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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.

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All Episodes

9:17

41: Presidential Ambition and the 1980 Victory: From...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/03

Presidential Ambition and the 1980 Victory: From Farm Hand Friendship to the "There You Go Again" Knockout. Max Boot discusses Ronald Reagan running for president, first challenging incumbent Gerald Ford in the 1976 Republican primaries. Reagan narrowly lost the New Hampshire primary to Ford by about a thousand votes, but won the hearts of the convention with a graceful and moving speech delivered in defeat. After Ford lost to Jimmy Carter, Reagan spent the years between 1976 and 1980 returning to

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9:14

41: The Road to Goldwater: Ronald Reagan's...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/03

The Road to Goldwater: Ronald Reagan's Conservative Conversion via General Electric and His Confrontational Governorship. Max Boot discusses how Ronald Reagan found great success in television, hosting the General Electric Theater and earning substantial income while mixing with corporate leadership in the 1950s and early 1960s. Reagan transitioned politically from being an avid New Dealer and FDR supporter to supporting the early Republican conservative movement, particularly Barry Goldwater. Boot

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10:17

41: The Fracture of Reagan's First Marriage,...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/03

The Fracture of Reagan's First Marriage, Hollywood's Red Scare, and the Appearance of Nancy Davis. Max Boot discusses the marriage between Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, which was considered an "odd combination." Wyman was drawn to Reagan because he was a "nice guy" and a "white knight," though Reagan was "very hard to get to commit." By the eve of World War II, Reagan was professionally ascending, but the war derailed his commercial film career as he spent the entire conflict in Hollywood making

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8:04

41: From College Engagement to Radio Stardom: Ronald...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/03

From College Engagement to Radio Stardom: Ronald Reagan's Ascent to the Hollywood B-List. Max Boot discusses how Ronald Reagan's father, Jack, secured a job as an administrator of welfare for the New Deal in late 1933. Meanwhile, Ronald developed into a successful young football star at Eureka College, where his steady girlfriend was Margaret Cleaver, known as Mugs. They were deeply in love and engaged to be married, but after graduation they separated, and Margaret, following a trip to Europe,

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9:37

41: Ronald Reagan's Traumatic Childhood: An Alcoholic...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/03

Ronald Reagan's Traumatic Childhood: An Alcoholic Father, an Optimistic Mother, and the Seeds of Aloofness.Max Boot discusses Ronald Reagan's childhood during the Great Depression, beginning in late 1932 when Reagan visited his father, Jack Reagan, in Springfield, Illinois, where Jack was running a shoe store. Jack Reagan, an Irish American shoe salesman, was characterized as a "ne'er-do-well" with a charming gift of blarney but plagued by alcoholism. His drinking problem contributed significantly

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7:36

46: Cockatoos Confirmed as Structural Vandals; Magpie...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

Cockatoos Confirmed as Structural Vandals; Magpie Invites Itself Inside. Jeremy Zakis discusses how the destructive behavior of cockatoos is confirmed as they pulled so many nails from a neighbor's iron roof that the structure is now drooping, necessitating expensive, specialized repairs. Cockatoos are described as "pure evil with wings" and are known for tearing up building structures. Conversely, Dallas the poodle's friends, the magpies, are growing bolder. One teenage magpie walked four feet

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11:11

46: Ashes Cricket Update: Pat Cummins Out, Steve...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

Ashes Cricket Update: Pat Cummins Out, Steve Smith Steps Up as Captain. Jeremy Zakis discusses how the Australian Ashes team faces uncertainty as expected captain Pat Cummins is likely out of the first match, and probably the series, due to severe shoulder and back injuries. Steve Smith has been selected as the replacement captain. Player selection is ongoing, with Marnus Labuschagne expected to return after improving his one-day international performance. Meanwhile, rivals England were decisively

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8:23

45: Massive Snake Surge Hits Queensland: Catchers...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

Massive Snake Surge Hits Queensland: Catchers Inundated by Eastern Browns and Red Bellies. Jeremy Zakis discusses how predictions of a snake boom came true in Darling Downs, Queensland, where sightings and bites have soared, potentially tripling last year's numbers. Snake catchers are overwhelmed by the volume of calls. The warm, wet spring accelerated breeding cycles, putting many snakes—including pythons, Eastern Brown snakes, and Red Belly Black snakes—on the move. Eastern Brown snakes are

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6:40

45: Bureau of Meteorology Removes 'Black' Warning...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

Bureau of Meteorology Removes 'Black' Warning Scale Amid Severe Storms. Jeremy Zakis discusses how the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) launched a confusing new website during one of the Eastern Coast's worst storm seasons. They controversially removed the color "black" from the weather radar scale, which previously denoted the most severe weather, including heavy hail and flooding. When a major Queensland storm hit with only "red" warnings, people were unprepared, resulting in extensive property

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7:20

44: The Cockpit Confrontation: How Parliament Lost...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

The Cockpit Confrontation: How Parliament Lost Their Best Advocate and Franklin's Legacy as a Founder of Science. Richard Munson discusses how Benjamin Franklin was a pivotal figure in the Revolutionary era, initially dedicated to maintaining the colonies' loyalty to the king. The critical turning point occurred in January 1774 at the Cockpit, where Parliament grilled and lambasted Franklin for over an hour without allowing him to answer. At this moment, Franklin realized the English government had

