No Agenda Show – Episode 1837 “Moral Injury”

Hosts: Adam Curry & John C. Dvorak
Date: January 25, 2026

Overview

In episode 1837, “Moral Injury,” Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak deliver their usual “media assassination,” deconstructing major news narratives, dissecting government strategies, and mocking the mainstream media’s (M5M) coverage. Recorded during a widespread winter storm in the United States, the episode weaves in everything from weather discourse and AI skepticism to the fallout around ICE-involved shootings in Minnesota, government defense priorities, the politics of immigration, “woke” culture, and the emergent concept of “moral injury” as a diagnosable mental health condition.

Tone: Sharp, irreverent, sometimes satirical, always highly-perceptive—and engaging in classic No Agenda fashion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Winter Storm: Weather Panic & Media Framing

• Adam and John kick things off with banter about the severe winter weather hitting the US, joking about food prep, freezer stockpiles, and how generators are always unused when finally purchased.
• They poke fun at how storms are covered as cataclysms that serve as “virtual disaster tourism,” critiquing weather channels and “weather junkies.”
• The hosts lampoon the repetitive framing of “extreme weather events” and “climate change” by both mainstream and international outlets.

Notable Quote:
"You buy the generator, it never flips on. That’s the reason you buy it. The minute you get it, it never flips on."
– John C. Dvorak (03:05)

2. US National Defense Strategy: A Shift in Priorities

• A discussion about the freshly unveiled Pentagon strategy focuses on the US pivoting toward homeland security and reducing explicit focus on China and Russia, with NATO allies expected to shoulder more defense burden.
• China slides to 'priority number two,' and mention of climate change is conspicuously absent—unlike in the 2022 version.
• The hosts review European media’s dramatic presentation, critiquing everything from background music to the lack of nuance in geopolitical reporting.

Notable Quote:
"So China slips to number two."
– John C. Dvorak (09:23)
"Number one is Merca. First the Western Hemisphere, but the European allies got to do their… Got to pull their own weight."
– Dvorak (10:07)

(08:20) – [France 24 Pentagon strategy segment]

3. Chinese Military Purges and Geopolitics

• The removal of top Chinese generals is discussed, interpreted as both anti-corruption and a consolidation of Xi Jinping's tightly held military control.
• Speculation ensues over leaks about China’s 2027 plans for Taiwan, and the ongoing global chip race (TSMC, Samsung, ASML/Netherlands restrictions).

Notable Quotes: "We can probably go two months just eating from the freezer… and then we just eat the dog."
– John C. Dvorak (02:23)
"I think these guys leaked the plans about 2027… I guess we’re gonna be ready to make our own chips by 2027. Will we?"
– Dvorak (12:39)

4. Technology: Linux Proliferation, Windows/Mac Frustrations, Cloud Skepticism

• John details his efforts to move their show production to Linux, relating the tribulations of integrating devices and software, and critiques both Microsoft and Apple for user-unfriendly developments (“pop-ups, ads, cloud confusion”).
• There’s a riff on the transition from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operating expenditure (OpEx) with software and cloud vendors—blaming rising costs and diminishing returns for cloud solutions.

Notable Quote:
"If people are so sick of Windows… it’s the pop up, it’s the ads, you gotta put it on the cloud… people are just sick of it. It sucks. It’s slow. It’s sluggish."
– John C. Dvorak (15:41)

5. Immigration, ICE, and the Minnesota Shooting Controversy

• Major segment: Deconstructing the shooting of Alex Jeffrey Preddy, a US citizen nurse killed by ICE in Minneapolis. Multiple mainstream and alternative narratives are explored, including police use of force, media framing (“he’s licensed to carry a gun!”), protestor motivations, and the push for National Guard activation.
• The hosts assert that physically interfering with federal law enforcement is a federal crime and criticize media/POD complex for ignoring legal realities.
• Broader implications: How ICE and law enforcement have become scapegoats/targets for both local officials and activist groups.

Key Timestamped Segments:

• MN Shooting First Report – [33:27]
• Deep Dive - [36:01 – 45:37]: Law enforcement, crowd control, accusations of excessive force
• Reflection on BLM/Black Community Participation – [47:00]: “You know why you’re not seeing a lot of black people out there protesting against ICE?... they got nothing for it. Democrats are courting their next voting block… now they want to lock in illegal immigrants.”

Notable Quotes:
"If you physically interpose yourself with law enforcement, that by itself is a federal crime. Done. So all bets are off at that point."
– John C. Dvorak (38:08)

6. Immigration as Weaponization & International Influence

• Adam and John discuss Peter Schweitzer’s new book, “The Invisible Coup,” about weaponized immigration as a strategy (referencing the Mariel boatlift, the Sao Paulo Forum, Mexican government efforts).
• Supposed collusion between foreign actors, U.S. parties, and activist networks aiming to manipulate US politics via mass migration.

Timestamps:

• Schweitzer’s Analysis – [55:02, 56:36, 57:35, 59:31, 60:28]

Notable Quote:
"Mexico has 53 consulates in the United States… in contrast, China and the United Kingdom have 6 and 7. I think the Trump is right. This is what ICE is going after."
– Dvorak (59:53/61:31)

7. Don Lemon, Protests, and Informants

• The hosts suggest Don Lemon is likely acting as a confidential informant (CI) for the FBI, given his proximity to recent church invasion protests and refusal to prosecute him outright.
• Discussion of the Face Act and inconsistent law enforcement in protest events.

