DeSantis v Trump and the Fed, Chicago, Tennessee Legislature, Bud Light, AI, EVs, and and Higher Ed.
Other than those? Not much in the news...
Virginia FREE Fridays Zoom 3pm. Click Here - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87023099863
Topics - DeSantis vs. Trump, DNC to Chicago, Chicago Mayor’s race, Tennessee Legislature (yup - going there), Bud Light brand awareness lessons (going there, too), future of higher ed (?) in Virginia, and electric vehicles.
First off this week - last week’s polling Zoom. There is one word in one demographic that you and both major political parties need to incorporate going forward. I’m not going to give it away, BUT I did share it with a Capitol Hill Chief of Staff this week over coffee and he said, “Really. Wow. I should join Virginia FREE.”
Yes, he should and so should you. Absent that, one can simply subscribe:
Here is last week’s Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/aMH1_cwMDSNk5Y4h5b612nFqS7kpJQpsAY1FRs6fggRfLJ670Vi_8uaoF2m-Chz_.tQEebvZjeR2hP9AVstartTime=1680811475000 Passcode: DxxPT9Z=
DeSantis v Trump. DeSantis is being hit with negative ads by a pro-Trump PAC. Fair game. DeSantis on the other hand is aiming his fire at the Fed. The battle for a sane fiscal future has begun. Maybe Ron DeSanctimonius is really Ron DeSaneOne.
The DNC selection of Chicago for their convention will help Trump get the nomination. The conservative infotainment channels will focus on the Windy City’s violence and that will feed the Trump narrative among the GOP base. #RopeADope
Speaking of Chicago…yes, they really did elect a mayor who will be worse than Lori Lightfoot. They could have started a turnaround under Paul Vallas but apparently they want to hit rock bottom first. #Smart #Savvy
Tennessee legislature. What’s the old saying? Two wrongs don’t make a right? There was a much more effective way to the handle protests on their House floor. Will discuss on the Zoom today using anecdotes from my time in the Virginia House. #Frothy #WayBackMachine
Bud Light. So, I called a former Anheuser Busch wholesaler asking what was the reaction to the Dylan Mulvaney kerfuffle. Bottom line - Know thy customer. Bud Light (America’s #1 brand) is a white collar beer while AB’s Natural Light and Budweiser are blue collar beers. What’s my favorite beer? Glad you asked. Two criteria - Cold and Free. Check those boxes?
Roanoke College has a possible solution for hitting its enrollment goals - adding football. Recent articles around the state have reported that Radford and Longwood have enrollment declines. Maybe they’ll add football too. Perhaps Artificial Intelligence is here to stay.
Speaking of AI... This week, I met with an AI company that is looking to set up a US headquarters. Folks, bet heavy on AI. Wow. Reminds me of the phrase, “You might not be interested in politics, but politics is interested in you.” #Trotsky. You might not be interested in generative AI, but it’s interested in you. Higher Ed better be retooling now. Football won’t save colleges. Higher education will. #Jobs?
Speaking of change…Electric vehicles are well on their way and the recent regs put out by the Biden Administration will only accelerate the change. No informed opinion on that (yet) but WSJ commentary by Daniel Yergin goes deeper (pun intended) on the realities ‘Net Zero’ Will Mean a Mining Boom - last sentence ?
It’s becoming clear that there is a very big gap, not easily closed, between aspirations for energy transition and the availability of the minerals needed to implement those goals.
With WalMart adding a LOT of charging stations, they stand to gain market share delivering groceries while you charge up. #Smart #Savvy.
Mining, EV’s, AI, WalMart…
On hold video:
Look
If you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
Yo.