The John Batchelor Show

Mark Simon and Gordon Chang — China released Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri following a request from Donald Trump, showing Xi Jinping can make concessions without losing face; however, billionaire publisher Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned for political crimes, viewed by the Chinese government as a significant threat and a "one-man wrecking crew." (4)

Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang — Rose Gottemoeller suggests Vladimir Putin nearly used tactical nuclear weapons in 2022 to stop a military rout, allegedly dissuaded by private pressure from the U.S., China, and India; reports indicate China is now providing covert military training to Russian forces. (3) 1585

Samuel Ben-Ur — The Board of Peace remains underfunded, with only $23 million confirmed of the $17 billion pledged; Hamas rejected an eight-month disarmament plan, its leadership has largely relocated from Qatar to Turkey, and Netanyahu's political standing depends on his hardline refusal to cede Gaza territory. (2) 1492

Samuel Ben-Ur — Israel controls 70% of Gaza, creating a buffer zone while Hamas remains on the coast; 98% of the population resides on the Hamas-controlled side, where the group exploits humanitarian aid for revenue, and the Board of Peace proposes a "pilot zone" in Tel Sultan for non-Hamas civilians. (1) 14922

STREAMING MAKING OF THE JBS, FEATURING SAMUEL BEN-UR, 7-13-261900 BRUSSELSThe provided text features a broadcast transcript detailing heightened military tensions across the Middle East and Ukraine, specifically focusing on the risk of nuclear escalation. Host John Batchelor discusses reports that Vladimir Putin considered using tactical nuclear weapons during the Ukraine conflict, questioning why...

Preview for Later Today: Edmund Fitton-Brown. Strategic Control of the Strait of Hormuz. Edmund Fitton-Brownproposes making the Strait of Hormuz the centerpiece of U.S. strategy to weaken the Iranian regime. He believes imposing international will over this waterway provides a viable way out of regional aggression. 1600

Preview for Later Today: Janatan Sayeh. Internal Unrest and Protests in Tehran. Janatan Sayeh details active street protests in Tehran following renewed military tensions between the U.S. and Iran. He explains that even restricted internet access allows citizens to organize and challenge the regime's control. 1585

Preview for Later Today: Samuel Ben-Ur analyzes the precarious status of Gaza, noting that disarmament of Hamas is the prerequisite for rebuilding. He highlights that nearly the entire population remains under Hamas control, stalling any peace conversion efforts. 1898

Preview for Later Today: Bill Gertz evaluates the potential for Vladimir Putin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons. He cites escalating Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian infrastructure and the dire military situations that might trigger such a catastrophic decision. 1926

Preview for Later Today: Mark Simon discusses the ongoing imprisonment of six Apple Daily editors in Hong Kong. He details the irregular legal proceedings and the harsh ten-year sentences imposed on those deemed a threat to the state.

Preview for Later Today: Bob Zimmerman updates the status of the SaxaVord Spaceport launch window for the German rocket RFA One. Despite the announcement, he questions if the UK's permanent civil service will actually permit this sovereign orbital attempt.

From the Plumage Wars to the Climate Crisis Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the WorldThe 19th-century plumage industry nearly drove the snowy egret to extinction to satisfy the fashion for feathered hats. The murder of warden Guy Bradley by poachers in Florida sparked international outrage, leading women to found conservation powerhouses like the Audubon Society and the RSPB...

Mao's War on Sparrows and Australia's Emu Conflict Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World In 1958, Mao Zedong ordered the eradication of the tree sparrow as part of his "Four Pests" campaign, believing it would save grain. The mass slaughter — carried out by citizens banging pots until birds dropped dead from exhaustion — caused an ecological disaster. Without sparrows to...

Guano and the Double-Edged Sword of Industrial Farming Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World The story of the cormorant centers on guano, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer that once made businessmen like William Gibbs the richest commoners in England. While the Inca had used guano for centuries, the 19th-century trade was built on the tragic exploitation of Chinese indentured l...

The Raven: Mythological Scavengers and Their Modern Return Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World Ravens, described as "crows on steroids," carry a heavy weight of mythology as independent and highly intelligent scavengers. Associated with Odin's "eyes and ears" in Norse myth and portrayed as harbingers of doom by Shakespeare and Poe, ravens have long held a frightening a...

The Dodo: From Evolutionary Isolation to the Icon of Extinction Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World The dodo serves as the primary icon of extinction, a concept that was incomprehensible to the 17th-century religious mind. Evolving on the predator-free island of Mauritius, the flightless dodo was defenseless when Dutch sailors introduced dogs, rats, and monkeys, leadin...

Deconstructing the Myths of Darwin and Bird Evolution Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World Moss clarifies the common misconception that Charles Darwin immediately recognized the significance of the Galapagos finches. In reality, Darwin initially failed to label his specimens by island and relied on ornithologist John Gould to identify them as related species. Ironically...

Pigeons: The Heroic Communicators of Modern Warfare Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World The humble pigeon is celebrated for its extraordinary homing skills, which Moss describes as making it the "ultimate mailman." While legends like the Rothschilds using pigeons to profit from the Battle of Waterloo are mostly myth, the bird's real-world contributions to communication...

The Legends of the Wild Turkey and the Imperial Eagle Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World Stephen Moss discusses the wild turkey, a bird rediscovered by Europeans in the Americas that was vital to the survival of the pilgrims. Moss argues that the turkey's plumpness and taste led to its domestication from a single line in southern Mexico, where it was originally worshi...

Headline: Sustainable Futures and the Weight of Modern Consumption Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History In the final segment, Frankopan highlights the staggering ecological footprint of modern life, noting that producing a single cotton shirt requires 2,700 liters of fresh water. He reveals that the global fashion industry contributes 10% of greenho...

Headline: The Age of Turbulence and the Race Against Nature Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History From 1870 to 1920, the race for monetized resources like rubber and nitrates led to massive ecosystem degradation. Frankopan describes how rubber trees were transplanted from the Amazon to the Malay Peninsula, fundamentally altering local landscapes to m...

Headline: The Great Divergence and Geopolitical Climate Shocks Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title:The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The "Great Divergence" explains why Europe accelerated in science and technology over Asia despite the latter's long history of learning. Frankopan suggests that geography played a crucial role; for example, England's coal fields were located near its...

Headline: Mosquito Empires and the Ecology of the Slave Trade Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title:The Earth Transformed: An Untold History Frankopan discusses the "mosquito empires" of the 17th and 18th centuries, where malaria and yellow fever dictated colonial limits. West Africa became known as the "white man's grave" due to high European mortality rates. Ironically, the transatlantic s...

Headline: The Medieval Warm Period and the Rise of Parallel Empires Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The Medieval Warm Period (950–1250 AD) was marked by low volcanism and climatic stability, facilitating the rise of "power empires" across the globe. Frankopan details the expansion of the Vikings into the North Atlantic, driven by the trade of v...

Headline: Roman Stability, the Horse, and the Fragility of Empires Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title:The Earth Transformed: An Untold History During the Roman Warm Period, Rome benefited from nearly 300 years of environmental stability, which Frankopan characterizes as "getting lucky." This period of low volcanic activity allowed for predictable budgets, institutional growth, and the cit...