The John Batchelor Show

(2) The Nuclear Taboo and Russian Forbearance: Secret Nuclear History, the Cuban Missile Crisis Comparison, and the Dangers of Escalation Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. In a "parking lot" broadcast, the hosts explore the fragility of nuclear deterrence. Gaius discusses a report revealing that in 2023, China and India persuaded Vladimir Putin not to use tactical nuclear weapons i...

(1) Regulatory Certitude in Londinium: The Power of the Building Inspector and Beachfront Evictions Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The show is temporarily halted due to occupancy issues at the wine bar. Gaius admits to a "completely unforgivable error": failing to give the building inspector an annual birthday raise. He notes that even far from Rome, the local inspector's "red t...

Jeremy Zakis describes being five minutes late for breakfast, leading his dog, Dallas, and local magpies to protest through a glass door. The animals vigilantly monitored the food preparation to ensure they were fed ham and cheese. Both Dallas and the birds finished their meal within twenty seconds. (12)

Jeremy Zakis warns of a 97% probability of a Super El Niño, predicting record-breaking heat and dangerous winds for Australia. This forecast necessitates early bushfire preparations, such as controlled burn-offs of undergrowth. The global impact includes severe drought in Africa and heavy winter precipitation in North America. (9) 19522

A highly venomous eastern brown snake was found seeking warmth under a plastic wheelie bin at a Canberra school. A snake catcher safely removed the reptile, employing calm showmanship to prevent audience panic. The snake was relocated ten kilometers away to ensure it could not navigate back. (10)

The English cricket team has implemented strict midnight curfews and alcohol restrictions following behavioral issues and performance declines. Jeremy notes that these drinking problems appear unique to the English side. Furthermore, Ben Stokes is in conflict with the cricket board over an illegally filmed and leaked retirement video. (11) 1928

Legacies of the 1920s: Hoover and Roosevelt Guest: David Pietrusza The final segment contrasts the presidencies of Herbert Hoover and FDR, the last of the six presidents from the 1920 cycle. Hoover, despite rising from "great poverty" to become a "great engineer," struggled with a cold public persona that failed to rally the nation during the Great Depression. Conversely, the wealthy FDR was trans...

A Landslide Victory and the Birth of a New Era Guest: David Pietrusza Warren G. Harding secured one of the most lopsided victories in history, winning 60% of the popular vote and 404 electoral votes. His victory was fueled by modern advertising techniques, including celebrity endorsements from stars like Al Jolson. On election night, Americans received results through early radio broadcasts and by...

  Campaigning on the Front Porch and the League of Nations Guest: David Pietrusza The 1920 campaign highlighted a stark contrast in styles: Harding's "front porch" campaign versus the active touring of Cox and FDR. Despite his reputation for "bloviating," Harding was a polished public speaker with a modern voice who understood how to avoid trouble. A pivotal moment occurred when Cox and FDR met a...

The 1920 Democratic Convention and the Ohio Connection Guest: David Pietrusza Meeting in San Francisco, the Democrats faced a grueling nomination process dictated by the "two-thirds rule," which required 44 ballots to select James M. Cox. The convention was overshadowed by a frail Woodrow Wilson, who still harbored secret hopes for a third term despite his inability to even put in a full day's wor...

The 1920 Republican Convention in Chicago Guest: David Pietrusza The Republican Convention in Chicago was a sweltering "circus" where Warren G. Harding started with very low odds compared to favorites like Leonard Wood and Hiram Johnson. Harding initially ran for the presidency primarily to gain the "glamour" needed to protect his Senate seat in Ohio, doubting he could actually win the top spot. H...

The Contenders: FDR, Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover Guest: David Pietrusza This segment introduces the rising stars of the 1920s: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. At age 38, FDR was an ambitious Assistant Secretary of the Navy who, despite his famous name, was considered "not ready for prime time" due to early political mistakes and a strained marriage following an affair...

