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PODCAST

The John Batchelor Show

The John Batchelor Show

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.

news & politics history

All Episodes

14:00

53: The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/06

The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Peter Berkowitz (Hoover Institution Fellow and educator) discusses the Trump administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," which requires universities to meet ten priorities to qualify for federal benefits like student loans and research grants. While many goals are proper or already legally required (like protecting free speech and obeying civil rights laws), several are highly controversial. These controversial

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6:14

53: Canada's Troubled Relations with China and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/06

Canada's Troubled Relations with China and the US. Charles Burton (author of The Beaver and the Dragon) analyzes Canadian Prime Minister Carney's meeting with China's Xi Jinping following the APEC conference. Burton described Carney as a "supplicant" who echoed Chinese rhetoric of "constructive and pragmatic interactions," which means focusing on trade while avoiding criticism. Issues discussed included Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola and Canada's tariffs on subsidized Chinese EVs. Burton

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11:35

53: Canada's Troubled Relations with China and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/06

Canada's Troubled Relations with China and the US. Charles Burton (author of The Beaver and the Dragon) analyzes Canadian Prime Minister Carney's meeting with China's Xi Jinping following the APEC conference. Burton described Carney as a "supplicant" who echoed Chinese rhetoric of "constructive and pragmatic interactions," which means focusing on trade while avoiding criticism. Issues discussed included Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola and Canada's tariffs on subsidized Chinese EVs. Burton

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8:14

52: Flood Data Shows Alarming Trends, Surpassing...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Flood Data Shows Alarming Trends, Surpassing Previous Modeling Estimates. Professor Beth Tellman (University of Arizona Geography Department; Cloud to Street) highlights that her compiled flood data is useful for financial sectors, such as insurance and municipal bonds. The data shows Asia dominates observations, accounting for 398 of 913 events, including 85 in India and 52 in China. Furthermore, climate change projections for 2030 show Asia, among 57 countries globally, is expected to see

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10:34

52: Satellite Tracking Reveals Increased Global...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Satellite Tracking Reveals Increased Global Population Exposure to Floods (2000–2018). Professor Beth Tellman (Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Cloud to Street; Professor at the University of Arizona geography) discusses her peer-reviewed study, published in Nature magazine, using satellite imaging from NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites, equipped with the MODIS optical sensor, to track global flood events. This systematic mapping provides hard data of actual events, augmenting the global

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11:30

52: New NASA Missions DAVINCI and VERITAS Set to...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

New NASA Missions DAVINCI and VERITAS Set to Decipher Venus's Atmosphere and History. Dr. David Grinspoon (Planetary Science Institute) and David Livingston (The Space Show) describe the upcoming NASA missions to Venus: DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) and VERITAS. DAVINCI will be the first entry probe with modern instruments since 1979, descending through the atmosphere to sample gases and measure temperature and pressure, also capturing descent

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9:39

52: The Habitability of Venus's Clouds: Following...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

The Habitability of Venus's Clouds: Following Chemical Clues to Possible Life. Dr. David Grinspoon (Planetary Science Institute) and Dr. David Livingston (The Space Show) discuss the growing mainstream focus on the potential for life in the clouds of Venus. Although the surface is too extreme, the cloud layer provides a relatively benign environment with low pressure and cool temperatures, prompting questions about potential habitability. Life might have migrated to the clouds if Venus lost its

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2:30

51: PREVIEW. The Risks of AI Feedback Loops: Why...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

PREVIEW. The Risks of AI Feedback Loops: Why Feeding Grok Its Own Output Causes Insanity. Spencer Klavan details interactions with the Grok chatbot, explaining that it learns and improves by receiving human input. Chatbots often end answers with questions to encourage user responses, which serve as training data. Critically, Klavan notes that if Grok's own output is fed back into the system instead of new human output, the machine actually "goes insane."11963

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2:00

51: PREVIEW. Return to Escalation: Monitoring China's...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

PREVIEW. Return to Escalation: Monitoring China's Promise to Purchase American Soybeans. Jack Burnham discusses the muted respect/ceasefire between President Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping following their meeting in Seoul. Burnham suggests a return to escalation is likely, similar to past talks, if either side perceives a competitive step. A critical trigger point to monitor is China's fulfillment of promises to purchase American agricultural commodities, such as soybeans. 1908 HANKOU

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3:10

51: PREVIEW. The Crisis of AI Literacy: Protecting...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

PREVIEW. The Crisis of AI Literacy: Protecting Vulnerable Communities from Misusing Chatbots. Kevin Frazier discusses the dangers of young people misusing AI chatbots due to a significant lack of public awareness and basic AI literacy. Designers assume users know chatbots are merely objectification and optimization, not real opinions or people. Frazier stresses the need for educating consumers on the best and improper uses of these tools for responsible innovation. 1951

