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Anti-ICE protesters claim to be part of a grassroots movement by regular people – but most have no idea they are being bankrolled by a tech millionaire in China. After selling his US tech company for over $700m, researchers say the multimillionaire has poured over $100 million dollars into US activist organizations that protest against immigration enforcement, democracy in Venezuela, and “anti-imperialist” causes. The New York Times says he is orchestrating “a global web of Chinese propaganda” while Marco Rubio has pushed for an investigation into his connections to the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign influences. Mark Mitchell is Vice President of Operations at Rasmussen Reports, where he oversees polling operations and survey analysis. He regularly comments on voter sentiment, election integrity, and political trends. Follow at https://x.com/rasmussen_poll Joel Finkelstein is co-founder and chief science officer of the Network Contagion Research Institute and directs the Network Contagion Lab at Rutgers University's Miller Center. A Princeton graduate, his work focuses on coordinated influence operations, online extremism, and cyber-social threats. Follow at https://x.com/ncri_io UPDATE: Robert Barnes had to reschedule. He will join the show at a later date. 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 • AUGUSTA PRECIOUS METALS – Thousands of Americans are moving portions of their retirement into physical gold & silver. Learn more in this 3-minute report from our friends at Augusta Precious Metals: https://drdrew.com/gold or text DREW to 35052 • FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at https://drdrew.com/fatty15 • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at https://drdrew.com/paleovalley • VSHREDMD – Formulated by Dr. Drew: The Science of Cellular Health + World-Class Training Programs, Premium Content, and 1-1 Training with Certified V Shred Coaches! More at https://drdrew.com/vshredmd • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at https://twc.health/drew 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (https://kalebnation.com) and Susan Pinsky (https://twitter.com/firstladyoflove). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Executive Producers • Kaleb Nation - https://kalebnation.com • Susan Pinsky - https://x.com/firstladyoflove Content Producer & Booking • Emily Barsh - https://x.com/emilytvproducer Hosted By • Dr. Drew Pinsky - https://x.com/drdrew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PERU NAMED NON-NATO PARTNER AS US COUNTERS CHINESE INFLUENCE Colleague Oscar Sumar, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Universidad Científica del Sur. Oscar Sumar discusses Peru's designation as a US non-NATO partner, a move designed to counter Chinese geopolitical expansion through infrastructure like the Chancay port. Sumar warns that while cultural ties are strong, the Chinese Communist Party poses a threat to Peru's democratic stability and political transparency. NUMBER 151941 PERU
SHOW SCHEDULE1-17-251895 PARISLAS VEGAS TUNNELS AND THE RELOCATION OF THE ATHLETICS Colleague Jeff Bliss. Jeff Bliss reports on the expansion of The Boring Company's tunnels in Las Vegas, which use Tesla cars to alleviate traffic congestion. He also discusses the Athletics baseball team's temporary move to Sacramento and the legal complications regarding their team name as they prepare for a permanent move to Las Vegas in 2028. NUMBER 1BIG SUR REOPENS AND COPPER THEFT PLAGUES CALIFORNIA Colleague Jeff Bliss. Highway 1 in Big Sur has reopened after landslide repairs featuring new concrete canopies to protect the road. Bliss also details how copper thieves have crippled infrastructure in Sacramento and Los Angeles, contributing to broader political dissatisfaction with Governor Gavin Newsom regarding crime and the state's management. NUMBER 2FEDERAL IMMUNITY AND THE ICE SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS Colleague Professor Richard Epstein. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes the legal battle over whether ICE agents have immunity from state prosecution following a fatal shooting in Minneapolis. He explains the complexities of absolute versus qualified immunity, arguing that the agents' aggressive conduct might weaken their defense against state charges in this specific instance. NUMBER 3SUPREME COURT LIKELY TO STRIKE DOWN TRUMP TARIFFS Colleague Professor Richard Epstein. Epstein predicts the Supreme Court will invalidate the Trump administration's emergency tariffs, arguing there is no statutory basis for the trade imbalances cited as justification. He anticipates a fractured decision where a centrist block of justices joins liberals to rule that the executive branch exceeded its authority. NUMBER 4MEXICO'S ALIGNMENT WITH DICTATORS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES Colleague Mary Anastasia O'Grady. Mary Anastasia O'Grady discusses Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's ideological support for the Cuban and Venezuelan regimes, including increased oil shipments to Havana. She also details a recent train derailment on Mexico's interoceanic line, attributing the failure to secrecy and no-bid contracts managed by the military. NUMBER 5ITALY STABILIZES PENSION COSTS AND CELEBRATES PASTA TARIFF CUTS Colleague Lorenzo Fiori. Lorenzo Fiori reports that despite high pension costs, Italy's economic reforms under Prime Minister Meloni have stabilized the system by increasing employment. Fiori notes that Italy's deficit and inflation have dropped significantly, and he celebrates the US decision to slash tariffs on Italian pasta imports. NUMBER 6SPACE STATION RETURNS, NUCLEAR MOON PLANS, AND BOEING STRUGGLES Colleague Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman discusses the early return of an ISS crew due to a medical issue and expresses skepticism about NASA's plan for a lunar nuclear reactor by 2030. He also highlights that the Space Force is shifting launches from ULA to SpaceX due to reliability concerns. NUMBER 7GLOBAL SPACE FAILURES AND CHINA'S REUSABLE CRAFT CLAIMS Colleague Bob Zimmerman. Zimmerman analyzes a failed Indian rocket launch that lost multiple payloads, though a Spanish prototype survived. He also critiques the European Space Agency for delays in debris removal missions and casts doubt on China's claims regarding a "new" reusable spacecraft, suggesting it relies on older suborbital technology. NUMBER 8DATA CENTERS STRAIN THE ELECTRICAL GRID Colleague Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski discusses the surging demand for electricity driven by AI data centers and the White House's proposal to auction power access. He argues that tech companies should finance their own off-grid generation, such as nuclear or gas, rather than forcing ratepayers to subsidize new transmission infrastructure. NUMBER 9ELON MUSK AND THE GOLDEN DOME DEFENSE PROPOSAL Colleague Henry Sokolski. Sokolski evaluates Elon Musk's proposal to create a "Golden Dome" missile defense system for the US. While the concept involves space-based sensors, Sokolski notes concerns regarding monopoly power, the reliance on a single contractor for national security, and the undefined costs of ground-based interceptors. NUMBER 10ECONOMIC LIBERTY AND THE LABOR MARKET IN THE AGE OF AI Colleague Kevin Frazier. Kevin Frazier explores how AI is reshaping the economy, noting that liberal arts graduates may be better positioned than STEM majors to handle new information synthesis. He advises legislators to focus on job creation and a fluid labor market rather than trying to protect obsolete professions through regulation. NUMBER 11EDUCATION REFORM AND THE AVOIDANCE OF A FEDERAL AI DEPARTMENT Colleague Kevin Frazier. Frazier argues for updating education, starting with teacher training in elementary schools and vocational partnerships in high schools, to prepare students for an AI future. He advises against creating a federal Department of AI, suggesting society should adapt to it as advanced computing rather than a unique threat. NUMBER 12SOVIET UNION'S SECRET 1972 LUNAR BASE AMBITIONS AND THE N1 ROCKET FAILURE Colleague Anatoli Zak, Publisher of RussianSpaceWeb.com. Anatoli Zak explains that in 1972, the Soviet Union pursued the L3M project to establish a permanent lunar base, refusing to concede the moon race immediately. However, repeated failures of the N1 rocket and the financial strain of competing with the US Space Shuttle eventually forced the program's cancellation. NUMBER 13ISS LAUNCHPAD ACCIDENT AND RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR ROLE IN CHINESE MOON BASE Colleague Anatoli Zak, Publisher of RussianSpaceWeb.com. A launchpad collapse has halted Russian cargo missions to the ISS, endangering the propellant supply required for critical orbit maintenance. Zak also details Russia's attempt to join China's lunar ambitions, with the Kurchatov Institute developing a nuclear reactor to provide electricity for a future Chinese moon base. NUMBER 14PERU NAMED NON-NATO PARTNER AS US COUNTERS CHINESE INFLUENCE Colleague Oscar Sumar, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Universidad Científica del Sur. Oscar Sumar discusses Peru's designation as a US non-NATO partner, a move designed to counter Chinese geopolitical expansion through infrastructure like the Chancay port. Sumar warns that while cultural ties are strong, the Chinese Communist Party poses a threat to Peru's democratic stability and political transparency. NUMBER 15ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN INDICATORS AND SECRECY AT THE WHITE HOUSE Colleague Jim McTague, Former Washington Editor of Barron's. Jim McTague observes unusually light traffic and retail activity in Washington, D.C. and Lancaster, signaling a potential economic slowdown. He notes blocked views of White House construction and predicts a recession driven by rising state taxes and the depletion of pandemic-era stimulus funds for local governments. NUMBER 16
President Donald Trump is warning of consequences for what he calls “agitators” and “insurrectionists” in Minnesota. That comes as the Department of Homeland Security says that over the past five weeks, 2,500 illegal immigrants have been arrested in Minneapolis.Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi says he is ready to lead the country through a transition but is urging Western countries to take action against the regime to complete its collapse. Meanwhile, the White House is detailing phase two of Trump's Gaza peace plan. This comes after Trump announced the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.Canada has struck a deal with China. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa will cut its tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, while China lowers its tariff on Canadian canola. Carney announced the agreement after meetings in Beijing, where he and Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping pledged to improve relations. Trump said today he has no objection to the deal.
