The quest for Congo’s cobalt, which is vital for electric vehicles and the worldwide push against climate change, is caught in a cycle of exploitation, greed and gamesmanship.
The president’s son was part owner of a venture involved in the $3.8 billion purchase by a Chinese conglomerate of one of the world’s largest cobalt deposits. The metal is a key ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles.
The climate change and social policy measure that the House just passed includes about $2.2 trillion worth of spending programs and tax cuts. But there are many ways to tally its price tag.
The House Republican leader made a number of false or misleading claims about the social spending bill, President Biden, immigration policy and Teslas.