Strength in Numbers

Critical Minerals, Supply Chains, and Control

February 18, 2026·27 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of Altana, joins host Jennifer Strong to assess the state of critical mineral supply chains today. Who controls the materials? Why is such a vital part of national security controlled by an economic adversary? And, more importantly, what can be done to regain control of this important resource? Margaret Foster, a data scientist and scholar at the University of Virginia, then joins the podcast to share how she uses data and artificial intelligence to identify and mitigate potential supply chain chokepoints.  Additional reading: Microelectronics Supply Chain Analysis — National Security Data and Policy Institute  Microelectronics Supply Chain Analysis: Critical Components — National Security Data and Policy Institute Microelectronics Supply Chain Analysis: Vulnerability — National Security Data and Policy Institute Microelectronics Supply Chain Analysis: Lock-In and Substitutability — National Security Data and Policy Institute

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