Podcasts about Communist party

In the aftermath of the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, we welcome back Theodore Postol, Professor of Science, Technology and National Security Policy Emeritus at MIT to give his expert technical assessment on where that assault leaves the Iranian nuclear program. Then, Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, gives us his analysis of the political side of the issue.Theodore Postol is Professor of Science, Technology and National Security Policy Emeritus in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT. His expertise is in nuclear weapon systems, including submarine warfare, applications of nuclear weapons, ballistic missile defense, and ballistic missiles more generally.No one at that point after the attack could have known whether or not there was success of any kind, even if there was success. And I doubt there was any success.Theodore PostolThe Israelis have done everything in their power to create an internal argument among the political leadership in Iran to proceed to build a nuclear weapon so that this kind of thing won't happen again. So the Israeli grand strategy, if you want to call it that, shows no intelligence or thought of any kind.Theodore PostolTrita Parsi is the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and the co-founder and former President of the National Iranian American Council. He is an expert on US-Iranian relations, Iranian foreign policy, and the geopolitics of the Middle East. He has authored three books on US foreign policy in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran and Israel— Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel and the United States, A Single Roll of the Dice – Obama's Diplomacy with Iran, and Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy.Israel is not enhancing American power in the Middle East. Israel is consuming it.Trita Parsi, Executive VP of the Quincy Institute for Responsible StatecraftIf the (Iranian regime) were to collapse it would most likely be because there would be an internal coup. And the next regime would be coming from the very same regime. It would just be a much more aggressive and hardline.Trita Parsi20 Worst Recent Trump Headlines1. Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services (Apoorva Mandavilli, Margot Sanger-Katz and Jan Hoffman, New York Times, March 26, 2025)2. The EPA is canceling almost 800 environmental justice grants, court filing reveals (Maxine Joselow and Amudalat Ajasa, Washington Post, April 29, 2025)3. Trump's attack on federal unions a ‘test case' for broader assault, warn lawyers (Michael Sainato, The Guardian, 5/1/25)4. Trump fires all 3 Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 5/9/25)5. Federal employee unions fight for survival as Trump tries to eviscerate them (Andrea Hsu, NPR, 5/11/25)6. Trump's DOJ agrees to let Boeing escape guilty plea. It was a deal victims' families didn't want. (Alexis Keenan, Yahoo Finance, 5/23/25)7. Trump made a promise not to touch Medicare. His megabill just broke it. (Alan L. Cohen, NBC, 5/23/25)8. Trump's safety research cuts heighten workplace risks, federal workers warn (Michael Sainato, The Guardian, 5/27/25)9. Provision in GOP budget bill puts millions at risk of losing SNAP benefits (Lisa Desjardins and Jackson Hudgins, PBS, 5/29/25)10. White House proposes shutting down chemical safety agency (Maxine Joselow Washington Post, 6/3/25)11. Trump tax bill would add $550 billion in interest payments to national debt (Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 6/5/25)12. RFK Jr. boots all members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee (Will Stone, NPR, 6/9/25)13. Vance, Rubio peddle fiction that 88 percent of foreign aid doesn't go overseas (Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 6/11/25)14. Trump's EPA plans to repeal climate pollution limits on fossil fuel power plants (Jeff Brady, NPR, 6/11/25)15. How Trump's assault on science is blinding America to climate change (Scott Waldman, E&E News, 6/16/2025)16. ‘Censorship:' See the National Park visitor responses after Trump requested help deleting ‘negative' signage (Government Executive Magazine, 6/18/25)17. Government drops cases against ‘predatory' financial firms (Peter Whoriskey, Washington Post, 6/20/25)18. 'Hell no, insane': A proposal for millions of acres of land under Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill sparks outrage (No Byline, Economic Times, 6/23/25)19. Under Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' child poverty will rise again (Arturo Baiocchi, Sacramento Bee, 6/23/25)20. Trump loves saying 'You're fired.' Now he's making it easier to fire federal workers (Andrea Hsu, NPR, 6/23/25)News 6/27/251. After a brutal initial barrage by the United States, followed by tit-for-tat exchanges between Israel and Iran, the U.S. is seeking to broker a ceasefire between the two states. On Truth Social, Trump posted “ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” Just hours after this however, Israel did in fact bomb targets in Tehran, per Reuters. Israel also claims to have intercepted missiles fired from Iran following the ceasefire agreement. In the wake of the initial attacks, journalist Séamus Malekafzali reported that the “Iranian communist party Tudeh and the Communist Party of Israel [Hadash] release[d] a joint statement condemning the Israeli war on Iran, saying Israel's intent is to make the region ‘bow down to [US] imperialism' and that the only solution is full nuclear disarmament in the Middle East.” Israel's nuclear capabilities are an open secret in Washington, with estimates that the country possess between 90 and 400 nuclear warheads.2. In Congress, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has put forth a War Powers resolution in an attempt to check Trump's unilateral escalation in Iran. According to Newsweek, he expects to get Republican votes in the Senate. In the House, the effort is led by Reps. Ro Khanna and maverick Republican Thomas Massie, whom Trump has become so enraged with that he recently launched a PAC to oust him from his seat, per Axios. Meanwhile, AOC issued a statement reading, “The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, asked about AOC's impeachment comments, replied “No, no, that's a big threshold to cross,” per David Weigel.3. The escalation in Iran has exposed fissures in Trump's orbit. PBS reports major MAGA figures like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor-Greene are openly opposed, while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has reportedly drawn Trump's ire for a string of comments out of step with the administration's messaging, starting with a video earlier this month in which she accused “political elites and warmongers [of] carelessly fomenting fear and tension between nuclear powers,” per the Independent. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been iced out completely, according to the Washington Post.4. In more news concerning the administration, the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) has published a new report, finding that “Stephen Miller…Trump's powerful deputy chief of staff and homeland security advisor…has a personal financial stake…[of] up to a quarter million dollars of stock in Palantir.” POGO describes Palantir, the shadowy tech company founded by rightwing tech oligarch Peter Thiel, as “woven into the operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and used by other federal agencies such as the Pentagon.” POGO and other experts see this as a glaring potential conflict of interest. In an almost darkly comedic twist, “Democratic lawmakers have recently sought information from Palantir, [but] they are in the minority and cannot compel the company to produce records. A person who could is Representative James Comer (R-KY), the chairman of the [House] oversight committee...However, Comer bought…Palantir stock the day after Trump's inauguration…his only stock trade that day.” Palantir is the second-best-performing S&P 500 stock in 2025, with shares up 74% year-to-date, per Business Insider.5. In a rare case of corruption actually being prosecuted, the New York Times reports former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez reported for his eleven-year prison sentence on June 17th. “After a nine-week trial in Manhattan, Mr. Menendez…became the only U.S. senator ever to be convicted of acting as an agent of a foreign government,” after taking part in a “yearslong bribery conspiracy” that included payoffs in the form of “kilo bars of gold, a Mercedes-Benz convertible and more than $480,000 in cash.” Menendez is now incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, a medium-security federal prison in Minersville, Pennsylvania. He has been assigned the prisoner number 67277-050.6. In other news, POLITICO reports, “FICO plans to launch a suite of credit scores later this year that incorporate [Buy Now Pay Later or BNPL] data, providing lenders a window into…consumers' repayment behavior on these increasingly popular installment loans.” As BNPL data has not been included in credit reporting before, this has become known as “phantom debt…a gigantic black box…[and] largely unregulated.” This story notes that the Trump administration CFPB has “dropped planned enforcement of a Biden administration rule that would have treated BNPL providers like credit card companies,” subjecting this industry to daylight and financial regulation. The administration's abandonment of this rule mirrors their declassification of cryptocurrency as securities in order to skirt SEC oversight. Many questions remain over how exactly BNPL data will factor into consumers' credit scores, but many are bracing for this data to reveal a growing chasm of consumer debt underpinning the already shaky economic picture.7. Meanwhile Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student and activist abducted by ICE on the eve of his son's birth – despite being a legal permanent resident – has finally been freed. Khalil was held in federal immigration detention in Louisiana for 104 days, per AP. Following his release, Khalil said “Justice prevailed, but it's very long overdue.” Khalil's legal battle will continue. Khalil stated in an interview with NPR, “My release is just the first step. The legal fight is still very, very long. The administration appealed the decision about my release, but we will prove our case – that what happened…was textbook retaliation against the First Amendment, that I was targeted because of speech the government did not like, and that there was nothing wrong with the speech I was engaged in. I want to make sure that everyone who contributed to my arrest will be held accountable.”8. Backlash to Trump's immigration policies is not confined to the political and legal realms either. Newsweek reports that the new Pope, Leo XIV, has “called for priests, deacons and parish leaders to accompany migrants to court and stand in solidarity with them.” This is an encouraging sign for those who hoped Leo would follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis. It also puts the new Pope at odds with more conservative American Catholics, such as Vice-President JD Vance who converted in adulthood. In May, Leo's brother John Prevost told New York Times that the new Pope, “has great, great desire to help the downtrodden and the disenfranchised, the people who are ignored.”9. In another immigration flashpoint, “A gang of masked federal agents swarmed, manhandled, and detained New York City Comptroller Brad Lander…as he sought to assist a defendant out of immigration court,” according to the American Prospect. The Prospect notes this arrest is “the latest instance of political violence against opposition party members, which has included the arrests of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver…the arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan…and the brief detention of Sen. Alex Padilla.” Lander was released several hours after he was detained, when New York Governor Kathy Hochul showed up in person to demand his release. She called his arrest “b******t.” Later, in an interview with Joe Gallina, Lander said, “Courts tell undocumented immigrants their cases are ‘dismissed.' But what they really dismiss… is their asylum status. Then ICE grabs them. No lawyer. No warning.”10. Finally, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani trounced disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday, winning by a completely unforeseen seven-point landslide. Polls up to election day showed Cuomo winning, some by as much as 24 points. Mamdani, a state legislator since 2021, ran on a platform of affordability, including making city buses free, establishing city-owned grocery stores and freezing the rent for all stabilized tenants. This platform – paired with cogent messaging, an extraordinary grassroots organizing campaign and shrewd alliances with other progressive candidates like Brad Lander – won the day for Zohran. However, an air of uncertainty about November remains. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams still plans to run for reelection as an independent and Cuomo hasn't ruled out doing the same, per the Hill. While many who endorsed or donated to Cuomo in the primary – some now openly admitting they merely did so out of fear of reprisal – have switched their allegiance to Mamdani, some are maintaining a hostile posture towards the presumptive Democratic nominee. There is no doubt this story will proceed in dramatic fashion.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Listen to news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 minutes.Christians in India's Madhya Pradesh state have called for action against right-wing Hindu activists who assaulted and paraded four socially marginalized Dalit Christians naked through a village. 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

