The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/

UK Column founder and co-editor Brian Gerrish tells his powerful story of how he felt compelled to set up UK Column after uncovering fraud and corruption in his home city.

After leaving the British Royal Navy, Brian embarked on a life in ‘civvy street’ setting up his own business. However, he soon realised life in the UK was not what he thought. He felt compelled to expose the fraud and corruption he saw around him, and UK Column was born. 

It was not an easy journey — backlash and threats followed — but Brian documents the coincidences and synchronicities that drew him to this path and kept him on it for the last 20 years. 

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/

Jerm and Jeff Berwick, an anarcho-capitalist entrepreneur who's built a platform challenging fiat systems and exploring consciousness through The Dollar Vigilante, describe existence as a 3D video game where consciousness drives the creation and experience of diverse life forms and realities, portraying folks as unique players in a multi-dimensional universe who learn by embodying various characters across dimensions, tackling both highs and lows along the way.

It’s akin to simulation theory, but not quite.

Jeff stresses how we can dream up and mould our own worlds, spotlighting the immense, tangled web of it all and how grasping our part in the game amps up the whole adventure.

Website: https://dollarvigilante.com

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/



Mike Robinson, Ben Rubin, Diane Rasmussen and Sandi Adams with today's UK Column News. 

00:00 Welcome

00:42 UKHSA: Withholding vital jab data

04:59 Impact Economy: Turning government into a profit engine for international capital

19:05 Assisted Dying: Wave of death on its way to the UK from Canada

28:43 Check out UKC’s website and support our work

29:44 Information Integrity: COP30 fear the truth getting out

45:40 Young Minds: The frontline in the battle for the future of our county

51:27 5G: Rollout auction results

55:33 Solar Farm: Foreign firms want thousands of acres of UK countryside

The UK Column is an independent media organisation. It receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners. If you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.


🌐 Explore our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org


💪 Support our independent journalism https://support.ukcolumn.org


🛍️ Check out our shop https://shop.ukcolumn.org

In this Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha speaks with Angelica Ong, a pro-nuclear and political activist based in Taiwan. They discuss her dramatic political shift, and her pragmatic analysis of Taiwan's energy crisis and precarious geopolitical position between the US and China.

Angelica Ong is a former business reporter and pastry chef from Los Angeles. She explains her dramatic political evolution from a supporter of Taiwan's ruling DPP to a pragmatic voice who calls for a reassessment of cross-strait relations. We explore the roots of Taiwan's anti-nuclear energy policy, why she believes it is a catastrophic failure, and how this led her to question the DPP's governance. Angelica provides a rare, on-the-ground perspective on the shifting political tides in Taiwan, the growing disillusionment among youth, and why she believes peaceful reunification with China is not only possible but may be the most rational path forward for Taiwan's survival and prosperity. This is a crucial conversation for anyone wanting to understand the real Taiwan, beyond western media headlines.

(Timestamps)
00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - Angelica’s Background: From LA Pastry Chef to Taiwan Journalist
05:30 - The Offshore Wind Energy "Bonanza" and Its Problems
09:45 - The Pivot to Pro-Nuclear Activism
15:30 - Why is the DPP So Anti-Nuclear? The Historical Roots
22:45 - Angelica’s Political Transformation: From DPP Supporter to Critic
30:10 - The "Red Line": The Backlash for Acknowledging China's Rise
35:50 - Taiwan's Missed Opportunity in the 1990s
42:15 - The Shifting Balance of Power: Taiwan as a "Lifeboat" Adrift
48:30 - The Rise of Pragmatic Voices in Taiwan (e.g., Jim Boss)
55:10 - Economic Stagnation and the Bleak Future for Taiwanese Youth
01:01:00 - The Significance of KMT Chairwoman Jen Lee-Wen
01:05:45 - Can Taiwan Achieve a Peaceful Settlement?
01:10:30 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find Angelica Online

(Key Takeaways)
Energy Policy as a Catalyst: Angelica's shift began with her work in offshore wind energy. She discovered the DPP's plan to replace reliable nuclear power was technically and economically unfeasible for Taiwan. This led her to pro-nuclear activism.
Ideology vs. Governance: The DPP's anti-nuclear stance is deeply tied to its founding identity and the pro-democracy movement, making it a "deep value" that is difficult to change, even though evidence shows it is bad policy.

