Taiwan’s Democratic Defiance and Protecting Children from Ideological Overreach

On January 18, 2024, Helen Raleigh and Kevin Lundberg joined Kim Monson to discuss key issues facing Colorado and the nation.

Taiwan’s Election Defies Communist China’s Interference

Start listening at 30:01 – Hour 1

In this segment, Helen Raleigh joins Kim to discuss the recent Taiwanese presidential election and its implications for U.S.-China relations. Raleigh, who emigrated from China and has become a national expert on Chinese affairs, explains that the Chinese Communist Party has never governed Taiwan but considers it a breakaway province, viewing the island’s democratic existence as a threat to Communist legitimacy.

The January 2024 election was a three-way race with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, William Lai Ching-te, emerging victorious despite significant Chinese interference. Raleigh notes that approximately 200 people were arrested after the election for interfering on behalf of Communist China, demonstrating the extent of Beijing’s meddling. The CCP openly preferred the Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate because DPP candidates support Taiwan’s political separation from the mainland.

Raleigh explains that with each election, public opinion polls show Taiwanese people moving further from reunification with Communist China. She argues this makes clear to Xi Jinping that if he wants Taiwan, he will have to take it by force. While she does not expect an immediate invasion due to China’s economic challenges and military corruption, she warns of other damaging actions including economic sanctions, military exercises, and the potential for a naval blockade.

“The leftists have no imagination. They do the same thing over and over again everywhere.”

– Helen Raleigh, Senior Contributor at The Federalist

The conversation turns to the broader geopolitical implications, with Raleigh contrasting Trump’s unpredictability, which kept adversaries guessing, with the Biden administration’s “lead from behind” approach. She criticizes the administration’s failure to deliver $19 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, with some orders not expected until the end of the decade. On immigration, Raleigh advocates for three reforms: securing borders, congressional reform of asylum and legal immigration laws, and reaching out to immigrants already in the country to help them become patriotic, self-sufficient Americans rather than welfare-dependent Democratic voters.

Art Club Movie Exposes Gender Ideology in Schools

Start listening at 70:27 – Hour 2

Joining Kim for the second hour, Kevin Lundberg, former Colorado State Senator and author of the Lundberg Report, discusses his documentary “Art Club Movie” which tells the story of one family’s battle with their school district over transgender ideology targeting their 12-year-old daughter. The documentary, available free at artclubmovie.com, has received an overwhelmingly positive response with over 23,000 YouTube views and zero negative ratings.

Lundberg explains that the film exposes how schools across the nation are indoctrinating children with concepts that create confusion about fundamental questions of biological sex. He cites a recent case where a Christian preschool in California had federal meal program funding withheld because they refused to use preferred pronouns with children as young as three years old, though the Alliance Defending Freedom successfully sued to restore the funding.

“We shouldn’t let other countries be buying up our state or our nation.”

– Kevin Lundberg, Former Colorado State Senator

The conversation shifts to Lundberg’s new organization, Protect Kids Colorado, which is working to place citizen initiatives on the ballot to prohibit males in female sports and increase school transparency with parents. Lundberg explains the frustrating battle with Colorado’s Title Board, which he accuses of becoming politicized under appointees from Secretary of State Griswold and Attorney General Weiser. Despite having one proposal shot down that had been previously approved, the organization continues pushing forward with multiple initiatives.

Lundberg also provides an overview of early legislative activity, noting 148 bills have already been introduced. Among the concerning bills: HB 1028 establishing drug injection sites, HB 1039 forcing schools to use student-preferred pronouns while hiding information from “non-supportive” parents, HB 1040 studying increased medicalization of minors for gender transition, and HB 1075 analyzing universal single-payer healthcare. On the positive side, he highlights HB 1065 which would reduce the state income tax rate from 4.4% to 4.0%.