Podcasts about Communist party

Gordon Chang, author & geopolitics expert, calls into the program to discuss President Trump's ultimatum to Putin regarding the Ukraine conflict and potential secondary sanctions on countries like China, India, and Turkey. Chang draws parallels between current global crises and historical conflicts such as World War I and II. He highlights North Korea's involvement in supplying munitions and troops to Russia, and China's strategic interests in this alliance. Chang also delves into internal turbulence within China's Communist Party and ongoing power struggles. Further discussion covers the current state of Iran after recent US and Israeli attacks, and the influence of Neville Roy Singham, an American billionaire allegedly funded by China's Communist Party to undermine foreign governments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China ranks second globally in STEM education development, trailing only the United States, according to a new index released on Sunday by the Tongji University STEM Education think tank in Shanghai. 上海同济大学 STEM 教育智库周日发布的一项新指数显示，中国在 STEM 教育发展方面位居全球第二，仅次于美国。 The Global STEM Education Development Index 2025, billed as the world's first comprehensive evaluation tool for national and regional science, technology, engineering and mathematics education development, placed the US in the top position with 86.50 points. China followed closely with 85.46 points. Switzerland, Singapore and Denmark rounded out the top five countries. 《2025 全球 STEM 教育发展指数》被誉为全球首个针对国家和地区科学、技术、工程与数学教育发展的综合评估工具。该指数中，美国以 86.50 分位居榜首，中国以 85.46 分紧随其后，瑞士、新加坡和丹麦跻身前五。 The index, developed with academic guidance from the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy and data from Elsevier, systematically assessed the STEM education development levels of 40 major countries and regions worldwide. It established 22 indicators across three dimensions: policy and resources, educational processes, and outcomes and impacts, aiming to provide a scientific benchmark for optimizing national STEM education strategies.该指数在全国教育发展战略学会的学术指导下编制，数据来源于爱思唯尔（Elsevier），系统评估了全球 40 个主要国家和地区的 STEM 教育发展水平。指数从政策与资源、教育过程、成果与影响三个维度设置了 22 项指标，旨在为优化各国 STEM 教育战略提供科学基准。 A representative from Tongji University highlighted the increasing global technological competition, stating that STEM education has become a core pillar supporting national innovation capacity and high-quality development. 同济大学一位代表强调，全球科技竞争日益激烈，STEM 教育已成为支撑国家创新能力和高质量发展的核心支柱。 The release of the index is a direct response to a guideline jointly published in January by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, which called for deepening international STEM education cooperation and creating internationally influential indexes and reports. 该指数的发布是对今年 1 月中共中央、国务院联合印发的一份指导意见的直接响应，意见中呼吁深化 STEM 教育国际合作，打造具有国际影响力的指数和报告。 Further underscoring international recognition of China's STEM practices is the establishment of UNESCO's first Category 1 Center outside Europe and North America — the International Institute for STEM Education — in Shanghai. 联合国教科文组织在上海设立了国际 STEM 教育研究所，这是该组织在欧美以外地区设立的首个一类中心，进一步彰显了国际社会对中国 STEM 教育实践的认可。 The US' top ranking was attributed to its strong institutional and resource advantages, particularly in education funding as a percentage of GDP, its per-student expenditure and abundant education resources. 美国之所以位居榜首，得益于其强大的制度和资源优势，尤其是在教育经费占 GDP 比例、生均教育支出以及丰富的教育资源方面。 China, despite a relative gap in per capita resources, excelled in the "educational processes"dimension. Its outstanding performance in teachers' STEM competency scores, results from the Programme for International Student Assessment, or PISA, competition achievements and large-scale STEM graduate output helped offset these resource disparities. 中国尽管在人均资源方面存在相对差距，但在 “教育过程” 维度表现突出。其在教师 STEM 能力评分、国际学生评估项目（PISA）成绩、竞赛成果以及大规模 STEM 毕业生输出等方面的优异表现，弥补了这些资源差距。 Among emerging economies, India produced the world's largest number of STEM graduates at 3.34 million. However, its per-student funding amounted to only 17 percent of US levels, leading to a lower overall ranking of 30th place. 在新兴经济体中，印度的 STEM 毕业生数量全球最多，达 334 万人。但该国生均教育经费仅为美国的 17%，导致其总体排名较低，位列第 30 位。 The report emphasized that high proportions of education funding in GDP and per-student expenditure provide ample hardware support for research and teaching, fostering a virtuous cycle between basic research and talent cultivation. It also validated the significant impact of industry-academia-research collaboration and open international cooperation on the efficiency of STEM research output translation. 报告强调，教育经费占 GDP 比例高、生均教育支出高，能为科研和教学提供充足的硬件支持，促进基础研究与人才培养之间的良性循环。报告还证实，产学研合作以及开放的国际合作对 STEM 研究成果转化效率具有显著影响。 In past international assessments, Chinese students have demonstrated strong performance. The 2018 PISA, hosted every three years by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, found that 15-year-olds in Beijing, Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang ranked No 1 in all three core subjects — reading, science and mathematics — achieving the highest Level 4 rating. While China did not participate in the 2022 PISA test, it has consistently been among the top scorers. 在过去的国际评估中，中国学生表现优异。经济合作与发展组织每三年举办一次 PISA 测试，2018 年的测试显示，北京、上海、江苏、浙江的 15 岁学生在阅读、科学、数学三个核心科目中均排名第一，达到最高的 4 级水平。尽管中国未参加 2022 年 PISA 测试，但此前一直位居高分行列。 Domestically, China is prioritizing AI education. A recent document issued by the Ministry of Education outlines a tiered AI education system covering all levels of primary and secondary education. The system will guide students from basic cognitive understanding in primary school to deeper analysis in middle school and applied innovation in high school. At the higher education level, the development of artificial intelligence education at universities has been a priority. 在国内，中国正优先发展人工智能教育。教育部近期发布的一份文件规划了覆盖中小学各学段的分级人工智能教育体系。该体系将引导学生在小学阶段形成基础认知，初中阶段进行深入分析，高中阶段开展应用创新。在高等教育层面，高校人工智能教育的发展已成为重点。 Since 2018, when the first 35 Chinese universities introduced undergraduate AI programs, the field has expanded significantly, with over 626 institutions nationwide now offering AI-related degrees. 自 2018 年中国首批 35 所高校开设人工智能本科专业以来，该领域发展显著，目前全国已有 626 所院校开设人工智能相关专业。 STEM /stem/ 科学（Science）、技术（Technology）、工程（Engineering）、数学（Mathematics）的缩写 index /ˈɪndeks/ 指数，指标 competency /ˈkɒmpɪtənsi/ 能力，胜任力 collaboration /kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn/ 合作，协作

