Analysis from West Point warns that strait of Hormuz blockade will strangle US defense industry

Report shows how minerals critical to defense readiness have seen a 'near total' disruption in seaborne trade

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/19/west-point-analysis-iran-war-costs

 

Oil Companies Withhold Millions in Royalties From ND Mineral Owners — ProPublica

Oil companies are holding back a large portion of revenue payments to the people they lease drilling rights from, often with little explanation. But the industry has an outsize influence in the state, and public officials have refused to take action...

https://www.propublica.org/article/north-dakota-mineral-owner-royalty-deductions 

 

Many of Trump’s actions against allies and foes focus on one big thing - POLITICO

In recent weeks, the president has suggested a minerals-for-aid "deal" with Ukraine, drawing pushback from Russia. He's repeatedly suggested the U.S. will acquire Greenland, a mineral-rich Danish territory, possibly by force. And he has said Canada could become the 51st state — which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said should be taken seriously, noting Trump was interested in Canadian minerals...

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/13/trump-mineral-energy-resources-00203576

Biden to use Defense Production Act for critical-minerals supply - The Washington Post

"While the expected order itself may be limited in scope, the signal it sends to the markets and the world is clear," said Rich Nolan, president and chief executive of the National Mining Association. "The minerals supply chain that will drive the electrification of our transportation sector and the energy transition is not only at risk from a perilous and growing import dependence, but the approaching minerals demand wave is set to strain every sector of the economy and requires an urgency in action from government and industry never before seen."…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/03/30/critical-minerals-defense-production-act/

Trump order encourages US to mine the moon

The world may be racked by the coronavirus, but Donald Trump has less earthly concerns on his mind, too, after signing an executive order encouraging the US to mine the moon for minerals. The executive order makes clear that the US doesn’t view space as a “global commons”, opening the way for the mining of the moon without any sort of international treaty.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/07/trump-mining-moon-executive-order

Colonialism and Greed: Trump Considers Afghan War Expansion to Exploit Minerals | Common Dreams

Trump is reportedly being encouraged by corporate executives to take advantage of Afghanistan's mineral wealth...
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/07/26/colonialism-and-greed-trump-considers-afghan-war-expansion-exploit-minerals

The human cost of smartphone minerals

I notice your review of the Huawei P10 smartphone (theguardian.com, 20 April) makes no reference to the manufacturer’s policy concerning sourcing the materials used in production. I’m sure your product reviewers are all very aware that minerals such as gold, which are used in mobile phone production, can come from mines that use slaves. Furthermore, the mercury and cyanide used in gold extraction have a devastating environmental and human impact....
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/20/the-human-cost-of-smartphone-minerals?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1