JRE #2556: Siddharth Kara on Congo Cobalt, Child Labor, and the Hidden Cost of AI

The devices powering modern life may be built on a supply chain soaked in exploitation. In this condensed recap of Joe Rogan Experience #2556, Joe Rogan speaks with Siddharth Kara, whose reporting on cobalt mining in the Congo exposes child labor, militia control, toxic water contamination, deforestation, and the human cost behind smartphones, EV batteries, and AI infrastructure. This summary cuts the full conversation from roughly 3 hours down to about 10 minutes, spotlighting the key takeaways: how lithium, nickel, copper, and cobalt are sourced, why the Congo is trapped in a resource curse, and what ethical responsibility tech and mining companies have to repair the damage. You’ll also hear how Kara connects today’s extraction economy to colonialism and why awareness alone isn’t enough. Listen now to get the key ideas in minutes.