WASHINGTON — As President Trump’s administration pushes tariffs on Chinese imports to an unprecedented 55%, one exception stands out in the escalating trade war: rare earth metals.

Even amid rising tensions, the U.S. continues to import rare earths from China—a quiet but critical dependency that most Americans don’t even know exists.

But in reality, rare earth metals are the invisible backbone of American industry, technology, and defense—and for now, the U.S. simply can’t afford to go without them.

What Are Rare Earths, and Why Do They Matter?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements used in everything from consumer electronics to military weaponry. Despite their name, they’re relatively common—but hard to extract and even harder to refine.

They’re essential in:

• Smartphones and laptops

• Electric vehicle motors and batteries

• Wind turbines and solar panels

• F-35 fighter jets and missile guidance systems

• Nuclear submarines and satellite communication systems

If a device needs power, precision, or speed, there’s a good chance it relies on rare earths.

China’s Dominance: The Strategic Choke Point

Although the U.S. has rare earth deposits, it lacks the industrial capacity to process them at scale.

📊 China processes over 80% of the world’s rare earth supply—and has done so for decades.

This gives Beijing extraordinary leverage. Even with trade friction intensifying, the U.S. is dependent on China’s refining capacity to keep its tech and defense sectors running.

The National Security Angle

Rare earths aren’t just an economic issue—they’re a national security imperative.

Without these metals, the U.S. would struggle to:

• Produce advanced military equipment

• Maintain its renewable energy transition

• Compete in high-end electronics manufacturing

• Defend supply chains in a crisis

In short: no rare earths, no modern military. No modern economy.

Can the U.S. Replace China? Not Yet.

While efforts to restart rare earth mining and processing in the U.S. have accelerated—including projects in California and Texas—experts say it could take 5 to 10 years to build a fully independent supply chain.

That’s why, despite aggressive tariffs and political rhetoric, the U.S. has carved out an exception in the trade deal for rare earths.

Because without them, key sectors of the American economy would come to a standstill.

The U.S.–China relationship is defined today by tension and competition.
But when it comes to rare earths, cooperation still exists beneath the surface—because it has to.

Until America develops its own full-spectrum rare earth processing industry, it will remain strategically dependent on its biggest rival.

And in global power politics, few resources are more quietly powerful than rare earths.

Meta is making a bold move in the race for artificial intelligence dominance. The company has announced the creation of a new A.I. lab aimed at developing superintelligence, an A.I. system that could surpass human cognitive abilities. The new initiative is part of a larger reorganization of Meta’s A.I. division, and it marks a significant step in the company’s drive to compete with other tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

To lead this ambitious project, Meta has brought on Alexandr Wang, the founder and CEO of Scale AI, one of the most prominent A.I. start-ups of recent years. Wang’s company has worked with major players in the industry like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Cohere, and Meta’s partnership with Scale AI signals a bold strategy to accelerate the development of next-generation A.I. Meta is reportedly investing billions into Scale AI, with plans to integrate its data processing and A.I. training capabilities into the new lab.

The goal of Meta’s new lab is to push the boundaries of A.I. development and work toward superintelligence—an A.I. system that goes beyond Artificial General Intelligence (A.G.I.). While A.G.I. aims to replicate human-like cognitive abilities, superintelligence seeks to create machines that can surpass human intelligence, enabling them to perform tasks more efficiently and at a higher level than the human brain.

This move comes as Meta looks to regain ground in the fiercely competitive A.I. space. The company has faced its share of challenges, including internal management struggles and employee turnover. However, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has made it clear that A.I. is central to the company’s future. He recently referred to A.I. as “potentially one of the most important innovations in history,” emphasizing the critical role it will play in shaping the future of technology. Meta has already poured billions into its A.I. initiatives, incorporating Meta AI into its suite of products, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The addition of Wang to the team is seen as a way to accelerate progress and help Meta push forward with its goal of building superintelligence.

Meta has also been committed to open-source A.I. projects, such as the Llama A.I. model, which is available for developers and researchers to use freely. These efforts are designed to foster widespread adoption of Meta’s A.I. tools, ensuring that the company remains a key player in the rapidly evolving A.I. ecosystem. The launch of this new lab is part of that broader strategy, and with Wang at the helm, Meta is hoping to make significant strides in the development of advanced A.I. technologies.

As the competition heats up, Meta is betting that this new lab, under Wang’s leadership, will position the company as a leader in the next era of artificial intelligence. Whether Meta can deliver on its bold superintelligence ambitions remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the company is fully invested in this technology. The coming years will be pivotal for Meta as it navigates this new frontier in A.I. development.

A shocking incident at Costco has led to a massive lawsuit! A Sonoma County woman is now demanding over $14 million from the retail giant after a faulty cabinet display fell on her, causing catastrophic injuries that could change her life forever!

Sadie Novotny, who was simply shopping at the Santa Rosa Costco on March 22, 2025, found herself trapped beneath a display that allegedly toppled without warning. The lawsuit claims that Costco’s negligence and unsafe display setup left Novotny with permanent injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. Can you believe this happened at a major retailer like Costco?

Novotny is suing for a staggering $14 million in damages, and she’s not holding back:

• $5 million for pain and suffering

• $5 million for emotional distress

• $100,000 for medical expenses and lost earnings

• $4 million for future medical expenses and loss of earnings

But that’s not all… the lawsuit also claims Costco’s dangerous shelving system was the cause of the fall! Novotny alleges the cabinet had thin legs and was placed on a worn-out pallet, making it unstable. Was this an accident waiting to happen?

The lawsuit says Costco failed to spot the unsafe condition and neglected to warn customers or train employees to manage the display safely. Could Costco’s lack of safety oversight lead to even MORE lawsuits in the future?

The big-box retailer is facing a serious legal battle, with a case management meeting scheduled for September 2025. Could this case set a precedent for other lawsuits against the retail giant? Will Costco be forced to make changes to ensure this never happens again?

Stay tuned to see if Costco will be held accountable for this shocking incident and whether Sadie Novotny gets the justice—and the $14 million—she’s demanding.