The John Batchelor Show
578 episodes — Page 3 of 12
S8 Ep853: Two koalas were recently rescued from a 1.5-meter deep construction hole in Brisbane, where they had likely crawled to seek warmth from the recent cold. Wildlife Rescue Queensland and local police winched the mud-covered, dehydrated animals to safety for
May 10, 20268 min
S8 Ep853: Jeremy Zakis reports on an unusually early and severe cold snap hitting the eastern seaboard of Australia, which he identifies as the arrival of El Niño. The "arctic blast" arrived over a month earlier than expected, bringing frost even to sea-level areas
May 10, 20266 min
S8 Ep852: In the aftermath, Octavian artfully transformed the Republic into an Empire, taking the title "Augustus" in 27 BC. He learned from Julius Caesar's mistakes, choosing to rule through authority (auctoritas) rather than raw power, and adopting the humble
May 10, 20266 min
S8 Ep852: Following the defeat, the narrative takes on a "film noir" quality as the lovers return to Alexandria. Antony fell into deep melancholy, while Cleopatra focused on the survival of her dynasty, even contemplating exile in India. Octavian used the interim t
May 10, 202614 min
S8 Ep852: On September 2, 31 BC, the Battle of Actium unfolded as a desperate breakout attempt by Antony and Cleopatra to save their treasury. They waited for the afternoon winds to turn so they could unfurl their sails—an unusual tactic for warships in battle. Dur
May 10, 20269 min
S8 Ep852: Strauss highlights that while tactics are for amateurs, logistics are for professionals, citing Marcus Agrippa as the mastermind behind Octavian's strategy. Instead of invading Italy, Antony and Cleopatra waited in western Greece, allowing Agrippa to stri
May 10, 20269 min
S8 Ep852: The conflict reached a turning point in 33 BC when Antony committed what Strauss calls an "unforced error" by divorcing Octavia. This provided Octavian with a "propaganda bonanza," allowing him to frame the coming war not as a civil struggle, but as a cru
May 10, 20265 min
S8 Ep852: Strauss examines the role of Octavia, Octavian's sister, who married Antony in 40 BC to seal a peace treaty. While she is often portrayed as a devoted housewife, Strauss suggests she may have been a "fatal connection" providing intelligence to her brother
May 10, 202614 min
S8 Ep852: Barry Strauss introduces Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt and member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which turned Egypt into a Mediterranean "gold mine." She was a "tough player" who survived deadly dynastic intrigues to secure her throne. Her spectacular entry at
May 10, 20267 min
S8 Ep852: Guest Author Barry Strauss discusses the power struggle between Mark Antony and the young Octavian following Julius Caesar's assassination. Strauss relies on the Greek historians Plutarch and Cassius Dio to reconstruct this era, noting that Plutarch is th
May 10, 202610 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger highlights the "suspiciously perfect" timing of the hostage release, which occurred exactly three minutes after Ronald Reagan completed his inaugural address on January 20, 1981. Unger argues it was physically impossible for Reagan to have
May 10, 20267 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger recounts his 2014 trip to Iran, where he visited the former American embassy, now a museum called the "Den of Spies," showcasing shredded documents laboriously pasted back together by militants. During his visit, Unger secured a rare interview
May 10, 202612 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger analyzes the specific allegations regarding meetings in Madrid and Paris that formed the core of the October Surprise deal. While alibis were created for both Bill Casey and George H.W. Bush, Unger and reporter Bob Parry found evidence to punc
May 10, 20265 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger explains the infrastructure of the alleged treason, focusing on the Safari Club, a group of high-level intelligence officials who conducted "off-the-books" operations after the CIA faced congressional crackdowns in the 1970s. Bill Casey utiliz
May 10, 202612 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger details his time at Newsweek, where he was hired to lead an investigation into the October Surprise, only to see the magazine eventually publish multiple stories discrediting the entire narrative. Unger describes this shift as a "disgrace" to
May 10, 20268 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger recounts the investigative origins of the October Surprise story, which gained mainstream credibility after a 1991 New York Times op-ed by former National Security Council member Gary Sick. Working for Esquire, Unger collaborated with fellow j
May 9, 202611 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger explores the transformation of the 1980 Reagan campaign following the hiring of Bill Casey as campaign manager. Casey, a legendary WWII spy from the OSS, is described as a brilliant but eccentric figure who utilized his extensive international
May 9, 20265 min
S8 Ep851: Craig Unger discusses the failure of Operation Desert One on April 24, 1980, a mission authorized by President Jimmy Carter to rescue 52 American hostages in Iran. The operation ended in disaster when a helicopter collided with a C-130 transport plane in
May 9, 202611 min
S8 Ep850: SCHEDULE OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-8-2026. 1900 VERA CRUZ.
