Do You Need A Permit To Construct Your Whiteness?

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "Do You Need A Permit To Construct Your Whiteness?"
Release Date: December 10, 2024
Host/Authors: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Produced by iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In the episode titled "Do You Need A Permit To Construct Your Whiteness?", hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a range of critical and timely topics, exploring themes of misinformation, societal constructs of race, political corruption, and systemic flaws within American institutions. This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented throughout the episode, providing listeners with a nuanced understanding of the subjects tackled.

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The Futile Predictions of Regime Changes in Syria

Timestamps: 03:13 – 04:30

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty commence their discussion with an analysis of the political landscape in Syria, highlighting the unpredictability of regime changes. Armstrong poses a critical question:

"We've got a former Al Qaeda guy in charge now. What does he have planned for the new Syria? I'm assuming it's some Taliban-esque brutal fundamentalist dystopia." (03:13)

This sets the stage for a broader conversation about the complexities of predicting political upheavals and the potential consequences of leadership vacuums in volatile regions. The hosts express skepticism about simplistic predictions, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of such geopolitical shifts.

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The Perils of AI-Generated Misinformation

Timestamps: 04:30 – 23:38

The episode transitions into a heated discussion on the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in spreading misinformation. A significant portion is dedicated to a case involving Jeff Hancock, a Stanford misinformation expert:

"Jeff Hancock billed the state of Minnesota $600 an hour to prepare an expert declaration on the dangers of AI-generated content. ... he was forced to admit that he had relied on AI to write the declaration." (07:00)

Armstrong and Getty critique the irony of Hancock's actions, underscoring the vulnerability of even experts to AI's deceptive capabilities. They further illustrate this with Beckett Adams' critique of political narratives shaped by AI:

"CBS's View co-host Navarro attempted to defend the pardon last week by arguing that many Presidents, including America's 28th commander in chief, have issued such edicts. ... But it got started and we decided we needed it. And no government program ever gets ended." (21:50)

The hosts highlight the dangers of AI "hallucinations," where fabricated information is presented as fact, thereby undermining trust in legitimate sources. They lament the mainstream media's complicity in perpetuating misinformation, questioning the integrity of journalists who fail to verify AI-generated claims.

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The Social Security Act: A Historical and Systemic Critique

Timestamps: 23:38 – 40:54

A substantial segment of the podcast is dedicated to dissecting Senator Mike Lee's Twitter thread critiquing the Social Security Act. The hosts agree with Lee's assertion that Social Security was deceptively marketed as a retirement plan while functioning fundamentally as a tax system:

"The proponents of the Social Security act told American workers that what they paid in the system would remain their money ... but told the courts the exact opposite." (25:30)

Key points discussed include:

• Misrepresentation of Social Security: Initially presented as a personal retirement fund, it was later redefined as government-controlled tax revenue.

• Government Mismanagement: Armstrong and Getty argue that Social Security funds are routinely diverted by Congress for unrelated expenditures, likening the system to a "Ponzi scheme":

  "With Social Security, you're looking at a return that's pathetic compared to market averages. It's not even an investment. It's a tax." (37:00)

• Demographic Challenges: The aging population versus the dwindling workforce exacerbates the system's sustainability, leading to potential systemic collapse.

• Inadequate Returns: Compared to private investments, Social Security offers minimal returns, undermining personal financial independence.

The hosts express frustration over the lack of media coverage and governmental accountability regarding Social Security's flaws, advocating for comprehensive reforms to restore individual control over retirement funds.

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Societal Constructs of Whiteness and Racial Identity

Timestamps: 40:54 – 51:24

The conversation shifts to racial identity, particularly focusing on the construction of whiteness and its implications on interpersonal connections and societal structures. This segment features a commentary from a guest discussing how whiteness impedes white individuals from fully connecting with diverse populations:

"White people worldwide have really reckoned with how much their own personal identity is shaped by constructions of whiteness ... it's whiteness that prevents that." (19:12)

Armstrong and Getty critically respond to these notions:

"Do you need a permit to construct your whiteness? ... absolutely cuckoo nuts." (20:50)

They argue that such theories overcomplicate racial dynamics and detract from addressing tangible issues like systemic racism. The hosts challenge the validity of the guest's claims, emphasizing the need for realistic and actionable discussions on race rather than abstract constructs.

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Demographic Perspectives on Racism and American Exceptionalism

Timestamps: 51:24 – 60:00

Furthering the discourse on race, Armstrong and Getty examine a poll by Echelon Insights that reveals contrasting beliefs about racism and America's status among different demographics:

• White Progressives: 77% believe racism is embedded in American society; 30% view America as the greatest country.

• Black Americans: 61% acknowledge systemic racism; 59% doubt America's exceptionalism.

• Hispanic Americans: 38% recognize ingrained racism; 76% affirm America's preeminence.

• White Conservatives: 24% accept institutional racism; 90% uphold America's greatness.

