Good snowy morning from Andy and Tammy, while Jay wears shorts!

This week, we talk about cultures of luck, public schools, tankieism, Myanmar, and Corky Lee.

2:15 – Andy explains the freaky, punny “Bling Empire.”

12:12 – Our inevitable takes on GameStop, Robinhood, and the global, neoliberal casino of our financial system. For more: stories by Noah Kulwin, Kate Aronoff, and Doug Henwood. Andy recommends this episode of Slate Money podcast.

46:58 – David Brooks gives us hives, but so does most of the coverage of school reopenings. Why this anti-union, anti-parent campaign—and in the name of “Black and brown kids”? For more: a sharp analysis by Rachel Cohen; NYT’s recompense for Brooks’s editorial.

1:07:10 – We respond to listeners who think we’re too dismissive of pro-China takes as tankieism.

1:16:11 – In Tammy’s sad news corner: What’s happening in Myanmar?

1:21:31 – Another preventable COVID-19 death hits close to home. Rest in peace and power, Corky Lee! For more: Hua Hsu’s tribute and the NYT obit.

** 1:24:43 – A way to help us keep going—and with better sound: We’re launching a TTSG Patreon! Please sign on as a supporter, and tell all your friends! **

Thanks for tuning in and supporting us.

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Quick plug: Andy helped organize a series of talks this month by professional historians but intended for public audiences. The theme is “decolonizing decolonization”: extending discussions about decolonization from Euro-America to looking at experiences in the “rest” of the world.

Tomorrow (2/3) at lunchtime (ET) is Adom Getachew from U. Chicago, talking about Black internationalism from the 50s to 70s (apropos Black history month). Register and check it out!

Next week (2/10): Turkey and Latin America and China

Following week (2/17): China, India, Xinjiang, and Kashmir

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