The John Batchelor Show

LONDINIUM 91 AD. Political Revenge: Comparing Modern American Vendettas to Roman Gore Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) The conversation focuses on the nature of political revenge, prompted by the revival of Seneca's bloody revenge play Octavia. Gaius expresses astonishment that editorialists appear surprised by Mr. Trump seeking vengeance against those who attempted to jail him, noting that revenge is inherent to the Roman and American empires. Germanicus states he is only surprised that the opposing party refuses to confess to similar actions, citing historical Democratic precedents such as the Palmer raids under Wilson and successful efforts against Richard Nixon. He calls the opposition's outrage a "forked tongue expression," noting the unjustified high-security incarceration of individuals for minor offenses following the 2020 events. Gaius observes that the opposition employs false piety and melodrama—such as claiming democracy faces an existential crisis—in place of historical understanding. Germanicus argues that political bitterness and high levels of lying stem from the opposition's belief that they represent light and truth, leading to the "othering" of the enemy. This dehumanization means that lying becomes perceived as an act of virtue. The hosts conclude that while Roman political revenge sometimes involved preemptively wiping out one's own family, the current American conflict represents a comparatively mild cupcake tyranny. 1883 CATO SUICIDE

LONDINIUM 91 A.D.: The Emperor's Legacy: Debating Trump's Greco-Roman White House Addition Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) Gaius and Germanicus discuss the proposed 90,000 square foot Greco-Roman casino-style building intended for the White House, which the Washington Post endorsed, calling the current need to erect tents on the South Lawn an embarrassment. Gaius notes that changes to the White House traditionally draw large protests, citing Jefferson and Jackie Kennedy. He compares Mr. Trump, who has no claim to royalty, to the Flavians (Vespasian and Titus), who were business-class provincials yet built the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome. Germanicus explains that it is the prerogative of the emperor to leave a physical legacy, a tradition dating back to Augustus, who transformed Rome from a city of brick to one of marble. He argues that official architecture in Washington, D.C., follows this majestic imperial Greco-Roman tradition, cemented by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Gaius reveals that the current White House is actually a complete 1950s reproduction, rebuilt under Truman after structural deficiencies were discovered. Finally, they discuss Mr. Trump's desire for a moon landing before leaving office, viewing it as part of his mission to restore American greatness and secure a significant legacy. 1902 ROME

LONDINIUM 91 A.D.: Roman Siege Tactics and Russian Attrition: A Study in Political Vengeance and War Strategy Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) Gaius and Germanicus open by discussing fresh swan meat in Londinium before moving to the main topic of political vengeance, noting that Romans recognize it while American editorialists are discovering it afresh due to Emperor Trump. They review the war in Ukraine, where Russians are employing a strategy of attrition to achieve the collapse of the Ukrainian army. Germanicus explains that Ukraine's strategy of refusing to retreat has led to disproportionate losses and the encirclement of up to 10,000 soldiers in "cauldrons" near Pokrovsk and Kupyansk. Gaius relates this situation to successful Roman siege tactics used at Carthage and Jerusalem. Historically, the reward for Roman soldiers breaking a siege was to ransack the city, causing the prices of gold and slaves to plummet. Germanicus asserts, however, that the Russians are taking pains to signal that leveling cities is not their way, emphasizing mercy due to the kinship between the two related peoples. The hosts also mention the delay of a summit involving Vladimir Putin and Mr. Trump's proposed Greco-Roman style building at the White House. 80 BCE SULLA SACKS ROME

8. Hoover, FDR, and the Lessons of Wilson's Failure David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Herbert Hoover, known as the "great engineer," chose the Republican Party, disliking the Democratic coalition of Southern segregationists and radicals. Hoover was systematic but lacked the public warmth necessary for effective leadership, a deficiency that proved costly during the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt, becoming governor in 1928, became more empathetic and politically calculating following his polio diagnosis in 1921. He mastered new media like radio to communicate effectively with the public. FDR eventually supported repealing Prohibition, shifting from his earlier focus on modification. Learning from Wilson's failure to pass the Versailles Treaty, FDR ensured the United Nations' success by consulting with Republicans and building a cross-party coalition. 1929 HOOVER PARADE

7. Harding's Landslide Victory and the Role of Radio David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate, ran while imprisoned in Atlanta Penitentiary for speaking against the draft; Wilson refused him clemency. The 1920 election resulted in an overwhelming Republican sweep. Harding's "front porch campaign" was a professional event organized by Albert Lasker, attracting hundreds of thousands of people, including show business figures like Al Jolson. Election results were broadcast via early radio from a Pittsburgh department store roof and by projection onto buildings. Harding won decisively with 15 million votes (60%) and 404 electoral votes. Though deeply mourned when he died in 1923 from a heart attack, Harding had focused on debt reduction and resisted manipulation from advisors. Calvin Coolidge was sworn in by his father in remote Plymouth Notch, Vermont.