The hosts interpret these statistics to highlight a significant divide in perceptions of racial issues and national identity. They express concern over the high percentage of white progressives acknowledging systemic racism yet simultaneously rejecting the notion of American superiority, viewing it as counterintuitive. Armstrong remarks:

"I think America would love to elect a woman president just so we wouldn't have to hear about it anymore." (35:00)

Emphasizing the complexity of voter perceptions, they critique the inability of certain demographics to reconcile conflicting beliefs about race and national pride.

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Listener Interaction: Real ID Challenges

Timestamps: 40:54 – 48:24

Addressing listener contributions, the hosts discuss an email from a listener named LK Pond regarding the difficulties in obtaining a Real ID for his 90-year-old, wheelchair-bound mother-in-law. The listener details bureaucratic hurdles despite providing comprehensive documentation:

"She was denied a real id. Why? Well, her first marriage as a teenager... was an elopement, and we were unable to provide a valid marriage certificate from that." (43:27)

Armstrong and Getty criticize the Real ID requirements, questioning the rationale behind strict documentation that hinders genuine citizens from accessing necessary identification:

"What exactly is the purpose of the Real ID? To that I would answer, go ask 2001. Go ask the year 2002. Go ask Dick Cheney." (44:03)

They draw parallels between Real ID's inefficiencies and broader systemic issues, advocating for more humane and practical solutions that recognize the complexities of individual circumstances.

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The Scrim the Dog Phenomenon: A Microcosm of Societal Engagement

Timestamps: 48:24 – 51:39

In a lighter yet poignant segment, Armstrong and Getty recount the story of Scrim, a 17-pound mutt in New Orleans, whose repeated escapes have captivated the local community. They discuss the polarized reactions:

"Half of New Orleans is like, we've got to do whatever it takes to find Scrim. ... The rest are like, there's so many effing stray dogs on the street. What are you people doing?" (45:33)

This narrative serves as a metaphor for societal priorities and the allocation of resources, highlighting how singular obsessions can overshadow broader community needs. The hosts reflect on the absurdity of dedicating excessive efforts to a single pet amidst widespread systemic issues.

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Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty offer incisive critiques of contemporary societal and political issues, blending humor with sharp analysis. From the misuse of AI in disseminating misinformation to the flawed foundations of Social Security and the intricacies of racial identity constructs, the hosts engage listeners in a thought-provoking discourse. Their examination of these topics underscores a call for greater accountability, transparency, and reform within American institutions.

Armstrong and Getty's ability to intertwine serious discussions with relatable anecdotes and listener interactions provides a balanced and engaging narrative, inviting listeners to reflect on the multifaceted challenges facing society today.

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Notable Quotes:

• "We've got a former Al Qaeda guy in charge now. What does he have planned for the new Syria? I'm assuming it's some Taliban-esque brutal fundamentalist dystopia." – Jack Armstrong (03:13)

• "Jeff Hancock billed the state of Minnesota $600 an hour to prepare an expert declaration on the dangers of AI-generated content. ... he was forced to admit that he had relied on AI to write the declaration." – Joe Getty (07:00)

• "With Social Security, you're looking at a return that's pathetic compared to market averages. It's not even an investment. It's a tax." – Jack Armstrong (37:00)

• "Do you need a permit to construct your whiteness? ... absolutely cuckoo nuts." – Joe Getty (20:50)

• "What exactly is the purpose of the Real ID? To that I would answer, go ask 2001. Go ask the year 2002. Go ask Dick Cheney." – Joe Getty (44:03)

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This episode of "Armstrong & Getty On Demand" offers a critical lens through which listeners can examine pressing societal issues, encouraging informed discourse and proactive engagement with the challenges facing modern America.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan Partisan. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe Margarita?

[Joe Getty]

I'm thirsty.

[Katie Green]

Watch.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow.

[Joe Getty]

Beginning to feel more seasonal in here already.

[Jack Armstrong]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Joe Getty]

Tis the season to be jollier.

[Michaelangelo]

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[Jack Armstrong]

The George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty. So we've got a former Al Qaeda guy in charge now. What does he have planned for the new Syria? I'm assuming it's some Taliban esque brutal fundamentalist dystopia.

[Katie Green]

There must be a legal framework that.

[Joe Getty]

Protects and ensures the rights of all.

[Katie Green]

Not a system that serves only one sect.

[Joe Getty]

