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Jack Armstrong
This is an iHeart podcast.
Joe Getty
Ice Cube's Big Three is the surprise hit of the summer. This Saturday, 4pm Eastern on CBS, with playoff elimination on the line, the most physical, fiercest and competitive basketball in the world. Miami's Michael Beasley and Lance Stevenson must win to make the playoffs, and breakout star Dwight Howard of the LA Riot will battle Gary Payton's Boston squad in a do or die match for both teams. Six teams are allowed for four spots and all must win. There's no crying in the big three, and the no holds barred action starts Saturday at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific. Presented by iHeart.
Katie Green
There's nothing like sinking into luxury at washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699, the stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean SP sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, love seat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now@washablesofas.com Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Jack Armstrong
Ah come on.
Katie Green
Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.
Unknown Speaker 1
Still using yesterday's tech Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultralight Ultra powerful and built for serious productivity with Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance that keeps up with your business, not the other way around.
Unknown Speaker 2
Whoa, this thing moves.
Unknown Speaker 1
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search@lenovo.com Lenovo Lenovo unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.
Katie Green
This message is sponsored by Greenlight. With school out, summer is the perfect time to teach our kids real world money skills they'll use forever. Greenlight is a debit card and the number one family finance and safety app used by millions of families helping kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely. Parents can send their kids money and track their spending and saving while kids build money, confidence and skills in fun ways. Start your risk free greenlight trial today@greenlight.com iheart that's greenlight.com iheart oh, hey.
Unknown Speaker 2
Hey.
Katie Green
Thanks for meeting me here. It's just you're my only lawyer friend and I need your professional opinion. You see that brand new Hyundai Tucson out there? That's all I paid for.
Unknown Speaker 2
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Jack Armstrong
Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center.
Katie Green
Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.
Jack Armstrong
Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and get it's very complicated. There'll be some swapping of territories. It's not clear which territories would be swapped. Russia currently occupies 20% of Ukraine, and Ukraine only controls about 30 square miles.
Unknown Speaker 1
Of Russia after it launched an offensive last year.
Jack Armstrong
Some Europeans think this summit is heading.
Unknown Speaker 1
Towards Munich like appeasement before World War II.
Jack Armstrong
Former CIA station chief in Moscow, Dan Hoffman says Russia's goal remains unchanged.
Unknown Speaker 2
Putin wants to be able to rearm.
Jack Armstrong
And potentially attack again down the road.
Unknown Speaker 2
In the future, because what Putin wants is to destroy Ukraine and install a puppet regime in Kyiv.
Jack Armstrong
I didn't realize it was that little Ukraine has 30 insignificant square miles of Russia.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah.
Jack Armstrong
Here's the entire quote from Trump over the weekend about the possible peace deal they're going to put together when Trump and Putin meet this Friday in Alaska. Well, you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three and a half years with, you know, a lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians have died. So we're looking at that. But we're actually looking to get some back and some swapping. It's complicated. It's actually nothing easy. It's very complicated. But we're going to get some back. We're going to get some, some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.
Unknown Speaker 2
And, but we'll be talking about that.
Jack Armstrong
Either later or tomorrow or whatever. Boy, he's, he's, he's being vague and I hope he's being vague to try to not throw out the really difficult stuff right there in that soundbite. But the fact that he's only mentioning land, there's no win in Ukraine. Well, let's hear from Zelensky first and then we can discuss this, I suppose.
Unknown Speaker 2
Of course. Our team is working with the United States. Not a single day goes by without communication on how to ensure real peace. We understand Russia's intention to deceive America. We will not allow this. I greatly value the determination with which President Trump is committed to bring an end to the killings in this war.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. So it seems Zelensky's eyes are open.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah. The one thing that troubled me about what Trump said was he kept phrasing it that we're looking at swapping this land for this land and we're looking at blah, blah, blah, and the Ukrainians are not in on that deal, nor the Europeans at this point, which we'll get into in a second. But it sounds less like a broker helping to reach two parties, find an agreement than a guy just finding an agreement on his own.
Jack Armstrong
Well, and we. Nobody knows where he really is on Putin, if he's actually woken up to what a scumbag, murderous, lying, evil villain, devil person Putin is. If he always get your point, if he always knew that and was pretending, or if he's just woken up to it, or if he hasn't completely. But in that statement there, he said a lot of people have died. A lot of Russians, a lot of Ukrainians. See, the problem is one of the brokers does not care. Putin does not care at all how many of his own people die. It makes no difference. It's not part of the calculation. So you saying that is meaningless? Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 2
So the European powers in Ukraine responded to Vlad Putin's ceasefire plan with a counter proposal that they are making clear Trump must serve as a framework so that the coming talks can gain any traction. They rejected the Russian proposal to trade Ukrainian held parts of the Donetsk region for a ceasefire. They put forth their plan in a meeting with top US officials in England on Saturday.
