The U.S. once controlled the market on rare earth minerals, sought after for the production of cell phones, computers, electric and hybrid vehicles, and more. But in the last few decades, China has cornered that market and surpassed the US. We explore how.

China has been able to entirely cut off Europe and the U.S. from several critical rare earth metals. How did it develop such a stranglehold on an industry the U.S. once controlled?

Until his final days, the late Pope Francis had regularly spoken to the priest at Gaza's Catholic church about the situation in the war-ravaged territory.

Israel launched airstrikes Wednesday on Syria's capital of Damascus, saying it targeted the Syrian military headquarters and near the presidential palace in response to attacks on the Druze minority. This segment originally aired July 16, 2025.

Senate approves cuts to funding for public media and foreign aid programs, President Trump attacks Fed Chair Powell over interest rates, UN Security Council to meet over unfolding Israel-Syria crisis.

Edward Said brought the question of Palestine into the American mainstream. He taught at Columbia University for nearly 40 years, and today, more than two decades after his death, pro-Palestine student protesters on that campus and others have invoked his name. Meanwhile, his interviews circulate on social media and his books are taught at universities around the world. On this episode: the story of the man who pushed for recognition of the Palestinian perspective, the pushback he faced, and the dangers he foresaw. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline.