Podcast
The John Batchelor Show
Hosted by John Batchelor · EN
The John Batchelor Show is a hard news-analysis radio program on current events, world history, global politics and natural sciences. Based in New York City for two decades, the show has travelled widely to report, from the Middle East to the South Caucasus to the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia.
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S8 Ep548: FULL STREAM 3-6-2026 1569 LONDFULL STREAM 3-6-2026 1569 LONDINIUM In this broadcast, host John Batchelor is joined by guesINIUM In this broadcast, host John BaTchelor is joined by guests Jeff Bliss of "Pacific Watch" and Germanicus (Mi...
Mar 700:55:06Tap to summarizeFULL STREAM 3-6-2026 1569 LONDINIUM In this broadcast, host John Batchelor is joined by guests Jeff Bliss of "Pacific Watch" and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos). Jeff Bliss details a West Coast in transition, beginning with Las Vegas, which is rebuilding through massive infrastructure projects like the Bright Line high-speed rail and the Boring Company. He contrasts the privately-financed Bright Line with California’s state-run rail project, labeling the latter a $110 billion "money sink" that has failed to lay any track. Bliss’s recent travels highlight a broader urban decline, describing Portland and Reno as "ghost towns" and documenting a harrowing fentanyl crisis in Sacramento right outside the state capital. He notes that despite $28 billion being allotted for homelessness, California’s "Care Court" has only treated 22 people, while refinery closures and high taxes push gas prices toward $5-$8 per gallon. This economic pressure is driving a corporate exodus of pillars like Starbucks and Amazon to business-friendly states like Tennessee. (1)Shifting to international affairs, Germanicus examines the unfolding war with Iran, noting that the U.S. administration has invoked a "sacred narrative" to justify the conflict as a divinely sanctioned mission to punish "demonic forces". However, he warns of growing fissures in the U.S.-Israeli alliance. While the U.S. frames the war as one of liberation for the Persian people, Israel’s objective is the existential destruction of Iran as a regional power. These divergent goals, Germanicus predicts, will create severe strategic tension as the conflict intensifies. (2)3-
Transcribe →
S8 Ep547: SHOW SCHEDULE 3-6-2026 APRIL 30, 1789 NEW YORK INAUGURATION
Mar 600:11:50Tap to summarizeSHOW SCHEDULE 3-6-2026APRIL 30, 1789 NEW YORK INAUGURATION### HEADLINE: LAS VEGAS CONSTRUCTION AND THE DECLINE OF WEST COAST CITIES SUMMARY: Jeff Bliss discusses Las Vegas's massive infrastructure projects, including Brightline rail, while contrasting its growth with the "ghost town" atmospheres currently found in Reno and Portland. GUEST: Jeff Bliss NUMBER: 1 (1)### HEADLINE: GAVIN NEWSOM’S BOOK TOUR AND KAMALA HARRIS’S POLITICAL STANDING SUMMARY: Jeff Bliss analyzes Governor Newsom’s national media strategy and book tour alongside Vice President Harris’s controversial and ill-timed comments regarding the ongoing Middle East conflict. GUEST: Jeff Bliss NUMBER: 2 (2)### HEADLINE: THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AND MODERN CONFLICT REALITIES SUMMARY: Professor Richard Epstein explores the history of the War Powers Act, arguing that modern warfare's speed makes congressional deliberative processes difficult and potentially counterproductive today. GUEST: Professor Richard Epstein NUMBER: 3 (3)### HEADLINE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN WARFARE AND THE ANTHROPIC DISPUTE SUMMARY: Professor Richard Epstein discusses the integration of Claude AI in military targeting simulations and the public disagreement between the administration and the developer over autonomous weapons. GUEST: Professor Richard Epstein NUMBER: 4 (4)### HEADLINE: SPIKING FUEL PRICES AND REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY IN LANCASTER COUNTY SUMMARY: Jim McTague reports on gasoline prices jumping forty cents in Pennsylvania due to war, while noting Lancaster's unique history as the nation's capital for one day. GUEST: Jim McTague NUMBER: 5 (5)### HEADLINE: ITALY’S HIDDEN GEMS: EXPLORING LECCE AND OTRANTO IN PUGLIA SUMMARY: Lorenzo Fiori recommends visiting the "heel of the boot" to experience Roman ruins, Baroque architecture, and local Primitivo wine away from Italy's over-touristed hubs. GUEST: Lorenzo Fiori NUMBER: 6 (6)### HEADLINE: NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE NPT SUMMARY: Henry Sokolski addresses China's nuclear expansion and the potential breakdown of the Non-Proliferation Treaty as the U.S. justifies the Iran war as a preemptive strike. GUEST: Henry Sokolski NUMBER: 7 (7)### HEADLINE: TAIWAN’S SECURITY CONCERNS AMID THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT SUMMARY: Colonel Grant Newsham explains Taiwan’s anxieties regarding energy supplies and how U.S. military success in Iran influences the island's confidence against potential Chinese aggression. GUEST: Colonel Grant Newsham NUMBER: 8 (8)### HEADLINE: GEORGE DOWNING’S 17TH-CENTURY DIPLOMACY AND ESPIONAGE IN FRANCE SUMMARY: Dennis Su details George Downing’s 1655 mission to France, where he used Latin to negotiate a secret alliance with Cardinal Mazarin against Spanish influence. GUEST: Dennis Su NUMBER: 9 (9)### HEADLINE: THE RISE OF GEORGE DOWNING UNDER CROMWELL’S PROTECTORATE SUMMARY: Dennis Su explores George Downing’s role as Cromwell’s intelligence chief and his mission to study Dutch economic success to help transform England into a trading power. GUEST: Dennis Su NUMBER: 10 (10)### HEADLINE: CROMWELL’S DEATH AND DOWNING’S SECRET DEAL WITH THE KING SUMMARY: Dennis Su recounts the "dummy" funeral of Oliver Cromwell and George Downing’s opportunistic decision to offer state secrets to the exiled King Charles II. GUEST: Dennis Su NUMBER: 11 (11)### HEADLINE: EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION AND THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES II SUMMARY: Dennis Su describes Downing’s betrayal of former allies, his role in capturing regicides, and the grisly display of Cromwell’s head at the House of Commons. GUEST: Dennis Su NUMBER: 12 (12)### HEADLINE: THE TAX CODE ORIGINS OF HIGH AMERICAN HEALTHCARE COSTS SUMMARY: Veronique de Rugy traces modern healthcare expenses to a 1920s tax error and advocates for health savings accounts to restore consumer control and transparency. GUEST: Veronique de Rugy NUMBER: 13 (13)### HEADLINE: CHINA’S ENERGY DEPENDENCE AND THE REBUILDING OF IRAN SUMMARY: Max Meish discusses China's reliance on Iranian oil and proposes a U.S. "economic strike force" to stabilize Iran while excluding Chinese interests from reconstruction. GUEST: Max Meish NUMBER: 14 (14)### HEADLINE: THE RISE OF THE PRIVATE SPACE INDUSTRY AND GLOBAL COMPETITION SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman highlights VAST’s private space station, Spanish and South Korean rocket startups, and Japan’s recent struggles with repeated orbital launch failures. GUEST: Bob Zimmerman NUMBER: 15 (15)### HEADLINE: WEBB TELESCOPE DATA AND THE BIOLOGICAL RISKS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman analyzes new asteroid data from Webb and a study suggesting microgravity increases blood clot risks, emphasizing the need for artificial gravity in space. GUEST: Bob Zimmerman NUMBER: 16 (16)
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: WEBB TELESCOPE DATA AND THE BIOLOGICAL RISKS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman analyzes new asteroid data from Webb and a study suggesting microgravity increases blood clot risks, emphasizing the need for artificial gr...
Mar 600:05:55Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: WEBB TELESCOPE DATA AND THE BIOLOGICAL RISKS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS SUMMARY:Bob Zimmerman analyzes new asteroid data from Webb and a study suggesting microgravity increases blood clot risks, emphasizing the need for artificial gravity in space. GUEST: Bob ZimmermanNUMBER: 16 (16)1958
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: THE RISE OF THE PRIVATE SPACE INDUSTRY AND GLOBAL COMPETITION SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman highlights VAST’s private space station, Spanish and South Korean rocket startups, and Japan’s recent struggles with repeated orbital launch f...
