The John Batchelor Show

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Air Date: 
January 15, 2020

JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
Co-hosts: Gordon Chang, Daily Beast, and David Livingston, The Space Show
 
Hour One
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 1, Block A:  Andrew Collier, managing director of Orient Capital Research in Hong Kong and author of Shadow Banking and the Rise of Capitalism in China, on China's reaction to the trade deal.
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 1, Block B: James Holmes,  , in re: Scattering the threat capabilities of the US fleet. Reminiscent of 1918; today, how to face China, who is a serious opponent. Need to find ways to go around strength, avoid going in to the teeth of the fire. Disaggregate.  Recall Sen Gary Hart, whose wise advice was dismissed by the Navy. 
Are the Chinese Mahanians? Do they believe in the big guns?  The PLA navy keeps getting bigger, aiming at the decisive battle, whereas the US seems to be going the opposite direction, which I think is a good thing.  The best antisub platform is another sub. Lovg-range antiship missile; first too carry it is a  bomber. 
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 1, Block C: Claudia Rosett, Women’s Independent Forum, in  re: In Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen enjoys a majority in both houses of he legislature. Taiwanese people have been closely watching the demonstrations in Hong Kong, and China illuminate for the world what “One country, two systems” means: One country/big cover-up, as it squashes democracy and Marie Antoinette, Carrie Lam reused to talk, let alone negotiate, as Hong Kong people demand what they were promised by treaty.  This drove the victory for Tsai Ing-wen,
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 1, Block D: Michael Yon, Michael_Yon; reporter; in re: Alexandra Wong, “Grandma Wong,” always at protests waving a British flag to encourage the UK to step in and help with human rights in HK. She was arrested in Shenzen in August, has been wounded, conveyed information recently, is crying daily, held in a solitary cell, and by Beijing.
She was on the frontlines. She was joined by elders even older that she is.  The elders give a lot f energy to the youth. In Thailand, a n 80-year-old was inspirational.  An no one seems to know what the charges are.   About 7,00 have been arrested – of those of whom we know, China is well known to kidnap; and corpses show up, including a recent limp body being thrown off a Mainland police tower.
A lot of Taiwanese go to the HK demos.   HK students are still attending school and the offices are still open; the HK economy has been hurt badly but people work sedulously. Chat groups are infiltrated, spy-vs-spy insurgency, everyone knows that they're all being monitored by the Mainland.
 
Hour Two
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 2, Block A:  Stephen Yates, former deputy national security advisor to Vice President Cheney and currently CEO of DC International Advisory, in re: the Taiwan elections
Washington news of the moment is phase one of the trade negotiation with China. In Asia, the big story is: Liberty in Taiwan, 1; China, 0.   The KMT turned out more votes than it had in 2016, but Pres Tsai turned out throngs—with much help from the horrendous videos out of Hong Kong, and Xi Jinping’s abuse there.  The youth have self-respect and energy, are determined to turn out to vote.  Lots of Hong Kongers visited, and heir presence and tales were both saddening and deeply inspiring.
The Kuomintang, which got 5 million votes, urgently wants to join with Taiwan with China. Han Guo-yu.  The CCP was, in effect, very much on the ballot. . . . The victorious democracy of Taiwan! 
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 2, Block B:  Alan Tonelson, independent economic policy analyst who blogs at RealityChek & tweets at @AlanTonelson, in re: The China trade deal— amazingly, it looks as though the US has in effect won: if we’re dissatisfied, we can respond in any of multiple ways, and if China doesn't like the US response, its only remaining option is to pull out of the entire deal. China is obligated to buy $200 bil of goods above what it bought in [2018?]. Will the Chinese follow through?  If they don't, can be hit with heavy penalties.  . . .  Is China starving?   Major inflation in pork prices; not starving, but its food security is fragile and their food-growing envt – soil, water, weather –is no here near as good as we have it here.
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 2, Block C:  Andrew C McCarthy, author, Ball of Collusion, and Thaddeus McCotter, WJR, in re:  Their main goal is to drag the process out and bruise Trump for the 2020 election.  . . .
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 2, Block D: Andrew C McCarthy, author, Ball of Collusion, and Thaddeus McCotter, WJR, in re: 
 
Hour Three
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 3, Block A: Salena Zito, WAShington Examiner, New York Post, and author, The Great Revolt; in re:   PA politics
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 3, Block B: Salena Zito, WAShington Examiner, New York Post, and author, The Great Revolt; in re:   
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 3, Block C:  Eugene Kontorovich; Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University;  in re:  Human Rights Watch director, Sarah Leah Whitson, abhors Israel and condones Nagorno-Karabakh
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 3, Block D:  Jim Antle (W. James Antle III), Washington Examiner's politics editor; in re: Democratic debate
 
Hour Four
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 4, Block A:  Dirk Huelsermann, Managing Partner of STRATACACHE Capital, in re: Digital media, including ad-tech and video platforms; digital signage, display and retail technology.
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 4, Block B: Rob Hall, Badger Technologies, in re: Marty, the grocery-store robot, who searches for spills and potential hazards while checking endless miles of shelves for correct stock and prices.
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 4, Block C:  Code Name Caesar: The Secret Hunt for U-Boat 864 During World War II, by Jerome Preisler and Kenneth Sewell
Wednesday 15 January 2020/  Hour 4, Block D:  Code Name Caesar: The Secret Hunt for U-Boat 864 During World War II, by Jerome Preisler and Kenneth Sewell
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