This week, we bring you an episode from Feet in 2 Worlds and its series Immigrants in a Divided Country, which explores the current political landscape from the perspective of immigrants.
In this personal audio essay, writer and audio producer Boen Wang goes looking for answers. He always thought his mom—an immigrant from Mainland China —was brainwashed by the Chinese Communist Party. His mom, on the other hand, thinks he’s been brainwashed by the New York Times and CNN. To break the deadlock Boen interviews his mom about the evolution of her political beliefs—which are on the opposite end of the spectrum from his.
As he learns more about his family and himself, Boen discovers the surprising history and etymology of the term “brainwashing”—which goes back to the last Chinese empire and is deeply rooted in American Cold War-era anxieties about the rise of communism. In the end, he emerges with a new understanding of the use and misuse of “brainwashing” and shares his thoughts on how people with opposing views can live with their differences.
What can we learn from early democracies?
Building better bureaucracy
Tim Miller on why Republicans stuck with Trump
"Democracy '24" on the debate stage
When the People Decide: Libraries as civic spaces
A deep dive on parties and political reform
Democracy Paradox: The democratic crisis you haven't heard about
Village SquareCast: Can curiosity save us?
Democracy-ish: Can America's democracy be saved?
Democracy needs serious people
Gen Z's fight for democracy
Think Inclusive: Facing the Anti-CRT Movement
Is America in a third reconstruction?
Between democracy and autocracy
Living in a fragmented democracy
Harnessing the power of juries
Civic learning amid the culture wars
Finding the "we" in civic engagement
Why politics makes us depressed — and what we can do about it
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
City Manager Unfiltered
Potencial Americano
The ASIC Podcast
The Chris Plante Show
Strict Scrutiny