6. The Campaign Focuses on the League and Eugene Debs David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents The campaign featured the Democratic ticket of Cox and Roosevelt against Harding. Though criticized for his "bloviating" speeches, Harding was a charming speaker who avoided trouble. After meeting the frail Woodrow Wilson, Cox was deeply moved and made the League of Nations the central, defining issue for the Democrats—a political miscalculation. Wilson refused to compromise on the League due to a personality flaw that made him unable to accept opposition. Other critical issues included Prohibition, debated as "wet and dry." The segment introduces Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate, whose platform contained concepts like social security that would later become mainstream policy.

5. The Democratic Convention: Wilson's Downfall and the Rise of Cox and Roosevelt David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Meeting in San Francisco in July 1920, the Democrats grappled with Woodrow Wilson's political liability due to his uncompromising League of Nations stance and desire for a third term. Wilson received only a grim demonstration of support, and his cabinet feared he would die if nominated. The two leading contenders were William Gibbs McAdoo, Wilson's son-in-law, and Ohio Governor John Cox. Due to the Democratic two-thirds rule, the convention took many ballots. Cox, a moderate publisher, secured the nomination after 44 ballots. After meeting with Wilson, Cox abandoned his moderate position to strongly support the League. Franklin D. Roosevelt was chosen as Vice President due to his name recognition, Navy service, and New York connections. 1929 HOOVER INAUGURAL

4. The Republican Convention: Harding Emerges from the Smoke-Filled Room David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents The Republican National Convention in Chicago in June 1920 was hot and chaotic. Leading candidates included Hiram Johnson, Leonard Wood, and Frank Lowden, while Warren Harding was a distant long shot, seeking the presidency partly to boost his reelection campaign for his Senate seat. The balloting quickly established the limits of the frontrunners. Because Republicans required only a majority for nomination, unlike the Democratic two-thirds rule, they were able to pivot to Harding, who was seen as an acceptable compromise. The Republican platform on the League of Nations was deliberately ambiguous, reflecting the deep division between internationalists like Hoover and isolationists like Lodge. 1913 WILSON OPENING DAY

3. The Rise of FDR and Calvin Coolidge's Contrasting Personas David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, the ambitious Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was considered only for the vice presidency in 1920, often making mistakes on the campaign trail. His marriage to Eleanor had become strained by his long-term affair with Lucy Mercer, transforming into more of a political partnership. This contrasts sharply with Calvin Coolidge, whose marriage was marked by fidelity. Coolidge, Governor of Massachusetts, was admired for his trustworthiness and decisiveness, traits rooted in his remote Vermont upbringing. The segment also introduces Herbert Hoover, the "great engineer" and humanitarian, who served under Wilson and was so popular that both parties considered him for the 1920 nomination; FDR even proposed a Hoover-Roosevelt ticket. 1929 MARCH 4, DEPARTING FOR THE INAUGURATION.

1. The Legacy of Woodrow Wilson and the Split over the League of Nations David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents The 1920 election followed President Woodrow Wilson's debilitating stroke in October 1919, which left him perpetually frail. The core issue became the League of Nations, which Wilson championed but the Republican Party bitterly contested, ultimately causing public skepticism. Wilson held fierce opposition to former President Theodore Roosevelt, who died in January 1919. Roosevelt had detested Wilson's neutrality regarding German aggression. Despite his frail health, Roosevelt would have been the unstoppable Republican candidate had he lived. Wilson reacted to news of Roosevelt's death with shockingly hateful language, revealing the depth of his personal animosity toward his predecessor. 1929 Hoover Inaugural

 8. Monuments, Darkness, and Contingency Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section highlights the enduring conflict, which extended into the early 20th century through a "monument war" near Logan's Elm in Ohio. The Cresap Society funded a monument to clear their family name, leading locals to erect counter-monuments with the lament's text and a statue of Logan. Parkinson utilizes Joseph Conrad's metaphor of "the flicker" (human systems like patriotism, colonialism, and republics) attempting to illuminate the terrifying, bewildering "darkness" of the world. He notes that the aggressive colonial expansion seemed inevitable, but the specific outcomes were shaped by contingency and the biographies of individuals like Logan and Michael Cresap, whose actions were enabled and celebrated by the new American Republic. 1958

7. The Battle for Logan's Legacy in McGuffey's Reader Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section explores the political battle spurred by Logan's Lament. Jefferson used the lament in Notes on the State of Virginia to argue for American superiority against European claims of degeneracy, elevating Logan while condemning Michael Cresap. This triggered a ferocious counter-crusade by Luther Martin, an attorney married into the Cresap family, who defended the Cresaps as heroes and challenged Jefferson's facts. Nevertheless, the lament found widespread cultural traction. Due to its short, poignant nature, Logan's Lament was memorized by American schoolchildren for decades, notably through the McGuffey Readers, reinforcing the theme of the "vanishing Indian."

