In episode 1872 of the No Agenda Show, hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak cast a skeptical eye on NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's pitch for a permanent moon base, which they describe as a $20 billion vision for a 'lunar economy.' The episode, titled 'Lunar Economy' and published May 28, 2026, dissects the media frenzy surrounding the announcement, questioning whether the proposal is a genuine step toward space commercialization or a distraction from more pressing terrestrial issues.
Curry and Dvorak, broadcasting from the Texas Hill Country and Refinery Row, expressed doubt about the feasibility of Isaacman's plans, which include helium-3 extraction and quantum computing fuel sourced from the moon. 'Open the Straits, give me $3 gas, then we can talk about moon stuff,' Curry said, suggesting that the lunar economy is premature without solving Earth's energy challenges. Dvorak offered a meta-prediction that the Artemis program will not spectacularly fail but rather fizzle out: '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 also examined how mainstream outlets amplified the lunar economy narrative while potentially burying other stories, such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's awkward press briefing, the Trump Account savings app, and the third Ebola media cycle in two years. The episode highlighted the CDC's request for airport screening volunteers ahead of the FIFA World Cup, teen takeover crackdowns in Polk County and Chicago, and Ferrari's all-electric Luce co-designed with Jony Ive.
Beyond space policy, the show covered 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. The hosts also analyzed the Texas Senate runoff, noted a Sydney drone-show glitch as a potential attack vector, and reviewed the book 'Young Washington' by Wonder Network.
The episode underscores the hosts' signature media deconstruction approach, questioning the motives and timing behind Isaacman's lunar pitch amid a busy news cycle. For leaders in business and technology, the skepticism raised by No Agenda highlights the importance of critically evaluating grand space initiatives and their potential impact on Earth's economic priorities. The full episode is available here.