Jack Armstrong
JD Vance was out there running around talking to everybody.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah. Interesting. Russia has not made steps toward peace despite its talks with the US Say the Ukrainians. US Officials said the meetings on Saturday made progress toward Trump's goal of ending the war in Ukraine.
Jack Armstrong
I didn't see that. I must have missed that paragraph because Russia. Russia's saying no NATO membership. Ukraine needs to disarm, not have a military there. We get to keep all the land and a couple other things. I mean, it's a complete non starter as far as I can tell.
Unknown Speaker 2
European leaders said in a joint statement after the meeting that a diplomatic end of the war must protect Ukraine's and Europe's security interests. So what it looks like to me is you have a handful of proposals which have practically no overlap and very different verbiage coming out of everybody involved. Well, yeah, Europe saying in terms of how promising the whole thing is or whether there is any overlap, Europe's proposal.
Jack Armstrong
At least the last one I saw over the weekend was absolutely NATO membership on the way for Ukraine and European troops in Ukraine until then to make sure Putin doesn't go back in again. I don't think there's a chance Putin signs on to that, do you?
Unknown Speaker 2
No, no, I don't. I'm sorry, I was deep in thought about. One of one fear I know we both share is that Trump is just going to go for peace no matter what it costs Ukraine. Whatever you can get Putin to agree to which will not bring any sort of lasting peace at all.
Jack Armstrong
Well, it seems that, I mean, it seems that. Well, I don't know where Zelensky is on this, but even Lindsey Graham yesterday on the talk shows was saying Ukraine's not gonna boot all the Russians out. That's just not gonna happen. So they're gonna have to give a plan, maybe even all the land that they lost. But I mean, I think if. Well, would you agree to this? I think if I'm Zelinsky, as awful and unfair as it is, life's unfair. I would give up the 20% of my country if I get European troops in Ukraine and a path to NATO membership. Because that might be the best you can do.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah, I would agree. That's pretty awful.
Jack Armstrong
It's damned awful. And I might include some sort of we got to get those kids back. There needs to be some sort of process.
Unknown Speaker 2
Oh my God. Yeah, well, but unless I am really, really missing some aspect of the way Putin is looking at this, he would never agree to that.
Jack Armstrong
No, no, because that would be the end of his. I'm gonna restore the Soviet Union or be the next Peter the Great or whatever. That'd be the end of it. Unless he's willing to go to fight NATO.
Unknown Speaker 2
Well, it reminds me a great deal of the unfortunate situation in Gaza with Hamas and Israel. People keep talking about these peace talks. There's no overlap or there is. There are such incredibly important areas of non overlap. The areas of overlap are irrelevant. There's just giant fundamental like 180 degree opposition on certain questions. I don't see how it ends.
Jack Armstrong
Well. So like Lindsey Graham kept saying, look, two things are true. Ukraine can't boot out every Russian and Putin's not going to Kiev. And I thought, that second one's not completely off the table, as far as I can tell. If Putin decides, you know, I'm gonna keep fighting, I don't care how many million soldiers I lose. China and India are still gonna buy oil from, and I'm just gonna keep going. Why wouldn't he?
Unknown Speaker 2
I don't know what his reserve of young men is looking like at this point. I mean, he might arouse so much domestic, you know, turmoil that. That limits him. But he's got a pretty good police state in right, you know, in place right now. Yeah, I don't. I don't know. Honestly, I don't think.
Jack Armstrong
My guess would be he has no intention of stopping prosecuting the war. He thinks at some point Ukraine will break and he will go to Kyiv, and this is just an opportunity to, you know, drag things out, as he always does, to keep the sanctions off. Like I said earlier, he's already drug out the sanctions. What, another week and he'll go to the meeting and productive talks. You know, we need to take a look at this. I'm gonna get together with my people. We're gonna have a meeting. We've scheduled a meeting for September 1st when we'll sit down. I mean, you just keep dragging it out, and the next thing you know, it's November and nothing has happened.
Unknown Speaker 2
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Jack Armstrong
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Jack Armstrong
What are the stakes if Putin gets away with this? Here's Lindsey Graham yesterday.
Unknown Speaker 2
I think everybody knows that how this war ends can be a good thing or a bad thing. If it ends in a way, it looks like that Putin's overly rewarded. There goes Taiwan. You can't end a war without talking. I do hope that Zelensky can be part of the process. I'll leave that up to the White House. But I come on your show a good bit. I want to be honest with you. Ukraine's not going to evict every Russian and Russia is not going to Kiev. So there'll be some land swaps at the end. So here's the thought I wanted to add to your thoughts. While Putin is stringing Trump along, he is aggressively, semi, frantically making deals with India and his big brother, China to assure countries that continue to buy oil and are sanctioned by the United States, high tariffs, et cetera, that we will do A, B and C to help you out economically, to soften the blow, and we'll keep the cheap oil flowing into your economies. So, you know, he's not just ID or he's not merely stringing Trump along to continue to make battlefield gains. It's so he can, you know, work behind the scenes diplomatically to defang whatever the US Is hoping to implement. And by the way, it also occurred to me, anytime we say Ukraine, we should say Ukraine and Europe because they seem to have a pretty united front at this point.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, they do. It's interesting watching the NATO general secretary on all the shows yesterday. So here's, here's both, both praising Trump and being very firm on we ain't agreeing to what Russia proposed.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah, we, we actually have that audio. We could play it. I was just going to say, the one thing you and I have both been concerned about is that Trump is going to look at the Ukrainians and say, all right, the negotiations have gone.
