No Agenda Show — Ep. 1856 "CIS Lunar"

Hosts: Adam Curry & John C. Dvorak
Date: April 2, 2026

Main Theme

This episode takes a characteristically irreverent, incisive look at the latest news around the Artemis 2 lunar mission and the renewed “moon race”, unpacking the American moon program’s geopolitics, the space race with China, AI leaks, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and quirky cultural news from North America. Curry and Dvorak riff on the deeper implications, hidden agendas, and media angles, all while weaving in a tapestry of jokes, rants, and trademark banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Artemis 2 Moon Mission and "CIS Lunar" Space

• Kickoff: The episode jumps off with the Artemis 2 launch on April Fool’s Day, prompting skepticism and jokes about the "theater of the mind" as the hosts riff on NPR’s rocket launch coverage ([02:00–03:16]).
• Size Matters: Curry: “That thing’s still not as big as Saturn V... huge, but Saturn V is still a few feet bigger.”
• Moon Base Strategy: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s roadmap: frequent launches, uncrewed and crewed missions, leading towards permanent lunar infrastructure. “We're in a new space race for the moon base...eventually getting down to six months, vehicle architecture will change until you've got repeatable, affordable missions going to and from the moon.” (Dvorak, [04:09])
• Tech Snags in Space: Astronauts’ Microsoft Outlook crashes mid-mission, highlighting surprising tech choices:
  “Why are they…using Outlook? …They better upgraded to Windows 11 so they have support.” (Dvorak, [06:11])
• Geopolitical Stakes: The moon push is cast as crucial national security:
  “When America returns to the moon...it sends a message to every one of our adversaries, our geopolitical rivals…” (Isaacman, via Dvorak, [06:27])
• "CIS Lunar Space": The hosts riff on the awkwardness, and possible misinterpretation, of the term—"CIS" leading to “CIS lucrative sexual fire” and “trans lunar” jokes ([07:44–08:52]).
• Show title: “That’s the show title—CIS Lunar” (Curry, [08:49])

2. The Restarted Space Race: US vs. China

• Coverage from CBC and CNN frames Artemis as not just science, but a race against China to build a lunar base and set global norms ([09:13–13:13]).
• Quote: “If there are constant Chinese missions and rare American missions, what makes you think the language of space travel will be English?” (Dean Chang, [09:56])
• Curry: “I was convinced that if China hadn’t been threatening to land a man on the moon, that we wouldn’t do this at all. It’s too expensive.” ([11:17])

3. Middle East War and US Foreign Policy

• Adam’s Thesis: “Trump’s just going to pull out [of Iran].” ([16:12])
• ABC/CNN/NATO reports dissect the US response to Iranian hostilities, regime change dynamics, NATO’s lukewarm support, and Trump’s fast-evolving timeline for withdrawal.
• Multiple network clips demonstrate shifting narratives, saber-rattling, and political maneuvering about STRAIT OF HORMUZ, military threats, and the costs of maintaining US involvement. ([16:52–34:38])
• Notable Quote: “We will leave because there’s no reason for us to do this.” (Trump, via Dvorak, [21:26])
• On NATO: “Why are we in NATO? …If we can no longer use those bases to defend America's interests, then NATO is a one-way street.” (Rubio, [32:55])
• Comic Reminder: “It’s just a charade. [NATO] is a smoke screen.” (Curry, [28:54])
• Regime Change? “Regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal...but we’re finishing the job.” (Trump, via Dvorak, [22:11])

4. Canadian Cultural News & Politics

• Coverage of language politics and Quebec–Canada tensions after an Air Canada CEO only delivers condolences in English, sparking outrage in Quebec ([41:05]).
• Analysis of Canadian crime, bail reform, and widespread dissatisfaction, featuring viral Canadian TikTokers ([44:04]).
• Hilarious recounting of the left-wing NDP convention and the convoluted “equity card” system among Canadian progressives ([47:01–50:51]).

