It's Bodies vs. the State

In this week’s The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Nick Gillespie discuss the latest protests against “zero-Covid” policies in China as well as other examples of lingering public health authoritarianism.

0:57: China’s protests against harsh “zero-Covid” policies

14:20: Lingering COVID restrictionism in the U.S.

33:10: Weekly Listener Question:

I have found, what is for me, a paradox. I want to hear what y’all think of it, but I am primarily interested in hearing from Katherine, since she is a woman and women account for some 51 percent of the population. My personal paradox is this: How is it that women are 51 percent of the market and yet cannot find women’s pants with pockets? Free minds. Free markets. No Potemkin pockets.

40:54: World Cup controversies

49:18: This week’s cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

“‘We Want Freedom’: Chinese Protests Reflect Frustration With Country’s Continuing COVID Restrictions,” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

“The Pandemic Is Over, Except When Politicians Need It To Justify Their Plans,” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

“California’s COVID-19 ‘Misinformation’ Law Chills Constitutionally Protected Speech,” by Jacob Sullum

“Hong Kong Is a ‘Wake-Up Call for the World’,” by Zach Weissmueller

“Never Lock Down Again? Jay Bhattacharya vs. Sten Vermund,” by Gene Epstein

“‘A Pretty Scary Moment’: Dissident Chinese Students Say George Washington University Is Failing Them,” by Sarah McLaughlin

“Can The Iran Protests Do Better Than Uprisings of the Past?” by J.D. Tuccille

“The Qatar World Cup Is a Celebration of Authoritarianism,” by Eric Boehm

“5 Cities That Got F*cked by Hosting the Olympics,” by Nick Gillespie

“Assimilating Soccer,” by Nick Gillespie

“The Power Broker,” by Howard McConnell

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

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Audio production by Ian Keyser

Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

Music: “Angeline,” by The Brothers Steve

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