Fascist Dungarees

Summary

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Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "Fascist Dungarees"

Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Producer/Co-Host: Michael

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the latest New York City mayoral race, focusing on the controversial candidacy of Zoran Mamdani and his ties to the Democratic Socialists of America. The hosts explore broader themes of Marxist activism, antisemitism, the intersection of global and local politics, media outrage moments, US-China relations, and issues in American trucking caused by lax regulations on commercial driver licenses. The episode’s tone is critical, irreverent, and sardonic, maintaining Armstrong & Getty’s signature combination of skeptical analysis and biting humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zoran Mamdani, DSA, and Antisemitism in the NYC Mayoral Race

• Background (02:14, 03:09):
  The episode opens with discussion around a resurfaced speech by Zoran Mamdani, Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate. Hosts highlight a clip where Mamdani claims police brutality in New York is at the behest of the Israeli Defense Forces, framing local issues as part of a global Marxist/anti-capitalist struggle.
• Host Analysis (04:13 – 05:55):
  Getty and Michael emphasize Mamdani's emphasis on tying international “struggles” to local politics to radicalize working-class New Yorkers. Both hosts paint this as manipulative, noting “he’s not relating the local stuff he cares about to other things happening around the world. He is in a global Marxist struggle and he's talking about how to radicalize local New Yorkers. That's what his whole campaign is.” (Getty, 04:13)
• Psychology of Activists (05:07 – 05:43):
  Discussion veers into why affluent people become radical activists. Getty describes it as egotism:

  “They believe I am so smart and so right I should be allowed to change the world, is it? And I will lie to people and force people to do it.” — Getty (05:25)

2. European Reactions and the Jewish Perspective

• Quote from Bernard Henri Lévy (06:33 – 09:29):
  Getty provides excerpts from an editorial by French-Jewish author Lévy, warning that Mamdani’s potential election might “imperil Jews and embolden totalitarians." Lévy accuses Mamdani of supporting anti-Israel stances, denying Israel’s right to exist, and using rhetoric that echoes antisemitic conspiracy theories.
  Notable:

  “He adopts as his own, without qualms, the lies that Israel has engaged in organized famine and genocide. ...He finds nothing to object to in the project to globalize the intifada.” (Getty, quoting Lévy, 09:29)

• Islamophobia Claim (11:58):
  Discussion follows about Mamdani's claims of rampant Islamophobia in New York despite being favored for mayor:

  “So New York is so Islamophobic that they're about to elect a Muslim guy as mayor? ...that kind of runs counter to your theory there.” — Michael (09:29)

3. Populism, Marxism, and Campaign Tactics

• Rich Lowry and Karl Rove Commentary (10:12):
  Hosts cite analysts decrying Mamdani's pivot from populist themes to divisive identity politics, particularly his accusatory speech aimed at New York’s Muslim community.

  “While eloquent and flawlessly delivered, it was also angry, bitter, divisive and dumb.” (Getty, paraphrasing Rove, 11:47)

• Host Reaction:
  Getty is incredulous that Mamdani seems to believe his rhetoric wouldn’t be publicized during the campaign.

4. 'Jews for Zoran' Video Critique (14:02)

• A segment plays rabbis supporting Mamdani. Getty dismisses them as “radical leftist, transgender lunatic” and “super out there, weird Marxist Jews,” insisting their representation is marginal.

  “They practically don't exist, except among hardcore radicals who happen to be raised in a Jewish household and can semi legitimately claim to be Jews.” — Getty (14:17)

5. Pop Culture Outrage: The 'Fascist Dungarees' Incident

• Sydney Sweeney/World Series Coverage (17:01 – 18:48):
  Michael recounts liberal backlash over actress Sydney Sweeney’s appearance in a baseball broadcast due to her “Nazi jeans.”

  “I really like them. She got a new haircut. That's not why people melted down. It was just the fact that ... Fox aired the Nazi chick with my good genes, which is just straight out of Hitler.” — Michael (17:36)
  The hosts mock the overreaction, questioning how much is driven by bots or genuine outrage.

6. World Events: US-China Relations & Nuclear Arms (20:58 – 28:39)

• Trump-Xi Meeting (21:25):
  Discussion about Trump’s ‘amazing’ meeting with Xi Jinping, agreement to ease tariffs, and commitments around rare earth minerals.
  • Michael observes:

    “Two biggest economies in the world have decided neither one of them are actually interested in a trade war.”

• Nuclear Parity and Arms Race (23:28 – 26:20):
  Analysis of China’s rapid nuclear buildup, US plans to restart nuclear testing, and discussion about the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used in the next 20 years.
  • Getty:

    “I'm a very regretful, hesitant Yes, I suspect it will be a tactical weapon, not a reduce an entire city to ashes weapon. It'll be a tactical warning shottish use of nukes.” (26:30)

7. Strategic Ambiguity on Taiwan (30:09 – 32:45)

• Email from Listener ‘JT’ on US ambiguity regarding Taiwan:
  Argument for “strategic ambiguity” keeping both Chinese hawks and doves in play, thereby discouraging a direct military move.
• Xi’s Legacy (30:09):
  Getty relays that Xi sees reclaiming Taiwan as his paramount personal and political goal.