Jack Armstrong
On for a while.
Unknown Speaker 2
This is the best deal you can get going to get. I do deals all the time. This is the best deal you can possibly get. You got to take it. You don't get another.22 caliber bullet out of us unless you take this deal.
Jack Armstrong
And him using rhetoric like Zelensky is the reason we can't have peace. The sticking point here is Zelensky. I. I wouldn't be shocked to hear that. Friday or Saturday?
Unknown Speaker 2
I hope not.
Jack Armstrong
There is a craze going on. It's the Labubu craze. I don't know what that is. We need Katie Green to explain this to us. I like to know what crazes are in case I'm attacked by labubas, whatever they are, or see one or my kids want one or.
Unknown Speaker 2
Well, the name Labubu doesn't sound like something stupid and contemptible.
Jack Armstrong
Anyway, stay tuned for all that Armstrong and Gettysburg.
Katie Green
There's nothing like sinking into luxury. @washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now@washablesofas.com Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Joe Getty
The reviews and ratings are in and Ice Cube's big three is the surprise hit of the summer. This Saturday, 4pm Eastern on CBS with playoff elimination on the line, the Stars will be flocking to Los Angeles to witness the most physical, fiercest and competitive basketball in the world. Miami's Michael Beasley and Lance Stevenson must win over Houston to make the playoffs, reeling from last week's savage beating at the hands of Sam, Chicago's possessed Montrez hero. Last time these teams met, Miami beat Houston, but they are a dangerous team having their manhood at stake. Then breakout star Dwight Howard of the LA Riot will battle Gary Payton's Boston squad in a do or die match for both teams. Will LA avenge their previous shocking loss to perennial basketball Boston rivals To survive, six teams are allowed for four spots and all must win. Don't miss the Big Three, the three on three basketball league everyone is talking about. There's no crying in the Big Three and the no holds the spot action starts Saturday at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific followed by two games on Vice starting at 6:30 Eastern. Presented by iheart Come on.
Unknown Speaker 2
Why is this taking so long?
Katie Green
This thing is ancient.
Unknown Speaker 1
Still using yesterday's tech Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultra Light, ultra powerful and built for serious productivity. With Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance, it keeps up with your business, not the other way around.
Jack Armstrong
Whoa.
Katie Green
This thing moves.
Unknown Speaker 1
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech. Search@lenovo.com Lenovo Lenovo Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.
Unknown Speaker 3
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Katie Green
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Unknown Speaker 2
WNBA star Diana Taurasi went off on her pay by claiming the effing janitor made more than me. Well, in his defense, he does have to mop up dildos.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. What?
Unknown Speaker 2
Oh, wait a minute.
Jack Armstrong
The janitor cleans those up.
Unknown Speaker 2
I don't believe that joke was fact based. I would have thought.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, exactly.
Unknown Speaker 2
So, NBA joke.
Jack Armstrong
I guess it's my. Maybe it's my music radio training from back when I was younger or just my personality. But I like to be aware of crazes, even if it's not something I'm into. I like to know what the hot TV show is, hot movie, hot music, whatever. I like to Know what's really popular, even if it's not my thing. I just, I've always thought I need to know that.
Unknown Speaker 2
I like to think about the ancient Greek Republic.
Jack Armstrong
I am reading Ulysses, so I get both sides of it, I guess. But because that's not hot, nobody else is doing that. The Labubu craze I was reading about in the New York Post, I know it's come up on the show, but this is a craze I'm not tuned into yet. They've got a picture of this furry little doll that looks frightening, but. So fill us in on the Labubu craze there, Katie.
Unknown Speaker 2
So the Labubu craze actually started back in 2015 when he was first introduced. But it is part of this he.
Jack Armstrong
It's a he. What's a he? He.
Unknown Speaker 2
The gender fluid. To me, I'm gonna go with gender fluid, but the article that I'm reading says he don't use gendered language. Let's see. Hong Kong based artist created a series called the Monsters and one of the characters was a Labubu. It's influenced by Nordic folklore and mythology.
Jack Armstrong
Okay.
Unknown Speaker 2
That he enjoyed during his childhood.
Jack Armstrong
It's a furry little. It looks cute while at the same time kind of menacing with fangs and whatnot.
Unknown Speaker 2
And there's this, this whole craze about them right now is that it's called blind buying. So you buy this package and you.
Katie Green
Can'T see what one is inside.
Unknown Speaker 2
And people are trying to collect all of them. So they're buying a lot. And it says like baseball cards or Nintendo cards. Back in the day you just buy a pack hoping it's stuff you don't have or good stuff or whatever.
