Podcasts about Politburo

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss renewed US-Iran hostilities; a bewildering bewildering week in Congress as the NDAA and appropriations stalled in the Senate, the Iran supplemental and reconciliation; how Sen. Mitch McConnell's illness and Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death impact legislation; Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby's dismissal of “middle power” strategies; Volodymyr Zelenskyy's latest cabinet reshuffle that ousted Yulia Svyrydenko and his popular defense minister Mykylo Federov; after dismissing the Knesset and calling October elections, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to visit Washington for Graham's funeral; Israel and Lebanon advance peace talks and Hamas asks Iran for help; more than 100 Democratic lawmakersand one Republican vote against military support for Israel; Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi met with Trump at the White House; Xi Jinping continues to purge the part of top leaders accused of corruption, expelling Politburo member Ma Xingrui, the former governor of Xinjiang province who once headed the country's space program; North Korea accuses Pak Hui-chol, deputy director of the Organization Department of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau, of abuse of power and corruption; and the US Coast Guard will base a squadron of its cutters to the Western Pacific.

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 113-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 44,851 on turnover of $9.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan came under pressure Tuesday, falling below 44,000 points at one point, before rebounding in the last 90 minutes of the session to cap the losses. But while most non-tech stocks were also in the doldrums, the petrochemical sector outperformed the market on a spike in international crude oil prices amid renewed unease in the Middle East, which could boost product prices. Heat and Afternoon Thunderstorms Over Next Few Days Forecasters are warning of intense heat and severe afternoon thunderstorms across Taiwan over the next several days. The Central Weather Administration today issued high-temperature alerts for eight counties and cities. Officials say Changhua, Yunlin, Tainan, and Hualien are under an orange alert… meaning temperatures could repeatedly exceed (超過) 36 degrees Celsius. Taipei, New Taipei, Chiayi, and Taitung are under a yellow alert. Taitung also faces a high risk of hot, dry foehn winds. Meteorologist Wu Der-rong says tropical disturbances in the South China Sea and near the Philippines are bringing large amounts of moisture toward Taiwan, creating highly unstable conditions. Wu warns that severe convective thunderstorms will develop in mountainous areas every afternoon through July 21st, and te storms will likely trigger lightning, strong winds, and flash flooding in low-lying areas. (NS) China Senior CCP Member Expelled Chinese state media says a senior official has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party. Ma Xingrui is one of three members of the current Politburo purged in leader Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, alongside two military generals. Analysts see the campaign as a tool to enforce loyalty to Xi and root out (根除) corruption. Party authorities concluded that Ma committed violations including accepting gifts and using his position to help others. The 66-year-old Ma was previously the Communist Party chief of Xinjiang and governor of Guangdong province. Gold trader gets time served in Iran sanctions case that strained US-Turkey relations A Turkish businessman charged in a conspiracy to help Iran evade (逃避) sanctions gets no additional prison time after helping U.S. investigators. The AP's Jennifer King reports. Spain Gibraltar Border Fence** Dismantled** The fence separating Gibraltar from Spain has been dismantled, easing travel for thousands who cross daily. This change, which goes into effect today, follows years of post-Brexit negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom over Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory that is also claimed by Spain. On Tuesday, the U.K. and the E.U. signed an agreement securing Gibraltar's economic future. The deal de facto brings Gibraltar into the EU's Schengen free travel area. Gibraltar officials say live facial recognition (臉部辨識) cameras are now set up at entry points. When Britain left the EU in 2020, the relationship between Gibraltar and the bloc had been left unresolved. In 2025, the EU and U.K. announced an agreement on those issues, with the two sides and Gibraltar's government signing a treaty Tuesday that eases border crossings. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 今秋跟著楓紅展開最動人的旅程~ 日本紅葉祭限定！漫遊河口湖紅葉迴廊，或登上東北藏王紅葉纜車飽覽山林秋色 韓國賞紅葉x銀杏，韓服漫遊景福宮感受秋日浪漫 美加東必追楓葉大道，走訪尼加拉瀑布沉醉最美楓景 限量團位，快搜尋「可樂旅遊」與你分享世界的美好~ https://sofm.pse.is/9bu2gx -- 【暑假首選】雄獅文具想像力製造所天天不休息！白色牆面隨你畫、泡泡雨空中飄，巨型 60 色色彩牆隨手拍都是網美大片！ 八月更有全新「彩耀日」戶外顏料射擊，暑假就是要玩好玩滿。 快來發揮想像力打包快樂！

In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu covers President Xi Jinping's latest round of purges among high-level party officials, including key members of China's Politburo. Next, Miles looks into the recent incident in Beijing involving a small aircraft collision with the CITIC Tower skyscraper and details the CCP's concerted effort to censor the incident across domestic social media and news outlets. Finally, Miles follows up on the topic of academic freedom and CCP influence in US academia, and reviews the larger implications of continued academic exchange between the US and China. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future. 

Ro Khanna says tax Elon Musk and the billionaires. But what happens when the "wealth tax" becomes government ownership? In this Good Morning Liberty episode, Nate and Chuck break down socialism's rise inside Democratic politics, the "fair share" tax argument, Ro Khanna's fight with Elon Musk, USAID cuts, DOGE, student loan debt, and why wealth taxes sound simple until you look at how assets actually work. They also explain the difference between free market capitalism and the crony capitalism Americans are angry about, why politicians never use new taxes to lower the deficit, and how "just pay with shares" turns into the government owning pieces of private companies. Chapters: 00:00 Good Morning Liberty intro 02:00 Iran, oil, and war update 05:15 Economics becomes the main topic 06:45 Socialism is rising among Democrats 08:45 Americans and the "fair share" tax system 11:30 Who actually pays federal taxes? 15:15 The Scandinavian tax myth 18:45 Post-labor economics and socialist math 23:00 Ro Khanna says tax Elon Musk 28:30 USAID, DOGE, and accountability claims 45:45 The Politburo argument against socialist control 50:00 Ryan Grim's wealth tax workaround Links: Watch All Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi78svKlBr_8o0dDOX8DxO_Wwxu6WYhhA Watch Host Favorites: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi78svKlBr__Zu40RL7mWxCuOOe54zgy2 Join the Fed Haters Club @ https://www.goodmorningliberty.us/fedhatersclub Martens Minute: https://martensminute.podbean.com/ All links @ gml.bio.link Subscribe, like, comment, share, and leave a rating or review on the podcast app so more people hear Good Morning Liberty.

