Reflections on Early U.S.-China Relations through Personal Experiences

Michael Luo, an executive editor of The New Yorker, joins the show as guest host. He sits down with Peter Hessler, a staff writer who spent more than a decade living in and writing about China. They discuss the Sinophobic history behind the Trump Administration’s threats to revoke Chinese students’ visas, how the COVID pandemic reshaped the U.S.-China relationship, and how escalating tensions between the United States and China stand to change the global order. 

This week’s reading:

• “The Victims of the Trump Administration’s China-Bashing,” by Michael Luo
• “The Uncertain Future of a Chinese Student at Harvard,” by Peter Hessler
• “Looking for the National Guard in Los Angeles,” by  Emily Witt
• “The Farmers Harmed by the Trump Administration,” by Peter Slevin
• “The Private Citizens Who Want to Help Trump Deport Migrants,” by Jessica Pishko
• “An Inside Look at Gaza’s Chaotic New Aid System,” by Isaac Chotine

To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com.

The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.