Scott Broom

Retired journalist

[Gaurab Chakrabarti @Gaurab]

The Strait of Hormuz has been closed for 8 days. Everyone thinks this is about oil. This is about what oil becomes. 92% of the world's sulfur comes from refining oil and gas. Close the Strait of Hormuz and you don't just lose 20 million barrels of crude per day. You lose the feedstock for sulfuric acid, the single most produced chemical on Earth. Sulfuric acid is how we extract copper. It's how we extract cobalt. Without it, you can't make transformers, EV batteries, or the substrates inside every data center on the planet. One chemical, made from one feedstock, shipped through one chokepoint. The cascade goes further: Qatar ships 30% of Taiwan's liquefied natural gas through Hormuz. Taiwan has 11 days of reserves left. TSMC, the company that makes 90% of the world's advanced chips, draws 8.9% of Taiwan's total electricity. No gas, no power, no chips. Then food. 33% of the world's nitrogen fertilizer feedstock moves through the Strait. Half of all humans alive today exist because of synthetic nitrogen. Sulfur, semiconductors, food. That makes three supply chains, one 21-nautical-mile chokepoint, and zero domestic alternatives at scale.

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

https://t.co/zpoU8XfQ2N

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

Lutherville MD estimated crowd of 200 @wjz @wbaltv11 @WMAR2News

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

Independence and 4th. Crews already tearing down miles of barriers. ⁦@wusa9⁩

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

Participants describe Mall during inauguration as “a tailgate atmosphere” ⁦@wusa9⁩

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

Mall and 3rd ⁦@wusa9⁩

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

@wusa9

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

In the hour before inauguration on Mall at 3rd

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

Gregg Donovan of Hollywood CA

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

On the Mall. @wusa9

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

@Reporterroblang @pwoodreporter @kateamaraWBAL @Brad7News And “The Great” Byron Scott @pgctv on the right!

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

@FCPSMaryland @wusa9

[FCPS-MD @FCPSMaryland]

⭐️ Schools and offices closing early ⭐️

Due to inclement weather, Frederick County MD public schools and offices will be closing 2 hours early Friday, January 3, 2025.

All FCPS and community-group afterschool and evening activities are canceled or postponed. School-based daycare programs, Community School vendors and Parks and Recreation programs in school gyms make and communicate decisions concerning their schedules.

[MoCoSnow @TheMoCoSnow]

Beyond MoCo: FCPS (Frederick County) Closing 2 Hours Early Due to Inclement Weather

https://t.co/RNNMjNZvO8

[Robert Lang WBAL @Reporterroblang]

Our breaking news this morning.

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

McDonald’s on Nanny Helen Burroughs among many businesses shut down by water disruption in Northeast DC. Boil water advisory has been issued by DC WATER. ⁦@wusa9⁩

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

https://t.co/s7dvHpBEXt

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

https://t.co/5YIVpIfvdV

[Scott Broom @scottbroom]

https://t.co/e8P4GoDWSg