PREVIEW FOR LATER PERU BALANCES CHINESE CULTURE WITH SECURITY CONCERNS Colleague Oscar Sumar, Civitas Institute. While Peru recently became a US non-NATO military partner, China maintains heavy investment in Peruvian infrastructure like the Chancay port. Sumar distinguishes between the beloved Chinese-Peruvian culinary culture and the Chinese Communist Party, noting that while Peruvians embrace the former, they view the CCP as a distinct regional threat.1916 PERUVIAN AMAZON
China's Quest for Legitimacy and Defense. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. The Chinese Communist Party yearns for ancient China's legitimacy while defending its modern borders. Rather than traditional imperial expansion, Chinaemploys "total war" non-military means. However, the state currently faces a crisis of sovereignty as it implodes internally under disproven totalitarian models and intensifying defensive pressures.1903 QING DYNASTY DOWAGER EMPRESS
Is Taiwan's greatest vulnerability China's military or political warfare from within? J. Michael Cole—former Canadian intelligence officer, Senior Fellow with Global Taiwan Institute and author of “The Taiwan Tinderbox: The Island Nation at the Center of the New Cold War”—reveals how Chinese Communist Party influence operations, Taiwan independence debates and political divisions threaten cross-strait stability more than invasion scenarios.Taiwan's Internal Security CrisisCole exposes how CCP proxies use cognitive warfare, espionage and co-optation to weaken Taiwan's defense capabilities from within. Taiwan's democracy creates a paradox: countering Chinese influence without becoming authoritarian. Opposition parties blocking defense spending increases—Taiwan aims for 5% GDP military spending—sends conflicting signals about Taiwan's commitment to self-defense, weakening deterrence against Beijing.Taiwan Identity & Independence MovementsTaiwan's divisions trace to indigenous peoples, Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945, and post-1949 Kuomintang (KMT) arrival. Cole identifies two critical movements: Taidu (Taiwan independence) and Huadu (Republic of China supporters opposing Beijing annexation). United, they'd form a powerful defense against the Chinese pressure campaign, but real unity has been elusive.Hong Kong's Cautionary TaleBeijing's crushing of Hong Kong democracy under “one country, two systems” became China's worst propaganda failure for Taiwan unification. Young Taiwanese watched personal connections to Hong Kong destroyed, solidifying opposition across the political spectrum, so that even the dovish KMT publicly rejects Chinese unification proposals.Chinese Cognitive Warfare SuccessWhile China failed to convince Taiwanese they're Chinese—unification support remains below 5%—Beijing has succeeded at fostering divisions and increasing skepticism of America's reliability as a defense partner. Internet content farms and co-opted politicians amplify CCP narratives from within, exploiting Taiwan democracy against itself.The Greatest Threat: Accidental EscalationCole's nightmare scenario isn't invasion but normalized PLA presence near Taiwan. Chinese naval forces, drones, coast guard and maritime militia crowding Taiwan's waters increase collision and miscommunication risks. Beijing stands ready to exploit incidents through disinformation, blame Taiwan, and then escalate in unpredictable ways.Taiwan's Defense Strategy EvolutionTaiwan has shifted from passive defense to counter-force capabilities: domestically produced anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles targeting China. This has required US approval, marking a major US Taiwan relations policy shift. Taiwan now emphasizes semiconductor supply chain criticality and first island chain security to make conflict consequences resonate globally.Why Taiwan's Democracy MattersCole's 20-year Taiwan residence reflects the island's resilience: a vibrant democracy thriving under constant Chinese military threat, successful despite isolation, and a model for defending democratic values without authoritarianism.
The Chinese Communist Party makes no secret of its determination to destroy the United States of America. So how can we allow the CCP to own land across the country often within striking distance, literally, of sensitive U.S. military and other installations? For example, a longtime official of the CCP's subversive United Front Work Department owns two golf courses enveloping a critically important U.S. military installation: Louisiana's Barksdale Air Force Base. That's the home of Global Strike Command responsible for two of the three “legs” of our nuclear “Triad.” What could possibly go wrong? It's malfeasant to let our mortal enemy have the option of waging immensely destructive warfare against us from inside the United States. China's assets like the Barksdale-adjacent golf courses should be seized immediately and Chinese nationals – especially any PLA soldiers in America – should be repatriated forthwith. This is Frank Gaffney.
i. Constitution We Believe 1. We believe the First Amendment's Establishment Clause was intended to prevent a federal government-sponsored or preferred religion, not to separate God from our government or to remove religion from public life; therefore, we affirm our right under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to exercise our freedom of speech including religious speech. 2. We believe the Second Amendment is an individual right of the citizens of the United States to keep and bear arms; therefore, we oppose any attempts, whether by law or regulation at any level of government, to restrict any citizen's right to keep and bear arms (open or concealed), to restrict access to ammunition, or to record the purchase thereof. 3. We believe the United States Constitution directs the judiciary to interpret law, not make law or create law through judicial activism. 4. We believe in the concept that Congress shall make no law that applies to citizens of the United States that does not apply to the Senators and Representatives. 5. We believe in the concept of nullification as a legitimate tool for adjudicating disputes between the states and the federal government when the federal government enacts a law clearly not in pursuance of the constitution and powers delegated in Art. I, Sec. 8. 6. We believe in the Tenth Amendment that provides "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people," and we oppose any attempt by the federal government to intrude on state's rights. 7. We believe the Constitution provides for a clear and distinct separation of powers among the three branches of government. Any governmental action that tends to promote or allow one branch of government to practice the power or powers of the other branches of government is a violation of the limits placed on government by the people. 8. We believe in the duty and obligation of the federal government and the State of Oklahoma to adhere to and respect treaties between the federal government and the Indian tribes. We Support 1. We support the display of Judeo-Christian religious symbols, including the Ten Commandments in public places. 2. We support legislation that will protect gun and ammunition manufacturers or resellers from lawsuits attempting to hold the manufacturers or resellers liable for misuse of guns. 3. We support requiring that candidates for president present public proof of qualification in accordance with the Constitution at the time of filing, through the election board of each state. 4. We support a US Constitutional Amendment requiring a balanced budget. 18 5. We support a US Constitutional Amendment instituting term limits for all elected members of Congress. 6. We support a U.S. Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. 7. We support a requirement that each piece of legislation only address one issue. 8. We support the review and minimization of the Endangered Species Act. 9. We support the abolishment, or reduction and restructuring, of the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, IRS, CIA, ATF, FBI, FEMA, NSA, DHS, CDC, and the Department of Labor and their powers and responsibilities distributed to state authority. 10. We support the protection of public and private sector whistleblowers who have firsthand information. 11. We support union's refunding dues used for partisan political activity. 12. We support the right of private associations to admit or deny membership based on what each association's conscience dictates. 13. We support an English Language Act, which would make English our official language in the United States. 14. We support the idea that when U.S. Conference Committees meet, they should consider only those terms submitted from the House and Senate, with no additional expenditures and items added. 15. We support the preservation of the National Day of Prayer. 16. We support legislation to limit the power of federal regulatory agencies. 17. We support the identification of persons as citizens or non-citizens in the census. We Oppose 1. We oppose any federal taxation on firearms, ammunition, or accessories and/or confiscation of firearms, ammunition, or accessories. 2. We oppose universal background checks and red flag laws for firearm purchases. 3. We oppose any legislation that would require the use of trigger or other locking devices on firearms. 4. We oppose any so-called "assault" weapons ban and any effort to register or restrict firearms, ammunition, or magazines. 5. We oppose legislation that would require gun owners to purchase insurance policies covering the misuse of their firearms. 6. We oppose the Patriot Act and the NDAA' s Sections 1021 and 1022, which allow American citizens, 19 except for enemy combatants, to be held indefinitely without due process, and call for its repeal. 7. We oppose court decisions based on any foreign law, such as Sharia Law, U.N. regulations and other international organizations, instead of U.S. law and Constitutional doctrine. 8. We oppose the creation of a new federal internal security force. 9. We oppose federal wage caps. 10. We oppose Statehood for the District of Columbia and allowing its representative a vote in Congress. 11. We oppose the appointment and funding of presidential "czars." 12. We oppose any attempts by the Federal Government to reinstitute the "Fairness Doctrine" or institute "Net Neutrality." 13. We oppose the construct of "Free Speech or Safe Zones." 14. We oppose national injunctions by federal district courts. 15. We oppose the use and sharing of data from Automated License Plate Readers as an infringement on our 4th amendment protected rights. ii. Criminal Justice We Believe 1. The rights of victims and their families must be protected in criminal proceedings, with notice and opportunity to attend all proceedings related to the crime(s) against them. 2. Restitution by the convicted criminal should be ordered to be made to the victim (or his estate) to compensate for losses and damages incurred as a result of the crime(s) committed. 3. The death penalty must be retained as an available punishment in appropriate cases. 4. Inmates who abuse the legal system by filing repeated frivolous claims should receive appropriate punishments for their misconduct. 5. Decisions on prison reform should be made by the Legislature after consultation with district attorneys, prison officials, and other interested parties, with the view towards stopping criminal behavior early, rather than adopting permissive treatment of low-level crimes which may deceive or encourage a young adult to continue on the wrong path under the mistaken assumption that there will be no consequences for criminal behavior. Consideration of incentives for first-time or youthful offenders who refrain from further misconduct may be a useful option to be considered in designing such reforms. 6. We believe in due process and that no one should be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the government or its agents without either being found guilty by a jury or pleading guilty of a crime. We therefore oppose the practice of civil asset forfeiture. 