Loading summary
Joe Getty
This is an iHeart podcast.
Jack Armstrong
Ah, come on.
Cindy Crawford
Why is this taking so long?
Jack Armstrong
This thing is ancient.
Cindy Crawford
Still using yesterday's tech Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultra Light Ultra powerful and built for serious productivity with Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance. It keeps up with your business, not.
Joe Getty
The other way around.
Jack Armstrong
Whoa.
Cindy Crawford
This thing moves. Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search@lenovo.com Lenovo Lenovo Unlock AI experience experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Looking after a senior loved one Balance protection and independence with Greenlight's new Family Shield plan and all in one money and safety app. Monitor your senior loved ones financial accounts for suspicious activity, track their safety with place alerts and protect them with up to $1 million in identity theft coverage. Caregiving shouldn't mean sleepless nights. Enjoy more and worry less@greenlight.com familyshield that's greenlight.com familyshield I already love same day.
Jack Armstrong
Delivery with Shipt, but it's so much better since I signed up for target's circle 360. Why? Because I no longer pay price markups from the majority of stores through Shipt. Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. That means no markups on groceries, pet food, even home goods and makeup. So to recap, I have more time to catch up on life while someone shops for me and I spend less. It's a win win order now@shipt.com 360 terms apply. So do you want to look and feel your best this summer? Well, don't just think skin deep, think cell deep with Prolon. Prolon is a plant based nutrition program featuring soups, snacks and beverages that nourish the body while keeping it in a fasting state which triggers cellular rejuvenation and renewal. Target fat loss, support lean muscle and reset your metabolism so you look and feel your best all summer long. Prolon is science backed nutrition that can help change your relationship with food in just five days. Get 15% off plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe now@prolonlife.com iheart that's prolonlife.com iheart the best kind of help is the kind you don't even have to ask for. Like your friend pulling up on moving day with a truck, a speaker and snacks ready to go. Well, that's the energy you get with AT&T's new guarantee. If there's ever a network interruption. They make it right by giving you credit for a full day of service. Proactively credit for fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details at. And t. Connecting changes everything.
Joe Getty
Live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio Studio.
Cindy Crawford
At the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.
Jack Armstrong
Armstrong and Getty.
Joe Getty
And now here's Armstrong and Getty.
Jack Armstrong
May your Friday be another beautiful secret. Live from Studio C. Si, senor. A dimly lit room deep within the bowels of the Armstrong and Getty Communications compound.
Joe Getty
And. Hey, y'. All.
Jack Armstrong
Headed into the weekend. We're under the tutelage of our general manager.
Joe Getty
I'm not saying it.
Jack Armstrong
You're not gonna say.
Joe Getty
The mood. I hate it when we fight.
Jack Armstrong
You're not gonna say the general manager is. Trump's ankles.
Joe Getty
No. Jeffrey Epstein.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, it's Jeffrey Epstein again.
Joe Getty
Yeah. What. What are you gonna do? Just won't go away.
Jack Armstrong
Wall Street Journal, their big giant exclusive story, which Trump says isn't true, about Trump signing a big birthday card with the phrase, another today is another big beautiful secret or whatever. Why are you calling day's big beautiful secrets?
Joe Getty
Although.
Jack Armstrong
And he drew a naked picture of a chick, which Trump says, I've never done that in my life.
Joe Getty
I gotta say, with his signature as her standing in for her genital region. Shocking. I would. Happy birthday. And may every day be another wonderful secret.
Jack Armstrong
Although I don't know who knows if this is true or not. So Trump says it's not true. And then he never did. I don't know if he did or not.
Joe Getty
His denial is pretty compelling. He essentially said, I don't draw anything.
Jack Armstrong
No, I could say that. I mean, if you show. If you gave me. Here's a birthday card with a naked woman. I know I didn't do that. I've never drawn a naked woman in my life. I know I haven't.
Joe Getty
Partially because I'm a sketch of you saying, welcome to California on a cartoon bear. No, trust me, I have not drawn a cartoon bear. That you could tell was a cartoon bear. That wasn't me. Might be a cat, might be a person, might be a plate full of spaghetti. If it's recognizably a bear, trust me, I did not draw it.
Jack Armstrong
What did he write specifically? Allegedly.
Joe Getty
Happy birthday. It may every day be another wonderful secret.
Jack Armstrong
So it's interesting. We're not in the. We're not in the know, really, we're not in the. The flow of, you gotta be in New York or D.C. to really be in the. But so on. I was watching Morning Joe on msnbc, and they said, this story has been bouncing around all week long. Everybody knew about it. I thought, okay, I didn't know about it. But I guess behind the scenes, everybody knew this Wall Street Journal story was gonna drop. Trump knew it was gonna drop. He was on the phone with everybody at the Wall Street Journal saying, don't print that. It's not true, and I will sue you. Then he even got Murdoch on the phone, right. And said, don't print that it's not true. I will sue you. But Wall Street Journal went big with it today as an exclusive. So they must. They must believe it because Trump has sued successfully a couple of different people recently, including cbs, which may have led to Stephen Colbert getting fired. Different story we'll get to later.
Joe Getty
I quibble with the phrase sued successfully. He bullied several institutions into settling.
Jack Armstrong
I would call that successful. If I sue you and I end up with money, I would call that successful.
Joe Getty
Fine. I disagree strongly. I think it's one of the most horrible things he's done. It's terrible.
Jack Armstrong
Okay, but so also, do you think the Wall Street Journal. What, What? What? What do you. They. They must believe their story.
Joe Getty
Of course they do. Yeah. They think it's a legitimate story, sourced well enough, it seems to be legit, so they printed it. By the way, there's. There's no constitutional prohibition against being wrong as well. Unless you're doing it deliberately to harm, you know, with, you know, malice of forethought. There's no case.
Jack Armstrong
Well, do you think it's true or not?
Joe Getty
Oh, I have no idea. I think. I think it's entirely likely that somebody said to Trump, well, Ghislaine Maxwell was organizing this birthday book back in 2003, and. And. And she was going around asking everybody Epstein knew, and he knew, freaking everybody, everybody.
Jack Armstrong
I was gonna get into that.
