The John Batchelor Show

CONSTANTINOPLE AS HELM'S DEEP AND THE LATIN-GREEK SCHISM Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The final segment eulogizes Constantinople as a "perfect," intentionally designed city that served as "Helm's Deep" for Western civilization, preserving law, credit, and military organization when the rest of the West was atomized. The speakers detail the tragic sack of the city in 1204 by Latin Crusaders, describing it as a betrayal driven by the enduring envy and "bipolar tension" between the Latin West and the Greek East. This event stripped the city of its "divine" status and gold, ending its role as a sanctuary. They conclude by linking this ancient schism to the modern world, positing that the current geopolitical conflict between the US (the inheritor of the Latin West) and Russia (centered in Moscow, the successor to the Greek East) is a continuation of this unresolved cultural and religious struggle. NUMBER 3 1954

TRUMP'S MORTALITY, EUROPEAN ALARM, AND THE BEAR TRAP Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. Focusing on "Emperor" Trump, the speakers argue his recent threats against Venezuelan leadership display the "mortality" and "incoherence" of age, exacerbated by the office's "transmogrification" of the individual which detaches them from reality. This aggression alarms European allies, who view the extraction operation as "kidnapping" and a crime. The speakers warn that this behavior exposes the US to a "bear trap" set by Russia and China, who can inflict damage without direct escalation. Contrasting Putin's calculated "restraint" and "legalism" with Trump's "bull in a china shop" approach, they suggest the US is rapidly losing international authority. Consequently, the crisis may force a "quid pro quo," where the US might have to trade influence in Ukraine to resolve the situation in the Western Hemisphere, effectively accepting a bargain to escape the "brier patch." NUMBER 2 1953

VENEZUELA AS A POTENTIAL SINKHOLE AND THE END OF AMERICAN OMNIPOTENCE Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The speakers analyze a failed US"decapitation" strike in Venezuela intended to replace Maduro with Delcy Rodriguez, a move that resulted in confusion regarding the loyalty of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino. They argue that the "omnipotence" the US displayed in Panama or during Desert Storm has vanished, leaving the empire unable to easily topple regimes. Venezuela is described as a potential "sinkhole" defined by complex terrain and heavily armed, "uncontrollable" guerrilla groups that would make intervention a "gigantic mess." The discussion concludes that the US is "hoist by its own petard," having relied on "military theater"—the illusion that waving a wand creates authority—which is now failing against a fractious reality. Unlike the 1990s, the US lacks the force capacity to manage such a conflict without facing an "impossible guerrilla war" that could destroy its remaining reputation. NUMBER 1 1954

THE HOSTAGE RELEASE TIMING AND A LEGACY OF ELECTORAL INTERFERENCE Colleague Craig Unger. The final segment addresses the suspicious timing of the hostage release on January 20, 1981. Unger notes that while Carter stayed up all night negotiating, the hostages were not released until minutes after Ronald Reagan took the oath of office. This precise timing suggests a pre-arranged deal, as Reagan had no presidential authority to negotiate prior to that moment. Unger points out that recent biographers and international sources have increasingly accepted the October Surprise as fact. He concludes by contextualizing this event within a broader history of Republican interference in foreign policy to win elections, drawing parallels to Nixon's sabotage of Vietnam peace talks in 1968 and allegations regarding the Trump campaign and Russia. The files suggest that political treason has been used repeatedly to "steal the White House." NUMBER 8

INSIDE IRAN: CONFRONTING REVOLUTIONARY FIGURES AND UNCOVERING THE DOUBLE COUPColleague Craig Unger. Unger describes his 2014 trip to Tehran to find Iranian corroboration for the October Surprise. He visited the former US Embassy, now a "Den of Spies" museum documenting the 1953 CIA coup against Mossadegh, which remains a source of deep grievance. Unger secured a rare interview with Mohsen Rafighdoost, a founder of the Revolutionary Guards and Khomeini's driver. During the interview, Rafighdoost slipped, saying "If we met with the Republicans..."—a moment Unger captured on video. Unger also interviewed Abolhassan Banisadr, the ousted first president of the Islamic Republic, in Versailles. Banisadr provided documents confirming the plot, describing it as a "double coup": it removed Carter in the US and allowed hardliners to consolidate power in Iran by undermining moderates like himself. NUMBER 7

