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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

7:46

S8 Ep288: SHOW 1-8-2026 THE SHOW BEGINS IN DOUBTS...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/09

SHOW1-8-2026THE SHOW BEGINS IN DOUBTS ABOUT THE SARCASTIC INVENTION, THE DON-ROE DOCTRINE. SPHERES OF INFLUENCE AND THE RETURN OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE Colleague Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Anatol Lieven argues that "spheres of influence" have returned, with the US reasserting the Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere and threatening to seize Greenland. Unlike traditional alliances, this approach risks alienating fellow democracies. Lieven contrasts this with

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9:59

S8 Ep287: ARTEMIS 2 RISKS AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/09

ARTEMIS 2 RISKS AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SPACE Colleague Bob Zimmerman, BehindtheBlack.com. Bob Zimmerman urges NASA to fly Artemis 2 unmanned due to unresolved Orion heat shield damage, arguing safety should trump beating China. He also dismisses concerns about lunar methane contamination and highlights a new study suggesting ice caps could allow liquid water lakes to exist on Mars. NUMBER 161953

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9:46

S8 Ep287: EUROPEAN FREEZE AND THE MYTH OF BOOTS ON...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/09

EUROPEAN FREEZE AND THE MYTH OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND Colleague Simon Constable, Journalist and Author. A deep freeze hits Southern Europe while commodity prices like copper rise. Simon Constable reports on the UK's bleak economic mood and dismisses the feasibility of British or French "boots on the ground" in Ukraine. He notes that depleted military manpower makes such guarantees declarative rather than substantial. NUMBER 151918 UKRAINE

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8:54

S8 Ep287: RUSSIA'S OIL CRISIS AND REGIONAL DEFICITS...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/09

RUSSIA'S OIL CRISIS AND REGIONAL DEFICITS Colleague Michael Bernstam, Hoover Institution. Russiafaces a financial crisis as oil prices drop below $60 per barrel. Michael Bernstam explains that increased global supply forces Russia to sell at deep discounts to China and India, often below cost. This revenue loss prevents the Kremlinfrom paying soldiers, sparking severe regional budget deficits. NUMBER 141906 BAKU

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9:00

S8 Ep287: VENEZUELA: THE REGIME SURVIVES MADURO'S...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/09

VENEZUELA: THE REGIME SURVIVES MADURO'S EXIT Colleague Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal. Despite Maduro's removal, the Venezuelan regime remains intact under hardliners Delcy Rodriguez and Diosdado Cabello. Mary Anastasia O'Grady notes that repression continues, and European oil companies are hesitant to invest. The regime feigns cooperation to avoid US intervention, but genuine recovery is impossible without restoring the rule of law. NUMBER 131930

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7:18

S8 Ep287: 1204: THE SACK OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

1204: THE SACK OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE END OF CONTINUITY Colleague Professor Ed Watts, Author of The Romans. The Fourth Crusade, diverted by Venetian debt, sacked Constantinople in 1204, burning the city to quell resistance. Watts argues this marked the true end of the ancient Roman state. The meritocratic system collapsed, and elites like Nicetas Choniates lost everything, severing the 2,000-year political continuity of the empire. NUMBER 121661

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12:27

S8 Ep287: THE CRUSADES: FROM COOPERATION TO CONFLICT...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

THE CRUSADES: FROM COOPERATION TO CONFLICT Colleague Professor Ed Watts, Author of The Romans. Relations between East and West collapsed during the Crusades. While the First Crusade cooperated with Rome, the Second and Third turned hostile, with Crusaders seizing territory rather than returning it. Watts notes that the theological schism of 1054 and cultural distrust entrenched this division, setting the stage for future betrayal. NUMBER 111600 FALL

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7:24

S8 Ep287: THE STUPIDITY OF SUCCESSORS: MANUEL AND...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

THE STUPIDITY OF SUCCESSORS: MANUEL AND ANDRONICUS Colleague Professor Ed Watts, Author of The Romans. Manuel Komnenos favored grand gestures over systemic stability, weakening the Roman state. His successor, Andronicus, was a nihilistic sadist whose tyranny and family infighting destabilized the empire. Watts details how the refusal to punish rebellious family members created a culture of impunity that eventually led to a violent overthrow. NUMBER 101572

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10:30

S8 Ep287: THE SIEGE OF 717 AND THE VOLCANO OF THERA...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

THE SIEGE OF 717 AND THE VOLCANO OF THERA Colleague Professor Ed Watts, Author of The Romans. In 717 AD, Arab forces besieged Constantinople but failed due to the city's massive walls and "Greek fire." Professor Watts explains that a subsequent volcanic eruption in Thera was interpreted as divine punishment for the empire's sins, leading to a spiritual crisis and the rise of iconoclasm to appease God. NUMBER 91680 CONSTANTINOPLE

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10:42

S8 Ep287: THE NUCLEAR ESCROW: MANAGING PROLIFERATION...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

THE NUCLEAR ESCROW: MANAGING PROLIFERATION AMONG ALLIES Colleague Henry Sokolski, Nonproliferation Policy Education Center. Henry Sokolski warns that allies like Poland, Turkey, and South Africaare considering nuclear weapons due to eroding trust in US guarantees. He proposes a "nuclear escrow" account: storing refurbished warheads in the US for allies to deploy only during crises, providing leverage without permanently stationing targets on foreign soil. NUMBER 81945 TRINITY