8. Speculation: Another Trump Impeachment (33:06 – 34:12)

• Democratic House Retaking:
  Getty claims if Democrats retake the House, Trump “100%” will be impeached for a pardon granted to a cryptocurrency figure, possibly tied to corruption.
• Hosts joke darkly about the prospects of living through another impeachment trial.

9. Lax Trucking Regulations & English Fluency (36:25 – 39:43)

• Viral Police Encounter:
  The hosts play and mock a viral clip of an Arkansas cop confronting a non-English-speaking truck driver, lampooning California for its “lawlessness” and lax licensing.
  • Getty sarcastically:

    “Now it's a pantless Asian illegal immigrant commercial truck driver sitting with his drawers visible in the cab of a truck. The new California flag.” (38:08)

• Systemic Issues:
  Blame is placed on state policies and trucking companies for negligent hiring and public safety risks.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Zoran Mamdani and radical activism:

  “We're globally against capitalism and the Jews, but people locally aren't going to care about it unless you can say, and here's how it affects you at home.” – Getty (04:13)

• On New York's alleged Islamophobia:

  “So New York is so Islamophobic that they're about to elect a Muslim guy as mayor?” – Michael (09:29)

• On nuclear arms absurdity:

  “It's like buying your 300th handgun, you know, because, you know, when the S gets started, I want to be ready. No, you'll never get that far down into your collection.” – Getty (24:38)

• On media-driven outrage:

  “I can't ever figure out how much of this is even the slightest bit real, that there's somebody upset. How many of the responses are bots. How many people are kind of trolling their own side by getting involved.” – Michael (18:16)

• On the trucker incident:

  “Put your pants on. Pants. Put some pants on.” – Officer Eddings (37:19, recurring soundbite)
  “The sartorial new California state flag has been unleashed.” – Getty (38:07)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:14 – Introduction to Zoran Mamdani’s comments and their context
• 06:33 – Bernard-Henri Lévy’s editorial on Mamdani
• 11:47 – Karl Rove’s critique of Mamdani’s campaign tactics
• 14:02 – ‘Jews for Zoran’ video and criticism
• 17:01 – Discussion of Sydney Sweeney/“fascist dungarees” World Series incident
• 20:58 – Summary of Trump-Xi talks and economic outlook
• 23:28 – China’s nuclear buildup and US policy response
• 26:20 – Speculation on likelihood of future nuclear conflict
• 30:09 – Xi’s Taiwan ambitions and strategic ambiguity email
• 33:06 – Prediction of further Trump impeachments
• 36:25 – Arkansas police/trucker incident and U.S. trucking regulations

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Closing Thoughts

Armstrong & Getty’s "Fascist Dungarees" is an episode marked by sharp social and political criticism, skepticism toward radical ideological campaigns, and wry commentary on everything from nuclear diplomacy to viral controversies and public safety. The blend of serious discussion and irreverent humor is tailored for listeners who want both a breakdown of current events and a hefty dose of skeptical wit.

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Transcript

[Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Jim]

This is Jim.

[Armstrong]

Hello.

[Jim]

Jim started advertising with iHeartRadio way back.

[Getty]

In April and now I have customers out the door.

[Jim]

And this is Sarah.

[Getty]

Hi.

[Jim]

She started putting a portion of her marketing dollars in podcasting back in June.

[Armstrong]

Business is booming.

[Getty]

Booming. That's why I'm working on a Saturday.

[Jim]

Want to be like Jim and Sarah? It's easy. All you have to do is own or manage a business and reach out to iHeart. Get started today at 844-844-IHeart or iHeartadvertising.com.

[Michael]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center.

[Getty]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

And now here's Armstrong, Strong and Yeti.

[Political Commentator]

We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been released by the.

[Getty]

Ideas that is Zoran Mamdani. A couple of years ago at a Democratic Socialists of America meeting, trying to explain. We're going to play a longer clip where he explains itself himself, what he's trying to do, but he wants people to know. You know, if you get beat up by a New York cop, man, it was the Jews behind it.

[Michael]

Well, the fact that he's so down on the NYPD to start with, that, you know, the police are the source of bad, not good, is a heck of a position for the guy who's gonna be mayor the fact that it's. They're bad because of Israel. Wow. Right.

[Getty]

And again, this is not when he was 15, 35 years ago. This is a couple of years back. Avowed democratic socialist. Here is the longer version of that. It gets a little slow in the middle, but he really comes to the point at the, to his main point at the end.

[Political Commentator]

You know, I think in the first question there was, There was this setting up of a context where this idea of hyperlocal and international. And I think that for anyone to care about these issues, we have to make them hyper local. We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been laced by the idf. We have to make not specifically that example all the time, but just to say that for working class people who have very little time, who have so many stresses, who are under so many pressures, there isn't that much time for symbolism. We have to make it materially connected to their life. And I think that what opportunity we have is that we are in a country where those connections abound. Especially in New York City. You have so many opportunities to make clear the ways in which that struggle over there is tied to capitalist interests over here.