I ask God Almighty that this be a conquest free of revenge, but a conquest entirely of mercy and love. Conquest of mercy and love. I. I think that's how Taylor ended the eras tour. Wait, the new leader of Syria is a swifty. How many, how many terror groups is that guy in that will be so interesting to watch develop? Is it going to become a multi sectarian blood bath Islamist nightmare for the next 75 years? Or does this guy mean what he says? You know, I want to get back into that. Or I could do this later, I don't know. Yeah, we'll get into that later. The idea of what should happen next in Syria, but I wanted to get to this. This is. I'm going to take you on a multipoint journey here and start over here. We're going to be over there briefly, but then over there is going to lead us to over there and we're going to end up over there. You'll enjoy it, trust me. So I love this. Laura Powell, who's an attorney, tweeted this the other day. You can't. From the. You can't make this up. This stuff up file. A misinformation expert at Stanford One, Jeff Hancock, billed the state of Minnesota $600 an hour to prepare an expert declaration on the dangers of AI generated content. $600 an hour. The dangers of AI generated content. He swore under penalty of perjury that everything stated in the Declaration was true and correct. But after it was discovered that the Declaration indeed contained fabricated sources, he was forced to admit that he had relied on AI to write the declaration. $600 an hour to talk about the dangers of AI generated content. And he shows up with a screen written by AI that's almost. You know what, it's almost so funny it's worth him doing that. But she points out, and I agree completely, if there is a moniker, a title that leads you to immediately conclude that the person's a fraud, it's either fact checker or misinformation expert. Somebody calls himself a misinformation expert, I know they're there to sell me something, offer some sort of dishonest snow job. Speaking of AI I found this amusing. Beckett Adams was writing in the National Review about how for normal, healthy people, they go through stages of grief. And his premises. For the people stupid enough to have trusted a midwit career bureaucrat as unscathed, unscrupulous as Joe Biden, there's a sixth stage just before acceptance. Delusion. And he gets into the really odd theories of why that Biden could have served, for one thing, and how people are shocked that he Huntered, that he. I'm sorry. That he pardoned Hunter even though he was completely consistent with his entire career. He's been dishonest, a hack, a back slapper, you know, with no real principles. And that was utterly, utterly predictable. But here's the part that kind of ties in that I thought was so funny having to do with AI and he goes into the fact that so much of the media. And we played you these clips, was just crowing about the fact that Joe Biden said he would not pardon Hunter and that that showed him to be such an incredibly honorable man. A paragraph, a paragon of. Of justice and an American decency and blah, blah, blah, and then he turned around and he was lying the whole time. But so enter the delusion. CBS's View co host and supposed political insider and commentator and Navarro attempted to defend the pardon last week by arguing that many Presidents, including America's 28th commander in chief, have issued such edicts. Woodrow Wilson pardoned his brother in law, Hunter debotts. She remarked on social media. But tell me again how Joe Biden is setting precedent. And we actually got an adamant email from a listener about this mentioning that Woodrow Wilson pardoned his brother in Law Hunter debuts. Well, if You've never heard of this incident. It's because it never happened. There is no Hunter Debuts. Wilson never pardoned his brother in law. It's pure fabrication. In a fevered scramble to exonerate Biden for his objectively sleazy dealings, Navarro had asked ChatGPT for exculpatory historical examples of similar presidential pardons. And the AI tool then hallucinated a non existent event, which it does. And that's. It's such a head scratcher of a phenomenon too, isn't it? It just invents stuff anyway. And Navarro uncritically shared the results on social media because she wanted so badly for Biden to be at the very least in line with historical president, but she didn't like look it up or anything to get any sort of verification. Um, and then, then she. She later blamed ChatGPT. Hey, Twitter sleuth, thanks for taking the time to provide context. Provide context. You claimed something utterly fanciful to defend the indefensible. But the great part of this is, and I'm quoting, who did I say this is? Beckett Adams. The funny thing isn't that a robot hallucinated a presidential pardon for a man with a name like Hunter Debuts. But none of this sounded out of place to a woman who's paid handsomely to explain the news and US politics to television audiences. One can't help but wonder whether even the names Hugh Jass or Amanda, Huck and Kiss would have set off alarms in Navarro's head. Oh, that's beautiful. And then, then he points out Huge ass, a classic. Points out that Esquire political columnist Charles Pierce, the absolute dimmest burnout in the commentary business. Here I did something arguably more embarrassing when he wrote an entire article promoting a similar pardon fantasy. The article has since been completely retracted from Esquire. The 1000 plus word story originally titled A Press President shouldn't pardon his son. Hello. Anybody remember Neil Bush claimed that. And we got an email on this to claim that former President George H.W. bush pardoned his son over the savings loan scandal. Article Sub had read, nobody defines Poppy Bush's presidents by the fact that presidency by the fact that he pardoned his progeny. The moral. Shut the F up about Hunter Biden, please. Except H.W. never pardoned his son Neil. So immediately after a number of readers pointed out Esquire, he didn't. Esquire article went through significant changes and revisions, including to the headline which was changed to Hunter Biden isn't the First Presidential Son Caught up in controversy. Anybody remember Neil Bush. But eventually Esquire retracted the piece altogether because there was no longer any point to the article, even with the edits and revisions. They put up a note, this column has been removed due to an error. Anyway, so that all leads us through various tales of AI dishonesty intersecting with politics, to the politics endpoint. I wanted to get to, and I know dissecting the election is so last month, but I thought this was absolutely extraordinary about lefty voters. So who did this study? There it is. Hello, I'm sorry, got a computer glitch which, no, I don't want to sign up. They did a big poll slash study of voters explaining what happened with the election or giving their perception, their explanation of what happened with the election. And the most common, of course, now this, the website is locked up. The most common explanation from Harris voters for why she lost was misogyny, sexism. That was number one. Not the economy or the economy under Trump, not inflation, not the border. Although those things did burble up in the word cloud thing they had. But the number one explanation, again was that it was sexism, misogyny, that people would not vote for Harris. And if you as a party come from that election having come to that conclusion, you don't have a chance the next go around. I mean, you have no ability to perceive what went wrong with your game, which is really the only thing you can control. And I just find that absolutely extraordinary. And I agree with Jack when he said, I think America would love to elect a woman president just so we wouldn't have to hear about it anymore. And like virtually every conservative in America, hey, if she was smart and tough, had great policies, loved America, believed in a robust defense, you know, did, you know, try to reduce the size of government, reduce the debt, whatever. Hell, I don't care if she's a woman or non binary or a lesbian or whatever else. Nobody cares. But that's the number one explanation of why our side lost. Wow, is that delusional. Speaking of that sort of thing, Brad Penny acquitted in New York. Thank goodness. Some great commentary on that case and what it means and what it doesn't mean. Plus activists calling for violence in the wake of that case. Just unbelievable. And of course, how little attention that's getting. A lot to squeeze in. I hope you can stay with us, Armstrong and Getty. If for some reason you were picturing me in my underwear, it would be Mack Weldon underwear. Oh, you weren't. Anyway, it would be Mack Weldon underwear. And also I'm wearing a Mack Weldon T shirt. Oh my gosh. The jeans, the boxer briefs in my case, the shirts, the shorts. Oh my gosh. I wear these shorts every day. Mack Weldon Great looks, great styles, great comfort, terrific value. The performance fabric is fantastic. Mac Weldon clothes are designed to fit your style and the demands of modern life. Looks like regular clothes but feel like the latest in modern comfort and it's understated good looks for understated confidence. It's not wild and flamboyant. It's good old traditional I'm a dude clothes and I love them. Get timeless looks with modern. Com from Mack Weldon. Just go to mack weldon.com and get 25 off your first order of $125 or more with the promo code ARMSTRONG. That's M A C K W E l d o n.com mack weldon.com use that promo code Armstrong all right, we're.

