If I Go Two Days Without Seeing A Ballet I Feel Empty Inside

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "If I Go Two Days Without Seeing A Ballet I Feel Empty Inside" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: February 25, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In the latest episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a range of timely and thought-provoking topics, from the declining influence of cable news to the burgeoning intersection of artificial intelligence and art. The discussion is punctuated with sharp critiques, scientific insights, and personal anecdotes, creating a rich tapestry of content for listeners.

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Decline of Cable News and the Fall of Joy Reid

[02:39 - 05:20]
The episode kicks off with a robust critique of Joy Reid, a prominent MSNBC host whose show, The Readout, was recently canceled. Armstrong and Getty express skepticism about the reasons behind her departure, attributing it to declining viewership rather than any shift in network direction.

• Joe Getty emphasizes the diminishing relevance of cable news:
  "Cable news is definitely a dying thing. I mean the ratings are so low... they're way smaller than medium-sized radio shows or YouTube channels." [03:14]

• Jack Armstrong intensifies the criticism:
  "Joy Reid's show has been canceled out of sheer misogyny and racism by MSNBC hosts. I think national tragedy." [03:50]

The hosts argue that cable news, particularly networks like MSNBC and CNN, have lost their grasp on mainstream audiences, with viewership numbers plummeting into the hundreds of thousands. They contrast this with Fox News, which they perceive as maintaining a more substantial and engaged audience.

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The Rise of AI in the Art World

[19:07 - 22:10]
Transitioning from media critique, Armstrong and Getty explore the controversial entry of artificial intelligence into the art market.

• Jack Armstrong introduces the topic by referencing Sotheby's first-ever AI art auction:
  "Sotheby's is having its first ever AI art auction, which has got some in the art community up in arms." [19:19]

• They discuss the debate surrounding AI-generated art, with real artists opposing its recognition as legitimate art while others argue for its artistic value:
  "Art's art. And I don't know where we land on this. It's kind of confusing." [19:19]

• The conversation touches on the historical evolution of art movements and questions what AI's role will be:
  "Throughout the history of mankind, art reflected what's going on culturally in the world at the time... What is that going to mean when it's AI?" [19:52]

The hosts ponder whether AI art will follow the trajectory of previous art movements or forge an entirely new path, reflecting societal changes and technological advancements.

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Understanding Musical Anhedonia

[24:59 - 29:17]
A segment on musical anhedonia—a condition where individuals do not derive pleasure from music—reveals fascinating insights into human psychology and neuroscience.

• Joe Getty explains the condition:
  "Musical anhedonia isn't about being tone-deaf or having trouble understanding music. This is so interesting. People with this condition can tell perfectly well whether a melody is happy or sad." [27:18]

• Jack Armstrong relates it to personal experiences:
  "I feel like I'm that way with food. I don't care about food the way other people do." [28:07]

• They discuss the evolutionary aspects and potential primal reasons behind the human response to rhythm:
  "Something deep and primal in us... An incredibly common part of all ritual, tribal rituals and prehistoric rituals and modern rituals." [29:25]

This discussion highlights how fundamental rhythms and music are to human culture and individual emotional experiences, raising questions about the diversity of human responses to art forms.

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The Impact of Disconnecting from Mobile Internet

[30:16 - 35:42]
Armstrong and Getty examine a scientific study on the psychological and behavioral effects of blocking mobile Internet access for two weeks.

• Joe Getty summarizes the study's findings:
  "Blocking mobile Internet on your phone for two weeks had an effect on depression larger than typically seen in antidepressant drug studies... Increased well-being in 91% of participants in at least one key area." [31:18]

• Jack Armstrong shares personal anecdotes, emphasizing the universal desire to disconnect:
  "We all went on a vacation where we don't have Wi-Fi... It was unplugged. It was you and nature. It was wonderful." [31:31]

• They discuss the societal implications, such as improved social interactions and mental health:
  "Participants naturally spent more time socializing in person, exercising, being outdoors. And these shifts in behavior partially explained improvements in well-being." [32:21]

The hosts advocate for reduced smartphone usage, suggesting even moderate restrictions can yield significant mental health benefits.

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Political Commentary: Trump’s Mineral Deal with Ukraine

[38:28 - 41:08]
The hosts shift to geopolitics, analyzing former President Donald Trump's negotiations concerning mineral deals with Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

• Cindy Crawford relays Jack Armstrong's insights:
  "When the mineral deal is struck, I mean, I know Trump has said he's going to have the earth movers and the tractors going in... It has to be lasting." [39:03]

• Joe Getty expresses skepticism about the administration's resolve:
  "If you lack the will to defend those interests, then it doesn't matter. It's a house of cards, paper tiger." [40:20]

The discussion centers on the potential motivations behind the deal, its impact on the war's outcome, and whether the U.S. possesses the determination to enforce such agreements against Russian aggression.

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Government Memo on Diversity Activities

[41:08 - 43:07]
Armstrong and Getty critique a memo from a federal agency directive aimed at ceasing various diversity and inclusion activities within California.