6. Logan's Murder and Jefferson's Defense of America Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section explores the fate of Logan and the cultural impact of his lament. A surveyor learned that Logan was murdered by his nephew, Todkahtos, around 1780 near Lake Erie. Logan was silenced because the Six Nations feared the powerful orator was too persuasive and unpredictable in the volatile Ohio country. The discussion pivots to Thomas Jefferson, who obtained the lament and featured it in his Notes on the State of Virginia. Jefferson used Logan's eloquence to counter the French naturalist Buffon's theory that everything in America was inferior and degenerate, aiming to prove American intellectual superiority in the Enlightenment.

. Michael Cresap's Transformation into a Patriot Hero Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section details the transformation of Michael Cresap from a figure blamed for frontier atrocities to a Patriot hero. Although blamed by Logan and British officials for the violence, Cresap answered the Continental Congress's call for riflemen, marching to Boston. These riflemen were lauded as "America's secret weapons" but were difficult to manage, causing George Washington to wish they hadn't come. Suffering from malaria, Cresap collapsed shortly after arriving and later died in New York City in October 1775. Patriot leaders, needing heroes to fight the British and rumored native alliances, emphasized Cresap's violent experience and volunteerism as core American traits. He was given a massive public funeral in New York.

4. Logan's Vengeance and Lord Dunmore's War Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section focuses on the multiple "bewildering" conflicts on the frontier as the Revolution began. Following the Yellow Creek Massacre, Logan, the former diplomat, became an avenger, killing nearly 20 people and deliberately slaughtering children in revenge for his family's deaths. This period coincided with Lord Dunmore's War, launched by the Virginia governor to assert colonial land claims against Native Americans, especially the Shawnee. When the Native Americans sought peace, Logan delivered his famous lament through translator John Gibson (who was related by marriage to Logan's murdered sister). The lament served as Logan's announcement that his personal vengeance was satisfied, ending his period of warfare.

3. Tribal Politics and the Yellow Creek Massacre Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section details the Yellow Creek Massacre. The frontier conflicts are described as tribal, involving native groups and colonial groups (Virginians, Pennsylvanians) battling over land, especially after the British left Fort Pitt. The massacre happened on April 30, 1774, at Baker's Bottom, targeting a band of Mingo natives. Logan's family, including his brother, sister, and mother, attempted diplomacy at a tavern but were ambushed and murdered by a group of men, including Daniel Greathouse, though none were named Cresap. Michael Cresap, later blamed in Logan's Lament, was absent. The violence was brutal; Logan's sister was killed after pleading for her infant son's life.

2. Washington, Land Speculation, and the Heart of American Darkness Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section explores the theme of "bewilderment" on the American frontier, drawing parallels to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. The conversation notes the intense confusion and tribal conflicts involving colonials, Native Americans, the French, and the British. A key focus is George Washington's role as a land speculator and partner in the Ohio Company. The company sought vast lands near the Forks of the Ohio (Pittsburgh). The Cresap family patriarch, Thomas Cresap, and his oldest son, Daniel, were original partners, making the Cresaps well-known to Washington and integral to the colonial advance that escalated tensions with the French.

. Logan's Lament and the Mingo/Cresap Frontier Conflict Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier Professor Robert G. Parkinson's book Heart of American Darkness focuses on Logan's Lament, a famous 1775 document where Mingo chief Logan laments the 1774 murder of his family by "Colonel Cresap." Parkinson notes this is a misidentification; the actual killer was not a Cresap, though the Cresap family were powerful land speculators. Logan's father, Shikellamy, was an Oneida diplomat who partnered with James Logan, William Penn's secretary, establishing the origin of the Logan name. The frontier was characterized by shifting colonial borders (e.g., Maryland/Pennsylvania disputes) and escalating conflict with indigenous people. 1954

8. Greenland's Final Days: The Mystery of Herjolfsnes and the Fifteenth-Century End Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The final chapter focuses on the end of Norse settlement in Greenland, begun by Eric the Red around 985 AD. Herjolfsnes, one of the last settlements, preserved the clothes and bodies of the final generations in its graveyard, dating into the early fifteenth century. The garments were patched, coarse woolen pieces reflecting the declining status and isolation caused partly by climate change. One woman's dress tore when she was buried—a poignant detail. The Norse interacted with the Inuit, who may have carved figures depicting Norse dress. The final reports include a man burned for seducing a married woman through witchcraft in 1407 and a wedding in 1408. The ultimate fate of the last few inhabitants remains an unsolved mystery. 1949

7. Defining the End: 1066, Harold Hardrada, and the Battle of Largs Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The ending of the Viking Age is explored through political shifts. The year 1066 AD is conventionally used as the endpoint, marking the death of Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Hardrada, a larger-than-life figure who had served the Byzantine emperor, based his English claim on Cnut's North Sea Empire. William of Normandy, who triumphed shortly thereafter, was of culturally assimilated Norse descent—Norman means Northmen. However, 1066 is Anglocentric. A later marker is the 1263 Battle of Largs, where conflict between King Hákon of Norway and King Alexander III of Scotland over the Western Isles ended with Hákon's death. This effectively ended Norway's political control in the region, although Norse culture persisted. 1920 John Carter on Mars

