Podcasts about Headline

Our first-ever dyed-in-the-wool ‘Golden' villain emerges. Will Nicolle receive comeuppance for her wrong reasons angle? Not to mention her disparaging remarks about the beloved season one cast! Thanks for listening.

HEADLINE: Arab Intellectuals Fail Palestinians by Prioritizing Populism and Victimhood Narrative in Gaza ConflictGUEST NAME: Hussain Abdul-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain about Hamas utilizing the power of victimhood to justify atrocities and vilify opponents. Arab and Muslim intellectuals have failed Palestinians by prioritizing populism over introspection and self-critique. Regional actors like Egypt prioritize populist narratives over national interests, exemplified by refusing to open the Sinai border despite humanitarian suffering. The key recommendation is challenging the narrative and fostering a reliable, mature Palestinian government. 1905

HEADLINE: Sentinel ICBM Modernization is Critical and Cost-Effective Deterrent Against Great Power CompetitionGUEST NAME: Peter Huessy SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Peter Huessy about the Sentinel program replacing aging 55-year-old Minuteman ICBMs, aiming for lower operating costs and improved capabilities. Cost overruns stem from necessary infrastructure upgrades, including replacing thousands of miles of digital command and control cabling and building new silos. Maintaining the ICBM deterrent is financially and strategically crucial, saving hundreds of billions compared to relying solely on submarines. The need for modernization reflects the end of the post-Cold War "holiday from history," requiring rebuilding against threats from China and Russia. 1958

HEADLINE: Taiwanese Influencer Charged for Threatening President; Mainland Chinese Influence Tactics ExposedGUEST NAME: Mark Simon SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Mark Simon about internet personality Holger Chen under investigation in Taiwan for calling for President William Lai's decapitation. This highlights mainland Chinese influence operations utilizing influencers who push themes of military threat and Chinese greatness. Chen is suspected of having a mainland-affiliated paymaster due to lack of local commercial support. Taiwan's population primarily identifies as Taiwanese and is unnerved by constant military threats. A key propaganda goal is convincing Taiwan that the US will not intervene. 1906

HEADLINE: China's Economic Contradictions: Deflation and Consumer Wariness Undermine GDP Growth ClaimsGUEST NAME: Fraser Howie SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Fraser Howie about China facing severe economic contradictions despite high World Bank forecasts. Deflation remains rampant with frequently negative CPI and PPI figures. Consumer wariness and high youth unemployment at one in seven persist throughout the economy. The GDP growth figure is viewed as untrustworthy, manufactured through debt in a command economy. Decreased container ship arrivals point to limited actual growth, exacerbated by higher US tariffs. Economic reforms appear unlikely as centralization under Xi Jinping continues.

HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity.

HEADLINE: UN Snapback Sanctions Imposed on Iran; Debate Over Nuclear Dismantlement and Enrichment GUEST NAME: Andrea Stricker SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Andrea Stricker about the US and Europe securing the snapback of UN sanctions against Iran after 2015 JCPOA restrictions expired. Iran's non-compliance with inspection demands triggered these severe sanctions. The discussion covers the need for full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program, including both enrichment and weaponization capabilities, to avoid future conflict. Concerns persist about Iran potentially retaining enrichment capabilities through low-level enrichment proposals and its continued non-cooperation with IAEA inspections.

HEADLINE: Russian Oil and Gas Revenue Squeezed as Prices Drop, Turkey Shifts to US LNG, and China Delays Pipeline GUEST NAME: Michael Bernstam SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Michael Bernstam about Russia facing severe budget pressure due to declining oil prices projected to reach $40 per barrel for Russian oil and global oil surplus. Turkey, a major buyer, is abandoning Russian natural gas after signing a 20-year LNG contract with the US. Russia refuses Indian rupee payments, demanding Chinese renminbi, which India lacks. China has stalled the major Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project indefinitely. Russia utilizes stablecoin and Bitcoin via Central Asian banks to circumvent payment sanctions. 1910 BAKU

HEADLINE: Arab Intellectuals Fail Palestinians by Prioritizing Populism and Victimhood Narrative in Gaza ConflictGUEST NAME: Hussain Abdul-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain about Hamas utilizing the power of victimhood to justify atrocities and vilify opponents. Arab and Muslim intellectuals have failed Palestinians by prioritizing populism over introspection and self-critique. Regional actors like Egypt prioritize populist narratives over national interests, exemplified by refusing to open the Sinai border despite humanitarian suffering. The key recommendation is challenging the narrative and fostering a reliable, mature Palestinian government.

CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1900 KYIV THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS THAT CONGRESS IS CAPABLE OF CUTTING SPENDING..... 10-8-25 FIRST HOUR 9-915 HEADLINE: Arab Intellectuals Fail Palestinians by Prioritizing Populism and Victimhood Narrative in Gaza ConflictGUEST NAME: Hussain Abdul-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain about Hamas utilizing the power of victimhood to justify atrocities and vilify opponents. Arab and Muslim intellectuals have failed Palestinians by prioritizing populism over introspection and self-critique. Regional actors like Egypt prioritize populist narratives over national interests, exemplified by refusing to open the Sinai border despite humanitarian suffering. The key recommendation is challenging the narrative and fostering a reliable, mature Palestinian government. 915-930 HEADLINE: Arab Intellectuals Fail Palestinians by Prioritizing Populism and Victimhood Narrative in Gaza ConflictGUEST NAME: Hussain Abdul-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain about Hamas utilizing the power of victimhood to justify atrocities and vilify opponents. Arab and Muslim intellectuals have failed Palestinians by prioritizing populism over introspection and self-critique. Regional actors like Egypt prioritize populist narratives over national interests, exemplified by refusing to open the Sinai border despite humanitarian suffering. The key recommendation is challenging the narrative and fostering a reliable, mature Palestinian government. 930-945 HEADLINE: Russian Oil and Gas Revenue Squeezed as Prices Drop, Turkey Shifts to US LNG, and China Delays Pipeline GUEST NAME: Michael Bernstam SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Michael Bernstam about Russia facing severe budget pressure due to declining oil prices projected to reach $40 per barrel for Russian oil and global oil surplus. Turkey, a major buyer, is abandoning Russian natural gas after signing a 20-year LNG contract with the US. Russia refuses Indian rupee payments, demanding Chinese renminbi, which India lacks. China has stalled the major Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project indefinitely. Russia utilizes stablecoin and Bitcoin via Central Asian banks to circumvent payment sanctions. 945-1000 HEADLINE: UN Snapback Sanctions Imposed on Iran; Debate Over Nuclear Dismantlement and Enrichment GUEST NAME: Andrea Stricker SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Andrea Stricker about the US and Europe securing the snapback of UN sanctions against Iran after 2015 JCPOA restrictions expired. Iran's non-compliance with inspection demands triggered these severe sanctions. The discussion covers the need for full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program, including both enrichment and weaponization capabilities, to avoid future conflict. Concerns persist about Iran potentially retaining enrichment capabilities through low-level enrichment proposals and its continued non-cooperation with IAEA inspections. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity. 1015-1030 HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity. 1030-1045 HEADLINE: China's Economic Contradictions: Deflation and Consumer Wariness Undermine GDP Growth ClaimsGUEST NAME: Fraser Howie SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Fraser Howie about China facing severe economic contradictions despite high World Bank forecasts. Deflation remains rampant with frequently negative CPI and PPI figures. Consumer wariness and high youth unemployment at one in seven persist throughout the economy. The GDP growth figure is viewed as untrustworthy, manufactured through debt in a command economy. Decreased container ship arrivals point to limited actual growth, exacerbated by higher US tariffs. Economic reforms appear unlikely as centralization under Xi Jinping continues. 1045-1100 HEADLINE: Takaichi Sanae Elected LDP Head, Faces Coalition Challenge to Become Japan's First Female Prime Minister GUEST NAME: Lance Gatling SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Lance Gatling about Takaichi Sanae being elected head of Japan's LDP, positioning her to potentially become the first female Prime Minister. A conservative figure, she supports visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Her immediate challenge is forming a majority coalition, as the junior partner Komeito disagrees with her conservative positions and social policies. President Trump praised her election, signaling potential for strong bilateral relations. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 VHEADLINE: DeepSeek AI: Chinese LLM Performance and Security Flaws Revealed Amid Semiconductor Export Circumvention GUEST NAME: Jack Burnham SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Jack Burnham about competition in Large Language Models between the US and China's DeepSeek. A NIST study found US models superior in software engineering, though DeepSeek showed parity in scientific questions. Critically, DeepSeek models exhibited significant security flaws. China attempts to circumvent US export controls on GPUs by smuggling and using cloud computing centers in Southeast Asia. Additionally, China aims to dominate global telecommunications through control of supply chains and legal mechanisms granting the CCP access to firm data.E V 1115-1130 HEADLINE: DeepSeek AI: Chinese LLM Performance and Security Flaws Revealed Amid Semiconductor Export Circumvention GUEST NAME: Jack Burnham SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Jack Burnham about competition in Large Language Models between the US and China's DeepSeek. A NIST study found US models superior in software engineering, though DeepSeek showed parity in scientific questions. Critically, DeepSeek models exhibited significant security flaws. China attempts to circumvent US export controls on GPUs by smuggling and using cloud computing centers in Southeast Asia. Additionally, China aims to dominate global telecommunications through control of supply chains and legal mechanisms granting the CCP access to firm data. 1130-1145 HEADLINE: Taiwanese Influencer Charged for Threatening President; Mainland Chinese Influence Tactics ExposedGUEST NAME: Mark Simon SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Mark Simon about internet personality Holger Chen under investigation in Taiwan for calling for President William Lai's decapitation. This highlights mainland Chinese influence operations utilizing influencers who push themes of military threat and Chinese greatness. Chen is suspected of having a mainland-affiliated paymaster due to lack of local commercial support. Taiwan's population primarily identifies as Taiwanese and is unnerved by constant military threats. A key propaganda goal is convincing Taiwan that the US will not intervene. 1145-1200 HEADLINE: Sentinel ICBM Modernization is Critical and Cost-Effective Deterrent Against Great Power CompetitionGUEST NAME: Peter Huessy SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Peter Huessy about the Sentinel program replacing aging 55-year-old Minuteman ICBMs, aiming for lower operating costs and improved capabilities. Cost overruns stem from necessary infrastructure upgrades, including replacing thousands of miles of digital command and control cabling and building new silos. Maintaining the ICBM deterrent is financially and strategically crucial, saving hundreds of billions compared to relying solely on submarines. The need for modernization reflects the end of the post-Cold War "holiday from history," requiring rebuilding against threats from China and Russia. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 HEADLINE: Supreme Court Battles Over Presidential Impoundment Authority and the Separation of Powers GUEST NAME: Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about Supreme Court eras focusing on the separation of powers. Currently, the court is addressing presidential impoundment—the executive's authority to withhold appropriated funds. Earlier rulings, particularly 1975's Train v. City of New York, constrained this power. The Roberts Court appears sympathetic to reclaiming presidential authority lost during the Nixon era. The outcome of this ongoing litigation will determine the proper balance between executive and legislative branches. 1215-1230 HEADLINE: Supreme Court Battles Over Presidential Impoundment Authority and the Separation of Powers GUEST NAME: Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about Supreme Court eras focusing on the separation of powers. Currently, the court is addressing presidential impoundment—the executive's authority to withhold appropriated funds. Earlier rulings, particularly 1975's Train v. City of New York, constrained this power. The Roberts Court appears sympathetic to reclaiming presidential authority lost during the Nixon era. The outcome of this ongoing litigation will determine the proper balance between executive and legislative branches. 1230-1245 HEADLINE: Space Force Awards Contracts to SpaceX and ULA; Juno Mission Ending, Launch Competition Heats UpGUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Bob Zimmerman about Space Force awarding over $1 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX for five launches and ULA for two launches, highlighting growing demand for launch services. ULA's non-reusable rockets contrast with SpaceX's cheaper, reusable approach, while Blue Origin continues to lag behind. Other developments include Firefly entering defense contracting through its Scitec acquisition, Rocket Lab securing additional commercial launches, and the likely end of the long-running Juno Jupiter mission due to budget constraints. 1245-100 AM HEADLINE: Space Force Awards Contracts to SpaceX and ULA; Juno Mission Ending, Launch Competition Heats UpGUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Bob Zimmerman about Space Force awarding over $1 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX for five launches and ULA for two launches, highlighting growing demand for launch services. ULA's non-reusable rockets contrast with SpaceX's cheaper, reusable approach, while Blue Origin continues to lag behind. Other developments include Firefly entering defense contracting through its Scitec acquisition, Rocket Lab securing additional commercial launches, and the likely end of the long-running Juno Jupiter mission due to budget constraints.

