Former congressman Jason Altmire has spent years in Washington—and even more time outside it—making the case that America's biggest opportunity isn't behind a desk, but behind a welding mask, a set of tools, or the wheel of a big machine. Now leading Career Education Colleges and Universities, he's on a mission to close the skills gap and reconnect hard work with real opportunity. In this episode, Mike and Jason dig into why millions of good jobs go unfilled, why the stigma around skilled labor refuses to die, and what it'll take to convince a new generation that "college for all" might not be the answer. Along the way, they unpack the ideas behind Jason's book, Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education is Transforming the Workforce—and make a compelling case that the fastest way to achieve the American Dream might be to pursue a skilled trade. Tip o' the hat to our excellent sponsors PureTalk.com/Rowe Get UNLIMITED hi-speed data for just $34.99 per month! SkillsUSA.org/mike Join the skilled trade movement! GoodRanchers.com Use code MIKE to get $25 off your first order & FREE meat for life. mikeroweWORKS.org/scholarship to apply for a work ethic scholarship.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.