May 9, 20266 min
S8 Ep849: STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FESTURING JEFF BLISS AND MICHAEL VLAHOS, 5-8-36. 1900 MEXICO.
May 9, 20261h 0m
S8 Ep848: 16/16: Gene Marks explains how small businesses are developing custom AI applications to improve productivity. He highlights tools like Claude for automating sales quotes and executive summaries. However, researchers warn that AI's tendency toward syco
May 9, 20266 min
S8 Ep848: 15/16: Gene Marks observes steady business for construction and safety industries across the US. He notes that raw material costs have surged significantly. Despite inflation, consumer spending remains vigorous, with major retailers like Amazon reporting
May 9, 202613 min
S8 Ep848: 14/16: Tal Fortgang highlights an ecumenical coalition opposing discrimination against religious groups. He cites the Notre Dame Education Law Project as a leader in identifying and rooting out residual legal biases. The segment details specific hostiliti
May 9, 20264 min
S8 Ep848: 13/16: Tal Fortgang discusses St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a case involving state subsidies for religious schools. Colorado is accused of using secular conditions to exclude religious institutions from preschool programs. The case questions whether st
May 9, 202613 min
S8 Ep848: 12/16: Evan Ellis examines neck-and-neck presidential races in Peru and Colombia. In Peru, the contest between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sanchez carries implications for relations with China. Colombia faces a similar choice between right-wing candidates
May 9, 20266 min
S8 Ep848: 11/16: Evan Ellis reports on Venezuela's repressive regime, which continues to hold political prisoners despite an economic reopening. He discusses the US fuel blockade on Cuba and its humanitarian impact. Potential resolutions include naming a date for V
May 9, 202613 min
S8 Ep848: 10/16: Evan Ellis analyzes Argentina's recovery, highlighting a 5% increase in industrial output. President Javier Milei's fiscal policies have stabilized the currency, though global factors keep inflation high. Despite economic progress, Milei's inner ci
May 9, 20264 min
S8 Ep848: 9/16: Evan Ellis discusses the unprecedented US indictment of sitting Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya for ties to the Sinaloa cartel. The indictment reveals deep corruption within the Mexican political system. Ellis explains how cartels utilize global n
May 9, 202613 min
S8 Ep848: 8/16: Bob Zimmerman critiques the failure of UK spaceports due to excessive bureaucracy. He provides updates on NASA's Curiosity rover, which recently freed a stuck rock from its drill on Mars. Furthermore, the Juno mission continues its observations of J
May 9, 20265 min
S8 Ep848: 7/16: Bob Zimmerman examines the burgeoning private space industry in India and the US. He discusses the shortage of solid rocket boosters and competition between Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman. Additionally, Zimmerman describes a complex "dance" in
May 9, 202614 min
S8 Ep848: 6/16: Lorenzo Fiori discusses Secretary of State Marco Rubio's meeting with the Pope to mend relations. He also addresses controversy at the Venice Biennale, arguing art should serve as a bridge between nations during conflict. The segment concludes with
May 9, 20268 min
S8 Ep848: 5/16: Jim McTague reports on Lancaster County's economy, noting a significant drop in restaurant foot traffic due to rising gasoline prices. While younger crowds have slowed spending, senior citizens remain active. The segment also covers the local job fa
May 9, 20268 min
S8 Ep848: 4/16: Richard Epstein evaluates the Middle East crisis, advocating for unconditional surrender against bad actors like Iran. He criticizes current US foreign policy for ambiguity. Epstein emphasizes that long-term stability requires regime change and over
May 9, 20264 min
S8 Ep848: 3/16: Richard Epstein explores legal challenges regarding redistricting following Louisiana v. Kales. He details the evolution of the Voting Rights Act from addressing racial exclusion to modern debates over partisan gerrymandering. Epstein argues that wh
May 8, 202615 min