CONFIRMING THE MADRID MEETING AND EXAMINING GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S ALLEGED ROLEColleague Craig Unger. This section focuses on verifying the specific meetings where the alleged treason occurred. Unger asserts certainty that Bill Casey met with Iranian cleric Mehdi Karrubi in Madrid in July 1980 to outline the deal: arms for Iran in exchange for delaying the hostage release until after the election. Unger notes that Israeli military intelligence (AMAN) confirmed the channel of arms sales. The segment also addresses the controversial allegation that George H.W. Bush flew to Paris in October 1980 to seal the deal. While alibis involving Secret Service details and a visit to Justice Potter Stewart were punctured by Bob Parry's reporting, Unger remains "agnostic" but leans toward the meeting having happened. The Iranians reportedly required a high-level figure like Bush to guarantee the agreement before they would release the "frozen assets" of undelivered weaponry needed for their war with Iraq. NUMBER 6

THE SECRET NETWORK: THE SAFARI CLUB, JOHN SHAHEEN, AND DOUBLE AGENTS Colleague Craig Unger. Unger explains the infrastructure used to execute the alleged conspiracy, specifically the "Safari Club," a group of off-the-books intelligence operatives formed after the CIA was restricted by the Church Committee in the 1970s. This network allowed covert operations to bypass congressional oversight. A crucial figure identified is John Shaheen, Bill Casey's close friend and former OSS colleague, who acted as a "cutout" to insulate Casey from direct involvement. Unger reveals that the Hashim brothers, Iranian arms dealers who offered to help Carter, were actually double agents working for Casey. FBI wiretaps eventually confirmed that the Hashims communicated with Shaheen before conducting arms deals, providing a direct link between the Reagan campaign's orbit and the delay of the hostage release. NUMBER 5

MEDIA SUPPRESSION, POLITICAL WHITEWASHING, AND THE DISCOVERY OF BURIED EVIDENCEColleague Craig Unger. This segment recounts the suppression of the October Surprise story by major media and government institutions. After initially hiring Unger to investigate, Newsweek abruptly pivoted, publishing articles denying the events took place, which Unger calls a "disgrace." A subsequent House investigation led by Lee Hamiltonwas characterized as a "whitewash" that accepted weak alibis for Bill Casey. Investigative legend Seymour Hershwarned Unger that he would be "crushed" for pursuing the story, and indeed, Unger faced lawsuits and professional isolation. However, the investigation was revived when reporter Bob Parry discovered 23 gigabytes of documents hidden in an abandoned ladies' room in the House office building. These documents, found under a tampon dispenser, contained evidence that contradicted the official exonerations of the Reagan campaign. NUMBER 4

THE ORIGINS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND THE ALLEGATIONS OF ARI BEN-MENASHE Colleague Craig Unger. Unger details how the "October Surprise" investigation began, sparked by a 1991 op-ed from former National Security Council member Gary Sick. Unger, then working with Esquire and later Newsweek, collaborated with investigative reporter Bob Parry to uncover the truth. A key but controversial source was Ari Ben-Menashe, a rogue Israeli intelligence operative who claimed that Bill Casey met with Iranians in Madrid in July 1980 to negotiate a delay in the hostages' release in exchange for arms. Ben-Menashe further alleged that George H.W. Bush traveled to Paris in October 1980 to finalize the deal. Although these sources were often dismissed as disreputable, Unger argues that investigating illegal arms dealing necessitates speaking to operatives within that shadow world, despite the risk to a journalist's career. NUMBER 3

