Podcasts about Communist party

In this compelling episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso interview Shannon Brandao – attorney, Mandarin speaker, and founder of the China Boss Substack – to explore China's expanding influence even as America appears to turn inward. Broadcasting from Europe, Brandao delivers her unique insights on Chinese Communist Party strategy, economic challenges, and geopolitical ambitions.Brandao emphasizes that perception easily becomes reality, in that when America appears to withdraw, China seizes opportunities to expand influence through economic leverage and promises of stability. This directly impacts Indo-Pacific supply chains controlling critical minerals, batteries, and essential products that Americans depend on daily.Rejecting claims that China seeks only regional stability, Brandao explains that the Chinese Communist Party operates from a paranoia that requires control to ensure regime survival. Under Xi Jinping, ruling "red aristocrats" fear vulnerability to external powers, and even successful Chinese entrepreneurs like Jack Ma, leading to enterprise nationalization and tight party control over innovation.While China faces economic headwinds, including debt, demographic challenges, and declining GDP, Xi Jinping has successfully modernized the military. Still, China's unreliable economic statistics mask systemic problems, with Communist Party interference undermining potential innovation, even despite a tremendous national talent base.China exercises strength in strategic sectors—solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, shipbuilding, and artificial intelligence—through massive subsidies, but this creates a chronic overcapacity problem. Local government subsidies benefit politically connected firms like Huawei, creating quasi-monopolies across industries: steel, aluminum, cement, telecom gear, plastics, fertilizers, construction equipment, etc. Endemic corruption further dilutes programs, with billions disappearing from AI innovation funds.Companies attempting to leave China face complex challenges. When signaling departure, employees report to Party and government officials, triggering shakedowns through exit bans and extortionate demands. Recent surveys show companies staying but withholding investment and hedging elsewhere. For firms that do leave, repatriating profits and protecting intellectual property depends entirely on relationships with local government officials.Asked for what advice she would give to President Trump before meeting Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC Summit, Brandao warns that Xi will use flattery while masking the geopolitical reality, and that failing to press American interests in the Indo-Pacific creates vacuums China eagerly fills.

This week's episode of Long Reads is the second in a two-part interview. In our last episode, we spoke to Catarina Príncipe about the politics of Portugal since 2015. Today we're going to cover developments from 2022 onward. One of the main themes in that period has been the rise of the far right. In 2022, the parties of the radical left, the Communist Party and the Left Bloc, lost ground and were no longer part of the governing majority. In this year's general election, the right-wing Chega Party became the second-largest force in the Portuguese parliament. Chega's breakthrough came at the expense of the Portuguese Socialist Party, which now had the third-largest group of MPs. For the Socialists, it represented a dramatic fall in the space of three years. Catarina Príncipe is a contributing editor for Jacobin and she co-edited the book Europe in Revolt. She's also a member of the Left Bloc. Listen to the first part of the interview here: https://apple.co/4mmUUec Read Catarina's article “How Portugal's Right Won the Election” here: https://jacobin.com/2024/03/portugal-right-wing-chega-election Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's longform writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

Jackie Kay is one of the best known and most popular Scottish literary figures. A poet and novelist, she served as Makar - the name for Scotland's poet laureate - for five years from 2016. Since her debut poetry collection The Adoption Papers in 1991, she has published 20 works of fiction and verse for adults and children, and a memoir about meeting her biological parents called Red Dust Road. Jackie Kay was made a CBE for services to literature in 2020.Jackie talks to John Wilson about her childhood in Glasgow as the mixed-race, adopted daughter of a loving couple. From a young age, Jackie was entranced by the parties her parents hosted in their house to raise money for the Communist Party and where they would debate and sing songs. It was her first introduction to performance and theatre. As a teenager, hearing poets such as Tom Leonard and Liz Lochhead recite their own work also had a big impact on her literary aspirations.Growing up in the Glasgow of the 60s and 70s, Jackie had very few black role models and took inspiration from the work of the African American poet Audre Lorde and the American political activist Angela Davis. Jackie also recalls finding her birth parents and how a visit to her birth father's ancestral village in Nigeria finally gave her a sense of dual identity.Producer: Edwina PitmanOther poets who have appeared on This Cultural Life include Michael Rosen, Linton Kwesi Johnson and George The Poet, along with children's authors including Katherine Rundell and Michael Morpurgo. You can find them in the This Cultural Life archive, which contains over 130 previous episodes.

The Chinese foreign minister has reaffirmed the country's commitment to consolidating and developing relations with North Korea, saying it's a strategic decision by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.

As a teenager in Cairo in the early 1940s, Inji Efflatoun made two great discoveries: art and the Communist Party. Although she was from an elite French-speaking background, Efflatoun chose to “re-Egyptianize” herself, pursue painting and throw herself full-heartedly into anti-imperialist, feminist and leftist agitation. She was eventually arrested during President Nasser's repression of Communists in the early 1960s. It was in prison that she embarked upon the most productive stage of her career as an artist. Today, her prison portraits and the vibrant, luminous paintings of Egyptian rural life she painted after her release are iconic. In this episode we speak to Ahmed Gobba and Avery Gonzales, co-translators of Efflatoun's 1993 memoir, “The Memoir of Inji Efflatoun: From Childhood to Prison.” The memoir is the nucleus of a new book, The Life and Work of Inji Efflatoun, published by SKIRA and edited by Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi and Suheyla Takesh. It comes out in the US on October 7 and is available to pre-order now. You can view a digitalized collection of Efflatoun's work on the Barjeel Art Foundation's website and read a review of the book in the National by Razmig Bedirian. This episode was produced in collaboration with the Barjeel Art Foundation -- an independent Sharjah-based institution, founded in 2010 by Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi to preserve, exhibit and research one of the most extensive collections of modern and contemporary art from the Arab World. One of the Barjeel Art Foundation's objectives is developing a public platform to foster critical dialogue around art practices, to convey nuanced Arab histories beyond the borders of culture and geography. For more information about the Barjeel Art Foundation's activities and exhibitions, please visit www.barjeelartfoundation.org You can subscribe to BULAQ wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Twitter @bulaqbooks and Instagram @bulaq.books for news and updates. If you'd like to rate or review us, we'd appreciate that. If you'd like to support us as a listener by making a donation you can do so at https://donorbox.org/support-bulaq. BULAQ is co-produced with the podcast platform Sowt. Go to sowt.com to check out their many other excellent shows in Arabic, on music, literature, media and more. For all things related to Arabic literature in translation you should visit ArabLit.org, where you can also subscribe to the Arab Lit Quarterly. If you are interested in advertising on BULAQ or sponsoring episodes, please contact us at bulaq@sowt.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General Secretary Xi Jinping of the Communist Party of China Central Committee is urging efforts to to build a modern socialist Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, culturally advanced, peaceful, and ecologically sound.

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to pool efforts and strive in solidarity to build a beautiful Xinjiang in the process of achieving Chinese modernization.He made the remarks when meeting with representatives from all ethnic groups and sectors in the region.Xi arrived in Urumqi, the region's capital, earlier in the day to attend activities marking the 70th anniversary of the region's founding, including a grand gathering on Thursday morning.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has led a central delegation to Xinjiang for the celebrations, marking the first time in the history of the Party and the country that such an arrangement has been made.The visit speaks volumes about the importance that the CPC Central Committee attaches to Xinjiang work, as well as its great care for the officials and people of all ethnic groups in the region.Located in Northwest China, Xinjiang has been the home of various ethnic groups since ancient times and a place for cultural integration.As the plane carrying Xi landed at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, he was greeted with warm applause and cheers from local people waiting on the tarmac. Thousands of people from different ethnic groups welcomed him with traditional dances accompanied by festive music.Paruzat Zulpikar, a Uygur student in the fifth grade, presented Xi with a bouquet of red roses, peonies and pomegranates."It still feels just like a dream. I was both excited and nervous," she said. "I greeted him with 'Hello, Grandpa Xi', and he gave me a warm feeling."Permeated with a festive atmosphere, Urumqi was decorated with colorful flags on both sides of the main streets from the airport to the hotel. People from all ethnic groups waved flags and cheered to express their welcome and gratitude. Opening the car window, Xi waved back to the crowds along the road.Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xinjiang has made solid progress in promoting high-quality development, with its per capita nominal GDP more than doubling — from 33,495 yuan ($4,710) in 2012 to 78,660 yuan in 2024.Over the past years, people's well-being has also witnessed continuous improvement, as more than 70 percent of Xinjiang's general public budget is allocated every year to safeguard and improve people's well-being, in order to ensure that development benefits the people of all ethnic groups in a fair way.Wang Haoyu, a community worker and a member of a dragon dance team, said he has personally experienced the changes in living conditions over the years."Our family first lived in an old, 50-square-meter brick house. When I was about 2 years old, we moved into a walk-up apartment. Then, five or six years ago, we moved into an apartment with an elevator. Life has kept getting better," he said.The 27-year-old said that Xinjiang's development today has not come easily. "We are not only witnesses to history, but also builders of history. I will continue to work hard, do my job well, and help make Xinjiang an even better place," he said.Also on Tuesday, Xi held separate meetings with local officials, leaders of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, cadres who have come to work in Xinjiang from other parts of the country, judicial workers, police officers, and patriotic members of religious circles, among others.Xi also met with military officers ranked colonel and above, along with grassroots role models and civilian personnel accompanying troops stationed in Urumqi. He conveyed cordial greetings to all military personnel in Xinjiang on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.