Jack Armstrong
It says here. Labubu dolls have been spotted dangling from Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent purses as fashions quirky new status symbol. But their popularity could soon spell doom for the economy. And expert warns during economic downturns, consumers gravitate toward what experts call affordable luxuries. Small dopamine spiking splurges that don't break the bank like Lipstream lipstick ice cream or movie tickets. Studies have shown it's sometimes called the lipstick index in economics, which I found very, very interesting. And this I've heard of that.
Unknown Speaker 2
This is more interesting than I anticipated. Go on.
Jack Armstrong
I was hoping so. And the creepy but cute mischievous do dolls could be its latest iteration. It's just. And it's an example of people are not wanting to splurge on real. How I set myself apart from Other items. So they're going with this cheap trendy thing. That's the lipstick index.
Unknown Speaker 2
I'd never heard of that, but that's, that's interesting. Agreed. Yeah, clever.
Jack Armstrong
Okay, we'll keep our eye on that. What do we got coming up?
Unknown Speaker 2
Is there a male equivalent to that?
Jack Armstrong
I don't know. I don't know.
Unknown Speaker 2
I'd have to think about that. Coming up, the incredible lack of purple states in the US and why that might matter as we gerrymander ourselves into like two different countries that live side by side.
Jack Armstrong
Which leads me into this. I had this interesting experience and I'm glad I have met a person that can be my conduit's not the right word. What I want to guide entrance point into a world I don't really know because I got as in conversation. Conversation with a woman, a mom, her and her husband, successful business people, raised kids, sound like the kids are all successful.
Unknown Speaker 2
Blah blah, blah.
Jack Armstrong
Like perfectly upstanding middle upper class people that have no interest in any of this crap we ever talk about. Like none. Don't know anything about any of it. And it, I just thought wow, that must be awesome. That must be really awesome. Well, at the same time, you know, you got to participate and pay attention to make the world work or it.
Unknown Speaker 2
Will, you know, rules will be get.
Jack Armstrong
Made, blah blah blah, all that stuff, you know. But it was just so interesting. I don't hang around people like that and it's just somebody, it's just like they just don't know about any of.
Unknown Speaker 2
The, any of the scan, you know.
Jack Armstrong
The, the jeans commercial from last week or just any of those things. They're completely unaware of them. And I thought that that must be fantastic.
Unknown Speaker 2
Do they have any concern about how their tax money is spent? Because it sounds like there's probably a fair amount.
Jack Armstrong
I don't know them well enough to know that, but that, that's why I said I look forward to this entrance into this world of learning more about it.
Unknown Speaker 2
Do they have Labubus?
Jack Armstrong
I bet they don't know what that is, huh? That'd be handy.
Unknown Speaker 2
Good for them. Yeah. Armstrong and Getty.
Katie Green
There's nothing like sinking into luxury. @washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric, slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off storewide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now@washablesofas.com Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Joe Getty
The reviews and ratings are in and Ice Cube's Big Three is the surprise hit of the summer this Saturday, 4pm Eastern on CBS, with playoff elimination on the line, the stars will be flocking to Los Angeles to witness the most physical, fiercest and competitive basketball in the world. Miami's Michael Beasley and Lance Stevenson must win over Houston Houston to make the playoffs, reeling from last week's savage beating at the hands of Chicago's possessed Montrez Harrell. Last time these teams met, Miami beat Houston, but they are a dangerous team having their manhood at stake. Then breakout star Dwight Howard of the LA Riot will battle Gary Payton's Boston squad in a do or die match for both teams. Will LA avenge their previous shocking loss to perennial basketball Boston rivals To survive, six teams are allowed for four spots and all must win. Don't miss the Big Three, the three on three basketball league everyone is talking about. There's no crying in the big three and the no hold spot action starts Saturday at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific followed by two games on Vice starting at 6:30 Eastern.
Jack Armstrong
Presented by iHeart Come on, why is.
Unknown Speaker 1
This taking so long?
Katie Green
This thing is ancient.
Unknown Speaker 1
Still using yesterday's tech upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 carbon ultralight. Ultra powerful and built for serious productivity. With Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance, it keeps up with your business, not the other way around.
Unknown Speaker 2
Whoa, this thing moves.
Unknown Speaker 1
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search@lenovo.com Lenovo Lenovo unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.
Unknown Speaker 3
Life moves fast. A new home, a new baby, a new chapter. But without an estate plan, your future's still vulnerable. With trust and will, you can name guardians, start a trust, create health care directives and more. All online in about an hour. It's attorney designed, state specific and built to protect what you love. Plans start at just $199 and every plan is safe, secure and kept completely private. From families with young kids to adults caring for aging parents, Trust and Will makes it simple to take control without a law, office, paperwork, stress or court delays. Go to trustandwill.com and use code RADIO to save 20%. Start your plan today. Don't wait for life to force your hand. Estate planning is one of the smartest, most loving things you can do. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.