6. Kerið Cave: Offerings to the Fire Giant in Iceland's Liminal Space Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age A recent discovery in Iceland is Kerið cave, a lava tube associated with the fire giant Surtr, formed by a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. Deep inside, archaeologists found a massive built wall, unburned animal bones, and stones arranged in the outline of a boat. Within the boat, offerings related to fire—ornaments, jasper, and burned bones—were left, likely intended to placate the fire being dwelling further within, possibly responsible for the volcanic activity. This site represents a liminal space, a meeting point between the physical world and the mythological worlds of fire and ice. After Iceland's official Christian conversion around 1000 AD, a metal cross was left as the final offering, seemingly closing off the pagan practice

5. Creation, Ragnarok, and the Cautionary Tale of Post-Conversion Norse Mythology Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age Accessing Norse belief systems requires caution because the main textual sources, such as the Prose and Poetic Eddas, were written in the thirteenth century in Iceland, after the conversion to Christianity. Snorri Sturluson, a poet and politician murdered in thirteenth-century Iceland, composed the Prose Edda as a handbook to preserve the myths. Norse creation mythology describes life beginning in Ginungagap, the eternal void where the fire world (Muspel) met the ice world (Niflheim), forming the primordial ice giant Ymir. The mythological destruction, Ragnarok (the doom of the gods), involves the fire giant Surtr and Loki arriving on Naglfar, a ship terrifyingly constructed from the fingernails of dead people. 1920

. Reliquaries, Status Seeking, and Rune Amulets Against Dwarves Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The discussion moves to reliquaries, originally used in a Christian context, such as at Lindisfarne, to house saints' relics. Norse raiders prized the metal and decoration, discarded the relics, and brought them back to Norway, often gifting them to women. These items were passed down through female generations or repurposed as brooches, suggesting that early raids were often masculine activities focused on acquiring wealth and status necessary for young men to secure a wife and establish a home. Pre-Christian belief systems involved protective runes and amulets against malevolence caused by supernatural beings such as elves or dwarves. A human skull fragment from Geber, Denmark, dating to the early eighth century, was carved with runes, possibly intended to guard against sickness caused by dwarves. 1919

3. Kievan Rus Assimilation and the Unsolved Mystery of the Salme Ships Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age In the east, Rurik and his company founded what became Kievan Rus, shifting their power base south from Novgorod (862) to Kiev. Although people of Norse heritage controlled the area initially, they were a minority who mastered cultural assimilation with Slavic groups. Norse names like Ingvar and Helga became Slavicized as Igor and Olga, demonstrating extensive cultural mixing. The text also covers the mystery of the Salme ships in Estonia, recently discovered. These two ship burials, dated around 750 AD and predating Lindisfarne, contained the remains of dozens of high-status individuals from Sweden who died violently, likely on a diplomatic mission. One leader was buried with the king piece of the popular board game Hnefatafl placed in his mouth—an intentional act of storytelling.

2. From Raiders to Rulers: The Danelaw and the Eastern Expansion of the Norse Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The discussion highlights the transformation of Vikings from raiders—who famously plundered Paris for 7,000 pounds of gold—to military conquerors. The Great Heathen Army arrived in England around 865, conquering East Anglia, Northumbria, and Mercia. The subsequent stalemate led to an agreement between King Alfred and the Norse leader Guthrum toward the end of the ninth century. This accord established the Danelaw, granting the Norse political and legal control over vast swathes of England, evidenced today by Old Norse influences in place names. The Norse cultural sphere was enormous, characterized by a diaspora that spread east and west. People from what is now Sweden moved down Eurasian waterways, becoming known as the Varangians, or Russ (rowers), and settled Novgorod in 862.

1. Everyday Objects and the Shocking Start of the Viking Age Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The book uses everyday objects to explore the real lives of the people known as Vikings. For example, a runic message carved on wood from Norway around 1200 AD shows a woman named Gia telling her inebriated husband, who is in a tavern, to come home. Runes were spiky letters often carved into hard surfaces like wood or bone, possibly originating during the Roman Empire. The book's title is a kenning, an Old Norse poetic device in which "Embers of the Hands" originally meant gold but here refers to precious, personal objects. The Viking Age is generally dated from 750 to 1100 AD, with a defining start marked by the shocking raid on the wealthy monastery at Lindisfarne in 793 AD.

The Fight for the Nanina and Charles Barnard's Return to the Sea Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World Barnard and his party survived 534 days in wretched conditions, primarily thanks to their sizable dog, Scent, who hunted wild hogs. When rescued by British whale ships and taken to Lima, Peru, Barnard regretfully gave Scent to a British whaling captain, believing the dog deserved a better life than an arduous two-year voyage home. Barnard returned home bankrupt, but Murray and Son successfully appealed the prize court's initial decision. The court ultimately sided with the Americans, awarding them the value of the brig—a ruling Danda resented for the rest of his life. Though initially vowing to quit the sea, Barnard resumed sealing and later became a port warden and light ship captain, publishing his account in 1829.

