Topic: Thriller

Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachel "Raygun" Gunn announces her retirement following widespread criticism of her performance. In more somber news, legendary music producer Quincy Jones passed away at age 91. Jones is remembered for his work on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and his extensive career as a jazz arranger and executive.

A host recounts binging the first six episodes of the television series Mr. Robot while staying at a KOA campground in Bastrop, Texas. The show is praised for its profound metaphors regarding human "daemons" and its critique of the modern financial system and social media. The creator's comments regarding the first season being exposition for a larger plot in season two are also noted.

Daniel Suarez details his background as a software engineer and how his experience in IT and defense informs his writing process. He describes his research methodology, which involves combining consumer technology, DIY drone trends, and rumors of military prototypes to predict near-future disruptive technologies. Suarez notes that real-world systems like Gorgon Stare are often overlooked by mainstream media despite their significant impact on society.

Brad Thor's new book, "Hidden Order," focuses on the Federal Reserve, which he claims will be the "next big thing" in public discourse. Thor uses a style he calls "faction," blending real-life surveillance and economic trends into thriller novels. The hosts discuss the history of the "Red Cell" term, noting its origins in testing military base security and its co-option by DHS.

Adam Curry recounts his 2009 appearance on MSNBC following the death of Michael Jackson, which he claims led to his blacklisting from mainstream media. During the interview, Curry deviated from the approved script about Jackson's MTV legacy to mention a potential "murder angle" and the discovery of drugs in Jackson's home. The segment includes audio of the interview and the host's real-time deconstruction of the "news game."

Adam Curry plays a clip from a 2009 MSNBC interview he gave following the death of Michael Jackson. In the interview, he surprised the host by suggesting a "murder angle" should be investigated. The show concludes with Curry preparing to drive his Range Rover to Austin, Texas, and the hosts promising to return for a post-11-11-11 show on Sunday.

Media coverage of Michael Jackson's death has dominated news cycles, overshadowing other events like the passing of actor Carl Malden. During an MSNBC interview, a former MTV VJ criticized the network for failing to play the full 14-minute "Thriller" video while simultaneously praising its cultural impact. Los Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry also appeared on the network to discuss crowd control for the upcoming memorial at the Staples Center.