The John Batchelor Show

As the wine flows, we consider a "fairy tale" from the 21st century regarding a new tax on wealthy second homes in New York City. While the proposal to tax penthouses sounds witty to the masses, Germanicus warns it is mere "Kabuki smoke and mirrors" that will drive the wealthy to flee, drawing parallels to programs that destroyed communities and hampered natural mobility. He argues that only those who have lived under the "monstrous regimes" of the East — like those in Germany or Hungary — truly understand the devastation these ideas bring to the human spirit. Our evening concludes with a plan to visit the circus, preferring jugglers and marionettes to the exhausting drama of the modern age, as we depart the wine bar to offer our sacrifices to the divine Augustus. (3) 1550 ROME

Continuing our discourse, Germanicus notes a profound shift: the citizen-militia that once defended the republic has been replaced by a professional force, decoupling the public from the costs of war. Modern "ceremonial war" relies on missiles or foreign proxies like Ukraine to do the dying, yet fails to reach strategic conclusions. The coming midterm elections represent a "body blow" that could see the opposition seize control of the House, while the potential rise of "Democratic Socialists" — compared to the Bolshevik revolution — threatens identity politics and wealth confiscation that would lead to a "time of troubles." We conclude that both parties are essentially eating from the same soup bowl while the empire erodes. (2) 1572 AFTER THE FALL OF CONSTANTIOPLE.

Gaius & Germanicus debate in the Londinium wine bar, 92 AD. In our gathering, Gaius and Germanicus address the unfolding chaos of the 21st-century empire for you, veteran centurions. The Emperor is increasingly viewed as unfit by the global commentariat, delivering contradictory messages that leave allies and adversaries confused. Germanicusargues the Emperor allowed himself to be led into a failed war in Persia by Mr. Netanyahu, a conflict that lacks strategic objective and risks a consequential defeat. This "ceremonial" military, though dazzling in appearance, mimics the "mini-me" force of Israel, capable only of destroying cities rather than achieving decisive victory. The American public, sensing this failure through the Emperor's erratic social media posts, recognizes the nation is no longer the superpower it once was — as in the Roman tradition, an emperor who loses an army is quickly discarded. (1) 457 AMBROSIAN ILLIAD

Tamny critiques the federal government's "command economy" response, specifically the trillions of dollars in stimulus and the Payroll Protection Program. He argues that consumption does not drive growth — investment does — and that by "hoovering up" capital from those most capable of investing and redistributing it to consumers, the government delayed natural economic recovery. The PPP propped up "the past" and prevented the necessary "creative destruction" that allows a dynamic economy to evolve. Tamny ultimately advocates for freedom as the only sustainable answer to future crises, noting that private enterprise — not government mandates — produced the vaccines in record time. (4) 1918 SEATTLE

Tamny explores the misplaced reliance on expert opinion, arguing that the crisis began when epidemiologists became the "leaders of the economy." Comparing this to the 1980s AIDS scare, he notes that early expert predictions are often "first drafts" that can be incorrect. He contrasts 2020 with the 1968 "Hong Kong Flu," which resulted in 100,000 Americandeaths — the equivalent of 250,000 today — but saw no lockdowns, positing that society locked down in 2020 not because it had to, but because technology like Zoom allowed an "elite" class to stay home while others delivered their food. (3) 1918 COLORADO

Tamny argues that markets had already "priced in" the virus long before the lockdowns, pointing to major U.S.companies with significant exposure to China — such as Apple, Nike, and Starbucks — whose shares were hitting all-time highs while the virus spread rampantly. To Tamny, this was a clear market signal that the virus, while serious, was not a "mass indiscriminate killer." The panic, he argues, was caused not by the virus itself but by the sudden realization that politicians in "red states" and "blue states" alike were willing to shut down commerce. (2) 1918 TEXAS QUARENTINE CAMP

John Tamny, editor of RealClearMarkets, argues that the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic represented a tragic lapse of reason where politicians panicked and replaced the collective wisdom of the marketplace with centralized planning. Tamny identifies March 20, 2020 — the day Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered a mandated "shelter in place" for New York — as a pivotal moment signaling a severe government-mandated contraction of the economy. He contends that the economy is not a "valve" that can be simply shut and reopened, as the sudden cessation of business activity forced investors to rethink the future value of all enterprises. (1) 1918

Eric J. Dolan concludes as Barnard and his men were finally rescued after a grueling year and a half by two Britishwhaling ships. Barnard returned to New York bankrupt, but a legal battle over the Nanina eventually resulted in American compensation while D'Aranda was left with nothing. Encouraged by friends, Barnard published his harrowing account in 1829. Dolan emphasizes the significance of focusing on "average people" whose experiences are often lost to history, recreating the endurance of these mariners through journals and logs. (4) 1892 FALKLAMDS

Eric J. Dolan recounts how Charles Barnard offered the Isabella castaways a humanitarian deal — rescue in exchange for salvage rights — despite learning the War of 1812 had begun. However, the arrival of HMS Nancy, commanded by Lieutenant D'Aranda, transformed the rescue into a military confrontation, as D'Aranda seized the Nanina as a prize of war and marooned Barnard and four others on the islands. For 534 days the men survived using only their wits, with Barnard's dog Scent bravely hunting wild hogs to provide essential food. (3) 1849 FALKLANDS