[Jack Armstrong]

All set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan Partisan. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe margarita?

[Joe Getty]

I'm thirsty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Katie Green]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Jack Armstrong]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Joe Getty]

Tis the season to be jollier.

[Michaelangelo]

Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay.

[Producer]

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[Katie Green]

It's beginning to Sound a lot like the holidays. The Roku Channel, your home for free and premium TV is giving you access to holiday music and genre base stations from iHeartRadio, all for free. Find the soundtrack of the season with channels like iHeart, Christmas and North Pol Radio. The Roku Channel is available on all Roku devices, Web, Amazon, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs and the Roku mobile app on iOS and Android devices. So stream what you love and turn up the cheer with iheartradio on the Roku Channel. Happy streaming.

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[Joe Getty]

Thanks for being here. You're thinking of picking up an ang sweatshirt or hat or something for a loved one for Christmas? Probably want to order it today. Armstrong and getty.com the premium sweatshirts flying off the shelves. Ran this clip yesterday. Oh, where'd it go? The. Oh, it's under the. The Penny. Daniel Penny acquittal stuff. Give us 46. This is the head of New York's Black Lives Matter. After or just during the trial? He's. He was talking on the street corner. We need some black vigilantes. That's right. People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud. How about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us? I'm tired. Yeah. He went on to say, daniel Penny, you're not safe on the streets of New York. We're going to hunt you down, essentially. And I got no coverage threatening violence against a man. People in general, because they didn't like the verdict, ought to be a giant story in America. It's ignored by the utterly dishonest mainstream media because the idea that, you know, people of color can be racist is so unpopular. See if. Or just it's unspeakable to the media. See if this strikes you as a little bit racist. This is honorary Klansman, race hustler, fraud merchant, Ibram X Kendi unleashing a screen screed the other day.

[Guest]

I don't think White people worldwide have really reckoned with how much their own personal identity is shaped by constructions of whiteness and how much that construction of whiteness prevents white people from connecting to humanity. In other words, recognizing that when you recognize that you are part and parcel of humanity, in other words, you're not over humanity, right? It allows you to really be able to connect to people who don't look like you, who have kinky hair, who have dark skin, and to see yourself in them. And it's whiteness that prevents that. Right? And when you're not able to see yourself in other human beings, that creates all sorts of problems. But not just societal problems, personal problems that I think hopefully this film and this work will liberate those folks from. So I think it's liberating all the way around, right? You know, I think it will liberate, you know, really all of us because, you know, we've all been told a lie about ourselves and other people.

