Episode Details

TABLE OF CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-13-2026.

Anatol Lieven: The discussion highlights a dystopian shift in modern naval combat, where the Russian ghost fleet employs Mad Max tactics, using netting and spikes, to defend against Ukrainian drone attacks. Anatol Lieven describes a global spread of drone technology that threatens energy prices and international stability. Both Russia and Ukraine suffer from the illusion of an imminent total victory, despite a grinding stalemate in which Russia holds a stronger economic position because of its self-funded war effort while Ukraine remains dependent on precarious European aid. Lieven warns of a potential sea war escalation if Russia retaliates against the seizure of its ships, potentially drawing NATO and the US into a direct naval clash. The conversation also touches on British politics, noting that Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces immense pressure regarding immigration and military spending despite his desire to focus on domestic issues. (1)

Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal editorial board: Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of severe earthquakes while navigating a complex political transition under the Trump administration's influence. Despite increased oil production, major oil companies are hesitant to invest because of a lack of contractual assurances, bureaucratic overreach, and the absence of a legitimate rule of law. Mary Anastasia O'Grady explains that the current provisional government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, is associated with the previous narco-terror regime, creating a transparency crisis regarding oil profits held in US escrow accounts. While the administration pursues a three-phase plan of stabilization, recovery, and a return to democracy, O'Grady argues the regime is simply buying time to stay in power. As long as oil prices remain high and the US is preoccupied with conflicts in the Middle East, the illegitimate regime has little incentive to hold the free and fair elections demanded by popular opposition leader María Corina Machado. (2)

Veronique de Rugy: Veronique de Rugy critiques the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act, which requires cargo moved between American ports to be transported on ships that are US-built, US-owned, and US-crewed. Originally intended to protect the American merchant marine after World War I, the act has instead caused domestic shipbuilding costs to skyrocket, making American vessels four to five times more expensive than those built in Asia. Consequently, the US fleet has dwindled, and consumers face higher prices for goods as transportation shifts to more polluting methods such as trucking. Despite its failure to achieve its stated goals, the act is sustained by special interests, including unions and specific shipyards, which exert significant political influence. Current efforts to maintain waivers for energy and fertilizer transportation are facing strong opposition from 52 House Republicans. (3)

Craig Unger: Craig Unger explores a sidetracked FBI counterintelligence investigation into Donald Trump's decades-long ties to Russian interests. Unlike criminal inquiries, counterintelligence investigations focus on national security breaches and the laundering of influence, even when no explicit crime is proven. Unger asserts that Russian mafia figures, acting as adjuncts to state intelligence, began bailing out Trump's failing real estate ventures as early as 1984. These transactions, often involving cash purchases of condominiums in Trump Tower, allegedly turned the former president into an asset of Russian intelligence. Unger argues that the Robert Mueller investigation was a dud because it focused narrowly on criminal acts rather than this broader compromise. The discussion concludes by noting Trump's consistent, long-standing hostility toward NATO, which Unger says mirrors Soviet-er