Podcasts about Communist party

Today's Headlines: The US Court of International Trade ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, canceling most tariffs—only for the appeals court to reinstate them during the ongoing appeal. Meanwhile, ASEAN countries agreed to protect each other's economies against harmful US trade deals amid mounting tariff tensions. The State Department, led by Marco Rubio, announced plans to revoke visas of Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party and pause new student visa interviews to enhance vetting. In other news, Qatar hesitates to finalize the transfer of Trump's private jet due to costly maintenance and demands for clear legal disclaimers. Paramount offered $15 million to settle Trump's lawsuit over a CBS News interview, but Trump wants $25 million plus an apology, leveraging the studio's pending merger approval. Moderna lost millions in HHS funding for its bird flu vaccine development, and Elon Musk resigned from DOGE after 114 days, having achieved only a fraction of his deficit-cutting goals while stirring controversy on multiple fronts. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: CNBC: Trump tariffs reinstated by appeals court for now Fox Business: Federal court rejects Trump's 'unbounded authority' to impose worldwide tariffs Reuters: ASEAN leaders agree tariff deals with US should not harm fellow members MFA Malaysia: ASEAN-GCC-CHINA  27 MAY 2025 - Press Releases  WSJ: U.S. to Revoke Visas of Chinese Students WA Post: Trump's Air Force One deal with Qatar not final despite U.S. claims  WSJ: Paramount Has Offered $15 Million to Settle CBS Lawsuit. Trump Wants More. WA Post: HHS cancels funding for Moderna to develop vaccines to combat bird flu  NBC News: Elon Musk officially leaves the White House Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ying Chen, orchestra conductor who has been with Shen Yun from the very beginning. From Torture to Triumph: How One Conductor Helped Lead a Cultural Rebirth Defying the CCP. China's Communist Party Influence on American Media.

Indian security forces killed 27 rebels this week, including a top Maoist leader. This week, Andrew Mueller explains the nearly half-century long conflict between the state and the Communist Party of India (Maoist). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cherukuri Rajkumar (1954-2010), popularly known as Azad, spokesperson of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), served the cause of Indian revolution for over thirty five years till he was murdered by state forces. This is a collection of his writings and interviews about the position of Indian Maoists on various political, economic and social issues.Foreword - 00:08A Brief Biography - 04:261. Maoists in India - 08:432. On the "Comprehensive Peace Agreement" in Nepal - 48:063. Interview on the Developments in Nepal - 56:104. On V. Prabhakaran - 1:34:545. On Patel Sudhakar Reddy & Venkataiah - 1:40:586. On the Election Boycott Tactic of the Maoists - 1:45:327. Interview on the Government Military Offensive - 2:16:438. Maoists on Talks - 3:41:439. Red Salutes to Balagopal - 3:47:1810. On Telangana - 3:51:2011. On Sakhamuri Appa Rao & Kondal Reddy - 3:58:1712. On Dantewada Guerrilla Attack - 4:05:2113. Interview to The Hindu - 4:14:0714. Letter to Swami Agnivesh - 5:28:2615. On the Jnaneswari Express Tragedy - 5:37:1216. On Bhopal Verdict - 5:43:2617. A Last Note to a Neo-Colonialist - 5:51:19

China is ruled by a Communist Party of 100 million members, a giant pyramid with President Xi Jinping and the Politburo at the top. Yet its economy, the second largest in the world, largely thrives on private enterprise and integration with global capitalism. So what does it mean to be a Chinese Communist today? And what does China under Xi aim to achieve on the international stage? In this episode, historians Sergey Radchenko and Enrico Fardella peel away opaque layers of ideology to get to the heart of China's 21st-century outlook.

#cuttheclutter Security forces Wednesday dealt a massive blow to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by eliminating Basavaraju, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), in an operation in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad. In Episode 1667 of #CutTheClutter Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at the roots of the Maoist movement, how it is structured, and efforts over the years to rid India's central east region of Left Wing Extremism. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read reports by Ananya Bhardwaj & Mayank Kumar: https://theprint.in/india/basavaraju-tech-grad-to-maoist-commander-in-chief-who-scripted-deadliest-massacres-including-dantewada/2632948/ https://theprint.in/india/top-maoist-leader-basavraj-likely-among-27-killed-by-security-forces-in-chhattisgarhs-abujhmad/2632851/ https://theprint.in/india/over-200-maoists-eliminated-since-2021-on-path-to-naxal-free-india-top-commanders-prove-elusive/2410102/ https://theprint.in/india/forces-dealt-a-big-blow-to-maoist-top-rung-with-chalapathi-killing-but-many-big-guns-still-at-large/2460700/ https://theprint.in/politics/blowing-up-police-stations-to-murders-of-mlas-the-life-of-slain-maoist-commander-chalapathi/2455759/ https://theprint.in/india/wanted-in-37-cases-maoist-prayag-manjhi-killed-in-jharkhand-was-big-headache-for-security-forces/2597702/ https://theprint.in/india/bastar-armed-with-new-weapons-to-end-maoism-once-for-all-roads-ration-cards-crpf-gurukul/2488114/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To visit ThePrint Store: https://store.theprint.in/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Produced By: Mahira Khan

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: A disturbing new investigation finds China may be bankrolling a U.S. nonprofit that teaches illegal immigrants how to evade ICE, with ties traced directly to Communist Party-linked entities. Later in the show—new details emerge about an Israeli covert operation in Gaza. Special forces disguised as women penetrated enemy lines to eliminate a senior terror commander. Plus—Europe targets Russia's shadow fleet. Nearly 200 oil tankers now face sanctions as the EU and UK aim to disrupt Moscow's oil smuggling network. And in today's Back of the Brief—a historic conviction. The Navy's former second-in-command is found guilty of bribery, marking the highest-ranking U.S. officer ever convicted of a federal crime while in uniform. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Kikoff: Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at https://GetKikoff.com/miketoday. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://TryBeef.com/PDB for 2 free Flat Iron steaks with your first box over $250 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we're told by politicians that the ideas of Karl Marx are foreign and have no place in this country, history proves otherwise. Andrew Hartman shows that Marx and Marxism have had an a significant influence on the United States, from Marx's journalistic writings for the New York Daily Tribune, to the mass politics the Socialist and Communist Parties and the Wobblies, on the most radical edge of the New Deal, and the New Left, and finally with the return to Marx's ideas since the Global Financial Crisis. The post Fund Drive Special: Marx's Influence on America appeared first on KPFA.

Christian Ray Flores unpacks grit, resilience, and antifragility through his remarkable journey from child refugee to international pop star and coach. His actionable strategies to thrive amid unpredictability and harness gratitude will help you reframe suffering into transformative personal growth.Christian Ray Flores is an American artist, entrepreneur, evangelist, philanthropist, investor, coach, and the co-founder of Third Drive.In this episode, Melinda and Christian talk about:Definitions and differences between fragility, resilience, and antifragility, citing Nassim TalebChristian's personal story illustrating adaptation and antifragilityCoaching techniques for helping clients shift from fragility to antifragility, including reframing exercisesRole of constructive suffering and intentional growth, avoiding ego-driven martyrdomThe importance of finding and anchoring to one's “why” with daily contemplationGratitude practices for processing life's challenges and growthThe coach's role in modeling and fostering antifragility in clientsStrategies for supporting clients through setbacks, including temporary reliance on resilienceThe concept of apprenticeship and the importance of learning from mentorsSummary of practical takeaways on reframing, gratitude, and intentionality for thriving in adversity“The hardship, the obstacles, the unexpected negative surprises are literally making you better and more successful.” — Christian Ray FloresGuest Bio:Christian Ray Flores, co-founder of Third Drive, brings a world of incredible experiences and insights to the table. He was at one time a top-of-the-charts pop singer in Russia and Ukraine. In fact, his song “Our Generation” was utilized by Russian President Boris Yeltsin's 1996 campaign to mobilize young voters and defeat the Communist Party candidate. Despite his success, however, there was still an emptiness to Christian's life that eventually led him into a life of faith. Now an Austin-based entrepreneur working in both the profit and non-profit worlds, Christian brings first-hand insights into the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine — as well as bringing his life-strategy insights to clients and followers.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeCoaches ConsoleMelinda's books: The Confident Coach and The Professional CoachChristian's website: ChristianRayFlores.comChristian's coaching and personal brand website: Xponential.LifeCredits:Host: Melinda CohanProducer and Editor: Michi LantzExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Just Between Coaches, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits:Track Title: CloudsArtist Name: AcreageWriter Name: Marshall UsingerPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Coastline DreamArtist Name: Wild SkyWriter Name: Adam SimonsPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Stars & TreesArtist Name: Outside The SkyWriter Name: Dustin RansomPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Why Anti-Fragile Coaches Create Lasting Impact (Christian Ray Flores)

Beijing municipal health authority has revoked the medical licenses of a former senior surgeon and a resident physician at a major Beijing hospital for violations of professional ethics and academic misconduct, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.国家卫生健康委员会周四表示，北京市卫生局已吊销北京一家大型医院原资深外科医生和住院医师的行医执照，原因是他们违反职业道德和学术不端行为。The disciplinary action follows an official investigation that attracted widespread public attention after the two doctors' extramarital affair and personal misconduct emerged in April. The case has prompted scrutiny of loopholes in surgical oversight, professional ethics and medical school admissions.自今年4月这两名医生的婚外情和个人不当行为曝光以来，官方对此展开了调查，并引发了广泛关注。此次纪律处分是在此之前做出的。此案引发了人们对外科监管、职业道德和医学院招生方面漏洞的反思。According to the commission, the former senior surgeon, surnamed Xiao, arbitrarily left an operating room mid-surgery while the patient was under anesthesia. He departed along with his assistant following an argument with a nurse at China-Japan Friendship Hospital in July.据该委员会称，这位姓肖的原资深外科医生在手术过程中，在患者麻醉期间擅自离开手术室。7月份，他与助手在中日友好医院与一名护士发生争执后离开。"He prioritized personal emotions over patient safety and failed to understand his responsibilities as a physician, and the potential medical risks posed to the patient by his actions," the commission said in a statement.该委员会在一份声明中表示：“肖医生将个人情感置于患者安全之上，未能理解其作为医生的责任，也未能理解其行为可能给患者带来的医疗风险。”Xiao's extramarital relationship with the resident physician, surnamed Dong, also constituted "a severe violation of professional and medical ethics" and caused "significant negative social impact", it said.肖某与住院医师董某的婚外情也构成了“严重违反职业道德和医德行为”，并造成了“重大不良社会影响”。Xiao was dismissed from the hospital and expelled from the Communist Party of China earlier this month. His medical license has been revoked by the Beijing municipal health authority, and he is banned from practicing medicine for at least five years. The hospital received a formal warning, a corrective order and financial penalties.本月初，肖某被医院开除出党，并被开除党籍。他的行医执照已被北京市卫生部门吊销，并被禁止至少五年内行医。医院收到了正式警告、责令改正和经济处罚。Dong, who graduated from an elite medical training program in China, was involved in a sexual relationship with Xiao during her residency, according to a letter published by Xiao's wife in April.据肖某妻子今年4月发表的一封信称，董某毕业于中国一所精英医学培训项目，在院期间与肖某发生了性关系。Authorities said Dong falsified academic records to gain admission to a four-year doctoral program at Peking Union Medical College—one of China's most prestigious medical schools. Her dissertation was found to contain serious instances of plagiarism, and several of her academic papers involved violations of research integrity, including improper authorship and duplicate publications.当局表示，董某伪造学术记录，以便进入中国最负盛名的医学院之一——北京协和医学院攻读四年制博士学位。她的学位论文被发现存在严重抄袭行为，她的多篇学术论文涉及违反科研诚信的行为，包括署名不当和重复发表。Peking Union Medical College has revoked Dong's degree and graduation credentials. Local health authorities have also revoked her medical qualification and license, according to the commission.北京协和医学院已撤销董某的学位和毕业证书。据该委员会称，当地卫生部门也已吊销了她的医师资格和行医执照。The "four-plus-four-year" doctoral program that admitted Dong combines undergraduate and medical studies and targets top international university graduates from nonmedical fields. It was designed to integrate medical education with interdisciplinary training and to reform the traditional eight-year path to becoming a doctor in China.董某的“四年加四年”博士研究生项目融合了本科和医学教育，面向非医学领域的国际顶尖大学毕业生。该项目旨在将医学教育与跨学科培训相结合，改革中国传统的八年制医生培养模式。The commission said the case has exposed flaws in the program's admission criteria, clinical training supervision, thesis review procedures and student ethics education.该委员会表示，此案暴露了该项目在招生标准、临床实习督导、论文评审程序和学生伦理教育方面存在的缺陷。"Peking Union Medical College is currently undergoing thorough rectification," the commission said. "The commission is working with the Ministry of Education to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program and promote reforms."该委员会表示：“北京协和医学院目前正在进行彻底整改。委员会正会同教育部对试点项目进行全面评估，并推进改革。”The commission is carrying on deeper probe into institutions and personnel involved in the case and will hold those violating rules and regulations accountable.该委员会正在对涉案机构和人员进行深入调查，并将追究违规人员的责任。revocation/ˌrevəˈkeɪʃn/n.撤销，吊销misconduct/ˌmɪsˈkʌndʌkt/n.不当行为；失职plagiarism/ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/n.抄袭；剽窃rectification/ˌrektɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/n.整改；纠正