HEADLINE: Supreme Court Battles Over Presidential Impoundment Authority and the Separation of Powers GUEST NAME: Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about Supreme Court eras focusing on the separation of powers. Currently, the court is addressing presidential impoundment—the executive's authority to withhold appropriated funds. Earlier rulings, particularly 1975's Train v. City of New York, constrained this power. The Roberts Court appears sympathetic to reclaiming presidential authority lost during the Nixon era. The outcome of this ongoing litigation will determine the proper balance between executive and legislative branches.

HEADLINE: Cutting Spending and Lost Lessons of '96 Welfare Reform GUEST NAME: Veronique de RugySUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Veronique de Rugy about evidence showing that increased healthcare spending may worsen outcomes. She highlights the 1996 welfare reform, which included work requirements and effectively reduced child poverty and welfare dependence. She argues that the understanding that cutting spending is key to a healthier country is now being lost, as some politicians push for policies creating disincentives to work.

HEADLINE: Cicero's Lawless Republic Debut Murder Trial GUEST NAME: Josiah Osgood SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josiah Osgood about Cicero's high-stakes debut criminal trial: a parricide case defending Roscius, accused of killing his wealthy father. Lacking police or a public prosecutor, lawyers had to investigate. Parricide was a dreadful crime, punished severely by being sewn in a sack with animals and thrown out to sea. 1872 EXCAVATION OF THE ROME FORUM

HEADLINE: Why Republicans Struggle to Cut Spending GUEST NAME: Adam Michel SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Adam Michel arguing Republicans excel at selling tax cuts but fail to sell spending cuts, which are mathematically necessary to sustain tax cuts. Both taxes and spending distort incentives. Michel contends that spending cuts are not austerity but reforms that improve lives, referencing how 1990s welfare reforms helped people exit poverty.

HEADLINE: The Attack on Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa and the Backstory of Indigenous Protest GUEST NAME: Evan Ellis SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Evan Ellis about the attack on Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa by indigenous protesters. The unstable country faces violence and narcoterrorism. Protests, led by CONAIE, intensified after Noboa eliminated a costly diesel fuel subsidy. The radicalized community threw stones at his motorcade, which a minister called an assassination attempt.

HEADLINE: State of the Economy and Public Mood in Wartime Russia GUEST NAME: Anatol Lieven SUMMARY:John Batchelor speaks with Anatol Lieven reporting from Russia that life in Moscow and St. Petersburg continues normally, without a sense of war dread. However, serious economic contraction is feared next year, particularly if the West imposes a maritime blockade. Putin prioritizes keeping inflation down to avoid public unpopularity, accepting high interest rates despite damaging business.

HEADLINE: Understanding the Term "Hudna" in the Gaza Conflict GUEST NAME: Cliff May SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Cliff May about the Gaza War term "hudna," used by Hamas and sympathizers, which refers to a truce, not peace. Theologically, a hudna allows the forces of Islam to rebuild, rearm, and prepare for future battles. In Hamas's view, the observed ceasefire is merely a temporary regrouping, not genuine peace. E

HEADLINE: Argentina's Fear of Dollarization and the Wobbly Peso GUEST NAME: Mary Anastasia O'GradySUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Mary Anastasia O'Grady about the delay in Argentina's dollarization. Dollarization would bring down interest rates, end inflation, and attract capital. However, President Milei's team feared the large devaluation that would occur when letting the peso float to find its true market rate before dollarizing, worrying this would damage their public standing.

HEADLINE: Chip Makers, China, and the Selling of Older Generation Tools GUEST NAME: Chris RiegelSUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Chris Riegel addressing concerns that chip makers are selling tools to China. Publicly traded companies sell slightly older generation tools, adhering to restrictions on the most advanced technology. While legal, this helps China remain "in the game." Top manufacturers are reducing sales due to fears that the Chinese government will appropriate their intellectual property.

HEADLINE: Supreme Court Battles Over Presidential Impoundment Authority and the Separation of Powers GUEST NAME: Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about Supreme Court eras focusing on the separation of powers. Currently, the court is addressing presidential impoundment—the executive's authority to withhold appropriated funds. Earlier rulings, particularly 1975's Train v. City of New York, constrained this power. The Roberts Court appears sympathetic to reclaiming presidential authority lost during the Nixon era. The outcome of this ongoing litigation will determine the proper balance between executive and legislative branches. 1876 SCOTUS

HEADLINE: Takaichi Sanae Elected LDP Head, Faces Coalition Challenge to Become Japan's First Female Prime Minister GUEST NAME: Lance Gatling SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Lance Gatling about Takaichi Sanae being elected head of Japan's LDP, positioning her to potentially become the first female Prime Minister. A conservative figure, she supports visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Her immediate challenge is forming a majority coalition, as the junior partner Komeito disagrees with her conservative positions and social policies. President Trump praised her election, signaling potential for strong bilateral relations.

HEADLINE: Space Force Awards Contracts to SpaceX and ULA; Juno Mission Ending, Launch Competition Heats UpGUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Bob Zimmerman about Space Force awarding over $1 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX for five launches and ULA for two launches, highlighting growing demand for launch services. ULA's non-reusable rockets contrast with SpaceX's cheaper, reusable approach, while Blue Origin continues to lag behind. Other developments include Firefly entering defense contracting through its Scitec acquisition, Rocket Lab securing additional commercial launches, and the likely end of the long-running Juno Jupiter mission due to budget constraints.

