Real Talk with Marissa Streit | PragerU

Geopolitical analyst and China expert Melissa Chen joins this new Real Talk episode to break down how the Chinese Communist Party is waging a quiet war against the United States, not through armed invasion, but through influence, leverage, and sowing division through social media. We examine how China uses trade, technology, and cultural platforms like TikTok to shape American behavior, and why decades of U.S. policy helped empower the CCP. Melissa explains why failing to recognize the threat of the CCP could have lasting consequences for the future of the West.

00:00 - From Singapore to the West: Why Melissa Chen chose freedom
02:33 - Why China and America can’t peacefully “share power”
04:34 - The CCP’s fear of Western ideas and “spiritual pollution”
07:16 - How China uses economics as a weapon against the U.S.
11:14 - The truth about “free trade” and how the system was exploited
17:32 - TikTok, “China-maxxing,” and modern propaganda
23:48 - What China really means by a “shared future”
28:38 - Why Americans misunderstand authoritarian regimes
35:06 - Iran, global conflict, and China’s bigger strategy
52:16 - Why America can’t openly confront China—and what happens next

Join PragerU CEO Marissa Streit as she interviews some of the most significant thought leaders and influential figures from around the world.

Real Talk explores the biggest cultural, political, and social issues of our time through candid conversations that challenge assumptions, spark ideas, and bring clarity to complex topics.

Follow Marissa on social:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissastreit/
PragerU: https://www.prageru.com/shows/real-talk/

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Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defence League and one of the most deplatformed figures in the Western world, joins PragerU CEO Marissa Streit to discuss the grooming gang scandal Britain's institutions spent 30 years covering up, and why he believes the full weight of the British state came down on him for refusing to stop talking about it. They examine how political correctness paralyzed police, politicians, and entire cities from protecting children, and why the courts are being used as weapons against populist voices across the West. They also discuss the cultural and spiritual awakening Tommy sees happening across Britain right now, and why he believes the fight for the UK is inseparable from the fight for the West. 

Chapters:

00:00 — Who is Tommy Robinson? Media labels vs. his own story

03:11 — The grooming gang scandals and why no one spoke up

07:18 — Political correctness and the fear of being called “racist”

10:01 — How institutions allegedly failed victims for decades

14:12 — Arrests, lawfare, and being targeted for activism

20:55 — Jailed for a documentary? The fight over free speech

25:34 — “Post–free speech Britain”: censorship and social media bans

30:10 — Immigration, identity, and cultural change in Europe

38:13 — From protest movement to cultural movement

47:39 — Can the UK—and the West—be saved? 

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Master mentalist Lior Suchard shocks PragerU CEO Marissa Streit by seemingly reading her mind, before pulling back the curtain on how influence really works. He reveals how people can be led to feel like they chose something… even when they didn’t. They dive into why adults are often easier to manipulate than children, why conspiracy theories are so addictive, and how the idea of “my truth” has become a powerful cultural weapon. 

 

Chapters:

00:00:00 — Why the world feels “mental” right now

00:00:27 — How Lior became a mentalist (and why it started as an icebreaker)

00:03:53 — Self-taught persuasion: body language, eye cues, and “tells”

00:07:21 — A live mind-reading demo: the dice + subconscious cues

00:14:12 — Why adults are easier to trick than kids (The Prestige bird lesson)

00:18:05 — The words that program you: ads, authority, and automatic “yes”

00:19:39 — Can these techniques manipulate people online? Psychics and storytelling

00:30:24 — Mirroring explained: how rapport is built (dates, interviews, politics)

00:42:39 — The illusion of choice: “fair game” manipulation in real time

00:59:43 — How to live sanely again: facts, sources, and choosing joy

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“Our American Stories” host Lee Habeeb and PragerU CEO Marissa Streit explore the power of storytelling in shaping individuals, businesses, and nations. They discuss why stories, not facts alone, are what people remember, how storytelling builds connection and meaning, and why America’s identity depends on shared cultural narratives. The conversation also examines the breakdown of cultural literacy, the impact of social media and algorithms on division, and why reclaiming America’s story may be essential to preserving our future.

Chapters:

00:00 — Why storytelling saved Marissa—and why it matters

02:05 — Why people remember stories, not facts

04:15 — The Bible as the greatest storytelling framework

06:38 — Why adults lose creativity—and what that costs us

08:01 — Origin stories: why they shape identity and culture

10:44 — E pluribus unum: the immigrant story of America

13:22 — “We didn’t come to change America—it changed us”

16:20 — Fighting for the American story through culture

19:06 — Why conservatives struggle with storytelling

23:53 — How great storytelling actually works (and why most fail)

30:14 — Why every business needs a story and a purpose

36:21 — The collapse of shared American stories

40:17 — George Washington and the roots of religious liberty

45:19 — What went wrong with religion in public life

49:20 — The hidden Christian roots of American culture

53:10 — Storytelling vs. division in modern America

54:31 — Social media, algorithms, and cultural fragmentation

57:16 — Why storytelling puts you on trial

58:04 — E pluribus unum in music and culture

1:02:03 — John Adams and the story of American justice 

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Historian and author Bill Federer and PragerU CEO Marissa Streit examine the Judeo-Christian roots of America’s founding. They discuss how the concept of self-government emerged from the Hebrew Bible, why the Christian Founders rejected monarchy in favor of a covenant, and why America’s system depends on the character and values of its people. 

Chapters:

00:00 — Is America a Judeo-Christian nation? Why the debate matters

02:07 — The Hebrew roots of self-government and the Mayflower Compact

06:39 — From kings to covenant: the radical idea behind America

11:09 — Religious diversity, tolerance, and the birth of liberty in the colonies

16:21 — What is a covenant—and why it requires faith and morality

19:19 — Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome: the intellectual roots of America

26:01 — The Bible’s influence on law, rights, and the Founders’ thinking

36:09 — “The people are the king”: responsibility in a self-governing nation

42:14 — Division, identity politics, and how nations are weakened from within

54:57 — Freedom, faith, and the future: can America sustain its covenant?

Follow Marissa on social:

https://www.instagram.com/marissastreit/

https://x.com/marissastreit

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissastreit/
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