to its role in societal chaos. They expose how the lighting industry's shift from bulbs to LEDs dodged accountability, while personal responsibility narratives shield systemic failures. With the NHTSA banning flashing LED vehicle lights and lawsuits looming, the trio challenges the myth that brighter nights mean safer streets, revealing a world where light might just be the spark for unrest—and a call for industry reckoning grows louder.Key Takeaways Health Hazards Emerge: LEDs are linked to migraines, seizures, and chronic issues like cancer and sleep loss, a stark shift from the industry's early focus on dark sky preservation. Systemic vs. Personal: The narrative of “turn off your phone” dodges broader accountability—lighting firms, regulators, and utilities push personal fixes over systemic solutions, burdening the sensitive. Industry Accountability: Extended producer responsibility could force manufacturers, distributors, and installers to curb light pollution, with legal parallels to glyphosate lawsuits targeting firms like Acuity Brands. Safety Myth Debunked: Bright lights don't deter crime universally—car break-ins and porch piracy thrive under illumination—while 5000K LEDs may escalate tension in riots, not calm it. Energy Efficiency Fallacy: LED mandates prioritize lumens-per-watt over total energy use or human comfort, leaving utilities off the hook and society over-lit without real gains.

It's NHTSA's distracted driving month. On the plus side fatalities are down but not by much. Intelligent Speed Assist, driver monitoring and better driving tech can help save lives today but instead billions are spent on robo-taxis.Tesla dealers are backlogged because people don't want to buy them, Waymo can't navigate a drive-thru, one con man pardons another con man and Ford tops this weeks recalls.Donate to support the show.This weeks links:https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-drivinghttps://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/04/do-smartphone-apps-hold-the-key-to-safer-drivers/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsbirmingham/major-car-maker-reducing-speed-limit-of-popular-motor-to-68mph/ar-AA1CraSphttps://www.familiesforsafestreets.org/news/virginia-becomes-first-state-to-adopt-isa-tech-to-stop-super-speedershttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/nyregion/nyc-drivers-brooklyn-car-crash.htmlhttps://thehill.com/business/5221471-who-is-trevor-milton-nikola-pardon/https://futurism.com/teslas-kill-motorcyclists-self-drivinghttps://www.jalopnik.com/1829010/tesla-unsold-cybertrucks-inventory/https://electrek.co/2025/04/08/tesla-already-has-new-model-y-inventory-available-today-in-the-us-demand-is-terrible/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V197-2752.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V198-1837.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V202-6052.PDF