Joe Getty
Yeah, we can talk about that more in a bit. But said, hey, we're doing this birthday thing for him. Could you write him a little letter or something? Trump said, yeah, yeah, of course I will. Then had somebody do it for him. And he just signed it and has, like, no memory of it, but it was quote unquote from him.
Jack Armstrong
You think that's what happened? Or.
Joe Getty
I suspect so, or something like that.
Jack Armstrong
God dang it. If somebody on my behalf wrote Drew a really crude naked woman, including parts that I would never draw myself.
Joe Getty
I.
Jack Armstrong
Would not be happy with that. Don't do that. That's not mean.
Joe Getty
Well, it was, it was. It's barely a sketch. From what I understand. There are a couple of curves suggestive of breasts and blah, blah, blah. It's not like it's porn.
Jack Armstrong
No, it includes. I don't mean, I don't even want to say what it includes, but I would never draw that.
Joe Getty
The squiggly Donald is below her waist mimicking public hair according to the words I'm not Wall Street Journal.
Jack Armstrong
That's the words I didn't want to say. I'm too classy to say that.
Joe Getty
And all of this is such a distraction from the main point. Who gives a damn?
Jack Armstrong
Jeffrey Epstein runs the world. Who gives the world. Oh, who gives a damn is the main point.
Joe Getty
Okay, so, so 22 years ago he may have squiggled out a note saying, hey, the whole may every day be another wonderful secret, which is how it ends. That's a little odd. But again, this just, it's more a grist for the. Oh, wait, a what if mill. And that's the problem with this. And this is, this is my statement because my thinking is evolved on this story in a couple of different ways. Number one, the Jeffrey Epstein thing can mean like anything. It's like you're ordering, I don't know, a car or what would be a good example, a meal. It can be everything from a very basic fact based question to that plus a little speculation or that plus more speculation to the whole wild the Jews are running the world sex ring cabal organized by Hillary Clinton in the pizza place thing. And different people mean different things by. We need to get to the bottom of the Jeffrey Epstein thing. And I think I may have been distracted by some kooks, including listeners who, who are way down the road. They, they ordered a banquet for 300 people as opposed to a good basic meal of look, Jelaine Maxwell trafficked hundreds of young girls for this guy. And he wasn't the only guy who partook. Who else partook? People wanna know that that has nothing to do with the Jews running the world. That's a legitimate question.
Jack Armstrong
People that are all fired up about this aren't fired up because of that story. Some are. Okay, I don't know any. Maybe I just. That's such such a common thing. There are 17 year olds being trafficked. 6 horrible crime. I want you executed for it. I'm not saying that, but I don't think that's what people, most people are fired up about. The, the. It's the Jews run the world global child sex ring thing that has the base really fired up. They're not standing up for, I don't think 17 year olds being trafficked by Epstein. That's not a very good conspiracy to get million. I get. I don't know if it's thousands or millions. That's a problem we've had all week long trying to figure out is it 1% or is it 10%, how many people are involved in this thing. But you're absolutely right on the whole Epstein thing has become a catch all for. And then it's got the Mott and Bailey aspect of where you, you retreat to the things we do know. Well, yeah. Well then why is she in prison? She's not in prison because the Jews run the world. She's in prison for helping traffic 17 year olds.
Joe Getty
Right, right.
Jack Armstrong
She's not in prison because the Clintons and the Hollywood crowd have hundreds of thousands of kids they're trafficking. And the fires in the Palisades in LA were to burn down. They set them on purpose to burn down the Hollywood houses to hide the tunnels where they'd traffic the children. That's an actual story, right, that people believe?
Joe Getty
Yeah, it's. It's very difficult because if you, for instance, know a couple of people who are pitching that angle of it, that seems to be the angle that most people are pitching. And I'm just looking at the email, listening to a bunch of, you know, shows and podcasts and reading a bunch of stuff and it's just, it's. It's like the elephant that's being, you know, groped by the blind. Men grow. Probably poor choice of words in this context, but everybody has a different. This is what I'm talking about, the Epstein thing. And I don't, I don't know, it's. It. It feels very much like trying to talk about it is, is. Is. Is trying to grasp gas.
Jack Armstrong
Well, did you watch any of Tucker's big expose that no aired.
Joe Getty
I just read something about it aired.
Jack Armstrong
Live last night at 8. I took in way too much of it.
Joe Getty
So he good.
Jack Armstrong
He like an hour and it was three hours long. Like an hour. But he had on his the best historian in America guy that said Winston Churchill is the cause of World War II and then got attacked.
Joe Getty
Crank.
Jack Armstrong
Got attacked by real historians all over. Anyway, this guy that Tucker claims is the best historian in America did a deep dive on Epstein with all of his information for three hours. I took in an hour. And I mean, it is Exhaustive and exhausting and includes, like, every single aspect of life that you can come up with ultimately. With the Jews and Mossad. Not Mossad, but somebody. A Mossad adjacent. Running all this stuff, blackmailing everybody. Child pedo ring.
Joe Getty
That's.
Jack Armstrong
That's. That's what it is. According to Tucker and the historian. I don't think there's a chance of that. Like, I'm not worried that I'm wrong about this. I don't think there's a chance that's true. But.
Joe Getty
Yeah.
Jack Armstrong
What are you gonna do at this point?
Joe Getty
What are you gonna do?
Jack Armstrong
The Wall Street Journal putting out a big, giant, splashy front page. Look what Trump said. Another secret day or a beautiful day. That's a secret. Or whatever he said. That doesn't help anything.
Joe Getty
Good Lord, if somebody wrote me, joe, happy birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret, I'd be like, what the f. Does that.
Jack Armstrong
Unless.
Joe Getty
Talking about.
Jack Armstrong
Unless you're in on the secret thing with Bill Clinton in the dress pointing at you in the painting in the hallway.
Joe Getty
Exactly. In the Mossad adjacent. Guys. And the Jews. Okay, all right. I just. So again, it's. There are a lot of aspects of this that I find very interesting and compelling and worth discussing. But it is so amorphous. It's like I said, it's like grasping gas. What are we talking? Which version of this madness are we discussing?