Today on The Gist, Mike considers the difference between an election and election night. One is a careful accounting of the public will. The other is the made-for-TV version that gives conspiracy theorists something to yell about when mail ballots shift the totals. Then, Benoit Denizet-Lewis joins to discuss You've Changed: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation. The book asks a deceptively simple question: can people really change? Denizet-Lewis says yes, no, and it depends who's watching. He and Mike discuss identity lifers, political apostates, parole hearings, addiction recovery, name changes, gender identity, and the people who say they didn't change at all; everyone else did. Plus, the final scene of Rocky IV, because apparently even the Politburo believed in personal growth.   Produced by Corey Wara Edited by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Politburo had given Mao Zedong's personal physician Li Zhisui a direct order: prepare the Chairman's body so that he can be on permanent display. Li was aghast. It was not what Mao had wanted, and besides, “How to pickle your country's leader” wasn't one of the courses he studied in medical school. But after the turbulence of the Cultural Revolution, Mao's death meant a potential political showdown between the Gang of Four, including Mao's wife, Jiang Qing, and Mao's chosen successor, Hua Guofeng. Dr. Li did not want to be caught in the middle. So Li and his team did the best they could. Spoiler alert: it involved a massage that nobody would want to give. Li Zhisui's controversial memoir, The Private Life of Chairman Mao, was published in 1994. Readers were titillated by Mao's sex life, questionable hygiene regime, and gruesome medical maladies. Defenders of Mao labeled the book pure propaganda. Dr. Li was a disloyal liar, and his collaborators and publishers were pushing anti-Mao agendas. Jeremiah is joined by Alexander Boyd, Associate Editor of the China Books Review, to discuss Mao Zedong, Li Zhisui, and Jeremiah's recent retrospective essay about The Private Life of Chairman Mao. Who was Dr. Li? What did it take to survive in the courtyards of power at the peak of Mao's paranoia? And did Dr. Li really witness all of the major events he described in his book?

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW-5-25-2026.1789 NEW YORK.Guest Author Josh Ireland discusses his book The Death of Trotsky: The True Story of the Plot to Kill Stalin's Greatest Enemy. The Russian Revolution began with Bolshevik fanatics using violence to impose their will on the masses. Irelandexplains the emerging rivalry between Trotsky and Stalin amidst the brutal purge of original revolutionaries. (1/16)In The Death of Trotsky, Josh Ireland describes how the intellectual Trotsky and bureaucratic Stalin competed for power following Lenin's death. Stalin maneuvered patiently to isolate Trotsky, who missed Lenin's funeral while recovering from a mysterious and poorly timed illness. (2/16)Josh Ireland explains that Trotsky was expelled from the Politburo after labeling Stalin the "gravedigger of the revolution." He began a global exile, eventually finding sanctuary in Mexico at the invitation of muralist Diego Rivera. (3/16)Josh Ireland details how, in Mexico, Trotsky faced constant threats from Stalin's assassins. Despite the fortified walls of his compound, the NKVD relentlessly monitored his correspondence and successfully infiltrated his inner circle with undercover agents. (4/16)Josh Ireland recounts how the Mercader family, led by the radicalized Caridad, was recruited by the NKVD during the Spanish Civil War. Her son Ramon was trained as a ruthless agent capable of carrying out high-stakes assassinations. (5/16)Josh Ireland describes how Ramon Mercader seduced Sylvia Ageloff to penetrate Trotsky's inner circle under a false identity. Meanwhile, a chaotic machine-gun raid by Stalinist gunmen failed to kill Trotsky, leading to even tighter security measures. (6/16)Josh Ireland recounts how Ramon Mercader used a mountaineer's ice pick to fatally wound Trotsky inside his study. Captured by guards, Ramon maintained a web of lies to conceal his true role as a Soviet operative. (7/16)Josh Ireland explains that following Trotsky's death, Ramon served twenty years in a Mexican prison before returning to Moscow as a hero. Trotsky's wife, Natalia, lived a diminished final chapter after losing her entire family. (8/16)Guest Author Edward J. Larson discusses his book Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters. The unprovoked burning of Norfolk, Virginia, by the Royal Navy in January 1776 served as a catalyst for independence. This violence convinced many colonists that reconciliation with the British Crown was impossible. (9/16)In Declaring Independence, Edward J. Larson describes how Henry Knox executed a daring winter transport of heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. This logistical feat allowed Washington to fortify Dorchester Heights, forcing the British to evacuate the city. (10/16)Edward J. Larson recounts how Washington attempted to defend New York against a massive British armada. The Howe brothers tried to negotiate a peace deal, but American commitment to independence remained firm despite the overwhelming force. (11/16)Edward J. Larson explains that George Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights while Washington realized he must preserve his army through retreat. The revolution shifted toward establishing independent state governments based on popular sovereignty. (12/16)Edward J. Larson details how, during a grueling retreat through New Jersey, Thomas Paine's The American Crisisrevitalized colonial spirits. British and Hessian atrocities against civilians further alienated the population and strengthened the resolve for independence. (13/16)Edward J. Larson recounts how Abigail Adams urged her husband to "remember the ladies" during the debates over independence. Revolutionary ideals of equality began to raise significant questions regarding the status of women and enslaved people. (14/16)Edward J. Larson describes how Washington led a desperate Christmas crossing of the Delaware River to surprise the Hessians at Trenton. The subsequent victory at Princeton provided the moral triumph needed to sustain the struggling Continental Army. (15/16)Edward J. Larson explains that the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence marked a permanent break with monarchy. New state constitutions prioritized popular sovereignty, establishing the rule of law as the foundation of the Republic. (16/16)

