In episode 1873 of the No Agenda Show, titled 'Supercycle,' hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak dissect recent news with a focus on a nationwide audit of autism treatment billing that revealed staggering spending increases. According to the episode, North Carolina saw an 11,000% spike in Medicaid spending on autism treatment, while Minnesota's applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy outlays surged approximately 51,000% since 2018. Curry provocatively questions whether the original autism epidemic narrative itself was a scam that primed the pump for such expenditures. This revelation has significant implications for healthcare leaders and policymakers, as it suggests potential systemic fraud and misallocation of resources that could impact future funding and regulatory scrutiny.
The episode also covers the explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket at Cape Canaveral, which the hosts compare across ABC, CBS, and NBC in their signature 3x3 media deconstruction segment. Dvorak floats the possibility of sabotage timed to SpaceX's S-1 filing, while Curry notes the launch pad itself was destroyed. This incident highlights the competitive dynamics in the commercial space industry and raises questions about safety and operational risks that could affect investment and regulatory approaches. For business leaders, the failure underscores the volatility and high stakes of space ventures.
On the technology front, Curry shares his hands-on frustration using Anthropic's Claude Code agent to automate show credits and clip cutting, concluding that the AI 'supercycle' touted by Armada CEO Dan Wright is overvalued. This critique is relevant for executives evaluating AI investments, suggesting that current AI capabilities may not yet deliver on grand promises. The episode also touches on Joe Rogan's on-air apology after a Theo Von episode raised alarms about SSRIs and the discredited chemical imbalance theory, which could influence public perception of mental health treatments and pharmaceutical marketing.
Additional topics include Texas AG Ken Paxton's push to classify Sharia law enforcement as a second-degree felony, Jill Biden's CBS book tour, and Treasury Secretary Bessent's remarks about a proposed $250 bill featuring President Trump, complete with a primer on seigniorage. A boots-on-the-ground note from an independent Washington State gas station operator details two-week fuel contracts and hidden carbon-credit fees pressuring July 4 prices, which has direct implications for energy markets and consumer costs.
Listeners can find episode 1873 and all No Agenda shows at podcastapps.com.
