He Has The Attention Span Of A Moth

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "He Has The Attention Span Of A Moth"
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Host: Armstrong & Getty
Produced by iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In this episode titled "He Has The Attention Span Of A Moth," Armstrong and Getty delve into a mix of serious political discourse, bizarre news stories, and intriguing societal observations. Skipping over the commercial breaks and advertisements, the hosts engage listeners with thought-provoking discussions and sharp commentary.

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1. The Epstein Files Saga

Duration: [03:25] – [07:09]

Overview:
Armstrong and Getty kick off the episode by addressing the enduring controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's files. They discuss a recent move by Democratic leaders to compel the Department of Justice to release complete Epstein documents, invoking a century-old law.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg: “He is incapable of shame. Speaking of shame, it would be a terrible shame if this hour we did not squeeze in two stories.”
• Michael: “Chuck Schumer is the biggest deal in all the Democrats... pushing aggressively for the full release of everything that is possible.”

Key Points:

• Legislative Actions: Senator Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders have invoked the "rule of five," a seldom-used law, to demand the release of Epstein's files.
• Bipartisan Interest: Even prominent Republicans like Speaker of the House Johnson are being drawn into the conversation, signaling widespread political engagement on the issue.
• Judicial Constraints: The hosts highlight that grand jury testimonies remain sealed, emphasizing the complexity and sensitivity of releasing such information.
• Political Posturing: Armstrong and Getty critique the political motivations behind these moves, suggesting that leaders may be using the Epstein case for partisan gain rather than genuine pursuit of justice.

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2. Indonesian Monkey Gangs: A Bizarre Scam

Duration: [07:09] – [16:49]

Overview:
Transitioning from high-stakes politics, the hosts explore an unusual story about organized monkey gangs in Bali orchestrating sophisticated thefts from unsuspecting tourists.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg: “Stay tuned lest you be molested by Indonesian Monkey Gangs, or IMGs as they're known in law enforcement.”
• Michael: “The monkeys are running a scam. Why are monkeys taking my phone? It's a monkey scam.”

Key Points:

• The Scam Mechanics: Approximately 600 long-tailed macaque monkeys in Bali's sacred temples have been trained to steal valuables like smartphones and wallets, using them as currency to trade for food.
• Economic Intelligence: Studies cited by the hosts suggest that these monkeys can differentiate between high-value and low-value items, engaging in economic decision-making to maximize their gains.
• Human Intervention: Temple monkey handlers, known as pawang, negotiate with the monkeys, offering fruits in exchange for the returned items.
• Cultural Context: The monkeys are considered sacred guardians of the temples, adding a unique cultural dimension to their theft activities.
• Humorous Angle: Armstrong and Getty infuse humor into the segment, portraying the monkeys' operations as almost criminal enterprises, complete with "monkey courts" and negotiations.

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3. Courtroom Drama: Dentist Found Guilty of Murder

Duration: [20:15] – [21:41]

Overview:
The hosts discuss a high-profile court case where a dentist was found guilty of first-degree murder, highlighting the extreme behaviors that can emerge behind seemingly respectable facades.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong: “The jury unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt find the defendant, James Craig, guilty of murder in the first degree.”
• Michael: “He’s been cheating the whole marriage and tries to involve his own child in covering up his crimes. Just a nut job, but a successful guy, dentist.”

Key Points:

• Case Details: James Craig, a dentist, was convicted not only of murdering his wife but also of attempting to fabricate evidence to disguise the crime as a suicide.
• Behavioral Analysis: Armstrong and Getty discuss Craig’s manipulative actions, including trying to enlist his children and fellow inmates in his schemes.
• Sociopathic Traits: The hosts ponder whether Craig’s actions indicate sociopathic tendencies, noting the difficulty in reconciling his professional success with his criminal behavior.

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4. Screen Time and Cognitive Inequality

Duration: [27:06] – [37:04]

Overview:
Armstrong and Getty delve into a New York Times essay by Mary Harrington that argues digital technologies, particularly smartphones and social media, are exacerbating cognitive inequality, making deep literacy and critical thinking a luxury for the wealthy.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael: “With notifications and tabs molding our minds for distraction, deep literacy and rational capacity are becoming luxury goods.”
• Greg: “The title is ‘Thinking is Becoming a Luxury Good.’ That is one of the most stupid effing things I’ve ever heard, ironically.”

Key Points:

• Digital Divide: The essay suggests that only those with sufficient social and economic resources can prioritize and sustain habits like deep reading, while poorer demographics spend more time on screens and shallow media consumption.
• Critical Reception: Armstrong and Getty express skepticism about the essay’s assertions, debating whether economic status truly dictates one’s ability to engage in deep, meaningful cognitive activities.
• Personal Insights: Michael shares his own positive experiences with long-form reading, contrasting it with mindless scrolling, while Greg challenges the notion that cognitive habits are solely a function of wealth.
• Societal Implications: The hosts discuss the broader implications of cognitive inequality, questioning whether digital distractions are indeed undermining intellectual development across different socioeconomic groups.

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5. The LA Fire Relief Fund Controversy

Duration: [37:12] – [48:34]

Overview:
The episode shifts focus to a critical examination of the "Fire Aid Benefit" concert fundraiser in Los Angeles, which raised $100 million purportedly for wildfire victims but allegedly failed to distribute funds directly to those in need.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg: “The idea that no money had gotten to the victims is both horrible and hard to believe given the entertainment industry's prominence in LA.”
• Michael: “I’m pretty cynical about these kinds of fundraisers. It takes a lot to pull it off properly.”

