US-Russia Relations, Mistletoe's Secrets, Nativity "Refuge"

Is Trump Risking War with China? Guests: Eric Hyer, PhD, BYU Professor of Asian Politics; Robert Griffiths, Former US Consul General in Shanghai, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at BYU The President-elect will inherit a tense relationship with China, made more so in recent days by Trump’s provocative tweets criticizing China for seizing a US Navy research drone in international waters late last week. Chinese State Media responded by saying Trump apparently has no idea how to run a superpower. Beyond the Tweets, it’s Trump’s recent comments about Taiwan that likely have the Chinese defensive. The Future of US-Russia Relations Guest: Norman Naimark, PhD, Professor of Eastern European History at Stanford University Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an art gallery in Ankara today by a lone gunman reported to have shouted “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” before being shot dead by security. Turkey and Russia support opposite sides of the civil war in Syria, which has strained relations between the two countries. Why Mistletoe Matters Guest: Jonathan Brigg, Mistletoe Expert, Runs the UK Organization “Mistletoe Matters” Mistletoe carries connotations of peace, love and romantic kisses at Christmastime, but did you know that it’s actually a parasitic plant feeding on the tree that hosts it and that it’s occasionally poisonous? That’s a jarring juxtaposition of symbols, isn’t it? A romantic, poisonous parasite. The Nativity is a Refugee Story Guest: Anne Booth, Author of “Refuge” A young family is threatened by political violence. Realizing their child’s life is in danger, they make the tough decision to leave home and seek refuge somewhere else. This is the story of millions of refugees displaced in the Middle East and Africa today.  It is also part of The Nativity Story, though not the part we typically focus on. $1 from the sale of each copy of “Refuge” in the United States goes to the UN Refugee Agency "Rogue One" Review Guest: Shawn O’Neill, Producer at BYUradio, Independent Movie Reviewer Britain’s Rip-Roaring Holiday Theater Tradition Guest: Jennifer Schacker, PhD, Professor of English and Theater Studies at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada Turning now to a fun British holiday tradition I’d never heard of until recently - and am frankly surprised we don’t have it in the US, because it seems like it’d be a big hit. It’s a type of theater called pantomime – or panto, for short.