President Richard Nixon has a plan: He wants to go to China. The only problem? The U.S. and China have had zero contact since the Communist Party took over China two decades before. In the first part of Here & Now's "The Great Wager," host Jane Perlez digs into the beginning of Nixon’s improbable diplomatic mission. About: Stare down the barrel of America’s most controversial, protected and lethal industry: guns. Find out how America was forged by the gun industry on this new podcast series from WBUR & The Trace, The Gun Machine. You're listening to The Gun Machine in Short Run — the best long-form audio series from WBUR, Boston's NPR, all in one feed. We’d appreciate your help to better understand The Gun Machine's listeners and get feedback on the podcast — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/thegunmachine