SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FRIDAY 4-10-2026.
1960 SANDS HOTEL

1. Jeff Bliss: Jeff Bliss discusses the construction of a new In-N-Out store in Las Vegas. He reviews high theme park prices, marketing job cuts at Disney, financial concerns regarding the 2028 Olympics, and organized crime involvement in homelessness. (1)
2. Jeff Bliss: Jeff Bliss reports on California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, focusing on her controversial documentaries and personal stories regarding incarceration. Additionally, the segment addresses allegations against Congressman Eric Swalwell as he considers a run for the California governorship in Sacramento. (2)
3. Gene Marks: Gene Marks analyzes soaring inflation driven by volatile energy costs and suggests defensive strategies for small businesses. He addresses consumer sentiment versus actual spending and notes that hiring remains resilient despite economic challenges and the emergence of artificial intelligence. (3)
4. Gene Marks: Gene Marks examines AI advancements, specifically Anthropic’s ability to discover banking security vulnerabilities. He discusses the balance between AI risks and benefits for small businesses, the phenomenon of AI hallucinations, and how humans remain essential for effective customer service. (4)
5. Henry Sokolski: Henry Sokolski highlights the urgent need for policies to defend domestic nuclear facilities against drone threats. He discusses the Department of Energy’s new guidance, the reality of war zones, and public education requirements regarding civilian infrastructure preparedness and potential evacuations. (5)
6. Henry Sokolski: Henry Sokolski details the critical reliance of nuclear power plants on external electricity for cooling. He warns about Iranian hackers targeting the US electrical grid and how Russian and Chinese targeting information enhances the lethality of foreign drone and missile technologies. (6)
7. Bob Zimmerman: Bob Zimmerman reviews the burgeoning market for satellite internet constellations, comparing Amazon’s LEO project with SpaceX’s established Starlink. He also covers Chinese space ambitions, orbital repair startups like Astroscale and Starfish, and the push for capitalism in the final frontier. (7)
8. Bob Zimmerman: Bob Zimmerman critiques the high costs and bureaucratic hurdles of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket compared to reusable alternatives. He also provides updates on the Curiosity rover’s climb up Mount Sharp on Mars, discussing its fuel capacity and mechanical limitations. (8)
9. Professor Daniel Rood: Professor Daniel Rood explores the evolution of the American plantation system, focusing on the transition from tobacco to cotton exports. He highlights the expertise and knowledge provided by enslaved people and the tragic economic scale of the internal human trafficking system. (9)
10. Professor Daniel Rood: Daniel Rood discusses General Sherman’s march through Georgia and the missed opportunity to dismantle the plantation system during Reconstruction. The segment covers Field Order 15, the impact of Lincoln’s assassination, and how planters regained land from enslaved families. (10)
11. Professor Daniel Rood: Daniel Rood compares plantation systems in Cuba, Brazil, and California, identifying modern iterations in multinational ethanol production and agricultural exploitation. He details how California planters engineered labor systems to maintain power and profit margins after the Civil War. (11)
12. Professor Daniel Rood: Daniel Rood recounts the discovery of a graveyard for enslaved people at the University of Georgia’s Baldwin Hall site. He argues for fully embracing this history to escape the "shadow of the great house" and understand alternative modes of agricultural life. (12)
13. Jim McTague: Jim McTague reports on the economy in Lancaster County, noting steady business activity despite rising gasoline prices. He emphasizes the role of wealthy retirees in buffering retail spending and explains the tax implications of traditional IRAs versus Roth accounts. (13)
14. Lorenzo Fiori: Lorenzo Fiori recommends Padua for tourism, highlighting its historical frescoes and strategic location near Venice. He also discusses recent severe weather in southern Italy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s efforts to clarify Italy’s political positions regarding international trade. (14)
15. Richard Epstein: Professor Richard Epstein provides a historical legal analysis of birthright citizenship, tracing arguments from the 1790 Naturalization Act to the 14th Amendment. He examines the 1898 Supreme Court ruling on Chinese immigrants and its implications for modern citizenship debates. (15)
16. Professor Richard Epstein: Professor Richard Epstein discusses the 25th Amendment’s fourth section regarding presidential disability and succession. He outlines the complex cabinet deliberation process required to elevate a vice president and the potential political instability surrounding its use in a divided nation. (16)

S8 Ep729: SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FRIDAY 4-10-2026. 1960 SANDS HOTEL