OCCuPied Minds: CCP Exploiting Iran Action to Escalate its War with U.S. on American Soil
It’s not just Iran that has motive to strike the United States from within—China does too, and in many ways, it already is. But instead of missiles, Beijing’s battlefield is the American mind. Through media, technology, and coordinated influence campaigns, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is waging a form of cognitive war—one aimed at shaping perception, sowing division, and influencing behavior from within America’s borders.
Steve Lance, investigative journalist, Vice President of NTD Television, and executive producer of the new documentary UNBroken, is available to discuss alarming accounts of harassment, surveillance, and favorable CCP Propaganda disguised as journalism from America’s most historically trusted outlets.
- Not bombs—behavior: The CCP’s fight isn’t kinetic (yet), it’s psychological—shaping how Americans think, not just what they see.
- Propaganda in plain sight: Favorable CCP narratives aren’t just overseas—they’re appearing inside U.S. media ecosystems.
- Intimidation on U.S. soil: Performers tied to Shen Yun Performing Arts report threats, disruption, and pressure campaigns here in America.
- Soft targets, real consequences: Cultural institutions—not just governments—are becoming battlegrounds in this influence war.
- Blind spot in plain view: While focus stays on TikTok and trade, a quieter campaign is unfolding with far less scrutiny.
This is all happening in real time, as the U.S. continues welcoming Chinese CCP students through a visa program that steers many of them into journalism careers. The problem is determining their allegiance.
The film centers on performers and organizers affiliated with Shen Yun Performing Arts, who allege they have faced a pattern of intimidation efforts that extend far beyond China’s borders. These include reported interference with venues, threats aimed at discouraging attendance and coordinated attempts to silence or discredit the group in the United States.
At a time when policymakers and media alike are focused on CCP influence through platforms like TikTok and economic leverage, UNBroken presents a different—and largely overlooked—front: the targeting of cultural institutions on American soil.
Lance brings firsthand investigative insight into how these operations allegedly function, what evidence exists to support them, and why they may not be receiving the level of scrutiny seen in other China-related stories. His reporting also explores the broader implications for free expression, national sovereignty, and the safety of individuals who find themselves at odds with authoritarian regimes—even while living in the U.S.
This is not just a story about one company. It raises larger questions: How far can foreign governments go to suppress dissent beyond their borders? Are existing safeguards sufficient to protect those targeted? And why are some of these incidents flying under the radar?
With China dominating headlines, this conversation offers a fresh, deeply human angle—one that intersects national security, civil liberties, and cultural freedom in a way that is both immediate and compelling.
Steve Lance is available for live or taped interviews to break down the findings of UNBroken and discuss what they reveal about intimidation tactics that may be happening closer to home than many Americans realize.
Relevant Article(s):
FILMMAKERS – UNBROKEN: A Shen Yun Story
UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun | Documentary Trailer
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- How are intimidation tactics tied to the CCP allegedly playing out on U.S. soil against groups like Shen Yun Performing Arts?
- What evidence did you uncover that suggests coordinated pressure campaigns rather than isolated incidents?
- Why do you believe these alleged threats and harassment efforts haven’t received the same scrutiny as issues involving TikTok?
- How is “cognitive warfare” actually carried out through media and information channels inside the United States?
- What role, if any, do American media outlets play in amplifying narratives favorable to Beijing?
- Are U.S. institutions equipped to recognize and respond to this kind of non-traditional warfare?
- What risks do performers, journalists, or dissidents face when they become targets of these alleged operations?
- What broader implications does this have for free speech and national sovereignty inside the United States?
ABOUT STEVE LANCE…
Steve Lance is Executive Producer of the film. He focuses on investigative documentaries and cinematic storytelling rooted in real-world events. In UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun, Lance leads the film’s investigative narrative, examining threats, sabotage attempts, and the broader campaign targeting the performing arts company. Lance is also an investigative journalist and Vice President of NTD Television.
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