• Jack Armstrong interprets the memo as a rollback of diversity initiatives:
  "All activities from the California Civil Rights Advisory Committee have been ceased. That means all the, the useless hours wasted on webinars and meetings to celebrate everything like LGBTQ+ Asian Pacific Island Day..." [41:21]

• Joe Getty predicts resistance and loopholes:
  "People will keep doing it in defiance of the law or create loopholes or pretend to be doing what they're supposed to, but not doing it." [42:21]

• Cindy Crawford voices concern over the impact on minority hosts:
  "On a network where we've got two, count them, two non-white hosts in primetime. Both are losing their shows... That feels worse than bad no matter who replaces them." [12:55]

The hosts highlight the tension between governmental directives and ongoing diversity efforts, questioning the long-term effects on institutional inclusivity.

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Final Thoughts: Embracing Real Connections

[43:07 - 45:30]
The episode concludes with the "Final Thoughts" segment, where Armstrong and Getty reflect on personal and societal themes.

• Joe Getty shares a craving for tacos, leading to a humorous exchange about food preferences:
  "I have had the worst food craving in the last day. Craving for tacos." [43:12]

• Jack Armstrong reminisces about authentic street tacos in Mexico, contrasting them with fast food:
  "The best tacos I've ever had are at those taco stands in tiny towns... Fresh ingredients made right there." [44:08]

• Joe Getty delivers a poignant closing remark on accountability:
  "Whether it's a government administrator or a cop, if you don't like what they're doing, point your finger aggressively at them and say I pay your salary." [44:24]

This segment underscores the importance of genuine human interactions and the value of holding those in power accountable.

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Conclusion

In this episode, Armstrong & Getty navigate through critical analyses of media and government practices, the evolving landscape of art amid technological advancements, and the profound effects of digital disconnection on mental health. Their blend of sharp commentary, scientific exploration, and personal stories offers listeners a comprehensive and engaging discourse on contemporary issues.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Getty [03:14]: "Cable news is definitely a dying thing. I mean the ratings are so low..."
• Jack Armstrong [19:19]: "Art's art. And I don't know where we land on this. It's kind of confusing."
• Joe Getty [27:18]: "Musical anhedonia isn't about being tone-deaf or having trouble understanding music."
• Jack Armstrong [31:31]: "We all went on a vacation where we don't have Wi-Fi... It was unplugged."
• Joe Getty [40:20]: "If you lack the will to defend those interests, then it doesn't matter. It's a house of cards, paper tiger."
• Joe Getty [44:24]: "Whether it's a government administrator or a cop, if you don't like what they're doing, point your finger aggressively at them and say I pay your salary."

---

For those looking to stay informed on current events with a critical eye and a touch of humor, this episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand offers valuable insights and engaging discussions.

Transcript

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[Joe Getty]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Cindy Crawford]

But also that my show had value and that I'm sorry that that what I was doing had value and value. And in the end I'm sorry.

[Joe Getty]

I'm not.

[Cindy Crawford]

I try not to cry on TV and I said this is kind of like me on tv. So I apologize.

[Jack Armstrong]

We need the disclaimer that I realize most of you don't watch cable news and those of you who do watch cable news don't watch msnbc. And even if you watched him, snbc, as do you, don't watch Joy Reid, which I never have. I've only ever seen the clips coming out of there because they're so crazy. Because she's a nut, like an absolute crazy person and she's been canceled by her own network.

[Joe Getty]

Far left, race baiting, racist and lunatic. Joy Reid's show has been canceled out of sheer misogyny and racism by msnbc, according to MSNBC hosts. I think national tragedy.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think as a guy who's taken in quite a bit of cable news over the years and it's definitely a dying thing. I mean the ratings are so low, you know, you could question whether it's even worth commenting on. I mean the ratings are so low. We're talking hundreds of thousands of viewers across the entire nation for some of these low rated shows. I mean it's really, I mean they're way smaller than you know, medium sized radio shows or YouTube channels or whatever. Way smaller anymore. But she, for having, you know, of the three big cable networks, big, big in quotes, msnbc, CNN and Fox. Fox actually is pretty decent sized, but CNN and msnbc, I, I think of all those, she's the most extreme everyday host that has ever existed. Wouldn't you agree? I don't know who would beat her. I mean, because she's way out there.

[Joe Getty]

Oh yeah. She's an absolute race baiting, wackadoo socialist. Yeah. Oh yeah, she is a racist. I mean to her core. I'm trying to find the quote from Andrew Stiles in the Free Beacon who said two thirds of her audience, where is it is memory care patients who've fallen asleep in front of the TV or something like that. That's dismissive and unfair and I don't appreciate it. See, he writes. Yeah, never mind.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, she. Clips from. I don't know. Have they announced who they're replacing her with?

[Joe Getty]

Oh, there it is. I think is Jen Psaki.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh that's right, that's right, that's right.

[Joe Getty]

They did say a white woman.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was just going to point out that uh, when, when she got fired there was, I saw on social media there was some, you know, MSNBC is going to try a different thing or turn a different direction or realize blah, blah, blah. There's no, there's no. That doesn't necessarily have to be the case. We're, we're in the business and you just have to get Ratings and generate revenue through advertisers. The people who own your station or channel or whatever generally don't care what you're saying, that you, that you just need to bring in enough people that it makes money. So, you know, she's just not bringing in enough people. Doesn't mean they're changing direction.

[Joe Getty]

Found one clip from Styles that I loved or quote, viewed. They he mentions that MSNBC was poised to announce major programming changes that would reflect the network's eagerness to, quote, maintain its progressive stance rather than trying to tack towards middle ground. That's an actual quote from msnbc.

[Jack Armstrong]

So they're making it clear they're absolutely not going to.

[Joe Getty]

Viewed in this context, canceling Reid's show was a logical step given the host's reputation for sober analysis and pragmatic centrism, not to mention her preternatural ability to connect with normal working class Americans. That is some finely tuned sarcasm. During the 22 election, for example, Reid was one of the first media personalities to acknowledge that the word inflation, quote, is not part of the normal lexicon for most Americans until nefarious Republicans quote, taught people the word in order to attack Joe Biden.

[Jack Armstrong]

You've got to be kidding. No, she's old enough and she's closer to our age than not. I mean, she's got to remember back in the day, inflation was the word in the 70s and early 80s.

[Joe Getty]

Oh yeah, yeah. Well, she's a professional liar and a Marxist. Marxist lie all the time. Reed channeled the anxieties of working Americans who could not believe that Kamala Harris had lost despite waging what Reid called, and I quote, a flawlessly run campaign and that she was endorsed by Queen Latifah, who never endorses anyone. And she expressed shock in 2020 when a Latino congressman suggested that Latinx was not the preferred term among actual Latinos.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, she's. I just looked up Joy Reid's 56, so she's, she's in our age group where you remember the 70s and inflation. Gerald Ford ran for president in 1976 on win whip inflation now. So her acting like it's a newly made up term to attack Joe Biden.

[Unknown Speaker]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Does she believe that stuff? Did she believe that stuff?

[Joe Getty]

Let's let this sage speak for herself. Clip 17 Please, Michael, from March of 2020.

[Cindy Crawford]

And so here we are again with conservatism, at least among a certain cohort of white guys now rooting itself in the idea that even during a pandemic, these screaming men and women have the God given right to get their roots done and order a steak at the restaurant and hit the golf course and the bar, and that those rights which they claim were conferred upon them by God require a disproportionately black and brown labor force to return to work, get back on the wheel and risk death in order to serve them and return them to their comfortable lives?

[Joe Getty]

Boy, what do you prefer? The mockery of the idea of liberty or the somehow deciding it was racial, that white people wanted to exercise their liberty and they're served disproportionately by black and brown people? As if even if that were true, that would negate the first part of it. That's some perverse thinking.

[Jack Armstrong]

But wait. The main reason he wanted to end shutdowns with businesses or schools or anything like that is because brown and black people, I don't care if they get Covid, I need to be served as a white man.

[Joe Getty]

That's right. Next clip Michael We've seen a growing.

[Cindy Crawford]

Movement to reframe how American history is taught in public schools. Well, some parents who are opposed to critical race theory as new curriculum aren't too pleased. Just because I do not want critical race theory taught to my children in school does not mean that I'm a racist, damn it. Actually it does. It's just another example of Republicans turning kids into a wedge issue, just like their politically motivated attacks on transgender youth who just want to play sports.

[Joe Getty]

Now notice because this is a masterclass, if you will, in the method of twisting well motivated actions, policies, thoughts like wanting to protect your little girl from having the hell beat out of her on a sports field that is actually hate of. It's a great example of the anti racism thing. You saying I don't think critical race theory should be taught in school absolutely proves you are a racist. She has an evil presence, but that's not the way Rachel Mado sees it.

[Cindy Crawford]

Clip 19 Michael Even bigger programming change is at 7pm 7pm Eastern, where Joy Reid's show, the Readout ended tonight. And Joy is not taking a different job in the network. She is leaving the network altogether. And that is very, very, very hard to take. I am 51 years old. I have been gainfully employed Since I was 12 and I have had so many different kinds of jobs, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. But in all of the jobs I have had, in all of the years I have been alive, there is no colleague for whom I have had more and more respect than Joy Reid. I love everything about her. I have learned so much from her. I have so much more to learn from her. I do not want to lose her as a colleague here at msnbc and personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door. It is not my call and I understand that, but that's what I think.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, that is really interesting.

[Joe Getty]

Her show is garbage that nobody watches. And there's more from Rachel, but go ahead.

[Jack Armstrong]

But she's a, she's a racist socialist. And, and Rachel Maddow says she's never, you know, learned, not learned more from any other person she's ever worked with in any of the many jobs she's had. It's just, it's why Trump won. The left, the, the left that gets all the attention is so far from the mainstream and they don't know it.

[Joe Getty]

Yes. They think they're Amish. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

They think they're center left when they're so far away from the mainstream. I don't know, I don't know why they haven't come to that conclusion then.

[Joe Getty]

Well, Rachel was far from over when she said it was merely unwise and a mistake to let her walk. What could have motivated such evil?

[Cindy Crawford]

I will tell you, it is also unnerving to see that on a network where we've got two, count em, two non white hosts in primetime. Both of our non white hosts in primetime are losing their shows, as is Katie Fang on the weekend. And that feels worse than bad no matter who replaces them. That feels indefensible, and I do not defend it, Indefensible.

[Joe Getty]

The best thing that could conceivably happen to conservatism, the country, the health of the culture, is for these people not to wake up, to continue being so loopy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and Rachel, I think you know from being in the business, if you get listeners, viewers, readers, you stay employed. If you don't, you don't.

[Joe Getty]

The end because of racism, misogyny.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, do you tell me if you think this is right or not? I think Fox is, I always look at it like a football field for some reason. Our, our politics with the 50 yard line being the very middle. And I feel like MSNBC is it like the three to five yard line way over on the left side of the field. Whereas Fox is probably more like the 30 yard line, I think.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, yeah, it's, it's a center right channel. Now. Some of the hosts are more overtly right wingy than others, but the prime time lineup is. No, it's pretty center right. Oh, worth mentioning this. I have dismissively mocked. Ms. Reed's show is, I think, a piece of crap nobody watches. Last Thursday's episode of the Readout drew just 59,000 viewers in the 25 to 54 age demographic. 59,000.

[Jack Armstrong]

59,000 in a country of 340 million people.

[Joe Getty]

It's amazing that anybody knows her name at all as you've pointed out. And it speaks to the fact that cable news used to be of significance. It has an outsized influence in Washington D.C. which is the only reason to even pay attention up until recently, partially.

[Jack Armstrong]

Because our so many of our electric elected officials are so old so they think cable news is a bigger deal.

[Joe Getty]

I would argue that as of now, there's no point in paying attention to cable News or like 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes is a dead husk of what it once was. It's watched by old people and only a few of them. Anyway, I want to finish this. The readout drew 59,000 viewers in their target demographic. Laura Ingram's show on Fox News, same slot, 389,389 to 59. It's like Chief Seagulls Super Bowl.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, getting to my speaking of football football field analogy and where Fox is versus where those MSNBC shows are for Rachel Maddow and Joy Reed. Unless you're on a college campus or the bluest of blue towns in America, practically nobody is into that. Whereas for your big Fox shows that's giant swaths of red America. Yeah, that agree with that stuff.

[Joe Getty]

It's not even the media is a weird little subculture. That should only be a head scratching curiosity. They have 27 times the influence that they should have.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Any comment on that text line? 415295kftc armstrong and getty this is Jenny.

[Jenny Garth]

Garth from I do part two. Everyone's talking about GLP1s like Ozempic semaglutide. With Future Health you can find out if they're right for you too. Just go to try fh.com that's trifh.com and find out if weight loss meds are right for you in just three minutes. FutureHealth is not a healthcare services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary. Sponsored by Future Health At Ameca Insurance.

[Joe Getty]

We know it's more than just a car. It's the two door coupe that was there for your first drive. The hatchback that took you cross country and back and the minivan that tackles the weekly carpool for the cars you couldn't live without. Trust Amica Auto Insurance Amica. Empathy is our best policy.

[Cindy Crawford]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skin care line together, he said to me, we. We are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty, which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results, and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty confidence is beautiful. Learn [e-mail].

[Unknown Speaker]

On January 27, it is international Holocaust Remembrance Day. We remember the great horrors, the evil of the Holocaust. Millions and millions of Jews were slaughtered during the Nazi reign of terror. Now today, we are witnessing the rise of global anti Semitism, the constant attacks on Israel, showing us that it is more important than ever to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and to ensure it never happens again. We have proudly partnered with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Now they provide food, shelter, safety to so many Israelis in Israel as they fight against radical Islamic terrorism in our time, including those remaining Holocaust survivors. Your donation today will help provide food, water, medicine, and other bare necessities to Jewish communities. Go to their [e-mail] that supportifcj.org or call toll free 888-488-IFCJ 888-488-ICJ. Today.

[Joe Getty]

Today, hackers played an AI video of President Trump rubbing and kissing El on television screens at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The White House believes the video was created by a disgruntled employee. So that narrows it down to the entire federal workforce. There's some truth to that. Yes, yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Speaking of AI, we all see, I think if you bounce around social media AI videos every day now where you're just like, wow, where is this going? I mean, it's just.

[Joe Getty]

They're stunning.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, they are. They're already stunning. And they're only going to get exponentially better over a short amount of time. But Sotheby's is having its first ever AI art auction, which has got some in the art community up in arms. This is the first time Sotheby's is the highest level of selling art for the, you know, the most valuable, expensive stuff. And now they're, they're doing it with AI art. And, and a lot of real artists don't want that to be counted as art. And other thinkers are arguing, well, how is it not art? I mean, art's art. And, and I don't know where, where we land on this. It's kind of confusing. I just came off a deep dive on Impressionism from this long book that I read that was fascinating about the Impressionist art movement and how it fit in with their politics and everything like that. But that's the way throughout the history of mankind. It reflected what's going on culturally in the world at the time. And it developed very slowly, you know, changes from art that only could be religious or, or, or reflect the wealthy to art that reflected commonplace themes to Cubism, to, you know, Jackson Pollock splash and paint to Andy Warhol. Just changes in all these changes in art. But what is that going to mean when it's AI or if I, if. If something new comes on the scene like Impressionism? And I think, oh, I like the, the look of that. Make something that's similar to that, but make it. Instead of a sunset, make it a, you know, a pond with a frog in it. And I don't know. I don't know what's gonna happen.

[Joe Getty]

No, neither do I. And what meaning will it have to people in their hearts? If the. You see an image you like, that's great. I almost. Judy and I almost bought an image created partly through AI, I guess by this artist who. Her pictures difficult to describe, but her pictures are always like, they have a surprise and they're whimsical. Once you catch on to what's happening visually, it's really clever, but we couldn't decide whether we wanted it or not. Won't this make you seem God, harder.

[Jack Armstrong]

To make a living as an artist? Not that it's easy now, but this is the same way that, you know, streaming services destroyed music. You can. You're not going to sell an album. I don't care how popular are you can tour, make money that way. You're not going to sell the album. I wonder if art's going to go the same direction.

[Joe Getty]

And one of the big objections to this show is that the AI models are trained on copyrighted work that they have no right to use, but they use that work to develop their AI art.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's no way you're ever going to stop that.

[Joe Getty]

I don't think you can. I can't even imagine what the enforcement mechanism was. You looked at Van Gogh's Sunflowers. No, I didn't.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right, right. I didn't even get into some other important stuff. We got a half hour left in the show, so that's good. If you missed a segment, get the podcast, Armstrong, and getty on Demand, Armstrong and Getty.

[Jenny Garth]

This is Ashley Kineti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. It feels like everyone is talking about GLP1s these days. Those are Ozempic and Semaglutide. And with Future Health you can find out if they're right for you too. Maybe you feel like you've been struggling with your weight for years and no matter how much you diet and exercise, you just don't feel healthy. Just go to try fh.com to find out if weight loss meds are right for you. Future Health is not a health care services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary. Sponsored by Future Health.

[Jack Armstrong]

Every day our world gets a little.

[Joe Getty]

More connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind.

[Jack Armstrong]

Us to be more human.

[Jenny Garth]

Thank you for calling Ameca Insurance.

[Jack Armstrong]

Hey, I was just in an accident.

[Cindy Crawford]

Don't worry, we'll get you taken care of.

[Joe Getty]

At Ameca, we understand that looking out for each other isn't new or groundbreaking.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's human.

[Joe Getty]

Amika. Empathy is our best policy.

[Cindy Crawford]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful Beauty confidence is beautiful. Learn more@meaningful beauty.com.

[Unknown Speaker]

On January 27, it is international Holocaust Remembrance Day. We remember the great horrors, the evil of the Holocaust. Millions and millions of Jews were slaughtered during the Nazi reign of terror. Now today we are witnessing the rise of global anti Semitism, the constant attacks on Israel, showing us that it is more important than ever to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and to ensure it never happens again. We have proudly partnered with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Now they provide food, shelter, safety to so many Israelis in Israel as they fight against radical Islamic terrorism in our time, including those remaining Holocaust survivors. Your donation today will help provide food, water, medicine and other bare necessities to Jewish communities. Go to their website. It's supportifcj.org that's supportifcj.org or call toll free 888-488-IFCJ 888488 IFCJ. Today I've got a mole in the federal government.

[Jack Armstrong]

That is someone I know who Works for one of those who passed along an email they got about various crap they don't have to do anymore, thanks to Trump administration and Doge. We'll get to that next segment.

[Joe Getty]

I would like to hear that very much. I will. Stay tuned. Couple of notes from the world of science. Thought you might unders. Might enjoy. That's right. Thank you, Michael. Even people who don't enjoy music, those who have musical anhedonia, which, if I'd ever come across that term before, I don't recall it, but they have no response to music. Yeah. They still feel the urge to move to rhythmic sounds, suggesting our body's response to rhythm may be more fundamental than previously thought.

[Jack Armstrong]

So, okay, that's, that's, that's, that's its own interesting thing. But so people. Because I remember hearing Andy Rooney, who used to be on 60 Minutes, if you're old enough to remember him, say one time. It doesn't understand why anybody cares about music. Doesn't like. Doesn't like any music. Had no interest in any music. And I always thought that so nuts. He must be one of these people. Like, it just doesn't do something in the brain the same way.

[Joe Getty]

Right. But when the beat starts, you just gotta move. In essence. I wonder if this has anything to do with the ventral striatum. Let me read on. The brain processes the pleasure of music and the urge to move it through different pathways. Pleasure through the ventral striatum. Yes, there it is. And movement through the dorsal striatum. But anyway, research suggests that the response of tapping your foot or moving a little bit to the groove might be more hardwired into our bodies than previously thought. In fact, a new Canadian study, soon to be an American study, shows that even people who don't particularly enjoy music still feel this instinctive urge to move when they hear it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. If you have one of those brains that doesn't enjoy music, I feel as sorry for you as like. Like someone who's. Has more outwardly, you know, defects that seem like they'd be. Because what a joy in life. Music is like your entire life. Can't imagine not having that.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I've, I've always said that there are very few things that give me the feeling of transcendence or frisson, as the French say. And music is on that list of very, very few things. It's incredibly important to me emotionally. But music and ballet, oh, my God, if I go two days without seeing a ballet, I feel empty inside or participating. Musical anhedonia isn't about being tone Deaf or having trouble understanding music. This is so interesting. People with this condition can tell perfectly well whether a melody is happy or sad. You know, major minor key, or they can recognize the national anthem. They can even spot a wrong note in a familiar tune. What makes them different is that music simply does not give them any emotional buzz that most people experience.

[Jack Armstrong]

I feel like I'm that way with food. I don't care about food the way other people do.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Like I can taste it and everything like that. I just don't care.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, well, you're hard of tasting and should never comment on. On that topic.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't think I am. As it said there, the people. People can hear the music, they can write. They just don't care for whatever reason. Maybe it's on something we don't get. I don't know.

[Joe Getty]

Right. Yeah. Yeah. And the condition affects a subset of otherwise healthy individuals who enjoy other pleasurable experiences. Normally, they might appreciate art, enjoy good food, form strong emotional connections. It's just that music leaves them cold, and they're trying to get to the bottom of this. And. And. But one of the most interesting offshoots of the study was that, hey, even people who have no desire to listen to music get nothing out of it. They can't help but tap their foot. There's something deep and primal in us, which is really interesting.

[Jack Armstrong]

And most everything can be explained evolutionary wise. What would. What would groove into a rhythm help man, human beings, Homo sapiens, survive. I can't even come up with anything.

[Joe Getty]

It's an incredibly common part of all ritual. Tribal rituals and prehistoric rituals and modern rituals.

[Jack Armstrong]

Got to be something to do with bringing us together. We bond around it. It's got to be something like that.

[Joe Getty]

And so, you know, anhedonia, obviously musical anhedonia. It's not adaptive. It's a. It's a, you know, quirk. What do they call that in genetics? A mutation that's not adaptive. But it probably doesn't matter in the modern world anyway. So, I mean, if back in the caveman days, if OG wasn't down with the drum beating, you'd boot his ass out. We don't want you around here anymore.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, War, drums beating the drums, war, whatever. You could get beaten on a drum really loud. Get men, young men, worked up to go into battle. And so people that responded better to that survived, and people that didn't, didn't survive. Is it that over a million years?

[Joe Getty]

I know every time I hear a fife or a drum, I just want to shoot a Brit Put them together and there's no holding me back. You know, that was intended to be a little shorter than it was. It's just such an interesting topic, especially if you're a music lover. I was going to get back to this. Excuse me. I do not have the monkeypox like Jack, just allergies. We touched on this like a week ago and ran out of time and I'm afraid the same thing's going to happen again. But it was the story about blocking mobile Internet on your phone. No connectivity on your phone for two weeks. And it had an effect on depression larger than typically seen in antidepressant drug studies. And improved sustained attention comparable to reversing 10 years of age related decline. Wow. And increased well being in 91% of participants in at least one key area.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't doubt that a bit. That doesn't surprise me in any way. I think we all, well, everybody you hear, they go on a vacation where they don't have WI fi after the initial.

[Joe Getty]

Like vomiting.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Shakes and vomiting.

[Joe Getty]

Love it, appreciate it.

[Jack Armstrong]

We all feel like it makes us happier than we go right back to staring our phones.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, we took a vacation with the kids a long time ago. There might have been a phone in, in the room. I was in Hawaii. I'm North Shore of Kauai if you're curious. It's very back when it was very quiet and rural and the rest of it. And it was incredible once you got used to it. No screens anywhere of any sort. This was pre smartphones too, so I mean it was unplugged. It was you and nature. I borrowed an acoustic guitar and we played games and took walks and it was wonderful anyway. And this is so intuitive but so powerful. Just because something's obvious doesn't mean it's not worth contemplating. Without mobile Internet access, participants naturally spent more time socializing in person, exercising, being outdoors. And these shifts in behavior partially explained improvements in well being. And some benefits persisted even after Internet access was restored. Only 25% of participants fully maintained the two week mobile Internet block. But even those who reduced their usage showed improvements. So wow, 75% flaked either a little or a lot. They just stopped. This suggests that less extreme approaches such as time limited Internet blocking could still provide significant benefits.

[Jack Armstrong]

I want to talk about this more maybe in the One More Thing podcast because I'm trying to lay down some rules for my kids as they get older and more involved in texting and smartphones and all that sort of stuff and man, it's tough.

[Joe Getty]

I I think it is because there's a little more data and I love the idea we can talk about this in the One More Thing podcast. But as I look at some of the data and some of the pros, some of the cons and some of the behaviors of people in the study, it is 100%. It is. You're an alcoholic, you're a cocaine addict. You are fully cognizant that you ought not not to drink anymore.

[Jack Armstrong]

You're a necrophiliac.

[Joe Getty]

But for instance, you can't stop sexing up corpses. You put. You can't stop, even though you know you should practically, universally.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, they don't care.

[Joe Getty]

No. Oh my God. Look what I gotta work with, folks. This is important. And, and. And a funny boy over here won't stop abusing corpses.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'll take your silence as consent anyway.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, Lord, I give up. I give up, give up. I was going to save your life and your soul and your happiness, but Jack has ruined it all. I quit. Michael.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, there's that. There's no way to measure, and this is what I think people miss, is there's no way to measure the interactions that don't happen. So this idea of like at the airport. I was at the airport the other day for my birthday trip, and everybody's standing around the gate waiting for him to say, line up. And you know, A's 1 through 15, and everybody's staring at their phone. If we weren't staring at our phone, you might strike up a conversation with the person next to you, and you have no idea where that would go or who would you meet or whatever like that. And we don't. There's no way to measure all those interactions that don't happen.

[Joe Getty]

80% of people under 30 are worried they use smartphones too much, and few have. And few have done anything concrete to cut their use.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm surprised that they're worried about it since they've grown up with them. I. I've always tended to think that's those of us in the older generation who at least live the life without them. My kids have no idea what life is like without the smartphone. I remember standing in the airport waiting for them to call your name and people might talk, or at least you're alone with your thoughts or whatever. But it wasn't everybody staring at a device.

[Joe Getty]

You want to de age your brain 10 years? Put down the smartphone.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow, that is interesting. My. My mole in the government. I need to pass that information along. I think you'll find this to be Good news, among other things. On the way.

[Jenny Garth]

Armstrong and Getty. This is Jenny Garth from I do part two. Everyone's talking about GLP1s like Ozempic semaglutide. With FutureHealth, you can find out if they're right for you, too. Just go to tryfh.com that's trifh.com and find out if weight loss meds are right for you in just three minutes. Future Health is not a healthcare services provider. Meds are prescribed at provider's discretion. Results may vary. Sponsored by Future Health.

[Joe Getty]

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[Cindy Crawford]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of Meaningful Beauty. Well, I don't know about you, but like, I never liked being told, oh, wow, you look so good for your age. Like, why even bother saying that? Why don't you just say you look great at any age, every age. That's what Meaningful Beauty is all about. We create products that make you feel confident in your skin at the age you are now. Meaningful Beauty, beautiful skin at every age. Learn [e-mail].

[Unknown Speaker]

On January 27, it is international Holocaust Remembrance Day. We remember the great horrors, the evil of the Holocaust. Millions and millions of Jews were slaughtered during the Nazi reign of terror. Now today we are witnessing the rise of global anti Semitism, the constant attacks on Israel, showing us that it is more important than ever to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and to ensure it never happens again. We have proudly partnered with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Now they provide food, shelter, safety to so many Israelis in Israel as they fight against radical Islamic terrorism in our time, including those remaining Holocaust survivors. Your donation today will help provide food, water, medicine and other bare necessities to Jewish communities. Go to their website at supportifcj.org, that's supportifcj.org or call toll free 888-488-IFCJ 888-488 IFCJ.

[Jack Armstrong]

Today, numerous times today, President Trump expressed.

[Cindy Crawford]

Confidence that this war could really, in reality, end in a few weeks. Do you share that confidence?

[Jack Armstrong]

I hope so. That is France's President Macron with Bret Baer on Fox yesterday. He went with I hope so. And the War between Ukraine and Russia could be over in a couple of weeks. But I wanted to get this on because I haven't heard it yet. This is Mark Thiessen of the Washington Post explaining the mineral deal because I don't quite get what's going on there. The minerals deal is actually more important.

[Cindy Crawford]

Than the peace deal. When that mineral deal is assigned you. Russia has lost the war because Putin's goal was to conquer Ukraine. And three years later, the end result is the US Is going into business with Ukraine. We are investing literally, not figuratively, billions and billions of dollars in a deal with the Ukrainians. If Russia takes over Ukraine, Putin is not going to pay us hundreds of billions of dollars for the weapons that we gave Ukraine to fight his troops. The only way that we get the hundreds of billions of dollars that Trump is negotiating right now is if Ukraine remains a free, sovereign, independent nation with whom we're doing business. And when this deal is struck, I mean, I know Trump has said he's going to have the earth movers and the tractors going in. People are saying there's not, they're not U.S. troops involved. He's sending something better. Billions of dollars in US Direct investment, US Bulldozers, US Earth movers to dig up those minerals. And you need a free, you need free trade, you need ports, you need to export them, and you need peace. In order to do that, it has to be lasting.

[Jack Armstrong]

And with the idea, I guess, of not only you can't, you know, if, if Russia decided to re. Attempt to grab more land, we wouldn't put up with that because we got our bulldozers and construction workers and everybody there. Is that the theory?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, it is. And I thought that was intriguing. Last night on Special Report with Brett Bear asked for the audio. The more I think about it, though, to, to play out the scenario Putin decided. Putin says, yeah, I, I still want Ukraine and the US Is not going to go to war with me. So he moves in and he maybe even cuts a different deal for some of the minerals, but he just takes what he wants. Unless you have the will to stop a bully. A bully is going to bully. I like Martiessen. That point of view is not insane. But if you lack the will to do what he hinted we would do, which is defend our interests, then it doesn't matter. It's a house of cards, paper tiger.

[Jack Armstrong]

I guess that's a question. Would we lack the will to defend those interests? I don't think. I'm not sure Trump would.

[Joe Getty]

And the next president. Yeah, yeah, I Don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, here's my mole in the. Who works for a federal government agency. And this only relates to Department of.

[Joe Getty]

Digging holes in yards.

[Jack Armstrong]

The only only relates to California stuff, but maybe in other states, too. So this memo went out. I won't say what department this is. It's one of your really big ones. This memo went out to all staff in this department. Subject California Civil Rights Advisory Committee to comply with the attached usda. Then that goes through a whole bunch of different agencies and departments and all these different things. List them all. I won't list them all. All activities from the California Civil Rights Advice Advisory Committee have been ceased. What does that mean? I'll tell you what that means. It means that all the, as this person says, all the useless hours that have been wasted in years on webinars and meetings to celebrate everything like LGBTQ + Asian Pacific Island Day or month, women's month or day black month or day bracket, all these different things are going away. All of those things are going away as a directive of the Trump administration. You can't make in California. People do all that stuff.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, we'll see.

[Jack Armstrong]

You think that'll be challenged in the courts?

[Joe Getty]

No, I just think that wherever they can, people will keep doing it in defiance of the law or create loopholes or pretend to be doing what they're supposed to, but not doing it. That's the thing. These people don't obey the law. They think their grand principles are too important.

[Jack Armstrong]

I can't believe we have government employees that we're paying doing all that stuff. It's crazy.

[Joe Getty]

It's Final thoughts. I'm strong again. It's final thoughts. It's final Thoughts. I'm strong again. Get ready with Katie Green and Michael Angelo. It's Final thought.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm strong. That's right. Here's your final thought with your. Your host for Final Thoughts, Joe Getty.

[Joe Getty]

Let's get a final thought from everybody on the crew to wrap up the show. There is our technical director, Michelangelo. He will lead us off. Michael, I have had the worst food craving. Craving in the last day. Joe, you mentioned you love tacos. And now I am stuck on the idea of I've got to get some tacos today.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's just I've been thinking about it all.

[Joe Getty]

The show, the whole show long.

[Jack Armstrong]

Do you have a fast food? Go to taco. Are you gonna make home tacos? What are you gonna do?

[Joe Getty]

Probably go to a fine restaurant and get some good tacos.

[Jack Armstrong]

There you go.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Wow.

[Unknown Speaker]

The.

[Joe Getty]

The delicious Mexican sandwich. The Taco. Katie Green, our steam has a final thought. It's Katie's turn. Michael, Katie, final thought.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, I'm just gonna go along with Michael's thought.

[Cindy Crawford]

Michael, you can do that because it is Tuesday, therefore Taco Tuesday.

[Jack Armstrong]

And now I want Taco Bell crunchy tacos. So I know that's not Mexican food. That's the opposite of a fine restaurant.

[Joe Getty]

I know. But they're so good and so cheap. Jack, a final thought for us.

[Jack Armstrong]

I will say the best tacos I've ever had in my life is any of those taco stands and some tiny town in the middle of nowhere in Mexico that costs you like a dollar to eat till you're so full you can't eat anymore. They got all the fresh ingredients and they're making them right there. Oh my gosh, that's some goodie.

[Unknown Speaker]

Mmm.

[Joe Getty]

Street tacos they call them. Yes, just delightful. My final thought is whether it's a government administrator like Jack was talking about, or even a cop, if you don't like what they're doing, point your finger aggressively at them and say I pay your salary. Because that something they generally respond positively to.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty wrapping them under their grueling four hour workday.

[Joe Getty]

Oh yeah. So little time. Good. Armstrong.com. a lot of great hot links.

[Jack Armstrong]

What?

[Joe Getty]

Sage's law. Check it out.

[Jack Armstrong]

See you tomorrow. God bless America.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

So what's different with you?

[Joe Getty]

Well I would say this. You made it rhyme louder and it's.

[Jack Armstrong]

Rhyme in a long time. Absolutely.

[Joe Getty]

So let's go out with a bang.

[Jack Armstrong]

Scrotum watchers are going to be seen if the Supreme Court takes that up.

[Joe Getty]

Scotus. SCOTUS is the generally used acronym.

[Jack Armstrong]

I get the mixed up all the time.

[Joe Getty]

Wow, that's. That's got to be uncomfortable.

[Cindy Crawford]

Thank you all very much.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jenny Garth]

Hi, this is Jenny Garth from I do part two. Who do you know on Ozympic or Semaglutide right now? Everyone Right. These game changing weight loss meds are everywhere and FutureHealth makes it easy to get started. Find out if weight loss meds are right for you in just three [e-mail] FutureHealth is not a healthcare services provider. Meds are prescribed at providers discretion. Results may vary. Sponsored by FutureHealth.

[Cindy Crawford]

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[Jack Armstrong]

During tax season, your sensitive info does a lot of traveling to places you can't control, stopping off at payroll, your accountant or tax preparer and countless other data centers on its way to the irs. Any of them can expose you to identity theft because they all have the.

[Joe Getty]

Info on your W2. Just the ticket for criminals to steal your identity.

[Jack Armstrong]

No wonder the IRS reported tax fraud due to identity theft went up 20% last year.

[Joe Getty]

You need Lifelock.

[Jack Armstrong]

They monitor millions of data points per.

[Joe Getty]

Second and alert you to threats you could miss.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

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[Jack Armstrong]

Don't let identity thieves take you for a ride. Get Lifelock protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40 terms apply.

[Jenny Garth]

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