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PODCAST

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

10:40

67: 1. When Politicians Panicked: The New...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/09

1. When Politicians Panicked: The New Coronavirus, Expert Opinion, and a Tragic Lapse of Reason. John Tamny discusses the severe economic contraction initiated by mandated lockdowns, such as Governor Cuomo's March 20, 2020, order in New York. Tamny argues that politicians caused the crisis by forcing successful businesses to cease operations. These sudden actions by major economies forced global investors to fundamentally rethink the future value of businesses. Although early market signals from

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9:46

66: 8. The Trans Earth Injection, Lovell's Navigation...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

8. The Trans Earth Injection, Lovell's Navigation Error, and the Successful Reentry. Bob Zimmerman discusses how the Trans Earth Injection (TEI) was the mission's second moment of highest risk, requiring the non-redundant SPS engine to fire on the backside of the moon to propel them back to Earth. Susan Borman had been most anxious about this burn, knowing failure meant certain death in lunar orbit. When they reacquired signal, Jim Lovell famously declared, "I want to report that there is a Santa

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9:53

65: 7. The Iconic Earthrise Photo and the Genesis...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

7. The Iconic Earthrise Photo and the Genesis Reading Broadcast. Bob Zimmerman discusses how while orbiting the moon, the crew captured the now-iconic "Earthrise" photographs. A dispute over who took the famous color picture was resolved by transcript analysis: Frank Borman quickly took a black-and-white image, and Bill Anders subsequently captured the celebrated color image after scrambling to change the film. For their Christmas Eve television broadcast, Frank Borman sought guidance for a message

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8:02

65: 6. The Cold War Context and the Tragedy of a...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

6. The Cold War Context and the Tragedy of a Government-Controlled Space Program. Bob Zimmerman discusses how the Apollo 8 mission was embedded in the global Cold War and the extreme chaos of 1968, marked by political turmoil and assassinations. The space race was intended as a demonstration that America, as a free society, could achieve great things better than the Soviet top-down system. While the astronauts were military veterans, the author disputes the notion that NASA was a military

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9:33

65: 5. Lunar Orbit Insertion and the Disappointment...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

5. Lunar Orbit Insertion and the Disappointment of the Moon's Surface. Bob Zimmerman discusses how on Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 approached the moon. The critical moment was Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI), requiring the firing of the Service Propulsion System (SPS) engine. This burn had to occur while the craft was behind the moon, resulting in a dramatic Loss of Signal (LOS) for Earth. Susan Borman particularly dreaded this moment because the SPS engine, which had no redundancy, was their only way into

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9:27

65: 4. The Failure of the Soviet Zond Program and the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

4. The Failure of the Soviet Zond Program and the Decision to Gamble on Apollo 8. Bob Zimmerman discusses the fierce moon race with the Soviet Union's Roscosmos, which utilized the Zond capsule for circumlunar missions. Zond 5 and 6, launched in late 1968, suffered critical failures (guidance system and atmosphere loss, respectively), forcing the Soviets to cancel their planned manned December flight. Watching this, NASA manager George Low realized the Lunar Module (LM) for Apollo 8 was behind

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7:30

65: 3. Launch Mechanics, Primitive Technology, and...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

3. Launch Mechanics, Primitive Technology, and Trans Lunar Injection. Bob Zimmerman discusses how Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968, the first day of its window, following a smooth ride on the powerful Saturn 5 rocket. Engineers had mitigated the "pogo" vibration effects that plagued earlier test flights. After one Earth orbit to verify systems, they performed the Trans Lunar Injection (TLI), firing the upper stage Saturn engines to accelerate toward the moon. This moment marked the first time

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12:10

65: 2. The Apollo 8 Crew, Cold War Context, and...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

2. The Apollo 8 Crew, Cold War Context, and Reliance on the Saturn 5 Booster. Bob Zimmerman introduces the Apollo 8 crew—Commander Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and rookie William Anders—set against the backdrop of the intense global Cold War in late 1968. Borman was selected for his honesty and dedication to duty, ensuring the mission's success after his role in investigating the Apollo 1 tragedy. Lovell was known as a "space cadet" eager to explore, and he and Borman had proven human endurance in

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7:55

65: 1. Apollo 1 and Soyuz 1 Disasters: Rushing the...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

1. Apollo 1 and Soyuz 1 Disasters: Rushing the Space Race. Bob Zimmerman discusses the major setbacks suffered by both nations in 1967. In January, the Apollo 1 fire occurred during a launchpad rehearsal, killing astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee. The cause was carelessness: a spark ignited flammable materials in the pure oxygen atmosphere, trapping the crew because the hatch could only be opened externally. Frank Borman led the honest investigation, which resulted in major safety fixes,

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5:53

65: 4. Post-Apollo Budget Cuts and the Rise of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

4. Post-Apollo Budget Cuts and the Rise of Robotic Mars Exploration. Matthew Shindell discusses how following the success of Apollo, NASA proposed extending the human space program to Mars. However, President Nixon, recognizing shifting political priorities, chose to divert funding toward domestic issues like civil rights and poverty. As a result, NASA's post-Apollo budget levels dropped significantly, forcing space exploration to compete with other national needs. This led to the expansion of