Ralph welcomes journalist Chris Hedges to talk about his new book "A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine." Then, Ralph speaks to David Swanson of World BEYOND War about what his organization is doing to resist this country's casual acceptance of being constantly at war. Finally, Ralph checks in with our resident constitutional scholar Bruce Fein.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report, and he is a prolific author— his latest book is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.We not only blocked the effort by most countries on the globe to halt the genocide or at least censure Israel to the genocide, but of course have continued to sendbillions of dollars in weapons and to shut down critics within the United States… And that sends a very, very ominous message to the global south, especiallyas the climate breaks down, that these are the kind of draconian murderous measuresthat we will employ.Chris HedgesIt's a very, very ominous chapter in the history of historic Palestine. In some ways, far worse even than the 1948 Nakba (or “Catastrophe”) that saw massacres carried out against Palestinians in their villages and 750,000 Palestinians displaced. What we're watching now is probably the worst catastrophe to ever beset the Palestinian people.Chris HedgesIt's a bit like attacking somebody for writing about Auschwitz and not giving the SS guards enough play to voice their side. We're writing about a genocide and, frankly, there isn't a lot of nuance. There's a lot of context (which is in the book). But I expect either to be blanked out or attacked because lifting up the voices of Palestinians is something at this point within American society that is considered by the dominant media platforms and those within positions of power to be unacceptable.Chris HedgesIt eventually comes down to us, the American people. And it's not just the Middle East. It's a sprawling empire with hundreds of military bases, sapping the energy of our public budgets and of our ability to relate in an empathetic and humanitarian way to the rest of the world.Ralph NaderDavid Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, radio host and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. He is executive director of World BEYOND War and campaign coordinator for RootsAction. His books include War Is A Lie and When the World Outlawed War.The biggest scandal of the past two days in the United States is not government officials secretly discussing plans for mass killing, for war making, but how they did it on a group chat. You can imagine if they were talking about blowing up buildings in the United States, at least the victims would get a little mention in there.David SwansonThe Democrats are the least popular they've been. They're way less popular than the Republicans because some of the Republicans' supporters actually support the horrendous behavior they're engaged in. Whereas Democrats want somebody to try anything, anything at all, and you're not getting it.David SwansonYou know how many cases across the world across the decades in every hospital and health center there are of PTSD or any sort of injury from war deprivation? Not a one. Not a single one, ever. People survive just fine. And people do their damnedest to stay out of it, even in the most warmongering nations in the world. People try their very hardest to stay out of war personally, because it does great damage.David SwansonBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.If there were really an attorney general who was independent, they would advise the President, “You can't make these threats. They are the equivalent of extortion.”Bruce FeinVigorous Public Interest Law DayApril 1, 2025 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Harvard Law School the Harvard Plaintiffs' Law Association is hosting Vigorous Public Interest Law Day with opening remarks by Ralph Nader. The program will feature highly relevant presentations and group discussions with some of the nation's most courageous public interest lawyers including Sam Levine, Bruce Fein, Robert Weissman, Joan Claybrook, and Pete Davis, to name a few. More information here.News 3/26/251. Starting off this week with some good news, Families for Safe Streets reports the Viriginia Assembly has passed HB2096, also known as the Stop Super Speeders bill. If enacted, this bill would allow would judges to “require drivers convicted of extreme speeding offenses to install Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology in their vehicles, automatically limiting their speed to the posted limit.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, established by Ralph Nader, speeding was responsible for 12,151 deaths in 2022 and is a contributing factor in the skyrocketing number of pedestrians killed by automobiles which hit a 40-year high in 2023, per NPR.2. In more troubling auto safety news AP reports NHTSA has ordered a new recall on nearly all Cybertrucks. This recall centers on an exterior panel that can “detach while driving, creating a dangerous road hazard for other drivers, [and] increasing the risk of a crash.” This panel, called a “cant rail assembly,” is attached with a glue that is vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” per NHTSA. This is the eighth recall of the vehicles since they hit the road just one year ago.3. At the same time, the Democratic-controlled Delaware state legislature has passed a bill to “award…Musk $56 billion, shield corporate executives from liability, and strip away voting power from shareholders,” reports the Lever. According to this report, written before the law passed, the bill would “set an extremely high bar for plaintiffs to obtain internal company documents, records, and communications — the core pieces of evidence needed to build a lawsuit against a company.” On the other hand, “Corporate executives and investors with a controlling stake in a firm would no longer be required to hold full shareholder votes on various transactions in which management has a direct conflict of interest.” As this piece notes, this bill was backed by a pressure campaign led by Musk and his lawyers that began with a Delaware Chancery Court ruling that jeopardized his $56 billion compensation package. In retaliation, Musk threatened to lead a mass exodus of corporations from the state. Instead of calling his bluff, the state legislature folded, likely beginning a race to the bottom among other corporate-friendly states that will strip anyone but the largest shareholders of any remaining influence on corporate decision making.4. Speaking of folding under pressure, Reuters reports Columbia University will “acquiesce” to the outrageous and unprecedented demands of the Trump administration. These include a new mask ban on campus, and placing the school's Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department – along with the Center for Palestine Studies –under academic receivership for at least five years. By caving to these demands, the University hopes the administration will unfreeze $400 million in NIH grants they threatened to withhold. Reuters quotes historian of education, Professor Jonathan Zimmerman, who decried this as “The government…using the money as a cudgel to micromanage a university,” and Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, who called the administration's demands “arguably the greatest incursion into academic freedom, freedom of speech and institutional autonomy that we've seen since the McCarthy era.”5. The authoritarianism creeping through higher education doesn't end there. Following the chilling disappearing of Mahmoud Khalil, the Trump administration has begun deploying the same tactic against more students for increasingly minor supposed offenses. First there was Georgetown post-doc student Badar Khan Suri, originally from India, who “had been living in Virginia for nearly three years when the police knocked on his door on the evening of 17 March and arrested him,” per the BBC. His crime? Being married to the daughter of a former advisor to Ismail Haniyeh, who in 2010 left the Gaza government and “started the House of Wisdom…to encourage peace and conflict resolution in Gaza.” A court has blocked Suri's deportation. Then there is Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD student at Tufts who was on her way home from an Iftar dinner when she was surrounded and physically restrained by plainclothes agents on the street, CNN reports. Video of this incident has been shared widely. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supposedly “determined” that Ozturk's alleged activities would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest.” These activities? Co-writing a March 2024 op-ed in the school paper which stated “Credible accusations against Israel include accounts of deliberate starvation and indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian civilians and plausible genocide.” The U.S. has long decried regimes that use secret police to suppress dissident speech. Now it seems it has become one.6. Yet the Trump administration is not only using deportations as a blunt object to punish pro-Palestine speech, it is also using it to go after labor rights activists. Seattle public radio station KUOW reports “Farmworker activist and union leader Alfredo Juarez Zeferino, known…as ‘Lelo,' was taken into custody by [ICE].” A farmworker and fellow activist Rosalinda Guillén is quoted saying “[Lelo] doesn't have a criminal record…they stopped him because of his leadership, because of his activism.” She added “I think that this is a political attack.” Simultaneously, the Washington Post reports “John Clark, a Trump-appointed Labor Department official, directed the agency's Bureau of International Labor Affairs…to end all of its grants.” These cuts are “expected to end 69 programs that have allocated more than $500 million to combat child labor, forced labor and human trafficking, and to enforce labor standards in more than 40 countries.”7. All of these moves by the Trump administration are despicable and largely unprecedented, but even they are not as brazen as the assault on the twin pillars of the American social welfare system: Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is bearing the brunt of the attacks at the moment. First, AP reported that Elon Musk's DOGE planned to cut up to 50% of the Social Security Administration staff. Then, the Washington Post reported that the administration planned to force millions of seniors to submit claims in person rather than via phone. Now the administration is announcing that they are shifting Social Security payments from paper checks to prepaid debit cards, per Axios. Nearly half a million seniors still receive their payments via physical checks. These massive disruptions in Social Security have roiled seniors across the nation, many of whom are Republican Trump supporters, and they are voicing their frustration to their Republican elected officials – who in turn are chafing at being cut out of the loop by Musk. NBC reports Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance subcommittee on Social Security, said “he had not been told ahead of time about DOGE's moves at the agency.” Senators Steve Daines and Bill Cassidy have echoed this sentiment. And, while Social Security takes center stage, Medicare is next in line. Drop Site is out with a new report on how Trump's nominee to oversee the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Dr. Oz – could shift millions of seniors from traditional Medicare to the insurer-controlled Medicare Advantage system. Medicare and Social Security have long been seen as the “third rail” of American politics, meaning politicians who try to tamper with those programs meet their political demise. This is the toughest test yet of whether that remains true.8. The impact of Oscar winning documentary No Other Land continues to reverberate, a testament to the power of its message. In Miami Beach, Mayor Steven Meiner issued a draft resolution calling for the city to terminate its lease agreement with O Cinema, located at Old City Hall, simply for screening the film. Deadline reports however that he was forced to back down. And just this week, co-director of the film Hamdan Ballal was reportedly “lynched” by Israeli settlers in his West Bank village, according to co-director Yuval Abraham, an anti-occupation Jewish Israeli journalist. The Guardian reports “the settlers beat him in front of his home and filmed the assault…he was held at an army base, blindfolded, for 24 hours and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner.” Another co-director, Basel Adra of Masafer Yatta, told the AP “We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us…This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.” Stunningly, it took days for the Academy of Motion Pictures to issue a statement decrying the violence and even then, the statement was remarkably tepid with no mention of Palestine at all, only condemning “harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints.”9. In some more positive news, Zohran Mamdani – the Democratic Socialist candidate for Mayor of New York City – has maxed out donations, per Gothamist. Mamdani says he has raised “more than $8 million with projected matching funds from about 18,000 donors citywide and has done so at a faster rate than any campaign in city history.” Having hit the public financing cap this early, Mamdani promised to not spend any more of the campaign raising money and instead plans to “build the single largest volunteer operation we've ever seen in the New York City's mayor's race.” Witnessing a politician asking supporters not to send more money is a truly one-of-a-kind moment. Recent polling shows Mamdani in second place, well behind disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo and well ahead of his other rivals, including incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, per CBS. However, Mamdani remains unknown to large numbers of New Yorkers, meaning his ceiling could be much higher. Plenty of time remains before the June mayoral election.10. Finally, in an extremely bizarre story, Columbia Professor Anthony Zenkus reports “Robert Ehrlich, millionaire founder of snack food giant Pirate's Booty…tried to take over the sleepy Long Island town of Sea Cliff.” Zenkus relays that Ehrlich waged a “last minute write-in campaign for mayor in which he only received 62 votes - then declared himself mayor anyway.” Though Ehrlich only received 5% of the vote, he “stormed the village hall with an entourage, declaring himself the duly-elected mayor, screaming that he was there to dissolve the entire town government and that he alone had the power to form a new government.” Ehrlich claimed the election was “rigged” and thus invalid, citing as evidence “One of my supporters voted three times. Another one voted four times…” which constitutes a confession to election fraud. Zenkus ends this story by noting that Ehrlich was “escorted out by police.” It's hard to make heads or tails of this story, but if nothing else it indicates that these petty robber barons are simply out of control – believing they can stage their own mini coup d'etats. And after all, why shouldn't they think so, when one of their ilk occupies perhaps the most powerful office in the history of the world. Bad omens all around.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