[Joe Getty]

What a delusional prank. It's liberating you from your inability to pay your bills. I know, because you've gotten rich. And I congratulate you on cooking up a scam that's so effective with soft headed, guilt ridden white people. But what a load of. Do you need a construct? Do you need a permit to construct your whiteness? Because if you're constructing your whiteness every day without a permit, you're probably going to get a fine. Just absolutely cuckoo nuts. The idea that white people can't connect themselves to the rest of humanity because their hair looks different. Have you ever spoken to any white people, Ibrahim? And lecturing them and taking $25,000 an hour for one of your racist screeds doesn't count as talking to people. But I thought this was so interesting. There was a big. Who did this poll? It was a big poll. Echelon insights, blah, blah, blah. More white progressives think that racism is built into our society than black or Hispanic Americans. And white progressives are much less likely to agree America is the greatest country in the world than black or Hispanic Americans. This overeducated, like the healthcare shooter lunatic dude, with this view that the great white hope would save the darker people, even though the darker people, for instance, racism is built into our society. White progressives, 77% say that's correct. With blacks it's 61%. That's still too many. And that's a shame. But I mean their number is dwarfed by white progressives. Hispanics is like 38% and white conservatives is like 24% believe racism is built in our society. America is the greatest country in the world. 90% of white conservatives believe that. 76% of Hispanics believe it. 59% of blacks believe it. White progressives 30% by far the lowest number. Most people can make it if they work hard. You ask a Black person that 40% believe it. That's way too low. Way too low. They have been absolutely brainwashed into the cult of dependence. And I think it's a damn shame. About 59% of Hispanic people believe most people can make it if they work hard. White conservatives 84% believe it. White progressives 23% 23% government should increase border security and enforcement. About 4 or about 50% of Hispanics and blacks believe that. White Progressives it's about 16%. Isn't that crazy? What a weird little cult white progressivism is. People need to be studied at the university level. Oh, except the universities are completely captured by them.

[Listener]

Uh oh, Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan.

[Joe Getty]

Partisan.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe Margarita?

[Joe Getty]

I'm thirsty.

[Katie Green]

Watch.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Katie Green]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Jack Armstrong]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Joe Getty]

Tis the season to be jollier.

[Michaelangelo]

Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartisian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay.

[Producer]

Ready to unleash the power of 4K? Vizio's 4K TV collection has you covered with sizes ranging from 43 inches all the way up to a jaw dropping 86 inch screen. Experience stunning clarity like never before, bringing your favorite shows and movies to life. And with Watch Free plus built in, you'll enjoy free live and on demand TV right out of the box. You can even stream your favorite songs with the iHeartRadio app ready to go on every Vizio 4K TV upgrade your entertainment head to Walmart to find your Vizio 4K TV today.

[Katie Green]

It's beginning to sound a lot like the holidays. The Roku Channel, your home for free and premium TV is giving you access to holiday music and genre bass stations from iHeart, all for free. Find the sound track of the season with channels like iHeart, Christmas and North Pol Radio. The Roku Channel is available on all Roku devices, Web, Amazon, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs and the Roku mobile app on iOS and Android devices. So stream what you love and turn up the cheer with iheartradio on the Roku Channel. Happy streaming.

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[Katie Green]

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See terms and conditions 18 +.

[Listener]

Deciding on what to listen to is hard. Using Zumo to stream music from iheart 90s radio is easy or play I heart country or hip hop beats, your choice. All for free. Stream easy with Zumo Play. Get live and on demand entertainment with no logins, no signups, no accounts, no hassle. This December, get cozy on the couch with Charlie's Angels, starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz and Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. All streaming free on Zumo Play. Go to play.zumo.com now. Life is hard. Zumo is easy.

[Joe Getty]