Jack Armstrong
So we should start the show officially. We've got so much to get to today for a Friday. I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. It is Friday, July 18th. Year 2020. 2025. Or Armstrong. And getting. We approve of this program.
Joe Getty
Okay, then, let's begin officially, according to SEC rules and regulations. Here we go at Mark.
Jack Armstrong
There is no sanctuary city. Sacramento is not a sanctuary city. The state of California is not a sanctuary state. There is no sanctuary anywhere.
Joe Getty
We'll be here. You'll probably see us in many of.
Jack Armstrong
The locations as well. We're here to stay. We're not going anywhere. We're going to affect this mission. Secure the homeland. They say scare or secure. Sound like we're gonna scare the homeland.
Joe Getty
I don't know. I was.
Jack Armstrong
I don't know.
Joe Getty
Gregory Bovino, if you need him, the border Patrol chief there. There's no sanctuary anything. We're going anywhere we want wishes. He didn't say bees, but he could have.
Jack Armstrong
We're a radio show based in the capital of California. They raided the Home Depot just down the street yesterday. That's where that comes from. And not. No such thing as a sanctuary state or city, which we've been saying forever, but it's been the well in practice for quite some time.
Joe Getty
Anyway, we have both purchased building and building adjacent materials at that Home Depot jack and this story is just heartbreaking.
Jack Armstrong
Finally it touched us. So we got all that different stuff and other news of the day and clips of the week and wow. It's just gonna be fun. So stay here.
Cindy Crawford
Armstrong and Getty. Let's be real. Life happens. Kids spill, pets shed and accidents are inevitable. Find a sofa that can keep up@washablesofas.com Starting at just $699, our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out so you can say goodbye to stains and hello to worry free living. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabric, they're kid proof, pet friendly and built for everyday life. Plus changeable fabric covers let you refresh your sofa whenever you want. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa anytime to fit your space, whether it's a growing family room or a cozy apartment. Plus they're earth friendly and trusted by over 200,000 happy customers. It's time to upgrade to a stress free mess proof sofa. Visit washablesofas.com today and save that's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Jack Armstrong
Are you shopping for a new laptop while still trying to keep up with technology and AI? Talk about feeling burnt out. But no more. Lenovo.com makes it easier than ever to find the perfect PC. In fact, we'll break it down for you. Step 1 Shop our lineup of AI PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. Because why deal with downloading new software when you can buy a smarter PC that already comes with all of the AI features and tools? Step 2 Find the one that fits your passion. Whether you're a creative genius, a research scientist, a hardcore gamer, or a future CEO, no dream is too big. That's the power of Lenovo. With intel inside, you can keep up with your ideas as well as any challenges you may face. Step 3 add to cart and purchase oh, if you're a college student or a teacher, make an education account through us and get 5% off your whole order. Shop now at lenovo.com A Better Future is waiting and it needs you. There's something special about folks who come through without being asked. Like your co worker surprising you with your favorite coffee just because or your friend handing you the aux cable the moment you get in the car. No debate, no fight, just positive vibes that kind of love. It just hits different. And that's exactly the energy. AT&T is on with their new guarantee. If there's ever a network interruption, AT&T will proactively credit you for a full day of service. No calls, no emails, no jumping through hoops. It's just handled. It's like the universe saying, I got you. Except this time it's not the stars aligning, it's your network. And let's be real, that connection is everything. Whether you're holding down the group chat, checking in on your parents, scrolling TikTok your network's gotta come through. And if there's a problem, AT&T is on the case. No stress, no drama, just real backup. When it counts. Credit for fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single instrument incident impacting 10 or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details. AT&T connecting changes everything.
Cindy Crawford
Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty, which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results, and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty confidence is beautiful. Learn more@meaningful beauty.com.
Jack Armstrong
This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores, automate allowance, and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk free@greenlight.com iheart okay, I did a little chatgpting on the whole Trump Wall Street Journal's big exclusive have a beautiful secret day story. Which if you didn't hear, you know, I don't know. Grab the podcast. Uh, and we'll be talking about it more throughout the show. So I was wondering what year I asked Chad gbt what year did Trump ban Epstein from Mar a Lago? Cause his birthday 50th birthday card was in 2003. Trump banned Epstein from Mar a Lago in 2007. Okay, so that wasn't anything that could fit, allegedly because Epstein was inappropriate with one of Trump's friend's daughters, which is certainly possible.
Joe Getty
Yeah, I heard a completely different other version of what it might have been. It was funny. It was completely different, and both explanations are in circulation, but yeah, that rings as true as something could ring.
Jack Armstrong
And then I was wondering, when was the Apprentice on? When was Donald trump the number one show in America? The Apprentice aired from 2004 through 2010. So that is afterwards. I mean, Trump's always been well known, but he was not as high on the radar before the Apprentice as he definitely was afterwards.
Joe Getty
Oh, yeah, without question, the guy who was the executive producer blames himself for Trump being president. He's a lefty, of course.
Jack Armstrong
What a dumb thing to worry about.
Joe Getty
Wow. Well, no, I said no, I don't think that's dumb at all. I think the Apprentice lifted Trump to that higher level of fame.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, no.
Joe Getty
Doubt him to make the run. Doubt.
Jack Armstrong
But if you're walking around as the producer and feeling bad about it, what are you supposed to do?
Joe Getty
Well, he's one of those guys who's convinced and, you know, I don't have the quote in front of me, but he's one of those guys who thinks Trump's is the new Hitler and the worst thing to ever happen and blah, blah, blah. I mean, he's way down that, that lefty road of frantic hand flapping panic.
Jack Armstrong
Fine, y'.
Joe Getty
All, Y' all ran a mummy and.
Jack Armstrong
You tried to run him twice. So in terms of headlines, one of the headlines is getting a hell of a lot of attention is that Stephen Nicole Bear's show, it was announced by cbs, is ending, they're canceling it. They're going to let the contract run out for Colbert, which is May of next year. Man, that's a long time. A lot of times in the radio business, they fire you, they don't let you even go on the air the next day because they're worried about what you'll say.
Joe Getty
Colbert's been saying, and they should be worried.