20 We Support 1. We support the repeal of The Oklahoma Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion Program as it is unconstitutional at the state and federal level. We Oppose 1. We oppose the monitoring, surveillance and tracking of United States citizens without a lawfully obtained warrant. iii. Federal & State Elections Preamble: The foundation of our representative-republic is honest elections. The Oklahoma Republican Party is committed to preserving every legally eligible Oklahoman's right to vote. We support only day of in-person voting as written in the Constitutions with limited exceptions to protect voting rights for the elderly, the disabled, military members, and all other eligible voters. We urge all elected officials around our state to take all necessary steps to ensure that voters may cast their ballots in a timely and secure manner. Security and transparency shall take precedence over convenience to ensure honest and fair, local, state, and federal elections. We Believe 1. We believe in fair and honest election procedures. 2. We believe equal suffrage for all United States citizens of voting age. 3. We believe in the constitutional authority of state legislatures to regulate voting. We Support 1. We support a bit-by-bit forensic audit of all electronic devices, including but not limited to servers, ballot machines, and paper ballots throughout the state immediately before and after each election. 2. We support vigorous enforcement of all our election laws as written and oppose any laws, lawsuits, and judicial decisions that make voter fraud difficult to deter, detect, or prosecute. 3. We support full enforcement of all voter ID laws currently enacted. 4. We support felony status for willful violations of the election code and increasing penalty for voter fraud from a misdemeanor back to a felony. 5. We support consolidating elections to primary, runoff, special, and general election. 6. We support sequentially numbered and signed ballots to deter counterfeiting. 7. We support expanding the Attorney General's staff for investigating election crimes and restoring the ability of the Attorney General to prosecute any election crimes. 8. We support the ability for civil lawsuits to be filed for election fraud or officials' failure to follow the Oklahoma Election Code. 21 9. We support allowing trained poll watchers from anywhere in Oklahoma with local party or candidate approval. 10. We support creating processes that will allow rapid adjudication of election law violations. 11. We support requiring voters to re-register if they have not voted in a five-year period. 12. We support requiring proof of residency, citizenship, and voter registration via photo ID for each voter. 13. We support retaining the 25-day registration deadline. 14. We support requiring a list of certified deaths be provided to the Secretary of State for the names of deceased voters to be removed from the list of registered voters, with checks every third year of the voter rolls to ensure all currently registered voters are eligible. 15. We support giving the Secretary of State enforcement authority to ensure county registrar compliance with Secretary of State directives. 16. We support protecting the integrity of the Republican Primary Election by requiring a closed primary system in Oklahoma. 17. We support drawing districts based on eligible voters, not pure population. Districts should be geographically compact when possible 18. We support hand counting of ballots. 19. We support recalls, audits, recounts, and irregularity and fraud investigations requested within 45 days of an election. 20. We support verification of United States citizenship for voting or registering to vote. 21. We support elections run by United States citizens. 22. We support counts to be posted on Precinct doors. We Oppose 1. We oppose internet voting, the use of tabulation machines and electronic voting machines of any kind for public office and any ballot measure. 2. We oppose all motor voter laws, automatic voter registration (AVR), and all forms of electronic databases, such as ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) and all third-party registration vendors. 3. We oppose all federal legislation, including but not limited to the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022, which nullifies the 10th Amendment of the Bill of Rights. 22 4. We oppose unlawful voting, illegal assistance, or ineligible people voting in our national, state, and local elections. 5. We oppose ranked choice voting. 6. We oppose any identification of citizens by race, origin, creed, sexuality, or lifestyle choices and oppose the use of any such identification for the purposes of creating voting districts. We urge that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 be repealed. 7. We oppose any redistricting map that is unfair to conservative candidates in the Primary or the General Election. 8. We oppose the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and any other scheme to abolish or distort the procedures of the Electoral College. 9. We oppose after-hours voting C. Natural Resources We Believe 1. We believe dependence on foreign energy sources is a national security issue. 2. We believe governments should ease restrictions in the search for energy and other natural resources. 3. We believe the federal agricultural appropriations should accurately show the percentage of money set aside for non-agricultural programs such as school lunch programs and food stamps. 4. We believe the responsible use of natural resources is essential for the benefit of future generations. We Support 1. We support the creation and enactment of a national energy policy to reduce dependence on foreign sources. 2. We support the private expansion of oil and gas exploration and refining capacity. 3. We support the exportation of U.S. petroleum products. 4. We support labeling of all food and fiber with country-of-origin labeling. Further, only products born, raised, slaughtered, and processed or sprouted, harvested, grown, and processed in this country should receive a U.S. label. 5. We support energy policy based on private development, efficient use and expansion of current resources such as fossil fuels, clean coal, and nuclear energy; and exploration and efficient use of other resources such as biofuels, wind, solar and water energy. 6. We support ending all federal and state subsidies, including tax credits, for industrial renewable 23 energy, including but not limited to, wind and solar. 7. We support the rights of individuals and businesses to refuse the installation of smart meters without penalties. 8. We support the right of states to provide water for present and future use within their borders by state residents before they can be designated for use to other states. 9. We support environmental recommendations that are based on sound science, that respect and protect the rights of property owners, and that do not impose unreasonable burdens on Oklahoma citizens or businesses. 10. We support more use of coal and natural gas to be used in the production of electricity. 11. We support the use of modular nuclear, or small natural gas fired generation facilities to be built close to high demand facilities to greatly reduce the need for long and expensive transmission lines. 12. We support mandatory country-of-origin labeling of meat products and that a country-of-origin label that states in any way that it is a product of the USA must be of the following requirements: Born, raised, harvested, packaged & processed in the USA. 13. We support The Packers and Stockyards Act and the enforcement of anti-trust laws. 14. We support private property rights and call for appropriate legislation to prohibit the use of eminent domain by private companies. 15. We stand with Oklahoma and her property owners against the Green Agenda. We Oppose 1. We oppose government curbs, moratoriums, punitive taxes and fees on our domestic oil and gas industry. 2. We oppose states selling water rights to out-of-state buyers. 3. We oppose the use of eminent domain for any water sale. 4. We oppose human rights for animals. 5. We oppose livestock taxation. 6. We oppose legislation that restricts or regulates family farms or farmers' markets. 7. We oppose restrictive regulation of carbon and particulate matter emissions in agriculture. 8. We oppose the "Cap and Trade" system for carbon dioxide. 9. We oppose the UN's Agenda 21, aka UN 2030, as a coordinated effort to relinquish the sovereignty of the United States to foreign powers. 24 10. We oppose the purchase or ownership of land by a foreign government or entity. 11. We oppose the production, selling, and labeling of a product that is an alternative protein source claiming to be meat, otherwise known as or referred to as fake meat, and labeling such product as meat, beef, burger, steak, or any other name given to an actual meat protein source derived from the production and slaughter of livestock. 12. We oppose current regulations that allow foreign beef to enter the U.S. and be packaged, repackaged, or commingled with domestic product and then labeled a product of the USA. 13. We oppose the theory that cow flatulence, belching, or any process of enteric fermentation that is said to emit methane or a greenhouse gas that some link to the theory of global warming is some sort of detriment threat to the environment. 14. We oppose any form of carbon tracking solutions imposed on farmers and ranchers that will ultimately lead to more costly and burdensome regulations. 15. We oppose NACs (natural asset companies) or similar companies derived by investors, the SEC, or any other entity that wishes to monetize, trade natural outputs, or otherwise maximize ecological performance in such a way that any company can control the management of public or private lands quantifying outputs of natural resources such as air and water. 16. We oppose any effort of the federal government to have any role in animal care or husbandry. 17. We oppose mandates or restrictions on the use of antibiotics for farm or veterinary use. 18. We oppose mandatory Electronic Identification device (EID) tags on livestock, birds, and animals. D. National Issues i. Defense We Believe 1. We believe that a strong national defense should be fully funded, provide sufficient compensation, educational opportunities, quality training, and the best equipment for our armed forces. 2. We believe any educational institution that inhibits the normal operations of ROTC or military recruiters should be ineligible for government funding. 3. We believe foreign enemies who have committed or planned acts of aggression against the U.S. are unlawful enemy combatants and are not entitled to citizenship rights under the U.S. Constitution. We believe they should be held in detention facilities such as Guantanamo Bay, not the U.S. Prisons Systems, and their cases adjudicated by military tribunals, not by U.S. Criminal Courts. 4. We believe Congress and the President should refrain from weakening the military through changes to the Uniform Coe of Military Justice. The military should be allowed to maintain its high level of honesty, integrity, morality, and operational capabilities. 25 5. We believe in the complete accounting of all MIAs and POWs that were engaged in military actions by the United States. We Support 1. We support maintaining a strong national defense and advocate "peace through strength", with a combat ready and capable force. 2. We support the right of the military's internal determination of who is qualified to perform the various roles and functions of each branch of the uniformed armed services. 3. We support veterans' and survivors' benefits, and to receive top quality health care. We support the reform of the Veteran's Administration and the use of private facilities when appropriate. 4. We support helping our veterans to succeed in their return to civilian life in medical care, mental health care, education, housing, and employment assistance. 