Josh Ireland explains that Trotsky was expelled from the Politburo after labeling Stalin the "gravedigger of the revolution." He began a global exile, eventually finding sanctuary in Mexico at the invitation of muralist Diego Rivera. (3/16)1906

Kia ora. Welcome to Thursday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand. I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz. Today we lead with news commodity markets are signaling more intense stress with copper and sulphur jumping to new all-time highs and aluminium jumping to near its brief pandemic spike. Tightening supply from the Middle-East standoff is driving the cost of these fundamentals up. Today, Trump is in Beijing where heavily choreographed set pieces are play out ahead of the formal discussions. Trump got welcomed by a non-Politburo member, the first time China has done that. So far he is being treated just like any other visiting head of state, rather than the special senior welcomes by his predecessors. And China is organising one of its tankers to exit the Strait of Hormuz in defiance of the US blockade, right at the time these meetings take place. US mortgage applications were little-changed last week, but with this week's push higher in benchmark interest rates, they are likely to fall when reported next week. American producer prices were up +6.0% in April from a year ago, getting a +1.4% shove in April from March. Distorted input costs from Trumps Gulf War are embedding uncompetitive pricing in American-made goods. Only the pandemic surge has been greater (also on Trump's watch.) It isn't clear right now why American producer prices are rising faster than just about everywhere else, but history will eventually explain that. US crude oil stocks took another outsized tumble last week according to official EIA monitoring. Petrol stocks there fell sharply too. (These sharp drops are confirmed by industry data too.) The industry is raking in record profits on these lower volumes. Why the US, a net petroleum producer, is feeling the brunt of these price hikes is a classic study in oligopoly power. (And see this investigation.) Meanwhile, UST 30yr bond yields have risen above 5% on secondary markets. Apart from the pandemic spike, this is the first time they have done so since 2007, so a two decade high. The overnight US Treasury 30 year bond auction delivered a medium yield of 4.99% (top bid 5.05%), up from 4.82% at the prior equivalent event a month ago. And we should note that Kevin Warsh is now the Fed Chairman. But ex-boss Powell is still there. Given the Trump-induced inflation surge, he is unlikely to be able to deliver on Trump's demand for lower US interest rates. In Canada, their central bank says they see no evidence that AI is having a material impact on their jobs market - yet, anyway. For them, the benefits are outweighing the costs. EU industrial production rose in March from February, but that wasn't enough to counter the outlier faster rise a year ago, so it ended down -1.0% year-on-year. An outsized fall in Germany twisted these results. In its May monthly report, OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026, joining other forecasters such as the IEA in cutting expectations due to the Iran war. In Australia, the wealthy are reeling after their latest Budget signaled a levelling of the tax playing field and the wind-down of concessions for wealth. To be fair, these are to be unwound over many years, but the big end of town is furious they are losing their perks. Certainly, those dependent on the property market can see an end to the gravy train. The UST 10yr yield is now just on 4.47%, unchanged from this time yesterday. The price of gold will start today up +US$12 at US$4690/oz. Silver is up +US$3 at just over US$88/oz. American oil prices are holding up at just over US$101.50/bbl, while the international Brent price is at just over US$106/bbl, which is down -US$1.50. The Kiwi dollar is down -10 bps from yesterday at this time at 59.3 USc. Against the Aussie we are down -60 bps at 81.7 AUc. Against the euro we are unchanged at just under 50.7 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just on 62.6 which is down -10 bps from yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today at US$79,447 and down -1.3% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been modest at just under +/- 1.7%. You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz. Kia ora. I'm David Chaston and we'll do this again tomorrow.

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the news that the Meta-Manus deal will likely be unwound in its entirety in the wake of a ruling from the NDRC on Monday. Topics include: The legal grounding cited by Beijing, reports that Manus failed to seek regulatory approval prior to its relocation and acquisition, Mark Zuckerberg as the photo negative of Tim Cook, Beijing's signal to the AI ecosystem, and why fears of chilled innovation may be slightly overstated. Then: Takeaways from April's Politburo assessing the economy after Q1, including a nod to the Iran war, no signs of stimulus, and why cracking down on involution is easier said than done. At the end: The MSS argues that foreign forces are driving the “lying flat” campaign, while the U.S. quietly applies pressure on a variety of fronts in advance of May's meeting between President Trump and Xi Jinping.

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the tentative ceasefire in Iran and reports that the PRC applied pressure to the Iranians to defuse the tensions. Topics include: The lack of clarity on what the PRC actually did and why, China's vote at the UN this week, why the PRC would like the war to end sooner rather than later, and relationships with other Gulf countries that may or may not change because of the war. From there: Ma Xingrui's disappearance from public view is met with official confirmation of an investigation, Anthropic's Mythos model clarifies the stakes of the AI race, DeepSeek news, a token crunch in China, and scenes from Victor Wembanyama's visit to the Shaolin Temple last summer.

In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews new policies enacted by China's Education Ministry aimed at reducing excess stress and pressure among primary and secondary school students. Next, Miles looks into China's campaign of transnational repression and coercion against human rights advocates and legal experts with familial ties to members of ethnic minority groups living in China. Finally, Miles discusses the recent political purge of Politburo member and former Xinjiang chief, Ma Xingrui, as the third such purge in recent months related to China's aerospace program. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future. 

