Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur is a Democrat who represents the ninth district of Ohio. Congressman Ro Khanna is a Democrat who represents the 17th district of California, better known as Silicon Valley. Cheddar sat the two members down to discuss innovation in America. How does Silicon Valley branch out to and revive middle America?
One challenge in Ohio is educating workers on how to use the latest technology. Rep. Kaptur says not all individuals are comfortable with the pace of technological change that influences every industry. Mechanical skills are not "broadly distributed," she said, and it is challenging for people to keep up. Rep. Khanna added that leaders need to support tech innovation in local industries, giving workers "specific, employable" skills that will guarantee jobs.
The two lawmakers agree that American trade deals, like the North American Free Trade Agreement, have negatively impacted American workers. Rep. Khanna says they have "hollowed out" jobs in Middle America. Rep. Kaptur agreed, saying the "industrial heartland" has been hit very hard by U.S. trade policies. President Trump promised repeal of NAFTA, but has not yet delivered on that promise. The two lawmakers say they are waiting for President Trump to make a decision on trade that they hope will positively impact Americans.
U.S. states could face some hurdles as they experiment with road usage charging programs aimed at one day replacing motor fuel taxes, which are generating less each year, in part due to fuel efficiency and the rise of electric cars.
The defiance of restrictions in North Dakota on what bathrooms transgender students can use in public schools and universities shows that it's not exactly clear how bathroom laws will play out in local communities after being enacted in at least 10 states with Republican-controlled legislatures.
The Supreme Court on Monday left in place an appellate ruling barring a North Carolina public charter school from requiring girls to wear skirts to school.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding almost $1.7 billion in grants for buying zero- and low-emission buses, with the money going to transit projects in 46 states and territories.
Vice President Kamala Harris said Supreme Court conservatives caused a healthcare crisis in America and blasted abortion bans in Republican-led states.
To many observers, the efforts to roll back two policies that disproportionately help Black students and other students of color reflect a backlash to racial progress in higher education.