5. We support the freedom of military chaplains to provide religious services including freedom of worship according to their faith. 6. We support and encourage continued public and privately funded exploration of space. 7. We support returning to "Don't Ask Don't Tell" for the military of the United States. We Oppose 1. We oppose re-instituting the draft except in time of war as declared by Congress. 2. We oppose drafting females into U.S. military service. 3. We oppose the military use of U.S. troops under foreign command except joint operations. 4. We oppose the erosion of our military's readiness through "gender norming" for training and promotion. 5. We oppose the further reduction of benefits and entitlements to service members, former service members, and their families. 6. We oppose halting military pay during US government shutdowns. ii. Foreign Relations We Support 1. We support economic stability be it in the U.S. or Internationally 2. We support the dollar as the principal currency of the world. 3. We support equal access of U.S. products to global markets and the elimination of trade barriers. 26 4. We support withdrawing from treaties and agreements, such as the Kyoto Treaty, and the Paris Climate Accord, that hamper the U.S. economy and compromises freedoms We Oppose 1. We oppose the Chinese Communist Party and any other governments that are manipulators of the U.S. dollar and exchange rates at the expense of U.S. National Security as well as economic stability. 2. We oppose paying into UN programs that are against American principles and freedoms. 3. We oppose any doctrines that infringe upon U.S. Sovereignty and the Sovereignty of U.S. allies such as Israel, the Ukraine, and Taiwan. 4. We oppose terrorism and any nations that sponsor terroristic organizations and groups that are anti-U.S. such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. 5. We oppose the sale of technology by U.S. Corporations to terrorist and enemy nations. 6. We oppose the transfer of U.S. taxpayer wealth to any foreign governments under the umbrella of foreign, humanitarian aid, scientific research, and military assistance for non-U.S. interests. 7. We oppose the principles of the World Economic Forum to devalue the U.S. dollar and do not accept them as a body of global governance. 8. We oppose the creation of the Transatlantic Common Market 9. We oppose any United Nations Programs that seek a "world order" over the Earth's population and U.N. policies that are forced over the world's nations. 10. We oppose the World Health Organization's policies over U.S. citizens and setting precedent for the U.S. medical community. 11. We oppose foreign control over any ports or bases within the jurisdiction of the United States. 12. We oppose any actions taken by previous administrations that relinquish U.S. sovereignty and control over U.S. data and private communications. iii. Immigration We Support 1. We support limited legal immigration and embrace legal immigrants who choose to assimilate to our American culture, language, and values. 2. We support securing our borders against illegal immigrants and potential enemies of the United States including building a wall or barrier on our southern border. 3. We support legal requirements for citizenship, excluding provisions for birthright citizenship to children of illegal residents. 27 4. We support a strictly regulated and enforced guest worker program. Legal guest workers should assume social costs, such as education and health care for themselves and their dependents. 5. We support the method for determining the number of immigrants and temporary visa holders allowed in the United States should be revised to prevent an adverse effect on our national security, wages, housing, environment, medical care, or schools. 6. We support that the U.S. government should vigorously enforce and demand that all local law enforcement agencies uphold and enforce all federal laws concerning illegal immigration. We particularly support the work of the men and women of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and US Border Patrol and Protection. 7. We support the elimination of sanctuary cities for illegal aliens and the defunding of any government entity which declares itself a sanctuary city. 8. We support strong enforcement of state and federal laws dealing with illegal aliens. 9. We support substantial state fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. 10. We support issuing driver's license only to citizens and others who reside here legally, and not to illegal aliens. We Oppose 1. We oppose illegal aliens being given the same privileges as U.S. citizens or legal aliens, including entitlements such as Social Security, health care (excepting trauma care), education, and earned income tax credits. State government social programs should be available only to citizens and legal residents of the United States. 2. We oppose any form of blanket amnesty. 3. We oppose legal immigrants overstaying their visas. 4. We oppose a "path to citizenship" that would grant citizenship to illegal aliens faster than to immigrants who have come to the United States through legal means. E. State Issues i. State Legislature We Believe 1. We believe all bills should be limited to one issue. 2. We believe that it is the responsibility of individual legislators to read and to be knowledgeable of all pieces of legislation prior to voting. 3. We believe that all state-tribal compacts and agreements should require the approval of both houses of the legislature in addition to the ten-member Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. 28 4. We believe Oklahoma shall participate only in programs or plans that protect private property rights and encourage citizens to develop their property in a manner that does not harm others. 5. We believe Oklahoma should not participate in any global ID initiatives and should prohibit the introduction of a radio frequency identification device (RFID) in any state-issued identification card. 6. We believe the Oklahoma Lottery should be repealed. 7. We believe a fee shall be defined as funds collected for voluntary use of government service, be used exclusively for that service, and not to exceed the cost of that service. We Support 1. We support any legislation that protects our rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. 2. We support an explanation of the specific Oklahoma and U.S. Constitutional authority when filing a bill. 3. We support full funding of all state retirement systems. 4. We support legislation rescinding Oklahoma's previous calls for a U.S. Constitutional Convention. 5. We support the state and any county, municipality, city, town, school or any other political subdivision to display, in its public buildings and on its grounds, replicas of United States historical documents including, but not limited to, the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Oklahoma Constitution and other historically significant documents in the form of statues, monuments, memorials, tablets or any other display that respects the dignity and solemnity of such documents. Such documents shall be displayed in a manner consistent with the context of other documents contained in such display. 6. We support full protection of U.S. Second Amendment rights in Oklahoma by amending the Oklahoma Constitution to mirror the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. 7. We support maintaining the Constitutional Carry law in Oklahoma statute. 8. We support the ability of state law enforcement to restore the peace and protect Oklahoma citizens through the arrest and prosecution of any persons/agents attempting to inflict unconstitutional laws/mandates on its citizens. 9. We support the fundamental right to own and to enjoy our private property and we oppose restrictions or losses of that right. 10. We support fair, just, and timely compensation for property owners when governmental regulations limit property use. 11. We support driver's license photos of a lower resolution that is perfectly adequate for visual identification, but not for biometric tracking. 12. We support the repeal of mandatory fingerprinting or other traceable biometric information, and 29 we oppose the maintenance of a biometric database, in connection with an application for a driver's license or government ID. 13. We support lawsuit reform including but not limited to "loser pays". 14. We support amending the current Right to Farm law to explicitly allow for expansion, production, technological changes, and measures to protect these activities. 15. We support the Unmanned Surveillance Act which prohibits the use of a drone when no warrant has been issued. 16. We support a state constitutional amendment requiring judges to inform jurors of their duty to judge the law (nullification); and prohibiting judges and district attorneys from infringing on the rights of the defense to inform the jury of this duty. 17. We support amending the Oklahoma Constitution to remove the unelected Judicial Nominating Commission and adopt the federal model authorizing the Governor to appoint Oklahoma appellate judges with confirmation by the Oklahoma State Senate. 18. We support the oversight and regulation of the medical marijuana industry for medical purposes only. 19. We support the state and its citizens maintaining control of all transportation instead of selling or leasing control of that right to foreign entities, corporations, private/public partnerships, or other states. 20. We support efficient and necessary spending on our state, county, and local roads and bridges because they are essential for economic growth and development. 21. We support a moratorium on creation of additional turnpikes in Oklahoma until existing turnpikes in Oklahoma have generated enough toll revenue based upon an independent audit to repay their original costs, are conveyed to state ownership, and converted to toll-free roads. 22. We support the elimination of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and all tolls. We Oppose 1. We oppose the final passage of any legislation before the full text has been read. 2. We oppose the concept of claiming property as "blighted" as a reason for taking land. 3. We oppose allowing state agencies to hire lobbyists to lobby other state agencies or the legislature. 4. We oppose animal ID programs by the government, leaving it up to the free market. 5. We oppose the expansion of gambling in any form in Oklahoma. 30 ii. State Agencies, State, County, and Local Government We Believe 1. We believe in transparent and honest government in the Oklahoma Legislature, all legislative committees, and in state and county agencies. 2. We believe all state agencies should be made accountable for maintenance of their records and accurate enforcement of rules, policies, and regulations. 3. We believe all government officials, including judges, who act in violation of the U.S. or Oklahoma Constitution should be impeached and removed from office in a timely manner. 4. We believe the Attorney General should be removed from the District Attorney's Council so that locally elected officials have the proper degree of autonomy. 5. We believe that no governmental agency or private business should require from any citizen any information that is not essential to the direct performance of the agency's/ business's operation or mandate. We Support 1. We support reducing the size of state government to allow citizens to do those things that people can do best for themselves. 2. We support legislative efforts to repeal outdated and irrelevant statutes in keeping with the philosophy of smaller government and support the elimination or consolidation of redundant authorities, boards, commissions, and agencies. 3. We support providing an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the Open Meetings and Records Act and with audit findings. 4. We support external annual performance and financial audits. The auditor shall not be selected by the audited agencies. 