Hi, everybody and welcome to Smarter News.

I'm Jenna Lee, the founder of Smarter News.

We're about quick, concise, nonpartisan information, except when we want to do a little further conversation on a big news story, like the one that's sitting in front of us about China.

And we really have the perfect guest, a return guest to smarter news, someone who I consider

also a friend.

We've actually known each other for 15 years now, if I have that math.

It sounds like a lot when I say it out loud.

And it is.

We've been through a lot of different news cycles.

And Gordon Chang, who's an author and analyst when it comes to China, one of the best

leading voices on this particular issue has been so gracious to me throughout my entire journalism career.

And I know for so many, Gordon.

So it's great to have you back with us.

Well, it's great to be on, Jenna.

And you've been so gracious to Lydia and to me.

So thank you.

And Lydia is your wife.

It is a fact, probably your better half.

We can probably say that with so certainty. I'll have to admit it. Well, listen, we have a lot to get to today. We have news even coming in this morning about China. But we all bring our own paradigm to a

headline when we see it. And your background, having lived and worked in China, having studied China for years now,

I'm just curious, what was your gut reaction when you first heard the news about this so-called spy balloon?

It was disbelief.

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