OOIDA has some concerns about NHTSA's proposed regulations for autonomous trucks – including that fact that reporting would be voluntary. Also, Andrew King with the OOIDA Foundation explains which trucking issues he'll talk about during the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show. And how long should a restart of your weekly clock take under the hours-of-service regulations? OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis says some truckers object to the current requirement. 0:00 – Newscast 10:01– Should autonomous vehicle reporting be voluntary? 24:27 – The big issues that will come up at MATS 39:25 – Some truckers say 34 hours is too long for restart

OOIDA wants NHTSA to require greater transparency regarding autonomous vehicles instead of voluntary reporting of testing and other issues. Also, CVSA has compiled a list of what constitutes a great truck driver – and it plans to honor one trucker with a special award. Then, should a trucker ask law enforcement for a ticket instead of a warning? That raises a lot of questions. We'll get some answers from Road Law. And for years, states have slowly but surely moved away from split speed limits. Now, one state is considering legislation to create a new one. 0:00 – OOIDA: Require reporting on autonomous vehicles 10:01– CVSA will honor a driver for excellence 24:27 – A ticket instead of a warning? Maybe, maybe not 39:25 – New Mexico considers split speed limit

Do you know if your vehicle has an open recall? Alex Ansley is the Division Chief, Recall Management with the NHTSA. he talks with Mark about the application you can download, it will tell you when there is a recall of your vehicle. Plus a lot more in this interview.

La Administración Nacional de Seguridad del Tráfico en las Carreteras (NHTSA) refuerza su campaña de concientización en la quinta edición de la Semana de Recalls (Retiros) de Seguridad de Vehículos exhortando a los conductores a utilizar nuestras herramientas gratuitas para verificar el estado de sus automóviles.  Entrevista con José Alberto Uclés, portavoz del Departamento de Transporte de EE UU.

One rite of spring is getting the sports model onto the road for a joyride. Another is the opening of Major League Baseball camps where the crack of bat on ball makes sweet music to so many. This week we were able to combine the two as we road tested the 2025 Honda Civic Si, one of our favorite performance sedans, in and around the Spring Training sites of several Major League Baseball teams near Phoenix.  Of course, as Host Jack Nerad rediscoveed, the Honda Civic Si offers a great deal for enthusiast drivers to like, starting with its 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and — even more to the point — its slick-shifting, rev-matching six-speed manual transmission. Nerad will offer a full report. Across the country, Co-Host Chris Teague and his family tested the mettle of the 2025 Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV. While Honda and Toyota have been the dominant players in this segmentfor decades, the recently revised Tucson gives those brands a strong run for their money. Both Teague and Nerad, who also tested the Tucson recently, will offer their views on this impressive player.  Our special guest this week is Sam Fiorani, vice president of global forecasting at Auto Forecast Solutions and a very knowledgeable industry observer.  With the car industry in a state of confusion based on tariff talk, changing regulations and the potential elimination of electric-vehicle subsidies, our interview with Fiorani will help bring what you need to know into sharp focus. In the new this week, we will attempt to answer a big question looming over the industry: will Stellantis get rid of Chrysler or Dodge? The global automaker has a new chairman, and reports are he is eyeing streamlining its operations, and that might put laggard brands into the dustbin of history. We'll have the details. Electric vehicle owners were more satisfied with their vehicles in 2024 than they were in 2023, but J.D. Power reports there are warning signs on the horizon. We'll have our comments on that along with more specifics. Another big question this week is can state DMVs take a page from the DOGE playbook to streamline and modernize their operations? Ending long lines and customer frustration seems like an impossible dream to most of us, but a new report suggests that is possible, and we'll tell you more.  And there is new controversy surrounding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Tesla. Chris and Jack will have their individual takes on that coming up.  Jack Nerad's newest book Jack is now offering his newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, at a pre-publication price of just $4.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price. Matt DeLorenzo's Book Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo's terrific new book How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad's Guide to EV Ownership. Brought to you by: • DrivingToday.com • Mercury Insurance: Find out how much you can save at DrivingToday.com/auto-insurance. • EMLandsea.com, publisher of Only One Thing Stays the Same and  Dance in the Dark We have a lot of shows for you this week. Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to look for new content on our YouTube and Rumble channels. Please subscribe. If you do, we'll like you forever. America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad's latest book, Only One Thing Stays the Same which is available HERE on Amazon.com             Keywords Stellantis, electric vehicles, Hyundai Tucson, Honda Civic Si, NHTSA, Tesla, DMV efficiency, automotive news, car reviews, safety technologies Summary In this episode of America on the Road, hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague discuss the latest developments in the automotive industry, including the challenges faced by Stellantis brands, insights into the electric vehicle market, and the inefficiencies of DMVs.

