S5 E15: Xi Jinping, North Korea & Family Separation: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
16 Sep 2024 (2 days ago)
Donald Trump and North Korea
- Donald Trump claimed that there is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea after his summit with Kim Jong-un.
- Trump admired Kim Jong-un's leadership, stating that Kim's people sit up at attention when he speaks and that he wants his people to do the same.
Jeff Sessions and Immigration
- Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their parents at the US border in the last 6 weeks due to a policy shift enacted by Jeff Sessions.
- Jeff Sessions used the Bible to defend his actions in enforcing the law.
Xi Jinping's Consolidation of Power
- Xi Jinping consolidated power by having his political doctrine, "Xi Jinping Thought", enshrined in the Party's Constitution.
- Xi Jinping's consolidation of power was aided by his efforts to cultivate a cult of personality, with media referring to him as "Xi Dada" or "Uncle Xi."
- Xi Jinping cultivates a "man of the people" image, with his origin story emphasizing his upbringing in a rural village that has since become a tourist attraction.
- Xi Jinping has overseen significant economic growth in China, with GDP increasing nearly 10% annually over the past 30 years, lifting over 800 million people out of poverty.
- Xi Jinping initiated the Belt and Road Initiative, a trillion-dollar infrastructure project spanning over 60 countries, aiming to reshape global trade with China at its center.
- Xi Jinping is sensitive about his resemblance to Winnie the Pooh, leading to online censorship of the character.
China's Authoritarian Practices
- China is developing a social credit score system that will assess citizens on a range of behaviors, potentially restricting access to travel, housing, loans, and high-speed internet.
- China has incarcerated an estimated 800,000 Muslims in re-education camps, aiming to suppress their religious beliefs and reshape their identities.
- Liu Xiaobo's wife, Liu Xia, was under house arrest.
- China is becoming more authoritarian as it expands onto the world stage.
- China uses its economic leverage to silence criticism, even when criticism is warranted.