In the latest in our series on belief, we’re looking at China’s official belief system—Marxism. In recent years, netizens have argued China has entered the ‘garbage time’ of history, a phrase borrowed from the dying minutes of a basketball game, which now references a crisis of trust in the Communist Party and its official ideology. To ask whether Marxism still exists in China, and how Marx influences the Chinese state, we’re joined by two guests: Alison Sile Chen Zhao, a University of California political analyst and the author of Her Battles, and Professor Xu Chenggang, a senior research fellow at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions, and the author of Institutional Genes: Origins of China’s Institutions and Totalitarianism. Episode art: Portrait of Karl Marx. c/- Wikimedia Commons. Transcripts available at https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese authorities and companies are taking steps to address the so-called "curse of 35", a discriminatory hiring practice that sidelines or dismisses workers age 35 and older due to labor costs. More employers across the country are easing age restrictions in their recruitment policies in an effort to promote fairer hiring.中国政府部门和企业正采取措施应对所谓的 “35 岁魔咒”—— 这是一种歧视性招聘做法，因劳动力成本问题将 35 岁及以上的劳动者边缘化或解雇。全国越来越多雇主在招聘政策中放宽年龄限制，以推动更公平的招聘。In Heyuan, Guangdong province, a government recruitment program announced earlier this month that 355 new employees would be hired for government departments this year. The general age requirement is 18 to 35 years old, but that age limit has been extended to 40 for candidates with master's degrees or for demobilized military personnel and their family members.在广东省河源市，本月早些时候公布的一项政府招聘计划显示，今年政府部门将新招聘 355 名工作人员。一般年龄要求为 18 至 35 岁，但拥有硕士学位的应聘者、退役军人及其家属的年龄限制放宽至 40 岁。Candidates as old as 45 who have doctorates and those up to age 50 with senior professional titles may also apply for the program.拥有博士学位的应聘者年龄可放宽至 45 岁，具有高级专业技术职称的应聘者年龄可放宽至 50 岁。Other provinces and cities have introduced similar changes. In November, Shanghai said applicants for the city's civil service exam must be between 18 and 35 years old, with the age limit raised to 40 for those with master's or doctoral degrees.其他省市也推出了类似调整。去年 11 月，上海市表示，该市公务员考试的报考者年龄须在 18 至 35 岁之间，拥有硕士或博士学位者年龄限制放宽至 40 岁。Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Holdings, a major State-owned enterprise specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, biomedicine and healthcare, announced in May that it welcomes jobseekers under the age 45, with the cap extended to 50 for applicants with notable work experience.广州医药集团是一家专注于中医药、生物医药和医疗健康领域的大型国有企业，在 5 月宣布，欢迎 45 岁以下的求职者应聘，具有显著工作经验的应聘者年龄上限可放宽至 50 岁。"Companies generally seek to hire employees in economical and reasonable ways. That means workers must produce value equal to their pay, or companies may prefer younger candidates who have more energy and cost less," said Zhaopin, a leading online recruitment platform.领先的在线招聘平台智联招聘表示：“企业通常寻求以经济合理的方式雇佣员工。这意味着劳动者必须创造与薪酬相等的价值，否则企业可能更倾向于选择精力更充沛、成本更低的年轻候选人。”Cheng Yang, a senior partner at Beijing-based law firm Lantai Partners, echoed that view in a recent interview with Workers' Daily, a major national newspaper. Cheng said age caps are often used to control labor costs, as older workers may incur higher expenses for wages, healthcare and benefits.最近，北京兰台律师事务所高级合伙人程阳接受《工人日报》采访时对此观点表示赞同。程阳称，年龄限制常被用来控制劳动力成本，因为年长员工可能在工资、医疗和福利方面产生更高费用。However, she emphasized that older employees tend to be more experienced and skilled, and that eliminating age discrimination is becoming increasingly urgent. China began implementing a policy this year to progressively raise the statutory retirement age over 15 years — from 60 to 63 for men and from 50 or 55 to 55 or 58 for women, depending on the occupation.然而，她强调，年长员工往往更有经验和技能，消除年龄歧视变得日益迫切。中国今年开始实施一项政策，将在 15 年内逐步提高法定退休年龄 —— 男性从 60 岁提高到 63 岁，女性根据职业不同从 50 岁或 55 岁提高到 55 岁或 58 岁。Li Xinyu, 33, who works at an advertising agency in Beijing, said she feels growing insecurity and anxiety as she ages in a youth-driven industry.33 岁的李新宇在北京一家广告公司工作，她表示，在一个以年轻人为主导的行业中，随着年龄增长，她感到越来越没有安全感和焦虑。"Younger people are always favored in our industry because employers believe they have more creative ideas," Li said. "That puts a lot of pressure on those of us nearing 35."“在我们这个行业，年轻人总是更受青睐，因为雇主认为他们有更多创意想法，” 李新宇说，“这给我们这些接近 35 岁的人带来了很大压力。”She added that she has enrolled in numerous training programs over the past two years to stay current and enhance her skills, and hopes the government will introduce stricter rules to protect workers in her age group.她补充说，在过去两年里，她参加了许多培训项目，以保持与时俱进并提升技能，并希望政府能出台更严格的规定来保护她这个年龄段的劳动者。In recent years, China has rolled out several national policies aimed at curbing age discrimination. In September, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, released a guideline calling for high-quality and full employment. The guideline pledged to eliminate unreasonable restrictions and discrimination in employment related to gender and age.近年来，中国已推出多项旨在遏制年龄歧视的国家政策。去年 9 月，中共中央和国务院发布了一份关于高质量充分就业的指导意见。该指导意见承诺消除就业中与性别和年龄相关的不合理限制和歧视。Cheng, from Lantai Partners, said stronger legal measures are needed to define and penalize age discrimination. She recommended that authorities establish a system to screen job ads for biased age limits, and publicly name and penalize companies that engage in discriminatory hiring practices.兰台律师事务所的程阳表示，需要更强有力的法律措施来界定和惩罚年龄歧视。她建议有关部门建立一个系统，筛查招聘广告中存在偏见的年龄限制，并公开点名和惩罚从事歧视性招聘做法的企业。重点词汇age discrimination /eɪdʒ dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn/ 年龄歧视recruitment policy /rɪˈkruːtmənt ˈpɑːləsi/ 招聘政策statutory retirement age /ˈstætʃətɔːri rɪˈtaɪərmənt eɪdʒ/ 法定退休年龄labor costs /ˈleɪbər kɔːsts/ 劳动力成本

China will hold a grand military parade in Beijing on Sept 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, senior Chinese officials announced on Tuesday. 中国官方于周二（6月20号）宣布，9月3日将在北京举行盛大阅兵仪式，纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年。On the morning of Sept 3, China will hold a grand ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of these two wars, including a troop review, said Hu Heping, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.中共中央宣传部副部长胡和平表示，9月3日上午将在北京天安门广场举行纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年大会，包括阅兵式。The ceremony will be held in the name of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission, he added in a news conference held by the State Council Information Office.他在国务院新闻办公室举行的记者会上补充道，该仪式将以中共中央委员会、全国人民代表大会常务委员会、国务院、中国人民政治协商会议全国委员会和中央军事委员会的名义联合举行。Wu Zeke, deputy head of the combat operations department of the Central Military Commission's Joint Staff Department, said that the equipment formations participating in the upcoming parade will prominently display the latest achievements in the Chinese military's equipment system development.中央军委联合参谋部作战局副局长吴克杰表示，此次阅兵的装备方队将重点展示我军武器装备体系化发展成就。"All weapons and equipment to be reviewed are domestically produced, active-duty main battle gear," Wu said.吴克杰说："所有受阅装备均为国产现役主战装备。"In addition, leaders, former political dignitaries from relevant countries, main leaders of international organizations, and foreign diplomatic envoys in China will be invited to attend the commemorative activities, Hu said.此外，胡和平表示中方还将邀请相关国家领导人、前政治要员，国际组织主要负责人，以及外国驻华使节出席纪念活动。Representatives of international friends who contributed to China's victory against Japanese aggression, or their descendants, will also receive invitations, he said.胡和平说，中方还将邀请为中国抗战胜利作出贡献的国际友人及其遗属代表出席纪念活动。Additionally, China will host a series of commemorative activities nationwide starting from July. It will also award commemorative medals for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to living veterans and old comrades of the war, anti-Japanese war generals or their descendants.此外，7月起全国各地将陆续推出一系列纪念活动。中方还将向健在的抗战老战士、老同志，抗战将领或其遗属颁发中国人民抗日战争胜利80周年纪念章。A ceremony will be held on July 7 at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident, according to Hu.胡和平介绍，7月7日将在中国人民抗日战争纪念馆举行仪式，纪念全民族抗战爆发88周年。The incident is recognized as the start of Japan's full-scale invasion and China's whole-nation resistance against the invaders.1937年7月7日发生的卢沟桥事变标志着日本全面侵华战争爆发，中国全民族抗战开始。Around Oct 25, a conference will be held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession, Hu said, expressing support to overseas Chinese to organize related commemorative activities in their local areas.胡和平表示，10月25日左右将举行台湾光复80周年纪念大会，支持海外侨胞在当地开展相关纪念活动。OnDec 13, a national memorial ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre willbe held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.12月13日将在江苏南京举行南京大屠杀死难者国家公祭仪式。Furthermore, Hong Kong and Macao will also organize a series of commemorative activities.此外，香港和澳门特别行政区也将组织一系列纪念活动。military parade阅兵anniversary/ˌænɪˈvɜː(r)s(ə)ri/n.周年纪念（日）troop review阅兵式full-scale invasion全面入侵commemorative/kəˈmem(ə)rətɪv/adj.纪念的，纪念性的