In this exceptional episode of Guerrilla History, we continue our series African Revolutions and Decolonization by bringing back guest host Ruehl Muller, senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China (who has been in contact with the CPS for quite some time) and guest Bafanabakhe Sacolo of the Communist Party of Swaziland (both of whom were with us in our previous AR&D episode Struggle Against Africa's Last Absolute Monarchy).  This time, we discuss the construction of a culture to uphold the monarchy in Swaziland, the importance of cultural revolution in fighting against the monarchy, and the CPS's efforts on this front.  A massive and important conversation, you'll definitely want to share this with comrades!   Also subscribe to our Substack (free!) to keep up to date with what we are doing.  With so many episodes coming in this series (and beyond), you won't want to miss anything, so get the updates straight to your inbox.  guerrillahistory.substack.com   Bafanabakhe Sacolo is National Organizing Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland.  You can keep up to date with the CPS by following them on Facebook, on Twitter, or by checking out their website.   Ruehl Muller is senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, and the editor of the fantastic Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu (buy a physical copy or download the free PDF from Iskra Books). Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

Listen to news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 minutes.The former president was elected mayor of Davao by a landslide, despite his detention by the International Criminal Court. Listen to the story and more in a wrap-up of the weekly news from Asia.Filed by UCA News reporters, compiled by Fabian Antony, text edited by Anosh Malekar, presented by Joe Mathews, background score by Andre Louis and produced by Binu Alex for ucanews.com For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

Part 1:We talk with Jeet Heer.Jeet Heer is a national affairs correspondent forThe Nationand host of the weeklyNation podcast,The Time of Monsters. He also pens the monthly column Morbid Symptoms. The author ofIn Love with Art: Francoise Moulys Adventures in Comics with Art Spiegelman(2013) andSweet Lechery: Reviews, Essays and Profiles(2014), Heer has written for numerous publications, includingThe New Yorker,The Paris Review,Virginia Quarterly Review,The American Prospect,The Guardian,The New Republic,andThe Boston Globe.We discuss the adoption of crypto currency funds, first, by Trump, for the nation, and by the governor of New Hampshire for New Hampshire. More states will likely follow.We note that most of the crypto investment is from the Middle East. It may destabilize the US dollar, and has many other problems. Unfortunately, both Republicans and Democrats are buying into crypto. We discuss the implications for the future.Part 2:We talk with Professor Peter Rutland.Peter Rutland has taught at Wesleyan since 1989. Before that he taught at the University of Texas at Austin, and at the University of York and London University in the UK. He has a BA from Oxford and a D. Phil from York. He has also been a visiting professor at Columbia University, and is an associate of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. His research interests focus on all things Russian and places where the Russian boot has trod (Nicholas II) in the former Soviet Union and the former East Europe. He started off studying workers and the Communist Party, moving on to broader questions of economic policy in the socialist and post-socialist economies. Along the way he developed an interest in nationalism and ethnic conflict. Since 2013 he has been editor in chief of Nationalities Papers, the journal of the Association for the Study of Nationalities along with serving as associate editor of Russian Review.We discuss the image that Putin is creating of himself in Russia. His control of all media in Russia allows him to present whatever facet he likes to give the Russians the image of a 'humble man of the people', and his propaganda is framed in such a way to make him seem to be 'defending' Russia. We also look at how Trump has also adopted this strategy to present himself to US voters. WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

China and the United States should return to a path of dialogue and win-win cooperation and shoulder their shared responsibility as major powers to serve as anchors for global peace and prosperity, Chinese officials and international experts said on Tuesday.中国官员和国际专家周二表示，中美两国应重回对话合作、合作共赢之路，共同承担大国责任，成为世界和平与繁荣的稳定器。Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world is closely watching China-US relations because of their significance to each other and to humanity at large.中共中央对外联络部部长刘建超表示，中美关系对彼此乃至全人类都至关重要，世界各国都密切关注。"It is our consistent view that China and the US must live in peace. Conflict and confrontation are not our options," Liu said at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Wanshou Dialogue on Global Security in Beijing. "We hope that the US side will join us in pursuing dialogue, partnership and win-win cooperation instead of confrontation, alliances and zero-sum games."刘建超在北京举行的第四届万寿国际安全研讨会开幕式上表示：“我们始终认为，中美必须和平相处，冲突对抗不是我们的选择。我们希望美方与我们一道，致力于对话、伙伴关系、合作共赢，而不是对抗、结盟和零和博弈。”The two-day forum, themed "Universal Security in a Turbulent World: The Responsibility of Major Countries", brought together officials, scholars and experts from across the globe to explore how the international community can reduce tensions and conflictsand build a more peaceful and prosperous world.�为期两天的论坛主题为“动荡世界中的普遍安全：大国的责任”，来自世界各地的官员、学者和专家齐聚一堂，共同探讨国际社会如何减少紧张与冲突，建设一个更加和平与繁荣的世界。Liu's remarks followed a high-level China-US economic and trade meeting concluded on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland, which he said produced some positive outcomes.刘建超是在周日于瑞士日内瓦结束的中美经贸高级别会谈之后发表上述讲话的。他表示，此次会谈取得了一些积极成果。"We hope that the United States will build on this meeting, continue to work with China in the same direction, fully rectify its wrong practice of unilateral tariff hikes, keep strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold the sound, stable and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations, and jointly inject more certainty and stability into the world economy," he said.“我们希望美方在此次会议基础上，继续与中方相向而行，彻底纠正单边加征关税的错误做法，不断加强互利合作，维护中美经贸关系健康、稳定、可持续发展，共同为世界经济注入更多确定性和稳定性。”Liu also reiterated China's commitment to being a constructive force for peace, stability and progress, and said the country will continue to promote open and inclusive economic globalization and pursue common development for all countries.刘建超还重申，中国致力于做和平、稳定、进步的建设性力量，并表示中国将继续推动开放包容的经济全球化，实现各国共同发展。Participants at the forum criticized Washington's use of tariffs, investment barriers and trade restrictions as tools to pressure other countries, and voiced concerns that the world's two largest economies risk drifting further into confrontation.�论坛与会者批评美方利用关税、投资壁垒和贸易限制作为向其他国家施压的工具，并表示担心世界两大经济体可能进一步陷入对抗。 Douglas Bandow, a special assistant to former US president Ronald Reagan and a senior research fellow at the Cato Institute, said the United States and China bear a disproportionate responsibility to act not only in their own interests, but also for the benefit of the wider world.美国前总统罗纳德·里根的特别助理、卡托研究所高级研究员道格拉斯·班多表示，美国和中国肩负着不成比例的责任，不仅要为自身利益采取行动，也要为更广阔的世界利益采取行动。 "Our governments and peoples must find our way to work through present difficulties and disputes into a better, more prosperous and peaceful future," Bandow said. "Disagreements are sure to remain. Nevertheless, our peoples must remain in communion with one another, and our governments must pursue dialogues and policies which preserve communication, allow compromise, promote conciliation and encourage cooperation."“我们的政府和人民必须找到解决当前困难和争端的方法，迈向更美好、更繁荣、更和平的未来，”班多说。“分歧肯定会存在。然而，我们的人民必须保持相互沟通，我们的政府必须推行对话和政策，以保持沟通，允许妥协，促进和解，鼓励合作。”Benny Octaviar, former head of Indonesian Military Research Center and coordinating expert for the Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander, said major countries must reject zero-sum thinking and behave as responsible stakeholders in maintaining the international order.印尼军事研究中心前主任、印尼国家武装部队司令协调专家本尼·奥克塔维亚尔表示，大国必须摒弃零和思维，在维护国际秩序方面扮演负责任的利益攸关方的角色。"Sovereign equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence should be the guiding principles instead of double standards or geopolitical containment," he said.他说：“主权平等、互利共赢、和平共处应该成为指导原则，而不是双重标准或地缘政治遏制。”Andrey Kortunov, former director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, spoke in support of globalization, saying it is not a national strategy but an inevitable stage in human development.俄罗斯国际事务委员会前总干事安德烈·科尔图诺夫支持全球化，称全球化不是国家战略，而是人类发展的必然阶段。"It can be slowed down, but it cannot be completely stopped or reversed," he said.他说：“全球化可以被减缓，但不能完全停止或逆转。”Kortunov said responsible major powers must master multilateralism, as simply multiplying centers of power will not automatically bring global security or stability.科尔图诺夫表示，负责任的大国必须掌握多边主义，因为仅仅增加权力中心并不会自动带来全球安全或稳定。"It is important to learn how to manage relations among nations in such a way that unavoidable competition would not overshadow cooperation, and would not turn into outright confrontation," he said.他说：“重要的是学会如何处理国家间关系，使不可避免的竞争不会掩盖合作，也不会演变成彻底的对抗。”tussle/ˈtʌsl/v./n.争斗；争执multilateralism/ˌmʌltiˈlætərəlɪzəm/n.多边主义rectify/ˈrektɪfaɪ/v.纠正，矫正zero-sum/ˈzɪəroʊ sʌm/adj.零和的

Misstencil was born on a mountain in China. In this episode, we meet artist Misstencil and she shares the story of her life. Before we get to that, be sure to RSVP to our Keep It Local show on May 23. Misstencil will be one of the six artists featured that evening, and for a very good reason. But we'll get to that. As the Communist Party came to power in China, her dad and his family found themselves on the unfortunate side of things. His side of the family had a history as successful business people, which was suddenly frowned upon. Her mom came from a family of professors, also not favorable in the “new China.” Her dad was from Hunan Province, where her mom's family later moved. When her dad was young, his family gave him up to a foster mother and foster sister. That foster family, capitalists like her dad's family, was ostracized and became homeless. Misstencil's dad was smart and talented, but because of his family's background, was denied the opportunity to go to college. He also had tough luck with women. When it came time to meet their parents, once it became obvious what his family's political background was, they would end the relationship. This happened on more than one occasion. Despite being attractive and talented (at art and engineering), he was still single at 30. Then someone introduced him to the woman who would become Misstencil's mom. On their first date, he wasted no time letting her know his background. And it landed. She told him about her own background, and said she wanted to give him a chance. After the two got married, the government sent them to work hard jobs in the mountains. The reality of life there meant that children went to day care while the parents worked. And after work, those adults had to attend political meetings. There was little to no time to raise kids. This was the situation in which Misstencil would grow up. Because of this, her parents sent Misstencil to live with her mom's parents when she was eight months old. She saw her parents only once a year until she was around 12. Growing up with her grandparents was traumatizing for Misstencil, despite how good they were to her. And that led to depression. All the kids around her had parents, but she effectively did not. It also affected her performance in school. She didn't do well in any subject except art. Her depression made it hard for her to be interested or to take school seriously. Misstencil's parents took her out of school eventually, out of fear that they would lose her, and were able to get her into an education program that was not goal-oriented. In that time, she started to change, which she attributes to the lack of pressure. “I no longer had this pressure of doing stuff I don't like to do,” she says. When she graduated, that school sent Misstencil and one other young woman to Shanghai for college. She says that it was an especially optimistic time in China, and she embraced her time in the country's largest city. Misstencil shares a fun sidebar about the first time she saw and went into a McDonald's. Because she was totally unfamiliar with the menu, she ended up ordering a bunch of desserts. Then she tells us about seeing an advertisement for a meeting about a school in Switzerland. More importantly, cookies would be served at this meeting. That was enough for young Misstencil. Like many people in China, she was familiar with Switzerland and its amazing mountain scenery. Calendars depicting the Swiss Alps were common. But Misstencil never imagined that she'd have the opportunity to go there. As we've mentioned, the Chinese government exploited people like her dad. He was never really compensated for the incredible contributions he gave to his society. But then he found himself with a little bit of money, and told his daughter that they could use it to send her to Europe for school, at least for a year. She jumped on that chance to get out of her home country. Misstencil shares the detailed story of her journey to Switzerland. It involves large amounts of paper currency, some of which ended up in her shoes. Arriving was tricky, too. It was the middle of the night and there was a train to catch. And she needed to go to the bathroom, but didn't have the coins needed to do that. A further complication was that she didn't speak the language (German or French). A friendly fellow train passenger offered help finding her stop. But then he fell asleep. Eventually, she made it … in the middle of the night. There was no one around. So she walked. When she arrived at her new school, she was told that because school started the next day, she'd have to pay to stay there that night (which was already half over). Misstencil notes the contrast between this and what she was used to at home. She says she wondered if she had made a mistake. But she paid, and the next morning after she woke up, she opened her window. It was like being inside of a calendar, she says. Check back next week for Part 2 and the rest of Misstencil's story. We recorded this episode near Blue Heron Lake in Golden Gate Park in May 2025. Photography by Alfredo Becerra

