The John Batchelor Show

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

Ireland's Exposed Western Flank and Europe's Ukraine StanceJudy DempseyDempseyIreland'sRussianIrelandDempseyEuropeanU.S.-RussiaUkraineGermanUkrainian

CONTINUED Economy, Fed Rates, and the AI Productivity Boom — Liz Peek 1905 BUTTE MT

Economy, Fed Rates, and the AI Productivity Boom — Liz Peek — Peek examines the U.S. economy, noting mixed retail sales data alongside recent strength in credit card spending. She anticipates the Federal Reserve will likely reduce interest rates in December due to softening labor market conditions, despite traditional employment reporting lags. Peekemphasizes that the Fed fails to account adequately for AI's significant, though currently unmeasured, impact on productivity gains, employment displacement, and escalating electricity consumption, even as AI demonstrates substantial benefits in diagnostics and medical analysis. 1921 CHAPLIN

PREVIEW — Gregory Copley — NATO's Inconsistencies and Future Existence. Copley examines the fractured and inconsistent state of NATO, noting overwhelming enthusiasm from threatened eastern flank members, including Poland, the Baltics, and Finland, who prioritize collective defense. This contrasts sharply with tepid commitment from wealthy western members and explicit antagonism toward the U.S. from Germany and France. Copley highlights concerns regarding western flank exposure, particularly Ireland's vulnerability, and the critical dependence of eastern defense on central European cooperation and coordination. 11930 County Waterford coastal artillery

PREVIEWJoseph SternbergSternbergUK LabourKeir StarmerLabour

PREVIEW — Mary Kissel — European Alarm Over Initial Ukraine Negotiation Strategy. Kissel analyzes ongoing Ukraine negotiations, highlighting concern generated by involving presidential counselors rather than European allies and the State Department in foundational deal-making. This approach allowed the aggressor to shape the negotiating framework. European partners express alarm given their geographic proximity to Russia and feel directly threatened by Russian capabilities to destabilize their societies.