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Acton Line podcast: Lessons on tyranny from Game of Thrones; Poverty and alienation in China
Acton Line podcast: Lessons on tyranny from Game of Thrones; Poverty and alienation in China
Jan 30, 2026 5:14 PM

On this episode of Acton Line, Jordan Ballor and Tyler Groenendal break down the last season of Game of Thrones, discussing positive and negative aspects of the show as well as lessons on the role of government and the danger of power. Afterwards, Caroline Roberts speaks with Li Ma, senior fellow at the Henry Institute, about Ma’s book The Chinese Exodus. Ma explains how the current economic system in China drives agricultural workers to the city, setting them on a path for family disintegration, poverty and alienation munity.

Check out additional resources for this podcast:

On Game of Thrones, Absolute Power Corrupts Daenerys Targaryen Absolutely

Game of Thrones Finale: Daenerys Vows to Make a Hell of Earth

5 questions about the last episode of Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones and the judgment of history

Buy: “The Chinese Exodus: Migration, Urbanism, and Alienation in Contemporary China”

China’s Northeastern rust belt struggling to retain population as economic slowdown speeds up exodus

Conversation with a Migrant-Worker Church Minister

Educational Inequality for Migrant Children Perpetuates Poverty

New to the Acton Line podcast? Subscribe here! We also mend starting with these episodes:

Mourning the Notre-Dame cathedral inferno; Rev. Robert Sirico on education

F.A. Hayek’s Road to Serfdom; The media vs. ‘Unplanned’

Rev. Robert A. Sirico on the reality of socialism; Interview with a Venezuelan dissident

Do you have feedback for the Acton Line podcast team? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Lastly, if you like what you heard on today’s episode, please leave a review and rating on iTunes.

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