Fed Watch: Kevin Warsh floated cutting the Fed’s scheduled rate-setting meetings, a major shift that could leave markets with less clarity—while dissenters pushed for hikes to cool stubborn inflation. Economy & Cost Pressures: U.S. GDP grew a sluggish 1.5% in 2Q as imports weighed on growth, but consumer spending held up; inflation eased but stayed above the Fed’s 2% target, and mortgage rates hit their highest level in a year. Skilled Trades Demand: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says AI-driven data-center buildouts will unlock “a lot” of six-figure trade jobs, with shortages already showing in electricians, construction, and related roles. AI’s Real Hiring Impact: Employers are still hiring for AI-adjacent skills—cloud and infrastructure talent (AWS/Azure/GCP) remains in demand even as some entry-level roles get squeezed. Immigration & Work Authorization: Haitians in San Diego face anxiety after TPS protections were revoked, with job authorization at risk and potential labor-market ripple effects. Veterans Employment: Wisconsin ranked top five for veteran employment services again, and the “Freedom Haulers” push expands CDL pathways for veterans into trucking. Local Job Market Signals: South Dakota kept unemployment extremely low even as national claims ticked up.