The trailer for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is out and it’s turning a lot of heads. There are short glimpses of a young Harrison Ford, and it’s not archival footage. It’s actually a whole new CGI technology created just for this movie. But how does it work?
Automakers want to get rid of AM radio
When I was growing up, my dad worked for United Airlines, and I traveled a lot. I would always sneak a portable AM radio in my backpack, and as the plane crisscrossed the country, I would tune into various stations along the way. Never would I have imagined what that little hobby would become for me.
While FM radio listening is huge, AM radio is still massively important. When hurricanes knock FM stations off the air, AM stations are often more resilient.
AM radio is so crucial that FEMA is installing emergency studios, transmitters and generators at 77 mostly AM radio stations nationwide to maintain communications in the event of the worst (with special thanks to all ham radio operators!).
The car companies making decisions
You need to know several automakers told a Senate committee they’ll nix (or have already nixed) AM radios in all their vehicles. This includes BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo, Porsche and Mercedes.
Ford has since reversed its decision (at least temporarily) after considerable negative feedback. Ford says no one listens to AM radio anymore. Huh?
Know the numbers
Every day in America, at least 4,185 AM radio stations broadcast news, talk shows, sports and other important programming. AM radio draws an audience of 82.3 million people — more than one in three American radio listeners — each month.
Get this: 57% of AM radio listeners tune into news/talk stations, the very outlets that carry breaking local news. Plus, in rural areas where FM radio signals are iffy, people rely on AM to stay plugged in.
Thanks to its long broadcast range, listeners can still tune into an AM station, regardless of where they are. Think about that the next time you’re road-tripping off the grid. So, why remove AM radios?
The REAL reason
Electromagnetic interference in electric vehicles. Because the electric motors in EVs throw off harmful static, AM radio quality suffers in an EV to the point where it’s unstable and unlistenable.
Steps to find out if your vehicle was just recalled due to safety issues
Bad news, Ford drivers. More than 870,000 Ford F-150s have been recalled for faulty parking brakes.
Have a 2021 to 2023 model? Use the steps below to check your VIN. Don’t wait — 19 drivers have reported that their parking brakes came on while driving.
Is your car spying for the government?
A new Ford patent could turn your car into a police informant, automatically reporting speeders to the authorities. Here’s how that could change the way we drive, in this short podcast.
Six months: That’s how long Ford’s CEO has been driving a Xiaomi electric vehicle. Is that a new Ford model? Nope. Xiaomi is a Chinese-owned electronics company. The Ford CEO previously called China’s auto industry an “existential threat.” I guess he got over that.
On this day in 1903, Henry Ford started his company with 10 investors and how much in startup cash? Was it … A.) $1,800, B.) $13,500, C.) $28,000 or D.) $54,000?
No. 2 in EV sales
For automaker GM, which sold 32,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. during the third quarter. Ford insists they’re still in the second spot, claiming “GM is adding every brand EV” they sell, including Chevy, GMC and Cadillac. You guessed it — Tesla remains No. 1. You know what they say: 95% of electric cars are still on the road; the other 5% made it all the way home.
Drive a Toyota, Kia, Mercedes or BMW? Your personal info may have been exposed
Hackers are always looking for new ways to get their hands on your data. It even trumps your credit or debit card details. Unfortunately, security breaches happen on a more grand scale than most would like to know, such as the IRS leak from late last year.
Ford’s new EV strategy has a $1.9B price tag: The automaker is shifting its focus from huge trucks and SUVs to smaller, more affordable EVs to compete with Chinese rivals. A commercial van is coming in 2026, followed by a midsized pickup and the T3 full-sized pickup.
Know a policeman? Ford is recalling 85,000 Explorer Police SUVs due to an engine fire risk. The recall affects models from 2020 to 2022 with 3.3L hybrid or gas engines. No fix yet, but Ford will notify owners by mail. In the meantime, Ford says to stop driving your vehicle if you hear any strange engine noises.
Every American's Social Security number could be up for grabs
Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
$14,200 a month
To answer questions from his couch. A mechanic quit his full-time job at Ford after he started making more money helping folks on JustAnswer. He works hard for that money — eight to 10 hours a day, seven days a week. I’m signing Barry up!
$50,000 lost
On every EV Ford sold this year. Their EV division has lost $2.5 billion so far in 2024, and they’re not alone; U.S. automakers are losing an average of $6,000 for every EV sold.
Elon’s smiling: The Tesla Cybertruck is now the bestselling electric truck in America, dethroning Ford’s F-150 Lightning. There were 3,907 Cybertrucks registered in May, compared to 2,353 F-150s. Chopping fingers aside, it looks like folks don’t mind paying that $100,000 price tag after all.
This is getting out of hand: Ford Motor Company’s hands-free driving tech in its BlueCruise-equipped Mustang Mach-E SUVs is under investigation following two fatal crashes. Both incidents involved “nighttime lighting conditions.” Yup, more “hands-free” fatalities.
50% more profit for Ford if it ditched EVs
Yeah, turns out SUVs and pickup trucks are too heavy to turn into efficient electric vehicles.
Ford has a better idea for its EVs
Falling behind on car payments? Ford wants to repossess your vehicle without you. Here’s my take, in one minute.