President Xi Jinping will attend a gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will deliver a speech at the gathering, which is set to be held on Sept 3 in Tian'anmen Square, downtown Beijing.

For America, 1979 was one of the coldest years of the Cold War. The U.S. lost a friend. Gained a foe. And then its nightmare scenario for the Middle East began to come true. This is the history of how and why the U.S. military now has a permanent presence in the Middle East.

This Day in Legal History: Taft-Hartley ActOn June 23, 1947, the Labor-Management Relations Act—better known as the Taft-Hartley Act—became law after Congress overrode President Harry S. Truman's veto. Sponsored by Senator Robert Taft and Representative Fred Hartley, the act was passed in response to growing concerns about union power and post-World War II labor strikes that disrupted the economy.The law amended the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act, which had established strong protections for labor organizing. Taft-Hartley introduced a series of restrictions on union activity, including prohibitions on secondary boycotts, jurisdictional strikes, and closed shops—arrangements where union membership is a condition of employment. It also allowed states to pass right-to-work laws, which prohibit union security agreements.In a significant shift, the act required union leaders to sign affidavits affirming they were not members of the Communist Party, reflecting Cold War anxieties. It also authorized the president to intervene in strikes deemed a national emergency by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period.Though labor leaders condemned the act as a betrayal of workers' rights, and Truman called it a “slave-labor bill,” it marked a turning point in federal labor policy. The act curtailed union power and set the stage for decades of legal battles over labor practices. Its provisions remain influential in labor law to this day.Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national and Maryland resident, has been released on bail pending trial on federal migrant smuggling charges, according to a ruling issued Sunday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville. Although granted release, Abrego may still face immigration detention. He was deported to El Salvador in March despite a 2019 court ruling barring his removal due to risk of gang-related persecution—an action officials later admitted was an administrative error.Abrego was brought back to the U.S. on June 6 after being indicted for allegedly coordinating a migrant smuggling operation involving over 100 border pickups and transporting drugs and firearms. He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers argue the charges are politically motivated, intended to obscure the Trump administration's due process violations in his deportation.Prosecutors rely on co-conspirators who are cooperating in exchange for leniency, which defense attorneys say undermines their credibility. In a separate case, a federal judge in Maryland is also investigating whether the Trump administration defied court orders in handling Abrego's removal. The Supreme Court previously upheld the judge's mandate to return him to the U.S.Abrego Garcia ordered released pending trial on migrant smuggling charges | ReutersA Republican-backed proposal to cap federal student loans for professional degrees is raising concerns among legal educators, who say it could disproportionately harm students attending lower-ranked law schools and those from minority or lower-income backgrounds. The bill, which passed the House and is now in the Senate, would limit annual borrowing to $50,000–$77,000 and cap total loans between $150,000 and $200,000. Currently, law students can borrow the full cost of tuition and living expenses.The proposed caps would force students who exceed the limit to seek private loans, which often come with higher interest rates and stricter credit requirements. This could make legal education less accessible to students without co-signers or strong credit histories, particularly at schools with high tuition and lower job placement rates—factors that increase lending risk.Experts warn that students at unranked or lower-ranked schools, which enroll higher percentages of minority and first-generation students, could be most affected. For example, Atlanta's John Marshall Law School, which is unranked, reported a student body that was nearly 76% students of color, yet its graduates carry high debt compared to modest starting salaries.Supporters of the cap argue that unlimited loans enable tuition inflation and poor returns on investment for taxpayers. Critics counter that the policy may reduce diversity in the legal profession and limit access to legal education for underrepresented groups.Student loan caps could hit minorities, low-ranked law schools the hardest | ReutersA piece I wrote for Forbes this week looks at Illinois' reconsideration of a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax—an idea that failed to launch in 2019 but may be gaining traction again. With Illinois already levying one of the highest gas taxes in the nation, the state faces diminishing returns from fuel taxes as electric vehicles (EVs) proliferate and traditional cars become more efficient. Since road wear isn't reduced by cleaner energy, and EVs are often heavier than gas-powered vehicles, the funding model needs to evolve.The VMT tax offers a promising alternative: rather than taxing gallons of gas, it taxes the actual use of roads—miles driven—making it more of a user fee than a traditional tax. Ideally, it would be tiered based on vehicle weight, matching tax liability with pavement damage. Proposed legislation (SB1938) allows for variable pricing based on road type and time of day, which could introduce smart congestion pricing.Concerns about surveillance have been raised, but the pilot program requires only minimal data, prohibits personal data collection, and provides GPS-free options. The program is temporary, must last at least a year, and will include a full review covering equity, logistics, data security, and fraud prevention.Illinois has pushed the gas tax system as far as it can go and still faces infrastructure shortfalls. The VMT could represent not just a new tax, but a new way forward—fairer, more adaptable, and more sustainable. If Illinois gets it right, other states might follow.Illinois Vehicle Mileage Tax—Fix The Roads And Fund The Future This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Listen to news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 minutes.Thailand has been accused of engaging in activities detrimental to peace in the disputed border region with Cambodia. 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

How should we understand China's unique variety of party-state capitalism? In this episode of The World Unpacked, Isaac Kardon sits down with Dr. Meg Rithmire, a renowned scholar of political economy in China and the James E. Robison Professor at Harvard Business School, to discuss how capitalism functions in a party-state that tries to maintain “rule by market” without ceding too much control to private capital. Their discussion is based on Dr. Rithmire's chapter in a new volume released from Carnegie called The Life of the Party: Past and Present Constraints on the Future of the Chinese Communist Party. They explore how private capitalists have been important to China's economy since the 1950s, and how China attempts to exert control over companies to ensure that their activities serve party-state objectives, like Made in China 2025.Notes:1. Yvonne Chiu, Isaac B. Kardon, Jason M. Kelly, “The Life of the Party: Past and Present Constraints on the Future of the Chinese Communist Party,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, June 9, 2025. 

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 19: We take a look at reactions from the press as US President Donald Trump continues to dither on whether the US will intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Also, a study warns that the global carbon budget could be exhausted within three years, after which point climate change will be irreversible. Finally, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders get a pay raise thanks to a Netflix series and a study shows how much pet owners pay to celebrate pet birthdays! In the press today: The world's media continues to focus on the growing conflict between Israel and Iran. Le Monde wonders if the spectre of a US intervention looms in Iran. Such an intervention is also creating huge divides within Donald Trump's administration. The French daily notes that only the US possesses large enough bombs that could destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities. The big question is whether the US will get involved and for the moment Donald Trump's response is HE MAY OR HE MAY NOT, as the Independent says on its front page. Trump appears to be "taunting" Iran over the airstrikes. Metro opts for a play on words to sum up the crisis: an "ARMAGGE-DON"! The Chinese press never misses an opportunity to criticise the US. It's certainly the case for an official newspaper of the Communist Party. The editors of the Global Times warn that the US must stop "fueling the war machine in the Middle East". It blames the US for unilaterally withdrawing from the past Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for aid and sanctions. The paper also warns that Iran's national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should not be violated. It adds: From Afghanistan to Iraq, history has long proven that US military interventions have never brought peace but sown the seeds of anti-American hatred. The British Daily Telegraph meanwhile notes that a day after Israel attacked Iran on Friday, a cargo plane left China with its final destination marked as Luxembourg. However, that flight never reached European skies. Instead, it fell off the radar over Iranian skies. The paper relays concern about what China might have sent to Iran, aviation experts note that the Boeing 747 freighters are used mostly for transporting military equipment and weapons.  In other news, a new study sounds the alarm about the environment and notably our attempts to limit global average surface warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The details of the report are on the science website, Phys.org. A new study from Earth System Science Data warns that the estimated remaining carbon budget for 1.5 degrees is 130 million tons of carbon dioxide. This means that the world is on track to exhaust this budget within three years. After this, the effects of global warming will be extreme and irreversible. The study also reiterated that a majority of global warming over the past decades is a direct result of human activity including burning fossil fuels, deforestation and international aviation, which has now returned to pre pandemic levels. It's not all doom and gloom in the press. E! Online reports that the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have seen their salaries increase by around 400%. The raise comes in the wake of a hit Netflix series that revealed what it takes to become a cheerleader. One of the surprises in season one was how little the cheerleaders were paid – and why many had to keep their day jobs. A veteran cheerleader shared that she was earning about $15 an hour and $500 per appearance, with some reportedly making less than the team's waterboys. In season two, the series revealed that cheerleaders can now earn up to $75 an hour. It's a small but symbolic step forward for women's pay. Finally, a study has revealed just how much UK pet owners spend to celebrate their prized pet's birthdays! The Independent reports that a recent survey by a card company found that 83 percent of Gen Z participants and 79 percent of millennials said they celebrated a pet's birthday. This is far higher than the 39 percent of people over 55 who do the same. More than one in two UK pet owners buy a present and or cake, with average amount of 120 pounds or about 160 euros. Recent celebrity pets have had special vegan cakes, an ice sculpture, 100-dollar bills shot from a money gun and in one case in China, a dog themed light display! That's a lot of money considering you might get at best a tail wag from your dog or, if you have a cat, total indifference! You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.

