...this evening, I just got around to watching the 3/22/26 episode of 60 Minutes, and had an odd feeling.
1st segment was on "rare earth" minerals, and how China has a monopoly (north of 90%) of refined rare earth minerals. We all know how important these minerals are, and how they are in much of the tech we enjoy today. The story focused on the Mountain Pass Mine in Nevada/California, the only active rare earth mineral mine in the U.S. The mine had been closed down for years and has been revitalized by a couple of hedge fund/venture capital managers. The story suggested that Trump had insisted on expanding the mine, with the US gov't taking a 15% cut of the profit.
(Oh, the wise Trump, building the American economy)
The 2nd segment was on shipbuilding, and how the U.S. produces almost no big ships anymore. China is #1, South Korea #2. The story also not so subtly said that Trump was insisting on re-building the U.S. ship-building capability. South Korea is putting up billions to rework the shipyard at Philadelphia.
(Trump again "bringin' back industry" )
So those first two segments seemed to be trying to leave the image in your mind of Trump doing good things for America, with no mention of all of his warts. I could feel the breeze from the propaganda.
You know, if Trump actually DOES anything good for the people of the U.S. and not just for himself or his fetid family, that would be a good thing. I could acknowledge that. I frankly don't believe Trump ever does ANYTHING for the benefit of the whole and not just hisself.
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Funny, at the same time, (and this is not connected to the 60 Minutes program), there is a story from Ohio, I believe, where the last big maker of musical instruments was closing down in the U.S. and moving to China, or, simply contracting with China to build the instruments. Trump had told the company he was going to "fix" it, but no fix came, and there go a good number of jobs, going overseas. Shipping jobs overseas, making America First.
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