We discuss the influence of the U.S.-China relationship on American democracy, on issues ranging from "garbage time" to soft power to geopolitical dominance of the South China Sea.

Jane's civic action toolkit recommendations are:

1) Visit China!

2) Read To Change China by Jonathan Spence and/or Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick

Jane Perlez is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, former New York Times Beijing bureau chief, and fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. She's also the podcast host of Face-Off: The U.S. vs. China.