BILL CASEY'S SECRET INTELLIGENCE NETWORK AND THE CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT CARTERColleague Craig Unger. Focusing on the Republican response to the hostage crisis, this segment examines the role of William "Bill" Casey, who took over Ronald Reagan's campaign in early 1980. Unger describes Casey as a brilliant former OSS spy who operated a "secret intelligence network" involving South African arms dealers and Israeli agents to monitor the Carter administration's progress. Casey realized that an "October Surprise"—a last-minute release of hostages by Carter—could cost Reagan the election. To prevent this, Casey allegedly sought to delay their release. Unger notes that while Reagan likely knew the broad strokes of these operations, he may have been insulated from the specific, treasonous details, partly due to Casey's habit of mumbling and the "deniability" inherent in his tradecraft. NUMBER 2

THE DESERT ONE TRAGEDY AND THE GEOPOLITICAL STAKES OF THE 1980 ELECTION Colleague Craig Unger. Author Craig Unger discusses the failed "Desert One" rescue mission on April 24, 1980, where mechanical failures and a collision resulted in eight American deaths, ending any immediate hope of rescuing 52 hostages held in Iran. Unger explains that while the Shah of Iran had been a US puppet installed by a 1953 CIA coup, the 1979 revolution replaced him with a hostile Islamic Republic, turning a strategic ally into an enemy. The hostage crisis became the central issue of the 1980 campaign; a successful rescue would likely have secured Carter's reelection, while failure favored Ronald Reagan. Additionally, the segment highlights the strained relationship between Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, noting that despite the Camp David Accords, Israel feared an Iraqi victory over Iran would create a dangerous regional superpower. NUMBER 1

MOTIVE AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A NARCISSIST Colleague Paul Gregory. In the final segment, Gregoryexplores Oswald's motive, arguing that history has underestimated his intelligence and manipulativeness. Despite his dyslexia and poor education, Oswald successfully manipulated government officials in both the US and USSR. The motive was rooted in a desire to prove his greatness to the world—a belief instilled by his mother—and to prove his manhood to Marina, who viewed him with scorn. Oswald viewed the trial as a platform to broadcast his political theories and achieve historic status. Ultimately, Gregory concludes the assassination was the act of a narcissist trying to escape insignificance and domestic failure by committing a "monstrous act." NUMBER 8

THE WARREN COMMISSION AND THE LONE GUNMAN CONCLUSION Colleague Paul Gregory. Paul Gregory discusses the Warren Commission and the enduring conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. He visited Dealey Plaza personally to assess the sniper's nest, concluding the shot was "fairly easy" for a prepared shooter. Gregory dismisses the idea of a complex conspiracy, noting the spontaneity of Oswald's opportunity at the Book Depository. He highlights the Soviet Union's own suspicion that Oswald was a rogue element. A major focus is Marguerite Oswald's testimony; she confronted Chief Justice Earl Warren, demanding subpoena rights and claiming her son was a scapegoat. Gregory asserts that understanding Marguerite's influence and delusion is essential to understanding the psychological formation of her son, Lee. NUMBER 7

THE FUNERALS AND MARGUERITE'S ERRATIC BEHAVIOR Colleague Paul Gregory. This segment contrasts the global mourning for President Kennedy with the lonely burial of Lee Harvey Oswald at Rose Hill, where reporters served as pallbearers. Marina Oswald was in a daze, emotionally devastated by watching Jackie Kennedy and the state funeral on television. Meanwhile, Marguerite Oswald became increasingly difficult, arguing over trivialities and insisting her son was an innocent hero and intelligence agent. Her erratic behavior and refusal to accept facts caused significant friction with the Secret Service agents protecting them. The Gregory family spent Thanksgiving in a "fog," discussing Marguerite's instability, a detail Paul notes was largely absent from the official Warren Report despite its significance in understanding the family dynamic. NUMBER 6

PROTECTING THE FAMILY AND THE BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPH Colleague Paul Gregory. Following the assassination, Oswald's mother, Marguerite, contacted Pete Gregory seeking shelter for herself and Marina. Petecoordinated with the Secret Service to move the women to a hotel at Six Flags to protect them from the press and facilitate interrogation. Authorities were particularly focused on a photo of Oswald holding a rifle; Marina initially hesitated to admit she took it, fearing legal consequences. Pete Gregory helped bridge the trust gap between Marina and the Secret Service. The situation escalated when the family learned Lee Harvey Oswald had been shot. Marguerite and Marina were taken to Parkland Hospital to view his body, after which Marguerite began demanding he be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. NUMBER 5

