The John Batchelor Show

PREVIEW HEADLINE: China Implements Rare Earth Export Controls Amid Trade Deal Negotiations GUEST NAME: Elizabeth Peek 50-WORD SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Elizabeth Peek about Beijing's decision to implement export controls, potentially blocking rare earth materials essential for US and European electronics. China leverages its 70% global share, causing supply chain disruptions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned the "desperate act," claiming China aims to pull down the world economy alongside its sinking one. 1901 PEKING

PREVIEW HEADLINE: The Tories' Deep Troubles: Mismanagement and the Liz Truss Legacy GUEST NAME: Joseph Sternberg 50-WORD SUMMARY: John Batchelor discusses the deep troubles of the Tories with Joseph Sternberg, noting their slip to third place behind Labour and Reform UK. The party struggles to overcome 14 years of mismanagement. They face a "real pickle" trying to justify aggressive economic reform now, having previously ousted Liz Truss for promising similar changes. 1901 OLD HOUSE

CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE DISARMING OF HAMAS... 10-13-25 FIRST HOUR 9-915 HEADLINE: Escalating Border Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan GUEST NAMES: Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani SUMMARY: A major border conflict has erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan, resulting in significant casualties and air strikes. The tension is rooted in the Afghan Taliban supporting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and historical issues over the Durand Line. Pakistan views the Afghan Taliban as ungrateful clients, threatening Pakistan's stability. 915-930 HEADLINE: Escalating Border Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan GUEST NAMES: Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani SUMMARY: A major border conflict has erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan, resulting in significant casualties and air strikes. The tension is rooted in the Afghan Taliban supporting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and historical issues over the Durand Line. Pakistan views the Afghan Taliban as ungrateful clients, threatening Pakistan's stability. 930-945 HEADLINE: Iran's Isolation and Weakening "Axis of Resistance" Post-Gaza Ceasefire GUEST NAMES: Janatyn Sayeh, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: Tehran is in a tough spot concerning the Gaza ceasefire because stability does not work in its favor, contradicting its strategy of regional destabilization. Iran skipped the Cairo peace summit, demonstrating its isolated diplomatic position. Experts note that the Iranian-led "axis of resistance" (including Hezbollah and Iraqi PMF factions) is severely weakened due to sanctions and cash flow reductions. 945-1000 HEADLINE: Iran's Isolation and Weakening "Axis of Resistance" Post-Gaza Ceasefire GUEST NAMES: Janatyn Sayeh, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: Tehran is in a tough spot concerning the Gaza ceasefire because stability does not work in its favor, contradicting its strategy of regional destabilization. Iran skipped the Cairo peace summit, demonstrating its isolated diplomatic position. Experts note that the Iranian-led "axis of resistance" (including Hezbollah and Iraqi PMF factions) is severely weakened due to sanctions and cash flow reductions. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 HEADLINE: US Intelligence, Tomahawks, and Escalation in the Ukraine War GUEST NAMES: John Hardie, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: The US is considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, potentially facilitating strikes on Russian energy nodes using US intelligence. While Russia warns of escalation, experts believe their response will likely be strengthening air defense rather than direct conflict with NATO. Ukrainian officials are urgently seeking air defense systems due to increasing Russian missile and drone production. 1015-1030 HEADLINE: US Intelligence, Tomahawks, and Escalation in the Ukraine War GUEST NAMES: John Hardie, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: The US is considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, potentially facilitating strikes on Russian energy nodes using US intelligence. While Russia warns of escalation, experts believe their response will likely be strengthening air defense rather than direct conflict with NATO. Ukrainian officials are urgently seeking air defense systems due to increasing Russian missile and drone production. 1030-1045 HEADLINE: US Response to China's Rare Earth Threat and Stockpiling GUEST NAMES: Victoria Coates, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: China injected the rare earths threat into trade talks, a serious move given they supply 70% of US needs and US stockpiles are low. President Trump responded with 100% tariffs but later sought an off-ramp. Experts stress the urgent need for the US to develop a domestic supply and a national stockpile, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to counter future Chinese blackmail. 1045-1100 HEADLINE: China's Desperate Rare Earth Export Curbs and Economic Collapse GUEST NAMES: Alan Tonelson, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: China's sweeping...

