Oncast News · Washington

US firms bid for Kenya's rare earths

· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.

Kenya's mining minister Hassan Ali Joho said on October 30 that Fluor Corp is part of one of five consortia that submitted bids for the Mrima Hill rare earths/niobium deposit; two Chinese bidders withdrew before the tender. Preliminary estimates value the deposit in the tens of billions of dollars. A winner is expected in two to three weeks.

The U.S. is competing with China for critical minerals; the Trump administration has pushed for deals with African countries to reduce reliance on China. Kenya wants domestic processing and to capture more value locally. Chinese companies withdrew for undisclosed reasons; Kenya says it faced no pressure from Washington or Beijing.

Kenya's mining minister Hassan Ali Joho confirmed to Reuters that Fluor Corp is part of a U.S.-linked consortium bidding for the Mrima Hill rare earths/niobium deposit; a decision is expected in two to three weeks, after two Chinese bidders withdrew.

South Africa's Grade 10 CAPS Geography syllabus does require teaching population movements, international migration, economic migrants, refugees and attitudes toward them; these are standard human geography topics. The post is a political insult/rant about President Joe Biden using the nickname "Mr. Auto Pen"; it makes no specific checkable factual claim.

Elon Musk did post on X saying he voted early in Texas, but the post incorrectly calls SpaceX "NASDAQ:SPCX." SpaceX is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker; SPCX is not SpaceX's stock.

NPR reports heightened ICE enforcement activity ahead of the 2026 midterms, and that early voter turnout is surging; advocates have raised concerns about the proximity. This is an NPR analysis/feature about swing voters, not a checkable factual claim.

NPR reports that Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, says about $6.3 billion was impacted in an apparent hack, and blockchain intelligence firms link it to North Korea.

NPR reports that a joke by former President Barack Obama about the Che

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

Kenya's mining minister Hassan Ali Joho confirmed to Reuters that Fluor Corp is part of a U.S.-linked consortium bidding for the Mrima Hill rare earths/niobium deposit; a decision is expected in two to three weeks, after two Chinese bidders withdrew.

EXCLUSIVE: Fluor Corp among US firms vying for Kenya critical minerals project, minister says https://t.co/074Va4zggB

Original post · @Reuters

[cnbcafrica.com](https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/fluor-corp-among-us-firms-vying-for-kenya-critical-minerals-project-minister-says) / Reuters NAMES: Fluor Corp

VERIFIED TRUE

South Africa's Grade 10 CAPS Geography syllabus does require teaching population movements, international migration, economic migrants, refugees and attitudes toward them; these are standard human geography topics. The post is a political insult/rant about President Joe Biden using the nickname "Mr. Auto Pen"; it makes no specific checkable factual claim.

The Grade 10 CAPS Geography syllabus (introduced 2011-2012 under the previous ANC administration) has long required teaching population movements, including international migration, economic migrants, refugees and attitudes toward them. These topics are standard human geography,

Original post · Sandra R (@SandraJayn)

Department of Basic Education, South Africa (CAPS Geography FET Phase) NAMES: CAPS = Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement; ANC = African National Congress

VERIFIED MISLEADING

Elon Musk did post on X saying he voted early in Texas, but the post incorrectly calls SpaceX "NASDAQ:SPCX." SpaceX is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker; SPCX is not SpaceX's stock.

Musk took to X and shared about his voting in Texas on Friday. 🇺🇸🇺🇸 I voted early today in Texas!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 30, 2026 In another post, Musk, also the CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX), stated that his “biggest concern” is

Original post · Cookie Colón 🇺🇸🇵🇷❤️ 👠🦋 (@Cook16228Cookie)

SpaceX corporate status / NASDAQ listing data NAMES: SpaceX = Space Exploration Technologies Corp., private rocket/space company led by Elon Musk; SPCX = not Sp

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NPR reports heightened ICE enforcement activity ahead of the 2026 midterms, and that early voter turnout is surging; advocates have raised concerns about the proximity. This is an NPR analysis/feature about swing voters, not a checkable factual claim.

ICE activity is surging ahead of midterms. So is voter turnout. - Across the country, there are reports of heightened ICE activity. Advocates worry about how close it is to midterms, but so far voter turnout is surging.