THE WALKER ATTEMPT AND DELUSIONS IN NEW ORLEANS Colleague Paul Gregory. The narrative shifts to April 1963, when a shaken Oswald confessed to Marina that he had attempted to assassinate General Edwin Walker. Marina found a note with instructions but did not report him, though she threatened to leave if he tried such violence again. Soon after, Oswald moved to New Orleans to build credentials as a pro-Castro operative, hoping to secure a visa to Cuba and eventually the Soviet Union. Gregory explains that Oswald did not actually want to return to Russia but needed a Soviet visa to enter Cuba. During this period, Oswald became increasingly delusional, inventing aliases and seeking status, though there was no evidence yet of a plan to kill President Kennedy. NUMBER 4

POVERTY, RUSSIAN LESSONS, AND THE DINNER PARTY INCIDENT Colleague Paul Gregory. Paul Gregory describes his visits to the Oswalds' impoverished duplex for Russian lessons in the summer of 1962. He notes a specific Time magazine featuring President Kennedy on their coffee table; Marina admired Kennedy, calling him a good father, while Lee seemingly agreed. The couple faced severe deprivation, lacking even a baby carriage, which forced Marina to carry their infant everywhere. A pivotal moment occurred during a dinner with the "Dallas Russians," a local immigrant community. When challenged about defecting from the US, Oswald flew into a "controlled rage," alienating the group. The guests' offer to drive the Oswalds home signaled the end of Lee's ability to isolate Marina, marking a significant turning point in their lives. NUMBER 3

MEETING LEE HARVEY OSWALD AND THE SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT Colleague Paul Gregory. This segment traces the relationship back to June 1962, when Pete Gregory first met Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald, seeking employment that utilized his Russian language skills rather than manual labor, was referred to Pete for a language evaluation. Pete wrote a letter vouching for Oswald's fluency, though he noted Oswald was not a native speaker. Oswaldwas bitter about working as a welder for low wages and hoped to avoid the "blue-collar trap." The segment also introduces the first meeting between Paul and the Oswalds at Robert Oswald's home, where Paul observed Lee's poor grammar despite his fluency. To help the couple financially, the Gregorys arranged for Paul to take Russian conversation lessons from Marina Oswald. NUMBER 2

THE MORNING OF THE ASSASSINATION AND IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT Colleague Paul Gregory. Paul Gregory recounts the morning of November 22, 1963, from the perspective of his father, Pete Gregory, a Russiantranslator who watched President Kennedy speak outside a hotel in Fort Worth. Pete later returned to his office, only to learn shortly after that the President had been shot. Meanwhile, Paul was a student at the University of Oklahoma when a classmate announced the shooting. Gathering around a television with other students, he watched Walter Cronkiteannounce the President's death. When Lee Harvey Oswald appeared on screen as a suspect, Paul shocked his peers by declaring, "I know that guy." He immediately suspected Oswald was guilty and anticipated being contacted by authorities, which occurred the following morning. NUMBER 1

THE LONELY END OF NORSE GREENLAND Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The final segment explores the disappearance of the Norse settlement in Greenland, focusing on the Herjolfsnes graveyard. Preserved clothing from the 15th century reveals garments that were patched repeatedly, symbolizing the colony's isolation and poverty. Barracloughdescribes a poignant detail: a woman's dress that ripped as she was buried, marking the end of the settlement. Factors discussed include a cooling climate and interactions with the Inuit, evidenced by carved wooden figures. The history closes with a report of a witch burning in 1407, near the colony's end. NUMBER 8

THE FIRE GIANT'S CAVE AND RITUAL OFFERINGS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The discussion descends into Surtshellir, a massive lava cave in Iceland associated with the fire giant Surt. Barraclough describes archaeological finds deep within the cave, including a stone wall and a boat-shaped structure filled with burnt offerings like bones and jasper. She posits these were sacrifices to appease a fire being following a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. The final offering, a Christian cross, suggests a closure to these rituals. Barraclough connects this to a saga poem where a giant predicts the end of the pagan world. NUMBER 6

