We tried the pulled pork samples at the 2025 Christmas Parade in Lake Placid Florida from Porkchop’s Barbecue.
One word describes it: AWESOME!
Can’t wait until they open. I produced a short video with a word from the owner.
Today, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued the following statement proclaiming July 2025 as “Made in the USA” Month:
“In honor of our nation’s independence, the Federal Trade Commission has designated July as ‘Made in the USA’ month. As Chairman of the FTC, I am responsible for enforcing laws that prohibit companies from making false or unsubstantiated claims that a product is ‘Made in the USA.’ It is important to protect Americans from deceptive advertising, and also important because it provides consumers with confidence that when they buy something that says ‘Made in the USA’ they are actually supporting American workers, American manufacturers, and American communities.”
First, it was the “bat boy.” Then it became the “bat kid.” Now canines are taking over.
Alright, America, buckle up! It’s launch day for Made in the USA Today, the podcast and website that’s gonna light a fire under this country’s manufacturing comeback.
I’m here for R. Michael Brown, your host, reporter, and your guide through the wild, patriotic ride that is the “Made in the USA” movement. We’re not here to sugarcoat anything—we’re diving into the good, the bad, and the downright infuriating.
So, let’s get to it!
Picture this: it’s 2025, and America’s waking up. The “Made in the USA” label is back, and it’s hotter than a summer barbecue.
People are fed up with cheap foreign junk, and they’re demanding American-made goods that scream quality, pride, AND JOBS. But, hold the phone—this isn’t some feel-good story. It’s a gritty, complicated fight, and we’re gonna break it down like nobody else.
First up, reshoring. That’s the buzzword, and it’s real. The eggheads at the National Institute of Standards and Technology—dropped a truth bomb in February 2025: the COVID-19 disaster showed us our supply chains were a house of cards.
Remember those empty shelves? Yeah, never again.
So, companies are bringing manufacturing back to the good ol’ U.S.A., and with a new administration turning up the heat, small and medium-sized businesses are going all-in. They’re using cool tech like 3D printing and smart manufacturing to keep up.
Sounds awesome, right? Well, not so fast. This stuff costs a fortune to set up, and you’ve gotta retrain workers to run the new toys. It’s like trying to rebuild a muscle car from scratch—doable, but it’s gonna take time.
Now, let’s talk about you, the American folks. You’re the ones driving this bus.
I’ve been lurking on X, and the vibe is clear: you’re pumped for American-made products that last longer than a TikTok trend. You’re waving the flag, and it’s beautiful.
Take the Dobyns Family’s “America First” T-shirt—100% U.S.-grown cotton, priced at $17.76 cents – because, that’s the most patriotic price ever – 1776. It’s like wrapping yourself in the Declaration of Independence.
But here’s the kicker: the Federal Trade Commission says “Made in USA” means all – or virtually all – of a product’s gotta be American like Dobyns. Sounds simple, but it’s a hot mess.
CarEdge says 117 car models are assembled here in 2025, but they’re still grabbing parts from Canada and Mexico. Are we making cars or playing Legos from around the world?
On the corporate side, it’s a tale of two Americas….
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Don’t check your heart at the door. Ever thought about why some messages really GRAB ATTENTION while others seem to disappear?
Persuasion has been around forever and is mandatory for your business, but you need to understand how it works. It impacts our choices, shapes decisions, and prompts action.
If you want your business to thrive, get a grip on this art. There are only two ways to persuade.
First, at the core lies psychology, particularly significant emotional events like crises… …or amazing great news… …and second, the repeated message strategy, much like ads and commercials.
These two ways can boost your influence on customers, businesses, and government entities.
SEE MORE: [R. Michael Brown Marketing & Communications Consulting]
You have just 0.05 seconds to grab someone’s attention on social media* before they scroll past, making design your most powerful tool to stand out.
That’s why I created the “Made You Look” banner/cover/masthead, a bold and eye-catching header perfect for all my social media platforms. The design uses primary colors—blue, red, yellow, and a touch of green—alongside a stark black-and-white contrast to ensure it stands out in a crowded digital space.
Why Primary Colors?
Primary colors are the building blocks of the color spectrum, universally recognized and emotionally evocative. Blue conveys trust and reliability, red demands urgency and passion, yellow radiates optimism, and green adds a sense of balance and the urge to GO! Together, they create a visual harmony that’s impossible to ignore.
In the “Made You Look” banner, these colors are arranged in a geometric layout inspired by modernist art**, giving the design a timeless yet contemporary feel. The black outlines and text provide a sharp contrast, ensuring the words pop against the vibrant background, while the gray section adds a subtle balance to avoid overwhelming the viewer.
On social media, users scroll through endless content at lightning speed. If your header doesn’t stop them in their tracks, your message—no matter how insightful—will go unnoticed.
The “Made You Look” banner is designed to do exactly that: halt the scroll.
See More [R. Michael Brown, Marketing Consultant]
Don’t be boring! Don’t look like everyone else! Click the link above to learn more.
Brownie Bytes 