HEADLINE: Space Force Awards Contracts to SpaceX and ULA; Juno Mission Ending, Launch Competition Heats UpGUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Bob Zimmerman about Space Force awarding over $1 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX for five launches and ULA for two launches, highlighting growing demand for launch services. ULA's non-reusable rockets contrast with SpaceX's cheaper, reusable approach, while Blue Origin continues to lag behind. Other developments include Firefly entering defense contracting through its Scitec acquisition, Rocket Lab securing additional commercial launches, and the likely end of the long-running Juno Jupiter mission due to budget constraints.

PREVIEW HEADLINE: Egypt's Populist Stance vs. National Interest and the Red Sea Crisis GUEST NAME: Hussain Abdel-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdel-Hussain about Egypt as a problem for itself, standing by while the war continued. Driven by populism rather than national interest, Egypt failed to open borders for Gazans or force Hamas to surrender. This inaction saw Egypt's Suez Canal income halved due to Houthi Red Sea actions.

PREVIEW HEADLINE: The Buried Highly Enriched Uranium in Iran GUEST NAME: Andrea Stricker SUMMARY:John Batchelor speaks with Andrea Stricker about 60% enriched fissile material believed buried under sites like Fordow enrichment facility and Isfahan tunnels following a B-2 raid on Iran in June. Iran is currently excavating entrances. Israel particularly seeks to destroy this highly enriched uranium to prevent Iran from creating weapons-grade material. Retry

PREVIEW HEADLINE: The US Defense Gap Caused by the 1990s Peace Dividend GUEST NAME: Peter HuessySUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Peter Huessy about the US need to update commands, moving from Minuteman silos to Sentinel systems. This stems from the 1990s "peace dividend," when America assumed great power competition ended. This caused cumulative losses of $1.5-2 trillion in defense investment, causing systems to atrophy.

PREVIEW HEADLINE: Questioning the Validity of China's Increased GDP Expectations GUEST NAME: Fraser Howie SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Fraser Howie about the World Bank/IMF raising GDP expectations for China. Howie suggests these organizations reluctantly avoid public negativity about China and rely on models. He notes results depend entirely on inputs, calling the process "classic rubbish in, rubbish out."

PREVIEW HEADLINE: The Supreme Court and the Changing Power of Presidential Impoundment GUEST NAME:Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about shifting power dynamics between the presidency and Supreme Court. The court will decide if the Trump administration can refuse to spend funds through impoundment. Unlike the Burger Court, which sided with Congress against Nixon, the current court consists mostly of lawyers sympathetic to executive branch views.

PREVIEW HEADLINE: Russia's Gold Bet and Financing the Budget Deficit GUEST NAME: Michael BernstamSUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Michael Bernstam about how sanctions benefit Russia through its "smart bet on gold." Russia holds significant gold reserves and accesses African gold. Gold at $4,000 per ounce or higher will help close Russia's budget deficit, approaching 3.5%. The Finance Ministry will sell gold domestically to finance this deficit.

     PREVIEW HEADLINE: Questioning the Validity of China's Increased GDP Expectations GUEST NAME: Fraser Howie SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Fraser Howie about the World Bank/IMF raising GDP expectations for China. Howie suggests these organizations reluctantly avoid public negativity about China and rely on models. He notes results depend entirely on inputs, calling the process "classic rubbish in, rubbish out."

A caller checked in to give us some of his headline ideas if Schlittler does well or not. We took your other Yanks calls too - a bunch of them.

Welcome to our Thursday episode of WYHA - Where's Your Headline At? In this mini episode, we will be bringing you our fave headlines of the week and whatever you want us to give our thoughts and opinions on! This week, a lot is happening. We're talking through the devastating split of Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban, as well as the beef taking over the internet - Taylor Swift vs Charli XCX. Will they work it out on the remix?! Listen for our thoughts xSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HEADLINE: Pangea's Mega-Monsoons, Coal Formation, and the Unclassifiable Tully Monster BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, a journey through Earth's Extinct Worlds GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This segment examines the Permian and Carboniferous eras. In the Permian (253 million years ago), the single supercontinent Pangea caused a mega-monsoon system involving extreme seasonal wetness and dryness. Sites like Moradi, Niger, show creatures adapted to this arid environment. Organisms included the bulk herbivore Umoist and the apex predator Gorgonops, a close relative of mammals with large canines. This period was immediately followed by the "Great Dying," the largest mass extinction event in Earth's history. The Carboniferous (390 million years ago) saw the first extensive forests. As trees fell into vast, tropical swamps, the water inhibited decay, leading to the preservation of organic material that eventually formed the world's coal deposits. This process sequestered carbon, contributing to lower atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations later in history. The final topic is the Tully Monster(Tullimonstrum), a small, torpedo-shaped creature with eyes on stalks that remains a profound paleontological mystery. It is intensely debated whether this organism is a vertebrate, and because it has no known descendants, it is classified as an evolutionary experiment that did not pan out.

