The John Batchelor Show

Preview for Later Today: Piero Tozzi examines the repression of Christianity in China , comparing current cruelty to historical Roman persecution. Despite state-sponsored brutality, the underground church continues to grow among 100 million believers. (5) R

Preview for Later Today: Bob Zimmerman explains how bureaucratic red tape is stalling rocket launches at Scotland'sSaxaVord spaceport. UK regulators are demanding a costly security fence to keep sheep away before permitting private spaceflight. (6) 1843

SCHEDULE JBS, 7-7-2026 1862 NYC  Liz Peek . Revamping Federal Reserve Communications: No More Dot Plots? Liz Peek discusses new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's shift away from "forward guidance" and "dot plots". She argues this pragmatic approach requires investors to analyze raw economic data rather than Fed algorithms. Despite past recession fears, the economy remains stable with low unemployment at 4.2...

STREAMING MAKING JBS, FEATURING THADDEUS MCCOTTER AND JAMES FANELL, 7-7-2026 INDIA This transcript from The John Batchelor Show covers a wide range of topics, beginning with an analysis of China’s recent submarine-launched ballistic missile test in the Pacific. Military expert Captain James Fanell explains that this event signals China’s growing nuclear triad capabilities and serves as a strategic...

Henry Sokolski . Iran's Nuclear Defiance and the Futility of Unsupervised Deals. Sokolski highlights the disconnect between U.S. and Iranian positions following a recent memorandum of understanding. Iran refuses inspections of bombed enrichment sites, while the U.S. insists on them. He warns that preventing Iran from building a bomb remains an uphill battle without clearer public goals. (16) 1900...

Grant Newsham . The Shadow of Appeasement: Europe's Unwillingness to Defend Itself. Newsham compares current European hesitation to confront Russia with 1930s appeasement. He argues that many European nations have developed a "pathologic dependence" on the U.S. to fund their social welfare states. He warns that without U.S. backing, Europe lacks the unity to stop Russian aggression. (15) 1940

Thaddeus McCotter . The Republican Civil War: MAGA Populism vs. the Establishment. McCotter analyzes the Republican Party's struggle with the MAGA movement, which he defines as populist rather than traditionally Republican . He warns that without a clear programmatic platform beyond Donald Trump , the movement may not survive his leadership, potentially leading to conflict with the revanchist Repu...

Thaddeus McCotter . Democratic Party Discipline: Managing Candidate Crises and Ideological Rifts. McCotter explores how the Democratic establishment "blew up" problematic candidates like Eric Swalwell to install figures like Xavier Becerra . He describes an ongoing "civil war" between the establishment and the Democratic Socialists of America ( DSA ), with leadership working to clear out radicals...

Gregory Copley . The Prodigal Son: Prince Harry's Mounting Legal and Financial Woes. Copley discusses Prince Harry's precarious position after losing a major lawsuit, leaving him with a 50 million pound debt. King Charles III prioritizes his duty to the monarchy over family ties as concerns grow regarding Harry's management of the Invictus Games and his wife's public criticisms of the family. (12)

Gregory Copley . Iran's Leadership Vacuum and the Illusion of Nuclear Success. Copley reports a lack of cohesive leadership in Iran , with Ayatollah Khamenei potentially incapacitated. He asserts the West has failed on all metrics, including regime change and securing the Strait of Hormuz . Iran views its nuclear program primarily as a bargaining chip for sovereignty rather than victory. (11)

Gregory Copley . Russian Bluster and NATO's Disorganized Response. Copley dismisses Russian threats against Poland and Finland as "agit prop" designed to save face during the NATO summit. He argues Russia is incapable of a major war with NATO and that Putin remains secure despite domestic pressures, petrol rationing, and the West's disorganized attempts to unify. (10) v

Gregory Copley . Xi Jinping's Internal Struggles and the Vulnerable 'Boomer' Fleet. Copley views China's missile test as a move by Xi Jinping to look credible amidst domestic instability and loss of control over the PLA . He notes that while the Jin-class submarines are "noisy" and vulnerable, the test sends a pointed message to the West and Pacific nations. (9)

Joseph Sternberg . Cultural Divides: American Earnestness vs. European Cynicism. During the World Cup , Sternberg observes that European visitors are struck by American earnestness regarding God, patriotism, and politics. He notes that while shared history exists, deep cultural divisions persist; Europeans often view patriotism as destructive, whereas Americans continue to view it as a healthy ins...