As external uncertainties continue to escalate, consumption, particularly in the services sector, is poised to assume an increasingly important role in underpinning the Chinese economy this year, analysts said.分析人士指出，随着外部不确定性持续加剧，消费特别是服务消费将在今年中国经济中扮演愈发重要的支柱角色。A high-level meeting convened by China's top leadership in late April placed high premiums on efforts to boost services consumption and strengthen the role of consumption in driving economic growth.今年4月下旬召开的中央高层会议明确提出，要着力扩大服务消费，进一步增强消费对经济增长的拉动作用。The meeting held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee also called for a swift removal of restrictive measures in the consumption sector.中共中央政治局会议还要求，抓紧破除消费领域存在的限制性措施。Before the tone-setting meeting, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in mid-April that "expanding services consumption will be instrumental in further tapping into untapped consumption potential and in creating a crucial engine to drive consumption growth, both in the near term and the longer run."在此次定调会议之前，商务部部长王文涛（Wang Wentao）4月中旬曾表示，“扩大服务消费，扩大服务消费将有助于进一步挖掘未开发的消费潜力，推动形成消费新引擎，拉动短期和长期的消费增长。”International evidence suggests that when a country's per capita GDP reaches around $15,000, its consumption structure transitions from being goods-dominant to being services-driven. Given that China's per capita GDP has already surpassed $13,000, the country's services consumption is now in a rapid growth stage, Wang said in a published article in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.王文涛在中共中央机关刊《求是》杂志撰文指出，国际经验表明，当一国人均GDP达到1.5万美元左右时，消费结构会从以物质消费为主转向以服务型消费为主。中国人均GDP已超过1.3万美元，服务消费正处在快速发展阶段。In the first quarter of this year, retail sales of services grew by 5 percent year-on-year, outpacing the growth rate of goods retail by 0.4 percentage point, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.国家统计局数据显示，今年一季度，服务零售额同比增长5%，增速较商品零售快0.4个百分点。Analysts believe that services consumption will be a primary area of focus in the government's forthcoming policy initiatives.分析人士认为，服务消费将成为政府后续政策发力的重点领域。"The country's trade-in policies have predominantly targeted the consumption of durable goods, which might front-load future demand," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.经济学人智库高级经济学家徐天辰（Xu Tianchen）表示：“当前国家实施的以旧换新政策主要针对耐用消费品，这可能提前释放未来需求。”Services consumption not only has a higher frequency of usage, but also presents substantial untapped potential that can be cultivated through focused policy initiatives, Xu said, adding that trade-ins could be extended to cover the service sector.他指出，服务消费不仅使用频次更高，且存在大量待开发潜力，通过针对性政策可有效激发，他还建议将服务领域纳入以旧换新政策覆盖范围。In mid-April, the Ministry of Commerce, along with eight other government departments, jointly issued an action plan for improving services consumption this year, covering established areas like catering, accommodation, healthcare and tourism, as well as new consumption formats such as sightseeing trains, skydiving and micro-dramas.今年4月中旬，商务部等9部门联合出台促进服务消费年度行动方案，涵盖餐饮住宿、医疗旅游等传统领域，以及观光列车、跳伞体验、微短剧等新兴业态。According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the five-day May Day holiday period saw 314 million domestic tourist trips across China, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Domestic tourists also spent a total of 180.269 billion yuan ($25 billion) during the holiday, up 8 percent year-on-year.据文化和旅游部统计，五一假期5天全国国内旅游出游人次达3.14亿，同比增长6.4%；国内游客出游总花费1802.69亿元（约合250亿美元），同比上升8%。Compared to the relatively mature goods consumption market, China's services consumption market still has some key areas that need to be strengthened, said Lian Ping, head of the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute.广开首席产业研究院院长连平表示，相较于较为成熟的商品消费市场，中国服务消费市场仍存在若干亟待补强的关键领域。"On the demand side, it will be important to take multiple measures to increase residents' disposable incomes, improve the social protection system and enhance consumers' services consumption abilities," Lian said.连平表示：“在需求端，需要多措并举提升居民可支配收入，完善社会保障体系，增强消费者服务消费能力。”Finance Minister Lan Fo'an said in a published article in Qiushi Journal on May 1 that China is emphasizing the integration of improving people's livelihoods and promoting consumption.财政部部长蓝佛安（Lan Fo'an）5月1日在《求是》杂志撰文指出，中国正着力推动民生改善与消费促进有机结合。Key measures include appropriately increasing pension levels, raising the standards of basic medical insurance for rural and urban nonworking residents, issuing child care subsidies, and expanding the scale of student financial aid, all aimed at strengthening consumers' spending power and willingness to consume, Lan added.蓝佛安称重点举措包括适度提高养老金水平、上调城乡居民基本医保标准、发放育儿补贴、扩大学生资助规模等，旨在增强居民消费能力与消费意愿。Meanwhile, Lian from the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute noted that expediting the urbanization process and boosting the consumption capabilities of migrant populations will be crucial in unleashing the potential of services consumption.连平同时强调，加快城镇化进程、提升流动人口消费能力，将成为释放服务消费潜力的关键所在。external uncertainties外部不确定性services consumption服务消费unleash/ʌnˈliːʃ/v.使爆发; 发泄; 突然释放trade-ins/treɪd ɪnz/n. 折旧贴换交易;以旧换新

It's Monday, May 12th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Chinese Communists order Christian media to publish propaganda China's only legal church, the Communist Party-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement, has been ordered to publish more communist propaganda including President Xi Jinping's thoughts and teachings in its so-called “Christian” media, reports Bitter Winter. But Exodus 20:16 warns, “You shall not bear false witness.” Biden denied cognitive decline, claimed voters are sexist for electing Trump Last Thursday, former President Joe Biden, and former First Lady Jill Biden, appeared on ABC's “The View.” Whoopi Goldberg asked about the now famous debate debacle. GOLDBERG: “You know, what freaked everybody out? was that debate. BIDEN: “Yep.” GOLDBERG: “It wasn't a great night. It was a bad night.” BIDEN: “Terrible night.” GOLDBERG: “and everybody lost their mind.” BIDEN: “Yep.” GOLDBERG: “This is what started … BIDEN: “Yep.” GOLDBERG: “… both sides with this, ‘Oh, he can't do this. This needs to stop.' Why do you think that caught fire? Why do you think people bought into it, especially the Democrats?” JOE BIDEN: “The Democratic Party at large didn't buy into it, but the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did. I'm going to say something outrageous. I've not lost many debates in my life. I've been pretty good at doing that. I was sick. No excuse. I had a bad, bad night.” Alyssa Griffin asked about his mental competence. GRIFFIN:  “Mr. President, since you left office, there have been a number of books that have come out, deeply sourced from Democratic sources, that claim in your final year there was a dramatic decline in your cognitive abilities. What is your response to these allegations? Or are these sources wrong?” JOE BIDEN: “There are wrong. There's nothing to sustain that.” Jill Biden weighed in as well. JILL BIDEN: “The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us, and they didn't see how hard Joe worked every single day. I mean he'd get up, he'd put in a full day, and then at night, I'd be in bed reading my book, and he was still on the phone, reading his briefings, working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop. Joe worked really hard. I think he was a great president. If you look at things today, give me Joe Biden any time.” GRIFFIN: “Mr. President, just to follow up on this, some of the reporting is that people like your former president, you served under Barack Obama, George Clooney, a long-time supporter of yours -- a major Democratic donor, Chuck Schumer, your dear friend Nancy Pelosi, also had expressed concerns about your ability to do the job for four more years. Can I ask what your relationship is with President Obama and how you address those concerns that they raised?” JOE BIDEN: “The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn't want to have a divided Democratic Party. It's a simple proposition. So that's why I got out of the race. I thought it was better to put the country ahead of my interest, my personal interest.” Sara Haines asked about Kamala's election loss. HAINES: “Why do you think the Vice President lost? And were you surprised?” JOE BIDEN: “I wasn't surprised, not because I didn't think the Vice President's not the most qualified person to be president. She is. She's qualified to be president of the United States of America. I wasn't surprised because they went the route of, the sexist route, all the whole route. I mean, this is a woman. She's this, she's that. Really, I've never seen quite as successful and a consistent campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldn't lead the country and a woman of mixed race.” And Alyssa Griffin asked about Trump's landslide election to a second term. GRIFFIN: “Well, Mr. President, you had previously said that you thought that you would have won. Since then, Donald Trump won all the battleground states and made inroads with almost every major demographic, from working class voters to Hispanic men to black men. Knowing what you know now, do you think you would have beat him?” JOE BIDEN: “Yeah, he still got 7 million fewer votes. A lot of people didn't show up, number one, Number two: They're very close in those, those toss up states. It wasn't a slam dunk.” Charlotte viewer objects to Biden's Preserve-My-Legacy Tour Jack Acuff of Charlotte, North Carolina, sounded off in a fascinating  Facebook video post. ACUFF: “Somebody tell me:  'Why Jill Biden keeps dragging Joe out for these TV appearances and making a bad situation worse?' “Did you see him on ‘The View' this week? It was sad. It's the Preserve-My-Legacy Tour and the ‘Stick-it-to-Obama-and-George-Clooney-and-Nancy-Pelosi Tour, where he repeats again that he could have won, that Americans only chose not to vote for her because she's a minority and a woman, and we're racist and misogynist, and that he is ready to go at any minute.” Trump fully defunds pro-abortion UN Population Fund The Trump administration has fully implemented the defunding of the United Nations Population Fund, an agency which promotes abortions worldwide, reports LifeNews.com.   Specifically, Trump pulled $335 million in taxpayer funds from the pro-abortion United Nations agency. It's the result of the pro-life executive order Trump signed in January that prohibits American tax dollars from going to groups that promote or provide coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Connecticut calls for tough new laws on homeschooling And finally, the state of Connecticut is getting tough with homeschoolers, reports WFSB. Using a couple of cases of egregious child abuse, the Connecticut Office of Child Advocate commissioned a report which advocates new legislation.  It's entitled “A Review of Children Withdrawn from School for Equivalent Instruction Elsewhere.” They write, “Currently, parents who wish to withdraw their children from school need do nothing more than assert that they are homeschooling or sending their children to private school. Once a parent does that, there is no further interaction with the public school system required. There is no verification of enrollment in private schools. There is no verification that a child is, in fact, being homeschooled.” The Connecticut Office of Child Advocate says every other New England state requires some form of annual evaluation or assessment.  The report says, “Homeschooling, when done properly, can be a positive experience for children and families. … Nothing in this report is a general criticism of homeschooling nor a suggestion that children should not be homeschooled. Nonetheless, not every parent who withdraws their child for the stated purpose of homeschooling is, in fact, providing their children with an education. Worse, some take advantage of Connecticut's complete lack of oversight to isolate children and abuse them.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, May 12th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Unveiling Shen Yun: Chinese Dance, Culture, and Controversy Shenyun.com Leeshailemish.com About the Guest(s): Leeshai Lemish serves as the MC and podcast host for the Shen Yun Performing Arts, a globally renowned classical Chinese dance and music company. Having joined the company at its inception in 2006, Lemish has emceed nearly 2,000 performances in prestigious venues worldwide, including Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the London Coliseum. Lemish is also a dedicated activist, documenting over 100 cases of alleged Chinese Communist Party interference with Shen Yun. In addition to his performance and advocacy work, he hosts the podcast "Shen Yun Voices," giving voice to the stories behind the team. Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of The Chris Voss Show, host Chris Voss welcomes Leeshai Lemish, MC and podcast host for Shen Yun Performing Arts. The episode delves into Shen Yun's mission to revive 5,000 years of authentic Chinese culture, a task complicated by censorship from the Chinese Communist Party, which opposes representations of China that predate its rule. With gripping revelations about the struggles and triumphs of performing this culturally rich art form globally, Lemish sheds light on the enduring spirit and creative journey of Shen Yun. The podcast moves through the company's origins to its spectacular stages across the world, emphasizing the transformative power of Shen Yun's classical Chinese dance and music. Lemish shares personal anecdotes, revealing the arrests and threats that employees like him face from Chinese authorities due to Shen Yun's message, which prioritizes cultural authenticity and spiritual freedom. This episode resonates with powerful themes of art, resilience, and truth, all underscored by the threat posed to art that defies modern political narratives. Key Takeaways: Shen Yun Performing Arts is dedicated to reviving traditional Chinese culture, showcasing it globally, and highlighting the conditions under which the current Chinese regime operates. Artistic expression through Shen Yun is not merely about performance but also preserving a cultural lineage that the Communist Party has attempted to eliminate. The perceived threat by Shen Yun to the Chinese Communist Party has led to a series of alleged sabotage attempts, including threats to performers and partnering venues worldwide. Leeshai Lemish's involvement with Shen Yun reflects a greater commitment to spiritual practices and understanding Chinese culture while confronting censorship. Despite political pressure and threats, Shen Yun continues to perform worldwide, embracing global support and continuing its mission to educate and inspire through art. Notable Quotes: "They're very afraid of that because to establish their legitimacy, they felt that they had to wipe it out." "Maybe there's something I could do about this. I actually, in 2001 went to China and meditated in public and was immediately arrested." "This idea of reclaiming virtue to put it in a kind of metaphysical way of reclaiming integrity." "If you control the press. And, and so that was in 2001. And at the time we really didn't know." "Knowing that I learned the lesson to know unless you find you're giggling and caroling us can't have Kansas fighting rotting this of sunshine muggles." Join Chris Voss and Leeshai Lemish in this riveting episode that goes beyond the stage and highlights the immense cultural and political landscapes that Shen Yun navigates. Tune in to the full episode for a deeper understanding of the beauty, challenges, and inspirations that influence Shen Yun's global journey. Stay tuned for more from The Chris Voss Show, bringing you transformative conversations with extraordinary visionaries.

