EXCLUSIVE: Senators from both sides of the aisle will put forward a resolution calling on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to seek out new sites and critical infrastructure for high-demand products that are currently not made in America, and analyze the viability of making such products here.

Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., came together Friday to launch the effort – citing the dual need for onshoring supply chains while bolstering the U.S. workforce.

The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act would force Lutnick to report within 18 months on critical infrastructure sectors where products face material, sourcing, or supply-chain constraints that prevent them from being domestically produced.

The Commerce Department would then have to analyze the feasibility of producing that product in the U.S. – and whether such products’ newly-onshore production can be established in underserved rural areas and industrial parks.

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Both Ernst’s and Blunt Rochester’s states are vastly rural. In the latter, suburban sprawl from Wilmington gives way to miles of coastal plain.

In recent years, the cities of Newark and Middletown have seen a boom in industrial parks and warehouses for major companies like Amazon seeking out the First State’s famously low-tax and tax-free environs.

"Supply chains are key to global competitiveness and our national security," Blunt Rochester told Fox News Digital.

"This bipartisan legislation will help us identify where we rely too heavily on foreign imports for critical infrastructure and explore how we can bring that manufacturing home."

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The Delawarean added that strengthening domestic production not only protects our supply chains, "it supports American jobs, revitalizes local economies, and reinforces our nation’s resilience if global manufacturing disruptions occur."

Ernst added that the bill seeks to make the U.S. less dependent on foreign adversaries for critical infrastructure and key manufacturing supply chain preservation.

"I am working to make ‘Made in America’ the norm instead of the exception," she said.

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"That starts with ensuring that our manufacturers are able to get the materials they need right here instead of having to import supplies from halfway around the world. Beyond boosting domestic industry, this bill is also about safeguarding our national security by ensuring that we are not dependent on any foreign adversary for critical goods that we need."

Ernst has also spearheaded efforts to onshore the pharmaceutical supply chain from China. Many key ingredients in medicines are not produced in the U.S., and instead predominantly in Ireland and China. 

While one is a longtime U.S. ally, the other’s involvement in the supply chain could lead to national security risks, critics have said.

Any transfer for Wirtz could involve breaking Liverpool’s transfer record

Last month, the Secretary vowed to uncover ‘what has caused the autism epidemic’ by September

• Netflix's "Big Mouth" eighth and final season is available to stream on Netflix.
• The series has featured several stars, including Natasha Lyonne, Megan Thee Stallion, and Jordan Peele.
• Here's a look at the star-studded cast and who they play.

After eight seasons and over 200 guest stars, the adult animated franchise "Big Mouth" premiered its final season on Friday.

Though it never reached the viewership numbers of behemoths like "Bridgerton" or "Stranger Things," it's one of the streamer's longest running original scripted shows.

Across eight years, the series has won five Emmys and inspired the 2022 spin-off, "Human Resources." Season eight concludes the series, which was created by Nick Kroll, his childhood best friend Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin.

The season follows a group of teens entering Bridgeton High School and having to rediscover their identities in the new school.

As with previous seasons, the teens' hormones, feelings, and mental illnesses are personified through various creatures that appear to help guide the teens through the ups and downs of puberty.

Nick Kroll plays Nick and Maury.

Kroll played several human characters, including Nick Birch, the series' lead character, who was inspired by Kroll's childhood.

Kroll also played Lola Skumpy and Coach Steve, Andrew's hormone monster, Maury, and Nick's hormone monster, Rick.

Kroll is known for starring in the FX comedy "The League," creating and starring in his own sketch series "Kroll Show," and creating the "Big Mouth" spinoff series "Human Resources."

John Mulaney plays Andrew Glouberman.

Andrew Glouberman, a boy obsessed with masturbation, is Nick Birch's best friend who joins him on his adventure through puberty.

John Mulaney, a comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" writer, plays the character. Mulaney has starred in other animated movies, including "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."

Jessi Klein plays Jessi Glaser.

Jessi Klein plays Jessi Glaser, a close friend of Nick and Andrew's who explores her sexuality and struggles with depression and her parents' divorce.

Klein is best known for her writing and producing work, having previously produced "Inside Amy Schumer," "Transparent," and "Dead to Me."

Maya Rudolph plays Connie LaCienega and Diane Birch.

Maya Rudolph plays two characters in the series — Connie LaCienega, the hormone monster for Jessi, and Diane Birch, Nick's mother.

Rudolph, who rose to fame as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," has won four primetime Emmy Awards for her performance in "Big Mouth" and has starred in numerous movies and TV shows, including "Bridesmaids," "The Good Place," and "The Lego Movie 2."

Ayo Edebiri plays Missy Foreman-Greenwald.

Missy is a nerdy biracial classmate of Andrew, Jessi, and Nick's.

In the first four seasons, Jenny Slate voiced the character, but she stepped down from the role in 2020, announcing on Instagram that black people should play black characters.

Slate was replaced with Ayo Edebiri as Missy began to explore her Black identity in the show.

Edebiri is best known for her breakout roles in the 2020s in "Bottoms" and "The Bear."

Thandiwe Newton plays Mona.

Thandiwe Newton played Missy's British hormone monster, Mona.