Drama on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History.Then, Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar, originally broadcast June 18, 1946, 79 years ago, The Hooded Gang Protection Racket.  A masked society of extortioners has been formed, which Blackie tries to break up. Followed by Inner Sanctum Mysteries, originally broadcast June 18, 1946, 79 years ago, I Want to Report a Murder starring Santos Ortega.  A man with an insanely jealous wife starts to be blackmailed by a young woman after he accidentally kills her husband. There are lots of corpses all over the place!Then, Calling All Cars, originally broadcast June 18, 1935, 90 years ago, The Chinese Puzzle.  A Chinese merchant has been found hatchet murdered in his San Diego store. Followed by I Was a Communist for the FBI starring Dana Andrews, originally broadcast June 18, 1952, 73 years ago, Tight Wire.  The FBI assigns Cvetic the job of bugging a Communist Party meeting hall. Finally, Lum and Abner, originally broadcast June 18, 1942, 83 years ago, Cedric to Join the Marines?   Cedric decides to become an officer in the Marine Corps!Thanks to Richard G for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamFind the Family Fallout Shelter Booklet Here: https://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/the_family_fallout_shelter_1959.pdfhttps://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.htmlAnd more about the Survive-all Fallout Sheltershttps://conelrad.blogspot.com/2010/09/mad-men-meet-mad-survive-all-shelter.html

In the United States, the 1930s and 1940s were marked by growing suspicion of communism and socialism, but under the fairness doctrine that opened the airwaves to differing points of view, American communist leaders were able to make their case against income inequality and express their support for civil rights and equal justice. Decades later Congress killed the fairness doctrine allowing the airwaves to be dominated by extreme right wing and conservative commentators. We're going to hear two speeches. An address by Ben Davis Jr of the New York Communist Party on NBC in 1937, followed by Earl Browder, Communist Party candidate for president on CBS in 1940. We'll close with the story of Russian socialist and writer, Alexander Herzen and his fight against tyranny from the 1945 NBC show, We Came This Way.More at KRobCollection.com