This week we discuss recent layoffs at NHTSA, Fred compares Waymo to the Titanic, Renault releases a fire fighting tool for EV's and recalls.Support the show.This weeks links:https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/us-auto-safety-agency-that-s-probing-tesla-cuts-4-of-staff/ar-AA1zGAUihttps://www.azcentral.com/story/money/cars/2025/02/20/stellantis-self-driving-autodrive-watch-movies/79334466007/https://media.renaultgroup.com/fireman-access-an-exclusive-innovation-by-renault-group-is-now-available-with-a-free-licence/https://www.jalopnik.com/1798210/mercedes-starts-testing-solid-state-batteries-with-huge-range-gains/https://www.ttnews.com/articles/autonomous-trucking-driverlesshttps://www.printwand.com/blog/how-unsinkable-marketing-campaign-led-titanic-disasterhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-dc-region-is-twice-as-deadly-for-pedestrians-as-a-decade-ago/ar-AA1zBFXkhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V098-4966.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V085-6011.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V092-6812.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V093-8408.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V099-7174.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V106-5920.PDF

- CEO Rawlinson Out at Lucid - Tesla Stock Trips and Falls - Stella's Earnings Plummet - NHTSA Cuts 4% Of Workforce - Hyundai Using Private 5G Spectrum in Manufacturing - Kia Emphasizes Bi-Directional Charging - GM and Tesla Score Highest Owner Loyalty - U.S. Mitsubishi Dealers Losing Money, Beg for New Product - Volvo ES90 Gets 800V, 435 Miles Range - Toyota Shrinks Board, Appoints an American

- CEO Rawlinson Out at Lucid - Tesla Stock Trips and Falls - Stella's Earnings Plummet - NHTSA Cuts 4% Of Workforce - Hyundai Using Private 5G Spectrum in Manufacturing - Kia Emphasizes Bi-Directional Charging - GM and Tesla Score Highest Owner Loyalty - U.S. Mitsubishi Dealers Losing Money, Beg for New Product - Volvo ES90 Gets 800V, 435 Miles Range - Toyota Shrinks Board, Appoints an American

Transport Topics is the news leader in trucking and freight transportation. Today's briefing covers staffing reduction at NHTSA, fleet executives increasing funding for workforce safety, and a new date for tariffs on products imported from Canada and Mexico. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Morrison won the job as new the NHTSA administrator. I hope he cares about safety or dangers... like those posed by oversized vehicles. Jeep is now displaying pop-up ads in your car. Fun. And we have recalls.This weeks links:https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/12/trump-picks-apple-exec-to-lead-transportation-safety-agency/?guccounter=1https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/supersizing-vehicles-offers-minimal-safety-benefits--but-substantial-dangershttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/automakers-make-big-strides-in-front-crash-preventionhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/02/hands-free-driving-interstate/https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/22/waymo-parents-kids-in-robotaxis/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/report-cybertruck-safety-ford-pinto/https://techstory.in/stellantis-introduces-pop-up-ads-in-vehicles-sparking-outrage-among-owners/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V060-8914.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V059-6496.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V058-2469.PDF

Toyota has issued a fairly substantial recall for its Tacoma pickup truck and the problem is a particularly dirty one.According to the recall filed with the NHTSA, the affected 4-wheel drive vehicles are equipped with 16-inch brake systems with hoses that transfer brake fluid under hydraulic pressure to the calipers for braking. The positioning of the components, paired with 17-inch wheels, means that mud and dirt can build up on the interior of the wheels and possibly come into contact with the brake hoses. Over time, Toyota warns, this may damage and wear through the brake hoses, causing a brake fluid leak, which could lead to a reduction of brake performance, an increase in brake stopping distance, and an increased risk of a crash.

A House subcommittee took a close look at autonomous vehicles, while a bill would ensure electric vehicle owners help pay for roads. Also, we have a nominee to head NHTSA, a federal agency with a huge impact on trucking. Then, the new Congress wasted no time drilling down into the truck parking crisis. And what does it take for a private individual to create some truck parking? A trucker told OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis. 0:00 – Congress hears plea for autonomous vehicle safeguards 09:46 – Nominee to head NHTSA brings some agency experience to the table 24:24 – Congress drills down into truck parking issue 39:23 – The problems with trying to create truck parking

As we sat down to record this episode, the 24 Hours of Daytona had just happened, so we start out talking about the race this year. Endurance races like Le Mans, Daytona, and 24hrs of the Nürburgring are getting more popular every year it seems so we talk about the appeal and the challenge of endurance racing. Also Auto Manufacturers have now appealed to the NHTSA for Emergency Braking Systems like Subaru's Eyesight to not be mandatory. Cost is one reason, but we talk about some other reasons that this move might make sense. Here is a link to the article mentioned in the episode: https://www.wired.com/story/emergency-braking-will-save-lives-automakers-want-to-charge-extra-for-it/ If you would like to follow Mike Pettiford and Go 4 It Services and Go 4 It Racing, here is a link to his website: https://www.go4itservices.com/ Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!