Katie Green
This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance, and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk free@greenlight.com iheart the booming NFL kick that's unofficially the best ever Jacksonville kicker Cam Little nailed it 70 yard field goal against Pittsburgh. However, it's not a league record because it happened in a preseason game. The lengthy kick prompted little to say, adrenaline's a beautiful thing.
Jack Armstrong
70 yard field goal. God, if you could make, if you had a guy who could make that every now and then, that changes your your situation.
Unknown Speaker 2
Well, if you know anything about the NFL, generally they snap it 7 yards backward, add 10 yards for the end zone. Effectively you don't even have to get to mid field. You snap it back to the 40 and the human cannon booms it through the uprights down at the other end of the stadium. I, you know, although as a football fan, that's kind of exciting because you know if you miss, you give up the ball at the spot of kick.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 2
And so it's it's a pretty good gambler. They kick, the bigger the gamble.
Jack Armstrong
I just was looking at the highlights from the weekend. There was a guy who, for the Patriots, I think, ran one back. First time he'd ever touched a football as an NFL player in his entire life. He takes it in the end zone, runs it back for a hundred yards. That had to be exciting. Yeah. For him.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah. Yeah. How cool. Preseason, though. So it's meaningless.
Jack Armstrong
You got a lot of other people out there who are trying really, really hard because they want to be on the team.
Unknown Speaker 2
Oh, gosh. Speaking of sports. Not that we're going to speak of sports this segment we have something very important to, to get to. But the, the lady umpire, I haven't heard a thorough review of her behind the plate appearance because that's where they earn their money behind the plate. But it was a rough start.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, I didn't know that. Okay, we'll talk about that later. Also, I'm looking up at the tv. Katie, look this up for me. Labubu scam warning. They're reporting on ABC News. We'll get to those details in hour three. Not a Labubu scam. God, is nothing sacred then the backlash to the scam.
Unknown Speaker 2
To the craze to the scam. Anyway, so I thought this was an interesting perspective. Coming up in a moment or two. By the way, a glimpse inside the recent Democratic Socialists of America convention. Those friggin lunatic Marxist scumbags that includes old mum Dami the commie there in New York. I thought this was an interesting perspective about the gerrymandering thing that's been going on for a very long time. Texas just trying to catch up to your Illinois and your California's and the rest of it. But America's. I. Oh, oh, oh, that's right. I knew how I wanted to set this up. Longtime listeners know for a very, very long time when progressive jackasses. I'm sorry, you know what, that was uncharitable and I apologize. I apologize. When progressive folk would say diversity is our greatest strength, I would frequently reply, no it's not. Unity is our greatest strength by far. Diversity is kind of interesting, but unity is our greatest strength. Well, comes this article. America is fracturing into red and blue nations and some of the stats are really, really interesting. America's identity as a unified nation is eroding with Republican and Democratic states dividing into separate spheres, each with its own policies governing the economic, social and political rules of life. The upside of this coming in a moment or two, because I think there is an upside. But in 40 states, a single party controls the House, the Senate and the government's office, governor's office, if they have a bicameral system.
Jack Armstrong
Wow.
Unknown Speaker 2
40 states.
Joe Getty
Wow.
Unknown Speaker 2
The so called trifecta.
Jack Armstrong
I think that's got to be what, roughly 4/5 or 80% or at least.
Unknown Speaker 2
They have enough power to block vetoes from a governor of the other party. So they essentially have the trifecta.
Jack Armstrong
That is amazing.
Unknown Speaker 2
That leaves less than 20% of Americans living in a state where the minority party has a meaningful voice in government.
Jack Armstrong
Which is why you might give up and leave that state. If that's not Your cup of tea because you never get your way.
Unknown Speaker 2
In fact, you don't even get to limit the other side's excesses.
Jack Armstrong
Right, right. Which is the problem.
Unknown Speaker 2
Longtime Californians, we can tell you all about it. The result has been a deepening of differences in red and blue America. And they go into a variety of issues like abortion and that sort of thing. They use the term gender affirming care, which is an absolute badge that you are a far left progressive if you ever use that term. Fox News. Are you listening?
Jack Armstrong
Well, it either, it either means you're a progressive or you've been tricked by the progressives and you haven't caught on to their.
Unknown Speaker 2
Exactly.
Jack Armstrong
They've convinced you that that's the language you're supposed to use. Is your.
Unknown Speaker 2
Again, I went too far and I regret it.
Jack Armstrong
It is. Does your article include this or is your feeling that we're moving more toward this direction than like we're at peak this? I feel like we're still moving more toward the great sort.
Unknown Speaker 2
That's a really good question. Just from my gut, I'd say, yeah, I agree with you completely.
Jack Armstrong
That ain't good. I don't think it's good. It can't be good. Get it? Civil war and whatnot.
