No Agenda Show #1840: "Hoity-toity"

Hosts: Adam Curry & John C. Dvorak
Date: February 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam and John embark on an energetic, irreverent exploration of current media narratives and scandals, with their signature humor and unfiltered commentary. The main focus is the massive data dump of Epstein files, media reactions, intelligence agency manipulation, the unraveling of legacy media like the Washington Post, and the cultural rot among elites. They also cover AI hysteria, politics, tech, and quirky trends.

Major Themes & Key Segments

The Epstein Files & Media Spin

Timestamps: 04:07–35:59

• The newly released Epstein files consume social media and traditional outlets, exposing links to high-profile UK and global elites, intelligence agencies, and global figures.
• Lord Mandelson Scandal: Detailed BBC and NPR coverage of UK House of Lords member Lord Mandelson, accused of leaking sensitive information to Epstein. The hosts mock the media’s euphemisms ("financier" vs. "pedophile"), and dissect the newly publicized emails.
  • "Do they explain exactly what information he was passing on? Because I have not seen this." – (12:48, John)
• Royal Family Involvement: Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) and her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are implicated; Ferguson's emails show a victim narrative while taking potshots at the Royal Family. Prince Edward comments on “the victims.”
• Epstein Interview & Steve Bannon: Adam points out an unnoticed tidbit – the newly-released long Epstein interview was conducted by Steve Bannon, yet no one seems to have noticed or reported that widely.
  • "It’s Steve Bannon... Bannon’s very easy to identify. But I don’t understand why no one’s mentioned this." (17:41, Adam)

Pivot to 'It Was Russia!' – Intelligence Angle

(25:48–36:59)

• A coordinated media narrative shift blames Russian intelligence (KGB, FSB) for the Epstein operation—with references to Russian women, blackmail, and connections to Putin—while briefly mentioning previous Mossad theories.
• LBC, Polish news, and Morning Joe speculate wildly about Epstein as a Russian asset, Peter Thiel’s involvement, bringing up Robert Maxwell (Ghislaine’s father) alleged Soviet connections, hinting at a cover-up or muddying of the waters by intelligence agencies.
• John and Adam point out the KGB dissolved in 1991, making those claims anachronistic and suspicious.
  • “They’re doing what they can... I think a lot of these documents are fake too. I think they've gone in there to muddy the water...” (33:27, Adam)

Muddying the Waters & Redactions

• Discussion on how the files are deliberately confusing, likely to protect the intelligence community and high-level elites. Speculation on whether the CIA, MI6, or Mossad is most responsible for tampering or redactions.
• Commentary on redacted victims’ names and legal definitions of “victims” and "pedophilia."
  • "There's a lot of young women who were of legal age who just participated in this. Very sad. But the world has always been this way..." (43:28, John)

Meltdown of the Elites – No Envy Here

Timestamps: 44:53–59:01

• Adam and John hammer home that mingling with ultra-rich and powerful circles rarely yields true benefits outside that world. They lampoon the “wretchedness” of these elites, riffing on the unhappy fates of Epstein’s network, their constant exposure, scandals, and loneliness.
• Adam: “There's nothing to be envious of. You do not want to be in this group.”
• Prince Andrew, Melinda Gates, and figures like Bill Gates are all cited as “wretched,” lonely, or pathetic despite their money and status.

Bill & Melinda Gates and the Epstein Fallout

Timestamps: 49:41–59:41

• The "Gates emails": Renewed scrutiny of Bill Gates’ ties to Epstein after emails allege Epstein was facilitating prescription antibiotics for “sex with Russian girls.” Adam and John find the scenario both plausible and ridiculous and lampoon the idea of emailing oneself as a classic intelligence tactic.
• Melinda Gates' media appearances are described as wretched and pitiful; much of the media's focus is on distancing statements and PR spin.
• “He may look like a dog and... she's wretched.” – (49:41, Adam)

The Media Deconstructed: Washington Post Layoffs & Legacy Decline

Timestamps: 76:13–91:52

• Washington Post lays off a third of its staff—Adam and John dissect the outcry, media navel-gazing, and the inevitable decline of legacy journalism. They highlight the arrogance of old media and focus instead on the opportunities in podcasting and hyperlocal content.
• Jeff Bezos’s unwillingness to continue subsidizing WAPO is mocked.
• "Independent journalism? The Washington Post, known in D.C. as the Langley Gazette!" (79:59, Adam)

