Episodes

Barack Obama secured a second term as President of the United States, triggering an immediate stock market downturn and speculation regarding Joe Biden for 2016. ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer faced public scrutiny for her election night performance, while Chris Matthews at MSNBC drew criticism for dismissive comments toward third-party voters. The electoral map shifted significantly as Washington and Colorado voters approved recreational marijuana legalization, contrasting with the defeat of California Proposition 37 regarding GMO labeling. Legal experts warn that Washington Initiative 502 includes strict DUI provisions that may penalize drivers based on THC blood levels rather than active impairment. In the financial sector, Marc Faber predicts a potential economic collapse due to Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve enabling endless debt escalation. Geopolitical tensions rise as Admiral James Lyons questions the Benghazi response timeline and the removal of General Carter Ham. Meanwhile, Afghanistan began commercial oil production at the Angot field, sending crude to China while the TAPI gas pipeline project expands to include Bangladesh. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen signaled new alliance capabilities as the Greek parliament passed severe austerity measures and water privatization laws. Media incompetence took center stage as a CNN reporter repeatedly used the phrase exactly similar to describe conflicting voting data. The No Agenda amateur radio network expanded its reach via EchoLink node 780399 as the hosts performed de-douching ceremonies for new donors. Personal anecdotes regarding the oral health risks of quitting smoking and the rise of the vajacial beauty trend provided a human counterpoint to the heavy political analysis of the 2012 cycle.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak broadcast from San Francisco following a high-stakes charity gala for the Reconstructive Surgery Foundation. The event, attended by elite medical venture capitalists from firms like Kleiner Perkins, serves as a backdrop for a deep dive into the political leanings of the hyper-wealthy. Curry details his interactions with billionaire donors while exposing the massive wine markups at the Ritz Carlton Parallel 37, where rare bottles like the 1947 Cheval Blanc command five-figure prices. The global landscape shifts as Hurricane Sandy's aftermath reveals a stark disparity between media narratives and reality. While NBC hosts benefit concerts featuring Bruce Springsteen, reports from Haiti indicate a rice price surge and a cholera outbreak following a controversial visit by Bill and Hillary Clinton to a South Korean-run garment factory. In the Balkans, Madeleine Albright faces war criminal accusations during a Prague book signing, while in Russia, Vladimir Putin struggles with health rumors following a suspicious back injury in Vladivostok. Meanwhile, the Afghan saffron market collapses as Iranian smugglers seize control of the trade, and new theories suggest U.S. drone strikes in Yemen are targeting the khat stimulant supply chain rather than terrorist cells. Technical glitches and ham radio failures haunt the session as Curry battles a severe Texas mold allergy and an infected eye treated with chamomile tea. Between critiques of the British two-pound coin's resemblance to Osama bin Laden and John C. Dvorak's meta-prepper strategy of using silent electric vehicles to raid neighbors, the duo introduces the What's John Eating segment featuring a seasonal persimmon. The broadcast concludes with a stern warning about the sustainability of the No Agenda model and a look at Gary Johnson's unconventional stance on puppy punching.

President Barack Obama appeared in Wisconsin wearing a souvenir-style Air Force One flight jacket to project military leadership during the Hurricane Sandy state of emergency. This calculated political imagery coincides with physicist Michio Kaku’s appearance on CNN, where he detailed the unprecedented collision of three air masses that created the 800-mile-wide storm. While the administration manages the optics of the disaster, conspiracy theorists and insurance adjusters are already navigating the fallout of property damage and potential fraud across the Jersey Shore. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano used the utility outages to lobby for increased cyber security funding at a Washington Post symposium, citing questionable Norton data claiming $114 billion in annual cybercrime losses. Meanwhile, Rachel Maddow and General Electric are advocating for a national stimulus to bury power lines, even as thorium nuclear reactors are proposed as a more resilient alternative to the gas plants that exploded during the surge. In Greece, journalist Costas Vaxevanis faces imprisonment for leaking the Lagarde List of 2,000 alleged tax evaders, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Kosovo to solidify Western interests in regional energy pipelines. Author Brian Evenson breaks down the specific Mormon cadence in Mitt Romney’s speech patterns that mirrors LDS general authorities. The Red Cross and UNICEF face scrutiny over administrative overhead compared to direct community aid, while George Lucas hands the keys of the Star Wars universe to Disney in a massive four-billion-dollar acquisition. The segment concludes with a look at the Belgian prison system’s security failure after a chaplain lost a master key to 180 cells.

