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.

Sly Stone, the visionary frontman of Sly & the Family Stone, passed away on June 9, 2025, at the age of 82. Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in music, Sly Stone’s innovative fusion of funk, rock, and soul changed the course of modern music, leaving a lasting legacy that transcended generations.

Sly Stone’s pioneering work with Sly & the Family Stone in the late 1960s and early 1970s helped define the psychedelic soul movement. The group’s groundbreaking approach to combining soulful melodies, funk rhythms, and rock instrumentation reshaped popular music and introduced a new era of sound.

A Legacy Defined by Billboard Hits and Cultural Influence

Sly & the Family Stone became one of the most influential groups of the late 1960s and 1970s, with three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and several more chart-topping songs that shaped the music landscape. Their breakout hit, “Dance to the Music”, reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 in 1968, and it was only the beginning of their chart-topping success.

Here’s a look at their biggest hits:

• “Everyday People” (1969): Their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, this track became an anthem for unity and inclusivity, solidifying their place in music history.

• “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin”/”Everybody Is a Star” (1970): A dual-sided hit, this single showcased their eclectic sound, reaching No. 1 on the charts.

• “Family Affair” (1971): Their third No. 1 hit, this track became another defining moment in their legendary career.

In addition to these successes, the group charted 16 hits on the Hot 100 from 1968 to 1975, with their distinctive blend of funk, soul, and rock influencing countless artists across various genres.

Sly & the Family Stone’s Enduring Influence

Sly Stone’s passing is not just the loss of a musical icon, but the end of an era. The group’s influence, however, remains very much alive in today’s music. Sly & the Family Stone’s innovative approach to music paved the way for the growth of funk, hip hop, and disco, and their impact is still felt across genres.

In 1993, Sly & the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, cementing their legacy as pioneers of the psychedelic soul genre. Their influence is also reflected in modern artists, including those who sampled their music or drew inspiration from their sound, like Prince and OutKast.

Sly Stone’s Billboard Legacy

Below is a retrospective of Sly & the Family Stone’s 10 biggest Billboard hits:

Remembering Sly Stone’s Legacy

The music world has lost a true trailblazer. Sly Stone’s pioneering approach to blending funk, rock, and soul created a new musical era and paved the way for many genres that followed. From their Billboard No. 1 hits to their cultural influence, Sly & the Family Stone will forever remain a symbol of artistic innovation and social progress.

Their groundbreaking sound, which blurred the lines between genres and pushed the boundaries of what music could be, will continue to inspire generations to come. Sly Stone’s impact on music cannot be overstated, and his legacy will forever be etched in the annals of music history.