Podcasts about Xi Jinping

Newt talks with Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute, about the global impact of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, with a focus on China's perspective. Tsang discusses China's strategic interests in the Middle East, highlighting the region's importance for energy security and its role in China's global strategy under Xi Jinping's leadership. Xi Jinping's ambitions for China are highlighted, including his vision for Chinese global preeminence by 2049, which aligns with the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. The strategic dynamics in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran's role and the potential consequences of U.S. actions in the region are evaluated. They discuss the U.S. military focus on Iran and the Persian Gulf and whether the U.S. engagement will tip the balance of power around Taiwan, considering China's military readiness and strategic calculations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do the fall of Venezuela’s Maduro regime and the war with Iran mean for China? On this episode of The Truth with Lisa Boothe, Lisa is joined by China expert and bestselling author Gordon Chang to break down the geopolitical ripple effects of Operation Epic Fury and President Trump’s foreign policy moves. Chang explains how China has relied on Iran and Venezuela as strategic proxies, why Chinese weapons and defense systems have failed against U.S. and Israeli forces, and how losing discounted oil from those regimes could hit China’s struggling economy. They also dive into the biggest question: Does this make China more or less likely to invade Taiwan? Chang analyzes Xi Jinping’s political vulnerabilities, the turmoil inside China’s military leadership, and the growing risk of conflict with the United States. Plus, they discuss China’s surveillance state, potential internal unrest, and why this moment could be a turning point in the global balance of power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1897 ENTRY OF THE KING OF PERSIAThe following individuals joined the discussion to analyze the current geopolitical and economic landscape: (1)*   Gordon Chang, Columnist and co-host *   Peter Huessy, President of Geostrategic Analysis and Fellow at the National Institute for Deterrent Studies *   Alan Tonelson, Manufacturing and trade expert who blogs at *Reality Check* *   Rebecca Grant, Vice President of the Lexington Institute (2)### Summary of Geopolitical Instability and Global Consequences (3)Global Economic "Tsunami" and Resource Shortages The potential closure or instability of the Strait of Hormuz poses a threat far beyond the price of oil, described by participants as a looming economic "tsunami". Critical shortages are building for products like fertilizer (urea), sulfur, and petroleum products used in high-end manufacturing. Sulfur is particularly vital as it is required to process the copper used in semiconductors and high-end electronics. While the U.S. may be self-sufficient in fertilizer, the heavy technology-dependent economies of East Asia, including Taiwan, face significant risks to their semiconductor production if these supply chains are severed. Recent reports indicate this threat is immediate, with three cargo ships, including a bulk carrier from Bangkok, recently hit by projectiles in the Strait. (4)China as a Hostile Trade Partner and Provocateur China is characterized as a "hostile trade partner" and an "enemy combatant" that wages proxy wars through Russia in Ukraine and Iran in the Middle East. Experts note that Iran's military capabilities are heavily supported by China, which provides supersonic missiles and the semiconductors found in Iranian drones. Furthermore, Iran's nuclear program is described as a subset of the North Korean program, which was historically promoted by China to keep the U.S. pinned down. Domestically, China continues to ignore promises to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors, with participants noting that leader Xi Jinping has now "dishonored" four such promises to U.S. presidents. (5)U.S. Navy Operational Limits The U.S. Navy is currently facing significant strain, described as being "tightly squeezed" regarding its aircraft carrier fleet. The USS Gerald R. Ford has seen its deployment extended to 11 months, performing continuous combat operations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Similarly, the USS Nimitz, which was scheduled for decommissioning, has had its service extended to participate in Southern Command exercises. Although these carriers possess "layered defense" systems capable of neutralizing Chinese supersonic missiles and drones, the Navy lacks a sufficient number of ships to maintain these global commitments indefinitely; while law requires 11 carriers, experts argue the current global challenge requires 15. (6)The "Brothers of Mayhem" Alliance The participants argue that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea act as a coordinated group of "brothers of mayhem". This alliance is not merely fighting over territory or reputation but is engaged in a fundamental contest over "what kind of world we're going to live in". While the West seeks to maintain the status quo and open trade routes, this opposing bloc utilizes economic warfare, proxy conflicts, and the threat of nuclear escalation—such as China's hinted "first-strike" nuclear posture—to challenge Western hegemony. (7)