The BBC sexual abuse scandal involving the late Sir Jimmy Savile expands as London police investigate over 300 potential cases of predatory behavior. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini breaks silence on institutional knowledge of Savile's actions, criticizing the British establishment for vetting the presenter for a knighthood despite long-standing rumors of necrophilia. The investigation now points toward a widespread pedophile network involving high-ranking politicians linked to 10 Downing Street. Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette faces removal from duty after allegedly attempting to assist American forces in Benghazi against stand-down orders. Meanwhile, IBM introduces Watson-powered medical analytics to predict patient treatments, fulfilling a long-predicted marketing pivot for the AI technology. In China, over 1,000 protesters in Ningbo successfully suspend a petrochemical plant expansion, signaling a rise in the NIMBY movement against industrial pollution. The Associated Press releases a controversial poll claiming a spike in anti-black prejudice, though critics debunk the methodology for using implicit testing with Chinese characters. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak attempt a technical amateur radio test between Austin and Silicon Valley using call signs KF5SLN and KJ6LNG. The technical failure leads to a proposal for a dedicated No Agenda radio reflector to bypass internet reliance. Dvorak also celebrates the release of the mystery novel Hot Diggity Dead, authored by his son, known to the audience as Buzzkill Jr.

The Obama administration faces mounting scrutiny over the Disposition Matrix, a permanent database used to track and target terrorism suspects for capture or assassination. During the final 2012 presidential debate, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney signaled bipartisan support for the continued use of drone strikes, while DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz dismissed inquiries regarding the White House kill list as non-serious. This expansion of executive power coincides with a 158-page United Nations document from the UNODC that seeks to harmonize global laws against the terrorist use of the internet. Investigation into the Benghazi consulate attack reveals redacted State Department emails and a claim of responsibility by Ansar al-Sharia that spokesperson Victoria Nuland struggled to clarify during press briefings. General Wesley Clark and Congressman Jason Chaffetz clashed on CNN over security failures, while reports surfaced of a suspect held in Tunisia whom US authorities have yet to interview. Domestically, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is driving Swiss banks to drop American clients, forcing expatriates to navigate a five-year tax compliance gauntlet and potential exit taxes. Meanwhile, the UK is intensifying arrests for social media posts, and US voters report early voting glitches in North Carolina where machines reportedly flipped votes between candidates. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak celebrate the fifth anniversary of the program by revisiting the four-minute phone call that launched the show in 2007. Longtime artist Martin JJ announces his semi-retirement from the No Agenda Art Generator, while the hosts explore whether podcasters now qualify for the Producers Guild of America. The technical production of the debates is deconstructed, specifically the use of cross-camera angles to manipulate the perceived height of the candidates.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) introduces Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, a pediatric classification that critics argue facilitates the marketing of antipsychotics like Haldol to children. Reports from the Erowid Experience Vault detail severe physical reactions to such medications, including tardive dyskinesia and involuntary muscle spasms. Meanwhile, President Obama faces backlash for describing the Benghazi attack as "not optimal" during a Daily Show interview with Jon Stewart. Global commodity shifts see sugar prices triple since 2009, while the Wall Street Journal warns of a 1.3 billion bottle wine shortage across France, Italy, and Spain. In California, Monsanto and DuPont fund the opposition to Proposition 37 to prevent mandatory GMO labeling. The Department of Homeland Security graduates its first class of FEMA Corps youth, as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warns of an impending Cyber Pearl Harbor. In Haiti, Hillary Clinton opens the Caracol Industrial Park despite 300,000 citizens remaining in tents following the cholera outbreak. Domestic surveillance expands as the Alameda County Sheriff tests proactive policing drones during the Urban Shield 2012 exercises. Technical oddities define the week as a refurbished vintage AM transmitter from KSFO is modified for amateur radio use in Austin. A listener in Sioux City celebrates a new donut shop opening with an Atlas Shrugged jingle, while others seek karma for job searches and birthdays. The League of Women Voters history reveals why they abandoned presidential debates, calling the current Commission on Presidential Debates a charade.