The Collapse of the Humanitarian Deal and Barnard's Abandonment Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World Charles Barnard offered the British castaways a humanitarian deal: he would transport them to South America in exchange for salvage rights to the Isabella wreck. Although the British learned the War of 1812 had commenced, they accepted the terms. However, one of the British captains, Brooks, secured a rescue mission from Buenos Aires commanded by Lieutenant William Peter Danda aboard the HMS Nancy. Danda was driven by the prospect of personal financial gain offered by the prize system and disregarded the Americans' humanitarian assistance to British citizens. Danda seized the Nanina as a prize of war, imprisoned most of the American crew, and deliberately marooned Barnard and a hunting party who were ashore gathering food for the castaways.

The Falklands and the Wreck Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World The American sealers sought valuable fur seals and elephant seal blubber in the Falkland Islands, a harsh, virtually uninhabited region characterized by constant high winds averaging 18 mph and cold temperatures averaging 49°F in summer. The treeless landscape features tusk grass, which grows up to nine feet tall and yields peat useful for making fires. While the Nanina hunted seals, the Australian transport ship Isabella wrecked on Eagle Island due to Captain George Hickton's ineptitude and drinking. The 54 survivors, including Marines and pardoned convicts, made it ashore, though many were inebriated and convinced they would perish in this desolate location. 1849 FALKLANDS

The High-Risk Sealing Expedition of the Nanina Eric J. Dolan Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World Sealing was a lucrative industry, particularly for the China market, valued for its high-quality fur seal pelts and elephant seal blubber. Charles Barnard, a veteran sealer, proposed a high-risk expedition on the brig Nanina to the Falkland Islands, which Murray and Son backed despite the impending War of 1812. Many merchant vessels remained in port, but Barnard and Murray viewed this as an opportunity to meet pent-up demand. Barnard's crew included four captains, notably diarist Barzillai Pease, and his 63-year-old, infirm father, Valentine Barnard, who was meant to captain the Nanina on its return voyage to New York laden with cargo. They departed from New York just as an embargo took effect. 1833 FALKLANDS

4. Climate Change and Risk Management Strategies. This final section addresses climate change and risk management strategies. Koalas are highly vulnerable to fires because they are dependent on eucalyptus trees. The arrival of El Niño is associated with hot and dry conditions, increasing fire danger. A major concern is that climate change is rapidly increasing the incidence, frequency, and severity of fires. Even in non-high-risk seasons, fires can occur due to factors like arson. The expansion of civilization into bushland areas—particularly in urban interface areas (bushy outskirts of cities)—presents a unique risk. These areas often have high populations with low fire preparedness and experience. Australia, being a very fire-prone country, tends to allow large park fires to take their course. The country also utilizes preventative burnings (a practice learned from Indigenous Australians) to reduce the fuel load. However, this practice needs to be carried out delicately and on a small scale, paying attention to local ecology, rather than through broad-scale burnings. 1915 QUEENSLAND

3. Personal Preparedness, Home Safety Design, and Decision-Making During Fire Events. This section focuses on personal preparedness, home safety design, and decision-making during fire events. The highly settled coastal areas of Australia face significant fire risk. The author emphasizes that living safely in fire-prone areas requires constant effort and planning. Houses need to be designed to mitigate risk; for example, homes built on concrete slabs or those with sealed-off underfloor spaces are safer than houses on stumps, as embers can easily get under the house and start a fire. The biggest risk to houses is mostly ember attack. During a serious fire, embers can fall "like red rain." To protect against ground fires, a cleared management zone—ideally 100 meters in rural areas—is recommended around the house. On high fire-risk days, known as Fire Ban Days (which are increasing in frequency), the official policy is to leave early. Staying and defending the home is a major decision that requires thorough preparation. Leaving late is a very dangerous strategy. Wind is a major factor, with hot and dry northerly winds posing a significant danger. Furthermore, large fires can generate their own weather and worsen the wind. Wind changes are particularly risky, as they can suddenly turn a long, thin trail of fire into a massive fire front. In the worst-case scenario—being caught in a car—the advice is to stay in the car, turn off the air conditioner, close windows tightly, keep the engine running, and use a woolen blanket to shield against heat. The primary killer in fires is often radiant heat, not the flames themselves. The woolen blanket acts as a thermal shield. It is also crucial to carry water for drinking to reduce dehydration. 1907 ADELAIDE

2. The Science of Fire and Response Organization in Australia. This section addresses the science of what burns and the organization of fire response in Australia. The Australian landscape contains fire-adapted plants. Eucalyptus trees are highly flammable due to their oil content, burning quickly. Mountain Ash is the largest species of eucalyptus in the world. While many eucalypts regenerate after fire, Mountain Ash actually dies after a fierce blaze but releases a huge load of seed, requiring sun to regenerate. Naturally, Mountain Ash fires are notoriously fierce and occur only every two or three hundred years. Fires are caused by lightning, power lines, and arson. Although arson is frequent, the resulting fires are often less dangerous than those caused by lightning or electrical faults, as some arsonists light fires for attention. Regarding fuel, while some believe certain weeds like pittosporum might be fireproof, ultimately, everything burns under the right conditions. A well-watered pittosporum hedge, however, could protect a home from ember attack. H. G. Wells is quoted in the book, describing fire as a "gorilla" that is opportunistic with sparks flying. In terms of response, fire brigades originated with insurance companies in the late 19th century, focusing on protecting buildings in townships. Rural communities, left unprotected, established their own parallel volunteer bushfire brigades (the first being in Berrigan in 1901). Following the enormous 1939 fires in Victoria, the government began funding and organizing state bodies to support these brigades. 1885 SOUTH AUSTRALIA

