For Security Reasons, I'm A Hobbit

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: For Security Reasons, I'm A Hobbit
Release Date: April 3, 2025

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1. Political Maneuverings: Elon Musk and the Trump Administration

Discussion on Elon Musk's Role in Government

The hosts delve into recent reports suggesting that former President Donald Trump has decided to reduce Elon Musk's involvement in public service roles. The conversation highlights conflicting statements between Musk and the Trump administration.

• Jack Armstrong references a claim: “the president is pleased with Elon Musk, but the decision comes as the tech mogul increasingly looks like a political liability” ([01:54]).

• News Analyst counters, emphasizing Musk's declarations: “Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete” ([01:54]).

• Gilbert King adds personal insight, reflecting on his father's criminal legacy, which metaphorically ties into discussions about public figures and their reputations: “At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer” ([14:07]).

Tariffs and Trade Policies

The hosts critique the current tariff strategies, questioning their fairness and effectiveness in benefiting American workers.

• Jack Armstrong critiques the methodology: “a slightly complicated formula that they figure what tariff rate is necessary to balance bilateral trade between the US and each of our trading partners” ([04:05]).

• News Analyst emphasizes the potential economic impact: “if it goes the way the detractors say it's going to go, this could be like change your retirement sort of stuff” ([05:29]).

Global Economic Standings

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the standings of the world's largest economies, focusing on the United States, China, and emerging markets.

• News Analyst outlines the rankings: “United States, China number two. Then Japan and Germany... India is about to overtake Japan” ([07:37 - 08:22]).

• Jack Armstrong humorously remarks on geopolitical tensions influencing economic standings: “Hate to hear them mentioned in the same sentence together. Last time went poorly...” ([08:22]).

2. Middle East Conflict and Its Global Implications

Tragic Loss: Uday Rabi's Story

The hosts discuss the harrowing case of Uday Rabi, a Palestinian who was tortured to death by Hamas militants for publicly criticizing the group.

• CNN Reporter narrates the incident: “Rabi's family says he was killed by Hamas militants, tortured to death for publicly criticizing Hamas” ([14:46]).

• Jack Armstrong reacts strongly to the story, condemning both the perpetrators and highlighting the plight of the victims: “He died shortly thereafter having been tortured, all his fingers cut off” ([17:23]).

Columbia University Protests

The episode touches on student activism at Columbia University, where students were chanting for an Intifada revolution, leading to confrontations.

• News Analyst describes the situation: “students at Columbia University... chanting about Intifada revolution” ([14:46]).

• Jack Armstrong criticizes the indoctrination of youth: “much as I would love to bash the youngsters for their stupidity, they were intentionally and systematically indoctrinated into a political philosophy by their government school educators” ([16:04]).

3. Crime and Community Vigilantism

Comic Book Heist and Community Response

A local Alameda County incident where a comic book shop was burglarized sparks a discussion on community-driven justice.

• Katie Green reports the robbery and subsequent vigilante actions: “Josh thought they were gone for good until one of his employees spotted a very specific comic book for sale on eBay” ([22:52]).

• Jack Armstrong praises the community effort: “the Alameda County Sheriff's department served a search warrant... the majority of which were returned to their respective stores” ([23:27]).

• News Analyst reflects on the effectiveness of such community actions: “they were intentionally and systematically indoctrinated into a political philosophy by their government school educators” ([24:30]).

4. Social Issues and Gender Dynamics in Sports

Female Fencer's Stand Against Male Opponents

The episode highlights a controversial incident where a female fencer refused to compete against a male fencer, resulting in severe penalties.

• News Analyst introduces the story: “the female fencer who took a knee in her fencing match because she was gonna have to fence a dude” ([28:46]).

• Katie Green provides details on the incident and its repercussions: “she was then escorted out of the event and made to sign a document acknowledging her penalty” ([30:42]).

• Jack Armstrong supports the fencer's decision, advocating for stronger gender protections in sports: “We need more of this. Much, much, much more of this” ([29:37]).

Debate on Gender Inclusion in Sports

The hosts engage in a heated debate about the fairness and safety of allowing transgender athletes to compete in gendered sports categories.

• Jack Armstrong argues against the inclusion, citing physical advantages: “Even if you are that legit sort of case, the idea that you would dominate women in sports and think it was fine is ludicrous” ([37:54]).

• News Analyst concurs, expressing skepticism about current policies: “You're right. Every sport has a set of rules to help ensure fairness and safety” ([38:16]).

5. Technology and Privacy Concerns

Amazon's Bid for TikTok

The hosts discuss Amazon's last-minute offer to purchase TikTok amidst growing concerns over data security and foreign ownership.

• Jack Armstrong humorously portrays the situation: “You know you're rich when you can make a $200 billion impulse buy like a 2am Jeff Bezos” ([21:26]).

