On September 12, 2001, the day after the fall of the Twin Towers, WABC-AM in New York City recruited John Batchelor to go on the air until Osama bin Laden was either killed or captured. John has been on ever since, offering insightful commentary on such issues as the war on terrorism, the presidency, the national and global economies, and defending our civilization. On March 12, 2003, one week before the attack on Iraq, ABC Radio Networks invited John to bring his expertise to syndication. Since then John has reached out nationwide, focusing his concerns on a world at war.
The John Batchelor Show is an essential tool for understanding the new order in the 21st Century. The world is now facing a dangerous and fanatical enemy determined to destroy Western civilization on both political and military fronts. In this, the first great ideological battle of the new millennium, it is imperative to know the major players and the theaters in which they operate.
The John Batchelor Show features a multitude of distinctive elements. John's themes cover every detail - from military battles, presidential campaigns, planetary exploration, and Hollywood politicos to his own international travel. John has broadcast from many corners of the world and in his program he calls out to all points, including New York, Jerusalem, Des Moines, Kazakhstan, Orlando, Manchester, Morocco, Boston, Taipei, Washington, and Baghdad.
John is a veteran novelist, author of seven political romances as well as a short history of the Republican Party. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1948, John attended Lower Merion High School and Princeton University. In 1976 he was graduated from Union Theological Seminary. John is married and has two children.
S8 Ep824: The current war with Iran is significantly less popular than the Vietnam War was at its lowest point. Polling suggests an 80% disapproval rate, compared to the 60-70% disapproval seen during the depths of the Vietnam conflict. The administration is per
S8 Ep824: The goals of the Trump administration's war with Iran have remained undefined since hostilities began on February 28, 2026. It remains unclear if the objective is regime change, ballistic missile control, or the dismantling of the nuclear program. The war
The goals of the Trump administration's war with Iran have remained undefined since hostilities began on February 28, 2026. It remains unclear if the objective is regime change, ballistic missile control, or the dismantling of the nuclear program. The war is characterized by a lack of harmony between Israeli and U.S. strategic goals, which Germanicusdescribes as an "operational gambit" rather than a coherent strategy. The Iranian government (the Parthians) has issued a 30-day ultimatum demanding the opening of the Straits of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, reparations for air force damage, and an IDF retreat from Lebanon. The American presidency has transformed into an "Imperial Institution" or "Empire," allowing the president to prosecute wars without significant resistance from Congress, mirroring the authority of Roman emperors. The shift to an all-volunteer force and the federalization of the National Guard have created a military structure that is primarily loyal to the "emperor" (the president). A primary weakness of this "emperor system" is the suppression of dissent within the administration. Like the German general staff during Hitler's "Operation Sea Lion," current advisors offer only "consultative" or "weaselly" dissent rather than challenging the feasibility of the war. 2/3
1968 VIETNAM WAR PEOTESTERS
1968 VIETNAM WAR PEOTESTERS
S8 Ep824: Based on the discussions from the Londinium debating society in 92 AD, experts project that the Earth will reach a tipping point for oil reserves by the end of May 2026. At this point, strategic stockpiles are expected to run out, leading to a potential c
Based on the discussions from the Londinium debating society in 92 AD, experts project that the Earth will reach a tipping point for oil reserves by the end of May 2026. At this point, strategic stockpiles are expected to run out, leading to a potential crash of the global network where gasoline and diesel may become unavailable at any price. Petroleum storage has already declined by approximately 25%, causing gasoline prices to rise by 15-20% in just a few days. Analysts from Bloomberg and JP Morgan speculate that oil prices could reach between $200 and $370 per barrel, leading to a "demand crush" and a total economic crash. While the U.S. has attempted to blockade Iranian oil, it has continued to allow tankers to reach China to avoid a diplomatic failure before an upcoming summit. However, these secondary sanctions are "starving" Europe of petroleum products while China continues to receive natural gas and oil through alternative means like Russian pipelines. 1/3
1900 BAKU RUSSIAN EMPIRE
S8 Ep823: Fanell suggests "warfighting proliferation," including potential nuclear capabilities for allies, to counter China's rapid military buildup. He advocates for the total economic and diplomatic isolation of the CCP to trigger its collapse. This strategy p
Fanell suggests "warfighting proliferation," including potential nuclear capabilities for allies, to counter China's rapid military buildup. He advocates for the total economic and diplomatic isolation of the CCP to trigger its collapse. This strategy prioritizes power politics and credible deterrence over direct armed conflict. 4/4
OCTOBER 1, 1949
S8 Ep823: Fanell stresses the necessity of admitting strategic failure to properly address the China threat. He proposes an independent "Team B" for objective intelligence analysis, similar to Cold War practices. Recommendations include moving investment oversight
Fanell stresses the necessity of admitting strategic failure to properly address the China threat. He proposes an independent "Team B" for objective intelligence analysis, similar to Cold War practices. Recommendations include moving investment oversight to the Defense Department and adopting a "whole of society" approach. 3/4
