The John Batchelor Show

PREVIEW — Fraser Howe — China's Chronic Property Market Crisis Persists Due to Government Refusal to Clear Debt. Howe explains that the Chinese government created and sustains a chronic property market crisis by refusing to permit real estate values to clear at severe discounts, unlike the U.S., which aggressively resolved its debt burden through market mechanisms. The government prevents acute price collapse, converting a short-term correction into a long-term structural drag on economic growth lasting well over five years—a millstone constraining China's broader economic performance and development capacity.

PREVIEW — Richard Reinsch — Alienation in America: The Loss of Political Membership to the Supreme Court. Reinsch discusses the alienation of Americans resulting from the transfer of decision-making authority from state legislatures to the Supreme Court. The centralization of deeply intimate and controversial public policy decisions to national judicial bodies disconnects citizens from local political participation and community standards, generating widespread anger and frustration that fuels contemporary political movements demanding systemic change.

PREVIEW — Bob Zimmerman — China's Non-Transparent Space Program Leaves Astronauts Stranded After Capsule Damage. Zimmerman outlines the opaque nature of the Chinese space program, which publicly reports only successes and shields setbacks. Recently, damage to the Shenzhou 20 capsule—possibly caused by space debris—rendered the spacecraft unusable, leaving the crew stranded without a functional lifeboat, an unprecedented occurrence in crewed spaceflight history. China rapidly launched a rescue mission using Shenzhou 22, yet the government's refusal to transparently disclose root causes and technical failure details raises serious questions about program integrity and safety protocols. 1958

PREVIEW — Charles Burton — China-Canada Relations, Mark Carney's Government, and the Failure to Address Foreign Influence Operations. Burton analyzes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to China, suggesting Carney believes that making concessions on Chinese espionage and harassment—and delaying implementation of the Foreign Influence Registry (FIRA)—will prompt China to open its markets. Historically, this diplomatic strategy has proven ineffective; China routinely offers empty promises while continuing coercive operations, exposing Canada's critical vulnerability to foreign influence campaigns and intelligence operations. 1910 OTTAWA

PREVIEW — Rick Fischer — Chinese Strategy to Break Out of the South China Sea and Defense Preparations in the Okinawa Chain. Fischer details potential Chinese operational plans for a breakout past Japan, which could involve deploying concealed tactical nuclear weapons to rapidly impose a blockade of regional shipping lanes. Japan and the U.S. are rapidly fortifying Yonaguni Island, located approximately 70 miles from Taiwan, into a forward air base. Both nations are conducting exercises establishing expeditionary refueling bases for F-35B fighters and plan to deploy THAAD missile systems to counter Chinese H-6 bombers. 1966

PREVIEW — General Blaine Holt (United States Air Force, Retired) — Artificial Intelligence as a New Weapon of Deception and the Threat of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). General Holt discusses AI as an emerging weapon enabling strategic deception operations designed to misdirect adversarial targeting and force disposition. He emphasizes that advanced indicators and warning systems are essential, requiring command decision-making cadences to align with technological processing speeds. Beyond tactical deception applications, General Holt identifies a critical strategic concern: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—the prospect of autonomous, sentient systems making independent targeting decisions on contested battlefields. 1963

SHOW -25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1942 THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT the peace plan. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Economy, Fed Rates, and the AI Productivity BoomLiz PeekPeekU.S.Federal ReservePeekFedAI'sAI 915-930 930-945 Ireland's Exposed Western Flank and Europe's Ukraine StanceJudy DempseyDempseyIreland'sRussianIrelandDempseyEuropeanU.S.-RussiaUkraineGermanUkrainian 945-1000 SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Unorthodox Ukraine Diplomacy and Geopolitical Realism — Mary Kissel — Kissel analyzes the "exceedingly odd" U.S. approach to Ukraine peace negotiations, wherein businesspeople framed initial proposals while bypassing traditional State Department channels. This transactional negotiating style concerns European allies because it appears to reward Russia and establishes an unfavorable initial bargaining position. Kissel suggests the conflict will likely persist while diplomatic discussions protract. She commends Marco Rubio for prioritizing economic growth and countering Chineseand Iranian influence throughout the Western Hemisphere. 1015-1030 1030-1045 Escalating Conflict: Hezbollah Strike, Turkish Influence, and Fragile CeasefiresJonathan SchanzerSchanzerIsrael'sHezbollah'sBeirutIranTurkeyLebanonSyriaHezbollahSchanzerLebaneseGazaRussiaTurkeySyrian 1045-1100 THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 China's Debt Dilemma and Keir Starmer's Political TroubleJoseph SternbergSternbergChina'sBelt and Road InitiativeChineseChinaSternbergUKLabourKeir Starmer 1115-1130 1130-1145 AI Regulation: The Danger of Fear and the Need for a National FrameworkKevin FraaserFraserAIEU'sFraaserU.S. 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War GamesGregory CopleyCopleyU.S.-RussiaUkraineEuropeanNATO'sIreland'sRussianCopleyRussiaNATO'sArticle 5Baltics 1215-1230 1230-1245 1245-100 AM

