I Need Figgy Pudding & Spotted Dick

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "I Need Figgy Pudding & Spotted Dick"
Release Date: May 13, 2025

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Overview

In the episode titled "I Need Figgy Pudding & Spotted Dick," hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a range of pressing topics, including controversial legislation in Colorado, a high-profile celebrity trial, violence linked to Mexican cartels, ethical concerns surrounding international gifts, and the looming impact of artificial intelligence on employment. The discussion is enriched with firsthand testimonies, expert opinions, and timely news updates, providing listeners with a comprehensive analysis of current events.

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1. Gender-Affirming Care Legislation in Colorado

Discussion Highlights: Jack Armstrong and Michael engage in a critical examination of recent bills in Colorado that mandate insurance coverage for gender-affirming treatments and influence child custody decisions based on a child's gender identity.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [05:04]: "A House bill would require insurance companies to cover so-called gender-affirming drugs and procedures for both children and adults, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and the removal of healthy breasts and genitalia."
• Michael [05:10]: "If another court from another state gives custody to a parent who affirms the child's biological sex, a bill directs Colorado courts to ignore that decision and instead award custody to the parent who pushes the child toward transition purely because they pushed the child toward transition. You crazy people, right?"

Testimony from Brandy Cruz: The episode features a poignant excerpt from Brandy Cruz, who narrates her experiences with gender transition treatments, highlighting the long-term physical and emotional repercussions she faced.

• Brandy Cruz [08:00]: "I had facial feminization surgery. I had sex reassignment surgery. I was on HRT for 17 years. Now I'm on a combo dose because I can't go off. I have multiple health conditions from transitioning young and for transitioning for so long."

Insights: The hosts argue that such legislation prioritizes ideological conformity over children's health and autonomy. They express concerns about the permanent and irreversible nature of gender-affirming procedures, especially when administered to minors.

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2. High-Profile Celebrity Trial: P. Diddy and Brandy Cruz

Discussion Highlights: Jack and Michael provide updates on the ongoing trial involving P. Diddy and his ex-girlfriend, Brandy Cruz. The episode discusses the potential implications of Cruz's testimony and the media's portrayal of the case.

Notable Quotes:

• Katie [15:32]: "At the moment she's visibly upset. Also eight and a half months pregnant. Just as a note."
• Jack Armstrong [16:12]: "She described 'freak offs' as involving the hiring of escorts and setting up experiences for performances directed by Diddy."

Insights: The hosts emphasize the severity of the allegations, including physical abuse and psychological manipulation, asserting that the trial could become one of the most significant celebrity cases of the generation.

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3. Violence and Political Assassinations in Mexico

Discussion Highlights: A grim report on the rampant violence in Mexico underscores the dangers faced by politicians opposing cartel interests. The hosts lament the frequent and brutal assassinations that rarely gain international attention.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael [17:17]: "A woman running for mayor was gunned down on live television in front of her supporters."
• Jack Armstrong [18:50]: "We have been railing against progressive policies that have made crime legal again and emptied the prisons. It takes two weeks to undo and maybe 200 years to get back."

Insights: The conversation highlights the urgent need for robust law enforcement and policy reforms to combat cartel-related violence and protect public servants in Mexico.

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4. Ethical Concerns Over Qatar's Luxury Jet Gift

Discussion Highlights: The hosts debate the propriety of Qatar gifting a massive and luxurious 7478 jet to the U.S., exploring the ethical and political ramifications of such a gesture.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [20:16]: "The jet, which is bigger and more luxurious than Air Force One, would almost certainly be the most expensive gift ever from a foreign power."
• Donna Brazil [21:10]: "They're giving us a free jet. I could say, no, no, no, don't give us. I want to pay you a billion or 400 million or whatever it is."

Insights: Concerns are raised about Qatar's geopolitical motives, including their support for the Muslim Brotherhood and the potential influence such gifts could wield over U.S. policies and positions.

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5. The Impending Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment

Discussion Highlights: Jack and Michael delve into the transformative effects of AI and automation on the job market, predicting significant disruptions across various industries.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [28:09]: "If the AI thing happens and that 10% happens, I mean, how many Americans are working at this point?"
• Michael [38:51]: "I think it's like two years off. We've only got such a ready acceptance of AI taking over so many jobs."

Insights: The hosts forecast that AI advancements could eliminate millions of jobs, particularly in sectors like trucking and white-collar professions, leading to increased unemployment and a potential need for universal basic income. They discuss societal and economic challenges that may arise from such a shift, including political instability and an overburdened welfare system.