[Getty]

Okay, so what he's saying is we're globally against capitalism and the Jews, but people locally aren't going to care about it unless you can say, and here's how it affects you at home. The. Any police brutality, that's the IDF and that's the global struggle. He is a dedicated socialist slash Marxist who is saying the global struggle needs to be brought home to these poor, simple people who don't have a lot of time to pay attention. But understand the most important part of that is he's not relating the local stuff he cares about to other things happening around the world. He is in a global Marxist struggle and he's talking about how to radicalize local New Yorkers. That's what his whole campaign is.

[Michael]

It's so interesting, that mindset that most of your. That kind of person grew up with privileged backgrounds and they end up dedicated to the working class or. I mean, it's like Osama bin Laden or. There's so many marks, there's so many examples through history of these people.

[Getty]

Right? It's an egotism. They believe I am so smart and so right I should be allowed to change the world, is it? And I will lie to people and force people to do it.

[Michael]

Is there some level of like, guilt that I was born into an easy life or something driving that, that May.

[Getty]

Be an ingredient in the stew. So odd.

[Michael]

But. So how many. Do we know exactly how many years ago that was?

[Getty]

Oh, I don't remember.

[Michael]

He just turned 34, like right, just like a week ago.

[Getty]

So. Yeah. And as recently as earlier this year, he was absolutely pledging loyalty the Democratic Socialists of America. He's now kind of weak in that. But remember, Marxists lie all the time to get their schemes through. He's lying. He's still a dedicated DSA guy.

[Michael]

You nailed that down, Katie. Yeah, he. He said that in 2023. Okay, so two years ago.

[Getty]

Sorry, it was two years ago.

[Michael]

He was all 31 years old, but did. So did he not think he was running for mayor as recently as two years ago? Because that seems like you wouldn't say that anywhere where somebody could record it if you're going to run for mayor. But I don't know. He might.

[Getty]

Yeah. Yeah, well. And he probably didn't expect that tape to get out. But there is a chorus of voices emerging in these late moments decrying the idea of Mamdani winning. Here are a couple of them. Just came across an editorial bar by Bernard Henri Lavie, who's a French Jew and an author. He says, I've just. Well, the headline is Europeans Watch New York's Mayor's race with fear. Zoran Mandani's victory would imperil Jews and embolden totalitarians everyone in everywhere in the world. And he says, I've just returned from a brief stay in the US on every European's lips, in conversation, on the news, on social networks, there's only one subject. This is Europeans. Now, next Tuesday's election, which may make 34 year old Zoran Muhamdani New York's mayor. And he goes into the fact that he has no substantial political past. He has no jobs, apart from a few demagogic populist resolutions, he accomplished nothing in the legislature. He has no record of running anything, much less $110 billion budget and 300,000 municipal employees. Last but not least, he has made statements of unheard, unheard of violence about Israelis and Jews, similar to some extreme leftists in France who he mentions, the man the polls say is likely to be the next mayor, is a resolute supporter of boycotting the only Jewish state on the planet. He denies that the country, the survivors, the pogroms and the Shoah, the Holocaust Costa built over the past 77 years, has the right to exist as a Jewish state. He doesn't hide that he came to politics through the Palestinian cause. And thanks to it, he adopts as his own, without qualms, the lies that Israel has engaged in organized famine and genocide. He has said he would order the Prime Minister of Israel arrested if he comes into the city for the United Nations General Assembly. He condemns the hamas massacre of 10-7-23, but only half heartedly. Also condemning in the same breath the occupation and apartheid, subscribing to the theme that Jews are the source of the world's problems, and pulling strings everywhere. He's able to make the moronic statement about the New York pd When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's laced by the idf. He finds nothing to object to in the project to globalize the intifada, which implies he wouldn't be unfavorable to the idea of seeing Jewish civilians targeted everywhere, including New York, um, et cetera. Oh, one final note for Americans, when he commemorates the anti American atrocity of September 11, there is only one victim who seems to provoke a tear from him. Not the thousands murdered in the burning towers. And I would throw in not the unspeakably brave cops and firefighters who ran in while everybody's running out. But it was his aunt, or maybe it was a cousin who, because she wore the hijab, no longer felt safe on the subway in the weeks after the terrorist attack. And then he buckled down to insist that his brouhaha around his comments only proved that Islamophobia runs wild in New York.

[Michael]

Yeah. National Review made the point yesterday in a column that so New York is so Islamophobic that they're about to elect a Muslim guy as mayor? I mean, that kind of runs counter to your theory there. I mean, 20 years after 9, 11 perpetrated by Islam, a Muslim guy is going to be mayor. And that's your proof that it's such an Islamophobic city that that stuff about the police are evil and are driven by the Jews.

[Getty]

Right.

[Podcast Advertiser]

Wow.

[Michael]

I mean, that is. That's an extreme position.