5. We support public disclosure of all financial records of public institutions including trusts, authorities, libraries, community foundations, all state retirement funds, and teacher retirement funds. 6. We support the Whistleblower Act which protects all public employees, including higher education employees. 7. We support all elected and appointed officials to aggressively uncover, remedy, and prosecute all waste, fraud, and abuse in government including the elimination of all unnecessary state agencies. 8. We support the repeal of Title 11, Section 22-104.1 of the OK Statutes, which enables a municipal corporation to engage in any business it is authorized to license. 9. We support mandatory random drug testing for all employees of the State of Oklahoma and recipients of public assistance with sanctions for positive test results. 31 10. We support and call on the Attorney General to vigorously enforce Article XXII, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution which prohibits foreign governments from owning businesses or real estate in Oklahoma. 11. We support that the state of Oklahoma shall not exercise any eminent domain action until at least 90% of affected property holders/interests has been acquired without the threat of eminent domain. 12. We support enforcement of state and federal Anti-Trust laws regulating the mergers of domestic and foreign corporations that create monopolies resulting in a loss of competition, and detrimental to Oklahoma entities. We Oppose 1. We oppose any exemptions to the current Open Meetings and Open Records Act. 2. We oppose unfunded mandates by the State Legislature and state agencies. 3. We oppose the declaration of a United Nations Day in Oklahoma. 4. We oppose legislative actions that would alter current county government structures (i.e. Home Rule). 5. We oppose self-serving legislation and conflict of interest legislation. 32 2025 Oklahoma Republican Party Platform Committee Casey Wooley, Chair Lori Gracey , Vice-Chair Patricia Pope – Blaine Bryan Morris – Canadian Rachel Ruiz – Canadian John Spencer – Canadian LeRoss Apple – Cimarron Bruce Fleming – Cleveland Sherrie Hamilton – Haskell Gary Voelkers – Kay Julie Collier – McClain Leslie Mahan – Oklahoma Ruth Foote – Oklahoma Mark Harris – Oklahoma Robert Scott – Okmulgee Jason Shilling – Payne Mishela DeBoer – Rogers Patricia Lyle – Rogers John Doak – Tulsa April Dawn Brown – Garvin Amanda Bergerson – Logan Michelle Wax – Carter Jana Belcher – Grady
On today's episode, we discuss a massive human‑rights lawsuit against Cisco Systems, where Chinese Falun Gong practitioners claim the company helped the Chinese Communist Party build a surveillance and torture machine known as the “Golden Shield.” Madeline walks through the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act, explaining why victims cannot sue China itself and instead target a deep‑pocketed U.S. company as an alleged aider and abettor. The crew unpacks the core legal question: does U.S. law even recognize a civil cause of action for aiding and abetting torture and extrajudicial killing, or must plaintiffs show Cisco acted with a direct, purpose‑driven “guilty mind” rather than mere knowledge its technology might be misused? To clarify “mens rea,” James uses down‑to‑earth hypotheticals about selling guns to “Ramblin' Bob,” showing the difference between vaguely knowing someone is bad and actively helping him pick the best weapon to kill his wife. They note that the Supreme Court declined to review the intent standard, signaling the justices may resolve the case on the narrower ground that these statutes simply do not authorize aiding‑and‑abetting suits against corporations at all. From there, the conversation widens to whether U.S. tech firms should face legal exposure when foreign regimes weaponize their products, and how far American courts should go in policing global human‑rights abuses through civil litigation. Along the way, there is the usual banter about Greenland, and Dwayne “stealing” James's glitchy Surface Book, but the heart of the episode is a sober look at how law, technology, and authoritarian power increasingly intertwine. Don't miss it!
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is under fire after claiming ICE is “randomly targeting brown people.” But new reporting and ICE arrest records tell a very different story.
Mauro Institute director and counterterrorism expert Ryan Mauro joins to share the evidence that links a violent extremist group to Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was fatally shot by an ICE officer after she hit the officer with her car. Are we close to seeing Iranians escape their hellscape? Glenn takes calls that ask about what's going on in Venezuela and the Chinese Communist Party buying up American land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Glenn further discusses how Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) appears to be advocating for civil war with how he has responded to the ICE agent fatally shooting a fleeing suspect who hit the agent with her vehicle. Glenn blasts Tim Walz and his administration, laying out the recent scandals Walz has been involved in over the last few weeks. Mauro Institute director and counterterrorism expert Ryan Mauro joins to share the evidence that allegedly links a violent extremist group to Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was fatally shot by an ICE officer after she hit the officer with her car. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter joins to discuss the ongoing situation in Iran and what it means for Israel and the United States. President Trump has been in office for less than a year, and America has gone from negative growth to a 5.9% GDP. Is this a sign of good things to come? Glenn discusses the ongoing Iranian protest, which is seeing Iranian women lighting cigarettes with photographs of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Glenn takes calls from his listeners, who ask about pressing issues like the indictment of Maduro and the Chinese Communist Party buying up American land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trending with Timmerie - Catholic Principals applied to today's experiences.
Reggie Littlejohn, founder and president of Anti Globalist International, joins Trending with Timmerie sharing Jimmy Lai’s story – the Catholic newspaper owner who stood for freedom against the Chinese Communist Party. Episode Guide Jimmy Lai's Conviction after 5 years solitary confinement (2:22) Fast and pray for Jimmy Lai (17:13) What the people of China suffer under the CCP (21:06) Timmerie’s asked how she dealt with infertility and got pregnant (38:34) Resources mentioned: https://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/ https://www.antiglobalist.net/ More stories from Reggie’s time with St. Mother Teresa https://relevantradio.com/2024/11/st-gianna-molla-st-mother-teresa/ The Hong Konger Movie https://thehongkongermovie.com/ Sign the petition here! https://www.antiglobalist.net/petition-to-free-jimmy-lai/ How to Get Pregnant & Shia LeBeouf becomes Catholic https://relevantradio.com/2022/09/how-to-get-pregnant-shia-lebeouf-becomes-catholic-2/ Fertility/infertility specialist – NaPro Physicians https://fertilitycare.org/find-a-mc Telehealth NaPro Physicians https://naturalwomanhood.org/find-a-doctor/telehealth/
Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the complex and often suppressed memory of China's recent past. Drawing on Tania Branigan's Red Memory, we delve into the heart of Beijing—Tiananmen Square—and unpack its layers of history, from the May Fourth Movement of 1919 to the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 and the tragedy of 1989.Why does the portrait of Mao Zedong still gaze over the square, despite the catastrophes of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution? How does the Chinese Communist Party use "Red Tourism" and curated museums to construct a narrative of national rejuvenation while burying the trauma of its own making? From the "Century of Humiliation" to Xi Jinping's "Chinese Dream," we examine how memory is not just history, but a tool of state legitimacy.Plus: A reminder for students! Tickets are selling fast for our live masterclass on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism on January 26th.and you can access advert free episodes here on PatreonKey Topics:Tiananmen Square: A site of revolution, celebration, and massacre.The Cult of Mao: Why the Chairman remains the "vigilant eye" over modern China.Red Tourism: How the party commodifies its revolutionary past.Historical Amnesia: The erasure of the Cultural Revolution and the Great Famine from public discourse.Books Mentioned:Red Memory: Living, Remembering and Forgetting China's Cultural Revolution by Tania BraniganThe Age of Extremes by Eric Hobsbawm (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A young man in China went astray in his life at an early age; becoming addicted to drugs and resorting to a life of crime. When a fellow drug addict became free of addiction after taking up cultivation in Dafa, this young man followed the same path and has now regained an honest, healthy, and productive life, dedicated to helping others learn the truth about Falun Dafa, and quit the Chinese Communist Party. This and other experience-sharing from the Minghui website.Original Articles:1. Falun Dafa Rescued Me from the Abyss of Drug Addiction2. Everything Changed After I Looked Inward3. Sowing Seeds of Kindness4. I Finally Understand How to Cultivate To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org
In this episode, host Steve Yates is joined by Andrew J. Phelan, Australian med-tech entrepreneur, former government advisor, and longtime China watcher, for a wide-ranging conversation on the growing global confrontation with the Chinese Communist Party.Phelan reflects on recent events in Australia, including the Bondi tragedy, and examines how information warfare, social media platforms like TikTok, and foreign influence operations are shaping public opinion—especially among younger generations. From there, the discussion expands to Australia's China policy under Prime Minister Albanese, U.S.–Australia alliance dynamics, and the limits of appeasement.The conversation dives deep into the technology Cold War: export controls, semiconductors, AI, supply-chain dependence, Chinese overcapacity, and the role of Western capital in financing China's rise. Phelan argues that 2025 marks a true inflection point—one defined by economic bifurcation, strategic risk, and growing pressure around Taiwan.This episode offers a clear-eyed assessment of where things stand heading into 2026—and why democracies must respond by grounding strategy in values, sovereignty, and long-term discipline rather than short-term convenience. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@ChinaDeskFNW
CONSCIENCE AND CONVERSION Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. The 1989 Tiananmen Squaremassacre radicalized Lai, who transitioned from textiles to media, founding Next magazine and Apple Daily to champion democracy. Realizing the brutality of the Chinese Communist Party, he used his wealth to support the student movement and expose regime corruption. As the 1997 handover approached, Lai converted to Catholicism, influenced by his wife and pro-democracy peers, seeking spiritual protection and a moral anchor against the coming political storm. NUMBER 11 1930S HK