Ted is joined by Nishant Batsha, whose second novel, A Bomb Placed Close to the Heart, was published this month by ecco/HarperCollins. He is also the author of Mother Ocean Father Nation (ecco/HarperCollins), which, among other honors, was named one of the best books of 2022 by NPR.Nishant holds a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University, so it's no surprise that his fiction draws heavily on real-life people and events. He describes this latest book as a “socialist, anti-colonial coming-of-age love story set in 1917,” one that is loosely based on a real-life couple, M.N. Roy and Evelyn Trent, who together founded the Communist Party of Mexico before an acrimonious divorce led to Roy basically writing Trent out of the history of the movement they led together.With A Bomb Placed Close to the Heart now out in the world, Nishant is at work on his next book. He and Ted talk about the circuitous route he's taken to get there, including an entire novel set in the present day that he finished writing before realizing he didn't want to deviate from historical fiction.Nishant discusses being a historian who wanted to become a novelist (compared to the other way around) and what that means for the way he approaches his writing. He then shares details about his work in progress, which is told from the perspective of a Civil War veteran who has left society behind to join a Shaker colony in Maine. Find Nishant and his books at nishantbatsha.com.Working Drafts episodes and info for requesting transcripts as well as more details about Ted and his books are available on his website, thetedfox.com.

Hearing being held today for attorney general ahead of dismissal, but the attorney general reportedly won't show up, Knesset to vote on impeachment of Communist Party head MK Ayman Odeh, Court sentences kindergarten teacher to 28 months for beating toddlers in her care See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 minutes.A Thai court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a Cambodian tycoon, senator and confidant of former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Listen to the story and more in a wrap-up of the weekly news from Asia.Filed by UCA News reporters, compiled by Fabian Antony, text edited by Anosh Malekar, presented by Joe Mathews, background score by Andre Louis and produced by Binu Alex for ucanews.comFor news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.com For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