China must accelerate reform measures to reinforce the stable and healthy development of the capital market in the coming five years as a strategic pivot in transforming the country's economic growth model, said leading economists and financial experts.著名经济学家和金融专家表示，中国必须加快改革措施，在未来五年加强资本市场的稳定和健康发展，作为转变国家经济增长模式的战略支点。Despite Thursday's market correction, they said the recent rally in Chinese equities, together with the ongoing regulatory initiatives to enhance market stability, still highlights a strategic shift toward positioning the capital market as a central driver of innovation, consumption and domestic economic circulation amid external headwinds.他们表示，尽管周四出现了市场回调，但中国股市近期的反弹，以及正在实施的加强市场稳定的监管举措，仍突显出在外部不利因素的影响下，中国将资本市场定位为创新、消费和国内经济循环的核心驱动力的战略转变。Looking at the new round of capital market reform to be unfolded in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, top priorities should include firmer determination to close regulatory loopholes that leave room for improper profits, ensure market fairness for retail investors, and improve transparency for global investors, they added.他们补充说，展望第15个五年计划（2026-30）期间将展开的新一轮资本市场改革，当务之急应该包括更坚定地弥补为不正当利润留下空间的监管漏洞，确保散户投资者的市场公平，提高全球投资者的透明度。Proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development will be studied at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, scheduled to be held in Beijing in October.关于制定国民经济和社会发展第15个五年计划的建议将在定于10月在北京举行的中国共产党第二十届中央委员会第四次全体会议上进行研究。Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for giving full play to the pivotal role of the capital market at the Central Financial Work Conference in 2023.习近平，中国共产党中央委员会主席，在2023年的中央金融工作会议上，要求充分发挥资本市场的关键作用。At the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau meeting on July 30, which Xi chaired, it was pointed out that the attractiveness and inclusiveness of the domestic capital market should be boosted, in order to consolidate the improving and stabilizing trend of the capital market.7月30日习主持的中共中央政治局会议上，习指出要增强国内资本市场的吸引力和包容性，巩固资本市场向好企稳的态势。"The ongoing rise of A shares reflects that the strategic position of the capital market in China's economic agenda is rising significantly," said Tian Xuan, president of Tsinghua University's National Institute of Financial Research and associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance.清华大学国家金融研究院院长、中国人民银行金融学院副院长田轩表示：“A股的持续上涨反映出资本市场在中国经济议程中的战略地位正在显著上升。”In the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period, high-quality development of the capital market will act not only as a key pathway to address structural economic issues, but also as the "central pivot" for transforming the country's growth model, Tian said.田说，在即将到来的“十五”计划期间，资本市场的高质量发展不仅是解决结构性经济问题的关键途径，而且是转变国家增长模式的“中心支点”。The bottlenecks faced by traditional growth drivers, the remaining financing difficulties for innovation and intensified global tech competition all demand steady, healthy growth of the capital market to guide long-term capital into core technologies, Tian said. The growing household demand for wealth management also requires the capital market to provide diverse investment channels, he said.田说，传统增长动力面临的瓶颈，创新的剩余融资困难以及加剧的全球技术竞争都需要资本市场稳定，健康的增长，以引导长期资本进入核心技术。他说，家庭对财富管理日益增长的需求也要求资本市场提供多样化的投资渠道。He added that China should further improve fundamental institutions to ensure sustainable market momentum, calling for better management of expectations, greater policy transparency and timely, positive signals to shore up sentiment, as well as stricter information disclosure and an improved delisting mechanism to raise listed companies' quality.他补充说，中国应该进一步完善基本制度，以确保市场的可持续发展势头，呼吁更好地管理预期，提高政策透明度，及时发出积极信号来提振市场情绪，以及更严格的信息披露和完善的退市机制，以提高上市公司的质量。China's A-share market fell on Thursday, as experts cited profit-taking pressure, while the United States Federal Reserve's 25-basis-point interest rate cut on Wednesday fell short of some investors' expectations for a bolder move.中国A股市场周四下跌，专家们认为这是获利了结的压力，而美联储周三降息25个基点的决定，没有达到一些投资者对更大胆举措的预期。Despite a 1.15 percent drop on Thursday, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index has risen by nearly a quarter from the April trough, closing at 3,831.66 points. US investment bank Goldman Sachs said in a report on Thursday that it forecasts an 8 percent upside for the A-share market over the coming 12 months.尽管周四下跌了1.15%，但基准上证综合指数已经从4月份的低点上涨了近四分之一，收于3831.66点。美国投资银行高盛在周四的一份报告中表示，预计未来12个月a股市场将上涨8%。Liu Jipeng, a senior expert on capital markets and a professor at the Business School of China University of Political Science and Law, said that further closing regulatory gaps to safeguard market fairness and investor interest would hold the key to future capital market reforms and steady market growth.资本市场资深专家、中国政法大学商学院教授刘继鹏表示，进一步缩小监管空白，以维护市场公平和投资者利益，将是未来资本市场改革和市场稳定增长的关键。"A slow bull market has taken shape. The goal should be making it steady and long-lasting, so that the capital market can serve as a platform for common prosperity, where the majority of investors can share returns, rather than only a few getting rich overnight," Liu said.“一个缓慢的牛市已经形成。目标应该是使其稳定和持久，以便资本市场可以作为共同繁荣的平台，大多数投资者可以分享回报，而不是只有少数人一夜暴富。”Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, pledged at a recent symposium to accelerate the new round of capital market reform and opening-up to consolidate the improving market trend, stressing that the market is at a crucial stage in its pursuit of high-quality development in the 15th Five-Year Plan period.中国证券监督管理委员会主席吴清在最近的一次座谈会上承诺，将加快新一轮资本市场改革开放，巩固市场向好趋势，并强调市场正处于“十五”期间追求高质量发展的关键阶段。China has ramped up capital market reform efforts after it released a high-level guideline in April last year, rolling out nine measures to promote the high-quality development of the capital market.自去年4月发布高层指导意见以来，中国加大了资本市场改革力度，推出了促进资本市场高质量发展的九项措施。Since then, the country has issued new rules and measures to better regulate holding reductions by major shareholders, raise the dividends for equity shareholders, and encourage the entry of long-term capital while improving mechanisms to anchor market liquidity amid slumps.此后，国家出台了新的规则和措施，以更好地规范大股东减持，提高股东股息，鼓励长期资本进入，同时完善机制，以稳定市场流动性。Liu attributed the recent rally to such reform measures, and said that more must be done to further enhance market fairness, including in areas such as stock issuance review and pricing, quantitative trading and large shareholders' stakes.刘将最近的反弹归因于这些改革措施，并表示必须做更多的工作来进一步增强市场公平，包括股票发行审查和定价，量化交易和大股东股权等领域。Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities, said that enforcing rules with greater rigor and raising penalties for fraudulent practices are essential to building lasting investor trust.悦凯证券首席经济学家罗志恒表示，更严格地执行规定，加大对欺诈行为的惩罚力度，对于建立投资者的持久信任至关重要。With the A-share market showing an improving and stabilizing trend, Luo said it can lift household income and offset part of the drag from the housing slowdown, and make people more confident to spend, thus supporting consumption and overall economic vitality.随着A股市场呈现出改善和稳定的趋势，罗说，这可以提高家庭收入，抵消住房放缓的部分拖累，使人们更有信心消费，从而支持消费和整体经济活力。The A-share rally has also enhanced the attractiveness of Chinese financial markets globally.a股的上涨也增强了中国金融市场在全球的吸引力。Thomas Fang, head of China global markets at investment bank UBS, said that global investors are showing greater interest in Chinese financial assets as the country's shining economic prospects help them to diversify their allocations from US dollar-denominated assets.投资银行瑞银（UBS）中国全球市场主管方德华（Thomas Fang）表示，全球投资者对中国金融资产表现出更大的兴趣，因为中国光明的经济前景有助于他们将资产配置从美元计价资产中分散出来。Fang applauded China's recent opening-up policies that offer global investors more instruments to invest in China, facilitating their risk management and helping them take bigger positions in the country.方赞扬了中国最近的开放政策，为全球投资者提供了更多投资中国的工具，促进了他们的风险管理，并帮助他们在中国占据更大的位置。capital market reformn.资本市场改革/ˈkæpɪtl ˈmɑːkɪt rɪˈfɔːm/A-share marketn.A股市场（中国内地股票市场）/eɪ ʃeə ˈmɑːkɪt/

Tell Gordeeva, 10.09.2025THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY FOREIGN AGENT KATERINA VLADIMIROVNA GORDEEVA, OR RELATES TO THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT KATERINA VLADIMIROVNA GORDEEVA.BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO, YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE OF LEGAL AGE.IF NOT, DO NOT WATCH IT.Contents: 00:00:00 Who plays this piano? 00:03:18 "Sometimes my knees tremble, but my hands don't shake yet" 00:05:24 "This interview is a document for my children" 00:07:18 When and why Pugacheva left Russia 00:08:30 What Kiriyenko told Pugacheva in September 2022 and how she replied 00:10:56 How Galkin and Pugacheva's children were teased at school when their father was declared a foreign agent 00:11:20 "Conscience is more precious than fame, luxury. It's more precious than anything" 00:13:24 "We had neither citizenship nor a home" 00:17:18 "Arrogance is inherent in any Russian authority" 00:20:06 Why Pugacheva never left the USSR and whether she had a chance 00:24:42 "You know what, better have a smoke" 00:27:14 "Born, endured life, and died" 00:32:00 "I was supposed to be the general, and my brother the artist" 00:36:44 "My father was arrested, and my mother said he had picked flowers in someone else's garden" 00:39:39 Was Pugacheva ever in the Communist Party? 00:43:14 "Stand still!" - how Pugacheva learned to speak to audiences 00:49:49 "I like the legends about my life" 00:58:18 "So why am I a traitor?" 01:01:31 "I'm very happy for Nadezhda Kadysheva" 01:02:30 Advice from Bulanova 01:04:50 What is Shaman missing? 01:09:18 Pugacheva suddenly sings 01:13:13 "I don't know what envy is" 01:17:12 "This is real happiness" 01:18:34 "I wish you happiness, Pugachevochka, in your personal life" - Pugacheva's five husbands 01:25:35 Who is the song "Don't Hurt Me" about? 01:29:32 "Kirkorov can't possibly be mad at me" 01:32:18 "I fell in love and that's all" 01:33:58 A dream in which Pugacheva saw her whole life 01:36:00 Is it true that Pugacheva's grandmother knew witchcraft and passed it down? 01:40:29 "For the first time in my life, someone lives for me" 01:44:59 "Kristina just happened to be there" - why Orbakaite was banned from entering Latvia 01:48:37 The talent of Nikita Presnyakov 01:50:38 "You'll hear about me again" - where Alla first said this phrase 01:53:14 "Such unattractive people are the ones urging childbirth" 01:56:15 Who is the song "Maestro" dedicated to? 01:58:34 "Not only the Pugachevs, but also the Bukharins." A family story 02:02:41 "Voznesensky suggested adding in every verse: a million, a trillion scarlet roses" 02:03:45 "Three Happy Days." Who is this song about? 02:04:42 "We wrote each other in verse. That's how the song ‘Airplanes' was born" 02:06:09 About Manizha 02:07:02 "I visited a talented man who was having a hard time" - how Pugacheva visited Serebrennikov under house arrest 02:08:28 A question from Evgenia Berkovich! 02:10:05 What's going on with Pugacheva's voice? 02:14:37 What happened to Pugacheva in Chernobyl? 02:18:52 Did Pugacheva like Solzhenitsyn? 02:23:02 How Gorbachev asked Pugacheva for advice 02:27:01 "I'll show you what vulgar really means" 02:30:07 Why Alla supported Mikhail Prokhorov 02:31:16 "You can't shoot everyone" 02:33:52 Pugacheva for president? 02:36:20 "Birdsong is my music today" 02:37:19 Who is in Pugacheva's playlist today? 02:41:20 "Remember, 2027" - Pugacheva's prediction 02:43:09 "It hurts when haters hit the mark" 02:47:46 "A great country lacks magnanimity" 02:52:16 "Money has defeated kindness" 02:53:53 Pugacheva's charitable foundation 02:56:30 "A profitable acquaintance" 02:58:22 "I voted for Putin and was thrilled" 03:01:47 "What others say about our family doesn't concern us" 03:02:57 "Nikita Mikhalkov, stay healthy!" 03:04:28 "I didn't retire, I entered restless times" 03:07:27 Who did Pugacheva ‘cut off the oxygen' to? 03:13:28 Who is the real Prima Donna? 03:15:35 "Why do I need influence over the masses? It's the masses who influence me" 03:21:01 "No one noticed that I was coming back to Russia" 03:22:14 Pugacheva's new war songs 03:24:46 "The children will come home" 03:26:35 "If anything happens to me, the children know they must go on living" 03:28:38 What comes after death? 03:30:52 A message to the fans 03:33:12 "If there's even a little left in your hearts, I wish for no greater reward"Оригинальное видео доступно на YouTube:https://youtu.be/D6rFxVPz7UI