THE FIRE GIANT'S CAVE AND RITUAL OFFERINGS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The discussion descends into Surtshellir, a massive lava cave in Iceland associated with the fire giant Surt. Barraclough describes archaeological finds deep within the cave, including a stone wall and a boat-shaped structure filled with burnt offerings like bones and jasper. She posits these were sacrifices to appease a fire being following a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. The final offering, a Christian cross, suggests a closure to these rituals. Barraclough connects this to a saga poem where a giant predicts the end of the pagan world. NUMBER 6

MYTHOLOGY AND THE MURDER OF SNORRI Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough discusses the difficulty of accessing Norse beliefs, as most sources, like Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, were written post-conversion. She outlines dramatic myths, including the creation of the world from the giant Ymir and its destruction at Ragnarok, featuring a ship made from the fingernails of the dead. The segment covers Snorri's life as a politician in 13th-century Iceland during a bloody civil war. Barraclough recounts his assassination in his own basement on the orders of the Norwegian king, noting his final words were "don't strike." NUMBER 5

ELIQUARIES, MARRIAGE, AND AMULETS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough explains how religious reliquaries looted from monasteries were often repurposed as jewelry for women in Norway. She discusses the theory that female infanticide may have caused a shortage of women, motivating young men to raid for wealth to secure marriage. The conversation then examines a human skull fragment from Ribe, Denmark, carved with runes. Barraclough interprets this object as a protective amulet against dwarves or elves, which the Norse believed caused sickness, illustrating their concept of an unseen world influencing physical reality. NUMBER 4

ASSIMILATION AND THE SALME SHIP MYSTERY Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough highlights how the Norse assimilated into Eastern cultures, adopting Slavic names and gods within generations. The focus then turns to a major mystery: the Salme ship burials in Estonia, discovered in 2013. These burials, dated to around 750 AD, predate the Lindisfarne raid and contain warriors buried with high honors, including gaming pieces and falcons, despite having died violently. Barraclough suggests this might have been a diplomatic mission gone wrong. A key artifact mentioned is a King piece from the board game hnefatafl found in a leader's mouth, adding to the mystery of who buried them. NUMBER 3

CONQUEST, THE DANELAW, AND THE EASTERN RUS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The conversation shifts from raiding to conquest, detailing the arrival of the "Great Heathen Army" in England around 865. Barracloughexplains that this force was likely comprised of smaller mobile warbands that eventually reached a stalemate with King Alfred, leading to the creation of the Danelaw and lasting linguistic influences on English place names. The discussion then moves east to the "Rus" (rowers) who navigated the waterways of Eurasia. Led by figures like Rurik, these Scandinavians settled in Novgorod and later Kiev, establishing a political foundation in what is now Russia and Ukraine. NUMBER 2

RUNES, TAVERN MESSAGES, AND HIDDEN HISTORIES Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. John Batchelorinterviews Eleanor Barraclough about her book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. They discuss a specific runic inscription from roughly 1200 AD found on a piece of wood in a tavern in Bergen, Norway. The message is from a woman named Gyda telling her husband to come home, to which he seemingly carved a nonsensical, drunken response. Barraclough explains her methodology of using such everyday objects—"embers of the hands"—to reveal the personal lives of individuals often lost in the grand scope of history. The segment also establishes the 793 AD raid on Lindisfarne as the traditional, shocking start of the Viking Age. NUMBER 1

RAVENS BEFRIEND DALLAS AND DISPLACE THE COCKATOOS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis updates the backyard wildlife saga, noting the arrival of intelligent Ravens that have befriended his dog, Dallas. Unlike the aggressive Cockatoos that damaged a neighbor's roof, the Ravens displayed strategic dominance by organizedly displacing the Cockatoos from a pine tree. Zakis describes the Ravens' "surgical" approach, using vocal harassment and gradual escalation rather than brute force to claim the territory. He observes that while the Cockatoos still lurk, the Ravens have established control. Additionally, he counts at least five Magpie families in the area, with several actively visiting his property to interact with Dallas.