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6. Recommendations and Cultural Commentary

Discussion Highlights: The hosts recommend the television series Black Mirror to listeners interested in exploring the ethical and societal implications of technology.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [25:26]: "I would describe it as a modern-day cinematic quality Twilight Zone. Each episode stands alone... revolving around the theme of man trying to deal with the new technological world."
• Katie [27:10]: "The latest episode I just watched... they create mini drones that look like bumblebees, but then someone hijacks them to kill people."

Insights: Through their discussion of Black Mirror, the hosts underscore the relevance of speculative fiction in understanding and anticipating real-world technological challenges and ethical dilemmas.

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7. Closing Thoughts

As the episode concludes, Jack reflects on the rapid advancements in technology, particularly AI, and the necessity for society to adapt proactively. He warns of the potential societal upheaval if measures are not taken to address the impending changes in the job market and economic structures.

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Conclusion

"I Need Figgy Pudding & Spotted Dick" offers a critical and multifaceted exploration of contemporary issues ranging from gender legislation and celebrity misconduct to international ethics and technological disruptions. Through incisive commentary and real-life testimonies, Armstrong and Getty provide listeners with a thought-provoking analysis of the forces shaping today's society.

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Note: Advertisements for sponsors such as Talkspace have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the episode's core content.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.

[Joe Getty]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through, it's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80 to match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80. Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio.

[Jack Armstrong]

Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong. And get.

[Michael]

Two things. One, P. Diddy's girlfriend has taken the stand in that trial, and we're monitoring that. And if she corroborates some of the horrifying testimony from yesterday or says anything exciting, we'll pass that along to you. Also, I'm liking this conversation that's catching on online of, hey, the French gave us the Statue of Liberty as a gift. Why can't Qatar give us a plane as a gift? What's the deal? As a, as an argument.

[Jack Armstrong]

So that's, that's interesting and there are ethical questions here, but I feel like they can be resolved. I just, I.

[Michael]

Somebody brought this up and it's always been true of Trump. I mean, from day one I'd been pointing this out how he often steps on such good news. So they he had the prescription executive order yesterday, lower the cost of prescriptions, which should be a huge, like, news cycle win for you. And maybe the whole trade thing coming to an end. And you know, it ended up being, for a lot of the dominant media, the whole receiving a plane from Qatar was the.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Obliterated it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Yeah. The drug price thing is an interesting topic, too. Maybe we'll take that on at some point today or tomorrow. You know how much can actually be done. But we'll keep you up to date on various stuff as it develops.

[Michael]

Well, and it was an executive order. I just came across this from Sarah Isger of the Dispatch. Trump has signed five bills into law in the first 100 days. The fewest of any president since at least the 50s might be earlier than that. Which means everything that has been accomplished can be reversed with the stroke of a pen by the next president.

[Jack Armstrong]

And I didn't want to do to your hopes what Diddy and his pals did to his ex girlfriend.

[Michael]

Oh my God. And tell me it's raining.

[Jack Armstrong]

Exactly. But yeah, there's a limited amount that he can actually do. And, and, and where this ends is probably not anywhere near the promise. But anyway, having said that, I've been wanting to talk about this for a little while. That Colorado, which is in so many ways a wonderful state, I mean just scenic as can be and for the longest time just normal, you know, just the Great Plains, good, hardworking, normal people. You get a little artsy fartsy around Denver and, but it's just, it's like I love Colorado. I always have since the first time I was there.

[Michael]

The Royal Gorge and more.

[Jack Armstrong]

But it has gone full on woke lunatic right now. A few examples and particularly from the department of gender bending madness. It's called tolerance, as this person is pointing out. Lathan Watts, and we'll get to some of his words in a couple of minutes. But what they're tolerating is mutilating procedures that put radical ideology ahead of children's health. This is all about kids and the so called gender affirming care which is radical gender theory experimentation on healthy young bodies. It's disgusting. But there's this one House bill that would require insurance companies, it would force them to cover so called gender affirming drugs and procedures for both children and adults, including puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and the removal of healthy breasts and genitalia. Insurance companies are forced to cover that. Here's a different bill that would require courts to consider actions like misgendering a child or using your child's actual name. It would require courts to consider that a form of coercive control, which is a euphemism for child abuse.

[Michael]

Yeah, that would never hold up, but it would sure be a nightmare going through the process until you challenged it and won.

