FT News Briefing presents a special episode from Slate’s “What Next” podcast, hosted by Mary Harris. Everybody loves pandas—and China knows it. As we say goodbye to the National Zoo’s pandas, this Slate podcast looks back at 50 years of “panda diplomacy” and consider its uncertain future. Join Harris as she speaks with E. Elena Songster, author of Panda Nation: The Construction and Conservation of China’s Modern Icon and professor of environmental history of modern China at St. Mary’s College of California. FT News Briefing will return with regular episodes next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.