Mourning Silenced: How China Controls Human Emotions

This week I was invited on the Matt Gaetz show on OAN to dive into a subject that’s both complex and close to my heart: freedom of expression and human value in China. I’ve stated for years that to learn what is the worst that could happen here in the U.S., we should look to China for examples. Matt’s platform is great to talk about issues that often get overshadowed by political noise.

On the show, we got into the meat of a trending story about China’s latest crackdown: punishing people for posting anything too gloomy on social media. Imagine living where sharing how your day went bad could land you in hot water. It’s not just about managing social media; it’s about managing minds and feelings.

In the interview I highlight a major factor that other media aren’t talking about: how this latest crackdown is timed to prevent China’s youth from mourning the death of a much-beloved celebrity actor, Yu Menglong, who died falling from a building (and apparently under very suspicious circumstances) the day after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in the USA.

Matt and I also talk about my book, “Who Are China’s Walking Dead,” which pulls back the curtain on this reality. The term ‘Walking Dead’ sounds dramatic, but it was the term that former Chinese Communist Party officials used to describe themselves when I interviewed dozens of them. This is the only book that brings together so many Chinese insiders to reveal what it is really like within the regime’s operations. It’s available in paperback and audiobook here.

Matt and I also tackled the issue of technology merging with government control. What happens when tech becomes another tool for keeping people in line? Can clamping down on thoughts and feelings really be effective? These aren’t just China’s questions—they’re the world’s questions—echoing in how we all handle freedom and speech.

If any of this piques your curiosity, watch the full video segment above and comment below to chat more about it.