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.
Public health depends on the Census
Free and fair elections during a pandemic
COVID-19 exposes democracy’s tensions
Populism is not a monolith
Swamp Stories: Cashing In
The promise and peril of early voting
Breaking down Black politics
Does Congress promote partisan gridlock?
How states are working to keep your vote safe
Primaries, parties, and the public
The connective tissue of democracy
How the Tea Party and the Resistance are upending politics
A 2020 preview
Grassroots organizing to “reboot” democracy [rebroadcast]
E.J. Dionne on making America empathetic again [rebroadcast]
Is it possible to overdo democracy?
Chris Beem on democratic humility and virtues
Next-generation democracy
The democracy rebellion happening in states across the U.S.
A roundtable on impeachment, institutions, and legitimacy
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