Topic: Military Research

The Office of Naval Research has developed technology that allows a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter to fly autonomously using a tablet for basic instructions. While the military sees this as a way to deliver supplies without risking pilots, the hosts argue that the complexity of flying a helicopter—which they compare to "ballet"—cannot be fully replicated by a computer.

The European Commission unveils a new defense funding plan aimed at increasing military research and procurement. The plan includes a 5 billion euro fund for member states to purchase helicopters and planes. The hosts mock the relatively small amount of funding compared to the U.S. military budget.

Al Sharpton is criticized for claiming on MSNBC that a disproportionate number of "black and brown" service members die in Middle Eastern conflicts. Adam Curry cites a 2015 Congressional Research Service report to debunk this, noting that white service members account for the vast majority of casualties. The discussion also revisits racial statistics from the Vietnam War to challenge common historical narratives.

A re-examination of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell speech highlights his warnings about the "military-industrial-academic complex." The speech is noted for predicting the current state of science, where government contracts and big pharmaceutical funding have replaced independent intellectual curiosity. The hosts argue that the "scientific-technological elite" now dictates public policy as Eisenhower feared.