Key Points:

• Fundraising Breakdown: The $100 million raised by Fire Aid was distributed across over 120 nonprofits and community groups in initial rounds, with further funds allocated via applications.
• Community Feedback: Victims and local residents expressed disappointment, noting that direct relief was not provided as initially advertised.
• Organizational Transparency: Armstrong and Getty question the transparency and effectiveness of Fire Aid, highlighting concerns about how funds are allocated and the potential for mismanagement or misdirection.
• Nonprofit Sector Critique: The hosts extend their critique to the broader nonprofit sector, discussing the complexities and challenges of ensuring charitable funds reach intended beneficiaries without being siphoned off by administrative costs or corruption.
• Call for Accountability: They advocate for thorough audits and oversight to ensure that large-scale fundraising efforts genuinely benefit those they aim to help.

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6. Cultural Differences in Deadlines and Tariffs

Duration: [40:18] – [40:42]

Overview:
In a brief segment, Armstrong and Getty touch upon cultural variances in handling deadlines, linking it to recent tariff deadlines involving South Korea and the U.S. under the Trump administration.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael: “Other cultures have a completely different way of looking at deadlines than we do in the United States.”
• Greg: “Interesting.”

Key Points:

• Global Business Practices: The discussion hints at how differing cultural attitudes toward deadlines can impact international trade agreements and business negotiations.
• Current Events: Reference is made to the Trump administration's handling of tariff deadlines with South Korea, illustrating the practical implications of these cultural differences in real-world scenarios.

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7. Video Game Spotlight: Donkey Kong Bonanza

Duration: [50:20] – [50:49]

Overview:
Concluding the episode on a lighter note, Armstrong and Getty promote the Nintendo Switch game "Donkey Kong Bonanza," describing it as an adventurous and action-packed experience.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg: “A treasure trove of bananas has been stolen and it’s up to Donkey Kong and his buddy Pauline to get them back.”
• Michael: “Donkey Kong Bonanza Available now. Rated Everyone 10+ only on Nintendo Switch 2.”

Summary:
The hosts highlight the game's plot involving Donkey Kong and Pauline on a mission to retrieve stolen bananas, emphasizing its family-friendly rating and availability on the Nintendo Switch platform.

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Conclusion

"He Has The Attention Span Of A Moth" offers listeners a blend of incisive political commentary, exploration of strange news phenomena, and reflections on societal trends. Armstrong and Getty engage their audience with a balance of humor and critical analysis, encouraging thoughtful consideration of the issues discussed.

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Notable Advertisements Skipped:

• Annabe Washable Sofas Promotion
• Lenovo AI-Powered PCs
• Odoo Business Software Solutions
• Sonesta Travel Pass Offers
• Additional product and service advertisements interspersed throughout the episode.

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For more detailed discussions and future episodes, subscribe to the Armstrong & Getty On Demand podcast on your preferred platform.

Transcript

[Christina Quinn]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

Head to lenovo.com to shop AI PCs.

[Jack Armstrong]

And find your perfect companion. Plus get 5% off when you create Create an education account.

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's o d o o.com if.

[Christina Quinn]

You eat too many ultra processed foods, you could be starving your gut microbes and they'll get hangry. That's one of many things I learned after working on a new audio course about the gut microbiome. You can learn how to keep your gut happy by listening to Try this from The Washington Post. I'm Christina Quinn. I host Try this. Dig in with me on practical advice for life's common challenges. Follow. Try this right now, wherever you're listening. Seriously, try it.

[Joe Getty]

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[Michael]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio.

[Joe Getty]

Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center.

[Jack Armstrong]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty Armstrong and get.

[Greg]

And now here's Armstrong and yeti.

[Michael]

I was really proud to join every single one of my Democratic colleagues on the Homeland Committee in invoking a century.

[Greg]

Old and little known law known as.

[Michael]

The rule of five to compel the.

[Greg]

Department of Justice to release the full and complete Epstein files.

[Michael]

Under federal law, when any five senators on the Homeland Security Committee call on the executive branch, the executive branch must comply.

[Greg]

All right. All right.

[Michael]

The most powerful Democrat in America leaning hard into the Epstein story.

[Greg]

He is incapable of shame. Speaking of shame, it would be a terrible shame if this hour we did not squeeze in two stories. I demand we talk about these two stories this hour. Number one, what happened to the hundred million dollars raised for the Southern California fire victims? And number two, Indonesian monkey. Take two. Michael, do we have enough tape? Indonesian monkey gangs, are you at risk?

[Michael]

Indonesian monkey gangs.

[Greg]

Stay tuned lest you be molested by Indonesian Monkey Gangs, or IMGs as they're known in law enforcement.

[Michael]

Also, we've been mentioning that Kamala Harris is running for president. She's got a book she's putting out. We've got her explaining what's in the book. I guess later. This really. So that's good. So he's begun already?

[Greg]

Yes, it's like Christmas.

