The John Batchelor Show

1204: THE SACK OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE END OF CONTINUITY Colleague Professor Ed Watts, Author of The Romans. The Fourth Crusade, diverted by Venetian debt, sacked Constantinople in 1204, burning the city to quell resistance. Watts argues this marked the true end of the ancient Roman state. The meritocratic system collapsed, and elites like Nicetas Choniates lost everything, severing the 2,000-year political continuity of the empire. NUMBER 12 1661

VENEZUELA: THE REGIME SURVIVES MADURO'S EXIT Colleague Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal. Despite Maduro's removal, the Venezuelan regime remains intact under hardliners Delcy Rodriguez and Diosdado Cabello. Mary Anastasia O'Grady notes that repression continues, and European oil companies are hesitant to invest. The regime feigns cooperation to avoid US intervention, but genuine recovery is impossible without restoring the rule of law. NUMBER 13 1930

RUSSIA'S OIL CRISIS AND REGIONAL DEFICITS Colleague Michael Bernstam, Hoover Institution. Russiafaces a financial crisis as oil prices drop below $60 per barrel. Michael Bernstam explains that increased global supply forces Russia to sell at deep discounts to China and India, often below cost. This revenue loss prevents the Kremlinfrom paying soldiers, sparking severe regional budget deficits. NUMBER 14 1906 BAKU

EUROPEAN FREEZE AND THE MYTH OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND Colleague Simon Constable, Journalist and Author. A deep freeze hits Southern Europe while commodity prices like copper rise. Simon Constable reports on the UK's bleak economic mood and dismisses the feasibility of British or French "boots on the ground" in Ukraine. He notes that depleted military manpower makes such guarantees declarative rather than substantial. NUMBER 15 1918 UKRAINE

ARTEMIS 2 RISKS AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SPACE Colleague Bob Zimmerman, BehindtheBlack.com. Bob Zimmerman urges NASA to fly Artemis 2 unmanned due to unresolved Orion heat shield damage, arguing safety should trump beating China. He also dismisses concerns about lunar methane contamination and highlights a new study suggesting ice caps could allow liquid water lakes to exist on Mars. NUMBER 161953

SHOW 1-8-2026 THE SHOW BEGINS IN DOUBTS ABOUT THE SARCASTIC INVENTION, THE DON-ROE DOCTRINE. SPHERES OF INFLUENCE AND THE RETURN OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE Colleague Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Anatol Lieven argues that "spheres of influence" have returned, with the US reasserting the Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere and threatening to seize Greenland. Unlike traditional alliances, this approach risks alienating fellow democracies. Lieven contrasts this with Russia's territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union and China's historic regional goals. NUMBER 1COLD WAR TACTICS: THE SEIZURE OF A RUSSIAN TANKER Colleague Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Lieven discusses the US Navy's detention of a Russian-flagged ship in the North Atlantic, viewing it as a dangerous escalation akin to piracy. This move humiliates Moscow and aims to control oil supplies. Lieven warns that if European nations mimic these seizures, Russia may retaliate violently,…

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY IRAN'S DIVERSE ETHNIC MAKEUP Colleague Nilo Tabrizy. Journalist Nilo Tabrizy, co-author of For the Sun After Long Nights, discusses the diverse ethnic makeup of Iran. She explains how moving to Tehran from the provinces feels like immigration for many minorities, who must assimilate and blend their distinct languages and cultures within the capital city. 1870 PERSIA

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY ISRAEL AND CIVILIZATION: ANTI-WESTERN SENTIMENT ON CAMPUSColleague Josh Hammer. Columnist Josh Hammer discusses his book Israel and Civilization, arguing that anti-Israelprotests at universities like George Washington University are proxies for anti-Western sentiment. Hammer suggests these activists view Israel as a "little Satan" representing Western nation-states, aiming to dismantle Westerncivilization alongside the Jewish state. 1842 MASADA

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY AI WINTERS: WHEN FUNDING VANISHED Colleague Gary Rivlin. Gary Rivlin explains the history of "AI winters" in the 20th century, periods when funding vanished due to overhyped expectations. He describes how optimism in the 1970s and 1980s regarding expert systems eventually collapsed, turning AI into a "dirty word" for investors until its recent resurgence. 1964

