Three years ago, Trump sent Foxconn to Wisconsin. It was supposed to build a world-class manufacturing hub employing 13,000 people. It’s been a disaster. https://www.theverge.com/21507966/foxconn-empty-factories-wisconsin-jobs-loophole-trump">https://www.theverge.com/21507966/...

Foxconn never had a concrete plan for what to do in the state and has spent the last several years careening from idea to idea (exporting dairy, farming fish, literally anything that would make money). One idea that stalled early was actually making LCDs. https://www.theverge.com/21507966/foxconn-empty-factories-wisconsin-jobs-loophole-trump">https://www.theverge.com/21507966/...

Foxconn did maintain a consistent commitment to two things: getting ready for a White House visit, and hiring enough people to get subsidies from Wisconsin. It hired dozens of people just before the subsidy deadline, though many had nothing to do. Many have since been laid off.

To meet the subsidy quota, Foxconn recruited local college students, many of whom ended up just doing schoolwork. Another program targeted recent graduates, preferably foreign students on visas, because Foxconn management said they would work for cheaper. https://www.theverge.com/21507966/foxconn-empty-factories-wisconsin-jobs-loophole-trump">https://www.theverge.com/21507966/...