HEADLINE: The Pleistocene Mammoth Steppe and the Mosaic Environment of Early Human Evolution BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, a journey through Earth's Extinct Worlds GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This excerpt introduces the work of paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Thomas Halliday, beginning in the Pleistocene era, 20,000 years ago. The focus is the Mammoth Steppe, described as the largest ecosystem on the planet. This cold, arid, grass-dominated environment stretched from Western Europe across Beringia into Alaska and the Yukon, managed by large herbivores like mammoths, woolly rhinos, and bison. Today, this entire community is essentially non-existent. The apex predator discussed is Arctodus Simus, the fearsomely large short-faced bear. The narrative then moves backward to the Pliocene, 4 million years ago, in the East African Rift Valley(Kenya/Ethiopia). This region, marked by sequences of ancient lakes, features a crucial mosaic environment of forests and grasslands. This mixed habitat was extremely important for the evolution of versatile, problem-solving organisms, including early human ancestors. The earliest species definitively known to be more closely related to humans than chimpanzees, Orrorin tugenensis, occupied this land. Halliday emphasizes exploring ecosystems that, while humans were present globally, were not yet heavily modified by human activity.

HEADLINE: Life on Land Collaboration: Devonian Mycorrhizae and Silurian Deep-Sea Vents BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This source details the move of life onto land and the origins of ecosystems. In the Devonian(407 million years ago), life thrived through collaboration, notably the crucial partnership of Mycorrhizae (fungi and roots). This collaboration was essential for plants to develop roots and extract mineral resources from rocks, while the fungi gained energy from plant photosynthesis. Evidence from Rynie, Scotland—a Yellowstone-like ecosystem with hot springs—shows detailed preservation of these interactions. The largest organism on land at this time was Prototaxites, a lichen structure that grew up to 9 meters tall. Arthropods, such as the freshwater shrimp Rhyniella, were among the first animals to inhabit the land. The conversation shifts to the Silurian (435 million years ago) and the deep ocean. The site of Yaman-Kassie is the earliest known fossilized hydrothermal vent with organisms living on it. These deep-sea vents support life via a chemical-based food chain independent of light. Halliday references the major hypothesis that life itself originated at similar deep alkaline vents, based on replicable chemistry that naturally creates the necessary hydrogen ion gradients. The segment concludes with the Ordovician mass extinction (444 million years ago), the first of the "big five" mass extinctions, which was caused by global cooling followed by rapid warming, stressing marine life with a high rate of climate change.

HEADLINE: Cambrian Explosion, Apex Predators, and the Morphological Mysteries of the Ediacaran BOOK TITLE: Other Lands GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This final segment explores the deep past, focusing on the Cambrian and Ediacaran periods. The Cambrian (520 million years ago) is known as the Cambrian Explosion, where representatives of all modern phyla (body plans) emerged, including early vertebrates. Sites like Chengjiang, China, illustrate this diversification. The apex predator of this era was Omnidens, a six-foot-long, many-legged arthropod that fed using a circular, spined mouth array. The emergence of predation fundamentally altered evolution, driving the development of armor, hard teeth, and the origin of eyes. Prior to the Cambrian was the Ediacaran (550 million years ago). Ediacaran organisms, which existed in a relatively peaceful pre-Cambrian world, were morphologically distinct from later life. Examples include the spiral-shaped Eoandromeda. The sea floor during this time was stabilized by microbial mats. Though life was bizarre, scientists are confident in classifying early life forms; for example, organisms like Dickinsonia are confirmed animals based on unique chemical markers such as cholesterol. Living Stromatolites (mounds of microbes) that persist today also existed during this time.