Last time we spoke about Japan's preparations for War. In late 1936, tensions soared in China as Nationalist General Chiang Kai-shek was detained by dissenting commanders who were frustrated with his focus on communism instead of the growing Japanese threat. Faced with escalating Japanese aggression, these leaders forced Chiang into a reluctant alliance with the Chinese Communist Party, marking a pivotal shift in China's strategy. Despite this union, China remained unprepared, lacking sufficient military supplies and modern equipment. Conversely, Japan, wary of Chinese modernization efforts, pushed for a preemptive strike to dismantle Chiang's regime before it could pose a serious threat. As aggressive military exercises intensified, Japan underestimated Chinese resilience. By spring 1937, both nations found themselves on the brink of war, with Japan's divided military leadership struggling to formulate a coherent strategy. Ultimately, these miscalculations would lead to the full-scale Sino-Japanese War, altering the course of history in East Asia.   #154 The Marco Polo Bridge Incident  Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Here we are at last, the beginning of the absolute cataclysm between China and Japan. Now as many of you know I run the Pacific War week by week podcast, which technically covers the second sino-japanese war, nearly to a T. So for this podcast I want to try and portray the event from the Chinese and Japanese point of view, but not in the rather dry manner of the other podcast. In the other podcast I am hampered by the week by week format and can never dig deep into the nitty gritty as they say. On the same hand I don't want to simply regurgitate every single battle of this conflict, it would be absolutely nuts. So bear with me friends as we fall down in the rabbit hole of madness together, who knows how long it will take to get out. On the night of July 7, 1937, at approximately 19:30, the 8th Squadron of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment of the Hebian Brigade of the Japanese Army, stationed in Fengtai and led by Squadron Leader Shimizu Seiro, conducted a military exercise, heading toward Lungwangmiao, approximately just under a mile northwest of the Marco Polo Bridge The exercise simulated an operation to capture the bridge. As you may have guessed it was named after the Italian explorer Marco Polo, who described it in his travels, the bridge is renowned for its intricate carvings of lions and other sculptures. However after 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge would be far less known for its history dealing with the venetian explorer and more so with an event that many would contend to be the start of WW2. At that time, troops from Japan, Britain, France, and Italy were stationed near Peiping in accordance with the Boxer Protocol of 1901. The Japanese China Garrison Army, comprising around 4,000 soldiers and commanded by Lieutenant-General Tashiro Kan'ichirō, was based in Tientsin. Its mission was to "maintain communication lines between Peiping and the seaports in the Gulf of Chihli and to protect Japanese citizens living in key areas of North China." The protocol also permitted the garrison forces of the signatory nations to conduct field drills and rifle practice without notifying the Chinese authorities, with the exception of cases involving live fire. During this period, Japanese troops were conducting nightly exercises in anticipation of a scheduled review on July 9. The night maneuver was within the army's rights under the Boxer Protocol and was not an illegal act, as later claimed by the Chinese. However, the Japanese army had courteously informed the Chinese authorities about its training plans in advance. Despite this, the atmosphere was charged with tension, and the Japanese decision to use blank ammunition during their night exercise further escalated the already volatile situation. Earlier that evening, Captain Shimizu Setsurö, a company commander, arrived at the banks of the Yungting River, where the maneuver was to take place. He noticed that the site looked different since the last exercise had occurred; Chinese troops had recently constructed new trenches and parapets from the embankment to the Lungwangmiao shelter. While eating his dinner and surveying the area, Shimizu felt a sense of unease, harboring a premonition that “something might happen that night.” After completing the first stage of the maneuver around 10:30 PM, several live rounds were fired into the assembled company from the direction of the riverbank. Shimizu immediately conducted a roll call and found one soldier missing. He promptly sent a messenger to inform the battalion commander. The exercise was then called off, and the company moved eastward to await further orders at Hsiwulitien. Battalion Commander Itsuki Kiyonaho, upon receiving the report, deemed the situation serious. Aside from the gunfire heard in the darkness from an unknown source, he expressed concern over the soldier's disappearance and sought permission from Regiment Commander Mutaguchi Renya, an absolute moron, if you listen to the pacific war podcast, well you know. Anyways to relocate the battalion to the area where the shots had been fired and to establish surveillance. As dawn approached, the troops heard several more gunshots. Within twenty minutes of the soldier's disappearance, he returned to his ranks, but Shimizu did not report this update until four hours later. Meanwhile, midnight negotiations included a Japanese request for permission to search the city of Wanping, leading both sides to believe the incident was significant. Around 11:00 PM, the Japanese forces falsely reported that one of their soldiers had gone missing during the drill and demanded permission to enter the city for a search. This request was firmly denied by Ji Xingwen, the commander of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division of the Chinese Army. In response, Japanese troops swiftly surrounded Wanping County. To prevent further escalation, at 2:00 AM the following morning, Qin Dechun, deputy commander of the 29th Army and mayor of Beiping, agreed with the Japanese to allow both sides to send personnel for an investigation. While Matsui, the head of the Japanese secret service in Peiping, was negotiating with North Chinese authorities based on unverified reports from Japanese troops in Fengtai, Ikki Kiyonao, the battalion commander of the Japanese garrison in Fengtai, had already reported to his regiment commander, Mutaguchi Lianya. The latter approved orders for the Japanese troops in Fengtai to “immediately move out” to the Marco Polo Bridge.  On July 8, a large contingent of Japanese troops appeared at Lugou Bridge. Shen Zhongming, the platoon leader of the 10th Company of the Reserve Force of the 3rd Battalion of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division of the 29th Army, was assisting in guarding the bridgehead. He jumped out of the trench, stood in front of the bunker, and raised his right hand to halt the advancing Japanese troops. However, the Japanese military threatened to search for their missing soldiers, pushed forward, and opened fire. Shen Zhongming was shot and died on the spot. At 4:50 AM, the Japanese army launched a fierce assault on Wanping County, capturing Shagang in the northeast of Wanping and firing the first shot of the siege. Unable to withstand the aggression, the Chinese defenders mounted a counterattack. That day, the Japanese army assaulted Wanping City three times, targeting the Pinghan Railway Bridge and the Chinese defenders at the Huilong Temple position on the left. He Jifeng, the commander of the 110th Brigade of the Chinese defenders, issued a resolute order to “live and die with the bridge” and personally commanded the front-line battle. The Chinese defenders engaged in fierce combat, fighting valiantly despite exhausting their ammunition and resorting to hand-to-hand combat with swords against the Japanese soldiers. Tragically, over 80 Chinese defenders from two platoons were killed at the bridgehead. On the same day, the Beijing authorities instructed the garrison to hold firm at the Marco Polo Bridge. Song Queyuan sent a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek to report the true events of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. The National Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a verbal protest with the Japanese ambassador regarding the incident. Additionally, the CPC Central Committee issued a telegram urging all Chinese soldiers and civilians to unite and resist Japanese aggression. The Japanese cabinet, in a bid to mislead global public opinion, proposed a so-called policy of “resolving the incident locally without escalating it,” aiming to paralyze the KMT authorities and buy time to mobilize additional forces. In the wake of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, generals of the 29th Army, including Qin Dechun, Feng Zhian, and Zhang Zizhong, convened an emergency meeting. Following their discussions, they issued a statement demanding that their troops withdraw from the Marco Polo Bridge to de-escalate tensions. However, they expressed deep concerns about national sovereignty, stating, “We cannot simply back down. If they continue to oppress us, we will do our utmost to defend ourselves.” Concurrently, the 29th Army commanded the troops defending the Marco Polo Bridge: “The Marco Polo Bridge is your grave. You must live and die with the bridge and must not retreat.” Brigade Commander He Jifeng reinforced three directives for the defenders:  1. Do not allow the Japanese army to enter the city;  2. Firmly counterattack if the Japanese invade;  3. You are responsible for defending the territory and will never yield. If you abandon your position, you will face military law. On July 9, the 29th Army successfully eliminated a Japanese squadron and reclaimed control of the railway bridge and Longwang Temple. A temporary lull settled over the Marco Polo Bridge battlefield, during which the Japanese military made false claims that "missing Japanese soldiers had returned to their units" and described the situation as a misunderstanding that could be resolved peacefully. Subsequently, Chinese and Japanese representatives in Beijing and Tianjin engaged in negotiations. The Beijing authorities reached an agreement with the Japanese forces, which included:  (1) an immediate cessation of hostilities by both parties;  (2) the Japanese army withdrawing to the left bank of the Yongding River while the Chinese army retreated to the right bank; and  (3) the defense of Lugou Bridge being assigned to Shi Yousan's unit of the Hebei Security Team. However, the following day, while the Chinese army withdrew as agreed, the Japanese army not only failed to uphold its commitments but also dispatched a significant number of troops to launch an offensive against the Chinese forces. Reports on July 10 indicated that the Japanese army had arrived from Tianjin, Gubeikou, Yuguan, and other locations, advancing toward the Lugou Bridge with artillery and tanks, and had occupied Dajing Village and Wulidian, signaling that another outbreak of conflict was imminent. On July 11, the Japanese Cabinet decided to deploy seven divisions from the Kwantung Army, the Korean Army, and Japan to North China. On the same day, the Beiping-Tianjin authorities reached a localized agreement with the Japanese army, which entailed:  (1) a formal apology from a representative of the 29th Army to the Japanese forces, along with assurances that those responsible for the initial conflict would be held accountable;  (2) a ban on anti-Japanese activities conducted by the Communist Party, the Blue Shirts Society, and other resistance groups; and  (3) an agreement ensuring that no Chinese troops would be stationed east of the Yongding River. Concurrently, the Japanese army positioned their forces at strategic points in Wuqing, Fengtai, Wanping, and Changping, effectively encircling the city of Beijing and continuing to advance troops into its surrounding suburbs. Starting on July 11, the Japanese army began bombarding Wanping City and its surrounding areas with artillery, resulting in numerous casualties among the local population. Following the injury of regiment commander Ji Xingwen, residents were evacuated to safer locations outside the city. The conflict then spread to Babaoshan, Changxindian, Langfang, Yangcun, and other areas, with the 29th Army being deployed to various locations to confront the enemy. The Japanese military also dispatched aircraft for reconnaissance and strafing missions, leading to intermittent fighting. On July 13, Mao Zedong urged "every Communist Party member and anti-Japanese revolutionary to be prepared to mobilize to the frontline of the anti-Japanese war at any time" from Yan'an. By July 15, a CPC representative presented the "Communist Party Declaration on Cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party" to Chiang Kai-shek, proposing that this declaration serve as the political foundation for cooperation between the two parties and be publicly issued by the Kuomintang. Zhou Enlai, Qin Bangxian, and Lin Boqu continued negotiations with Chiang Kai-shek, Shao Lizi, and Zhang Chong in Lushan. Although Chiang Kai-shek recognized the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, disagreements remained regarding the reorganization of the Red Army. On July 16, the Five Ministers Conference in Tokyo resolved to mobilize 400,000 Japanese troops to invade China and to enforce a policy aimed at rapidly destroying the entire country. The following day, more than 100 Japanese soldiers arrived in Shunyi and Changping, where they reinforced fortifications on the city wall of Changping. On July 18, the Japanese army invaded Changping, Tongzhou, and other counties in the pseudo-border areas by maneuvering through various passes of the Great Wall. Japanese plainclothes teams were reported to be active in the Xiaotangshan area of Changping, raising alert levels within the Chinese army. On July 20, the Kuomintang Military and Political Department became aware that the Japanese army intended to first occupy strategic locations such as the Indigo Factory, Wanshou Mountain, and Balizhuang in the Pingxi area, before cutting off the Pingsui Road and controlling the route from Beiping to Changping. On July 21, the Japanese army violated the agreement by bombarding Wanping County and the garrison at Changxindian.  On the night of July 25, a confrontation took place at the railway station in Langfang, located between Peiping and Tientsin. The clash involved Chinese troops and a Japanese company dispatched to repair telegraph lines. General Kazuki promptly sought Tokyo's permission to respond with military force, believing that the situation required immediate action. Without waiting for authorization, he ordered a regiment from Tientsin to engage the Chinese forces and issued an ultimatum to Sung Che-yuan, stating that if the 37th Division did not completely withdraw from Peiping by noon on July 28, the Garrison Army would take unilateral action. The 77th Infantry Regiment of the 20th Division was dispatched with the Gonoi Squadron to escort a repair team to Langfang Station. Stationed near Langfang were the headquarters of the 113th Brigade of the 38th Division, along with the main force of the 226th Regiment, led by Brigade Commander Liu Zhensan and Regiment Commander Cui Zhenlun. Although the leadership of the 29th Army adopted a passive stance in the war of resistance, the forces in Langfang prepared for conflict in an organized manner. They not only evacuated the families of servicemen and relocated the regiment headquarters, but also built fortifications and deployed plainclothes teams at Wanzhuang Station, Luofa Station, and Langfang Station to swiftly destroy the railway if necessary. Despite their preparations, the commanders of the 38th Division adhered to Song Queyuan's directives. When the 5th Company, stationed at Yangcun, observed Japanese supply units continually moving toward Lugou Bridge, they sought permission to engage the enemy. However, the 38th Division later reassigned this company. The Bac Ninh Line, established after the Boxer Protocol, had granted the Japanese the right to station troops, placing the 38th Division in a vulnerable position and preventing them from stopping the Japanese before they reached Langfang. Upon the arrival of Japanese forces at Langfang Station, Chinese guards initiated negotiations, requesting the Japanese to withdraw quickly after completing their mission. The Japanese, however, insisted on establishing camps outside the station, leading to repeated arguments. As tensions mounted, the Japanese began constructing positions near the station, ultimately forcing Chinese troops to retreat and escalating the conflict. The situation reached a boiling point around 11:10 pm, when fierce gunfire and explosions erupted near Langfang Station. The Japanese army claimed they were defending the station from an attack by Chinese forces armed with rifles, machine guns, and mortars throughout the night. According to Cui Zhenlun, the head of the 226th Regiment, it was the 9th and 10th companies that could no longer tolerate the Japanese provocation and fired first, catching the enemy off guard. As the battle intensified, reinforcements from the main force of the 77th Infantry