No Agenda Show Skeptical of NASA's $20 Billion Lunar Economy Pitch
In episode 1872, hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak deconstruct media coverage of NASA's proposed $20 billion moon base and 'lunar economy,' questioning its feasibility amid pressing Earth-bound issues.
In the latest episode of the No Agenda Show, hosts Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak cast a skeptical eye on NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's ambitious $20 billion pitch for a permanent moon base, which they argue was amplified by mainstream outlets without sufficient scrutiny. The episode, titled 'Lunar Economy' and published May 28, 2026, dissects the week's media noise, from NASA's Artemis timeline and helium-3 extraction claims to the proposed 'orbital economy.' Curry and Dvorak question why the phrase 'lunar economy' became an unintentional punchline, suggesting that the hype overshadows more immediate concerns.
Curry's reaction to Isaacman's vision of helium-3 mining and quantum computing fuel sourced from the moon was blunt: 'Open the Straits, give me $3 gas, then we can talk about moon stuff.' He added, 'It's gonna be all the lunar economy.' Dvorak offered a contrasting prediction, suggesting the Artemis program will not spectacularly fail but rather fizzle: '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 episode, broadcast from the Texas Hill Country and Refinery Row, also covered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's awkward appearance at the White House podium and the new Trump Account savings app. Other topics included the third Ebola media cycle in two years, with CDC acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya requesting airport screening volunteers ahead of the FIFA World Cup. The hosts also examined teen takeover crackdowns in Polk County, Florida and Chicago, including proposals to charge parents, and noted Ferrari's all-electric Luce, co-designed with Jony Ive, alongside Mayor Mamdani's meetings with Jamie Dimon and David Solomon.
Beyond space policy, the episode delved into 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. Curry reviewed 'Young Washington' by Wonder Network, analyzed the Texas Senate runoff, and noted a Sydney drone-show glitch as a potential attack vector.
The No Agenda Show, hosted by Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak, is a listener-supported podcast known for its skeptical, independent take on mainstream media, politics, and culture. Episode 1872 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.