SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 4-13-2026.
1979 WOMEN PROEST IN TEHRAN

 The Brewing Blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Bill Roggio discusses the potential US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following failed talks in Islamabad. US demands include opening the strait, ending nuclear programs, and stopping proxy attacks against Middle Eastern neighbors.

2. The Resilience of Iranian Surrogates. Bill Roggio analyzes the continued strength of Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Despite military pressure, these groups remain active, with the Houthis potentially held in reserve to threaten critical global shipping lanes.

3. The Internal Struggle of the Iranian People. JANATYN SAYEH discusses the regime's brutal internal crackdown, noting over a thousand executions in 2026. The Iranian people feel abandoned by the current ceasefire, fearing the regime will survive without significant systemic change.

4. Identifying Iran's Hardline Five-Man Leadership. Jonathan Schanzer outlines Iran's core leadership, including Ghalibaf and Vahidi, who possess deep ties to internal repression and international terror. These veterans represent an institutional commitment to the revolution, making significant concessions unlikely.

5. Holocaust Remembrance and the Iranian Ideology. Malcolm Hoenlein reflects on Yom HaShoah and rising global anti-Semitism. He discusses how Iran's radical ideology drives its leaders to claim victory despite heavy military losses, refusing to compromise on their nuclear and proxy ambitions.

6. Regional Realignments and the Houthi Threat. Malcolm Hoenlein warns the Gulf States face extreme vulnerability as Iran threatens their infrastructure. The Houthis remain a strategic reserve capable of closing the Bab al-Mandeb, while Europe continues to marginalize itself by staying on the sidelines.

7. Operation Roaring Lion and Strikes on Beirut. David Daoud details the IDF's Operation Eternal Darkness, which targeted 100 Hezbollah sites in under ten minutes. The strikes hit densely populated areas of Beirut, causing massive displacement and raising questions about tactical objectives.

8. Hezbollah's Inseparable Link to the Iranian Regime. David Daoud explains that Hezbollah is an essential extension of Iran's regional power, not a disposable proxy. Iran will likely fight to preserve the group, as Hezbollah's survival is critical to its revolutionary goals.

9. Peru's Shift to the Right. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports on Peru's election, where right-wing candidates Kiko Fujimori and Rafael Lopez Aliaga are leading. This trend suggests a continental shift away from the pink tide and toward pro-Western governments.

10. Political Stagnation and Repression in Venezuela. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports that the Rodriguez brothers maintain control in Venezuela by focusing on economic compliance while delaying political transitions. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado faces threats of imprisonment, hindering hopes for free elections and a democratic transition.

11. Escalation and Extortion in the Straits. Edmund Fitton-Brown discusses the US Navy's mission to counter Iranian extortion and clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's big-stick strategy aims for a deal but risks a resumption of war.

12. Viktor Orbán's Defeat and the European Center. Edmund Fitton-Brown analyzes the ousting of Hungary's Viktor Orbán by Peter Magyar as a victory for traditional democracy. This shift removes a major obstacle to EU aid for Ukraine and disrupts Vladimir Putin's influence.

13. Ukraine's Easter Standoff and Prisoner Exchanges. John Hardy reports on Russian ceasefire violations during Orthodox Easter and significant prisoner exchanges. The removal of Viktor Orbán in Hungary is expected to unblock vital EU financial loans for the Ukrainian government.

14. Iraqi Militias as Iran's Strategic Reserve. Ahmed Sharari discusses how Iraqi militias are fundraising to support Iran and Hezbollah. These groups serve as a strategic reserve for the Iranian regime, demonstrating their readiness to sacrifice resources for the revolution.

15. Canada's Pivot Toward China. Conrad Black analyzes Prime Minister Mark Carney's efforts to strengthen trade with China amidst shifting relations with the US. While resource-rich Canada seeks new markets, political mistrust of China's undemocratic regime remains high.

16. The Russian Mob and Political Kompromat. Craig Unger explores Viktor Orbán's long-standing ties to the Russian mafia and the FSB. He argues that both Orbán and Donald Trump have functioned as assets for Russian intelligence due to financial entanglements.