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY PI: THE POLITE CHATBOT DESIGNED FOR EMPATHY Colleague Gary Rivlin. Gary Rivlin examines the creation of "Pi," a chatbot designed by personality engineers to exhibit good manners and empathy. Rivlin explains how humans fine-tuned the bot to be polite, predicting a future where such AI could serve affordable therapeutic roles or even function as romantic partners. 1955

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY AI VALLEY: THE EARLY HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEColleague Gary Rivlin. Author Gary Rivlin reviews the early history of artificial intelligence in his book AI Valley. He details how 1950s pioneers faced mockery because computers lacked the power and digital data necessary for neural networks, resulting in a fifty-year delay before technology caught up to the concept.

THE FATE OF THE JEWISH NATION AND THE DESTINY OF THE WEST Colleague Josh Hammer. Josh Hammer discusses his journey from a secular upbringing to Orthodox Judaism and his new book regarding Westerncivilization. He contrasts the Holocaust site Treblinka with the October 7 massacre at Kfar Aza. Hammer also details violent campus antisemitism, arguing it targets the foundations of the West. NUMBER 1 1857 CROSSING THE RED SEA

WESTCHESTER AND THE AMERICANIZATION OF JUDAISM Colleague Josh Hammer. Growing up in a secular Jewish environment, dropping out of Hebrew school, and the later discovery of conservatism and Edmund Burke leading to religious observance. NUMBER 2 1936 RAMALLAH

FROM TREBLINKA TO KFAR AZA Colleague Josh Hammer. A visit to the Nazi death camp Treblinka contrasted with the aftermath of the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and finding solace in faith and the Golden Rule. NUMBER 3 1860 JERUSALEM

ANTISEMITISM IN THE ACADEMY Colleague Josh Hammer. A hostile incident at Loyola University Chicagolaw school where protesters disrupted a debate on presidential immunity, and the link between anti-Zionism and the eradication of Western civilization. NUMBER 4 842 JOSEPHUS

WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM: THE STORY OF IRAN'S UPRISING Colleague Nilo Tabrizy. Nilo Tabrizy and co-author Fatima Jamalapur document the uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini in police custody. They trace the regime's brutality back to the 1953 coup and the 1979 revolution. The discussion highlights the repression of minorities and defiant activism within Evin Prison. NUMBER 5 1850 KHALIFA SULTAN, ABBAS II

THE DEATH OF GINA Colleague Nilo Tabrizy. The killing of Mahsa Jina Amini by the morality police for her hair, the Kurdish origins of "Woman, Life, Freedom," and the immediate eruption of protests. NUMBER 6 1832 PERSIAN GIRL

ROOTS OF THE REVOLUTION Colleague Nilo Tabrizy. The historical context of the 1953 coup against Mossadegh, the alienation of the Pahlavi dynasty, and the recurring cycle of foreign interference and internal authoritarianism. NUMBER 7 1902 PERSIA

THE MACHINERY OF REPRESSION Colleague Nilo Tabrizy. The structure of the IRGC and Basij, the specific targeting of ethnic minorities like Kurds and Baluchis, and the state's sadistic use of violence against mourners. NUMBER 8 1906 TEHRAN. HEADS OF TURCOMAN CHIEFS

AI VALLEY: THE TRILLION DOLLAR RACE TO CASH IN Colleague Gary Rivlin. Gary Rivlin chronicles the personalities driving the AI revolution, including Reid Hoffman and Mustafa Suleyman. He explores the history of "AI winters," the rise of neural networks, and the corporate battle between Google and Microsoft. The narrative covers the "Doomer" safety debates and Sam Altman's dramatic firing. NUMBER 9 1931

THE CONNECTOR Colleague Gary Rivlin. Reid Hoffman's journey from a lonely childhood to becoming a Silicon Valley "super-connector," his relationship with Peter Thiel, and his early recognition of AI's potential. NUMBER 10 1955

THE AI WINTER Colleague Gary Rivlin. The history of Frank Rosenblatt's neural networks, their dismissal by Marvin Minsky in favor of rules-based computing, and the decades-long "winter" before the resurgence of machine learning. NUMBER 11

DEEPMIND AND THE GOOGLE ACQUISITION Colleague Gary Rivlin. Mustafa Suleyman and Demis Hassabisfounding DeepMind to master games, their sale to Google for $650 million, and the culture clash that followed. NUMBER 12 1952