President Xi Jinping has called on North China's Shanxi province to further promote the transformation and development of the resource-based economy and strive to write its own chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection of the province on Monday and Tuesday.The inspection tour took him to Yangquan, a city renowned for its coal mining heritage, and Taiyuan, the provincial capital.Shanxi is one of the regions with the highest concentration of resource-based cities in China. For a long time, its economic development relied on coal mining. To implement the low-carbon development strategy, the province is striving to build itself into a national pilot zone for overall reform for the transformation of the resource-based economy.While hearing the work report by the provincial authorities on Tuesday morning in Taiyuan, Xi urged Shanxi to steadily promote transformation and development of the traditional industry in an orderly manner, with a focus on energy transition, industrial upgrading and moderately diversified development of its economy.He underlined the need for the province to upgrade the coal industry and transform coal from a primary fuel to a high-value product, while ensuring the country's coal supply.Efforts should be made to build Shanxi into the nation's important energy and raw material base at a higher level, and shape a new type of energy system supporting the development of wind power, photovoltaic power and hydrogen energy, he said.Xi highlighted the need to promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and plan emerging and future industries based on local conditions to gradually form a modern industrial system reflecting Shanxi's characteristics and comparative advantages.He also urged the province to make good use of conditions for diversified development, optimize its business environment, stimulate the vitality of market entities, and better transform the strength in resources into a development advantage.Xi emphasized that efforts must be made to ensure security and stability during the process of promoting transformation and development, with an emphasis on ensuring the stability of employment, enterprises, markets and expectations.In recent years, China has been working to transform and upgrade traditional industries to promote high-quality economic growth. During his inspection tours nationwide, Xi has urged various regions to develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions and make greater progress in industrial transformation.Zhang Li, president of the China Center for Information Industry Development, said that accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries is not only an important step to enhance the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains, but also a necessary requirement for the country to promote the new type of industrialization and step up construction of a manufacturing powerhouse.In the new circumstances, China must persist in promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, nurturing and expanding emerging industries, and simultaneously developing future industries, Zhang said in an article published in the latest issue of Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee."Only by doing so can we consolidate and enhance the leading position of advantageous industries and the competitiveness of the whole industry, and keep a competitive edge globally," he said.During his tour in Yangquan on Monday, Xi visited Yangquan Valve Co, where he inspected the company's production workshop and products display, and had a conversation with workers at the site.He said that traditional manufacturing is an important part of the real economy, and it is essential to target market demand and strengthen technological innovation to revitalize the traditional industry.Xi told the company's employees that China's industrial development used to rely on physical labor, but today it relies on advanced technology and equipment to improve productivity. He expressed the hope that they would continue to work hard and make greater contributions to building a strong manufacturing country.Zhao Zihao, an information technology specialist at the company, said he was inspired by Xi's remarks on revitalizing traditional industry with intelligent technologies."President Xi encouraged us, particularly the younger generation of workers, to leverage our strength in expertise to drive industrial transformation," Zhao said."He placed trust and confidence upon us. I feel a strong sense of responsibility."

General Secretary Xi Jinping of the Communist Party of China Central Committee has paid tribute to martyrs who died in a major campaign in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

