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War, Tech & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos
Posted
February 20, 2026
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1,504
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February 20, 2026
1,504
27
4
2.06%
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1:09:13Now PlayingWe live in a world powered by lithium-ion batteries—fueling smartphones, electric vehicles, and the promise of a greener future. But beneath this sleek, sustainable vision lies a far more complicated reality that’s worth thinking twice about. Journalist and “The Elements of Power” author Nicolas Niarchos traces the global race for critical minerals like cobalt—nearly 70 percent of which comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where artisanal miners, including children, work in dangerous conditions for minimal pay. He also traces today’s exploitation back through colonial history under Belgian rule and forward into a new great-power contest, as China and the U.S. compete for control of critical minerals. With that in mind, what human and environmental costs are hidden inside the technology that powers modern life?
In this conversation, Niarchos and moderator-in-chief John Donvan invite you to Think Twice about what powers your world—and what it costs to get it.
Our Guest: Nicolas Niarchos, Journalist and Author of “The Elements of Power”
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
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#war #tech #batteries #congo #minerals #DRC
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