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Why Americans Still Don’t Understand Communism | Xi Van Fleet #482 | The Way I Heard It

2026-05-06 Entertainment
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Mike Rowe
Mike Rowe
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Description

A few years ago, a woman named Xi Van Fleet stood up at a school board meeting in Loudoun County and warned a room full of Americans that what she was seeing in our schools looked an awful lot like Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Most people applauded, though very few people understood what she meant. Xi grew up in Communist China during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. She watched students turn on teachers, neighbors turn on neighbors, and children taught to trust the state more than their own parents. She lived through the famine, the indoctrination, the collectivism, the fear, and the chaos. Then she came to America in 1986, thinking she had escaped all of it forever. Now, she’s watching some very familiar patterns unfold here. We talk about Mao, the Red Guards, censorship, conformity, DEI, collectivism, language policing, cancel culture, TikTok, the CCP, why Americans still don’t understand communism, and what happens when people slowly surrender individual liberty for the promise of “the greater good.” We also talk about Kentucky, manure, panda bears, the Second Amendment, and why Xi believes America is still worth fighting for. Agree with her or not, this is one of the most intense and thought-provoking conversations I’ve had in a long time. Xi’s new book is called Made in America, and if nothing else, her story is a reminder that history doesn’t always repeat itself exactly…but it sure does rhyme. Check out Xi's book, Made in America: https://amzn.to/4tf8jZn #podcast #america #china My foundation is awarding millions of dollars in work ethic scholarships to men and women willing to learn a skilled trade. Apply now at: https://bit.ly/mrwscholarships Knobel Tennessee Whiskey, try it now: https://bit.ly/KnobelSpiritsxTWIHI If you like me, and even if you don't, subscribe to my channels and follow me. Much obliged. https://www.youtube.com/@therealmikerowe https://www.youtube.com/@therealmikeroweshorts https://www.youtube.com/@PYSKshow http://instagram.com/mikerowe http://facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe https://twitter.com/mikeroweworks 00:00 Communism for dummies 11:17 Fear as motivation 21:46 Red Guards mobilized 27:08 Mao's evil 38:50 Life in the commune 46:14 America's turning point 53:32 China’s Cultural Revolution 58:11 America’s cancel culture 01:03:43 The most important amendment ️ 01:14:54 The CCP ️ 01:20:28 China's surveillance 01:32:03 Support American goods

Top Comments (10)

@JoanOfArgghh 2026-05-06

Xi Van Fleet is a national treasure. I am so thrilled that you have given her a platform!!

303 1 replies
@janetspiritofthelivinggod6328 2026-05-07

Praying for this woman's safety after listening to her!

166
@jodyhunt6775 2026-05-07

A lot of the greatest Americans weren't born here. This lady is living proof.

158 5 replies
@JohnDaker_singer 2026-05-07

I have never in my entire life, seen someone that left communism and still praised it. As a history degree holder, I feel that history is the most fundamental subject that should be taught in schools. This lady made an important point – there is no critical thinking without information.

133 9 replies
@avastar2286 2026-05-07

Love it. Totally agree. My grandparents escaped communist China and they never let us forget it. 🫡❤️🇺🇸

100 2 replies
@B.F.M.W 2026-05-07

She is awesome. She is truly proud to be here. Great interview!!!

77 1 replies
@alandillon6469 2026-05-07

Love this lady! Based, wise, strong and a sister in Christ... bless her and protect her 🙏

73
@janetspiritofthelivinggod6328 2026-05-06

Xi and I are the same age and when she came here in 1986 I went to the PRC to teach English and learn about Communism for two years. I had a great advantage of having parents who lived thru the depression and dad fought in WWII in order to continue our life of freedom. I firmly believe every young adult needs to spend some time living in a communist or Islamic country to be swarmed by locals wanting to marry them to escape the political system they are stuck in, and to hear the real stories of real people who don't even know how to write a journal entry on personal hope because they don't know how to think that way. It's wonderful to hear this sister living my mirror image.

58
@wynelleu 2026-05-07

I STILL remember the look on my WWII & Korean War Veteran grandfather's face, when he asked me what I was learning in history class. I told him, "They started calling it Social Studies this year." I had no idea why he got so visibly angry when he insisted I needed to learn HISTORY, that social studies would brain-wash kids. That was in the 1970's. He was so right!

46 1 replies
@bowtuk 2026-05-07

Choked up a lot during this one. Listening to someone from another country praise her country, and watching people born here constantly trying to tear it down is so sad. God bless Xi Van Fleet. Thanks Mike for this episode.

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