The John Batchelor Show

Ukrainian Drone Attacks Cripple Russian Oil Infrastructure. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Cheap Ukrainian drones have successfully targeted Russian refineries and fuel transport, causing significant shortages of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. This technological warfare has forced Russia to ban exports and implement rationing, as traditional air defense systems struggle to counter swarms of small,...

Strengthening Defense Ties Between the Philippines and Canada. Guest: Charles Burton and Gordon Chang. Canada is deepening security cooperation with the Philippines to counter Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea . This partnership includes logistical agreements and military training, even as Canada faces challenges protecting its own Arctic sovereignty against increasing Russian and Chines...

Canadian Public Opinion on the Chinese Threat and US Trade. Guest: Charles Burton and Gordon Chang. A majority of Canadians perceive China as a threat following revelations of election interference and malign influence operations. Meanwhile, concerns grow regarding the reliability of the United States as a partner under the Trump administration and the potential abrogation of the USMCA trade agree...

US Navy Control and the Opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Rebecca Grant and Gordon Chang. Despite Iranian claims of closure, the US Navy maintains tactical control over the Strait of Hormuz , ensuring sea lanes remain open for international shipping. Advanced mine-clearing technology and persistent patrols have neutralized threats, though economic signals like the Jones Act waiver remain poi...

The Imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and the Future of Hong Kong. Guest: Mark Clifford and Gordon Chang. Jimmy Lai has spent over 2,000 days in prison, becoming a symbol of resistance against the Chinese Communist Party . His fate mirrors that of Hong Kong , which is transforming into a national security state where surveillance and espionage extend to international cities like London . 1 1918

Preview for Later Today: Guest: Charles Burton. Charles Burton discusses Canada 's struggle to defend the Arctic against Chinese incursions, mapping, and surveillance. Despite promises of increased defense spending, Canada currently relies on limited resources like snowmobiles to monitor regional threats. 1890 GREENLAND

Preview for Later Today: Guest: Mark Clifford. Mark Clifford recounts how China uses its Hong Kong trade office in London as a front for espionage and harassment. Agents were convicted for surveilling dissidents and abusing British immigration databases to gather info. 1930

Preview for Later Today: Guest: Evan Ellis. Evan Ellis analyzes the political crisis in Bolivia , focusing on President Rodrigo Paz 's attempts to navigate social unrest. Paz acts as a compromise between indigenous rights and skepticism toward traditional, lighter-skinned political elites. 1951

Preview for Later Today: Guest: Rebecca Grant. Rebecca Grant highlights the US Navy 's advanced mine-clearing capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz . The Navy utilizes autonomous sea drones and aerial pods to detect and neutralize floating mines left by the IRGC . 1893 IRONCLAD INVINCIBLEE

Preview for Later Today: Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman explains Rocket Lab 's record-breaking seventeen-hour military launch demonstrating rapid response capabilities. The mission involved deploying a satellite named Puma to rendezvous with a target spacecraft previously launched by a different company. 1954

Preview for Later Today: Guest: Michael Bernstam. Michael Bernstam reports on Ukrainian drone strikes that have crippled Russian refineries, causing severe fuel shortages. Consequently, Moscow is forced to import gasoline from Belarus to meet its domestic energy and military needs. 1925

SCHEDULE JBS, 6-23-2026. 1936 Alan Greenspan's Legacy and the New Fed Chair. Guest: Elizabeth Peek. This segment reflects on the passing of Alan Greenspan and the transition to Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair. Peek highlights Warsh's goal to reform data collection and move away from forecasting, favoring real-time data over the traditional, often confusing, communication styles of his predece...

The Republican Fissures and Potential Third-Party Movements. Guest: Thaddeus McCotter. The discussion centers on Tucker Carlson 's potential departure from the Republican Party over foreign policy disagreements. McCotter suggests this reflects deeper fault lines within the MAGA base, where isolationist tendencies and dissatisfaction with the administration's relationship with allies like Israel co...

