No Agenda Show 1855 – “Gooder”

Hosts: Adam Curry & John C. Dvorak
Date: March 29, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the No Agenda Show features Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak deconstructing recent media narratives and political events, with sharp commentary on the “No Kings Day” protests, ongoing geopolitical conflicts (especially the US-Iran war), upheavals in Canada, land acknowledgments, and the evolving tech industry. John reflects on his ongoing recovery from a heart operation. The episode is peppered with humor, media clips, and the duo’s signature skepticism.

Key Topics and Insights

1. “No Kings Day” and Anti-Trump Protests

[00:38 – 16:37]

• Event Overview (01:16): The episode opens with a deconstruction of the wide-scale "No Kings Day" protests in the US and abroad, predominantly targeting President Trump’s policies (immigration, foreign intervention, climate, etc.), with the media emphasizing the reach and influence of the movement.
  • Adam: “No Kings just hate Trump. That’s all it is. Hate Trump.” [03:47]
• Celebrity Involvement: Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen appeared at protests. Bruce’s speech is critiqued for dramatic, anti-government rhetoric.
  • On Bruce, John: “Invasions of America. Bruce Springsteen, who has several hundred million dollars. What happened to the guy?” [06:39]
• Surprising Radicalism: Adam expresses surprise at overt displays of communism in protest factions, but John downplays it as typical NY protest culture.
• Discussion on Jane Fonda (08:41): Jane’s First Amendment activism draws attention; John and Adam challenge her claims about censorship and arts defunding.
  • Jane Fonda, [09:19]: “The First Amendment suffers greatly in times of war as the government works to crush internal dissent...”
  • Adam: “Nobody’s censoring anything.” [11:21]
• Branding Critique: Both hosts agree the “No Kings” movement is about nothing but anti-Trump sentiment.

2. Immigration, Cesar Chavez Backlash, and Political Party Flips

[16:37 – 23:04]

• Cesar Chavez Discussion: Reference to RFK Jr.’s Rogan appearance, explaining historical Democratic opposition to immigration, the party “flip,” and the labor movement’s shifting alliances.
  • John: “When I grew up, the Democratic Party was against immigration, and it was the Republican Party who wanted it... Today, the Chamber of Commerce is with the Democratic Party.” [17:54]
  • Context around new documentaries (e.g., American Pachuco) and shifting political narratives in Latino communities.
  • John recounts “Hernandez is gooder”—a humorous campaign slogan from his school days, leading to the episode’s title.

3. Canadian Economic Woes and Indigenous Land Deals

[23:16 – 36:41]

• Economic Downturn: Canada, notably British Columbia (BC), faces financial trouble with downgraded credit ratings and half of Canadians living paycheck to paycheck.
• Resource Land Deals: Discussion of government and indigenous group partnerships—increasing Chinese investment and legal changes fueled by UN declarations, potentially shifting control of strategic minerals.
  • John: “With Chinese financing... What the white man once took, now they’re giving to the yellow man.” [27:53]
• Land Acknowledgments: John and Adam highlight the growing ritual (“anthem of a suicidal nation” [29:50]), with clips from various US/Canadian officials.
  • Adam: “The land acknowledgments seems to be a way of softening us up.” [28:09]
  • Amusement at the performative aspect, especially in places like LA and DNC events.

4. US-Iran War: Cabinet Meetings, Strategy, and Repercussions

[37:54 – 71:14]

• Cabinet Meeting Deconstruction:
  • Rubio’s Rhetoric: Marco Rubio’s strong stance—asserting Trump’s decisive action is achieving military objectives in Iran. [39:12, 45:32]
  • General Patton Scott Besant: Asserts US military-economic strength, oil market control, and that “absolute security” will be achieved through the ongoing campaign. [40:23]
• Commentary on Military Planning:
  • Claims the campaign has been planned for over a year, involving economic cutoffs and slow degradation of Iran’s capabilities.
  • Skepticism about quick withdrawal: “The stuff that Trump says we’ve done… there’s nothing left. A vacuum of these IRG renegades.” [48:08]
• Boots on the Ground: Updates on troop deployments; “optionality” as a military strategy catches attention.
• Regional Escalation: Coverage of the wider Middle East fallout—Hezbollah in Lebanon, airports closing, GCC nations declaring self-defense, Houthis striking Israel.
  • John: “People always leave out the fact you already have 50,000 troops there.” [69:01]
• Oil, Economy, and Political Hype: Trump claims negotiation victories (e.g., oil shipments) and bemoans NATO’s lack of commitment; hosts debunk/exaggerate Trumpian bravado.