HEADLINE: Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado and the Future of Venezuela GUEST NAMES: Ernesto Araújo, Alejandro Peña Esclusa SUMMARY: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for her courage against the dictatorship, inspiring Latin America. She believes liberation requires US military support against the powerful drug cartel regime. After Maduro leaves, $1.7 trillion in investment is needed, along with food and medicine, to reconstruct the nation suffering the largest Latin American humanitarian crisis.

HEADLINE: Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado and the Future of Venezuela GUEST NAMES: Ernesto Araújo, Alejandro Peña Esclusa SUMMARY: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for her courage against the dictatorship, inspiring Latin America. She believes liberation requires US military support against the powerful drug cartel regime. After Maduro leaves, $1.7 trillion in investment is needed, along with food and medicine, to reconstruct the nation suffering the largest Latin American humanitarian crisis.

HEADLINE: The Houthis: Status of Attacks and Ideology GUEST NAMES: Bridget Toomey, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: Houthi attacks on Israel and the Red Sea have recently quieted down, with their leader instructing a temporary cessation following the Gaza ceasefire. The group, whose motto includes "Death to America, Death to Israel," maintains an ideological commitment to fighting Israel long term. They act independently of Arab countries, focusing instead on their own interests and those of Iran. 1957

HEADLINE: Critical Analysis of the Gaza Hostage Exchange and Path to Peace GUEST NAME: John Bolton SUMMARY: The Gaza hostage exchange deal is criticized for lacking a path to the necessary Hamas disarmament, raising doubts about the plan's next stages. The release of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many hardened by prison, significantly boosts radicalism. Iran, responsible for arming Hamas, is likely to continue supporting terrorist proxies if it revives its nuclear program. 1938 RAMALLAH

HEADLINE: Analysis of Political Speech and "Dark Passions" in American Politics GUEST NAME: Peter Berkowitz SUMMARY: Peter Berkowitz discusses William Galston's book on "dark passions" (anger, fear, domination), asserting that President Biden's rhetoric characterizing MAGA Republicans as a threat exemplifies this concept. Galston views Donald Trump as a new kind of politician who aggressively appeals to these passions. The current spiral of rhetorical extremism and lawfare destabilizes American politics; restoring civic education is recommended to combat this.

HEADLINE: Analysis of Political Speech and "Dark Passions" in American Politics GUEST NAME: Peter Berkowitz SUMMARY: Peter Berkowitz discusses William Galston's book on "dark passions" (anger, fear, domination), asserting that President Biden's rhetoric characterizing MAGA Republicans as a threat exemplifies this concept. Galston views Donald Trump as a new kind of politician who aggressively appeals to these passions. The current spiral of rhetorical extremism and lawfare destabilizes American politics; restoring civic education is recommended to combat this. GOYA PRISON

HEADLINE: China's Aggressive Ramming Policy in the South China Sea GUEST NAMES: Captain James Fanell, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: The purposeful ramming of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries vessel by a massive Chinese Coast Guard cutter is part of a consistent CCP strategy to claim total control over the South China Sea. Experts warn that this aggressive pattern will continue unless the US takes stronger action, such as having Navy and Coast Guard vessels escort Filipino ships, bolstering support for its treaty ally. 1941

HEADLINE: China's Aggressive Ramming Policy in the South China Sea GUEST NAMES: Captain James Fanell, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: The purposeful ramming of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries vessel by a massive Chinese Coast Guard cutter is part of a consistent CCP strategy to claim total control over the South China Sea. Experts warn that this aggressive pattern will continue unless the US takes stronger action, such as having Navy and Coast Guard vessels escort Filipino ships, bolstering support for its treaty ally. 1958