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9:03

S8 Ep287: LANCASTER COUNTY: AMISH SPENDING AND DATA...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

LANCASTER COUNTY: AMISH SPENDING AND DATA CENTER GROWTH Colleague Jim McTague, Author and Former Barron's Editor. Jim McTague reports that the Lancaster County economy remains robust, evidenced by heavy Amish spending at Costco and thriving local businesses like Kegel's Produce. Despite some local protests, data centers are being built on old industrial sites. McTague sees no need for Fed rate cuts given the stable local economy. NUMBER 71941 LANCASTER

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9:00

S8 Ep287: #SCALAREPORT: AI AND ROBOTICS DOMINATE CES...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

#SCALAREPORT: AI AND ROBOTICS DOMINATE CES Colleague Chris Riegel, CEO of Scala.com. Reporting from CES, Chris Riegel highlights the dominance of AI and robotics, from household droids to military applications. While the tech sector booms with massive infrastructure spending, Riegel warns of a "K-shaped" economy where Main Street struggles with softening demand, masking the wealth concentrated in artificial intelligence and data centers. NUMBER 61953

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8:55

S8 Ep287: ONE YEAR LATER: ANGER AND STAGNATION AFTER...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

ONE YEAR LATER: ANGER AND STAGNATION AFTER THE PALISADES FIRE Colleague Jeff Bliss, Pacific Watch. A year after the Palisades fires, Jeff Bliss reports that residents remain angry over government inaction. Rebuilding is stalled by the Coastal Commission's strict regulations, and fuel loads in canyons remain high due to environmental restrictions on brush clearing. The fires, driven by Santa Ana winds, highlight systemic bureaucratic failures in Los Angeles. NUMBER 51940 PACIFIC PALISADES

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4:54

S8 Ep287: THE SUPREME COURT AND THE MYTH OF THE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

THE SUPREME COURT AND THE MYTH OF THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE Colleague Richard Epstein, Civitas Institute. Richard Epstein challenges the view that the Roberts Court blindly supports a "unitary executive." He argues the Court is correctly questioning the constitutionality of independent administrative agencies, like the FTC, which insulate officials from presidential removal. Epstein contends that relying on case counts ignores the specific legal merits regarding separation of powers. NUMBER 31890

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14:56

S8 Ep287: THE SUPREME COURT AND THE MYTH OF THE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

THE SUPREME COURT AND THE MYTH OF THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE Colleague Richard Epstein, Civitas Institute. Richard Epstein challenges the view that the Roberts Court blindly supports a "unitary executive." He argues the Court is correctly questioning the constitutionality of independent administrative agencies, like the FTC, which insulate officials from presidential removal. Epstein contends that relying on case counts ignores the specific legal merits regarding separation of powers. NUMBER 31924

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7:01

S8 Ep287: COLD WAR TACTICS: THE SEIZURE OF A RUSSIAN...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

COLD WAR TACTICS: THE SEIZURE OF A RUSSIAN TANKER Colleague Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Lieven discusses the US Navy's detention of a Russian-flagged ship in the North Atlantic, viewing it as a dangerous escalation akin to piracy. This move humiliates Moscow and aims to control oil supplies. Lieven warns that if European nations mimic these seizures, Russia may retaliate violently, risking a direct war. NUMBER 21962 CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

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10:54

S8 Ep287: SPHERES OF INFLUENCE AND THE RETURN OF THE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE AND THE RETURN OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE Colleague Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Anatol Lieven argues that "spheres of influence" have returned, with the US reasserting the Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere and threatening to seize Greenland. Unlike traditional alliances, this approach risks alienating fellow democracies. Lieven contrasts this with Russia's territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union and China's historic regional goals

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1:40

S8 Ep286: PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY REGULATORY HURDLES...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY REGULATORY HURDLES AND HIGH WINDS FUEL PALISADES FIREColleague Jeff Bliss, Pacific Watch. Jeff Bliss reports on the January 2025 Pacific Palisades fire, allegedly ignited by an arsonist and exacerbated by Santa Ana winds. Bliss notes that state regulations protecting a specific plant prevented fire crews from bulldozing underbrush, allowing embers to reignite and causing the catastrophe to rapidly expand.1919 PACIFIC PALISADES

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1:16

S8 Ep286: PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY CULTURE CLASH:...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY CULTURE CLASH: MODERN TRAFFIC VS. AMISH BUGGIES Colleague Jim McTague. Jim McTague details the dangerous friction between Amish horse-drawn buggies and automobiles in Lancaster County. With over 30 collisions in 2024 and a recent fatality, McTague attributes the tragedy to impatient motorists who drive carelessly around the buggies, creating a sad and often deadly situation.1941 LANCASTER COUNTY

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1:12

S8 Ep286: PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY CES HIGHLIGHTS THE...

The John Batchelor Show ·

2026/01/08

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY CES HIGHLIGHTS THE MARRIAGE OF AI AND ROBOTICS Colleague Chris Riegel, Scalar.com. Reporting from the Consumer Electronics Show, Chris Riegel highlights the dominance of robots, ranging from domestic helpers to advanced machines for firefighting. He observes a "progressive marriage" between Artificial Intelligence and robotics, predicting these advancements will significantly alter the execution of dangerous or repetitive tasks.1941

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