Eric J. Dolan describes the Falkland Islands as a barren, inhospitable archipelago of constant 18 mph winds and freezing temperatures, frequented by mariners hunting fur seals and elephant seals. The islands became the site of a major disaster when the ship Isabella — sailing from a penal colony in Australia with a volatile mix of crew, marines, and convicts — wrecked on Eagle Island due to the incompetence and intoxication of Captain George Hickton. Although all 54 aboard reached shore alive, they found themselves shipwrecked in a remote wilderness, leading many to descend into despair and alcohol abuse. (2) 1833 FALKLANDS

Eric J. Dolan explores the lucrative sealing industry of the early 19th century, where millions of pelts were harvested for the Chinese market at five dollars each. Against the backdrop of the looming War of 1812, risk-taker Charles Barnardand his 63-year-old father Valentine departed New York on the brig Nanina, timing their exit just as an embargo was being implemented. The presence of four different captains created a volatile leadership dynamic, setting the stage for a dramatic collision between young America and Great Britain at the "edge of the world." (1) 1928 FALKLANDS

Paul Halpern recounts how as the Big Bang theory gained acceptance, Gamow sought recognition for his 1940s predictions regarding cosmic radiation before his death in 1968. Conversely, Hoyle faced a controversial Nobel Prize exclusion for his work on stellar elements, leading him toward increasingly eccentric theories — championing "panspermia," suggesting life and diseases arrived via comets, while challenging Darwinian evolution. Halperncharacterizes both protagonists as "seat of the pants" thinkers who prioritized spontaneous intuition over slow, archival scientific development. (4) 1930

Paul Halpern describes how inspired by a horror movie's looped narrative, Hoyle developed the "Steady State" theory, proposing a "creation field" where matter continuously fills gaps as galaxies drift apart. A major breakthrough occurred when Hoyle predicted a specific energy state for carbon-12, explaining how life-essential elements form in dying stars. Gamow conceptualized "Ylem" as the universe's original substance, though he disliked Hoyle's derisive "Big Bang" nickname — a debate culminating in 1964 when Penzias and Wilson accidentally discovered the cosmic radio "hiss," providing definitive evidence for the Big Bang. (3) FEBRUARY 1958

Paul Halpern recounts how as the Big Bang theory gained acceptance, Gamow sought recognition for his 1940s predictions regarding cosmic radiation before his death in 1968. Conversely, Hoyle faced a controversial Nobel Prize exclusion for his work on stellar elements, leading him toward increasingly eccentric theories — championing "panspermia," suggesting life and diseases arrived via comets, while challenging Darwinian evolution. Halperncharacterizes both protagonists as "seat of the pants" thinkers who prioritized spontaneous intuition over slow, archival scientific development. (4) NOVEMBER 1957

Paul Halpern introduces the contrasting early lives of George Gamow and Fred Hoyle. Born in Odessa, Gamowstudied under Alexander Friedmann, whose work on expanding universe models influenced Gamow's shift toward nuclear physics and quantum tunneling. After a dramatic attempted escape from the Soviet Union via a rubber kayak and later a successful departure through a scientific conference, Gamow reached the West. Meanwhile, in Yorkshire, Hoylewas shaped by his mother's cinema music, learning to read through silent film subtitles before pursuing physics at Cambridge. (1) JANUARY 1950

Eleanor Barraclough offers a poignant look at the Norse settlement of Greenland, founded by Eric the Red in 985 AD. At the Herjolfsness graveyard, well-preserved organic material reveals the coarse, patched clothing of 15th-century inhabitants, indicating their isolation and decline. As the climate cooled, the Norse struggled while the Inuit thrived, with the final records including a witch burning in 1407 and a wedding in 1408 — the last known activities before the colony vanished. (8) 1946 RUNE. SWEDEN.

Eleanor Barraclough notes the Viking Age is often said to end in 1066 with the death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge — a legendary figure who served as an imperial bodyguard in Constantinople before returning to Norway to claim the English throne. Barraclough argues this date is Anglo-centric, noting Norse influence continued elsewhere, with another symbolic conclusion occurring in 1263 at the Battle of Largs, when Norway lost control of the Western Isles to the Scottish crown. (7)

Eleanor Barraclough recounts archaeological discoveries in the Surtshellir lava cave in Iceland, revealing it as a site for ritual offerings to the fire giant Surtr. Deep inside, researchers found a stone boat outline containing jasper fire-starters and animal bones intended to placate volcanic forces. Remarkably, the final offering left after Christian conversion was a metal cross — a ritualized farewell to the old gods, as a saga poem uses volcanic imagery to represent the end of the pagan era. (6)

century Christian authors like Snorri Sturluson, requiring historians to be cautious when interpreting pagan beliefs. These stories describe the world's creation from fire and ice and its eventual destruction at Ragnarok, including the ship Naglfar constructed from the nails of the dead. Snorri, a powerful politician and poet, was eventually murdered in his basement during a violent Icelandic civil war. (5)

Eleanor Barraclough explores how reliquaries — holy Christian containers — were stolen during raids and repurposed as jewelry for Norse women, suggesting early raids were driven by young men seeking wealth and status to establish households. Barraclough also addresses the theory of female infanticide as a potential driver for these male-dominated expeditions, alongside a human skull fragment carved with runes as a protective amulet against "dwarves," believed to cause sickness. (4)