Regiment “Li Deng Unit” arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the skirmish and gradually joined the fight after 6:30 am on July 26. When dawn broke, Japanese troops stationed at Langfang began to rush out to counterattack, seeing their reinforcements arrive. Recognizing they could not eliminate the Japanese presence at the station quickly, the 226th Regiment faced heavy bombardment from the Japanese Air Force later that morning. Consequently, the headquarters of the 113th Brigade and the primary forces of the 226th Regiment hastily retreated to Tongbai Town, suffering significant losses in equipment during their withdrawal. That night, Kazuki made the unilateral decision to abandon the policy of restraint and decided to use force on July 28 "to punish the Chinese troops in the Peiping-Tientsin area." On the morning of July 27, the army high command endorsed his decision and submitted a plan to the cabinet for mobilizing divisions in Japan. The cabinet agreed, and imperial approval was sought. At that time, the Chinese army was gathering in significant numbers in Baoding and Shijiazhuang in southern Hebei, as well as in Datong, Shanxi. They had effectively surrounded the Japanese army on all sides in the Fengtai District. Meanwhile, newly mobilized units of the Kwantung Army and the Japanese Korean Army were en route to the Tianjin and Beiping areas. The 2nd Battalion of the 2nd China Garrison Infantry Regiment, commanded by Major Hirobe, was dispatched with 26 trucks to the Japanese barracks within the walls of Beiping to ensure the protection of Japanese residents. Prior discussions had taken place between Takuro Matsui, head of the Special Service Agency, and officials from the Hebei–Chahar Political Council regarding the passage of troops through the Guang'anmen gate just outside Beiping. The mayor, Qin Dechun, had granted approval for this movement. However, when Major Tokutaro Sakurai, a military and political advisor to the Council, arrived at Guang'anmen, a famous gate to Beiping, around 6:00 pm to establish contact, he found that the Chinese troops on guard had closed the gate. After further negotiations, the gates were opened at approximately 7:30 pm, allowing the Japanese units to begin passing through. Unfortunately, as the first three trucks crossed, the Chinese opened fire on them. Two-thirds of the units managed to get through before the gate was abruptly shut, leaving a portion of Hirobe's troops trapped both inside and outside. As they faced unexpectedly heavy fire from machine guns and grenades, efforts by Japanese and Chinese advisors to pacify the Chinese troops proved futile. By 8:00 pm, the Japanese launched a counterattack from both sides of the gate. The Chinese received reinforcements and encircled the Japanese forces. Despite a relief column being dispatched by Brigadier Masakazu Kawabe, commander of the brigade in the Fengtai District, by 9:30 pm, negotiations with the Chinese yielded a proposal for de-escalation: the Chinese army would maintain a distance while the Japanese inside the gate would relocate to the grounds of their legation, and those outside would return to Fengtai. Fighting ceased shortly after 10:00 pm, and at approximately 2:00 am the following day, Hirobe's unit successfully entered the barracks in the legation. The total casualties reported for the Japanese army during these confrontations were 2 dead and 17 wounded. Both fatalities were superior privates. The wounded included one major, one captain, one sergeant, two superior privates, one private first class, seven privates second class, two attached civilians, and one news reporter. Additionally, the interpreter accompanying Tokutaro Sakurai was also killed in action. On July 27, the Japanese army launched attacks on the 29th Army garrisons in Tongxian, Tuanhe, Xiaotangshan, and other locations, forcing the defenders to retreat to Nanyuan and Beiyuan. At 8:00 am on July 28, under the command of Army Commander Kiyoshi Kozuki, the Japanese army initiated a general assault on the 29th Army in the Beiping area. The primary attacking force, the 20th Division, supported by aircraft and artillery, targeted the 29th Army Special Brigade, the 114th Brigade of the 38th Division, and the 9th Cavalry Division stationed in Nanyuan. Overwhelmed by the Japanese assault, Nanyuan's defenders struggled to maintain command, leading to chaotic individual combat. Meanwhile, the main Japanese garrison brigade in Fengtai advanced to Dahongmen, effectively cutting off the Nanyuan troops' route to the city and blocking their retreat. The battle for Nanyuan concluded at 1:00 pm, resulting in the deaths of Tong Lingge, deputy commander of the 29th Army, and Zhao Dengyu, commander of the 132nd Division. As this unfolded, elements of the 37th Division of the 29th Army launched an attack on the Japanese forces in Fengtai but were repulsed by Japanese reinforcements. On that day, the Japanese Army's 1st Independent Mixed Brigade captured Qinghe Town, prompting the 2nd Brigade of the Hebei-Northern Security Force, stationed there, to retreat to Huangsi. The Japanese also occupied Shahe. In the afternoon of July 28, Song Qeyuan appointed Zhang Zizhong as the acting chairman of the Hebei-Chahar Political Affairs Committee and director of the Hebei-Chahar Pacification Office, as well as the mayor of Beiping, before leaving the city for Baoding that evening. The 37th Division was ordered to retreat to Baoding. On July 29th, a significant mutiny broke out at Tongzhou. If you remember our episode covering the Tanggu truce, Tongzhou had become the capital of the East Hubei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government headed by Yin Jukeng. In response Chiang Kai-Shek had established the East Hebei Administrative Affairs Committee, chaired by Song Queyuan. In Tongzhou, Japanese troops were stationed under the pretext of protecting Japanese residents, as stipulated by the Boxer Protocol. Initially, a unit was intended to be stationed in Tongzhou; however, Vice Minister of the Army Umezu Yoshijiro strongly opposed this plan, arguing that placing forces in Tongzhou, far from the Beiping-Tianjin Line was inconsistent with the spirit of the Boxer Protocol. Consequently, this unit was stationed in Fengtai, located southwest of Beiping. At the time of the Tongzhou Incident, the main force of the Japanese Second Regiment, which was responsible for defending Tongzhou, had been deployed to Nanyuan, south of Beijing. Consequently, only non-combat personnel remained in Tongzhou. Japan regarded the Jidong Anti-Communist Autonomous Government Security Force as a friendly ally. Back on July 27, the primary forces of the Japanese Army stationed in Tongzhou, comprising the Kayashima Unit and the Koyama Artillery Unit, received orders to advance toward Nanyuan, Beiping, leaving Tongzhou significantly under-defended. The following day, the Japanese launched a substantial attack on Nanyuan, employing aircraft to bomb Beiping. Sensing a critical opportunity, Zhang Qingyu conferred with Zhang Yantian and Shen Weigan to initiate an uprising that very night. The insurgent force included elements from the first and second corps and the teaching corps, totaling approximately 4,000 personnel. Zhang Qingyu orchestrated the uprising with a focused strategy: the first corps was divided into three groups targeting Japanese forces in Xicang, the puppet government, and various establishments such as opium dens, casinos, and brothels operated by Japanese ronin. Meanwhile, the second corps secured key intersections and facilities in Chengguan, and the teaching corps managed defenses against potential reinforcements at vital stations. At dawn on July 29, the gunfire signaling the uprising erupted. The second unit of the first corps launched an assault on the Xicang Barracks, which housed 120 troops and non-combat personnel, including the Tongzhou Guard, Yamada Motor Vehicle Unit, a Military Police Detachment, and a host of military and police units, totaling about 500 individuals. At around 3 a.m. on July 29, the sound of gunfire filled the air as the insurgents engaged the Japanese forces. Although equipped with only four field guns, several mortars, and a few heavy machine guns, the uprising's numerical superiority enabled simultaneous attacks from the east, south, and northwest. Despite their well-fortified positions and rigorous defense, the Japanese troops struggled against the relentless onslaught. For over six hours, fierce fighting ensued. The uprising troops escalated their firepower but failed to breach the Xicang Barracks initially. More than 200 members of the Japanese security forces lost their lives in the conflict. Concerned that reinforcements might arrive and flank the uprising, Zhang Qingyu ordered artillery assaults around 11 a.m., prompting a shift in the battle's dynamics. The artillery targeted a Japanese motor vehicle convoy transporting supplies and munitions, leading to the destruction of all 17 vehicles, triggering explosions that scattered bullets and shrapnel across the area. Subsequently, nearby fuel depots ignited, engulfing the surroundings in flames and creating chaos among Japanese ranks. The insurgent infantry capitalized on this confusion, wiping out most of the remaining Japanese forces, with only a handful managing to escape. As the uprising signal rang out, another faction of insurgents swiftly blocked access to Tongzhou, disrupting traffic and occupying the telecommunications bureau and radio station. They encircled the offices of the Jidong puppet government, capturing traitor Yin Rugeng, who was taken to the Beiguan Lu Zu Temple. Despite being urged to resist the Japanese, Yin hesitated and was subsequently imprisoned. The third group then targeted the Japanese secret service agency in Nishicang. Hosoki Shigeru, residing a mere lane away from the pseudo-office, responded to the gunfire by mobilizing a contingent of secret agents to confront the uprising. However, the insurgents swiftly overtook the secret service agency, resulting in Shigeru's death and the annihilation of all secret personnel. At 4:00 p.m. on July 29, the Japanese command dispatched reinforcements, compelling the insurgents to retreat from Tongzhou. The Japanese Chinese Garrison ordered air attacks on the uprising forces, with over ten bombers targeting Tongzhou. Concurrently, the Japanese Fengtai Infantry Brigade and the Second Regiment were mobilized for a rescue operation, arriving on the morning of July 30. The Japanese headquarters issued a night defense order requiring all units to be on high alert. By 5:30 p.m., commanding officers assembled to devise a strategy. With the uprising forces still positioned around the eastern, southern, and northern walls of the barracks, Tsujimura's troops implemented strict measures: all units were instructed to fortify defenses throughout the night, with the Tongzhou Guard directly protecting the barracks and the Yamada unit securing the warehouse and supply areas. They enforced silence, prohibiting any lights at night, coordinating operations under the code name "plum cherry." As the Japanese planes repeatedly bombed the area, the insurgents, lacking anti-aircraft defenses, could only mount futile counterattacks with machine guns, leading to disorder among their ranks. Many insurgents abandoned their uniforms and weapons and fled, prompting Zhang Qingyu to make the difficult decision to evacuate Tongzhou before Japanese reinforcements arrived, regrouping in Beiping with the remnants of the 29th Army. In the late hours of July 29, the security team retreated to Beiping in two groups. Upon arrival, they discovered the 29th Army had already evacuated, forcing them to retreat to Changxindian and Baoding. En route, they encountered part of the Suzuki Brigade of the Japanese Kwantung Army near Beiyuan and Xizhimen, where they faced concentrated attacks. Officers Shen Weigan and Zhang Hanming were both killed in the subsequent battles as they led their teams in desperate fights for survival. Amid the confusion, Yin Rugeng managed to escape when the convoy escorting him was broken up by Japanese forces. In a last-ditch effort, Zhang Qingyu ordered the army to split into small groups of 50 to 60, navigating through Mentougou to regroup with the 29th Army. By the time they reached Baoding, only about 4,000 personnel remained. On the morning of July 30, over a thousand troops from the Sakai Army entered Tongzhou City. They rounded up all men they encountered, searching residences for insurgents, and exhibited intentions of massacring the local population. By 4 p.m., the Kayashima Army arrived and sealed all city gates, deploying surveillance units to oversee the city and "restore public order." The Tsujimura Army removed perimeter defenses and concentrated their forces in barracks and storage facilities. Japanese troops combed through residences based on household registries, detaining those they deemed suspicious, with many later executed. As reported by the puppet county magistrate Wang Jizhang, roughly 700 to 800 individuals were executed within a few days. This brutal retaliation instilled terror throughout Tongzhou City, leading many to flee and seek refuge, often in American churches. The pervasive atmosphere of fear lasted for two to three months. The Japanese authorities framed their violent suppression as "restoring stability to East Asia" and derided the legitimate resistance of Chinese citizens as "communist harassment" and "treason." In response to the uprising, the Japanese embassy, concerned that it could trigger a repeat of the Temple Street Incident and instigate political upheaval at home, acted without government instructions. They appointed Morishima Morito to oversee negotiations with Chi Zongmo, who had replaced Yin Rugeng as the head of the "Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government." On December 24, 1937, Chi submitted a formal apology to the Japanese embassy, committing to pay a total of 1.2 million yuan in reparations, with an immediate payment of 400,000 yuan, while the remaining 800,000 yuan would be disbursed by the "Provisional Government of the Republic of China." Furthermore, the Japanese demanded that the "Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government" relinquish the territories where Japanese nationals had been killed and take responsibility for constructing "comfort towers." They compelled Chinese laborers to build these structures at the former site of the Governor's Office of Canal Transport in Shuiyueyuan Hutong, Nanmenli, and the northeastern corner of Xicang Square to commemorate Japanese casualties from the uprising. Additionally, they forcibly uprooted ancient trees from the Temple of Heaven, transplanting them around the "comfort towers." The Japanese military also demolished white marble guardrails at the Confucian Temple to erect a monument honoring their soldiers, resulting in the destruction of centuries-old cultural artifacts. On the morning of July 29, the Japanese Army's 11th Independent Mixed Brigade attacked Beiyuan and Huangsi. The Hebei-Northern Security Force, stationed in Huangsi, engaged the Japanese forces until 6:00 PM before retreating. Meanwhile, the 39th Independent Brigade, garrisoned in Beiyuan, fought the Japanese before withdrawing to Gucheng, eventually returning to Beiyuan. On July 31, this brigade was disarmed by the Japanese army, while the Independent 27th Brigade in the city was reorganized into a security team to maintain public order, later breaking through to Chahar Province a few days later and being assigned to the 143rd Division. Meanwhile, the 38th Division of the 29th Army, stationed in Tianjin, proactively attacked Japanese troops in Tianjin early on July 29, capturing the Japanese garrison at Tianjin General Station and launching an assault on the Japanese headquarters at Haiguang Temple and the Dongjuzi Airport. Initially, the battle progressed favorably; however, due to counterattacks from Japanese aircraft and artillery, the Chinese forces began to retreat around 3:00 PM, leading to the fall of Tianjin. Later that afternoon, the rebel forces evacuated Tong County and advanced toward Beiping. En route, they were attacked by the Japanese army north of the city and subsequently retreated to Baoding. As the 37th Division of the 29th Army received orders to retreat southward, the 110th Brigade covered the army headquarters and the Beiping troops from Wanping to Babaoshan, eventually retreating southward through Mentougou. After completing their task, they withdrew to Baoding on July 30. By the end of the 30th, the Japanese army had occupied both Beiping and Tianjin. The Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade No. 1 and the garrison brigade occupied high ground west of Changxindian and the area near Dahuichang on the evenings of the 30th and 31st, respectively. With this, the battles in Beiping and Tianjin effectively came to a close. China and Japan were at war. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. It has finally happened, China and Japan are officially at war. From 1931 until now, it had been an unofficial war between the two, yet another incident had finally broke the camel's back. There was no turning back as Japan would unleash horror upon the Chinese people. The fight for China's survival had begun. China was completely alone against a fierce enemy, how would she manage? 