TRANSFORMERS AND OPENAI Colleague Gary Rivlin. The development of the "transformer" paper at Google, the rise of large language models like GPT, and OpenAI's pivot from non-profit to a Microsoft-backed entity. NUMBER 13 1950

DOOMERS VS. ACCELERATIONISTS Colleague Gary Rivlin. The ideological battle between "accelerationists" who want rapid progress and "doomers" who fear existential risk, with Hoffman positioning himself as a "bloomer." NUMBER 14 1959

THE DILEMMA OF BIGNESS Colleague Gary Rivlin. How corporate giants like Google were slowed by their own business models, leading Suleyman to leave for Inflection and eventually Microsoft to bypass startup funding issues. NUMBER 15

THE SAM ALTMAN MELODRAMA Colleague Gary Rivlin. The shock firing of Sam Altman by the OpenAI board over trust issues, Microsoft's intervention, and the rapid rehiring that solidified the race for dominance. NUMBER 16 1955

IRAN IS MORE THAN PERSIA: A DIVERSE MOSAIC OF ETHNIC MINORITIES Colleague Brenda Shaffer. Brenda Shaffer discusses her book, Iran is More than Persia, arguing that Iran is not a monolithic Persian state but a diverse mosaic where ethnic minorities comprise roughly half the population. She explains how the 20th-century shift to Persian nationalism marginalized groups like the Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Baluch. Shaffer notes that current anti-regime protests involve these previously pacified groups, highlighting the regime's failure to fully subjugate peripheral regions like Sistan-Baluchistan. NUMBER 1 1890 TEHRAN

BROKEN PROMISES AND LINGUISTIC DISCRIMINATION Colleague Brenda Shaffer. Shaffer details how the Islamic Republic initially promised ethnic minorities linguistic and cultural rights to secure power in 1979, only to violently suppress them once established. She explains that this oppression continues today through the policing of non-Persian names on birth certificates and the banning of minority language education. Shaffer argues this linguistic discrimination fuels current unrest, exemplified by Mahsa Amini, whose Kurdish identity was suppressed by state mandates. NUMBER 2 1870 TEHRAN

BROKEN PROMISES AND LINGUISTIC DISCRIMINATION Colleague Brenda Shaffer. Shaffer details how the Islamic Republic initially promised ethnic minorities linguistic and cultural rights to secure power in 1979, only to violently suppress them once established. She explains that this oppression continues today through the policing of non-Persian names on birth certificates and the banning of minority language education. Shaffer argues this linguistic discrimination fuels current unrest, exemplified by Mahsa Amini, whose Kurdish identity was suppressed by state mandates. NUMBER 2 1911 QAJAR IN URMIA

SOCCER STADIUMS AS PROTEST VENUES AND THE ETHNIC FACTOR Colleague Brenda Shaffer. Shafferdescribes how soccer stadiums, particularly for the Azerbaijani team "Tractor," have become venues for ethnic and anti-regime protest. She notes the regime's brutal crackdown on athletes supporting the movement. Shaffer observes a shift in the opposition from seeking reform to demanding total regime change. She predicts the ethnic factor will be decisive in the Islamic Republic's potential collapse, warning that a transition to a Persian-nationalist military dictatorship would further alienate minority populations. NUMBER 4 1940 TEHRAN

TRUMAN INHERITS A WORLD WAR AND THE BURDEN OF JUDGMENT Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. Following the sudden death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945, Harry Truman assumed the presidency with little preparation regarding foreign policy or the situation in Asia. While Truman possessed combat experience from World War I, his understanding of China and Japan relied heavily on stereotypes and idealism rather than briefing. Confronted immediately with the bloody Battle of Okinawa and the devastation of the firebombing of Tokyo, Truman upheld the Allies' demand for unconditional surrender. This policy necessitated stripping Japan of its empire and trying its leadership, despite growing private concerns among some US officials that American strategic bombing might equate to war crimes. NUMBER 1 1930 TOKYO

