The John Batchelor Show

Zakis reports that Dallas, his elderly dog, has formed a surprising alliance with local minor birds, allowing them to share his backyard and seeds — diplomatically separating them from their "villainous" cockatoo associates who typically vandalize the neighborhood. As winter approaches the cockatoos retreat to bushlands, while Dallas remains brave on dark morning walks, tolerant of wombats though defensive around horses, and celebrated for displaying a level of civilized diplomacy. (4) 1905 SYDNEY

The International Cricket Council is investigating allegations that Canada's cricket team fixed a T20 match against New Zealand, with investigators noting suspiciously slow bowling and "sandbagging" during batting to suppress run rates. Zakis discusses how the online betting community likely motivated the scheme, drawing parallels to the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal and highlighting corruption risks even in games with unremarkable scores. (3) 1937 NSW

Australia is experiencing an unprecedented snake invasion as the El Niño cycle upends traditional hibernation patterns, driving snakes from bushlands into urban coastal areas seeking the heat retained by concrete and steel structures. Some suburbs report up to 300 calls weekly for snake removals, as species like Eastern Browns and Coastal Taipans pursue urban food sources. Zakis notes that experts predict this southward migration will continue over the next 25 years, meaning snakes may remain a year-round threat. (2) 1934 SYDNEY

Jeremy Zakis reports on the early onset of a dry El Niño cycle in Australia, causing unusually cold temperatures and preventing typical fall storms. This dry air dissipated a potential cyclone but raised concerns about a catastrophic summer and early bushfire risks, prompting preemptive back-burning. Meanwhile, the Middle East crisis has spiked petrol prices to record highs, with Australian costs reaching $8–$9 per gallon, as the government advises fuel-saving measures such as using public transit and maintaining tire pressure to avoid formal rationing. (1) 1943 DARWIN

The construction of the Wuhan BSL4 lab proceeded despite French intelligence warnings that the facility would be used for military bioweapon production. Weichert notes the lab suffered from poor security protocols known to USintelligence and Xi Jinping prior to the pandemic, links Chinese researchers in Canada to Major General Chen Wei — the "Goddess of War" who oversaw the Wuhan lab's COVID-19 response — and describes how the EcoHealth Alliance facilitated gain-of-function research in Wuhan while political polarization suppressed early discourse on the lab leak theory. (4) 1965 SHANGHAI

Weichert advocates for aggressive policies to counter China, including classifying tech transfers as bribes and empowering the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to block strategic acquisitions. He argues that Washington's response is hampered by special interest groups and political elites compromised by Chineseconnections, and proposes an international treaty to regulate risky research and legal recompense from Beijing for the COVID-19 pandemic — alleging that US officials bypassed domestic regulations by offshoring gain-of-function research to Wuhan. (3) 1945 VICTORY PARADE SHANGHAI

Weichert details the downfall of Charles Lieber, a Harvard scientist and DARPA researcher recruited by the Thousand Talents Program to mirror his nanotechnology work in Wuhan, later convicted for making false statements and hiding Chinese bank accounts. The discussion shifts to CRISPR technology and He Jiankui's controversial genetic splicing on human twins, which reportedly resulted in unintended brain augmentations. Weichert warns that China views biotechnology as "dual-use," meaning advancements intended for civilian health are simultaneously being weaponized by the People's Liberation Army. (2) 1937 SHANGHAI IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY FLAGSHIP

Brandon Weichert discusses his book Biohacked, explaining China's "Field of Dreams" strategy to dominate high-tech sectors by attracting Western talent and investors to their innovation hubs. This approach stems from Mao Zedong's goal to catch up to and eventually defeat the United States using its own technological expertise. Central to this effort is the Thousand Talents Program, which identifies and recruits global scientific experts — including Yale genetics students lured by offers to pay off massive student debt in exchange for industrial espionage. (1) 1905

H.W. Brands concludes as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler's subsequent declaration of war unify the global conflicts into World War II. Lindbergh immediately declares his loyalty, yet FDR blocks his return to the military to prevent him from becoming a hero. Labeled a "Nazi fellow traveler," Lindbergh instead serves as a civilian consultant, surreptitiously traveling to the Pacific to fly unauthorized combat missions against the Japanese — his legacy forever defined by this bitter pre-war struggle. (8)

