The BYO Show: China’s Totalitarian Gridlock, a Woke “Mind Virus,” and Futbal vs. Football

Recorded on November 28th, 2022
A post-holiday Goodfellows features the panelists bringing their own curiosities to the table. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss China’s COVID-restriction protests and restoring academic freedom of college campuses. Plus two “Goodfellows” weigh in with differing views on American “football” vs. the more global “futbal.”
ABOUT THE SERIES
GoodFellows, a weekly Hoover Institution broadcast, features senior fellows John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, and H.R. McMaster discussing the social, economic, and geostrategic ramifications of this changed world. They can’t banter over lunch these days, but they continue their spirited conversation online about what comes next, as we look forward to an end to the crisis.
For more in this series visit, www.hoover.org....

[@heitorbta]

The Good Fellows have a crowd of fans down here in Brazil

[@kevinbailey3384]

The UK is also becoming woke, and even the Conservative Government is woke, and not in any way Conservative. Worrying times ahead

[@siuwong4588]

It’s hard to predict what will happen in China in the coming months. But for one thing is that now the grass root in China are really running out of money. They got locked up not allowing to work - no income. I hard there’s at least one family in Urumqi had been starving for a few days because they couldn’t go out to work since August, and they had spent all their savings. They saw no hope. I guess that’s the main reason there was such a huge number of ppl protested in Urumqi. Same for certain areas in Guangzhou. But according to my observations, middle class in wealthy cities are still coping ok with the current situation. Whereas the protests in universities are indeed unusual. Is there a force (anti-Xi?)behind that? Maybe. Of course those students are angry and desperate with no doubts. But such protests got spread out and happened are rather uncommon. Especially there are many overseas Chinese (students) protesting at the same time. One thing very true is many or most Chinese trade their freedom for money with CCP. But now they got none. And many Chinese were hoping after Xi got his 3rd term, the lockdown will be loosened, they were disappointed. After the 20 rules optimization were released, they again thought it will be loosened, but instead it got tightened. Together with the world cup seeing a real scene of the world outside etc. Survival threat. They freak out. But still it wasn’t a large number. As now those really have survival threats are the poor ppl in cities only.

[@advocate1563]

We are already past peak university. Emerging geo-politics, lifelong lesrning, facilitated by Edutech is going to result in an explosion of highly accredited apprenticeships. This will at least provide the basis for a change in "mind virus".

[@mikespindler7250]

hoover should come up with a ranking of the best universities from joint freedom of thought and academic bases.

[@juanortiz8092]

Can you imagine Dr George Friedman in a conversation with the Good Fellows.

[@johnl5316]

Thank you for the Conference

[@yankelovich]

Excellent as always!

[@kevinbailey3384]

I love watching these interactions, keep up the good work

[@carlbyronrodgers]

It is football because it is played with the feet.

[@david_6063]

Sorry Niall. Baseball goes back 150+ years. Soccer is boring but its the dishonor of flopping which is really offensive.

[@pistolen87]

Insightful conversation. I have a wish, please add timestamps to the different topics.

[@omacburma]

"That's the world cup that counts!" Love it!

[@BSamuel1874]

Would welcome more insight to the reading lists of each good chap on the show

[@tadchase4461]

Uh Niall, if we banned American football and all the players turned to rugby the US would just crush Scotland.

[@dustinhecker3986]

Is that a picture of the Rotunda on the wall behind the moderator?

[@Grogster2007]

We should all boycott Chinese goods.

[@paulwally9007]

Great to see you all, especially my beloved HR.

[@Steve-fe8gj]

Another great video……

[@jamesmoose]

Yes, think of all those thousands, tens of thousands, of young American athletes who just aren't quite good enough to make the NFL. Get 'em to play rugby and the US will have a very strong team.

[@justintindall9515]

Neil, stay in the U.S. we need your outside well-rounded thoughts!

[@howardscott6191]

Interesting that they didn't talk about how Russa is going to lose the war.

[@karlernstbuddenbrock371]

HR - American Rugby Union should buy a South African coach. They're the best.

[@LordInvictus-yt]

The Hoover Institution is woke as fuck!