Unknown Speaker 2
Well, right. Yeah. And whatnot. Yada, yada, yada. Yeah. And they mentioned that red and blue states have moved into sharply, in sharply different directions on employment law, gun regulation, immigration enforcement, sex change experiments, on poor confused little kids, mentioned abortion. And you know, it's obviously bad in that unity is our greatest strength and that if the president is of the other party when China invades, roughly half the country is going to be tempted to say, well, that's his fault. You know what? I'm not supporting him fighting the Chinese commie hordes. He got us into this with his damned, you know, fascist or progressive policies. You know, it'd be disastrous.
Jack Armstrong
I've been saying this for years and I think it's getting worse. If we had a 911 again, when I think who, who was ever President George W. Bush or Al Gore, whoever was president, we would have had a 90% approval rating for that president because that's the way we responded to 9 11. I don't think that would happen today.
Unknown Speaker 2
So to your point, they quote this fella, Michael Podhortzer, who was a former political director of the AFL cio. I have a feeling I know which way he leans, but I thought it's an interesting point. He says it's an essential error to think of America as a Single nation, rather, the US is a binational republic. Two nations, one red, one blue. He said there aren't cannons. And this isn't Bull Run. This is not a shooting civil war. Yeah, but it's very much a battle of how people are going to live in this country in almost every way. Life in blue America is different than in red America, which, putting aside the whole Chinese horde scenario, the upside to this, maybe that we've been calling for half, seriously for a long time, is, all right, y' all get half the country, we get the other half of the country. Let's meet back in a decade and see who's doing better.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, but with federalism and such, is the red side gonna be paying for a lot of the blue side's ridiculousness.
Unknown Speaker 2
Until it collapses in the style of Illinois, California, and more specifically, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Philadelphia, D.C. yes. Yes, actually. Yeah, well, that's the. The downside of being right about policy is we will not be just decimated with crime and junkie ism and overspending and the rest of it.
Jack Armstrong
I would like to ask historian, has this ever been successfully tried before with an empire, country, nation, something where you have. Whatever the guy called that, a bi.
Unknown Speaker 2
A. Yeah, a binational republic.
Jack Armstrong
Has there ever been a binational republic, or even not a republic, but just you had two completely different ways of living that don't really intermingle within one border? In theory, rowing the same direction in the world.
Unknown Speaker 2
Not without violence and conflict. None that I can think of, having studied political systems since I was a wee lad.
Jack Armstrong
And of course, the problem with that is whoever's president, it'll go back and forth between complete support for that president and practically no support for that president. Right, we'll swing back and forth with that. That'll be fun. It's fun already, isn't it, kids?
Unknown Speaker 2
So, on that topic, the Democratic Socialists of America held their conference recently in the. Wow, they are all excited. We're in charge now, was their message. Zoran, Mum Dami. Surprise win was not an anomaly, they said, but rather the start of the DSA's rise to power over the Democratic Party. I think they are the heir apparent.
Jack Armstrong
I hope they're right, because then they're going to lose every election, I think.
Unknown Speaker 2
Right, because their policies are idiotic and practically suicidal. A couple of facts here that are just. That's too good to pass up. Attendees were required to submit and. Everybody, stop doing what you're doing. I want you to listen to this and think about this. This just happened in Chicago. Of course. Attendees were required to submit proof of a negative COVID test prior to arrival in summer of 2025.
Jack Armstrong
This just happened.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yes. Yeah.
Jack Armstrong
All right.
Unknown Speaker 2
What is the tie in there? We played the clip. Cult.
Jack Armstrong
Like, when we played the. What was the clip we had last week of these people at their socialist meeting? But we. We pointed out the video of it was. They were all wearing masks, and we were trying to figure out what.
Unknown Speaker 2
How does that fit together?
Jack Armstrong
You're still scared of COVID in the middle of 2025, and you're a socialist. They obviously go together. That's not one of those. Where there's no correlation between the two things. There's clearly some sort of correlation.
Unknown Speaker 2
It might just be. In fact, I'm pretty sure it is a barely coherent tribal signaling mechanism that during COVID people of the left were extremely obedient, shut everything down, wore masks to the point of. You know, I almost said absurdity, but it's horror. Forcing a toddler to wear a mask in preschool.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, my God.
Unknown Speaker 2
With it hanging down around their chin. And the rest of it, I mean, to the point of, like, surrealism. They adhered to every limitation. And now that, you know, please, who's worried about this? We're in the middle of 2025. They still wear the masks to show that they're people of the left.
Jack Armstrong
So crazy.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah, I know. It is. It absolutely is. Let's see. Said one prominent speaker. The Democratic Party is dying. They have less. Less support than the Republican Party. The Democratic establishment is coming our way. They. They pointed out, and they're right. Mumdani earned an endorsement from Faux Indian Elizabeth Warren. Praise from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. No Soul. And a meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. DSA delegates passed a number of resolutions to amend the party's platform while periodically waving Communist Party flags, literally. They are hardcore pro Hamas, among other things. In fact, they spent a lot of time on that. Oh. And they made speeches about how that's clearly a winning issue and they need to double down on that. That has to be a main part of. Part of their identity.