This week on Sinica, I welcome journalist and former colleague Chang Che. His recent New Yorker piece "How China Learned to Love the Classics" generated enormous attention. We explore one of the more surprising cultural phenomena in contemporary China: a growing, state-backed enthusiasm for the Greco-Roman classics. We dig into what's actually driving this revival, from the genuine intellectual curiosity of scholars like He Yanxiao, who fell in love with the Odyssey as a Chinese high school student and went on to earn a Chicago PhD, to what might be the more deliberate strategic ambitions of figures like Politburo member Li Shulei and the shadow of philosopher Liu Xiaofeng's Straussianism. We also compare Chang's warmly enchanted 2022 China Project piece on Austrian classicist Leopold Lieb to the politically sharper New Yorker piece four years later — and ask what that shift in tone tells us about what's actually changed. This is an episode about civilizational discourse, soft power, and the strange fate of scholarship when the state decides it finds your obscure passion useful.00:32 – Kaiser introduces the episode from Beijing and reflects on the asymmetry in how the West covers Chinese intellectual curiosity 04:08 – Civilizationist discourse: Spengler, Huntington, and The Civilization Trap 10:56 – Introducing Chang Che and the evolution from his 2022 China Project piece to the New Yorker 15:38 – How Chang first got drawn into the subject: Latin classes, Charlottesville, and young Chinese classicists returning from American PhDs 21:38 – What changed in four years: the state moves from background to foreground 25:28 – Inside the institutional push: what China's "classics departments" actually look like, and who controls the definition of "classics" 31:13 – Xi Jinping's letter to Greek scholars and the move, perhaps, to sever ancient Greece from the modern West 39:57 – Liu Xiaofeng, Leo Strauss, and why Strauss fever gripped Chinese intellectuals after 1989 47:03 – The Padilla Peralta "incident" and the strange porousness between American and Chinese discourse communities on the classics 52:13 – Chenchen Zhang's framework: civilizationist discourse claims difference internationally while enforcing homogeneity domestically 57:30 – He Yanxiao, K-pop, and the idea of "Chinatown classics" 01:07:13 – Where will China's classics revival be in ten years?Paying It Forward: Dongxian Jiang (Fordham) and Simon Luo (Nanyang Technological University)Recommendations: Chang recommends House of the Dragon; Kaiser recommends the Ah-Q Arkestra, led by trombonist Matt Roberts, whose latest album Méiyǒu yìjiàn is on Spotify.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with last week's indictment of Wally Liaw, the co-founder of Super Micro, and its implications for US chip policy. Topics include: Incredible details from the indictment, US enforcement options, and bipartisan calls for government action on Nvidia exports to China and Southeast Asia. Then: Xi takes three Standing Committee members and three other Politburo members to inspect the progress at Xiong'an, signaling continued commitment to the “new area” 60 miles south of Beijing. At the end: Reports that the US visit to China is delayed indefinitely, the PRC's delicate diplomatic calculus as the Iran war continues, and tech news on Manus, Apple, OpenClaw, and an FCC ban on routers.

Nolan Higdon, author and Disinfo Detox host, dismantles the "aberration" myth surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, exposing his deep ties to US/Israeli/Russian intelligence, insider trading, and elite blackmail networks spanning politics (Trump, Dershowitz), tech (Thiel, Palantir), academia (Chomsky, Summers), and media. Higdon reveals how partial Epstein file releases coincide suspiciously with Trump's Iran strikes—launched amid 30% approval and domestic scandals involving ICE—serving as potential distraction from scrutiny over unreleased files and foreign influence (Adelson/AIPAC). He contrasts US corporate media's sanitised narratives of regime changes (Venezuela's Maduro/Flores kidnapping echoing Panama 1989) with international reporting showing Iran's technological resilience and Israeli military setbacks. He critiques NATO's militarised "media literacy" weaponising education against disinformation while shielding Israel-led wars, Gaza genocide denial, and DARVO "self-defence" claims. Higdon warns of AI surveillance eroding youth cognition/social bonds, big tech's eugenics ideology (Yarvin/Thiel), economic fallout from oil spikes, Greenland piracy, and empire's dehumanising normalisation of child trafficking. Urging diverse sourcing beyond legacy media's Politburo-style control, he reveals 2026's fractures—war profiteering and unaccountable power elites. Get full access to Savage Minds at savageminds.substack.com/subscribe

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from the Central Economic Work Conference, including the latest push to stimulate domestic demand, why consumption is intertwined with security, speculation surrounding Politburo member Ma Xingrui, and a reminder that many of the economic challenges facing China remain intertwined with politics. From there: More thoughts on the sale of H-200s to China, and a look back on the stories that dominated the podcast this year, including a TikTok saga that still hasn't been resolved, the world tour of US-China negotiations, the PRC weathering the storm from the U.S., China's ongoing economic struggles, omnipresent EU questions, the Xi rumor mill, and Xi succession plans.

