The John Batchelor Show

1901 LONDON

Global Commodity Crises And British Politics
Simon Constable discusses recent weather, global commodity price spikes, and British political developments. Following relief from long summer heat in France, global markets are facing surging energy costs, with Brent crude hitting $100 per barrel, European electricity rising 30%, and high diesel prices. Agricultural commodities like soybeans, wheat, and corn have also climbed significantly. In Great Britain, Prime Minister Burnham's government faces controversies over turning away volunteer migrant rescue vessels, defunding Territorial Army reserves, and elevated bond yields. Additionally, Foreign Minister Ed Miliband addressed contentious proposals regarding Israeli West Bankimport bans. (8)

JUNE 1783 KINGSTON ONTARIO

U.S. Canada Friction And International Diplomacy
Mary Kissel assesses escalating trade tensions between President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, driven by disputes over protectionism and retaliatory tariffs. She notes that while both leaders find political advantage in public confrontation ahead of domestic elections, economic integration across energy, banking, and defense remains crucial. Kissel warns against Ottawa using China as an economic counterweight. Turning to European security, Kissel expresses skepticism regarding recent White House diplomatic overtures to Moscow, arguing that negotiating without imposing firm consequences fails to counter Vladimir Putin's unyielding demands and ongoing hybrid warfare tactics across Western Europe. (7)

1969 APOLLO 10

China Strategic Ambitions In Cislunar Space
Rick Fisher examines growing strategic competition between the United States and China in cislunar space, the critical region between Earth and the Moon. A leaked Chinese military academic article outlines principles for cislunar combat, complemented by plans to launch 30 monitoring cubesats to support space operations. Fisher notes that China's long-standing strategy aims to control cislunar space much like its territorial claims in the South China Sea. He stresses that without firm American deterrence, Beijing could unilaterally establish dominance over cislunar transit and future lunar activities, making preparation for potential conflict essential to maintaining access. (6)

1898 NWMP IN YUKON

U.S. Canada Trade Conflict Drives Realignment
Charles Burton discusses the severe breakdown in U.S.-Canada economic relations following retaliatory tariff escalations and trade bans. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has framed the dispute around defending national sovereignty, recalling historical precedent like the 1890 McKinley tariffs that fostered Canadian nationalism. In response to proposed 50% U.S. tariffs and import bans, Canada implemented targeted tariffs against red-state exports. Burton observes that this rift is forcing Ottawa to diversify its resource exports away from the United States toward alternative global markets, warning that Beijing is eagerly waiting to deepen economic and strategic ties with Canada. (5)

1890 SAXONY

German Political Turbulence Following AfD Surge
Judy Dempsey analyzes the political shockwaves caused by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) securing nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. This outcome has pressured Chancellor Friedrich Merz to defend democratic institutions while maintaining the CDU's strict firewall against forming coalitions with the populist party. Dempsey highlights that AfD's success relies heavily on strong TikTok engagement by young figures like Ulrich Siegmund, appealing to middle-aged men and youth. Although AfD's platform promotes anti-refugee sentiment and hostility toward the EU, Dempsey warns that anti-EU policies would undermine Germany's economic foundation. (4)

1841 KREMLIN
Russian Hybrid Warfare And Balkan Geopolitics
Ivana Stradner details Russia's persistent hybrid warfare against Western democracies, utilizing social media, cyber operations, undersea cable sabotage, and disinformation to erode alliance cohesion. She notes how the populist AfD party leveraged platforms like TikTok to capture youth votes in Saxony-Anhalt. Stradner emphasizes that Vladimir Putinexploits Western risk aversion and seeks to divide NATO, arguing Washington must project decisive strength. In the Western Balkans, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić continues balancing between the West, Russia, and China to preserve authoritarian control, despite growing domestic protests led by students and young citizens seeking democratic reform. (3)

OCTOBER 1958

Commercial Space Progress And Planetary Exploration
Bob Zimmerman highlights commercial space advancements, noting Stoke Space's $1 billion capital raise to develop its fully reusable Nova rockets and Isar Aerospace's historic orbital launch from Norway. Meanwhile, bureaucracy continues to hinder British spaceport development. In orbital operations, Catalyst demonstrated satellite rendezvous capabilities despite failing to save the Swift observatory's decaying orbit. Additionally, U.S. firms boycotted a Frenchsummit over restrictive proposed EU regulations. Internationally, European and Japanese orbiters successfully separated ahead of Mercury orbital insertion. However, Zimmerman raises concerns over NASA's Perseverance rover dithering on Mars without taking core samples for 15 months. (2)

1903 BEAUMONT, TEXAS

Global Refined Fuel Crisis Drives Markets
Michael Bernstam analyzes the global refined petroleum crisis, emphasizing that diesel crack spreads have reached record levels due to refinery bottlenecks and geopolitical conflicts. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and drone strikes on Russian refineries have cut refined product supplies by millions of barrels daily. Because U.S. shale oil yields lighter products unsuitable for heavy diesel production and domestic refineries operate near full capacity, elevated fuel prices are projected to persist into 2027. Concurrently, China is de-risking its foreign reserves by purchasing Russian gold to mitigate potential Western sanctions while exploiting Moscow's fiscal strains to demand steep discounts on natural gas imports. (1)