In China's remote northwestern border region, just 47 kilometers from the frontier, there is a small primary school that has a 23-member volunteer teaching team.With an average age of 24, these young educators have dedicated their youth and passion to the rural school in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, where most of the students are from the Kirgiz ethnic group.Wang Yizhi, a graduate of Shanxi Agricultural University, is one of the volunteers and now teaches Chinese to second-graders. After working at the border region school for two years, Wang said that she has witnessed firsthand how volunteer teaching has changed local education and promoted ethnic unity.That was why she recently wrote a heartfelt letter to President Xi Jinping on behalf of her team, detailing their experiences when serving at the primary school in Karajol township in Artux, a city in the Kizilsu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, while reaffirming their commitment to serving in border areas.The volunteers were overwhelmed when they received a reply from Xi on Saturday — an unprecedented honor that filled them with immense pride and motivation.In the message, Xi noted that more young people have chosen to serve as volunteers in the country's western regions and rural areas over the years, demonstrating their spirit of dedication and sense of responsibility. He also called on China's young people to dedicate themselves to the country's modernization drive by serving where the nation needs them most."We never imagined receiving such a prompt and direct response from the president, due to his busy schedule," Wang recalled, her voice trembling with emotion."I may not be able to do much," she added, "but I'll give it my all" — a promise that embodies the unwavering commitment she has held from the beginning.According to Wang, there are over 290 students at the school, and most are the children of border patrollers, herders or farmers.At the beginning, the children faced significant educational challenges, and many parents undervalued formal schooling, resulting in frequent absences, she said."Some parents even doubted whether we young graduates could really teach," Wang added.Undeterred, she and her colleagues tailored their teaching to local needs and conducted over 2,000 home visits. Their perseverance bore fruit as the students learned how to speak Mandarin, how to do math calculations, and even how to speak English."Seeing their children's progress changed parents' attitudes," Wang said. "They started actively supporting regular attendance and learning."This dedication earned the volunteers extraordinary trust. "Parents told us, 'You treat our children as your own, and we consider you family'," she said.One particularly moving moment came when a group of parents arrived unexpectedly at the school. "I at first feared a student was probably in trouble," Wang recalled. "But the parents presented me with flowers, saying in broken but sincere Mandarin: 'You are a great teacher. Our children are so lucky to have someone like you'."Wang's story is echoed by other volunteers. Huang Shaozhu, 24, a former international trade major, now teaches math at the school. Upon receiving the reply, she was moved to tears."President Xi commended us for not only promoting local education and ethnic unity, but also for contributing to prosperity and stability along the border, which is a powerful recognition of our efforts," she said.Su Weibing, 24, an arts graduate who obtained a primary school Chinese-language teaching qualification during his service, taught students basic skills such as phonics, pen-holding, and writing with diligence and care.Sun's efforts paid off. "We've seen remarkable progress in the Chinese performance of the class," he noted. "The average score has jumped from the 30s, all the way up to the 60s and 70s."‌"I want to help the children here broaden their horizons, discover learning goals, and one day have more career choices," he said. "The nearly two-year volunteer service helps me grow alongside my students. That's my greatest reward."Gao Chao, a 27-year-old English teacher who majored in fine arts in college, drafts detailed lesson plans and carefully designs her teaching approach for every class to ensure she delivers the knowledge clearly and effectively."President Xi's reply has strengthened my resolve to stay here, and I will keep his instructions in mind," Gao said, adding that she was preparing for the civil service exams in order to continue to serve on China's western frontier.Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Xi has on many occasions encouraged young people to go to the west, to the countryside and the grassroots, and go where the motherland needs them most to volunteer and make selfless contributions.Launched in 2003, the "Go West "program has seen over 500,000 university graduates volunteer in the education, health, agriculture and social management sectors in the country's western region for a period of one to three years.Mi Xiaobing, deputy secretary of the Communist Youth League of China Shanxi Provincial Committee, said that President Xi's reply vividly demonstrates his care for China's young people in the new era.Among the 23 volunteers at the border school, 12 fresh graduates were selected from seven universities in Shanxi, and the province has so far deployed ‌10,518 volunteers under the "Go West" program, he said. the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region 新疆维吾尔自治区the Kirgiz ethnic group吉尔吉斯族the "Go West" program西部计划home visits家访fresh graduates应届毕业生

As China's economy teeters on the edge of collapse, U.S. tariffs under Donald Trump have triggered mass factory shutdowns, skyrocketing unemployment, and rising civil unrest. This explosive analysis dives into the unfolding economic catastrophe in China, the potential endgame of Communist Party rule, and the growing belief that the world is entering an economic war with global dominance at stake. With deflation, riots, and nationalist rhetoric on the rise, is China on the brink of its own 2008-style meltdown—and what role will the West play in shaping the outcome?

China is facing its most severe economic crisis in decades—triggered by massive U.S. tariffs, a deflationary spiral, and collapsing factories across the nation. In this urgent exposé, we explore how Trump-era trade policies have accelerated China's economic unraveling, leading to mass layoffs, unpaid workers flooding the streets, and growing fears of social upheaval. With the Communist Party under pressure and nationalist rhetoric failing to contain unrest, this is more than a trade war—it's a global power struggle. Discover why some believe this is the West's final opportunity to dismantle the CCP and reshape the global order.

With this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring you another fascinating case study in our series African Revolutions and Decolonization.  This time, a contemporary struggle - the struggle against Africa's last absolute monarchy - Swaziland.  We are fortunate to be joined by guest host Ruehl Muller, senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, who has been in contact with the CPS for quite some time.  We are also joined by guest Bafanabakhe Sacolo of the Communist Party of Swaziland.  A brilliant discussion, and one which you will certainly want to listen to, as our next episode in the AR&D series is on cultural revolution in Swaziland!   Also subscribe to our Substack (free!) to keep up to date with what we are doing.  With so many episodes coming in this series (and beyond), you won't want to miss anything, so get the updates straight to your inbox.  guerrillahistory.substack.com   Bafanabakhe Sacolo is National Organizing Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland.  You can keep up to date with the CPS by following them on Facebook, on Twitter, or by checking out their website.   Ruehl Muller is senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, and the editor of the fantastic Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu (buy a physical copy or download the free PDF from Iskra Books). Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory 

President Xi Jinping interacts on Tuesday with staff at the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, a large-model incubator, in Shanghai's Xuhui district.周二，国家主席习近平在位于上海市徐汇区的上海基础模型创新中心与工作人员亲切交流。这个创新中心是一家大型模型孵化器。President Xi Jinping has called on Shanghai to accelerate efforts to build itself into a pacesetter for scientific and technological innovation, saying that the municipality should strive to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence development and governance.国家主席习近平要求上海加快建设科技创新强市，并表示上海要努力走在人工智能发展和治理的前列。Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a fact-finding trip on Tuesday to the financial and industrial powerhouse of Shanghai.同时也是中共中央总书记、中央军委主席的习近平周二在对上海的金融和工业集团进行调研时发表了上述讲话。The visit came just days after Xi, during a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized the need for the country to promote self-reliance and strength in AI development.就在几天前，习近平在中共中央政治局集体学习期间强调，要推动人工智能发展自主创新、自主发展。During a trip to the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, an incubator for AI startups, Xi said that as AI technologies are rapidly evolving with explosive growth, it is important for Shanghai to summarize its successful experiences and expand its exploration in order to set an example for AI development and governance.在参观作为人工智能创业孵化器的上海基础模型创新中心时，习近平表示，当前人工智能技术发展日新月异、呈爆炸式增长，上海要总结成功经验，拓展探索，为人工智能发展和治理做出表率。As Shanghai is establishing itself as a global hub for AI and building the world's largest AI incubator, the city's market scale of AI industry surpassed 450 billion yuan ($61.9 billion) in 2024, according to the municipal government.上海市政府表示，随着上海打造全球人工智能中心，打造全球最大的人工智能孵化器，到2024年，上海人工智能产业市场规模已突破4500亿元人民币（619亿美元）。The Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, established in 2023 as China's first specialized incubator for AI foundation models, has attracted more than 100 enterprises, leading to the clustering of nearly 400 enterprises in the AI sector to Shanghai's Xuhui district.上海基础模型创新中心成立于2023年，是中国首个专注于人工智能基础模型的专业孵化器，目前已吸引百余家企业入驻，带动近400家人工智能企业在上海徐汇区集聚。Addressing a group of young entrepreneurs who were attending a discussion session there, Xi said that AI is a young endeavor and also a pursuit for young people.习近平在与参加座谈会的青年企业家们座谈时表示，人工智能是一项年轻的事业，也是属于年轻人的追求。"We are striving to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Now is the time for the younger generation to showcase their talents and excel. The hope of realizing the great dream of the Chinese nation rests on you," he said, encouraging the young people to make contributions to Chinese modernization.“我们正在全面建成社会主义现代化强国，全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。现在正是青年一代大显身手、出人头地的时候。实现中华民族伟大梦想的希望就在你们身上。”习近平鼓励青年们为祖国现代化建设贡献力量。Xi also walked into an AI product experience store, where he learned about the features and sales of various innovative products and tried on a pair of smart glasses.习近平还走进人工智能产品体验店，了解各类创新产品的功能和销售情况，并亲自试戴智能眼镜。Noting that China has abundant data resources, a complete industrial system and a huge market and broad prospects for AI development, Xi called for efforts to roll out more supportive policies, cultivate more talented people, and strive to develop more safe, reliable and high-quality products.习近平指出，中国拥有丰富的数据资源、完备的产业体系、巨大的市场空间和广阔的人工智能发展前景。要加强政策支持，培养更多人才，努力开发更多安全、可靠、高质量的产品。Hamza Boukili, a math teacher at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Paris Elite Institute of Technology, said, "I feel fairly happy and honored to have the opportunity to exchange and share ideas with President Xi.上海交通大学巴黎卓越工程师学院的数学老师哈姆扎·布基利表示：“能有机会与习近平主席交流分享，我感到非常高兴和荣幸。”"He is warm, natural, without any sense of distance, making this communication extremely pleasant and unforgettable," Boukili added.“习近平主席热情自然，没有任何距离感，使这次交流非常愉快，令人难忘。”布基利补充道。Xi mentioned his visit to a technology research institute in the southern French city of Nice in the 1980s, Boukili said.布基利说，习近平主席提到了自己上世纪80年代访问法国南部城市尼斯一家技术研究所的情景。The math teacher also said that Xi told him that for Shanghai, being at the forefront of the world in terms of technological innovation is not only an opportunity, but also a responsibility.这位数学老师还提到，习近平主席告诉他，上海要在全球科技创新中走在前列，不仅是机遇，更是责任。According to Boukili, Xi emphasized that technological development should truly serve society, improve people's livelihood and achieve a safer and fairer future.布基利表示，习近平主席强调，科技发展要真正服务社会、改善民生，实现更加安全、更加公平的未来。Dai Guohao, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Artificial Intelligence, said that President Xi's inspection of AI enterprises in Shanghai and his focus on scenarios of technological applications highlighted the importance of deep integration of academia, industry and research.上海交通大学人工智能学院的教授戴国浩表示，习近平主席此次考察上海人工智能企业，并重点关注技术应用场景，凸显了产学研深度融合的重要性。"As educators, we should concentrate on basic research, attempting to make breakthroughs in frontier challenges," Dai said. "Meanwhile, we should align with national strategic demands to drive the deep empowerment of AI in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing and finance."“作为教育工作者，我们应该专注于基础研究，努力突破前沿挑战，”戴教授说道，“同时，我们应该对接国家战略需求，推动人工智能在医疗、制造、金融等领域的深度赋能。”pacesetter/ˈpeɪsˌsetər/n.引领者，先行者incubator/ˈɪŋkjəˌbeɪtər/n.孵化器rejuvenation/rɪˌdʒuːvəˈneɪʃən/n.复兴；恢复活力empowerment/ɪmˈpaʊərmənt/n.赋能；增强能力

Our guest: Ivanka Popović Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:• Central European University: CEU• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio Follow us on social media!• Central European University: @weareceu.bsky.social• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @ahcdemocracy.bsky.social Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!   GLOSSARYMilošević regime (p. 5 in the transcript, 17:28)Slobodan Milošević was a central figure in the breakup of Yugoslavia and a key instigator of the ethnic conflicts that plagued the Balkans in the 1990s. Rising through the ranks of the Communist Party, he became Serbia's president in 1989 and quickly moved to consolidate power by revoking the autonomy of Kosovo and Vojvodina. His leadership fueled a wave of Serbian nationalism and played a major role in the wars in Croatia, Bosnia, and later Kosovo, supporting Serbian forces involved in ethnic violence and atrocities.Milošević's regime was marked by authoritarian control, suppression of opposition, and state-controlled media. Though he maintained popular support in the early years by presenting himself as a defender of Serbs, his policies led to international isolation, UN sanctions, and ultimately NATO intervention. In 1999, following a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, NATO launched a bombing campaign against Serbia.Domestically, economic hardship and political repression led to growing dissatisfaction. After a disputed election in 2000, massive protests forced Milošević to resign. He was arrested in 2001 and extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, where he faced charges of war crimes, including genocide. He died in 2006 during the trial.source 

