Badlands Media Special Coverage: 8/7/26 - Trump Unveils Historic American Mining Investments

Trump heads to the State Department to make the case that mining, yes, mining, might be one of the sleeper hits of his second term. Expect big numbers on new mines opening at the fastest pace since the 1950s, billions in fresh investment, the first American rare earth mine in over 70 years, and a genuinely entertaining tangent about chandeliers and Corinthian columns. Rubio, Burgum, and Lutnick each take a turn explaining how tariffs, permitting reforms, and international mineral agreements are rebuilding a supply chain America let slip away for decades. There's a $100 million commitment to mining schools, a solid gold nodule replica handed to Trump mid speech, and a parade of industry executives and university presidents thanking him like he personally reopened their mines. Between the policy substance there's plenty of classic riffing, on coal, on tariffs being his "fifth favorite word," and on how badly Minnesota's governor is running things. A wonky topic delivered with maximum showmanship.