HEADLINE: The Zanclean Flood, Dwarfed Island Life, and Transatlantic Rafting in the Miocene and Oligocene BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, a journey through Earth's Extinct Worlds GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This segment covers the Miocene and Oligocene eras. In the Miocene (5.3 million years ago), the Mediterranean basin dried out after losing its connection to the Atlantic at the Straits of Gibraltar. This basin was dramatically refilled during the spectacular Zanclean Flood, caused by an earthquake that allowed the Atlantic to surge back, resulting in a mile-high waterfall near Sicily. Before the flood, Gargano Island (now a peninsula in Italy) was home to dwarf fauna. Fossils recovered from its caves include Hoplomeryx, a deer-like organism characterized by saber teeth and five horns. Its main predators were giant birds, such as eagles and buzzard relatives. Moving to the Oligocene(33 million years ago), the discussion centers on South America as an island continent and the spread of grasslands. Grasses defended themselves with silica crystals, necessitating the evolution of specialized grazers with continually growing teeth, like early horses. A key evolutionary event was transoceanic rafting. African monkeys, rodents, freshwater fish, and amphibians crossed the Atlantic Ocean—which was two-thirds its modern width—on structurally sound fragments of land that detached during storms.

HEADLINE: Greenhouse Antarctica, the First Whales, and the Survival Strategies Post-Asteroid Impact BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, a journey through Earth's extinct world GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This section begins in the Eocene (41 million years ago), a time of Greenhouse Earthcharacterized by no permanent polar ice, high CO2 (800 ppm), and temperatures about five degrees Celsius warmer than today. Seymour Island (West Antarctic Peninsula) hosted a diverse temperate rainforest before the onset of glaciation. The cooling process was triggered by the opening of the Drake Passage, which created the circum-polar current and isolated Antarctica from tropical warmth. Marine life included Pelagornis, a pseudo-toothed bird analogous to the albatross, and Basilosaurus, the first truly aquatic whale, which evolved from coastal predators. Despite the warmth, the Antarctic region still endured three months of total darkness in winter, requiring plants to drop their leaves. The conversation then shifts to the Paleocene following the K-Pg mass extinction. This extinction was caused by an exogenous asteroid strike in the Yucatan Peninsula, which halted photosynthesis worldwide for years due to atmospheric soot. Most animals larger than a small dog perished. The rapid diversification of mammals, specifically Eutherians (placental mammals), began immediately after the extinction event. Survival was facilitated by being small, insectivorous, and burrowing, which provided a stable environment against extreme temperature swings.

HEADLINE: Knuckle Walkers and the Discovery of Color in Cretaceous Dinosaurs BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, a journey through Earth's extinct worlds GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This section focuses on the Cretaceous period, 125 million years ago, exploring the heyday of non-avian dinosaurs. Herbivores, such as the 17-meter-long titanosaurs, are described as "knuckle walkers" because they lost their finger bones and supported their immense weight on modified hand bones. The forests at this time were primarily composed of conifers, ginkos, and ferns, as flowering plants were only just beginning to emerge. The site of Liaoning, China, provides extraordinary preservation, allowing scientists to determine dinosaur coloration. By examining melanosomes (pigment packets) preserved at a subcellular level, researchers identified patterns, such as the black bandit stripe on Sinosauropteryx. Furthermore, the counter shading found on Psittacosaurus suggests it lived in a forested ecosystem. Defense mechanisms, similar to those seen in modern ecology, were also present. For instance, lace wings (Grammalysa) possessed eye spots on their wings, likely intended to mimic the eyes of a predator, most plausibly a small theropod dinosaur, thus providing a glimpse into Cretaceous signaling and ecology.

HEADLINE: Jurassic Sponge Reefs, Floating Wood, and the Triassic Glider Sharovipteryx BOOK TITLE: Other Lands, a journey through Earth's Extinct Worlds GUEST AUTHOR NAME: Thomas Halliday 200-WORD SUMMARY: This excerpt details events in the Jurassic and Triassic periods. The Jurassic (155 million years ago) was a time of recovery for marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, following the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, likely caused by runaway climate change. Europe was a tropical archipelago at this time. The largest biological structure ever known was a 7,000 km long reef composed of glass sponges (silicon sponges) in the fringes of the Tethys Ocean. This reef provided a diverse ecosystem, supporting ammonites, fish, and marine reptiles. Unusually, wood floated for much longer than it does today because wood-boring shipworms had not yet evolved. Evidence shows fallen logs floating across oceans and adorned with filter-feeding organisms like sea lilies. Moving to the Triassic (225 million years ago), the focus is Madigan in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. This lake ecosystem provides a rare, well-preserved record of a terrestrial environment, notable for its extraordinary insect diversity, including most known Triassic families of beetles. A unique vertebrate found here is Sharovipteryx, a lizard-like gliding reptile that used a triangular membrane stretched between its exceptionally long hind legs to glide.

