Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist
Episode 111: Sen. Tom Cotton on DOGE, TikTok, and "Seven Things You Can't Say About China"
Apr 3, 2025
Sen. Tom Cotton, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas and author of "Seven Things You Can't Say About China," discusses a range of pressing topics. He shares insights on how DOGE and efficient spending reforms can combat waste and fraud. Cotton highlights the dangers of TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party's influence on American youth, specifically addressing the fentanyl crisis. He also critiques activist judges undermining national security and emphasizes the urgent need to confront the CCP's global ambitions and its impact on U.S. interests.
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Quick takeaways
- Sen. Tom Cotton highlights the CCP's aggressive global posture and military expansion as a significant threat to U.S. interests.
- He emphasizes the urgent need for U.S. policies that counteract the CCP's cultural influences and manipulation through platforms like TikTok.
Deep dives
The Threat of the CCP
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is perceived as a significant threat to U.S. interests, particularly with its practices and policies that are increasingly aggressive on the global stage. The CCP operates as a true communist regime, characterized by oppression and human rights violations against its citizens, including genocide against minorities. This authoritarian approach shapes China's behavior internationally, and it has been suggested that the U.S. cannot expect to negotiate or collaborate with such a regime in a conventional manner. Understanding China’s true nature as an 'evil empire' is critical for Americans to recognize the extent of the challenges posed by the CCP.
