SHOW
10-24-25
CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR
THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT CANADA IN THE EYES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
FIRST HOUR
9-915
Pennsylvania Aims to Be AI Capital with US-Made Non-Lithium Batteries. Salena Zito reports on Governor Shapiro's plan to establish Pennsylvania as the AI and data center capital, capitalizing on its energy resources and university system. She focuses on EOS, a Turtle Creek company making non-lithium batteries that are 97% US-made, countering reliance on Chinese lithium. AI data centers require high energy reliability, favoring coal and natural gas infrastructure. Governor Shapiro supports this buildout, including a $22 million grant for EOS.
915-930
Italian Olive Harvest and Historical Vatican-UK Royal Visit. Lorenzo Fiori reports that the olive harvest in Tuscany is expected to be low in quantity due to mosquito damage caused by humidity and rain. However, recent strong winds helped remove damaged olives, potentially ensuring a "very tasty" oil. Fiori also discusses the historical visit of King Charles III to the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to pray with Pope Francis. This event, which Fiori found spectacular, is seen as crucial for restoring dialogue between the Anglican and Catholic Churches after centuries of division.
930-945
Small Business Economy Steady; AI Remains a 'Toy'. Gene Marks reports on the small business economy, noting steady activity among machine parts manufacturers, often preparing for an "onshoring boom." Construction and housing are holding steady but anticipate a future boom as interest rates decline. Tariffs have a muted impact, often absorbed or passed on as separate invoice line items for transparency. Marks demonstrates that AI, despite its advances, is not ready for prime-time business use, failing to accurately generate a requested image of a Yorkshire Terrier hitting a home run.
945-1000
Small Business Economy Steady; AI Remains a 'Toy'. Gene Marks reports on the small business economy, noting steady activity among machine parts manufacturers, often preparing for an "onshoring boom." Construction and housing are holding steady but anticipate a future boom as interest rates decline. Tariffs have a muted impact, often absorbed or passed on as separate invoice line items for transparency. Marks demonstrates that AI, despite its advances, is not ready for prime-time business use, failing to accurately generate a requested image of a Yorkshire Terrier hitting a home run.
SECOND HOUR
10-1015
Pacific Palisades Housing Dispute and West Coast Infrastructure Challenges. Jeff Bliss covers West Coast issues, including traffic disruption from new high-speed rail construction between Southern California and Las Vegas. Pacific Palisades residents are protesting state and local plans to use burned-out lots for high-density, multistory affordable housing, fearing the change in community character and increased traffic. Additionally, copper theft from EV charging stations is undermining Los Angeles's zero emissions goals. Homeless encampments are also sparking major brush fire concerns in areas like Malibu and the Sepulveda Basin.
1015-1030
Pennsylvania Pursues Data Center Hub Status, Converting Golf Courses. Jim McTague reports on Pennsylvania's effort to become a data center hub, citing over $90 billion committed investment statewide. York County secured $5 billion, with plans including converting Brierwood Golf Course into a data center. This effort faces public resistance fueled by fears of higher electricity and water prices. McTague notes that consumer spending in Lancaster County is "steady." The conversion of golf courses reflects the decline of golf, seen as a "dinosaur" activity that takes too much time.
1030-1045
Professor Epstein Slams Trump's Economic Policies as 'State Socialism'. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes four Trump administration economic decisions concerning Intel, Nvidia, US Steel, and MP Mining, labeling them forms of state-owned enterprise or "state socialism." Epstein argues that acquiring golden shares or negotiating side deals—like Nvidia paying 15% of China revenue—destroys market value, undercuts competitors, and violates the neutral application of laws. He also critiques the Gaza deal, stating Hamas must be wiped out before any subsequent phases of the agreement can proceed.
1045-1100
Professor Epstein Slams Trump's Economic Policies as 'State Socialism'. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes four Trump administration economic decisions concerning Intel, Nvidia, US Steel, and MP Mining, labeling them forms of state-owned enterprise or "state socialism." Epstein argues that acquiring golden shares or negotiating side deals—like Nvidia paying 15% of China revenue—destroys market value, undercuts competitors, and violates the neutral application of laws. He also critiques the Gaza deal, stating Hamas must be wiped out before any subsequent phases of the agreement can proceed.
THIRD HOUR
1100-1115
cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance.
1115-1130
cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance.
1130-1145
cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance.
1145-1200
cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance.
FOURTH HOUR
12-1215
Trump Administration's Economic Interventionism Questioned as 'State Capitalism'. Veronique de Rugy critiques the Trump administration's economic policies regarding companies like Intel, US Steel, and MP Mining, calling them "state capitalism" or forms of nationalization. She argues that the government acquiring a minority share in Intel creates bad incentives and unfair competitive advantages. Regarding MP Mining, de Rugy notes that guaranteeing a price floor fails to address the underlying issue of government regulation hindering rare earth production in the US.E
1215-1230
The Postponement of the Budapest Meeting and Negotiating with Putin. Cliff May discusses the postponement of the Trump-Putin Budapest meeting, attributing it to Marco Rubio insisting on a cessation of hostilities, which Foreign Minister Lavrov rejected, demanding "all Ukraine." May warns President Trump against being outnegotiated, referencing Stalin's success over Roosevelt and Churchill at Yalta. Putin admires Stalin, who expanded the Russian Empire and engineered the Holodomor famine. May stresses that Russians negotiate only to win, not to compromise.