Fiona Hill — who served on the National Security Council under three presidents and became a household name during Trump's first impeachment — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deeply alarming assessment of the Iran war now entering its second week, with Operation Epic Fury having metastasized into a multi-front conflict spanning nine countries, oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across the Middle East. Hill dismantles the geopolitical chessboard with surgical precision, explaining that while there is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran and that the relationship is deeply transactional, with Iran having provided Russia with Shahed drones and helped build a drone factory. She argues that China is letting the U.S. "rope-a-dope" itself, sitting back alongside Russia to watch America bleed resources and credibility in yet another Middle Eastern quagmire. She flags the glaring double standard in the administration's diplomacy: envoy Steve Witkoff refused to take the Iranians at their word during nuclear negotiations in Geneva but accepted Russian assurances at face value. The conversation turns existential as Hill warns that Trump's adventurism — which never faced serious consequences through Venezuela or the June 2025 strikes that made Iran look like a paper tiger — has now collided with reality. Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant successor, but none of those hopes have materialized. Hill calls it an Afghanistan-and-Iraq-level jam with even less global credibility.. They raise the chilling question of whether Xi Jinping might prioritize seizing Taiwan while America is overextended, observes that NORAD doesn't function without Canada and the Nordic countries that Trump has alienated, warns that the damage to America's reputation will last decades, and notes that individual U.S. states are already setting up their own diplomatic representation with foreign countries to fill the vacuum. They close with a striking contrast: unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny — but the window in which that remains true may be narrowing, as we are likely entering a post-American empire period. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Fiona Hill joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 There is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran 02:00 Historically, Russia and Iran clashed over territory 03:45 Iran provided Russia with Shahed drones & helped build factory 04:30 Trump views his relationship with Russia & Putin in a vacuum 05:30 Iran’s relationship with China & Russia is very transactional 06:15 Iran sees itself as a civilization, not just a country 08:00 China is letting the U.S. “rope a dope” itself 09:15 China doesn’t do favors without a cost 10:00 Witkoff didn’t take Iranians at their word but did with Russia 10:30 China & Russia are sitting back and watching what happens in Iran 11:30 Special military operations often become quagmires 12:45 Trump hasn’t thought about the knock-on consequences in Iran 15:00 Administration thinks they can figure it out as they go 15:45 Trump’s adventurism never had serious consequences until now 17:30 9/11 shaped the frame for American thinking for 25 years 18:30 Do you buy that MBS pushed Trump into striking Iran? 19:30 The Chinese didn’t see unintended effects of war in Ukraine 20:30 Russia has 20x casualty rate in Ukraine that USSR had in Afghanistan 22:30 The Israelis are clear that they want regime change 22:45 Outside of eliminating the nuclear program… What's the rest of our aim? 24:15 Without regime change, Iranian and Venezuelan people will turn on Trump 25:15 There’s a large Iranian population is many countries 25:45 Trump is in a Afghanistan/Iraq level jam with no plan 26:30 Gutting of national security council effects on Trump’s planning 27:45 We’ve lost grip of our political system, congress has abdicated 29:00 High oil prices could be a boon to Russia, but shipping is an issue 31:15 Putin doesn’t want to end the war in Ukraine unless its on his terms 32:00 Ukraine has been an incredibly tough fighting force 32:45 The rich & powerful forget that the other 8 billion people have agency 34:15 Ukraine won’t have a peace imposed on it by outsiders 35:00 Trump assumes everyone else is as transactional as he is 36:00 Khamenei is a religious leader, his killing has religious implications 39:00 Asymmetrical war feels unwinnable 41:15 The damage to America’s reputation in the world will last decades 42:15 NORAD doesn’t work without Canada & Nordic countries 44:45 How can a future president try to fix the damage with allies? 45:45 Individual states are setting up representation with foreign countries 47:45 If you’re Xi, do you prioritize seizing Taiwan while Trump’s in office? 49:30 We’re likely in a post-American empire period 50:15 Is there any heir apparent to Putin? 52:30 Next leader of Russia will likely keep the same system in place 54:00 Unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyrannySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a grim inventory of an administration besieged on every front as the Iran war enters its twelfth day with no exit strategy in sight. He then pivots to the SAVE Act — the Republican voting bill that has 50 Senate votes but faces a filibuster John Thune admits he likely can't break. He walks through the details that go well beyond simple voter ID: the bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register, treats women who change their name through marriage as first-time voters, and Trump is demanding additions including a near-total ban on mail-in voting — turning what polls show is an 80%-popular concept into a toxic package that could disenfranchise millions. He notes that John Cornyn flipped his filibuster position to chase Trump's Texas endorsement, warns that if Republicans nuke the filibuster and Democrats later win the Senate they won't restore it, and argues that Republicans are essentially writing legislation to make Trump's false fraud claims real — while Trump is already setting up the SAVE Act's inevitable failure as his preemptive excuse for midterm losses that have nothing to do with voting rules and everything to do with an unpopular war, a tanking economy, and a completely unserious leader running the Pentagon. Ultimately, he argues that partisan changes to voting rule destroy trust in democracy, whether it be the SAVE Act, or Democrats efforts to pass HR1. Then, Fiona Hill — who served on the National Security Council under three presidents and became a household name during Trump's first impeachment — joins the Chuck ToddCast for a deeply alarming assessment of the Iran war now entering its second week, with Operation Epic Fury having metastasized into a multi-front conflict spanning nine countries, oil prices surging past $100 a barrel, and hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across the Middle East. Hill dismantles the geopolitical chessboard with surgical precision, explaining that while there is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran and that the relationship is deeply transactional, with Iran having provided Russia with Shahed drones and helped build a drone factory. She argues that China is letting the U.S. "rope-a-dope" itself, sitting back alongside Russia to watch America bleed resources and credibility in yet another Middle Eastern quagmire. She flags the glaring double standard in the administration's diplomacy: envoy Steve Witkoff refused to take the Iranians at their word during nuclear negotiations in Geneva but accepted Russian assurances at face value. The conversation turns existential as Hill warns that Trump's adventurism — which never faced serious consequences through Venezuela or the June 2025 strikes that made Iran look like a paper tiger — has now collided with reality. Trump saw the opportunity to kill Khamenei and took it, hoping for either a popular uprising or a pliant successor, but none of those hopes have materialized. Hill calls it an Afghanistan-and-Iraq-level jam with even less global credibility.. They raise the chilling question of whether Xi Jinping might prioritize seizing Taiwan while America is overextended, observes that NORAD doesn't function without Canada and the Nordic countries that Trump has alienated, warns that the damage to America's reputation will last decades, and notes that individual U.S. states are already setting up their own diplomatic representation with foreign countries to fill the vacuum. They close with a striking contrast: unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny — but the window in which that remains true may be narrowing, as we are likely entering a post-American empire period. Finally, he answers listeners’ question in the “Ask Chuck” segment and celebrates the start of March Madness. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:30 There’s no easy way for Trump to get out of Iran 05:30 It’s become clear US responsible for bombing Iranian school 06:15 FBI warns California law enforcement of threat of Iranian drone strikes 07:15 The fallout from the war is complicated & Trump can’t just turn it off 08:30 Drone attack that killed US soldiers far more serious than initially reported 09:15 Republicans in congress are demoralized & don’t know what to run on 10:45 Pentagon bars press for publishing “unflattering” photos of Pete Hegseth 12:00 We have a serious war and a completely unserious leader of the Pentagon 12:45 Republican senators knew Hegseth was unqualified & confirmed him anyway 14:15 It’s important to explain the details of the Republican SAVE Act 15:00 John Cornyn flipped position on the filibuster to try to earn Trump endorsement 15:30 Republicans likely don’t have the votes to kill the filibuster 16:15 Contrasting and comparing Democrats HR1 vs Republicans SAVE Act 18:15 SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship to vote 19:00 Trump wants a total ban on mail in voting and all voting on one day 20:00 If GOP kills filibuster & Dems win senate, Dems won’t restore it 20:45 If passed in a partisan vote, SAVE Act would delegitimize democracy 21:45 If rules change based on who’s in power, the public will lose faith in process 23:30 We’re seeing a collision of two partisan visions over who gets to vote 24:30 SAVE Act makes voter registration a “show your papers” event 25:30 There’s a massive gap between bill passed in house & what Trump wants 26:00 Trump is demanding a bill loaded with culture war items 27:30 If Republicans jam through the SAVE Act, it could juice Democratic turnout 29:00 Voter ID isn’t controversial with the public 29:45 There’s 80% support for proof of citizenship when registering to vote 30:15 Republicans believe it should be harder to vote, Dems think it should be easier 31:30 Trump is taking popular ideas and packaging them in a bill that is toxic 32:30 Stability in a democracy doesn’t come from a 51% majority 33:45 34k people in Arizona were barred from state elections, but had federal carve out 35:00 Almost no voter fraud has actually been found 36:00 If you change name or get married, SAVE Act treats you as first time voter 37:30 America already makes life harder on women, SAVE Act makes it worse 38:15 The SAVE Act goes WELL beyond voter ID 39:00 Republicans are writing a bill to make Trump’s bullshit real 39:45 Trump will blame failure to pass SAVE Act for election losses in midterms 41:00 SAVE Act would disenfranchise or add barriers for millions of voters 42:00 Individual citizens have no constitutional right to vote 42:45 State constitutions provide voting guarantees, SAVE Act contradicts that 44:15 Changes to voting rules need bipartisan public consensus 50:15 Fiona Hill joins the Chuck ToddCast 51:30 There is no formal alliance between Russia and Iran 52:15 Historically, Russia and Iran clashed over territory 54:00 Iran provided Russia with Shahed drones & helped build factory 54:45 Trump views his relationship with Russia & Putin in a vacuum 55:45 Iran’s relationship with China & Russia is very transactional 56:30 Iran sees itself as a civilization, not just a country 58:15 China is letting the U.S. “rope a dope” itself 59:30 China doesn’t do favors without a cost 1:00:15 Witkoff didn’t take Iranians at their word but did with Russia 1:00:45 China & Russia are sitting back and watching what happens in Iran 1:01:45 Special military operations often become quagmires 1:03:00 Trump hasn’t thought about the knock-on consequences in Iran 1:05:15 Administration thinks they can figure it out as they go 1:06:00 Trump’s adventurism never had serious consequences until now 1:07:45 9/11 shaped the frame for American thinking for 25 years 1:08:45 Do you buy that MBS pushed Trump into striking Iran? 1:09:45 The Chinese didn’t see unintended effects of war in Ukraine 1:10:45 Russia has 20x casualty rate in Ukraine that USSR had in Afghanistan 1:12:45 The Israelis are clear that they want regime change 1:13:00 Outside of eliminating the nuclear program… What's the rest of our aim? 1:14:30 Without regime change, Iranian and Venezuelan people will turn on Trump 1:15:30 There’s a large Iranian population is many countries 1:16:00 Trump is in a Afghanistan/Iraq level jam with no plan 1:16:45 Gutting of national security council effects on Trump’s planning 1:18:00 We’ve lost grip of our political system, congress has abdicated 1:19:15 High oil prices could be a boon to Russia, but shipping is an issue 1:21:30 Putin doesn’t want to end the war in Ukraine unless its on his terms 1:22:15 Ukraine has been an incredibly tough fighting force 1:23:00 The rich & powerful forget that the other 8 billion people have agency 1:24:30 Ukraine won’t have a peace imposed on it by outsiders 1:25:15 Trump assumes everyone else is as transactional as he is 1:26:15 Khamenei is a religious leader, his killing has religious implications 1:29:15 Asymmetrical war feels unwinnable 1:31:30 The damage to America’s reputation in the world will last decades 1:32:30 NORAD doesn’t work without Canada & Nordic countries 1:35:00 How can a future president try to fix the damage with allies? 1:36:00 Individual states are setting up representation with foreign countries 1:38:00 If you’re Xi, do you prioritize seizing Taiwan while Trump’s in office? 1:39:45 We’re likely in a post-American empire period 1:40:30 Is there any heir apparent to Putin? 1:42:45 Next leader of Russia will likely keep the same system in place 1:44:15 Unlike Russians, Americans can still vote their way out of tyranny 1:48:30 Across the country there’s serious frustration with federal politics 1:50:00 Ask Chuck 1:50:15 How is the psyche of the American people able to handle constant crisis? 1:55:30 Are the war and Epstein files just distracting from importance of midterms? 1:59:00 Have larger sums of money started to become irrelevant in elections? 2:03:00 At what point does fundraising advantage stop matter? 2:07:15 Chances of false flag blamed on Iran to provide pretext to mess with elections? 2:13:00 Thanks for giving me hope while feeling like we’re living through fall of Rome 2:16:30 How can a future president reverse course on tariffs? 2:19:00 Thoughts on March MadnessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The global situation is rapidly escalating as President Donald Trump unleashes unprecedented military force in response to rising tensions with Iran.In this discussion, political commentators break down several major developments shaping the conflict:• Trump's reported decision to remove Kristi Noem while giving her a “soft landing” politically• Rising oil prices and global economic impacts following the conflict• Major military milestones in the Middle East, including new deployments and advanced weapon systems• The first use of certain combat tactics and technologies in the current war• Reactions from global powers like Xi Jinping in China and Vladimir Putin in Russia• The potential impact on Taiwan Strait tensions and the Ukraine war led by Volodymyr ZelenskyySupport from several Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain is also being discussed as alliances shift in real time.Is this a decisive moment in global geopolitics?Or the beginning of a much larger global conflict?Watch the full breakdown and analysis.#trumpadministration #IranWar #USMilitary #MiddleEastConflict #BreakingNews #Geopolitics #WorldNews #MilitaryStrategy #GlobalPolitics#TrumpAdministration #NewsAnalysis #InternationalRelations➡️ Join the Conversation: https://GeneValentino.com➡️ WMXI Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NewsRadio981➡️ More WMXI Interviews: https://genevalentino.com/wmxi-interviews/➡️ More GrassRoots TruthCast Episodes: https://genevalentino.com/grassroots-truthcast-with-gene-valentino/➡️ More Broadcasts with Gene as the Guest: https://genevalentino.com/america-beyond-the-noise/ ➡️ More About Gene Valentino: https://genevalentino.com/about-gene-valentino/