Got a couple of emails we might drop in during the rest of the show today, including this one. We were talking yesterday about how difficult it is apparently to predict revolutions like the one that just happened in Syria. Revolution, coup, overthrow, whatever you want to call it. And Sean reminded us of a famous economic saying. He's paraphrasing it. I've predicted 12 of the last three revolutions. It usually applies to recessions or whatever bull markets. I've predicted 12 of the last three recessions. Meaning people predict stuff all the time. That's the problem. I'm sure there were predictions that Assad was about to fall out there, but they were mixed in with a bunch of predictions of the opposite or something halfway in between or whatever. It's just everybody's guessing all the time. But you'd think they would see, I don't know, the rebels sweeping across landscape and Toyota pickup trucks and noticing, I don't know, totally different topic. Thought this was so good. Mike Lee, who is the senator from Utah and is one of my favorite people in government, don't agree with them 100% of the time. But the list of people I agree with 100% of the time is very, very short. In fact, I'm not sure there's anybody I change my mind. So I don't agree with myself 100% of the time. Anyway, Mike Lee unleashed this the other day. It's a Twitter thread. It's adopted from something he wrote, adapted rather from something he wrote that I thought was just terrific and so interesting and a little annoying, troubling. Enraging. But, he begins, of all the deceptive sales techniques the US Government has used on the American people, one of them, the Social Security act, gets far too little attention. Buckle up, because this is a wild ride. In 1935, the American people were sold a bill of goods. They were told, pay into this system and it'll be your money for retirement. And he has some of the actual verbiage of the Social Security Act. Sounds great, right? But here's where it gets juicy in a really ugly way. Two years later, when the Supreme Court was considering the constitutionality of the Social Security act, the government did a complete 180the government, through Assistant Attorney General Robert Jackson. This is under fdr, argued in essence oh no, no, no. This isn't your money at all. This is a tax and we can do whatever we want with it. Classic bait and switch. And let's not forget the ruling in Helvering v. Davis, where the Supreme Court upheld the Social Security act by embracing the government's argument slash admission. Whoops. It just skipped ahead that what people pay into Social Security is tax revenue available to be used as Congress made direct and not at all money belonging to those who paid it. So to summarize, the proponents of the Social Security act told American workers that what they paid in the system would remain their money, not the government's, to get Congress to pass it, and then told the courts the exact opposite when defending the act's use of money. So now let's talk about what happens to your money once it's in the government's hands, writes Senator Lee. Spoiler alert. It's not managed like your IRA or 401k, and I think a lot of you know this, but it's worth repeating and or filling in some of the details and or bringing people along who had no idea. This. First of all, the money that goes. It's taxed out of your hands into Social Security does not sit in a nice individual account with your name on it. No, it goes into a huge account called the Social Security Trust Fund. But here's the kicker. The government routinely raids this fund. Yes, you heard that right. They take your money and use it for whatever the current Congress deems necessary, including stuff that is completely 100% not related to Social Security or benefits for old people or whatever. Every few years, there's talking Congress about saving Social Security. I've introduced and co sponsored a number of measures over the years that would fix it. But most in Congress show little desire to fix it and are instead constantly looking for ways to borrow from it, quote, unquote, with no plan to put it back. And the returns? Forget about compound interest or stock market gains. Your investment in Social Security can give you a lower return than inflation. If you had put the same amount into literally anything else, a mutual fund, real estate, even a savings account, you'd be better off by the time you reach retirement age, even if the government kept some of it. Do the math. With Social Security, you're looking at a return that's pathetic compared to market averages. It's not even an investment. It's a tax. And let's talk about how this system is set up to fail. The demographic shift, more retirees, fewer workers. It's almost fair to compare it to a Ponzi scheme that's running out of new investors. And every dollar you pay into Social Security, only to see it gobbled up by the government itself, is a dollar you cannot invest in your own future. It's government dependency at its worst. Remember, this isn't just about retirement. It's about independence, about controlling your own destiny. With Social Security, you control nothing. The government promises you security, but gives you dependency. It promises ownership, but it gives you a tax receipt. And don't get me started on the management. The Social Security Administration is a bureaucratic behemoth not exactly known for its efficiency or innovation. If you think your money is safe there, you're in for a rude awakening. The mismanagement, the waste, the deception. It's all on display. And I'm going to pause now and depart from Mike Lee's text to point out for the millionth time the utter incompetence, bias and stupidity of the mainstream media. This is a story so massive and so important to all of us, it affects all of us directly, financially. You'd think you would hear about this all the time and not just from quote unquote conservative commentators. And I honestly don't know what's conservative or not conservative about this discussion. Unless you just want everything controlled by the government. You're that sort of progressive anyway. So Mike Lee writes. So what's the solution? We need real, genuine reform within the Social Security administration system. Americans should be able to invest in their own future and not be shackled by the worst parts of this outdated, mismanaged system again, which was cooked up going on 100 years ago. It's time we acknowledge the truth. Social Security as it now exists is not a retirement plan. It's a tax plan with retirement benefits as an afterthought. We were sold a dream, but received a nightmare. It's time for a wake up call. We need real reform. It's time for Americans to know the true history of Social the host Social Security Act. The more people learn the truth, the more they'll start demanding answers, options and real reform from Congress. Please help spread the word. The history of the Social Security act, which sadly must include the deceptive manner in which it was sold to the American people, is yet another reason why America's century long era of progressive government must be brought to a close. Please follow if you'd like to read more posts like this one. I retweeted it, of course, but what's interesting about this is human beings, I think the vast majority of us are fundamentally conservative. Not in a political way, but, but, and this is super, super frustrating to me, when you look at whether Social Security, which is indefensible as a system, I mean, it's just dumb. Or the tax code, which we've talked about many, many times. If you were to propose it as it is, not only would you be rejected, you would be hooted out of, you know, the country for proposing something so ludicrous and wasteful and complex. I mean, seriously, people would laugh at you. They wouldn't even bother rejecting your idea to implement what we have right now because it's so clearly idiotic. And yet, and this gets back to my point about people being fundamentally, in a way, conservative, if you suggest changing these things, reforming them, it's practically effortless to get people to reject that idea because they don't know what they want, but they want what they know. They're so afraid to mess with anything or experiment. Maybe that's a scary word, I don't know. To innovate, to just take a look. Are we doing this the right way that you just can't get anywhere with it politically speaking. And most politicians have accepted this long ago if you, you know, fed them truth serum or just got them one on one and said hey, all of this is off the record. How's Social Security looking? Or what do you think of it as a system? They would, most of them say oh it's a nightmare, total nightmare. But you just can't get the voters to a place of understanding adequate to then explaining why you've got to change it and in what way it's a real failing of democracy or something. I'm just trying, I'm thinking about this even as I'm talking. I mean especially when you look at the size of the entitlements, the share of the federal budget that is the entitlement programs and how they're obviously screaming toward a cliff and the system is indefensible at its birth. It was utterly dishonest the moment it was concocted. It's like Obamacare. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. Ha. It's discouraging that we can't get any momentum behind fixing this stuff. And I really like Mike Lee, maybe he's a bit of a tilter at windmills, but these are windmills that are going to ruin the country. So I appreciate his, all his efforts anyway. But yeah, with compound interest. If you just bought a cd, remember those, not like a music cd, a certificate of deposit like automatically renewed at Some very modest 1990s level interest rate or something like that, you would have many multi many multiples of your Social Security benefits. Anyway, it's frustrating. Elections have consequences I guess. Vote for people who are willing to be honest about this stuff. This is apropos nothing but gets again to the topic of government action and inaction. This is El Capon. El Capon from Portland, which is a hell of a funny screen named. A capon is like a neutered chicken, right? It's a gelding. I don't know. I know that. I think it's to make them like fatter and yummier to eat. I don't know why cutting off their nards does that, but it does. Ask a chicken farmer. Why are you asking me? Got this note. I recently attempted to help my 90 year old wheelchair bound mother in law to get her. Attempting to help her get her real idiot. Which will be required to board US airplanes after May 27th of 2025. This was a 911 thing, right? And it's got delayed year after year after year after Year to the point of absurdity in 911 will have been 24 years prior to the actual implementation of this if it actually happens. Anyway, getting back to L K Pond's note, he's trying to get his 90 year old wheelchair bound mother in law her real ID. We provided her birth certificate, current California ID, her last marriage certificate, and several utility bills to prove her address. She was born in the usa. Unfortunately, although she never committed a crime, has never been a member of any subversive group, she was denied a real id. Why? Well, her first marriage as a teenager, this is 70 plus years ago, was an elopement and we were unable to provide a valid marriage certificate from that. What would that be? 1940s marriage. Even though we all had the aforementioned proof of her identity and citizenship. When I asked the Santa Monica DMV agent if it would be easier to get a real ID if I wheeled her up through the southern border, the woman just glared at me. Unfortunately, though, what I asked about is likely true. As it turns out, US citizenship is not required for a real id. In other words, illegal aliens who have no American certified proof of identity can get one. WTF? What exactly is the purpose of the real ID? And the idea that a 90 plus year old American citizen can't get one because of some paperwork problem with a marriage that took place when Truman was striding the halls of the White House? It's just incredibly frustrating. But it reminds me of the Social Security discussion and the, the bullet train, the bull spit train in California and other things. What is. As he, as he signs off, what exactly is the purpose of the real ID? To that I would answer, go ask 2001. Go ask the year 2002. Go ask Dick Cheney. But it got started and we decided we needed it. And no government program ever gets ended. So your poor 90 year old granny is going to what, I don't know, have to take Amtrak? Oy fay. Eh, sorry to bring you down. You have to laugh to keep from crying. We'll finish strong next. Stay with Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan.

