CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW SCHEDULE 9-15-25 GOOD EVENING. THE SHOW BEGINS IN TROUBLED AMERICA... FIRST HOUR 9-915 HEADLINE: Global Allies Worry About US Division, Adversaries Exploit Weakness GUEST AND TITLE: Ambassador Husain H
CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR
SHOW SCHEDULE
1957
9-15-25
GOOD EVENING. THE SHOW BEGINS IN TROUBLED AMERICA...
FIRST HOUR
9-915
HEADLINE: Global Allies Worry About US Division, Adversaries Exploit Weakness
GUEST AND TITLE: Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Hudson Institute Director of Eurasia Project; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
SUMMARY: Ambassador Husain Haqqani states US allies are "very worried" by American internal division and extreme rhetoric, unlike past unity. Bill Roggio notes similar European issues, but the US now seems to lead in domestic disorder. Adversaries like China, Russia, and Islamist extremists exploit this polarization, using social media manipulation and citing Western decline. Both emphasize leaders must reduce aggressive rhetoric, promote bipartisan cooperation, and control social media to heal divisions, advocating for unity to counter external exploitation and domestic radicalization.
915-930
HEADLINE: Global Allies Worry About US Division, Adversaries Exploit Weakness
GUEST AND TITLE: Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Hudson Institute Director of Eurasia Project; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
930-945
HEADLINE: Political Crises Deepen in Brazil and Venezuela Amidst US Pressure
GUEST AND TITLE: Alejandro Peña Esclusa, Venezuelan writer and thinker; Ernesto Araújo, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Brazil
SUMMARY: Ernesto Araújo discusses former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's conviction for an alleged assassination plot, calling it a "show trial" despite a dissenting judge's opinion. He notes Bolsonaro's failed anti-system movement. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports a US military buildup near Venezuela, fostering internal military discussions about turning in Maduro. Both believe their countries' fates are linked; Venezuela's liberation could expose a crime network, potentially delegitimizing Lula's regime and fostering broader Latin American freedom
945-1000
HEADLINE: Political Crises Deepen in Brazil and Venezuela Amidst US Pressure
GUEST AND TITLE: Alejandro Peña Esclusa, Venezuelan writer and thinker; Ernesto Araújo, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Brazil
SUMMARY: Ernesto Araújo discusses former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's conviction for an alleged assassination plot, calling it a "show trial" despite a dissenting judge's opinion. He notes Bolsonaro's failed anti-system movement. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports a US military buildup near Venezuela, fostering internal military discussions about turning in Maduro. Both believe their countries' fates are linked; Venezuela's liberation could expose a crime network, potentially delegitimizing Lula's regime and fostering broader Latin American freedom
SECOND HOUR
10-1015
HEADLINE: Houthis Remain Undeterred Despite Israeli Strikes and US Sanctions
GUEST AND TITLE: Bridget Toomey, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Houthi Watcher; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
SUMMARY: Bridget Toomey reports Houthis continue daily drone and missile launches towards Israel, with Israeli Iron Dome defenses proving effective. Israel responded with strikes on Houthi military and media infrastructure in Sana'a, causing civilian casualties. US Treasury sanctioned 32 Houthi-affiliated individuals/entities for supporting Iranian-backed smuggling networks. Toomey confirms Iran absolutely provides weapons, mostly via ship routes, despite interdiction efforts. She notes Houthis are undeterred, fueled by past attacks, and will likely continue unless Iran is held accountable. Bill Roggio critiques a recent, unsuccessful Israeli strike in Doha.
1015-1030
HEADLINE: Houthis Remain Undeterred Despite Israeli Strikes and US Sanctions
GUEST AND TITLE: Bridget Toomey, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Houthi Watcher; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
SUMMARY: Bridget Toomey reports Houthis continue daily drone and missile launches towards Israel, with Israeli Iron Dome defenses proving effective. Israel responded with strikes on Houthi military and media infrastructure in Sana'a, causing civilian casualties. US Treasury sanctioned 32 Houthi-affiliated individuals/entities for supporting Iranian-backed smuggling networks. Toomey confirms Iran absolutely provides weapons, mostly via ship routes, despite interdiction efforts. She notes Houthis are undeterred, fueled by past attacks, and will likely continue unless Iran is held accountable. Bill Roggio critiques a recent, unsuccessful Israeli strike in Doha.
1030-1045
HEADLINE: South Korea's President Accused of Aligning with CCP and North Korea
GUEST AND TITLE: Morse Tan, former US Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice; Gordon Chang, author and geopolitical analyst
SUMMARY: Morse Tan and Gordon Chang discuss South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's policies, including a visa waiver for Chinese tourists, which Tan likens to CCP tactics. Tan claims Yoon aligns with the Chinese Communist Party and North Korea, dismantling counterintelligence and attending parades with Putin and Kim Jong-un. He reports Chinese nationals, pro-Yoon, illegally voted, and a third of South Korean police are reportedly CCP operatives. Yoon'sapproval is low, with most Koreans distrusting the CCP and prioritizing the US alliance.