1. A Future in Flames: Worldwide Wildfire Phenomenon and Historical Context. Danielle Clode's book, A Future in Flames, addresses wildfires (or bushfires in Australia) as a worldwide phenomenon challenging civilization in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The discussion emphasizes that bushfires are not solely a product of civilization but were present historically. Early European explorers, such as Captain Cook in 1770, frequently reported seeing fires along the Australian coast, often interpreting them as indicators of people ashore. Once explorers went ashore, some observed really intense fires that were clearly out of control. The sources highlight the long history of fire use by humans, focusing on Indigenous Australians. Prior to European settlement, Indigenous people used fire in various ways, including hunting, clearing movement passages, signaling, defense, and crucially, land management. They used fire selectively to stimulate new growth and promote grass for grazing prey. This land management system, perfected over more than 60,000 years, is known as "fire stick farming" and is integral to the Australian ecology. In contrast, early European settlers failed to apply these lessons well, often using fire indiscriminately merely to clear forests. While the land clearance supported the economy by regenerating grass for sheep, the uncontrolled fires became a serious problem relatively early in the colony's history. By 1851, settlers realized the severity of the issue, exemplified by events like Black Thursday (February 5, 1851), which featured extreme heat (47°C or 120+°F). 1864 QUEENSLAND

4. Post-Pandemic Lessons and Policy Interventions Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work (Post-Pandemic Edition) Eberstadt addresses the post-pandemic landscape, noting the problem has worsened and shows warning signs of spreading to prime-age women and older cohorts. The China shock (China entering the WTO) previously disrupted US manufacturing. Pandemic-era government transfers were unique in that US disposable income rose, generating over $2.5 trillion in excess savings that facilitated a "delayed return to work." Policy solutions include adopting a "work first" principle for social welfare programs and improving vocational skills training to reduce disincentives. Eberstadt stresses the need to gather statistics on the vast ex-felon population (one in seven adult men has a felony conviction) to enable evidence-based policies for societal reentry. Gaming the disability system often involves claims that are difficult to falsify, such as psychological or musculoskeletal pain. 1939 NYSE

3. Supply vs. Demand: Economic Shocks, Entitlements, and the Invisible Population Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work (Post-Pandemic Edition) Eberstadt explores the competing explanations for the ghost army, contrasting his supply-side argument (men holding back labor/unpreparedness) with demand-side views from critics Henry Olsen and Jared Bernstein. Olsen highlights the role of economic shocks and structural changes, like the 1970s stagflation and deindustrialization (the Rust Belt). The role of entitlements is significant, as over half of NILF men receive at least one benefit, often disability payments like SSDI. Regional differences in labor force participation (e.g., high inactivity in West Virginia adjacent to low inactivity in Maryland) mitigate a purely national demand-side case. The source stresses the lack of data on the estimated 25 million ex-convicts, who are an "invisible population" largely untracked by labor statistics. 1929

2. Demographics and Despair: The Activities of Men Not in the Labor Force Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work (Post-Pandemic Edition) Eberstadt investigates the characteristics of the 7.2 million men "not in the labor force" (NILF) as of 2015. Foreign-born men and married men with children are highly likely to be at work, regardless of educational background. Conversely, those who are neither employed nor in education or training (NEET) report engaging in remarkably little civic life, charity, or household help. Time use surveys suggest these NEET men spend the equivalent of a full-time job—around 2,000 hours a year—watching screens. This inactivity is linked to profound misery, as almost half of these men report taking pain medication daily, contributing to rising "deaths of despair" (suicide, overdoses, cirrhosis). 1927 NYSE

1. The Ghost Army: Tracking the Collapse of Work for Prime-Age Men Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work(Post-Pandemic Edition) Nicholas Eberstadt's book introduces the metaphor of the "ghost army": over 7 million men of prime working age (25-54) who are out of the workforce altogether, neither working nor looking for work. This cohort, the "backbone of the economy," has seen a collapse of work over half a century. The decline is measured using the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which dropped from 96.6% in 1965 to 88.2% by 2015. Eberstadt notes this decline is generational, with each younger cohort on a lower work trajectory than the last. The severity of the decline in the USA is described as "strikingly more severe" than in comparable rich countries like Canada. 1936

8. Later Films and the Importance of Sid Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided Chaplin's first European film, A King in New York (1957), suffered as he struggled with English union rules, highlighting his dependence on absolute creative autonomy. His final film, A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), was hampered by the casting of Marlon Brando, insisted upon by Universal. Brando proved mechanical and unsuited for the film's romantic rescue plot. Ultimately, Chaplin's half-brother, Sid, remained the indispensable cornerstone of his life, always ready to help or rescue him. 1936