As China advances its Healthy China Initiative, successful efforts made to prevent and treat altitude sickness on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau prompted a heartfelt response from President Xi Jinping on Friday, when he joined national political advisers from the sector of medicine and health, among others, for a group discussion in Beijing."Altitude sickness has long been one of the greatest difficulties facing those who work and live on the plateau," Xi said after Pasang Drolma, a national political adviser from the Xizang autonomous region, spoke about her years of work related to the prevention and treatment of the medical condition.According to Pasang Drolma, a professor at the School of Medicine of Xizang University, China has made remarkable strides in this field. During the construction of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, which began operating in 2006, not a single death was caused by altitude sickness. In addition, during the construction of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway, which is still underway, measures such as smart oxygen chambers and real-time blood oxygen monitoring helped significantly reduce its incidence, she noted.The medical situation in the Qinghai-Xizang region remains close to Xi's heart. Conditions and technologies have improved greatly, but China still needs to strengthen the medical work on the plateau, he said. "To build a healthy China, we must shore up these weak links in remote areas," he added.Calling for a multipronged approach, Xi said that traditional Chinese medicine, along with traditional Tibetan, Mongolian, Miao and other ethnic medicines, are valuable treasures of the nation.He encouraged medical experts like Pasang Drolma, who have dedicated themselves to the plateau, to continue drawing on their rich experience, step up efforts to prevent and treat altitude sickness, and better safeguard the health of people living in such areas.Ma Xiuzhen, a national political adviser from the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, shared her views on how artificial intelligence could help foster new models of primary-level diagnosis and treatment."The foundation for on-the-ground medical and healthcare services must be further strengthened," Xi said in response, adding that places where conditions permit may explore the use of AI, but this should be done step by step to steadily build a stronger foundation for public healthcare.The discussion moved from healthcare to primary-level medical services, and then to broader changes in health awareness.As China's average life expectancy reached 79.25 years in 2025, up 1.32 years from 2020, Wang Lu, a national political adviser from the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, said the target set in the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) to raise the average life expectancy further to 80 years by 2030 is "both inspiring and motivating".In response, Xi noted that "it is vital to foster healthy lifestyles and promote mass sports participation".As the discussion drew to a close, Xi voiced his expectations for the advisers. "You should make full use of your professional strengths and contribute your wisdom and expertise to the building of a healthy China," he said.altitude sickness 高原病Healthy China 健康中国primary-level medical services 基层医疗卫生服务ethnic medicines 民族医药

In this latest conversation, we speak with Minxin Peiabout his latest book, The Broken China Dream: How Reform Revived Totalitarianism (Princeton University Press, 2025),which challenges the enduring assumption that economic development naturally leads to democracy. Pei argues that China's post-Mao reforms produced not political liberalization but a resilient, adaptive form of authoritarianism.Focusing on the Deng Xiaoping time, he shows how these changes also reinforced centralized authority, fostered corruption, and sidelined reformist actors—laying the groundwork for neo-authoritarian rule. The conversation turns to nationalism and the Patriotic Education Campaign, probing how nationalism in contemporary China has been mobilized to legitimize Xi Jinping's totalizing control. We ask whether the features once seen as China's strengths—partydominance and controlled markets—are now sources of fragility under Xi Jinping.Dwelling on the significance of the title of the book, we explore how the rise of China, counterintuitive to many in the West, is ultimately an example of contradictions inherent in modern as well as Chinese politics.

Pastor Bob Fu was a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen democracy movement and later led an underground Chinese house church. In 1996, he was imprisoned for “illegal evangelism.”He later fled China and came to the United States, where he founded ChinaAid, a Christian human‑rights organization that documents cases of persecution, provides legal aid, and advocates for religious freedom in China.In this episode, we dive into the escalation of religious persecution in recent years in China, including the growing dehumanization of Christians.Echoing Mao Zedong's targeting of “five black classes” during the Cultural Revolution, in 2012, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders labelled Christian underground churches as one of five new “black classes” or black categories.Fu says that the CCP's leadership is determined to destroy the positive image that Chinese people have of Christian believers.“Xi Jinping wants to play God,” Fu says. “The Communist Party treats these people as a threat to the regime's existence. The goal is to eradicate Christian faith from the map of China.”We also discuss a case now at the Supreme Court, Cisco v. Doe, which could have important repercussions for American companies that enable China's human rights atrocities.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says the military must achieve the centenary goal of building a strong armed force and advance the modernization of national defense and the military with high quality during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Chinese-made air defense systems are facing intense scrutiny after appearing to fail during the opening phase of the U.S. and Israeli strike campaign against Iran. Beijing has long marketed these systems as rivals to Western technology, but the results on the battlefield are raising serious questions about their real-world performance. Israel continues its operations against Hezbollah as Lebanon's government announces that members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operating inside the country will now face arrest and deportation. The move signals rising pressure on Tehran's network in Lebanon as the regional conflict intensifies. After years of defending against Iranian-made drones in its war with Russia, Ukraine is now sharing that battlefield knowledge with the United States and several Middle Eastern partners looking to improve defenses against Tehran's growing drone arsenal. President Trump announces a major leadership change at the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Secretary Kristi Noem with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. 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 Sundays for Dogs: Upgrade your dog's food without the hassle—try Sundays for Dogs and get 50% off your first order at https://sundaysfordogs.com/PDB50  or use code PDB50 at checkout. 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 and to view important disclosures. QUO: Make this the season where no opportunity slips away. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly half a century, Iran's rulers have promised “Death to America.” It wasn't just a chant — it was a policy. From the 1979 hostage crisis to terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of Americans, the Islamic Republic has spent decades waging a shadow war against the United States. Now Washington is confronting Iran's jihadist regime more directly — raising a larger question: what role might Xi Jinping's China play in the conflict? Cliff May sits down with former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd to examine the long war against Tehran's jihadist rulers — and why Beijing may have more at stake than many realize.

Operation Epic Fury has reportedly devastated Iran's security apparatus and left its primary benefactor, China, struggling to formulate a response... Charles is joined by Hudson Institute Research Fellow Zineb Riboua to discuss how the dismantling of the Iranian regime threatens China's industrial subsidies, why the loss of this lifeline leaves Xi Jinping vulnerable ahead of negotiations, and the collapse of the sanctions-evasion network that once shielded the Chinese economy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tune in here to this Friday’s edition of the Brett Winterble Show! Brett is joined by Gordon G. Chang the world of foreign policy analysis to discuss mounting geopolitical pressure on China amid ongoing instability in the Middle East. Chang explains how efforts by President Trump to weaken China’s global influence include targeting key allies and proxies such as Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, and Chinese operations in Panama and Latin America. The conversation turns to energy markets, with Chang noting that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are driving up fuel costs in China, threatening an economy already struggling with debt and slowing growth. Brett asks whether Chinese leader Xi Jinping might escalate tensions, possibly toward Taiwan, but Chang argues the People’s Liberation Army is currently weakened by internal purges and not capable of a full-scale invasion. They also examine Japan’s increasingly firm stance against Beijing and political tensions in South Korea. The interview ends abruptly due to technical difficulties before Chang can offer final indicators to watch in the unfolding geopolitical situation. Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show! For more from Brett Winterble check out his YouTube channel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For nearly half a century, Iran's rulers have promised “Death to America.” It wasn't just a chant — it was a policy. From the 1979 hostage crisis to terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of Americans, the Islamic Republic has spent decades waging a shadow war against the United States. Now Washington is confronting Iran's jihadist regime more directly — raising a larger question: what role might Xi Jinping's China play in the conflict? Cliff May sits down with former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd to examine the long war against Tehran's jihadist rulers — and why Beijing may have more at stake than many realize.

President Xi Jinping called on Thursday for provinces serving as China's economic powerhouses to pilot efforts in analyzing new circumstances and solving new problems, while stressing the need to develop new quality productive forces and promote common prosperity.The president, who represents Jiangsu province as a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, highlighted the imperative for China to cope with an even more complex environment and solve more deep-seated issues to accomplish targets and tasks set out in the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined a deliberation with his fellow deputies from Jiangsu, the nation's second-largest provincial-level economy.According to the government work report of the Jiangsu provincial government, the province's economy grew 5.3 percent year-on-year in 2025, with the absolute increase remaining the largest among all provincial-level regions in the country.During Thursday's deliberation, Xi spoke after six deputies shared their insights on issues such as advancing new industrialization, promoting the integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation, and accelerating breakthroughs in core technologies.The development of new quality productive forces is instrumental in advancing high-quality growth and enhancing economic competitiveness, Xi said, adding that Jiangsu should take the lead in this regard.He called for integrated efforts to promote education, science and technology and talent development, highlighting the need to secure new breakthroughs in strengthening original innovation, tackling key core technologies and securing the high ground in science and technology.New approaches should be explored to promote the integration of the innovation, industrial, capital and talent chains, and to accelerate the efficient commercialization and application of sci-tech achievements, he said.The president encouraged Jiangsu to make new progress in upgrading traditional industries, fostering and expanding emerging industries, and planning for future industries.Xi emphasized that only when major economic powerhouses maintain a strong foundation for growth and strong resilience against external shocks can they support the stability of the world's second-largest economy as a whole.According to data cited by Xinhua News Agency, China's top 10 provincial-level regions by gross domestic product accounted for 62.2 percent of the country's overall economic growth in 2025. These regions, including Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces, helped boost the national growth rate by 3.1 percentage points, the data showed.The president said that Jiangsu should continue to strengthen economic resilience by improving its internal strengths, enhancing its own capabilities, and fully integrating into the unified national market.He called for taking steps to expand high-standard opening-up, actively explore global markets and better connect with the international economic cycle, adding that a mindset of responding to worst-case scenarios must be adopted in order to prevent various risks.Xi pointed out that Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all, and Jiangsu authorities should accurately grasp the new expectations of the people for a better life, as well as the evolving characteristics of work related to public well-being under the new circumstances.The province should proactively address key issues such as ensuring high-quality and adequate employment, increasing incomes for both urban and rural residents, and further improving the level of basic public services and social security, while exploring effective pathways to promote common prosperity, he added.Xi stressed that the more effective the Party's self-governance is, the stronger the guarantee will be for economic and social development.He called for steps to properly carry out the Party-wide education campaign to promote a sound understanding of governance performance.

