The Week Evening Review
More US-China trade war fallout, Russia's relationship with the Taliban, and money dysmorphia

 
Today's big question

Why does the US need China's rare earth metals? 

China upped the ante in its trade war with the U.S. last week when it imposed export controls on "rare earth" minerals, key elements in the production of technology for your kitchen, car, high-tech military weapons and more. With China's near monopoly on the market, these blocks could "cause shutdowns in automotive production," said the Financial Times. They also "threaten Washington's military primacy," said Chatham House, a British think tank.  

What did the commentators say?
"Everything you can switch on or off likely runs" on the minerals, said Thomas Kruemmer, the director of Ginger International Trade and Investment, to BBC News. One of them, neodymium, is used in "loudspeakers, computer hard drives, EV motors and jet engines." These minerals are "abundant" in nature, said the BBC, but are "very hazardous to extract." 

They are critical in the production of the F-35 fighter, as well as "robotics, drones, electric vehicles and touch screens." So the trade war could give Beijing a "crucial strategic advantage" in competition for "military and technological supremacy."

President Donald Trump may think he will "find alternative sources of rare earths," said Nicholas Kristof at The New York Times. But America relies on China for 72% of its supply. And rare earths are "polluting to mine and process," which is why it can take "nearly three decades to get permission to open and operate a rare-earth mine in America." Trump's trade war "seems destined to fracture our alliances and magnify American weakness."

Some worry the trade war could lead to a shooting war. Nearly a century ago, trade sanctions "cut off Japan from vital resources" like steel, oil and rubber, said James Stavridis, a retired Navy admiral, at Bloomberg. 

Pearl Harbor was the culmination of "economic disputes and provocative steps." And Beijing's decision to block rare earth exports could be a new "indicator of impending conflict." 

What next?
The challenges are immediate, while solutions are off in the future. There's a single American mine for rare earth minerals, and its executives are fielding phone calls from "anxious companies" following China's announcement, said The Associated Press. 

The effects of the export block have "been immediate," said Matt Sloustcher, a spokesperson for MP Materials. Existing stockpiles should keep American manufacturers operating for now, said the AP, but "shortages may emerge later this year."

 
 
QUOTE OF THE DAY

'This administration has a sense of what levers to pull that have never been pulled before in ways that are so far very effective.' 

Anderson Cooper pointing out that the media landscape under Trump's administration is being "manipulated and used in ways" that are "incredibly alarming," while speaking at Harvard's Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy 

 
 
The Explainer

The reason behind Russia's new Taliban designation

With Russia's Supreme Court removing a ban on the Taliban on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin has flipped 20 years of the Islamic fundamentalist group's standing with his country. But the move isn't entirely unexpected, as Putin has considered Afghanistan's ruling party friendly and was considering having the designation removed in 2024. It marks a ramping up of warmth between Russia and an organization feared by most democracies. 

What did Russia's Supreme Court say?
The court's ruling allows the Taliban to be "removed from Russia's list of terrorist organizations," said DW. The decision was "based on a decree Putin had issued a year ago" to remove the terrorism designation.

Russian law still states that Taliban members must be arrested if they enter the country, but "no Taliban member has been detained on entering Russia since 2016," said DW. Russian media outlets had "continued to refer to the Taliban as a 'terrorist organization, banned in Russia'" but stopped doing so in 2024.

Why remove the designation?
Moscow views a partnership with Afghanistan as strategic. Removing the Taliban's designation "opens the way to establishing a full-fledged partnership with Kabul," said Russia's Foreign Ministry in a statement. Putin "aims to build mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan in all areas, including the fight against drugs and terrorism." Though the Kremlin has said it will abide by international sanctions in dealing with the Taliban. 

What happens now?
Russia hasn't officially recognized the Afghan government, but this may "lay the legal groundwork for expanded cooperation, investment and potentially future recognition," said Radio Free Europe. Russia is "eager to strengthen its influence in Central Asia amid growing competition with the West and China's expanding footprint," and Afghanistan is a "critical piece of the regional chessboard."

"Ties between Moscow and Afghanistan have grown following the U.S.'s 2021 exit from the country," said Bloomberg. Russian diplomats recently worked with Taliban officials on security, economics and mining projects. 

The court decision is a "diplomatic victory for the Taliban," said The Associated Press. The group has been working to spread its influence and has "sought to position itself as a regional power broker."

 
 

Statistic of the day

85: The number of sperm donors who fathered thousands in the Netherlands, according to Dutch doctors. The men used a loophole in the country's legal system to father children over the past 20 years, sparking fears of inbreeding among Holland's youth.

 
 
In the Spotlight

Money dysmorphia: why people feel poorer

A lawsuit against the former employer of a CEO who claimed he couldn't afford to live on a salary of $330,000 is prompting fresh discussion about "money dysmorphia." A close relative of the term "body dysmorphia," where people look in the mirror and don't see "what's really there," money dysmorphia is a "mind-bending split-screen view of reality," said The New York Times, which comes as the "boom boom aesthetic" of "lavish old-money consumption" has made waves online.

Blind spots 
Researchers have found that people are much more likely to overestimate how much money the average American makes. A 2022 study from YouGov found Americans believe that 10% of U.S. households have an income of over $1 million, but in reality, less than 0.5% earn that much annually.

"More interesting still," the highest earners "have the biggest blind spot," said The Independent. Only 33% of American millionaires feel they "could call themselves wealthy," said GoBankingRates. In other words, 67% of millionaires "don't consider themselves wealthy."

