The John Batchelor Show

The John Batchelor Show

 

On September 12, 2001, the day after the fall of the Twin Towers, WABC-AM in New York City recruited John Batchelor to go on the air until Osama bin Laden was either killed or captured. John has been on ever since, offering insightful commentary on such issues as the war on terrorism, the presidency, the national and global economies, and defending our civilization. On March 12, 2003, one week before the attack on Iraq, ABC Radio Networks invited John to bring his expertise to syndication. Since then John has reached out nationwide, focusing his concerns on a world at war.

The John Batchelor Show is an essential tool for understanding the new order in the 21st Century. The world is now facing a dangerous and fanatical enemy determined to destroy Western civilization on both political and military fronts. In this, the first great ideological battle of the new millennium, it is imperative to know the major players and the theaters in which they operate.

The John Batchelor Show features a multitude of distinctive elements. John's themes cover every detail - from military battles, presidential campaigns, planetary exploration, and Hollywood politicos to his own international travel. John has broadcast from many corners of the world and in his program he calls out to all points, including New York, Jerusalem, Des Moines, Kazakhstan, Orlando, Manchester, Morocco, Boston, Taipei, Washington, and Baghdad.

John is a veteran novelist, author of seven political romances as well as a short history of the Republican Party. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1948, John attended Lower Merion High School and Princeton University. In 1976 he was graduated from Union Theological Seminary. John is married and has two children.

S8 Ep1007: Jeremy Zakis reports on a massive mouse plague in Western Australia that has gained international media attention. This surge in prey has triggered a secondary brown snake epidemic, as venomous snakes enter homes seeking food and shelter. Consequently, ex

S8 Ep1007: Jeremy Zakis reports on a massive mouse plague in Western Australia that has gained international media attention. This surge in prey has triggered a secondary brown snake epidemic, as venomous snakes enter homes seeking food and shelter. Consequently, ex

Jeremy Zakis reports on a massive mouse plague in Western Australia that has gained international media attention. This surge in prey has triggered a secondary brown snake epidemic, as venomous snakes enter homes seeking food and shelter. Consequently, exterminators are facing an exceptionally busy year currently.
1873

S8 Ep1007: Jeremy Zakis discusses the confirmed El Niño cycle bringing unusually warm, humid winter weather across Australia. He notes that local councils are performing early back-burning to mitigate bushfire risks during this dry period. Despite drought concerns,

Jeremy Zakis discusses the confirmed El Niño cycle bringing unusually warm, humid winter weather across Australia. He notes that local councils are performing early back-burning to mitigate bushfire risks during this dry period. Despite drought concerns, many residents are enjoying extended beach weather in coastal Sydney.
1930 SOUTH AUSTRALIA

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul outlines a grand strategy that leverages the military, economic, and ideational strengths of the democratic world. He acknowledges that American democracy is "wobbling" due to polarization, yet he remains optimistic that the values of fr

Michael McFaul outlines a grand strategy that leverages the military, economic, and ideational strengths of the democratic world. He acknowledges that American democracy is "wobbling" due to polarization, yet he remains optimistic that the values of freedom and liberty still hold more global appeal than autocratic models. McFaul warns against isolationist trade policies and underscores the need to reinvest in Cold War-era institutions like Radio Free Europe. Ultimately, he argues that a united, functional democracy at home is the best way to lead the new international order. (8)
1897

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul recommends helping Ukraine win the war to undermine Putin's grip on power, as a democratic Ukraine directly contradicts Putin's narrative that Russians require a strong dictatorship. He also stresses the importance of competing for talent b

Michael McFaul recommends helping Ukraine win the war to undermine Putin's grip on power, as a democratic Ukraine directly contradicts Putin's narrative that Russians require a strong dictatorship. He also stresses the importance of competing for talent by attracting educated Russian and Chinese citizens to the United States through smarter immigration policies. During the Cold War, the ability to draw in the world's smartest people was a major American advantage that is currently being hindered by restrictive visa rules. Strengthening this "brain drain" from autocracies is vital for long-term technological and economic competition. (7)
1900 BAKU

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul discusses the Mar-a-Lago meeting between Trump and Xi, supporting the concept of "peace through strength" but emphasizing that engaging autocrats should not mean abandoning democratic values. He argues that the United States must work harde

Michael McFaul discusses the Mar-a-Lago meeting between Trump and Xi, supporting the concept of "peace through strength" but emphasizing that engaging autocrats should not mean abandoning democratic values. He argues that the United States must work harder to keep allies united and should explicitly advocate for human rights during high-level meetings. Raising individual cases of repression, such as that of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong, serves to inspire "small D democrats" living under tyranny. McFaul advocates for a self-help alliance system among democracies to counter cooperation between Russia, China, and Iran. (6)

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul describes Vladimir Putin as an ideological risk-taker who views himself as a defender of "orthodox Christian values" against a threatening West. McFaul argues that previous US administrations failed to hedge against Russian aggression by no

Michael McFaul describes Vladimir Putin as an ideological risk-taker who views himself as a defender of "orthodox Christian values" against a threatening West. McFaul argues that previous US administrations failed to hedge against Russian aggression by not expanding NATO faster or providing sufficient weaponry to "gray zone" countries like Ukraine. This perceived lack of resolve may have emboldened Putin's 2022 full-scale invasion. Furthermore, the segment explores how autocracy is gaining global popularity, as some perceive it to be more efficient than the bureaucratic "veto points" often found in democratic systems. (5)
1938

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul explains that China's current global posture is deeply rooted in the "century of humiliation," a period of historical weakness that Xi Jinping is determined to never repeat. Under Xi's leadership, the state has become significantly more aut

Michael McFaul explains that China's current global posture is deeply rooted in the "century of humiliation," a period of historical weakness that Xi Jinping is determined to never repeat. Under Xi's leadership, the state has become significantly more autocratic, utilizing advanced technology for domestic monitoring and total surveillance. McFaulpoints out that Xi is moving away from the market-driven ideas that fueled China's growth, potentially leading to future economic stagnation. Despite this tightening control, internal demands for freedom remain in regions like Hong Kongand Xinjiang, where people continue to resist state-led repression. (4)
11925 SHANGHAI

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul reflects on the collapse of the Soviet Union, recalling his time in Moscow in 1991 when he witnessed the transition from Gorbachev's reforms to Yeltsin's revolutionary phase. He argues that while the United States rightly supported Yeltsin,

Michael McFaul reflects on the collapse of the Soviet Union, recalling his time in Moscow in 1991 when he witnessed the transition from Gorbachev's reforms to Yeltsin's revolutionary phase. He argues that while the United States rightly supported Yeltsin, policymakers were too complacent, assuming democracy would consolidate organically without significant external investment. This "end of history" mentality led to a lack of political and economic support during Russia's vulnerable early years of independence. McFaul notes that failing to provide robust assistance to liberal reformers allowed for the eventual rise of Vladimir Putin. (3)
1906

S8 Ep1006: Michael McFaul examines the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and the subsequent American policy of reaching out to the Chinese Communist Party with an open hand. McFaul critiques the Bush administration's decision to prioritize balancing against the Soviets

Michael McFaul examines the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and the subsequent American policy of reaching out to the Chinese Communist Party with an open hand. McFaul critiques the Bush administration's decision to prioritize balancing against the Soviets over human rights, suggesting a "dual track" approach would have been more effective. While Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms spurred unprecedented growth, the Western theory that economic modernization would inevitably lead to democratization proved false. Today, China remains a highly successful economy ruled by a dictatorship, highlighting the complexities of decoupling values from commercial interests. (2)
1905