Did we get it all wrong, and we are actually negotiating a deeper globalization? A Thoughtful Tariff Talk and moreGuest: Rick Carew - Former Wall Street Journal journalist covering Asia's financial markets, current investor and educator teaching value investing at Fordham University's Gabelli School.Key Topics: Value investing, journalism skills in investing, China-US business relations, AI in education, personal success philosophyTimestamps and Key Ideas:3:38 - Rick shares his upbringing in Richmond, Virginia, where his family owned a wine store that gave him entrepreneurial experience and an early understanding of business operations.5:21 - Discussion about Rick's language journey learning Chinese and Japanese, which taught him discipline and a growth mindset applicable to investing.8:06 - How learning languages provides cultural insights beyond words themselves, with Rick explaining how the Chinese character for "good" combines the characters for "mother" and "child."11:49 - Rick discusses teaching value investing at Fordham University and the importance of mastering concepts before teaching them to others.15:15 - Conversation about the core principles of value investing and how the framework needs to adapt to incorporate growth investing.18:25 - Rick explains how students at Fordham manage a real $2.3 million investment fund, teaching them asset allocation and emotional management during market volatility.22:30 - Rick shares how his journalism background provides valuable research skills for investing, including the willingness to pick up the phone for direct information.28:12 - Two powerful questions for management interviews: "What question did I forget to ask?" and "If you had to invest in a competitor, which would you choose and why?"32:22 - Discussion about how executives actually want feedback from thoughtful investors, especially as passive investing grows.34:15 - Rick explains the complex relationship between Chinese government, Communist Party, and businesses - highlighting cycles of crackdowns and regulations.40:04 - Insights on China's tech ecosystem as a "learning machine" studying and adapting Silicon Valley innovations.45:12 - Discussion about globalization, US-China relations, and whether recent trade tensions are temporary or signal a longer-term shift.53:03 - Rick's perspective on AI in education: embracing it as a tool while still requiring students to understand fundamentals and verify information.1:00:39 - Rick shares his three-part framework for success: enjoying your work, giving back to society, and maintaining curiosity throughout life.Podcast Program – Disclosure StatementBlue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm's employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Take up your cross, my cross, and follow:ME: OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.So, if you become a Christian, and you should and I pray that you are, you have one promise from our Lord of what is to come, and that is:PERSECUTION.Of course there is joy, rejoicing, grace, bliss, faith, hope, strength, and so much more when you join forces with, become a disciple of, and fall in love with:JESUS CHRIST.But, there comes with all these positives, the negative of:PERSECUTION.For the most part, the world hates Christianity. Secularists disavow and dislike anything about Jesus. And that leaves secular governments to crack down on Christians, Christianity, and the belief and practice thereof.Take China for example. The Chinese Communist Dictator Xi Jinping has tightened his grip on religious activities in the world's second most populous country. The Chinese Communist Party announced last week that starting May 1, foreign missionaries will be prohibited from sharing their faith or preaching, as well as establishing religious organizations. So, if you are Christian in China, you cannot testify about your faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Nor can you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nor can you establish congregations, churches, or any type of religious Christian organization in China. That to me is simply unbelievable and unacceptable, and it will be for so many Christians in China. Nothing will prevent them from sharing and testifying, nothing. And many will become martyrs, jailed, or even killed-executed for their faith. They will gladly, willingly, and lovingly take up their cross, lay their all on the altar, and count themselves blessed if martyrdom happens, and as a result, they go to their eternal reward. China and the Chinese Communist Party are absolutely brutal.The Chinese Communist Party wants to SINICIZE all religion in China. That is, whatever the Communist Party determines religion to be, will be the only one in China. After May 1, 2025, there will be new regulations, a greater crack-down on all religions, but especially Christianity and persecution will be the new normal.We often think of Russia as the main enemy of the United States. Traditionally, that nation has been just that. But today, the number one threat to democracy and America, is none other than the second most populous country in the world:CHINA.It is becoming a superpower and its military strength, army, navy, marines, and special forces grow every day and becomes the number one threat to America and the world over. It is a nation to be reckoned with and it will be used by the forces of evil to challenge every nation in the world. Small wonder that, whatever we the people may think of the means used by President Trump, he stands up against China knowing this incredible threat which begins with democracy, freedom of speech, the practice of religion, subterfuge and infiltration, spying in America and other countries, none of which will be tolerated by the Trump administration.And the same thing happens in Egypt. We hear little about persecution of Christianity in Egypt, but it exists in large measure. Christians face daily discrimination, harsh restrictions, and constant pressure to hide their faith. And in the world at large, it is estimated that 1 in 7 Christians face harassment, violence, or even death, and in Africa the number of Christians enduring constant PERSECUTION is one in five. PERSECUTION of Christians who have given their entire lives to Jesus Christ is on the rise everywhere as both scripture and our Lord, prophesied. Soon, it will be worldwide and in every nation. Are we ready, are you ready, true believer in Jesus Christ, to face that persecution? The Apostle Paul was beheaded because of his Christian faith. The disciple, Peter, was crucified. James was murdered. John was ostracized to Patmos. The early church, especially under Roman dictator Nero, experienced aggressive persecution. It began at the time of our Lord, and it will continue until the rapture.Are you ready? Ready to lay your all on the altar, and take up the cross of Jesus Christ and stand for Him and your faith when persecution comes at you, are you? I do hope so, for it is a decision none of us have had to make in America, not really, even though there is indeed mild persecution. But the day will come when mild is replaced by aggressive. Then and only then, will you know the strength of your faith and the extent to which you really believe in Jesus Christ.And the same thing now exists in Australia, AUSTRALIA NO LESS! In NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW), newly enacted legislation allows prayer or expression of any religious belief if and only if it is not directed to changing or suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. If any would pray in that way that is a crime and punishable by imprisonment. In practice, this law would criminalize anyone who said a prayerful word with regard to sexual orientation or gender. REPENT of such, and off to jail you go.And more, everywhere, and persecution has only just begun. Again, when you are faced with that, aggressively or even passively, are you ready to stand, resist, and to accept persecution, even criminal penalties for your faith, are you?Thankfully however, the younger generation begins more so to TURN TOWARDS RELIGION. That is a first start, but sooner or later, that TURN we do hope turns to Christianity and to the person of Jesus Christ. The very respectful research firm BARNA has found in a nationwide survey that 77% of American teens are interested and even motivated to “continue learning about Jesus throughout the rest of their lives.” That at least is a start but by no means the end. Remarkably 52% of the younger generation said they are very interested in knowing more about Jesus. May it be so.There seems to be, said Barna, an openness and curiosity about spiritual matters among today's teens and young adults, a good thing, but only a start. Many of America's young know the futility of the woke generation and its so-called principles, and hunger for something more, much more. They can only find that in Jesus Christ and I hope they continue to search until such time as HE is found. We the believer should thank God that there is now an openness to Christianity and truth which has not existed for years, and revival is on the horizon. All of that is happening in spite of persecution, in spite of the secular, godless governments which somehow have gotten control as witnessed by what is happening in China, Australia, Egypt, and many other nations. The love of Jesus Christ is the most powerful force on this earth, and it should be our prayer that our teens, our younger generation, in our beloved America finds and experiences that love, and no matter the persecution which may come, and it will, continue searching until they find the ultimate answer:HIM,OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Sep 17, 2021  In this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring on Professor Jose Maria Sison, better known as Comrade Joma, to talk about his life, how it impacted his ideology, the history of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and more!  Comrade Joma is an absolute legendary figure, and it was a pleasure and an honor to be able to talk with him.  A must listen conversation for anyone interested in proletarian struggles and People's War in the Global South, especially the Philippines! Jose Maria Sison is the Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Chair Emeritus of the International League of People's Struggle, and the Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.  Our friends at Foreign Languages Press have several of his works available for free as pdfs or for affordable print copies on their website https://foreignlanguages.press/.  Comrade Joma passed away in Dec. of 2022, a year after this interview, at the age of 83.  ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio HERE  

The federal election....from the "fringe". Most voters are familiar with the major national parties running in this election, such as the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, & Greens.But there are actually 16 registered political parties looking for your vote. Some of them are known as fringe parties, while others are upstarts, hoping to make an impact down the road. Today on The Big Story, we're shining a light on some of the lesser known parties in this campaign, and letting them have their voice heard as the country goes through the democratic process.Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with the Leaders of the Animal Protection Party, the Canadian Future Party, the Communist Party, and the Marijuana Party. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Jon is fired up to start the hour! Jon continues the discussion regarding MN Attorney General Ellison's comments, and turns his attention to the Supreme Court case about parental/religious rights and LGBTQ+ books in elementary schools. Jon is joined by Liz Collin of Alpha News to discuss the Tesla vandalism, crime in Minneapolis, and her investigation into a potential alleged secret Communist operation in St. Paul.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. Border Battles Intensify: Mexico Rejects Trump Ad Campaign, Dumps Sewage on U.S. Beaches – President Sheinbaum bans U.S. immigration ads from Mexican airwaves, calling them “discriminatory.” Meanwhile, raw sewage continues flowing from Tijuana into San Diego, sickening U.S. troops. Trump officials say Mexico must fix the crisis - or face financial consequences. Trump Slams Federal Courts for Halting Deportations – The president criticizes the judiciary for blocking mass deportations, calling due process for millions of illegal immigrants “a ridiculous situation.” Meanwhile, over 500,000 migrants from the Biden era skipped court dates entirely. Leaked DOJ Data Could Fuel Deportation Surge – DOGE gains access to a sensitive DOJ migrant database, potentially expanding self-deportation pressure via fraud crackdowns and benefit denials. Democrats Warn Global Leaders Against Supporting Trump – Rep. Jamie Raskin says Democrats will “remember” any country that helps Trump, threatening diplomatic retribution once Democrats regain power. Chinese Mafia Violence Rocks Rome as Pope Francis Passes – A high-profile mafia witness is assassinated ahead of a major trial exposing Beijing-linked criminal networks across Europe. ProPublica reports the Chinese mafia acts as unofficial agents for the Communist Party. Beijing Enters Congo Conflict Over Critical Minerals – China pressures Rwanda to halt its backing of rebels in eastern Congo, fearing U.S. companies will displace Chinese firms in the race for rare earth dominance. Denmark's Socialist Leader Adopts Trump-Style Immigration Policies – PM Mette Frederiksen embraces tough border controls, migrant deportation, and even ghetto-reduction laws - agreeing with VP JD Vance that Europe must take back control. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32​

Marc kicks off Good Friday with weather, laughs, and serious scrutiny of St. Louis Mayor Kara Spencer's controversial picks—like appointing a former Communist Party member to City Hall. JD Vance goes scorched-earth on Democrats defending MS-13 thugs during a bizarre El Salvador visit. Nicole Murray joins Marc & Kim to unpack Trump's economic pressure on Jerome Powell, the Florida State shooter's dark past, and the Katy Perry space mission backlash. Plus, Spencer shakes up economic leadership, Missouri Republicans kill paid sick leave, and Ethan drops wild headlines from #StarWars to a $20M LA jewelry heist.

Most of China's roughly 10 million Catholics attend officially sanctioned churches but a substantial minority belong to the so-called “underground church”, attending masses in unapproved venues and private homes.Under Pope Francis, the Vatican entered into an agreement with China in 2018 aimed at ending the division between the two Catholic communities by regularising the appointment of bishops.But the agreement, which was renewed last October for four years, has drawn criticism from some Catholics who fear it cedes too much influence to the Communist Party.Irish Times Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton explains the controversy and why Catholicism is growing in China.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zongyuan Zoe Liu is a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Her work focuses on international political economy, global financial markets, sovereign wealth funds, supply chains of critical minerals, development finance, emerging markets, energy and climate change policy, and East Asia-Middle East relations. Dr. Liu is the author of ‘Can BRICS De-dollarize the Global Financial System?' and ‘Sovereign Funds: How the Communist Party of China Finances its Global Ambitions'. In this podcast we discuss US-China tensions in run-up to Trump 2.0, Xi Jinping's worldview and generational trauma, the strategic logic behind China's limited retaliation, and much more.    Follow us here for more amazing insights: https://macrohive.com/home-prime/ https://twitter.com/Macro_Hive https://www.linkedin.com/company/macro-hive

The Oakland mayoral race is a close call between progressive Barbara Lee and moderate challenger Loren Taylor. In SF, Mayor Daniel Lurie rounds out his first 100 days. A cinematic heist in Downtown Los Angeles: Thieves recently tunneled from a historic theater through “castle-like” walls into a store packed with bling. Hungarian Susan Polgar earned chess’ highest honor at age 15. She and her family faced antisemitism and harassment from the ruling Communist Party, and sexism from opponents and officials in chess. Her new memoir is “Rebel Queen.” What’s the relationship between art and democracy? After his firing from the Kennedy Center, poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph has some thoughts.

Pie Down Here — Produced by Signal HillIn the 1980s, when Robin D.G. Kelley was 24 years old, he took a bus trip to the Deep South. He was researching and recording oral histories with farmworkers and Communist Party members who had organized a sharecroppers union in Alabama during the Great Depression.Kelly used those oral histories to write his award winning book, Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists during the Great Depression.Recently Kelley listened back to those early recordings with Signal Hill contributor Conor Gillies. He hadn't heard some of the recordings in decades. Memories came flooding back as Kelley reflected on the people, the story and the power of oral history. Robin Davis Gibran Kelley is an American historian and academic, and the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA. His books include the prize-winning Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (Free Press, 2009); Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination (Beacon Press, 2002, new ed. 2022. His essays have appeared in dozens of publications, including The Nation, the New York Times, the New Yorker, New York Review of Books and more.Pie Down Here was produced by Conor Gillies and edited by Liza Yeager and Omar Etman, with help from the Signal Hill team: Jackson Roach, Annie Rosenthal, and Lio Wong. Music by Nathan Bowles. You can listen to the entire first issue of Signal Hill — eight original stories — on their website at signalhill.fm, or wherever you get podcasts. The Kitchen Sisters Present is produced by The Kitchen Sisters (Nikki Silva & Davia Nelson) with Nathan Dalton and Brandi Howell. The Kitchen Sisters Present is part of Radiotopia from PRX, a curated network of independent producers.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 8, 2025 is: apparatchik • ah-puh-RAH-chik • noun Apparatchik is used disapprovingly to refer to a blindly devoted official, follower, or member of an organization, such as a corporation or political party. // This generation of graduates wants more out of life than to become establishment apparatchiks. See the entry > Examples: "Played by What We Do in the Shadows' Matt Berry, Shazbor is a faithful party apparatchik and staunch defender of his country's traditions ..." — Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2025 Did you know? The apparat in apparatchik (a term English speakers borrowed from Russian) essentially means "party machine," with machine referring to a highly organized political group under the leadership of a boss or small group of individuals: apparatchik originally referred to someone functioning as a cog in the system of the Communist Party. The term is not a flattering one, and its negative connotations reflect the perception of some Communists as obedient drones in the great Party machine. In current use, however, a person doesn't have to be a member of the Communist Party to be called an apparatchik; they just have to be someone who mindlessly follows orders in an organization or bureaucracy.