• News Analyst reflects on the potential outcomes: “Bezos is the kind of guy that could come in and say, you know what? I'll bet I could make something out of this” ([21:55]).

6. Concluding Remarks and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts sharing their final reflections on the discussed topics, emphasizing cultural shifts and personal anecdotes.

• News Analyst hopes for cultural changes: “I hope that somehow culturally staring at your phone becomes so uncool like we decided so unhealthy” ([39:17]).

• Jack Armstrong shares a humorous personal note: “I'm about to tweet a picture of myself in studio wearing a bald eagle head... Because America” ([39:45]).

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Notable Quotes:

• “At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.” – Gilbert King ([14:07])

• “If you are contemplating a life of crime, that is proof that you're too stupid to pull off a life of Crime with practically no exceptions.” – Jack Armstrong ([26:40])

• “Every sport has a set of rules to help ensure fairness and safety.” – News Analyst ([38:16])

• “It’s sickening. It’s horrifying. I can’t believe I am blaming myself.” – Jack Armstrong ([17:54])

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This episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand delves into a myriad of pressing issues, ranging from high-profile political dynamics and international conflicts to local community justice and societal debates on gender and technology. Through a blend of humor and critical analysis, the hosts engage listeners in thoughtful discussions, punctuated by personal anecdotes and sharp commentary.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley Season one.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Podcast Host]

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jack Armstrong]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

So after a blip, article reports that Trump told his inner circle and members of his cabinet that Musk will be stepping back, saying, quote, the president is pleased with Elon Musk, but the decision comes as the tech mogul increasingly looks like a political liability. While the White House wasted no time in responding, the press secretary posting this quote, this scoop is garbage. Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete. To which Musk commented this quote, yeah, fake news.

[News Analyst]

Yeah, this is one of the times where the claim of fake news is completely fake news. It's fake news. Do do I think the behind the scenes Trump is thinking, I think Elon's a little over his keys are doing Me more harm than good. I can believe that. But the Elon is being pushed out or fired or whatever, as they reported all day long yesterday on MSNBC. No, it was 130 day deal by law. He's talked openly about the date that he's leaving and he's still planning on leaving on that day.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right?

[News Analyst]

The end. That's the end of the whole story.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and as Trump said, he's got big companies to run. This was not going to be forever.

[News Analyst]

But it was presented as a, you know, a rift and a breakdown and Elon getting his punishment after the Supreme Court justice in Wisconsin that he boosted lost and blah, blah.

[Jack Armstrong]

It was a referendum on Trump and mosque.

[News Analyst]

If you enjoy that kind of soap opera crap, good for you. Knock yourself out. Since we're talking about Elon, here's AOC being asked if she still has her Tesla.

[Jack Armstrong]

Congressman, do you still have your Tesla?

[News Analyst]

I was just wondering if you still have your Tesla.

[Joe Getty]

Her security visas are hot.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm not hobbit.

[News Analyst]

What? For security reasons, I'm a hobbit. Is that what she said?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes. She disguises herself as a denizen of the Shire when she leaves the Capitol to go home at night.

[News Analyst]

I couldn't understand her. But it makes sense that you can't, especially if you AOC or like a lightning rod. You can't go around telling people what kind of car you have.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah, that's just silly. It's kind of a funny question, but so. Okay, that's fine.

[News Analyst]

Exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

I admit to a low level of chagrin because in our discussion of tariffs in the previous hours of the program, I we were missing a giant piece of information. In my defense, as a guy who reads, you know, a huge percentage of Wall Street Journal every day and then goes to the New York Times and all sorts of other news sources to get the various perspectives and figure out what arguments people are using. The key piece of information, how these quote unquote reciprocal tariffs are being calculated. The Wall Street Journal didn't have until it's like half an hour, 40 minutes before we brought it up. Tipped off by listeners that what are being called reciprocal tariffs or a slightly complicated formula that they figure what tariff rate is necessary to balance bilateral trade between the US and each of our trading partners, which again is a weird and artificial goal in my mind. You got some small, poor country.

[News Analyst]

Practically every country's poor compared to us.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that's true. Yeah. We're going to buy more from them than we sell to them, and that's fine. But Anyway, it's the point remains though, that we need to restructure tariffs and trades in a way trade that's more fundamentally fair to American workers. Anyway, there are plenty to be said in the days to come as this all shakes out.

[News Analyst]

We did get one text, somebody complaining about our boring tariff talking how you don't like it. Good for you. If you have no financial investment in the world at all and don't care about this because this is huge. This is really huge. I mean, if it goes the way the detractors say it's going to go, this could be like change your retirement sort of stuff.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, yeah.

[News Analyst]

So I think it's plenty worth talking about. I am amazed that one guy can set this off. One guy, Rand Paul, tweeted about this and then spoke about it last night on the floor of the Senate. He said, I'm about to take the Senate floor to speak out against tariffs and stand up for the principle of no taxation without representation. You don't want to miss this one with just the idea of this is taxation on the American people. Tariff is a tax, you're going to be paying for it. And one guy decided, I guess, you know, he was elected, so you have representation.