A humanoid robot waves at guests attending the 2025 Cross-Strait Youth Summit in Beijing on Thursday. The summit, which kicked off on the same day, attracted about 700 participants, including young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.周四，一个人形机器人向出席北京2025年海峡两岸青年峰会的客人挥手致意。当天开幕的峰会吸引了约700名与会者，其中包括来自台湾海峡两岸的年轻人。A senior official from the Chinese mainland has called on young people in Taiwan to actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges, contributing to peaceful development across the Strait and the country's modernization drive.中国大陆一位高级官员呼吁台湾青年积极参与两岸交流，为两岸和平发展和国家现代化建设做出贡献。Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attended a cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing on Thursday. The event attracted approximately 700 participants, including young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.中共中央台湾工作办公室和国务院台湾事务办公室主任宋涛周四出席了在北京举行的两岸青年峰会。此次活动吸引了约700名参与者，其中包括来自台湾海峡两岸的年轻人。"In recent years, an increasing number of Taiwan youth have come to the mainland to exchange, study and develop, and they feel pride and a sense of belonging as Chinese," Song said, welcoming more to pursue their aspirations.“近年来，越来越多的台湾青年来到大陆交流、学习和发展，他们作为中国人感到自豪和归属感，”宋说，并欢迎更多人追求自己的愿望。The summit consists of forums on technology, traditional Chinese medicine and youth development, an internship and job fair for young people from Taiwan, and a lifestyle festival showcasing popular food from both the mainland and Taiwan.峰会包括科技、中医药和青年发展论坛，台湾青年实习和招聘会，以及展示大陆和台湾流行美食的生活方式节。Shenzhou XVI astronaut Gui Haichao and Winter Olympic short-track speedskating champion Wu Dajing were among keynote speakers from various fields who met with young attendees from across the Strait.神舟十六号宇航员桂海潮和冬奥会短道速滑冠军吴大靖等来自不同领域的主讲人会见了来自海峡两岸的年轻与会者。Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation based on the island, said, "Although the Democratic Progressive Party administration in Taiwan has placed many obstacles to cross-Strait exchanges, the public strongly supports such interactions."设在台湾的马英九文教基金会执行长萧旭森说：“尽管民进党在台湾政府给两岸交流设置了许多障碍，但公众强烈支持这种互动。”Hsiao noted that the journey of Taiwan internet influencer Chen Chih-han, also known as "Guan Zhang" or "gym boss", to the mainland in June and his online livestreaming to millions of viewers have helped those who had never visited the mainland break free from the "information cocoons".萧指出，台湾网红陈志汉（又名“关张”或“健身房老板”）6月前往大陆的旅程，以及他向数百万观众进行的在线直播，帮助那些从未去过大陆的人摆脱了“信息茧”。With the further deepening of cross-Strait exchanges, negative perceptions of the mainland, spread by certain separatist forces in Taiwan, are gradually being recognized by Taiwan people, he said.萧指出，台湾网红陈志汉（又名“关张”或“健身房老板”）6月前往大陆的旅程，以及他向数百万观众进行的在线直播，帮助那些从未去过大陆的人摆脱了“信息茧”。Hsiao, who has brought Taiwan students to visit the mainland frequently, said he was delighted that the students, while riding the high-speed trains on the mainland, actively seek out the truth and understand the technological advancements behind the high-speed rail on their own.经常带台湾学生来大陆访问的肖说，他很高兴学生们在大陆乘坐高铁时，能主动寻找真相，了解高铁背后的技术进步。"I hope they will witness firsthand the mainland and, at the same time, come back and tell their friends based on their own judgment, to invite more to come and see for themselves," he said.经常带台湾学生来大陆访问的肖说，他很高兴学生们在大陆乘坐高铁时，能主动寻找真相，了解高铁背后的技术进步。A participant surnamed Tseng, an art graduate student from Taiwan, said she and other art students from Taiwan will visit Beijing's hutong with their mainland counterparts. Following their visit, they plan to engage in artistic creation and hold an exhibition themed around hutong.来自台湾的艺术研究生曾表示，她和其他来自台湾的艺术学生将与大陆同行一起参观北京胡同。参观结束后，他们计划从事艺术创作，并举办一场以胡同为主题的展览。"The hutong architecture exudes a charming ancient style. I look forward to exploring those streets on shared bicycles," she said.她说：“胡同建筑散发着迷人的古老风格。我期待着骑着共享自行车探索那些街道。”。cross-Straitn.海峡两岸The hutong architecturen.胡同建筑

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhy does Xi Jinping, one of the world's most powerful leaders, believe the Communist Party deserves unwavering loyalty—even after it persecuted his own family?Author and political historian Joseph Torigian joins Faithful Politics to unpack his groundbreaking biography, The Party's Interest Come First, a deeply researched portrait of Xi Zhongxun, father of China's current president. With insights drawn from rare archival material, spy memoirs, and even interviews with the Dalai Lama, Torigian helps us understand how personal suffering shaped the elder Xi's devotion to party discipline—and how that legacy forged Xi Jinping's authoritarian vision for modern China. We explore the moral logic of elite politics in Beijing, the party's uneasy relationship with religious minorities like Christians and Catholics, and why understanding history is essential to forecasting China's future.As China's global influence grows and tension with the West intensifies, this conversation couldn't be more timely—or more vital.

Listen to news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 minutes.A mentally ill man in Pakistan on death row has been freed by the country's apex court. Listen to the story and more in a wrap-up of the weekly news from Asia.Filed by UCA News reporters, compiled by Fabian Antony, text edited by Anosh Malekar, presented by Joe Mathews, background score by Andre Louis and produced by Binu Alex for ucanews.comFor news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.com For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

Rising prosperity was supposed to bring democracy to China, yet the Communist Party's political monopoly endures. How? Minxin Pei looks to the surveillance state. Though renowned for high-tech repression, China's surveillance system is above all a labor-intensive project. Pei delves into the human sources of coercion at the foundation of CCP power, examining the historical development of China's surveillance state, its relationship to economic modernization and political liberalization, and what might destabilize it in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Rising prosperity was supposed to bring democracy to China, yet the Communist Party's political monopoly endures. How? Minxin Pei looks to the surveillance state. Though renowned for high-tech repression, China's surveillance system is above all a labor-intensive project. Pei delves into the human sources of coercion at the foundation of CCP power, examining the historical development of China's surveillance state, its relationship to economic modernization and political liberalization, and what might destabilize it in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Rising prosperity was supposed to bring democracy to China, yet the Communist Party's political monopoly endures. How? Minxin Pei looks to the surveillance state. Though renowned for high-tech repression, China's surveillance system is above all a labor-intensive project. Pei delves into the human sources of coercion at the foundation of CCP power, examining the historical development of China's surveillance state, its relationship to economic modernization and political liberalization, and what might destabilize it in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Rising prosperity was supposed to bring democracy to China, yet the Communist Party's political monopoly endures. How? Minxin Pei looks to the surveillance state. Though renowned for high-tech repression, China's surveillance system is above all a labor-intensive project. Pei delves into the human sources of coercion at the foundation of CCP power, examining the historical development of China's surveillance state, its relationship to economic modernization and political liberalization, and what might destabilize it in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

