The John Batchelor Show

Adrian Wooldridge concludes by recommending a "remoralization" of meritocracy, where those with talent view their abilities as a public duty rather than just a source of personal reward. He warns against abandoning objective testing (like the SAT ), arguing that lotteries or subjective admissions are more "gameable" by the privileged. Finally, he stresses that the West must purify its meritocratic...

Adrian Wooldridge analyzes the populist revolt against meritocracy, seen in Brexit and the election of Donald Trump . Populists argue that "experts" lack common sense and have become an arrogant, self-satisfied elite. Critics like Christopher Lasch contend that this elite has betrayed democracy by turning against traditional values. A "degenerate version" of meritocracy has emerged through assorta...

Adrian Wooldridge revisits the historical origins of hierarchy, noting that for most of human history, family connections and dynasties were the organizing principles of society. The concept of the Great Chain of Being suggested that everyone had a divinely ordained place, a notion reflected in the works of Shakespeare . This system placed biological entities, like kings, at the center of social o...

Adrian Wooldridge examines the mid-20th-century backlash against meritocracy. Michael Young , who coined the term, warned that a "perfect" meritocracy would create an intolerable society where the successful feel superior and the unsuccessful have no social excuse for their position. Left-wing critics like Lancelot Hogben argued that IQ tests merely measured privilege rather than innate nature. Ad...

Adrian Wooldridge highlights the historical blindness toward women's talent among 19th-century reformers who excluded them from competitive examinations. However, the meritocratic logic of objective measurement eventually provided women with the tools to challenge these exclusions. A pivotal moment occurred when Philippa Fawcett outperformed the top male mathematicians at Cambridge . The World War...

Adrian Wooldridge discusses how the 19th-century search for talent was shaped by utilitarianism and liberal reforms. Reformers like John Stuart Mill remained suspicious of the masses, seeking to replace the landed aristocracy with an "aristocracy of talent." This led to the development of psychometrics and standardized IQ testing, exemplified by the 11-plus examination in Britain , designed to all...

Adrian Wooldridge notes that while pre-modern governance relied on patronage and nepotism, kings often appointed "lowly-born men" of extraordinary ability, like Thomas Cromwell , to ensure stability. Napoleon emerged as a transitional figure, embodying a "career open to talent" while simultaneously reinventing monarchical personas. In the 18th century, French philosophers championed "genius" or br...

Adrian Wooldridge explains that for most of history, society was defined by a hierarchical presumption where individuals were born into "proper stations." This Great Chain of Being posited that social and natural orders were divinely ordained; disrupting this hierarchy was believed to cause chaos and natural disasters. Royal dynasties served as the central organizing principle, yet they were inher...

Molly Beer. Guest Molly Beer covers Angelica's return to America for Washington 's inauguration, where she found political reality more complicated than her romanticized memories. After returning permanently in 1797, she faced immense personal loss, including the deaths of her family and Alexander Hamilton . Beer describes how Angelica "expeditioned" 450 miles into the wilderness to help her son f...

Molly Beer. Guest Molly Beer follows the family to Europe , where John Carter reclaims his identity as John Barker Church . Settling in London 's Mayfair , Angelica navigated high society while remaining a fierce American patriot. Beer highlights Angelica's role as a social bridge, hosting luminaries like Lafayette and the Adams family. She became part of the "blue stocking" movement, a circle of...

Molly Beer. Guest Molly Beer explores Angelica's resilience during the Revolutionary War , noting she rejoined the army at Yorktown weeks after childbirth. Beer details Alexander Hamilton 's marriage to her sister Elizabeth , explaining how Angelica helped the status-seeking Hamilton integrate into their powerful family. Beer shares her personal connection to Angelica, New York , a town founded by...

Molly Beer. Guest Molly Beer introduces Angelica Schuyler , born in 1755 to a powerful Dutch family in Albany . Beer discusses "The Pastures," the Schuyler mansion designed and managed by Angelica's mother, Catherine . Unlike most 18th-century women, Angelica received a formal education, a Dutch practice valuing women's business capabilities. Beer notes Angelica's transition from her Dutch identit...

Portland's Business Struggles and Las Vegas's SCHEDULE JBS 6-19-2026. 1900 LA Growth. Guest: Jeff Bliss. High taxes and progressive policies in Portland are driving a corporate exodus, including Under Armour , as business districts empty. Conversely, Las Vegas is thriving, highlighted by the opening of a massive four-story In-N-Out on the Strip. The segment also covers California 's proposed wealt...