To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of his passing, I pulled this one from the Patreon feed for you.In this episode we follow up our biography episode on the life of the despicable little troll Pat Robertson, by giving him the right of reply and concentrate entirely on his own words.Featuring celebrity cameo gust star appearances from Halloween, witches, Druids, Christmas, New York Magazine, Taylor Swift, Women Grand Chess Masters, Susan Polger, Hungary, New Age, Jacob, Moses, New World Order, America, LGBTQ+, Christian Coalition, Iowa, Equal Rights Amendment, Feminism, Democratic Congress, Islam, Hinduism, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dover, Pennsylvania, Poland, Catholicism, Communist Party, Haiti, France, Kenya, Facebook, Answers to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions,   #666 #SketchComedy #Sketch #Comedy #Sketch Comedy #Atheist #Science #History #Atheism #Antitheist #ConspiracyTheory #Conspiracy #Conspiracies #Sceptical #Scepticism #Mythology #Religion #Devil #Satan #Satanism #Satanist #Skeptic #Debunk #Illuminati #Podcast #funny #sketch #skit #comedy #parody #satire #comedyshow #comedyskits #HeavyMetal #weird #leftist #SatanIsMySuperheroSend us a text

Kilmar Abrego-Garcia is coming back to the USA! To face human trafficking charges!! Woo!! PLUS, Donald Kendal, Director of The Heartland Institute's Emerging Issues Center, talks to Shaun about the Democrats' back door ways to achieve collectivism and the media losing its grip on the public. Dr. Dana Cheng, co-founder and senior editor of China News at The Epoch Times, tells Shaun about the Communist Party slowly eroding in China as the CCP has slowly infiltrated The United States. And our National Anthem: sung by Carly Tefft!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dana Cheng, co-founder and senior editor of China News at The Epoch Times, tells Shaun about the Communist Party slowly eroding in China as the CCP has slowly infiltrated The United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thirty-six years ago this week, the Chinese Communist Party crushed pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square with tanks and bullets. The death toll? Certainly in the hundreds, probably in the thousands, and deliberately hidden by the Communist Party of China.How did that massacre reshape China's path, and what did it mean for Beijing's relationship with the U.S. and the West?Host Cliff May sits down with his FDD colleague Matt Pottinger, Chairman of our China Program, to discuss Tiananmen's legacy and global consequences.

Thirty-six years ago this week, the Chinese Communist Party crushed pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square with tanks and bullets. The death toll? Certainly in the hundreds, probably in the thousands, and deliberately hidden by the Communist Party of China.How did that massacre reshape China's path, and what did it mean for Beijing's relationship with the U.S. and the West?Host Cliff May sits down with his FDD colleague Matt Pottinger, Chairman of our China Program, to discuss Tiananmen's legacy and global consequences.

China: The Communist Party's Relentless Persecution of Christians In China, where Communist authorities remain determined to suppress the rapid growth of Christianity, church leaders in that nation are arrested and imprisoned for their ministry activities. One pastoral couple, Yang Rongli and her husband Wang Xiaoguang, have endured years of persecution for continuing to shepherd thousands of believers despite government opposition. Greg Musselman, host of the Closer to the Fire podcast, is joined by Dr. Bob Fu of ChinaAid to discuss the ongoing court case against Yang and Wang, as well as the recent trend in which church leaders are being charged with “illegal border crossing” for participating in religious training abroad. During the interview, Dr. Fu also sheds light on how the Communist regime is targeting the Biblical education of children, revealing the broader strategy to stifle religious freedom at every level of society. Length:38 minutes Episode Notes To watch the interview with Dr. Bob Fu https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-cn-2025-06-05.htm ChinaAid: www.chinaaid.org The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

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. Chinese Nationals Charged with Agro-Terrorism in Michigan – The FBI arrests a Chinese student and her boyfriend for smuggling a wheat-killing fungus into the U.S., potentially targeting America's food supply. One suspect expressed loyalty to Xi Jinping and is linked to the Communist Party. FBI Director Kash Patel calls it a wake-up call for food security and national defense. Trump Expands Emergency Powers to Boost Weapons and Rare Earth Mining – In response to Chinese rare earth blackmail and global supply chain vulnerabilities, President Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to increase U.S. arms and mineral output. Allies warn China's squeeze on magnets may signal an impending Taiwan blockade or invasion. Elon Musk vs. Trump Over “Disgusting” Spending Bill – Musk lashes out at Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, calling it reckless and bloated. The rift deepens after Trump withdraws NASA nominee Jared Isaacman and House Republicans defend cuts to EV subsidies and NPR. A rescission bill is introduced to walk back $9.4B in spending. Vietnam Faces U.S. Trade Pressure, South Korea Elects Pro-China Socialist – Vietnam agrees to buy $2B in U.S. goods but resists Trump's demand to curb Chinese transshipping. Meanwhile, South Korea elects Lee Jae-myung, a Bernie Sanders-style leftist who questions U.S. troop presence and cozies up to Beijing, complicating future Taiwan conflict strategy. China's Auto Glut and Rare Earth Strategy Spark Global Tensions – Chinese car dealers beg automakers to slow production as $7,500 vehicles swamp the market. Simultaneously, China ramps up global espionage, especially targeting Dutch chip firms, while tightening its grip on global rare earth exports. Dutch Government Collapses Over Immigration – The Netherlands' ruling coalition falls apart after nationalist leader Geert Wilders demands mass deportations. European voters cite economic hardship and cultural tensions as driving factors. Gaza Aid Effort Stalls, Hamas Rejects Peace Deal – Israeli military progress in Gaza is overshadowed by disrupted food distribution. Hamas kills civilians to create propaganda, and U.S.-backed aid operations struggle internally. Peace remains elusive as Hamas refuses to accept Israel's right to exist. Study Confirms Diverse Diet Key to Long-Term Health – A decade-long international study finds that consuming a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables delivers the best antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits - great news for your brain, heart, and longevity. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32        

Rogers for America with Lt. Steve Rogers – Russia is investing heavily in its military, including missiles and satellites, aiming for global dominance like President Xi of China. If the Communist Party gains complete control, it could further these ambitions. It is crucial for someone in Russia — civilian or military — to intervene and convince Putin to end the conflict in...