Jack Armstrong
So every Sunday show yesterday led with Russia, Ukraine, Putin, Trump meeting on Friday. Because it's a huge, huge story. I think it was. Who was it? Somebody led with the redistricting thing, which I thought was a little. But we got a great guest on that. Our old friend Lon He Chen, who's run for office in California, knows a lot about California politics, on how misleading it is that Texas is doing something incredibly aberrant and unfair.
Unknown Speaker 2
This is a threat to democracy and.
Jack Armstrong
We'Re going to have him in the third hour. So if you don't have that planned or whatever you want to get the podcast, we can take a break from politics for a little while and take a look at that first female umpire in Major League Baseball, how that went. I've read some really, really snarky responses that I don't oh no, I know. No, I know. What man?
Unknown Speaker 2
On the Internet.
Jack Armstrong
On the Internet of all places. Anyway, stay tuned.
Unknown Speaker 2
Armstrong and Getty.
Katie Green
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Joe Getty
The reviews and ratings are in and Ice Cube's Big Three is the surprise hit of the summer. This Saturday, 4pm Eastern on CBS, with playoff elimination on the line, the stars will be flocking to Los Angeles to witness the most physical, fiercest and competitive basketball in the world. Miami's Michael Beasley and Lance Stevenson must win over Houston to make the playoffs, reeling from last week's savage beating at the hands of Chicago's possessed Montrez Harrow. Last time these teams met, Miami beat Houston, but they are a dangerous team having their manhood at stake. Then breakout star Dwight Howard of the LA Riot will battle Gary Payton's Boston squad in a do or die match for both teams. Will LA avenge their previous shocking loss to perennial basketball Boston rivals? To survive, six teams are allowed for four spots and all must win. Don't miss the Big Three, the three on three basketball league everyone is talking about. There's no crying in the Big Three and the no hold spot action starts Saturday at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific, followed by two games on Vice starting at 6:30 Eastern. Presented by Iheart.
Jack Armstrong
Come on.
Unknown Speaker 2
Why is this taking so long?
Katie Green
This thing is ancient.
Unknown Speaker 1
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Jack Armstrong
Whoa.
Unknown Speaker 2
This thing moves.
Unknown Speaker 1
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech. Search@lenovo.com Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.
Unknown Speaker 3
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Jack Armstrong
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.
Unknown Speaker 3
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Jack Armstrong
Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out odoo@o-o o.com that's o d o o.com this weekend, major League Baseball.
Unknown Speaker 2
Will have its first female umpire. Yeah, but the game won't start until you hear about her day.
Jack Armstrong
So it's unbelievable the the. The kind of jokes that have been going on around around here. Partially because unless you, maybe Joe, can strike me out on this, I don't see why I'm surprised there hasn't already been a female major league umpire. Is there any reason why a woman couldn't do it the same as a man? When you get to stuff where it's all about strength and speed. There is a difference between men and women. But is there here? I'll let you talk about that in a second. But we talked last week. Lots of jokes online about it. The most. I asked Grok about them. The most common one is something along the lines of, you know, she throws a guy out of the game, he says, what do I do? And she says, you know, what you did. Or she'll call someone out for a play three years ago. As Grok says, poking fun and outdated gender tropes. Are those outdated? Is everybody laughing? Because that's not somewhat true. I mean, give me a break. Anywho. And then the whole. Well, there's other jokes, but she actually debuted over the weekend. How did it go? Wait, wait, wait. Joe's gonna set this.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yes, she did. She worked her way toward home plate. As is the umpire's tradition, you go third to second or first to home, and. And there's a great deal of attention being paid to her plate debut, particularly the first pitch.
Jack Armstrong
So more history today.
Unknown Speaker 1
Joey Wits is ready.
Unknown Speaker 2
We hope you're ready.
Jack Armstrong
And here we go.
Unknown Speaker 2
Enjoy.
Jack Armstrong
W. Wentz likes that first call from Jim Powell.
Unknown Speaker 2
He'll take it. And I wonder if they're going to take the baseball. I guess not. I thought that maybe that would be kind of a big one. There we go. Now we got it figured out.
Jack Armstrong
Yep.
Unknown Speaker 2
They are going to authenticate it. And Jim Powell will forever get to keep that ball.
Jack Armstrong
So if I was just listening to that, I would have thought nothing. But you're saying there's something to that.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah. The remark that the. The pitcher really liked that call, it's because it was at least 4 inches off the plate. I mean, it was clearly a ball.
Jack Armstrong
And.
Unknown Speaker 2
And she called it a strike. Surprise twist. According to my unimpeachable baseball sources, of course, they haven't been impeached yet. She actually was pretty solid as a source. Close. Close to the major leagues. Says she was fine. Just like all of us. Umpiring is pain was. And she'll be subject to the same s. The rest of us.
Jack Armstrong
Was the first call, like, egregiously wrong?
Unknown Speaker 2
Yes. It was terrible.
