4 chapters across the catalog
Shanghai COVID-19 Lockdown, Resident Protests, and Neighbor Surveillance
Shanghai's 25 million residents face a strict three-week lockdown, leading to rare public confrontations with police in hazmat suits. Authorities are reportedly converting schools and apartments into quarantine facilities. The hosts compare the current situation to historical neighbor-on-neighbor surveillance described in the book "Life and Death in Shanghai."
The book Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng is recommended as a factual account of what happens when "creeps" gain power in a society. It is compared to Sinclair Lewis's fictional work It Can't Happen Here, illustrating the rise of authoritarianism and the suppression of dissent.
TSA Reclassification and Fascist State Literature
The TSA has officially reclassified screeners as "Transportation Security Officers," a move the hosts argue is intended to give them the appearance of law enforcement authority. They recommend Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here and Nien Cheng's Life and Death in Shanghai as essential reading for understanding the rise of fascist and communist states.
Adam Curry shares an anecdote about a UK train conductor attempting to confiscate his daughter's ATM card over a minor ID dispute, illustrating the "petty authority" prevalent in modern society. The hosts recommend the books *It Can't Happen Here* by Sinclair Lewis and *Life and Death in Shanghai* as relevant reading. The show concludes with a reminder of the upcoming Sunday "Church of No Agenda" broadcast.