The second 2012 presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney faced immediate scrutiny for its surreal production quality and a controversial live fact-check by moderator Candy Crowley. The dispute centered on the administration's framing of the Benghazi attack as an act of terror, while the Wall Street Journal simultaneously identified Ahmed Abu Khattala as a primary suspect. Critics suggest the event felt scripted, noting the set's resemblance to an auto showroom and the distracting vocal reactions from an invisible audience. Global tensions rise as Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren warns of a potential world war during an appearance on The View, while a U.S. drone strike in Yemen reportedly kills eight Al-Qaeda operatives. In the UK, Home Secretary Theresa May blocked the extradition of hacker Gary McKinnon to the United States on human rights grounds. Domestically, the FBI arrested Kazi Nafis in a sting operation for a plot to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, an event some label as orchestrated entrapment. Meanwhile, the House Intelligence Committee issued warnings against Chinese telecom giant Huawei, citing national security risks and potential cyber warfare capabilities. Personal stories and medical warnings round out the report, including a blind man in Lancashire being tasered after police mistook his cane for a samurai sword. A psychiatrist warns that the drug Haloperidol can turn patients into a zombie-like state, while the Wellcome Trust faces criticism for a report that appears to market Ritalin to children. The episode concludes with a knighting ceremony for Sir Toby Knotts as the show approaches its fifth anniversary of listener-supported broadcasting.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a stark warning of a looming Cyber Pearl Harbor, citing the Shamoon virus attack on Saudi Aramco as a precursor to potential national catastrophe. This rhetoric serves as the foundation for a push toward new cybersecurity legislation that would grant corporations legal immunity for sharing private user data with the federal government. The hosts deconstruct this narrative, suggesting the threat is being amplified to justify total internet monitoring and the implementation of the EU-led CleanIT project. In the wake of the vice presidential debate, Joe Biden faces scrutiny for claiming he opposed funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on credit, despite legislative records from 2001 and 2002 showing he voted in favor of both authorizations of force. Meanwhile, the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton’s State Department appear at odds over security failures in Benghazi, as Jay Carney denies knowledge of requested reinforcements. Secondary stories include the indictment of eleven individuals in Houston for exporting militarized microchips to Russia and the exposure of union-led astro-turfing behind the recent Walmart strikes. Adam Curry accidentally destroys his desk lamp during a high-energy knighting ceremony for Thomas Weiler and Kim Moore. The program also features a look back at 1993 CNET pilot tapes involving Halsey Minor and a critical analysis of the European Union receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. John C. Dvorak provides a skeptical take on the probability of cyber attacks originating from mud huts in Waziristan while the duo explores the etymology of common vulgarities.

