The John Batchelor Show

Richard Epstein critiques the Supreme Court 's 6-3 decision allowing the President to fire independent commission heads. Epstein argues this undermines the separation of powers between prosecution and adjudication. He warns that "presidential accountability" is an illusion in such a unitary power structure. 9

David Daoud and Bill Roggio analyze "pilot zones" as a mechanism to hold Lebanon 's feet to the fire regarding Hezbollah 's disarmament. Daoud warns that if the US prioritizes quiet with Iran , these zones could become pressure tactics against Israel rather than mechanisms for actual Lebanese performance. 8ř979 Iran

David Daoud explores the Israel-Lebanon security deal and the IDF 's destruction of a major Hezbollah arsenal. Daoud explains the concept of "pilot zones" where the Lebanese Armed Forces must perform demonstrably before territorial expansion. He notes Hezbollah wants a pragmatic end to pain but rejects normalization. 7 v

Jonathan Sayeh  and Bill Roggio investigate reports of damaged historic sites in Iran , suggesting they are Iranian information operations. Schanzer explains that many sites were actually torched by protesters rejecting Islamism. He also notes the morality police are doubling down on control following recent ceasefire stunts. 6

Jonathan Sayeh  and Bill Roggio analyze Iran's perceived "escalation dominance" in the Strait of Hormuz after the US lifted its naval blockade. Schanzer argues Iran uses the waterway as leverage to derail nuclear talks. Roggio critiques the US admission that there is no military solution to the waterway. 5

Ernesto Araújo discusses recent democratic victories in Colombia and Peru , characterizing them as a rejection of organized crime and socialism. He criticizes media bias for framing these shifts as a "right-wing drift" while ignoring the deep-seated corruption of regional leaders like Lula da Silva . 4 1952

Ernesto Araújo addresses the Venezuelan earthquake and the Maduro regime's inability to manage the crisis, calling leadership a "gangster gathering." He sees international aid as a chance for accountability and renewal. He also questions why the US hesitates to allow democratic leader María Machado to return home. 3

Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio examine regional dynamics, noting the Iranian system remains unchanged despite the Supreme Leader's death. Haqqani describes the US-Iran memorandum as a "damp squib" that ignores fundamental security issues. Roggio suggests Saudi Arabia feels "stuck" with the US but may reconsider its primary regional backing. 2

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

STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING BILL ROGGIO, HUSAIN HAQQANI, JAANATYN SAYEH, 6-29-26. 1787 PERSIA This transcript from the John Bachelor Show explores the volatile ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz . Experts Hussein Hakani, Bill Roggio, and Jonathan Sayeh analyze how the tit-for-tat military exchan...

Preview for Later Today: Gordon Chang. Gordon Chang discusses China 's demographic crisis, predicting a massive population decline by 2100. He highlights youth unemployment reaching 35–40%, which poses severe risks to the nation's social stability and future productivity and income. 1903

Preview for Later Today: Richard Epstein. Richard Epstein critiques a Supreme Court ruling regarding the President's authority to fire the FTC chairman. He argues against merging prosecutorial and judicial functions, calling such arrangements a "monstrous" threat to due process. 1976 

Preview for Later Today: Edmund Fitton-Brown. Edmund Fitton-Brown characterizes the Memorandum of Understanding regarding Iran as a "catastrophic" and unstable document. He doubts discussions will resolve underlying issues like nuclear development or the status of the Strait of Hormuz . 1849 TEHRAN

Preview for Later Today: John Hardie. John Hardie reports on a fuel crisis in occupied Crimea following Ukrainian strikes on Russian logistics. These targeted attacks on fuel trucks and infrastructure disrupt military operations and undermine Russia 's ability to govern. 1917 

Preview for Later Today: David Maxwell. David Maxwell examines North Korean construction in the DMZ , noting South Korean concern. He critiques the U.S. tendency to minimize these incidents to prioritize stability, potentially undermining deterrence to avoid direct conflict. 1951 KOREAS

Preview for Later Today: Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski warns that Iran 's Bushehr nuclear plant poses a proliferation risk. He notes the facility's spent fuel contains plutonium for hundreds of bombs, which could be chemically extracted for weapons relatively quickly. 1920 BUSHEHR

The Fragility of the Union and the Dismantling of the Republic. Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. Reflecting on the anniversary of Gettysburg , the speakers suggest that the "sacred" unity and mission established by Lincoln and later reinforced by D-Day are being abandoned. The current leadership is depicted as "whipsawed" between a desire to be a "peace president" and the politica...

The Nation in Arms and the Decline into the Imperial Model. Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The speakers contrast the historical "American way of war" with its modern imperial iteration. From the Civil War through World War II , war was a "religious crusading war" requiring total national mobilization and immense sacrifice, as seen in the 600,000 dead during the Civil War—"missio...

The Drone Contest and the Existential War in the East. Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The speakers examine the significant shift in modern warfare embodied by the "drone contest" between Russia and Ukraine . This new form of engagement has produced a fuel crisis in Russia, with reports of diesel rationing and shortages in Crimea following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries an...

Mortality and the RAGE OF ACHILLES. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The conclusion of the Iliad explores the resolution of Achilles ' rage following the death of Hector . Initially, Achilles attempts to prolong Hector's humiliation by dragging his body behind a chariot and refusing to allow a proper burial. However, the funeral games for Patroclus mark a shift toward maturity, as Achilles provides...

The Fall of Patroclus and the Killing Machine. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The turning point of the epic occurs when Patroclus enters the battle wearing Achilles' armor to deceive the Trojans and save the Greek ships. Ignoring Achilles' warning to return quickly, Patroclus is driven by a desire for honor and continues his assault until he is stripped of his armor by Apollo and killed by Hector...

The Gore of Battle and the Sanctity of the Dead. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The Iliad features vivid and gory battle scenes that Wilson rendered by consulting with combat veterans to understand the visceral nature of death. Homer emphasizes the specific details of how each man dies, often juxtaposing the brutality of a spear through an eyeball with beautiful similes from the natural world. A m...

The Plot Begins: Rage and Divine Bargains. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The plot of the Iliad is ignited by a clash of egos between Agamemnon and Achilles . When Agamemnon is forced to return his own war prize to appease Apollo , he seizes Achilles' enslaved woman, Briseis , to recoup his lost face. This action causes Achilles to withdraw from the fighting, perversely restoring his honor by demo...

Goddesses, Trophies, and the Bond of Achilles. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The gods in the Iliad often represent extreme human instincts, such as Aphrodite representing lust and Ares representing aggression. These deities are sometimes depicted as ridiculous because they flee the battlefield when wounded, whereas mortals must face their pain heroically. Within the Greek camp, the social structu...

Character Pairings and the Pressure of Honor. Guest: Professor Emily Wilson. The Iliad features vivid character relationships that function with the depth of a novel. Helen is portrayed as an ironic thinker and a storyteller who weaves the sufferings of the war into her textiles, much like the poet himself. She possesses a unique perspective on her own fate and the limited power mortals have again...