[Michael]

So you got Chuck Schumer. He's the biggest deal in all the Democrats, right? He's the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, most powerful Democrat in America, saying gotta get the Epstein files. I've invoked a 100-year-old law to, to try to get the Epstein stuff to come out. He's not alone. Here's the most powerful Republican short of Donald Trump, speaker of the House Johnson, being asked about the Epstein files. I want everything to come out about the Epstein evils that is possible to be released. We have to do it in A, in a responsible manner. But look, I'm pushing for, aggressively for the full release of everything that is possible. And by the way, so is the president. He has said the same thing. We're using every mechanism within our power to do that and to do it as quickly as possible. I don't understand what is happening here.

[Greg]

It's easy to, I think it's fairly easy to understand posturing for people who are into the, the thing.

[Michael]

Okay, how's it going to end? What's going to happen?

[Greg]

Oh, gosh, I, I, I guarantee Johnson is hoping it just peters out.

[Michael]

Oh, I think he's hoping an event happens, something. The war on Russia. Just, just some, some, some story bumps it, and then we all forget about it. And then like nine months from now, you're saying, hey, whatever happened to that whole Epstein thing?

[Greg]

Yeah, obviously Schumer just wants to prolong it for just pathetic. Will be completely unsuccessful, partisan reasons, desperately trying to have something the Democrats can hang their hat on. But it's funny. Day after day goes by, more strong statements and vows and lies and truths, and the situation remains the same. Grand jury testimony is sealed, and the judge is not going to release sensitive information about victims and witnesses and people who have not been charged. Those are like sacred principles of, of our judicial system. So posture on, good buddy. Posture on.

[Michael]

So one of the big stories yesterday was Cash Patel, the guy who runs the FBI, said he found a whole bunch of burn bags with Russian hoax documents. I'd never heard that term before. Here's a little report on it from Hannity last night.

[Greg]

Senator Charles Grassley has been investigating the collusion hoax and those behind it for years, which is why these burn bag documents were turned over to him. So the question becomes, you know, who ordered the plan burning? Why did they do it? And it doesn't matter if the material was classified, you still cannot destroy it if it relates to an investigation.

[Michael]

Okay, well, let's go clear to the top. Trump was asked about the burn bags.

[Joe Getty]

Patel reportedly found burn bags of Russia gate materials. And we'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

[Michael]

He said what?

[Joe Getty]

Burn bags of Russia gate materials?

[Greg]

I don't know that. I don't know. I don't know what you mean by.

[Michael]

That statement say bags full of Russian hate burn back. I thought you said appointed a man named Burn Bag. Go ahead. So he, like the rest of us.

[Greg]

Had never heard burnbag. Oh, he's well known in justice circles.

[Michael]

Yeah, he's doing great work. Edward Birdbag. So he Trump, like the rest of us had never heard of Burn Bags, had no idea what that hell that story is.

[Greg]

Burnbag has paid his due. It's time for him to have the big chair.

[Michael]

I think he's earned it, and I think he'd be good on the Supreme Court. Next question.

[Greg]

So this, this story is either a hilariously naked attempt to distract and, or come up with something for the conspiracy world to, to chew on, or it's completely legit. I mean, if you. And, and I've got more good stuff on this, but we'll never find time for it. But the whole Clapper, Brennan, Comey, Russiagate, the fix was in. The, the evidence was fake, the FISA warrants were inaccurate. Just if, if you go through all of that and comprehend it and don't think maybe somebody tried to get a bunch of. Get rid of a bunch of incriminating documents, I think you're a fool. That doesn't make it true, but it's.

[Michael]

Worth asking the question, hey, did you take in national reviews take on this the other day? I thought that was really interesting. Particularly Charles C.W. cook has written about this a lot. This is a missing element of our politics in the modern times. For some reason, the idea that there are political solutions to these things and they often happen, and you should feel like, okay, it's been taken care of. Because there are a number of things like this where you feel like justice wasn't done. There's a political solution. People disliked the Democrats so much, in part because of this, this sort of crap. They elected Trump instead of Biden or.

[Greg]

Kamala Harris, heaved them out of office.

[Michael]

There was a political solution there.

[Greg]

Yeah, that is a good point.

[Michael]

Sometimes in the, in the, in the.

[Greg]

What we're doing, because as anybody who's ever been involved in a lawsuit can tell you, or, you know, criminal prosecution, for that matter, it's really hard. It takes a really long time, and it's super expensive. And if it's something that anybody has, like, decent, plausible denial about, you will never, ever get a conviction. So the political solution is the best one you can hope for. It's a good point.

[Michael]

Well, and it's a pretty good solution if you're winning big elections. It might not have feel like maybe the same satisfaction as seeing Clapper in jail. I guess Brennan is the villain. Brennan in prison. But they lost and they have the lowest approval rating for their party they've ever had.

[Greg]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Because of this sort of stuff in the border and a bunch of other things. Or Fauci. All of that stuff. Yeah. People didn't end up in jail, but that party is dying on the vine.

[Greg]

Well, Fauci covered up the murder of millions and probably facilitated it, but I see your point. The point remains, Michael.

[Michael]

It's like. It's not like that on that side was not that there were no repercussions for what they did. There were great repercussions. A guy that you would have thought was unelectable, like Donald Trump beat them.

[Greg]

Yeah, yeah. Not entirely satisfying, but again, it's a good point.

[Michael]

Michael.

[Greg]

Do we have any sort of eerie music like scene setting Me, I should asked earlier because I've got my. My eerie voice ready to go. My vaguely threatening voiceover voice. But at a cliffside temple on the tropical island of Bali, an unexpected group of criminals is running one of the world's most sophisticated scam operations. Apparently we don't have music that fits. I should have asked for it earlier. An incompetent talk show host blames his co workers when we all know where the blame lies for his own lack.