[Jack Armstrong]

But yeah, four Republicans in the Senate joined the Democrats in passing a law that condemned this and said it should be overturned or something. I didn't see the specifics, but it was the Randy man and Mitch McConnell.

[News Analyst]

Interested me, the random man.

[Jack Armstrong]

And then your two super moderate senator ladies, Murkowski and Susan Collins, I think it was. Anyway, it'll never get through the House, but it's interesting.

[News Analyst]

I wanted to get this on just because I thought it was kind of interesting if I can find it. Oh, here it is. Just in terms of the who the biggest economies are and the United States is the biggest economy in the world there for a while it looked like China was going to pass us, then not so much. And now there's a decent chance they never do because they've got so many things going the wrong way. Demographics, business, everything else. But here are your top economies. United States.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm sorry, just a quick interjection. Thomas Friedman in the New York Times, I think yesterday had another one of his China is way better at everything columns. Just he's so in love with them and their innovation and how they're the future, clearly and. Okay, all right, Tommy boy.

[News Analyst]

And the point has been made before that since China has and India, if you got four times the population of the United States, your workers can be a quarter as productive and you have as big an economy, I mean, that's just math of it. The advantage of having a giant country. And so I came across this in the Economist that India is about to overtake Japan on the ranking of biggest economies. But some of these on here are kind of surprising. United States, number one, China number two. Then Japan and Germany. Not that big a bigger countries, I mean, compared to China and India in the United States, but they, their economies are really amazing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. Hate to hear them mentioned in the same sentence together. Last time went poorly, never forget.

[News Analyst]

And then India, which if they ever get their act together could, you know, be a, be a colossus. But they're, they're going to move up the list to number four. That's Great Britain. All this talk about old Europe, which I've engaged in, you know, their economies are still big. You got Germany, the United Kingdom and France all in the top eight, which.

[Jack Armstrong]

Is why when the EU is looked at as a whole there, they rival the U.S. yeah.

[News Analyst]

Then it's Brazil, which doesn't get enough attention. Italy, Canada is the 10th largest economy in the world with their little population.

[Jack Armstrong]

40 million people, right?

[News Analyst]

Yeah. Roughly the same as California. Of course, if you break out California, we're like the fifth biggest economy in the world. We'd be bigger than most of these places we mentioned. Also Russia, for all their problems, is the 11th biggest economy in the world.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow.

[News Analyst]

Freaking Mexico. Which is a disaster of a country.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's just called Mexico.

[News Analyst]

Generally, it's the 12th biggest economy in the world.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[News Analyst]

Even run by, you know, narco state.

[Jack Armstrong]

Does that include the cartel's economic output?

[News Analyst]

I don't have any idea.

[Jack Armstrong]

But you know what, that's a super interesting question. I mean, because the cartels buy things and sell things and pay wages that go into people's pockets that are in turn, you know, used to buy a car. Right. So I wonder how that works in economic measurement.

[News Analyst]

I won't break down the numbers because I want to bore you to death because reading lists from the Atlas are not, you know, the best radio. But the United States and China are so much the drop off from 1 and 2 to everybody else is a lot. But I was surprised that so much of old Europe still cranks it out and is in the top half dozen or so. And they're, you know, the countries that are quite angry about this new tariff deal.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yep. Boy, how this shakes out is a, is a great mystery. We'll all find out together, I suppose. I just hope it's not too chaotic.

[News Analyst]

They won't take our meat or our lobsters.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[News Analyst]

In Europe.

[Jack Armstrong]

Our beautiful beef. Our beef is beautiful. That's right.

[News Analyst]

I think we should land on Normandy again over this.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right? Beautiful beef. So if you had Charlemagne the God, mocking Gavin Newsom on your bingo card. Hey, now you're in luck. Why don't we play 15 just for chuckles? Michael.

[News Analyst]

Maybe Democratic leaders in Congress, ain't it?

[Jack Armstrong]

What if we look outside of Washington to the governors? Gavin Newsom from California. He's been getting active lately. What's his fight plan? We need to change the conversation. And that's why I'm launching a new podcast.

[Podcast Host]

And this is gonna be anything but.

[Jack Armstrong]

The ordinary politician podcast. I don't believe you. Your body doesn't even believe the words you're saying. He's mocking Gavin's overactive hand motions as he speaks. That's funny that. You know, Charlamagne, the God is a New York based radio personality. Very popular among young ish black folks and others, obviously. But the fact that he and his constituency have that immediate reaction and the Daily show audience laughed uproariously at it, that says something.

[News Analyst]

Has anybody ever won the presidency who sounded and looked contrived? The people that win tend to seem like they're being themselves.