THE FINAL ASHES TEST IN SYDNEY AND THE FUTURE OF TEST CRICKET Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Jeremy Zakis discusses the final Ashes test in Sydney, noting that heavy storms threaten to wash out the match, potentially handing England a "moral victory" if they perform well before the rain hits. He observes that Englandsurprised him by employing a hybrid strategy—mixing conservative play with their aggressive "Bazball" style—which allowed them to accelerate strategically. Conversely, Zakis notes that Australia stuck to a conservative tempo and failed to counter England's aggression quickly enough, causing their run rate to lag. He views this final game as a glimpse into the future of test cricket, anticipating Australia might test younger players or T20-style tactics.

EASTERN BROWN SNAKE ATTACKS AND CRITICAL FIRST AID Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis details two recent attacks by venomous Eastern Brown snakes seeking shelter from the heat. He describes an incident in Morton National Park where a hiker stepped on a snake that subsequently lunged and bit his wife, requiring a helicopter rescue. A second incident involved a professional snake catcher bitten at home, though both women are recovering due to rapid medical intervention. Zakis outlines critical first aid—applying compression bandages and immobilizing the victim to slow the heart rate—and strictly advises against trying to photograph or capture the snake, urging immediate transport to a hospital instead.

AUSTRALIA'S EXTREME HEATWAVE AND THE SOLAR PANEL REVOLUTION Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis reports on Australia's extreme weather, describing a heatwave moving east with temperatures exceeding 110°F, exacerbated by winds acting like a "fan-forced oven." He warns that recent rains fueled vegetation growth that will quickly dry into kindling, creating a "tinderbox" risk for wildfires within a week. Culturally, Zakis notes Australians no longer "tough out" the heat; instead, they use air conditioning early, supported by a "solar panel revolution." This widespread solar adoption has reduced pressure on the electrical grid, eliminating the need for public service announcements urging power conservation during these heat spikes.

JEFFERSON'S DEFENSE OF AMERICA AND THE MCGUFFEY READER Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson discovered Logan's Lament in 1774 and later used it in his Notes on the State of Virginia to refute French claims that everything in America was "degenerate." Jefferson presented Logan as proof of Native American intellectual equality, effectively cementing the story of Cresap's guilt in the public mind. This sparked a feud with Luther Martin, a Cresap in-law who attacked Jefferson to clear the family name. Consequently, the lament became a standard recitation text for schoolchildren in the McGuffey Readers, embedding the narrative of the "vanishing Indian" into American culture. NUMBER 7

JEFFERSON'S DEFENSE OF AMERICA AND THE MCGUFFEY READER Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson discovered Logan's Lament in 1774 and later used it in his Notes on the State of Virginia to refute French claims that everything in America was "degenerate." Jefferson presented Logan as proof of Native American intellectual equality, effectively cementing the story of Cresap's guilt in the public mind. This sparked a feud with Luther Martin, a Cresap in-law who attacked Jefferson to clear the family name. Consequently, the lament became a standard recitation text for schoolchildren in the McGuffey Readers, embedding the narrative of the "vanishing Indian" into American culture. NUMBER 7

THE MURDER OF LOGAN AND THE PERSISTENCE OF VIOLENCE Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. Twenty years after the lament, a surveyor encountered a weeping Native man in the woods who revealed he was Logan's nephew. The nephew confessed to killing his uncle near Lake Erie around 1780. Logan had become a "dangerous" free agent and powerful orator whose influence threatened the political stability of the Six Nations during the Revolutionary War, leading to an order for his silence. This revelation underscores the brutality of the Ohio country, which remained the bloodiest ground of the revolution even after the British surrender at Yorktown. NUMBER 6

