GOOD EVENING. The show begins in Ukraine, which is receiving the first rush of weapons and cash from the U.S. Congress. We then move to Israel and the unfinished Gaza War. Next, we visit Beijing for a page and then to mainland China to discuss gold buying by consumers. We then travel to Occitanie, France, to discuss the price of energy. Shifting fo…

2/2: #HOTELMARS: The risk and reward of the JAXA and NASA missions to Ryugu (2014-202) and Bennu (2015-2023) & What is to be done? Harold Connolly, Rohan University. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/162173_Ryugu undated VestaBy John Batchelor

1/2: #HOTELMARS: The risk and reward of the JAXA and NASA missions to Ryugu (2014-202) and Bennu (2015-2023) & What is to be done? Harold Connolly, Rohan University. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/162173_Ryugu undated IDABy John Batchelor

#GLOBALIZATION: Data management and the future of insurance. Martin Shen, CEO Fingermotion.com https://fingermotion.com/news/176-fingermotion-entering-into-arrangements-to-facilitate-widespread-use-of-charging-terminals-for-subscribers-of-the-da-ge-app 1945 Bell TelephoneBy John Batchelor

PRC: Still no way out of the real estate crater. Anne Stevenson-Yang, author of the upcoming Wild Ride: China's Short-Lived Experiment in Capitalism, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/19/chinas-fiscal-stimulus-is-losing-its-effectiveness-sp-says.html 1920 Ningbo…

PRC : TikTok no more. Brandon Weichert, author of Biohacked: China's Race to Control Life, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill: https://www.wsj.com/tech/u-s-china-internet-war-intensifies-as-house-passes-tiktok-ban-7d19ff05 1849By John Batchelor

PLA: Defense of the Philippines. James Holmes, first holder of the Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College and blogger at The Naval Diplomat (https://navaldiplomat.com/),@GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/22/asia/us-land-attack-missile-philippines-china-intl-hnk-ml/index.html 1855 Philippines…

2/2: #MARS: Insight and the Marsquakes. Ken Croswell, Proceeding of the National Academy of Science. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400778121 2006 Spirit on MarsBy John Batchelor

1/2: #MARS: Insight and the Marsquakes. Ken Croswell, Proceeding of the National Academy of Science. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400778121 1997 Pathfinder MarsBy John Batchelor

#Voyager-1: Called home. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/voyager-1-back-on-line-after-software-patch-works/ 1920By John Batchelor

SPACEX: May is a plain guess. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-and-rocket-lab-complete-launches-2/ 1965 GeminiBy John Batchelor

#EV: The quiz. Simon Constable, Occitanie https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/electric-vehicle-quiz-ea7247f3 1923By John Batchelor

#France: The cost of energy. The Rwanda Bill. Simon Constable, Occitanie https://www.ft.com/content/5e7591b2-87c2-4ea3-8922-ee7a4c8c7913 1793By John Batchelor

#PRC: Gold fever breaks out: Fraser Howie, co-author of Red Capitalism: The Fragile Financial Foundation of China's Extraordinary Rise,@GORDONGCHANG, GATESTONE, NEWSWEEK, THE HILL https://www.businessinsider.com/gold-price-china-consumers-central-bank-pboc-economy-concerns-dedollarization-2024-4 1938 CHINA…

#PRC: Justice jailed: Charles Burton, senior fellow at Sinopsis, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3257603/chinas-former-justice-minister-tang-yijun-facing-corruption-probe-top-anti-graft-agency-says 1930 SHANGHAIBy John Batchelor

#Israel: Rafah and Bekaa and Air Defense. Colonel Jeff McCausland , USA (retired) @mccauslj @CBSNews @dickinsoncol https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/weapons-ukraine-61bn-us-aid-boost-himars-howitzer/ 1900 US Army DirigibleBy John Batchelor

#Ukraine: Relieving Pork Chop Hill. Colonel Jeff McCausland , USA (retired) @mccauslj @CBSNews @dickinsoncol https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/weapons-ukraine-61bn-us-aid-boost-himars-howitzer/ 1916 VerdunBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: RYUGU: BENNU: Excerpt from conversation with Professor Harold Connolly, veteran of both the Hayausa2 sample return mission to Ryugu (2014-2020) and OSIRIS-Rex to Bennu sample return (2015-2023) -- re the scrupulous NASA risk protocols for a success. More details tonight. 1929 Merate Observatory, Italia…