7 NOVEMBER 1931
7 NOVEMBER 1931
S8 Ep823: Fanell and Thayer compare modern U.S. policy to Britain's disastrous "10-year rule" after WWI, which hindered defense readiness. Fanell reflects on how the U.S. Navy ignored the rising PRC threat during the 1990s. They criticize the U.S. for maintaining e
Fanell and Thayer compare modern U.S. policy to Britain's disastrous "10-year rule" after WWI, which hindered defense readiness. Fanell reflects on how the U.S. Navy ignored the rising PRC threat during the 1990s. They criticize the U.S. for maintaining engagement after the Tiananmen Square massacre. 2/4
1600 XIANJIANG
1600 XIANJIANG
S8 Ep823: James Fanell discusses China's "Joint Sword 2024 Alpha" military exercises, describing them as an "Anaconda strategy" intended to blockade and pressure Taiwan following its presidential inauguration. He and Bradley Thayer argue that Washington's "neo-enga
James Fanell discusses China's "Joint Sword 2024 Alpha" military exercises, describing them as an "Anaconda strategy" intended to blockade and pressure Taiwan following its presidential inauguration. He and Bradley Thayerargue that Washington's "neo-engagement" policy has failed, allowing the CCP to exert influence over American institutions. 1/4
1957 ZHOU
1957 ZHOU
S8 Ep822: The Norse settlement of Greenland, founded by Eric the Red in approximately 985 AD, provides a poignant and sad look at the final chapters of the Viking Age. Excavations at the Herjolfsness graveyard at the southern tip of Greenland have yielded extrao
The Norse settlement of Greenland, founded by Eric the Red in approximately 985 AD, provides a poignant and sad look at the final chapters of the Viking Age. Excavations at the Herjolfsness graveyard at the southern tip of Greenlandhave yielded extraordinary organic material preserved by the permafrost, including the clothing of the last inhabitants. These garments, such as a patched and coarse woolen dress, reveal that by the 15th century, the Greenlanders were no longer high-status people and had become increasingly isolated from the broader Norse diaspora. The settlement struggled as the climate cooled, while the Inuit people, who were better adapted to the Arctic conditions, thrived and moved further south. Artifacts like small wooden figures found in the region suggest interactions between the Norse Greenlanders and the Inuit populations. The final historical records of the colony are remarkably personal, documenting a witch burning in 1407 and a wedding in 1408. In the case of the witch burning, a man named Kolgrim was executed for allegedly using witchcraft to seduce a married woman. These events represent the last known activities of the Norse in Greenland before they vanished entirely, leaving behind only ruins and memories in the ice. 8/8
1630
S8 Ep822: The conclusion of the Viking Age is often associated with the pivotal year 1066, marked by the death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Hardrada was a legendary King of Norway who had lived an extraordinary life, serving as an imperial b
The conclusion of the Viking Age is often associated with the pivotal year 1066, marked by the death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Hardrada was a legendary King of Norway who had lived an extraordinary life, serving as an imperial bodyguard in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople where he was rewarded with gold or "embers of the hands." He sought to reclaim the English throne, which had previously been held by King Canute during the era of the North Sea Empire that united England, Denmark, and parts of Norway. While 1066 is a convenient historical bookmark, Barraclough argues it is an Anglo-centric view that ignores the persistence of Norse culture in other regions like Greenland or Russia. The era also featured figures like Harald Bluetooth, who famously claimed to have converted the Danes to Christianity and whose runic initials now serve as the symbol for modern Bluetooth technology. Another symbolic ending occurred much later in 1263 at the Battle of Largs, where King Haakonof Norway faced off against King Alexander III of Scotland. Although the battle was inconclusive, Haakon'ssubsequent death in Orkney led to the Western Isles being ceded to Scotland, marking the end of significant Norwegian political control in the region. 7/8
1630
1630
S8 Ep822: In the Surtshellir lava cave of Iceland, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a mysterious and frightening belief system. This vast cave system, located under a lava field created by a massive eruption around 900 AD, contains a large man-made wall an
In the Surtshellir lava cave of Iceland, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a mysterious and frightening belief system. This vast cave system, located under a lava field created by a massive eruption around 900 AD, contains a large man-made wall and enormous piles of unburnt animal bones located deep in the pitch black. Further into the cave, a stone boat outline was discovered containing specific ritual offerings associated with fire, such as jasper fire-starters, burnt bones, and glass. Researchers believe these offerings were intended to placate a fire giant or being, potentially Surtr, who was thought to dwell within the lava field. Following Iceland's official conversion to Christianity in 1000 AD, the ritual practice eventually ceased, marked by a final offering of a metal cross left in the stone boat as a symbolic farewell to the old gods. The connection between the landscape and mythology is further illustrated by a saga poem describing a mountain giant with glowing eyes inside a cave. This poem uses vivid volcanic imagery to depict the end of a way of life, representing the transition as the "clay folk" or giants are driven underground by the arrival of a new Christian world order. 6/8
1600
1600