Today I'm back with an oldschool style episode, because I really needed a break from the news - so I give You the story of professor Igor Lipsits - if you remember, he was a guest on the show and talked about the Russian economy not so long ago - about how back in 1989, the Politburo tasked him with trying to save the financial health of the USSR.And, please - if you can, donate for a truck for the Ukrainian army for the Christmas season:https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-the-eastern-border/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GATEWAY CINEMA is a multi-part series of conversations centered on key ideas in film studies. In these conversations, we interpret and celebrate a set of eclectic feature films from across generations and from around the world, including “La Haine”, “Drum”, “Alien 3 (Assembly Cut)”, “Come and See”, “Perfect Days”, “Sweet Smell of Success”, “The Swimmer”, “Amadeus (Director's Cut)”, “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia”, “Friday”, “Marie Antoinette”, “The Night of the Hunter”, “Crank” and “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “Portrait of a Lady Fire”, “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”, “Joker: Folie à Deux”, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”, “Heathers”, and “The Death of Stalin”.***Referenced media in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 19:“Wicked: For Good” (Jon M. Chu, 2025)“Dumb and Dumber” (Peter Farrelly, 1994)“Monty Python's Flying Circus” (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, 1969-1974)“Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Patridge” (Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci, and Patrick Marber, 1994-1995)“I'm Alan Patridge” (Peter Baynham, Steven Coogan, and Armando Iannucci, 1997-2002)“The Thick of It” (Armando Iannucci, 2005-2012)“In the Loop” (Armando Iannucci, 2009)“Veep” (Armando Iannucci, 2012-2019)“Star Trek Generations” (David Carson, 1994)“Black Widow” (Cate Shortland, 2021)“Dr. Zhivago” (David Lean, 1965)“Nineteen Eight-Four” (1949) by George Orwell“Annihilation” (Alex Garland, 2018)“Black Panther” (Ryan Coogler, 2018)“A Quiet Place” (John Krasinski, 2018)“Avengers: Infinity War” (Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, 2018)“The Lost Patrol” (John Ford, 1934)“Syriana” (Stephen Gaghan, 2005)Audio quotation in GATEWAY CINEMA, Episode 19:“Star Trek Generations” (David Carson, 1994), including the song “Star Trek Generations Overture” by Dennis McCarthy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBdmVGGaJEE&list=RDFBdmVGGaJEE&start_radio=1“The Death of Stalin” (Armando Iannucci, 2017), including the songs “Moscow, 1953”, “Special Delivery”, “Politburo”, “A Comedy of Terrors (End Titles)”, and “End Credits” by Christopher Willis, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2gbFqcZhpb3kOAAT1Qyp_4rlt4hwbUiT 

This week on Unsupervised Learning, Jacob Effron is joined by Jordan Schneider, host of China Talk, who challenges widespread assumptions about US-China AI competition. China's AI development is driven by private capital and market competition—not central government planning—with companies like DeepSeek, Alibaba, and ByteDance operating more like Silicon Valley startups than state projects. The critical bottleneck is compute: the West maintains a 10-15x advantage in advanced chips, and US export controls implemented one month before ChatGPT created a structural edge favoring America for years. Chinese companies aggressively open-source models from strategic necessity—they couldn't establish a quality gap justifying paid access like OpenAI. Jordan explains why the "Goldilocks strategy" of controlled chip dependency fails, why expert consensus opposes selling advanced semiconductors to China despite Nvidia's lobbying, and how Taiwan's invasion risk is driven more by domestic politics than AGI scenarios. China's real advantage may emerge in robotics manufacturing at scale, where they're already deploying while the US debates strategy. Inside the Politburo's AI Study Session: https://www.chinatalk.media/p/xi-takes-an-ai-masterclassSubmit your questions to Jacob here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vHBYv0bTT_EgFWTjbKnLr_sn3pZnFmcFGWYVTltKEco/edit (0:00) Intro(1:45) The Chinese AI Ecosystem: Pre and Post ChatGPT(3:45) Government Influence and Private Sector Dynamics(6:40) Venture Funding and Major Players(8:36) Talent and International Collaboration(11:25) Open Source Models and Market Dynamics(15:24) What Role Does The Chinese Government Play?(31:17) US-China AI Policy and Strategic Competition(36:18) The Argument for Selling AI Accelerators(37:02) Risks of Not Selling to China(43:34) Technological Constraints and Huawei's Challenges(51:18) US-China Relations and Taiwan(1:02:46) Quickfire With your co-hosts: @jacobeffron - Partner at Redpoint, Former PM Flatiron Health @patrickachase - Partner at Redpoint, Former ML Engineer LinkedIn @ericabrescia - Former COO Github, Founder Bitnami (acq'd by VMWare) @jordan_segall - Partner at Redpoint

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with the call between Trump and Xi last week, a subsequent call between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the PRC's ongoing tensions with Japan. Topics include: Conflicting reports surrounding both calls last week, PRC rhetoric that continues to escalate, contested history surrounding Okinawa, and PRC behavior that may be clarifying for the rest of the world. From there: Various points of emphasis at the Politburo study session on strengthening internet governance, DeepSeek's new AI model, and a recent Crowdstrike investigation that appears to highlight the risks of building on Chinese models. At the end: More bad news in the real estate sector as Vanke struggles make international news, waiting for the Central Economic Work Conference later this month, an FT op-ed makes Europe's trade problems clear while solutions remain elusive, and a note from a NASA employee adds context to a previous discussion on space rescues.

What if you could get a behind the scenes look at China's most innovative tech companies, factories and logistics hubs—seeing how they really run and asking the questions most Americans never get to ask?This week, you do. Matt Kirchner and Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture, sit down to debrief the trip they took together to China. In a candid, off-the-cuff conversation, they trade questions and challenge each other's assumptions as they compare what they saw there with what's happening in U.S. business, policy, and education.After six days of nonstop plant tours and tech company visits, they debrief what they saw: an engineering-driven society, central planning at massive scale, open-source AI innovation, and humanoid robots that are improving in real time. They contrast that with U.S. politics, policy, education, and workforce development, and lay out the uncomfortable truths and huge opportunities for American manufacturing and technical education.