General Secretary Xi Jinping of the Communist Party of China Central Committee calls for full and rigorous self-governance through good conduct as the CPC celebrates its 104th founding anniversary (01:11). Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to China (10:23). Thailand's constitutional court suspends the prime minister from duty (25:56).

With the Communist Party of China witnessing a steady expansion in its membership, primary-level Party organizations are growing stronger and assuming crucial roles in governance across diverse sectors, as underscored in a report issued on Monday.正如周一发布的一份报告所强调的那样，随着中国共产党党员人数的稳步增长，基层党组织越来越强大，并在不同部门的治理中发挥着至关重要的作用。Released by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, one day ahead of the Party's 104th founding anniversary on July 1, the report revealed that by the end of 2024, Party membership had surged to over 100.27 million members.中共中央组织部在7月1日建党104周年纪念日前一天发布的报告显示，截至2024年底，党员人数已激增至1.0027亿以上。Over 2.13 million people joined the CPC in 2024, of which 1.12 million were at the forefront of production and work, accounting for 52.6 percent, the report said.报告称，2024年，超过213万人加入了中国共产党，其中112万人处于生产和工作的最前沿，占52.6%。It also showed that the CPC had 5.25 million primary-level organizations at the end of 2024, an increase of 74,000 compared with the previous year.报告还显示，截至2024年底，中国共产党有525万个基层组织，比上年增加7.4万个。Zhuang Deshui, deputy head of Peking University's Research Center of Public Policy, emphasized the importance of grassroots Party organizations, stating that their continuous growth helps to better implement policies from the central authorities, unite the people in facing challenges and address public concerns more promptly.北京大学公共政策研究中心副主任庄德水强调了基层党组织的重要性，指出基层党组织不断壮大有助于更好地落实中央政策，团结人民共同应对挑战，更及时地解决公众关切。He drew a parallel between these organizations and the blood vessels of the human body, saying that "the seamless functioning of blood vessels is vital in ensuring an individual's health and vitality".他将这些组织与人体血管进行了比较，称“血管的无缝功能对于确保个人的健康和活力至关重要”。"Primary-level organizations, being the closest to the people, should proactively lead in providing assistance when needed, while also essentially improving their governance capabilities to effectively resolve difficulties faced by the people," he said.他说：“基层组织最贴近人民，应在需要时主动提供援助，同时从根本上提高治理能力，有效解决人民面临的困难。”。The CPC continues to exercise self-supervision and self-governance by upholding the spirit of reform and applying strict standards. It has focused on strengthening primary-level organizations and nurturing a team of Party members who hold themselves to the highest standards, in order to provide an organizational guarantee for building China into a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization, according to the latest report.中国共产党继续坚持改革精神，严格标准，实行自我监督和自我治理。根据最新报告，它重点加强基层组织建设，培养一支坚持最高标准的党员队伍，为通过追求中国现代化，全面建设强国和实现民族复兴提供组织保障。In recent weeks, Party organizations at all levels in Hechi, a city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, have been involved at the forefront of rescue efforts amid flood disasters caused by continuous heavy rainfall, safeguarding the lives and property of the people.近几周来，广西壮族自治区河池市各级党组织在持续暴雨引发的洪涝灾害中，始终站在救援工作的最前沿，保障了人民的生命财产安全。In the early hours of June 21, a total of 31 people were trapped in Wuzhuan, a town in Donglan county in Guangxi, due to severe flooding.6月21日凌晨，由于严重洪灾，广西东兰县婺源镇共有31人被困。The Party organization at the local emergency department promptly intervened, rescuing and relocating all those in danger, according to Guangxi Daily.据《广西日报》报道，当地应急部门的党组织迅速介入，营救并转移了所有处于危险中的人。Zhuang praised the quick response of primary-level Party organizations in the rescue efforts, adding that such leadership and action have also played a vital role in various sectors, including combating the epidemic, poverty alleviation, rural revitalization and advancing key construction projects.庄赞扬了基层党组织在救援工作中的快速反应，并补充说，这种领导和行动在抗击疫情、扶贫、乡村振兴和推进重点建设项目等各个领域也发挥了至关重要的作用。"On the path to Chinese modernization, it's essential for Party organizations at the grassroots level to guide people to bravely face the challenges," Zhuang said."The greater the challenges, the more these organizations should stand at the forefront," he added. Zhuang also underlined the importance of further enhancing self-governance within the Party to deal with emerging issues.庄说：“在中国现代化的道路上，基层党组织必须引导人民勇敢地面对挑战。”。他补充道：“挑战越大，这些组织就越应该站在最前沿。”。庄还强调了进一步加强党内自治以应对新问题的重要性。In another example, the Party organization at the Beijing International Commercial Tribunal has taken actions to help improve the judges' dispute resolution capabilities.另一个例子是，北京国际商事法庭的党组织已采取行动，帮助提高法官的争议解决能力。"We've organized judges who are Party members to strengthen their learning of the Party's theory and history, as well as updated laws and policies, to ensure the quality of their adjudication of international commercial disputes," said Ma Jun, chief judge of the tribunal at the Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court.北京市第四中级人民法院仲裁庭首席法官马军表示：“我们组织了党员法官加强对党的理论和历史以及最新法律和政策的学习，以确保他们对国际商事纠纷的裁决质量。”。He noted that such in-depth study also aims to bolster the construction of the foreign-related judicial system and improve legal services for domestic and foreign litigants.他指出，这种深入研究也旨在加强涉外司法体系建设，改善对国内外当事人的法律服务。Data from the latest report showed that workers and farmers accounted for about 32.7 percent of all CPC members.最新报告的数据显示，工人和农民约占中共党员总数的32.7%。Of the total CPC membership, 57.6 percent hold junior college degrees or above, 1.4 percentage points higher than at the end of 2023.中共党员中，大专以上学历占57.6%，比2023年底提高1.4个百分点。Women accounted for 30.9 percent of all CPC members, up 0.5 percentage points from 2023, it said, adding that the proportion of members from ethnic minority groups remained at 7.7 percent.报告称，女性占中共党员总数的30.9%，比2023年上升了0.5个百分点，少数民族党员的比例仍保持在7.7%。poverty alleviationn.扶贫rural revitalizationn.乡村振兴