PREVIEW  HEADLINE Italy Restores National Holiday Honoring St. Francis; Celebrations Begin 2026 Amid Talk of Giotto's Restored Assisi Frescoes GUEST NAME Lorenzo Fiori 50 WORD SUMMARY Italy's legislature restored the national holiday honoring St. Francis, patron saint of Italy, starting October 4, 2026. The Senate approved the measure, reversing a deletion made about 30 years ago. St. Francis, who famously renounced wealth to found the Franciscan order, is associated with Assisi, home to restored Giotto frescoes. 1890

HEADLINE: Trump's War on Cartels and Venezuela Intervention; Supreme Court Takes Up Federal Reserve Governor Firing Case GUEST NAME: Richard Epstein SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Richard Epstein about President Trump's "war" against drug cartels and potential Venezuela intervention, which Epstein deems unlawful executive overreach due to congressional inertia. He suggests overthrowing Maduro would be more strategic. The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments regarding presidential power to fire Federal Reserve governors, specifically Lisa Cook, addressing the future of independent agencieS. 1876 CARACAS BOLIVAR ENTRANCE

HEADLINE: Trump's War on Cartels and Venezuela Intervention; Supreme Court Takes Up Federal Reserve Governor Firing Case GUEST NAME: Richard Epstein SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Richard Epstein about President Trump's "war" against drug cartels and potential Venezuela intervention, which Epstein deems unlawful executive overreach due to congressional inertia. He suggests overthrowing Maduro would be more strategic. The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments regarding presidential power to fire Federal Reserve governors, specifically Lisa Cook, addressing the future of independent agencieS. 1835

HEADLINE: Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna's Chamber: An Early Mesopotamian Museum GUEST NAME: Moudhy Al-Rashid SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Moudhy Al-Rashid about Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, high priestess to moon god Sin in Ur, who maintained ancient artifact collections in her palace. Items 1,500 years older than her time, alongside cylindrical clay labels, suggest the chamber functioned as the world's earliest known museum, establishing links to ancient history.

HEADLINE: Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna's Chamber: An Early Mesopotamian Museum GUEST NAME: Moudhy Al-Rashid SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Moudhy Al-Rashid about Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, high priestess to moon god Sin in Ur, who maintained ancient artifact collections in her palace. Items 1,500 years older than her time, alongside cylindrical clay labels, suggest the chamber functioned as the world's earliest known museum, establishing links to ancient history. 1932 BABYLON

HEADLINE: Ancient Mesopotamian Literacy, Math, and the Epic of Gilgamesh GUEST NAME: Moudhy Al-RashidSUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Moudhy Al-Rashid about Mesopotamian education teaching advanced mathematics and writing in Sumerian and Akkadian, preserved on homework tablets. The Epic of Gilgamesh, dating to a likely real king around 2800 BCE, tells of a tyrant's transformation into a wise king after learning that life concerns community survival 1700 BABYLON

HEADLINE: Ancient Mesopotamian Literacy, Math, and the Epic of Gilgamesh GUEST NAME: Moudhy Al-RashidSUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Moudhy Al-Rashid about Mesopotamian education teaching advanced mathematics and writing in Sumerian and Akkadian, preserved on homework tablets. The Epic of Gilgamesh, dating to a likely real king around 2800 BCE, tells of a tyrant's transformation into a wise king after learning that life concerns community survival 1932 BABYLON

PREVIEW HEADLINE: Experts Warn of US Vulnerability Due to Reliance on Taiwan for High-End AI Chips GUEST NAME: Brandon Weichert SUMMARY: Brandon Weichert discussed House Oversight Committee testimony detailing US vulnerability regarding high-end AI chips. The panel argued that relying on Taiwan for 90% of production makes the US supply chain susceptible to Chinese disruption. Experts recommended a comprehensive Chips Act and budgeting language to stop companies like Nvidia from selling advanced chips to Beijing. 1954

PREVIEW HEADLINE: Inspector General Finds ISS Spacesuit Maintenance Failure and Design Inadequacy GUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman reported on an Inspector General finding that Collins Aerospace is failing to maintain ISS spacesuits despite a contract ballooning to $1.4 billion. The decades-old American suits are complex and inadequate, while Russian and Chinese suits are better designed. Failures have led to canceled spacewalks, including one instance where an astronaut almost drowned from water buildup. 1959 Retry

HEADLINE: US Enforcement of New Rules Targeting Adversarial Supply Chains GUEST NAME: Jack BurnhamSUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Jack Burnham of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies about the Trump administration's new Commerce and Treasury rules targeting adversarial weapons supply chains. The rules place critical components on the entity list. Enforcement requires significant allied cooperation, with Burnham recommending parallel policies from the EU, UK, and Japan. 1950 PEKING