[Jack Armstrong]

Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, even Biden, who's full of crap and senile. Yeah, he ran as old Scranton Joe.

[News Analyst]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. The people. So it's amazing that so many people try to get that job by thinking about what their hand gestures are going to be or how to smile correctly. The people that win aren't doing that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Remember the other day we were watching Ron DeSantis? He was talking about. Oh, actually it was great stuff about how Florida's already reformed its universities and there's nobody being indoctrinated into Marxism. And no loyalty oaths in Florida universities. And you commented he looks twice as confident as he ever did during his presidential run. I think he got convinced that he had to be calculated and not. Look, I'm a policy wonk and an attorney, but I'm real good at running stuff. Should have gone there. Oh, the next. I meant to say this the other day. The next president of the United states might be DeSantis and not Ron. His wife, the kitty, is emerging as a political juggernaut in Florida, I guess. Super capable, charismatic, smart. Who knows? First lady president.

[News Analyst]

A woman president.

[Jack Armstrong]

Check the Constitution says nothing about the Gonards.

[News Analyst]

Really?

[Jack Armstrong]

Really.

[News Analyst]

That's surprising to me. We've got more on the way. Stay here.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Podcast Host]

Something unexpected happened After Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in bone Valley Season 1, I just knew him as a kid. Long, silent voices from his past came.

[Gilbert King]

Forward and he was just staring at me.

[Podcast Host]

And they had secrets of their own to share.

[Gilbert King]

I'm Gilbert King. I'm the son of Jeremy Lynn Scott.

[Podcast Host]

I was no longer just telling the story. I was part of it.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad, it's, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Podcast Host]

I was becoming the bridge between a killer and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

If the cops and everything would have done their job properly, my dad would have been in jail. I would have never existed.

[Podcast Host]

I never expected to find myself in this place. Now I need to tell you how I got here.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Podcast Host]

Bone Valley Season 2 Jeremy.

[Gilbert King]

Jeremy, I want to tell you something.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to new episodes of Bone Valley Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear the entire new season ad free with exclusive content starting April 9th. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[CNN Reporter]

Uday Rabi, 22 year old Palestinian from Gaza City. Rabi's family says he was killed by Hamas militants, tortured to death for publicly criticizing Hamas. Rabi's brother Hassan told CNN his brother was abducted from the streets of Gaza City by a group of Hamas militants. Six hours later, he was handed over, barely alive. Rabi's brother says his body was delivered with a message. This is the fate of everyone who disrespects Al Qassam Brigades and speaks ill of them, referring to the armed wing of Hama.

[Jack Armstrong]

There you have the story of a young man who spoke out against Hamas and was tortured to death in Gaza. And then students at Columbia University, safe and sound in New York, chanting about Intifada revolution, having chained themselves to the gate. Leave them, I say. Now you're chained to a gate. Good luck. Wait, you've got to cut our chains and drag us off and pretend to arrest us.

[News Analyst]

No, I don't. No, I don't think I do.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, we decided to just leave you there.

[News Analyst]

That is so disgusting.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes, it is. And much as I would love to bash the youngsters for their stupidity, they were intentionally and systematically indoctrinated into a political philosophy by their government school educators.

[News Analyst]

Boy, that's a very good point. For some reason I was thinking as you were talking, what if that was one of my kids? I don't Even know if I could talk to them. But then what you said is true.

[Jack Armstrong]

Go ahead.

[News Analyst]

And you sent them to college and every class they took told them this. What are they supposed to think, right? So I'd have to. I guess I'd have to dedicate myself to deprogramming them.

[Jack Armstrong]

At risk of over making the point. 28. Please, Michael.

[CNN Reporter]

As his body is carried through the streets, the crowd erupts in chants calling for Hamas to get out. His family now demanding justice and retribution. Rabi was killed a week after he and thousands of other Palestinians took to the streets in Gaza's largest anti Hamas demonstration since the war began. Rabi had already scuffled with Hamas members. A month earlier, his brother said, and feared Hamas would kill him. They want to take me, they want to kill me, he said in this video. I don't know what they want from me. A week later, he was dead.

[News Analyst]

Yeah, they drug him up to the house with a leash around his neck, almost dead. And he died shortly thereafter having been tortured, all his fingers cut off. You know, all the usual horrible, horrible things now. So these idiot. The most privileged people on earth, Columbia college kids who've chained themselves to something there and are chanting intifada revolution. What would there be their logic on it? Is it like the black face of white supremacy thing or.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I would love to ask them. So in your bizarro, so stupidly oversimplified worldview, as I've said before, if my dog espoused that I would kick him, that the person with more power is always the evildoer and the person with less power is always the noble, fine person. How about Hamas and that poor young man who had the power there. All right, now lecture me about. Well, they would say, no, he is with the Zionists in effect, so he's become the oppressor. And therefore cutting off all of his fingers was proper. And you're paying $80,000 a year for that. It's sickening. It's horrifying. I can't believe I am blaming myself. I don't know why, but I can't believe we let it get that far. The perversion in our education systems.