SHOW 12-2-2026 THE SHOW BEGIJS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT AI -- a useful invetion that can match the excitement of the first decades of Photography. November 1955 NADAR'S BALLOON AND THE BIRTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. In 1863, the photographer Nadar undertook a perilous ascent in a giant balloon to fund experiments for heavier-than-air flight, illustrating the adventurous spirit required of early photographers. This era began with Daguerre's 1839 introduction of the daguerreotype, a process involving highly dangerous chemicals like mercury and iodine to create unique, mirror-like images on copper plates. Pioneers risked their lives using explosive materials to capture reality with unprecedented clarity and permanence. NUMBER 1 PHOTOGRAPHING THE MOON AND SEA Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. Early photography expanded scientific understanding, allowing humanity to visualize the inaccessible. James Nasmyth produced realistic images of the moon by photographing plaster models based on telescope observations, aiming to prove its volcanic nature. Simultaneously, Louis Boutan spent a decade perfecting underwater photography, capturing divers in hard-hat helmets. These efforts demonstrated that photography could be a tool for scientific analysis and discovery, revealing details of the natural world previously hidden from the human eye. NUMBER 2 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND NATURE CONSERVATION Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. Photography became a powerful agent for social and environmental change. Jacob Riis utilized dangerous flash powder to document the squalid conditions of Manhattan tenements, exposing poverty to the public in How the Other Half Lives. While his methods raised consent issues, they illuminated grim realities. Conversely, Carleton Watkins hauled massive equipment into the wilderness to photograph Yosemite; his majestic images influenced legislation signed by Lincoln to protect the land, proving photography's political impact. NUMBER 3 X-RAYS, SURVEILLANCE, AND MOTION Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. The discovery of X-rays in 1895 sparked a "new photography" craze, though the radiation caused severe injuries to early practitioners and subjects. Photography also entered the realm of surveillance; British authorities used hidden cameras to photograph suffragettes, while doctors documented asylum patients without consent. Finally, Eadweard Muybridge's experiments captured horses in motion, settling debates about locomotion and laying the technical groundwork for the future development of motion pictures. NUMBER 4 THE AWAKENING OF CHINA'S ECONOMY Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. Returning to China in 1994, the author witnessed a transformation from the destitute, Maoist uniformity of 1985 to a budding export economy. In the earlier era, workers slept on desks and lacked basic goods, but Deng Xiaoping's realization that the state needed hard currency prompted reforms. Deng established Special Economic Zones like Shenzhen to generate foreign capital while attempting to isolate the population from foreign influence, marking the start of China's export boom. NUMBER 5 RED CAPITALISTS AND SMUGGLERS Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. Following the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, China reopened to investment in 1992, giving rise to "red capitalists"—often the children of party officials who traded political access for equity. As the central government lost control over local corruption and smuggling rings, it launched "Golden Projects" to digitize and centralize authority over customs and taxes. To avert a banking collapse in 1998, the state created asset management companies to absorb bad loans, effectively rolling over massive debt. NUMBER 6 GHOST CITIES AND THE STIMULUS TRAP Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. China's growth model shifted toward massive infrastructure spending, resulting in "ghost cities" and replica Western towns built to inflate GDP rather than house people. This "Potemkin culture" peaked during the 2008 Olympics, where facades were painted to impress foreigners. To counter the global financial crisis, Beijing flooded the economy with loans, fueling a real estate bubble that consumed more cement in three years than the US did in a century, creating unsustainable debt. NUMBER 7 STAGNATION UNDER SURVEILLANCE Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. The severe lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic shattered consumer confidence, leaving citizens insecure and unwilling to spend, which stalled economic recovery. Local governments, cut off from credit and burdened by debt, struggle to provide basic services. Faced with economic stagnation, Xi Jinping has rejected market liberalization in favor of increased surveillance and control, prioritizing regime security over resolving the structural debt crisis or restoring the dynamism of previous decades. NUMBER 8 FAMINE AND FLIGHT TO FREEDOM Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. Jimmy Lai was born into a wealthy family that lost everything to the Communist revolution, forcing his father to flee to Hong Kong while his mother endured labor camps. Left behind, Lai survived as a child laborer during a devastating famine where he was perpetually hungry. A chance encounter with a traveler who gave him a chocolate bar inspired him to escape to Hong Kong, the "land of chocolate," stowing away on a boat at age twelve. NUMBER 9 THE FACTORY GUY Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. By 1975, Jimmy Lai had risen from a child laborer to a factory owner, purchasing a bankrupt garment facility using stock market profits. Despite being a primary school dropout who learned English from a dictionary, Lai succeeded through relentless work and charm. He capitalized on the boom in American retail sourcing, winning orders from Kmart by producing samples overnight and eventually building Comitex into a leading sweater manufacturer, embodying the Hong Kong dream. NUMBER 10 CONSCIENCE AND CONVERSION Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. The 1989 Tiananmen Squaremassacre radicalized Lai, who transitioned from textiles to media, founding Next magazine and Apple Daily to champion democracy. Realizing the brutality of the Chinese Communist Party, he used his wealth to support the student movement and expose regime corruption. As the 1997 handover approached, Lai converted to Catholicism, influenced by his wife and pro-democracy peers, seeking spiritual protection and a moral anchor against the coming political storm. NUMBER 11 PRISON AND LAWFARE Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. Following the 2020 National Security Law, authorities raided Apple Daily, froze its assets, and arrested Lai, forcing the newspaper to close. Despite having the means to flee, Lai chose to stay and face imprisonment as a testament to his principles. Now held in solitary confinement, he is subjected to "lawfare"—sham legal proceedings designed to silence him—while he spends his time sketching religious images, remaining a symbol of resistance against Beijing's tyranny. NUMBER 12 FOUNDING OPENAI Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. In 2016, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Ilya Sutskever founded OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab to develop safe artificial general intelligence (AGI). Backed by investors like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, the organization aimed to be a counterweight to Google's DeepMind, which was driven by profit. The team relied on massive computing power provided by GPUs—originally designed for video games—to train neural networks, recruiting top talent like Sutskever to lead their scientific efforts. NUMBER 13 THE ROOTS OF AMBITION Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. Sam Altman grew up in St. Louis, the son of an idealistic developer and a driven dermatologist mother who instilled ambition and resilience in her children. Altmanattended the progressive John Burroughs School, where his intellect and charisma flourished, allowing him to connect with people on any topic. Though he was a tech enthusiast, his ability to charm others defined him early on, foreshadowing his future as a master persuader in Silicon Valley. NUMBER 14 SILICON VALLEY KINGMAKER Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. At Stanford, Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-sharing app that won him a meeting with Steve Jobs and a spot in the App Store launch. While Loopt was not a commercial success, the experience taught Altman that his true talent lay in investing and spotting future trends rather than coding. He eventually succeeded Paul Graham as president of Y Combinator, becoming a powerful figure in Silicon Valley who could convince skeptics like Peter Thiel to back his visions. NUMBER 15 THE BLIP AND THE FUTURE Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. The viral success of ChatGPT shifted OpenAI's focus from safety to commercialization, despite early internal warnings about the existential risks of AGI. Tensions over safety and Altman's management style led to a "blip" where the nonprofit board fired him, only for him to be quickly reinstated due to employee loyalty. Elon Musk, having lost a power struggle for control of the organization, severed ties, leaving Altman to lead the race toward AGI. NUMBER 16
When a practitioner in China was approached by a police officer in regard to being a Falun Dafa practitioner, he spoke without compassion, and missed an opportunity to help the official to understand the truth. From that point on, no matter what official title people held, he has had calm and compassionate dialogues with many officials to help them learn more about Dafa. Many have read the text of Dafa, and even quit the Chinese Communist Party. This and other experience-sharing from the Minghui website.Original Articles:1. They All Came Seeking The Truth2. The Power of Righteous Thoughts3. On the Issues of Choosing Who to Save and Putting Hope in Everyday People To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org
A practitioner living in Australia shares her experiences helping people in China quit the Chinese Communist Party by making phone calls. She quickly learned that her cultivation state, and any attachments or resentments she holds, are reflected in the conversations she has. When she looks within and corrects any mistakes, her calls are successful. This and other experience-sharing from the Minghui website.Original Articles:1. [Fahui] My Cultivation Experiences While Making Truth Clarification Phone Calls to People in China2. [Fahui] Seize the Moment to Reveal the Truth About Forced Organ Harvesting to the Public To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org
For Xi Jinping the Cold War never really ended. What we saw as a victory of democracy was a failure of weak men and a cautionary tale for Xi and the Chinese Communist Party. In this episode we talk about the chaos and suffering Xi endured in his young life to make him into the man he is today. The Cold War was a visceral experience for him that made him wary of chaos and disorder. I think looking at his Cold War experience helps explain this leader who is elusive to the outside world.
The United States struck another drug-carrying vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, amid a major military buildup in the Caribbean. The move follows President Donald Trump's announcement that U.S. forces destroyed a drug boat loading facility inside Venezuela last week.Russia has yet to provide evidence backing its claim that Ukraine attacked the residence of President Vladimir Putin with drones, as the U.S. ambassador to NATO publicly cast doubt on Moscow's accusation. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party fired missiles around Taiwan for a second day, continuing large-scale drills encircling the island. Some analysts say the maneuvers appear to rehearse an invasion rather than follow routine exercises.And tensions spiked between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE says it's voluntarily withdrawing its last remaining military forces from Yemen, following Saudi airstrikes on a southern Yemeni port city. Saudi Arabia claims the strikes targeted a weapons shipment allegedly sent from the UAE to support separatist forces.