A Dramatic Political Shift: Angelica explains her journey from being a "Tsai Ing-wen fan girl" to a critic. She was triggered by the DPP's disingenuous energy policy, which opened the door to question their narrative on history, governance, and cross-strait relations.

The Geopolitical Reality Check: Angelica argues that Taiwan's status quo is an illusion. The power balance has shifted decisively in China's favour. The US is no longer a reliable "mothership" to protect Taiwan.

A Generation of Disillusionment: Taiwanese youth face stagnant wages, unaffordable housing, and dim economic prospects. This causes a political earthquake and makes them more open to reassess the relationship with mainland China.

The Path to Peace: Angelica advocates for a pragmatic approach: acknowledge the reality of China's rise, dissolve historical grudges from the civil war, and negotiate from a desire to seek to preserve Taiwan's way of life, thus avoiding a fate like Ukraine.

On Twitter/X: https://x.com/AngelicaOung

https://taipology.substack.com/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@TaipologyAngelica

Related Reading: Derecognition

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org

What is really happening in Venezuela right now? In this urgent episode, we go straight to the source with Caracas-based journalist and researcher Diego Sequera. We break down the shocking escalation of US military aggression, the bogus "narco-terrorism" justification, and what the massive US naval buildup in the Caribbean means for the region.
Diego provides an exclusive on-the-ground perspective, explaining why the US is pushing for regime change now, how Venezuela is preparing, and the complex roles of China, Russia, and Iran. We also dive into the wider geopolitical picture: the targeting of Colombia, the "re-hemisphering" strategy of Project 2025, and why this is all part of a new, aggressive Monroe Doctrine aimed at countering multipolar influence in Latin America.
⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction: The US Military Buildup Against Venezuela
02:23 - Who is Diego Sequera? Introduction to Misión Verdad
03:21 - Why Now? The US Rationale for Escalation
07:03 - From Bluff to Reality: Assessing the US Military Threat
11:54 - The "Narco-Terrorism" Lie & Why Colombia is Also a Target
15:38 - Countering Chinese & Russian Influence: The Neo-Monroe Doctrine
21:25 - China's Role in Venezuela: Trade, Oil, and Sanctions
27:28 - The Chevron Waiver: US Hypocrisy on Venezuelan Oil
33:45 - How Can China, Russia, and Iran Assist Venezuela?
41:18 - The "Syria Fetish": US Plans for Airstrikes & Insurgency
47:36 - The Reality in Caracas: Calm Streets, No Insurrection
51:10 - Regional Reactions: Trinidad, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina
59:35 - The Gran Colombia Vision: US Aggression Unites Old Allies
01:04:12 - The Panama Canal, BlackRock, and Control of Trade
01:09:45 - The Parallel to Nigeria: A Blueprint for Resource Grab
01:15:30 - The FAFO Rhetoric: Cognitive Decline of a Falling Empire
01:20:18 - The AI & Energy Nexus: Why the US Needs Venezuelan Oil
01:25:55 - The "Century of Humiliation" & US Hubris
01:30:45 - Final Thoughts: Imperialism Comes Home to Roost
🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Misión Verdad: https://misionverdad.com (Primary source of analysis in Spanish)
Diego Sequera on Twitter: https://x.com/DiegoSequera
Concept: The "Roosevelt Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine
Concept: "Re-hemisphering" from Project 2025
Book: Discourse on Colonialism by Aimé Césaire
💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
This is a complex and fast-moving situation.
Were you aware of the full scale of the US military pivot against Venezuela?
What do you think is the most likely outcome of this escalation?
How should other Latin American countries respond to protect their sovereignty?
💼 CONNECT WITH US:
• Twitter: https://x.com/CarlZha
#Venezuela #Geopolitics #USMilitary #MonroeDoctrine #LatinAmerica #NoWar #China #MultipolarWorld #DiegoSequera

The UK Column is an independent media organisation. It receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners. If you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.


🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org


💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org


🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org

Jerm, Mike, and Charles discuss the importance of building parallel structures to create resilience in communities. They emphasise the need for supportive networks and relationships, particularly with local farmers, to ensure self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on existing systems.

The idea that we need to build parallel structures for resilience, while creating supportive networks, is essential for community strength. When we develop relationships with local farmers, it can ensure food security. Using cash can help foster independent networks.

Aim for self-sufficiency to minimise dependence on larger systems. These concepts are simple to describe but are a challenge to implement. Engagement with local communities fosters resilience. A priority on relationships is key to long-term sustainability. Supportive networks provide aid during crises. Community building is a proactive approach to addressing challenges.