Long Reads spoke to Yanis Varoufakis earlier in the year to mark the tenth anniversary of the Greek referendum on the austerity programs of the European Union. This week, we're going to be looking at another country that bore the brunt of Euro-austerity after the 2008 crash. Ten years ago, the Portuguese Socialist leader Antonio Costa formed a government with the support of two radical-left parties, the Left Bloc and the Communist Party. Costa's government appeared to be a success story for the European center left at a time when most of its parties were losing ground. Portugal also stood out as one of the few West European countries where the far right was still a marginal force. Costa's party increased their vote share in 2019 and he remained in office. In the election of 2022, the Portuguese Socialists even won an absolute majority. But Costa resigned as prime minister two years later and his party lost power after the fourth general election in less than a decade. Another general election this year was a disaster for the Socialist Party and the radical left. With just over 20 percent of the vote, the Socialists were now on a level footing with the far-right party Chega. The combined vote share for the Left Bloc and the Communist Party was less than a third of the figure from 2015. Our guest today for a conversation about the last decade of Portuguese politics is Catarina Príncipe. Catarina is a contributing editor for Jacobin and she co-edited the book Europe in Revolt. She's also an activist in the Left Bloc. This week's episode is the first of a two-part interview. Today we're going to cover the period from 2015 until the general election in 2022. Read Catarina's article “How Portugal's Right Won the Election” here: https://jacobin.com/2024/03/portugal-right-wing-chega-election Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's longform writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

Beijing has released a white paper on the successful practice of the Communist Party of China's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era. The document comes as the northwestern autonomous region is marking its 70th founding anniversary.

China's Victory Day commemorations have strengthened the nation's resolve and confidence in building a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts, President Xi Jinping has said.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while delivering an address at a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.He delivered the speech after hearing a report summarizing activities on commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, during the Party leadership meeting.As Japan officially surrendered on Sept 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender, China designated Sept 3 as its V-Day.This year it held a massive military parade on Sept 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing as part of its commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the victory.In his speech, Xi emphasized that the commemorations were solemn, grand, inspiring and motivating, further promoting the great spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, further boosting the confidence in advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation, and further demonstrating China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity.He pointed out that the leading group for the commemorative activities and the relevant institutions involved in the task force resolutely implemented the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee, adhered to high standards and strict requirements, and fulfilled the political task assigned by the CPC Central Committee with a pragmatic and meticulous approach.Xi stressed the need to harness the positive energy generated by the commemorative activities, and use them as a vivid tool for patriotic education. He called for injecting the confidence, pride, enthusiasm and vitality they inspired into efforts to implement the CPC Central Committee's decisions and deployments and address various risks and challenges, and into mighty forces to promote reform, drive development and ensure stability.While emphasizing the importance of maintaining a correct historical perspective on the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as well as on World War II, he called for drawing wisdom and strength from the great victory in the whole nation's resistance against Japanese aggression led by the CPC.It is important to stand firm on the right side of history, and forge a brighter future by learning from history, he said.Xi urged the effective telling of the story of China's peaceful development, demonstrating to the world that China is a staunch defender of the postwar international order, and presenting China's image as a responsible major country committed to building a community with a shared future for humanity.It is important to thoroughly summarize the experiences and practices of organizing the commemorative activities, and to continuously enrich and improve the ceremonial system of a great Party and a great nation, he said.On Wednesday, Xi met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with representatives from various sectors involved in organizing the commemorative activities. He expressed gratitude and greetings to them, highly praised their hard work and outstanding achievements, and encouraged them to strive for new success.After the meeting, a symposium was held to summarize the commemorative activities.Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the leading group for the commemorative activities, attended the meeting and the symposium.

國定假日 guó dìng jià rì – national holiday (official public holiday set by the government)立法院 lì fǎ yuàn – Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's law-making body)三讀通過 sān dú tōng guò – passed after three readings (the final approval process of a bill in the legislature)法案 fǎ àn – bill; proposed law紀念日及節日實施條例 jì niàn rì jí jié rì shí shī tiáo lì – Memorial and Holiday Implementation Act (a law regulating commemorative and national holidays)教師節 jiào shī jié – Teacher's Day孔子 kǒng zǐ – Confucius至聖先師 zhì shèng xiān shī – "Great Sage and First Teacher" (an honorific title for Confucius)有教無類 yǒu jiào wú lèi – to teach all regardless of background (Confucian principle)誨人不倦 huì rén bú juàn – never tired of teaching others補假 bǔ jià – compensatory day off; substitute holiday光復節 guāng fù jié – Retrocession Day (Oct. 25, commemorating Taiwan's return from Japanese to ROC rule)殖民統治 zhí mín tǒng zhì – colonial rule中華民國 zhōng huá mín guó – Republic of China (official name of Taiwan)投降 tóu xiáng – to surrender接收 jiē shōu – to take over; to receive (control or responsibility)共產黨 gòng chǎn dǎng – Communist Party (usually referring to the Chinese Communist Party)打仗 dǎ zhàng – to fight a war; to engage in battle行憲紀念日 xíng xiàn jì niàn rì – Constitution Day (Dec. 25, commemorating the enforcement of the ROC Constitution)憲法 xiàn fǎ – constitution象徵 xiàng zhēng – symbol; to symbolize民主憲政 mín zhǔ xiàn zhèng – democratic constitutional government制度 zhì dù – system; institution勞動節 láo dòng jié – Labor Day (May 1st)If you're ready to take your Chinese to the next level, not just memorizing words but actually having meaningful conversations with Taiwanese people about real topics like politics, culture, war, news, economics, and more. I invite you to join a one-on-one trial lesson with me. I'll help you build a clear, personalized plan so you can speak more naturally and truly connect with others in Chinese. Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !

China will firmly defend its interests and support the multilateral trading system, while urging the United States to engage more in equal dialogue to ease friction and seek common ground in pursuit of a more open global economy, said analysts and business leaders on Sunday.分析人士及商界人士于周日表示，中国将坚定维护自身利益，支持多边贸易体制，同时敦促美方更多地开展平等对话，以缓解摩擦、寻求共识，推动构建更加开放的全球经济。As He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-premier of the State Council, China's Cabinet, leads a delegation in Madrid, Spain, for talks with US counterparts from Sunday to Wednesday, market watchers said the meetings are aimed at addressing long-standing friction and exploring constructive solutions.中共中央政治局委员、国务院副总理何立峰率团于周日至周三在西班牙马德里同美方代表举行会谈。市场观察人士指出，此次会谈旨在解决长期存在的经贸摩擦，并探讨建设性解决方案。The two sides will discuss economic and trade issues, such as unilateral tariff measures adopted by the US, the abuse of export controls and the TikTok issue, according to the Ministry of Commerce.据商务部介绍，双方将围绕美方单边关税措施、滥用出口管制、TikTok等经贸议题展开讨论。Wang Wen, dean of Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said the previous three rounds of trade talks between China and the US signaled willingness on both sides to find common ground, bringing much-needed optimism to international markets.中国人民大学重阳金融研究院院长王文表示，此前中美三轮经贸会谈已释放出双方寻求共识的积极意愿，为国际市场注入了亟需的信心。"With global economic momentum faltering, the international community is watching closely the talks in Spain, hoping both sides can translate dialogue into more substantive progress that would benefit not just the two nations, but all," he said.他指出：“当前全球经济增长动能不足，国际社会正密切关注此次西班牙会谈，期待双方能将对话转化为更具实质性的进展，这不仅惠及中美两国，更将造福世界各国。”Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the Beijing-based China Association of International Trade, said that under such circumstances, effectively addressing topics such as unilateral US tariff measures and the abuse of export controls is essential to fostering smoother China-US economic and trade relations, particularly in rebuilding trust and stabilizing cooperation.中国国际贸易学会高级研究员李永表示，在此背景下，有效解决美方单边关税措施、滥用出口管制等问题，对于推动中美经贸关系顺畅发展至关重要，尤其是在重建互信、稳定合作方面具有重要意义。Chen Wenling, former chief economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said the path to productive dialogue requires mutual respect and effort. She warned that Washington's recent unilateral moves — including a fresh wave of sanctions against Chinese companies — risk undermining the very foundation of engagement.中国国际经济交流中心前首席经济学家陈文玲认为，开展富有成效的对话需要双方相互尊重、共同努力。她警示，美方近期采取的单边行动——包括新一轮对华企业制裁——可能会破坏双方交往的基础。These are not good-faith gestures, but pressure tactics that Beijing will firmly oppose rather than concede to, Chen said.陈文玲强调：“这些并非善意之举，而是施压手段，中方将坚决反对，绝不妥协。”"China always remains open to dialogues with the US, but only based on mutual respect and equal standing. The onus is now on Washington to decide whether it will approach the negotiating table as an equal partner seeking mutually acceptable solutions," she added.她进一步指出：“中方始终愿与美方开展对话，但对话必须建立在相互尊重、平等相待的基础之上。当前，美方需作出抉择：是否以平等伙伴的身份坐到谈判桌前，寻求双方都能接受的解决方案。”On Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce responded to a US move to add multiple Chinese entities to its export control list. A spokesperson said that China firmly opposes the move, which targets Chinese entities in the semiconductor, biotechnology, aerospace, and commercial and trade logistics sectors.周六，商务部就美方将多家中国实体列入出口管制清单一事作出回应。发言人表示，中方坚决反对这一做法，此次美方制裁针对的是中国半导体、生物技术、航空航天、商贸物流等领域的实体。Noting that the two countries are scheduled to hold economic and trade talks in Spain starting on Sunday, the spokesperson said the US decision to sanction Chinese businesses raises questions about its true intentions.发言人指出，中美双方定于周日在西班牙举行经贸会谈，美方此时制裁中国企业，其真实意图令人质疑。The Ministry of Commerce also announced on the same day that it has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain analog integrated circuit chips originating in the US, and it launched an anti-discrimination investigation into relevant US measures targeting China's integrated circuit sector.同日，商务部还宣布，已对原产于美国的部分模拟集成电路芯片发起反倾销调查，并就美方针对中国集成电路产业的相关措施发起反歧视调查。Following these moves, the Beijing-based China Semiconductor Industry Association issued a statement stressing that the healthy development of the semiconductor industry requires a fair competitive environment.此后，位于北京的中国半导体行业协会发表声明强调，半导体产业的健康发展需要公平的竞争环境。The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products called for domestic companies to boost innovation, strengthen industrial coordination and deepen global cooperation, while warning that unilateral measures risk disrupting international industrial and supply chains.中国机电产品进出口商会呼吁国内企业加大创新力度、加强产业协同、深化国际合作，同时警示，单边措施可能扰乱国际产业链供应链。John Quelch, a professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, said: "The recent trend toward decoupling, particularly in technology and supply chains, reflects a deeper anxiety about dependence and vulnerability. But we must not lose sight of the broader truth: China and the US remain deeply intertwined."杜克大学福库商学院教授约翰・奎尔奇表示：“近期在技术和供应链等领域出现的‘脱钩'趋势，反映出各方对依赖风险和脆弱性的深层担忧。但我们不能忽视一个更重要的事实：中美经济仍深度交融。”He said the two sides must search for new equilibrium, one that balances competition with cooperation, and national interest with global responsibility.他认为，双方需寻求新的平衡，在竞争与合作之间、国家利益与全球责任之间找到平衡点。Olaf Schmidt, vice-president of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition, a German trade fair and event organizer, said his company has always championed global free trade, believing that it is vital to connect people, products and markets.德国展会运营商法兰克福展览集团副总裁奥拉夫・施密特表示，集团始终倡导全球自由贸易，坚信自由贸易对于连接人与人、产品与市场至关重要。multilateraladj.多边的；涉及多方的/ˌmʌltiˈlætərəl/frictionn.摩擦；矛盾；不和/ˈfrɪkʃn/unilateraladj.单边的；单方面的/ˌjuːnɪˈlætrəl/onusn.责任；义务；负担/ˈəʊnəs/decouplingn.脱钩；分离/ˌdiːˈkʌplɪŋ/

