PHILIP K. HOWARD is a distinguished lawyer, best-selling author, and proven civic leader. He is chair of Common Good, a nonpartisan organization aimed at simplifying government.

In his new book, Saving Can-Do: How to Revive the Spirit of America, Howard untangles the gordian knot of populism and broken governance seizing up the American experiment as we approach our 250th anniversary.

Critical minerals are the new oil—and the global competition for the clean energy future is on.

As nations around the world transition toward a cleaner, more diversified portfolio of energy sources, the spotlight is turning to critical minerals.

Lithium and other minerals have uses from electric vehicles and e-bikes to smartphones, computers, medical devices, and drones.

The implications are far-reaching:

—how should environmental costs and benefits be calculated?

—how should we evaluate environmental safeguards in the US and other developed nations that restrict mining and refining of critical minerals?

—how should the economic, cultural, and human rights of people in the vicinity of critical mineral exploration and development be protected, including in the Global South?

—what are the implications for an intensifying, multifaceted competition with China?

Filmmaker Samuel George examines these and other issues in his soon-to-be released documentary, “Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals.”

The accompanying book is out now, available as a free pdf from the Bertelsmann Foundation.

About Samuel George

Dr. Samuel George is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and analyst for the Bertelsmann Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.

Samuel’s documentaries bring viewers up close and personal to people and communities facing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, offering candid perspectives that allow viewers to draw their own conclusions. His films focus on the intersection of politics, economics, social issues, and daily life. Three of his films have in syndication on PBS, and a number of others are available on streaming services. All films are freely available online from the Bertelsmann Foundation.

George graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Oberlin College in 2007, and a Master’s Degree in International Economics and Latin American Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in 2012. He completed a PhD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in 2024.

Image Credits | Samuel George Films.

We are in the midst of a series of transformations—political, financial, economic, international, and cultural. At the center of our public affairs for the past decade—for better or worse or a bit of both depending on your point of view—is President Donald Trump.

New York Times reporter Peter Baker said in 2025, “Trump is the most powerful president of our lifetime.”

At the six-month point of Trump’s second term—like Grover Cleveland’s, discontinuous from his first—how do we evaluate Trump and his administration?

In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, presidential historian Luke Nichter offers his highly informed, judicious perspective.