It's Monday, April 7th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus China moves to formally ban missionary activity New regulations released this week by the Chinese Communist Party impose severe restrictions on missionary activity in the country, reports International Christian Concern. The regulations, which take effect May 1, prohibit foreigners from preaching, sharing their faith, or establishing religious organizations without official government approval. Justifying these regulations, Chinese state media claimed that the newly revised rules promote national security—a common justification for CCP persecution of religion—and help to protect “normal religious activities,” referring to activities run under strict government oversight as part of state-run religious institutions. The Chinese Communist Party has long viewed independent religious activity with suspicion, arguing that religious loyalty is at odds with the ultimate loyalty demanded by the Communist Party. The government labels independent religious activity as cultish and extremist, regardless of its theological roots, and demands that all Christian religious activity take place within the confines of state-run churches. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said, “You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Senate confirmed pro-life Asst. Attorney General Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent pro-life attorney, as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, reports LifeNews. The vote marks a significant shift in the agency's approach to civil rights enforcement under the Trump administration. The vote, which followed party lines with Republicans approving and Democrats voting no, ended with a 52-45 tally, with three senators absent. Dhillon, nominated by President Donald Trump in December 2024, pledged during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in February to end what she described as the targeting of pro-life Christians by the Department of Justice. Her appointment replaces Kristen Clarke, a pro-abortion Biden-era official criticized by conservative groups for aggressively prosecuting pro-life activists under the so-called Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. Democratic Rep. calls wheelchair-bound Abbott: “Governor Hot Wheels” At a Human Rights Campaign Fund event, a group that advocates for sexual perversion, Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Texas mocked her own Republican Governor Greg Abbott for his disability, reports KBTX TV. Listen. CROCKETT: “Y'all know we got ‘Governor Hot Wheels' down there. Come on now. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot mess.” On July 14, 1984, at age 26, Abbott was paralyzed below the waist when an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging after a storm. Since the accident, Abbott has used a wheelchair. Governor Abbott reacted. ABBOTT: “It's another day and another disaster by the Democrats. The reality is they have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to sell but hate.” In a laughable spin, Congresswoman Crocket claimed that “I wasn't thinking about the Governor's condition. I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he uses to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors.” Republican Congressman Randy Weber of Texas has introduced a resolution to censure Crockett. He said, “The story of our great Governor of Texas is one of unwavering resilience and perseverance. Meanwhile, the actions of Jasmine Crockett—stooping to vile levels of discrimination and despicable political attacks—are nothing short of reprehensible.” Pro-Life activist assaulted during street interview And finally, a pro-life activist was violently attacked last Thursday while conducting street interviews in New York City, reports LifeNews.com. Savannah Craven, a YouTuber with the pro-life group Live Action, was punched in the face by Brianna Rivers, an enraged pro-abortion passerby, during an interview near a Planned Parenthood abortion mill in Manhattan, reports the New York Post. According to posts on X, Craven was asking pedestrians, “Do you know what Planned Parenthood does?” when she was brutally attacked. The assailant, described by witnesses as a pro-abortion advocate, reportedly grew agitated during a brief exchange with Craven before delivering the blow. Things took a turn when Savannah asked whether foster kids should be killed because “they're not wanted.” Rivers responded, “Why not?  Who's going to take care of them? I need to know the percentage of people who take children from foster care and abuse them and molest them, who make them personal slaves. I need specifics before you come to talk to me about pro-life.” You can watch the video of the pro-abortion woman, Brianna Rivers, assaulting pro-life advocate Savannah Craven, through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.   Listen to this brief soundbite from that exchange that led to this assault. RIVERS: “You don't understand the magnitude of having a child.” CRAVEN: “ I'm not the one who admitted they would be okay with killing babies in foster care and killing children that have been abused…” RIVERS: “That's not the point.” (This is when Rivers punched Craven in the face) As Craven and her friends were driving around looking for the woman who had just punched her in the face, she said this. CRAVEN : “She was a stranger on the street, and I asked her if she wanted to do an interview for my YouTube channel. She said, ‘Yeah.'  She was very nice when she walked up. She complimented my dress, and then things escalated very quickly.” Live Action, a prominent pro-life group, condemned the attack, calling it a “direct assault on free expression.” Craven developed a swollen black left eye and received two stitches below her eyebrow at the hospital as well as enduring significant pain in her nasal area. Isaiah 59:7 says, “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, April 7th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Taiwan is enjoying a four-day break for Qing Ming Jie, usually called Tomb Sweeping Festival (or Day) in English. Formosa Files is taking a bit of a break as well, but Eryk thought you might be interested in a short history of communist parties in Taiwan, so he recorded a mini episode on that topic. After seeing red, stay with the episode for a re-release of the (or at least one of the) origin story of the Tomb Sweeping Festival - an edit from (Not So) "Happy Holidays - S2-E28."

Experience-sharing articles from the Minghui website. Original Articles:1. Practitioners Should Look Inward Regarding the Attacks on Shen Yun2. Reflecting on What Caused My Life-and-Death Tribulation3. Some Thoughts on the Communist Party's Newest Campaign to Attack Master To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org

What makes an organisation toxic, and how can we spot the signs before it's too late? What are the common traits that make seemingly unrelated organisations, ranging from the Catholic Church to corporations, do harm?On this episode, I'm joined once again by one of my favourite guests — Professor Benjamin van Rooij — for a deep dive into the hidden dangers of organisational life.Benjamin and his co-author, Professor Nicholas Lord, are working on a new book (working title) Toxic: Organisations Gone Bad, which explores not just headline-grabbing scandals, but the patterns of behaviour and structures that consistently lead organisations to cause harm.SummaryIn our discussion, we unpack how organisational processes — like silencing, secrecy, and the relentless pursuit of unrealistic goals — can multiply risk.Benjamin explains why organisations, both public and private, can become “toxic” not simply due to bad people or poor oversight, but because of a combination of systemic dynamics and cultural norms that reward silence, over-ambition, and passive harm.We also discuss why the term “toxic” itself is both useful and problematic, and how understanding these dynamics can help leaders make better decisions before disaster strikes; whether it's Facebook's role in spreading misinformation, Wells Fargo's aggressive sales targets, or the normalization of deviance at Chernobyl and Enron, Benjamin helps us trace the common threads that connect seemingly unrelated crises.And, true to form, he doesn't offer simplistic solutions — instead, he gives us tools to ask better questions, challenge dominant narratives, and push for root-cause thinking over box-ticking fixes. Guest Biography Benjamin is Professor in Law and Society and Director of Research at the School of Law at the University of Amsterdam, as well as a Global Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine.In his academic work, Benjamin specialises in understanding how laws and regulations operate within real-world organisational settings, focusing on compliance, harm, and institutional accountability. He blends criminology, behavioural science, and legal studies to explore why people and institutions obey (or disobey) rules, and what systems best support ethical behaviour.  Previous appearancesOn COVID Compliance

For better or (mostly) worse, Jiang Qing left her mark on the 20th century.Even before she was married to Chairman Mao, Jiang was a charismatic actor, and her passion for culture helped her spearhead the Cultural Revolution as part of the Communist Party in China, later in life.Joining Kate for this fourth and final episode of our limited series, Real Wives of Dictators, is Linda Jaivin, author of Shortest History of China and the upcoming Bombard the Headquarters! The Cultural Revolution in China.How did she make her way to the head of the Communist Party? Why did she describe herself as "Mao's dog"? And what brought about her downfall?This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at betwixt@historyhit.com.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

This week: Miyazaki Manabu's dramatic departure from the Communist Party, as his faith in the revolution wanes. What does a wannabe college revolutionary with no prospects turn to when the revolution fails to materialize? Show notes here. 

Rogers for America with Lt. Steve Rogers – Every goal of the Communist Party is designed to destroy the United States of America and the free world by replacing capitalism with socialism, then communism. Their first target is Freedom of religion. They do not want people worshipping God. They want people to worship the state. And it appears they are making some progress because the number of citizens in...

This week we're featuring a story from a brand new audio magazine we've been listening to called Signal Hill."Pie Down Here" features oral history interviews with farmworkers and Communist Party members who organized a sharecropper's union in Alabama during the Great Depression. The interviews were recorded by historian Robin Kelley for his book, Hammer and Hoe.You can learn more about Signal Hill and check out the rest of their first issue—eight original stories—at signalhill.fm. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

What did the Communist Party accomplish in California, or try to? SFSU emeritus professor Robert W. Cherny considers the party's agendas and activities in relation to longshore workers, labor unions, political figures, and others. He also examines the stances the party took toward the Roosevelt administration, the New Deal, the Comintern, and U.S. involvement in World War II. (Encore presentation.) Robert W. Cherny, San Francisco Reds: Communists in the Bay Area, 1919-1958 University of Illinois Press, 2024 The post California's Communists appeared first on KPFA.

Guest: Michelle Chen is a contributing writer for The Nation, a contributing editor at Dissent magazine and a co-producer of Dissent's “Belabored” podcast. She can be found on at @meeshellchen Photo: Senator Joseph McCarthy (right) with a map of Communist Party organizations, 1954 on Wikipedia The post The Second Red Scare & Political Deportations appeared first on KPFA.

Lucille Ball might have been a natural boundary-pusher, but America's top TV comedienne had some ‘splaining to do when a damning news broadcast unveiled her former ties to the Communist Party. The hysteria of the Red Scare threatened to bury this redhead at the bottom of the Hollywood blacklist overnight. Even when America put rampant McCarthyism to rest, the United States government kept watching Lucille Ball – and we're not talking about I Love Lucy reruns. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week: Miyazaki Manabu goes from the Sodai struggle at Waseda to an active participant in the violent clashes of the late 1960s student movement, as a part of the "action corps" of the Communist Party. We'll take an up close and personal look to see: what was it like to be a radical student in the 1960s? Show notes here. 