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. 1936LOWELL THOMAS & FDR Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. 1944 FALAH Roosevelt faced significant orpposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

CONTINUED David Pietrusza's book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt's pivotal re-election campaign in 1936, a moment that fundamentally reshaped American political demographics and solidified the New Deal as a national agenda. The campaign began under the shadow of the death of Louis Howe in April 1936, FDR's closest political strategist and confidant since 1912. Howe, despite his "unpleasant acerbic" nature and poor health, was an invaluable aide, worshiping FDR and actively pushing Eleanor Roosevelt into political activism following FDR's 1917 affair. His passing left Roosevelt to navigate a complex political landscape on his own. Roosevelt faced significant opposition from both the political right and left. On the right, Al Smith, former Governor of New York and FDR's erstwhile mentor, emerged as a fierce critic. Disaffected since FDR's governorship, Smith believed Roosevelt's "forgotten man" speech and New Deal policies constituted "class warfare." Allied with wealthy individuals like the DuPonts and E.F. Hutton, Smith co-founded the American Liberty League, which lambasted the New Deal as unconstitutional and socialist, compelling Roosevelt to wage his own campaign of "class warfare" against these "rich guys in the Silk Hats." From the populist left, FDR contended with the legacy of Huey Long, the charismatic Louisiana senator assassinated in September 1935. Long's radical "Share Our Wealth" program, advocating for massive wealth redistribution and government provision of cars and radios to every family, garnered millions of followers and represented "the greatest force of the populist left." His strategy was to siphon votes in 1936 to ensure a Republican victory, creating a worse economic situation that would pave his way to the presidency in 1940. In Georgia, conservative populist Eugene Talmadge, while ideologically different from Long (being a "Jeffersonian conservative" who refused to fund welfare), also vigorously opposed the New Deal through "race baiting" and accusations of "communist influence," drawing some of Long's former supporters. A significant third-party challenge coalesced around Dr. Francis Everett Townsend, an elderly physician whose Townsend Plan proposed giving $200 a month to every person over 60, requiring them to spend it within 30 days to stimulate the economy. Though Roosevelt personally disliked "the dole," the plan's immense popularity and the formation of millions of Townsend clubs pushed FDR to swiftly introduce Social Security. Townsend later joined forces with Father Charles Edward Coughlin, an influential "radio priest" who initially supported FDR but turned against him over monetary policy, and Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, a fiery orator akin to Long, along with Congressman William Lemke. This "amateur" coalition, however, failed to gain significant electoral traction, securing only 1.2% of the vote due to ballot access issues in major states and a lack of experienced political leadership. Coughlin, notably, was a more prominent radio figure than FDR for a period, influencing millions through his syndicated broadcasts. FDR's secret meeting with Coughlin at Hyde Park, orchestrated by Joseph Patrick Kennedy, famously ended in a rupture, leading to open political warfare. Ideological parties also presented concerns. The Socialist Party, led by Norman Thomas, consistently polled hundreds of thousands of votes, particularly in urban centers like New York City. The Communist Party USA, under Earl Browder (chosen by Stalin for his pliability and non-Jewish background), initially condemned the New Deal as "fascist." However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the global shift to a "popular front" strategy, the Communist Party covertly supported FDR to keep him in power against the looming international threats, while running their own candidate to avoid the "kiss of death" of an overt endorsement. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations, also became a powerful opponent. Despite initially supporting FDR in 1932, Hearst grew increasingly disaffected by the New Deal's progressive policies and taxes on the wealthy, leading to a "long bumpy involved breakup." FDR even considered "throwing 46 men who make a million dollars a year to the wolves," a direct reference to Hearst and his wealthy allies. The Republican Party ultimately nominated Alf Landon, the Governor of Kansas, a "complete surprise" and "least interesting character." Landon, a progressive Republican favored by Hearst, was known for balancing Kansas's budget but was widely regarded as uncharismatic and a poor public speaker, especially on radio, a crucial medium of the era. His campaign message, promising only a more efficient implementation of New Deal programs he had largely supported, failed to energize the electorate. Earlier potential nominees included Herbert Hoover, William Borah, Frank Knox, and Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg. Roosevelt's campaign, in stark contrast, was dynamic. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played an indispensable role, defying initial party reluctance to campaign vigorously. She became a crucial link to the African-American vote in Northern cities, even though FDR, for political reasons, declined to support an anti-lynching law favored by Eleanor and the NAACP. Roosevelt himself delivered powerful, "frenzied and irate" speeches, most notably his Madison Square Garden address on Halloween night, where he famously embraced the "hatred" of "economic royalists" and promised accountability, a compelling message of "class warfare" that galvanized the electorate despite his own staff's initial horror at its perceived demagoguery. Despite initial polls, like the Literary Digest (which had predicted a Landon victory), suggesting a close race, Rooseveltachieved an unprecedented landslide. He won 46 of 48 states, secured overwhelming Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (74 senators, 334 representatives), and claimed 38 governorships. Crucially, FDR carried 104 of 106 major cities, solidifying the Democratic Party's urban strength and marking a profound political realignment in American history. This decisive victory was a clear mandate for the New Deal and established the foundation of the modern Democratic Party.

https://thecommunists.org/2025/07/01/news/communist-party-venezuela-pcv-new-stage Anti-imperialist and loyal to the Bolivarian process, the PCV keeps marching forward. The recent history of the Communist Party of Venezuela furnishes further proof that the class struggle must be waged relentlessly on every front, both inside and outside the party. It highlights the necessity of keeping leaders accountable and members engaged with every development of a party's organisational and political life. And it underscores the need for constant vigilance against opportunist ideas and careerist motivations with which our enemies constantly try to infiltrate the organisations of the working class. Subscribe! Donate! Join us in building a bright future for humanity! www.thecommunists.org www.lalkar.org www.redyouth.org Telegram: t.me/thecommunists Twitter: twitter.com/cpgbml Soundcloud: @proletarianradio Rumble: rumble.com/c/theCommunists Odysee: odysee.com/@proletariantv:2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpgbml Online Shop: https://shop.thecommunists.org/ Education Program: Each one teach one! www.londonworker.org/education-programme/ Join the struggle www.thecommunists.org/join/ Donate: www.thecommunists.org/donate/

Film historian Rebecca Prime joins moderator Ross Melnick (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of the classic Hollywood film The Sound of Fury. Prime outlines the film's production history and how its political and social commentary was shaped by its director, Cy Endfield, who would go on to be blacklisted due to his association with the Communist Party. They further discuss Endfield's subsequent work in London and how he struggled with the blacklist for the rest of his career. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40919]

Film historian Rebecca Prime joins moderator Ross Melnick (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of the classic Hollywood film The Sound of Fury. Prime outlines the film's production history and how its political and social commentary was shaped by its director, Cy Endfield, who would go on to be blacklisted due to his association with the Communist Party. They further discuss Endfield's subsequent work in London and how he struggled with the blacklist for the rest of his career. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40919]

Film historian Rebecca Prime joins moderator Ross Melnick (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of the classic Hollywood film The Sound of Fury. Prime outlines the film's production history and how its political and social commentary was shaped by its director, Cy Endfield, who would go on to be blacklisted due to his association with the Communist Party. They further discuss Endfield's subsequent work in London and how he struggled with the blacklist for the rest of his career. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40919]

Film historian Rebecca Prime joins moderator Ross Melnick (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of the classic Hollywood film The Sound of Fury. Prime outlines the film's production history and how its political and social commentary was shaped by its director, Cy Endfield, who would go on to be blacklisted due to his association with the Communist Party. They further discuss Endfield's subsequent work in London and how he struggled with the blacklist for the rest of his career. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40919]