5. No Kings Day, Social Protest, & Pop Political Psychology

• Street interviews lampooning media obsessions:
  “Isn’t it homophobic we’re so focused on the Straits of Hormuz and not the Gays of Homos?” (Man on the street, [51:10])
• Insight from a psychiatrist on why protest culture now mimics “bad group therapy” and politics has become a new American religion (“The left, for the most part, loves to hate.” [53:01]; “Politics has become the new religion.” [56:22])

6. Scandals & Personality News

• Lindsey Graham’s trip to Disneyland becomes internet fodder (“Lindsey Graham is walking around with...a princess Ariel bubble wand. ...Now, Lindsey Graham is childless and single. He was not there with his kids…” [57:27])
• Leaked fetish photos of political spouse Brian Noem spark discussion on digital privacy, potential blackmail, and “cockeyed bazungas” as a show title contender ([59:14–61:27])
• Ongoing drama and gossip in Republican politics; speculation on personal relationships of Kristi Noem and others ([62:11–63:09])

7. Artificial Intelligence Leaks & Open Source Debates

• Anthropic accidentally leaks its Claude Code source via an npm bundle; the hosts riff on the irony, the inner battles over open/closed source, and the rapidly advancing world of DIY AI ([73:25–79:46])
• Oracle layoffs cited as a symptom of AI’s disruptive restructuring, especially for Indian programmers ([79:46–82:24])

8. Media Manipulation, Propaganda, and “Movies as PSYOPs”

• In-depth critique of how both the US and Iran weaponize memes and AI-generated propaganda; Curry traces the deep state’s historic links with Hollywood and big cultural projects ([108:00–109:22], [99:34])
• Steven Spielberg is called out as “part of the Pentagon”, getting “marching orders” for movies as part of a broader social-engineering strategy ([99:34–106:34])
• The hosts connect the rise of deepfake propaganda, “memetic warfare,” and legacy media’s declining grip on narrative ([111:19])

9. Miscellaneous Banter & Behind-The-Scenes Updates

• JCD’s ongoing health recovery is a frequent theme (with gallows humor and positive support).
• Discussion of support from No Agenda producers, debates about hospital food, and inventive listener gifts (including "artisan pool water") add to the signature community vibe.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “[Astronaut complains] I have two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one...are working.” (Mission Control clip, [05:32])
• “We're sending American astronauts back to the moon. What? CIS lunar space. Did I hear that correctly?” (Curry, [07:42])
• “The race is really with China… if there are constant Chinese missions and rare American missions, what makes you think the language of space travel will be English?” (Dean Chang, CBC, [09:56])
• “Support John if it’s only just to keep him alive. This is the whole point of the newsletter.” (Curry, [116:39])
• “Isn’t it a little bit homophobic that we’re so focused on the Straits of Hormuz and not the Gays of Homos?” (Man on the street, [51:10])
• “Spielberg... has always worked for the Pentagon.” (Peter Duke via Curry, [99:34])
• “Propaganda war over Iran has taken a strange turn. The White House and the Iranian regime are trolling each other online in a war of memes...” (Global News clip, [108:00])
• “I've got ants...I got ants!” (show jingle, [147:56]; recurring joke payoff)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Artemis 2 / NPR Rocket Launch Banter: [00:49–03:16]
• NASA strategy & Outlook crash: [04:09–06:26]
• CIS lunar terminology jokes: [07:42–08:52]
• China–US moon race: [09:10–13:13]
• Iran conflict, Trump, NATO rants: [16:12–38:16]
• Canadian “Language Police” news: [41:05–43:57]
• NDP Equity Card Convention: [47:01–50:51]
• ‘No Kings Day’ protest, Political psych: [51:01–56:22]
• Gossip corner—Lindsey Graham, Brian Noem: [57:27–62:11]
• Anthropic AI source leak: [73:25–79:46]
• Oracle layoffs, global tech impacts: [79:46–82:24]
• Spielberg/Pentagon Hollywood connections: [99:34–106:34]
• AI-fueled propaganda wars: [108:00–111:19]
• No Agenda community updates & donations: [121:03–128:43]
• Health tips, cookbook banter: [152:07–155:09]

Tone, Style, and Community

The hosts blend deep-dive analysis with satirical wit, deadpan tangents, media deconstruction, and inside jokes, keeping the episode energetic and unpredictable. Famous for both skepticism and community spirit, they showcase producers’ notes, offer “jobs karma,” and conclude with art, ISOs, and a typically offbeat “tip of the day.”

For First-Time Listeners

If you want a crash course in power, media, and geopolitics through a wry, subversive lens—with an extra dollop of internet culture, cynicism, and community—weaving through everything from space policy to hospital food, this is your home.

Episode Title: CIS Lunar
Memorable Segment:
“Why are we in NATO? ... If now we have reached a point where the NATO alliance means that we can't use those bases... then NATO is a one-way street.”
– Marco Rubio, via Dvorak ([32:55])

End of Show ISO:
“Everybody who loses gets a podcast.” (Trump, [151:51])