SCHEDULE OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-7-2026.
1945 BERLIN.

Ian Buruma discusses his book Stay Alive, focusing on his father Leo's 1943 decision to enter mandatory labor in a Berlin factory to protect his parents from Nazi retaliation. The narrative explores Berlin's transition from a striving capital into a city facing bombings, malnutrition, and lice. (1/16)

Ian Buruma describes Joseph Goebbels as a master propagandist who used entertainment to distract Berliners from wartime horrors. He explains "unpolitical" as a psychological justification for ignoring Nazi atrocities. The segment also details the complex Nuremberg racial laws used to systematically categorize and persecute Jewish populations. (2/16)

Ian Buruma defines the wartime greeting "Stay Alive" and profiles resistors like von Moltke. He discusses jazz guitarist Coco Schumann, who survived Auschwitz by playing in a band while others were executed. The segment also covers the Wannsee Conference, where the "final solution" was organized. (3/16)

Ian Buruma details the "U-boats," young Jews living clandestine lives in Berlin without legal papers. He describes the city's descent into lawlessness following the defeat at Stalingrad. Survival became transactional, relying on the goodwill or opportunism of strangers in a society where Hitler was the law. (4/16)

Ian Buruma examines the failure of strategic bombing to break civilian morale, which instead fostered solidarity. He recounts his father's letters from a Berlin labor barracks, describing the harsh conditions of malnutrition and vermin. He also highlights diaries showing how individuals navigated the criminal regime. (5/16)

Ian Buruma discusses the moral dilemmas of survival, focusing on Stella Kübler, who betrayed other Jews to save her parents from Auschwitz. He asserts that information about the Holocaust was widely available via the BBC and soldiers' letters, meaning that for many Berliners, ignorance was a choice. (6/16)

Ian Buruma recounts the final months of the war, dominated by Goebbels' "death cult" propaganda and the film Colberg. He describes the trial of resistor von Moltke, who stood up to the sadistic judge Roland Freisler, and the eventual bombing of the court that killed the judge. (7/16)

Ian Buruma details the Soviet occupation of Berlin, characterized by mass looting and rape. He tracks the fates of his book's protagonists: his father Leo narrowly escaped execution by a Russian soldier, while resistance leader Borchardtwas tragically killed by a stray shot after liberation. (8/16)

Anatol Lieven analyzes China's diplomatic strategy, noting Beijing's desire for a Trump-Xi summit despite Middle Eastern conflicts. China aims to manage trade tariffs and stabilize Taiwan relations, believing that U.S. involvement in external wars may ultimately weaken American alliances in Asia and strengthen China's regional standing. (9/16)

Anatol Lieven analyzes reports of Vladimir Putin operating from bunkers to avoid precision strikes. He discusses Ukraine's emergence as a "drone war startup" and the resulting economic strain. Lieven notes that while the frontline remains frozen, Russian public support for the conflict is beginning to crumble. (10/16)

Rick Fisher reveals China's plans to double the size of the Tiangong space station by 2030. He warns of its military dual-use potential, suggesting the station and Shuntan telescope could serve as orbital "battle stations" for surveillance or strikes, providing China with a significant new strategic deterrent. (11/16)

Rick Fisher explores the militarization of the Moon, citing Chinese interest in lunar radar and "moon hoppers" for resource discovery. He describes a technological competition with the U.S. involving nuclear power plants, lasers, and satellite constellations intended for both peaceful research and potential offensive or defensive combat. (12/16)

Veronique de Rugy critiques government-matched savings plans like the "Trump IRA." She argues these technocratic fixes add to the national debt without addressing core tax code flaws. She highlights how high penalties for early withdrawals and payroll taxes effectively discourage lower-income workers from saving for the future. (13/16)

Jim McTague examines the AI boom, noting the high valuation of DeepSeek and its use of black-market chips. He discusses a lawsuit against Character AI for unlicensed medical advice and the economic impact of data centers, which provide local tax revenue but consume significant real estate. (14/16)

Ken Croswell describes the Milky Way's structure as a barred spiral galaxy. He explains that the central bar exerts massive gravitational force. This gravity has trapped billions of "Trojan stars" into two vast whirlpools, similar to how Jupiter's gravity captures Trojan asteroids in its orbit. (15/16)

Ken Croswell details the discovery of the "Hercules stream," stars resonating with the galaxy's central bar. He notes that as the bar's rotation slows, there is a 20% chance Earth's solar system will join this "exclusive club" of Trojan stars in two billion years, changing our galactic position. (16/16)