THE DEATH OF A RANGER AND THE CREATION OF A HERO Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. Michael Cresap marched his riflemen from the frontier to Boston in 1775, where the press hailed them as "secret weapons" against the British. However, these troops proved undisciplined, and Washington privately wished they had not come. Suffering likely from malaria, Cresap fell ill and died in a New York City boarding house in October 1775. Despite being a stranger, New York patriots gave Cresap a massive, lavish funeral at Trinity Church to rally support for the cause. The revolution transformed Cresap from a frontier instigator into a celebrated American patriot. NUMBER 5

REVENGE, REVOLUTION, AND THE BIRTH OF A PATRIOT Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. In 1774, a grief-stricken Logan launched a brutal revenge campaign, killing nearly 20 people to "glut his vengeance." This violence occurred as the Continental Congress began forming an army, calling for rifle companies from the frontier. Ironically, Michael Cresap, the man Logan blamed for the murders, was appointed to lead a Maryland rifle company. As Lord Dunmore launched a war against the Shawnee to secure land for Virginia, Logan delivered his famous lament to his brother-in-law John Gibson, signaling that his personal war was over and he was satisfied with the blood he had spilled. NUMBER 4

THE MASSACRE AT YELLOW CREEK AND THE POWER VACUUM Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. Following the British withdrawal from Fort Pitt, a power vacuum triggered a border civil war and increased tension with Native peoples. On April 30, 1774, Logan's family—including his mother, brother, and sister—were lured into a tavern at Baker's Bottom on the Ohio River under the guise of diplomacy. While they engaged in a shooting contest, men hiding in a back room, led by Daniel Greathouse, ambushed and murdered them. Although Michael Cresap was blamed, he was thirty miles away at Catfish Camp during the massacre, though he had been leading armed settlers nearby. NUMBER 3

HEART OF DARKNESS AND THE OHIO COMPANY LAND GRAB Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. The book's title draws on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness to describe the bewilderment and horror inherent in the 18th-century American backcountry. In 1754, George Washington retreated through Oldtown, Maryland, the home of the Cresap family, following a failed expedition against the French. Washington and the Cresaps were partners in the Ohio Company, a speculative venture claiming half a million acres of Native land near the Forks of the Ohio. This era was marked by imprecise maps and border disputes between colonies like Maryland and Pennsylvania, creating a chaotic environment where land speculators operated like rival tribes. NUMBER 2

THE ORIGINS OF A FRONTIER FEUD AND LOGAN'S LAMENT Colleague Professor Robert G. Parkinson. In February 1775, the Pennsylvania Journal published a famous document known as Logan's Lament. This speech, delivered by the Mingo leader James Logan Shikellamy, accuses Colonel Cresap of the cold-blooded murder of his family relations. However, this accusation contained significant errors: Logan misidentified the killer and confused the Cresap father and son. The conflict highlights the complex relationships between the colonials of Virginia and Pennsylvania and indigenous tribes like the Iroquois and Shawnee. The narrative introduces two key families—the Cresaps and the Shikellamys—whose intertwined histories defined the violent confusion of the early American frontier. NUMBER 1

FORGERIES, THE MAINE PENNY, AND ALT-RIGHT APPROPRIATION Colleague Martyn Whittock. Whittock dismisses American rune stones like the Kensington Stone as 19th-century forgeries made to claim land rights, though he accepts the "Maine Penny" as genuine evidence of trade. He concludes by warning against the modern "alt-right" appropriating Viking history to justify racial prejudice and white supremacy narratives. NUMBER 4

L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS AND THE SAGA OF FREYDIS Colleague Martyn Whittock. The guest identifies L'Anse aux Meadows as a temporary base camp for exploration rather than a permanent settlement, scientifically dated to 1021 AD. He describes complex, often violent interactions with indigenous peoples, highlighting the saga account of Freydis, Eric the Red's daughter, who committed murders to secure her authority. NUMBER 3

LEIF ERIKSON AND THE DISCOVERY OF VINLAND Colleague Martyn Whittock. Whittock details how Norseexplorers like Leif Erikson moved west from Greenland, discovering Helluland, Markland, and Vinland around 1000 AD. Citing sagas, he argues that while physical evidence stops at Newfoundland, descriptions of wild grapes suggest they reached further south, potentially to New Brunswick or Maine. NUMBER 2