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Monday to discuss advancing a Gaza ceasefire plan. Trump said reconstruction in Gaza could begin soon and again called on Hamas to disarm, warning that if it does not, countries backing the peace effort would “wipe out Hamas.” He also warned Iran not to rebuild its nuclear facilities, saying the United States would very quickly “eradicate that buildup.”The Kremlin claims Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack targeting the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleging an attempted assassination involving more than 90 drones. This comes just one day after Ukraine said both sides had agreed on most elements of a potential deal, with Moscow now saying its position in the negotiations will be reviewed. Ukraine has denied claims of an attack, calling it a lie from Russia.In another U.S. military action targeting Venezuelan drug traffickers, Trump announced that American forces destroyed a major facility inside Venezuela. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party has launched a two-day, large-scale military drill surrounding Taiwan, as the United States and Japan increase their support for the self-governing island.
In the month of April, China installed more solar power than Australia ever has. China is also now home to half of the world's wind power and half of the world's electric cars.Despite this, China remains the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.So, is it a climate hero or villain and how has the Chinese Communist Party managed to roll out green energy tech so quickly?Today, climate reporter Jo Lauder on why China is becoming the world's first ‘electrostate'. First published 18 August, 2025Featured: Jo Lauder, ABC climate reporter
This Christmas week, we're left to confront a hard truth: Christians are under attack in many corners of the world.On October 10, the Chinese Communist Party arrested Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing's Zion Church — along with 28 other leaders — in the largest crackdown on a Christian church in China in decades.Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, joins host Cliff May to scrutinize Beijing's campaign against Christians and Christianity.
This Christmas week, we're left to confront a hard truth: Christians are under attack in many corners of the world.On October 10, the Chinese Communist Party arrested Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing's Zion Church — along with 28 other leaders — in the largest crackdown on a Christian church in China in decades.Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, joins host Cliff May to scrutinize Beijing's campaign against Christians and Christianity.
In this special edition of the PDB Afternoon Bulletin--We take a step back from the daily headlines to explore one of the strangest political fault lines in modern China: Xi Jinping's war on the game of golf. We explain how golf became associated with corruption, elite privilege, and unwanted Western influence inside the Chinese Communist Party—and why Party officials learned to treat it as politically radioactive. We trace the story from Mao Zedong's condemnation of the sport, through China's underground golf boom, to Xi's sweeping anti-corruption campaign that turned golf clubs into targets. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today, anthropologist Professor Anru Lee is joining NBN as a guest host to interview me, Suvi Rautio, on my new book, The Invention of Tradition in China: Story of a Village and a Nation Remade published by Palgrave in 2024. In China, heritage projects are sprouting across the countryside carrying the promise of Xi Jinping's “Chinese dream” as a call for the great revival and rejuvenation of the nation. Suvi's book unravels the workings behind these promises through the story of remaking Meili, a Dong ethnic minority village nestled along the margins of China, into a “Traditional Village” heritage site. In a past riven by deep political and societal disruptions, Meili becomes a medium for contesting, mediating and continuously inventing representations of tradition that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's mission towards continuity and stability. The outcome is an original depiction of the compromises that shape heritage-making in a rural ethnic corner of China. Filled with rich, fine-grained narrative and analysis, Suvi Rautio offers a unique lens to complicate the narrative of how heritage projects function by demonstrating the politics involved in inventing tradition and its far-reaching consequences in contemporary China today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Today, anthropologist Professor Anru Lee is joining NBN as a guest host to interview me, Suvi Rautio, on my new book, The Invention of Tradition in China: Story of a Village and a Nation Remade published by Palgrave in 2024. In China, heritage projects are sprouting across the countryside carrying the promise of Xi Jinping's “Chinese dream” as a call for the great revival and rejuvenation of the nation. Suvi's book unravels the workings behind these promises through the story of remaking Meili, a Dong ethnic minority village nestled along the margins of China, into a “Traditional Village” heritage site. In a past riven by deep political and societal disruptions, Meili becomes a medium for contesting, mediating and continuously inventing representations of tradition that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's mission towards continuity and stability. The outcome is an original depiction of the compromises that shape heritage-making in a rural ethnic corner of China. Filled with rich, fine-grained narrative and analysis, Suvi Rautio offers a unique lens to complicate the narrative of how heritage projects function by demonstrating the politics involved in inventing tradition and its far-reaching consequences in contemporary China today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies
Today, anthropologist Professor Anru Lee is joining NBN as a guest host to interview me, Suvi Rautio, on my new book, The Invention of Tradition in China: Story of a Village and a Nation Remade published by Palgrave in 2024. In China, heritage projects are sprouting across the countryside carrying the promise of Xi Jinping's “Chinese dream” as a call for the great revival and rejuvenation of the nation. Suvi's book unravels the workings behind these promises through the story of remaking Meili, a Dong ethnic minority village nestled along the margins of China, into a “Traditional Village” heritage site. In a past riven by deep political and societal disruptions, Meili becomes a medium for contesting, mediating and continuously inventing representations of tradition that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's mission towards continuity and stability. The outcome is an original depiction of the compromises that shape heritage-making in a rural ethnic corner of China. Filled with rich, fine-grained narrative and analysis, Suvi Rautio offers a unique lens to complicate the narrative of how heritage projects function by demonstrating the politics involved in inventing tradition and its far-reaching consequences in contemporary China today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology
Today, anthropologist Professor Anru Lee is joining NBN as a guest host to interview me, Suvi Rautio, on my new book, The Invention of Tradition in China: Story of a Village and a Nation Remade published by Palgrave in 2024. In China, heritage projects are sprouting across the countryside carrying the promise of Xi Jinping's “Chinese dream” as a call for the great revival and rejuvenation of the nation. Suvi's book unravels the workings behind these promises through the story of remaking Meili, a Dong ethnic minority village nestled along the margins of China, into a “Traditional Village” heritage site. In a past riven by deep political and societal disruptions, Meili becomes a medium for contesting, mediating and continuously inventing representations of tradition that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's mission towards continuity and stability. The outcome is an original depiction of the compromises that shape heritage-making in a rural ethnic corner of China. Filled with rich, fine-grained narrative and analysis, Suvi Rautio offers a unique lens to complicate the narrative of how heritage projects function by demonstrating the politics involved in inventing tradition and its far-reaching consequences in contemporary China today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies
Today, anthropologist Professor Anru Lee is joining NBN as a guest host to interview me, Suvi Rautio, on my new book, The Invention of Tradition in China: Story of a Village and a Nation Remade published by Palgrave in 2024. In China, heritage projects are sprouting across the countryside carrying the promise of Xi Jinping's “Chinese dream” as a call for the great revival and rejuvenation of the nation. Suvi's book unravels the workings behind these promises through the story of remaking Meili, a Dong ethnic minority village nestled along the margins of China, into a “Traditional Village” heritage site. In a past riven by deep political and societal disruptions, Meili becomes a medium for contesting, mediating and continuously inventing representations of tradition that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's mission towards continuity and stability. The outcome is an original depiction of the compromises that shape heritage-making in a rural ethnic corner of China. Filled with rich, fine-grained narrative and analysis, Suvi Rautio offers a unique lens to complicate the narrative of how heritage projects function by demonstrating the politics involved in inventing tradition and its far-reaching consequences in contemporary China today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology
Dr. Li-Meng Yan w/ The Voice of Dr. Yan – Hidden messages and small courtesies show how the Chinese Communist Party builds networks inside American life. The newly exposed exchanges between a local operative and Chinese officials read like a manual for a soft takeover. They show coaching of elected officials, orchestration of public greetings, arrangement of special treatment at...
It's damn difficult to get a Presidential pardon. Emmy-winning soap actress Martha Byrne worked tirelessly to get one for her husband, former NYPD detective Michael McMahon. Their story has all the makings of a Netflix drama. Martha and Michael tell Michele how the FBI falsely accused McMahon of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. A judge sentenced McMahon to Federal prison, and the details are astounding. Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator. Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter. Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221 Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/ Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's damn difficult to get a Presidential pardon. Emmy-winning soap actress Martha Byrne worked tirelessly to get one for her husband, former NYPD detective Michael McMahon. Their story has all the makings of a Netflix drama. Martha and Michael tell Michele how the FBI falsely accused McMahon of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. A judge sentenced McMahon to Federal prison, and the details are astounding. Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator. Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter. Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221 Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/ Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marxist-Leninist ideology in China has remained consistent since 1949 with successive dictators adapting Mao's version of communism with new twists and turns. Deng Xiaoping took the greatest departure from Maoism but kept Marxism-Leninism as the state ideology. Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao put their spin on communism, while also maintaining ideological continuity. Under Xi Jinping today, communism in China is experiencing a forced revival within the Chinese Communist Party despite the masses of China's people recognizing it as a failed European ideology deserving of contempt. This episode explains how Xi is reverting to Mao-style totalitarian communism and a more aggressive expansion around the world. For the counterproposal, this episode explains why mere anti-communism is not enough and a new faith-based worldview is the ultimate solution to defeating communism. For the news section, this program addresses how artificial intelligence is being used by the Indo-Pacific command to deter conflict with China. The interview portion hears from Bradley Thayer, an expert on both China and communism.