Jack Armstrong
Colbert's been saying some pretty strong things anti CBS and Paramount, the parent company, about settling with Trump. I mean, like, pretty harsh for the people that write your paychecks over the last several days. And now he's been canceled, but he is going to be on the air for a long time to say whatever he wants.
Joe Getty
Yeah, yeah. I was kind of surprised to learn or be reminded that there are 200 people who work on that show. I remember him saying that during the writers strike, period. And I was struck at the time by that number. And, and I think it was the Journal was talking about the incredible expense of running a show like that.
Jack Armstrong
He was the number one show almost entirely the last nine years. Like without, with like one week exception. He's been number one in late night. I think it's just, you can't, those shows don't make financial sense anymore in the modern media landscape.
Joe Getty
Yeah, that's what CBS is saying. There's just not enough revenue there anymore. We can't do this.
Jack Armstrong
Boy, that's not what NPR is saying. That's not what MSNBC saying. That's not what CNN says. It's all political. Trump pressured cbs, Paramount, and that's why they got rid of him. That's the story.
Cindy Crawford
Armstrong and Getty Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? WashablesOfAs.com has your back Featuring the Annabe Collection, the only designer sofa that's machine washable inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699. Enjoy a no risk experience experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabrics. Experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Check out washablesofas.com and get up to 60% off your annabe sofa backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return, shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Upgrade now@washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Unlock smarter Learning with Lenovo AI powered PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors. Head to Lenovo.com and choose from multiple devices to fit your passions. If you're a gamer, you can spend less time stressing about GPUs and CPUs and more time dominating with your AI enabled smart engine which optimizes your game performance in real time. Or maybe you're a scientist on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery and need a device with a longer battery life and AI enhanced tools to give you extra time to finish your research. Or you're a musician preparing for your biggest break and need better, faster AI tools to make digital art a breeze, like creating band posters and T shirt designs. Or you're a soon to be graduate needing to catch a recruiter's eye to land that dream job. So you need cutting edge smart tools to build your portfolio from scratch. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel Inside. Plus college students and teachers get 5% off with an education account on Lenovo.com a better future is waiting and it needs you. Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Saba and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty confidence is beautiful. Learn more@meaningfulbeauty.com.
Jack Armstrong
My favorite thing about Shipt since I signed up For Target Circle 360 no Price Markups when I order same day delivery from tons of local stores. Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. I won't lie. I've had too much fun being like markups on groceries not in my fridge. Markups on pet food not for my dog. Markups on tools, electronics, home goods, meds, not in my house. Anyway, it's awesome. Order now@shipt.com 360 terms apply. This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance, and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk free@greenlight.com iheart what is today the century anniversary of July 18, 1925? Mein Kampf, Hitler's autobiography or something was printed. Coincidence? I don't know what that means.
Joe Getty
I have read it, as you know.
Jack Armstrong
It's unreadable, isn't it? I've horrible. I feel like I've started into it a couple of times and thought I can't read this.
Joe Getty
Yeah, it's. It's horrible. Certainly morally speaking, as you would guess, it's also just miserable to try to read. It's just tedious.
Jack Armstrong
So npr, PBS got their their taxpayer funding stripped. It's a horror according to a lot of people. I got an update on that. I'll need somebody to Define the word whisk for me for that story. Whisk. Stay tuned for that.
Joe Getty
All right, I think I can help you out there. Hey, let's take a fond look back at the week. That was. It's time for cow clips of the week.
Jack Armstrong
So you got these nuts on the left.
Cindy Crawford
Take it, take the crumbs and be happy.
Jack Armstrong
Didn't Pam Bondi say that?
Cindy Crawford
Oh, look at these two.
Joe Getty
All right, come on.
Cindy Crawford
You're okay.
Jack Armstrong
Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy. Elmo is part of the male loneliness epidemic. I love getting out to live out.
Joe Getty
My dreams, but at the end of.
Jack Armstrong
The day, sometimes I just don't understand the point, you know, because we're $36.
Cindy Crawford
Trillion in debt and we just don't have any options anymore.
Jack Armstrong
We run out of options. We got to start doing the hard work.
Joe Getty
He calls me new scum. You know, come on. How do I explain that to my kid? What about in the 90s when there.
Jack Armstrong
Was a Tyrannosaurus rex stomping through San Diego? I believe in breeding.
Joe Getty
Look at you.
Jack Armstrong
Good athlete. Good athlete. I'm black. Mommy, Mom's white. Now you. I done stepped on it once.
Joe Getty
You can't keep stepping on it.
Cindy Crawford
I saw a girl in her use a sharp like a lip stain, and.
Joe Getty
I must try it.
Cindy Crawford
Oh, wait. It's actually not bad at all.
Joe Getty
You know, I'd rather swim in a pool filled with the boiling hot sulfurous urine of Satan. He goes deep to center.
Jack Armstrong
Come on.
Joe Getty
When Caitlin Clark retires from the wnba, she's going to work at a Waffle.
Jack Armstrong
House so she can continue doing what she loves most, fist fighting black women.
Joe Getty
I am very disappointed with President Putin.
Cindy Crawford
Will these be Patriot missiles specifically or Patriot batteries that you're planning and when.
Jack Armstrong
Do you think this is really significant? I call it the Epstein hoax.
Joe Getty
The White House is trying to diffuse an explosion of anger, but I don't.
Jack Armstrong
Understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would.
Joe Getty
Be of interest to anybody. The president going on to say, let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work.
Cindy Crawford
Where are my fellow weaklings at?
Joe Getty
They're stupid people.
Jack Armstrong
Why'd they say there was thousands of hours of tapes of people doing horrible? Why'd they say that?
Cindy Crawford
How many of you are not satisfied.
Jack Armstrong
With the results of the investigation?
Joe Getty
These files were made up by Comey. They were made up by. By Obama.
Jack Armstrong
Honestly, I'm done talking about Epstein for the time being.
Joe Getty
It's sorted. But it's boring.
Jack Armstrong
Does the Epstein thing Trump coming out hard against some of his MAGA base having any lasting effects. Everybody's guessing time will tell. But Peggy Noonan writes today in the Wall Street Journal, the breach will ease with time. It won't be a break because too many people have too much to lose, but it won't fully heal. Things will be different going forward. Each side saw something they hadn't known before. They can break apart. Each side saw something they hadn't known before. Trump may be seeing these people are crazy. And the people that are most invested in Trump thinking, God, he'll lie to us too.