In Episode 466 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Joshua Landis, professor of Middle East Studies and director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, about the US-Israel war against Iran, what it reveals about American strategy in the region, and why the absence of a clear theory of victory raises the specter of yet another catastrophic regime-change war in the Middle East. Kofinas and Landis examine the competing narratives surrounding the conflict — from the argument that the Trump administration was dragged into war by Israel, to the theory that Washington concluded Iran would never voluntarily relinquish its nuclear program, to speculation that the campaign is part of a broader grand strategy aimed at neutralizing a Chinese forward base in the Middle East ahead of Trump's summit with Xi Jinping. They also discuss why Iran's regime is far more institutionalized and resilient than the Arab governments the United States has previously sought to topple, the historical lessons of America's last four regime-change wars — Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya — and why the pattern of civil war, refugee crises, and strategic blowback that followed each of those interventions is likely to repeat itself in a country of over 90 million people. The conversation closes with an examination of the broader regional realignment now underway, including the emerging Turkey-Saudi axis taking shape in response to Israeli dominance, the dangerous irony of simultaneously abandoning the Syrian Kurds while attempting to arm the Kurds of northern Iran, and the most plausible optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for how this conflict ultimately resolves. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Join our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 03/04/2026

Communist China is seeking to mediate a cessation of hostilities with Iran and, if possible, save its puppet regime there. The transparent ulterior motive, however, is to ensure continued Chinese access to Iranian oil exports.   That agenda has become critical with President Trump's successful removal of Venezuela's Nicholas Maduro and his subsequent control over that other main supplier of oil for the Chinese Communist Party. Suddenly, the tables have turned on Xi Jinping, who was using his monopoly on processed rare earth minerals and dumping of U.S. Treasuries to extract concessions from Mr. Trump and erode the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency.   It remains to be seen how the President will wield his new-found leverage over our mortal enemy, the CCP. But Donald Trump now has the option of checkmating Xi's ambition to seize Taiwan and otherwise threaten America.   This is Frank Gaffney.

Snam ha presentato il nuovo piano industriale al 2030 concentrato sulla sicurezza energetica e sul rafforzamento delle infrastrutture strategiche del gas. Il gruppo prevede investimenti per 14 miliardi di euro destinati soprattutto al potenziamento della rete di trasporto e dei siti di stoccaggio, con l obiettivo di costruire un sistema energetico piu integrato e competitivo a livello italiano ed europeo. Il piano si basa su crescita industriale, valorizzazione delle partecipazioni e rotazione degli asset. Nel 2025 Snam ha registrato ricavi per oltre 3,8 miliardi, margine operativo lordo a 2,9 miliardi e utile netto rettificato a 1,4 miliardi, con dividendo in crescita del 4%. L indebitamento netto si attesta a 17,5 miliardi. Secondo l azienda la domanda di gas in Italia nel 2026 sara in lieve aumento e non emergono al momento impatti materiali legati alle tensioni internazionali in Medio Oriente e Ucraina, anche se il contesto restera monitorato attentamente. Facciamo il punto con Agostino Scornajenchi (nella foto), amministratore delegato di Snam.Il parlamento cinese riduce il suo obiettivo di crescita nel piano economicoAll apertura della quarta sessione annuale della 14 Assemblea nazionale del popolo a Pechino, Xi Jinping ha presentato il nuovo Piano Quinquennale che definisce le priorita economiche e politiche della Cina nei prossimi cinque anni. Pechino fissa un obiettivo di crescita tra il 4,5% e il 5%, leggermente inferiore al risultato dello scorso anno, mantenendo pero un forte sostegno pubblico all economia con un deficit pari al 4% del Pil. Il piano punta a rafforzare la leadership tecnologica cinese in settori strategici come intelligenza artificiale, informatica quantistica e terre rare, considerate decisive nella competizione con gli Stati Uniti. Previsto anche un aumento del 7% della spesa militare nel 2026, nel quadro del rafforzamento delle forze armate e delle tensioni regionali, in particolare su Taiwan. Sul fronte finanziario saranno destinati 44 miliardi di dollari alle banche statali per sostenere il credito alle imprese tecnologiche e ridurre i rischi sistemici. Il piano affronta anche il tema demografico con misure a sostegno della natalita e dell occupazione e prevede un aumento della produzione agricola fino a 725 milioni di tonnellate per rafforzare la sicurezza alimentare nazionale. Il commento è di Fabio Scacciavillani, Il Sole 24 Ore.Stretto di Hormuz, giù il traffico delle petroliere, su le polizzeLe tensioni in Medio Oriente stanno rallentando fortemente il traffico marittimo nello Stretto di Hormuz, dove risultano ferme oltre 700 navi, di cui circa 200 petroliere. Secondo Reuters il traffico e calato fino all 80%, mentre il mercato assicurativo londinese segnala un forte aumento dei costi per le coperture contro il rischio guerra. Nonostante questo, una parte delle navi continua ad attraversare il passaggio strategico da cui transita circa il 20% del petrolio e del gas naturale liquefatto mondiale. L aumento del rischio ha spinto al rialzo i prezzi energetici e ha reso molto piu costosi noli e assicurazioni, con premi fino a dodici volte superiori ai livelli normali. Le compagnie assicurative stanno rinegoziando le polizze extra war risk e il mercato dei Lloyd s resta in contatto con le autorita statunitensi per definire nuove garanzie contro il rischio politico nella regione. Anche il costo dei trasporti marittimi e aumentato sensibilmente, con rincari fino al 400% per i container e al 300% per le petroliere. Interviene Stefano Messina, Presidente Assarmatori.

National political advisers have been urged to build consensus and pool wisdom for the country to achieve a good start for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).全国政协委员为“十五五”开好局、起好步广泛凝心聚力，贡献智慧和力量。The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, opened on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, raising the curtain on this year's two sessions of China's top legislative and political advisory bodies.3月4日，全国政协十四届四次会议在北京人民大会堂开幕，标志着今年两会正式拉开帷幕。President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders attended the opening meeting, joining around 2,100 CPPCC National Committee members from across the country and various sectors.中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平等党和国家领导人出席开幕会，与来自全国各界、各领域的约2100名全国政协委员共同参会。Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, saying that 2025 was a pivotal year for China's path to modernization.全国政协主席王沪宁代表政协第十四届全国委员会常务委员会作工作报告，指出2025年是中国式现代化进程中具有重要意义的一年。Amid complex global and domestic challenges, China concluded the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) successfully, with strength in the economy, technology and defense reaching new heights, he said.面对错综复杂的国际形势和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，我国 “十四五” 圆满收官，经济实力、科技实力、国防实力迈上新台阶Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee contributed to the country's development by organizing 98 consultative and deliberative activities. It received 5,992 proposals from members, of which 5,061 were accepted for processing and the response rate for the accepted proposals reached 99.9 percent, providing reference for the government, according to the report.一年来，全国政协共举办各类协商议政活动98场次，收到提案5992件，立案5061件，办复率99.9%，为政府决策提供了重要参考。Wang called for suggestions and deliberation during the session to be centered on the implementation of the new five-year plan.王沪宁指出，要围绕“十五五”规划实施议政建言。"We should focus on key issues in fields including economic development, scientific and technological innovation, reform and opening-up, social construction and people's livelihoods, and reflect social conditions and public opinion in a practical manner," he said.要围绕经济发展、科技创新、改革开放、社会建设、民生保障等领域重点问题，实事求是反映社情民意。Wang said the CPPCC National Committee will implement a democratic supervision work plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period to help promote the implementation of major decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.全国政协要实施好“十五五”时期全国政协民主监督工作计划，助推中共中央重大决策部署贯彻落实。The CPPCC National Committee will also hold activities to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, a revered national hero and pioneer of the country's democratic revolution. It will strengthen foreign exchanges and better tell the stories of China's democracy, he added.要办好纪念孙中山先生诞辰160周年活动。要加强政协对外友好交往，讲好中国故事、中国全过程人民民主故事。Jiang Ying, CPPCC National Committee member and chairwoman of Deloitte China, said that as the nation gets ready to start the 15th Five-Year Plan, its push for high-level opening-up and win-win cooperation shows it is committed to high-quality growth through openness.全国政协委员、德勤中国主席蒋颖表示，在"十五五"规划即将开启之际，我国持续推进高水平对外开放和互利共赢合作，彰显了以开放促高质量发展的决心。"This is good news for global businesses — giving them more confidence and new opportunities," Jiang said, adding that China's continuous progress in areas like the digital economy and green transformation is attracting more multinational enterprises to base their research and development in China."这为全球企业带来更多信心与机遇，我国在数字经济、绿色转型等领域的持续突破，正吸引越来越多跨国企业将研发中心落户中国。"She said that managing cross-border data flows has become a key issue in high-level opening-up and her proposal this year highlights the problems enterprises face in cross-border data flows, aiming at making it easier and more convenient for enterprises to comply with regulations.蒋颖指出，跨境数据流动已成为高水平对外开放的关键议题，今年她重点关注企业数据跨境流动痛点，助力提升企业合规便利化水平。Li Shufu, a CPPCC National Committee member and chairman of Geely Holding Group, identified the "new trio" — electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaics — as pivotal trends for social progress.全国政协委员、吉利控股集团董事长李书福认为，电动汽车、锂电池、光伏产品"新三样"已成为社会发展的重要趋势。While noting that the auto industry is shifting from "involution-style" competition toward sustainable growth through technology and quality, Li said that Geely is working to convert unstable wind and solar energy into stable liquid fuels for storage and transportation.当前汽车行业正从"内卷式"竞争转向依托技术与质量的可持续发展，吉利正探索将不稳定的风光资源转化为稳定的液态燃料，实现能源的跨时空存储与运输。Clarence Ling Chun-kit, a CPPCC National Committee member from Hong Kong, said that given current cross-Strait tensions, frequent communication is more important than ever and he will focus more this year on youth exchanges.来自香港的全国政协委员凌俊杰表示，面对当前两岸关系形势，加强交流沟通至关重要，今年他将重点关注两岸青年交流。Noting that cross-Strait integration in scientific areas like artificial intelligence and computing during the 15th Five-year Plan period is essential, Ling said Hong Kong serves as a "natural bridge" to help Taiwan compatriots understand the "real situation on the Chinese mainland" through shared cultural and trade ties.他强调，在"十五五"规划期间推动人工智能、算力等科技领域的两岸融合发展尤为重要，香港可发挥天然桥梁作用，通过深化文化经贸纽带，帮助台湾同胞更好了解大陆真实发展情况。cross-border data flows /ˌkrɒsˈbɔːdə ˈdeɪtə fləʊz/跨境数据流动 photovoltaics /ˌfəʊtəʊvɒlˈteɪɪks/光伏 involution /ˌɪnvəˈluːʃən/内卷