1045-1100
HEADLINE: China's Advanced Weapon Systems and Global Asteroid Defense Ambitions
GUEST AND TITLE: Rick Fisher, Senior Fellow, International Assessment and Strategy Center; Gordon Chang, author and geopolitical analyst
SUMMARY: Rick Fisher discusses China's new DF-26D ballistic missile, capable of intercepting aircraft carriers up to 4,000 km, and other advanced unmanned weapon systems surpassing US capabilities. Gordon Chang questions US defense against these hypersonic threats. Fisher notes Russia's Energia space program faces financial distress due to the Ukraine war. China proposes an international asteroid defense, inviting global participation. Fisher warns this PLA-controlled initiative could be a front to develop anti-satellite capabilities and challenge the US in future conflicts.
THIRD HOUR
1100-1115
HEADLINE: Ukraine Advances in Sumy, NATO Urged to Boost Russia Sanctions
GUEST AND TITLE: John Hardie, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of DemocraciesSUMMARY: John Hardie discusses Ukrainian advances in the Sumy border area, noting Russia has redeployed better units to other regions like Donetsk, focusing on areas near Pokrovsk. He suggests Ukraine's counterattacks are part of an active defense, and their focus on Pokrovsk is strategically sound despite manpower shortages. Hardie highlights recent massive Russian drone barrages, including one into Poland, as a "wake-up call" for NATO to improve cost-effective air defenses. He advocates for stronger US secondary sanctions on Russian oil revenue and untying Ukraine's hands for long-range strikes.
1115-1130
HEADLINE: Ukraine Advances in Sumy, NATO Urged to Boost Russia Sanctions
GUEST AND TITLE: John Hardie, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies130-1145
HEADLINE: MIT Professor Explains the Discovery of Ionic Liquid, Expanding Search for Extraterrestrial Life
GUEST AND TITLE: Professor Sara Seager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; David Livingston, Dr. Space of the Space Show
SUMMARY: Professor Sara Seager discusses the accidental lab discovery of ionic liquids, a non-evaporating liquid salt potentially sustaining life on planets without water, expanding the traditional "habitable zone" concept. She envisions future missions like a Solar Gravitational Lens Telescope. For her lifetime, Professor Seager prioritizes privately funded "Morning Star missions" to Venus, beginning with Rocket Lab in 2026, to directly study its cloud particles for signs of life in this overlooked sister planet.1145-1200
HEADLINE: MIT Professor Explains the Discovery of Ionic Liquid, Expanding Search for Extraterrestrial Life
GUEST AND TITLE: Professor Sara Seager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; David Livingston, Dr. Space of the Space Show
SUMMARY: Professor Sara Seager discusses the accidental lab discovery of ionic liquids, a non-evaporating liquid salt potentially sustaining life on planets without water, expanding the traditional "habitable zone" concept. She envisions future missions like a Solar Gravitational Lens Telescope. For her lifetime, Professor Seager prioritizes privately funded "Morning Star missions" to Venus, beginning with Rocket Lab in 2026, to directly study its cloud particles for signs of life in this overlooked sister planet
FOURTH HOUR
12-1215
HEADLINE: US Diplomat Addresses Failed Doha Strike Amidst Iranian Defiance
GUEST AND TITLE: Mary Kissel, Executive Vice President, Stephens Incorporated, former Senior Advisor for the Secretary of State
SUMMARY: Mary Kissel discusses Secretary of State Marco Rubio's diplomatic shuttle after an unsuccessful Israeli airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leadership. Despite the failure, she believes Israel's defense capabilities and past decapitation efforts were incredible, fostering public resolve against terrorism. Kissel notes Qatar's role as a money-laundering center and host of terror groups, despite its strategic importance to the US. She emphasizes that Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, remains defiant regarding its nuclear and missile programs, posing an ongoing challenge for Israel and the US.1215-1230
Guest Names: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio
Summary: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio discuss Al-Sharaa, the self-named president of Syria, who was appointed by militia leaders. His loyalist-drafted constitution grants him extensive powers, with key ministries held by former HTScommanders, and minority representatives serving as mere tokens.
Formal Name: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
1230-1245
HEADLINE: Genocide Allegations Against Israel Debunked by Expert Analysis
GUEST AND TITLE: Peter Berkowitz, Tad and Diane Taube Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution at Stanford University
SUMMARY: Peter Berkowitz debunks genocide allegations against Israel, emphasizing the UN definition requires intent to destroy a group. He questions the credibility of the International Association of Genocide Scholars. Berkowitz highlights the absurdity, noting the Palestinian population tripled since the 1980s despite such claims. He attributes propaganda success to Hamas's use of human shields, shifting responsibility for civilian casualties. A comprehensive report systematically refutes claims of deliberate starvation, civilian targeting, and infrastructure bombing, demonstrating Israel's precautions.1245-100 AM
HEADLINE: Genocide Allegations Against Israel Debunked by Expert Analysis
GUEST AND TITLE: Peter Berkowitz, Tad and Diane Taube Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution at Stanford University
SUMMARY: Peter Berkowitz debunks genocide allegations against Israel, emphasizing the UN definition require