In a touching segment of the No Agenda Show, co-host Adam Curry paid tribute to the enduring influence of John C. Dvorak, who passed away recently. Broadcasting from a San Francisco hotel room the day after Dvorak's private memorial, Curry reflected on how Dvorak's critical approach to technology journalism helped shape the industry. "He wrote about how these products sucked because he felt they could be better. That really was a big part of his role in the world," Curry told listeners, underscoring Dvorak's commitment to holding tech companies accountable. The tribute was part of episode 1893, titled 'En Banc,' which aired on August 9, 2026, and featured fill-in hosts Darren O'Neill and Larry Bleidner.
The episode also delivered the show's signature media deconstruction, starting with a D.C. Circuit Appeals Court ruling that blocked further construction on President Trump's $400 million White House ballroom. The 2-1 decision, which used the term 'en banc' review, was compared across Fox, ABC, and CBS in the show's 3x3 segment. The hosts noted that the judges ruled 'whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide,' highlighting the constitutional separation of powers.
Other major stories included a $567 million judgment against Meta in New Mexico over child safety issues on Facebook and Instagram, and the escalating WNBA controversy after Clay Travis offered $10 million for a game pitting the Las Vegas Aces against a high school boys' team. The hosts also discussed Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed's Medicaid comments, alongside reporting on his wife's Ann Arbor practice, MindWorks Psychiatry.
Curry's personal recollections of the Oakland memorial service painted a vivid picture of the community that gathered to honor Dvorak. Approximately 70 people attended, including Sir Mark and Dame Astrid, who flew in from Tokyo, Void Zero from the Netherlands, Eric the Shill from South Dakota, and eulogist Marty Higgins. The international presence underscored Dvorak's global impact on tech journalism and podcasting.
The episode also delved into the strange saga of British academic Jason Arday, whose book 'Great and Unfortunate Things' is set for release on August 11 amid allegations of fabricated credentials. Staten Island activist Scott LoBaido made headlines by chartering a banner plane over New York City to target Zohran Mamdani, doing so from his hospital bed just days after open-heart surgery.
Closing the episode, the hosts shared meetup reports from ten cities, including Albany, Austin, Perth, Hamilton, Wilmington, Sonoma, Denver, Snohomish, Memphis, and Central New Jersey, demonstrating the show's global listener community. The tribute to Dvorak served as a reminder of his lasting legacy, not only in tech journalism but also in the podcasting world he helped pioneer.