7. Exile to Switzerland Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided In September 1952, Attorney General James McGranery revoked Chaplin's U.S. re-entry permit while Chaplin was sailing to London. Having committed no crime, Chaplin was enraged and chose not to return, relying on his wife, Una, and brother, Sydney, to liquidate his assets. He settled in Switzerland to reduce the political pressure. However, losing his comfortable, self-owned Los Angeles studio and the stimulating environment of America contributed to a creative decline, resulting in semi-retirement. 1931

6. Limelight and Keaton Collaboration Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided Chaplin based Limelight on an atmospheric novel about Edwardian theater. The film reflected his own life, allowing him to process grief over his inability to save his mother by repeatedly featuring the narrative of an older adult rescuing a helpless young woman. After a difficult search, he cast Claire Bloom in the lead role. A significant unscripted addition during production was a routine featuring Buster Keaton. The two comedy legends collaborated improvisationally, resulting in a sequence that Keaton was honored to perform. 1928

5. Monsieur Verdoux Flop and HUAC Persecution Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided Chaplin purchased the idea for Monsieur Verdoux from Orson Welles, but the 1947 film—a dark comedy about a serial killer—became his first commercial failure, released at an inopportune moment following World War II. Though the FBI had surveilled Chaplin and confirmed he was not a Communist, they sought to remove him due to his politics and what they deemed his "flamboyant sex life." HUAC avoided calling him to testify in order to maintain their narrative. Gossip columnist Hedda Hopper personally pursued a negative campaign against him, projecting her loathing of her ex-husband onto Chaplin. 1921

4. The Joan Barry Scandal and the Mann Act Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided After giving a political speech, Chaplin became involved with the unstable Joan Barry in 1942. She held him at gunpoint and later initiated a paternity suit. The FBI targeted Chaplin, prosecuting him unsuccessfully under the Mann Act. Although a blood test proved he was not the father, the jury found against him, forcing him to pay child support for eighteen years. Barry later blamed the FBI for instigating the case. 1921

3. Social Commentary, Goddard, and The Great Dictator Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided Chaplin's 1931–1932 world tour revealed global squalor, which drove his social commentary in Modern Times. The film's politics concerned the FBI, though Chaplin was extremely wealthy and privately mocked radical labels. He lived with Paulette Goddard for ten years, fabricating a marriage and sham divorce to aid her career. Chaplin self-financed all his major features, including The Great Dictator. He delayed making sound pictures because he believed the Tramp should not speak, thereby preserving his character's universality. 1918

2. The Birth of The Tramp and Professional Confidence Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided Chaplin arrived in America with the Carno group between 1910 and 1913. Stan Laurel noted his prodigious talent and absolute professional self-confidence. In 1914, Chaplin joined Max Sennett's Keystone studio, where he quickly created the iconic Tramp costume from wardrobe pieces, deliberately seeking visual contradiction. He soon demanded and received control to direct his own highly successful pictures. Despite his fame and early unsuccessful marriages, he remained extraordinarily shy in private life. 1917

1. Childhood Trauma and Theatrical Beginnings Scott Eyman Charlie Chaplin versus America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided The discussion focuses on Chaplin's traumatic Victorian childhood, particularly the haunting memory of receiving only an orange for Christmas at the Lambeth Workhouse. His father died of alcoholism, and his mother struggled with mental illness. Chaplin's brother, Sydney, took charge of young Charlie and eventually secured him a job with the famous Fred Carno comedy company, launching Chaplin's theatrical career. 1915

