No Agenda Show – Episode 1851: “Mork & Mimi” (March 15, 2026)

Featuring: Adam Curry & Mimi Smith (in for John C. Dvorak)

Main Theme – Deconstructing War, Media, and Meme Cycles

This episode of No Agenda blends signature media deconstruction and culture commentary. Adam and guest host Mimi Smith spend much of the episode analyzing the ongoing Iran war, how U.S. politics and media spin “short term pain for long term gain,” the viral outrage about Pentagon lobster budgets, and the nature of information suppression. They also deep-dive into the misinformation cycles around Antifa, fears of terrorism on U.S. soil, “sleeper cells," escalating security theater (Oscars under drone threat), and even ant smuggling trends. Throughout, Adam and Mimi inject personal stories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and some classic comedy club tales.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John C. Dvorak Health Update

• [00:35–04:08]
  • Adam and Mimi update listeners on John’s hospital recovery. “He sounded really good, Mimi. I gotta tell you, he sounded upbeat…He really wants to get back to the show.” (Adam, 01:00–02:38)
  • Discussion of John’s hospital “protest beard,” anticipated return, and how listeners are responding to Mimi as co-host.

2. Short Term Pain / Long Term Gain: Media Meme

• [04:08–05:48]
  • Adam plays a media “supercut” of politicians/anchors everywhere repeating the mantra of “short term pain for long term gain” about the war and economy.
  • “Hopefully this is a short term pain. Short term is highly outweighed by the Long term benefit.” (Adam/Broadcast montage, 05:13)
  • “Do we have Kalshee bets yet on when this thing is gonna end, and what is actually ending?” (Adam, 05:44)

3. War in Iran: News Roundup & Analysis

• [06:12–07:37, 10:09–12:06, 21:41–32:24]
  • Coverage of the U.S. KC135 crash in Iraq, U.S. deployments in the Middle East, Iran’s oil tactics, and global gas price spikes.
  • ABC, CNN, and Fox coverage dissected for narrative manipulation and conflating economic issues with war fears.
  • Critique of “oil premium” and City of London/Persian oil system history (“British Petroleum, right, became BP.” – Mimi, 28:09).
  • U.S. strategy: securing Strait of Hormuz, coalition-building, and maintaining the petrodollar system via digital stablecoin.

4. Pentagon "Lobster" Budget Scandal

• [14:22–21:00]
  • Mimi and Adam mock the viral outrage about DOD’s “luxury” spending on steak and lobster during wartime.
  • “Are you serious? That is the only thing about home, the only thing that makes you feel special for the entire time you’re there… watching your buddies die…” (Will Kane, 19:19)
  • Adam: “CNN and Colbert, when they’re not talking about the actual war, but they’re talking about the lobster budget—what kind of call must have gone out?”
  • Explains traditional “morale food” within U.S. military.

5. Global Oil, Russia Sanctions, and Geopolitical Games

• [23:32–33:41]
  • Sanctions on Russian oil are temporarily eased to stabilize prices, but critics say this funds Russia during war.
  • “We are enriching our adversary Russia at Ukraine’s expense because the administration didn’t properly foresee how much this war with Iran was going to raise oil prices and gas prices for Americans.” (Adam quoting, 24:18)
  • Analysis of Trump’s global oil plan, U.K. involvement, and how risk premiums on oil could drop if America controls Hormuz transit.

6. Deconstructing Antifa, Funding, and Media Treatment

• [44:08–57:43]
  • Mimi provides history and facts on Antifa’s roots, structure, and funding, pushing back on oversimplified narratives.
  • Newsmax’s “Right Squad” contrasted with independent journalists actually tracing connections and financing (Nate Friedman exposé, 55:16).
  • “If I’ve got a gut feel, that’s basically where he makes a comment about Waltz and Nick Shirley…he actually went to the story, which myself included, nobody does.” (Adam quoting Gutfeld, 58:09)

7. State of Independent Journalism & Media Suppression

• [59:09–63:47]
  • Mimi notes state-level crackdowns against independent journalists in Washington (proposed laws against recording public officials, lawsuits against Substack writers).
  • Adam: “The only thing that works is podcasting. Nothing else works. You’ll be eliminated from all other platforms.”
  • Discussion of “Green-Red Alliance”: linkage of leftist radicals with Islamic groups.

8. Fear Cycles & Homeland Security

• [63:47–77:32]

  • Series of attacks (synagogue, ODU shooting), lone wolf terrorism, and media/officials’ calls for increased vigilance.
  • Mainstream media promotes digital ID, public reporting, and specter of “sleeper cells.”
  • Discussion of the real vs. manufactured threats, mental health, and manipulation of public anxiety.