5. Technology: AI Hype, Markets, IPOs, & Locally Run Models

[74:41 – 84:17]

• Trump on AI: Trump is bemused by AI and its wild valuations, jokes about “contraptions,” and notes multi-million–dollar signing bonuses. [75:00]
  • Adam: “All for a little contraption?”
• AI Company Race: OpenAI vs. Anthropic—a duel both in public perception and technical effectiveness.
  • Local, on-device AI models are growing; mainstream cloud offerings might become obsolete for individuals and small businesses. [79:02]
  • John: “Apple may have a really interesting advantage here.”
• SpaceX IPO Hype: Wild speculation over SpaceX’s potential $1.5 trillion IPO mainly to fund Starlink and AI ambitions.
  • John: “That’s crazy.” [83:44]
  • Adam: “All these IPOs are gonna be the death knell of the market.” [84:42]

6. Media, Podcast Networks & Industry Gripes

[114:11 – 120:02]

• The hosts discuss the self-contained podcast economy, criticism of traditional podcast networks, and impending sales/mergers (VOX, MSNBC, etc.).
  • Rejection of the revolving-door podcast circuit and “circular” guest appearances.
  • Adam: “You can’t make money off a podcast network. Spotify put a billion dollars into it and failed.”

7. John’s Health Update & Hospital Stories

[99:03 – 106:11]

• John details the realities of post-bypass recovery; hospital food gets an infamous roast: “You could pound a nail with it.” [98:38]
• Reflections on pain, dietary advice, the joy of post-hospital cooking, and the perils of mobility during healing.

Notable Quotes

• On Protest Branding:
  Adam: “No Kings just hate Trump. That’s all that it is. Hate Trump.” [03:47]
• On Celebrity Activism:
  John (about Springsteen): “Invasions of America… What happened to the guy?” [06:39]
• Land Acknowledgments Scepticism:
  John: “Land acknowledgments are the anthem of a suicidal nation. They tell our children that we stand on stolen land.” [29:50]
• On Strategic Resource Deals:
  John: “What the white man once took, now they’re giving to the yellow man.” [27:53]
• Media Satire:
  Adam: “Maybe there’s a defunding of certain things. Maybe that’s what she’s upset about. But that’s not the First Amendment.”
• On AI Hype:
  Trump (imitated by Adam): “I see some of these guys come into my office. They're wearing a T-shirt and they're 24 years old. ...$24 billion, off a little contraption.” [75:15]
• On Podcast Culture:
  Adam: “We don’t have an agenda in regards to pushing these things. …We’re not part of any of these clicks.” [120:02]
• On Hospital Food:
  John: “The chicken thigh is so overcooked that you could literally… you could pound a nail with it.” [98:38]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• No Kings Day Coverage & Media Critique: 00:38 – 16:37
• Jane Fonda & First Amendment Rhetoric: 08:41 – 13:27
• Cesar Chavez & Immigration: 16:37 – 23:04
• Canada’s Economic Malaise & Land Policies: 23:16 – 36:41
• Land Acknowledgments Examples: 32:36 – 36:41
• US-Iran Cabinet Meeting & Military Analysis: 37:54 – 71:14
  • Rubio’s Cabinet Speech: 39:12; 45:32
  • Besant on Economic Security: 40:23
• Boots on the Ground, Middle East Frontlines: 55:10, 67:58, 71:08
• AI Industry Discussion: 74:41 – 84:17
• SpaceX & Tech IPO Hype: 82:05 – 84:42
• Podcast Industry Satire: 114:11 – 120:02
• John’s Health Update & Hospital Stories: 99:03 – 106:11

Memorable Moments

• “Hernandez is Gooder”: John’s recollection of a wittily effective high school campaign slogan, resonating with the episode title.
• Springsteen Called Out: The hosts’ incredulity at the evolution of Bruce Springsteen’s political speeches at rallies.
• Land Acknowledgments Parade: Ridicule of ritualized, performative land acknowledgments at American government meetings.
• Hospital Food Roast: John’s biting, humorous takedown of institutional food in recovery.
• Podcast Infomercial Satire: RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz’s new advisory podcast lampooned for its “infomercial” tone.

Tone and Style

Lively, skeptical, and irreverent. Curry and Dvorak blend sharp media criticism with personal anecdotes, biting wit, and a populist-tuned radar for propaganda, bureaucratic overreach, and corporate hype. The episode flows through clipped news segments, live deconstruction, inside jokes, and audience engagement, maintaining a brisk pace despite John’s recent health ordeal.

Further Sections

• Donation Segment: [123:58 – 134:01]
  Tradition of thanking listeners/donors, stories from supporters, and reflections on podcast economics.
• Meetup Announcements & Community Update: [151:32 – 153:36]
  Highlighting local No Agenda meetups as “connection is protection.”
• John’s Tip of the Day: [154:44 – 156:54]
  Advice: Carbon monoxide monitor in your home—“especially in and around the kitchen if you have gas appliances.”
• End of Show Isos & Mixes: [153:38 – end]
  AI-generated musical mixes, listener-created isos, and a light-hearted auction-outro.

Conclusion

An episode rich in political analysis, media parody, and cultural commentary, set against the backdrop of John’s recovery and the show’s enduring listener-driven model. The duo’s chemistry and skepticism drive a multi-issue, multi-geography dissection of today’s headlines—delivering both laughs and food for thought.

For more information, complete show notes, and to support the show:
NoAgendaDonations.com | NoAgendaMeetups.com