Original post · NPR

[npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/30/nx-s1-6023331/ice-activity-surge-midterms) NAMES: ICE = U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. POST news:260cc7943bb

VERIFIED TRUE

NPR reports that Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, says about $6.3 billion was impacted in an apparent hack, and blockchain intelligence firms link it to North Korea.

Blockchain intelligence firms link North Korea to $6.3B hack on Binance - The world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange reported Thursday that approximately $6.3 billion was impacted in an apparent hack.

Original post · NPR

[npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/30/g-s1-150902/blockchain-intelligence-firms-link-north-korea-to-6-3b-hack-on-binance) NAMES: Binance = world's largest cr

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NPR reports that a joke by former President Barack Obama about the Cheesecake Factory went viral and drew backlash from Trump administration figures, amid a larger pre-midterm debate over affordability.

Why is the Cheesecake Factory at the center of the latest culture war? - A joke by former President Obama has gone viral and received backlash from the Trump administration as the issue of affordability looms large over next week's midterm elections.

Original post · NPR

[npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/30/nx-s1-6023106/cheesecake-factory-culture-war-affordability-trump-obama) NAMES: Cheesecake Factory = U.S. restaurant cha

Sources

What the hosts said

BReuters just posted on X an exclusive: an American engineering giant is in the race for a huge minerals prize in Kenya.
BFluor. And the prize is Mrima Hill, a coastal deposit of rare earths and niobium.
BKenya's mining minister, Hassan Ali Joho, confirmed it to Reuters. Fluor is part of one of five bidding groups.
BEarly estimates put the deposit in the tens of billions of dollars. That's not a rounding error.
BHere's the detail that jumped out. Two Chinese bidders withdrew before the tender.
BReasons undisclosed. Kenya says it felt no pressure from Washington or Beijing.
BWhich is what you'd expect them to say.
BSure. But Semafor reported in late September that U.S.-Kenya talks on minerals processing were at a "very advanced" stage.
BCommerce, Defense and State, all in the room. The minister himself says "American entities have strongly showcased or demonstrated interest."
BInterest isn't a win. Five groups bid, and nobody has been awarded anything.
BA decision is expected in two to three weeks. My take: this is the Trump administration doing what it promised.
BCut the dependence on China by going out and getting the deals.
BCredit where it's earned, but that's a big leap from one bid.
BCome on. Two Chinese bidders walking away from a deposit like this? That's the story.
BWe don't know why they left. Price, terms, Kenya's demands. Your read is a read, not a fact.
BFine, it's my read. But a State Department spokesperson told Reuters the U.S. will "take every opportunity to help American businesses invest in emerging sectors and developing economies, including the mining sector."
BThat's policy, said out loud.
BAnd Kenya wants more of the value kept at home. It won't hand over the keys because someone shows up with a flag.
BAnd it shouldn't! The winning pitch is the one that builds real capacity in Kenya.
BIf an American group wins on that, it's a better deal than the old model. I'll defend that all day.
BThat I'll agree with. Win it by making the best offer, not the loudest announcement.
BTwo to three weeks. We'll see who's right.
BCloser to home now. Brian, you flagged the NPR piece.
BI did. NPR is reporting that ICE activity is surging ahead of the midterms, and so is voter turnout.
BAdvocates are worried about how close the enforcement is to election day. That's the heart of the report.
BAnd my problem with that worry is simple. If this is meant to scare people off, it's failing. Turnout is surging.
BNPR says "so far." Fear doesn't show up in a headline turnout number.
BSo any turnout number proves nothing, and any fear proves everything? That can't be the standard.
BThat's not what I said! Record turnout and some people staying home can both be true. We just can't see the second group.
BThen show me them. Immigration enforcement is the law, and it doesn't pause for a calendar.
BTiming still matters. Even a lawful operation lands differently a week before an election.
BSo no enforcement in election season? Where does that stop?
BNobody said stop. The advocates are asking: think about the timing.
BAnd voters are answering with ballots. To me, that's democracy working.
BEarly read. Let's see what Tuesday says.
BFair enough. I'll take that.
BDifferent world entirely: the Cheesecake Factory is now a culture war.
BOf course it is.
BNPR says a joke from Barack Obama about the chain went viral. Figures in the Trump administration hit back.
BA week before the midterms, the battleground is the dessert menu.
BUnderneath, it's about affordability. Prices are the issue hanging over this whole election.
BWhich is why both sides want to own the joke. Jokes are cheap. Grocery bills aren't.
BPut that on a menu.

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