The Rise of the "Available Man": Warren G. Harding Guest: David Pietrusza With Roosevelt dead and Wilsonincapacitated, the Republican Party sought a candidate who could unify their ranks during what was perceived as "their year." Warren G. Harding emerged not as a frontrunner, but as the "available man" — a likable, non-alienating figure from the critical battleground state of Ohio. His campaign m...

The Tragedy of Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations Guest: David Pietrusza The 1920 election cycle begins with a physical and political crisis as President Woodrow Wilson suffers a massive, debilitating stroke in October 1919. This event leaves him frail for the remainder of his life and turns the League of Nations into the central, polarizing issue of the upcoming campaign. Historian David Pi...

The 1936 Landslide and Political Realignment Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal Election night 1936 at Hyde Park began with nervous anticipation, as many — including the Literary Digest — still expected a close race. However, early returns from New Haven, Connecticut, showing a 15,000-vote victory for Roosevelt, sig...

Eleanor Roosevelt and the Campaign Climax Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal The 1936 campaign saw the emergence of Eleanor Roosevelt as a political star. While Republicans hid Landon's wife and some Democrats feared Eleanor was "too much" for the public, she became an indispensable asset on the campaign trail. She...

The Selection of Alf Landon and the Republican Field Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal The Republican Party in 1936 struggled to find a viable candidate to face Roosevelt's juggernaut. They rejected a return to Herbert Hoover, whose 1928 style was deemed too slow and associated with the initial collapse. Other pote...

William Randolph Hearst and the "Soak the Rich" Tensions Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal One of the most formidable figures Roosevelt had to manage was media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who controlled a vast empire of 28 newspapers and eight radio stations. Hearst's political allegiances were notoriously fick...

Splinter Parties and the Global Shadow Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal Beyond populist insurgents, Roosevelt had to contend with the Socialistand Communist parties, which held significant sway in urban centers. The Socialists, led by Norman Thomas, appealed to the intellectual "proto-faction" in New York City, dr...

The Townsend Plan and the Radio Priest Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal Two unconventional figures heavily influenced Roosevelt's 1936 strategy: Dr. Francis Townsend and Father Charles Coughlin. Townsend, a physician, gained a massive following with his plan to provide $200 a month to everyone over 60, provided th...

Populist Threats and the "Share Our Wealth" Movement Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal As Roosevelt prepared for the 1936 election, he faced significant pressure from the populist left, most notably embodied by Huey Long of Louisiana. Long's "Share Our Wealth" program proposed seizing assets from millionaires to pr...

Headline: Pacific Watch: High Swells and Beach Controversies in San Diego Guest: Jeff Bliss Jeff Bliss reports from Sail Bay , San Diego , discussing the arrival of massive 30-foot El Niño swells. The conversation covers local beach controversies regarding yoga permits, the upscale enclave of Laguna Beach , and an unusual early-season arson fire in the nearby hills. (1) Headline: Las Vegas Sports...

MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR, FEATURING JEFF BLISS, MICHAEL VLAHOS, 7-10-26 1890 LOUISIANA The provided transcript features a wide-ranging conversation between host John Batchelor and Jeff Bliss regarding current events in California and Las Vegas . The dialogue begins with local issues, including beach regulations in San Diego, the impact of El Niño on surf conditions, and the political fallout o...

Headline: SETI vs. UAPs: Distinguishing Science from Folklore Guest: Michael Garrett Garrett clarifies that SETI focuses on astronomy, not atmospheric phenomena like UFOs or UAPs. While supportive of UAP research to understand drones or rockets, he remains skeptical of extraterrestrial visits. These updated guidelines aim to assist astronomers who might stumble upon technological signatures. (16)...

Headline: SETI Protocols and the Scientific Search for Extraterrestrial Life Guest: Michael Garrett Michael Garrett introduces updated SETI protocols for handling potential contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The guidelines emphasize the scientific method and verification to avoid false alarms. Garrett suggests searching for machine technology or waste heat from advanced civilizations acro...