The John Batchelor Show

16. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Zimmerman provides updates on the Curiosity rover's climb of Mount Sharp, noting unusual tile-like rock formations on Mars. He also explains the significance of the Artemis Accords, an alliance of sixty-three nations favoring private property and enterprise in space. This political alliance serves as a counter-strategy to Chinese and Russian lunar ambitions. 16 1730

15. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. Zimmerman reviews NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's testimony regarding budget cuts and the cancellation of the Lunar Gateway project. He compares slow European government space programs with agile commercial startups. Additionally, he notes technical failures with Northrup Grumman's rocket boosters that have delayed military launches and impacted ULA's finances. 15 1700 SOUTH HOLLAND

14. Guest: Henry Sokolski. Sokolski discusses modernizing civil defense to address non-nuclear threats like drone strikes on critical infrastructure. Following European models, he suggests Americans should prepare for 72-hour utility failures by securing water, cash, and physical protection for power transformers. He notes the administration is only beginning to articulate these essential requirements. 14 1700 SOUTH HOLLAND

13. Guest: Henry Sokolski. Sokolski highlights the overlooked plutonium path to nuclear weapons in Iran, focusing on the Bushehr reactor's spent fuel rods. He explains that while uranium enrichment is publicly monitored, reprocessing these rods could yield hundreds of bombs. He argues that current inspections fail to provide a "timely warning" for such diversions. 13 1700 SOUTH HOLLAND

12. Guest: Andrew Graham Dixon. Dixon discusses Vermeer's primary patrons, Peter van Ruijven and Maria de Knuijt, identifying them as radical Remonstrants. He reveals a "smoking gun" discovery: their home was adjacent to a hidden Remonstrant church. Dixon argues Vermeer's paintings were deeply personal expressions of the fellowship and faith shared with these patrons. 12 1700 SOUTH HOLLAND

11. Guest: Andrew Graham Dixon. Dixon recounts Vermeer's marriage to Catharina Bolnes and his conversion to Catholicism to appease his mother-in-law, Maria Thins. He highlights the unique religious toleration in Dutch society, where diverse faiths worshiped in private. The narrative focuses on the domestic tensions Vermeer faced living in Thins'wealthy, strictly Catholic household. 11 1690

10. Guest: Andrew Graham-Dixon. Dixon investigates Vermeer's artistic origins, proposing Gerard ter Borch as his teacher based on archival documents. He notes that Vermeer was fatherless at twenty and likely viewed his master as a father figure. The discussion emphasizes that Vermeer's training occurred outside of Delft, contributing to his sophisticated and subtly lit style. 10 1665 SOUTH HOLLAND

9. Guest: Andrew Graham-Dixon. Art historian Dixon explores the background of Johannes Vermeer in 17th-century Delft. He details Vermeer's father's role as an innkeeper and the family's involvement with the Remonstrants, a liberal religious group. This group advocated for peace and tolerance during an era characterized by brutal and devastating religious wars. 9 1646

8. Guest: Richard Epstein. Epstein examines the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, noting fuel emergencies in the Pacific. He advocates for opening alternative domestic energy supplies by bypassing regulatory hurdles. Epstein argues that military force may eventually be necessary to counter illegal Iranian blockades and protect national security interests against bad-faith negotiations. 8 1690 HOLLAND

7. Guest: Richard Epstein. Epstein critiques the California Supreme Court's disbarment of attorney John Eastman. He argues the decision is a politically motivated "hit job" that ignores First Amendment protections for legal advocacy. Epstein suggests such judicial interventions into political campaigns are dangerous and warns that the decision misshapes the entire American polity. 7 1600 HOLLAND

6. Guest: Lorenzo Fiori. Fiori addresses the suspicious poisoning of wolves in Italy's Abruzzo National Park, noting conflicts with local farmers. He recommends travelers visit the historic "star city" of Palmanova and nearby Roman sites to escape over-tourism in major cities. The segment concludes with a culinary tip for preparing a traditional potato dish. 6 1600 NETHERLANDS

5. Guest: Jim McTague. McTague reports on the economic climate in Lancaster County, observing light city foot traffic and high commercial rents. He discusses how rising gasoline prices affect small businesses and seniors on fixed incomes. The segment concludes with a look at the local fishing season and McTague's interactions with the Amishcommunity. 5 1600

4. Guest: Josh Blackman. Blackman discusses a 2026 OLC opinion suggesting the 1978 Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional. He draws parallels between Nixon's record disputes and the modern indictments of Donald Trumpregarding documents at Mar-a-Lago. The conversation explores whether these legal challenges are attempts to restore traditional presidential powers after post-Watergate erosion. 4 1589 HOLLAND NETHERLANDS

3. Guest: Josh Blackman. Blackman reviews the history of the 1974 Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act, which prevented Richard Nixon from destroying White House records. He argues that the Watergateinvestigation created a political "fever," leading to legal maneuvers that potentially compromised constitutional principles regarding executive branch authority over internal disputes and documents. 3 1573 NETHERLANDS

2. Guest: Jeff Bliss. Bliss analyzes the first gubernatorial debate, where leading Democratic candidates gave Governor Newsom high grades for handling homelessness, while Republicans issued an "F". The discussion highlights the audience's negative reaction to these high marks and notes how the candidates focused heavily on criticizing Donald Trump throughout the evening. 2 1690 DELFT

1. Guest: Jeff Bliss. John Batchelor and Bliss discuss potential fuel shortages impacting Las Vegas tourism and airport traffic. They address rising gasoline prices in California, which exceed five dollars due to heavy refinery regulations and reduced domestic production. The conversation also covers the environmental and economic impacts of importing fuel into the region. 1 17000 HOLLAND

4: Andrew Graham-Dixon Previews his biography of Johannes Vermeer, revealing how the artist's paintings reflect the hidden religious beliefs of persecuted movements while navigating the strict and often intolerant Calvinist-led social atmosphere of Holland's long history. 1748 HOLLAND

5: Henry Sokolski Previews his discussion on the Non-Proliferation Treaty's failure to prohibit uranium enrichment, highlighting how these legal loopholes allow nations like Iran to develop nuclear weapons capabilities under the guise of peaceful energy programs. 1951 LAS VEGAS

6: Bob Zimmerman Previews the commercial space startup Atmos, which raised thirty million dollars to develop specialized orbital capsules designed for zero-gravity manufacturing and research, focusing on the business potential of returning valuable products to Earth. 1941

Summary: Josh Blackman Josh Blackman previews his analysis of a 2026 OLC opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional, discussing how Watergate-era legal precedents regarding executive documents now influence modern criminal proceedings against former presidents. 1972 KISSINGER, NIXON, HAIG.