It's Friday, September 12th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Chinese pastor dies after years of persecution After enduring years of persecution, Pastor Zhao Huaiguo, founder of Bethel Church in Hunan, China, has died, leaving behind a legacy of faith and resilience, reports International Christian Concern. In 2007, Pastor Zhao relocated to Hunan to establish Bethel Church, with a focus on serving elderly Christians and those who had previously avoided the Communist Party-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches. Since Bethel Church's founding, Pastor Zhao and his wife have faced relentless attacks. In 2019, authorities raided Bethel Church, confiscated Bibles, destroyed property, and pressured members to join the Three-Self movement. Then, in November 2024, Zhao and his wife were detained for 10 days for delivering unsanctioned online training. Pastor Zhao died in his early 50s. Revelation 2:10b says, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.” Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison On September 11th, a panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court sentenced former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison after convicting him of attempting to overthrow the government following his loss in the country's 2022 election, reports The Epoch Times. Prosecutors charged Bolsonaro with five counts, including an attempted coup, being part of an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of democratic rule of law, damage characterized by violence, and a serious threat against the state's assets and deterioration of listed heritage. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement and said that he is the target of political persecution under the administration of his former competitor, Brazilian President Luiz Lula. Trump honors the power of prayer In the United States, President Donald Trump announced the “America Prays” initiative in preparation for the country's 250th birthday next year. The White House is asking if one million Americans can dedicate one hour a week to praying for the U.S. Listen to comments that President Trump gave this week at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. TRUMP: “So, America has always been a nation that believes in the power of prayer. And we will never apologize for our faith, ever, ever, never, never. We will never surrender our God-given rights. We will defend our liberties, our values, our sovereignty, and we will defend our freedom.” DHS to offer $110 million of security to Christian groups The Department of Homeland Security awarded $110 million in security grants to faith-based organizations last month. The move came just a week before the deadly mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A Senior Department of Homeland Security official said, “DHS is laser-focused on ensuring the safety of the American people. Instead of using grant money to fund climate change initiatives and political pet projects, we are using this money to protect American communities—especially places where people gather in prayer.” Charlie Kirk's assassin's cartridges contained ‘transgender” ideology Law enforcement have found a rifle near the Utah Valley University campus where conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10th. The cartridges were all “engraved” with expressions of “transgender and anti-fascist ideology,” reports LifeSiteNews.com. On Thursday morning, Steven Crowder posted to X an exclusively obtained email from the American Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which shared internal findings about the weapon used by Kirk's yet-unidentified assassin. The ATF message said, “The suspect fired one shot from an elevated position on a rooftop in an adjacent building on the campus and surveillance video shows the suspect jumping off and fleeing the area on foot.” Law enforcement, including ATF, “located an older model imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus,” in a location that “appears to match the suspect's route of travel. The spent cartridge was still chambered in addition to three unspent rounds at the top-fed magazine. All cartridges have engraved wording on them, expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” One person at the scene reported that when he was shot, Kirk had been speaking about “how many trans mass shooters there have been.” Appearing on Fox News, former FBI Agent Stuart Kaplan provided his analysis. KAPLAN: “This assassination was a very well planned, very well-orchestrated plot that was put in motion days before. This individual had a plan of escape, to elude detection of being out up on a rooftop, and also being able to evade and elude law enforcement after that shot was taken. This assassination of Charlie Kirk, to me, is indicative of a professional hit.” Charlie Kirk wanted to be remembered for his courage and faith On the Iced Coffee Hour podcast, Charlie Kirk was once asked a provocative question. HOST: “How do you want to be remembered?” KIRK: “If I die?” HOST: “Everything just goes away. How would you, if you could be associated with one thing, how would you want to be remembered?” KIRK: “I want to be remembered for, for courage for my faith. That would be the most important thing. Most important thing is my faith in my life.” How Charlie Kirk shared Christ with an atheist student Charlie Kirk, an evangelical Christian, spent most of his time on college campuses having dialogue with students with whom he disagreed.  As you can hear from this exchange, recorded some time ago, he did not hesitate to share Christ. STUDENT: “Are you a Christian by any chance?” KIRK: “Very, very much.” STUDENT: So, like, why is that exactly?” KIRK: “Oh, Jesus saved my life. I'm a sinner, gave my life to Christ, most important decision I ever made.” STUDENT:  “So, you believe the Bible is real?” KIRK: “Yes, I believe the Bible is true and real.” STUDENT:  “Why is that?” KIRK: “Well, I could give you the technical answer. There's never been an archeological discovery that has contradicted the truth of the Bible. And then, of course, the wisdom. There is not a truth of the Bible, that if you apply to your life, your life does not improve it dramatically. “And then finally, we have the most accurate and transparent, historically robust account that one can have, of the most important figure ever to live in the history of the world: Jesus of Nazareth. And the resurrection is the pinpoint of my belief that Jesus did rise from the grave so that we may live.” STUDENT:  “What makes Christian mythology real?” KIRK: “So, that's not mythology, but that is theology. If Genesis 1:1 and the resurrection is true, anything in the Bible is possible. You're looking at the greatest miracle. The greatest miracle is creation, and then the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. And I say, ‘How do you know that Jesus rose from the dead?' “Well, show me another historical piece of a story where so many people willingly died a brutal death for a lie. Every single person around Him had everything to lose, and yet they went to the absolute death, from Paul to Peter to James, saying that, ‘Jesus is Lord. Jesus rose from the dead.' “Not to mention, if you were gonna fake a story, you would not use female witnesses in the ancient world. In the Scriptures, it said that the women were the first ones to see Jesus Christ. If you're trying to fake a story, you would never do that.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1 was no doubt on the heart of Charlie Kirk as he shared his faith so publicly and so boldly. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.” Charlie Kirk urged young people to come to Christ In one of Charlie Kirk's final X posts this past Saturday, he wrote, "Jesus defeated death so you can live,” reports Fox News. Kirk was a significant figure who inspired millions of high school and college students not only to become engaged politically, but to consider the claims of Jesus Christ and live lives guided by faith. Turning Point has a branch focused purely on faith, called Turning Point Faith, "dedicated to empowering Christians to put their faith into action." Pastor Rob McCoy, who is founder of Godspeak Calvary Chapel and the co-chair of Turning Point Faith, said Charlie Kirk called him his pastor but that he prefers to be known as his “friend and greatest fan.” Pastor McCoy said, "Charlie never used violence but was threatened every day with violence by those who couldn't contend with logic and truth — and now they have done to my friend what evil always does. It takes away life." McCoy said, "Charlie did not die. Instead, he has begun to truly live. His life was secured eternally by his Savior, Jesus Christ. This truth allowed Charlie to face every threat with courage because he didn't fear death." Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” McCoy added, "All evil knows is death, and they derive power from death. Charlie lived for life and will be remembered for this. My heart is broken for his family — his wife Erika and his two precious children. Evil has not prevailed, and it will not win." American conservative social media activist Robby Starbuck said “Charlie's greatest achievement is talking about God to young people during a time when too many were afraid to do that. The result has been a revival on college campuses all over the nation. It's our responsibility to carry on [Charlie's] work now." Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, September 12th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Communist's Secret is Book 2 of the Leningrad Trilogy. Driven by a blind devotion to the Communist Party, self-centered Katya Karavayeva has broken the most important rule in Soviet society: never say anything that can be used against you. On the heels of that betrayal, Nazi Germany invades and the Soviet Union mobilizes. Katya hopes to halt her downward spiral by joining the volunteer militia, but within a few short weeks finds herself under attack.After escaping with another volunteer, Katya spends weeks on the run before landing in a town under Nazi occupation. There, she finds a place and a purpose and learns to fight a different kind of war, repaying German brutality with a harsh justice of her own. All the while she struggles against her inner demons and dreams of reunion with her daughter and forgiveness from her husband - the one she betrayed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Around 15 years ago, the then UPA government had launched an all-out offensive (commonly known as ‘Operation Greenhunt') targeting the armed cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) (also known as Naxalites) across the ‘Red Corridor' which consisted of Naxal-affected districts spanning Central and Eastern India and spilling into Southern India as well. According to reports at the time, Naxal cadres were active (to varying degrees) in at least 165 districts across this corridor which was also coterminous with the most backward, primarily tribal and the most resource rich parts of the country. The BJP government, which came to power in 2014, continued this policy of an all-out offensive against the Naxalites extending this to target the urban activists/ sympathisers of the CPI (Maoist) as well. There has been a marked decline in Naxalite activity since then with the number of affected districts falling to 70 in 2021 and newer reports suggesting that the Naxalite presence is restricted to fewer than 50 districts now. In a strong policy statement, Home Minister Amit stated that “Naxalism will be completely eliminated by 2026.” Human rights activists have questioned the state's all-out approach of using overwhelming force to quash Naxalism as this method is not addressing the fundamental grievances of the residents of these tribal parts which is of their displacement and exploitation of the rich natural resources by large corporations. Several Naxalites have surrendered over the past two decades but questions have also been raised on the efficacy and sincerity of the surrender policy. Karnataka was also impacted by the wave of Naxalism and, commencing in the 1980s, cadres were recruited for this cause in the State as well. In the 1990s, it seemed like the movement was spreading its base in Karnataka aggressively but a series of encounters including that of Saketh Rajan, the charismatic Naxal leader, in 2005, ensured that the movement did not become widespread in Karnataka. There was also intense churn among a section of the cadres of the CPI (Maoist) in Karnataka after this as well with one group exiting the party as it had ideological differences with the central leadership of the party. Over the two decades since that time, the Naxalite movement has ebbed in Karnataka with several Naxalites also surrendering. Early in 2025, with the “surrender” of the last group of Naxalites in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared the state to be Naxal-free. The Karnataka model presents a template of how Naxalism, in its violent form, can be ended. By all accounts, the Karnataka model is unique for the manner in which former Naxalites joined the mainstream of activism. The role of the mature civil society in Karnataka that played a crucial role in facilitating this process is also important. The discussion proposes to dwell on the trajectory of Naxalism in Karnataka from its inception in the 1980s till early 2025, and whether the state is willing to seriously engage with the grievances of marginalised people who became Naxals. Is the state empathetic to the concerns of the Naxalites who came overground? The discussion proposes to dwell on all these aspects while broadly focussing on the success of the Karnataka model of mainstreaming Left-Wing Extremists. In this episode of BIC Talks, K P Sripal, Noor Sridhar and Tara Rao will be in conversation with Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed . This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in Jun 2025. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible, and Amazon Music.