[News Analyst]

Shocking, man. You can be as anti Israel as you want. You can't justify Hamas.

[Jack Armstrong]

They do, though. You're right. By any means necessary. There is only one solution. Intifada, revolution, man.

[News Analyst]

The problem with this story, obviously, and if you've spent any time on it ever in your life, you know this, but I'm still making my way through 13 days. The Lawrence Wright book about the Middle east peace talks with Carter Begin and.

[Jack Armstrong]

Sadat.

[News Analyst]

And he does a lot of history lessons in between the negotiations going way back and the back and forth between Palestinians murdering innocent Israelis and then Israelis wiping out Palestinians when Moshe Diane came on the scene. And I mean, it's, it's ugly. And then so. So each side has got such a good story they can point to, to justify anything.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[News Analyst]

And it's a race to the bottom.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and honestly, it would be more honest and almost more informative if you referred to them as the Muslims and the Jews, because it's not the town they're from that makes them oppose each other. One side in particular.

[News Analyst]

Right. It's complicated.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Podcast Host]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley season one.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just knew him as a kid.

[Podcast Host]

Long, silent voices from his past came.

[Gilbert King]

Forward and he was just staring at me.

[Podcast Host]

And they had secrets of their own to share.

[Gilbert King]

Gilbert King. I'm the son of Jeremy Lynn Scott.

[Podcast Host]

I was no longer just telling the story. I was part of it.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Podcast Host]

I was becoming the bridge between a killer and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

If the cops and everything would have done their job properly, my dad would have been in jail. I would have never existed.

[Podcast Host]

I never expected to find myself in this place. Now I need to tell you how I got here.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Podcast Host]

Bone Valley Season 2 Jeremy.

[Gilbert King]

Jeremy, I want to tell you something.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear the entire new season ad free with exclusive content starting April 9th, subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, guys, the deadline for TikTok to find a US owner is almost here and Amazon just made a last minute offer to buy the app. You know you're rich when you can make a $200 billion impulse buy like a 2am Jeff Bezos like, and add $200 billion company to the cart and we get this waffle maker. Right now, Amazon's wondering if they should buy TikTok or just steal it off someone's front porch.

[News Analyst]

That's pretty funny. That's good stuff.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[News Analyst]

And Bezos is the kind of guy that could come in and say, you know what? I'll bet I could make something out of this.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, their algorithms are better, but I know some smart folks. Let's, let's go ahead and buy it. Yeah, it's not going to go dark, I don't think. Anyway, Blur. Apropos of nothing, except it's kind of interesting and cool, our own Katie Green can set up this report from Katie Nielsen of the NBC affiliate in the Bay Area.

[Katie Green]

Yeah, this next story is out of my hometown, Castor Valley in the Bay Area. And it's about a comic book shop that's been in town for 35 years. And I mean, I remember buying car like baseball cards and Pokemon cards there as a kid. And unfortunately, these two jack holes decided to smash the window and rob the place at the beginning of last month. And justice has been served.

[Joe Getty]

Michael cut 24 Crush Comics store manager Cole Sanders and owner Josh Hunter never thought they'd find themselves as real life comic book vigilantes. But that's exactly what happened. After the shop was burglarized in the early morning hours of March 22, the burglar cleared the wall where the most valuable comic books were displayed. Josh thought they were gone for good until one of his employees spotted a very specific comic book for sale on ebay less than 12 hours after the burglary.

[Gilbert King]

When I saw that on ebay, I.

[Jack Armstrong]

Was like, I'm just gonna buy that and see what happens. And we got the guy's name and address and everything.

[Joe Getty]

The very next day, the Alameda County Sheriff's department served a search warrant at the home of 29 year old Narula Amiri of Livermore, where they say they found tens of thousands of dollars of comic books, collectibles and Lego sets, the majority of which were returned to their respective stores.

[Jack Armstrong]

Do we know about anything about that very special comic? Was it a very rare merry worth in which she counsels a friend to commit suicide?

[Katie Green]

I think it was like a custom cover that he spotted. But what had happened is this, this guy who's been robbing, who robbed the Crush Comics has robbed multiple other comic stores and toy stores throughout the East Bay.

[News Analyst]

Scumbag.

[Katie Green]

And so Crush Comics created a text thread with other store owners and they were going to all these different ebay sites and there was actually an Instagram develop buying Legos that had all been stolen. And all of these comic book and toy store owners band together and end up getting all the information on this guy in Alameda county, goes and busts them. It's awesome.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I noticed that. It was Alameda's gang suppression unit and street crimes Unit that was in on the bus. So they're getting serious about that. And now Alameda county has a prosecutor prosecutes crimes. Right, Right. Yes. Having gotten rid of the communist, Pamela Price.