[Joe Getty]

Partisan.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails. Cocktails. Plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off, so how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe margarita?

[Joe Getty]

I'm thirsty.

[Katie Green]

Watch.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just pop in a capsule. Choose my strength and wow, it's beginning.

[Katie Green]

To feel more seasonal in here already.

[Jack Armstrong]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds and I just got it for $50 off.

[Joe Getty]

Tis the season to be jollier.

[Michaelangelo]

Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay.

[Producer]

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[Katie Green]

Today it's beginning to sound a lot like the holidays. The Roku Channel, your home for free and premium TV is giving you access to holiday music and genre base stations from iHeartRadio, all for free. Find the soundtrack of the season with channels like iHeart Christmas and North Pol Radio. The Roku Channel is available on all Roku devices, Web, Amazon, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs and the Roku mobile app on iOS and Android devices. So stream what you love and turn up the cheer with iheartradio on the Roku Channel. Happy streaming.

[Advertiser]

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[Katie Green]

Don't delay.

[Advertiser]

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[Producer]

See terms and conditions 18 +.

[Listener]

Deciding on what to listen to is hard. Using Zumo to stream music from iheart 90s radio is easy or play Iheart country or hip hop beat your choice. All for free. Stream easy with Zumo Play get live and on demand entertainment with no logins, no signups, no accounts, no Hassle this December, get cozy on the couch with Charlie's Angels. Starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz and Looper. Starring Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. All streaming free on Zumo Play. Go to play.zumo.com now. Life is hard. Zumo is easy.

[Joe Getty]

Katie. Michael, have you heard about Scrim the Dog? I have not. Do you know about Scrim the dog? Scrim? You know, I. I find this story charming in a way, just because it's huge in New Orleans and nobody else knows about it or is talking about it really. And I, you know, I miss big box. America makes me insane. You go to every town in America. Every town looks the same. Now. It didn't used to be that way. Every town had its own department store and convenience stores and, and restaurants and holes in the wall and the rest of it. Now it's just this ugly corporate mess. So I don't suggest you shoot a health care executive over it. Maybe just get a canoe and enjoy a vacation in the woods. But anyway, this is so uniquely American. This is a 17 pound mutt. A funky looking dog, too. Not like an ugly dog contest winner, but funky looking thing. A couple adopts it from a shelter. Two hours later it escapes. And so they put up posters, help us find our dog. Scrim the dog. The thing's been captured and escaped many times since. Dozens of failed captures, hundreds of sightings, thousands of dollars in rescue efforts, a widely broadcast detainment, and then a more recent escape out of a second story window. Every New Orlean has an opinion about Scrim him. It's become a craze, this dog. Wait, hang on back.

