Elliot Spagat

Associated Press

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing has a new podcast brought to you by the editors of Industrial Media. In each episode, we discuss the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward.

The exterior of the Cal Energy Elmore geothermal power plant is shown near the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Thursday, July 15, 2021, in Calipatria, Calif. Demand for electric vehicles has shifted investments into high gear to extract lithium from geothermal wastewater around California's dying Salton Sea.

Lithium Fuels Hopes for Revival on California's Largest Lake

Lithium is a critical component of rechargeable batteries.

In this Feb. 4, 2019, photo, Leo Wang packs a suitcase at his home in San Jose, Calif. Wang has found himself trapped in an obstacle course regarding H-1B work visas for foreigners. His visa denied and his days in the United States numbered, A federal judge on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, temporarily lifted a visa ban on a large number of work permits, undercutting a measure that the Trump administration says will protect American jobs in a pandemic-wracked economy.

Judge Blocks Large Parts of Temporary Work Visa Ban

The National Association of Manufacturers, which represents 1,400 companies, said the ruling will help with 'crucial, hard-to-fill jobs to support economic recovery, growth and innovation when we most need it.'

In this Nov. 7, 2019 file photo, the first panels of levee border wall are seen at a construction site along the U.S.-Mexico border, in Donna, Texas. The Trump administration said Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of the border wall with Mexico.

Contract Laws Waived to Speed Border Wall Construction

The 10 waived laws will make it easier to build 177 miles of wall.

Fisher Lands Border Wall Contract

He made numerous appearances on Fox, repeating that he could build the wall, faster, better and cheaper than anyone.

Worker's Deportation Reversed

The ruling is considered a rebuke that may influence how immigration authorities target factories and offices.

Robots Could Prevent Toxic Spills in Old Mines

They would look more like golf carts than the personable robots.

This Oct. 26, 2017 file photo shows prototypes of border walls in San Diego. A U.S. official says recent testing of prototypes of President Donald Trump’s proposed wall with Mexico found their heights should stop border crossers. U.S. tactical teams spent three weeks trying to breach and scale the models in San Diego. An official with direct knowledge of the results said they point to see-through steel barriers topped by concrete as the best design. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the information is not authorized for release.

Border Wall Prototypes Thwart U.S. Commandos in Tests

Military special forces spent three weeks trying to breach and scale the eight models.

People look at prototypes of a border wall Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in San Diego. Contractors have completed eight prototypes of President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, triggering a period of rigorous testing to determine if they can repel sledgehammers, torches, pickaxes and battery-operated tools.

Axes Test Border Wall Prototypes

The testing won't start for at least a month because some concrete in the wall prototypes still needs to dry.

Crews work on a border wall prototype near the border with Tijuana, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in San Diego. Companies are nearing an Oct. 26 deadline to finish building eight prototypes of President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico.

Border Wall Prototypes Take Shape

The prototypes form a tightly packed row of imposing concrete and metal panels.

In this undated aerial photo provided by Drone Aviation Corp. shows a tethered balloon, called Winch Aerostat Small Platform, or WASP. The U.S. Border Patrol is considering another type of surveillance balloon to spot illegal activity. It’s part of an effort to see if more eyes in the sky translate to fewer illegal border crossings.

U.S. Tests Border-Patrolling Balloon

Agents in Texas recently finished a 30-day trial of the camera-toting, helium-filled balloon.

A man is detained by Border Patrol officials as he tries to climb a fence after breaching border fencing separating San Diego from Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, in San Diego. The man, who said he was from Chiapas, Mexico, was detained by agents as they prepared for a news conference to announce that contractors have begun building eight prototypes of President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico.

Border Wall Prototype Construction Underway

A green tarp hanging on a chain-link fence blocked views of the work, which is expected to last 30 days.