The most important reason for permitting reform is to grow the U.S. defense industrial base at the speed, scale and cost efficiency needed to deter a major conflict with China and to quickly prevail if deterrence fails. China dominates global manufacturing, particularly those industries indispensable to defense. China's steel production exceeds America's by roughly 12-to-1. In shipbuilding, China possesses capacity 230 times that of the United States. In Ukraine, the production has struggled to keep pace with demand.
The average weekly paycheck for a nonsupervisory durable goods factory worker is up 7.4 percent from a year ago. Hourly pay is up 5.3 percent and the average workweek has expanded. Overtime for manufacturing workers has risen to 4.0 hours, up from 3.7 hours.
Chris Scafario is the President and CEO of DVIRC, which is a strategic command center for small and mid-sized manufacturers across the Delaware Valley. He grew up in a beverage business and later managed global consumer product lines for Cadbury, Schweppes, and Philips. He was appointed CEO in late 2023. DVIRC relocated its headquarters to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 2025. Scafaro believes that economic security is national security and that manufacturing is not just about making things.
Ben and Barry discuss the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the push to ban Chinese-made robots and new allegations about a powerful CEO aiding the Iranian military. Barry Hinckley, the president of Blue Ops, talks about why the United States needs thousands of unmanned surface vessels in its fleet and how America can reignite its shipbuilding industry.
The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent. The private sector added 120,000 new jobs. Manufacturing payrolls jumped by 7,000, beating all estimates. The services side of the economy added 92,000. The biggest contributor was leisure and hospitality, where employers expanded payrolls by 70,000 and employment in healthcare and social assistance expanded by 47,500. Compared with a year ago, federal government payrolls are down by 311,000 due to President Trump's efforts to reprivatize the economy.
The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May. The unemployment rate remained at 4.3%. The previous two jobs reports were revised up by 29,000 and 64,000. Leisure and hospitality gained 70,000 new jobs, restaurants and bars 48,000 more, while manufacturing, construction and warehousing saw little or no jobs added. The government saw 52,000-job increase, but experts warn it could be a one-off. The monthly private payroll report from ADP came in better than expected, adding 122,000, compared with 111,000 most analysts had forecast.
Construction activity in the greater Twin Cities area declined this spring, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Economic uncertainty remains a key concern for contractors. The survey collected responses from 204 construction firms across the Fed's Ninth District, which includes Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, northwestern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Small and mid-sized firms are feeling the greatest pressure.
The Pentagon has expanded a list of Chinese companies it says are linked to Beijing's military. The list now includes major companies such as Alibaba, BYD and robotics firm Unitree. There is growing concern in Washington over China's military modernization and the role private companies may play under Beijing's civil-military fusion strategy. Beijing accuses Washington of unfairly targeting Chinese businesses.