Quand l'histoire éclaire notre actualité. Chaque matin à 7h20, l'historien d'Apolline Matin, Arthur Chevallier, rebondit sur un thème d'actualité pour nous raconter les histoires qui ont marqué l'histoire.

L'émission 28 minutes du 05/03/2026 Laurence Equilbey, la cheffe d'orchestre qui bouscule les codes de la musique classique Éduquée par des parents mélomanes, Laurence Equilbey a naturellement dédié sa vie à la musique. Amatrice de musique classique, la célèbre cheffe d'orchestre n'hésite pourtant pas à casser les codes en mêlant cinéma, manga et scénographie à ses spectacles. Elle dirigera “La Messe en si” de Bach à la Seine Musicale à Boulogne-Billancourt, les 26 et 27 mars. Un chef d'œuvre interprété par l'Insula orchestra et le Chœur accentus, ensembles qu'elle a fondés. Avec la guerre au Moyen-Orient, la Chine va-t-elle devoir réajuster ses plans ? Le président chinois Xi Jinping a inauguré mercredi les “Deux Sessions”, grand-messe politique annuelle de la Chine, où sont dévoilés les objectifs de l'année à venir. Celui de cette année a une saveur particulière. L'opération contre l'Iran, déclenchée par les États-Unis et Israël, est une infortune pour l'Empire du Milieu. Il voit ainsi un autre de ses alliés visé par les Américains, après la capture du vénézuélien Nicolas Maduro. Mais c'est surtout un coup dur pour son économie : plus de 10 % des importations de pétrole de la Chine par voie maritime proviennent d'Iran. Surtout, plus de la moitié de ses approvisionnements en hydrocarbures proviennent du Moyen-Orient et transitent par le fameux détroit d'Ormuz. On en débat avec Stéphanie Balme, politologue, spécialiste de la Chine et directrice du CERI, Emmanuel Véron, géographe, chercheur associé à l'Inalco, spécialiste de la Chine, et Anthony Dufour, réalisateur et journaliste, ancien correspondant en Asie. Xavier Mauduit raconte comment Peugeot a fondé le FC Sochaux en 1928 alors que le constructeur automobile devrait redevenir son premier sponsor officiel, après la vente du club. Marie Bonnisseau explique ce qu'est le “Babybrain”, cette sensation de brouillard permanent ressentie par de nombreuses femmes enceintes et en post-partum, récemment documentée par des scientifiques. 28 minutes est le magazine d'actualité d'ARTE, présenté par Élisabeth Quin du lundi au jeudi à 20h05. Renaud Dély est aux commandes de l'émission le vendredi et le samedi. Ce podcast est coproduit par KM et ARTE Radio. Enregistrement 5 mars 2026 Présentation Élisabeth Quin Production KM, ARTE Radio

L'émission 28 minutes du 05/03/2026 Avec la guerre au Moyen-Orient, la Chine va-t-elle devoir réajuster ses plans ? Le président chinois Xi Jinping a inauguré mercredi les “Deux Sessions”, grand-messe politique annuelle de la Chine, où sont dévoilés les objectifs de l'année à venir. Celui de cette année a une saveur particulière. L'opération contre l'Iran, déclenchée par les États-Unis et Israël, est une infortune pour l'Empire du Milieu. Il voit ainsi un autre de ses alliés visé par les Américains, après la capture du vénézuélien Nicolas Maduro. Mais c'est surtout un coup dur pour son économie : plus de 10 % des importations de pétrole de la Chine par voie maritime proviennent d'Iran. Surtout, plus de la moitié de ses approvisionnements en hydrocarbures proviennent du Moyen-Orient et transitent par le fameux détroit d'Ormuz. On en débat avec Stéphanie Balme, politologue, spécialiste de la Chine et directrice du CERI, Emmanuel Véron, géographe, chercheur associé à l'Inalco, spécialiste de la Chine, et Anthony Dufour, réalisateur et journaliste, ancien correspondant en Asie. 28 minutes est le magazine d'actualité d'ARTE, présenté par Élisabeth Quin du lundi au jeudi à 20h05. Renaud Dély est aux commandes de l'émission le vendredi et le samedi. Ce podcast est coproduit par KM et ARTE Radio. Enregistrement 5 mars 2026 Présentation Élisabeth Quin Production KM, ARTE Radio

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2022: Hu Xijin is China's most famous propagandist. At the Global Times, he helped establish a chest-thumping new tone for China on the world stage – but can he keep up with the forces he has unleashed? By Han Zhang. Read by Emily Woo Zeller. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

La Chine s'apprête à voter son nouveau plan quinquennal lors du grand rendez-vous politique annuel dit des "deux sessions". L'occasion de brosser le portrait de son puissant président Xi Jinping. Avec Jean-Pierre Cabestan, directeur de recherche émérite au CNRS et spécialiste des institutions chinoises. Journaliste: Caroline Stevan Réalisation: Ilian Wenger >> Pour aller plus loin: de Jean-Pierre Cabestan aux éditions Gallimard, - Demain la Chine: démocratie ou dictature? - Demain la Chine: guerre ou paix? Nous écrire ou nous proposer des questions: pointj@rts.ch ou +41 79 134 34 70

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.The war in Iran poses risks to global fertilizer production and supply chains

The United States is once again considering military strikes to curb Iran's nuclear activities and missile program. China has emerged as a particularly important partner of Iran, serving as the country's largest trade partner and one of its few sources of consistent diplomatic backing. For Beijing, the stakes in the relationship extend beyond energy security, but also include great power competition with the US and China's broader strategic ambitions in the Middle East. There are reports that Iran is close to finalizing a deal to purchase supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles from China.  To unpack China-Iran relations and these recent dynamics, we are joined today by Jonathan Fulton. Jonathan is a nonresident senior fellow with the Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council and an associate professor of political science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. His research focuses on China-GCC relations, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and Chinese foreign policy.  This episode was recorded on February 26, 2026.   Timestamps:  [00:00] Introduction   [01:33] China's Interests in Iran and Possible Reactions  [04:55] Challenges to Diversifying Oil Imports   [09:40] Using Oil Purchases as Leverage with the US  [10:59] Frictions in the China-Iran Relationship  [12:41] Iran in China's Middle East Strategy  [16:00] Iran–China 25-year Cooperation Program   [21:56] China-Russia Coordination in Iran Strategy  [25:54] Tehran's Points of Leverage with Beijing and Moscow  [29:14] Potential Disruptors to the China-Iran Relationship 