The Strategic Failure of the Iran Memo of Understanding. Guest: Thaddeus McCotter. McCotter analyzes the Memo of Understanding, highlighting unresolved issues like the Strait of Hormuz and the $80 billion war funding request. He argues the administration is trying to make kinetic action palatable to voters while failing to secure meaningful concessions on Iran 's nuclear program or its sponsorship...

Unalienable Rights and the Challenge of Foreign Policy. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. This segment discusses applying founding principles to modern diplomacy, specifically condemning the Chinese Communist Party 's crimes against the Uyghurs . Berkowitz argues that despite economic entanglements, the United States must maintain its dedication to universal principles and use its diplomatic toolbox to addr...

Recovering the Original Understanding of Unalienable Rights. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Berkowitz reflects on the 2019 Commission on Unalienable Rights , which sought to ground human rights in the American founding tradition. The commission aimed to counter the "proliferating industry" of rights that often serves partisan progressive ends, emphasizing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ' origi...

The Crown as a Symbol of British Identity. Guest: Gregory Copley. Amidst political instability, King Charles III is viewed as a dynamic symbol of national dignity and continuity. The segment discusses the King's role in stabilizing the United Kingdom following Prime Minister Starmer 's resignation and managing sensitive royal family matters to preserve the image of the monarchy. 12

British Political Fragmentation and the Immigration Crisis. Guest: Gregory Copley. Britain has seen seven prime ministers in ten years due to political fragmentation over illegal immigration and European relations. Copley suggests that the Labour Party is failing to represent the British working class, which favors traditional values and stricter border controls, leading to a rise in alternative p...

Xi Jinping's Strategic Outreach to North Korea. Guest: Gregory Copley. Xi Jinping 's visit to Pyongyang is seen as a move to reassert Chinese influence over North Korea as Kim Jong-un shifts away from communist identity. Kim is positioning himself as an equal to Xi while strengthening his ties with Russia , creating a complex ideological shift in the region. 10 1936

The Geopolitical Chessboard of the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley discusses the power struggles within Iran and the strategic card of the Strait of Hormuz . He notes that while the strait is "more or less open," the situation remains in flux, with regional players like Turkey seeking to thwart Iranian ambitions in the Mediterranean . 9 1936

The Turmoil of British Leadership and the Labour Party. Guest: Joseph Sternberg. This segment explores the potential replacement of Keir Starmer with Andy Burnham as UK Prime Minister. Sternberg argues that Labour 's struggles go beyond charisma, involving a lack of clear economic direction and the failure to address core voter concerns like the broken NHS and illegal immigration. 8

Kevin Warsh's Reformist Vision for the Federal Reserve. Guest: Joseph Sternberg. Sternberg analyzes Kevin Warsh 's first FOMC meeting, noting a shift toward shorter policy statements and the removal of the "dot plot" forecasting tool. Warsh is initiating five task forces to reform the Fed 's intellectual framework, specifically targeting productivity, data quality, and balance sheet management. 7

The Impact of Foreign Policy on Domestic Midterms. Guest: Mary Kissel. Kissel examines whether foreign policy influences American voters, noting it is rare compared to "pocketbook" issues like inflation and interest rates. She warns that adversarial regimes like Iran and China are sophisticated observers of the U.S. electoral calendar and may attempt to influence domestic politics. 6

Secretary Rubio's Reassurance Mission to Gulf Allies. Guest: Mary Kissel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to the Gulf to reassure the UAE , Kuwait , and Bahrain of U.S. security commitments following Iranian attacks. Kissel criticizes the administration for granting Iran sanctions relief and 60-day exemptions, arguing that the diplomatic effort prioritizes "hope over experience" regarding I...

Hezbollah's Role and the Fog of Middle East Diplomacy. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. The discussion focuses on Hezbollah as a "wholly owned subsidiary" of Iran , with the IRGC directing its activities in Lebanon . Schanzer criticizes the administration for expecting Israel to adhere to a ceasefire while Iran continues to provoke attacks, labeling the current diplomatic strategy as improvised and poten...