[Michael]

Of planning.

[Greg]

Because he's got the attention span of a moth and forgot to tell poor Michael. This is. This is perfect, by the way.

[Michael]

Nice job.

[Greg]

This is stunning.

[Michael]

It's worth taking the time to find the music.

[Greg]

Where were we? Ah, that's right. In belly. Each week they steal dozens of phones, wallets and other valuables from tourists in broad daylight and exchange them for handsome rewards. It's been going on for decades and nobody can stop it. Who are the culprits?

[Michael]

Reet, Reet, Reet.

[Greg]

Long tailed macaques, said a tourist from London whose sunglasses were stolen by a monkey during a visit last year. The monkeys have taken over the temple. They're running a scam. So.

[Michael]

The monkeys are running a scam.

[Greg]

It's a monkey scam.

[Michael]

Why are monkeys taking my phone? It's a monkey scam.

[Greg]

So Bali is at the southern tip of Indonesia, super popular for tourists, and you got everything from panoramic views to beaches.

[Michael]

I saw it. Twitter post from a woman who looked like the sort of person that would tweet this. Just got back from Bali and my life will never be the same. And I thought, whatever, all right, Shut up.

[Greg]

Nice implants, by the way. Get your money's worth. So you got that. The beaches and traditional fire dance shows, panoramic views, and the Balinese Hindu temple sites that date back at least to the 11th century.

[Michael]

Wow.

[Greg]

So fascinating place in a lot of ways. But there are like 600 monkeys that inhabit the temple because for whatever crazy third world reason, the monkeys are considered to be the sacred guardians of the temple. In Bali, the sacred cows are actually monkeys. So the primate researchers have found that these macaque monkeys.

[Michael]

You can't say that on the air.

[Greg]

I think I can.

[Joe Getty]

I'm cringing.

[Michael]

I know.

[Greg]

I love macaques. These macaques steal belongings to use as currency to trade with humans for food. And monkeys can be trained to differentiate between high value stuff like smartphones, prescription prescription glasses and wallets and crap like hats or flip flops and will barter accordingly.

[Michael]

So they know that if they take an iPhone from me, they might get a peach.

[Greg]

Yes, indeed. Yeah. And it's an interesting story about tourism and monkey crime. Certainly.

[Michael]

No, I will not yield to this monkey court or whatever this thing.

[Greg]

This is not a monkey court.

[Michael]

Well, maybe it is.

[Greg]

Maybe it's a monkey temple.

[Michael]

It should be a monkey court. They should all be prosecuted.

[Greg]

Where are you going to try the monkeys if not a monkey court? Anyway, according this university team that spent years filming the macaques and outlying, analyzing hundreds of hours of footage. Katie shakes her head sadly.

[Michael]

You are five.

[Greg]

In other words. Tell you what, my inner child keeps me sane. In other words. The monkeys, quote, have unprecedented economic decision making processes. They wrote in an academic paper.

[Michael]

It's interesting that they can differentiate an iPhone from like some other item as being more valuable.

[Greg]

Now, interestingly, many cases require the help of the monkeys handlers, the temple monkeys handlers called pawang, which is only slightly better than macaque.

[Michael]

Oh, my God. Yeah, I think. I think we're being worked. Not a bit of it.

[Greg]

Anyway, these pawangs negotiate with the furry hostage takers. They offer fruits such as bananas, mangoes, something I've never heard of.

[Michael]

And.

[Greg]

And something else I've never heard of. Rambutan and mangosteen, of course, exchange to.

[Michael]

Go to the Bali court known as Lapinas.

[Greg]

I only wish Jack. I only wish your child. And so these guys get to get a cut as well. Maybe get a little tip, get a little love.

[Michael]

I see. I see.

[Greg]

This is it all a scam.

[Michael]

They're kind of communicating it. That does sound like a scam. Yeah. The monkey took your iPhone. You're gonna have to give him. If you give me a couple of dollars, I'll have him give me your phone back. All right, I see what's happening there.

[Greg]

Yeah. Indonesian monkey gangs. What's next?

[Michael]

What is next? Just. Just when you think you're on top of things. Screen time. The latest division of the social war we've got going on. Class warfare. Stay tuned.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Time for a sofa upgrade. Visit washablesofas.com and discover Annabe where designer style meets budget friendly prices. With sofas starting at $699, Annabe brings you the ultimate in furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anove is the only machine washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquid simply slides right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high resilience foam lets you choose between a sink in feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus, our pet friendly stain resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your living space today with no risk returns and a 30 day money back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Lenovo]

Lenovo is built for creators who don't wait for inspiration. They chase it with inventive tech built in AI tools and seamless performance. Lenovo devices powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are designed to bring your wildest ideas to life faster. That's the power of Lenovo. With intel inside, enjoy flexible financing, rewards on every purchase and free shipping. And students get special offers when you create an [e-mail].

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out [e-mail] that's o d o.

[Christina Quinn]

O.Com if you eat too many ultra processed foods, you could be starving your gut microbes and they'll get hangry. That's one of many things I learned after working on a new audio course about the gut microbiome. You can learn how to keep your gut happy by listening to Try this from the Washington Post. I'm Christina Quinn. I host Try this Dig in with me on practical advice for life's common challenges. Follow Try this right now, wherever you're listening. Seriously, try.

