Ernest Scheider

Yeah. So I see sort of two issues or two tension points here. Certainly, there's the geopolitical tension because we know right now that the United States produces relatively few amounts of these critical minerals. And China and its allies have spent the better part of the past 30 or 40 years cornering control of many of these critical mineral markets.

Yeah. So I see sort of two issues or two tension points here. Certainly, there's the geopolitical tension because we know right now that the United States produces relatively few amounts of these critical minerals. And China and its allies have spent the better part of the past 30 or 40 years cornering control of many of these critical mineral markets.

Yeah. So I see sort of two issues or two tension points here. Certainly, there's the geopolitical tension because we know right now that the United States produces relatively few amounts of these critical minerals. And China and its allies have spent the better part of the past 30 or 40 years cornering control of many of these critical mineral markets.

And they've been very willing to use that control as economic leverage, as an economic weapon. There's also a battle here closer at home, Noel, because while we do have reserves of many of these critical minerals within our borders, we just generally don't like mining.

And they've been very willing to use that control as economic leverage, as an economic weapon. There's also a battle here closer at home, Noel, because while we do have reserves of many of these critical minerals within our borders, we just generally don't like mining.

And they've been very willing to use that control as economic leverage, as an economic weapon. There's also a battle here closer at home, Noel, because while we do have reserves of many of these critical minerals within our borders, we just generally don't like mining.

People don't want a mine in their backyard, or they don't want a mine where they might have gone camping or fishing as a child and have strong memories there, or they just might have concerns about what mining might do to land in the long term. And so there's a big tension point there as well.

People don't want a mine in their backyard, or they don't want a mine where they might have gone camping or fishing as a child and have strong memories there, or they just might have concerns about what mining might do to land in the long term. And so there's a big tension point there as well.

People don't want a mine in their backyard, or they don't want a mine where they might have gone camping or fishing as a child and have strong memories there, or they just might have concerns about what mining might do to land in the long term. And so there's a big tension point there as well.

And then I would add to that that there's also a tension point around where we want to actually process these materials, because once you take that rock out of the ground, you just can't put it into a battery. You then have to process it into a form that can be used to make a battery or other electronic device.

And then I would add to that that there's also a tension point around where we want to actually process these materials, because once you take that rock out of the ground, you just can't put it into a battery. You then have to process it into a form that can be used to make a battery or other electronic device.

And then I would add to that that there's also a tension point around where we want to actually process these materials, because once you take that rock out of the ground, you just can't put it into a battery. You then have to process it into a form that can be used to make a battery or other electronic device.

So if people don't want to mine in their backyard, they definitely probably don't want a giant refining complex in their backyard as well. But that is an extremely important part of this supply chain here and has to be part of the conversation.

So if people don't want to mine in their backyard, they definitely probably don't want a giant refining complex in their backyard as well. But that is an extremely important part of this supply chain here and has to be part of the conversation.

So if people don't want to mine in their backyard, they definitely probably don't want a giant refining complex in their backyard as well. But that is an extremely important part of this supply chain here and has to be part of the conversation.

Do you agree with that? Well, what I would say is that whoever controls the production and processing of these critical minerals will control the 21st century economy the way that control of petroleum defined the 20th century economy. I mean, I think it's that stark of an issue here for us to look at. And this is something that not just President Trump is focused on.

Do you agree with that? Well, what I would say is that whoever controls the production and processing of these critical minerals will control the 21st century economy the way that control of petroleum defined the 20th century economy. I mean, I think it's that stark of an issue here for us to look at. And this is something that not just President Trump is focused on.

Do you agree with that? Well, what I would say is that whoever controls the production and processing of these critical minerals will control the 21st century economy the way that control of petroleum defined the 20th century economy. I mean, I think it's that stark of an issue here for us to look at. And this is something that not just President Trump is focused on.

You know, many folks across the aisle in Washington, D.C., Democrats, Republicans and independents are focused on this. You know, I think it's the one issue actually that unites people politically in Washington, D.C. right now.

You know, many folks across the aisle in Washington, D.C., Democrats, Republicans and independents are focused on this. You know, I think it's the one issue actually that unites people politically in Washington, D.C. right now.