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1:59

50: PREVIEW. Canada-China Trade Talks and EV Security...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

PREVIEW. Canada-China Trade Talks and EV Security Concerns. Charles Burton discusses Canada-China trade talks (Carney/Xi) post-APEC concerning resuming and enhancing trade. Concerns include China exporting thousands of EVs, potentially overwhelming domestic industries and acting as security threats. Canada hopes China will manufacture EVs locally to offset Canadian auto job losses, but Burton is skeptical of this strategy and considers the Canadian government ill-advised.

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2:09

50: PREVIEW. US Operations Near Venezuela and...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

PREVIEW. US Operations Near Venezuela and Strategic Deception. General Blaine Holt discusses US operations near Venezuela concerning the unacceptable Maduro dictatorship. Holt suggests the highly visible fleet and air power might be a distraction for the regime, which expects a predictable Bay of Pigs-type assault force. President Trump is likely avoiding a "wash, rinse, repeat plan," indicating the "pointy edge of the spear" they are watching is probably not the thing that will get them.

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1:48

50: PREVIEW. Weightlessness Effects on Human Vision...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

PREVIEW. Weightlessness Effects on Human Vision and Mars Travel Implications. Bob Zimmerman discusses a NASA study regarding the profound effect of weightlessness on the human eye. The study, looking at 28 individuals from long ISS missions, found about half had vision problems because the eye flattens in weightlessness. Though previous studies noted bone and cardiovascular issues, this new discovery found that women had less of this specific problem than men. Mitigating these effects is required

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6:15

49: Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nigeria, noting the violence is complex and not strictly genocide against Christians, contrasting it with US refusal to provide past aid. Discussion shifts to the overwhelming US military buildup near Venezuela, which might force Maduro's departure by damaging his credibility, possibly via anti-narcotics action. The interview concludes by analyzing the anticlimactic Trump-Xi

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13:25

49: Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nigeria, noting the violence is complex and not strictly genocide against Christians, contrasting it with US refusal to provide past aid. Discussion shifts to the overwhelming US military buildup near Venezuela, which might force Maduro's departure by damaging his credibility, possibly via anti-narcotics action. The interview concludes by analyzing the anticlimactic Trump-Xi

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7:15

49: Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nigeria, noting the violence is complex and not strictly genocide against Christians, contrasting it with US refusal to provide past aid. Discussion shifts to the overwhelming US military buildup near Venezuela, which might force Maduro's departure by damaging his credibility, possibly via anti-narcotics action. The interview concludes by analyzing the anticlimactic Trump-Xi

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10:34

49: Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nigeria, noting the violence is complex and not strictly genocide against Christians, contrasting it with US refusal to provide past aid. Discussion shifts to the overwhelming US military buildup near Venezuela, which might force Maduro's departure by damaging his credibility, possibly via anti-narcotics action. The interview concludes by analyzing the anticlimactic Trump-Xi

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6:05

49: Nuclear Testing, Venezuela Buildup, and Gaza...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Nuclear Testing, Venezuela Buildup, and Gaza Occupation. Colonel Jeff McCausland criticizes Secretary Hegseth's suggestion that resuming nuclear testing would make nuclear war "less likely," noting that the US deterrent is already credible and testing would destabilize adversaries. He highlights the excessive US military buildup near Venezuela, questioning the post-intervention mission, referencing the "Pottery Barn theory." Regarding Gaza, he suggests the potential creation of "two Gazas" leads to

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13:35

49: Nuclear Testing, Venezuela Buildup, and Gaza...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

Nuclear Testing, Venezuela Buildup, and Gaza Occupation. Colonel Jeff McCausland criticizes Secretary Hegseth's suggestion that resuming nuclear testing would make nuclear war "less likely," noting that the US deterrent is already credible and testing would destabilize adversaries. He highlights the excessive US military buildup near Venezuela, questioning the post-intervention mission, referencing the "Pottery Barn theory." Regarding Gaza, he suggests the potential creation of "two Gazas" leads to

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5:45

49: The Rise of Extremist Politics in the US and UK....

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/05

The Rise of Extremist Politics in the US and UK. Joseph Sternberg analyzes the rise of extreme political figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, warning conservatives that opponents' political mistakes do not guarantee their success, citing the UK's Jeremy Corbyn as a parallel. He notes that frustrated voters seek "sledgehammers" on both the left and right. In the UK, he details how Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Labour government are suffering plummeting approval due to economic

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5,003 results

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