Van explains how the Galactic Republic in Star Wars fell, and why it's so germane today.  The South Korean Left sees Chinese imperialism more clearly than most Americans.  America's sphere of influence dilemma in the Pacific.  What Vice gets right about Dick Cheney.  Also this episode: Van's philosophy about saying yes to career opportunities large and small.  Paul Musgrave Tweet: https://twitter.com/profmusgrave/status/1302418858972766208?s=20Pat Blanchfield Tweet: https://twitter.com/PatBlanchfield/status/1303831078751408128?s=20Jon Wolfsthal Tweet: https://twitter.com/JBWolfsthal/status/1302228639879237633Elise Hu Tweet: https://twitter.com/elisewho/status/1303783836162031616Robin Wright on the myth of America: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/is-america-a-mythContributors: Alex Auty, Jake Dellow, Gaby Magnuson, Pete McKenzie