The John Batchelor Show

STREAM THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, WEDNESDAY 4-8-2026
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Guests: Gordon Chang, Charles Burton, Rebecca Grant, and Rick Fisher. (1)
Headline: Global Shifts: China’s Economic Leverage, Naval Triumphs in Operation Epic Fury, and the Laser-Powered Moon Race (2)
Summary: John Batchelor and his guests analyze the geopolitical landscape following UN vetoes by Russia and China that protected Iran. Gordon Chang and Charles Burtonargue that China is enabling Iranianterrorism and weaponizing its economy to gain leverage over traditional US allies like Canada,,. They highlight a concerning trend where Canadian elites are shifting toward a "China-compliant" regime, increasingly viewing China as a more stable partner than the United States,. (3)
Shifting to military operations, Rebecca Grant details the success of Operation Epic Fury, where US Navy carriers successfully defended against Chinese-made supersonic missiles,. Despite some technical glitches, the Navy demonstrated "outstanding" capability in drone defense and sea-based missile intercepts, effectively neutralizing the Iranian fleet,. (4)
Finally, Rick Fisher discusses the technological breakthroughs of the Artemis 2 mission, specifically the demonstration of laser communication between the moon and Earth,. He warns that a new "race for the moon" is underway, with Chinarapidly developing Long March 10 and 9 heavy-lift rockets to establish a permanent lunar presence by 2030, making real-time lunar surveillance a military necessity,,.

JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, WEDNESDAY 4-8-2026.
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1. Canada’s Shifting Trade Alliances Guest: Charles Burton. Charles Burton discusses China's attempts to enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership using leverage in Canada. He warns that Ottawa’s potential support for Beijing undermines the agreement's purpose of excluding non-market, subsidizing economies. (1)
2. China Exploits Western Alliances Guest: Charles Burton. Charles Burton explains how Canadian elites are turning toward China due to a distaste for current U.S. policies. This shift benefits Beijing, which presents itself as a stable partner despite its repressive nature. (2)
3. U.S. Naval Performance in the Gulf Guest: Rebecca Grant. Rebecca Grant praises the U.S. Navy’s successful defense against Iranian missile attacks during Operation Epic Fury. However, she warns that the scale of operations highlights a fleet that is currently too small. (3)
4. The New Lunar Laser Race Guest: Rick Fischer. Rick Fischer explains how Artemis 2 demonstrated laser communications, providing denser data transmission than radio. This technology is essential for monitoring Chinese lunar activities as the race to the moon intensifies. (4)
5. Global Commodities and Energy Shifts Guest: Simon Constable. Simon Constable reports on volatile energy markets and falling gold prices as the Strait of Hormuz enters a ceasefire. Meanwhile, high copper prices have triggered a surge in organized theft in cities. (5)
6. Fragmentation of British Politics Guest: Simon Constable. Simon Constable analyzes the fragmentation within the UK's Labor majority and the emergence of the Green Party. Polling suggests voters are divided among tactical coalitions, making leadership challenges difficult for Prime Minister Starmer. (6)
7. Al-Shabaab’s Infiltration Tactics Guest: Caleb Weiss. Caleb Weiss details a recent Al-Shabaab prison raid in Somalia where attackers disguised themselves as intelligence operatives. The strategic strike demonstrated the government's persistent security weaknesses despite international support from various partners. (7)
8. Jihadist Threats to Congolese Mining Guest: Caleb Weiss. Caleb Weiss reports on an Islamic State attack targeting a Chinese-owned mine in Congo, led by a violent Tanzanian commander. Meanwhile, Nigeria struggles with internal instability as regional alliances like ECOAS continue to fracture. (8)
9. Russia Profiteering from Oil Turmoil Guest: Michael Bernstam. Michael Bernstam explains how Russia benefits from high oil prices and the disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Moscow uses increased revenues to fund its war efforts while pressuring European economies. (9)
10. The Academy’s Narrative on Israel Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Peter Berkowitz argues that American universities teach a one-sided narrative hostile to Israel. He claims these institutions overlook historical facts regarding the conflict while ignoring the extremist mission of groups like Hamas. (10)
11. Commercial Space and Starship Delays Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman analyzes technical reasons behind SpaceX's Starship delays and the Orion capsule's return from the moon. He highlights the transition to private spaceflight as NASA's expensive SLS program faces funding limits. (11)
12. Mapping the Outer Solar System Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Bob Zimmerman discusses the superficial knowledge gained from Voyager 2's flybys of Neptune and Uranus. He advocates for better exploration of these alien worlds and Mars to understand our solar system’s complex formation. (12)
13. Regulatory Burdens at the FTC Guest: Jessica Melugin. Jessica Melugin explains how the Biden administration's expanded merger filing requirements persist under new Republican leadership. These costly regulations act as a de facto tax on businesses, ultimately harming consumers through higher prices. (13)
14. The Failures of Industrial Policy Guest: Veronique de Rugy. Veronique de Rugy critiques the World Bank’s recent endorsement of industrial policy despite its historical failure in Japan and China. She argues these interventions distort economies and benefit industries over average consumers. (14)
15. John Adams and the XYZ Affair Guest: Myron Magnet. Myron Magnet recounts how President John Adams sought peace with France amidst the XYZ Affair. The diplomatic crisis sparked domestic turmoil and intense rivalry between Federalists and Republicans over America’s role in Europe. (15)
16. The Peaceful Transfer of Power Guest: Myron Magnet. Myron Magnet describes how John Adams secured a peace treaty with France just as he lost the 1800 election. Despite his defeat, his commitment to diplomacy bequeathed a nation at peace to Jefferson. (16)

16. The Peaceful Transfer of PowerGuest: Myron Magnet. Myron Magnet describes how John Adams secured a peace treaty with France just as he lost the 1800 election. Despite his defeat, his commitment to diplomacy bequeathed a nation at peace to Jefferson. (16)
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15. John Adams and the XYZ AffairGuest: Myron Magnet. Myron Magnet recounts how President John Adams sought peace with France amidst the XYZ Affair. The diplomatic crisis sparked domestic turmoil and intense rivalry between Federalists and Republicans over America’s role in Europe. (15)
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14. The Failures of Industrial PolicyGuest: Veronique de Rugy. Veronique de Rugy critiques the World Bank’s recent endorsement of industrial policy despite its historical failure in Japan and China. She argues these interventions distort economies and benefit industries over average consumers. (14)
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