[Jack Armstrong]

But in child custody decisions.

[Michael]

Oh, be horrible.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's just horrible. Yeah, that was the rest of the sentence. That's where they're using this now. Wait A second dad still calls Jimmy Jimmy. So he should definitely lose custody.

[Michael]

Oh, my God.

[Jack Armstrong]

And if another. If a court from another state gives custody to a parent who affirms the child's biological sex, a bill directs Colorado courts to ignore that decision and instead award custody to the parent who pushes the child toward transition purely because they pushed the child toward transition. You crazy people, right? And anybody who believes in, you know, as, for instance, the Gays Against Groomers group says, we believe children are perfect as they are. They don't need drugs and hormones and surgery. They are what they ought to be anyway. And if parents seek compassionate counseling for their child. And this is going to be brought home to roost with some audio we're about to play for you. If the. If the parents say, my kid was the victim of something or is confused or has been led down the path of radicalism by teachers or activists, any counselor who speaks, any message in Colorado that, no, you are what you should be, you are made that way by God. Let's come to terms with whatever is bothering you, but you're a boy. That counselor can be subject to steep fines and can lose his or her license.

[Michael]

I'm hoping this is the last gasp of this sort of thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

I. I really hope so. This is awful. It's unspeakably.

[Michael]

You people are so crazy.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's just.

[Michael]

It's just. It's amazing how crazy people can get well.

[Jack Armstrong]

And then the. Nathan points out that, as Colorado's recent history demonstrates, bad legislation often leads to good case law. Yeah, so. But, but his point, and it's. So if you think about it, is how many more confused adolescent kids are going to be victimized before these cases get overturned and these horrifying laws, you know, are exposed to the light of day? And, you know, and I'll just say this very briefly. Europe, the US Everywhere that looks at this stuff says, this does not help kids, that there is no scientific evidence that these experiments should continue on children. There is none. Anyway, having said that, this is a woman named Brandy Cruz who's talking to Anna, who was, I think, a guy who was convinced that they were a girl. And. And they use the term CSA a couple of times. It's childhood sexual assault that gets clarified later. But I just wanted you to understand that. So, Michael, we'll start with 30. This is a Brandi Cruise talking to Anna.

[Brandy Cruz]

Doctors told me that what was wrong with me and how I felt about my body was not from csa, even though I went there and said, did CSA make me this way? Csa. Yes. Childhood sexual assault. And they said no. They said no. They said being gay is innate and being trans is innate, and what you have is gender identity disorder. They diagnosed me with gender dysphoria, and I believed their bullshit for about 17 years.

[Jack Armstrong]

So they said, no, no, no. Childhood sexual trauma could make you feel uncomfortable with your body. No, that's. It's innate. It's bor.

[Michael]

You.

[Jack Armstrong]

You are transgender.

[Michael]

It's weird how they come up with these letters for these, like, really, you know, rough situations to try to make them so academic.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, let's not. Let's call it what it is.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Roll on. Michael, are you willing to tell me everything that you went through?

[Brandy Cruz]

I had facial feminization surgery. I had sex reassignment surgery. I was on HRT for 17 years. Now I'm on a combo dose because I can't go off. I have multiple health conditions from transitioning young and for transitioning for so long.

[Michael]

Oh, my God. I saw that poor person. I saw somebody the other day in one of those tick tock videos that had. Had just got their Adam. Adam's apple shaved. That's got to be quite the process. And.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, so this poor, confused child rape victim, convinced that no, it's your transgender, had his healthy penis and testicles removed, jabbed with powerful hormones, which now she. I don't know how. I don't remember how Anna chooses to live. I think is a woman at this point, because they have such terrible hormonal imbalances. They've got to take these powerful hormones for the rest of their lives. Roll on.

[Joe Getty]

What was it for you that kind.

[Jack Armstrong]

Of woke you up to, this isn't what I should have done.

[Brandy Cruz]

I found out that homosexual transition was environmentally caused in almost every single case by childhood sexual assault or by internalized homophobia or failed boy syndrome. I was given a blanket diagnosis, given to anybody who has a body issue as a child nowadays.

[Michael]

Failed boy syndrome.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. I don't. There are a lot of technical terms, but it is. If you are uncomfortable with your body, you're uncomfortable, you're attracted to guys, whatever. It's a blanket diagnosis these days, says Anna Roland. How do you find your story received by people who continue to sort of push medicalization?