4/4, Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War Ga/.mes — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the opaque U.S.-Russia Ukraine peace talks, which initially involved non-traditional negotiators rather than career diplomats. European powers are seeking inclusion in discussions but maintain conflicting strategic objectives.

3/4, Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War Ga/.mes — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the opaque U.S.-Russia Ukraine peace talks, which initially involved non-traditional negotiators rather than career diplomats. European powers are seeking inclusion in discussions but maintain conflicting strategic objectives.

2/4. Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War Games — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the opaque U.S.-Russia Ukraine peace talks, which initially involved non-traditional negotiators rather than career diplomats. European powers are seeking inclusion in discussions but maintain conflicting strategic objectives.

1/4. Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War Games — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the opaque U.S.-Russia Ukraine peace talks, which initially involved non-traditional negotiators rather than career diplomats. European powers are seeking inclusion in discussions but maintain conflicting strategic objectives. The discussion covers NATO's eroding relevance, particularly regarding Ireland's vulnerability to Russian surveillance and potential sabotage of critical undersea communication cables. Copley assesses a war game scenario in which Russia directly challenges NATO's Article 5 collective defense commitment in the Baltics.

AI Regulation: The Danger of Fear and the Need for a National Framework — Kevin Fraaser 1954

AI Regulation: The Danger of Fear and the Need for a National FrameworkKevin FraaserFraserAIEU'sFraaserU.S. 1930

CONTINUED China's Debt Dilemma and Keir Starmer's Political Trouble — Joseph Sternberg 1917 COTSWOLD VILLAGE

China's Debt Dilemma and Keir Starmer's Political Trouble — Joseph Sternberg — Sternberg analyzes China'scritical economic vulnerabilities, noting that its $2.2 trillion in global lending—partly channeled through the Belt and Road Initiative—faces mounting pressure from defaults and political resistance to Chinese asset ownership. Domestically, China restricts capital inflows to manage inflation and stabilize exchange rates. Sternberg also examines UK politics, noting that Labour leader Keir Starmer faces mounting political difficulties ahead of a challenging budget that lacks an articulated economic growth strategy. 1700 WINDSOR CASTLE

CONTINUEDEscalating Conflict: Hezbollah Strike, Turkish Influence, and Fragile Ceasefires — Jonathan Schanzer BEIRUT

Escalating Conflict: Hezbollah Strike, Turkish Influence, and Fragile Ceasefires — Jonathan Schanzer — Schanzer discusses the chaotic status of regional ceasefires, highlighting Israel's major strike against Hezbollah's de facto military commander in Beirut. Iran and Turkey are actively exploiting smuggling routes into Lebanon via Syriato sustain Hezbollah operations. Schanzer addresses the dysfunction of the Lebanese government, the fragility of the Gaza truce agreement, and the complex geopolitical competition involving Russia, Turkey, and external actors competing for influence over the nascent Syrian state. 1898

CONTINUED Unorthodox Ukraine Diplomacy and Geopolitical Realism — Mary Kissel 1900 ODESSA

Unorthodox Ukraine Diplomacy and Geopolitical Realism — Mary Kissel — Kissel analyzes the "exceedingly odd" U.S. approach to Ukraine peace negotiations, wherein businesspeople framed initial proposals while bypassing traditional State Department channels. This transactional negotiating style concerns European allies because it appears to reward Russia and establishes an unfavorable initial bargaining position. Kissel suggests the conflict will likely persist while diplomatic discussions protract. She commends Marco Rubio for prioritizing economic growth and countering Chineseand Iranian influence throughout the Western Hemisphere. 1856 BLACK SEA

CONTINUED Ireland's Exposed Western Flank and Europe's Ukraine Stance — Judy Dempsey 1920 EVICTION