[Katie Green]

Yeah. And one other. One other note about the robber is he wore those old timey nose glasses. The glasses with the fake nose on them. And Crush comics released that they had caught him by all taking pictures with the stolen merchandise. And they all had the nose glasses on. They had a great sense of humor about it. But it was nice to see the. Them get everything back.

[News Analyst]

Yeah, that, that's the problem. Like when people steal rare art and stuff like that. What are you going to do with it?

[Gilbert King]

Right.

[News Analyst]

I mean, it's, you know, every. There's only people know where it came from. So. Yeah, like you could, if. If you could steal the Hope diamond today, which I saw recently. Where did I see it? In Washington D.C. smithsonian.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[News Analyst]

Must be.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, there's Smithsonian news, by the way. But later.

[News Analyst]

Anyway, you could seal the Hope diamond today. What are you going to do with it?

[Jack Armstrong]

It's worthless.

[News Analyst]

Unless. Unless you can somehow back channel an Arab sheik.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes, precisely. Or a Russian oligarch. And I don't have a way, I.

[News Analyst]

Don'T have a way to do that.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no. I would just, you know, put it under my pillow, post it on Facebook or something. Hey, looking for an Arab sheikh, a Russian oligarch. I got something you might want to buy. You meet some really nice FBI agents?

[News Analyst]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's really like kind of an Ozark sort of conundrum. Because practically anybody you try to deal with is going to think, why would I pay you anything for this? I know you have it. I'm going to come kill you and take it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. It's the perfect example though, of a business you work your way up in. Anybody who would do that knows the answer to the question already. Because they've been selling illicit goods to shady characters around the globe.

[News Analyst]

But this sort of person apparently did not know that if they got this comic book that's very unique, you can't just put it on ebay. Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Katie Green]

Glad he did, though.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. A hole and a moron.

[News Analyst]

Gotta hate people like that. Destroying what other people have worked so hard to create and build. It's just.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, is it time for a reset of my buddy Drew's long stated principle?

[News Analyst]

Yes. That's a good one.

[Jack Armstrong]

Drew, career law enforcement guy. If you are contemplating a life of crime, that is proof that you're too stupid to pull off a life of Crime with practically no exceptions.

[News Analyst]

Correct.

[Jack Armstrong]

He tells funny stories of early in his career. Just the stupid people he would bust and they would think, how did you think you were going to get this was going to be successful? You're so stupid. But that's how he arrived at the principle, Right?

[News Analyst]

The big. The smaller crimes are all, I just need 25 bucks for meth. Yeah, but you're bigger. Like, you know, you're gonna rob a bank and you get 10,000. What are you gonna do with $10,000? When you gonna retire?

[Jack Armstrong]

What are you gonna do? They haven't thought it out, getting back to the principal.

[News Analyst]

Right, right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Too stupid. Stupid should hurt, and it often does. It's just when it hurts other people that it's awful. Not to get overly serious, but I grew up reading a columnist by the name of Mike Royko in the Chicago Tribune, and brilliant guy, wonderful writer, led a really interesting life, fought in World War II. He just worked all sorts of jobs. He was a street reporter. And a guy stuck a gun in his face and robbed him at gunpoint one day on the streets of Chicago. And the point of the column was that the one thought that kept running through his mind was that this worthless moron was gonna end his life. Everything he'd done and endured and lived through and accomplished, it was all gonna be ended by just a jackhole, to quote our friend Katie here. And that was the part that made him so mad.

[News Analyst]

Yeah, I can imagine that now as a parent. Just like my kids are gonna have the life they're gonna have without a dad for whatever you're about to get.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[News Analyst]

Which ain't worth nothing, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Anyway, that's a very, very serious thing, and perhaps we will move on now.

[News Analyst]

So I just saw this up on the tv. Have you seen this? The female fencer who took a knee in her fencing match because she was gonna have to fence a dude.

[Jack Armstrong]

No.

[News Analyst]

And she said, I'm not gonna compete against a man.

[Jack Armstrong]

Good for you.

[News Analyst]

You've seen that. Katie, do you have any idea what the trans fencer said to the girl?

[Jack Armstrong]

Because she walks.

[News Analyst]

He walks up to her and has quite a conversation, but I haven't seen what the conversation was.

[Katie Green]

Well, so what happened is the female fencer told the. I don't know if they're called referees, but the ref standing in between the two of them, that she was not going to fence this guy, and she took a knee and the ref couldn't understand what she said, and he walked off. So the guy, the transition fencer, went over to her to be like, hey, what's going on? And she said, listen, I love you, but you're a guy and I'm not going to fence you.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[News Analyst]

And that's gotta, that's more on principle because somebody's. I, I don't know that much about fencing, but I don't think you get hurt fencing, do you?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, you can. I don't think it happens a ton. That's why they have all that.

[News Analyst]

But like, I can't imagine anybody boxes somebody.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh.