[Brandy Cruz]

They hate me. They call me a bigot. They say that trans women are women. They say that gender dysphoria is a valid diagnosis. And God forbid you're effeminate and you believe that something's wrong with you as a man because you like pretty things and are sassy. So how do you?

[Jack Armstrong]

How do you identify now?

[Brandy Cruz]

I'm a gay man.

[Jack Armstrong]

Have you lost friends or anyone by day transitioning?

[Brandy Cruz]

I was canceled by every friend I had who was liberal in this city and had to leave the city.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, they hate me. They call me a bigot. Can you imagine that? Last clip. Why is it important for you to be here?

[Brandy Cruz]

Because people are being lied to when they're being diagnosed. They're not being diagnosed with what actually causes the gender dysphoria. They're just being diagnosed with a symptom of a problem. And there are multiple problems that cause those symptoms. And when you don't appropriately diagnose people, you lead them into a life of ruin. All of these interventions are permanent, they're irreversible, and they lied to me.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's a huge scandal going on in the UK right now. Scotland's top social worker has now come out against the powers that be. And she was also the director of the Scottish Child Law center and said care bosses, that's the welfare, essentially failed to uphold existing equality law and stood by, while social workers who bravely challenged gender ideology were bullied and lost jobs. The Scottish Care Inspectorate and other government funded bodies all signed up to imposing belief in gender identity on social workers and on vulnerable service users, claiming that the law supported this. She accused the bosses of causing untold harm by abandoning child protection principles and giving in to radical gender ideology. So they throw away all of the things they claimed they were there to do to protect children in the face of the bullying by the gender activists.

[Michael]

By the way.

[Jack Armstrong]

Social. Go ahead.

[Michael]

We have some breaking news on this story. The Pentagon is halting gender affirming health care for transgender troops as it implements Trump's new policy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Social workers were advised by these and other powerful bodies that they must offer automatic affirmation of gender identity even in very young children whose parents or adopters were claiming to have identified this, including those with serious and complex psychiatric conditions. And then you got people autistic, you're a rape victim, it doesn't matter. They get gender affirming care cuz they're transgender.

[Michael]

Well, those are awful. And then you've got the ones where the parents are just so enthused about their kids being this. What, what's that actress, the blonde one who won the Oscar for being the serial killer?

[Jack Armstrong]

Charlize Theron. Yeah.

[Michael]

Who says both her kids are trans at ages like 2 and 4 or whatever. I mean, what are you talking about?

[Jack Armstrong]

And she finally said, unbelievably. We were also asked to accept the claimed gender identity of serious sex offenders and to indulge them, etc. It's just unbelievable. How did a belief system this crazy get so far and claim so many victims? And Colorado is still, you know, you said we hope for past the peak of this and on the way down, Colorado is trying to push it further. Right now.

[Michael]

I do think we're on the other side of it. I mean, we can all feel that. But there are still places where they're fighting, where they're fighting the good fight in their mind, the crazy fight, the insane fight, damaging to children. Fight.

[Jack Armstrong]

Your kid is effeminate. Your kid is gay. Your kid is fine. You don't have to if the idea that, yes, my kid is so sick they need surgery. Come on. Oh my God.

[Michael]

If you have any thoughts on any of this, you could text us. 415295, KFTC Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is mental health awareness month and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back. Whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE83. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.

[Michael]

Maybe the biggest celebrity trial in a generation. P. Diddy, according to some people. Anyhow, we'll have to decide whether we want updates on this on a regular basis. The star witness, his Ex girlfriend of 10 years is on the stand right now. Katie, any headlines for us?

[Katie]

Yeah, at the moment she's visibly upset. Also eight and a half months pregnant. Just as a note.

[Michael]

Yeah, that's no fun.

[Katie]

She's been asked to describe her relationship with Diddy. She said, quote, there were violent arguments that would usually result in some form of physical abuse. Dragging different things of that nature. And then she was asked to describe what a freak off was. It basically entails the hiring of an escort and setting up this experience so that I could perform for Sean. Him being able to watch me with another person. Person and actually direct us on what we were doing seemed to be what he enjoyed. Eventually it became a job for me pretty much.

[Michael]

Well, yeah, as the guy testified yesterday, sometimes for as long as 10 hours. I don't even. I don't even know what that means. 10 hours?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. And she was. I'm just looking through some of the news accounts. She said she was naive and a total people pleaser and feared making him angry or uncomfortable with the rejection. Combs controlled much of her life, she said. Yeah, she feared that she'd be blackmailed with videos and images of her participation in the freak offs as well as threatened with violence.