[Getty]

And he explained to the dsa, at the risk of over hammering this point, he said, look, it's the global Marxist struggle that is our priority. We're going to talk about local issues just because that'll fire up the local people to join us in the Marxist struggle which frequently targets the Jews. Look at Russian history. So he admitted that's what drives him. Rich Lowry wrote a great piece that Jack referenced about Zoran's New York is Islamophobic piece. Karl Rove, also with a humdinger. I am Going to quote now. Briefly, with days to go in the New York City mayoral contest, Zoram Andami, often smooth and charismatic, made a real misstep. He revealed a new ugly side to his message that will likely cut his election margin. Despite being a proud member of the Democratic socialists America and previously espousing radical views, Mr. Mamdani has largely emphasized populist topics in his mayoral campaign. You know, the expenses, the stuff. But while he refused to condemn calls to globalize the intifada, he talks about dismantling the police. Then last Friday, Mumbani changed course. In an emotional speech in the Bronx, he accused his opponents of Islamophobia. Even less wise, he posted on YouTube a nearly seven minute speech to speak to the Muslims of New York. And I'm surprised how little coverage has gotten and I want to hear the whole thing. While eloquent and flawlessly delivered, it was also angry, bitter, divisive and dumb. In the video, which has over a quarter million views and counting, Mr. Mamdani depicts the remarkably diverse community he hopes to lead as a hotbed of bigotry as well.

[Michael]

But not, but not bigotry toward Jews as like on the Columbia campus there in New York, but toward Muslims.

[Getty]

Right? Right. He says as quote, the first major Muslim candidate for mayor in New York City history. He initially thought I could build a campaign for universal universality. He now realizes that that was futile. He was mistaken in think could define himself quote, as the leader I aspire to be one representing every New Yorker, no matter their color of skin or religion. It was impossible to rally the city, unite its committees, communities and appeal to every citizen's better angels. I was wrong, he said. And then he tells several stories which are probably all false, about his family members saying hi, that you're a Muslim. And my poor aunt, he pauses to wipe away the non existent tears, was afraid to get on the subway because of her hijab. Then he declared that Muslim teachers and police officers all make daily sacrifices on behalf of the city only to see their leaders spit in their face.

[Michael]

By the way, first of all, there are not, you know, a lot of examples of anti Islam attacks or anything like that after 9 11. But if you get attacked and thousands upon thousands of people die because you find out there was a plot right beneath your very nose of, of Muslims from other countries who are plotting to kill you, it's not a crazy notion to give a side eye to the next person you see, right. Who looks like those people. I mean, that only makes you normal, right?

[Getty]

Right. I would Agree, but what an interesting maneuver. What did he think? This wouldn't get out or wouldn't be heard? He went hard at Muslims in New York saying, this city hates you. It is so bigoted.

[Michael]

I wish he was going to lead.

[Getty]

You to a great Islamic victory.

[Michael]

I wish he wasn't going to win. But it's going to be an interesting experiment to see how this plays out. When he wins, is he going to, like, be even more vocal? It would seem like maybe he is even going to be more vocal about his positions.

[Getty]

Yeah. One final, final note. Hit. Hit 50 for me, Michael. And then we'll fade it out.

[Sports Announcer]

Hi, Rabbi.

[Michael]

Hi, Rabbi.

[Getty]

Hi, Rabbi.

[Michael]

Hi, Rabbi. Hi, Rabbi.

[Podcast Advertiser]

Hi.

[Getty]

We're among the thousands of Jewish New Yorkers who've been out door knocking and phone banking to elect Zoran Mamdani.

[Armstrong]

We're also rabbis.

[Getty]

We know Zoran will fight to make our city affordable and safe for our families and for our neighbors. That's enough of that. So it's four rabbis, part of Jews for Zoran, the video, that last rabbi was a radical leftist, transgender lunatic. And the other three were all parts of, like, splinter sects of Judaism that aren't even recognized by the Jewish, you know, mainstream. They're like super out there, weird Marxist Jews. So if you hear anything about Jews for Zoran, they practically don't exist, except among hardcore radicals who happen to be raised in a Jewish household and can semi legitimately claim to be Jews.

[Michael]

Why did the opening of the World Series cause a liberal meltdown on social media the other day?

[Getty]

As I. I don't care, but I'm glad it did.

[Michael]

Among other things on the way. Stay here.

[Getty]

Zoran Mandani. That's Zoran Armstrong and Gettys Run a.

[Armstrong]

Business and not thinking about podcasting. Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ads supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers are into, true crime, sports, comedy, culture, they'll hear your message. Plus, only IHEART can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. And all this reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for you. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show [e-mail] that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844 iHeart one more time. Call 844-844-IHEART and get podcasting working for you.

[David Sanger]

Here's the one.

[Getty]

Swing and a ball drilled left field. If it's fair, it's gone. And that one is fair. And it's gone. Back to back. To begin the game. And the Blue Jays laid it. It's two nothing. How do you like that?

[Michael]

In Los Angeles last night, the Dodgers, who have a $1.3 billion pitching staff, one of their super expensive stars. First pitch, home run, third pitch, home run. That is really something for a way to start a game. And it's.

[Getty]

Now, There have been 705 World Series games since it began, and that was the first time that's ever happened. Back to back home runs to start a game.

[Michael]

That is something. So anyway, it's going back to Toronto, Canada, with a chance for the Toronto Blue Jays to win the whole thing. But. So I really been into the World Series and I've been watching a lot and I, I noticed the other night they put together a little package before the game starts. And every night it's different. It's. It's something really highly produced, usually with a celebrity involved, doing a voice over with a bunch of highlights and stuff like that. It's cool to get you all amped up for the game. And the one two nights ago, was that Nazi jeans girl, Sydney Sweeney, the one who pushes the, the fascist dungarees.

[Getty]

Right, right. I'm actually wearing them now.

