38: Strengthening the US-Japan Alliance and Rare Earth Supply Guest: Grant Newsham Grant Newsham analyzes the successful meeting between President Trump and Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister, Takayuki Sai. The two leaders agreed on rare earth supply coop

SHOW 10-31-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT NUKES, FIRST HOUR 9-915 Vegas Pricing, California Politics, and Fire Negligence Guest: Jeff Bliss Jeff Bliss reports on Las Vegas, where MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle admitted that high pricing strategies—including $12 coffee and $26 bottled water—were driving tourists away and causing massive revenue losses. In California, the $1.5 billion state capital refurbishment project was shrouded in secrecy, with granite quarried in California being sent to Italy for stonework to avoid high labor costs and state safety regulations. Additionally, a lawsuit alleges that LA Fire Department negligence in handling the initial Palisades fire led directly to the massive conflagration that destroyed the neighborhood. 915-930 Social Security Reform and Means Testing Guest: Veronique de Rugy Veronique de Rugy discusses the looming Social Security funding deadline around 2033, after which benefits face an automatic cut exceeding twenty percent if Congress fails to act decisively. She warns that perpetually borrowing to cover the shortfall represents the worst policy option, potentially leading to massive debt accumulation and inflation. De Rugy proposes means testing benefits as the fairest reform approach, arguing that Social Security currently transfers money from the relatively young and poor to the relatively old and wealthy, justifying progressive benefit reductions without raising taxes or disrupting the system for those most dependent on it. 930-945 Economic Indicators and AI in Business Guest: Gene Marks Gene Marks shared mixed economic indicators across the United States: slow activity in Las Vegas and struggling farm equipment manufacturers offset by busy utility distribution contractors benefiting from infrastructure spending programs. His main focus centered on artificial intelligence, advising businesses to integrate AI assistants like Grok or Claude to boost workplace productivity substantially. Marks cautioned that reliance on cloud infrastructure, highlighted by the recent AWS outage, combined with concerns about data privacy and security necessitate accepting calculated risks for potentially high rewards. 945-1000 Economic Indicators and AI in Business Guest: Gene Marks Gene Marks shared mixed economic indicators across the United States: slow activity in Las Vegas and struggling farm equipment manufacturers offset by busy utility distribution contractors benefiting from infrastructure spending programs. His main focus centered on artificial intelligence, advising businesses to integrate AI assistants like Grok or Claude to boost workplace productivity substantially. Marks cautioned that reliance on cloud infrastructure, highlighted by the recent AWS outage, combined with concerns about data privacy and security necessitate accepting calculated risks for potentially high rewards. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Local Economies: Unexpected Closures and Steady Growth Guest: Jim McTague Jim McTague reports on unusual economic fault lines in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where a manufacturer and two restaurant chains closed due to slow business, though a major economic collapse is not imminent. Travel remained busy, and RV manufacturing appears undiminished despite economic headwinds. In Indiana, business was steady and resilient. McTague highlighted the entrepreneurial success of a Hobart, Indiana, family who transformed a one-hundred-acre apple farm into a major tourist attraction, generating significant revenue through simple, family-friendly activities and demonstrating creative economic adaptation. 1015-1030 Canadian National Unity and Alberta's Grievances Guest: Conrad Black Conrad Black reports on a debate between former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper regarding Canadian national unity, focusing on Alberta's profound discontent. Resource-rich Alberta feels unfairly treated and prevented from profiting from oil and gas development due to federal opposition to pipeline construction. Harper warned of serious national problems if the new government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, remains inflexible on energy policy. Black notes that while Canada's political institutions are durable, flexibility is required to maintain unity and coherence across diverse regions. 1030-1045 Executive Power and Constitutional Constraints Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Richard Epstein analyzes an executive order creating a five-hundred-person National Guard rapid response force per state for civil disturbances. He argues this improperly expands presidential power, usurping Congress's Article I authority over the militia. Epstein views this as an authoritarian extension of unitary executive theory that violates constitutional federalism. He also notes that pursuing alleged narco-terrorists in Venezuela without a Congressional Authorization for the Use of Military Force is legally tenuous, as drug running constitutes a crime rather than an act of war, making military action constitutionally questionable. 1045-1100 Executive Power and Constitutional Constraints Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Richard Epstein analyzes an executive order creating a five-hundred-person National Guard rapid response force per state for civil disturbances. He argues this improperly expands presidential power, usurping Congress's Article I authority over the militia. Epstein views this as an authoritarian extension of unitary executive theory that violates constitutional federalism. He also notes that pursuing alleged narco-terrorists in Venezuela without a Congressional Authorization for the Use of Military Force is legally tenuous, as drug running constitutes a crime rather than an act of war, making military action constitutionally questionable. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority. 1115-1130 Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority. 1130-1145 Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority. 1145-1200 Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Nuclear Testing and Proliferation Concerns Guest: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski discusses President Trump's comments on resuming nuclear testing, suggesting Trump may favor a full yield test, last conducted in 1992, over current subcritical testing protocols. The United States maintains a formal moratorium on explosive nuclear testing. Sokolski also addresses proliferation risks associated with the United States potentially helping South Korea build nuclear-powered submarines and enabling South Korea to manufacture its own nuclear fuel. Such action would place Korea weeks away from building nuclear weapons, a development likely to provoke a strong response from Japan and destabilize the region. 1215-1230 Nuclear Testing and Proliferation Concerns Guest: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski discusses President Trump's comments on resuming nuclear testing, suggesting Trump may favor a full yield test, last conducted in 1992, over current subcritical testing protocols. The United States maintains a formal moratorium on explosive nuclear testing. Sokolski also addresses proliferation risks associated with the United States potentially helping South Korea build nuclear-powered submarines and enabling South Korea to manufacture its own nuclear fuel. Such action would place Korea weeks away from building nuclear weapons, a development likely to provoke a strong response from Japan and destabilize the region. 1230-1245 Space Race and Private Industry Guest: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman discusses how SpaceX's privately funded Starship program is positioned to beat NASA, China, and Russia in establishing a lunar base, operating independently of the struggling Artemis program. China and Blue Origin are deemed significantly behind in their lunar efforts. Zimmerman also covers other segments including A Space Mobile competing with Starlink, semiconductor manufacturing in space, the X59 project becoming obsolete due to private innovation, and accessible Martian ice at a potential Starship landing site. The convergence of private sector capabilities and reduced government constraints suggests a fundamental shift in space exploration dynamics. 1245-100 AM Space Race and Private Industry Guest: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman discusses how SpaceX's privately funded Starship program is positioned to beat NASA, China, and Russia in establishing a lunar base, operating independently of the struggling Artemis program. China and Blue Origin are deemed significantly behind in their lunar efforts. Zimmerman also covers other segments including A Space Mobile competing with Starlink, semiconductor manufacturing in space, the X59 project becoming obsolete due to private innovation, and accessible Martian ice at a potential Starship landing site. The convergence of private sector capabilities and reduced government constraints suggests a fundamental shift in space exploration dynamics.