Timestamps:

• Don Lemon segment – [63:19 – 68:46]

Quote:
"Says my producer said, Don, you’re a gay black man in America… I take some kind of pleasure in knowing that you were listening to me and Pastor Jimmy…"
– Don Lemon (67:22)

8. Language, Definitions, and Triggering the Audience

• The hosts muse on the definitions of “bigot” and “moral injury,” responding to feedback from listeners who take offense at their choice of labels.
• Commentary on how certain words (e.g., “niggardly”) are misunderstood and weaponized socially.

Quote:
"When I call you a bigot... it's based on the definition. You'll be so, so... you adhere to something minuscule and you think everything that's against your basic thoughts is bad. That is bigoted by definition."
– Adam Curry (22:37)

9. AI, Social Media, and Content Quality

• They discuss the explosion in low-quality AI-generated video content on YouTube and regulatory responses (e.g., the Defiance Act). Paris Hilton’s advocacy around deepfakes is lampooned.
• TikTok’s US future, new ownership structures, and the underlying battle over data and algorithmic control are scrutinized.

Critical Section:
"YouTube specifically does require any creator that creates an AI-generated video to say so… but it’s all slop."
– John C. Dvorak (78:32)

10. International Politics: Ukraine, Russia, and Europe’s Disarray

• Ukraine peace talks, US and EU stances, and on-the-ground military updates from Davos and via analysts like Col. Douglas MacGregor.
• Yanis Varoufakis (Greece’s former finance minister) denounces the EU’s structure and prospects (137:35), predicting political fragmentation and global irrelevance.
• The hosts ridicule the “banter ban” in UK law and muse about the slow-motion collapse of certain western institutions.

Quote:
"This fragmentation means you can see Trump appears. Trump loathes the European Union… I’m saying with pain in my heart that Europe is simply slipping into irrelevance."
– Yanis Varoufakis [137:35]

11. Medicalization of ‘Moral Injury’

• Breaking news: The APA rolls out “moral injury” as a diagnosable mental disorder—defined as psychological harm from violating one’s own moral code.
• The hosts see this as a vector for wider medicalization and pharmaceutical intervention in everyday emotions.

Quote:
"Moral injury. It is psychological harm incurred from committing, witnessing, or being subject to actions that violates one’s moral code... a mental condition, moral injury."
– John C Dvorak (146:45)

12. New Technology Nuggets & Skepticism

• Flying cars: Skepticism around Alef’s “model A” flying car—a likely vaporware/screen for raising investment, not a legitimate product.
• New battery tech: Audience contributions dissect recent claims of revolutionary battery performance, with John and Adam probing scientific and engineering doubts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “You buy the generator, it never flips on. That’s the reason you buy it.” (03:05)
• "If you physically interpose yourself with law enforcement, that by itself is a federal crime.” (38:08)
• “I think we could go for a couple of months. Dog’s looking at me right now like, what?!” (02:23)
• "Europe does not have the capacity to create a military industrial complex. It will never have the capacity… I’m saying with pain in my heart that Europe is simply slipping into irrelevance." – Yanis Varoufakis (137:35)
• “Mexico has 53 consulates in the United States… in contrast, China and the United Kingdom have 6 and 7.” (59:53)
• "Moral injury. It is psychological harm incurred from committing, witnessing, or being subject to actions that violates one’s moral code... a mental condition." (146:45)
• “Don Lemon is a CI for the FBI. There’s no doubt in my mind about this.” (63:19)
• "You want to be where you won’t be triggered or hella lame. You want to be where everybody feels the same." – Meetup jingle, recurring theme

Important Timestamps

• Winter Storm / Weather Panic: 00:55 – 07:00
• US Defense & China Pivot: 07:35 – 12:39
• China/Taiwan/Chips: 12:46 – 14:35
• Linux & Tech Rants: 14:49 – 18:22
• ICE/Minnesota Shooting (main segment): 29:44 – 47:32
• Peter Schweitzer/Weaponized Immigration: 55:02, 56:36, 57:35, 59:31, 60:28
• Don Lemon as FBI CI: 63:19 – 68:46
• Defining “Bigot”: 22:16 – 23:39
• TikTok/AI/Paris Hilton: 78:32 – 84:13
• Europe/EU Collapse (Varoufakis): 137:35 – 139:52
• ‘Moral Injury’ as a Disorder: 145:52 – 147:23

Episode Highlights / Unique Commentary

• The episode is notable for its deep dive into media narratives surrounding immigration enforcement, and how protests and policy are weaponized or manipulated in the public eye.
• Adam and John’s irreverent tone remains but is paired with strong legal and historical analysis—particularly when they call out deliberately overlooked or misrepresented facts (e.g., what constitutes a federal crime, the historical roots of weaponized migration).
• The “moral injury” discussion is also a standout, connecting the dots from academic research (Harvard/APA) to pharmaceutical industry incentives and the expanding scope of mental health medicalization.

Final Thoughts

If you missed this episode, you missed:

• The hosts’ withering media critique on ICE, immigration, and local/state/federal interplay
• Sharp and unorthodox legal/historical breakdowns (with a side of dark humor)
• A relentless callout of bullshit—whether it’s about “flying cars,” government memos, protest narratives, or the new class of streaming “influencers”
• The debut of “moral injury” as a diagnosis—alongside plenty of self-aware, inside-baseball riffing on podcasting, media, and audience engagement

End-of-show ISO pick:
“They’ll never be able to replace these guys with AI.” (168:22)