[Michael]

That's right. I'm wearing my American Eagle Nazi jeans right now.

[Getty]

They.

[Michael]

I really like them. She got a new haircut. That's not why people melted down. It was just the fact that the, the baseball had the nerve. And of course, it's Fox to air the Nazi chick with my, my good genes, which is just straight out of Hitler. Oh, please.

[Getty]

It's hardly even translated.

[Michael]

Sydney Sweeney sparks liberal meltdown for the crime of making a cameo during Fox's World Series coverage, says the New York Post. She surprised millions of viewers.

[Getty]

They can't even, they can't even gin up shut up out of me. I know. So silly.

[Michael]

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. And I can't ever figure out how much of this is even the slightest bit real, that there's somebody upset. How many of the responses are bots. How many people are kind of trolling their own side by getting involved in these things.

[Getty]

I don't even know. Trolling the other side. Right.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Sports Announcer]

I don't know.

[Getty]

I. I could see writing breathless, angry posts about Sydney Sweeney just To be clown the left. I don't have the time, but I could see it perhaps in my younger days.

[Michael]

Has something. I don't know, I think about that. You don't, you don't have near as many celebrities in the stands in Toronto. That's one thing about your Los Angeles games where it's the Lakers or the Dodgers. You get all the celebrities that anytime there's a good play, you get to go to Jason Bateman, you know, high fiving his hot girlfriend or there's fat Magic Johnson dancing around with, with somebody or whatever.

[Getty]

Yeah, yeah. At some point. I want to talk about Trey ya Savage who was the pitcher for the Blue Jays last night.

[Michael]

Lives in a hotel.

[Getty]

Yeah. Because he started the year in single A ball, then went to high single A, then double A, then triple A, then the majors. And he's now got like five postseason starts compared to only three regular season starts. And he's dominant.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Getty]

And he's like the most cool headed, unassuming guy in sports history. He, he's the youngest guy to. What is it? He broke a record going up to. Going back to like Two Fingers McGee in 1908. I mean it's just unbelievable this guy's story. Anyway, more to come.

[Armstrong]

Armstrong and Gettys run a business and not thinking about radio. Think again, cuz more people are listening to the radio and iHeart today than they were 20 years ago. And only iHeart broadcast radio connects with more Americans than TV, digital, social, any other media, even twice as many teens than TikTok. And that reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for your business. Radio's here now more than ever. And iheart's leading the way. Think radio can help your business. Think iheart streaming, podcasting and radio where the reach is real. Let us show [e-mail] that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844 iheart one more time. Just call 844-844, iheart and get radio working for you.

[Sports Announcer]

President Trump called the meeting with Xi that lasted about two hours, quote, amazing. The president says the U.S. will lower tariffs on China to 47%, down from 57%. He also said a lot of other decisions were made on soybean exports, fentanyl and computer chips. An official traveling with the President also saying that China has agreed to keep exports of rare earth minerals flowing.

[Michael]

Well, we'll see how this all shakes out and where the numbers end up. I was looking at Ian Bremmer's analysis. His takeaway was that the two biggest economies in the world have decided neither one of them are actually interested in a trade war. That was his takeaway. So I hope that's what ends up happening.

[Getty]

That's the feel of it, isn't it? That it's like two hockey players circling each other and decide, all right, we're not going to fight now, we'll fight later. Yeah, let's, let's take a minute.

[Michael]

President Trump met with the leader of China, President Xi, for a couple of hours, and Trump came out and said it was a 12 out of 10. 12 out of 10. That's how great it was. I wish I would adopt more of that. There's a lot of people that do that. Super optimistic, always put a positive spin on everything like that, whose lives seem to work out pretty well. And I don't know why I don't adopt that. It's just not the way I'm built.

[Getty]

But. Or do they go home, lock their doors, and weep bitterly at how disappointed they really are with the world? Put on that cheery face to the world. That's why. Me, too, Michael.

[Michael]

I've always kind of gone with the whole Ben Franklin pessimism is the best way.

[Getty]

Oh, yeah.

[Michael]

Usually things aren't going to work out the way you want, so you're already prepared for it. And if it works out better, it's pretty easy to adjust if things go better than you were expecting.

[Getty]

Well, as I always say, as a pessimist, there are two outcomes. I was right or pleasantly surprised.

[Michael]

Right, right, right. Which you're happy either way. See, I told you. Or cool, I was wrong. I'm glad I was wrong. Here's David Sanger of the New York Times. He's one of the most respected writers on this sort of stuff. I actually haven't heard this on what he had to say.

[David Sanger]

Xi Jinping was the only one who managed to stand up directly to President Trump on the tariffs, cut off the rare earth, said, you want to play this game? We can as well. So I think the best you could hope for would be that they basically reset the clock to January, get rid of the tariffs, China starts buying soybeans again, they suspend the rare earth, halt, and so forth.

[Michael]

Okay. And one more clip of Sanger of the New York Times.

[David Sanger]

Yeah. The relationship is so much bigger. Well, it's military aggression, it's Taiwan, it's cyber attacks, salt typhoon and Fault Typhoon, both aimed at the United States. It's the growth of the largest nuclear weapons program that we have seen. It's taking land from and islands from the Philippines. And so far, the president has really focused only on the trade aspect.