S8 Ep848: 2/16: Jeff Bliss analyzes the California governor's race, focusing on Republican outsider Steve Hilton. Hilton positions himself as a reformer against Democrats like Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer. The segment also touches on the construction of a new Las
May 8, 20267 min
S8 Ep848: 1/16: Jeff Bliss discusses the Los Angeles mayor's race, highlighting actor Spencer Pratt's surprising success in a recent debate. Pratt earned 83% viewer support by using AI-generated campaign videos to critique incumbents Karen Bass and Nithia Ramen. Cr
May 8, 202610 min
S8 Ep847: PREVIEW for Later Today: High Gas Prices Slow Pennsylvania's Local Economy. Guest: Jim McTague. In Lancaster County, soaring gasoline prices near $5.00 have caused a dramatic drop in foot traffic. McTague observes that this economic slowdown is currently
May 8, 20261 min
S8 Ep846: PREVIEW for Later Today: Red Tape Grounds United Kingdom's Space Ambitions. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. The UK has failed to launch from its spaceports for a decade due to excessive bureaucracy. Zimmerman explains how regulatory delays effectively killed the Su
May 8, 20261 min
S8 Ep845: PREVIEW for Later Today: Religious Schools and State Identity Conflicts. Guest: Tal Fortgang. Despite Supreme Court rulings, states like Colorado resist funding religious education. Fortgang argues that a progressive political class views religious instit
May 8, 20262 min
S8 Ep845: PREVIEW for Later Today: Corporate Leaders Report Robust Consumer Spending. Guest: Gene Marks. CEOs from major companies like Amazon report a 15% retail increase, signaling strong consumer confidence. Marks notes that while surveys vary, actual spending d
May 8, 20261 min
S8 Ep845: PREVIEW for Later Today: The Strategy of Electoral Delays. Guest: Evan Ellis. Negotiations regarding election dates involve complex demands for voter role purges and machine replacements. Ellis examines how slow-walking these reforms serves specific polit
May 8, 20261 min
S8 Ep845: PREVIEW for Later Today: Spencer Pratt Shocks in Los Angeles Mayoral Debate. Guest: Jeff Bliss. Actor Spencer Pratt achieved a surprise 83% win in a post-debate poll against established politicians like Karen Bass. Bliss highlights Pratt's authentic perfo
May 8, 20261 min
S8 Ep844: SCHEDULE OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-7-2026. 1945 BERLIN
May 8, 202610 min
S8 Ep844: STREAMING MAKING OF JBS, FEATURING JIM MCTAGUE AND ANATOL LIEVEN, 5-7-2026. 1948? BERLIN
May 8, 202643 min
S8 Ep843: Ken Croswell details the discovery of the "Hercules stream," stars resonating with the galaxy's central bar. He notes that as the bar's rotation slows, there is a 20% chance Earth's solar system will join this "exclusive club" of Trojan stars in two bil
May 8, 20269 min
S8 Ep843: Ken Croswell describes the Milky Way's structure as a barred spiral galaxy. He explains that the central bar exerts massive gravitational force. This gravity has trapped billions of "Trojan stars" into two vast whirlpools, similar to how Jupiter's gravity
May 8, 202610 min
S8 Ep843: Jim McTague examines the AI boom, noting the high valuation of DeepSeek and its use of black-market chips. He discusses a lawsuit against Character AI for unlicensed medical advice and the economic impact of data centers, which provide local tax revenue b
May 8, 20269 min
S8 Ep843: Veronique de Rugy critiques government-matched savings plans like the "Trump IRA." She argues these technocratic fixes add to the national debt without addressing core tax code flaws. She highlights how high penalties for early withdrawals and payroll tax
May 8, 20268 min
S8 Ep843: Rick Fisher explores the militarization of the Moon, citing Chinese interest in lunar radar and "moon hoppers" for resource discovery. He describes a technological competition with the U.S. involving nuclear power plants, lasers, and satellite constellati
May 8, 20268 min
S8 Ep843: Rick Fisher reveals China's plans to double the size of the Tiangong space station by 2030. He warns of its military dual-use potential, suggesting the station and Shuntan telescope could serve as orbital "battle stations" for surveillance or strikes, pro
May 8, 202611 min