Edward Luce discusses how Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor to President Carter, sought to bring down the USSR and end the Cold War by magnifying the Politburo' dilemmas. During the Cold War, two dominant émigré figures emerged in United States national security strategy making: Henry Kissinger (Republican) and Zbigniew Brzezinski (Democrat). Zbigniew Brzezinski played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign, later serving as Carter's National Security Advisor. Often described as the realist 'Yin' to Carter's idealistic 'Yang,' Brzezinski was a trusted confidant of the President. However, his often-hawkish foreign policy stance created tensions within the Democratic Party and led to challenging relationships with colleagues in the State Department and Department of Defence. His efforts to bring down the Soviet Union earned the admiration of Ronald Reagan, whose Republican administration continued many of Brzezinski's policies. The consequences of some of these policies, though, caused problems later. Edward Luce is the North America Editor of the Financial Times. He published a recent biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski that sought to reclaim Brzezinski's reputation as a leading architect of the strategy that brought the Cold War to an end without it becoming hot.   Further Reading Edward Luce, Zbig. The life of Zbig Brzezinski: America's great power prophet (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2025). Zbigniew Brzezinski, Strategic Vision; American and the Crisis of Global Power, Basic Books, 2012, available at: https://archive.org/details/strategicvisiona0000brze Zbigniew Brzezinski, The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and its Geostrategic Imperatives, Basic Books, 1997, available at: https://archive.org/details/grandchessboarda00brze_0/mode/2up Zbigniew Brzezinski, Out of Control: Global Turmoil on the Eve of the 21st Century, Collier Books, 1993, available at: https://archive.org/details/outofcontrolglob00brze/mode/2up Zbigniew Brzezinski, Power and Principle: Memoirs of the National Security Adviser, 1977–1981 (New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1983). Justin Vaïsse, Zbigniew Brzezinski: America's Grand Strategist (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2018)

From October 20-23, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party held its Fourth Plenum in Beijing, marking an important moment as the Party sets the direction for China's development for the next five years. The session adopted recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan, endorsing Xi Jinping's goals of high-quality development, scientific and technological self-reliance, and strengthening national security in response to rising global instabilities. The Central Committee also announced the replacement of 11 members, the highest personnel turnover since 2017 amid an ongoing anti-corruption purge in the military. To discuss the plenum's outcomes, we are joined by Jonathan Czin. Jonathan is a leading expert on Chinese politics and foreign policy. He holds the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and is a fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. He previously led the intelligence community's analysis of Chinese politics and policy making at the CIA and also spent two years as director for China at the National Security Council during the Biden administration.  Timestamps:  [00:00] Start  [01:36] Why the Fourth Plenum Matters  [03:37] Key Takeaways: Policy Continuity and Political Purges  [05:07] Zhang Shengmin and Xi Jinping's Military Ambitions  [09:23] Signals and Adjustments in Economic Planning  [11:56] Previewing the 15th Five-Year Plan  [13:33] Xi Jinping's Growing Confidence  [17:42] Political Messaging and Choreography  [20:21] Language in the Communique: “Strategic Resolve”  [22:28] What to Expect from the Xi-Trump Summit  [26:38] Is Beijing Worried the Summit Could Backfire? 

In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu reviews the recent mass-purge of nine high-level PLA military officials and Politburo members, and the impact of Xi Jinping's continued military centralization on the PLA's warfighting capabilities. Next, Miles details the life and career of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Dr. Chen Ning Yang, and the formative role he played in support of the CCP's United Front strategy. Finally, Miles covers the latest dialogue following China's announced export controls for rare earth minerals, and responds to criticisms related to the important role of hawkish rhetoric in the US-China strategic competition landscape. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future.

8/18/2025 PODCAST Episode #2098 GUESTS: Sen. Doug Mastriano, Rabbi Menken On Johns Israel Trip + YOUR CALLS! at 1-888-480-JOHN (5646) and GETTR Live! @jfradioshow #GodzillaOfTruth #TruckingTheTruth

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with July's Politburo Meeting, including a date for the Fourth Plenum, more condemnations of “disorderly competition,” and signals that party leadership remains confident despite the tumultuous year. From there: The U.S.-China meetings in Stockholm, the latest moves from Trump to moderate on chips and possibly Taiwan, and debating a spate of reports suggesting that Trump is working toward a deal and a meeting with Xi and adopting a softer approach to China.

Daniel talks about the relative calmness on the tariff front in China compared to other economies, and the implications of Politburo meeting expected this monthSpeaker:  - Daniel Lam, Head of Equity Strategy, Standard Chartered Bank  For more of our latest market insights, visit Market views on-the-go or subscribe to Standard Chartered Wealth Insights on YouTube. 