Space Race and Private Industry Guest: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman discusses how SpaceX's privately funded Starship program is positioned to beat NASA, China, and Russia in establishing a lunar base, operating independently of the struggling Artemis program. China and Blue Origin are deemed significantly behind in their lunar efforts. Zimmerman also covers other segments including A Space Mobile competing with Starlink, semiconductor manufacturing in space, the X59 project becoming obsolete due to private innovation, and accessible Martian ice at a potential Starship landing site. The convergence of private sector capabilities and reduced government constraints suggests a fundamental shift in space exploration dynamics.

Space Race and Private Industry Guest: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman discusses how SpaceX's privately funded Starship program is positioned to beat NASA, China, and Russia in establishing a lunar base, operating independently of the struggling Artemis program. China and Blue Origin are deemed significantly behind in their lunar efforts. Zimmerman also covers other segments including A Space Mobile competing with Starlink, semiconductor manufacturing in space, the X59 project becoming obsolete due to private innovation, and accessible Martian ice at a potential Starship landing site. The convergence of private sector capabilities and reduced government constraints suggests a fundamental shift in space exploration dynamics.

Nuclear Testing and Proliferation Concerns Guest: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski discusses President Trump's comments on resuming nuclear testing, suggesting Trump may favor a full yield test, last conducted in 1992, over current subcritical testing protocols. The United States maintains a formal moratorium on explosive nuclear testing. Sokolski also addresses proliferation risks associated with the United States potentially helping South Korea build nuclear-powered submarines and enabling South Korea to manufacture its own nuclear fuel. Such action would place Korea weeks away from building nuclear weapons, a development likely to provoke a strong response from Japan and destabilize the region   1953. VRV

Nuclear Testing and Proliferation Concerns Guest: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski discusses President Trump's comments on resuming nuclear testing, suggesting Trump may favor a full yield test, last conducted in 1992, over current subcritical testing protocols. The United States maintains a formal moratorium on explosive nuclear testing. Sokolski also addresses proliferation risks associated with the United States potentially helping South Korea build nuclear-powered submarines and enabling South Korea to manufacture its own nuclear fuel. Such action would place Korea weeks away from building nuclear weapons, a development likely to provoke a strong response from Japan and destabilize the region. 1951 LAS VEGAS

Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority.

Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority.

Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority.

Augustine the African: Life, Conversion, and Conflict Guest: Professor Catherine Conybeare Professor Catherine Conybeare discusses Augustine the African, born in Tagaste in North Africa, who spoke Latin but was not fluent in Punic. Augustine moved to Milan, where his Christian mother, Monica, orchestrated an advantageous marriage, forcing him to cruelly separate from his partner of fourteen years and their son. After converting to Christianity and returning to Africa, he was forcibly ordained in Hippo. Augustine employed his rhetorical training, influenced by Cicero, to combat Donatism, a distinctively North African church movement that challenged orthodox Christian authority.

Executive Power and Constitutional Constraints Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Richard Epstein analyzes an executive order creating a five-hundred-person National Guard rapid response force per state for civil disturbances. He argues this improperly expands presidential power, usurping Congress's Article I authority over the militia. Epstein views this as an authoritarian extension of unitary executive theory that violates constitutional federalism. He also notes that pursuing alleged narco-terrorists in Venezuela without a Congressional Authorization for the Use of Military Force is legally tenuous, as drug running constitutes a crime rather than an act of war, making military action constitutionally questionable.