Cognitive Surrender
Why the Media Got It Wrong on China, the Iran War, and “Green Energy Wins”
Something intriguing—and troubling—unfolded this Monday.
Every morning I scan the major headlines from mainstream outlets. When something catches my eye, I read the full articles. It’s how I stay informed and find fresh angles for my writing.
On Monday, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg all published strikingly similar pieces on the Iran War and its implications for China. Their shared conclusion? China is the war’s biggest winner—largely because of its massive, government-driven investments in green energy. The reasoning they repeated almost verbatim:
China’s heavy bet on solar, wind, and hydropower has made its energy system more resilient to oil shocks.
By dominating the global supply chain for EVs, batteries, and solar panels, China is perfectly positioned to profit as the world scrambles away from unstable fossil fuels.
At first glance, the analysis sounds persuasive. But it ignores several inconvenient realities.
China’s dominanc…