Joe Getty
Right. And he's not really with us in our most sacred battle.
Jack Armstrong
Right.
Joe Getty
Right. He's let us down.
Jack Armstrong
I don't know Peggy Noonan is right or not, but that's, that's an interesting take. As to my tease of what does the word whisk mean? The High Speed Rail Authority in California with Gavin Newsom are suing the Trump administration for yanking the federal funding for the California bullet train.
Joe Getty
Thank goodness they did.
Jack Armstrong
If you're a taxpayer anywhere in America, certainly in California, but any other state, God, you shouldn't have a dollar. I don't know why Montana would have to pay for a high speed train even if it was going to exist. But it's not going to exist. It's a money hole. It's, it's, it's a fraud. It's been a fraud for very many, many years. And so the, the, the yanking the funding is just the only decent thing to do. But they're suing and, and, and tying this in with the NPR story about how they lost their funding. And I'm hearing a lot of crying about that on mainstream media and NPR and PBS about, they're, they're running liners today. I was listening to NPR from listeners. Keep fighting, keep fighting. You're my only hope for information and that sort of crap. Here's some of the information I got yesterday. I wish I had written it down word for word. It was something along the lines of this. The High Speed Rail Authority is filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over funding for the California bullet train. The California bullet train is a project in which riders will be whisked from Los Angeles to San Francisco. There's not going to be any whisking. First of all, you can go to their own website. It ain't from Los Angeles to San Francisco anymore. Nope. It's from Los Gatos, which is like an hour and a half outside of San Francisco, to Palmdale, which is like an hour and a half out of Lake and Even worse, you know, during traffic. Right.
Joe Getty
And no regular speed.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. And define regular trains. Define whisk. I don't feel like 50 miles an hour is being whisked at a cost.
Joe Getty
That is five to ten times what anybody could have conceived it would cost to run a regular speed train from wherever you. Los Gatos to Palmdale. It's. It's obscene. It is a theft. The only. Well, I. The only.
Jack Armstrong
Before you get into the train part, I just want to revisit that. That was NPR giving you the important news that you need about a big.
Joe Getty
Story and without bias.
Jack Armstrong
Right. So thank God they have federal funding so they can bring me the news. There was, like, hardly a word of that story that was accurate.
Joe Getty
Yeah, yeah. It was complete political, you know, rhetoric slash propaganda. I think propaganda is a fair word for it. I mean, it was utterly divorced from reality. That is something else.
Jack Armstrong
Whisk my ass. Wow.
Joe Getty
From San Francisco to LA and. Or vice versa. Unbelievable. I was just gonna say.
Jack Armstrong
I'm trying to figure out.
Joe Getty
Exactly. Well, I think Gavi and company are down to last resorts to keep their scam going, because the feds quite appropriately are saying, no, you have not fulfilled any of the requirements to continue to get federal money. Only the crooked, crooked Biden administration would have kept it coming, and we're not anymore. And so they have to sue. They will lose. And I predict it will be a. A, you know, not one of those subtle technical rulings with limited applicability. No, I think it'll be a hammer blow. But then Gavi will say, you know, it was Republican appointed fascist judges. They've taken over the judiciary and. And blame the judges for the end of the project. And that's actually pretty good scapegoat because it feels like it's about to scapegoat in time. Scam just can't continue any longer.
Jack Armstrong
No, he might be playing it right politically in that people that barely pay attention to the news nationally on his side of politics will just hear the Trump administrations against high speed rail. They won't know the details.
Joe Getty
Right, right. Hey, and Gavi, do me a favor, just because I know you and. Or much more likely, your people listen to hear, you know, what we say and that we've heard the epithets you've used describing us. Just someday let me know whether I got that one right. What I was just saying about your strategy, because I think. I think I'm right on that. I'll buy an expensive drink in Napa someday.
Jack Armstrong
So I heard a breakdown of the last Supreme Court session yesterday on a podcast. I wish I'd have written down the actual numbers. You know, Supreme Court just wrapped up this most recent year of litigating, what, a couple of weeks ago in June every year. And I'll explain to you that the broad version, it's something, yeah, something everybody should know.
Joe Getty
Coming up next, here's something you need to do. You need to get in touch with our friends@trustandwill.com you can create and manage a custom estate plan starting at just $199. Now if you were to do it with an attorney, it would be significantly more expensive. But this is state specific, customized to your needs and there's plenty of help for you.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. What if you were to pass away waiting for the bullet train to be buil and you haven't ever gotten around.
Joe Getty
You will. We all will.
Jack Armstrong
You had never gotten around to your will. And trust.
Joe Getty
He could go all these born today will pass away waiting for the frigging bullet train to be built.
Jack Armstrong
When does the whisking begin? You could go on, on the website today and you start filling in, you know, the blanks, names, Social Security numbers, accounts, all that sort of stuff. And then it's a step by step process for your will and trust. And if you run into a snag, live customer support through chat, phone or email.
Joe Getty
Secure your assets, protect your loved ones from the nightmare of probate. Seriously, Trust and willcom get 20% off on your estate plan documents by visiting trustandwill.com Armstrong be sure to use our code. That's trust and will.com Armstrong, you've been putting it off. Do it. Trust and Willcom Slash Armstrong.
Jack Armstrong
Speaking of people barely paying attention to the news and being misled, I think the prevailing view for a lot of people on the Supreme Court would be it's a six three court. You got the six right wingers, the maga court against the three liberals standing up for all that is good and decent. And even if you don't believe that, you just believe it's a 6:3 conservative versus liberal court. But that's not the breakdown for the end of the year. It never is. It'd be better if we all paid more attention to these things. But only 15% of the rulings, they take on about 60 cases every year, give or take. Only 15% of the rulings ended up being 6:3. And of those, a total of the total of all the 60, only 9% were the 6 conservatives versus the 3 liberals. So even the 63 breakdowns were very seldom the you know, the way it's looked at, you know, you got the Trump justices and then the other justices. That's just not the way it breaks down at all.