HEADLINE: China's Desperate Rare Earth Export Curbs and Economic Collapse GUEST NAMES: Alan Tonelson, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: China's sweeping curbs on rare earth exports are described as a desperate "hail mary" heave, risking severe economic damage, particularly given the collapse of its property bubble and external pressures. Experts agree China is undergoing a major deflationary spiral, and this move ironically contradicts the globalization from which it prospered. 1960

HEADLINE: US Response to China's Rare Earth Threat and Stockpiling GUEST NAMES: Victoria Coates, Gordon Chang SUMMARY: China injected the rare earths threat into trade talks, a serious move given they supply 70% of US needs and US stockpiles are low. President Trump responded with 100% tariffs but later sought an off-ramp. Experts stress the urgent need for the US to develop a domestic supply and a national stockpile, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to counter future Chinese blackmail. 1942

HEADLINE: US Intelligence, Tomahawks, and Escalation in the Ukraine War GUEST NAMES: John Hardie, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: The US is considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, potentially facilitating strikes on Russian energy nodes using US intelligence. While Russia warns of escalation, experts believe their response will likely be strengthening air defense rather than direct conflict with NATO. Ukrainian officials are urgently seeking air defense systems due to increasing Russian missile and drone production. 1958

HEADLINE: US Intelligence, Tomahawks, and Escalation in the Ukraine War GUEST NAMES: John Hardie, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: The US is considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, potentially facilitating strikes on Russian energy nodes using US intelligence. While Russia warns of escalation, experts believe their response will likely be strengthening air defense rather than direct conflict with NATO. Ukrainian officials are urgently seeking air defense systems due to increasing Russian missile and drone production. 1957

HEADLINE: Iran's Isolation and Weakening "Axis of Resistance" Post-Gaza Ceasefire GUEST NAMES: Janatyn Sayeh, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: Tehran is in a tough spot concerning the Gaza ceasefire because stability does not work in its favor, contradicting its strategy of regional destabilization. Iran skipped the Cairo peace summit, demonstrating its isolated diplomatic position. Experts note that the Iranian-led "axis of resistance" (including Hezbollah and Iraqi PMF factions) is severely weakened due to sanctions and cash flow reductions. 1870

HEADLINE: Iran's Isolation and Weakening "Axis of Resistance" Post-Gaza Ceasefire GUEST NAMES: Janatyn Sayeh, Bill Roggio SUMMARY: Tehran is in a tough spot concerning the Gaza ceasefire because stability does not work in its favor, contradicting its strategy of regional destabilization. Iran skipped the Cairo peace summit, demonstrating its isolated diplomatic position. Experts note that the Iranian-led "axis of resistance" (including Hezbollah and Iraqi PMF factions) is severely weakened due to sanctions and cash flow reductions. 1896

HEADLINE: Escalating Border Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan GUEST NAMES: Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani SUMMARY: A major border conflict has erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan, resulting in significant casualties and air strikes. The tension is rooted in the Afghan Taliban supporting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and historical issues over the Durand Line. Pakistan views the Afghan Taliban as ungrateful clients, threatening Pakistan's stability. 1920

HEADLINE: Escalating Border Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan GUEST NAMES: Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani SUMMARY: A major border conflict has erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan, resulting in significant casualties and air strikes. The tension is rooted in the Afghan Taliban supporting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and historical issues over the Durand Line. Pakistan views the Afghan Taliban as ungrateful clients, threatening Pakistan's stability. 1848

PREVIEW: Vladimir Putin Threatens Escalation Over Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine; Response Likely More Bark Than Bite GUEST NAME: John Hardie (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) 100-WORD SUMMARY: John Batchelor and John Hardie discuss Vladimir Putin's threats of escalation if allies provide Tomahawk missiles and other tools of war to Ukraine. Hardie suggests that Russia has been "more bark than bite" throughout the conflict and is extremely unlikely to resort to tactical nuclear use. Putin's response might be asymmetrical, perhaps strengthening air defense or stepping up "gray zone actions" in Europe, or supporting the Houthis. Direct military retaliation against a NATO member is improbable because Putin recognizes he would lose such a war.