 VIKING AS ACTIVITY: THE NORSE EXPANSION WESTWARD Colleague Martyn Whittock. Whittock defines "Viking" as an activity of enterprise and raiding, not just an ethnicity. He explains that disruptions in the Islamic silver trade and population growth drove Norse expansion westward. This movement eventually reached the British Isles, Iceland, and Greenland, setting the stage for voyages to North America. NUMBER 1

XI ZHONGXUN'S DEATH AND XI JINPING'S PHOBIA OF CHAOS Colleague Joseph Torigian. This final segment covers Xi Zhongxun's death and Xi Jinping's admiration for his father's unwavering faith in the party despite persecution. Torigian analyzes a conversation where Xi told Shinzo Abe he might have joined American political parties if born there, suggesting he is a realist nationalist. Ultimately, Xi's governance is defined by a "phobia of chaos" stemming from his family's traumatic Cultural Revolution experiences, driving his desire for total control. NUMBER 16

 DEFOE THE MASTER SPY AND AVERY THE STRATEGIST Colleagues Sean Kingsley and Rex Cowan, The Pirate King. The group discusses the irony of Defoe and Avery attending a play about Avery's life, which Defoe secretly wrote under a pseudonym. Kingsley emphasizes Defoe's role as a master spy using multiple aliases. They conclude that Avery was a strategist who defied the simple "swashbuckling" pirate stereotype. NUMBER 4

SECRET AGENTS IN FALMOUTH: ESPIONAGE AND UNDECIPHERED CODES Colleagues Sean Kingsleyand Rex Cowan, The Pirate King. By 1700, Defoe and Avery work as secret agents in Falmouth, influencing elections and intercepting mail for the Crown. Kingsley explains that Defoe later employed Avery as his enforcer while manipulating public opinion in Scotland. The segment also discusses an undeciphered code found in a letter written by Avery. NUMBER 3

 DANIEL DEFOE ENCOUNTERS THE GENTLEMAN PIRATE Colleagues Sean Kingsley and Rex Cowan, The Pirate King. The conversation shifts to Daniel Defoe, a debt-ridden merchant and dissenter seeking financial redemption. Defoe encounters Avery in disguise, who is fleeing a manhunt but evolving into a political operative. Cowan describes Avery as a "gentleman pirate" whose intelligence allowed him to survive while other pirates perished. NUMBER 2

HENRY AVERY: THE COMPLICATED GENIUS WHO SPARKED THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIRACYColleagues Sean Kingsley and Rex Cowan, The Pirate King. Host John Batchelor introduces the authors of The Pirate King to discuss Henry Avery, a "complicated genius" who raided a Mughal treasure ship in 1695. While this heist sparked the Golden Age of Piracy, the authors reveal that Avery did not merely vanish but entered a world of espionage. NUMBER 1

 PICKETT'S CHARGE AND THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS Colleague Colonel Jeff McCausland. McCauslanddetails Lee's risky decision to attack the Union center, contrasting it with Meade's data-driven defense. Despite the failure of Pickett's Charge, unit cohesion drove the soldiers forward. Finally, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address utilized the victory to expand the war's purpose toward a "new birth of freedom." NUMBER 4

DAY TWO: LONGSTREET'S ADVICE AND LITTLE ROUND TOP Colleague Colonel Jeff McCausland. On day two, Lee rejected Longstreet's advice to maneuver, leading to delayed Confederate attacks. Conversely, Union Colonel Strong Vincent displayed initiative by disobeying orders to successfully secure Little Round Top. Unlike Lee, UnionGeneral George Meade utilized a council of war to build consensus for remaining defensive. NUMBER 3

REYNOLDS' DEATH AND LEE'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY Colleague Colonel Jeff McCausland. McCauslandanalyzes General John Reynolds' death while leading forward elements, highlighting frontline leadership risks. He explains Robert E. Lee's strategic goal was winning the war through decisive victory. Additionally, Lee's discretionary orders to new commander Richard Ewell resulted in a missed opportunity to overwhelm Union forces. NUMBER 2