[News Analyst]

Or some of these other physical sports or even basketball. Yeah, I see your point where you're up against a guy.

[Jack Armstrong]

We need more of this. Much, much, much more of this. And the.

[News Analyst]

Riley, understand how the whole gymnasium isn't going nuts over it. That's what I don't get.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. They might not be aware or they're afraid to speak out because remember last major poll, it was 79, 18. God. If you're in a girl against dudes competing against girls calling themselves girls.

[News Analyst]

I was at a boys volleyball game last night. But if I'm at a girls volleyball game and they got a dude on the team, feel free to stand up and say there's a dude on the girls team. Because 80% of the people in that room and depending on where you live, it might be 100% of the people in that room agree with you.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. If it's a child, that's a little different situation.

[News Analyst]

But you still can't let it go on. So I don't know what you. What you should do, Katie.

[Katie Green]

Yeah. So back to the. The fencing situation. The referee dealt the woman a black card, which represents the most severe penalty you can receive in the sport. She was then escorted out of the event and made to sign a document acknowledging her penalty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. Well, you can't make me sign a God damn thing.

[News Analyst]

But that's when you take out your little sword.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I still got it on me. Now you're gonna have a hole in you.

[News Analyst]

You're gonna have one less eye when I'm done with you.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, boy. Or you could protest in a dignified fashion the injustice of it all, or you could take it out.

[News Analyst]

Eyes.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, you make a point. Barbaric. Well, good for her. They gave her the old black card. A. Yeah. Dare you? USA Fencing or whatever.

[News Analyst]

What I know about fencing couldn't fill a thimble, I'll tell you that. But.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, good for her, though, as I started to say. There needs to be way more of that. Ladies, girls, do the brave thing if you can. And Then parents who know what's right don't sit there silent because you're afraid of the judgment of your wackadoodle progressive peers. That's the greatest badge of honor you could wear, is that they were mad at you.

[News Analyst]

So these are adults because they're college age, but this Sullivan person fenced for the men's team in college last season before switching to the women's team this season.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know what? We've got a couple of great emails about this topic.

[News Analyst]

Fencing.

[Jack Armstrong]

No women in you Keep that one hand up, guys in girls. Well, yes, yes, yes. You hop back and forth. Yes, Those great emails about dudes whooping up girls that progressives allow. Coming up next, Armstrong and Getty.

[Podcast Host]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley season one.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just knew him as a kid.

[Podcast Host]

Long, silent voices from his past came.

[Gilbert King]

Forward, and he was just staring at me.

[Podcast Host]

And they had secrets of their own to share.

[Gilbert King]

Gilbert King. I'm the son of Jeremy Lynn Scott.

[Podcast Host]

I was no longer just telling the story. I was part of it.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Podcast Host]

I was becoming the bridge between a killer and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

If the cops and everything would have done their job properly, my dad would have been in jail. I would have never existed.

[Podcast Host]

I never expected to find myself in this place. Now I need to tell you how I got here.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Podcast Host]

Bone Valley season two. Jeremy.

[Gilbert King]

Jeremy, I want to tell you something.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear the entire new season ad free with exclusive content starting April 9th, subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Jack Armstrong]

You're gonna feel it, Gail. And I don't want you to wear that dress because it's the color of blood, okay? We don't want any blood, Gail. The G forces that are gonna be on you, you're gonna feel like, I'm gonna die, but you're not gonna die. You are scaring the beep out of me right now, Gail. Hydrogen was being poured into the ship, and the Hindenburg had burned with hydrogen. And I'm thinking, that's frightening, girl. Between the time you leave your bed and get to the ship and go up in the air and then come back down and deal with the press a long time, there are no Bathroom facilities. So they're going to give you diapers.

[News Analyst]

What?

[Jack Armstrong]

That's William Shatner talking to Gayle King about her upcoming trip on the Blue Origin.

[News Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Rocket ship.

[News Analyst]

It's Gayle King. Who are. Who are they all?

[Jack Armstrong]

Going up. There's a bunch of gals, right?

[News Analyst]

Yeah. Rosie O'Donnell. No, Bezos's wife. I think Bezos's wife.

[Jack Armstrong]

And then another bleach blonde, bad built, butch body. Wow, that's Bill Shatner. A, still with us, clearly. B, still sharp and funny as hell. I love Bill Shatner, I really do. Although I. This is so weird. Today, in the midst of I don't know why or what. So I'm going to wait to the bathroom.

[News Analyst]

Hit me with William Shatner's age. We just heard him. Sharp, funny, 84. 94. No, he's 94.

[Jack Armstrong]

No. Wow.

