As the U.S. invests in rare earths, a mine that was broke and underwater 10 years ago is now a game-changer A decade after acquiring a shuttered rare earths mine that was partially submerged, MP Materials CEO James Litinsky has turned his business into a critical player in America’s national security. Since the 1990s, China has dominated the rare earth supply chain, controlling mining, processing, and the production of super-powered magnets essential for smartphones, robotics, fighter jets, and drones. When President Trump imposed tariffs in April 2025, China retaliated by restricting rare earth exports to the U.S. and requiring detailed disclosures on their use. Litinsky criticized this dependency, stating, “We need permission from the Chinese government to make things. We need permission from the Chinese government to make military things. That is not an acceptable condition.” Rare earths are not rare in name but in their concentration and accessibility. There are 17 rare earth elements, each with unique properties. These metals, like europium and neodymium, are used in everything from high-speed rail and electric vehicles to the tiny motors in iPhones. Julie Klinger, a rare earths expert, explained, “Rare earth elements are like spices in cooking. A little bit can transform a magnet into something small and powerful.” Mountain Pass, California, was once the world’s primary rare earth mine, discovered in 1949. By the 1960s, individual elements were being mined and refined. However, the industry shifted to China due to lower costs. Environmental regulations in the 1990s, following radioactive leaks into the Mojave Desert, led to the mine’s decline. Molycorp, a company attempting to revive Mountain Pass, failed and filed for bankruptcy in 2015.#fort_worth #mp_materials #james_litinsky #mountain_pass #michael_rosenthal
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines raise revenue forecasts as booking trends surge, travelers secure fares ahead of price hikes U.S. airline executives are reporting some of the strongest booking trends in the industry’s history, driven by a surge in demand from premium leisure and corporate travelers. These customers are rushing to purchase tickets before anticipated price increases linked to soaring fuel costs. Delta Air Lines has revised its sales growth expectations, now projecting high single-digit growth for the first quarter, up from its previous 5% to 7% range. American Airlines, based in Fort Worth and dominant at DFW International Airport, expects revenue to rise more than 10% in the quarter—a record for the company—despite fuel expenses pushing earnings projections toward the lower end of its initial guidance range. The upward trend in bookings is partly attributed to the Iran war, which has triggered a sharp spike in energy prices. Airlines are grappling with rising fuel costs, which now account for a significant portion of their operating expenses. American Airlines noted that the rapid increase in fuel prices has led it to revise its adjusted loss per diluted share forecast to the lower end of its first-quarter guidance range of 10 cents to 50 cents. Delta’s shares rose as much as 4.8% in early U.S. trading, while American’s stock jumped 5.2%, marking its largest gain in a month. Industry leaders highlighted the financial strain caused by fuel costs, with Delta CEO Ed Bastian revealing a $400 million spike in fuel expenses this month. Bastian emphasized that corporate demand is likely to remain strong if prices stay elevated for the next two months, though lower-cost carriers may struggle to absorb the increased oil prices.#iran_war #delta_air_lines #american_airlines #fort_worth #dfw_international_airport
Alice Walton in Fort Worth Sparks Renewed Focus on Inherited Wealth After 2026 Rich List Alice Walton remains the world’s richest woman in 2026, a development that is drawing fresh attention to how inherited fortunes shape global wealth rankings and how those dynamics are being discussed in multiple regions. The emphasis on Fort Worth in the latest coverage also underscores the geographic anchor that often comes with major personal fortunes: the ranking may be global, but the individuals involved are frequently identified through a home city or region as a shorthand for business, philanthropy, and public presence. Separate wealth-focused coverage framed around “The World’s Richest Woman” has further amplified the moment, keeping the focus on who holds that title in 2026 and sustaining public interest in the identity and circumstances behind the ranking. The renewed attention on Alice Walton’s position is unfolding alongside broader conversation about inherited wealth. One of the week’s notable framings—focused on “The Inherited Billion: Wealth Patterns of 2026 and the Kenyan Paradox”—signals that the 2026 rich-list cycle is also being used to examine how fortunes are formed and transmitted over time. While the coverage points to “wealth patterns” as a central theme, the details of those patterns are still being presented at a high level in the available material. What is clear is the editorial thrust: the rich-list season is not being treated solely as a scoreboard of individual net worth, but as a prompt for wider discussion about the structures that produce extreme wealth.#alice_walton #fort_worth #worlds_richest_woman #inherited_wealth #2026_rich_list