THE EMPEROR'S IMMUNITY AND MACARTHUR'S SWIFT JUSTICE Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. Following the surrender on the USS Missouri, General Douglas MacArthur faced the challenge of implementing the Potsdam Declaration's call for justice. A political decision was made to shield Emperor Hirohito from prosecution to utilize his authority for disarming troops and legitimizing the occupation, despite his complicity in the war effort. Conversely, MacArthur pursued swift, vengeful justice against his personal enemies, Generals Homma and Yamashita. Ignoring standard military court procedures, MacArthur established a precedent for the coming trials by rushing their convictions and executions for atrocities in the Philippines, an approach the Supreme Court refused to block. NUMBER 2 1931 TOKYO

ARRESTING THE CABINET AND DEFINING CLASS A CRIMES Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. As MacArthur's occupation forces arrived in a ruined Tokyo, they began arresting suspects, including former Prime Minister Tojo Hideki, who botched a suicide attempt. The upcoming International Military Tribunal for the Far Eastcategorized offenses into Class A (aggressive war), Class B (conventional war crimes), and Class C (crimes against humanity). Prosecutors utilized the discovered diary of Kido Koichi, the Emperor's advisor, to map decision-making, though the Emperor himself remained untouched. Notably, while General Matsui was charged for the Nanjing Massacre, the Emperor's uncle, Prince Asaka, who was also commanding troops there, escaped prosecution entirely. NUMBER 3 1930 TOKYO

A FLAWED TRIBUNAL: INCOMPETENT PROSECUTORS AND CRANKY JUDGES Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. The tribunal, involving nine Allied nations, suffered from personnel issues driven by President Truman'scronyism. Unlike the selection of Robert Jackson for Nuremberg, Truman appointed Joseph Keenan, an undistinguished and alcoholic figure, as chief prosecutor. Keenan was intellectually outclassed by the international judges and failed to match the gravity of the proceedings. The trial, spanning two and a half years and 50,000 pages of transcripts, was presided over by the Australian Sir William Webb. Webb's abrasive management style and "crankiness" alienated his colleagues and favored the prosecution, undermining the appearance of a fair trial. NUMBER 4 1933 TOKYO

THE COLD WAR SHIFT: GEORGE KENNAN'S STRATEGIC PIVOT Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. By 1948, the trial's context shifted dramatically with the onset of the Cold War and the Chinese Civil War. George Kennan, the architect of containment, visited Tokyo to convince MacArthur that democratization was less important than establishing Japan as a strong anti-communist bulwark against the Soviets. Kennan argued that the US must secure Japan as a strategic prize rather than focus on China, which was falling to Mao. This "reverse course" prioritized stability and industrial strength over the initial progressive reforms, viewing Japan as the essential anchor for Americanforeign policy in the Pacific. NUMBER 5 1929 TOKYO

CONSPIRACY CHARGES AND THE LEGALITY OF AGGRESSIVE WAR Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. The prosecution focused on 28 Class A defendants, alleging a grand conspiracy to wage aggressive war. This conspiracy charge, borrowed from Nuremberg, fit awkwardly with the fractured reality of the Japanese government, where defendants were often bitter rivals. To prosecute "aggressive war," the tribunal relied on the 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact, despite it lacking criminal penalties for signatories. Ultimately, all surviving defendants received convictions, though verdicts were mixed; for example, Shigenori Togo was convicted of aggression but acquitted of conventional war crimes, while Kido was convicted of aggression but not held responsible for atrocities against POWs. NUMBER 6 1930 NATIONAL DIET TOKYO

DISSENT, EXECUTION, AND THE SHADOW OF IMPERIALISM Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. Judge Radhabinod Pal of India issued a massive 1,200-page dissent, arguing the tribunal was illegitimate and driven by the racism of colonial powers. Pal viewed Japanese actions as defense against Western encroachment and, controversially, questioned evidence of the Nanjing atrocities. Despite dissents from French, Dutch, and Indian judges, the executions proceeded in December 1948, with Tojo chanting "Banzai" (Long live the Emperor) on the gallows. The US Supreme Court refused to intervene, issuing a narrow ruling that it lacked jurisdiction over an international tribunal, allowing the executions to occur despite the judicial discord. NUMBER 7 1931 TOKYO

