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Will Xi Jinping's Maoist Vision Cause China's Collapse? | Robert Suettinger
Robert L. Suettinger examines China’s political evolution, from Mao’s devastating Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution to Xi Jinping’s reversal of market reforms. He underscores the Chinese people’s persistent desire for freedom, countered by the regime’s repressive surveillance and control.Exploring Hu Yaobang’s legacy and the Tiananmen Square protests, Suettinger critiques Beijing’s economic policies and surveillance tactics. He questions the sustainability of China’s trajectory, weighing its demographic crisis and military ambitions in the Western Pacific, offering insights into its precarious path. Robert Lee Suettinger is a historian of contemporary politics in the People’s Republic of China. He spent nearly 24 years in the intelligence and foreign policy bureaucracies of the US federal government. As well as writing a book on the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Suettinger’s most recent one is entitled The Conscience Of The Party: Hu Yaobang, China’ Communist Reformer.
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Why Climate Fanaticism Is Killing Us | Lord Matthew Ridley
In this interview, Lord Ridley examines the pervasive pessimism shaping climate narratives within the media and academia. He addresses the transformative power of affordable energy for developing nations and warns against beliefs about energy and climate that ignore the needs of those in poverty.Ridley also criticises the politicisation of science in both climate and Covid modelling, arguing it distorts evidence, suppresses debate, and drives harmful policies that undermine economic and social progress. He urges a shift towards optimism driven by innovation and evidence, advocating for rational energy policies and transparent scientific inquiry to foster prosperity and address global challenges effectively.Lord Matthew Ridley is a British science writer, journalist, and hereditary peer with a background in zoology and a distinguished career spanning academia, business, and public service. He holds a DPhil from Oxford University and is best known for his best-selling books on science, economics, and human progress, including The Rational Optimist, Genome, and How Innovation Works. Ridley served as chairman of the UK-based bank Northern Rock and was a member of the House of Lords from 2013 to 2021, where he contributed to debates on science, technology, and innovation policy. This interview was filmed at ARC London 2025.
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The End of Weakness: Trump’s Stand Against Iran | Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs
John Anderson and Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs examine the geopolitical consequences of the conflict between Israel and Iran, highlighting the United States’ role in shaping global security and the future of the Middle East. They discuss how President Trump’s decisive military strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has undermined Tehran's influence and reasserted US supremacy in the region.The conversation reflects on the rise of anti-Semitism, the misguided pursuit of a two-state solution, and the importance of standing with strong allies like Israel. It underscores how pivotal a strong US response in the Middle East is to a strategy of deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly with regard to Taiwan. Dr. Heinrichs criticises Australia's reluctance to strengthen its own defence capabilities in this context, expressing the hope that Australia will choose to collaborate more closely with the United States in an era of mounting global uncertainty.Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and the director of its Keystone Defense Initiative. Dr. Heinrichs specialises in US national defense policy with a focus on strategic deterrence. Dr. Heinrichs is an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics, where she teaches nuclear deterrence theory, and is also a contributing editor of Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy.
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Religious Freedom: The New Blasphemy | Paul Coleman, Kristen Waggoner & John Steenhof
John joins Paul Coleman, John Steenhof and Kristen Waggoner for a powerful discussion on the state of religious freedom in the West. Together, they explore the rise of hate speech laws, the weaponisation of anti-discrimination regimes, the erosion of conscience rights, and the emergence of a new secular orthodoxy that punishes dissent. Drawing on major legal cases across Europe, the US, and Australia, the panel reveals how fundamental freedoms are being redefined — and what must be done to reclaim them.Paul Coleman is a British lawyer and Executive Director of ADF International, a legal advocacy organisation based in Vienna. He specialises in international human rights and European law, and has worked on more than 20 cases before the European Court of Human Rights. Coleman has also authored submissions to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the UN Human Rights Committee, and various national courts. Kristen Waggoner is CEO, President, and General Counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s largest legal organisation defending religious liberty and free speech. She has argued several landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases, including Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative, securing major victories for freedom of expression. Waggoner also oversees ADF’s international work, advancing human rights and defending the rule of law around the world. John Steenhof is the Principal Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Alliance, a legal firm dedicated to defending religious freedom and free speech in Australia. With a background in commercial law and non-profit leadership, he now focuses on protecting the rights of individuals to live out their faith without legal penalty. Sign up to John's newsletter here: https://johnanderson.net.au/contact/--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."And stay right up to date with all the conversations by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://johnanderson.net.au/contact/Follow John on X: https://x.com/JohnAndersonACFollow John on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnandersonacFollow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnandersonac/Support the channel: https://johnanderson.net.au/support/Website: https://johnanderson.net.au/--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Donate to HRLA: https://www.hrla.org.au/donateDonate to ADF: https://adfinternational.org/donateFollow ADF on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliancedefendingfreedom/Follow ADF on X: https://x.com/ADFLegalFollow Paul on X: https://x.com/Paul_B_ColemanFollow Paul on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-coleman-41568313a/Follow Kristen on X: https://x.com/KristenWaggonerFollow Kristen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenkwaggoner/
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Iran’s Nuclear Threat, Trump’s Choice and Global Stability | John Lee
John Lee examines the critical decision President Trump faces on Iran’s nuclear program, underscoring its profound implications for global stability. He critiques Australia’s passive foreign policy, urging a robust defense strategy to counter emerging threats.Building on this, Lee examines power shifts in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific, pressing Australia to strengthen alliances with the U.S. and Japan. He warns of China’s rapid military buildup and calls for strategic resolve to secure national interests, advocating for bold action to restore Australia’s influence an increasingly volatile world.Dr John Lee is a Professor and Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute. He is also a senior fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre and Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. John’s articles have been published in leading policy and academic journals in the United States, Asia, and Australia.
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