When night fell and the lights turned on, the statue of Lushena Buddha, originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as part of the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan province, seemed draped in a golden cassock.Against the backdrop of the night sky, the statue, whose name is the Chinese translation of the Sanskrit word "vairocana", meaning "illuminator", looked more solemn and serene, inspiring awe for the ancient piety and artistry that brought it to life.The night tour around Longmen, an artistic trove comprising more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into steep limestone cliffs over a one-kilometer-long stretch mainly from the fifth to the 10th centuries, gained popularity this summer.Since July, the site has received an average of 5,000 to 6,000 visits daily from 5 pm to 9 pm, with peak days exceeding 10,000, according to Yu Jie, Party secretary of the Longmen Grottoes Academy.President Xi Jinping's continuous attention to cave temples has significantly contributed to this popularity. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has visited all four major cave temples in China and made many instructions about their significance and conservation since 2019.The four grottoes are all treasures of Chinese civilization with significant historical and cultural value, Xi said when he visited the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui, Gansu province, on Sept 11 last year.Besides Longmen and Maijishan, the four sites also include the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu, and the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi province, all UNESCO World Heritage sites. They are outstanding examples of Chinese grotto temples, an important Buddhist art form that was introduced to China via the ancient Silk Road during the third century.In August 2019, Xi arrived in Gansu for an inspection and made the first stop at Dunhuang. Touring the Mogao Caves, he checked the work of cultural relics protection and research, and emphasized the need to preserve the finer features of the nation's culture.The Mogao Caves site, at the religious and cultural crossroads on the ancient Silk Road, boasts more than 700 Buddhist caves featuring exquisite murals and statues from the fourth to the 14th centuries.Xi also met Fan Jinshi, honorary director of the Dunhuang Academy, who was born in Beijing and raised in Shanghai, but chose to work in Dunhuang, a remote and arid desert region in Northwest China, for six decades. Xi highlighted the "Mogao spirit", forged by heritage protectors such as Fan, which values insistence, contribution, a sense of responsibility and pioneering.Change in approachExperts noted that cave temples, often located in remote mountainous areas and exposed to the natural environment, are difficult to protect and manage, as they frequently face threats such as water damage, earthquakes, unstable rock foundations and weathering, as well as human-induced damage."Despite the difficulties, China's efforts to protect its cave temples have endured for eight decades," said Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy. "We have continuously explored technologies and accumulated experience in restoring the Mogao Caves, developing a comprehensive set of programs that have been applied not only in domestic grottoes but also to sites overseas."Su said that the approach to protecting China's cave temples is currently experiencing a leap from a "rescue restoration" mindset to one focused on "preventive protection".Hang Kan, director of the Yungang Research Institute, said that in recent years, professionals have intensified their efforts in the digital collection of information from the caves of the Yungang Grottoes, striving to "seize the information at the moment"."Grottoes are changing every day, and so is the information they carry. We want to capture every moment to preserve as much information as possible," said Hang. He added that they have collected information from 80 percent of the caves, which will serve as a reference for their long-term protection.On the other hand, restorers are actively exploring new technologies and materials for cave temple restoration. For example, in the 1970s, epoxy resin was frequently used in restoring cultural relics in caves due to its strong adhesion, excellent versatility and chemical resistance, making it an advanced new material at that time.However, after decades of use, professionals have discovered that epoxy resin materials are not good enough, as they age and deteriorate under high temperatures. Therefore, they are developing new materials.Experts from Chongqing University are exploring a way of using microorganisms in the restoration of cultural relics as an alternative to epoxy resin. By introducing specific microbial strains under suitable environmental conditions, bioadhesives can be synthesized, and these can then be applied to reinforce cracked relics, offering benefits such as greater compatibility, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness and stronger weather resistance, according to Hang."The protection of cave temples is not a once-and-for-all project. With changes in time and climate, new problems arise, bringing fresh challenges and prompting us to continuously seek new materials, innovative ideas and advanced technological methods for their preservation," he said.Unwavering commitmentBehind the progress is the persistent dedication of heritage protectors, year after year.In September last year, Xi, at Maijishan, encouraged cultural heritage professionals to inherit the "Mogao spirit", remain dedicated to safeguarding the nation's treasures and to contribute greater efforts to the preservation and innovation of China's fine traditional culture, as well as the improvement of the influence of Chinese culture.Cave temples are often located in remote areas, sometimes lacking good environmental conditions. According to Yue Yongqiang, deputy director of the Maijishan Grottoes art research institute, heritage protectors can withstand the loneliness and stay for decades because they are obsessed with the charm of traditional Chinese culture and art, find their research direction there, and are committed to intensive studies of their subjects."It's all about insistence, passion and love," said Yue.He said that predecessors such as Fan have set good examples for them. "They possess ideas and beliefs, love their cause and are not willing to give up their research, forming the precious 'Mogao spirit'," said Yue. "Their spirit has inspired more people to join, reminding us that despite the hardships, our work is very meaningful."In May, Xi visited the Longmen Grottoes and called for protecting, inheriting and promoting the treasures of Chinese culture well.Hang, director of the Yungang Research Institute, said: "Although protection is our priority, it's not reasonable to keep the relics sealed. Instead, we aim to strike a balance between protection and utilization, which means that while ensuring their protection, we explore ways to bring them back to life so they can benefit the public."He said that the institute has organized a series of innovative exhibitions related to Yungang in many cities across the country. In an upcoming exhibition in Shanghai this month, there will be dancing robots based on stone carving figurines from a cave in Yungang.Such efforts have made significant changes. "We have analyzed the data and found an interesting phenomenon: Every time we organize an exhibition in a city, visitors from that city flock to Yungang afterward. This means that exhibitions are an effective way to promote cave temples. With digital technologies, we will find more ways for such promotion," he said.

This week on VOMAus Radio, listen as Bob Fu, former prisoner for Christ in China and the founder and president of China Aid Association, shares updates from persecuted Christians in China, including Pastor John Cao, Pastor Wang Yi, and other Chinese Christians. The Chinese Communist Party continues to pursue absolute government control of churches and other religious institutions in China. Pastors and church leaders face lengthy prison sentences for 'fraud' when their church collects tithes and offerings, or 'illegal border crossing' if they travel to meet with fellow believers outside China. Bob Fu, author of God's Double Agent https://vom.com.au/product/gods-double-agent/ , reports on recent church raids in China, including arrests of children attending Vacation Bible School. The Communist Party forbids any religious outreach or training for children under age 18.

President Xi Jinping has urged rural teachers to enhance their teaching skills and nurture more capable young people with sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility and work skills needed to join and carry on the socialist cause.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent his greetings to teachers and educators across the country ahead of the 41st Teachers' Day, which falls on Wednesday.In a reply letter to eight rural teachers who participated in the special-post teacher recruitment program, Xi said that many teachers involved in the program have actively devoted themselves to rural education. Rooted in their posts, they have dedicated their efforts to teaching with diligence and selfless commitment, demonstrating the profound sense of mission and responsibility of educators, he said.Xi emphasized that teachers are the foundation of education. He expressed the hope that educators will remain true to their original aspiration, continuously improve their teaching capabilities, and guide students with care and affection to ensure their healthy growth.Premier Li Qiang also made an instruction on the program. Li said that educators in the country should fully implement the fundamental task of fostering virtue and holistic development through education and teach in places where the motherland and the people need them the most, contributing more to building a leading country in education.Launched in 2006, the special-post teacher recruitment program is a central government-funded initiative aimed at recruiting college graduates to teach in rural primary and middle schools across China's central and western regions. Since its implementation, the program has employed a total of 1.18 million teachers, covering more than 30,000 rural schools in over 1,000 counties across 22 provincial-level regions.In their letter to Xi, eight representatives of the program reported on their experience working at the forefront of rural education, and reiterated their determination to stay committed to their mission and continue teaching in rural areas.China has adopted several other initiatives to promote rural education.In 2021, the "Outstanding Teachers Program" was launched to cultivate 10,000 teachers annually to serve high schools in the once-impoverished counties, as well as border counties, in the central and western regions.Policies aimed at improving teachers' livelihoods, including annual subsidies, salary hikes and the construction of dormitories, have made rural teaching more sustainable. As of last year, 76.23 percent of rural teachers held a bachelor's degree or higher, a dramatic increase compared with a decade ago.Ma Hongbing, deputy director of the Finance Ministry's Department of Science, Education and Culture, said the central government has invested 45 billion yuan ($6.3 billion) in the past five years to hire and train more high-quality teachers in the central and western regions.Liu Xiantao, a teacher in Zunyi, Guizhou province, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Tuesday, said he became interested in the profession of teaching as a young boy because Teachers' Day falls right after his birthday.Liu, who recently earned a bachelor's degree in history from Beijing Normal University, is among the first group of graduates of the "Outstanding Teachers Program". He currently teaches history at Chacheng Senior High School in Meitan county, a former nationally designated poverty-stricken area in Zunyi.Liu's decision to return to his roots was deeply influenced by his own educational experience. Growing up in a remote town in Yuqing county of Zunyi, he had limited exposure to the wider world. His primary school Chinese teacher, Ms Li, opened his eyes to the power of knowledge and compassion, Liu said.Like many of his peers, Liu was tempted by the dynamic urban life in Beijing. But through volunteering and teaching practice in rural schools, he rediscovered his life's purpose.Chacheng Senior High School, where Liu now works, was recently established to serve students who do not score well in their high school entrance exams. For many, it represents a last chance to continue formal education before possibly turning to low-skilled work or early marriage, he said."Every day here is a challenge, but also a gift," he said. "When parents thank me with their voice filled with sincerity, when my students and I win the first place in military training, when I see their eyes light up during a history lesson — these are the moments that make me the happiest, and they happen every day."This year, Liu's birthday wish is simple, yet profound. "May I become a better teacher over the next year, and may my students achieve satisfactory grades in the next three years and become someone noteworthy in life," he said.rural teachersn.农村教师 /ˈrʊərəl ˈtiːtʃəz/special-post teacher recruitment programn.特岗教师计划/ˈspeʃl pəʊst ˈtiːtʃə rɪˈkruːtmənt ˈprəʊɡræm/