THE CHINESE JUDGE AND THE MODERN LEGACY OF THE TRIAL Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. Judge Mei Ju-ao represented China, striving to center the suffering of Asian peoples in the judgment before returning to a China engulfed by revolution. The trial's legacy remains volatile in modern Asia, exemplified by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose grandfather, Kishi Nobusuke, was a suspected Class A war criminal released without trial. Abe and other conservatives scrutinized the tribunal as "victor's justice," symbolized by visits to the Yasukuni Shrine where war criminals are enshrined. This historical grievance continues to strain Japan's relations with China and Korea, keeping the war's memory alive in 21st-century politics. NUMBER 8 1934 TOKYO

US INTERVENTION IN IRAN: FROM OPERATION AJAX TO THE SHAH'S FALL Colleague Brandon Weichert. This segment introduces Brandon Weichert's book, The Shadow War, and examines the history of USinterference in Iran. It details Ambassador William Sullivan's 1978 "Thinking the Unthinkable" memo, which suggested the Carter administration prepare for the Shah's removal as he weakened. The discussion highlights how the USconsidered Ayatollah Khomeini a potential replacement to stabilize Iran, a massive miscalculation. It also revisits the 1953 Operation Ajax, clarifying that pro-Western Iranian military forces, aided by the British and CIA, ousted Prime Minister Mosaddegh after he attempted to consolidate power and nationalize oil. SHADOW WAR BY BRANDON WEICHERT NUMBER 1850 TEHRAN

THE HOSTAGE CRISIS, THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, AND THE CARTER DOCTRINE Colleague Brandon Weichert. Focusing on the aftermath of the 1979 revolution, this segment explores the American hostage crisis and the subsequent Iran-Iraq War initiated by Saddam Hussein in 1980. Hussein attacked to exploit Iran's post-revolutionary chaos and seize the Shatt al-Arab waterway, fearing the spread of radical Islamism. Weichert explains the Carter Doctrine, which committed the US to military intervention to protect Persian Gulf interests, a policy expanded by the "Reagan Corollary." The discussion notes that neither the American public nor the administration fully grasped the deep-seated grievances fueling the Iranian revolution. SHADOW WAR BY BRANDON WEICHERT NUMBER 2 1917 BAGHDAD

SHIFTS IN US POLICY AND THE RISE OF THE SHIA CRESCENT Colleague Brandon Weichert. This section tracks US policy shifts from Clinton's diplomatic attempts to the unintended consequences of the 2003 Iraq War. Weichert argues that removing Saddam Hussein eliminated a check on Iranian power, allowing Tehran to establish a "Shia Crescent" of influence stretching to Lebanon. The conversation covers the deep Sunni-Shia hostility and Iran'sstrategic co-opting of the Palestinian cause to weaken Israel. It also critiques the Obama administration's JCPOA, describing it as a failed attempt to equalize regional power between Iran and Israel, and traces Iran's nuclear ambitions back to Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" program. SHADOW WAR BY BRANDON WEICHERT NUMBER 3 1897 DAMASCUS

IRAN'S QUEST FOR SUPREMACY AND FUTURE NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS Colleague Brandon Weichert. Weichert discusses Iran's ultimate goal of regional supremacy, describing the regime as the "octopus brain" directing proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah to attack Israel. He notes that his book anticipated the proxy attacks that occurred on October 7. Looking forward, Weichert analyzes potential US responses, contrasting the flaws of the original JCPOA—specifically its sunset clauses which would have allowed nuclear weapons by 2025—with a potentially tougher stance under a second Trump term. The segment concludes with the grim warning that the regime may choose destruction over abandoning its nuclear ambitions. SHADOW WAR BY BRANDON WEICHERT NUMBER 4 1960 NASSER IN DAMASCUS

THE HORROR OF OCTOBER 7 AND THE ORIGINS OF HAMAS Colleague Seth Frantzman. Seth Frantzmanrecounts his harrowing experience on the evening of October 7, discovering a body on the road to Gaza, symbolizing the chaos of the initial invasion. The conversation shifts to the historical origins of Hamas, founded by Ahmed Yassin during the First Intifada as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Frantzman describes Hamas as evolving from a religious movement into a "terrorist mafia" known for internal brutality and killing collaborators. Key figures like Yahya Sinwarare discussed, noting his release from Israeli prison during the 2011 Gilad Shalit exchange. OCTOBER 7 WAR BY SETH FRANTZMAN NUMBER 1 1850 MASADA