Rising prosperity was supposed to bring democracy to China, yet the Communist Party's political monopoly endures. How? Minxin Pei looks to the surveillance state. Though renowned for high-tech repression, China's surveillance system is above all a labor-intensive project. Pei delves into the human sources of coercion at the foundation of CCP power, examining the historical development of China's surveillance state, its relationship to economic modernization and political liberalization, and what might destabilize it in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

The international community expresses concern over the U.S.-and-Israel-backed aid agency causing "mass casualties" in Gaza. Thailand's constitutional court suspends the Prime Minister from public office over a leaked phone call. July 1, 2025 marks the Communist Party of China's 104th founding anniversary and the 28th year since Hong Kong's return to China.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee held a meeting on Monday to review a set of regulations on the work of the Central Committee's decision-making, deliberative and coordinating institutions. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.The meeting stressed that the regulations will further standardize the establishment, responsibilities and operations of the CPC Central Committee's decision-making, deliberative and coordinating institutions.The regulations are of great significance for enhancing top-level design, overall coordination, integrated advancement, and effective implementation of major initiatives, the meeting emphasized. Such institutions should exercise more effective leadership and coordination over major tasks, and focus on planning, discussing and oversight of major tasks, according to the meeting. It is essential to conduct in-depth research to improve the quality and effectiveness of decision-making and deliberation, and to propose practical and effective policy measures, the meeting said.The meeting emphasized the importance of avoiding formalism and bureaucratism and delivering real results.

