x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

10:45

S8 Ep308: HEZBOLLAH'S SURVIVAL AND THE LOSS OF...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

HEZBOLLAH'S SURVIVAL AND THE LOSS OF REGIONAL LIFELINES Colleague David Daoud. David Daoud characterizes Hezbollah as an ideological extension of Iran currently in survival mode as its lifelines in Syria and Venezuela weaken. While Hezbollah wants the regime to survive for power projection, Daoud suggests Iraqi militias are more likely to be physically assisting Tehran's crackdowns due to their proximity and lower combat losses compared to Hezbollah. To clarify the current state of the Iranian

en-us

8:54

S8 Ep308: THE ZOMBIE REGIME AND STRATEGIC TARGETS...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

THE ZOMBIE REGIME AND STRATEGIC TARGETS Colleague Jonathan Sayeh. Jonathan Sayeh labels the Islamic Republic a "zombie regime" facing an existential threat despite its brutal crackdowns. He reports that the IRGC and foreign militias are using automatic weapons against protesters in cities like Tehran and Mashhad. Sai suggests that USintervention should prioritize striking repression centers and state-run propaganda machines to dismantle the regime's control. NUMBER 151870 Tehran

en-us

6:06

S8 Ep308: THE COLLAPSE OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

THE COLLAPSE OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains how the fall of the Iranian regime would devastate its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias, which depend on IRGC funding and training. Without Tehran's "big brother" support, these groups would likely be forced to make accommodations with local governments. He also notes Hezbollah's role as an international drug cartel. NUMBER 141921 ALEPPO

en-us

11:44

S8 Ep308: ESCALATING IRANIAN PROTESTS AND POTENTIAL...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

ESCALATING IRANIAN PROTESTS AND POTENTIAL US INTERVENTION Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Edmund Fitton-Brown describes the current Iranian protests as a movement that has shifted into a repression phase characterized by internet blackouts and rising casualties. He argues that US military force targeting repression organs could tip the balance in favor of the protesters, who are increasingly calling for a constitutional monarchy. The regime is reportedly attempting to negotiate following US strike

en-us

10:13

S8 Ep307: THE FOUR FAMILIES OF CARACAS AND THE END OF...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

THE FOUR FAMILIES OF CARACAS AND THE END OF THE REGIME Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Esclusa analyzes the four mafias currently competing for power in Caracas: the Rodriguez siblings, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and Maduro's remnants. He argues that overwhelming US military force has rendered local weapons irrelevant and that the dismantling of these groups is necessary for elections. NUMBER 121865 VENEZUELA

en-us

9:27

S8 Ep307: REGIONAL REACTIONS TO MADURO'S CAPTURE AND...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

REGIONAL REACTIONS TO MADURO'S CAPTURE AND THE ISOLATION OF CUBA Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports that Venezuelans are celebrating Maduro's capture while the Trumpadministration halts oil shipments to Cuba. He explains that regional left-wing leaders fear a trial will reveal their corrupt ties to Maduro, while the Cuban regime faces collapse without Venezuelan energy. NUMBER 111886 BOGOTA

en-us

6:43

S8 Ep307: REGIONAL SHIFTS: COLOMBIA'S DIPLOMACY AND...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

REGIONAL SHIFTS: COLOMBIA'S DIPLOMACY AND BRAZIL'S POLITICAL FUTURE Colleague Ernesto Araújo. The discussion focuses on Gustavo Petro's pivot toward the United States and the historical concept of "Grand Colombia." In Brazil, they evaluate Lula da Silva's potential re-election bid against the enduring popularity of the imprisoned Jair Bolsonaro and the influence of new nationalist political forces. NUMBER 101850 Venezuela

en-us

11:06

S8 Ep307: THE US-MANAGED TRANSITION IN POST-MADURO...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

THE US-MANAGED TRANSITION IN POST-MADURO VENEZUELA Colleague Ernesto Araújo. John Batchelor and Ernesto Araújo discuss the US-led operation that captured Nicolas Maduro. Araújo describes the current situation as a well-managed transition where the US is navigating internal power struggles among military factions and criminal gangs rather than allowing a power vacuum to form. NUMBER 91937 Venezuela

en-us

10:45

S8 Ep307: ESCALATING CONFLICT BETWEEN SYRIAN FORCES...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

ESCALATING CONFLICT BETWEEN SYRIAN FORCES AND KURDISH ALLIES Colleague Akmed Khari. Clashes have erupted in Aleppo between the Syrian government and the Kurdish SDF after a failed integration agreement. Akmed Khari notes the complexity of the US coordinating with Syrian security forces that remain riddled with jihadists. The conflict is expected to expand into other contested regions. Analogy: The situation in Syria is like a shaky alliance between rival firefighters who, while ostensibly trying to

en-us

8:54

S8 Ep307: RUSSIA'S ORESHNIK MISSILE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

RUSSIA'S ORESHNIK MISSILE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERRENCE Colleague John Hardy. Russia is utilizing the Oreshnik missile to strike Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving thousands without heat. John Hardy explains these strikes serve as psychological intimidation to deter Western nations from providing security guarantees or ground troops. Recent strikes likely targeted an aircraft repair plant, not gas storage. NUMBER 7OCTOBER 1938

en-us

4:41

S8 Ep307: THE SHIFTING BALANCE OF FEAR IN IRAN...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