CAPTION 1860 PRESIDENT-ELECT A. LINCOLN, ILLINOIS STATE CAPITALA

CONTENTS TABLE OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 9-8-2026

Liz Peek joins the show to discuss the resilient US economy, highlighting a vibrant jobs market and booming consumer spending. Despite Wall Street optimism and rising corporate profits, escalating oil prices driven by the Middle Eastconflict remain a major headwind. Looking ahead to the 2028 presidential race, Peek assesses the early Republicanlandscape. While Vice President J.D. Vance currently leads, his relationship with certain voter blocs remains complicated. Meanwhile, big donors increasingly favor the personable Marco Rubio over Vance. Donald Trump must improve his gutter-level favorability numbers by presenting a more likable, grandfatherly image to voters before the midterms. (1)

Jonathan Schanzer analyzes the expanding Middle East conflict, noting recent Iran-backed Houthi strikes on four Saudi cities. This dangerous escalation highlights Iran's strategy to disrupt regional energy assets and exploit vulnerabilities in the United States security architecture. Schanzer also details a worrying alliance between the Houthis and Somalia's al-Shabaab. In Lebanon, the Israeli military has cleared a key subterranean Hezbollah nerve center, leaving the proxy in financial disarray. Ultimately, Schanzer argues that Iran acts like a battered boxer playing "rope-a-dope," surviving to maintain its revolutionary ideology. Turkey is also complicating matters by pursuing an active encirclement strategy near Israel's borders. (2)

George Beebe discusses the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing the serious effort by the Trump administration to rekindle peace talks through emissaries like Jared Kushner. Strategically, the United States wants to end the war to reduce Russia's dependence on China and secure a crucial foreign policy victory before the midterms. However, Beebe explains that a breakthrough will not rely on territorial compromise, which both sides reject. Instead, it requires a strategic settlement that addresses Russian concerns about NATO expansion and guarantees Ukrainian neutrality. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces thinning battle lines, severe manpower recruitment issues, and a critical shortage of air defense missiles. (3)

Tal Fortgang revisits the late 2023 congressional hearings where university presidents argued that calling for the genocide of Jewish people "depends on the context." Fortgang contends that schools selectively used "context" to excuse student agitators who systematically violated time, place, and manner rules to intimidate others. These disruptive activities constituted a targeted harassment campaign rather than protected academic debate. Furthermore, the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that Iran financially backed some protesters. Fortgang argues that universities failed their moral duty by not enforcing rules and expelling those individuals committing lawless acts, which effectively silences legitimate, peaceful and civil campus speech. (4)

Gregory Copley covers global structural changes, discussing the Kushner-Witkoff Kremlin mission and the fracturing of traditional alliances, including US-Canada trade disputes over tariffs. He highlights that Volodymyr Zelenskyyopposes a negotiated Ukraine peace deal because ending the conflict would likely trigger his political removal. Furthermore, Copley observes the decline of globalization and a return to nationalism. Driven by new manufacturing technologies like 3D printing and advanced drone platforms, countries such as Australia and Japan are building sovereign aerospace industries to reduce dependence on foreign powers. Finally, he shares brief updates on King Charles III and Prince George's enrollment at Eton. (5)

Thaddeus McCotter joins the program to dissect the political climate leading into upcoming midterm elections. McCotter observes that Donald Trump's net approval rating is deep underwater, posing a significant hurdle for congressional Republicans. Since the president's performance is always implicitly on the ballot, voters send a direct message to the administration by defeating his fellow partisans in the legislative branch. McCotter and Batchelor also explore the 2028 presidential nomination beauty contests, noting J.D. Vance's early lead while questioning old truisms. Lastly, they discuss the internal ideological divisions within the Democratic party and how candidates distance themselves from the Trump administration. (6)

Joseph Sternberg discusses global fiscal crises, focusing on soaring government debt in developed countries. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has failed to tackle public finances, choosing instead to campaign retroactively against Margaret Thatcher's legacy rather than implementing needed welfare and NHS reforms. Francefaces similar political gridlock, prompting some economists to unrealistically suggest that the European Central Bankforgive its national debt. Meanwhile, the United States faces a looming 2032 deadline when Social Security faces technical insolvency, forcing a crucial entitlement reform debate. Lastly, Sternberg examines newly appointed Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's hawkish stance on inflation. (7)


8. Streaming

• Headline: Diesel Shortages Threaten Global Economy
• Guest: Thaddeus McCotter
• Summary: Thaddeus McCotter joins the show’s preparation segment to examine the severe global diesel shortage, which has pushed Connecticut prices well past $6 per gallon. This scarcity stems from refinery backlogs, a critical lack of new US infrastructure, and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refining facilities. In response, anxious Russian citizens have started purchasing alternative electric vehicles to bypass long fueling lines. McCotter and Bachelor also analyze the upcoming midterm elections, noting how visual presentation is crucial in the social media era. They highlight candidate El Sayed’s deliberate "fighter" style of wearing work boots and t-shirts to capture anti-establishment voter frustration

                        

CAPTION 1920 DODGE BROTHERS, MICHIGAN
Live Streaming weekdays 8-9 AM ET on The John Batchelor Show Substack page
Diesel Shortages Threaten Global Economy
Thaddeus McCotter joins the show's preparation segment to examine the severe global diesel shortage, which has pushed Connecticut prices well past $6 per gallon. This scarcity stems from refinery backlogs, a critical lack of new USinfrastructure, and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refining facilities. In response, anxious Russian citizens have started purchasing alternative electric vehicles to bypass long fueling lines. McCotter and Batchelor also analyze the upcoming midterm elections, noting how visual presentation is crucial in the social media era. They highlight candidate El-Sayed's deliberate "fighter" style of wearing work boots and t-shirts to capture anti-establishment voter frustration. (8)