The Obama administration faces intense scrutiny as a shifting narrative regarding the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, moves from a spontaneous protest to a coordinated Al-Qaeda assault. Representative Darrell Issa and Representative Jason Chaffetz lead a House Oversight Committee hearing revealing that the State Department and FBI possess video evidence contradicting the initial White House claims. Pat Smith, mother of Information Officer Sean Smith, publicly challenges Susan Rice and Leon Panetta over the lack of transparency regarding the tragedy. Legal and corporate maneuvers dominate the domestic landscape as the U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear challenges to telecommunications immunity, effectively shielding companies involved in warrantless wiretapping. Meanwhile, a technical flaw in Apple iOS 6 causes massive cellular data overages, and the UK is rocked by the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal involving the BBC and potential elite pedophile rings at Haut de la Garenne. In the technology sector, a congressional committee advises American firms to avoid Huawei and ZTE, citing national security risks that critics suggest are fueled by Cisco lobbying. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak celebrate the fifth anniversary of the program by conducting a formal knighthood ceremony for top-tier producers Michael Klink and Rick Bressler. The hosts examine the medicalization of poverty following reports of pediatricians prescribing Adderall to low-income students to compensate for failing school environments. The session concludes with a look at Gary Johnson's antitrust lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates and his proposal for a federal consumption tax.

Angela Merkel arrived in Athens to face massive protests as the leak of Lagarde's List exposes 2,000 wealthy Greeks and Germans holding secret HSBC accounts. The document, allegedly used for political blackmail across the Eurozone, surfaces alongside reports of the Portuguese flag being flown upside down as a symbolic distress signal. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak broadcast from Washington D.C. on WBCQ shortwave to analyze the escalating European debt crisis and the suspicious timing of international unrest. U.S. employment figures dropped to 7.8%, prompting Jack Welch to challenge the validity of the data while Shadow Government Statistics suggests a true unemployment rate of 24%. In California, gas prices surged past $5.00 following refinery fires at Chevron, which critics label a reverse October surprise. Meanwhile, House Resolution 6566 quietly amends the Homeland Security Act to mandate FEMA guidance for mass fatality planning. The BBC faces a growing crisis as the Jimmy Savile scandal widens, and Joris Demink faces child trafficking allegations before the Helsinki Commission in Washington. Adam Curry recounts a pajama-clad dinner at a D.C. motel while navigating the technical fallout of the iPhone 5 release. The hosts mock Al Gore for attributing a poor debate performance to altitude sickness and question the 'science' behind a SUNY Albany study on morning sickness. Sir Michael Kearns and Joe Castillo join the ranks of the executive producers as the program approaches its fifth anniversary.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak broadcast from Washington to Washington as the 2012 presidential race enters its final stretch. Following the first debate at the University of Denver, the hosts analyze Barack Obama’s lackluster performance against Mitt Romney and investigate claims of a hidden electronic device under the President’s jacket. The analysis extends to the exclusion of third-party candidates like Gary Johnson and the media's role in manufacturing a competitive horse race narrative. Global tensions rise as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation pushes for international blasphemy laws following the Innocence of Muslims controversy. Economic instability deepens with the Iranian Rial losing forty percent of its value in a single week, while IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde offers a conflicting outlook on the American housing market. In the United States, the Food Safety Modernization Act faces scrutiny after a massive Sunland peanut butter salmonella recall coincides with a failure in the FDA registration system. Additional reports cover the Asymmetric Warfare Group radicalization guide, American Airlines seat sabotage suspicions, and a White House phishing attack during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Technical glitches and hotel Skype loops provide the backdrop for a series of distinctive moments, including Adam Curry’s attempt to teach a parrot the show's catchphrase. The hosts also examine the viral response of news anchor Jennifer Livingston to a viewer's email and the strange interaction between Hillary Clinton and Christina Aguilera at the World Food Program Awards. Executive Producers Adam Johnson and Matthias Person are knighted into the No Agenda Roundtable for their value-for-value support.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano admitted to being a Luddite who avoids email during a National Journal symposium, raising questions about her leadership of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. While Napolitano pushes for executive orders to bypass Congress on infrastructure security, critics argue her lack of technical proficiency creates a convenient shield against legal discovery. The administration continues to use demonstrations in secure facilities to pressure lawmakers into granting tech companies the same legal indemnifications enjoyed by the pharmaceutical industry. ABC News correspondent Pierre Thomas and analyst Richard Clarke are reporting on massive denial-of-service attacks against Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America, though Akamai analyst Mike Smith suggests these may be false flag operations. In the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu utilized a literal cartoon bomb diagram at the United Nations to demand red lines for Iran, while the Washington Institute for Near East Policy openly discussed the need for a crisis initiation to justify military action. Meanwhile, General John Allen addressed the surge of insider attacks in Afghanistan on 60 Minutes as the White House faces mounting skepticism from Jay Carney regarding the Benghazi consulate narrative. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak navigate the technical hurdles of Mumble software and the Stanford Prison Experiment dynamics of their own chat room moderators. The duo deconstructs the viral Obama Phone video and the Save the Children Syria report, which they characterize as emotional propaganda. Sir Snorterstain provides a harrowing update on his medical recovery from the High Arctic, and the show closes with the sights and sounds of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