[Getty]

It's.

[Michael]

I didn't know this until I read in the Washington Post actually today, China's got the most aggressive nuclear program on the planet. Part of that is they're behind where Russia and the United States got during the Cold War. We got, we in Russia got. We had to taper down the number of nuclear weapons we had. If you look at the. Back in the day, in the 80s, we each had like 30, 40,000 nuclear weapons, and now we've got it down to like 8,000 each or something. But it's just. Yeah, I don't even. What was, what was the goal at that point.

[Getty]

I mean, I've read a lot about.

[Michael]

It, but what was the actual nuts and bolts thinking of Each country could destroy the planet 500 times, but we'll make even more nuclear weapons.

[Getty]

Right. It's like buying your 300th handgun, you know, because, you know, when the S gets started, I want to be ready. No, you'll never get that far down into your collection. I didn't, I didn't know at the time. I still don't know. I get you have to have a certain amount of strategic flexibility in case certain numbers of the weapons are taken out or your command and control is hurt in this way and that way. But at some point, I mean, it's just ridiculous.

[Michael]

But China is a fair amount behind the two powers that are Russia and us from the old Cold War, and they're catching up rapidly, which is one of the reasons that Trump announced today that we're going to restart nuclear testing for the first time in 30 plus years. Now, it wasn't perfectly clear where, whether he meant like setting off bombs somewhere out in the ocean or a desert or something, or if he meant nuclear delivery, weapons testing like Russia did over the weekend with what Vladimir Putin called his unstoppable missile. He says he's got a missile that nobody can possibly stop from traveling wherever the well, hell, he wants to send a nuclear weapon, which, if true, warning.

[Getty]

Shot at Canada, let them know how it's going to go if they win our World Series. Just to set a tone, I'm rooting for Toronto.

[Michael]

So kind of an aside, kind of not, do you think, in our lifetime, let's assume we each got. Joe and I are exactly the same age, more or less. Let's assume we got 20 years left. You think that's a fair assumption? Think you got 20 years left? I feel like probably, I don't know, 80. Oh, I bet money I got. I got till 80. I don't know. Okay, but. So in our lifetime, nuclear weapons will be fired in anger.

[Getty]

Wow, that's a tough one.

[Michael]

I'm a hundred percent. Yes. But I would have said that in 1948 too, and been wrong because of proliferation.

[Getty]

Meaning different countries are going to get them more people have more of them. Oh, man, I'm. I'm a very regretful, hesitant. Yes, I suspect it will be a tactical weapon, not a reduce an entire city to ashes weapon. It'll be a tactical warning shottish use of. Of nukes. They'll take out Omaha, for instance. No offense, Omaha, lovely town. And then we'll take out Kirkuska or something like that. And. And everybody will say, all right, we're serious. Yeah, we're serious. And, you know, ratchet down tensions.

[Michael]

I hope you don't think it would.

[Getty]

Be like a thing to contemplate, especially on today, the day before Halloween.

[Michael]

It ought to be contemplated more often. I'm amazed that we don't contemplate it on a regular basis. Not individual humans, but governments and world leaders.

[Getty]

I think they, they probably do to some extent, especially with, as you've been hot on the. The beat of all these advanced, practically undetectable missiles being developed. I think that's got the attention of the Pentagon for sure. Yeah.

[Michael]

There's a new movie coming out about nuclear war, documentary sort of movie, something or other.

[Getty]

Oh, are you talking about the. What is it? Is it on Netflix or one of.

[Michael]

Your famous directors are behind it. Anyway, I'll look that up because it sounds really, really interesting, but there have been a couple of great books in the last few years about the exchange of nuclear weapons. It's inevitable, isn't it? Isn't it inevitable?

[Podcast Advertiser]

I don't know.

[Getty]

If you look at world history. Yes, right.

[Michael]

And three countries now getting more.

[Getty]

At.

[Michael]

Least vocally aggressive with their nuclear stockpiles. Us, China and Russia. Putin may be leading the way. So I don't know where that's going to happen, but Trump coming out and saying we're going to re restart testing is a heck of a thing. Now, David Ignatius in the Washington Post said that's aimed mostly at Putin, but.

[Getty]

Also.

[Michael]

You know, letting China know that it's not off the table of us getting involved. No way we're going to go to nuclear war over Taiwan. I don't know why we even pretend. I don't understand international diplomacy. It just doesn't make any sense to me. It's just all these things that look like fanciful and are so unlikely to actually happen that you threaten. I just. I don't get it.

[Getty]

Yeah, yeah. More on the Taiwan thing. Got a great email on that topic afterward from our friends. That simply Safe home security probably can't protect you against a top secret Russian hypersonic nuclear missile. But junkies trying to steal your stuff and destroy your sense of security? Yeah, absolutely. Simplisafe is unbelievably good at that. Because Simplisafe can stop a crime before it starts. They take action while the criminal's still lurking outside your home. AI security cameras identify the threat alert Simplisafe's professional monitoring agents, and those agents can take action immediately. Call in the cops confronting the criminal. Turning on siren spotlights before your windows get smashed.