Newton is known for starring in "Westworld," "Mission: Impossible II," and "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

Jason Mantzoukas plays Jay Bilzerian.

Jay Bilzerian, a sex-obsessed bisexual boy, is another friend of Andrew, Nick, and Jessi's.

Mantzoukas is a comedian who has previously played equally wacky characters in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "The Good Place," and "The League."

Andrew Rannells plays Matthew MacDell.

Matthew MacDell, a gossipy gay student, was initially a secondary character in the first few seasons but became one of the main characters after season 3, developing relationships with Jay and Jessi.

Broadway and screen actor Andrew Rannells has starred in "The Prom" and "Girls" and has a vibrant voice-acting career, appearing on shows like "Sonic X," "Pokémon," and "Invincible."

David Thewlis plays The Shame Wizard.

David Thewlis joined the cast in season two as the Shame Wizard, who will mock and bully the children to amplify their shame around their mistakes.

Thewlis previously starred in multiple "Harry Potter" movies, "Wonder Woman," and "The Theory of Everything."

Jean Smart plays Depression Kitty.

Depression Kitty first shows up in season two after Jessi starts to develop strong negative emotions amid her parents' divorce. Since then, Depression Kitty has made a few appearances across the show.

Jean Smart, an Emmy-winning actor who stars in "Hacks," played Depression Kitty.

Maria Bamford plays Tito the Anxiety Mosquito.

Tito the Anxiety Mosquito embodies the children's anxiety, first appearing in season four.

Comedian Maria Bamford is known for her comedy specials as well as her Netflix show "Lady Dynamite."

Zazie Beetz plays Danni.

Danni is a student Nick meets in season seven when considering attending a private school.

Zazie Beetz is known for her roles in "Atlanta," "Deadpool 2," "Joker," and "Bullet Train."

Megan Thee Stallion plays Megan.

In season seven, Megan Thee Stallion guest stars as Megan, a hormone monster for Danni.

Megan Thee Stallion is better known for her rapping career, though she has also starred in Disney+'s "She-Hulk: Attorney At Law" and the 2023 movie "Dicks: The Musical."

Jordan Peele plays the ghost of Duke Ellington.

One of Nick's friends is the ghost of jazz pianist Duke Ellington, who lives in the teen's attic.

Jordan Peele is the voice behind the ghost. He also played Missy's father, Cyrus Foreman-Greenwald.

Peele is an Oscar-winning horror director and comedy actor best known for directing "Get Out," "Nope," and "Us" and starring in "Key and Peele."

Brian Tyree Henry plays Elijah.

Elijah, an asexual Christian student, appears in seasons six and seven, building a relationship with Missy. They broke up after graduating from middle school.

Brian Tyree Henry, known for his roles in "Atlanta," "Bullet Train," and Marvel's "Eternals," plays Elijah. Henry has voice acting experience from starring in the "Spider-Verse" movies as Miles Morales' father, Jefferson.

Natasha Lyonne plays Ms. Dunn.

Natasha Lyonne guest stars in the final season as sex-ed teacher Ms. Dunn. Lyonne has also made cameos in previous seasons playing Suzette Saint James, Jay's pillow girlfriend, and Nadia Vulvokov, the character Lyonne plays in Netflix's "Russian Doll."

Lyonne is best known for starring in "American Pie," "Orange is the New Black," and "Poker Face."

Ali Wong plays Ali.

Ali Wong joined "Big Mouth" in season three, playing the pansexual transfer student Ali.

Wong is a comedian who has previously starred in other Netflix originals like "Beef" and "Always Be My Maybe."

Keke Palmer plays Rochelle.

"Big Mouth" season five introduced the concept of Hateworms and Lovebugs, who strengthen the children's emotions. Rochelle, played by Keke Palmer, was Missy's Hateworm but later transformed into her Lovebug.

Palmer is best known for starring in "True Jackson, VP," "One of Them Days," and "Nope."

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is feuding with Grok, a chatbot created by Elon Musk's xAI.
• "The judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you," she wrote.
• It came after the AI chatbot called her Christian beliefs into question.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has it out for Grok.

The Georgia Republican lit into the AI chatbot, which was created by Elon Musk's xAI and is available to users on X, on Friday after it called her Christian beliefs into question.

"The judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform," Greene wrote. "Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda."

The congresswoman also offered a warning about AI chatbots in general, saying: "When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost."

In response to a post from a user asking whether Greene was "really a Christian," the chatbot said that the question was "subjective," mentioning the congresswoman's prior association with the QAnon conspiracy theory and her self-declared status as a Christian nationalist.

While Greene contends that Groke has a left-leaning bias — a contention that many make about AI — the chatbot took a different turn recently, bringing up the topic of "white genocide" in South Africa in response to unrelated inquiries.

And according to documents previously obtained by BI, xAI has been training the chatbot specifically to avoid being "woke" like other chat bots. "The general idea seems to be that we're training the MAGA version of ChatGPT," one xAI worker told BI in February.

Spokespeople for Greene and xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The congresswoman has also previously praised Grok, writing on X in September that she was "impressed how much Grok knows"

Welcome to episode 55 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 and share our first thoughts on Google I/O 2025.

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