A landmark report from Stanford and NYU exposes the 'double tap' drone strike tactic in Pakistan, where follow-up missiles target first responders and civilians attempting to rescue the wounded. This revelation contrasts sharply with President Obama’s United Nations address on the right to assemble without fear, as CIA-operated drones maintain 24/7 surveillance and psychological terror over residential areas. The study highlights a grim reality of lethal technology that mainstream media outlets like NPR frequently frame as a strategic game between national security bloggers. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Cameron faced scrutiny after failing a basic history quiz on the Magna Carta during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Meanwhile, the BBC issued a formal apology to Queen Elizabeth for disclosing her private concerns regarding the extradition of radical cleric Abu Hamza. In the United States, Ambassador Susan Rice remains under fire for her initial characterization of the Benghazi consulate attack, while a massive drug lab scandal in Massachusetts threatens to overturn thousands of criminal convictions due to falsified evidence and improper handling by state technicians. Cultural oddities round out the analysis, from a University of Tennessee student’s hospitalization following a dangerous 'alcohol enema' to the viral Facebook riot that devastated the Dutch village of Haren. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak also weigh the merits of a $166 monthly lease on a Chevy Volt against the risks of proprietary parts. The show concludes with a look at Howard Stern’s street interviews, which reveal a startling lack of basic political awareness among the American electorate as the 2012 election approaches.

The U.S. State Department spent $70,000 on Urdu-language television advertisements in Pakistan to distance the Obama administration from the Innocence of Muslims video. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and spokesperson Victoria Nuland face scrutiny over the effectiveness of these PSAs as violent protests continue in Peshawar. Investigations into the film's production now link the project to Stanley Inc., a government contractor previously involved in unauthorized access to passport records. Senator Joe Lieberman and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano testified before a Senate hearing regarding the rise of homegrown terrorism and the implementation of a layered aviation security approach. While Napolitano pushed for expanded passenger biometrics, Lieberman identified the Fort Hood and Little Rock recruiting station attacks as the primary justifications for increased surveillance. Meanwhile, the FBI has begun interviewing survivors of the Benghazi consulate attack at a military base in Germany, fueling theories that Ambassador Chris Stevens was involved in a covert weapons recovery mission to retrieve MANPADS from Libyan rebels. Technical glitches in Apple iOS 5 have caused podcast downloads to spike tenfold, forcing a transition to independent hosting infrastructure to protect listener data plans. The hosts also perform a knighting ceremony for top donors Patrick Wilson and Joe Collins while debating the merits of a biblical Debt Jubilee as a 2012 election strategy. Richard Stallman concludes the program with a critique of global internet censorship and the criminalization of non-commercial file sharing.