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Syria is descending into its worst violence since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, with fractured rebel factions and Assad loyalists locked in deadly clashes. We'll break down the latest developments. A $53 billion Arab-backed plan to rebuild Gaza is gaining support from European nations—despite strong pushback from the U.S. and Israel. A South Korean court has ordered the release of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, setting the stage for his trial on rebellion charges. And in today's Back of the Brief, a federal judge has ruled in favor of Missouri in its $24 billion lawsuit against China's Communist Party over COVID-19, a decision the state's attorney general calls a landmark victory.   Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Stash Financial: Go to https://Get.Stash.com/PDB  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has been threatening to “take back” the Panama Canal since he regained power. In this episode, listen to testimony from officials serving on the Federal Maritime Commission who explain why the Panama Canal has become a focus of the administration and examine whether or not we need to be concerned about an impending war for control of the canal. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes Current Events around the Panama Canal March 5, 2025. the Associated Press. Sabrina Valle, Suzanne McGee, and Michael Martina. March 4, 2025. Reuters. Matt Murphy, Jake Horton and Erwan Rivault. February 14, 2025. BBC. May 1, 2024. World Weather Attribution. World Maritime News Staff. March 15, 2019. World Maritime News. July 29, 2018. Reuters. Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 U.S. Department of State. The Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” Michele Ruta. March 29, 2018. World Bank Group. The Trump-Gaza Video February 26, 2025. Sky News. Laws Audio Sources Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 28, 2025 Witnesses: Louis E. Sola, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Daniel B. Maffei, Commissioner, FMC , Professor, Scalia Law School, George Mason University Joseph Kramek, President & CEO, World Shipping Council Clips 17:30 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Between the American construction of the Panama Canal, the French effort to build an isthmus canal, and America's triumphant completion of that canal, the major infrastructure projects across Panama cost more than 35,000 lives. For the final decade of work on the Panama Canal, the United States spent nearly $400 million, equivalent to more than $15 billion today. The Panama Canal proved a truly invaluable asset, sparing both cargo ships and warships the long journey around South America. When President Carter gave it away to Panama, Americans were puzzled, confused, and many outraged. With the passage of time, many have lost sight of the canal's importance, both to national security and to the US economy. 18:45 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): But the Panama Canal was not just given away. President Carter struck a bargain. He made a treaty. And President Trump is making a serious and substantive argument that that treaty is being violated right now. 19:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): President Trump has highlighted two key issues. Number one, the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal, and number two, the exorbitant costs for transit. 19:20 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Chinese companies are right now building a bridge across the canal at a slow pace, so as to take nearly a decade. And Chinese companies control container points ports at either end. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation, I believe, poses acute risks to US national security. 19:50 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Meanwhile, the high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because US cargo accounts for nearly three quarters of Canal transits. US Navy vessels pay additional fees that apply only to warships. Canal profits regularly exceed $3 billion. This money comes from both American taxpayers and consumers in the form of higher costs for goods. American tourists aboard cruises, particularly those in the Caribbean Sea, are essentially captive to any fees Panama chooses to levy for canal transits, and they have paid unfair prices for fuel bunkering at terminals in Panama as a result of government granted monopoly. Panama's government relies on these exploitative fees. Nearly 1/10 of its budget is paid for with canal profit. 21:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama has for years flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet, which brought Iran tens of billions of dollars in oil profits to fund terror across the world. 21:40 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): And Chinese companies have won contracts, often without fair competition, as the infamous Belt and Road Initiative has come to Panama. China often engages in debt trap diplomacy to enable economic and political coercion. In Panama, it also seems to have exploited simple corruption. 32:40 Louis Sola: The Panama Canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority, ACP, an independent agency of the Panamanian government. The ACP is a model of public infrastructure management, and its independence has been key to ensure a safe and reliable transit of vessels critical to the US and global commerce. 33:25 Louis Sola: In contrast, the broader maritime sector in Panama, including the nation's ports, water rights, and the world's largest ship registry, falls under the direct purview of the Panamanian government. 33:35 Louis Sola: Unfortunately, this sector has faced persistent challenges, including corruption scandals and foreign influence, particularly from Brazil and China. These issues create friction with the ACP, especially as it works to address long term challenges such as securing adequate water supplies for the canal. 33:55 Louis Sola: Although the ACP operates independently, under US law both the ACP and the government of Panama's maritime sector are considered one in the same. This means that any challenges in Panama's maritime sector, including corruption, lack of transparency, or foreign influence, can have a direct or indirect impact on the operations and long term stability of the canal. This legal perspective highlights the need for diligence in monitoring both the ACP's management and Panama government's policies affecting maritime operations. 34:30 Louis Sola: Since 2015, Chinese companies have increased their presence and influence throughout Panama. Panama became a member of the Belt and Road Initiative and ended its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Chinese companies have been able to pursue billions of dollars in development contracts in Panama, many of which were projects directly on or adjacent to the Panama Canal. Many were no bid contracts. Labor laws were waived, and the Panamanian people are still waiting to see how they've been benefited. It is all more concerning that many of these companies are state-owned, and in some cases, even designated as linked to the People's Liberation Army. We must address the significant growing presence and influence of China throughout the Americas and in Panama, specifically. 35:20 Louis Sola: American companies should play a leading role in enhancing the canal's infrastructure. By supporting US firms, we reduce reliance on Chinese contractors and promote fair competition. 36:55 Daniel Maffei: Because the canal is essentially a waterway bridge over mountainous terrain above sea level, it does depend on large supplies of fresh water to maintain the full operations. Panama has among the world's largest annual rainfalls. Nonetheless, insufficient fresh water levels have occurred before in the canal's history, such as in the 1930s when the Madden Dam and Lake Alajuela were built to address water shortages. Since that time, the canal has undertaken several projects to accommodate larger, more modern ships. In the last couple of years, a trend of worsening droughts in the region, once again, has forced limits to the operations of the canal. Starting in June of 2023 the Panama Canal Authority employed draft restrictions and reduced the number of ships allowed to transit the canal per day. Now the Panama Canal limitations, in combination with the de facto closure of the Suez Canal to container traffic, has had serious consequences for ocean commerce, increasing rates, fees and transit times. 39:30 Daniel Maffei: Now, fortunately, Panama's 2024 rainy season has, for now, alleviated the most acute water supply issues at the canal, and normal transit volumes have been restored. That said, while the Panamanian government and Canal Authority have, with the advice of the US Army Corps of Engineers, developed credible plans to mitigate future water shortages, they also warned that it is likely that at least one more period of reduced transits will occur before these plans can be fully implemented. 41:55 Eugene Kontorovich: We shall see that under international law, each party to the treaty is entitled to determine for itself whether a violation has occurred. Now, in exchange for the United States ceding control of the canal which it built and maintained, Panama agreed to a special regime of neutrality. The essential features of this regime of neutrality is that the canal must be open to all nations for transit. That's Article Two. Equitable tolls and fees, Article Three. An exclusive Panamanian operation, Article Five. The prohibition of any foreign military presence, Article Five. Article Five provides that only Panama shall operate the canal. Testifying about the meaning of the treaty at the Senate ratification hearings, the Carter administration emphasized that this prohibits foreign operation of the canal, as well as the garrisoning of foreign troops. Now, Article Five appears to be primarily concerned about control by foreign sovereigns. If Panama signed a treaty with the People's Republic of China, whereby the latter would operate the canal on Panama's behalf, this would be a clear violation. But what if Panama contracted for port operations with a Chinese state firm, or even a private firm influenced or controlled in part by the Chinese government? The Suez Canal Company was itself, before being nationalized, a private firm in which the United Kingdom was only a controlling shareholder. Yet this was understood to represent British control over the canal. In other words, a company need not be owned by the government to be in part controlled by the government. So the real question is the degree of de jure or de facto control over a Foreign Sovereign company, and scenarios range from government companies in an authoritarian regime, completely controlled, to purely private firms in our open society like the United States, but there's many possible situations in the middle. The treaty is silent on the question of how much control is too much, and as we'll see, this is one of the many questions committed to the judgment and discretion of each party. Now turning to foreign security forces, the presence of third country troops would manifestly violate Article Five. But this does not mean that anything short of a People's Liberation Army base flying a red flag is permissible. The presence of foreign security forces could violate the regime of neutrality, even if they're not represented in organized and open military formations. Modern warfare has seen belligerent powers seek to evade international legal limitations by disguising their actions in civilian garb, from Russia's notorious little green men to Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals or disguised as journalists. Bad actors seek to exploit the fact that international treaties focus on sovereign actors. Many of China's man made islands in the South China Sea began as civilian projects before being suddenly militarized. Indeed, this issue was discussed in the Senate ratification hearings over the treaty. Dean Rusk said informal forces would be prohibited under the treaty. Thus the ostensible civilian character of the Chinese presence around the canal does not, in itself, mean that it could not represent a violation of the treaty if, for example, these companies and their employees involved Chinese covert agents or other agents of the Chinese security forces. So this leads us to the final question, Who determines whether neutrality is being threatened or compromised? Unlike many other treaties that provide for third party dispute resolution, the neutrality treaty has no such provision. Instead, the treaty makes clear that each party determines for itself the existence of a violation. Article Four provides that each party is separately authorized to maintain the regime of neutrality, making a separate obligation of each party. The Senate's understanding accompanying to ratification also made clear that Article Five allows each party to take, quote, "unilateral action." Senator Jacob Javits, at the markup hearing, said that while the word unilateral is abrasive, we can quote, "decide that the regime of neutrality is being threatened and then act with whatever means are necessary to keep the canal neutral unilaterally." 46:35 Joseph Kramek: My name is Joe Kramek. I'm President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. The World Shipping Council is the global voice of liner shipping. Our membership consists of 90% of the world's liner shipping tonnage, which are container vessels and vehicle carriers. They operate on fixed schedules to provide our customers with regular service to ship their goods in ports throughout the world. 47:15 Joseph Kramek: As you have heard, using the Panama Canal to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific saves significant time and money. A typical voyage from Asia to the US or East Coast can be made in under 30 days using the canal, while the same journey can take up to 40 days if carriers must take alternate routes. From a commercial trade perspective, the big picture is this. One of the world's busiest trade lanes is the Trans Pacific. The Trans Pacific is cargo coming from and going to Asia via the United States. Focusing in a bit, cargo coming from Asia and bound for US Gulf and East Coast ports always transits the Panama Canal. Similarly, cargo being exported from US and East Coast ports, a large share of which are US Agricultural exports, like soybeans, corn, cotton, livestock and dairy also almost always transits the Panama Canal. The result is that 75% of Canal traffic originates in or is bound for the United States. 48:55 Joseph Kramek: We've talked about the drought in 2023 and the historic low water levels that it caused in Lake Gatún, which feeds the canal locks, a unique system that is a fresh water feed, as contrasted to an ocean to ocean system, which the French tried and failed, but which is actually active in the Suez Canal. These low water levels reduced transits from 36 transits a day to as low as 22 per day. Additionally, the low water levels required a reduction in maximum allowable draft levels, or the depth of the ship below the water line, which for our members reduced the amount of containers they could carry through the canal. This resulted in a 10% reduction in import volumes for US Gulf and East Coast ports, with the Port of Houston experiencing a 26.7% reduction. 51:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Are you aware of allegations from some vessel operators of disparate treatment such as sweetheart deals or favorable rebates by Panama for canal transits? Louis Sola: Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, we have become aware through some complaints by cruise lines that said that they were not getting a refund of their canal tolls. When we looked into this, we found a Panamanian Executive Order, Decree 73, that specifically says that if a cruise line would stop at a certain port, that they could be refunded 100% of the fees. And as far as I know, that's the only instant where that exists. 53:05 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): So Panama was the very first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, and right now, China is building a fourth bridge across the Panama Canal for car traffic and light rail. Chairman Sola, why should Chinese construction of a bridge near Panama City concern the United States? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, we all saw the tragedy that happened here in the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident and the devastation that had happened to Baltimore. We also saw recently what happened in the Suez Canal, where we had a ship get stuck in there. It's not only the construction of the bridge, but it's a removal of a bridge, as I understand it, called the Bridge of the Americas. It was built in 1961 and that would paralyze cargo traffic in and out of the canals. 53:55 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama also recently renewed the concessions for two container ports to a Chinese company, Hutchison Ports PPC. Of course, Chinese companies are controlled by the Communist Party. How does China use control of those ports for economic gain? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, I am a regulator, a competition regulator. And the Chinese ports that you're referring to, let me put them into scope. The one on the Pacific, the Port of Balboa, is roughly the same size as the Port of Houston. They do about 4 million containers a year. They have about 28 game tree cranes. The one on the Atlantic is the same as my hometown in Miami, they do about 1 million containers. So where Roger Gunther in the Port of Houston generates about $1 billion a year and Heidi Webb in Miami does about $200 million, the Panama ports company paid 0 for 20 years on that concession. So it's really hard to compete against zero. So I think that's our concern, our economic concern, that we would have. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Commissioner Maffei, anything to add on that? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, I do too also think it is important. I would point out that you don't have to stop at either port. It's not like these two ports control the entrance to the canal. That is the Canal Authority that does control that. However, I think it's of concern. I would also point out that the Panamanian government thinks it's of concern too, because they're conducting their own audit of those particular deals, but we remain very interested as well. 56:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Would the facts discussed here be considered violations of the neutrality treaty in force right now between the United States and Panama? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think Senator, I think potentially they could, but it's impossible to say definitively without knowing more, in particular, about the degree of Chinese control and involvement in these companies. I think it's important to note that these port operation companies that operate the ports on both sides, when they received their first contract, it was just a few months before Hong Kong was handed over to China. In other words, they received them as British companies, sort of very oddly, just a few months before the handover. Now, of course, since then, Hong Kong has been incorporated into China, has been placed under a special national security regime, and the independence of those companies has been greatly abridged, to say nothing of state owned companies involved elsewhere in in the canal area, which raised significantly greater questions. Additionally, I should point out that the understandings between President Carter and Panamanian leader Herrera, which were attached to the treaty and form part of the treaty, provide that the United States can, quote, "defend the canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality," and I understand that as providing some degree of preemptive authority to intervene. One need not wait until the canal is actually closed by some act of sabotage or aggression, which, as we heard from the testimony, would be devastating to the United States, but there is some incipient ability to address potential violations. 58:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): If the United States determines that Panama is in violation of the treaty, what is the range of remedies the United States would have for that treaty violation? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think it may be shocking to people to hear today, but when one goes over the ratification history and the debates and discussions in this body over this treaty, it was clear that the treaty was understood as giving both sides, separately, the right to resort to use armed force to enforce the provisions of the treaty. And it's not so surprising when one understands that the United States made an extraordinary concession to Panama by transferring this canal, which the United States built at great expense and maintained and operated to Panama, gratis. And in exchange, it received a kind of limitation, a permanent limitation on Panamanians sovereignty, that Panama agreed that the United States could enforce this regime of neutrality by force. Now, of course, armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute and should not be arrived at sort of rationally or before negotiations and other kinds of good offices are exhausted, but it's quite clear that the treaty contemplates that as a remedy for violations. 1:03:20 Louis Sola: I believe that the security of the canal has always been understood to be provided by the United States. Panama does not have a military, and I always believed that there's been a close relationship with Southern Command that we would provide that. And it would be nice to see if we had a formalization of that in one way or another, because I don't believe that it's in the treaty at all. 1:05:05 Daniel Maffei: While we were down there, both of us heard, I think, several times, that the Panamanians would, the ones we talked to anyway, would welcome US companies coming in and doing a lot of this work. Frankly, their bids are not competitive with the Chinese bids. Frankly, they're not that existent because US companies can make more money doing things other places, but even if they were existent, it is difficult to put competitive bids when the Chinese bids are so heavily subsidized by China. 