Joe Getty
No, but it is described that way, speaking of NPR by the NPR's of the world over and over and over again. And it's funny because the New York Times will have a really good story expressing what you just described. But then two days later there will be an editorial or two on their editorial page talking about the oppression of the 6:3 fascist majority. It's just fictional.
Jack Armstrong
Does the court lean right more than it has for like my whole life? Yes it does. In terms of having conservative appointed justice versus liberal. But in terms of the results so far. Anyway, I said my piece.
Joe Getty
We got Mailbag, Lion Liars and the lies. They lie, huh?
Jack Armstrong
So this is a national story, but it happened just down the street from us. Home Depot got raided, the whole ice thing booting out illegals. Polling shows people aren't super digging this. So we can get into that whole story in hour two. We got Mailbag next. Stay here.
Cindy Crawford
Armstrong and Gettysburg Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? WashablesOfAs.com has your back featuring the Annabe Collection, the only designer sofa that's machine washable inside and out. Where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabric Experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Check out washablesofas.com and get up to 60% off your annabe sofa backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return, shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Upgrade now@washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Jack Armstrong
Are you shopping for a new laptop while still trying to keep up with technology and AI? Talk about feeling burnt out. But no more. Lenovo.com makes it easier than ever to find the perfect PC. In fact, we'll break it down for you. Step 1 Shop our lineup of AI PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. Because why deal with downloading new software when you can buy a smarter PC that already comes with all of the AI features and tools. Step 2 Find the one that fits your passion, whether you're a creative genius, a research scientist, a hardcore gamer, or a future CEO. No dream is too big. That's the power of Lenovo. With intel inside, you can keep up with your ideas as well as any challenges you may face. Step 3 add to cart and Purchase oh, if you're a college student or a teacher, make an education account through us and get 5% off your whole order. Shop now at lenovo.com A Better Future is waiting and it needs you.
Cindy Crawford
Now. I'd like to introduce you to Meaningful Beauty, the famed skincare brand created by iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford. It's her secret to absolutely gorgeous skin. Meaningful Beauty makes powerful and effective skin care simple and it's loved by millions of women. It's formulated for all ages and all skin tones and types and it's designed to work as a complete skin care system, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. I recommend starting with Cindy's full regimen which contains all five of her best selling products including the Amazing Youth Activating Melon Serum. This next generation serum has the power of melon Leaf stem cell technology. Its melon leaf stem cells encapsulated for fresh air and released onto the skin to support a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. With thousands of glowing five star reviews, why not give it a try? Subscribe today and you can get the Amazing Meaningful Beauty system for just $49.95. That includes our introductory five piece system, free gifts, free shipping and a 60 day money back guarantee. All that available@meaningfulbeauty.com My favorite thing about.
Jack Armstrong
Shipt since I signed up for Target Circle360 no price markups when I order same day delivery from tons of local stores. Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. I won't lie, I've had too much fun being like Markups on groceries not in my fridge. Markups on pet food not for my dog. Markups on tools, electronics, home goods, meds, not in my house. Anyway, it's awesome. Order now@shipt.com 360trees apply.
Cindy Crawford
This message is sponsored by Greenlight. With school out, summer is the perfect time to teach our kids real world money skills they'll use forever. Greenlight is a debit card and the number one family finance and safety app used by millions of families helping kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely. Parents can send their kids money and track their spending and saving while kids build money, confidence and skills in fun ways. Start your risk free green light trial today@greenlight.com iheart that's greenlight.com iheart we're almost.
Jack Armstrong
An hour into the show and we still haven't talked about Trump's ankles. What are we waiting for? For a doctor to come in?
Joe Getty
Expert opinion here's your freedom loving quote of the day from Thomas Sowell, the great man. Those who cry out that the government should do something never even ask for data on what has actually happened when the government did something compared to what actually happened when the government did nothing. Good one mailbag drop us a note sometime. Mailbagarmstrongygetti.com A lot of interesting stuff. I wish we could get to more of it. This note from Joel Back then dads had three to four kids. Nowadays kids have three to four dads.
Jack Armstrong
Okay?
Joe Getty
Signed bong hits for Jesus.
Jack Armstrong
That's got a bit of an old man yells at clouds feel to it.
Joe Getty
I kind of liked it. Darren Saw this on on Instagram. Someone said Trump should identify as a female. It would force the left to either accept him as the first female president or admit the gender ideology is completely made up. Nonsense.
Jack Armstrong
That's pretty good.
Joe Getty
That's right.
Jack Armstrong
That's pretty good.
Joe Getty
Trans women are women. Okay, how about Ben, who is listening to the Armstrong and getting one more throw podcast from I think it was yesterday, talking about falling asleep. He says, as a new business owner, I've often found myself laying in bed running through all of my projects trying to reach a solution. He wanted to comment on my weird method for falling asleep. When I realized I need to get some sleep, I snap all of my thoughts out of my head and imagine my perspective jumping into space where all of my issues are left in my head, which is on Earth. And I imagine Earth is a bright blue ball about a half inch in diameter and it is positioned about 3 inches in front of my nose, which is incredibly similar to this visual I use to stop my mind from racing and go to sleep. I consider how insignificant my thoughts were and how small of a part I am of the entire universe that I keep staring at my imaginary little blue ball and I try to not let any thoughts enter my brain. I can't tell you what happens after that because I fall asleep every time during this step. I think I learned a version of this process when we were being taught to meditate in a religion class from college. Then he says some very nice things about the show. Thank you Ben, that's very kind of you.
Jack Armstrong
Well, my waking up.
Joe Getty
Good luck with your business, sir.
Jack Armstrong
My waking up at like 2 o' clock in the morning, every single night stopped a couple weeks ago. I didn't even really notice it. Why? I haven't got the slightest idea. That's one of the annoying things about sleeping.
Joe Getty
Yeah, yeah, I suppose we can plunge on. I'm tempted to go off on my rant about. About Ben and starting a business and employing people and how incredibly important that is and how much more successful that is than a government handout. Anyway, Don points out, and I was going to get to this later, but let's get to it now. Great Britain is in the process of lowering the voting age down to 16.
