The U.S. has been investing feverishly in recent years to create a domestic supply chain for electric vehicles and reduce its dependence on foreign countries, but it's far from complete.
Why it matters: Despite more than $130 billion in EV investments in the U.S., big gaps in the supply chain — mostly in mining and refining — have left America vulnerable to an escalating trade war with China.
There's probably room for the EU to buy even more U.S. oil and gas, but the $350 billion target President Trump floated to bargain down new tariffs would be a heavy lift.
Why it matters: Trump sees U.S. fossil fuels as a negotiating point with countries in Europe and Asia — a merger of his trade and "energy dominance" agendas.
The AI boom is reshaping the Midwest, driving a wave of data center development, straining energy systems, consuming millions of gallons of water — and triggering a new debate over who benefits.
Why it matters: Data centers power the AI boom — but their soaring energy and water demands often go unreported, with unclear benefits for local communities and few permanent jobs created.
Why it matters: Simply put, the U.S. can't build EVs without China. Efforts to seed a domestic supply chain, which began under the Biden administration, need more time to mature.