1230-1245
NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design.
1245-100 AM
NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design.
Otros episodios de "The John Batchelor Show"
28: The Fight for the Nanina and Charles Barnard's Return to the Sea Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World Barnard and his party survived 534 days in wretched conditions, primarily thanks to their sizable do
The Fight for the Nanina and Charles Barnard's Return to the Sea
Eric J. Dolan
Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World
Barnard and his party survived 534 days in wretched conditions, primarily thanks to their sizable dog, Scent, who hunted wild hogs. When rescued by British whale ships and taken to Lima, Peru, Barnard regretfully gave Scent to a British whaling captain, believing the dog deserved a better life than an arduous two-year voyage home. Barnard returned home bankrupt, but Murray and Son successfully appealed the prize court's initial decision. The court ultimately sided with the Americans, awarding them the value of the brig—a ruling Danda resented for the rest of his life. Though initially vowing to quit the sea, Barnard resumed sealing and later became a port warden and light ship captain, publishing his account in 1829.
28: The Collapse of the Humanitarian Deal and Barnard's Abandonment Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World Charles Barnard offered the British castaways a humanitarian deal: he would transport them to South Am
The Collapse of the Humanitarian Deal and Barnard's Abandonment
Eric J. Dolan
Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World
Charles Barnard offered the British castaways a humanitarian deal: he would transport them to South America in exchange for salvage rights to the Isabella wreck. Although the British learned the War of 1812 had commenced, they accepted the terms. However, one of the British captains, Brooks, secured a rescue mission from Buenos Aires commanded by Lieutenant William Peter Danda aboard the HMS Nancy. Danda was driven by the prospect of personal financial gain offered by the prize system and disregarded the Americans' humanitarian assistance to British citizens. Danda seized the Nanina as a prize of war, imprisoned most of the American crew, and deliberately marooned Barnard and a hunting party who were ashore gathering food for the castaways.
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28: The Falklands and the Wreck Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World The American sealers sought valuable fur seals and elephant seal blubber in the Falkland Islands, a harsh, virtually uninhabited region ch
The Falklands and the Wreck
Eric J. Dolan
Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World
The American sealers sought valuable fur seals and elephant seal blubber in the Falkland Islands, a harsh, virtually uninhabited region characterized by constant high winds averaging 18 mph and cold temperatures averaging 49°F in summer. The treeless landscape features tusk grass, which grows up to nine feet tall and yields peat useful for making fires. While the Nanina hunted seals, the Australian transport ship Isabella wrecked on Eagle Island due to Captain George Hickton's ineptitude and drinking. The 54 survivors, including Marines and pardoned convicts, made it ashore, though many were inebriated and convinced they would perish in this desolate location.
1849 FALKLANDS
28: The High-Risk Sealing Expedition of the Nanina Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World Sealing was a lucrative industry, particularly for the China market, valued for its high-quality fur seal pelts and el
The High-Risk Sealing Expedition of the Nanina
Eric J. Dolan
Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World
Sealing was a lucrative industry, particularly for the China market, valued for its high-quality fur seal pelts and elephant seal blubber. Charles Barnard, a veteran sealer, proposed a high-risk expedition on the brig Nanina to the Falkland Islands, which Murray and Son backed despite the impending War of 1812. Many merchant vessels remained in port, but Barnard and Murray viewed this as an opportunity to meet pent-up demand. Barnard's crew included four captains, notably diarist Barzillai Pease, and his 63-year-old, infirm father, Valentine Barnard, who was meant to captain the Nanina on its return voyage to New York laden with cargo. They departed from New York just as an embargo took effect.
1833 FALKLANDS
28: 3. Personal Preparedness, Home Safety Design, and Decision-Making During Fire Events. This section focuses on personal preparedness, home safety design, and decision-making during fire events. The highly settled coastal areas of Australia face significan
3. Personal Preparedness, Home Safety Design, and Decision-Making During Fire Events. This section focuses on personal preparedness, home safety design, and decision-making during fire events. The highly settled coastal areas of Australia face significant fire risk. The author emphasizes that living safely in fire-prone areas requires constant effort and planning. Houses need to be designed to mitigate risk; for example, homes built on concrete slabs or those with sealed-off underfloor spaces are safer than houses on stumps, as embers can easily get under the house and start a fire. The biggest risk to houses is mostly ember attack. During a serious fire, embers can fall "like red rain." To protect against ground fires, a cleared management zone—ideally 100 meters in rural areas—is recommended around the house. On high fire-risk days, known as Fire Ban Days (which are increasing in frequency), the official policy is to leave early. Staying and defending the home is a major decision that requires thorough preparation. Leaving late is a very dangerous strategy. Wind is a major factor, with hot and dry northerly winds posing a significant danger. Furthermore, large fires can generate their own weather and worsen the wind. Wind changes are particularly risky, as they can suddenly turn a long, thin trail of fire into a massive fire front. In the worst-case scenario—being caught in a car—the advice is to stay in the car, turn off the air conditioner, close windows tightly, keep the engine running, and use a woolen blanket to shield against heat. The primary killer in fires is often radiant heat, not the flames themselves. The woolen blanket acts as a thermal shield. It is also crucial to carry water for drinking to reduce dehydration.