[Advertiser]

He jumped out of a second story window?

[Joe Getty]

Yes. Yeah, I've seen the video. Yeah. So this, this funky looking dog who is admittedly kind of in a comedic way, very photogenic. Now every half of New Orleans is like hell bent. It's become their great cause. Oh, my God, there he is, flying out of the window and smacking in the lawn, then runs away. Anyway, half of New Orleans is like, we've got to do whatever it takes to find Scrim. There's these women primarily, who are donating like thousands of dollars in all of their free time to try to rescue Scrim. And then the rest of New Orleans is like, there's so many effing stray dogs on the street. What are you people doing? Kill the thing or ignore it or let it run away. Forget it. Don't kill. Scrimmy's cute.

[Producer]

I see a picture of him.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I don't think anybody's actively trying to kill the thing. But there are other women who are saying instead of spending so many resources on this one dog, we should probably be funding the public animal shelters if we care about dogs this much. Well, now we've got to find scrim. Help Scrim. Save scrim. Oh, boy, People are strange. Look for the baroness. Necessities, the simple bare necessities. Like Final Thoughts to end another show. I mean, the bare necessities of mother nature's recipes. Like final thoughts from our host, Jack and Jo. Here's a woman who spent about $10,000 from her own pocket and other fundraisers on rescue efforts and gear for one dog. Yeah. Hey, let's get a final thought from everybody on the cruise left to wrap things up for the day. There is our technical director, Michelangelo Michael. What's your final thought? You know, Jack really does make his life hard. He was telling me that he has.

[Advertiser]

Two full pies and a full cheesecake at home.

[Joe Getty]

Just sitting there, I'm thinking, that is torture. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I would know what to do with that. Yeah. It started. Katie Green, our esteemed newswoman, has a final thought. Katie, I'm.

[Producer]

I'm going to nose dive into this scrim thing. I'm seeing scrim T shirts, scrim mugs.

[Joe Getty]

It's a craze. Well, I like that. That gal who spent $10,000 on rescuing scrim, educated herself in tranquilizer dart shooting and trained and stuff like that. Says, I'm a Cajun, so I'm a good shot. Evidently, one of her volunteers shot out the windshield of a rescue van, so maybe they're not such a great shot. But yeah, the story of scrim will be following it for you. Armstrong and Getty, wrapping up another grueling four hour workday. Go to armstronggetty.com, pick up a sweatshirt, order it for Christmas. God bless America. Armstrong and Getty, they're way better at words.

[Producer]

Bad words.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, my word. Words. It is time for us to do whatever what we have been doing. And that time is every day. Fecal matter. Fat, but it's also a bob. It's a bobcat, is the thing. A bobcat. Let's go. It's true. Thank you all and as always, everybody else, I love y'all. Matt, high note.

[Producer]

Thank you all very much.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and pared all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Bartesian Bartesian. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe Margarita?

[Joe Getty]

I'm thirsty.

[Katie Green]

Watch.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Katie Green]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Jack Armstrong]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a barrier because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Joe Getty]

Tis the season to be jollier.

[Michaelangelo]

Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartisian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get 50 $50 off. Don't delay.

[Producer]

Immerse yourself in a world of over a billion vibrant colors with Vizio's quantum QLED TVs. No matter where you're sitting, everyone gets the perfect view thanks to wide viewing angle. Enjoy truly immersive gameplay with 120fps at 1080p. You can even stream your favorite songs with the iHeartRadio app. Ready to go on every Vizio Quantum TV from movie nights to gaming marathons, the Vizio Quantum TV delivers unparalleled performance in picture. Head to Walmart to find your Vizio Quantum tv.

[Katie Green]

Today it's beginning to sound a lot like the holidays. The Roku Channel, your home for free and premium TV is giving you access to holiday music and genre base stations from iHeart, all for free. Find the soundtrack of the season with channels like iHeart, Christmas and North Pole Radio. The Roku Channel is available on all Roku devices, Webinars, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs and the Roku mobile app on iOS and Android devices. So stream what you love and turn up the cheer with iheartradio on the Roku Channel. Happy streaming.

[Listener]

Deciding on what to listen to is hard. Using Zumo to stream music from iheart 90s radio is easy or play Iheart country or hip hop beats your choice. All for free. Stream Easy with Zumo Play. Get live and on demand entertainment with no logins, no signups, no accounts, no hassle. This December, get cozy on the couch with Charlie's Angels starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Lu, Cameron Diaz and Looper starring Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. All streaming free on Zumo Play. Go to play.zumo.com now. Life is hard. Zumo is easy gifting is hard.

[Katie Green]

But here's a hint. Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means. Here's a slightly more specific you can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones.

[Joe Getty]

How do we know?

[Katie Green]

They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them four free phones and four lines for $90 a month US Cellular built for us.