The John Batchelor Show

The Multi-Geographic War on Drugs and Latin American Politics Guest: Professor Evan Ellis Professor Evan Ellis details the complex, multi-geographic war on drugs, noting the Department of Defense is leading strikes against designated terrorist groups, including Venezuela's Cartel de Los Soles. The deployment of the USS Gerald Ford Battle Group to the Caribbean raises speculation about potential land strikes against criminal leadership in Venezuela, though this carries considerable geopolitical risks. Ellis also discusses the surprising electoral success of Argentina's President Javier Milei, which strengthens the center-right political trend across Latin America. 1910 PERU

The Multi-Geographic War on Drugs and Latin American Politics Guest: Professor Evan Ellis Professor Evan Ellis details the complex, multi-geographic war on drugs, noting the Department of Defense is leading strikes against designated terrorist groups, including Venezuela's Cartel de Los Soles. The deployment of the USS Gerald Ford Battle Group to the Caribbean raises speculation about potential land strikes against criminal leadership in Venezuela, though this carries considerable geopolitical risks. Ellis also discusses the surprising electoral success of Argentina's President Javier Milei, which strengthens the center-right political trend across Latin America.

The Multi-Geographic War on Drugs and Latin American Politics Guest: Professor Evan Ellis Professor Evan Ellis details the complex, multi-geographic war on drugs, noting the Department of Defense is leading strikes against designated terrorist groups, including Venezuela's Cartel de Los Soles. The deployment of the USS Gerald Ford Battle Group to the Caribbean raises speculation about potential land strikes against criminal leadership in Venezuela, though this carries considerable geopolitical risks. Ellis also discusses the surprising electoral success of Argentina's President Javier Milei, which strengthens the center-right political trend across Latin America.

The Multi-Geographic War on Drugs and Latin American Politics Guest: Professor Evan Ellis Professor Evan Ellis details the complex, multi-geographic war on drugs, noting the Department of Defense is leading strikes against designated terrorist groups, including Venezuela's Cartel de Los Soles. The deployment of the USS Gerald Ford Battle Group to the Caribbean raises speculation about potential land strikes against criminal leadership in Venezuela, though this carries considerable geopolitical risks. Ellis also discusses the surprising electoral success of Argentina's President Javier Milei, which strengthens the center-right political trend across Latin America.

Power Struggle Over NASA and the Moon Race Guests: Douglas Messier, David Livingston Douglas Messier discusses a power struggle over NASA, including acting administrator Shawn Duffy's interest in folding NASA into the Department of Transportation and his concern that the United States might lose the Moon Race 2.0 to China. Duffy has challenged SpaceX's contract for the Artemis 3 moon landing, aiming to accelerate lander development amid fears that dependence on the complex Starship/Superheavy architecture might delay the mission beyond 2029.

Power Struggle Over NASA and the Moon Race Guests: Douglas Messier, David Livingston Douglas Messier discusses a power struggle over NASA, including acting administrator Shawn Duffy's interest in folding NASA into the Department of Transportation and his concern that the United States might lose the Moon Race 2.0 to China. Duffy has challenged SpaceX's contract for the Artemis 3 moon landing, aiming to accelerate lander development amid fears that dependence on the complex Starship/Superheavy architecture might delay the mission beyond 2029. 1953

AI as a Lifeline for US Energy and Russian Economic Collapse Guest: Michael Bernstein Michael Bernstein describes how artificial intelligence, which is highly electricity intensive, is providing a "lifeline" to US shale energy, especially natural gas production in Texas, by creating substantial new demand for power infrastructure. This new supply is also fundamentally transforming the European energy landscape, where Russian dominance has been eliminated. Simultaneously, sanctions are forcing major Russian companies like Rosneft and Lukoil into "fire sales" of assets outside Russia at steep discounts.

Argentina's Economic Challenge: The Overvalued Peso Guest: Mary Anastasia O'Grady Mary Anastasia O'Grady discusses Argentine President Javier Milei's surprising electoral success but highlights the overvalued peso as his most significant challenge. The peso's artificial strength is maintained by US Treasury support through a $20 billion swap line and direct intervention, preventing investors from entering the market. O'Grady argues that Milei must allow the peso to float and eventually dollarize the economy, urging him to "rip the band-aid off" and accept the resulting short-term inflation. 1930 ARGENTINA

Hamas Violates Ceasefire and Maintains Political Control Guest: Jonathan Conricus Jonathan Conricus states that Hamas is systematically violating the ceasefire, deliberately stalling the release of hostages' bodies to maintain political leverage against Israel. Hamas is internally working to settle scores and communicate that they are "here to stay" as a governing force. Conricus notes that the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian terrorists, including experienced operatives, significantly increases the likelihood that they will eventually resume terror activities.