SHOW 10-24-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT CANADA  IN THE EYES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Pennsylvania Aims to Be AI Capital with US-Made Non-Lithium Batteries. Salena Zito reports on Governor Shapiro's plan to establish Pennsylvania as the AI and data center capital, capitalizing on its energy resources and university system. She focuses on EOS, a Turtle Creek company making non-lithium batteries that are 97% US-made, countering reliance on Chinese lithium. AI data centers require high energy reliability, favoring coal and natural gas infrastructure. Governor Shapiro supports this buildout, including a $22 million grant for EOS. 915-930 Italian Olive Harvest and Historical Vatican-UK Royal Visit. Lorenzo Fiori reports that the olive harvest in Tuscany is expected to be low in quantity due to mosquito damage caused by humidity and rain. However, recent strong winds helped remove damaged olives, potentially ensuring a "very tasty" oil. Fiori also discusses the historical visit of King Charles III to the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to pray with Pope Francis. This event, which Fiori found spectacular, is seen as crucial for restoring dialogue between the Anglican and Catholic Churches after centuries of division. 930-945 Small Business Economy Steady; AI Remains a 'Toy'. Gene Marks reports on the small business economy, noting steady activity among machine parts manufacturers, often preparing for an "onshoring boom." Construction and housing are holding steady but anticipate a future boom as interest rates decline. Tariffs have a muted impact, often absorbed or passed on as separate invoice line items for transparency. Marks demonstrates that AI, despite its advances, is not ready for prime-time business use, failing to accurately generate a requested image of a Yorkshire Terrier hitting a home run. 945-1000 Small Business Economy Steady; AI Remains a 'Toy'. Gene Marks reports on the small business economy, noting steady activity among machine parts manufacturers, often preparing for an "onshoring boom." Construction and housing are holding steady but anticipate a future boom as interest rates decline. Tariffs have a muted impact, often absorbed or passed on as separate invoice line items for transparency. Marks demonstrates that AI, despite its advances, is not ready for prime-time business use, failing to accurately generate a requested image of a Yorkshire Terrier hitting a home run. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Pacific Palisades Housing Dispute and West Coast Infrastructure Challenges. Jeff Bliss covers West Coast issues, including traffic disruption from new high-speed rail construction between Southern California and Las Vegas. Pacific Palisades residents are protesting state and local plans to use burned-out lots for high-density, multistory affordable housing, fearing the change in community character and increased traffic. Additionally, copper theft from EV charging stations is undermining Los Angeles's zero emissions goals. Homeless encampments are also sparking major brush fire concerns in areas like Malibu and the Sepulveda Basin. 1015-1030 Pennsylvania Pursues Data Center Hub Status, Converting Golf Courses. Jim McTague reports on Pennsylvania's effort to become a data center hub, citing over $90 billion committed investment statewide. York County secured $5 billion, with plans including converting Brierwood Golf Course into a data center. This effort faces public resistance fueled by fears of higher electricity and water prices. McTague notes that consumer spending in Lancaster County is "steady." The conversion of golf courses reflects the decline of golf, seen as a "dinosaur" activity that takes too much time. 1030-1045 Professor Epstein Slams Trump's Economic Policies as 'State Socialism'. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes four Trump administration economic decisions concerning Intel, Nvidia, US Steel, and MP Mining, labeling them forms of state-owned enterprise or "state socialism." Epstein argues that acquiring golden shares or negotiating side deals—like Nvidia paying 15% of China revenue—destroys market value, undercuts competitors, and violates the neutral application of laws. He also critiques the Gaza deal, stating Hamas must be wiped out before any subsequent phases of the agreement can proceed. 1045-1100 Professor Epstein Slams Trump's Economic Policies as 'State Socialism'. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes four Trump administration economic decisions concerning Intel, Nvidia, US Steel, and MP Mining, labeling them forms of state-owned enterprise or "state socialism." Epstein argues that acquiring golden shares or negotiating side deals—like Nvidia paying 15% of China revenue—destroys market value, undercuts competitors, and violates the neutral application of laws. He also critiques the Gaza deal, stating Hamas must be wiped out before any subsequent phases of the agreement can proceed. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. 1115-1130 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. 1130-1145 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. 1145-1200 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Trump Administration's Economic Interventionism Questioned as 'State Capitalism'. Veronique de Rugy critiques the Trump administration's economic policies regarding companies like Intel, US Steel, and MP Mining, calling them "state capitalism" or forms of nationalization. She argues that the government acquiring a minority share in Intel creates bad incentives and unfair competitive advantages. Regarding MP Mining, de Rugy notes that guaranteeing a price floor fails to address the underlying issue of government regulation hindering rare earth production in the US.E 1215-1230 The Postponement of the Budapest Meeting and Negotiating with Putin. Cliff May discusses the postponement of the Trump-Putin Budapest meeting, attributing it to Marco Rubio insisting on a cessation of hostilities, which Foreign Minister Lavrov rejected, demanding "all Ukraine." May warns President Trump against being outnegotiated, referencing Stalin's success over Roosevelt and Churchill at Yalta. Putin admires Stalin, who expanded the Russian Empire and engineered the Holodomor famine. May stresses that Russians negotiate only to win, not to compromise. 1230-1245 NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design. 1245-100 AM NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design.

NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design.

NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design.  1960

The Postponement of the Budapest Meeting and Negotiating with Putin. Cliff May discusses the postponement of the Trump-Putin Budapest meeting, attributing it to Marco Rubio insisting on a cessation of hostilities, which Foreign Minister Lavrov rejected, demanding "all Ukraine." May warns President Trump against being outnegotiated, referencing Stalin's success over Roosevelt and Churchill at Yalta. Putin admires Stalin, who expanded the Russian Empire and engineered the Holodomor famine. May stresses that Russians negotiate only to win, not to compromise. 1921 RED ARMY

Trump Administration's Economic Interventionism Questioned as 'State Capitalism'. Veronique de Rugy critiques the Trump administration's economic policies regarding companies like Intel, US Steel, and MP Mining, calling them "state capitalism" or forms of nationalization. She argues that the government acquiring a minority share in Intel creates bad incentives and unfair competitive advantages. Regarding MP Mining, de Rugy notes that guaranteeing a price floor fails to address the underlying issue of government regulation hindering rare earth production in the US.E 1882. BURLINGTON RAILROAD STRIKE