I'm John Bachelor with Gordon Chang at Gordon G. Chang, and we're very pleased to be joined by our colleague, Mark Simon,

former Apple Daily insider, now helping us understand the fate of the Apple Daily owner and

champion of liberty, Jimmy Lai. Mark, I read from the news in Asia, Jimmy Lai, the jailed

founder of Hong Kong's Apple Daily, has decided

not to appeal his 20-year sentence under the city's national security law. The convictions were

two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish

seditious materials.

In other words, Jimmy Lies, newspaper Apple Daily, cover the pro-democracy demonstrations

in Hong Kong, and therein lies the national security law prosecuting him, persecuting him,

tormenting him these many years. Mark, my first

question is, his health. Jimmy Lye and I share the same planet at about the same time, 78.

How is his health? Because you've talked in the past about certain conditions that are necessary

to maintain his health. Jimmy is, as you said, he the past about certain conditions that are necessary to maintain his health.

Jimmy is, as you said, he's in his 79th year, as I say. At this point in time, his health is not great.

He's, you know, he's in a horrible situation, no un-air-conditioned prison. He's not in an infirmary.

Look, last week it was incredibly humid in

Hong Kong, and I heard from another prisoner who's in Stanley that essentially the guy said,

he said you're basically sitting in a pool all day long of water and sweat. And at night,

you get a little chilly. So this is not good for Jimmy. You know, all the things that we've talked about before are leaning into him.

He's still in solitary confinement.

He's not doing well.

It's just pure common sense.

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