As the global economy confronts heightened volatility, China is anchoring its strategy in one of its most enduring tools of governance, the five-year plans, to chart a steady course.随着全球经济面临更大的波动，中国正在将其战略锚定在其最持久的治理工具之一——五年计划中，以制定一条稳定的路线。With the 15th Five-Year Plan from2026 to 2030 now under development, policymakers are placing stronger emphasis on innovation, inclusive growth and domestic resilience as anchors for China's high-quality growth.随着第十五个五年计划（2026-30）的制定，政策制定者更加重视创新、包容性增长和国内韧性，将其作为中国高质量增长的支柱。The blueprint will serve as a source of certainty in a world grappling with rising uncertainty, and will present a China solution that shares opportunities with the rest of the world, analysts said.分析人士表示，在一个正在努力应对日益增加的不确定性的世界中，该蓝图将成为确定性的来源，并将提出一个与世界其他地区分享机会的中国解决方案。President Xi Jinping, in setting the tone for the making of the blueprint, reiterated China's twin imperatives: to resolutely manage its own affairs and to press ahead with high-level opening-up, this isa dual strategy aimed at reinforcing resilience at home while deepening engagement with the world.During a meeting with provincial leaders in April, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted the need to set out goals and policy initiatives sector by sector, all aligned with the overarching objective of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035.Dong Yu, executive vice-president of the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University, said that China's five-year plans, enacted upon approval by the nation's top legislature, help stabilize market expectations and ensure the consistency of major policies, unlike the frequent pivots seen in some major economies.清华大学中国发展规划研究院执行副院长董宇表示，中国经最高立法机构批准制定的五年计划有助于稳定市场预期，确保主要政策的一致性，这与一些主要经济体经常出现的支点不同。China launched its First Five-Year Planfrom1953 to 1957, four years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the making of the plans has long been a hallmark of China's strategic governance.中华人民共和国成立四年后，中国于1953年至1957年启动了第一个五年计划，该计划的制定长期以来一直是中国战略治理的标志。"What makes the five-year plans so vital is China's long-standing emphasis on medium- and long-term thinking," he said.他说：“五年计划之所以如此重要，是因为中国长期以来一直强调中长期思维。”。"The Party's governance philosophy has consistently prioritized carrying forward and innovating on major policy directions through a forward-looking strategic vision," said Dong, who has taken part in the policymaking process of three previous five-year plans.董曾参与前三个五年计划的决策过程，他说：“党的执政理念始终以前瞻性的战略眼光，优先推进和创新重大政策方向。”。The CPC Central Committee is now organizing the drafting of proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan. Public consultations — including online solicitations — are now underway, with input being collected from officials, experts and ordinary residents.中共中央正在组织起草“十五”计划方案。公众咨询，包括在线征求意见，目前正在进行中，收集了官员、专家和普通居民的意见。Dong noted that the drafting of the plan has begun earlier than in past cycles to ensure wider participation.董指出，为确保更广泛的参与，该计划的起草工作比以往周期更早开始。The final recommendations will be deliberated by a plenary session of the CPC Central Committee and submitted to the national legislature for approval next year.最终建议将由中共中央委员会决定，明年提交国家立法机构批准。"The scientific formulation and successive implementation of five-year plans is a key governance practice of the CPC and a major political strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Xi wrote in an article published in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.习近平在中共中央旗舰杂志《求是》上发表的一篇文章中写道：“科学制定和连续实施五年计划是中国共产党的一项重要执政实践，也是中国特色社会主义的一项主要政治力量。”。"Practice has shown that medium-and long-term development planning can both harness the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and give better play to the role of the government," Xi wrote.Analysts have pointed out that the 2026 to 2030 period could be a critical window for the world's second-largest economy to fulfill its goal of basically achieving modernization by 2035. They have underlined a more complex global landscape, including rising protectionism and simmering trade tensions, in addition to domestic challenges including the graying population.分析人士指出，2026-30年可能是世界第二大经济体实现到2035年基本实现现代化目标的关键窗口。他们强调了更复杂的全球格局，包括保护主义抬头和贸易紧张局势加剧，以及包括人口老龄化在内的国内挑战。During a meeting in May, the State Council, China's Cabinet, highlighted the need to anchor the nation's development strategy in strengthening the domestic economy and to leverage its inherent stability and long-term growth potential as a buffer against the rising uncertainties of the global economic cycle.在5月的一次会议上，中国国务院强调，需要将国家发展战略锚定在加强国内经济上，并利用其固有的稳定性和长期增长潜力，作为应对全球经济周期日益增加的不确定性的缓冲。Xi has highlighted giving further strategic priority to developing new quality productive forces in alignment with local conditions, and steadily advancing the drive for common prosperity, as key priorities in the next five years.Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, said the growth of new quality productive forces, featuring high technology, high efficiency and high quality, will help elevate China's position in global supply chains and build economic resilience and competitiveness over the next five years.中国新经济研究院创始院长朱克利表示，以高技术、高效率和高质量为特征的新型优质生产力的增长，将有助于提升中国在全球供应链中的地位，并在未来五年建立经济韧性和竞争力。"By targeting breakthroughs in core technologies and shoring up critical supply chains, the nation can pioneer the next stage of industrial development," he said.他说：“通过瞄准核心技术的突破和支撑关键供应链，国家可以引领下一阶段的工业发展。”。Zhu also highlighted the significance of expanding high-level opening-up going forward, which will enable the further integration of domestic and global markets.朱还强调了进一步扩大高水平对外开放的重要性，这将使国内和全球市场进一步融合。With birth rates falling and the population aging, expanding access to higher education and easing the burdens of childbearing are likely to become policy priorities.随着出生率下降和人口老龄化，扩大高等教育机会和减轻生育负担可能成为政策重点。"If a more supportive environment for childbearing can be established — one that allows people to better balance work and family life — it would play a critical role in stabilizing the population decline and securing sustainable economic development in the medium to long term," said Dong, from Tsinghua University.清华大学的董说：“如果能够建立一个更加支持生育的环境，让人们更好地平衡工作和家庭生活，这将在稳定人口下降和确保中长期经济可持续发展方面发挥关键作用。”。Li Shi, dean of the Institute for Common Prosperity and Development at Zhejiang University, said the raising of residential income and the narrowing of gaps in wealth and public services should be prioritized to advance the drive for common prosperity.浙江大学共同富裕与发展研究所所长李石表示，应优先提高居民收入，缩小贫富差距和公共服务差距，以推进共同富裕。Meanwhile, more targeted measures should be rolled out to improve the social safety net for people of low-income groups, the majority of whom live in rural areas, he said, adding that one policy direction could be raising the level of pension payments to elderly residents in rural areas.同时，他说，应推出更有针对性的措施，改善低收入群体的社会保障网，其中大多数生活在农村地区。他补充说，一个政策方向可能是提高农村老年居民的养老金水平。CPC Central Committeen.中共中央委员会common prosperityn.共同富裕

