SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-27-26.
APRIL 1900 OTTAWA.
Cliff May discusses the deepening crisis in Cuba, where extreme food and electricity shortages have led officials to describe it as a failing state. However, the regime has reportedly received hundreds of attack drones from Russia and Iran, posing a new offensive threat to U.S. interests in the Caribbean. (1)
Cliff May examines the empty pageantry of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, where the high-profile ceremony produced no major deals regarding trade or artificial intelligence. Xi Jinping made no concessions on human rights issues, such as the persecution of Christians or the Uyghurs. (2)
Jon Hartley discusses the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the new Federal Reserve Chairman, bringing a hawkish reputation focused on reducing the Fed's expanded balance sheet. Warsh advocates for a return to principles linking money growth directly to inflation control. (3)
Jon Hartley proposes a new agreement modeled after the 1951 Accord that would separate the missions of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury. Under this plan, the Fed would focus strictly on short-term rates and price stability rather than long-term debt management. (4)
Captain James Fanell analyzes the Balikatan military exercise, which featured 17,000 troops and, for the first time, combat forces from Japan participating in counter-invasion training. The drills demonstrated the capacity of allied nations to successfully target and strike enemy vessels at sea. (5)
General Blaine Holt discusses Russian hypersonic threats and the shift to asymmetric drone warfare, noting Russia's threats of using weapons of mass destruction against Kyiv to warn European leaders against further intervention. Meanwhile, low-cost drone technology is proving to be an asymmetric force that renders expensive, multi-million dollar military systems obsolete. (6)
Charles Burton examines Canada's controversial economic pivot toward China, where Prime Minister Mark Carney is pursuing a strategic partnership that includes non-public security agreements and the reduction of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Critics warn these moves compromise Canadian sovereignty and allow for significant Chineseinfiltration. (7)
Charles Burton and Gordon Chang analyze China's strategic gain from prolonged conflict in the Middle East, with Beijing appearing content to allow the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz to drag out as a way to deplete U.S. military resources. This instability supports China's narrative that the United States is a declining power. (8)
Michael Bernstam discusses the impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on the Russian oil market, noting that strikes on refineries and ports have forced Russia to export more crude oil at discounted prices instead of high-value refined products. Simultaneously, U.S. oil production has hit record levels, significantly influencing global market prices. (9)
Michael Bernstam examines the failure of Russia's Power of Siberia 2 pipeline deal, as Vladimir Putin left Beijingwithout securing the agreement while China shows no immediate need for the gas. Furthermore, China demanded to pay domestic Russian prices, which would yield no profit for Moscow. (10)
Bob Zimmerman discusses the success of SpaceX's Starship 12 test, which demonstrated major design improvements, while NASA has effectively ended Boeing's role in manned missions to the ISS. NASA awarded all manned flights through 2030 to SpaceX, leaving Boeing out of the picture. (11)
Bob Zimmerman reports that the Webb telescope has detected weather variations, including morning clouds, on a distant exoplanet. Additionally, images from Mars show parallel ridges that suggest a history of climate cycles and the presence of significant near-surface ice. (12)
Craig Unger argues that Donald Trump has been a Russian intelligence asset since 1987. He highlights how Trump's first trip to the Soviet Union was followed by advertisements in U.S. newspapers featuring KGB talking points. (13)
Craig Unger discusses U.S. unreliability and the future of the NATO alliance, noting that under Trump, the United States is seen as an unreliable partner by allies like Finland, who fear he will not honor Article 5. This lack of reliability forces European nations to consider whether they can emerge as a self-sufficient military power. (14)
Judy Dempsey examines how the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran distracts from Russian aggression in Ukraine and causes economic sluggishness in Germany. European allies feel jaundiced by the lack of consultation from the U.S. regarding Middle East diplomacy. (15)
Judy Dempsey discusses how the AfD has become Germany's leading political party by capitalizing on public anger over housing shortages and the government's handling of the wars in Iran and Ukraine. The party represents a growing threat to the established political order in Europe. (16)
Ireland