  “Half of our population is mentally ill, if not from overmedication of SSRIs, from non-stop scrolling on social media.” (Adam, 77:02)

9. Oscars Security & Cultural Sideshow

• [77:32–87:41]
  • Media stokes fear around Oscar security, drone threats, and terrorism, with ABC and local coverage dissected.
  • Mimi and Adam reminisce about Oscars scandals, selection process, and screeners (“…the screeners…they’re not supposed to…they’re supposed to destroy them…” – Mimi, 84:56)
  • Lighthearted stories about movie history, Melania’s documentary, and the politics behind awards.

10. Comedy Club Tales: Robin Williams & Bay Area Comedy

• [106:27–117:49]
  • Mimi shares vivid stories from her days in Bay Area comedy, including being friends with Robin Williams (“He was very quiet, introvert… You would be lucky in an evening if you got five words out of him.” – Mimi, 108:31)
  • Stories about comedian dynamics, Bobcat Goldthwait, Sam Kinison, Jerry Seinfeld, and comedy club culture.

11. Ant Smuggling: Weird News of the Week

• [120:26–127:55]
  • Adam and Mimi explore the bizarre world of ant smuggling, high-end ant colonies as a global hobby, and how it connects to underground economies.
  • “These people are bringing in giant Amazonian ants, which are an inch and a half long… bringing in carpenter ants…” (Mimi, 126:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Meme Watch:
  “Short term pain for American consumers. We may have to deal with that in the short term, short term and temporary…” (Montage, [05:06])
• On John’s Absence:
  “He sounded upbeat… he’s not shaving until he’s out.” (Adam/Mimi, [01:57])
• Pentagon Menu Scandal:
  “They’re just harkening back to our founders. As Paul Revere declared on his famous ride: one if by surf, two if by turf.” (Adam/Colbert, [16:36])
• Pentagon Steak & Lobster Defense:
  “That is the only thing that makes you feel special for the entire time you’re there watching your buddies die, and you’re mad about that?” (Will Kane, [19:19])
• Media Cynicism:
  “The only thing that works is podcasting. Nothing else works.” (Adam, [61:32])
• On U.S. Foreign Policy:
  “We used to be the muscle for the Brits and for the Europeans. They would take all the profits and we fight the wars. And Trump is turning that around.” (Adam, [35:32])
• Comedy Clubs:
  “He could go into that bit and it was just, like, amazing…Kinison…He was something to see. And he was, you know, I mean, I was a girl, so he was on his best girl behavior with me.” (Mimi on Kinison, [114:49])
• On Ant Hobbyists:
  “There are people who have ant farms that are like built into the wall, like old aquariums… They have massive ants.” (Mimi, [122:30])
• Show Title Debate:
  “Your choice of title for today’s show: you can either choose Mork and Mimi or Swinging with Mimi.” (Adam, [109:23])

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:35–04:08 – John C. Dvorak health and show update
• 04:39–05:48 – Short Term Pain / Long Term Gain media supercut
• 06:12–07:37 / 10:09–12:06 – Iran war news roundup
• 14:22–21:00 – Pentagon lobster/steak outrage
• 21:41–33:41 – Oil economics, sanctions, and geopolitical strategy
• 44:08–57:43 – Antifa: roots, media framing, and real world funding
• 63:47–77:32 – Terror attacks, sleeper cells, and media-driven fear cycles
• 77:32–87:41 – Oscar security, culture & Hollywood diversions
• 106:27–117:49 – Comedy club stories: Robin Williams and 1980s/90s comedy scene
• 120:26–127:55 – Ant smuggling global phenom
• 149:01–150:05 – Best ISO pick: “What the hell’s going on?”

Tone & Style

• Language: Unfiltered, informal, banter-filled (true to the No Agenda tradition)
• Approach: Sceptical, irreverent, but sharply analytical in media deconstruction
• Noteworthy: Blend of policy wonkery, pop-culture references, and first-person asides.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode is a master class in media deconstruction, blending in-the-weeds geopolitical and economic analysis with cultural commentary and personal storytelling. The hosts are critical of mainstream narratives, urge digging beneath the surface, and champion independent journalism. If you want unvarnished, often humorous breakdowns of how media, politics, and war intersect (along with the occasional surreal tangent about ant gangs or Oscar fiascoes), this episode is a prime example of the No Agenda experience.