The Department of Justice Inspector General released a report on Operation Fast and Furious, citing management failures that allowed firearms to flow to Mexican cartels. While Attorney General Eric Holder dismissed cover-up allegations, the FBI simultaneously faced scrutiny for the arrest of 18-year-old Adel Daoud in Chicago. Federal agents reportedly provided the fake explosives and orchestrated the plot, raising questions about the bureau's role in creating operational terrorists out of impressionable individuals. In the Middle East, NATO rebranded green-on-blue incidents as insider attacks following a surge in coalition casualties caused by Afghan allies. Tensions escalated further as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Iran is months away from reaching a ninety percent threshold for atomic material. Meanwhile, Chinese developers abandoned massive ghost cities in Benghazi, Libya, and anti-Japan protests intensified in Beijing over the disputed Senkaku Islands. In Europe, finance ministers in Cyprus debated a banking union that would place six thousand institutions under European Central Bank supervision, a move critics like Slavoj Žižek view as a shift toward modern fascism. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak break down the linguistic tricks of Mark Zuckerberg and the strategic release of the Mitt Romney forty-seven percent video. The show welcomes new knights Sir Eric Wilka and Sir Jesse Wilson to the Round Table while Adam prepares for a guest appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience. Between discussions of global helium shortages and GMO super-weeds in Nebraska, the hosts analyze why Richard Branson is acting as a front man for hedge fund interests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mitt Romney face scrutiny for unprecedented election interference as the Benghazi tragedy is reframed as a scripted political strategy. The Obama administration continues to attribute the deaths of four Americans at the Libyan consulate to the Innocence of Muslims film, while Senator John McCain stumbles over pre-planned talking points on Morning Joe. These events signal a shifting red line in Middle East diplomacy and domestic narrative control. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Ambassador Susan Rice lead a damage control campaign as the Salafist movement spreads unrest to German and British embassies in Sudan. In Chicago, an eighteen-year-old faces arrest in an FBI sting involving a fake car bomb, while the University of Texas at Austin undergoes a full campus evacuation following telephoned threats. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve initiates QE3 under Ben Bernanke, and a leaked executive order reveals plans for Janet Napolitano and the DHS to seize control of the communication sector under the guise of cybersecurity. Nakula Basseley Nakula makes a theatrical scarf-clad perp walk for probation violations as the media focuses on the deceptive production of the Desert Warriors film. In the United Kingdom, a teenager is convicted for disrespectful Facebook posts about fallen soldiers, highlighting a growing crackdown on free speech. The episode concludes with the formal knighting of Robert Rock and David Goose into the No Agenda Roundtable for their support of the value-for-value model.

Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans died during a coordinated assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama initially attributed the violence to the inflammatory film trailer Innocence of Muslims, though evidence suggests the consulate served as a critical intelligence hub. The death of Sean Smith, a diplomat and prominent EVE Online strategist known as Vile Rat, further highlights the operational nature of the compound. Mustafa Shagour secured the Libyan Prime Ministership following a sudden runoff shift immediately after the attack, while Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman issued statements reinforcing interventionist policies. In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 cancelled the documentary Islam: The Untold Story after historian Tom Holland received security threats. Meanwhile, the German Constitutional Court approved the European Stability Mechanism, granting the fund legal immunity and a 190-billion-euro cap. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso faced a sharp rebuke from Nigel Farage in Strasbourg after calling for a Federation of Nation States to pool continental sovereignty. Susan Lindauer detailed her experience with chemical lobotomies via Haldol under the Patriot Act, while whistleblower Matt Bissonette revealed special forces' reliance on Ambien in his book No Easy Day. The program also acknowledges the knighting of Sir Richard Fowler and the generous support of executive producer Dwayne Melanson. A mysterious stench across Los Angeles, attributed to a fish die-off at the Salton Sea, provided a surreal backdrop to the week's geopolitical shifts.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a drop in the national unemployment rate to 8.1% despite adding only 96,000 jobs, a figure that falls short of the 150,000 required to maintain population growth. ShadowStats analysis suggests the real unemployment rate sits at 23% when accounting for discouraged workers. This data discrepancy coincides with a Democratic National Convention narrative led by Jennifer Granholm, who credited Barack Obama with saving the auto industry through taxpayer-funded bailouts. General Electric secured $26.5 billion in Pentagon contracts while CEO Jeffrey Immelt maintains a close advisory role with the White House, even as the company relocates its x-ray division to China. In Europe, Mario Monti and Herman Van Rompuy proposed a summit to combat divisive populism, a term increasingly used to delegitimize Euro-skeptic movements. Meanwhile, the FBI launched a $1 billion facial recognition system that integrates with social media APIs to identify citizens via public surveillance and Facebook photos. In the Middle East, a series of shallow earthquakes near Iranian nuclear facilities sparked theories regarding the use of HAARP technology or covert super-weapons. FEMA and the CDC launched a zombie awareness webinar series to generate low-cost publicity for disaster preparedness. On the International Space Station, astronauts reportedly repaired a power unit using a toothbrush and a pipe cleaner, a moment Mission Control compared to the film Apollo 13. The mystery of the West Seattle hum was finally solved by marine biologists at the University of Washington, who attributed the low-frequency noise to the mating calls of midshipman fish.

