In episode 1872 of the No Agenda Show, hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak took a critical look at NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's recent proposal for a $20 billion permanent moon base, questioning the feasibility and relevance of a 'lunar economy' amid pressing terrestrial issues. The episode, titled 'Lunar Economy' and published on May 28, 2026, deconstructs the media coverage of the week's top stories, including NASA's Artemis timeline, helium-3 extraction claims, and the proposed orbital economy.
Curry expressed skepticism about Isaacman's vision of mining helium-3 for quantum computing fuel, saying, 'Open the Straits, give me $3 gas, then we can talk about moon stuff. It's gonna be all the lunar economy.' Dvorak offered a meta-prediction that contradicts expectations of a spectacular Artemis failure: 'Nothing blows up, nothing happens. Yak yak yak. They're gonna talk talk talk. Send a couple of robots up there, and one of them will stop working.' The hosts' commentary highlights a disconnect between NASA's ambitious space goals and the everyday concerns of Americans, such as high gas prices and economic uncertainty.
The episode also covers Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's awkward turn at the White House podium, the new Trump Account savings app, and the third Ebola media cycle in two years, with CDC acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya requesting airport screening volunteers ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Other topics include teen takeover crackdowns in Polk County, Florida, and Chicago, including proposals to charge parents, as well as Ferrari's all-electric Luce, co-designed with Jony Ive, and Mayor Mamdani's meetings with Jamie Dimon and David Solomon.
Beyond space policy, the hosts delve into Marco Rubio's report on 20 third-country deportation agreements, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's clawback of $29 billion in late-Biden disbursements including a contested $2 billion grant tied to Stacey Abrams, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's claim of $4 billion in new lease sale revenue from the Permian, Bakken, and Alaska's North Slope. Curry also reviews 'Young Washington' by Wonder Network, analyzes the Texas Senate runoff, and notes a Sydney drone-show glitch as a potential attack vector.
The No Agenda Show, known for its sharp commentary and media deconstruction, questions official narratives and rewards audience contributions through its value-for-value model. Episode 1872 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