Iran Rebuilds Nuclear Weapons Development Site Guest: David Albright David Albright reports on Iran rebuilding the Talagon 2 site, previously bombed by Israel and associated with nuclear weapons development, including testing components for explosive initiators. The reconstruction suggests Iran is making the facility harder to destroy. Iran's nuclear enrichment program appears temporarily "frozen," but the country is focusing on reconstituting its ballistic missile program using equipment sourced from China and Russia, while existing sanctions prove insufficient to halt these priority purchases. 1895 TEHRAN

US Middle East Policy Coordination and the Gaza Peace Plan Guest: Mike Wagenheim Mike Wagenheim characterizes US Middle East policy coordination as a functional division of labor focused on keeping the peace plan on track while accepting that ceasefire violations are inevitable. He notes Israel lacks meaningful leverage regarding the expanding roles of Turkey and Qatar in Gaza because Israel failed to provide a comprehensive "day after scenario." Qatar's ongoing financial support of Hamas remains ambiguous, but the United States is focused on ensuring all partners do not upset the potential peace achievement. 1914 MT. ZION

Hamas Delays Hostage Releases and Hezbollah-Iran Funding Guest: Sarit Zehavi Sarit Zehavi reports that Hamas is deliberately slowing hostage releases and breaking the ceasefire to regain control and avoid being dismantled, as promised by the agreement. She states that Hezbollah is primarily funded by Iran, while Hamas is largely funded by Qatar. Israel's new security strategy involves maintaining strategic buffer zones, including nine military positions in Syria and control of five hills in Lebanon, to physically protect Israeli civilians from hostile groups. 1922 GAZA

The Constitution, the Militia, and Federal Overreach Guest: Rob Natelson Rob Natelson clarifies that the militia, or National Guard, is fundamentally a state force under gubernatorial command, though Congress can authorize the President to call it forth to execute federal laws, suppress insurrections, or repel invasions. Recent court cases concerning President Trump's use of the Guard to protect federal buildings hinged on whether its use was truly "necessary" under constitutional law. Natelson warns that the modern trend of federalizing the militia, including the Pentagon's order to form quick response units, directly contradicts the Constitution's original limits on federal authority. 1932 FDR ALBANY

The Constitution, the Militia, and Federal Overreach Guest: Rob Natelson Rob Natelson clarifies that the militia, or National Guard, is fundamentally a state force under gubernatorial command, though Congress can authorize the President to call it forth to execute federal laws, suppress insurrections, or repel invasions. Recent court cases concerning President Trump's use of the Guard to protect federal buildings hinged on whether its use was truly "necessary" under constitutional law. Natelson warns that the modern trend of federalizing the militia, including the Pentagon's order to form quick response units, directly contradicts the Constitution's original limits on federal authority. 1937 FDR MARYLAND

Trump's Nuclear Testing Remarks and the China-Russia Partnership Guest: Anatol Lieven Anatol Lieven discusses President Trump's remark about testing nuclear weapons "on an equal basis" with Russia and China, suggesting it likely refers to missile testing rather than actual nuclear detonations. Lieven analyzes the "no limits" China-Russia partnership, noting its inherent contradictions: China refuses to recognize Russia's annexations of Ukrainian territory and fears Russia's complete defeat, though it simultaneously opposes Russia being gravely weakened. Lieven also addresses the controversy regarding NATO-supplied forces in Ukraine identified as extreme ethnic nationalists, particularly the Azov regiment, noting that their military importance to the defense effort makes disbanding them highly unlikely.

Trump's Nuclear Testing Remarks and the China-Russia Partnership Guest: Anatol Lieven Anatol Lieven discusses President Trump's remark about testing nuclear weapons "on an equal basis" with Russia and China, suggesting it likely refers to missile testing rather than actual nuclear detonations. Lieven analyzes the "no limits" China-Russia partnership, noting its inherent contradictions: China refuses to recognize Russia's annexations of Ukrainian territory and fears Russia's complete defeat, though it simultaneously opposes Russia being gravely weakened. Lieven also addresses the controversy regarding NATO-supplied forces in Ukraine identified as extreme ethnic nationalists, particularly the Azov regiment, noting that their military importance to the defense effort makes disbanding them highly unlikely.

PREVIEW: Impact of Israeli 'Decap' Strikes on Iran's Secret Nuclear Weapons Program Guest: David Albright David Albright assesses the impact of Israeli "decap" strikes against scientists and engineers in Iran's secret nuclear weapons program. While capable personnel can be replaced, the program's intensely secretive nature means vital technical details died with the individuals, creating a significant bottleneck in program continuity. These details, often uncommitted to paper and held solely in specialists' minds, require considerable time to reconstitute, potentially delaying the program by months or longer.

PREVIEW: China's View on North Korea's Unsuccessful Military Involvement in Ukraine Guest: Anatol Lieven Anatol Lieven discusses China's perspective on North Korea and Russia regarding the Ukraine war. North Korea's participation in Ukraine is obvious and well documented, though China neither encouraged nor prevented the involvement. The direct engagement of approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers fighting in Kursk appears to have been unsuccessful, suffering very heavy casualties before being withdrawn from active operations. 1917 PASCHENDALE

PREVIEW: Argentina's Economic Reforms and Hesitation of Foreign Investors Guest: Mary Anastasia Grady Mary Anastasia Grady discusses Argentina, noting that despite successes including deregulation, tax cuts, and reduction of government size, foreign investment is not materializing. Investors remain on the sidelines due to concerns that the peso is overvalued and capital controls exist, creating uncertainty about when they can retrieve their money. This suggests President Javier Milei is holding back from implementing necessary additional economic reforms to attract international capital. 1930 ARGENTINA VS USA

PREVIEW: Hamas's Financial Support and Advantage in Controlling Gaza Guest: Sarit Zehavi Sarit Zehavi assesses the security situation in Israel, focusing on Hamas and Gaza. Zehavi confirms there has been no interruption in the flow of money from Doha, Qatar, sustaining Hamas operations. Hamas maintains control through force and by nominating municipal administrators, giving it a significant political advantage. For Hamas, the timeframe for recovery is irrelevant—whether it takes five years or five months matters less than the eventual consolidation of power and control. 1915 GERMAN PILOT OVER REMALLAH