Host Scott Tong is in China. He shares his impressions since the last time he was there

China’s rapid transformation over the last decade reveals a stark contrast in environmental quality, technological integration, and political climate. Reporting from Shanghai, Scott Tong observes that Beijing’s notorious smog has significantly cleared due to a shift away from coal and the promotion of electric vehicles. While a new sense of national confidence prevails among citizens, the domestic economy remains wobbly for the youth. Daily life now revolves entirely around a cashless, smartphone-based ecosystem that offers seamless convenience but creates a "digital moat" for outsiders. However, this technological advancement coincides with intensified state surveillance and censorship, which has silenced diverse voices and left a predominantly nationalistic digital landscape. Despite these restrictions, independent storytelling persists through underground successes like a popular first-person narrative podcast that mirrors American public radio styles, drawing millions of listeners outside traditional state media channels.