[@olgajoachimosmundsen4647]

Bring back Stephen Kotkin!

[@rosswalker3457]

You could be right General ,about US Rugby I'm hearing your getting an Australian coach ,and trust me ,He's a very good one 👍😉

[@celtaclassroom7082]

I assume the sports comments were just banter. Anyone who thinks a 0-0 tie is can only be 'boring' really has no idea.

[@karlernstbuddenbrock371]

Niall we in South Africa love the Lions. We beat them every 12 years.

[@ma6inka]

Love Niall Ferguson's passion for Football is amazing !

[@elrevesyelderecho]

59:00 If you need to founded this event, you should be selling tickets to go out to a pub with those guys to chat/drink some pints.

[@andrewlm5677]

Soccer sucks but Niall is sill great in my book

[@thomassenbart]

Soccer is only popular worldwide because it can be played anywhere by anyone, you only need a ball, which can be anything round and a goal. It is not particularly fun, relative to other sports, is boring to watch, over long and though physical to a small degree, is nowhere near the level of violence and danger, inherent in American football or rugby for example.

[@alexbuckley4378]

first!

[@tedwards000]

Women's soccer is popular in the U.S., and it would be interesting to hear thoughts on the role of Title 9 and if it has been a good thing.

[@lolotus4borderless]

USA 🏉 rugby, yeah!!! ;)

[@Drunkwithsuccess]

You guys are memorably insightful and fun!

[@simonnilsson5356]

Greetings from Sweden!

[@celtaclassroom7082]

MacMaster is another one of these rugby missionaries from West Point. I've known several such people, but have rarely met any other Americans who have any interest in the sport. So I have my doubts that it will catch on in the US anytime soon.

[@j.c.8944]

Thank you for this video.

[@scott2452]

Niall Ferguson is certainly right that the Civil War was bloodier in terms of both the total number killed in action and that number as a percentage of the population… the per capita comparison however gets murkier though when considering deaths from disease.

[@saralwen2622]

Allways pleasure to listen to HR. HR for president.

[@marcwhite6267]

Clicked in the fraction of a second!

[@justintindall9515]

Rugby my friends...that's the real sport...besides war!

[@anthonyhocking9118]

Greetings from South Africa. Our small country (along with New Zealand), is probably one of the greatest rugby playing nations on earth. John pointed out that youngsters in the U.S. do not play rugby. I cant speak for New Zealand, but in South Africa our kids start off with " Bulletjie Rugby" when they are in Grade 1. ( no scrums or heavy contact,) and by the time they reach matric (Gr. 12) some can make the meanest tackles at ankle level on the likes of the marvelous, late Jonah Lomu of the All Black's. Rugby is so reflective of life:- * it's damn hard * youre GOING to get tackled and brought low. * Get up! Keep going. * keep moving forward, gain ground by any legitamate means, despite crazy impediments, like having to pass the ball bacwards. If America ever encouraged Rugby at early school age, with their demographic , they would definitely win a world cup in the future.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Many Americans have played both Soccer and football, some even Rugby as well. Most people who rag on football and the pads have never suited up in their life and have no idea what the hits are like and any kind of serious understanding of the game for that matter. The US England match was one of the first ones I've watched all the way through and I enjoyed it more than I expected.

[@barbarataylor8101]

Great conversation

[@tullicio]

tanks are already there

[@Gorbyrev]

Fascinating conversation as ever gentlemen though I am surprised at Prof Ferguson besmirching rugby league as that is the form of rugby that can be played on a football pitch and engenders the same energy input as a football match.

[@Fyrd-Fareld]

Clearly, none of the participants have discovered Aussie rules football --- much more exciting.

[@jasperknight5781]

Totally agree - this protest is going to be very short lived

[@olgajoachimosmundsen4647]

Or invite Timothy Snyder

[@baltasarnoreno5973]

From one fellow Scot to another: love the way that Niall insists on educating the US audience of just how useless their version of 'so-called' football is!

[@Nick-bh5bk]

Something I finally disagree with Niall on, it is called SOCCER. :-)

[@jugg3647]

Excellent - particularly the sports section!