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14:05

65: 3. From Newtonian Physics to Canals: Projecting...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

3. From Newtonian Physics to Canals: Projecting Life onto Mars. Matthew Shindell discusses how the shift from ancient cosmology to modern science was a slow process, with figures like Galileo and Newton developing new observations and physics. Enlightenment thinkers, including Buffon and Laplace, began searching for a natural (rather than divine) origin for the solar system, establishing that the planets are related and obey universal laws. This led to speculation about life elsewhere. Astronomer

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4:33

65: 2. The Islamic World's Scientific Contributions...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

2. The Islamic World's Scientific Contributions and Mars in Medieval Thought. Matthew Shindell highlights an intellectual renaissance in the Islamic world—specifically Baghdad and Damascus—between the 10th and 16th centuries, which was vital while Europe was experiencing its "Dark Ages." Through translation and original work, Islamic scholars built upon ancient knowledge, fueling a great intellectual transformation. In the medieval period, Mars was widely associated with vices like war, violence,

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9:46

65: 2. The Islamic World's Scientific Contributions...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

2. The Islamic World's Scientific Contributions and Mars in Medieval Thought. Matthew Shindell highlights an intellectual renaissance in the Islamic world—specifically Baghdad and Damascus—between the 10th and 16th centuries, which was vital while Europe was experiencing its "Dark Ages." Through translation and original work, Islamic scholars built upon ancient knowledge, fueling a great intellectual transformation. In the medieval period, Mars was widely associated with vices like war, violence,

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13:00

65: 1. Ancient Interpretations of Mars, Cosmology,...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/08

1. Ancient Interpretations of Mars, Cosmology, and the Roots of Astronomy. Matthew Shindell examines how ancient civilizations viewed Mars, often anthropomorphizing it or seeing it as a communicator of heavenly will. The Mayans, observing Mars's bright appearance during opposition and subsequent retrograde motion, depicted it in the Dresden Codex, which archaeologists call the "Mars beast." In Han and Qin Dynasty China, Mars was associated with omens of disaster like warfare and famine. The

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1:45

61: PREVIEW. Maui Fire Aftermath: Years Later,...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/07

PREVIEW. Maui Fire Aftermath: Years Later, Rebuilding Has Not Begun. Jeff Bliss reviews the aftermath of the Maui fire, observed during a drone flight over the beachfront. Years later, the area still looks like a ruin, with virtually nothing rebuilt except for a structure containing nothing inside. Dust covers the road along the beachfront, presenting a burnout scene comparable to the Palisades, California.

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2:24

61: PREVIEW. St. Augustine and the Formulation of...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/07

PREVIEW. St. Augustine and the Formulation of Just War Theory. Professor Katherine Conybeare discusses St. Augustine's life and his creation of the just war theory through correspondence with the Roman commander Boniface. Boniface, who was defending North Africa against threats like the Vandals, wished to become a monk. Augustine argued that Boniface must remain a military officer because North Africa needed him, providing the context for when waging war is justified.

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1:19

61: PREVIEW. Supreme Court Hearing on Presidential...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/07

PREVIEW. Supreme Court Hearing on Presidential Tariff Authority. Richard Epstein discusses the Supreme Court oral hearing on the tariffs Mr. Trump imposed, relying on a vague 1977 law concerning emergencies and regulating imports. Epstein predicts a split decision, noting that the president's actions go far beyond accepted practices. The court must interpret the fuzzy line between legitimate legal authority and its abuse.

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2:12

61: PREVIEW. Consumer Spending Concerns Despite...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/07

PREVIEW. Consumer Spending Concerns Despite Packed Indiana Restaurant. Jim McTague recounts dining at the Union Hall restaurant in the Journeyman Distillery in Porter County, Indiana, a magnificent facility renovated from a Civil War-era woolen mill. Though all 160 tables were filled, the manager reported that business is off 3 to 5% compared to last year, suggesting customers are being more careful with their spending.

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1:45

61: PREVIEW. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/07

PREVIEW. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Nuclear Proliferation Risk. Henry Sokolski discusses declassified communications indicating that 20% enriched uranium is sufficient to build a bomb, which is the enrichment level proposed for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). SMRs are embraced by the political class because they provide the massive electricity required by AI and tech centers. Both political parties are criticized for indiscriminately supporting nuclear generation.

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2:00

61: PREVIEW. China's Cosmonauts Stranded After Space...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2025/11/07

PREVIEW. China's Cosmonauts Stranded After Space Debris Damage. Bob Zimmerman discusses Chinese cosmonauts (taikonauts) stranded on their space station. Their capsule was damaged by suspected space debris, likely resulting from a past Chinese anti-satellite test that created a gigantic amount of space junk. China is currently assessing the damage and may need to send up an uncrewed capsule for the crew's return.Retry

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9,095 results

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