No Agenda Show – Episode 1824: “Battle Rhythm”

Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Adam Curry & John C. Dvorak

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam and John embark on their trademark “media deconstruction,” tackling the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI), social media changes, government surveillance, US military operations, Venezuela’s politics, tech industry lawsuits, and the ongoing Candace Owens–Charlie Kirk–Tucker Carlson right-wing media maelstrom. The duo weave in their trademark banter, skepticism, and humor, deconstructing the narratives behind major news stories while highlighting the absurdities, contradictions, and machinations of the elite.

Key Topics & Segments

1. AI Hype, Hysteria & Government Use

Starts: 00:35

• Robot Dog Craze:
  John asks Adam about the surge of AI robot dogs. Adam muses skeptically about online ads and the reality of these products, noting, “every time I see pictures of it, it's a different size. Small, stinky.” (00:47)
• Tech Demos Are Fake:
  The hosts agree most high-profile tech demos are staged or misleading.

  “Every big tech demo ever done in the world is fake.” — John (03:26) “These demos, they are all fake... rarely do them live because of that.” — Adam (03:31)

Government AI Adoption & Battle Rhythm

Starts: 05:25

• John and Adam dissect a “Department of War” (DoD) message touting AI (“GenAI”) for document formatting and research—chiefly Google Gemini.

  “AI should be in your battle rhythm every single day.” — Adam, quoting DoD (08:54)

• They mock AI hype for mundane uses: “We can actually write documents with AI, huh? Well, that's going to be very useful for people who can't read or write coming out of college.” — Adam (08:01)

2. Instagram’s New Algorithm & Privacy Theater

Starts: 10:18

• The hosts mock Instagram’s “curated feed” as a guise to extract more user data:

  “No, it'll give Instagram and Meta more information about you, you dope.” — John (11:01)

• Adam quips it's just “a spying tool,” to which John adds, “and they're Gonna put it into Palantir, and then they're gonna nuke us all.” (11:19)

3. AI Dystopian Fears and Media Narratives

Starts: 11:31

ABC/Stephanopoulos Segment with Nate Soares

Starts: 11:54

• The hosts play and critique highlights of an ABC interview with Nate Soares, AI safety advocate and author of “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies.”

  “If any company or group... builds an artificial superintelligence... everyone, everywhere on Earth will die.” — Stephanopoulos quoting Soares (15:27)

• John lampoons the alarmism, lampooning memes of robots “escaping the lab” and “blackmailing the operators.”
• Adam and John both note the overblown rhetoric and failure to define key terms, with John humorously noting, “the book reads like a Scientology manual.” (18:17)
• They debate Soares’ core claim that future superintelligent AIs will be indifferent to humanity and, like “ants under a skyscraper,” humanity gets crushed (17:51).
• John observes that “all of this super intelligence, super... it's all better, it's faster. All we get is the same dumb lady talking to you.” (19:39)
• The pair dismiss the “danger” and “race” framing as, in Adam’s words, “a violation of the laws of physics... entropy is what happens all the time.” (23:02)

4. Media, Data Lawsuits, and Silicon Valley’s “Fair Use” Doctrine

Starts: 24:36

• The European Commission is investigating Google for scraping content for AI models without compensation. Adam mentions that he’s joined in on one of the lawsuits due to his many written works.
• John and Adam critique Silicon Valley’s stance: “Their model is you give us everything, we'll give you nothing and we'll take all the money.” (26:35)
• Mustafa Suleiman (Microsoft AI CEO) is quoted defending open-web scraping as “fair use,” which Adam and John ridicule for its hypocrisy and potential legal gray area. (27:01)

5. US Border Policy — Social Media & Surveillance

Starts: 28:33

• Adam covers the US moving to require social media handles, phone numbers, and family info for most foreign tourists seeking entry:

  “...officers could comb through up to five years of data that people have posted online...” — Adam (29:05)

• John is conflicted between privacy and national security concerns, especially after BBC segments play up the “terrorist” vs “tourist” confusion (31:13).
• Adam rails against hypocritical foreigners who “bitch and moan” about America while doing business here: “my red, white and blue kind of gets activated.” (35:15)
• John concludes, “it's just more chumming in the water to Trump,” doubting it will become policy. (35:40)

6. Big Boats & US “Piracy” in International Waters

Starts: 36:01

Seizure of Venezuelan Tanker

• Coverage of US seizing an oil tanker “supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” prompting Adam to question, “Iran's an oil-producing country. Why are they importing oil from Venezuela?” (36:47)
• John explains seizure protocols, noting, “this ship was actually implicated for smuggling Iranian oil to benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps under US Criminal authorities.” (41:13)

  “What would happen to the oil?”
  “We keep it, I guess.” — Trump (40:01)

• They discuss the politics and legalities, noting “this is not about the oil, it's about the ship,” and how the US will likely continue such seizures for profit and strategic pressure. (43:28, 44:49)
• John: “It's called piracy, but, you know, it's legal.” (44:49)
• Larger context includes Venezuela politics (Peace Prize for opposition leader Machado, role of drug trade, and US pressure tactics). Adam and John highlight rigged elections and the history of electronic voting concerns linked to Venezuelan software.