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12:20

44: The Conservation of Charge and the Practical...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

The Conservation of Charge and the Practical Genius of the Lightning Rod. Richard Munson discusses how Benjamin Franklin was an endlessly busy experimenter who began his famous work by studying the Leiden jar, a rudimentary battery. Franklin conducted fundamental research and developed the law of the conservation of charge: the idea that positive and negative electrical charges always seek balance. On Christmas Day 1750, he exposed himself to danger by touching the terminals of two Leiden jars,

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8:24

44: Printing as High-Tech: Franklin's Wealth Creation...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

Printing as High-Tech: Franklin's Wealth Creation and the Dawn of His Electrical Experiments. Richard Munson discusses how Benjamin Franklin arrived in Philadelphia at age 17 and, in just 22 years, transformed into an independently wealthy experimenter. Printing during this era was the "high-tech of the age," and Franklin's work involved scientific thinking. A powerful driving force was his ambition to be wealthy, maintaining a strong focus on the bottom line. Franklin leveraged quality to secure

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9:26

44: Benjamin Franklin: Bravery, Deism, and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

Benjamin Franklin: Bravery, Deism, and the Youthful Pursuit of Independence. Richard Munson's biography emphasizes the complexity and bravery of Benjamin Franklin, born in 1706. A key event occurred in 1762 when Governor John Penn rushed to Franklin's home, needing his help to stop the homicidal Paxton Boys mob, who had massacred Native Americans and were marching on Philadelphia. Franklin, then 56, responded with great bravery and rode out to face down the mob, succeeding in talking them down

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7:54

44: The Somers Trial: Mackenzie's Defense, Dana's...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

The Somers Trial: Mackenzie's Defense, Dana's Support, and the Presidential Intervention. Richard Snow discusses how after the execution, the Navy initiated an inquiry. Richard Henry Dana fully supported Mackenzie, describing him as saintly and honorable. The court of inquiry agreed that Mackenzie had behaved honorably. However, Mackenzie surprisingly sought a formal court-martial because John Spencer and Seaman Small's wife were pressuring for a civil murder trial. The court-martial ran from

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11:45

44: The Fateful Secret: Mackenzie's Panic and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

The Fateful Secret: Mackenzie's Panic and the Wardroom's Verdict of Death. Richard Snow discusses how the crisis began on Friday, November 24, 1842, when Philip Spencer detailed his plot to crew member Wales, claiming to have recruited at least 20 people to turn the Somers into a pirate ship. Wales reported the plot to First Lieutenant Gansevoort, who reported to Captain Mackenzie. Mackenzie initially dismissed the claim but quickly became convinced and panicky, ordering Gansevoort to spy on

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3:59

44: The Overgunned School Ship: Conditions Aboard the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

The Overgunned School Ship: Conditions Aboard the USS Somers. Richard Snow discusses how the USS Somers, a beautiful and fast ship, was small—only 100 feet long—and overgunned with ten 32-pounders. The crew consisted of 120 people, with only about 30 mature sailors and the remaining majority being midshipmen meant to learn basic seamanship. The vessel was very crowded. Midshipman Philip Spencer was isolated from other midshipmen and began consorting with the common crew, which was highly

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13:50

44: The USS Somers: Midshipman Philip Spencer's...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/02

The USS Somers: Midshipman Philip Spencer's Pirate Obsession and Captain Mackenzie's Taste for Violence.Richard Snow's book, Sailing the Graveyard Sea, recounts the 1842 voyage of the USS Somers, the US Navy's only mutiny. The mutiny centered on Midshipman Philip Spencer, born in 1824, son of prominent lawyer John Spencer. Philip was a difficult, unruly dreamer who withdrew into pirate stories, donating the massive The Pirate's Own Book to his school library. His father secured Philip a naval

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7:10

44: Geoengineering and Sustainable Growth:...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/01

Geoengineering and Sustainable Growth: Technological Pathways to Climate Restoration. Gaia Vince discusses technological methods for restoring the planet, including ocean fertilization, which involves artificially adding iron to boost algae growth that would suck out carbon dioxide. Another technique is enhanced weathering, sprinkling rocks like olivines onto agricultural fields or beaches; these rocks naturally bind with atmospheric carbon dioxide, locking the carbon away. Further options include

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13:30

44: Orchestrating the Nomad Century: Quotas, New...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/01

Orchestrating the Nomad Century: Quotas, New Cities, and the Food Production Revolution. Gaia Vince encourages a proactive vision for managing massive climate-driven migration, involving facing expected heat, enlarging northern cities, and building entirely new ones. Vince provides an optimistic example of a managed migration where a farmer in Gujarat, India, applies for migration and is assigned to Aberdeen, Scotland. She suggests establishing a new United Nations agency with "real teeth" to

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6:14

44: The Demographic Need: Reframing Migration as an...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/01

The Demographic Need: Reframing Migration as an Economic Resource and Dismantling Exclusionary Borders.Gaia Vince discusses how humans are a migratory species that evolved in Africa and colonized the entire globe through movement. Historically, the US and European nations have used policies of brutality and cruelty to restrict movement, with many current border restrictions being recent. Vince highlights the current economic paradox: societies encourage the flow of goods but limit human labor,

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9,001 results

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