Why Modern Intellectuals Praise Mao

Xi explores indoctrination, lack of historical knowledge, and why some Western intellectuals romanticize Maoist ideas.

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Episode notes

I sat down with anti-communist author Xi Van Fleet to learn about her upbringing under Mao’s Cultural Revolution and her concerns for the trajectory of America. Immigrating from China 40 years ago, she is a blunt critic of modern progressivism and sheds light on the pervasive Marxist influences in our politics, culture, and language—even among conservatives. Xi got involved in public advocacy following the explosion of leftist chaos during the 2020 BLM protests, recognizing echoes of the Red Guard reign of terror that dominated her childhood. An enthusiastic proponent of American values, she offers a stark warning against the communist ideology animating politicians like Zohran Mamdani.

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Follow Xi Van Fleet on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/XVanFleet?s=20

Order a copy of Xi’s new book “Made in America”: https://a.co/d/bVwCieI

Order a copy of “Mao’s America”: https://a.co/d/2Oes5xY

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Outline:

[0:00] Why 2020 drove Xi to activism

[12:22] Growing up during the Cultural Revolution

[21:56] How did Mao maintain control over China?

[33:08] Recruiting and radicalizing the Red Guard

[41:36] The Cultural Revolution was pure insanity

[56:02] Why Mao dismantled the Red Guard