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Today we’re talking about political fireworks as Trump and Musk’s bromance blows up, Ram’s surprising V8 comeback after admitting they “screwed up,” and Samsung phones getting a dose of AI-powered fashion ads, right on your lock screen. 

• A once-powerful political-tech alliance is in tatters as Elon Musk and Donald Trump clash in a very public, very messy breakup. From social media jabs to threats of canceled contracts, the drama is shaking up D.C., Wall Street, and possibly the International Space Station.
  • Trump and Musk traded barbs online after Musk denounced Trump’s spending bill and left his government role.
  • Tesla stock nosedived over 14%, losing $150 billion in value—the worst single-day drop in the company's history.
  • Musk hinted at decommissioning SpaceX’s Dragon over subsidy threats, but later pulled back.
  • The White House gave mixed signals on whether a reconciliation call would happen between the two.
  • “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk posted on X.

• The V8 is back! Ram is reversing course on its engine strategy, bringing the 5.7-liter Hemi back to the 2026 Ram 1500. After a bumpy ride with their all-six-cylinder lineup, they’re owning the misstep—and listening to the roar of the customer base.
  • Ram reintroduces the 5.7L Hemi V8 for 2026 models, available as a $1,200 option on most trims.
  • CEO Tim Kuniskis admits dropping the Hemi was a mistake: “We own it and we fixed it.”
  • A special “Symbol of Protest” badge will adorn V8-equipped trucks.
  • The reintroduction was fast-tracked by an internal team, cutting development from 18 months to six.
  • “Make it exactly the way it was,” Kuniskis said, streamlining the return by skipping recertifications.
• Samsung Galaxy users are about to get an unexpected addition to their phones—a generative AI-powered shopping app from Glance AI that brings fashion suggestions straight to the lock screen. Whether you asked for it or not, it’s coming... with a side of dystopia.
  • Glance AI is partnering with Samsung to roll out a lock screen shopping platform to U.S. Galaxy phones.
  • The feature uses gen AI and selfies to visualize outfits you can buy, right from your lock screen.
  • It's opt-in for now, but the rollout begins today for Galaxy S22–S25 models.
  • While ads aren’t yet part of the U.S. version, Glance’s history in India suggests that could change.
  • “I will absolutely throw my phone into the sea the first time I see an ad on my lock screen,” wrote reviewer Allison Johnson.

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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