[Michael]

The part yesterday where somebody was saying he'd constantly be saying, more baby oil, you need more baby oil. He had a thing for baby oil for some reason.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. Wow.

[Michael]

All right, well, that's your update on that. Anything else happens, we'll bring it on to you. Here's a grim story from the narco state that is our trading partner in country south of us in Mexico. Some woman that was running for mayor in some town on a I'm going to stand up to the cartels sort of ticket.

[Jack Armstrong]

Can I guess how that sentence ends?

[Michael]

Yeah, no kidding. Gunned down on live television in front of all her supporters yesterday. Her and her daughter and several other people on her campaign and just. Yeah, murdered on television. No, you ain't, is what the cartel said. And the New York Post runs through the 661 different attacks last year on politicians across Mexico who tried to stand up to the cartels. I mean, true patriots were really knowingly risking their lives to try to make the town they live in safe and worth a damn for their own family. But there's some gruesome examples and it doesn't even really hardly make the news here anymore. It happens so often.

[Jack Armstrong]

Got an example, 661?

[Michael]

Yeah. Got an example here of a guy who was a mayor in some place. Well, this guy was shot and killed. This guy was shot and killed. This guy was shot and killed. Then you got one here who is beheaded in his head, left on the top of his car for everyone to see the next morning. Here's a woman who was a man.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wanted to continue his policies. Yeah.

[Michael]

She was murdered walking home from the gym with her bodyguard. Bodyguard. Wasn't that didn't do that good a job? Probably, yeah, it's. That's rough. That is really, really rough that that goes on to that extent and we pay so little attention to it with me right next door to us. But oh, my point was, I knew I had a point. Man. Hang on to your culture of law and order, because once it goes, getting it back could be a hundred year project or more.

[Jack Armstrong]

And that's why a lot of us have been railing so hard against a lot of the progressive policies that have, you know, made crime legal again and emptied the prisons again. It takes two weeks to undo and maybe 200 years to get back.

[Michael]

Yeah, that is rough. We got a lot more on the way again. If you missed a segment, get the podcast Armstrong and Getty on Demand.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Gettysburg. This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's Spa CE80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80 from the government of Qatar.

[Jack Armstrong]

A massive 7478 luxury jet that's been called a flying palace. The jet, which is bigger and more luxurious than Air Force One, would almost certainly be the most expensive gift ever from a foreign power. It has two fully furnished floors, plush carpet, leather couches, and two bedrooms.

[Michael]

I had a good discussion on a podcast yesterday about how many people give a crap about this. Maybe you should. Maybe it's way out of bounds. Maybe it's an emoluments clause.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, what about the emoluments clause?

[Michael]

But how many people does this register with? Even if it's a maybe, Issue, I'll bet not a lot. Anyway, I've only read this. I haven't actually heard it. The back and forth, the reporter and Trump yesterday. Here we go.

[Brandy Cruz]

Mr. President, what do you say to.

[Jack Armstrong]

People who view that luxury jet as.

[Joe Getty]

A personal gift to you?

[Jack Armstrong]

Why not leave it behind your ABC fake news.

[Donna Brazil]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Why not? Only.

[Donna Brazil]

Only abc. Well, a few of you would let me tell you, you should be embarrassed asking that question. They're giving us a free jet. I could say, no, no, no, don't give us. I want to pay you a billion or 400 million or whatever it is. Or I could say, thank you very much. You know, there was an old golfer named Sam Sneed. Did you ever hear he won't 82 tournaments. He was a great golfer. That he had a motto. When they give you a putt, you say thank you very much. You pick up your ball and you walk to the next hole. A lot of people are stupid. They say, no, no, I insist on putting it. Then they putt it and they miss it and their partner gets angry at him. You know what? Remember that Sam Snead, when they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, thank you very much.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. I don't like the Qataris trying to buy favor. I just don't. I'm not comfortable with it.

[Michael]

Yeah. I don't know if you are the.

[Jack Armstrong]

World'S biggest backers of the Muslim Brotherhood. They. Qatar was a pariah in the Middle east because the Muslim Brotherhood was. Is an Islamic Islamist organization that was causing all sorts of problems for the other governments in the region and they've mended some of those fences. But yeah, I just, I don't like the feel of it.

[Michael]

No. If I have to choose one or the other, I'd rather we didn't take the plane from the Qataris, but doesn't rank very high on my list of give a craps.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. I've got bigger problems for sure. Yeah. So a couple of things I wanted to mention personally. First of all, I just moved chat GPT to the first page of my iPhone.

[Michael]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay. I am. Judy and I are planning a trip. I've used it for a number of things, but we're planning a trip now. And I've heard that artificial intelligence in general, whatever, you know, your favorite platform is, is really good at that. I am astounded by how great it is. Yeah, I just. Oh, my goodness.

[Michael]

I've only dabbled. But it is like you said the other day, why would you use Google now that you've got this? It's way better than Google. Way better than Google for whatever question you've got.

[Jack Armstrong]

For instance, so I've been an Anglophile fascinated by all things British since I was a little kid and I've never spent any time in the UK really, which is just. I'm horrified by that. I let myself get as old as I am and it's inexplicable anyway, except that I have a job that I got to show up for or five days a week. And it's harder to take big long trips anyway. And so I was asking it, what part of town should we stay in? Here are our interests. Here's our budget, you know. And it recommended several different parts of town that would be great.

[Michael]

Mostly figgy. I like figgy pudding and spotted dick. Yes, I need figgy pudding and spotted.

[Jack Armstrong]

Dick and kidney pod. Anyway. And then I said, well, our interests. I saw the results and I said, our interests are especially this, that and the other. And it refined the results. And then I said, hey, what are some day trips we could take from London? Because we're going to stay for quite a few days. And. And it gives great day trips, the time it takes to get there, how you would get there. And then it said, would you like an itinerary for a trip to Oxford to take in classical music? I said, yes, please. And it said, all right, take this, you know, you leave that now you go to that. They have a concert at 10am Then you. Blah, blah, blah. It's just, it's amazing. Anyway, so that's one thing.

[Michael]

So I don't know there is such thing at travel agents anymore anyway. But they're out of a job.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Now they could maybe handle some of the logistics like booking you tickets, behave more like a concierge than a. I don't know, than a planner. But anyway, because I got to admit some of that logistics stuff is a little. Not daunting exactly, just a pain in the butt. But the other thing is, I want to thank everybody who through the years has said, joe, you would love Black Mirror or the Netflix series. Have you watched that at all?

[Michael]

No, but people keep referencing it and I think I need to check it out.

[Jack Armstrong]

It is Katie, your fan.

[Katie]

Huge fan.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, huge fan. So it is. I would describe it as a modern day cinematic quality Twilight Zone, which is probably not an original description. I'm sure other people have used that too. Each episode stands Alone, at least so far that I've watched. They're not it's not a serial. It's like individual fairly short movies revolving around the theme of man trying to deal with the new technological world.

[Michael]

Okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

I love that sort of thing and, and paranoia and, and identity and it's all very. Not cerebral. But its themes are worth wrestling with. The first episode is one of the most hilariously funny, horrifying things I've ever seen. It was the. With the pig, Katie.

[Katie]

Oh, yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Season one, episode one.

[Katie]

Oh, yeah, we're going back. But yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

And a politician. Yeah. Anyway, so if you haven't yet dived into it, I recommend it highly. Its themes are mature that you don't want to watch this with your kids. In fact, I'm begging you, don't.

[Michael]

But so if like me, you're constantly wondering where AI and stuff's going to take us, this would be a good show for that.

[Katie]

Oh my gosh, yes.

[Michael]

Give me an example.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and I'm in the early days, Katie. What's, you know. Later. Later.

[Katie]

Okay, here's a.

[Jack Armstrong]

Whatever springs to mind.

[Katie]

Possible spoiler alert issue. But that's okay. Oh, that's all right. The latest episode I just watched, we. They are living in a world in the UK where the honeybee is now an endangered species. So this company took it upon themselves to create little mini drones that look like bumblebees. And they pollinate and take care of, you know what the bee's job.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's a wonderful and inspiring idea. Thank you for telling us about the episode.

[Michael]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

Hey.

[Katie]

So somebody hijacks all of the bees and they start killing people.

[Michael]

Okay.

[Katie]

Going through the ears. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, no.

[Katie]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

I tell you what, nano drones in warfare, I read about that years ago and it still haunts my dreams. Drones so small you even see them with the naked eye individually swarming the battlefield and swarming the lungs of your opponents.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

And just detonating their lungs.

[Michael]

I'm highly interested in all those things. And a lot of those things can come true or will come true. And then you've just got the very basic thing of AI. Like you were talking about how good chat GPT is doing stuff is just if it, if it shaves off, you know, even if it doesn't eliminate every job, if it shaves off 10% of jobs or something, I mean it's going to restructure society and some such a drastic way.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. 10% would be cataclysmic. Right.

[Michael]

My brother, who has been a truck driver at various times in his life, sent me some stuff about the new Tesla semi trucks that they're trying in Texas right now. And he said, man, if this works, it's just going to be devastating because that's a huge job nationwide truck driving. And you eliminate all of those and all of a sudden all of those dudes, mostly dudes, got to find a different way to make a living. This is underappreciated is how seismic a shift this is going to be.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and we're dealing with really soon.

[Michael]

Like maybe in the next year.

[Jack Armstrong]

Die we're already dealing with. And we talked about this hour one of the show, I think how the budget negotiations going on right now in the House, especially fiscal conservatism is gone and the courage to reform. Medicaid, for instance, the new perverse, twisted, bloated Medicaid that Obamacare just exploded. Nobody has the will because it's too easy to demagogue it and say they're trying to take away healthcare for the poor. And people will believe that. And it's just if the AI thing happens and that 10% happens, I mean, how many Americans are working at this point? Honestly, it's like 140, 150 million and it's half. You got kids and old people and blah, blah, blah. That's an astonishing addition to the welfare roles. Medicaid, disability, because you know what's going to happen to those truck drivers. And I based this on some stuff I've been reading about. You know, some of the, you know, more run downtowns in the Steel Belt and stuff like that is they go on fake disability. That's what happens. The government people and the corporate people say to the guys, look, this is a jobs fair and a training program. But we don't really mean it, y' all. If you stay in this town, you're going to end up on disability. So here's how you apply for disability. Here's what you need to tell them and those numbers will just, just explode.

[Michael]

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[Jack Armstrong]

It's super easy too, and easy to understand. You just choose more or less on two, at least two player stat projections. He's going to score more points than that. He's going to score less. And it's two to six players for your shot to win up to 2,000 times your cash. And heck, you got a theory on some guy going off in basketball and one hitter you think is going to go wild in baseball. You can combine those sports for your lineup.

[Michael]

Yeah. So download the app today and use the Code Armstrong to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. That code ARMSTRONG gets you $50 instantly after you play your FIRST $5 lineup.

[Jack Armstrong]

And prize picks super customer oriented withdrawals are fast, safe and secure with some hitting your account in as little as 15 minutes. Again, download the Prize Picks app today, use that Code Armstrong get fifty bucks instantly after you play just five dollar lineup. Prize picks run your game.

[Michael]

Inflation numbers came out today. Lowest annual years. That has got to be good news, right? Does that mean they can start lowering interest rates? Is that what that possibly means?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, yes, perhaps. Yeah. Yeah. I tell you what, this is sobering news. And you know how I hate to be sober. The labor market for recent college grads has deteriorated noticeably in the first quarter of this year, the trend continuing but getting worse.

[Michael]

I'd like to hear a little more about that and mainly why, among other things on the way.

[Jack Armstrong]

Stay here, Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is mental health awareness month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it, in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back. Whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80. NBC just announced that Michael Jordan will contribute to the NBA covers next season.

[Jack Armstrong]

Between this and the Pope, Chicago's like, omg Best week ever.

[Michael]

All right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, the Pope's brother is a character. Oh yeah, he's got some strong Opinions. Yes, we'll drill down into those during hour four of the show. What? You don't get hour four, you've got to go to work or something. Grab it later via podcast. Armstrong and Getty on Demand.

[Michael]

He's gonna be like the Billy Carter for the Pope.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. Not a terrible comparison. So stay tuned for that if you can. Or again, grab it later. So Bill Morrow is talking to Donna Brazil, a longtime Democrat activist. You know, interesting lady, no doubt. But they're talking about AI in the future and employment and everything we've been discussing. Here's how it went. This came out this week. Graduation season is upon us. And the unemployment rates of new grads, way up. Why is that? Because AI is doing the jobs that even the white collar kids used to be able to do. Such a write code. There's a company, Aurora Driver driverless trucks. It makes. Well, they've already tested it over 1200 miles. So there's 3.55 million truck drivers in America and this and that. Uber drivers. They're going to be out of a job. Cashiers. We already see it at the Amazon warehouse. What are we going to do? What about the possibilities of having, you know, these automated systems help us reduce, you know, work, workplace hazards?

[Donna Brazil]

I mean, there are things that they can do that human beings cannot do. They can lift things, they can move.

[Jack Armstrong]

Things, they can box things.

[Michael]

So we have to adapt to the future, Bill.

[Jack Armstrong]

We can't run from AI. Wow, what meaningless pablum that was. We need to adapt to the future. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

[Michael]

How workplace injuries or whatever. It's interesting how the left immediately jumps to. It's great that AI will be able to replace jobs. I guess leaning more into the idea that people shouldn't have to work or.

[Jack Armstrong]

That they'll become poets or, I don't know, Democratic activists, if they don't have to put food on the table. Interesting. So some numbers are out. Labor market for recent college graduates deteriorated noticeably in the first quarter of this year. Unemployment rate jumped to 5.8% and the underemployment rate rose sharply to 41.2%. I would have to click several times to get to their precise definition of underemployment, but I have a feeling it has to do with either. Not in a field. They're educated for not working enough hours, but yeah, and they don't really explain why. Again, that would take a fair amount of digging, but it's softened up and it makes sense. I mean, speaking of AI, there are Just a lot of. I'm a college graduate, I've got a cubicle job. I don't work outside with my hands jobs. What do you, how do you describe those office jobs, in short? I guess A, technology's taking care of a lot of those and B, as we've been discussing for quite a while now, college degrees are getting phonier and phonier. The extent to which they indicate that this person has gained important skills and insights about the world and life, that.

[Michael]

Wouldn'T mean anything to me.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no. It could, but they did. That just doesn't mean that anymore. Having a diploma doesn't mean that.

[Michael]

So once we start, I think we all, I think everybody agrees that we're going to be heading down a road where there is some sort of guaranteed income for a certain segment of society. Maybe not like permanently, but transitioning in and out of work or something like that. But once that starts, are people going to be fighting each other to try to get it to into that category? Like you want to be one of the people that gets the guaranteed income and doesn't have to work? Or would that seem like a horror to most people? It seems like a horror to me.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think we'll have the standard makers and takers, you know, division in society, but it'll be weighted way toward the takers.

[Michael]

Would it have seemed like a horror to me when I was 22? I don't know. When my standard of living was so low that meeting it or exceeding it wouldn't take much. And I was perfectly happy with my standard of living, maybe with the idea of, okay, that'd be fine, you know, and then I don't have to work and I can, I'll get a degree in this or that eventually. And then you just don't get around to it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. And then I think there are your secondary effects or whatever that second tier effects you deny the incentive for many, many people to excel at anything, to live a life of purpose, even to stay busy. And that will cascade into serious sociological changes, I think, because, you know, young. How do I put this? If you fundamentally change the purposes of people's lives and how they spend each day and why they spend each day doing them, that causes enormous political instability. Just everything changes. And the number of people who are on the government dole and the way the government takes in revenue and then hands it back out again, the way private industry, even if it's all robots and AI, generates that income and then how it's confiscated from them and blah. I mean, that's that serious earthquake level changing of society that I think is.

[Michael]

Not a hundred years off or 50 years off or 20 years off. I think it's like two years off.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I don't know. But it's, it's definitely not a hundred years off.

[Michael]

Well, you add the, whatever he said, 3 million truck drivers to the however many million Uber drivers, they'll all be gone soon with the Waymos and that. And, you know, a few more of those white collar jobs you're discussing, you're gonna have enough million people out there.

[Jack Armstrong]

That.

[Michael]

Are gonna need some sort of guaranteed income, I guess. And why would the rest of us be okay with paying for them too, not do anything?

[Jack Armstrong]

Because we're just satisfied with working hard and having our money confiscated by the government to hand out to those people who are, you know, victims of AI or whatever. I tell you what too, if they announce in the next however long a period you want to pick that, hey, you know that hallucinations problem with AI systems? We've fixed it. We figured out what caused that. And so now there is zero chance our AI attorney will ever come up with a fake case or give bad legal advice. There's zero chance our AI accountant will hallucinate some sort of tax deduction that doesn't exist and you go to jail. We've got that taken care of. Then, man, you're going to see white collar jobs disappear like crazy.

[Michael]

If that robot stops swinging its arm around trying to decapitate people and starts lifting boxes and you eliminate all those jobs.

[Jack Armstrong]

So you're either unemployed or decapitated. This is the future. W. Armstrong. Ready.

[Joe Getty]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is mental health awareness month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it, in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back. Whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through, it's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider and typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace. When you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's SPA CE80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.comand enter promo code SPACE80.

[Jack Armstrong]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.