The latest episode of the No Agenda Show, episode 1870 titled "VBS," broadcast on May 21, 2026, offers a comprehensive media deconstruction of a week featuring Vice President JD Vance taking the White House podium, a Kentucky primary upset, and a federal indictment of former Cuban dictator Raul Castro. Hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak examine how major outlets like ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, and MSNBC framed — and in some cases buried — these stories.
The episode opens with Vice President JD Vance filling in for Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, fielding questions on Iran, gas prices, and the ongoing ceasefire. Curry praised Vance's performance, stating, "He is making the press briefing exciting again." This marks a notable shift in White House communications strategy, potentially increasing public engagement with press briefings.
Another major focus is Rep. Thomas Massie's primary loss to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, a $32 million race shadowed by an alleged AI-driven smear campaign involving Massie, Lauren Boebert, and a so-called "boner phone." Curry argues that Massie's collapse — from a 71% win probability on May 8 to a near 10-point loss — was driven by an algorithmic smear largely ignored by legacy outlets. Dvorak explained, "It was a smear campaign that indicated that once Massie's wife died, he had an affair with at least 2 women," while Curry countered with a listener letter alleging the story was manufactured to take down both Massie and Boebert. This raises concerns about the influence of AI-generated disinformation in elections.
The hosts also cover the DOJ's indictment of Raul Castro for the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, framed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Dvorak floated the theory that President Trump is "completing the Bay of Pigs operation that Kennedy chickened out on," noting the Nimitz strike group's entry into the Caribbean. This indictment could have significant implications for U.S.-Cuba relations and international law regarding state-sponsored attacks.
Other segments include the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund from Trump's settled IRS lawsuit, his 3,700 stock trades attributed to high-frequency trading algorithms, Polymarket insider-betting concerns tied to Donald Trump Jr., Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's "Economic Fury" sanctions program targeting UK-domiciled tanker operators, the San Diego Islamic Center shooting, and Google's $190 billion Gemini Spark rollout at I/O. These stories highlight ongoing issues in financial regulation, national security, and technology.
The episode underscores the media's role in shaping public perception and the potential for disinformation to alter political outcomes. As the 2026 midterm cycle heats up, the implications of these events — from Vance's briefing style to the Massie primary and the Castro indictment — could reverberate across government, industry, and global affairs.
