Guests - Ava Chen, Grant Krueger

Global Tensions and CCP Influence in Asia

Ava Chen from the New Federal State of China highlighted the chaotic global landscape, noting an intensifying sense of impending major events. Domestically, the U.S. faces internal fights and differing opinions, while internationally, regional conflicts are escalating. President Trump recently brokered peace deals to end eight wars, but recent developments show fragility in these agreements.

In Asia, tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have erupted. A landmine incident injured a Thai soldier near a disputed border, leading Thailand to suspend a recent side deal with Cambodia. This agreement was signed just weeks ago in Malaysia. Bangkok accused Cambodia of aggression, underscoring the rapid breakdown.

Similar clashes are occurring elsewhere. Afghanistan and Pakistan have seen border conflicts, with Pakistan opening fire on Afghanistan, marking another regional fire. Chen emphasized that these incidents are orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its proxies. "All of this are done by the CCP and CCP's proxies," she stated. These actions signal that the U.S. is effectively at war with CCP-controlled China.

Parallel Diplomatic Maneuvers: U.S., China, and Russia

Chen pointed to concurrent diplomatic efforts as evidence of a tug-of-war. On November 6, President Trump hosted leaders from five Central Asian countries for closed-door meetings, followed by a public press release and dinner. Simultaneously, the CCP invited vice-level officials from the same countries to Xinjiang for economic cooperation talks. This overlap went largely unreported in Western media but was detailed on Chinese government websites.

Further escalating matters, on November 12, Russia and Kazakhstan elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance. Presidents Putin and Tokayev discussed cooperation on natural gas, coal, oil refineries, transportation, and supply chains. Chen described this as direct disruption: "Every step that US is taking, and the Chinese are following up and the Russians are following up behind it and disrupting it."

She revealed that the New Federal State of China and Miles Guo had exposed a personal pact between Putin and Xi Jinping, intertwined with financial entanglements among their families. "These two families are financially entangled too deep to separate them," Chen explained. This blurs national and personal relationships in dictatorships, making separation impossible.

The axis extends to North Korea's Kim Jong-un, forming a tight bond among Russia, China, and North Korea. Initially revealed in 2019, this group included Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, later expanding to six nations. Chen linked this to the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict, reinforcing the pattern of proxy disruptions.

Peace Deals and Backroom Influences

Discussing the fragility of Trump's peace deals, Chen questioned whether countries like those in Central Asia can afford to break them. These agreements involve economic conditions, trade deals, and military support implications. However, China and Russia often counter with better offers or backroom promises.

"Does China come in and make a back promise? Does Russia come in and make a back promise or try to up the deal that President Trump does?" host Kathleen Winn asked. Chen affirmed this, noting Putin's recent statement on ending the Ukraine war lacks action. She stressed the need for objectivity: America's strength has eroded over five decades due to internal changes and communist infiltration, not the fault of one president.

Historical Missed Opportunities Against CCP Expansion

Chen traced U.S. complacency back to key moments. In 1989, the Tiananmen Square massacre presented a chance for intervention when Chinese citizens demanded democracy and transparency, met instead with violence. The U.S. witnessed the brutality via media like BBC but did nothing.

Subsequent scandals, such as 1993 election campaign issues involving President Clinton, were ignored. By then, retired U.S. politicians were lobbying for China, selling influence. This paved the way for China's 2001 WTO entry and 2008 Olympics hosting, achieved through decades of built relationships and tactics like BGY (blue, gold, yellow—referring to coercion methods).

"This is a decade of the policy of the leaders, of the people, not aware that something evil is gradually seeping into everywhere," Chen said. She expressed sympathy for Trump, whom the CCP despises most, attempting every tactic, including assassination, to undermine him. "The CCP hates Trump the most. They try every single tactic... even including assassinating him if the CCP can pull that off."

CCP's Deep Ties in Central Asia

Central Asia exemplifies CCP's entrenched influence. Trade reached $95 billion in 2024, dwarfing U.S. figures of $4-5 billion. Infrastructure projects like railways, highways, 5G, and satellites bind these nations. Chen noted territorial deals under Jiang Zemin in the 1990s, exchanging land for personal assets among kleptocrats.

"There's no way you can revert that relationship between those five countries with China," she asserted. These ties control energy resources—oil, gas, mining—and serve as a corridor to Europe, strategically isolating U.S. alliances. Recent U.K. decisions to halt intelligence sharing with the U.S., citing concerns over actions against CCP-funded criminals in the Caribbean and Central America, illustrate this alienation.

Bribery and Control in Global Diplomacy

Chen described CCP diplomacy as laced with bribery, turning nation-to-nation relations into family enrichments. This pattern applies to Pacific Islands, Africa, and beyond. Central Asian countries, lacking robust democracies, are vulnerable. "CCP had easier to break in because the system is weaker," she said.

Meetings in China occur behind closed doors, opaque compared to U.S. transparency. "Bribery always comes with CCP's diplomacy," Chen stated, noting it's blatant yet circumvented to avoid detection, often involving family members.