Today, Les, Martha, and Jeffrey unpack the swirl of rumors that emerged from Beijing after Chinese President Xi Jinping disappeared from public view for several weeks in May. With whispers of internal dissent, missed Politburo meetings, and PLA shakeups, questions are mounting about the stability of Xi's leadership—and whether the Chinese Communist Party is entering a new phase of uncertainty.As China grapples with deepening economic troubles, demographic decline, and foreign policy stumbles, speculation over leadership succession and elite discontent is running high. Is this a genuine power shift in the making—or a loyalty test typical of CCP politics? Either way, the turbulence may mark a weaker and more unpredictable chapter for Beijing.Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows' discussions: https://nypost.com/2025/06/28/opinion/is-chinese-pres-xi-jinping-on-his-way-out/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=pasteboard_app https://www.wsj.com/opinion/where-was-xi-jinping-in-irans-hour-of-need-china-strikes-israel-us-5b04fdb3 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson @marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/oGng_UKfGB8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doc 1: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, A Student Demonstration of Sorts in Tiananmen Square (11/21/85) Doc 2: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Government Arrests Student Demonstrators (11/25/85) Doc 3: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, More Student Demonstrations (12/23/85) Doc 4: From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Student Demonstrations Update (12/24/86) Doc 5: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 1-87, China: Student Demonstrations (01/02/87) Doc 6: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 10-87, China: Hu Yaobang Resigns (01/17/87) Doc 7: Memorandum of Conversation, [George Bush] Meeting with Wan Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Member of the Politburo, People's Republic of China (05/23/89) Doc 8: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/0289, China: Stalemate Continues Doc 9: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/03/89, China: Police Use Tear Gas on Crowds Doc 10: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 27: Martial Law with Chinese Characteristics (06/03/89) Doc 11: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 28: Ten to Fifteen Thousand Armed Troops Stopped at City Perimeter by Human and Bus Barricades (06/03/89) Doc 12: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, and All Diplomatic and Consular Posts, TFCHO1: SITREP 1, 1700 EDT (06/03/89) Doc 13: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/04/89, China: Troops Open Fire Doc 14: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 32 (06/04/89) Doc 15: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 33 (06/04/89) Doc 16: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, China Task Force Situation Report No. 3 (06/04/89) Doc 17: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/05/89, China: After the Bloodbath Doc 18: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 35 (06/05/89) Doc 19: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/06/89, China: Descent into Chaos Doc 20: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 37 (06/06/89) Doc 21: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/07/89, China: Tense Standoff Continues Doc 22: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 38 (06/07/89) Doc 23: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/9/89, China: Uneasy Calm Doc 24: Department of State Intelligence Brief, "Current Situation in China: Background and Prospects" (Ca. 06/10/89) Doc 25: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/10/89, China: Mixed Signals on Purge Doc 26: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 49, (06/11/89) Doc 27: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/14/89, China: Back to Business, But Crackdown Continues Doc 28: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/15/89, China: Accusation over Fang Lizhi Doc 29: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/21/89, China: Swift Justice Doc 30: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Eyewitness Account of June 4 PLA Tank Crushing 11 Students and Related Early Morning Events in Tiananmen Square (06/22/89) Doc 31: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, What Happened on the Night of June 3/4? (06/22/89) Doc 32: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01: SITREP No. 65 (06/27/89) Doc 33: State Department document entitled "Themes" (06/29/89) Doc 34: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "Status Report on Situation in China as of 07/ 26/89" Doc 35: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "China: Aftermath of the Crisis" (07/27/89) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hour 1 Segment 1 Tony starts the show talking about Dan Bongino taking aim at James Comey. Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony talks about Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson speaking about the COVID-19 vaccine. Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony talks about Harvard derangement syndrome. Tony also talks about Olivia Julianna saying she knows how to reach young male voters for the Democratic party. Hour 1 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the first hour of the show by talking about Skittles getting an ingredient change and dropping an additive. Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking about Colorado Senator Michael Bennet talking about the tax cuts. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony plays the latest White House press briefing from Karoline Leavitt, as she talks about IEEPA and the big, beautiful bill. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony continues to play Leavitt’s White House press briefing as she talks about the Alien Enemies Act and answers questions. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about Jake Tapper saying it’s not a good idea to make money off former President Joe Biden’s mental health decline. Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony starts the final hour of the show talking with Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com to talk about the Biden-loving media ignoring the scandal that is the Politburo running the country when Biden couldn't. Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony talks about the possibility of a quicker peace deal between Russia/Ukraine than Israel/Hamas. Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony is joined by E.J. Antoni, chief economist of The Heritage Foundation, to talk about the latest trade policies and the ‘TACO’ claim. Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony talks more about Dan Bongino and the FBI reinvestigating Biden-era cases. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony starts the final hour of the show talking with Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com to talk about the Biden-loving media ignoring the scandal that is the Politburo running the country when Biden couldn't. Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony talks about the possibility of a quicker peace deal between Russia/Ukraine than Israel/Hamas. Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony is joined by E.J. Antoni, chief economist of The Heritage Foundation, to talk about the latest trade policies and the ‘TACO’ claim. Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony talks more about Dan Bongino and the FBI reinvestigating Biden-era cases. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony starts the final hour of the show talking with Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com to talk about the Biden-loving media ignoring the scandal that is the Politburo running the country when Biden couldn't.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this explosive segment, the host dives deep into the revelations buried in Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's reporting about the Biden administration. The discussion uncovers that the true scandal wasn't Biden's mental state—but rather who was truly wielding power behind the scenes. With unelected aides and family members allegedly making critical decisions without cabinet consultation, and damning claims about FBI censorship and a Hunter Biden money laundering cover-up, this episode lays out the disturbing portrait of a White House controlled by what insiders dubbed "The Politburo." Featuring quotes, whistleblower testimony, and suppressed findings, this analysis suggests the American presidency may have been compromised by a small circle of unelected and

The media hid Joe's decline to cover up the real secret: who was actually running the country. They called themselves the Politburo, and for 4 years, the country was essentially run by the Chinese Communist Party. (Please subscribe & share) Sources: https://nypost.com/2025/05/25/us-news/the-politburo-members-who-were-really-the-biden-white-house-according-to-original-sin/ IRS Whistleblowers interview: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1851277287221817514 https://nypost.com/2025/05/25/opinion/fbi-agents-who-covered-up-hunter-bidens-laptop-in-2020-must-not-get-away-with-it/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10652127/Hunter-Biden-helped-secure-millions-funding-military-biotech-research-program-Ukraine.html https://nypost.com/2025/02/26/media/fired-cbs-news-reporter-catherine-herridge-reveals-photos-of-files-on-hunter-biden-covid-origins-seized-by-network/

In this explosive episode, Tim and Lee dive into jaw-dropping revelations from Jake Tapper's new book and a bombshell New York Post report alleging that Hunter Biden and a small inner circle were the real power behind the White House during Joe Biden's presidency. Dubbed the "Politburo," this group allegedly made key decisions as Biden's cognitive health declined. The episode examines how the FBI helped suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story, concealed money laundering allegations, and possibly enabled this quiet transfer of power. With newly unredacted FBI chat logs, insider sources, and fierce media censorship exposed, this episode raises serious questions about corruption, accountability, and who was really in charge of America.