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) The US-Israeli war on Iran reverberated across the Middle East and global markets on Tuesday, as oil and gas prices surged and Tehran vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane. Both the US and Israeli militaries continued to bombard Iran’s capital. The US embassy in Riyadh was attacked by two drones, causing limited damage, and Israel sent soldiers into southern Lebanon, where the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia is based. The escalation came as the US sent conflicting messages about how long the war might last, and an adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander told state TV that forces “will set fire to any ship attempting to pass through” the Strait of Hormuz. China, which buys most of Iran’s oil, urged “all sides” to ensure the safe passage of ships through the waterway, where traffic has effectively halted.2) President Trump escalated his criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a fresh indication of how strained the two allies’ relationship has become over the US president’s efforts to enlist the UK’s help in its strikes against Iran. Starmer — who declined a US request to use British bases for offensive operations against the Islamic republic — has “not been helpful,” Trump said in an interview with The Sun tabloid. “It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was.” It’s the latest in a series of jibes Trump has made toward the Labour Party leader since he pushed back against Trump’s designs on Greenland earlier in the year. The US president has repeatedly criticized Starmer’s deal ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius — something he did again in his Sun interview — and has also dismissed Britain’s role alongside American troops in the Afghanistan war.3) US and Chinese trade negotiators are slated to meet in mid-March, according to people familiar with the matter, signaling a planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is pushing ahead despite American strikes against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng are expected to convene in Paris at the end of next week to discuss business deals that could stem from the leaders’ meeting, said the people who requested anonymity to discuss plans that aren’t yet public. Both the timing and location of the meeting could still shift, the people added. Among the issues that could be addressed are a possible Chinese purchase of Boeing Co. planes, commitments to buy US soybeans and Taiwan, the self-ruled island China views as its own, some of the people said. The future of US fentanyl tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court could also be on the agenda, they added.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Captain Jonah Goldberg three sheets to the wind and capsized upon the Caribbean sands, inveterate scallywag Kevin Williamson has seized the helm of HMS Remnant and plotted a course for the far east. Kevin is joined in his journey by Andrew Collier, a Senior Fellow at Harvard's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, wherein they discuss China's bizarre real-estate situation, Xi Jinping's economic mindset, Beijing's 2020 crackdown on its tech firms, and what it's like doing business in the People's Republic. Show Notes:—Andrew Collier's bio—China's Technology War: Why Beijing Took Down Its Tech Giants—Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to discuss his new book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder. McFaul explains why Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and today's autocratic leaders fundamentally do not think like we do—and why that misunderstanding has shaped some of America's most consequential foreign-policy mistakes. Drawing on decades of scholarship and firsthand experience inside the Kremlin, McFaul traces Russia's post–Cold War slide back into autocracy; challenges the claim that NATO expansion caused the rupture with Moscow; and argues that the true threat to authoritarian regimes is democratic example rather than Western military power. He examines the war in Ukraine, its implications for Taiwan, the limits of transactional diplomacy with ideologues like Putin, and the enduring lessons of Cold War statecraft. He also reflects on his unlikely journey from Butte, Montana, to Spaso House —the Moscow home of the U.S. ambassador to Russia— and why he remains convinced that democracy, however fragile, is still the West's greatest strategic advantage. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk

Stormakterna turas om att hylla sin europeiska favorit, för även Trump vill vara Orbáns bästis. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. När många andra i Europa distanserade sig från Kina och började prata allt mer om att minska beroendet, valde Ungern en annan väg. Premiärminister Viktor Orbán har visat upp en varm relation till Kinas president Xi Jinping och länderna har uppgraderat sitt partnerskap till högsta nivå. Vad betyder kinesiska investeringar i landet, vad kan stormakternas gemensamma vurm för Ungern få för konsekvenser och kan Ungern bli Pekings bakdörr in i EU?Hör Hanna Sahlberg, Kinareporter, Moa Kärnstrand, Kinakorrespondent, och Andreas Liljeheden, Brysselkorrespondent, om vad relationen betyder för Kina och för EU.Programledare: Björn Djurberg.Producent: Åsa Welander.Källor ljudklipp: BBC News, AP, CGTN, Kinesiska militären (Folkets befrielsearmés mediecenter).

For twenty years, I've investigated a crime almost too horrific to name—now documented in my new book: “Killed to Order: China's Organ Harvesting Industry and the True Nature of America's Biggest Adversary.”In America and other free countries, patients wait months or even years for an organ. But in China, transplant wait lists are measured in weeks—or even days.In this episode, the tables are turned, and I'm in the guest seat this time.I invited my good friend, actor and comedian Rob Schneider, who has become deeply personally invested in this issue, to be the guest host for this special episode.This is the dark reality: When someone decides to go to China and pay a hefty sum for a scheduled transplant, then on the other side, an incarcerated prisoner of conscience, who has already been blood-typed and tissue-typed, is likely being killed to order.China's transplant industry began its exponential expansion at the exact same time as the state launched its aggressive, nationwide campaign to eradicate the spiritual practice of Falun Gong. There is growing evidence of Uyghurs being targeted as well. There is even an underground global market for what are called “Halal organs,” which means organs from Muslim donors.And it's not just wealthy foreigners who travel to China for organ transplants.China's super elite have access to a secretive longevity program dubbed “Project 981” with eerie ties to this macabre organ industry. This project entered the spotlight last year after the revealing hot mic exchange between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they talked about extending lifespans in part through repeated organ transplants.American institutions have, wittingly or unwittingly, helped facilitate the rise of China's transplant system through partnerships with Chinese transplant centers, the training of hundreds of Chinese surgeons, and the supply of China's organ preservation solutions, surgical instruments, immunosuppressive drugs, and transplant diagnostics.The stories I share in this episode are disturbing, but we cannot afford to look away.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

When pro-democracy protesters marched in the streets in Hong Kong in 2019, China responded by arresting thousands, including the leaders of the movement. One of the arrested was Jimmy Lai, who had used his newspaper to campaign for democracy. This month, he received a 20-year jail sentence. In an interview, Michael Barbaro speaks to Mr. Lai's son, Sebastien Lai, about the sentence, what it means for the pro-democracy movement and where Hong Kong may go from here. Guest: Sebastien Lai, a democracy activist and the son of the pro-democracy media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai. Background reading: A Hong Kong court sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison. The sentence for the media mogul shows how Hong Kong enforces Xi Jinping's red lines with a new severity. Listen to our interview with Jimmy Lai from 2020. Photo: Andrew Testa for The New York Times For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Friday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan covers the accelerating AI Revolution as Jack Dorsey's company Block cuts half its workforce, signaling a major shift in how corporations operate and raising fresh political questions ahead of the midterms. Bryan then turns to Washington, where President Trump's approval rating climbs following the State of the Union while Democrats subpoena the Clintons over Jeffrey Epstein ties. Meanwhile, explosive revelations surface about Biden-era FBI surveillance of Susie Wiles and Kash Patel, a Democrat judge defies the Supreme Court on deportations, and internal fights erupt over ICE hiring, Dreamer deportations, and warehouse detention facilities. The global front remains tense, with China quietly purging over 100 military officers, routing drone shipments to Russia through Thailand, and possibly aiding Iran's missile ambitions. Bryan also addresses listener questions on Iran's nuclear timeline, hypersonic threats to U.S. naval assets, and whether the "one week away" nuclear talking point holds up under scrutiny.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: February 27 2026 Wright Report, AI job cuts Block Jack Dorsey layoffs, Trump approval rating Trafalgar poll, Clinton Epstein testimony subpoena, FBI surveillance Susie Wiles Kash Patel, Brian Murphy deportation ruling Supreme Court, Dreamer deportations DACA, ICE hiring vetting concerns, Gavin Newsom cultural normal debate, China military purge Xi Jinping, Thailand drone transshipment Russia, Iran hypersonic missiles China, USS Gerald Ford deployment, Operation Midnight Hammer Iran nuclear debate

On this episode of the podcast, National Security and China Expert Steve Yates joins Amanda Head to break down why NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) — at over $4B per launch — is unsustainable and plagued by costly delays. Yates explains why America must pivot toward a competitive, private-sector-driven model, highlighting SpaceX's reusable rocket success as the blueprint for lower cost, higher cadence, and greater capacity in space.The conversation expands to greater U.S.–China relations, as Yates outlines Beijing's rapid technological and military advancements and why Washington must take a clear-eyed, balanced approach. With President Trump preparing to meet with Xi Jinping at the end of March, the discussion turns to trade leverage, fentanyl trafficking, and broader security concerns. In a deeply personal moment, Yates reflects on the tragic loss of his daughter Christina to fentanyl and why stopping the flow of the drug into America is not just good policy — it gets very personal for loving families like his. You can follow this podcast, Amanda Head, and Steve Yates on X (formerly Twitter) by searching for the respective handles: @FurthermorePod, @AmandaHead, @SteveYates.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cold War Two is transforming the global political system. Two distinct visions are competing: The US seeks to revive colonialism and imperialist "spheres of influence", using force to restore Western hegemony. China wants a multipolar order based on peace, sovereign equality, and win-win cooperation. Ben Norton analyzes speeches by officials from both countries. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqhLXjvTRsw Sources and links here: https://www.geopoliticaleconomy.report/p/us-unipolarity-china-multipolarity-vision-global-order Topics 0:00 (CLIP) China proposes multipolar order 0:30 Cold War Two 1:13 Comparing visions of USA and China 2:49 (CLIP) Stephen Miller: Might makes right 3:39 US imperialist model 5:18 (CLIP) Marco Rubio's pro-colonialist speech 7:13 Speech by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi 7:55 China opposes hegemony 8:45 (CLIP) Wang Yi explains China's vision 10:11 (CLIP) China opposes "law of the jungle" 10:24 Xi Jinping's global governance principles 10:53 United Nations 11:51 (CLIP) China defends UN system 12:33 Respect for small countries 13:56 (CLIP) US is destroying law-based system 14:40 Importance of sovereignty 15:38 (CLIP) Global South is rising 15:58 China's multipolarity vs US unipolarity 18:13 Outro

