The U.S. Supreme Court's emergency order permitting the Trump administration to implement restrictions on mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections was the focal point of a milestone episode of the No Agenda Show. On August 27, 2026, host Adam Curry welcomed Matt Long, host of The Matt Long Show on Hill Country Patriot FM in Kerrville, Texas, for the program's first in-studio co-host appearance. The episode, titled 'Goofy Foot,' marked a departure from the show's usual remote format, allowing for a more dynamic discussion of the week's most consequential news.
The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision upheld an executive order from March 2026 that directed the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security to construct a citizenship-based voter database. This ruling has immediate implications for the upcoming midterms, as it allows states to enforce stricter mail-in ballot regulations. Long, who also portrays Benjamin Franklin at educational events, provided a Texas perspective on the state's mail-in ballot rules and the Secretary of State's new postmark guidance. He expressed strong views on the matter, stating, 'Mail-in ballots, I think, are probably the most easiest way to steal an election and to get dishonest results.'
The episode also delved into responses from state attorneys general. New York Attorney General Letitia James described the ruling as creating 'chaos and confusion,' while Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes defended her state's vote-by-mail system. These contrasting reactions underscore the deep partisan divide over election security measures.
Beyond election integrity, Curry and Long tackled a wide range of topics. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's launch of 'Operation Economic Outcast' aimed at Iran, CIA Director John Ratcliffe's unannounced trip to Moscow, and President Trump's announcement of 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef were all scrutinized. The pair also discussed Canadian Premier Doug Ford's retaliatory tariff threats and California's new Replacement Tire Efficiency Program.
Long shared insights from his radio career, recounting his journey from an unpaid legislative correspondent to a paid host. His experience in Texas politics provided a grounded perspective on how federal rulings affect local election administration.
The conversation extended into economic and technological arenas. An audio report from an anonymous regenerative rancher in Northwest North Dakota explained the 11-year cattle market cycle and the divide between conventional 'commodity cowboys' and regenerative operators. The episode also touched on Nvidia's reported acquisition of Hugging Face, OpenAI's push for open-source regulation, and the H-1B visa fee hike to $103,000.
Cultural topics included the unraveling Eurovision Song Contest amid Israel boycotts and heartfelt tributes to Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. The episode concluded with a reflection on the importance of questioning mainstream narratives, a core tenet of the No Agenda Show's 'media deconstruction' approach.
As the first in-studio episode, 'Goofy Foot' set a new precedent for the podcast, offering a more interactive dynamic between hosts. The Supreme Court ruling's impact on the 2026 elections remains a critical issue, and this episode provided a thorough examination of its potential consequences.