STREAMING MAKING OF JBS, FEATURING JEFF BLISS AND MICHAEL VLAHOS, 6-19, 2026. 1903 LA CHINATOWN This discussion explores the political and economic shifts currently reshaping the West Coast , specifically the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) within the Democratic Party. The speakers analyze how progressive policies and high taxes in cities like Portland and states li...

CISA's Mission to Protect Critical Infrastructure. Guest: Francis Rose. Acting Director Nick Anderson explains CISA 's role as a vital clearinghouse for cyber threat information across federal and private sectors. Since 85% of critical infrastructure is privately owned, CISA focuses on information exchange to prevent bad actors from moving laterally to disrupt water or power supplies. 16 DC 1936

A Vision for Governance Reform in Canada. Guest: Conrad Black. Biographer Conrad Black and billionaire Stephen Jarislowsky have proposed recommendations to streamline Canadian governance by reducing duplicated bureaucracy. They argue that Canada 's public service is top-heavy and that lowering corporate and personal taxes is essential for maintaining economic growth and competitiveness with the Un...

The Rise of Andy Burnham in UK Politics. Guest: Anatol Lieven. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is emerging as a formidable potential successor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer . Though Burnham enjoys strong regional support, he faces daunting national issues, including the funding crisis in the NHS and Britain 's inability to borrow like the United States . 14 1918```

Diplomatic Strains and Escalation Risks in Ukraine. Guest: Anatol Lieven. European leaders are divided over initiating direct negotiations with Russia as the war remains stuck on the ground. While some advocate for offering Putin a "golden bridge" to claim a symbolic victory, others argue for continued pressure, despite the constant risks of accidental or nuclear escalation. 13 MOSCOW REGION

The Literary Legacy and Final Days of the Alcotts. Guest: Bruce Nichols. Following the success of Little Women , Alcott resisted fan demands for her protagonist to marry Laurie, choosing an independent path. As the circle aged, both Emerson and Bronson Alcott suffered significant cognitive decline, with Louisa providing essential financial and personal support until her death in 1888. 12 HAWTHORNE...

The Struggles and Triumphs of Louisa May Alcott. Guest: Bruce Nichols. Louisa May Alcott supported her family because her father, Bronson Alcott , failed to earn a consistent living. She served as a Civil War nurse, dealing with horrific casualties before contracting a severe illness she attributed to mercury poisoning. Her 1868 novel Little Women finally resolved the family's debts. 11 LOWELL MAS...

Thoreau's Performative Solitude at Walden Pond. Guest: Bruce Nichols. Henry David Thoreau built his famous cabin on land owned by Ralph Waldo Emerson . Contrary to his image as a total hermit, Thoreau was quite social, often walking into town for fresh-cooked meals and laundry. He eventually spent years refining his journals into the masterpiece Walden . 10 1929 EMERSON OLD MANSE

Literary Giants of the New England Renaissance. Guest: Bruce Nichols. This segment explores the intense relationship between Hawthorne and Melville , who dedicated Moby Dick to Hawthorne. While Ralph Waldo Emerson often criticized their dark worldviews, these authors, alongside Walt Whitman and Margaret Fuller , were instrumental in inventing a uniquely original and enduring American literary voic...

Mars Discoveries and Cosmological Mysteries. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. The discovery of galaxies devoid of dark matter is challenging fundamental astronomical theories. On Mars , the Curiosity rover has reached smooth ground after five years of rocky terrain. Additionally, orbiters have detected multiple dust devils and potential frost and ice in the planet's equatorial regions during winter. 8 1880

SpaceX's Aggressive Launch Schedule and Innovation. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Gwynne Shotwell indicates that SpaceX 's Starship may begin operational flights and orbital refueling tests by year's end. The company is also demolishing older facilities at Vandenberg for new launchpads, while private startups advance 3D-printed rockets and orbital satellite rescue missions to assist aging telescopes. 7 18...

Italian Defense Pressures and the Summer Heatwave. Guest: Lorenzo Fiori. Italy 's government is balancing NATO 's demands for increased military spending against rising energy costs. Simultaneously, a record-breaking heatwave reaching 104°F in Milan is straining public resources, prompting Fiori to recommend the cooler Garfagnana region for its fresh environment and traditional bean and cabbage so...