Topic: John Ashe

Former UN General Assembly President John Ashe died in a reported weightlifting accident shortly before he was scheduled to testify in a corruption case. The case involved illegal funds funneled to the Democratic National Committee during the Clinton administration. The hosts note the suspicious timing of his death relative to his planned testimony.

General Daniel Allen and General John Paxton testify before the Armed Forces Appropriations Committee regarding military readiness and budget shortfalls. General Allen expresses discomfort with the "trajectory of the drawdown," while General Paxton uses the term "bench strength" to describe the lack of surge capacity in the Marine Corps. The hosts criticize the use of sports jargon and the Pentagon's inability to account for trillions of dollars in spending.

Senator John McCain confirmed that Russian airstrikes have targeted groups funded and trained by the CIA, such as the Free Syrian Army. The hosts discuss the internal conflict between Department of Defense (DOD) backed groups and CIA backed groups in Syria. Ash Carter is noted as seeking new strategies for training local forces after previous failures.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak introduce a special sequentially numbered episode of No Agenda produced for the Christmas holiday to avoid working on the actual day. They discuss the show's history, referencing "sacred texts" like Confessions of an Economic Hitman and the TV series Rubicon. Dvorak highlights Wendy Doniger's book The Hindus, noting its controversial status and ban in India.