Mar 600:13:44Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: THE RISE OF THE PRIVATE SPACE INDUSTRY AND GLOBAL COMPETITION SUMMARY:Bob Zimmerman highlights VAST’s private space station, Spanish and South Korean rocket startups, and Japan’s recent struggles with repeated orbital launch failures. GUEST: Bob ZimmermanNUMBER: 15 (15)October 1957
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: CHINA’S ENERGY DEPENDENCE AND THE REBUILDING OF IRAN SUMMARY:Max Meizlish discusses China's reliance on Iranian oil and proposes a U.S. "economic strike force" to stabilize Iran while excluding Chinese interests from reconstruc...
Mar 600:09:15Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: CHINA’S ENERGY DEPENDENCE AND THE REBUILDING OF IRAN SUMMARY:Max Meizlish discusses China's reliance on Iranian oil and proposes a U.S. "economic strike force" to stabilize Iran while excluding Chinese interests from reconstruction. GUEST: Max Meizlish NUMBER: 14 (14)1793
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: THE TAX CODE ORIGINS OF HIGH AMERICAN HEALTHCARE COSTS SUMMARY: Veronique de Rugy traces modern healthcare expenses to a 1920s tax error and advocates for health savings accounts to restore consumer control and transparency. GU...
Mar 600:08:34Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: THE TAX CODE ORIGINS OF HIGH AMERICAN HEALTHCARE COSTS SUMMARY:Veronique de Rugy traces modern healthcare expenses to a 1920s tax error and advocates for health savings accounts to restore consumer control and transparency. GUEST: Veronique de Rugy NUMBER: 13 (13)NOVEMBER 1899
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION AND THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES IISUMMARY: Dennis Sewall describes Downing’s betrayal of former allies, his role in capturing regicides, and the grisly display of Cromwell’s head at the House of Commons. ...
Mar 600:07:08Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION AND THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES IISUMMARY: Dennis Sewall describes Downing’s betrayal of former allies, his role in capturing regicides, and the grisly display of Cromwell’s head at the House of Commons. GUEST: Denniis Sewall NUMBER:12 (12)1838 Dorchester looking to Boston
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: CROMWELL’S DEATH AND DOWNING’S SECRET DEAL WITH THE KING SUMMARY:Dennis Sewall recounts the "dummy" funeral of Oliver Cromwell and George Downing’s opportunistic decision to offer state secrets to the exiled King Charles II. GU...
Mar 600:12:31Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: CROMWELL’S DEATH AND DOWNING’S SECRET DEAL WITH THE KING SUMMARY:Dennis Sewall recounts the "dummy" funeral of Oliver Cromwell and George Downing’s opportunistic decision to offer state secrets to the exiled King Charles II. GUEST:Dennis Sewall NUMBER: 11 (11)1806 North End Boston
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: THE RISE OF GEORGE DOWNING UNDER CROMWELL’S PROTECTORATESUMMARY: Dennis Sewall explores George Downing’s role as Cromwell’s intelligence chief and his mission to study Dutch economic success to help transform England into a tra...
Mar 600:06:44Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: THE RISE OF GEORGE DOWNING UNDER CROMWELL’S PROTECTORATESUMMARY: Dennis Sewall explores George Downing’s role as Cromwell’s intelligence chief and his mission to study Dutch economic success to help transform England into a trading power. GUEST: Dennis Sewall NUMBER: 10 (10)1806 Boston
Transcribe →
S8 Ep546: ### HEADLINE: GEORGE DOWNING’S 17TH-CENTURY DIPLOMACY AND ESPIONAGE IN FRANCE SUMMARY: Dennis Su details George Downing’s 1655 mission to France, where he used Latin to negotiate a secret alliance with Cardinal Mazarin against Spanish influe...
Mar 600:11:05Tap to summarize### HEADLINE: GEORGE DOWNING’S 17TH-CENTURY DIPLOMACY AND ESPIONAGE IN FRANCE SUMMARY: Dennis Su details George Downing’s 1655 mission to France, where he used Latin to negotiate a secret alliance with Cardinal Mazarin against Spanish influence. GUEST: Dennis Su NUMBER: 9 (9)1800 BOSTON
Transcribe →