In this special episode of the China Power Podcast, listen to our recent event assessing Xi Jinping's widespread purges of China's military and what they reveal about China's priorities, dynamics within the PLA, and China's overall military readiness. To discuss these issues, our event brought together six leading experts on China: Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens (Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin), Mr. John Culver (Nonresident Senior Fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings), Mr. Jon Czin (Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and Fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings), Dr. Taylor Fravel (Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science and Director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Dr. Bonny Lin (Director, China Power Project and Senior Adviser at CSIS). Mr. Brian Hart (Deputy Director and Fellow of the China Power Project at CSIS). For more on the topic, access the China Power dataset and full report here and read our compilation of expert commentaries here.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Iran Nears Deal For Supersonic “Ship-Killer” Missile — Tehran is reportedly closing in on an agreement with China to acquire a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile capable of threatening even advanced U.S. naval vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. We break down what the CM-302 can do and how it could change the strategic calculus at sea. Xi's Military Purge May Be Hurting China's Readiness — A new defense study suggests that Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-corruption purge inside the People's Liberation Army is creating command gaps and potentially undermining the very force he has spent years modernizing. Russian Troops Allege Executions Inside Their Own Ranks — A BBC documentary reveals disturbing claims from Russian soldiers who say senior officers ordered brutal punishments — including executions — for troops refusing near-suicidal assault missions in Ukraine. Back of the Brief: Mexico Travel Concerns After El Mencho's Death — With cartel violence flaring following the killing of CJNG boss El Mencho, we take a closer look at travel advisories and what the latest unrest could mean for thousands of Americans planning Spring Break trips to Mexico. 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 DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/PDB and use promocode PDB at checkout. Ultra Pouches: Don't sleep on @ultrapouches. New customers get 15% Off with code PDB at https://takeultra.com! #UltraPouches #ad Cardiff: Get fast business funding without bank delays—apply in minutes with Cardiff and access up to $500,000 in same‑day funding at https://Cardiff.co/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, and Brandon Aceto are joined by economist Kenneth Rogoff as they break down Trump's State of the Union address, escalating U.S.–China trade war tensions, FedEx's lawsuit over tariff policy, Xi Jinping's strategic leverage, the European Union's rejection of U.S. trade terms, and the broader market and supply chain fallout.-------♟️ SALES LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2026: https://bit.ly/45Evtj4

From the BBC World Service: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says there is a great opportunity to develop ties with China following a meeting with its leader, Xi Jinping. Before the trip, Merz said there needs to be a fair competition and jointly agreed-upon rules between the two countries. Also, starting today, almost all visitors to the United Kingdom will need to apply for an electronic travel authorization that costs around $21 before entering the country.

From the BBC World Service: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says there is a great opportunity to develop ties with China following a meeting with its leader, Xi Jinping. Before the trip, Merz said there needs to be a fair competition and jointly agreed-upon rules between the two countries. Also, starting today, almost all visitors to the United Kingdom will need to apply for an electronic travel authorization that costs around $21 before entering the country.

DOD – Disrupter Disrupters China markets reopening after Lunar New Year Mexico Cartel Wars Refunds requested for the illegal tariffs PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - The CTP for Caterpillar announced - DOD - Disrupter Disrupters - China markets reopening after Lunar New Year - Mexico Cartel Wars (Jalisco) Markets - Mortgage Rates - looking good! - Tariffs found illegal - that is not stopping anything - Refunds requested for the illegal tariffs - Monday's big drop and AI taking a bite out of stock prices Tariffs - First, who actually knows what is going on. 100% chaos - Supreme court ruled illegal (6-3) - 10% flat across all countries immediately added - Wait a day and make that 15% - FedEx seeks refund for illegal IEEPA tariffs imposed by Trump after the Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs exceeded authority - Numerous lawsuits expected for IEEPA tariff refunds - Apple has spent more than $3 billion on tariffs since President Donald Trump enacted his trade policies. What about that? (HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHO GETS THE REFUND) --- Estimate that $175B tariffs have been collected alreay - A group of 22 U.S. Senate Democrats on Monday introduced legislation that would require President Donald Trump's administration to fully refund within 180 days all of the revenue, with interest, collected from tariffs struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. - The legislation would require the Customs and Border Protection agency, which collects tariffs at U.S. ports of entry, to prioritize small businesses. - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said it will halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday Stop The Presses - After years of JCD's rants....... - Apple will soon introduce MacBooks with touch screens - Apple Inc.'s initial touch Macs will have the Dynamic Island at the center top of the display and OLED screen technology. The new MacBook Pro models will have a refreshed, dynamic user interface that can shift between being optimized for touch or point-and-click input. Europe Reacts - "The current situation is not conducive to delivering 'fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial' transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides" in the joint statement setting out the terms of last year's trade agreement, the Commission said. "A deal is a deal." - All active discussions are halted on any USA/Europe trade deal The Potential Winners - Brazil and China may be the winners here - Chinese President Xi Jinping has a boost in bargaining power after the US Supreme Court invalidated Donald Trump's broad emergency tariffs, a key point of leverage over China. - The removal of tariff threats will make it harder for Trump to press Xi for larger purchases of certain products and leaves him without a key weapon to strike back if Chinese negotiators make fresh demands. - Xi's team will likely push harder for access to advanced semiconductors, the removal of trade restrictions on Chinese companies, and reduced US support for self-ruled Taiwan, according to Wu Xinbo, director at Fudan University's Center for American Studies. NVDA Earnings - NVIDIA drops its fiscal Q4 2026 (ended Jan 2025) results tomorrow—another make-or-break moment for the AI trade. - The bar is sky-high after years of blowout beats, but whispers of "peak AI" and slowing growth momentum have investors on edge. --- Consensus Expectations : ----Revenue: ~$65.6–$66.1 billion (up ~67–68% YoY from last year's ~$39B; guided $65B ±2% in prior report) ------EPS (adjusted/non-GAAP): ~$1.50–$1.53 (up ~70–72% YoY from $0.89). --------Gross margins: Targeting ~75% non-GAAP (holding strong despite supply chain noise). -----------Key driver: Data Center segment expected to crush ~$58–$60B, fueled by Blackwell ramp and hyperscaler spend. Home Depot Earnings - The home-improvement retailer gained 2.7% after posting fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.72 per share on revenues of $38.20 billion. - That exceeded the per-share earnings of $2.54 on revenues of $38.12 billion expected by analysts polled by LSEG. AMD News - The semiconductor maker rose about 11% after it inked a multiyear deal with Meta to lend up to 6 gigawatts of its graphics processing units to artificial intelligence data centers. - The cost of the deal is unclear, but the companies' agreement includes a a performance-based warrant that could amount to up to 160 million of AMD shares, according to a statement dated Tuesday. - Meta has committed to deploying up to 6 gigawatts (GW) of AMD's Instinct GPUs (high-end graphics processing units optimized for AI workloads) to power its massive AI data centers. - Analysts estimate the GPU portion alone could be worth $60–$100+ billion over 5+ years Mortgage Rates - The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 5.99% on Monday, according to Mortgage News Daily, matching its lowest levels since 2022. - Last year at this time the rate was 6.89%. - A buyer putting 20% down on the median priced home, about $400,000 according to the National Association of Realtors, would have a monthly payment of $1,916 for the principal and interest. One year ago, that payment would have been $2,105, a difference of $189. Life Insurance Record - Manulife Financial Corp. sold a $300 million life insurance policy in Singapore, topping what Guinness World Records certified as the most valuable policy ever issued. - The policy surpasses the previous record of $250 million, set by HSBC Life in Hong Kong in 2024. Manulife said in a statement Tuesday that the deal reflects growing demand from ultra-wealthy clients to preserve their assets. - In Singapore over the past 12 months, Manulife has issued 25 individual policies each worth more than $50 million. Bitcoin Rout - Gemini said it was axing as much as a quarter of its staff and exiting the UK, European Union and Australia entirely. - This week, it parted with its chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief legal officer, all in a single day. - Its stock has fallen more than 80% from a post-listing high last year, collapsing its market value from a peak of almost $4 billion to under $700 million. Over the Greenland - USA sending a "hospital ship" over - Trump's post on the ship came hours after Denmark's Joint Arctic Command said it had evacuated a crew member who required urgent medical treatment from a U.S. submarine in Greenlandic waters, seven nautical miles outside of Greenland's capital, Nuuk. - Greenland said thanks but no thanks So Long! - U.S. investors are pulling money out of their own stock market at the fastest pace in at least 16 years as Big Tech returns fade and better-performing overseas markets look more attractive. - In the last six months, U.S.-domiciled investors have pulled some $75 billion from U.S. equity products, with $52 billion flowing out since the start of 2026 alone, the most in the first eight weeks of the year since at least 2010 AI Disruption - DOD (Disruption of Disrupters) - CrowdStrike -9.8% and other cybersecurity names under heavy pressure again as AI disruption fears build following Anthropic's Claude Code release - - Cybersecurity stocks are under broad pressure today, extending recent weakness following Friday's launch of Claude Code Security by Anthropic. Claude Code Security scans codebases for vulnerabilities and suggests software patches for human review, fueling a narrative that AI platforms may be moving more quickly into parts of the security workflow than investors had previously expected. For cybersecurity, that raises concern around the forward demand outlook and competitive positioning, particularly in areas tied to application security, cloud security, identity workflows, and security operations automation, where AI-native tools could start to narrow perceived differentiation. - The move suggests investors are still sorting through the implications for product overlap, pricing power, and competitive positioning as AI capabilities evolve quickly. - IBM shares dropping toward lows of the session; attributed to news that Claude can automate cobol modernization COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) is a high-level, English-like programming language created in 1959 for business, finance, and administrative data processing. It is renowned for its verbosity, readability, and reliability, processing massive amounts of transactions on mainframe systems,, notes NetCom Learning and IBM. Despite being decades old, it remains critical in banking, insurance, and government sectors. - It is estimated that 70-80% of the world's business transactions are processed by COBOL Grok's Prediction about Future of OpenAi/ChatGPT Scenario Likelihood (My Estimate) Key Factors Outcome for OpenAI/ChatGPT Thriving Leader Medium (40%) Sustained breakthroughs, partnerships (e.g., Microsoft), regulatory wins OpenAI as AI giant; ChatGPT as ecosystem hub for agents/robots Evolved Survivor High (50%) Adaptation to agents/hardware; mergers Exists but rebranded; ChatGPT integrated into daily life tools Decline/Acquisition Low (10%) Overcompetition, funding collapse Absorbed or legacy; ChatGPT commoditized or obsolete Quick check on Europe Shares - European company earnings growth is picking up this reporting season against a tentatively improving economic backdrop, but wary investors are demanding more than solid results to justify sky-high valuations. - Companies representing 57% of Europe's market capitalization have reported so far, achieving average earnings growth of 3.9% in the fourth quarter, ahead of estimates for a final result of a contraction of 1.1% --- That is a big differential.... +3.9 vs -1.1 Iran Talks - News over the weekend that Iran will look to discuss a variety of items and potentially get a deal.... energy, mining and aircraft - Best guess: Iran will string us along like Russia is doing and we will say we have some kind of bogus deal. --- There is some talk of US "going in" as we are building military presence. Supposedly there are some saying it could be a multi-week incursion. - What is the plan - Regime change? What is this? - A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Americans can't sue the U.S. Postal Service, even when employees deliberately refuse to deliver mail. - By a 5-4 vote, the justices ruled against a Texas landlord, Lebene Konan, who alleges her mail was intentionally withheld for two years. Konan, who is Black, claims racial prejudice played a role in postal employees' actions. - Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for a majority of five conservative justices, said the federal law that generally shields the Postal Service from lawsuits over missing, lost and undelivered mail includes “the intentional nondelivery of mail.” - So can ballots just be thrown in garbage for mail-ins for one party that will throw out another party's?     Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? HE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for CATERPILLAR Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says there is a 'great opportunity' to develop a relationship with China, following a meeting with its leader Xi Jinping, in Beijing.Merz is currently on his first visit to China, which is Germany's biggest trading partner, since becoming leader 10 months ago.Plus a dispute is brewing between Washington and an AI company over military use of its technology.Presenter: Bisi Adebayo Producer: Matt Lines Editor: Justin Bones

