Critical minerals — especially the rare earth variety — have been crucial to trade talks since US President Donald Trump returned to office this year. The US has inked mineral deals with countries across the globe. Bolstering access to these minerals used in everything from smartphones to electric cars and military hardware is crucial as the US decouples from China, which has cornered the market on these raw resources. The World’s Host Marco Werman learned more from Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.