China's commissioning of the advanced warship CNS Fujian, rivaling the USS Gerald R. Ford, underscores growing naval threats. The U.S. has 11 carriers, but CCP surrogates erode alliances, prioritizing self-interest over loyalty.

Economic Threats and Financial Bombs

The CCP's endgame involves economic dominance. China's 32,000 tons of gold reserves and recent crypto integrations, like Tether joining a Shanghai blockchain for cross-border payments, signal preparations to undermine the U.S. dollar. "They're going to knock out your United States dollars. They're going to knock out your economy," Chen warned.

Crypto market hacks this year—March, May, October—target decentralized tech, which threatens CCP control. "Anything that they see as a threat, they want to seize control," she said. U.S. debt at $38 trillion amplifies vulnerabilities.

Internal U.S. Vulnerabilities and Calls for Action

Chen urged protecting Trump and vetting advisors amid infiltration. The New Federal State of China anticipates CCP moves due to internal supporters. "We know exactly what they're doing and the intention of doing it," she affirmed.

She highlighted socialist influences in U.S. elections, like in New York and Seattle, equating socialism to communism. "Socialist is communist. It's going to be communist," Chen said. Media and AI reliance spreads corruption, while campus indoctrination, like at Berkeley, suppresses conservative voices.

Education is key: "If I'm parents, I have kids, I would never send my kids to school. I will homeschool them because you are sending them to communists." She called for questioning information, unifying against distractions, and stopping investments in China to aid takedown efforts.

Proposed Taxes and Small Business Impacts in Tucson

Shifting to local issues, Grant Krueger, a Tucson business owner and radio host, raised concerns over city proposals post the failure of Proposition 414's sales tax increase. The city seeks revenue for transit, eyeing increases in parking, bed tax, and advertising fees.

Currently at 0%, the advertising privilege tax could rise to 2.6%, affecting billboard, radio, and TV ads. "That would tax... if I'm going to buy an ad from, let's say a billboard or from a radio station or a television station," Krueger explained. This burdens small businesses reliant on local advertising, unlike chains.

Small operators support Tucson's gastronomy scene but face trickle-down costs. "Our small local folks need to use advertising to get our message out," he said. Higher taxes raise goods costs, circumventing voter will against further hikes.

Competitiveness and Tax Disparities

Tucson's 8.7% sales tax exceeds unincorporated Pima County's 6.1%, with a higher minimum wage adding pressure. Bed tax, already high statewide, could increase, deterring tourism. "All of these things just reduce tourism and reduce small business efficacy and competitiveness," Krueger noted.

Policies favor chains, leading to empty spaces turning into undesirable outlets. "Nobody wants dark shopping centers or empty restaurants in their neighborhood," he said. Vacancies attract issues like homelessness.

Krueger's businesses face encroachments: "It's insane the amount of homeless incursions that we have on the property." He advocated Proposition 312 for property tax rebates over non-enforcement of nuisance laws.

Zoning Changes and Public Involvement

A middle housing meeting on November 12 at 6 p.m. addresses House Bill 2721, allowing multi-unit complexes within one mile of the central business district by January 1, unless new rules comply. Limited to 60 registrants, it's invite-heavy, raising transparency concerns.

"Go out there, pay attention to this one, write your city council people," Krueger urged. Low turnout on municipal issues allows unchecked changes affecting neighborhoods.

Transit Subsidies and Solutions

Transit remains subsidized, with $70 million expenses against $12 million fares pre-2020. Free rides lead to waste: "When the value of something is zero... people's consumption of that product also becomes unlimited." Krueger suggested nominal fares ($0.50-$1.25) with ID verification to curb abuse.

"We could have a subsidized a double subsidized bus card... prove who and what you are," he proposed, linking to voter ID parallels.

Water Rates and Legal Challenges

Tucson Water's differential rates for unincorporated areas (2021-2023, restarted summer 2025) prompted lawsuits. No refunds issued despite pauses. "I do think that there's an opportunity out there for someone... to look into this," Krueger said.

Business Growth and Road Funding

Krueger announced Block A, a sports pub at Congress and 4th Avenue, opening February 2026, celebrating Arizona sports. Despite challenges, it's urban infill: "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

March's RTA vote could impose a new half-cent sales tax; failure ends funding June 2026, worsening roads. "I wonder what our roads are going to look like then," he cautioned.

Real Estate Trends and Safety Disparities

For-sale signs proliferate due to high interest rates and local policies. Commercial vacancies abound in Tucson, with growth in Marana, Oro Valley, and Vail. Oro Valley's safest-city status contrasts Tucson's D-minus rating, policy-driven: "We could in Tucson be the safest city... it's got to be policy-driven."

Call for Civic Engagement

Krueger stressed involvement: "We've got to get involved... finding candidates that are willing to go out there and stick up for our citizens and our small businesses." Oppose tax hikes to maintain competitiveness: "We want the City of Tucson to be successful, not fail."