This week, Eric is joined first by Mark Clifford, the president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, as they discuss the National Security Law trial of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. After numerous delays, the trial has finally started. What charges is Jimmy facing, of which he will certainly be convicted? What comes after those convictions, both in regard to the cause of freeing Jimmy Lai and the cause of freedom in Hong Kong? What significance do the calls from the U.K. and American governments for Lai to be released hold? Then Eric is joined by Noah Gould and Emily Zanotti to discuss the Satanic Temple’s statue of the pagan idol Baphomet in the Iowa State House. Should such displays be prohibited? If so, on what grounds? What does the legal jurisprudence say on matters like this? Does the First Amendment require indulging efforts to troll people of faith? And finally, Sam Bankman-Fried was indicted and convicted on multiple federal charges related to fraud perpetrated at his cryptocurrency exchange FTX. His adopted philosophy of effective altruism has also come in for criticism in the wake of the conviction. The group discusses Noah’s piece in Fusion magazine on the topic.
The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom | Full Film
The Trial of Jimmy Lai | Isaac Willour, Acton Institute
Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon’s trial begins | BBC
Britain calls for Jimmy Lai’s release as Hong Kong trial begins | Reuters
Trial of Jimmy Lai Under the Hong Kong National Security Law | US State Department
Satanic Temple says part of display in Iowa Capitol ‘destroyed beyond repair’ | Des Moines Register
Effective Altruism’s Reign Should End with Sam Bankman-Fried’s | Noah Gould, Fusion