The Democratic National Convention in Charlotte takes center stage as a controversial floor vote to re-insert God and Jerusalem into the party platform sparks accusations of a rigged process. While Bill Clinton employs a call-and-response rhetorical style to frame the economic narrative, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains conspicuously absent on an Asia-Pacific tour, fueling the trending #Hillary2016 hashtag. The hosts analyze the strategic timing of President Barack Obama’s address against the MTV Video Music Awards and the director’s choice of camera angles in the convention pool feed. Global instability deepens as the Troika proposes a six-day work week for Greece and Spanish banks face massive capital flight. In Quebec, a shooting during Pauline Marois’ victory speech highlights rising separatist tensions, while Vladimir Putin performs a microlight flight stunt with Siberian cranes ahead of the $21 billion APEC summit in Vladivostok. Back in the United States, journalist Ben Swann confronts President Obama on the NDAA and the drone assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki. Meanwhile, the TSA implements new liquid test strip procedures at airport gates following a hoax on a US Airways flight in Philadelphia. Technical glitches and "helium" voices plague the transmission as Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak troubleshoot their connection from Austin and Silicon Valley. The duo exercises a veto on clips from Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, comparing the reality show's audio quality to political gaffes. Executive Producers Kobe Hung and Alexander Selesnyov are knighted for their support during the Labor Day holiday slump.

Sinclair Lewis’s 1933 novel It Can’t Happen Here serves as the backdrop for a deep dive into modern American propaganda as Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak analyze the rise of a totalitarian media state. The hosts compare Lewis’s fascist themes to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged while deconstructing the Clint Eastwood RNC speech and the subsequent media-manufactured Eastwooding meme. From the Republican National Convention to the Democratic National Convention, the episode traces how political theater and scripted narratives are used to manipulate public perception. Specific media critiques target the HBO series The Newsroom, with Dvorak labeling the Aaron Sorkin production as liberal propaganda designed to rewrite history through deceptive voter fraud statistics. The analysis extends to MSNBC hosts Martin Bashir and Lawrence O’Donnell, who are cited for claiming Mitch McConnell used racial dog whistles regarding the PGA Tour. Further reports cover Suzanne Barr’s resignation from ICE amid sexual harassment allegations, Angela Merkel’s trade mission to an Airbus factory in China, and a new executive order that could enroll 100,000 veterans in a longitudinal mental health study involving the antipsychotic drug Haldol. Personal moments include Adam Curry celebrating five days of a no-smoking campaign and a debate over the physics of the Hydroxy Booster fuel technology. The hosts perform a knighting ceremony for producers Robert Brock and Eric Bodenstab while acknowledging a bizarre incident where legendary guitarist Roger McGuinn entered the show's chat room. The episode concludes with a skeptical look at NASA and the BBC reportedly erasing original moon landing tapes.