'Insidious and obsessive' 
Money dysmorphia is a "relatively new concept," but many people "recognize the feelings associated with it," said The Times. Almost a third (29%) of all Americans have experienced the phenomenon, according to a 2024 Qualtrics survey. 

Although it's "not a recognized clinical condition," therapists believe that "warped perceptions of money" are "regularly the crux of issues such as anxiety and depression." Younger people, "in particular," often have "unfounded worries" over lack of funds, and their "stress" goes beyond "standard concerns" about money and the economy because it's "more distorted, insidious and obsessive," said the Financial Times. 

One factor could be the "level of financial security" that the person "experienced growing up," said Coffey. If their family was "perpetually strapped for cash," they are more likely to have an "innate fear" that all "could be lost in an instant." 

How to deal with it 
There are ways to tackle money dysmorphia, said The Times: Track your finances objectively, challenge negative money beliefs or emotions, set realistic financial goals and limit your comparisons to others." Another technique is to use savings pots, said Stylist, because having "separate savings for different purposes" can "help ease financial anxiety."

 
 

Good day 🦑

… for oceanography. Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute have gotten footage of the elusive colossal squid — a nearly one-foot juvenile off the South Sandwich Islands in the Atlantic Ocean at 1,968 feet beneath the surface. Colossal squid are estimated to grow up to 23 feet long and weigh as much as 1,100 pounds.

 
 

Bad day 🌿

… for cannabis. Someone who has an emergency room visit related to marijuana use has a 23% higher chance of developing dementia compared to someone who was in the ER for something else, according to a study from Canada's University of Ottawa. This is compounded by other research showing cannabis may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

 
 
Picture of the day

Easter extravaganza

People wear whimsical hats and costumes during the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. The colorful pageant has been a New York City tradition since the 1870s. 
Andres Kudacki / AP

 
 
Puzzles

Test your general knowledge with The Week's daily crossword, part of our puzzles section, which also includes sudoku and codewords

 
 
The Week recommends

Any vacation can be a getaway. But to truly get away from it all, consider heading to one of these remote properties. The long journey is merely an opportunity to dream about what awaits when you arrive.

Botánika Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
This property sits on a "more rugged slice of Costa Rica," one that is still pristine due to its isolation, said Condé Nast Traveler. The biodiverse region's ecological wonders draw visitors, and Botánika Osa Peninsula, "discreetly tucked among tangles of greenery," blends in perfectly. 

Eremito, Italy
The name says it all. "Eremito" is Italian for "hermit," and you will feel like one after a few nights here. A former monastery, Eremito is now a "digital-detox" hotel, with no internet service or televisions, said WWD. 

The property, designed for solo travelers, is 40 minutes from the nearest town and is surrounded by a protected nature reserve. Homemade pasta is served in a cozy stone restaurant, which, like the rest of the hotel, is illuminated by candlelight.

Somewhere Only We Know, Thailand
There's privacy, and then there's Somewhere Only We Know, or SOWK, resort privacy. This luxe all-inclusive retreat on Ko Pha Ngan island is spread across three secluded beaches, which are surrounded by six other secluded beaches. 

Once you finally arrive, there's one more thing left to do: take a five-minute hike to your phenomenal villa. SOWK allows a maximum of six guests at a time and works with each in advance to plan a tailor-made itinerary and immersive excursions.

 
 

Poll watch

Nearly half of Americans (48%) say global warming is a serious threat, up from 44% a year ago, according to a Gallup survey. The poll of 1,002 adults found this to be a record high since Gallup began tracking global warming metrics.

 
 
INSTANT OPINION

Today's best commentary

'Pope Francis' greatest achievement was emphasizing mercy'
Austen Ivereigh at Time
Pope Francis' "legacy was his insistence" on mercy, says Austen Ivereigh. What "truly made Francis different from his predecessors was the bold, radical way he sought to put mercy." He "understood that we are living through what he called a change of era, in which faith is no longer primarily inherited through law, culture and tribal identity." Francis "made clear it's no longer enough to stay in the abstract, at the level of ideals and generalities."

'What it means to tell the truth about America' 
Clint Smith at The Atlantic
The "history inside" the National Museum of African American History and Culture "still reverberates through our country," says Clint Smith. It's "impossible to understand the contemporary landscape of social, political and economic inequality without understanding the forces and events that served as its catalysts." This is the "exact sort of story that Trump and many of his allies would like to excise from museums, classrooms and every other realm of American life."

'Democrats are choosing ideology over electability'
Nafees Alam at The Kansas City Star
The Democratic Party "stands at a pivotal moment," says Nafees Alam. It has "embraced a host of progressive causes — abortion rights, expansive immigration policies and LGBTQ+ inclusion, to name a few." This "often places them on the minority side of issues where public opinion leans heavily the other way." If Democrats "hope to reclaim electoral dominance and preserve a balanced political system, they must learn to say 'no' to some of their more divisive positions."

 
 
WORD OF THE DAY

stablecoin

A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value that's pegged to a currency like the dollar or a commodity like gold. Stablecoins could be helpful if the government created a "regulatory framework both to address their risks and to enable the private sector to explore those opportunities," said Harvard Kennedy School Senior Fellow Timothy Massad. 

 
 

Evening Review was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Justin Klawans, Joel Mathis, Summer Meza, Chas Newkey-Burden, and Anahi Valenzuela, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: wildpixel / Getty Images; Ahmad Sahel Arman / AFP via Getty Images; Bettmann / Getty Images; Somewhere Only We Know Resort