Colonel Grant Newsham explains Xi Jinping's psychological warfare tactics and mal-marketing strategies designed to make Americans dependent while China telegraphs military expansion through bases like Djibouti surrounding USinterests globally. 2

Josh Rogin describes the conflict between Trump's Wall Street advisors seeking trade deals and hardliners pushing for a trade war during the early 2017 Mar-a-Lago summit with Xi Jinping. 2

4. Stevenson-Yang 4: Post-Pandemic Deflation and the Surveillance State. Severe COVID-19 lockdowns shattered public trust, leaving China facing local government debt crises and deflation while Xi Jinping prioritizes national surveillance over traditional capitalist recovery. Guest: Anne Stevenson-Yang.

In this episode, I sit down with Grace Jin Drexel, the daughter of detained Pastor Ezra Jin, the founder of one of China's largest underground house-church networks.Last October, Pastor Jin was arrested along with 27 other pastors and church leaders from Zion Church. It was one of the largest assaults on independent Christian congregations in China since the Cultural Revolution, said Drexel. She has since become a prominent voice speaking out against religious persecution in China.State repression of Zion Church began in 2018 amid a broader wave of Communist Party efforts to subjugate faith communities, Drexel said.“You saw the tearing down of crosses [and] putting portraits of Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong on church buildings,” she said.Zion Church was deemed an illegal business operation, forcing them to shift to a hybrid online model of worship. Authorities also placed an exit ban on Pastor Jin.“There's so many parts of our lives that he has missed out on. He was not able to walk me down the aisle at my wedding. He was not able to attend my baby's baptism,” Drexel said.She sees her father's detention as part of a new wave of persecution targeting not only her father's church but also many other underground churches and religious groups as well. As in 2018, authorities are again installing pictures of Xi in churches again, sometimes even replacing crosses, to “showcase who is the true leader of the church,” she said.Another sign of a new wave of suppression is the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of Apple Daily and a practicing Catholic. He was recently given 20 years in prison, which marks the longest sentence handed down to date under Beijing's national security law.Since Pastor Jin's arrest, he has not been allowed any family visits, phone calls, or even letters from his loved ones. He is also suffering from severe Type 2 diabetes, and Drexel is deeply concerned about his wellbeing.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

This week, Scott sat down with his foreign-policy-minded colleagues Daniel Byman, Michael Feinberg, and Ari Tabatabai to talk through some recent big news stories around the world, including:“Beer Hall Push-back.” Over the weekend, a raft of bipartisan U.S. and European officials headed to Bavaria for the annual Munich Security Conference. Last year, Vice President J.D. Vance gave a barnburner of a speech, accusing European allies of restraining free speech and giving succor to the European far right. This year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave a more conciliatory set of remarks that nonetheless signaled that there were some fundamental changes happening in the relationship. For their part, European leaders mostly seemed to be on board with that as they increasingly leaned into the public stance that it was time for the continent to stand on its own, independent of the United States, although how feasible that will be and on what timeline remain the big questions. What should we make of the different remarks we heard from the conference and the broader messages the two sides are sending to each other? And is this a sign of an impending divorce or a different sort of shift in the U.S.-European transatlantic relationship? “Rial Talk.” American and Iranian officials met again this week in Geneva to negotiate an end to the Islamic Republic's nuclear weapons program in exchange for an easing or elimination of U.S. sanctions on Iran. The negotiations took place amidst continued saber rattling by both President Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who threatened in a speech ahead of the talks to sink U.S. warships in the region if Iran came under attack. Nonetheless, some participants in the negotiations—particularly the mediators from Oman—seemed optimistic that the two sides were getting closer to some sort of common understanding about how they might move forward. But U.S. military assets are continuing to accumulate in the region, leading some to conclude that a military operation may yet be on the horizon. Is there space for a deal? Or iare we going to see another war in Iran?“Xi Who Must Not Be Named.” A year in, the second Trump administration has not proven to be the China hawk that many expected. Far from drawing a hard line on all things China as the first Trump administration often seemed to do, U.S. officials have instead been surprisingly quiet and conciliatory in regard to China, at least outside the trade context. This has remained true even as reports have emerged of Xi Jinping purging his military of non-loyalists, modernizing China's nuclear arsenal, and building more submarines—all steps with the potential to significantly upset the balance of power in Asia and beyond. What is the real logic underlying the Trump administration's seemingly quixotic approach to China, and where might it lead the broader relationship between the two major powers? In object lessons, Dan is delighting in John Company, a social-climbing, backroom-dealing, hostile-bargaining board game to, you know, escape the harsh realities of the real world. Ari enthusiastically recommends the Broadway adaptation of Death Becomes Her, which somehow manages to be even quirkier than the original film. Scott has been sucked into the social media abyss by Jess and Quinn's corny, absurdist, and pun-oriented humor. And Mike offers an anti-object-lesson warning: the “Poetry for Kids” series is not, in fact, reliably for kids.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Scott sat down with his foreign-policy-minded colleagues Daniel Byman, Michael Feinberg, and Ari Tabatabai to talk through some recent big news stories around the world, including:“Beer Hall Push-back.” Over the weekend, a raft of bipartisan U.S. and European officials headed to Bavaria for the annual Munich Security Conference. Last year, Vice President J.D. Vance gave a barnburner of a speech, accusing European allies of restraining free speech and giving succor to the European far right. This year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave a more conciliatory set of remarks that nonetheless signaled that there were some fundamental changes happening in the relationship. For their part, European leaders mostly seemed to be on board with that as they increasingly leaned into the public stance that it was time for the continent to stand on its own, independent of the United States, although how feasible that will be and on what timeline remain the big questions. What should we make of the different remarks we heard from the conference and the broader messages the two sides are sending to each other? And is this a sign of an impending divorce or a different sort of shift in the U.S.-European transatlantic relationship? “Rial Talk.” American and Iranian officials met again this week in Geneva to negotiate an end to the Islamic Republic's nuclear weapons program in exchange for an easing or elimination of U.S. sanctions on Iran. The negotiations took place amidst continued saber rattling by both President Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who threatened in a speech ahead of the talks to sink U.S. warships in the region if Iran came under attack. Nonetheless, some participants in the negotiations—particularly the mediators from Oman—seemed optimistic that the two sides were getting closer to some sort of common understanding about how they might move forward. But U.S. military assets are continuing to accumulate in the region, leading some to conclude that a military operation may yet be on the horizon. Is there space for a deal? Or iare we going to see another war in Iran?“Xi Who Must Not Be Named.” A year in, the second Trump administration has not proven to be the China hawk that many expected. Far from drawing a hard line on all things China as the first Trump administration often seemed to do, U.S. officials have instead been surprisingly quiet and conciliatory in regard to China, at least outside the trade context. This has remained true even as reports have emerged of Xi Jinping purging his military of non-loyalists, modernizing China's nuclear arsenal, and building more submarines—all steps with the potential to significantly upset the balance of power in Asia and beyond. What is the real logic underlying the Trump administration's seemingly quixotic approach to China, and where might it lead the broader relationship between the two major powers? In object lessons, Dan is delighting in John Company, a social-climbing, backroom-dealing, hostile-bargaining board game to, you know, escape the harsh realities of the real world. Ari enthusiastically recommends the Broadway adaptation of Death Becomes Her, which somehow manages to be even quirkier than the original film. Scott has been sucked into the social media abyss by Jess and Quinn's corny, absurdist, and pun-oriented humor. And Mike offers an anti-object-lesson warning: the “Poetry for Kids” series is not, in fact, reliably for kids.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.