[Joe Getty]

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[Jack Armstrong]

The dentist in a Colorado courtroom as the judge read the jury's verdict.

[Joe Getty]

We the jury unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt find the defendant, James Craig guilty of murder in the first degree.

[Jack Armstrong]

Craig also found guilty of trying to fabricate evidence to make his wife Angela's death look like suicide, asking others to lie for him, including one of his own children, and asking a fellow inmate to kill the detective investigating him.

[Michael]

I was not following that story. I kind of wish I had gotten into it like a lot of you did. And it's an interesting, you know, how these court cases every once in a while catch people's attention and become a focus enough to make national news. And this was an interesting one. I don't think it was ever in doubt that he was guilty. It was just following along his insane behavior as a dad of six, married for decades, ends up killing his wife like this. And he's, he's been cheating the whole marriage and he tries to get his kid involved in the COVID up. And then that you heard there while he's been in jail this whole time, tried to get an inmate, tried to hire somebody to kill the prosecutor. Just a nut job, but a successful guy, dentist.

[Greg]

Yeah. Gotta be just a sociopath. I mean, because like bad judgment and desperation wouldn't take you that far down that road, would it?

[Michael]

You wouldn't think.

[Greg]

So it's gotta be a sociopath who passed as a reasonable person.

[Michael]

Coming up, I want to get into the the latest attempt at class warfare in the New York Times that I think is, it's interesting on several levels. It's all around screen time. But I was just, we kind of had this conversation during the commercial break. We were doing something of a jocular nature. Last segment, if you didn't hear it about monkey gangs. And Michael referenced a boss of ours many, many, many years ago, really nice guy. But he once said to us about, first of all, we had a different boss. He said funny's okay, but not silly, which I just love. I just love that you pretend that you can break down that distinction as the program director of the radio station when we're being funny versus silly. And then the other program director who would talk to us at length every single day, said people do not want a clown in their home.

[Greg]

Which is true.

[Michael]

As far as it goes, yes. Whether or not you should try to be funny on the radio is a different question. But do people actually no, I don't. I'd be horrified if they're a clown at my home right now.

[Greg]

Funny is okay. Silly is not. It's. It's so easy to Wacky is acceptable. Madcap no.

[Michael]

Yeah. I in the in the world of show business is the very sort of thing that David Letterman used to complain about all the time. The bosses, who have no idea what humor is or could craft this sort of thing themselves, stand outside his studio and judge whether or not he'd done a good show. Spent your life with an MBA figuring out finances. This thing at class warfare and screen time I think is pretty damned interesting. So I hope you can stick around for it. We do a lot of segments and hours that I find in interesting.

[Greg]

And where'd that hundred million dollars in LA fire relief money go? Stay tuned. If you can't stay tuned, subscribe to the podcast Armstrong E. Getty on Demand.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Time for a sofa upgrade. Visit washablesofas.com and discover Annabe where designer style meets budget friendly prices with sofas starting at $699, Annabe brings you the ultimate in of front furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anime is the only machine washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquid simply slides right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high resilience foam lets you choose between a sink in feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus our pet friendly stain resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your living space today with no risk returns and a 30 day money back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Lenovo]

Lenovo is built for creators who don't wait for inspiration. They chase it with inventive tech, built in AI tools and seamless performance. Lenovo devices powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are designed to bring your wildest ideas to life faster. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel inside. Enjoy flexible financing rewards on every purchase and free shipping and students get special offers when you create an [e-mail] lenovo Lenovo.

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's o d o o.com if.

[Christina Quinn]

You eat too many ultra processed foods, you could be starving your gut microbes and they'll get ha. That's one of many things I learned after working on a new audio course about the gut microbiome. You can learn how to keep your gut happy by listening to Try this from the Washington Post. I'm Christina Quinn. I host Try this. Dig in with me on practical advice for life's common challenges. Follow. Try this right now, wherever you're listening. Seriously, try it.

[Joe Getty]

Sonesta Travel Pass is the most rewarding way to travel. Sign [e-mail] for instant savings, bonus points, and perks like early check in and late checkout, room upgrades and free stays. Choose from 1100 hotels across 13 brands and unlock their best rates. When you book with Sinesta Travel Pass here today, Rome tomorrow, join [e-mail] that's sinesta.com terms and conditions apply.

[Greg]

Singer Katy Perry was spotted on a date with Canada's former Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Ew. I know. Who knew she was a lesbian girl for sure.

[Michael]

Wow.

[Greg]

Did not see that punchline coming. Well done, Greg.

[Michael]

Yeah. And to our previous story, monkey gangs are a real thing. My wife got her fancy sunglasses stolen at that temple in Bali and she had to pay a local man close by to get them back. No scam here. So they train the monkeys to steal the stuff and say, I've got the ability to get that back from the monkey. And you'd think, well, I don't, I don't know. I don't know. The monkey ain't gonna come to me.

[Greg]

Right? Right. How do you break up the gang? The monkeys aren't talking.

[Michael]

Joe's important story coming up next segment.

[Greg]

Where'd that hundred million dollars for the Southern California wildfire victims go?