Jack Armstrong
Does that happen? How often does that happen with umpires in their first ever? You'd be pretty nervous.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah. Yeah. That. Yeah. You shouldn't make a call that bad, but it happens. It's harder than it looks. She will call, you know, 100 plus pitches in the game and probably actually like, miss. Miss a few. Is there any reason.
Jack Armstrong
Is there Any reason a woman couldn't do this job as well as a man? Like, I don't see why they're. I'm surprised that there hasn't been a female umpire.
Unknown Speaker 2
The only argument would be because they're on the field with a lot of very manly men with very high stakes, and they're the. It's not like arguing vociferously and angrily with baseball umpires is unknown. And it just seemed like a better thing for a dude to take on a dude and not a woman.
Jack Armstrong
Woman to get in the face of a man. Yeah, yeah.
Unknown Speaker 2
And tradition. Although, you know, there have been psychological studies that show that angry dudes, when confronted with a dude will say, oh, yeah, come on. Confronted with a woman, they'll say, all right, all right, okay. All right.
Jack Armstrong
Well, the first time that happens, that'll be interesting and get tremendous amount of talk, I guarantee you. But to the whole being nervous thing, I was watching a little bit of preseason NFL football yesterday while my kids were eating a haircut and the 49ers game was off. And this guy who really wants to make the team in his NFL debut, perfect pass right in the hands, dropped it. And the announcers were talking, boy, you gotta catch that ball. And here you are trying to make the team. And I thought, this guy has been the star of his junior high team, his high school team, a star in college. Here he is. And he. And he dropped that. I mean, it's just.
Unknown Speaker 2
Yeah, probably nerves.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. I mean, you drop some no matter what, but yeah, that's. I guess it happens. Anyway, Trump just made a big announcement about D.C. police, among other things.
Katie Green
We'll get to Armstrong and Getty.
Joe Getty
Ice Cube's big three is the surprise hit of the summer. This Saturday, 4pm Eastern on CBS. With playoff elimination on the line, the most physical, fiercest and competitive basketball in the world. Miami's Michael Beasley and Lance Stevenson must win to make the playoffs. And breakout star Dwight Howard of the LA Riot will battle Gary Payton's Boston squad in a do or die match for both teams. Six teams are allowed for four spots, and all must win. There's no crying in the big three. And the no holds barred action starts Saturday at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific. Presented by iHeart.
Unknown Speaker 1
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Jack Armstrong
That's the power of Lenovo.
Unknown Speaker 1
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Unknown Speaker 2
Oh hey, hey.
Katie Green
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Unknown Speaker 2
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Unknown Speaker 1
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Unknown Speaker 2
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Podcast Summary: Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode Title: I Like To Think About The Ancient Greek Republic
Release Date: August 11, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Description: The official, On-Demand podcast of The Armstrong & Getty Show! Accept no substitutes!
Timestamp: [03:15] – [12:12]
Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into the complex and evolving situation in Ukraine, focusing on the potential peace negotiations between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump’s Ambiguous Peace Proposal:
Zelensky’s Stance and European Rejection:
Divergent Views on Peace Feasibility:
Implications for Future Conflicts:
Timestamp: [07:01] – [15:44]
The conversation shifts to Europe's role and response to the Ukraine conflict, highlighting the tension between Russian aggression and European security interests.
European Rejection of Russian Proposals:
Concerns Over Trump's Negotiation Approach:
Security Interests and NATO Involvement:
Timestamp: [21:04] – [38:35]
Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty explore the increasing political and social fragmentation within the United States, comparing it to a binational republic.
Emerging Binational Republic:
Impact of Gerrymandering and Political Trifectas:
Social and Policy Divergences:
Potential Consequences:
Timestamp: [21:11] – [23:36]
A lighter yet intriguing topic, the hosts discuss the surge in popularity of Labubu dolls, examining its cultural and economic implications.
Origins and Popularity:
Cultural Significance and Economic Impact:
Collector Culture:
Expert Opinions:
Timestamp: [47:42] – [51:32]
The hosts discuss the groundbreaking debut of the first female umpire in Major League Baseball, addressing both the challenges and societal reactions.
Debut and Initial Performance:
Audience and Player Reactions:
Gender Dynamics in Umpiring:
Future Prospects and Acceptance:
Timestamp: [38:35] – [55:10]
In the latter part of the episode, the conversation touches on various other topics, including economic implications of political divisions, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and emerging technological trends. The hosts also engage in humorous exchanges about current trends and podcast interludes.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Influence:
Technological Trends and Consumer Products:
Humorous Segments:
Conclusion:
In this episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty navigate through a mix of pressing global issues and intriguing cultural phenomena. From the complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the internal political fragmentation of the United States to the rise of the Labubu craze and groundbreaking moments in sports, the hosts provide insightful commentary complemented by engaging discussions and notable quotes. This episode offers a comprehensive overview of contemporary challenges and trends, making it a valuable listen for those keen on understanding the multifaceted dynamics shaping our world today.