Episode 1871 of the No Agenda podcast, titled 'Hatman,' published May 24, 2026, features co-hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak dissecting a packed Memorial Day weekend news cycle. Broadcasting from the Gaylord Opryland 'biodome' in Nashville and northern Silicon Valley's 'Refinery Row' respectively, the duo deconstructs President Trump's Truth Social claim of a 'largely negotiated' deal with Iran, the ongoing CENTCOM blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and what Curry frames as a financial-not-military war driven by Lloyd's of London insurance pricing.
Curry and Dvorak offer sharp analysis on multiple threads: Secretary of State Marco Rubio's enriched-versus-highly-enriched uranium slip, Pakistan's army chief brokering talks in Tehran, and reports that Iran is settling cargo-ship insurance payments in Bitcoin to dodge sanctions. Curry emphasizes the financial nature of the conflict, stating, 'This is theater of the highest order. It's a financial war. I've said this from the beginning. If Lloyd's of London won't insure, nobody — for whatever reason, no one wants to use the American reinsurers through DFC and Chubb.' This insight highlights how insurance markets can be leveraged as geopolitical tools, potentially affecting global shipping and energy markets.
The episode also covers the leaked DNC autopsy commissioned by Chair Ken Martin on Kamala Harris's 2024 loss, Rep. Thomas Massie's primary defeat analyzed through Victor Davis Hanson and Scott Jennings, NYC Mayor Mamdani's new Twitch livestream 'Talk with the People,' and a White House shooting involving Nasir Best. The hosts' signature media deconstruction is on full display as Curry pushes back on BBC framing of the Iran talks. Dvorak weighs in on the viral 'Mask-Gate' clip of retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward on Fox News, concluding, 'This little anomaly here, it doesn't — it looks like bullcrap to me.'
Deeper segments include declassified emails from former NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers to DNI James Clapper, CIA's John Brennan, and FBI's James Comey over the 2017 Russia attribution report — referred by AG Pam Bondi to a Fort Pierce grand jury overseen by Joe diGenova and Judge Aileen Cannon. The hosts also examine Tulsi Gabbard's June 30 resignation amid her husband Abraham's bone cancer diagnosis, Dr. Deborah Birx's surprising defense of U.S. Ebola funding in the DRC, a new USCIS green-card memo requiring applicants to return home, the SpaceX S-1 filing, and Jeff Bezos's optimistic AI-and-jobs forecast.
For leaders in business and technology, this episode underscores the interconnectedness of geopolitical events, financial mechanisms, and media narratives. The discussion on Iran and insurance markets highlights how non-military tools like reinsurance can shape global conflicts, impacting supply chains and trade. The analysis of AI and jobs by Bezos offers a forward-looking perspective on technology's role in the workforce. The show's skeptical approach to mainstream media provides a valuable framework for critically evaluating news that affects business decisions and public perception.