Support the Show:PatreonAcast+Links:Frozen TeslaPierce VolterraNews:New Model Y to arrive in North America in MarchTesla raises prices in Canada2025 Volvo EX40Chevy Equinox EV recallNHTSA investigates BlueCruiseSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kilowatt. Support the show at https://plus.acast.com/s/kilowatt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the new Trump regime begins, we talked with Dani Simons—who until recently led the Office of Public Affairs for the federal Department of Transportation—about the Biden administration's legacy on transportation. What are the stakes as we go from Amtrak Joe and DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to an administration made up of oil barrels disguised as people? What are the last four years' biggest achievements on the transportation front? How do we communicate better about federal investments in active transportation? And how do we hold onto the hard-fought policies aimed at pedestrian safety and mitigating the climate crisis? This episode was recorded at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio by Justin Fernandez. It was edited by Ali Lemer. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. *** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and receive exclusive access to bonus content, ad-free versions of regular episodes, free stickers, merch discounts, early access to live shows, and more. ***  Purchase tickets to our April 24th live show in Minneapolis, presented by Our Streets. LINKS: The Wall Street Journal's Dorothy Rabinowitz and the Citibike moral panic (original video here) Eliot Spitzer at the Mayflower Hotel New York City's Open Streets program and Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC And if you were wondering what Dani meant when she said “NHTSA,” that's the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. TheWarOnCars.org  

Fate of Tunnel Bus, connecting Detroit, Windsor, up in air NHTSA to investigate potential for engine failure in nearly 1 million GM trucks, SUVs

- Scout Battles California Car Dealers Over Direct Sales - Auto Group Files Suit to Stop AEB Mandate - BYD Launches Another EV with 2 Charging Ports - BYD Sitting on A Mountain of Hidden Debt - VW and Rivian Developing Electronic Architecture - Canoo Files for Bankruptcy, Ceases Operations - Ram Axes Long-Range Electric Truck - Chevy Offers Deal for Equinox and Blazer EVs

- Scout Battles California Car Dealers Over Direct Sales - Auto Group Files Suit to Stop AEB Mandate - BYD Launches Another EV with 2 Charging Ports - BYD Sitting on A Mountain of Hidden Debt - VW and Rivian Developing Electronic Architecture - Canoo Files for Bankruptcy, Ceases Operations - Ram Axes Long-Range Electric Truck - Chevy Offers Deal for Equinox and Blazer EVs

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week's episode, we discuss non-Tesla EVs getting Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales in the spotlight, Rivian getting some money from Biden, and more. The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek's YouTube channel. As a reminder, we'll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in. After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps: Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast Pocket Casts Castro RSS We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming. Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast: Tesla Supercharger access coming to Honda and Acura in spring, says Honda Kia's Tesla Supercharger access is late, but some owners found a way to charge Tesla claims Cybertruck is ‘best-selling electric pickup' without even confiming sales Tesla throttles down Cybertruck production, shift workers to Model Y Elon Musk misrepresents data that shows Tesla is still years away from unsupervised self-driving Tesla boycott is gaining momentum in Germany due to Elon Musk's meddling in politics Tesla says a new way to clean cameras are coming Trump DOT nominee signals extra fees for EVs, continued NHTSA investigation into Tesla The top electric cars in this winter range test will surprise you Hyundai Ioniq 5 charges faster on a Tesla Supercharger than a Model 3 does Rivian (RIVN) secures billions in US funding for its new EV plant in Georgia [Updated] Rivian (RIVN) stock rises as Volkswagen plans to expand $5.8 billion EV partnership Polestar expects profits in 2025 with 5 GT launch, confirms Polestar 7 will be an entry level compact SUV Here's the live stream for today's episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET): https://youtube.com/live/J0uY-LbsPc0

- Cybertruck Called a Flop - GM Banned from Selling Customer Data For 5 Years - NHTSA Says 877,000 GM Engines Potentially Defective - China Burns Record Level of Coal - EVs Are 9% Of China's Car Fleet - Battery Storage Is Soaring - Virtual Power Plants Expand to Texas - EU Suppliers Ax 54,000 Jobs - Porsche Uses AI for Better Paint Jobs - BYD Adds Another Cargo Ship - BYD Enters South Korean Market - EV Charger Sharing Gains Popularity

- Cybertruck Called a Flop - GM Banned from Selling Customer Data For 5 Years - NHTSA Says 877,000 GM Engines Potentially Defective - China Burns Record Level of Coal - EVs Are 9% Of China's Car Fleet - Battery Storage Is Soaring - Virtual Power Plants Expand to Texas - EU Suppliers Ax 54,000 Jobs - Porsche Uses AI for Better Paint Jobs - BYD Adds Another Cargo Ship - BYD Enters South Korean Market - EV Charger Sharing Gains Popularity