Joseph Sternberg . Federal Reserve Introspection and Britain's Political Turmoil. Sternberg examines Governor Waller's speech regarding how "forward guidance" may have blinded the Fed to 2021 inflation. Turning to the UK , he notes Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plummeting popularity and argues that British politics is trapped in personality-driven cycles without addressing fundamental policy or we...

Mary Kissel . Confronting Beijing's Provocations and the Cost of Appeasement. Kissel critiques the U.S. government for pursuing trade deals while China conducts intimidating missile tests in the Pacific . She urges the administration to recognize the severity of the threat, strengthen regional alliances, and impose actual consequences for Beijing's increasingly hostile behavior to avoid a greater...

Mary Kissel . NATO's New Vigor and the European Defense Dilemma. Mary Kissel discusses NATO's renewed urgency following Russian aggression in Ukraine . While front-line nations like Poland exceed spending targets, many Europeans have historically relied on the U.S. defense umbrella to fund social welfare states. She warns that Putin continues to test NATO's unity at the margins. (5)

Captain James Fanell . Countering China's First Strike Strategy in the Pacific. Fanell argues China's SLBM test challenges their "no first use" policy, effectively demonstrating a first-strike capability. He recommends the U.S. bolster its naval force structure in the Western Pacific and utilize B-2 bomber flights to signal resolve against Chinese efforts to drive America out of the region. (4)

Captain James Fanell . China's Nuclear Triad Expansion: Submerged Ballistic Missile Test. Captain Fanell explains the significance of China's recent submerged ballistic missile launch from a Jin-class submarine. Reaching over 10,000 kilometers, this JL-3 missile flew over U.S. territories like Guam . This rare test signals China's rapid development of a nuclear triad intended to achieve strategic...

Liz Peek . The Democratic Party's 2028 Internal Conflict: Socialists vs. Establishment. Peek analyzes the rising tension between the Democratic establishment and radical socialists like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani . She suggests Governor Newsom faces credibility issues due to "flip-flops," while younger socialist candidates threaten to alienate traditional Jewish and Black voters, potentially wr...

Liz Peek . Revamping Federal Reserve Communications: No More Dot Plots? Liz Peek discusses new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's shift away from "forward guidance" and "dot plots". She argues this pragmatic approach requires investors to analyze raw economic data rather than Fed algorithms. Despite past recession fears, the economy remains stable with low unemployment at 4.2%. (1) 1920s

Preview for Later Today: Chinese Missile Provocation in the Pacific. James Fanell discusses a non-routine JL-3 missile launch from a Chinese submarine. The missile traveled over 10,000 kilometers across the Pacific , passing US territories, signaling aggressive "bastion" strategies targeting the continental United States . (1) 1939 GUAM

Preview for Later Today: China's Ambitions for Lunar Colonization. Rick Fisher details China's "Apollo Plus" moon landing plan. Utilizing architecture similar to Soviet systems, the program involves docking in lunar orbit and potential unmanned landings before a full manned attempt at lunar colonization. (2) 1999 ROSKOSMOS 

Preview for Later Today: Addressing Russian Threats Against Poland. Mary Kissel explores deterrent strategies against Russian aggression toward Poland . Suggestions include stationing NATO troops on the border, restarting troop rotations, and encouraging industrial investment, drawing lessons from the frontline experiences of Finland . (3) 1895 KRAKOW

Preview for Later Today: Reassessing Fed Guidance and the Inflation Spike. Liz Peek comments on Governor Christopher Waller's critique of the "dot plot" and forward guidance. She explains how these tools potentially misled officials during unprecedented economic shifts, contributing to the recent spike in inflation. (4) 1870

Preview for Later Today: Iran's Potential for Nuclear Weaponization. Henry Sokolski warns that Iran's Bushehr reactor contains significant spent fuel. He estimates this fuel holds enough plutonium for hundreds of bombs, which could be extracted quickly, complicating views on Iran's nuclear energy program. (5) 1951