SHOW SCHEDULE 9-8-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR GOOD EVENING: The show begins in Yemen, asking what is to be done with the pirate Houthis? 1993 YEMEN FIRST HOUR 9-915 Bridget Toomey, Bill Raggio. Israel Strikes Houthis in Yemen Amidst Renewed Conflict and US Policy Flaws. Israel has intensified strikes against Houthis in Yemen, assassinating 12 government members in August. A previous USdeal enabling continued Houthi attacks on Israel is criticized. The Iranian proxy retaliated with new attacks and detained UN personnel. International response to Red Sea aggression is stalled, complicated by the Israeli conflict and geopolitical interests.915-930 CONTINUED Bridget Toomey, Bill Raggio. Israel Strikes Houthis in Yemen Amidst Renewed Conflict and US Policy Flaws. Israel has intensified strikes against Houthis in Yemen, assassinating 12 government members in August. A previous USdeal enabling continued Houthi attacks on Israel is criticized. The Iranian proxy retaliated with new attacks and detained UN personnel. International response to Red Sea aggression is stalled, complicated by the Israeli conflict and geopolitical interests.930-945 David Daoud. Jerusalem Terror Attack Highlights Persistent West Bank Threats and Gaza War Dynamics. A Jerusalem bus attack by West Bank Palestinians killed six, reflecting persistent terror and security gaps. Israel'sGaza City incursion proceeds slowly, impacted by depleted resources and international opposition. Israel may use the invasion threat for Hamas concessions. President Trump supports Israel's operations but urges the war's end, impacting Israel's image.945-1000 CONTINUED David Daoud. Jerusalem Terror Attack Highlights Persistent West Bank Threats and Gaza War Dynamics. A Jerusalem bus attack by West Bank Palestinians killed six, reflecting persistent terror and security gaps. Israel'sGaza City incursion proceeds slowly, impacted by depleted resources and international opposition. Israel may use the invasion threat for Hamas concessions. President Trump supports Israel's operations but urges the war's end, impacting Israel's image. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Malcolm Hoenlein. Jerusalem Terror Attack and Gaza Offensive Amidst Global Geopolitical Shifts.A Jerusalem bus terror attack killed six; Gaza offensive targets Hamas infrastructure amidst propaganda. UAEcondemned the attack. France's government fell, impacting Macron's Palestinian state push. Iraq probes Iranian oil smuggling, and Iran established UK sleeper cells. A controversial anti-American Detroit conference, with Congresswoman Tlaib, occurred. Public support for Israel remains strong. 1015-1030 CONTINUED  Malcolm Hoenlein. Jerusalem Terror Attack and Gaza Offensive Amidst Global Geopolitical Shifts. A Jerusalem bus terror attack killed six; Gaza offensive targets Hamas infrastructure amidst propaganda. UAEcondemned the attack. France's government fell, impacting Macron's Palestinian state push. Iraq probes Iranian oil smuggling, and Iran established UK sleeper cells. A controversial anti-American Detroit conference, with Congresswoman Tlaib, occurred. Public support for Israel remains strong.1030-1045 JANATYN SAYEH. Israel Amplifies Anti-Regime Messaging in Iran Amidst Shadow War and Rearmament Concerns. Iran anticipates war as Israel targets nuclear sites and supports the Iranian opposition, projecting a prosperous post-regime future. Tehran now sees Israel, not US, as the primary regime-change threat. China provides economic support, but Iran's proxies face rearmament challenges. Uncertainty on Iran's nuclear material and enrichment capacity fuels potential Israeli attacks. 1045-1100 CONTINUED JANATYN SAYEH. Israel Amplifies Anti-Regime Messaging in Iran Amidst Shadow War and Rearmament Concerns. Iran anticipates war as Israel targets nuclear sites and supports the Iranian opposition, projecting a prosperous post-regime future. Tehran now sees Israel, not US, as the primary regime-change threat. China provides economic support, but Iran's proxies face rearmament challenges. Uncertainty on Iran's nuclear material and enrichment capacity fuels potential Israeli attacks. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 John HardIe. Russia Intensifies Ukraine Barrage; Trump Faces Pressure for Stronger Sanctions. Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, signaling Putin's refusal to negotiate. President Trumpfaces pressure to implement tougher sanctions on Russian oil revenue. Ukraine faces infantry shortages and porous lines but is improving air defenses. Russian advances are slow, struggling to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities on the battlefield.1115-1130 CONTINUED  John HardIe. Russia Intensifies Ukraine Barrage; Trump Faces Pressure for Stronger Sanctions. Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, signaling Putin's refusal to negotiate. President Trumpfaces pressure to implement tougher sanctions on Russian oil revenue. Ukraine faces infantry shortages and porous lines but is improving air defenses. Russian advances are slow, struggling to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities on the battlefield. 1130-1145 Ernesto Araújo, Alejandro Peña Esclusa. US Escalates Anti-Drug Operations in Venezuela; Brazil Shows Support for Trump Against Lula. President Trump enacted a military doctrine targeting Venezuelan drug cartels, including a boat strike, with Venezuelans hoping for liberation from Maduro. In Brazil, public support for Trump and Bolsonaro signals desire for US alliance against Lula's government. Trump threatens tariffs if Bolsonaro is jailed.1145-1200 CONTINUED Ernesto Araújo, Alejandro Peña Esclusa. US Escalates Anti-Drug Operations in Venezuela; Brazil Shows Support for Trump Against Lula. President Trump enacted a military doctrine targeting Venezuelan drug cartels, including a boat strike, with Venezuelans hoping for liberation from Maduro. In Brazil, public support for Trump and Bolsonaro signals desire for US alliance against Lula's government. Trump threatens tariffs if Bolsonaro is jailed. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215  Alan Tonelson. Mexico Considers Tariffs on China Amidst US Pressure and Manufacturing Shifts. Mexico considers tariffs on China to protect local industry, aligning with Trump 2.0's North American trade strategy. China's export-driven model faces global pushback. US manufacturing capital spending rises despite job uncertainty. A Hyundai plant in Georgia controversially employed South Koreans lacking proper papers, challenging the Inflation Reduction Act's American job goals.1215-1230 CONTINUED  Alan Tonelson. Mexico Considers Tariffs on China Amidst US Pressure and Manufacturing Shifts. Mexico considers tariffs on China to protect local industry, aligning with Trump 2.0's North American trade strategy. China's export-driven model faces global pushback. US manufacturing capital spending rises despite job uncertainty. A Hyundai plant in Georgia controversially employed South Koreans lacking proper papers, challenging the Inflation Reduction Act's American job goals.1230-1245 Kelly Currie. Indonesia Navigates Geopolitical Tensions and Domestic Instability Amidst Cabinet Shuffle. Indonesian President Prabowo attended a Chinese parade, balancing China's investment with other alliances amidst domestic protests. Indonesia grapples with persistent corruption, police brutality, and deep-seated societal tensions. A cabinet reshuffle, replacing Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, risks economic instability despite growth promises. Indonesia seeks US balance against China.1245-100 AM Michael Sobolik. China's Biowarfare Ambitions Threaten US Dominance and Global Health. China's Communist Party develops biowarfare, including ethnic-specific genetic attacks, to achieve strategic dominance over the US. China aims to divert US biotech innovation and control future vaccine distribution, leveraging lessons from COVID-19. US vaccine hesitancy and decreased investment in cutting-edge technology leave it dangerously exposed to future biothreats.

Michael Sobolik.Gordon Chang. China's Biowarfare Ambitions Threaten US Dominance and Global Health. China's Communist Party develops biowarfare, including ethnic-specific genetic attacks, to achieve strategic dominance over the US. China aims to divert US biotech innovation and control future vaccine distribution, leveraging lessons from COVID-19. US vaccine hesitancy and decreased investment in cutting-edge technology leave it dangerously exposed to future biothreats. 1906 PEKING DRUM TOWER

People from Taiwan said they felt a shared sense of pride in the nation's strength and prosperity as they watched the Chinese mainland's V-Day parade both online and in person on Wednesday.来自台湾的民众表示，周三他们通过线上或线下的方式观看了中国大陆的胜利日阅兵，感受到了对国家实力与繁荣的共同自豪感。"As Taiwan compatriots, our confidence in development stems from the strength of the motherland," said Lin Yen-chen, a Taiwan student who attended the military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.在北京参加了纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年阅兵式的台湾学生林彦辰表示：“作为台湾同胞，我们对发展的信心源自祖国的强大。”Reflecting on the event, Lin said the 14-year resistance highlighted the true meaning of patriotism and national spirit through the sacrifices of countless martyrs.回顾此次盛典，林彦辰表示，十四年的抗战中无数先烈的牺牲彰显了爱国主义和民族精神的真谛。"In this great era, we, Taiwan compatriots, must firmly stand on the right side of history and actively contribute to the advancement of national reunification and rejuvenation," he said.他说：“在这个伟大的时代，我们台湾同胞必须坚定地站在历史正确的一边，积极为国家统一和民族复兴贡献力量。”Yuann Jeu-jeng, a professor from Taiwan University, expressed his excitement on social media after watching the parade in Tian'anmen Square. "The military parade aims to promote peace, and China always stands on the side of justice," he wrote.台湾大学教授苑举正在天安门广场观看阅兵后，在社交媒体上表达了他的激动心情。他写道：“此次阅兵旨在弘扬和平，中国始终站在正义的一边。”In Xiamen, Fujian province, more than 150 Taiwan compatriots gathered to watch the live broadcast of the parade. Cheng Chun-yuan, who brought his mother and children to watch the broadcast, said, "We feel the strength of our nation and the powerful development of our motherland, which made our family feel extremely proud."在福建省厦门市，超过150名台湾同胞齐聚一堂观看阅兵直播。带着母亲和孩子一同观看直播的郑纯媛说：“我们感受到了国家的力量和祖国的蓬勃发展，这让我们全家感到无比自豪。On Thursday, Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met with Taiwan representatives attending the V-Day commemoration in Beijing.周四，中共中央政治局常委、全国政协主席王沪宁在北京会见了前来参加胜利日纪念活动的台湾代表。Wang stressed the importance of remembering the history of national resistance, upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and jointly opposing separatist efforts toward "Taiwan independence" as well as external interference.王沪宁强调要铭记全民族抗战历史，坚持一个中国原则和“九二共识”，共同反对“台独”分裂行径和外部势力干涉。Across the Strait, high viewership of the V-Day parade underscored enthusiasm for the commemoration. Various channels on the island broadcast the event live.在台湾，胜利日阅兵的高收视率体现了民众对纪念活动的热情高涨。岛内多个频道对活动进行了直播。Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang who was invited to attend the commemorations in Beijing, said Tuesday on social media: "If the DPP insists on using intimidation to prevent people from participating in the commemoration, it not only reveals their insecurity but also further alienates the sentiments of the Taiwan public regarding the history of the war of resistance.应邀参加北京纪念活动的中国国民党前主席洪秀柱周二在社交媒体上表示：“如果民进党坚持用恐吓手段阻挠人们参与纪念活动，不仅暴露了他们的不安，也进一步疏远了台湾民众对抗战历史的情感。"This is a national memory that must be passed down through generations," she said.她说：“这是必须代代相传的民族记忆。”Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te made remarks about the mainland's parade on Wednesday, saying "Taiwan does not commemorate peace with guns."台湾地区领导人赖清德周三就大陆阅兵发表言论，称“台湾不会用枪炮来纪念和平”。Lai also avoided directly mentioning Japanese aggression and China's victory in the war of resistance, instead twice referring to the events simply as the "end of World War II".赖清德还避谈日本侵略和中国在抗战中的胜利，仅以“二战结束”两次指代相关历史事件。In response, Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized Lai on Thursday for remarks he said "glorified aggression and incited division" on a day meant to honor the pride and dignity of Chinese people worldwide.对此，国务院台办发言人陈斌华周四批评赖清德的言论，称其在全球华人纪念民族自豪与尊严的日子里，“美化侵略，煽动分裂”。"Lai's comments completely disregard the arduous and heroic struggle waged by the Chinese people both domestically and abroad to save the nation from peril, ignoring the great history forged by the blood and lives of the Chinese people for national independence and liberation," Chen said.陈斌华说：“赖清德言论完全无视海内外中华儿女为挽救民族危亡所进行的艰苦卓绝、可歌可泣的斗争，完全抹煞台湾同胞在这场全民族抗战中作出的重要贡献，是对中国人民用鲜血和生命争取民族独立和解放这一伟大历史的极不尊重。”prosperityn.繁荣/prɒˈsperəti/martyrsn.烈士/ ˈmɑːtəz /rejuvenationn.更新；复苏；复兴/ rɪˌdʒuːvɪˈneɪʃən /

