Topic: Absolutism

Iran has implemented a severe government-imposed internet shutdown, reaching over 1,000 hours of blackout by April 2026. A leaked plan titled Absolute Digital Isolation reveals a multi-year project to build a "barracks internet" using a Huawei-based platform costing up to $1 billion. This system treats global web access as a privilege for vetted individuals while forcing the general population onto a domestic intranet.

Major corporations including Apple, North Face, and Kohl's face increased scrutiny and potential boycotts for their Pride Month marketing. As 20 states pass bans on transgender medical treatments for minors, sponsors are becoming more hesitant to engage in "pride-washing" due to fears of impacting their bottom line.

A paper published in The Lancet discusses the difference between relative risk reduction and absolute risk reduction in COVID-19 vaccines. The data suggests that while relative efficacy is high, the absolute risk reduction for vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna is approximately 1%, leading to questions about the necessity of universal vaccination.

A peer-reviewed study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that COVID-19 vaccines may sensitize recipients to more severe disease through neutralizing antibodies. The data indicates that while relative risk reduction is high, the absolute risk reduction for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is only between 0.7% and 1.1%. This discrepancy suggests the actual benefit to the average individual is much lower than publicly reported.

Producers have registered various domains like "againstthenewworldorder.com" to forward traffic to the show. The No Agenda Roku channel has reached 3,000 installs, providing access to the live stream and an archive of back episodes.

John C. Dvorak explains why free software advocate Richard Stallman has not appeared on his show, Cranky Geeks. Stallman reportedly demands that hosts use the term "GNU/Linux" exclusively and refuses to compromise on specific terminology. The hosts debate whether accommodating such requests is worth the effort to secure an interview with the controversial figure.