Topic: Tar

After a brief review of the film "Tár" starring Cate Blanchett, the hosts read a donation note from Janette Dulac in the Netherlands. Janette recounts being hit in the mouth by a fellow yoga student, Ingrid, after speaking out against COVID fear-mongering. The two eventually became friends and "No Agenda" producers, illustrating the show's "connection is protection" mantra.

The discussion covers the history of "synth oil" research during the Reagan administration and its eventual collapse when oil prices fell to $12 a barrel in the 1980s. Glenn Beck expresses concern that current low prices will gut the American shale industry in North Dakota and Texas. The hosts suggest that while some companies may default, the overall market is simply correcting overinflated values.

Senator Ed Markey's opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline is framed as a concern over Canadian and Chinese interests using the U.S. as a "straw" for oil exports. The hosts also explain the technical process of using a "pig" to separate different batches of oil within a pipeline.

Testimony from James Hansen regarding the Keystone Pipeline is contrasted with a report on vast tar sands and oil shale deposits in Utah. The region reportedly holds up to 3 trillion barrels of oil, more than has been used in human history. The hosts note that the "peak oil" narrative has largely disappeared in favor of discussions about carbon pricing and leaving resources in the ground.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Obama announced a joint plan for border security and trade, which the hosts interpret as a step toward a North American Union. The agreement facilitates the construction of the 1,900-mile Keystone XL pipeline to transport "dirty" tar sands oil from Canada to the U.S. The hosts argue that "security" is a pretext for tracking citizens and securing energy resources.