Prime Minister Mark Carney admitted that the Liberal government has to find ways to rein in its unsustainable federal spending, during a cabinet planning session. The Canada Border Services Agency is refusing to release data on how many international students and temporary foreign workers actually leave Canada once their visa permits expire. Two Canadian senators who have been accused of wittingly aiding the Communist Party of China, have launched a new non-profit to fight against they call “exclusion” experience by those accused of foreign government ties. Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Clayton DeMaine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're not a patron, subscribe at patreon.com/workstoppage to get full access to the episode. In our sixth episode, and final episode of our subset on the struggle of farmworkers,  we discuss the epic agricultural strikes of the 1930s.  With farm wages slashed to starvation levels during the Great Depression, organization in the fields made the slogan "Fight, Don't Starve!" a reality. While the AFL continued to refuse to organize farmworkers, the Communist Party stepped into the gap and organized the largest agricultural strike wave in US history in 1933. In response, farm owners and their allies in the state unleashed truly fascist repression, attempting to drown these struggles in blood. But the perseverance of the workers and their dedication to racial and national unity managed to extract vital wins even in the depths of the worst economic downturn in the country's history. These struggles would terrify farm owners so much, they would lobby the state to create the country's first guest worker program, the Bracero Program, to institute a legalized regime of apartheid in the fields and try to prevent the racial unity that proved so powerful. These fights and the response from the capitalist class laid the foundations for the structures of exploitation and oppression faced by farmworkers today, and carry many lessons for those who would organize for a better future. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee

New Discourses Bullets, Ep. 124 Mao Zedong developed one of the most devastating dialectical techniques for mass mobilization ever conceived: the mass line. The idea with the mass line is that it is drawn from the masses, repackaged into a campaign for Communist Party goals, and then fed back to the masses to mobilize them to accomplish those goals, often including ruthless purges. For students of the New Discourses material, this pattern will seem familiar, both in terms of George Soros's (https://newdiscourses.com/2024/04/the-reflexive-alchemy-of-george-soros/) dialectic of "reflexivity" (https://newdiscourses.com/2024/06/reflexivity-leftism-in-the-21st-century/) and Paulo Freire's (https://amzn.to/4fkVck7) disastrous "generative themes" (https://newdiscourses.com/2022/05/paulo-freires-schools-new-discourses-bullets-ep-7/) method of education (which Freire (https://newdiscourses.com/2022/10/paulo-freires-critical-method-of-education/) openly admits he got from Mao). In this episode of New Discourses Bullets, host James Lindsay explains the mass line and its relationship to these other ideas. You don't want to miss it. Latest book! The Queering of the American Child: https://queeringbook.com/ Support New Discourses: https://newdiscourses.com/support Follow New Discourses on other platforms: https://newdiscourses.com/subscribe Follow James Lindsay: https://linktr.ee/conceptualjames © 2025 New Discourses. All rights reserved. #NewDiscourses #JamesLindsay

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from the SCO Summit, including Xi's announcement of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), outreach to the global south, and the PRC's warming relationship with India as Modi's first trip to China in seven years spawns anxiety in the US, and a variety of structural tensions remain. From there: Context for Beijing's recent efforts to correct the views of World War II, including efforts to recognize China's role in defeating Japan, contested accounts of the Communist Party's contributions, and contested understandings of the Potsdam Declaration. At the end: Mexico moots tariffs of their own, the US rescinds a waiver for SK Hynix and Samsung factories in China, and a few takeaways from Nvidia's earnings call last week.

Trevor Loudon Reports – A key focus is the Communist Party's alleged infiltration of the Democratic Party. Jimmy asserts that this influence has radicalized movements, with 55% of surveyed Democrats reportedly justifying violence against figures like Trump or Musk. He sees this as the culmination of a century-long effort to shift mass thought patterns, using emotional manipulation to fuel...

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. (Encore presentation.) Andrew Hartman, Karl Marx in America University of Chicago Press, 2025 The post American Marx appeared first on KPFA.

Trevor Loudon Reports – A key focus is the Communist Party's alleged infiltration of the Democratic Party. Jimmy asserts that this influence has radicalized movements, with 55% of surveyed Democrats reportedly justifying violence against figures like Trump or Musk. He sees this as the culmination of a century-long effort to shift mass thought patterns, using emotional manipulation to fuel...

陳之漢 chén zhī hàn – Chen Zhi-han, a well-known Taiwanese internet personality and fitness entrepreneur館長 guǎn zhǎng – gym director (nickname of Chen Zhi-han, referring to his role as gym owner)爭議 zhēng yì – controversy; dispute健身教練 jiàn shēn jiào liàn – fitness coach海軍陸戰隊 hǎi jūn lù zhàn duì – Marine Corps (of the Navy)志願役 zhì yuàn yì – voluntary military service (non-drafted)士官 shì guān – non-commissioned officer (NCO)退伍 tuì wǔ – to retire or be discharged from military service連鎖 lián suǒ – chain (store, business)成吉思汗健身館 chéng jí sī hàn jiàn shēn guǎn – Genghis Khan Fitness Center (Chen's gym brand)經營 jīng yíng – to operate; to run (a business)電商 diàn shāng – e-commerce直播 zhí bō – live streaming直白 zhí bái – straightforward; blunt顛沛流離 diān pèi liú lí – displaced and wandering; a life full of hardships欺負 qī fù – to bully拳頭 quán tóu – fist堅強 jiān qiáng – strong; resilient剛硬 gāng yìng – tough; unyielding竹聯幫 zhú lián bāng – Bamboo Union (a Taiwanese gang)黑道 hēi dào – gangster; organized crime亂七八糟 luàn qī bā zāo – a mess; chaotic; disorganized推銷 tuī xiāo – hard selling; aggressive sales promotion企業家精神 qì yè jiā jīng shén – entrepreneurial spirit共產黨 gòng chǎn dǎng – Communist Party (usually referring to the Chinese Communist Party, CCP)反感 fǎn gǎn – dislike; aversion中華民國派 zhōng huá mín guó pài – pro-Republic of China faction極統 jí tǒng – extreme unification (with China)極獨 jí dú – extreme independence (for Taiwan)統一 tǒng yī – unification獨立 dú lì – independence中立 zhōng lì – neutral和平 hé píng – peace骨氣 gǔ qì – integrity; moral backbone被...壓著打 bèi ... yā zhe dǎ – to be oppressed by...; to be suppressed by... (used metaphorically)杭州 háng zhōu – Hangzhou, a city in eastern China西湖 xī hú – West Lake, a famous scenic spot in Hangzhou翻牆 fān qiáng – to bypass internet censorship (using VPNs to "climb over the firewall")If you're ready to take your Chinese to the next level, not just memorizing words but actually having meaningful conversations with Taiwanese people about real topics like politics, culture, war, news, economics, and more. I invite you to join a one-on-one trial lesson with me. I'll help you build a clear, personalized plan so you can speak more naturally and truly connect with others in Chinese. Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !

John Batchelor and I welcomed Rick Fisher back to the program to discuss China's space program, focusing on the Long March 10 and 9 rockets. Rick explained that the Long March 10, which recently passed a static test, is designed to transport cargo and astronauts to the moon, while the Long March 9, similar in size to SpaceX's Starship, is intended for lunar missions and eventual Mars expeditions. David asked about China's funding of their space program given report of Chinese economic problems. Rick noted that China's space program is a priority for the Communist Party due to its strategic importance. He suggested that the Chinese government may prioritize space exploration over other areas due to its focus on maintaining power. Rick also outlined a timeline for China's lunar program. Rick was also asked about their work on human spaceflight medical challenges plus their lunar settlement plans, if any. You might be surprised by what our guest had to say about their lunar development settlement plans/program.

If you're not a patron, subscribe at patreon.com/workstoppage to get full access to the episode. In the fifth episode of our series on the class struggles on the US-Mexico border, we continue our deep dive into the history of the fight by farmworkers in the Southwest to demand fair wages, working conditions, and dignity. The 1920s were an area of ruling class dominance in the US, and along with their surging wealth, the ideology of eugenic "race science" was developed to justify the extreme inequality and exploitation of the oppressed. In this context, Mexican workers in the fields of California and the factories of the Midwest faced explicitly racist super exploitation by their bosses. In this episode, we discuss efforts by radical organizers in the IWW, the Communist Party, and Mexican mutualistas to combat this extreme racism and unify the fightback of all farmworkers, with many lessons for us to draw from in our fight against racist ICE terrorism today. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee

– World News Briefing– Persecution in China– March and Rally in the Netherlands Exposes the Ongoing Persecution of Falun Gong – Renouncing the Communist Party at German Falun Dafa Information Booth – Introducing Falun Dafa at City2Surf Fun Run Event in Australia To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org

When Yang Rongli, a pastor of Linfen Golden Lampstand Church in Shanxi Province, China, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, she responded with words of celebration. “I got the top reward!” she said, considering it an honor to suffer for Christ and referring to the fact that her prison sentence was longer than other church members. She and her husband, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, remain in prison. Listen this week as Bob Fu, former prisoner for Christ in China and the founder and president of China Aid Association, shares updates from persecuted Christians in China, including Pastor John Cao, Pastor Wang Yi, and other Chinese Christians. The Chinese Communist Party continues to pursue absolute government control of churches and other religious institutions in China. Pastors and church leaders face long prison sentences for “fraud” when their church collects tithes and offerings, or “illegal border crossing” if they travel to meet with fellow believers outside China. Despite being prevented from leaving China following the completion of his seven-year prison sentence, Pastor John Cao continues serving the Lord through daily prayer meetings. He's even baptized new believers—despite Communist guards required to escort him everywhere he goes! Bob Fu, author of God's Double Agent, reports on recent church raids in China, including arrests of children attending Vacation Bible School. The Communist Party forbids any religious outreach or training for children under age 18. With two years remaining in his nine-year sentence, Pastor Wang Yi has composed books in his head during his time in prison, as well as praying daily through a list of more than 1,000 prayer requests. You can write letters of encouragement to Wang Yi and other Christian prisoners in China, Eritrea, Iran and other nations at www.PrisonerAlert.com. There are a few seats remaining at VOM's From the Field 2025 National Conference. The conference will take place in Bartlesville, Oklahoma September 25-27. Attendees will hear from Bob Fu and other persecuted Christians—including several former VOM Radio guests—during the conference. Learn more and register online today.

New Discourses Bullets, Ep. 122 Everyone who knows anything about Marxism knows that it seeks to "seize the means of production" and institute a socialist tyranny through a violent revolution against the producers and consumers of society. What many people don't know is that Marx didn't just outline a single "win condition" for Marxism. He outlined the backup plan too: total destruction. From the first lines of the Manifest of the Communist Party, Karl Marx makes it clear that his class-conflict model always ends in one of two ways: "a revolutionary reconstitution of the society at large or in the common ruin of the contending classes." In this episode of New Discourses Bullets, host James Lindsay explains why a Marxist insurgency against any institution is happy to achieve either of these two outcomes: control or destruction. Join him to learn the truth about the evil ideologies based on this logic. Latest book! The Queering of the American Child: https://queeringbook.com/ Support New Discourses: https://newdiscourses.com/support Follow New Discourses on other platforms: https://newdiscourses.com/subscribe Follow James Lindsay: https://linktr.ee/conceptualjames © 2025 New Discourses. All rights reserved. #NewDiscourses #JamesLindsay #Marxism