Jack Armstrong
Are they really?
Joe Getty
They're going to have children vote? At least that's what they're saying now. I'm hoping a hue and a cry rise up and they don't do this. This is unspeakably stupid. But Don writes, I'm. I'm age 69. I was taking a community college journalism class for fun a couple of years ago. None of my young adult classmates could tell us, tell our professor that Joe Biden was the President of the United States. None of them. One of the 18 guessed it was Barack Obama. Our journalism teacher and I were shocked. I said out loud, you'll be the ones changing my nursing home diapers in 10 years. God help me. Wow. These are community college students. Over zero could say who the president of the United States was.
Jack Armstrong
Well, I, I honestly find that hard to believe.
Joe Getty
Don has never lied to us. Don of Arizona.
Jack Armstrong
I think it's much easier to make the argument that 18 year olds shouldn't vote in the modern world where, oh yeah, you don't stop being a child till you're 30.
Joe Getty
That is a much, much more defensible case to make.
Jack Armstrong
Then go the other direction.
Joe Getty
Right. Right. The idea that children should be given the vote is one thing. It's very simple. It's progressives who realize boy kids with no life experience are super easy to dupe into our schemes. That's the sum total of the rationale, no matter what they say.
Jack Armstrong
May I vote, sir? Great Britain.
Joe Getty
Our friends, our papa. Great Britain gave birth to us after we bloodied them up a couple of hundred years ago has gone completely off the rails.
Jack Armstrong
Why are you downplaying the big story of the day? Trump's vein problem that is getting so much attention.
Joe Getty
I have. I just, I'm not amused by it. I just. He's an 80 year old with circulation problems. Most 80 year olds have circulation problems.
Jack Armstrong
I think they had to come out and say something, though. Did you see the pictures of his ankles.
Joe Getty
I didn't.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, okay. Well, you see those pictures? You can't, like, not address that. Something's going on there. There.
Joe Getty
Yeah.
Jack Armstrong
And. And they were real pictures floating around earlier in the week, and then they came out and. Yeah, he does have a circulation problem that affects like a third of people his age. He's a very old man. He's a very old overweight man who doesn't exercise. And. But. But his particular version of it should be fine. He. He'll. He'll take a couple of pills and have no effect on anything.
Joe Getty
His brain works. That's the key. Right.
Jack Armstrong
Even though I see people trying to make the argument that he is doing the same thing Biden did. Boy, I don't know. Completely different categories of your brain not working.
Joe Getty
I mean, just his blast against his own followers the other day was a little angry old Manish.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, wow. Interesting. Okay, so raids on Home Depots in your neighborhood. How do you feel about that? Among other things in our two Armstrong and Gettysburg. Ah, come on.
Cindy Crawford
Why is this taking so long?
Jack Armstrong
This thing is ancient.
Cindy Crawford
Still using yesterday's tech upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 carbon ultralight. Ultra powerful and built for serious productivity with Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance. It keeps up with your business, not.
Joe Getty
The other way around.
Jack Armstrong
Whoa.
Cindy Crawford
This thing moves. Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search at Lenovo. Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors. So you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.
Jack Armstrong
A treasure trove of bananas has been.
Joe Getty
Stolen and it's up to Donkey Kong.
Jack Armstrong
And his buddy Pauline to get them back. This unlikely duo is going on a world smashing adventure. Using DK's destructive abilities to explore an.
Joe Getty
Underground world and the power of Pauline.
Jack Armstrong
Singing to activate wild transformations.
Joe Getty
Donkey Kong Bonanza available now.
Jack Armstrong
Rated everyone 10 and up only on.
Joe Getty
Nintendo Switch 2 game and systems sold separately.
Jack Armstrong
This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely and invest with your guardrail in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores, automate allowance, and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk free@greenlight.com iheart people choose.
Joe Getty
Morton Buildings to build a variety of buildings for their property any time of year because they know Morton Buildings are.
Jack Armstrong
Built stronger, last longer and look better. If you need a garage, a stall barn or a storage building for an rv, boat or other vehicles, a shop for your farm hobbies or car restoration.
Joe Getty
Projects or anything in between, Morton can.
Jack Armstrong
Create a building for you that's attractive, easy to maintain and dependable enough to.
Joe Getty
Stand the test of time.
Jack Armstrong
Just visit MortonBuildings.com today to find out more.
Joe Getty
They use quality materials and expert craftsmen.
Jack Armstrong
With an industry leading warranty to ensure your structure is enjoyed by generations to come.
Joe Getty
Morton buildings is 100% employee owned with.
Jack Armstrong
Thousands of satisfied customers. That means they're the industry leader you can trust. To get started on your next building project, visit MortonBuildings.com don't delay. Construction schedules are filling up fast, so now's the time to start planning your building project with Morton. That's MortonBuildings.com this is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive, and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at O d o o com. That's o d o o com.
Joe Getty
This is an iHeart podcast.
Armstrong & Getty On Demand: Episode Summary – "Downplaying the Vein"
Release Date: July 18, 2025
In the "Downplaying the Vein" episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a series of pressing political and social issues, intertwining current events with their characteristic humor and candid discussions. The episode navigates through the controversial Wall Street Journal report involving former President Donald Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell, the intricacies of the Jeffrey Epstein case, Supreme Court dynamics, and the ongoing lawsuit over California's High-Speed Rail project. Additionally, the hosts touch upon media censorship, conspiracy theories, and societal concerns, all while maintaining an engaging and thought-provoking dialogue.
[03:36 - 07:18]
The episode kicks off with Jack and Joe addressing a sensational report from the Wall Street Journal alleging that Donald Trump signed a birthday card featuring a naked woman accompanied by the phrase, "May every day be another beautiful secret." Trump vehemently denies the authenticity of the card, asserting, "I've never done that in my life" ([05:03] Jack Armstrong). The hosts analyze the implications of this report, questioning its veracity and the motivations behind its publication.
Notable Quote:
They explore the surrounding circumstances, including Trump's alleged attempts to suppress the story by threatening legal action against the Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The hosts speculate on possible behind-the-scenes influences and the broader impact on Trump's public image.