H.W. Brands describes FDR declaring an "unlimited national emergency" in May 1941, labeling Lindbergh and the America First Committee as "copperheads" and "fifth columnists." Following a misrepresented incident involving the USS Greer, Lindbergh's reputation collapses after a Des Moines speech blaming the British, the Jews, and the Rooseveltadministration for pushing the U.S. toward war — branded an anti-Semite and Nazi stooge, he faces political exile as his organization disbands. (7)

H.W. Brands examines Lindbergh's 1941 congressional testimony challenging the administration's narrative, arguing that air power actually strengthens hemispheric defense, allowing America to intercept invading armadas 300 miles offshore. Rejecting the "isolationist" label, Lindbergh proposes a robust defense of the Western Hemisphere rather than the Rhine, drawing thousands to rallies while adopting sharper rhetoric branding interventionists as "defeatists." (6)

H.W. Brands details how the Lend-Lease Act in 1941 effectively marries America's future to Britain's, while Rooseveltcovertly supports British propaganda efforts led by William Stephenson to manipulate American sentiment — even utilizing a likely forged map of German designs on Latin America to stoke fear. Lindbergh counters that the U.S. is not aiding democracy but rather British imperialism, viewing each step away from neutrality as a calculated move toward inevitable military intervention. (5)

H.W. Brands recounts how amid the 1940 Battle of Britain, FDR breaks tradition by seeking a third term, prompting Lindbergh to warn of a "presidency for life" as he becomes the star speaker for the newly formed America First Committee. Lindbergh draws massive crowds arguing that America's two oceans ensure security, while FDR masters press conferences to influence media coverage and both sides battle for the soul of the nation. (4)

H.W. Brands explains how FDR seeks to modify the Neutrality Acts as war intensifies, while Lindbergh and several senators distrust the president's incremental march toward war. FDR counters by labeling critics "isolationists" and "ignorant," while carefully shaping public opinion. The rapid fall of France in 1940 vindicates Lindbergh's stance for some, though it leads FDR to initiate the destroyers-for-bases deal with a pleading Winston Churchill. (3)

H.W. Brands describes how Germany's invasion of Poland by summer 1939 prompts Lindbergh to utilize his fame to oppose American intervention. Influenced by his father's persecution for opposing World War I, Lindbergh begins broadcasting radio speeches arguing that Britain and France launched a war they cannot win, maintaining that Americaninterests are distinct from the preservation of the British Empire. (2) V

H.W. Brands recounts how world-famous aviator Charles Lindbergh returns to America in April 1939 amidst global tension. Known for his 1927 flight and the tragic "trial of the century," he arrives with deep skepticism of Europeancolonial wars. Franklin Roosevelt attempts to co-opt Lindbergh into his administration, recognizing the pilot's immense public influence, but Lindbergh values his independence and refuses, realizing FDR intends to move the country toward aiding Britain and France. (1)

In 2019, the Tishreen uprising saw a young, trans-sectarian generation denounce the "kleptocratic elite" and government corruption. Despite brutal state violence that killed hundreds, the protests represented a rare moment of unity as Shia youth challenged their own religious and political leaders, with women playing an unprecedented role. Abdul-Ahadconcludes that while major violence has subsided, Iraq lacks true peace and accountability for the warlords and politicians who oversaw twenty years of devastation. (8) 1939 MARTYR'S BRIDGE

The Battle for Mosul in 2017 was a grueling, house-to-house urban war inflicting massive psychological trauma on a new generation of Iraqis. ISIS was revealed as a "melange" of local villagers and international volunteers who alienated the population through extreme brutality. Although the caliphate was militarily defeated, thousands remain radicalized in desert camps, and Mosul's recovery is hindered by systemic corruption and militia control, leading to tragedies like the 2019 ferry disaster. (7) 1959 BAGHDAD

The "tragedy of the Sunnis" stemmed from their lack of a monolithic political project and internal tribal infighting. In cities like Ramadi, total chaos left civilians caught in the crossfire as ISIS capitalized on fragmentation by providing a sense of "order" for young men. Meanwhile, Iranian intelligence had been quietly building influence since 2003, integrating their trainees into the backbone of the new Iraqi security forces. (6) 1934 BAGHDAD

By 2011, Baghdad was physically transformed by concrete blast walls institutionalizing sectarian division. Abdul-Ahadcritiques Maliki's government for hollowing out the military through systemic corruption, turning units into "money-making machines." The failure of the 2012 "Friday of Anger" protests and the spillover of the Syrian civil war allowed ISIS to masquerade as "liberators" in Sunni cities like Mosul, exploiting deep-seated grievances against the oppressive central government. (5) 1918 BAGHDAD