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/ 💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/ 🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/00:00 Intro00:37 UK Gaza: Controversy over NHS treating injured Palestinian war children11:21 WAR: The West pokes The Bear. South America update26:40 Ukraine Corruption: Governments throw money, who’s catching it?34:47 Epstein Files/Trump: Latest analysis as 20,000 pages released by U.S. Congress41:43 Check out UKC’s website and support our work43:36 Online Safety: Ofcom monitoring VPN usage, so it can control it.46:28 SMART Cities: ‘Digital Government’ touted as ideal governance tool57:00 UK Media Control: BBC apologies to Trump. Telegraph newspaper takeover

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.


🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org


💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org


🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org

 Hakeem Anwar is a former software engineer. He became an activist during the pandemic so that he could challenge the rollout of surveillance technology. In this conversation, Hakeem and Jerm unpack the global push for digital identity systems.  They discuss how such systems link to agendas like 2030. They also stress a vital need for privacy amid dangers of mishandled biometrics and observe the private sector's heavy hand in building a control grid that erodes personal freedom.

 Hakeem pushes for grass-root resistance through strong local networks and alternative economies. He also encourages hands-on tools like de-Googled phones and Linux laptops while he urges folks to dig into the roots of the systems that are pushed on us to enable smarter push-back.


Hakeem’s company: https://abovephone.com

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/

Steve, from the hugely popular YouTube channel Edge of the Matrix, explains why he’s donned a billboard and taken to the streets of the UK to expose what he calls:  “The madness of gender ideology… and the global institutions and billionaires funding it”.Steve talks to Professor Diane Rasmussen about the reactions he’s had, often confrontational and sometimes violent, and why he refuses to back down.

The UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us.

🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/

💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/

🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/

In this profound and personal episode, host Carl Zha sits down with a true pioneer, Dana "Showtime," an African-American Muslim man who has lived in Shanghai for over 26 years—making him one of the longest-continuously residing Black Americans in modern Chinese history. Dana shares his incredible journey, from being a godfather of China's hip-hop scene to his deep, firsthand perspective on life in China.
We tackle the complex and often misunderstood topic of racism in China, contrasting it with the systemic racism in the United States. Dana provides a nuanced view of discrimination, ignorance, and the weaponization of "racism" as a geopolitical tool. Plus, we take a visual tour of modern Shanghai, exploring its vibrant nightlife and the deep, colonial history hidden in its streets, including the fascinating connection to Bruce Lee's family.
(0:00) Introduction: Meet Dana "Showtime," Hip-Hop Pioneer in China
(3:41) The Reality of Being a Black Man in China for 26 Years
(7:58) The "Racism in China" Question: A Nuanced and Politicized Discussion
(18:23) Comparing Racism: Malice in the U.S. vs. Ignorance in China
(25:57) How the U.S. Government Weaponizes the "Racist China" Narrative
(33:10) A Visual Tour of Shanghai: Nightlife, History, and Hidden Courtyards
(39:44) The Bruce Lee Connection: The Opium War Origins of His Family Fortune
(55:46) Carl's Story: Experiencing Racism in a White Chicago Neighborhood vs. a Black High School
(1:01:28) The Role of Black Americans in U.S.-China Relations
(1:03:45) Final Advice: Why You Need to Visit China and See for Yourself

Key Takeaways:
Living in China as a Black American: Dana describes his 26-year experience as "the greatest life choice," filled with progress, inspiration, and a sense of political empowerment he never felt in the U.S.

Racism vs. Discrimination: Dana argues that while discrimination and microaggressions exist in China, they stem more from curiosity and ignorance, lacking the historical malice and systemic violence found in American racism.

A Weaponized Narrative: The conversation highlights how the charge of racism is deliberately used as a form of "asymmetric warfare" by the U.S. to smear China and undermine its global standing.

A Different Reality: Both Carl and Dana share personal stories illustrating that their experiences with aggression and racism in the U.S. came from white communities, not the Black communities often stereotyped as dangerous.

See for Yourself: The ultimate advice for anyone, especially Black Americans, is to visit China with an open mind, free from Western projections, to understand the country on its own terms.

#LifeInChina #BlackInChina #Shanghai #HipHopInChina #USChinaRelations #Racism #TravelChina #CulturalExchange #BruceLee