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. Chinese Nationals Charged with Agro-Terrorism in Michigan – The FBI arrests a Chinese student and her boyfriend for smuggling a wheat-killing fungus into the U.S., potentially targeting America's food supply. One suspect expressed loyalty to Xi Jinping and is linked to the Communist Party. FBI Director Kash Patel calls it a wake-up call for food security and national defense. Trump Expands Emergency Powers to Boost Weapons and Rare Earth Mining – In response to Chinese rare earth blackmail and global supply chain vulnerabilities, President Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to increase U.S. arms and mineral output. Allies warn China's squeeze on magnets may signal an impending Taiwan blockade or invasion. Elon Musk vs. Trump Over “Disgusting” Spending Bill – Musk lashes out at Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, calling it reckless and bloated. The rift deepens after Trump withdraws NASA nominee Jared Isaacman and House Republicans defend cuts to EV subsidies and NPR. A rescission bill is introduced to walk back $9.4B in spending. Vietnam Faces U.S. Trade Pressure, South Korea Elects Pro-China Socialist – Vietnam agrees to buy $2B in U.S. goods but resists Trump's demand to curb Chinese transshipping. Meanwhile, South Korea elects Lee Jae-myung, a Bernie Sanders-style leftist who questions U.S. troop presence and cozies up to Beijing, complicating future Taiwan conflict strategy. China's Auto Glut and Rare Earth Strategy Spark Global Tensions – Chinese car dealers beg automakers to slow production as $7,500 vehicles swamp the market. Simultaneously, China ramps up global espionage, especially targeting Dutch chip firms, while tightening its grip on global rare earth exports. Dutch Government Collapses Over Immigration – The Netherlands' ruling coalition falls apart after nationalist leader Geert Wilders demands mass deportations. European voters cite economic hardship and cultural tensions as driving factors. Gaza Aid Effort Stalls, Hamas Rejects Peace Deal – Israeli military progress in Gaza is overshadowed by disrupted food distribution. Hamas kills civilians to create propaganda, and U.S.-backed aid operations struggle internally. Peace remains elusive as Hamas refuses to accept Israel's right to exist. Study Confirms Diverse Diet Key to Long-Term Health – A decade-long international study finds that consuming a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables delivers the best antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits - great news for your brain, heart, and longevity. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32        

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

While we're told by politicians that the ideas of Karl Marx are foreign and have no place in this country, history proves otherwise. Andrew Hartman shows that Marx and Marxism have had an a significant influence on the United States, from Marx's journalistic writings for the New York Daily Tribune, on the mass politics of the Socialist and Communist Parties and the Wobblies, on the most radical edge of the New Deal and the New Left, and finally with the return to Marx's ideas since the Global Financial Crisis. Andrew Hartman, Karl Marx in America University of Chicago Press, 2025 The post American Marx appeared first on KPFA.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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