7. Right-Wing Media Drama & Qatar–Tucker–Candace–Charlie

Starts: 68:52

• The hosts dissect the “crazy ex-girlfriend” theory about Candace Owens’ behavior after parting ways with Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk, observing drama spreading through right-wing media.
• The conversation expands to Tucker Carlson’s rumored financial connections to Qatar, his recent house purchase there, and his naivete in social media battles.
  • Adam: “I have some very wealthy friends. Not a single one ever said, ‘I'm buying a house in Doha because it's such a beautiful ...’” (81:34)
• The segment illustrates the self-referential, chaotic nature of influencer/media conflicts.

8. Tech & Government: Unitary Executive Theory and FTC Firing

Starts: 84:37

• NPR excerpt unpacks Trump’s firing of an FTC official and the Supreme Court–pending “unitary executive theory” (presidential control over executive agencies).
• Adam: “Well, these agencies are supposed to be under the executive branch, even though they're created by Congress. And so he feels ... they're the boss.” (86:41)

9. Epstein Grand Jury Files & Underreported Stories

Starts: 87:06

• News that DOJ is ordered to release Epstein files is discussed as “underreported” and likely to embarrass many in power.

  “...what's in this is going to be very embarrassing to a lot of people. The news will not want to report on [it].” — John (88:11)

10. Wealth Inequality and The Rise of Wealth Taxes

Starts: 119:36

• John and Adam discuss a global report finding 60,000 people own more than half the world’s wealth.

  “A global elite amounting to 0.001% ... is three times wealthier than the bottom 50%.” (120:27)

• NPR covers California’s attempted “billionaires wealth tax.” John notes: “If you want to solve the problem, get rid of central banks. How about that? It's a wealth tax. This is dumb.” (122:51)
• Detailed breakdown of how a billionaire’s net worth is illiquid and the tax would require forced asset sales — “this will never happen.” (125:29)

11. Miscellaneous Banter, Clippings, & Cultural Notes

• Adam and John riff on font politics (Rubio switching State Dept. back to Times New Roman, 95:20), small/“tiny” cars for the US market, potash and Canadian fertilizer tariffs, and farming industry bailouts.
• They discuss dynamic pricing complaints against Instacart (114:05), and Adam mocks those who don’t shop for themselves.
• Mental health segment on “solastalgia” (distress from environmental changes) and reflections on climate change communication (163:12).
• They revisit the infamous “chemicals in the water turning the frogs gay” story, tracing it back to coverage on Amy Goodman’s show a decade ago.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fake Tech Demos:
  “Every big tech demo ever done in the world is fake.” — John (03:26)

• On AI Document Formatting:
  “By mastering this tool, we will outpace our adversaries in document formatting.” — John (09:09, paraphrasing DoD email)

• AI Fear-Mongering:
  “If any company... builds an artificial superintelligence… everyone everywhere on Earth will die.” — Stephanopoulos reading from Soares’ book (15:27)

• Tech Cynicism:
  “All we get is the same dumb lady talking to you. What else can I do for you today?” — John mocking AI assistants (19:39)

• Instagram's Faux Control:
  “No, it'll give Instagram and Meta more information about you, you dope.” — John (11:01)

• On US Military's Oil Seizure:
  “It's called piracy, but, you know, it's legal.” — Adam (44:49)

• On Wealth Taxes:
  “If you want to solve the problem, get rid of central banks.” — John (122:51)

Noteworthy Timestamps

• [03:26] – The fakery of tech demos
• [08:54] – "AI should be in your battle rhythm"
• [10:17] – Instagram’s new “curation” tool and privacy
• [15:03] – AI apocalypse warnings from Nate Soares on ABC
• [24:36] – European Commission’s probe against Google over AI content
• [28:33] – US plans invasive surveillance for ESTA/visa-free tourists
• [36:01/41:13] – US seizes Venezuelan oil tanker: legal and political context
• [68:52] – Candace Owens/Charlie Kirk/Tucker Carlson drama peaks
• [84:37] – Trump targets the FTC and the “unitary executive theory"
• [87:06] – DOJ Epstein files to be released: why the press ignores
• [119:36] – Super-elite wealth; growing push for wealth taxes
• [129:37] – Value for value explanation & producer credits

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain their classic irreverent, conspiratorial, and deeply skeptical tone. Banter and wordplay are interspersed with dense analysis, ridicule of politicians and media, and jabs at social and tech elites. Both demonstrate a penchant for long-form, discursive riffing and audience in-jokes (e.g., “battle rhythm,” “shut up slave,” “de-douching,” etc), creating a clubby, insidery feel for regular listeners.

Recommended Listening Segments

• AI “Superintelligence” Panic Play-by-Play – [11:54 – 22:27]
• Big Boat Seizure, Piracy, & Venezuela Politics – [36:01 – 57:20]
• Right-Wing Media Meltdown: Candace, Charlie, & Tucker – [68:52 – 81:34]
• Government Surveillance & Social Media – [28:33 – 35:40]
• No Agenda Philosophy: Value-for-Value – [129:37 – 132:05]

Conclusion

This episode offers a wide-ranging, trademark No Agenda take, cutting ruthlessly through mainstream narratives on tech, AI, defense, and politics with sharp wit, layered references, deep skepticism, and a dose of contrarian wisdom. For new listeners, it’s a whirlwind tour of the pod’s recurring themes: media fakery, elite gamesmanship, and the comedic tragedy of government and corporate “solutions.”

[End of Summary]