SHOW SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 3-25-2026.
1905 CAIRO.

1. USS Gerald R. Ford’s Successes and Innovations. Guest: Rebecca Grant. Rebecca Grant highlights the carrier’s successful combat mission and technical advances like the electromagnetic launch system and high-capacity elevators. She notes these innovations significantly increase strike power compared to older Nimitz-class aircraft carrier ships.,, (1)

2. China’s Drive for Undersea Maritime Hegemony. Guest: Rick Fisher. Rick Fisher discusses China’s long-term project to map the ocean floor for submarine warfare. He warns that China’s expanding fleet and undersea sensor networks aim to achieve naval parity with the United States.,, (2)

3. The Return of Conventional Amphibious Warfare. Guest: Grant Newsham. Grant Newsham explains the deployment of Marine Expeditionary Units to the Persian Gulf. He argues this move validates traditional amphibious capabilities over recent "force design" strategies that focused solely on small, island-based missile teams.,, (3)

4. Taiwan’s Strategic Pivot to Nuclear Energy. Guest: Jack Burnham. Jack Burnham analyzes Taiwan’s decision to restart its nuclear power plants to ensure energy security. Facing vulnerabilities in LNG supplies from the Middle East, Taiwan seeks a stable, domestic baseload power for critical manufacturing.,, (4)

5. Russia’s Economic Bonus from Iran Conflict. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Michael Bernstam explains how skyrocketing oil prices have rescued Russia’s economy, doubling weekly revenues. While Europe faces severe diesel shortages and high costs, Moscow benefits from increased prices and reduced discounts to Asian buyers.,, (5)

6. Global Fertilizer Crisis and Food Security. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Michael Bernstam warns of a massive shortage in nitrogen fertilizers due to the conflict in the Middle East. This crisis threatens global food security and will likely cause significant price increases for agricultural commodities.,, (6)

7. Postponed Diplomacy and China’s Strategic Dependency. Guest: Steve Yates. Steve Yates discusses the delay of the Trump-Xi summit due to China’s support for Iran. He highlights China’s critical dependency on energy imports and export markets, which remain major points of US leverage.,, (7)

8. China’s Strategic Post-Conflict Energy Strategy. Guest: Steve Yates. Steve Yates examines Beijing’s efforts to maintain privileged energy access in a post-conflict Iran. China is pursuing nuclear and solar alternatives while using stockpiles to mitigate its vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.,, (8)

9. The Deep Iran-North Korea Missile Threat. Guest: Bruce Bechtol. Bruce Bechtol details the firing of North Korean-designed Musudan missiles at Diego Garcia. He highlights the deep technological partnership between the two regimes, which includes the construction of underground facilities and nuclear infrastructure.,, (9)

10. Nuclear Proliferation and Shifting Supply Chains. Guest: Bruce Bechtol. Bruce Bechtol explores North Korea’s role in developing Iranian nuclear capabilities and drones. He explains how Pyongyang uses maritime and rail routes through Russia to supply Tehran, bypassing international sanctions and interdiction efforts.,,, (10)

11. Elon Musk’s Vertical Integration in Space. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman discusses Musk’s "Terra-fab" chip factory and plans for space-based data centers. He also notes technical failures in ULA’s Vulcan rocket, which have forced the Space Force to shift launches to SpaceX.,, (11)

12. Planetary Exploration and Significant Astronomical Changes. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman details the deteriorating condition of the Curiosity rover’s wheels on Mars. He also examines new Juno data on Jupiter’s lightning and Hubble images showing the physical expansion of the Crab Nebula supernova.,, (12)

13. Commodity Markets and European Economic Hardship. Guest: Simon Constable. Simon Constable reports on high energy prices and diesel shortages in France. He analyzes how the Iran war affects global commodities like copper and gold, while also discussing controversial new EU-aligned domestic legislation.,,, (13)

14. China’s Strategic Monopoly on Rare Earths. Guest: Simon Constable. Simon Constable breaks down the reality of rare earth elements, noting they are not rare but difficult to refine. He emphasizes China’s dominant control, refining approximately ninety percent of the world’s global supply.,, (14)

15. The Complicated Legacy of Robert Mueller. Guest: Craig Unger. Craig Unger reflects on the passing of Robert Mueller, discussing the unfinished questions regarding the 2016 Trump-Russia investigation. He highlights the distinction between criminal and counterintelligence probes regarding money laundering and influence operations.,, (15)

16. Trump’s Ties to Russia and Epstein. Guest: Craig Unger. Craig Unger explores Donald Trump’s continued favorable rhetoric toward Vladimir Putin. He discusses how the Iran war benefits Russia economically and mentions potential vulnerabilities related to the Jeffrey Epstein files and Russian intelligence.,, (16)

S8 Ep643: SHOW SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 3-25-2026. 1905 CAIRO.