In this explosive episode, Tim and Lee dive into jaw-dropping revelations from Jake Tapper's new book and a bombshell New York Post report alleging that Hunter Biden and a small inner circle were the real power behind the White House during Joe Biden's presidency. Dubbed the "Politburo," this group allegedly made key decisions as Biden's cognitive health declined. The episode examines how the FBI helped suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story, concealed money laundering allegations, and possibly enabled this quiet transfer of power. With newly unredacted FBI chat logs, insider sources, and fierce media censorship exposed, this episode raises serious questions about corruption, accountability, and who was really in charge of America.

In this bombshell episode, the hosts uncover explosive claims that Hunter Biden wasn't just a bystander — he was a key player in the so-called “Politburo” allegedly running the White House. Drawing from recent reports by the New York Post and Axios, they name the five central figures said to wield real power — including Hunter and First Lady Jill Biden — amid growing concerns over Joe Biden's mental decline. The segment also dives into shocking revelations from newly unredacted FBI texts showing agents knew Hunter's laptop was part of a criminal money laundering case — even as they urged social media platforms to censor the story in 2020. With ties to China, Russia, and Ukraine in play, the episode raises alarming questions about corruption, censorship, and national security. Buckle up — this is just the beginning.

In this jam-packed Tuesday edition of The Daily Herold, Jon Herold dives into a whirlwind of hot-button stories, headlined by bombshell revelations about President Biden's cognitive decline and the unelected inner circle, dubbed the “Politburo”, allegedly running the White House. Herold breaks down the implications for constitutional authority, elder abuse allegations, and the legitimacy of Biden-era policies signed with an auto-pen. Trump's latest moves also dominate the show, from his pardon of Sheriff Scott Jenkins to threats of defunding California over trans athletes, nuking Harvard's federal contracts, and tightening student visa protocols via social media vetting. Jon adds his own firebrand critique of foreign student priorities and bloated education spending. Other stories include Trump Media's $2.5B Bitcoin treasury plan, the FBI reopening high-profile cases (like the Supreme Court leak and the J6 pipe bomber), and RFK Jr. axing COVID vaccine guidance for healthy children and pregnant women. Herold also warns of AI's existential risk, revisits the Amazonian tribe suing over porn allegations, and roasts a viral Starbucks meltdown. As always, it's equal parts humor, outrage, and sharp analysis, wrapped in Herold's signature no-nonsense delivery.

The United States and China reached a 90-day truce in the trade war when their representatives met in Geneva in early May. Both sides agreed to temporarily roll back tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers. President Trump announced that a “total reset” in US-China relations had been achieved. Beyond the hyperbole, the two sides agreed to establish a mechanism on economics and trade and launch negotiations to address trade imbalances and other problems. Whether a deal is reached, what it might look like, and what it might include, remains to be seen. The future trajectory of US-China relations, overall, is still unclear.This episode highlights a Chinese perspective on the US-China bilateral relationship, including on the recent trade talks and the factors that will influence US-China relations going forward. Sun Chenghao, a fellow and head of the U.S.-Europe program at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), and council member of the Chinese Association of American Studies joins host Bonnie Glaser for this episode.  Timestamps[00:00] Start[01:39] What does Trump want from China? [04:29] What view does Dr. Sun hold?[05:00] Assessing the US-China Geneva Talks[09:21] Feasibility of a Broad US-China Trade Deal[13:23] Implications of Trump's “Unification” Comment[16:46] Importance of the Strategic Channel[20:47] Declining America, Rising China[23:27] Shift in US Policy Toward Alliances[27:49] The Future of US-China Relations

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

Explosive allegations regarding who was running the country during Joe Biden's presidency, border czar Tom Homan speaks to Mary Margaret Olohan on why he needs more money, and the Supreme Court sides with a Maine legislator who was speaking out about transgender policies. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.Good Ranchers: Visit goodranchers.com and use code WIRE for an exclusive offer.Vanta: Get $1,000 off Vanta at vanta.com/morningwire.Balance of Nature: Go to balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer PLUS get a free bottle of Fiber and Spice.

Jim is back and opens Wednesday's 3 Martini Lunch by sharing the saga of a big oak tree that landed on his house over the weekend—and who he blames for it. Then Jim and Greg dig into a victory for free speech and common sense at the U.S. Supreme Court, the good and the frustrating parts of the GOP's Big Beautiful Bill, and more insight on who was really running the country while Biden was supposedly president.First, after Jim details the unnerving tree incident, they cheer the U.S. Supreme Court for ending the punishment aimed at Maine state lawmaker Laurel Libby. Democrats barred her from debating or voting after she posted a photo of a male athlete winning a girls' sporting event on Facebook. But while the court got it right, Jim explains why he's still alarmed by the verdict.Next, they dig into the good, the bad, and the uncertainty surrounding the GOP's Big Beautiful Bill to make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and add many other provisions. There is a lot to like in the bill but there is also some disappointment concerning the tax code and what blue state Republicans want to include before supporting the legislation.Finally, they wince as the new book on Joe Biden's cognitive decline reveals the figures who were really running the country while Biden infirmities got worse and worse. And Jim stresses that none of these supposedly breathtaking revelations are actually news. It's just that some reporters and political operatives are confirming what we already knew now that there's no political benefit to covering for Biden.Please visit our great sponsors:It's free, online, and easy to start—no strings attached. Enroll in Understanding Capitalism with Hillsdale College. Visit https://hillsdale.edu/MartiniThis podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. We're all better with help. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get 10% off your first month.

A.M. Edition for Dec. 3. Ukraine's president shifts his rhetoric about what it would take to end the war with Russia, but the WSJ's Laurence Norman says NATO is unlikely to offer Kyiv what it wants. Plus, a judge rejects Elon Musk's multi-billion dollar Tesla pay package for a second time. And the WSJ's Chun Han Wong explains how China's Politburo is prescribing fewer meetings and less busywork to save the economy. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices