PodcastsArtsThe John Batchelor Show

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor
The John Batchelor Show
Latest episode

8512 episodes

  • The John Batchelor Show

    S8 Ep851: Craig Unger highlights the "suspiciously perfect" timing of the hostage release, which occurred exactly three minutes after Ronald Reagan completed his inaugural address on January 20, 1981. Unger argues it was physically impossible for Reagan to have

    05/10/2026 | 7 mins.
    Craig Unger highlCraig Unger highlights the "suspiciously perfect" timing of the hostage release, which occurred exactly three minutes after Ronald Reagan completed his inaugural address on January 20, 1981. Unger argues it was physically impossible for Reagan to have negotiated this release in the minutes he was in office, suggesting a deal had been finalized long before. Even modern biographers like Max Boot now acknowledge that the evidence for the October Surprise is sufficient to conclude it happened. Unger places this event within a broader historical pattern of Republican election interference, citing Richard Nixon's 1968 use of Anna Chennault to sabotage Vietnam peace talks and Donald Trump's 2016 ties to Russia. By examining Bob Parry's 23-gigabyte archive, Unger believes much more information is still waiting to be discovered in various presidential libraries. He concludes that understanding this history is vital for recognizing the ongoing assault on American democracy through clandestine foreign partnerships. (8/8)
  • The John Batchelor Show

    S8 Ep851: Craig Unger recounts his 2014 trip to Iran, where he visited the former American embassy, now a museum called the "Den of Spies," showcasing shredded documents laboriously pasted back together by militants. During his visit, Unger secured a rare interview

    05/10/2026 | 12 mins.
    Craig Unger recounts his 2014 trip to Iran, where he visited the former American embassy, now a museum called the "Den of Spies," showcasing shredded documents laboriously pasted back together by militants. During his visit, Ungersecured a rare interview with Mohsen Rafiqdoost, the former head of Iranian arms procurement, who briefly slipped up by mentioning a meeting with "the Republicans" before quickly correcting himself. Unger also interviewed former Iranian President Abulhassan Bani-Sadr in France, who provided documents describing the October Surprise as a "double coup" that empowered radicals in both the U.S. and Iran while ousting moderates. The sources confirm that the 1953 coup against Mohammad Mossadegh remains a deep-seated grievance in Iran, fueling their desire to undermine American influence. Unger emphasizes that these secret relationships between the Republicans, Iran, and Israel were considered "taboo" because they proved that the 1980 election was subverted through international collusion. (7/8)
    1904
  • The John Batchelor Show

    S8 Ep851: Craig Unger analyzes the specific allegations regarding meetings in Madrid and Paris that formed the core of the October Surprise deal. While alibis were created for both Bill Casey and George H.W. Bush, Unger and reporter Bob Parry found evidence to punc

    05/10/2026 | 5 mins.
    Craig Unger analyzes the specific allegations regarding meetings in Madrid and Paris that formed the core of the October Surprise deal. While alibis were created for both Bill Casey and George H.W. Bush, Unger and reporter Bob Parry found evidence to puncture these claims, such as Casey's supposed presence at an OSS reunion in London that he actually slipped away from. The Madrid meeting with Iranian cleric Mehdi Karrubi in July 1980 is where the parameters for delaying the hostage release were first sketched out. Regarding the Paris meeting, Unger believes the preponderance of evidence suggests Bush was there to provide a high-level "imprimatur" for the deal. The Iranians were desperate for American aircraft parts due to the sudden invasion by Iraq in September 1980, providing the Republicans with significant leverage. Unger contends that delivering arms to a hostile power holding Americans was politically unthinkable, making these secret negotiations a form of treason. (6/8)
    1903
  • The John Batchelor Show

    S8 Ep851: Craig Unger explains the infrastructure of the alleged treason, focusing on the Safari Club, a group of high-level intelligence officials who conducted "off-the-books" operations after the CIA faced congressional crackdowns in the 1970s. Bill Casey utiliz

    05/10/2026 | 12 mins.
    Craig Unger explains the infrastructure of the alleged treason, focusing on the Safari Club, a group of high-level intelligence officials who conducted "off-the-books" operations after the CIA faced congressional crackdowns in the 1970s. Bill Casey utilized this shadow network, employing his close friend John Shaheen as a "cutout" to facilitate meetings with Iranian arms dealers without attracting media attention. Unger reveals that the Hashemi brothers, who were ostensibly helping the Carter administration negotiate for the hostages, were actually double agents working for Casey. This covert channel was further supported by Israeli military intelligence (Aman), which confirmed that source Ari Ben-Menashe was indeed an operative and that a secret arms channel existed between Israel and Iran. Unger argues that Israel's participation in sabotaging the American election was a significant secret they went to great lengths to hide. The operation reportedly involved money laundering through front businesses to finance the illegal arms deals. (5/8)
    1920 BUSHEHR
  • The John Batchelor Show

    S8 Ep851: Craig Unger details his time at Newsweek, where he was hired to lead an investigation into the October Surprise, only to see the magazine eventually publish multiple stories discrediting the entire narrative. Unger describes this shift as a "disgrace" to

    05/10/2026 | 8 mins.
    Craig Unger details his time at Newsweek, where he was hired to lead an investigation into the October Surprise, only to see the magazine eventually publish multiple stories discrediting the entire narrative. Unger describes this shift as a "disgrace" to American journalism, noting that both the media and the House investigation led by Lee Hamiltonparticipated in a "whitewash" of the allegations. Despite congressional findings that the events did not happen, investigative reporter Bob Parry continued the search, eventually discovering a "treasure trove" of documents hidden in an abandoned women's restroom in a House office building. These papers, found under a tampon dispenser, contained 23 gigabytes of evidence that the congressional task force had overlooked. During this period, legendary reporter Seymour Hersh warned Unger that he would be "crushed" if he continued to challenge the powerful national security establishment, a prediction that nearly came true as Unger faced professional ostracization. (4/8)
    1905

More Arts podcasts

About The John Batchelor Show

The John Batchelor Show is a hard news-analysis radio program on current events, world history, global politics and natural sciences. Based in New York City for two decades, the show has travelled widely to report, from the Middle East to the South Caucasus to the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia.
Podcast website

Listen to The John Batchelor Show, Fantasy Fangirls and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Social
v8.8.16| © 2007-2026 radio.de GmbH
Generated: 5/10/2026 - 12:24:48 AM