[Michael]

I think this is damned interesting. This is from the New York Times. I'm going to read their piece about their essay. But there's There's a lot here. I think one of the promises of technology was that it would democratize knowledge. With Project Gutenberg, for instance, which I've used online before, I don't know if you have. You don't need to. You don't need access to a physical library to read Gulliver's Travels. Like any book or anything written that is in the public domain, you can go to the Project Gutenberg online and read. And so that's anything from before 1925 at this point. With Wikipedia, you don't need a set of bulky, expensive reference books to learn about king Louis the 14th. Do you remember MOOCs massive open online courses? In theory, that meant that you don't need a Harvard acceptance letter to learn programming from a Harvard computer scientist. But in a guest essay this week, Mary Harrington argues that more often today, digital technologies, especially our smartphones, are actually doing the opposite. They are drivers of a growing cognitive inequality. Only the New York Times could turn this into a class thing. It's true, but I just. Anyway, we'll discuss that out as scrolling and short form videos crowd out long form reading. As for me, unfortunately, as notifications and tabs mold our minds for distraction, what scholars call deep literacy and through it, critical thinking and rational capacity are becoming luxury goods available only to those who have the time and resources to consciously determinately prioritize them.

[Greg]

That last part is a real stretch. I mean, the first part about how, you know, I was going to say, wait a minute, bad stuff isn't crowding out good stuff. But then I saw their point. It kind of does, because the best minds of our generation are tempting us into doing it. But that last part, okay, the Ascetic.

[Michael]

Approach to Cognitive fitness. There's a sentence you only get in the New York Times is still niche and concentrated among the wealthy, writes Harrington. Indeed, poor kids in America spend about two more hours per day on screens than richer ones, according to the 2019 study. Well, so, okay, you could have written.

[Greg]

That story 200 or 400 years ago. Only the rich have the time to study Latin and Greek and Pythagoras. The rest of us are scratching out.

[Michael]

A living off the land.

[Greg]

Which is why Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln was so miraculous a person. He was so determined to learn. He, he surmounted all of that.

[Michael]

Yeah, but this is the opposite. This is saying that they're spending more time, more free time. I guess poor kids are spending more free time scrolling, and that's somehow a problem that needs to be overcome.

[Greg]

So people that just said that only rich people have the time to do, like deep reading?

[Michael]

No, what they're suggesting is only rich people have the time to enforce rules on their kids, I guess, that don't allow them to scroll. I just, I think it's interesting because it's clearly the, the, the whole. What do they call it? That's a good term and a deep literacy. Like I, I mentioned the other day, I've started reading Ulysses. I'm committed this time to getting through that damn book. I've gotten further than I've ever gotten before. But I've been reading every night long form reading of a specific piece of difficult literature. And I'm enjoying it so much. It's like, it's just, it's amazing the feeling it gives me versus the just scrolling through crap before I go to.

[Greg]

Bed because you're rich or something. According to the New York Times, it's.

[Michael]

Like the difference between eating a healthy smoothie or, you know, junk food. I mean, it's just, it's amazing. But anyway, the whole deep literacy and our minds are trained to not do that anymore is all 100% true and a huge problem. And it might do mankind and it might do me. But the idea that we're now, there's now a break between the rich and the poor, and you're insinuating they never get to this point, but they're insinuating it's somebody's fault. I mean, do whatever you want in your family, regardless of your income, on how much time you let your kids scroll crap or how much time you scroll crap. It's got nothing to do with how much money you have if you have a phone, how much time you spend scrolling crap versus, you know, reading literature. That's completely up to you, right? Nobody else.

[Greg]

I find myself wondering what it's like to go through every single day desperately looking for some sort of haves and have nots narrative tied to everything, and then desperately trying to demonstrate to everyone that you're on the right side of it, that those two things animate your everyday. What? What's it like? The title is tiring. The title.

[Michael]

And no kidding, the title is Thinking is Becoming a Luxury Good.

[Greg]

That is one of the most stupid effing things I've ever heard, ironically.

[Michael]

What a dangerous way to look at the world. So if you have a family where the kids play dumb games on their tablet all the time, or you have a family where the kids are, you know, not doing that, or reading or you're reading or whatever, it's got to do with wealth. Well, there's probably a correlation between those things. Just like. Well, let me read this other part. This is from the guy who actually wrote the essay. So that was someone writing in the New York Times about the essay in the New York Times. This is from the actual essay. Think of this. By comparison with patterns of junk food consumption, as ultra processed snacks have grown more available and inventively addictive, developed societies have seen a gulf emerge between those with the social and economic resources. What are social resources? The social and economic resources to sustain a healthy lifestyle and those more vulnerable to the obsogenetic food culture. I don't know what that word is. I've never come across.

[Greg]

They're the worst, those people.

[Michael]

This bifurcation is strongly class inflected across the developed west. Obesity has become a strongly correlated with poverty. I fear that so too will be the tide of post literacy. First of all, I gotta look up that word obesogenetic tending to cause obesity.

[Greg]

Okay, you could have just Obesogenetic.

[Michael]

Obesogenetic, okay. But first of all, I've never even bought the food one. Really? The idea that if you're on the poorer end where people tend to be more overweight, it's because you're forced into it. No, I mean there's been studies on that. There's all kinds of healthy food you can buy that's not super expensive. There's healthy food that is expensive, but you can get bananas and vegetables and lettuce and stuff like that for the same price as Oreos and you know, ice cream or crap. And I'm, I tend toward the, the latter of eating. I eat more crap than I should. But it's not a cost thing that, that has been debunked. A food desert, that whole thing. But this person is now trying to apply that to screen time, which seems nuts to me.