[News Analyst]

Biden still be president if he were that sharp.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, yeah, 94. Well, maybe. Yeah. Anyway, where was I? Oh, I came to a realization about Star Trek, that in all my years of being a Trek fan. That's the one. In all my years, it had never occurred to me. Perhaps I will reveal it in the One More Thing podcast. Good Trek fans, I'm going to blow your minds. So we were talking about the brave woman fencer who conceded a match. She withdrew because it was a dude fencing her in women's fencing. And they gave her the most serious sanction in the sport, the black card. But she's stood up for women's sports in a wonderful way and I hope rewards flow in her direction. Got a couple of emails on the topic because of a discussion yesterday. This one from Adam, please, for the love of Ang, mention this take. I played high school football with a dude whose dream was to be the star quarterback. Sophomore year, he was outmanned by the eventual star quarterback. The dude was a great teammate and an outstanding backup quarterback. He went on to become one of the best soccer players in college. Women's soccer. This took place in the early 2000s. A dude. The linchpin of dudes in women's sports is the pervert sexual abuse claims. Without that narrative, the left doesn't have a victim card to play. And we're right back to the moral hurdle we already we jumped already of girls joining the boys wrestling team. The dude I played football with didn't want VIP access to the girls locker room. He wanted to feel important. That level of selfishness is still wrong and shouldn't be disguised by assumptions that are easily made.

[News Analyst]

Wow, that's interesting. I never really Thought of that. Take. You're so into being good at your sport. Okay, I'll get into a different category then.

[Jack Armstrong]

And you combine that who knows how much or in what way with autogynephilia. You look it up if you don't know what it is or legitimate gender dysphoria or whatever. Because I mean, if you have legit like adult gender dysphoria, you're. And this was like virtually every single case of transgenderism. An adult male who'd felt like a girl his entire life. Adolescent girls didn't exist. The idea that no, I want to be a boy now. It's an invention of progressive neo Marxists anyway, mostly. And anyway, it's a mental disorder and I feel.

[News Analyst]

And rarely rare 20% of the student body.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. But yeah, even if you are that legit sort of case, the idea that you would dominate women in sports and think it was fine is ludicrous. And then this Rich, the California assembly member said sports are inherently unfair, so men should be allowed and women sports. Hilarious.

[News Analyst]

No kidding.

[Jack Armstrong]

Every sport has a set of rules to help ensure fairness and safety. For example, it'd be unfair and definitely unsafe to have 17 year old boys play football against 12 year olds. That's why they have a 12 and under league. Also wouldn't be fun to watch her play that game. I don't get what enjoyment these guys get out of playing girls sports.

[News Analyst]

I don't either. I don't either.

[Jack Armstrong]

Dominating them. Pathetic.

[News Analyst]

And now final thoughts with Armstrong and Giddy. Engage. Here's your host for final thoughts, Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Let's get a final thought from everybody on the crew. Michelangelo, lead us off just real quick. My wife just texted me that my Costco membership card is expired. I'm glad she told me this at the end of the show or I've been distracted all morning. Katie Green, our esteemed newswoman, has a final thought.

[Katie Green]

Katie, I am just really happy about the whole no phones in schools thing and also mortified at the fact that the students were trying to break into the things to get their thumbs out.

[News Analyst]

It'd be quite an adjustment.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, but bringing happiness and joy to them, right? I love it. I hate the alternative. Jack, final thought.

[News Analyst]

Yeah. I was thinking yesterday for some reason on that theme. I hope that somehow culturally staring at your phone becomes so uncool like we decided so unhealthy and everything like that. It's like smoking cigarettes in an elevator or doing drugs or something like that where it's just culturally uncool.

[Jack Armstrong]

I. I love that idea. I. I don't love our chances.

[News Analyst]

No.

[Jack Armstrong]

But I'm. I'm on your side. My final thought, I'm about to tweet a picture of myself in studio wearing a bald eagle head. So good. Putting my arm around Donald Trump. Because why? Because America is why.

[News Analyst]

Because you got to make a living and this is how you make a living?

[Jack Armstrong]

No, Because America.

[News Analyst]

Armstrong and Getty wrapping up another grueling four hour workday.

[Jack Armstrong]

So many people. To thanks to a little time go To Armstrong and getty.com we have merch. We have swag. We have the email address Hot links mailbag at Armstrong&getty.com. oh, a cornucopia of delights.

[News Analyst]

See you tomorrow. God bless America, Armstrong and Getty.

[CNN Reporter]

Our message is clear.

[Jack Armstrong]

Our beef is beautiful and theirs is weak.

[Podcast Host]

Are you sure Pocahontas says yes?

[News Analyst]

That's not what I was told.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. Oh, Congressman. Well, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty asked the same question of their listeners, and here's their response.

[News Analyst]

I still wonder, did he know that she wasn't European?

[Jack Armstrong]

I tell you what, once a woman grabs you by your castanets, you don't care anymore. Bye bye, Armstrong and Getty.

[Podcast Host]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley season one.

[Gilbert King]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

[Podcast Host]

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Gilbert King]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.