The John Batchelor Show

King Charles III and the Revitalization of the Royal Navy. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley highlights King Charles III 's personal connection to the Royal Navy and his efforts to revitalize the service. Despite budget constraints, the UK is building new capital ships and submarines to maintain maritime power. The King's involvement is seen as crucial for maintaining military morale and national defe...

Global Defense Shifts in a Multipolar World and the End of Intervention. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley examines the shift toward a multipolar world as countries like Canada and Turkey reduce their dependency on US weapon systems. This "reversion to sovereignty" allows middle powers to play a more independent role. Copley observes that the US is stepping back from its role as the "cop on the beat"...

Chilly Conflicts and Fractured Leadership in the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley describes the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz as a "chilly conflict" where Iranian leadership remains fractured and indecisive. While supertankers sail through, both the US and Iran are using the ceasefire to rebuild their depleted arsenals. Copley notes that the IRGC is increasingly taking p...

The UK's Changing Guard: Andy Burnham and the Defense Budget Black Hole. Guest: Gregory Copley. Gregory Copley discusses the rise of Andy Burnham in Britain following Keir Starmer 's "complete detachment" from the electorate. Burnham must address a massive 45-million-pound black hole in the defense budget. The discussion also covers the intractable problem of illegal immigration across the English...

Diplomatic Failures and the Unsuccessful Campaign to Quell Iran. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Berkowitz criticizes the administration for failing to prepare the American public for the Iranian conflict through major policy speeches. He highlights a split between Vance 's negotiations with Iran and Rubio 's Israel-Lebanon framework. Finally, he compares the current MOU to failed Gaza deals, suggesting t...

Critiquing the 14-Point Memo of Understanding and Operation Epic Fury. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Peter Berkowitz analyzes the 14-point Memo of Understanding, contrasting Secretary Marco Rubio 's "peace through strength" approach with Vice President JD Vance 's "restraint." He argues "Operation Epic Fury" failed because it did not secure the Strait of Hormuz before the ceasefire. Berkowitz notes that...

The Escalating Persecution of Christians Within the Islamic Republic of Iran. Guest: Mariam Wahba. Mariam Wahba describes how the Iranian regime is using current regional tensions as a pretext to clamp down on domestic Christians. The regime specifically targets converts, labeling them as "Zionist" mercenaries and national security threats. Imprisonment of Christians has surged sixfold as the regi...

The Ankara NATO Summit and Ukraine's Offensive Against Russia. Guest: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus McCotter. Dempsey and McCotter preview the NATO summit in Ankara , which Donald Trump may attend to reward President Erdoğan with fighter jets. The conversation highlights Ukraine 's successful drone strikes on Russian refineries and resupply lines. Putin faces pressure from both domestic hawks and a po...

Volkswagen Layoffs and the Debate Over German Military Conscription. Guest: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus McCotter. Judy Dempsey reports on the crisis at Volkswagen , where 100,000 workers face layoffs due to the global shift toward electric vehicles and Chinese competition. These layoffs will ripple through Germany 's network of small suppliers. Thaddeus McCotter and Dempsey discuss how these economi...

Indefinite IDF Deployments in the Levant and the Strengthening of Turkey. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Schanzer explains that the IDF will remain in Lebanon and Syria indefinitely to destroy Hezbollah 's massive underground tunnel complexes. He notes that Marco Rubio negotiated a framework emphasizing Lebanese sovereignty. Additionally, Ambassador Tom Barrack is reportedly pressuring Israel while see...

The Sloppy Memo of Understanding and Iran's Control of the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Batchelor and Schanzer discuss a "sloppily" written Memo of Understanding that allows Iran to project control over the Strait of Hormuz . Schanzer notes that while shipping continues, markets remain anxious because Iran is effectively holding international energy hostage. He criticizes the intern...

Preview for Later Today: Judy Dempsey. Resident Specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , Berlin, specializing in European populist movements, German politics, and regional security. She examines the political exploitation of Volkswagen layoffs by the AfD (Alternative for Germany) and the party's lack of viable economic solutions, and monitors the rise of the AfD in polls and...