1907 ADELAIDE
28: 2. The Science of Fire and Response Organization in Australia. This section addresses the science of what burns and the organization of fire response in Australia. The Australian landscape contains fire-adapted plants. Eucalyptus trees are highly flammab
2. The Science of Fire and Response Organization in Australia. This section addresses the science of what burns and the organization of fire response in Australia. The Australian landscape contains fire-adapted plants. Eucalyptus trees are highly flammable due to their oil content, burning quickly. Mountain Ash is the largest species of eucalyptus in the world. While many eucalypts regenerate after fire, Mountain Ash actually dies after a fierce blaze but releases a huge load of seed, requiring sun to regenerate. Naturally, Mountain Ash fires are notoriously fierce and occur only every two or three hundred years. Fires are caused by lightning, power lines, and arson. Although arson is frequent, the resulting fires are often less dangerous than those caused by lightning or electrical faults, as some arsonists light fires for attention. Regarding fuel, while some believe certain weeds like pittosporum might be fireproof, ultimately, everything burns under the right conditions. A well-watered pittosporum hedge, however, could protect a home from ember attack. H. G. Wells is quoted in the book, describing fire as a "gorilla" that is opportunistic with sparks flying. In terms of response, fire brigades originated with insurance companies in the late 19th century, focusing on protecting buildings in townships. Rural communities, left unprotected, established their own parallel volunteer bushfire brigades (the first being in Berrigan in 1901). Following the enormous 1939 fires in Victoria, the government began funding and organizing state bodies to support these brigades.
1885 SOUTH AUSTRALIA
28: 1. A Future in Flames: Worldwide Wildfire Phenomenon and Historical Context. Danielle Clode's book, A Future in Flames, addresses wildfires (or bushfires in Australia) as a worldwide phenomenon challenging civilization in both the Northern and Southern He
1. A Future in Flames: Worldwide Wildfire Phenomenon and Historical Context. Danielle Clode's book, A Future in Flames, addresses wildfires (or bushfires in Australia) as a worldwide phenomenon challenging civilization in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The discussion emphasizes that bushfires are not solely a product of civilization but were present historically. Early European explorers, such as Captain Cook in 1770, frequently reported seeing fires along the Australian coast, often interpreting them as indicators of people ashore. Once explorers went ashore, some observed really intense fires that were clearly out of control. The sources highlight the long history of fire use by humans, focusing on Indigenous Australians. Prior to European settlement, Indigenous people used fire in various ways, including hunting, clearing movement passages, signaling, defense, and crucially, land management. They used fire selectively to stimulate new growth and promote grass for grazing prey. This land management system, perfected over more than 60,000 years, is known as "fire stick farming" and is integral to the Australian ecology. In contrast, early European settlers failed to apply these lessons well, often using fire indiscriminately merely to clear forests. While the land clearance supported the economy by regenerating grass for sheep, the uncontrolled fires became a serious problem relatively early in the colony's history. By 1851, settlers realized the severity of the issue, exemplified by events like Black Thursday (February 5, 1851), which featured extreme heat (47°C or 120+°F).
1864 QUEENSLAND
28: 3. Supply vs. Demand: Economic Shocks, Entitlements, and the Invisible Population Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work (Post-Pandemic Edition) Eberstadt explores the competing explanations for the ghost army, contrasting his supply-side argument (men
3. Supply vs. Demand: Economic Shocks, Entitlements, and the Invisible Population Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work (Post-Pandemic Edition)
Eberstadt explores the competing explanations for the ghost army, contrasting his supply-side argument (men holding back labor/unpreparedness) with demand-side views from critics Henry Olsen and Jared Bernstein. Olsen highlights the role of economic shocks and structural changes, like the 1970s stagflation and deindustrialization (the Rust Belt). The role of entitlements is significant, as over half of NILF men receive at least one benefit, often disability payments like SSDI. Regional differences in labor force participation (e.g., high inactivity in West Virginia adjacent to low inactivity in Maryland) mitigate a purely national demand-side case. The source stresses the lack of data on the estimated 25 million ex-convicts, who are an "invisible population" largely untracked by labor statistics.
1929
