In a deeply personal episode, the No Agenda Show honored the life and impact of co-host John C. Dvorak, who passed away recently. Episode 1893, titled 'En Banc,' was recorded days after Dvorak's private memorial, with Adam Curry phoning in from a San Francisco hotel room. Fill-in hosts Darren O'Neill and Larry Bleidner joined from outside Chicago and the Connecticut shore, respectively. Curry shared reflections on the memorial service held in Oakland, attended by about 70 people, including Sir Mark and Dame Astrid from Tokyo, Void Zero from the Netherlands, and Eric the Shill from South Dakota. Eulogist Marty Higgins spoke, and Curry highlighted Dvorak's unique role in tech journalism.
Curry told listeners, 'He wrote about how these products sucked because he felt they could be better. That really was a big part of his role in the world. And I really came to appreciate that hearing that yesterday.' This sentiment underscored Dvorak's legacy as a critical voice in technology media, one who pushed for improvement through honest critique. The episode also covered several major news stories, starting with a D.C. Circuit Appeals Court 2-1 ruling that blocked further construction on President Trump's $400 million White House ballroom. The court's use of 'en banc' review was examined, with judges ruling that 'whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide.' The hosts compared coverage of this story across Fox, ABC, and CBS in their signature 3x3 segment.
Another significant story was a $567 million judgment against Meta in New Mexico over child safety on Facebook and Instagram. The hosts discussed the implications for tech companies and regulatory scrutiny. The WNBA also came under the spotlight after Clay Travis offered $10 million for a game pitting the Las Vegas Aces against a high school boys' team, sparking controversy. Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed's Medicaid comments were analyzed, along with reporting on his wife's Ann Arbor practice, MindWorks Psychiatry.
Bleidner delved into the strange saga of British academic Jason Arday, whose book 'Great and Unfortunate Things' is set for release on August 11 amid allegations of fabricated credentials. O'Neill highlighted Staten Island activist Scott LoBaido, who chartered a banner plane over New York City targeting Zohran Mamdani from his hospital bed days after open-heart surgery. The episode concluded with ten meetup reports from cities including Albany, Austin, Perth, and Denver.
The No Agenda Show, known for its skeptical and independent look at media and politics, continues to provide sharp commentary and deconstruction of the news cycle. Episode 1893 is available now wherever podcasts are heard, and listeners are encouraged to use a Podcasting 2.0 app.
