The John Batchelor Show

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...

Headline: Latin America's Shift Toward Democratic Capitalism Guest: Conrad Black Conrad Black observes a "tidal wave" of reform across South America as nations reject left-wing "gangster" governments in favor of market economies. He highlights the success of Colombia's President Abelardo De La Espriella , a Trump ally. This regional shift is significantly influenced by Trump's economic model. (14)...

Headline: The Secretive Construction of Iran's Pickaxe Mountain Guest: Andrea Stricker Andrea Stricker warns of a deeply buried nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain , which may house advanced centrifuges. The facility is located two-thirds of a mile underground, making it extremely difficult to disable via airstrikes. Stricker recommends the U.S. demand IAEA inspections to verify compliance. (13) 1905...

Headline: AI Productivity vs. Headcount in the Small Business Sector Guest: Gene Marks Marks argues that AI is not replacing workers but rather increasing productivity for existing staff. He highlights innovative applications like the "AI Shop Advisor" at The Vitamin Shoppe and automated inventory management tools like Zenput . Small businesses continue to face a shortage of labor. (12)

Headline: Main Street Resilience: Small Business Success in 2026 Guest: Gene Marks Gene Marks reports that American small businesses are thriving, with strong consumer spending and rising revenues. He notes that wages are outpacing inflation, contributing to historical levels of personal wealth. While some use AI for content, most businesses still avoid AI for core transactions. (11) LA

Headline: Nuclear Safety and the Fog of War in Iran Guest: Henry Sokolski Sokolski examines reports of strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, noting that targeting reactors is legal if they serve military purposes. He expresses concern over the lack of a baseline inventory for Iran's centrifuges and enriched uranium, which complicates future nuclear negotiations. (10) LA

Headline: The New Space Race: Chinese Advances and Orbital Threats Guest: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski discusses China's Long March 10B booster, which successfully demonstrated first-stage recovery. He warns about potential nuclear mines in orbit and the challenge of verifying them. Additionally, Russia and China are reportedly collaborating to disable the Starlink satellite network in Ukraine ....

Headline: The Value of Deterrence in a Proliferating World Guest: Peter Huessy Huessy argues that the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains vital for protecting allies like South Korea from North Korean aggression. He asserts that nuclear weapons are cost-effective compared to massive conventional forces. Without a credible deterrent, reckless actors are more likely to trigger catastrophic global conflict...

Headline: Strategic Stability and the Erosion of the Nuclear Taboo Guest: Peter Huessy Peter Huessy explores the weakening nuclear taboo, noting Putin's near-use of tactical nukes in Ukraine . He contrasts this with historic deterrence during the Cuban Missile Crisis , where Kennedy provided Khrushchev a "way out." Huessy emphasizes that hybrid warfare now complicates traditional deterrence strate...

Headline: Italian Summer: Over-Tourism, Extreme Heat, and the Charm of Bassano del Grappa Guest: Lorenzo Fiori Lorenzo Fiori describes record-breaking heat and humidity in Italy , suggesting tourists visit Bassano del Grappa to avoid crowds. He discusses the historic Palio horse race in Siena and recommends enjoying grappa with chocolate and ciabatta bread while overlooking the beautiful Dolomite...

Headline: Lancaster County's Economy: Weather Disruptions and Inflationary Pressures Guest: Jim McTagueJim McTague reports on violent thunderstorms in Lancaster County that caused widespread blackouts. Despite the weather, the economy remains resilient, with full hotels and strong retail demand. However, rising gasoline prices and wage-driven inflation are impacting the local community's purchasin...

Headline: Presidential Immunity and the Legal Challenges Facing Donald Trump Guest: Richard Epstein Epstein discusses the Supreme Court's 2024 immunity ruling, distinguishing between official and unofficial acts. He critiques President Trump's private business ventures, like cryptocoin deals, as non-official acts subject to litigation. Epstein also argues that Todd Blanche is disqualified from bei...

Headline: The Myth of Birthright Citizenship and the 14th Amendment Guest: Richard Epstein Professor Richard Epstein analyzes birthright citizenship, arguing the 14th Amendment's original intent excluded foreigners. He critiques the concept of "tourist babies" and suggests the president's plenary naturalization powers could be used to restrict entry for pregnant mothers seeking citizenship for the...

Headline: Las Vegas Sports Expansion and the "Secret Menu" at In-N-Out Guest: Jeff Bliss Bliss discusses the potential for an NBA team in Las Vegas , possibly named the " Las Vegas Jacks ." He also highlights the famous In-N-Out "secret menu," explaining "animal style" burgers and fries. Seattle remains a top contender for a returning NBA franchise alongside Las Vegas . (2)

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) 1900  LA

Preview for Later Today: Conrad Black discusses the political shift in Latin America , where populist, left-wing regimes are being replaced by democratic, market-oriented governments focused on economic growth and performance rather than traditional demagoguery and anti-American rhetoric.