[Greg]

Yeah, that's an incredible stretch.

[Michael]

What a dangerous way though to look at the world and for that to be, you know, a New York Times worthy essay. Oh, you're right, the poor. Too much screen. Whose fault is that?

[Greg]

Well, and the fact that they tied themselves into knots and made an enormous reach to an incredibly questionable conclusion when the problem that they kind of tipped their cap to, that all of us, regardless of social status, economic status, all of us are, are, are getting the whole foods of learning shoved out of our diet by the doom scrolling video watching crap that Mark Zuckerberg and the greatest minds of our generation have put in front of us. That's a so much bigger problem. Than that ridiculous New York Times. The effort to be enlightened. Shut up.

[Michael]

Well, the, the, the assumption there is that the downtrodden even have they. You have the screens. So you've got the screens and apparently the wi fi and the ability to access this stuff. So we're just assuming everybody's got that. So at that point, if you've got that. I was just talking about the Gutenberg Project. All the greatest things ever written are available to you for free. You could look at those. Your kids could look at those. If you're choosing not to, hey, that's on you. I don't know where you come up with this whole class warfare thing around it. That's really interesting.

[Greg]

But society has conspired to keep that knowledge away from those people. I refer to it as a Gutenberg desert.

[Michael]

Right. So what is that thing? This was about the food. The gulf between those with the social and economic resources. What are the social resources to eat better or worse?

[Greg]

I don't know. Education. I hate to repeat myself, but shut up.

[Michael]

Who doesn't know a lettuce is better for you than Oreos? Does he need education for that?

[Greg]

Not much.

[Michael]

Okay, where did all that money go that was supposed to help out the fire victims? Joe's got that. Next. Among other things. Stay here.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Lenovo]

Lenovo is built for creators who don't wait for inspiration. They chase it with inventive tech, built in AI tools and seamless performance. Lenovo devices powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are designed designed to bring your wildest ideas to life faster. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel inside. Enjoy flexible financing, rewards on every purchase, and free shipping. And students get special offers when you create an [e-mail].

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's o d o o.com if.

[Christina Quinn]

You eat too many ultra processed foods, you could be starving your gut microbes and they'll get hangry. That's one of many things I learned after working on a new audio course about the gut microbiome. You can learn how to keep your gut happy by listening to Try this from the Washington Post. I'm Christina Quinn. I host Try this. Dig in with me on practical advice for life's common challenges. Follow Try this right now, wherever you're listening. Seriously, try it.

[Joe Getty]

Sonesta Travel Pass is the most rewarding way to travel. Sign [e-mail] for instant savings, bonus points and perks like early check in and late checkout, room upgrades and free stays. Choose from 1100 hotels across 13 brands and unlock their best rates when you book with Sonesta Travel Pass here today, Rome tomorrow. Join [e-mail] that's sinesta.com terms and conditions apply.

[Michael]

Ask me later about cultural differences in deadlines that I learned about in the last 24 hours. Fits in with the whole tariff thing. Like tomorrow's the tariff deadline for a bunch of countries and Trump got one done with South Korea late last night.

[Greg]

Interesting.

[Michael]

Other cultures have a completely different way of looking at deadlines than we do in the United States.

[Greg]

Wow. Wow. Okay. Intriguing. We'll get to that hour four of the show. If you don't get out of the four subscribe hour for the show, subscribe to the podcast Armstrong and get on demand. So I had heard earlier in the week that $0 of the 100 million that were raised for the LA area fire victims had been distributed to those victims. We're talking about the Fire Aid Benefit concert that made a big deal organized by former Ticketmaster and music mogul Irving Azoff and his wife. Blah blah blah. $100 million, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell and others, blah blah.

[Michael]

Yeah, I remember that it was a big deal including a whole bunch of people who had lost their own homes stars because you know it's a lot of the wealthy and famous who lost stuff.

[Greg]

Well right. And I found that the idea that no money had gotten to the victims both horrible and hard to believe given I'm surprised how important the entertainment industry to is to LA and how it's all local and all.

[Michael]

I'm surprised it's zero but it's not.

[Greg]

That's not true is one of the points that okay about to make.

[Michael]

Okay, well I'll let you make your point first.

[Greg]

Well so and and in the Free Press they quote a couple of folks who say who are residents of the area victims. We haven't seen any Palisades organizations benefit from the Fire Aid funds. And he, he points out the the area is often misperceived as this very exclusive affluent enclave. Not always the case. You got rent controlled apartments, people inherited homes they never could have bought or were underinsured. Um, let's see. Here's another gal who runs a local news blog. She found out the money was being distributed into various nonprofit groups instead of directly to Fire victims. Even though the verbiage around the fundraiser had said it would be quote direct relief to victims and communities. The reality is a little complicated. So Fire Aid has distributed half of the hundred million dollars to more than 120 nonprofits and community groups in a first round of disbursements. They also chose 68 recipients for $25 million. In a second round, applications for the last $25 million are being accepted through a Google form on Fire AIDS website.

[Michael]

How careful were they I hope with what organizations they gave money to?

