Air Date: 6–10-2026

Today we explore how Taiwan's own people are stuck between the US and China. Fewer and fewer of them want to rejoin China but their faith in America is sinking just as fast as Trump treats them as a bargaining chip. Their own leaders are split on how to respond. And the place that makes most of the world's advanced chips has almost no seat at the table where its future is being decided.

Direct Download

Transcript

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email [email protected]

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

TOP TAKES

KP 1: Xi, Putin & Trump - Who Really Runs the World? | To the Point - DW News - Air Date 5-21-26

KP 2: Can There Ever Really Be “one China?” - Vox - Air Date 5-28-26

KP 3: How the US Is Trying to Challenge China's Critical Mineral Dominance Part 1 - The China in Africa Podcast - Air Date 5-28-26

KP 4: Why Did Trump Take Elon Musk to China? - Paul Krugman - Air Date 5-14-26

KP 5: Why This Island Could Trigger World War 3 - Johnny Harris - Air Date 12-18-25

KP 6: China Will Never Beat Taiwan, Here’s Why - Maxinomics - Air Date 3-37-26

(00:53:26) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The Stories Nations Tell Will Destroy Us_ China, Taiwan, and Trump

My commentaries on YouTube - Share them!

DEEPER DIVES

(01:04:39) SECTION A: THE MAKING OF TAIWAN

A1: The Taiwan Conflict, Explained - Ryan Chapman - Air Date 10-13-22

A2: Inside China’s Plan to Take Over Taiwan “peacefully” | If You're Listening - ABC NEWS In-depth - Air Date 11-28-25

(01:24:47) SECTION B: THE MULTIPOLAR WORLDVIEW

B1: China Rising Part 1: How the Unipolar World Is Ending - Beyond the Ballot Box - Air Date 2-10-26

B2: US Unipolarity Vs China's Multipolarity: Whose Vision Will Shape the New Global Order?

B3: China Rising Part 2: Taiwan, Xinjiang, Sovereignty and Human Rights - Beyond the Ballot Box

(01:52:00) SECTION C: TAIWAN IN THE CROSSHAIRS

C1: What's Behind the Record-breaking $11 Billion US-Taiwan Arms Deal? - DW News - Air Date 12-19-25

C2: Is Taiwan Moving Away From the US? - TLDR News Global - Air Date 4-20-26

(02:09:55) SECTION D: THE SUMMIT AND ITS FALLOUT

D1: Xi Warns Trump of Potential "Conflict" Over Taiwan in Beijing Summit on Iran, Trade, Tech & More - Democracy Now! - Air Date 5-14-26

D2: Trump's FAILED Meeting With China's Xi Jinping Was Humiliating - Pod Save the World - Air Date 5-21-26

D3: Strait to the Abyss - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 6-2-26

D4: Xi Hosts Putin in Beijing, Cementing China-Russia Alliance After Trump's Visit - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 5-20-26

(02:39:44) SECTION E: THE RESOURCE WAR AND AFRICA

E1: How the US Is Trying to Challenge China's Critical Mineral Dominance Part 2 - The China in Africa Podcast - Air Date 5-28-26

E2: Why 3 African States Said No to Taiwan - The China in Africa Podcast - Air Date 4-23-26

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at [email protected]