THE SHIFTING BALANCE OF FEAR IN IRAN Colleague Malcolm Hoenlein. As the regime faces potential implosion, discussions involve a return of the Shah's son as a symbolic figurehead, though no clear path to collective leadership exists. Revolutionaries are now tagging the homes of officials, signaling that the balance of fear has shifted from the people to the leadership. NUMBER 61866 TEHRAN

en-us

13:09

S8 Ep307: IRANIAN PROTESTS AND THE COLLAPSE OF REGIME...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

IRANIAN PROTESTS AND THE COLLAPSE OF REGIME CONTROL Colleague Malcolm Hoenlein. Protests across Iran have turned deadly, with reports of hundreds killed by live fire and hospitals refusing wounded demonstrators. Malcolm Hoenlein highlights a communication blackout and a collapsing economy where the currency has plummeted. A new minority coalition of Baluchis and Kurds is now supporting rebellion. NUMBER 51896 BLACKSMITH TEHRAN

en-us

8:13

S8 Ep306: REGIME CHANGE AND SHIFTING POWER IN THE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

REGIME CHANGE AND SHIFTING POWER IN THE AMERICAS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. Shedd details the removal of Nicolas Maduro and a regional shift toward center-right governments. This transition aims to end Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, the US is demanding stricter security cooperation from Mexico to dismantle powerful drug cartels. NUMBER 41902 CARACAS

en-us

11:25

S8 Ep306: CHINA'S GREAT HEIST OF AMERICAN SECRETS...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/13

CHINA'S GREAT HEIST OF AMERICAN SECRETS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. David Sheddoutlines China's extensive cyber espionage campaigns, including "Salt Typhoon," which successfully hacked US Congressional committees. These operations aim to steal sensitive communications and embed sabotage tools within USinfrastructure, highlighting a critical failure in American defensive preparedness. NUMBER 31956

en-us

18:39

S8 Ep294: THE CRISIS OF THE THIRD CENTURY AND...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/12

THE CRISIS OF THE THIRD CENTURY AND AMERICAN PARALLELS Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 92 AD. Gaius and Germanicus explore Rome's "Crisis of the Third Century," where military coups and a fractured empire nearly caused total collapse. Germanicus draws parallels to the currently divided US elite and constitutional order, suggesting America might eventually require a "Tetrarchy"—a split management system—to survive its polarization. After debating

en-us

9:01

S8 Ep293: DOMESTIC MELODRAMA AND THE FOG OF RHETORIC...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/12

DOMESTIC MELODRAMA AND THE FOG OF RHETORIC Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 92 AD. Turning to domestic matters, the speakers discuss a controversy in Minnesota involving an ICE-related death, describing the situation as a "melodrama" obscured by a "fog of rhetoric." Germanicus contrasts this "theater" with the genuine violence of 19th-century labor strikes and the Spanish Civil War, warning that while current events are performative, the specialized

en-us

20:04

S8 Ep293: THE THEATER OF CHAOS IN PERSIA AND...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/12

THE THEATER OF CHAOS IN PERSIA AND VENEZUELA Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 92 AD. From a wine bar in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus analyze modern geopolitical tensions through a Roman lens. They discuss unrest in "Persia" (Iran) and Venezuela, noting that Roman armies traditionally fail in Persia. Germanicus argues the US administration employs a strategy of "Wagnerian" drama and "chaos"—similar to 19th-century British imperial meddling—to manage

en-us

8:29

S8 Ep302: STARBASE AND THE MECHAZILLA CATCH...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/12

STARBASE AND THE MECHAZILLA CATCH Colleague Eric Berger. The final segment centers on Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, where SpaceX built a modern rocket factory on swampland to construct the massive Starship. Berger details the "Chopstick" system, a tower designed to catch returning Super Heavy boosters to eliminate landing legs and enable rapid reuse. This fully reusable system, larger than the Saturn V, is the "endgame" for Musk's vision. Berger describes the operational concept: fleets of

en-us

11:14

S8 Ep302: THE CHUTE SHOW AND HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/12

THE CHUTE SHOW AND HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT Colleague Eric Berger. Berger discusses the Commercial Crew Program, noting that while Boeing's participation legitimized the effort for Congress, SpaceX ultimately led the way. The development of the Crew Dragon involved the "Chute Show," a team camping in the desert to iteratively test parachutes. Despite the "smooth" public image of NASA missions, Berger points out the inherent risks, such as launching near tornadoes during the first crewed attempt. The

en-us

6:32

S8 Ep302: STARLINK: FUNDING THE FUTURE Colleague Eric...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/12

STARLINK: FUNDING THE FUTURE Colleague Eric Berger. To finance the immense cost of Mars colonization, SpaceX developed Starlink, a constellation intended to comprise 12,000 satellites for global internet coverage. Bergerexplains that while the concept of low Earth orbit internet existed, SpaceX was the first to make it practical by mass-producing satellites at an unprecedented rate. This revenue stream is vital for the Starship program. Berger highlights how SpaceX has outpaced sovereign nations

en-us

5,669 results

Similar Podcasts

Boletines RNE

RNE

BBC News

BBC World Service

برامج

مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD

Journal Afrique

RFI

要闻解说

RFI - 法国国际广播电台