1:06:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): What would China's incentive be to heavily subsidize those bids to undercut American companies and other companies? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, it's not a real short answer, but Senator, China's made no secret of its ambitious policies to gain influence of ports throughout the globe. It's invested in 129 ports in dozens of countries. It runs a majority of 17 ports, that does not include this Hong Kong company, right? So that's just directly Chinese-owned ports. So it has been a part of their Belt and Road strategy, whatever you want to call it, the Maritime Silk Road, for decades. So they believe that this influence, this investment in owning maritime ports is important to their economy. 1:07:05 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): In 2021, Hutchison was awarded those two ports, Port Balboa and Port Cristobal, in a no-bid award process. Can you tell me, does the United States have any authority or recourse with the Panama Canal Authority under our current agreement with Panama to rebid those terminal concession contracts. And perhaps Mr. Kantorovich, that's more in your purview? Louis Sola: Senator, both of those ports were redone for 25 years, until 2047, I believe. And they have to pay $7 million is what the ongoing rate is for the Port of Houston- and the Port of Miami-sized concessions. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): And it can't be rebid until after that date? Louis Sola: Well, I believe that that's what the comptroller's office is auditing both of those ports and that contract. That was done under the previous Panamanian administration. A new administration came in, and they called for an audit of that contract immediately. 1:20:10 Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Are the companies now controlling both sides of the Panama Canal, the Chinese companies, subject to the PRC national security laws that mandate cooperation with the military, with state intelligence agencies. Does anyone know that? Eugene Kontorovich: They're subject all the time. They're subject to those laws all the time by virtue of being Hong Kong companies. And you know, they face, of course, consequences for not complying with the wishes of the Chinese government. One of the arguments -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Wouldn't that be a violation of the treaty? And isn't that a huge risk to us right now that the Chinese -- Eugene Kontorovich: That is a threat to the neutrality -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): If they invaded Taiwan, invaded the Philippines, they could go to these two companies saying, Hey, shut it down, make it hard, sink a ship in the canal. And wouldn't they be obligated to do that under Chinese law if they were ordered to by the PLA or the CCP? Eugene Kontorovich: I don't know if they'd be obligated, but certainly the People's Republic of China would have many tools of leverage and pressure on these companies. That's why the treaty specifically says that we can act not just to end actual obstructions to the canal. We don't have to wait until the canal is closed by hostile military action. Thatwould be a suicide pact, that would be catastrophic for us, but rather that we can respond at the inchoate, incipient level to threats, and then this is up to the president to determine whether this is significantly robust to constitute -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): So aren't we kind of walking up to the idea of a suicide pact, because we've got two big Chinese companies on both ends of the Panama Canal, who, if there's a war in INDOPACOM, Taiwan that involves us and China, these companies would be obligated to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party and PLA? I mean, are we kind of walking up to a very significant national security threat already? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, certainly, there's a threat. And I think what makes the action of the Chinese government so difficult to respond to, but important to respond to, is that they conceal this in sort of levels of gray without direct control. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Let me ask you on that topic, as my last question, Professor, let's assume that we find out. And again, it wouldn't be surprising. I think you can almost assume it that these two companies have Chinese spies or military officials within the ranks of the employees of the companies. Let's assume we found that out, somehow that becomes public. But I don't think it's a big assumption. It's probably true right now. So you have spies and military personnel within the ranks of these two companies that are controlling both ends of the Panama Canal for you, Professor, and Chairman Sola, wouldn't that be a blatant violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty, if that were true, which probably is true? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, I do think it would be a clear violation. As former Secretary of State, Dean Ross said at the ratification hearings, informal forces can violate Article Five as well as formal forces. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Is there any evidence of Chinese spies or other nefarious Chinese actors embedded in these companies? Louis Sola: Senator, we have no information of that. That's not under the purview of -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): But you agree that would be a violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty? Louis Sola: I do. 1:26:25 Daniel Maffei: Senator Sullivan was talking about Hutchison Ports. That's actually the same company that runs terminals on both ends of the canal. I am concerned about that. However, if we want to be concerned about that, all of us should lose a lot more sleep than we're losing because if there are spies there, then there might be spies at other Hutchinson ports, and there are other Hutchinson ports in almost every part of the world. They own the largest container port in the United Kingdom, Felix Dow, which is responsible for nearly half of Britain's container trade. They control major maritime terminals in Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Tanzania. If owning and managing adjacent ports means that China somehow has operational control or strategic control over the Panama Canal, they also have it over the Suez, the Singapore Straits, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. 1:35:45 Louis Sola: The fees that I think we are looking at, or have been looked at, the reason that we went there was because of the auctioning of the slots. And so what Panama did is they had a smaller percentage, maybe 20% allocation, and then they moved it up to 30% and 40% because it became a money maker for them. So as they were doing -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, let me interject here. The auctioning of the slots gives these the right to skip the queue? Louis Sola: Yes, ma'am. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, so just for the record there. Continue. Louis Sola: So the auctioning of the slots. Under maritime law, it's first come first serve, but Panama has always put a certain percentage aside, and they started to put more and more. So we got a lot of complaints. We got a lot of complaints from LNG carriers that paid $4 million to go through, and we got a lot of complaints from agriculture that didn't have the money to pay to go through, because their goods were gonna go down. So if you look at the financial statements -- I'm a nerd, I look at financial statements of everybody -- the canal increased the amount of revenue that they had from about $500 million to $1.8 billion in the last three years just because of those fees. So this is what is very concerning to us. 1:39:20 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): Do you know of any instances where the United States has been singled out or treated unfairly under the neutrality treaty in the operation of the canal? Daniel Maffei: I do not. I would add that one of the reasons why saying the US is disproportionately affected by raises in Canal fees and other kinds of fees at the canal is because the United States disproportionately utilizes the canal. 1:44:55 Louis Sola: We have a US port there, SSA, out of Washington State that I actually worked on the development of that many years ago, and helped develop that. That used to be a United States Navy submarine base, and we converted that. As far as the two ports that we have, they're completely different. One is a major infrastructure footprint, and also a container port that's moving 4 million containers a year. That's really phenomenal amount. That's more than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and you've probably got to get Tampa and a little bit of Jacksonville in there to get that type of volume. And on the other side, we have a very small port, but it's a very strategic port on the Atlantic. So how are the operations done?I don't know how they don't make money. I mean, if you want to come right down to it, if they've been operating the port for 20 years, and they say that they haven't made any money, so they haven't been able to pay the government. That's what concerns me is I don't believe that we're on a level playing field with the American ports. 1:58:50 Eugene Kontorovich: I think the charges and fees are less of an issue because they don't discriminate across countries. We pay more because we use more, but it's not nationally discriminatory. 1:59:00 Eugene Kontorovich: The presence of Chinese companies, especially Chinese state companies, but not limited to them, do raise serious issues and concerns for the neutrality of the treaty. And I should point out, in relation to some of the earlier questioning, the canal, for purposes of the neutrality treaty, is not limited just to the actual locks of the canal and the transit of ships through the canal. According to Annex One, paragraph one of the treaty, it includes also the entrances of the canal and the territorial sea of Panama adjacent to it. So all of the activities we're talking about are within the neutrality regime, the geographic scope of the neutrality regime in the treaty. 2:00:30 Daniel Maffei: I actually have to admit, I'm a little confused as to why some of the senators asking these questions, Senator Blackburn, aren't more concerned about the biggest port in the United Kingdom being run by the Chinese. Petraeus in the port nearest Athens, one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, is not just run by a Chinese-linked company, it's run directly by a Chinese-owned company, and I was there. So you're on to something, but if you're just focusing on Panama, that's only part. 2:01:45 Louis Sola: About a year ago, when we were having this drought issue, there was also a lot of focus on Iran and how they were funding Hamas and the Houthis because they were attacking the Red Sea. What the United States has found is that Iranian vessels are sometimes flagged by Panama in order to avoid sanctions, so that they could sell the fuel that they have, and then they can take that money and then they can use it as they wish. Panama, at the time, had a very complicated process to de-flag the vessels. There was an investigation, there was an appeals process. By the time that OFAC or Treasury would go ahead and identify one of those vessels, by the time that they were doing the appeals and stuff like this, they've already changed flags to somewhere else. So when we went to Panama, we met with the Panamanian president, and I must say that we were very impressed, because he was 30 minutes late, but he was breaking relations with Venezuela at the time because the election was the day before. We explained to him the situation. The very next day, we met with the maritime minister, with US embassy personnel and Panama actually adjusted their appeals process so to make it more expedient, so if the United States or OFAC would come and say that this Iranian vessel is avoiding sanctions, now we have a process in place to go ahead and do that, and 53 vessels were de-flagged because of that. 2:06:05 Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): Is there any reason that China can't watch or do whatever they want from this bridge to get the intel from these containers? And does that concern anybody? Louis Sola: Well, it definitely concerns Southern Command, because they've brought it up on numerous occasions that there could be some sort of surveillance or something like that on the bridges. 2:20:30 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): We segregate ourselves artificially in a way that they do not. We segregate ourselves. Let's talk about military. Let's talk about intelligence. Let's talk about economics. They don't. China doesn't work that way. It's a whole of government approach. They don't draw a delineation between an economics discussion and a military one. And their attack may not look like Pearl Harbor. It may look like an everyday ship that decides, you know, it pulls into the locks and blows itself up. And now the locks are non-functional for our usage, and we can't support an inter ocean fleet transfer, and our ability to defend it, as you referred to Chairman, is now inhibited by the fact that we no longer have the military infrastructure around the canal that we did just as recently as 1999. 2:21:10 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): So from a commercial perspective, do the shipping companies have concerns over the security of the narrow waterways? We've the Strait to Malacca, we've got the Suez Canal, we've got Gibraltar, we've got Panama. Is that a concern that's thrown around in the boardrooms of the largest shipping corporations in the world? Joseph Kramek: Senator, I think it's something they think about every day. I mean, really, it's drawn into sharp relief with the Red Sea. It was what I call a pink flamingo. There's black swans that just come up and there's pink flamingos that you can see, but you don't act. But no one really thought a whole lot that one of the most important waterways in the world could be denied, and moreover, that it could be denied for such a sustained period. The good news is that -- Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): And denied, I might add, by a disaffected non-state actor of Bedouins running around with rocket launchers, who also managed to beat us in a 20 year war in Afghanistan. My point to saying all this is we're just debating operational control of the canal, yet it seems very clear to all of us that a very simple act can debilitate the canal and eliminate our ability to use it in a matter of minutes with no warning, and we have no ability to intervene or stop that. To me, that means we do not have operational control of the canal. 2:30:40 Daniel Maffei: I will say that certainly we need to look at other kinds of ways to get US companies in positions where they can truly compete with the Chinese on some of these things. Blaming it all on Panama really misses the point. I've seen the same thing in Greece, where Greece didn't want to give the concession of its largest port to a Chinese company, but because of its financial difficulties, it was getting pressure from international organizations such the IMF, Europe and even maybe some of the United States to do so. So I just ask you to look at that. 2:31:20 Daniel Maffei: Panamanians are making far more on their canal than they ever have before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's going to the right place. But where they're really making the money is on these auctions, and that is why it remains a concern of mine and I'm sure the chairman's. That is where we are looking at, potentially, using our authority under Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act where we could, if we can show that it is a problem with the foreign trade of the US, it's interfering with foreign trade of the US, there are certain things that we can do. Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 15, 2024 Clips 4:01:40 Marco Rubio: The thing with Panama on the canal is not new. I visited there. It was 2016. I think I've consistently seen people express concern about it, and it's encapsulized here in quote after quote. Let me tell you the former US ambassador who served under President Obama said: "the Chinese see in Panama what we saw in Panama throughout the 20th century, a maritime and aviation logistics hub." The immediate past head of Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, said, "I was just in Panama about a month ago and flying along the Panama Canal and looking at the state owned enterprises from the People's Republic of China on each side of the Panama Canal. They look like civilian companies or state owned enterprises that could be used for dual use and could be quickly changed over to a military capability." We see questions that were asked by the ranking member in the house China Select Committee, where he asked a witness and they agreed that in a time of conflict, China could use its presence on both ends of the canal as a choke point against the United States in a conflict situation. So the concerns about Panama have been expressed by people on both sides of the aisle for at least the entire time that I've been in the United States Senate, and they've only accelerated further. And this is a very legitimate issue that we face there. I'm not prepared to answer this question because I haven't looked at the legal research behind it yet, but I'm compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that the terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated. Because while technically, sovereignty over the canal has not been turned over to a foreign power, in reality, a foreign power today possesses, through their companies, which we know are not independent, the ability to turn the canal into a choke point in a moment of conflict. And that is a direct threat to the national interest and security the United States, and is particularly galling given the fact that we paid for it and that 5,000 Americans died making it. That said, Panama is a great partner on a lot of other issues, and I hope we can resolve this issue of the canal and of its security, and also continue to work with them cooperatively on a host of issues we share in common, including what to do with migration. 4:38:35 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): Now, President Trump has recently talked a little bit about the fact that there are some questions arising about the status of the Panama Canal. When we look to the treaty at issue, the treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal, we're reminded that some things maybe aren't quite as they should be there right now. Given that the Chinese now control major ports at the entry and the exit to the canal, it seems appropriate to say that there's at least an open question. There's some doubt as to whether the canal remains neutral. Would you agree with that assessment? Marco Rubio: Yes. Here's the challenge. Number one, I want to be clear about something. The Panamanian government, particularly its current office holders, are very friendly to the United States and very cooperative, and we want that to continue, and I want to bifurcate that from the broader issue of the canal. Now I am not, President Trump is not inventing this. This is something that's existed now for at least a decade. In my service here, I took a trip to Panama in 2017. When on that trip to Panama in 2017 it was the central issue we discussed about the canal, and that is that Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal, the east and the west, and the concerns among military officials and security officials, including in Panama, at that point, that that could one day be used as a choke point to impede commerce in a moment of conflict. Going back to that I -- earlier before you got here, and I don't want to have to dig through this folder to find it again, but -- basically cited how the immediate past head of Southern Command, just retired general Richardson, said she flew over the canal, looked down and saw those Chinese port facilities, and said Those look like dual use facilities that in a moment of conflict, could be weaponized against us. The bipartisan China commission over in the House last year, had testimony and hearings on this issue, and members of both parties expressed concern. The former ambassador to Panama under President Obama has expressed those concerns. This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted. The second point is the one you touched upon, and that is, look, could an argument be made, and I'm not prepared to answer it yet, because it's something we're going to have to study very carefully. But I think I have an inkling of I know where this is going to head. Can an argument be made that the Chinese basically have effective control of the canal anytime they want? Because if they order a Chinese company that controls the ports to shut it down or impede our transit, they will have to do so. There are no independent Chinese companies. They all exist because they've been identified as national champions. They're supported by the Chinese government. And if you don't do what they want, they find a new CEO, and you end up being replaced and removed. So they're under the complete control of their government. This is a legitimate question, and one that Senators Risch had some insight as well. He mentioned that in passing that needs to be looked at. This is not a joke. The Panama Canal issue is a very serious one. 4:44:30 Marco Rubio: In 2016 and 2017 that was well understood that part of the investments they made in Panama were conditioned upon Panama's ability to convince the Dominican Republic and other countries to flip their recognition away from Taiwan. That happened. Jen Briney's Recent Guest Appearances Travis Makes Money: Give and Take: Music by Editing Production Assistance