[07:18 - 11:48]
The conversation broadens to discuss Jeffrey Epstein's pervasive influence and the multitude of conspiracy theories that have emerged surrounding his activities. Jack expresses skepticism about Tucker Carlson's extensive and exhausting three-hour deep dive into Epstein's connections with Mossad and broader global conspiracies, stating, "I don't think there's a chance that's true" ([13:20] Jack Armstrong).
Joe adds nuance by distinguishing between factual aspects of Epstein's crimes—such as the trafficking of underage girls—and the more extravagant conspiratorial claims involving global power structures. They caution listeners about the ambiguity and multifaceted nature of the Epstein narrative, emphasizing the importance of focusing on verified information over speculative theories.
[35:11 - 40:33]
Shifting focus, Jack and Joe delve into the current state of the Supreme Court, challenging the common perception of it being a strictly 6-3 conservative body. Jack debunks this oversimplified view by highlighting that only a small fraction of cases result in such clear-cut rulings. He points out that out of approximately 60 cases annually, only about 9% conclude with a 6-3 split in favor of conservative justices ([38:29] Jack Armstrong).
Notable Quote:
Joe concurs, noting the discrepancy between public perception and the actual decision-making processes within the judiciary. They criticize media outlets like NPR and The New York Times for perpetuating a misleading narrative that oversimplifies the court's composition and rulings.
[32:34 - 36:37]
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the California High-Speed Rail project. The hosts express strong opposition to the federally funded bullet train initiative, characterizing it as an exorbitantly costly endeavor that fails to deliver on its promises. Jack describes the project mockingly, stating, "The California bullet train is a project in which riders will be whisked from Los Angeles to San Francisco. There's not going to be any whisking" ([35:11] Jack Armstrong).
Joe emphasizes the financial imprudence of the project, labeling it a "theft" and predicting a decisive legal defeat for the California High-Speed Rail Authority in their lawsuit against the Trump administration ([35:03] Joe Getty). They argue that the Trump administration's withdrawal of federal funding is justified, given the project's history of delays and budget overruns.
Notable Quote:
The hosts foresee the lawsuit resulting in a substantial setback for the project, dismissing claims that blame judicial bias or political motivations for the failure. They predict that proponents will resort to scapegoating conservative judges to explain the project's halt.
[23:20 - 29:08]
Another contentious topic is the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show by CBS, which Jack and Joe attribute to his outspoken criticism of major corporations and political figures, including the Trump administration. They discuss Colbert's tenure as the number one late-night show and lament the loss of his sharp satire, suggesting that political pressure influenced CBS's decision to end his contract.
Notable Quote:
The hosts contend that modern media landscapes no longer support financially sustainable formats for traditional late-night shows, partly due to shifting viewer habits and advertising revenues. They also highlight the stifling effect of political influence on media freedoms.
[48:16 - 50:06]
Addressing democratic processes, Jack and Joe discuss Great Britain's proposal to lower the voting age to 16. They express concern over granting voting rights to minors, arguing that young individuals lack the necessary life experience to make informed electoral decisions. Joe recounts an anecdote from a community college journalism class where none of the students could correctly identify the sitting U.S. President, underscoring his skepticism about youth voting capabilities.
Notable Quote:
Jack adds a satirical twist, comparing the argument for lowering the voting age to extreme measures, thereby emphasizing the perceived recklessness of such a policy change.
[50:06 - 51:01]
The hosts briefly touch upon Donald Trump's health, specifically focusing on his circulation problems as a factor influencing public perception. They discuss how images of his ankles have sparked conversations about his well-being, with Jack remarking, "He’s an 80-year-old with circulation problems. Most 80-year-olds have circulation problems" ([50:15] Joe Getty).
Joe comments on the trivialization of Trump's health issues, noting that such ailments are common among his age group and questioning the media's focus on his physical condition over more substantial political concerns.
[29:08 - 47:49]
Between discussions, Jack and Joe engage with listener feedback and comments, offering personalized responses and fostering a sense of community. They acknowledge emails and messages from listeners, addressing topics ranging from sleep techniques to societal observations.
Notable Listener Quote:
The hosts provide humorous and supportive reactions, reinforcing their connection with the audience and emphasizing the show's interactive nature.
As the episode progresses towards its conclusion, Jack and Joe hint at upcoming segments, including an in-depth look at the ramifications of Trump's alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and the broader implications for his political base. They tease discussions on Supreme Court rulings and local raids on Home Depot stores, promising a continuation of their critical analysis and unabated commentary in future episodes.
Media Influence: The episode underscores the potent influence of major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and NPR in shaping public narratives, often blurring the lines between verified facts and speculative theories.
Political Accountability: Jack and Joe emphasize the importance of holding political figures accountable, scrutinizing their actions and the subsequent media portrayals critically.
Judicial Misconceptions: The hosts challenge prevalent misconceptions about the Supreme Court's ideological balance, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of its decision-making processes.
Democratic Integrity: Concerns about lowering the voting age reflect a broader commentary on democratic integrity and the qualifications deemed necessary for informed electoral participation.
Health vs. Politics: The discussion on Trump's health highlights the tension between trivial personal matters and substantive political discourse.
Jack Armstrong ([05:22]): "If somebody wrote me, 'Happy birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret,' I'd be like, what the heck does that mean?"
Joe Getty ([35:03]): "It's obscene. It is a theft. The only decent thing to do is yank the funding."
Jack Armstrong ([53:07]): "Even the 6:3 breakdowns were very seldom the way it's looked at at all."
Joe Getty ([49:05]): "None of my young adult classmates could tell us, tell our professor that Joe Biden was the President of the United States."
Joe Getty ([35:34]): "It was utterly divorced from reality. That is something else."
"Downplaying the Vein" exemplifies Armstrong & Getty's commitment to dissecting complex and often contentious topics with insight and levity. Through incisive dialogue and critical examination of media narratives, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty provide listeners with a discerning perspective on current events, encouraging informed discourse and skepticism towards unverified information.
For those interested in the nuanced discussions of "Downplaying the Vein," tuning into Armstrong & Getty On Demand offers an engaging exploration of today's most debated issues.