The threat the Chinese Communist Party poses not just to us, but the whole world is truly catastrophic. For example, China expert Gordon Chang recently illuminated the CCP's global predations via immense, and often illegal, fishing operations. Notably, he reports Communist China has fifty-setven thousand industrial fishing vessels that have over two recent years fished in the waters of more than ninety countries for more than twenty-two million hours. Mr. Chang concludes that “thanks to Chinese illegal fishing and other factors, the seas have been stripped bare,” citing an expert as estimating that ninety-three percent of the world's major fish stocks are either fully exploited, overexploited, or significantly depleted. Such “locusts” of the seas imperil billions worldwide, as does the Chinese Communist Party that weaponizes them. This is Frank Gaffney.
When a family member was arrested by the Chinese Communist Party for practicing Falun Dafa, a practitioner immersed himself in the legal proceedings of Dafa cases. Though not an attorney, with the aid of the online legal forum he was able to write convincing legal documents, and clarify the truth to many members of the Chinese legal system. His family member was released, and he helped a high level judge to understand the true responsibility of his decisions, and he quit the CCP. This and other experience-sharing from the Minghui website. Original Articles: 1. China Fahui | Eliminating Fear and Changing Our Notions While Using the Legal System to Expose the Persecution2. China Fahui | No Surveillance Cameras at My Front Door3. China Fahui | Cultivating While Putting Up Banners To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org
Father Robert Sirico joins Freddy Gray to discuss the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai – the British passport holder and Hong Kong media tycoon facing life in jail for opposing the Chinese Communist Party. Sirico reflects on Lai's rise from poverty, his Catholic faith, the collapse of freedoms in Hong Kong, and why the West has failed to mount a serious campaign for his release.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Matt and Dr. Danny discuss the perils of AI in children's toys. NBC News: AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show
The Party's Interests Come First is the first English-language biography of Xi Zhongxun, the father of China's current leader, Xi Jinping. It is both a story of the Chinese revolution and the first several decades of the People's Republic of China and a personal account of developing one's own sense of identity within a larger political context. Drawing on an array of documents, interviews, diaries, and periodicals, Joseph Torigian introduces Xi Zhongxun. He helped build the Communist base area that saved Mao Zedong in 1935, worked closely with top leaders Zhou Enlai and Hu Yaobang, and oversaw the Special Economic Zones that launched China's reform era. In an interview conducted on August 21, 2025, Joseph Torigian, in conversation with Victor Shih, explores the organizational, ideological, and coercive power of the Chinese Communist Party through the life of Xi Zhongxun – and the huge cost in human suffering that accompanies it. About this program
Dr. Li-Meng Yan w/ The Voice of Dr. Yan – What we are witnessing now is not a random scandal. It is a pattern the Chinese Communist Party perfected long before the modern era. Elite families are chosen, cultivated, and placed in positions of prestige abroad. Those placed people become tools of influence. They smooth narratives, open doors, and neutralize accountability...
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New reporting reveals senior defense officials are preparing a major reorganization that would downgrade key military headquarters and redraw the balance of power among America's top generals, signaling a broader rethink of how the U.S. military is led and deployed around the world. Just as we predicted, Vladimir Putin is once again digging in, rejecting any compromise on occupied Ukrainian territory as diplomatic efforts stall and Moscow reinforces its hardline position. A national security court convicts pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai, underscoring the Chinese Communist Party's consolidation of power in the territory, even as President Trump urges clemency. And in today's Back of the Brief: President Trump signs an executive order declaring illicit fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction, citing the drug's growing threat to U.S. national security. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org - APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit https://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Historically Thinking: Conversations about historical knowledge and how we achieve it
According to Chinese Communist official Xi Zhongxun, his first revolutionary act was an attempt to poison one of his school's administrators when he was 14. He was faithful to the revolution, and the Chinese Communist Party, until his death at age 88 in 2002. In between those ages was a remarkable life. He fought Nationalists and Japanese. He was a right-hand man to both Zhou Enlai in the 1950s, and Hu Yaobang in the 1980s. As the Party administrator responsible for dealing with religious groups, he negotiated with the Dalai Lama–and would show off the wristwatch that the Dalai Lama gave him. But Xi also spent sixteen years in house arrest, internal exile, under suspicion, or at least out of power, from 1962 to 1978. “In the early 1990s, Xi even boasted to a Western historian that although Deng Xiaoping had suffered at the hands of the party on three occasions, he had been persecuted five times.” All this would make Xi Zhongxun fascinating simply as a psychological study of a Communist functionary who, despite everything, remained devoted to the system that oppressed him. But Xi Zhongxun was also the father of Xi Jinping, now effectively the dictator of China. If we are to understand the younger Xi, argues my guest Joseph Torigian, then we must understand his father.Joseph Torigian is an associate professor in the School of International Service at American University in Washington, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a center associate of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan. He was previously on the podcast to discuss his book Prestige, Manipulation, and Coercion: Elite Power Struggles in the Soviet Union and China after Stalin and Mao, a conversation that was published on May 23, 2022. His latest book is The Party's Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping was released with Stanford University Press in June 2025. It was a Financial Times Book of the Summer and an Economist Best Book of the Year So Far.00:00 — Introduction02:19 — Overview of Xi Zhongxun's Life07:15 — Early Life and Revolutionary Beginnings11:44 — Growing Up as a Peasant in Shaanxi15:02 — Path to the Communist Base Areas19:21 — The United Front Work24:10 — Work with Ethnic Minorities26:00 — The 1935 Arrest by Fellow Communists27:56 — Patronage and Party Relationships30:51 — The Northwest Bureau and China's Territorial Expansion33:43 — Personal Life and Family36:37 — The 1962 Purge41:50 — Sixteen Years of Persecution44:37 — Why Bring Him Back?46:53 — Deng Xiaoping's Distrust50:55 — Grudges and Party History52:33 — Xi Jinping and His Father's Legacy59:17 — Conclusion
Gordon Chang, author of Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America and The Coming Collapse of China, joined The Guy Benson Show today to discuss the plight of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who has been convicted in a CCP kangaroo court in Hong Kong, why he must be released, and how the Chinese Communist Party is using his case to make an example of pro-Democracy protestors in Hong Kong. Chang and Benson also discussed the case of Guan Heng, who has been arrested and faces deportation back to China, warning that the CCP's track record suggests he could face torture or death because of his reporting on the Uyghur genocide. The conversation also covered the bizarre trend of wealthy Chinese citizens using U.S. surrogacy to produce hundreds of anchor children, and why American companies like iRobot are victims of Chinese intellectual property theft. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, as I ride the slow train to Calcutta, this very full episode drops, in which I discuss the New US-India Visa Rules and Potential Collateral Damage it will bring, India's Deportation of a Chinese Spy and Chinese Military Targets on the India-Tibet Border, the Shaolin Temple Scandal (Birthplace of Kungfu), the World’s Longest One-Way Flight, the Chinese Missiles Breaking Trump’s Ceasefire in Cambodia/Thailand, the Hong Kong Apartment Fire (and Beijing’s Cold Response) + More Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I post new/unique Chinese city prayer profiles every single day. Also, you can email me any questions or comments (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else, including my books, at PrayGiveGo.us! New US-India Visa Rules & Collateral Damage https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-to-scan-social-media-of-all-h-1b-h-4-visa-applicants-from-december-15/articleshow/125767066.cms https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/want-us-tourist-visa-you-might-need-to-disclose-5-year-social-media-history-vetting-h1b-f1-esta-fifa-world-cup-olympics-2833929-2025-12-10 India Deports Chinese Spy & Chinese Military Targets Tibet-India Border https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/chinese-national-detained-in-j-k-deported-to-hong-kong-101765448427109-amp.html https://www.wsj.com/world/china/chinese-forces-battle-dizzying-altitudes-to-expand-military-footprint-c9350bbd Shaolin Scandal, World’s Longest One-Way Flight & Trump’s Failed Ceasefire https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-shaolin-monk-arrest-embezzlement-charges-5470356 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/1349711.shtml https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/chinese-missile-launcher-conflict-cambodia-thailand/ Hong Kong Fire (and Beijing’s Cold Response) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-02/tai-po-fire-hong-kong-mainland-grief-red-lines/106087732 https://asiatimes.com/2025/11/hong-kong-is-chinas-most-underestimated-strategic-asset/ “[The vision for communism is not only] not to allow religious liberty, but actually to replace faith with trust in the Chinese Communist Party.” Rep. John Moolenaar (MI) - Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Now let's take a look at this coming week's Pray for China (PrayforChina.us) cities… Pray for China (Dec 15-21): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-dec-15-21-2025 Subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) and send any questions or comments to (bfwesten at gmail dot com). You can find everything else, including my books, at PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10, verse 2, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Talk again soon!
PREVIEW — Gregory Copley — Australian Prime Minister Pivots Toward Washington Despite Chinese Ties. Copleyanalyzes Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's rapid diplomatic pivot from Beijing toward Washington to establish direct engagement with President Trump following his election victory. Copley documents that Albanese was previously celebrated and cultivated by the Chinese Communist Party as a favorable political interlocutor. Copleysuggests that Albanese strategically recognizes the United States represents the "winning side" in great power competition, despite persistent Chinese institutional influence deeply embedded within Australian political consciousness, business networks, and strategic thinking, requiring deliberate recalibration of bilateral relationships and geopolitical alignment. 1914 AUSTRALIA TO THE FRONT