[Michael]

You got all the sensors and the cameras and all that sort of stuff. And one thing I like about SimpliSafe, one, it's simple to set up. You could do it yourself. They'll help you if you want. It's simple to use because a lot of people don't use their security system because there's just too many menus and it's too complicated and all that sort of stuff. And they got this money back guarantee if you don't like it. So why not try it?

[Getty]

Yep, right now, you good folks can save 50% off of SimpliSafe home security [e-mail] Armstrong you got to use our code. That's simplisafe.com Armstrong there's no safe like simply safe.

[Michael]

Oh, one more thing. So Richard Haass, who used to run the one of your think tanks about foreign policy, I saw him today saying President Xi's legacy that he that he cares about the most more than anything else is getting Taiwan back under the fold for whatever reason. That seems nuts to me that that would be your highest priority, but that's his highest priority for his life is to get Taiwan back in the fold of China. That's what he wants to be known for. And so that ain't nothing.

[Getty]

No, no, I'd say not. He is rather powerful in China and gets his will and getting old. Yeah, yeah. Got a great note. You want to talk about this for a second? Let's see the value of strategic ambiguity with respect to China or Taiwan, rather, from JT and Livermore. Let me start by saying I understand how seemingly contradictory it is. For the US to be against China invading Taiwan, but not willing to say they will definitively defend Taiwan against Chinese military invasion and or do anything at all if China decides to move on Taiwan. Enter the brilliance of strategic ambiguity in China. There must be two camps with different preferences for taking over Taiwan. One would favor the long term non military approach, akin to the takeover of Hong Kong, a plan that literally took decades and decades to fulfill but ultimately achieved a bloodless Chinese takeover. The other camp favors a decisive military campaign, a campaign that our own war game simulations show would result in massive losses on both sides and an uncertain victory by the U.S. that's, I think it's mostly victory by China. If the US were to declare that we would definitively not intervene in a Chinese attempt to take over Taiwan, then that would be a major PR victory for China. Major PR loss for Taiwan would pave the way for China to choose whichever pathway they thought was most conducive to their goals. If the US were to declare that we would definitively intervene in a Chinese attempt to take over Taiwan, then the military hawks in China would win the argument and could proceed with a first strike takeover of Taiwan before America could do anything. And then he points out the geographical inequity. It's right around the corner from China and thousands of miles from us. One of the only things keeping China from choosing the military option is that they may prefer a bloodless takeover in order to preserve their military and their economy, much the same way they took over Hong Kong. As long as we don't declare absolutely that we will defend Taiwan in either instance, China still has the option for the long term peaceful takeover thing and that keeps that point of view alive in China. Interesting thought.

[Michael]

Yeah, I'd say so. Trump announcing we're going to restart nuclear testing. Man, he likes to just get troll. It's not a troll, but he likes to have something on a near daily basis that gets people kind of rattled and talking, whether it's economics or military or. Or I'm going to run for a third term or whatever.

[Getty]

Yeah. You know there's a story out right now to your point. If the Democrats retake the House of representatives, there's 100% chance Trump gets impeached.

[Michael]

Yes.

[Getty]

And the story is out that will they will impeach him on this story and they would have a pretty good case. Nobody is talking about it.

[Michael]

Which one?

[Getty]

It's one of his pardons. The pardon of the. The big cryptocurrency guy.

[Michael]

That would be the impeachment boy. They'd have to explain that to the American people, but they're probably prepared to do that.

[Getty]

Oh, yeah, it was. They worked out a deal. The Trump family made zillions of dollars off this company that got their stablecoin up and going, and then they released the guy from prison.

[Michael]

And what would be the high crime or misdemeanor corruption?

[Getty]

Oh, yeah, yeah, exactly. Bribery, essentially. You know, and the defense would be. Well, wait a second. Joe Biden did this over and over again. Similar stuff. The dollar value may have been a lower, but come on, it's obvious. Which leaves us in a real, real.

[Michael]

Moral muddle that'll be fun to live through. Yeah, that's not what I wanted to hear the day.

[Getty]

Oh, yeah. People to hear it from us first.

[Michael]

If I understand Getty. Yes, the most depressing radio show.

[Getty]

Oh, stop it. You shut up, low voice.

[Michael]

If I can live.

[Getty]

Turn off your synthesizer.

[Michael]

If I can live till 80, I get to live through another Trump impeachment. So that's fantastic. Maybe I'll be better off croaking, you.

[Getty]

Know, go to chat GPT. It'll help you out. Yeah, yeah. I. I don't like the Democrats prospects in the midterm, in spite of the history, you know, the out party, blah, blah, blah. Gain seats. Their brand is just so toxic, scattered.

[Michael]

I only need to flip five seats, right? Isn't that the Republicans barely have the.

[Getty]

Majority now, and instead of improving their message or the candidates, they're trying to gerrymander their way and Republicans are responding in kind.

[Michael]

Took all the fun. I was having so much fun. As in watching the World Series, having a good time. And then you came along.

[Getty]

Your Honor, I'd like to plead guilty of being a killjoy. You're absolutely right, Armstrong. Yes. What?

[Michael]

The most depressing. No again.

[Getty]

Shut up. You ever. And your synthesizer. Get out more on the way.

[Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty run a business. And not thinking about podcasting. Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ads supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers are into, true crime, sports, comedy, culture, they'll hear your message. Plus, only Iheart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. And all this reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for you. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show you at iHeartadvertising.com, that's iHeartadvertising.com or call 844-844-iHeart. One more time, call 844-844-IHeart and get podcasting working for you.

[Michael]

What's up with you?

[Getty]

So this is. An Arkansas cop has pulled over the driver of a big rig. Okay. We've been talking now for a couple of weeks about this rash of states that are handing out commercial driver's licenses to immigrants, sometimes illegals who can't speak or read English, can't pass the tests, and are killing people on America's highways. The one thing to note in this is will become clear, the driver in question has a bit of a wardrobe difficulty going on.

[Officer Eddings]

Why are you parked here?

[Michael]

Yeah, I'm not here.

[Officer Eddings]

You understand English? Why did you park here?

[Armstrong]

No.

[Podcast Advertiser]

No good.

[Officer Eddings]

I'm Officer Eddings, Arkansas Highway Police. I need your driver's license. Is there anybody else in the truck?

[Podcast Advertiser]

My company.

[Officer Eddings]

Your company.

[Getty]

Okay.

[Officer Eddings]

You don't understand English. Put you some clothes.

[Getty]

Pants.

[Officer Eddings]

Put your pants on. Put your pants on. Pants. Put some pants on.

[Getty]

Yeah, yeah.

[Officer Eddings]

Okay, you don't understand English. What company do you work for?

[Michael]

The company? California.

[Officer Eddings]

Your company's called California? Yeah, yeah. You don't understand me.

[Michael]

Okay, I love that. California. It's all I need to say. Oh, California, where they give out driver's licenses to commercial truck drivers piloting gazillion ton weapons of death to anybody whether you're from this country or not, whether you speak English or not. Oh, that's fantastic. And so the sartorial new California state.

[Getty]

Flag has been unleashed.

[Michael]

Jack.

[Getty]

It was the bear, of course, and then it was the unicorn for Cal Unicornia. Now it's a pantless. Asian illegal immigrant commercial truck driver sitting with his drawers visible in the cab of a truck. The new California flag.

[Michael]

Now, was there anything untoward going on, or is he just parked someplace he shouldn't park to climb in his sleeper and. And sleep and, you know, I take my pants off to sleep too.

[Getty]

He was parked dangerously close to a.

[Lenovo Pro Advertiser]

Lane of the highway.

[Getty]

Right amount of time as an immigrant who cannot speak nor read English, which is absolutely required for commercial truck drivers.

[Michael]

All right, the reason he was parked someplace you shouldn't park when you're pulling over your truck to sleep is he had no training or, you know, because how could you possibly have any training because he didn't take the test or pass it. I like how many of these people, including that guy who killed a bunch of people the other day, have flunked the test over and over and over again so that there's a lot of people that should be on the hook of that. Obviously the state of Washington and California or whatever states are giving out these driver's licenses. How about these companies that are probably bribing politicians to push for let us hire drivers from other countries because we can pay them nothing versus having to hire somebody from, you know, inside the United States who speaks English and can actually pass the test.

[Getty]

So there's a lot of people on.

[Michael]

The hook for this.

[Getty]

Yeah, yeah, no kidding. Lawlessness.

[Michael]

It's not like these trucking companies don't know that they're employing people that can't speak or read English at all. You'd find that out as the boss.

[Getty]

You remember we got that email from Gal in Yuba City, California which has become this giant trucking center. And there are a bunch of Indian families who own trucking companies that employ immigrants, some of whom have documents, some of whom don't, some of whom can speak English, some of whom cannot. And there have been all sorts of problems. It's, it's a huge problem in the trucking industry right now. And you know, in California at least, which as you recall was that fine fellows trucking company, they're handing them out like, you know, like, I don't know, freebies at the, the Costco.

[Officer Eddings]

Put your pants on.

[Podcast Advertiser]

Pants.

[Officer Eddings]

Put some pants on.

[Getty]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

I like the police going with the classic, I'll say it slower and louder to see if somehow.

[Getty]

Although he had to pat his pants and point at him.

[Michael]

Pants. El trousers.

[Getty]

Oh, the guy's Asian. Spanish isn't gonna help.

[Michael]

I can see your el junke.

[Getty]

Coming up next hour. One of the greatest pieces of writing I've come across. The great leftist ignorance scam. Ignorance scam by Matt Taibbi. Oh, is it a takedown? You're gonna love it.

[Michael]

Cool. A lot on the way.

[Getty]

If you missed something, get the podcast Armstrong and Gettys.

[Lenovo Pro Advertiser]

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[Getty]

You'Ve got the winning formation.

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[Jim]

This is Jim.

[Armstrong]

Hello.

[Jim]

Jim started advertising with iHeartRadio way back.

[Getty]

In April and now I have customers out the door.

[Jim]

And this is Sarah.

[Getty]

Hi.

[Jim]

She started putting a portion of her marketing dollars in podcasting back in June.

[Getty]

Business is booming. That's why I'm working on a Saturday.

[Jim]

Want to be like Jim and Sarah? It's easy. All you have to do is own or manage a business and reach out to iHeart. Get started today at 844-844-IHeart or iheartadvertising. Com.

[Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.