Preview for Later Today: Jonathan Schanzer. Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) , specializing in maritime security, international sanctions, and Middle Eastern geopolitical leverage. He assesses Iranian intimidation tactics and economic leverage in the Strait of Hormuz , noting their ability to selectively approve or target international shipping, and calls for i...

Preview for Later Today: Peter Berkowitz. Peter Berkowitz critiques the Trump administration's failed negotiations with Iran following a six-week military campaign. He argues that the indefinite extension of a ceasefire, despite Iran's rejection of nuclear and missile program constraints, weakened the U.S. position. The discussion focuses on the mishandling of diplomatic documents. 1521

Preview for Later Today: Gregory Copley. Gregory Copley discusses King Charles III 's potential role in reviving the Royal Navy during its current reconstruction phase. The Navy is building new submarines and heavy frigates to restore Britain 's global standing. Copley highlights the historical link between maritime power and national safety and honor. 1914 FALKLANDS

Preview for Later Today: Thaddeus McCotter. Thaddeus McCotter reflects on the fleeting relevance of political books detailing internal administration leaks and divisions. He contrasts these "ephemeral" works with the lasting historical significance of projects like the Hoover Dam . McCotter suggests that while political gossip fades, monumental achievements stand the test of time. 1931 HOOVER PARA...

Preview for Later Today: Mariam Wahba. Wahba describes how the Iranian regime uses labels like "Christian Zionist" to frame believers as national security threats. These individuals are often charged as "Mossad mercenaries" and traitors to the state. The regime views Christianity as a direct challenge to its theological right to rule.

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-29-2026. 1950 Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss the fragile US-Iran ceasefire and a flawed memorandum concerning the Strait of Hormuz . Roggio argues the agreement effectively grants Iran control, while Haqqani notes GCC countries feel excluded and wary of de-escalation on Iranian terms. The US lacks a plan to force Iranian understanding of consequences. 1 Hus...

Gordon Chang challenges China's manufacturing numbers as "science fiction" and the promotion of robotics to hide massive youth unemployment. Chang explains that Xi Jinping prioritizes manufacturing over consumption to keep the population dependent. He also warns of rising state-promoted xenophobia against foreigners. 16 1890 Shanghai

David Maxwell and Gordon Chang analyze North Korea's "salami slicing" strategy in the DMZ designed to normalize its activities. Maxwell warns Kim Jong-un seeks to divide the US-South Korea alliance. He urges a superior political warfare strategy to expose and strangulate North Korea's malign activities. 15 1951 21st Infantry

Ahmad Sharawi documents Hamas 's presence in Turkey , where senior operatives enjoy sanctuary to plot attacks in the West Bank . Sharawi notes Turkey provides a permissive environment to weaken Israel's regional freedom. Hamas maintains leadership and financing networks despite being whittled down in Gaza . 14 1930 Ankara

Henry Sokolski examines the stalemate over Iran's nuclear program following a previous B2 raid. Sokolski notes Iran refuses IAEA inspections at damaged uranium enrichment sites. He warns of massive plutonium risks at the Bushehr plant and calls for public hearings on regional nuclear restraint. 13 1953

Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio discuss the instability of the Iran MOU and the upcoming Doha talks. He contrasts this with a balanced Israel-Lebanon framework that aims to marginalize Hezbollah . However, the MOU's vague language allows Iran to claim legitimate control over the Strait of Hormuz . 12 1950

Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques the UN 's "toxic obsession" with Israel and its lack of evidence regarding genocide claims. Fitton-Brown highlights how China and Russia manipulate the UN system to avoid scrutiny. He notes Israel is uniquely targeted by permanent commissions while worse regimes go free. 11 1945

John Hardie and Bill Roggio report on Russian fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on refineries. Hardie notes this crisis breaks Putin 's "social contract" of stability for passivity. Despite economic trouble, Putin maintains maximalist war demands due to inflated military reports from his general staff. 10