PREVIEW: #UKRAINE: EXCERPT FROM CONVERSATION WITH COLLEAGUE JEFF MCCAUSLAND OF CBS NEWS RE THE $61 BILLION PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE -- ESPECIALLY AIR DEFENSE -- AND THE ALLIES PARTICIPATING. DETAILS TONIGHT. 1943 BRITISH 8THE ARMY ITALYBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: PHILIPPINES: Excerpt from a conversation with Professor Jim Holmes of the US Naval War College regarding the recent deployment of US Navy, US Army, and USMC units, as well as training and weapons to the Philippines -- in response to the PLA's predatory actions in the South China Sea against Manila. More details to follow later tonight. 191…

PREVIEW: #PRC: #Sci-Fi: : Excerpt from conversation with colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang re the latest CCP notion how to force domestic consumer demand of Chinese products -- in order to revive manufacturing by invasive regulation. Details later tonight. 1930 BeijingBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: #ESA: #FrenchGuyana: Excerpt from conversation with colleague Bob Zimmerman re the government funded ESA spaceport and its future in a world of commercial space and monetizing spaceports. Details tonight. 1922 British GuyanaBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: #MARS: Excerpt from conversation with colleague Bob Zimmerman re the latest thinking about the methane detected by the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater -- and what this detection may mean for the future of viable Mars colonies. More details tonight. 2023 MarsBy John Batchelor

GOOD EVENING: The show begins at the Federal Reserve, searching for the fate of the three promised interest rate cuts in 2024 -- none of which are currently in sight. We then delve into memories of Perry Mason while reading about the Trump trial. Next, we move to Tehran, Isfahan, and Gaza, discussing the imminent Rafah Operation. We then visit Midl…

#LondonCalling: What is the Rwanda Bill? @JosephSternberg @WSJOpinion https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/five-migrants-feared-dead-english-channel-crossing-ngqm76r39 1962 RWANDABy John Batchelor

#LondonCalling: The Federal Reserve influencer is a formula named FRBUS. @JosephSternberg @WSJOpinion https://www.ft.com/content/6c746e2c-1ddb-4e61-8620-7d46a6393818 1914 FEDERAL RESERVE BOARDBy John Batchelor

IRAN: Unenforced sanctions and Tehran's bounty. Saeed Ghasseminejad, FDD https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/04/19/irans-oil-exports-continue-to-rise/ 1925 PERSIABy John Batchelor

PAKISTAN: Visit by Raisi for an old pipeline deal. Arif Rafiq, Globelynews,com https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/perspectives-irans-elections-examining-ties-united-states-china-and-south-asia 1911 127TH BALUCH LIGHT INFANTRY AT BOMBAYBy John Batchelor

#KingCharlesReport: Queen Camilla remembers her Father's stories of the Royal Lancers. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/04/22/camilla-jokes-about-royal-lancer-capacity-for-drinking-beer/ 1942 ROYAL LANCERS IN NORTH AFRICABy John Batchelor

#NIGERIA: Inflation, violence, disorder, Tinubu unable. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs https://mailchi.mp/0b14c4fd1686/the-week-ahead-highway-to-nowhere?e=16dcd15952 1911 NIGERIABy John Batchelor

#ETHIOPIA: Collapse with no way out. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs 1910 ETHIOPIABy John Batchelor

#IRAN: #TURKIYE: Mullahs comprehend the Israeli retaliation. Erdogan offering Hamas refuge, Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/erdogan-meets-hamas-leader-turkiye-discusses-efforts-regional-peace-4280366 1928 TURKIYEBy John Batchelor

2/2: #BERLIN: The rise and rise of Alternative for Deutschland. Judy Dempsey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Editor-in-Chief: Strategic Europe, in Berlin. https://carnegieeurope.eu/2024/04/18/germany-afd-blip-or-fixture-pub-92149 1936 NSDAP:By John Batchelor

1/2: #BERLIN: The rise and rise of Alternative for Deutschland. Judy Dempsey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Editor-in-Chief: Strategic Europe, in Berlin. https://carnegieeurope.eu/2024/04/18/germany-afd-blip-or-fixture-pub-92149 1937 BERLINBy John Batchelor

#StateThinking: Praising the confident education in Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. @MaryKissel Former Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State. Executive VP Stephens Inc. https://www.northwood.edu 1945 MIDLAND MICHIGANBy John Batchelor

#StateThinking: Predatory Regime & What is to be done? @MaryKissel Former Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State. Executive VP Stephens Inc. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/04/22/iran-clerics-crippled-islamic-republic-economy-inflation/ 1307 PERSIABy John Batchelor

#IGAZA: The imminent Rafah Operation. Jonathan Schanzer, FDD https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/23/israel-evacuate-million-palestinians-rafah-offensive/ 1898 GAZABy John Batchelor

#IRAN: #ISRAEL: The Israel response to the Tehran barrage. Jonathan Schanzer, FDD https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/23/israel-hamas-war-latest-news-updates-us-strike-syria-rafah/ 1925 PersiaBy John Batchelor

#Markets: Remembering Perry Mason during the Trump trial. Liz Peek The Hill. Fox News and Fox Business https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Mason_(1957_TV_series) 1886 SCOTUSBy John Batchelor

#Markets: Missing those three cuts at the Fed. Liz Peek The Hill. Fox News and Fox Business https://www.ft.com/content/6c746e2c-1ddb-4e61-8620-7d46a6393818 1927 Dederal Reserve BoardBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: #ECONOMY: Excerpt from a conversation with colleague Liz Peek of The Hill and Fox News re the road ahead as viewed by the famous and far-sighted NFIB (National Association of Independent Businesses) --puzzling observations, both foreboding and yet still eager for workers. Details later. undated Anchorage Alaska…

PREVIEW: CROWN: Conversation with colleague Grgeory Copley re Queen Camilla's visit, as the new colonel-in-chief, to the Royal Lancers -- har father Major Bruce Shand's regiment in the Second World War. Details tonight. 1941 Royal Lancers maneuvers at TidworthBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: #MICHIGAN: Excerpt of conversation with colleague Mary Kissel re her visit to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, to visit with car dealers -- many of whom are graduates of the school -- devoted to entrepreneurship. Details later. https://www.northwood.edu/ 1930 Three Rivers, Michigan…

In this episode, Joe interviews Philip Wolf: writer, member of Rolling Stone's Culture Council, founder of Cultivating Spirits (the first company in the U.S. to offer legal culinary cannabis experiences), and founder of CashoM, an education company offering a certificate in cannabis stewardship. While he and Joe intended for this to be a 4/20-theme…

PREVIEW: #GERMANY: #EU: Conversation with colleague Judy Dempsey of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Berlin re the gathering strength of the Alternative for Deutschland Party (Afd) -- and its collegiality with the trend toward right of center nationalist parties across the EU map. Details tonight. 1906 Berlin…

PREVIEW: #UK: #RWANDA: Conversation with colleague Joseph Sternberg for WSJ in London re the contentious and newly approved policy called the Rwanda Bill that is the Sunak Government answer to the migarnts crossing the Channel -- and the tragedies that are commonplace now. 1880 ParliamentBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: #IRAN: Conversation with Jonathan Schanzer of FDD re the lone glide pomb that Israel fired at Iran in retaliation for the barrage on Jerusalem and Israel of previous days -- and the threat that lone strike represents to the Tehran regime. More details tonight. 1925 PersiaBy John Batchelor

PREVIEW: #HAMAS: #Turkiye: Conversation with Jonathan Schanzer of FDD re the report that Erdogan is offering refuge to Hamas at a site outside of Istanbul -- after reports that Qatar has become anxious about housing Hamas leadership. More details tonight. 1906 Istanbul Post OfficeBy John Batchelor

GOOD EVENING: The show begins in Iran's neighboring countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Baluchistan, and Kurdistan, asking about relations with Tehran. We then move to Columbia University and Yale University campuses for demonstrations with antisemitic messages. Next, we go to Ukraine's front line, where troops await weapons and ammunition, and the…

2/2: #PRC: Information Warfare and AeroSpaceForce. Rick Fisher, senior fellow of the International Assessment and Strategy Center, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill https://www.realcleardefense.com/2024/04/20/xi_orders_biggest_military_reorganization_since_2015_1026265.html 1957 Plumbbob WILSON…