On today's episode of Quick Charge we explore the uncertainty around the future of EV incentives, the roles different stakeholders will play in shaping that future, and our friend Stacy Noblet from energy consulting firm ICF stops by to share her take on what lies ahead. We've got a couple of different articles and studies referenced in this forward-looking interview, and I've done my best to link to all of them below. If I missed one, let me know in the comments. Source Links Biden pushes through $635M in EV charger grants before Trump's return Trump DOT nominee signals extra fees for EVs, continued NHTSA investigation into Tesla Elon Musk complains Tesla is not getting subsidies for electric truck chargers while calling for end of EV subsidies ICF: Strategic Consulting & Communications for a Digital World Report: EV charging sessions were up 50% YoY during Thanksgiving week Tesla now offers lease buyouts – after saying it would keep cars as robotaxis 2025 Electric vehicle tax credits and rebates available in the US, sorted by state Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We'll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know!Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

Description:In this episode of the Kilowatt podcast, I explore highlights from CES, including Volkswagen's access to the Supercharger network, Mercedes' EV developments, and concerns over a data vulnerability affecting 800,000 vehicles. We cover Tesla's latest news on autonomous driving, a significant recall, and a $1 billion board member settlement.In an interview with Ben Parker, co-founder of Lightship RV, we discuss the AE-1 electric travel trailer, its energy independence features, and how it redefines the RV experience with sustainable technology. The episode concludes with reflections on the promising future of electric vehicles and sustainable travel.Support the Show:PatreonAcast+Other Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle PlaylistLinks:LIGHTSHIP RVNews:VW Data LeakVW Sales 383,100 EVs in 2024VW to get access to SuperchargerMercedes-Benz to get access to Supercharger NetworkVolvo sells nearly 100,000 EX30s Pre-order the Afeela 1NHTSA is investigating Tesla's Actual Smart Summon featureElon says Tesla employees testing FSD trialsTesla recalls over 200,000 vehicles over self driving computer failureTesla board members agree to settlementTesla officially shows off the new Model YSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kilowatt. Support the show at https://plus.acast.com/s/kilowatt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

- Panasonic Eliminating Its Chinese Content - U.S. Says CATL Works with Chinese Military - Lucid Settles Dispute with UAW - Emission Pooling Could Be Nice Payday for Tesla - NHTSA Investigating Tesla Smart Summon Feature - UK Tops Germany as EU's Top EV Market - Afeela Launching with $103K Price Tag - ZF Launching New Hybrid Braking System - People Ready to Move Into Toyota's Woven City - Ram Updates Its Heavy-Duty Pickups

- Panasonic Eliminating Its Chinese Content - U.S. Says CATL Works with Chinese Military - Lucid Settles Dispute with UAW - Emission Pooling Could Be Nice Payday for Tesla - NHTSA Investigating Tesla Smart Summon Feature - UK Tops Germany as EU's Top EV Market - Afeela Launching with $103K Price Tag - ZF Launching New Hybrid Braking System - People Ready to Move Into Toyota's Woven City - Ram Updates Its Heavy-Duty Pickups

Brought to you by TogetherLetters & Edgewise!In this episode: Prisons in England and Wales record rapid rise in drones delivering drugsSpace debris weighing over 1,000 pounds reportedly crashes into village in KenyaCloudflare using lava lamps for secure SSL/TLS encryption US appeals court blocks Biden administration effort to restore net-neutrality rulesBill requiring US agencies to share custom source code with each other becomes law1-800-ChatGPT - Calling and Messaging ChatGPT with your phoneCFPB sues JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo over Zelle payment fraud (episodes 239 and 224)NHTSA finally releases new rules for self-driving cars — but there's a twistMullenweg Pauses WordPress Services - Hopes To Reopen Next Year (episode 361)Weird and Wacky: The Great Exhibition unveils the world's only office roller coaster in StockholmScientists Developed a Questionnaire to Identify if Your Cat Is a PsychopathThe Race to Translate Animal Sounds Into Human LanguageScientists Demonstrate 'Negative Time' In Groundbreaking Quantum ExperimentTech Rec:Sanjay - Orbit by Mozilla Adam - Kensington SlimBlade™ Pro Wireless TrackballFind us here:sanjayparekh.com &

Henry starts the final hour 2024 with a plea for people to drink responsibly this New Year's Eve. According to the NHTSA, Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 39 minutes. In 2022, 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths. These deaths were all preventable. Lindsey brings the hot goss to Word on the Street ft. Dua Lipa, Brangelina and Kate Beckinsale sharing her experience with some of the horrors of the entertainment industry. PLUS down the rabbit hole of TV nostalgia