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, on the mass politics of 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. Andrew Hartman, Karl Marx in America University of Chicago Press, 2025 The post American Marx appeared first on KPFA.

This event is part of our ⁠Age of the Strongman⁠ series. ⁠Click here⁠ to see the other events in the series. President Xi Jinping has ruled China for more than a decade. He has overseen an era of unprecedented economic prosperity, cracked down on dissidents, reinvented national identity in his own image and adopted a confrontational ‘wolf warrior' style of diplomacy on the world stage. Xi has also abolished term limits as President of the Communist Party and it's possible that he will remain China's all-powerful leader for the rest of his life. So what motivates the leader of the world's most populous nation? What is his vision for China and the world? How much should the West push back and how much should it cooperate with Xi? In May 2025, Rana Mitter, renowned historian at Harvard Kennedy School and previously the Director of The University of Oxford's China Centre, came to Intelligence Squared for the next event in our new series, The Age of the Strongman. Drawing on his work and recent book China's Good War: How World War II is Shaping a New Nationalism, Mitter examined the key tenets of Xi's political ideology, and how his cult of personality and military posturing in the Indo-Pacific will play out in 2025 and beyond. The event was hosted by Gideon Rachman. ---- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event is part of our Age of the Strongman series. Click here to see the other events in the series. President Xi Jinping has ruled China for more than a decade. He has overseen an era of unprecedented economic prosperity, cracked down on dissidents, reinvented national identity in his own image and adopted a confrontational ‘wolf warrior' style of diplomacy on the world stage. Xi has also abolished term limits as President of the Communist Party and it's possible that he will remain China's all-powerful leader for the rest of his life. So what motivates the leader of the world's most populous nation? What is his vision for China and the world? How much should the West push back and how much should it cooperate with Xi? In May 2025, Rana Mitter, renowned historian at Harvard Kennedy School and previously the Director of The University of Oxford's China Centre, came to Intelligence Squared for the next event in our new series, The Age of the Strongman. Drawing on his work and recent book China's Good War: How World War II is Shaping a New Nationalism, Mitter examined the key tenets of Xi's political ideology, and how his cult of personality and military posturing in the Indo-Pacific will play out in 2025 and beyond. The event was hosted by Gideon Rachman. ---- This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.

Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk thanked US President Donald Trump as his time as a special government employee as part of the Department of Government Efficiency, Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a member of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the US will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with ties to the Communist Party or enrolled in sensitive fields.The Royals, Netflix's much-talked-about rom-com series, was renewed for a second season weeks after its release.One of the most notable omissions from the India Test squad for England tour was Shreyas Iyer, who was rumoured to be a likely selection after Virat Kohli's sudden retirement.  

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

Jasper Bernes discusses worker self-organization, labor time accounting and the revolutionary potential of workers' councils.   Shownotes Jasper's personal website: https://jasperbernes.net/ Jasper at UC Berkeley: https://english.berkeley.edu/people/jasper-bernes Commune Magazine: https://communemag.com/ Bernes, J. (2025). The Future of Revolution: Communist Prospects from the Paris Commune to the George Floyd Uprising. Verso Books. https://www.versobooks.com/products/977-the-future-of-revolution Bernes, J. (2020). Planning and Anarchy. South Atlantic Quarterly, 119(1), 53–73. https://jasperbernes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/1190053.pdf on Worker's councils: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_council on Council communism: https://libcom.org/article/council-communism-introduction on the Paris Commune: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Commune on Rosa Luxemburg and the Mass Strike: https://www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/43964/rosa-luxemburg-and-the-political-mass-strike Nunes, R. (2021). Neither Vertical nor Horizontal: A Theory of Political Organization. Verso Books. https://www.versobooks.com/products/772-neither-vertical-nor-horizontal Find the quote “the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all” at the end of Chapter 2 of the Communist Manifesto: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch02.htm Group of International Communists (1990) [German original 1930] Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution. https://www.marxists.org/subject/left-wing/gik/1930/index.htm second, revised edition from 1935, published in English in 2020: https://arbeitszeit.noblogs.org/files/2023/04/GIC-Fundamental-Principles-2.-Ed.1935-1.pdf on Jan Appel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Appel on Labor Time Calculation/Accounting: https://arbeitszeit.noblogs.org/en-GB/basics/ Marx's Critique of the Gotha Programme: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/ on Communization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communization Noys, B. (Ed.). (2012). Communization and its Discontents: Contestation, Critique, and Contemporary Struggles. Minor Compositions. https://files.libcom.org/files/Communization-and-its-Discontents-Contestation-Critique-and-Contemporary-Struggles.pdf on Gilles Dauvé: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Dauv%C3%A9 on the law of Value in Marx: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_value on Paul Mattick: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Mattick Roth, G. (2014). Marxism in a Lost Century: A Biography of Paul Mattick. BRILL. https://files.libcom.org/files/Gary%20Roth%20-%20Marxism%20in%20a%20Lost%20Century%20-%20A%20Biography%20of%20Paul%20Mattick.pdf Mattick's introduction to the 1970 reprint of the German first edition of “Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution”: https://www.leftcommunism.org/spip.php?article359 on the Communist Party of Germany, founded in 1919: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Germany on Amadeo Bordiga: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeo_Bordiga Bordiga on the distinction between the city and the countryside: https://peopleandnature.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bordiga-humansearth.pdf Raekstad, P. R., & Gradin, S. S. (2019). Prefigurative Politics: Building Tomorrow Today. Polity. https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=prefigurative-politics-building-tomorrow-today--9781509535903 the Endnotes Journal: https://endnotes.org.uk/ on the German strand of the “Commons” debate and movement: https://commons-institut.org/theorie/was-sind-commons/ https://keimform.de/ Gibson-Graham, J. K. (1993). Waiting for the Revolution, or How to Smash Capitalism while Working at Home in Your Spare Time. Rethinking Marxism, 6(2), 10–24. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08935699308658052 Purnell, D. (2021).  Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protest, and the Pursuit of Freedom. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/2894-becoming-abolitionists   Future Histories Episodes on Related Topics S3E04 | Tim Platenkamp on Republican Socialism, General Planning and Parametric Control https://futurehistories-international.com/episodes/s03/e04-tim-platenkamp-on-republican-socialism-general-planning-and-parametric-control/ S02E58 | Søren Mau on Planning and Freedom https://futurehistories-international.com/episodes/s02/e58-soren-mau-on-planning-and-freedom/ S02E19 | David Laibman on Multilevel Democratic Iterative Coordination https://futurehistories-international.com/episodes/s02/e19-david-laibman-on-multilevel-democratic-iterative-coordination/ S02E10 | Aaron Benanav on Associational Socialism and Democratic Planning https://futurehistories-international.com/episodes/s02/e10-aaron-benanav-on-associational-socialism-and-democratic-planning/ S01E58 | Jasper Bernes on Planning and Anarchy https://futurehistories-international.com/episodes/s01/e58-jasper-bernes-on-planning-and-anarchy/   --- If you are interested in democratic economic planning, these resources might be of help: Democratic planning – an information website https://www.democratic-planning.com/ Sorg, C. & Groos, J. (eds.)(2025). Rethinking Economic Planning. Competition & Change Special Issue Volume 29 Issue 1. https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/ccha/29/1 Groos, J. & Sorg, C. (2025). Creative Construction - Democratic Planning in the 21st Century and Beyond. Bristol University Press. [for a review copy, please contact: amber.lanfranchi[at]bristol.ac.uk] https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/creative-construction International Network for Democratic Economic Planning https://www.indep.network/ Democratic Planning Research Platform: https://www.planningresearch.net/ --- Future Histories Contact & Support If you like Future Histories, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/FutureHistories Contact: office@futurehistories.today Twitter: https://twitter.com/FutureHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehpodcast/ Mastodon: https://mstdn.social/@FutureHistories English webpage: https://futurehistories-international.com   Episode Keywords #JasperBernes, #JanGroos, #Interview, #FutureHistories, #FutureHistoriesInternational, #futurehistoriesinternational, #DemocraticPlanning, #DemocraticEconomicPlanning, #PoliticalEconomy, #History, #Revolution, #Revolutions, #RosaLuxemburg, #CouncilCommunism, #LaborTimeAccounting, #LaborTimeCalculation, #Capitalism, #Economics, #CouncilCommunism, #WorkersCouncils, #WorkerSelfOrganisation, #PoliceAbolition, #Communisation, #ParisCommune, #GroupOfInternationalCommunists

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)

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 

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

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.

This week, Matthew and Anthony are joined by Janice Trey, the CEO of Epoch Times. Janice shed light on Communism, which was imported into China, and has systematically sought to erase history, culture, and faith. For decades, churches and temples were destroyed, and religious freedom was denied. The Communist Party's grip on information, through censorship, propaganda, and control of the media, has been relentless. Yet, the human spirit's longing for freedom and truth cannot be extinguished. True freedom is not merely the absence of oppression, but the presence of truth, tradition, and hope. It's time for the church to step up so we can work toward a world where every person has the opportunity to experience freedom.

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.

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 

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  

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​

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.