By John Gizzi Published Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 9:19 PM A casual hot-mic conversation about organ transplants between strongmen Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping on Wednesday has sparked fresh interest in Congress to enact a ban on the practice of organ harvesting proposed by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. In a bizarre exchange in Beijing reported by Reuters, the Russian and Chinese presidents discussed organ transplants while both were at the celebration of China's victory over Japan in World War ... Read more

By Bill Gertz Published September 4, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard candidly discussing medical advances for extending life — a conversation that critics say highlights China’s practice of brutally harvesting human organs from dissidents and prisoners. During a discussion picked up and broadcast by Chinese state media prior to a major military parade in Beijing Wednesday, Mr. Xi said living past age 70 is becoming commonplace. “Earlier, peop... Read more

By M. K. Shepherd Published September 4, 2025 Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced that the House-passed FY26 Energy & Water Appropriations Act (HR 4553) includes $50 million in federal funding for a new shallow draft dredging vessel. Smith said he specifically sought this funding to address shoaling issues at Manasquan Inlet and other nearby locations. “A vote ‘NO’ on today’s bill would have been a vote against a desperately needed new dredge for the Manasquan and Shark River Inlets and the econom... Read more

Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), and Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the U.S. Department of State to differentiate Somaliland from the Federal Republic of Somalia in its travel advisory report. This distinction would be in recognition of Somaliland’s de facto independence, good governance and... Read more

By Staff Writer Published September 3, 2025 Washington— Republican leaders of two influential U.S. congressional committees on China are pressing the State Department to differentiate Somaliland from Somalia in its travel guidance, a move they argue would strengthen American security, investment, and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and shared with Breitbart News, Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), chairman of the House Select Committee on ... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) responded to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hot mic discussion regarding organ transplants and “immortality,” underscoring the urgency of immediate U.S. action to halt the gruesome practice of forced organ harvesting. Smith serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission China (CECC) and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. According to reporting by Reuters, while walking side-by-side, Putin and Xi casu... Read more

By Phil Stilton Published September 3, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A chilling exchange between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, caught on a hot mic, has ignited bipartisan outrage in Washington after the two leaders were overheard discussing organ transplants as a potential path to “immortality”—prompting Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) to demand immediate Senate approval of his House-passed Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act. While walking together during a recent pub... Read more

By Eva Fu Published September 3, 2025 As the leaders of China and Russia walked shoulder to shoulder on Sept. 3, a hot mic captured them discussing increasing longevity through organ transplants, possibly extending one’s lifespan to 150 years. The conversation, livestreamed through Chinese state media to billions online and on television, made international headlines as China watchers scrutinized the implications, with many pointing to longstanding concerns about forced organ harvesting. The mom... Read more

By E. K. Hayward Published September 3, 2025 Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has called on the Senate to quickly approve his proposed legislation targeting forced organ harvesting, following a widely reported conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The exchange, caught on a hot microphone, involved discussions about organ transplants and the idea of extending human life. According to Reuters, as Xi and Putin walked together, Putin’s translator comme... Read more

By Joshua Klein Published September 2, 2025 Republican chairmen of two key House committees dedicated to confronting the Chinese Communist Party are urging the State Department to issue a separate travel advisory for Somaliland, arguing that distinguishing it from Somalia would recognize Somaliland’s stability and democracy, encourage U.S. investment, and strengthen Washington’s ability to counter Beijing’s growing influence in the Horn of Africa — with the lawmakers stressing, “Strengthening co... Read more