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss Tesla FSD 13, autonomous trucking's regularity roadblocks and Waymo's path to offering service at theSan Francisco International (SFO) Airport. Tesla's FSD 13 is as a major technical leap forward. While we have been impressed with its more natural driving style and improved responsiveness to traffic flow, it's not ready for deployment on the Cybercab. Later the conversation shifts to recent government actions affecting the autonomous vehicle industry, including the Biden administration's denial of warning triangle exemptions for autonomous trucks and the introduction of AVSTEP, a new voluntary reporting framework from NHTSA. The podcast concludes with an analysis of Waymo's potential expansion to San Francisco International Airport and broader implications for autonomous vehicle deployments. Episode Chapters0:00 Tesla FSD 1315:21 Cybercab / FSD Driver-Out Predictions 19:09 FMCSA Warning Triangle Exemptions 26:33 AV STEP33:20 DOGE35:24 Scaling Autonomous Vehicles in China38:35 Waymo is One Step Closer to SFO Deployment 41:24 Waymo on Highways and Future Airport Deployments 46:41 Light Mapping / No Mapping Approach to Autonomy47:26 2025 OutlookRecorded on Saturday December 28, 2024--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy® is a leading source of data, insight and commentary on autonomous vehicles/trucks and the emerging autonomy economy™.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/autonomy-economy/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's time to recap the family Thanksgiving dinner. There were a lot of expectations, were they met? Kelly has a couple notes, Lizz has no notes but is quickly learning that the holidays with a toddler is MUCH different than the holidays with an infant.  With the holidays in full swing, Kelly has some December advice - don't delay the joy. Go full glam with the red lipstick. Rock the sparkle shirt. In that spirit, she's throwing a party for the women in her life, no kids and no husbands. But first to decide the correct appetizers and cocktails to serve.  Then, it's time for an apology. Specifically to anyone victimized by Lizz's bone broth hot chocolate. Who knew a simple drink would cause so much haters?  In advice, Kelly and Lizz have a question from a listener that is struggling with presents for her in-laws. Since the family is growing she wants to cut back on buying for the adults and do a secret santa. The rest of the family isn't into the idea. How should she go about Christmas drama free? Plus, a question on buyers remorse and if it's okay to trade in so soon.  The tea in Industry News is piping hot with the battle for Automatic Emergency Braking. NHTSA says a rule requiring them in all new cars will save countless lives but the auto industry is pushing back. Who will win?  Finally in the Ditch the Drive-Thru, Kelly is attempting to make pizza dough from scratch and so far not loving it. Lizz is getting ready for a busy holiday season by stocking up on some frozen food favorites from Trader Joe's.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get 30% off your next RV mattress at https://rvmattress.com/rvmiles with the code RVMILES Join Jason for the latest RV and camping news. The NHTSA is investigating Grand Design RV for potential frame issues on 2017-2023 models, Oregon lawmakers are pushing to delay the Advanced Clean Trucks Act, and fuel prices continue to drop, boosting road travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. ***** Become a Mile Marker Member and support this content. Learn more at https://RVMiles.com/milemarkers  Subscribe to the RV Miles Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/RVMilesPodcast.  ****************************** Connect with RV Miles:  RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles Shop the RV Miles Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rvmiles RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Mile Marker Membership: https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers

Tesla announced version 4 Supercharging cabinets that will allow Cybertrucks to supercharge at double the peak rate of the rest of the Tesla fleet. Plus: Cybertruck's lead engineer is honored by TIME Magazine, NHTSA has a beef with Tesla over the company's social media posts, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/teslapodcast and consider a monthly pledge. Every little bit helps and there are stacking bonuses in it for you at each pledge level, like early access to each episode at the $5 tier and the weekly Lightning Round bonus mini-episode (AND the early access!) at the $10 tier! And NO ADS at every tier! FOR FIRST-TIME TESLA BUYERS: The referral program is back and it's the best one in a while! You can get $500 off of your Model 3 or Model Y purchase (or $1000 off of Cybertruck, Model S, or Model X) by ordering through my referral link. Clicking this will take you to the Tesla website where you can order with the discount applied: https://ts.la/ryan73014  And don't forget to leave a message on the Ride the Lightning hotline anytime with a question, comment, or discussion topic for next week's show! The toll-free number to call or Skype is 1-888-989-8752. NEW: Win the custom-configured Tesla of your dreams in the 9th annual Climate XChange raffle! The taxes are paid if you win, and either way, the money goes to a great nonprofit cause. To get your tickets, go to https://carbonraffle.org/RTL  Go to xcelerateauto.com/xcare to find the extended warranty policy that's right for you and your Tesla, and don't forget to use the discount code “Lightning” (without the quotes) for $100 off your purchase. P.S. Get 15% off your first order of awesome aftermarket Tesla accessories at AbstractOcean.com by using the code RTLpodcast at checkout. Grab the SnapPlate front license plate bracket for any Tesla at https://everyamp.com/RTL/ (don't forget the coupon code RTL too!).  P.P.S. Per my note at the top of the show, if you'd like to help listener Gregg whose family (and his neighbors) lost everything in the recent Mountain Fire, go to https://www.oldcoachfam.com/