ANATOMY OF AN INTELLIGENCE FAILURE: ARROGANCE AND TECHNOLOGY Colleague Seth Frantzman. This segment analyzes the catastrophic intelligence failure leading to October 7, attributing it to a mix of complacency, arrogance, and groupthink within Israel's defense establishment. Despite warnings from border observers and Unit 8200 possessing Hamas's attack plans a year in advance, officials dismissed the threat, believing Hamas was deterred and incapable of such an operation. Frantzman highlights a critical over-reliance on technology over human intelligence on the ground. The discussion draws parallels to Pearl Harbor and 9/11, noting that Hamas successfully lured Israel into a false sense of security while training in the open. OCTOBER 7 WAR BY SETH FRANTZMAN NUMBER 2 1940 SEPPHORIS BEFORE EXCAVATION

THE OCTOPUS STRATEGY: IRAN'S PROXIES AND ISRAEL'S COUNTERATTACK Colleague Seth Frantzman. Frantzman employs the "octopus" metaphor to describe Iran as the central brain directing proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis to encircle Israel. He details Hamas's October 7 strategy: massacre civilians, seize hostages, and retreat to human shields and tunnels to await international pressure on Israel. The conversation outlines the IDF's counter-strategy, which involved cutting Gaza in half via the Netzarim corridor and systematically clearing areas from north to south. Frantzman notes the extensive tunnel network discovered in Khan Yunis, which served as a learning ground for IDF anti-tunnel operations. OCTOBER 7 WAR BY SETH FRANTZMAN NUMBER 3 1868 NAZARETH

THE BATTLE FOR RAFAH AND THE FUTURE OF HAMAS Colleague Seth Frantzman. The discussion focuses on the strategic importance of Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian border, identified as the primary artery for Hamas's weapons smuggling. Frantzman argues that Israel must control this border to prevent Hamas from rearming, noting Egypt's failure to secure the area effectively. Regarding Hamas leadership, Frantzman speculates that Yahya Sinwar remains in Khan Yunis, refusing to leave his hometown. While Hamas's organized battalions have been significantly degraded, Frantzman warns that without a comprehensive political strategy, the group could transition back to an insurgency, similar to the Viet Cong. OCTOBER 7 WAR BY SETH FRANTZMAN NUMBER 4 1891 NAZARETH

THE FORBIDDEN MUSEUM OF SHANTOU Colleague Tanya Branigan. Tanya Branigan discusses her book, Red Memory, and her visit to the Cultural Revolution Museum in Shantou. Founded by former official Peng Qi'an, this was the only museum in China dedicated to recording the era's violence and chaos. Built in a remote location on a site of mass graves to avoid scrutiny, the museum was eventually suppressed by authorities. Branigan recounts visiting during the Hu Jintao era while being monitored by undercover police. Today, the site is closed, unlike the National Museum, which relegates the decade-long catastrophe to a single "dingy corner." TANYA BRANIGAN NUMBER 1 1905 SHANGHAI MIXED COURT

THE MURDER OF TEACHER BIAN Colleague Tanya Branigan. The discussion turns to "Red August" 1966 and the murder of vice-principal Bian Zhongyun by her students. Her husband, Wang Jingyao, secretly preserved photographs of her body and her bloodied clothes as a shrine and evidence of the brutality. Branigan discusses Yu Xiangzhen, a former Red Guard who blogged about her regrets until political pressure silenced her. The segment also covers Song Binbin, the elite student who famously placed an armband on Mao; her later apology for her role in the school violence was controversial, with many feeling it failed to fully reckon with her responsibility. TANYA BRANIGAN NUMBER 2 1905 GUANGZHOU QING DYNASTY

TEENAGE ZEALOTS AND THE TRAUMA OF VIOLENCE Colleague Tanya Branigan. Branigan details the memories of Yu Xiangzhen, a former Red Guard who attended Mao's first mass rally in August 1966. Mao encouraged youth to destroy "the four olds," sparking widespread violence against cultural artifacts and people. While traveling the country to spread revolution, Yu witnessed a sports court filled with corpses beaten to death by Red Guards, a memory that remains visceral. Despite such horror, some recall the era with nostalgia, remembering the freedom of free train travel and the intoxication of holding authority over adults during a break from strict social discipline. TANYA BRANIGAN NUMBER 3 1905 SHANGHAI POSTCARD