NPR as Example of Elitist Decay

• NPR’s coverage and push for “NPR Plus” is dismissed as elitist and desperate.
• The hosts recommend hyperlocal podcasting as the true antidote: “We just want to hear about the cattle futures at the market here in Fredericksburg...” (97:02, Adam)

AI Hysteria & Corporate Pretending

Timestamps: 103:33–158:53

• Outlandish reporting about AI chatbots developing “rebellions,” sentience, or religion is mocked as media hysteria, with newsrooms simply parroting each other.
• Real stories: Listeners get sucked into chatbot relationships and “spiral” emotionally—highlighting cultural vulnerability and lack of tech literacy.
• Corporate America’s AI hype is pure bluff, as detailed by an IT pro’s hilarious internal memo: “We all rebranded our existing automation as ‘AI powered’ and called it a day... The problem is, now the executives actually believe their own bullshit...”
• "We're all pretending. We're all pretending. The whole industry is pretending." (158:53, IT pro/Adam quoting)

Miscellaneous Fun: Music Industry, The Grammys, Manufactured Sensations

Timestamps: 65:13–69:14

• Discussion of the manufactured fame of artists like Bad Bunny, with John and Adam noting local Puerto Ricans are unfamiliar with his music despite his global star status.
• Commentary on how the music industry and live events are as manipulated as any news narrative.

Political Jabbing: Trump, Dormant Scandals, Cults & Victimhood

Timestamps: 61:17–74:20

• Trump’s responses to the Epstein chatter are played and parodied, with John and Adam scrutinizing and mocking his deflections.
• The View’s coverage of Trump, Clinton, and Gates is ridiculed for hackneyed talking points.
• Extended lampooning of mainstream political narratives, especially related to voter fraud, mail-in ballots, and political cultishness.

Running Gags, Memes & Notable Quotes

• Running Gag: Adam and John play the “by the way” game, keeping score of usage for comic effect.
• John’s recurring rants: “There's only so much talent in the world, and it's only a certain percentage of that talent which is competent enough to do things that are cool and not mediocre...”
• Bill Gates/Antibiotics: “Why beg a cretin for meds when you're worth a gazillion?” (Musical parody, 187:57)

Highlighted Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is not envy. It's wretchedness.” (59:59, John and Adam riffing on elite downfall)
• “He's not the Podfather by any means or by any stretch of the imagination. That's stolen valor!” (03:08, Adam)
• “You go to Moscow, and... the place is crawling with whores. And they were cheap and plentiful. And they were all gorgeous. So you have... ‘How did he get these girls?’—stupid.” (26:32, John)
• “All the gals in the Pentagon listen to these guys.” (180:01, AI intro for show outro)
• “Hold on to your butts.” (Sam Jackson reference, re-mixed by the show, 178:00)

Special Segments, Recurring Bits, and Tone

• Meta Commentary: Adam and John continually reflect on their own show, production values, and the state of podcasting.
• Listener-Producer Concepts: They reinforce the value-for-value model: listeners are “producers” and a core part of the show’s community and funding.
• Tip of the Day: Culinary - “Sumac”—John recommends it for burgers (181:13), Adam highlights "peaceandquiet.io" as a site for finding tranquil locations.
• Riffs on AI Overhype: Multiple segments parody the absurdity of both media panic and corporate AI posturing.
• Awards & Media Industry Satire: Joe Rogan’s refusal to submit his podcast for the Golden Globes is used to lampoon bogus industry awards.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:07] — Social media/Epstein discussion begins
• [10:28–14:01] — Lord Mandelson & BBC reports
• [16:43–18:02] — Sarah Ferguson, Royal Family
• [25:48–36:59] — Russian pivot/media paranoia/MI6-CIA speculation
• [49:41] — Melinda Gates as “wretched” and “pathetic”
• [76:13–91:52] — Washington Post layoffs/legacy media
• [103:33] — AI chatbot rebellion story
• [147:23] — Kennedy Jr. on dietary links to mental illness
• [181:13] — John’s “Tip of the Day”: Sumac

Final Takeaways

No Agenda #1840 provides hard-edged, media-literate, highly skeptical coverage of the week’s news as filtered through their unique Venn diagram of irreverence, cultural critique, and community support. The show lampoons both left and right, decoding media manipulation and elite hypocrisy. The message: Don’t envy the powerful, don’t fall for coordinated media or AI panics, support independent media, eat real food, and stay out of the Epstein files.

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