STREAMING MAKING OF JBS, FEATURING JIM MCTAGUE AND ANATOL LIEVEN, 5-7-2026.
1948? BERLIN

This transcript features a wide-ranging conversation between host John Bachelor and journalist Jim McTag regarding the evolution of storytelling and technology. The dialogue begins with a critique of metafiction and the shift in the publishing industry toward digital distribution and family sagas. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the practical applications of AI, with the speakers comparing different platforms like Gemini and Grok for creative work such as cartooning. The participants also analyze current global economic pressures, specifically rising oil prices, the "fog of war" in the Middle East, and the rapid expansion of AI data centers impacting real estate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The segment concludes with brief, interrupted attempts to interview Anatol Lieven about the geopolitical tensions surrounding China, Taiwan, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Ken Croswell details the discovery of the "Hercules stream," stars resonating with the galaxy's central bar. He notes that as the bar's rotation slows, there is a 20% chance Earth's solar system will join this "exclusive club" of Trojan stars in two billion years, changing our galactic position. (16/16)
1940S BERLIN

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-6-2026.
1903 PERSIAN EMPIRE

1/16: Mary Kissel discusses Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a tactic to divert negotiations from its nuclear program. She also addresses Vladimir Putin's paranoia and Ukraine's drone technology.

2/16: Mary Kissel examines the Maduro regime's refusal to step down in Venezuela. She highlights Cuba's role in propping up regional autocrats while hosting Chinese intelligence facilities and maintaining ties with Russia.

3/16: Professor John Yoo argues California's high energy prices result from sacrificing affordability for climate ideology. This approach ignores natural resources like the shale deposits in the middle of the state.

4/16: John Yoo details organized attempts to intimidate the Supreme Court through leaks and threats. He also explains the President's constitutional authority to unilaterally terminate international treaties like the NATO alliance.

5/16: Rebecca Grant highlights the US Navy's dominance in clearing the Strait of Hormuz and sinking Iranian fast boats. These operations signal to China that the US controls vital sea lanes.

6/16: Charles Burton criticizes proposals for AI cooperation with China, calling it a one-way technology transfer. He warns of espionage, citing the demise of Nortel as a warning against sharing high-end technology.

7/16: Scott Harold analyzes Prime Minister Takaichi's "proactive pacifism" and assertive regional security efforts. She must manage domestic concerns over a weakening yen and a declining population while shifting resources to defense.

8/16: Scott Harold discusses Japan's $10 billion lending initiative to counter Chinese influence in Asia. He also explores Japan's efforts to diversify energy sources, including nuclear power and importing American LNG.

9/16: Henry Sokolski critiques potential US concessions allowing Iran to enrich uranium, warning of rapid breakout capabilities. He also flags Turkey's ICBM development as a signal it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

10/16: Henry Sokolski warns that Sentinel program delays could lead to a four-fold expansion of the US nuclear arsenal. He also urges honesty regarding Israel's nuclear weapons to allow for public discussion.

11/16: Michael Bernstam predicts a global oil "tipping point" by late May due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Shortages in refined products like jet fuel and diesel are particularly critical.

12/16: Michael Toth attributes California's high energy costs to political ideology rather than global events. These "self-inflicted wounds" have caused a middle-class exodus and potential shortages of materials like asphalt.

13/16: Simon Constable reviews surging commodity prices and the threat of famine in North Africa. He also discusses UK local elections, framing them as a protest vote against Keir Starmer's leadership.

14/16: Simon Constable analyzes potential Labour Party leaders Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner. He notes that voters still find the Conservative Party untrustworthy despite Labour's internal turmoil and perceived failures.

15/16: Bob Zimmerman explores rumors of SpaceX acquiring land in Louisiana to exit California. He also details technical delays for NASA's Artemis program and ongoing "technical issues" with Boeing's Starliner capsule.

16/16: Bob Zimmerman reports on an unexpectedly weak solar cycle and its link to climate. He also covers China's new space regulations and Russia's recent test flight of a suborbital rocket.

STREAMING MAKING JBS, FEATURING REBECCA GRANT, CHARLES BURTON, SCOTT HAROLD, GORDON CHANG, 5-6-26. 
1720 MAP

This transcript captures a discussion from The John Bachelor Show featuring experts Gordon Chang, Rebecca Grant, and Charles Burton regarding global security and geopolitical rivalries. The initial segment highlights the US Navy'scritical role in maintaining stability within the Persian Gulf and the South China Sea, emphasizing its capability to counter Iranian aggression and signal strength to China. Shifting focus to technological competition, the panel critiques Bernie Sanders' proposal for AI collaboration with Beijing, arguing that such cooperation often leads to predatory technology transfers rather than mutual benefit. The participants cite historical examples of industrial espionage in Canada and the collapse of Nortel as warnings against trusting Chinese strategic intentions. Finally, the dialogue touches upon Japan’s evolving diplomatic and security presence in Southeast Asia and Australia, positioning it as a vital democratic partner in regional defense.

9/16: Henry Sokolski critiques potential US concessions allowing Iran to enrich uranium, warning of rapid breakout capabilities. He also flags Turkey's ICBM development as a signal it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

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