[Greg]

Well, a spokesperson told the Free Press in answer to that very question that because Fire aid was a newly formed 501c3 organization, it was never the plan to distribute funds directly to wildfire victims. An advisory committee made made recommendations to Fire AIDS board. So I would guess it is a very very mixed bag. It gave out $500 in cash to outdoor workers like street vendors, landscapers and recyclers who are in trouble because the fire. The Filipino Workers center received an undisclosed sum for supporting workers displaced by the fires. Money went to the California Native Vote project.

[Michael]

I'm pretty cynical about these kind of fundraisers. Just you know from life experience of seeing this happen a whole bunch of times. We've been involved with a number of really, really good charities. But man, it's, it's, they're few and far between the ones that are really good. And you need like an infrastructure and honest people. I mean, it takes a lot to pull it off.

[Greg]

Right. And as you mentioned the other day, something we've touched on through the years is that the phrase nonprofit might be the most misleading phrase in the English language. This simple illustration being Jack and I come up with the fund for Human Beings and we raise a bunch of money. We raise a million dollars a year. My salary is four hundred and seventy five grand a year. Jack's salary is four hundred and seventy five grand a year. And we give away $50,000 a year of what's left. We, we show no profit, though. Our, our balance sheet shows zero profit.

[Michael]

No. Yeah, or we, or our salary's less. But we each have a car. I mean, we have to drive as.

[Greg]

Part of our job.

[Michael]

And what, you know, we don't get to drive and, you know, we, we have to travel around and talk to smart people. So we, and raise money. I need to go to New York and talk to somebody. And what am I supposed to stay in, a Super 8? I stayed in a decent hotel.

[Greg]

I have to eat. We go to symposia several times a year. Notice my use of the term symposia. That's a little much, but the point is made.

[Michael]

Yeah, I wish everybody understood the whole nonprofit scam.

[Greg]

So final note on this top, and it's not necessarily scam. I think if and when a serious audit of those funds is done, you'll find some very well spent dollars.

[Michael]

You'll find some.

[Greg]

That's a pretty good idea. But dollars, then you'll find some dollars that were stolen or given to cronies or whatever. So it's a mixed bag.

[Michael]

My first lesson in this. God, how many years ago did I read the book about J.D. rockefeller?

[Greg]

Wow.

[Michael]

Giant biography of J.D. rockefeller, who was maybe the richest man who's ever lived in America, adjusted for inflation. But he retired very, very early as richest man in the world at the time and dedicated his life to philanthropy. And it was a harder job than his job of running Standard Oil to make all his money in the first place to try to stay on top of that money and make sure it was spent well. He realized how difficult it is to be involved in charities and give out money without it being wasted or stolen. Very, very, very hard.

[Greg]

Yeah, that's what most rich people or company foundations are. There are companies that spend all their time figuring out who to give money to and in, in due course they make some money too. I'm not saying that's wrong, but it's, you know, it's. It's a big business. Speaking of which, my final note on this topic, and you might find it helpful, SL/ troubling. There's a Twitter account and I just retweeted this. If you follow us on Twitter, you'll see it. If you don't, you probably should. I still call X Twitter because X is a letter of the Alphabet. Anyway, it is a an infographic. It's a chart of the 501C3 grant network for the Barack Obama Foundation. And he writes but it could be almost any major nonprofit. They all look like this and it is the main foundation and then then organizations they deal with and organizations they deal with. And then the endpoint of the money and the lines between the illustrating the cash flows between those organizations. It reminds me a little bit of the Biden family 24 LLCs or whatever it is. It is a graphic full of absolutely incomprehensible inter crossing lines of money flowing back and forth. It is completely incomprehensible who is getting that money and why. And as he said, it could be any major nonprofit. They all look like this. If the LA thing qualifies as a scandal, then the entire nonprofit sector is a scandal.

[Lenovo]

Armstrong and Getty Lenovo is built for creators who don't wait for inspiration. They chase it with inventive tech built in AI tools and seamless performance. Lenovo devices powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are designed to bring your wildest ideas to life faster. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel inside. Enjoy flexible financing, rewards on every purchase and free shipping. And students get special offers when you create an [e-mail].

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive. And when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's O-O-O.com.

[Christina Quinn]

If you eat too many ultra processed foods, you could be starving your gut microbes and they'll get hangry. That's one of many things I learned after working on a new audio course about the gut microbiome. You can learn how to keep your gut happy by listening to Try this from the Washington Post. I'm Christina Quinn. I host Try this. Dig in with me on practical advice for life's common challenges. Follow Try this right now, wherever you're listening. Seriously, try it.

[Joe Getty]

Sonesta Travel Pass is the most rewarding way to travel. Sign [e-mail] for instant savings, bonus points and perks like early check in and late checkout, room upgrades and free. Choose from 1100 hotels across 13 brands and unlock their best rates when you book with Sonesta Travel Pass. Here today, Rome tomorrow. Join [e-mail] that's sinesta.com terms and conditions apply.

[Greg]

A treasure trove of bananas has been stolen and it's up to Donkey Kong.

[Michael]

And his buddy Pauline to get them back.

[Greg]

This unlikely duo is going on a.

[Michael]

World smashing adventure, using DK's destructive abilities.

[Greg]

To explore an underground world and the power of Pauline singing to activate wild transformations.

[Michael]

Donkey Kong Bonanza Available now.

[Greg]

Rated everyone 10 enough only on Nintendo Switch 2 game and systems sold separately.

[Christina Quinn]

This is an iHeart podcast.