Ill Advised Balls

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "Ill Advised Balls"

Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand ([iHeartPodcasts])

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into several core themes: the often absurd nature of international diplomacy (especially regarding Ukraine and Russia), the geopolitics around Venezuela, a revealing discussion of South Korea’s demographic crisis, and a heartfelt fundraising effort for Scouts scholarships. The hosts intertwine wit, personal stories, and sharp analogies, providing both humor and insight.

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Main Discussion Points

1. The Futility of Current Ukraine "Peace" Negotiations

(06:00–12:17)

• Set-up: Armstrong & Getty review a New York Times piece about "peace plan" negotiations over Ukraine, noting the glaring omission: Russia isn't even part of the talks.
• Joe summarizes: Western diplomats are hashing out security guarantees for Ukraine, but Russia shows “no willingness to negotiate.”
• Jack analogizes the situation to MLB owners, umpires, and league officials agreeing on rules for players—who refuse to participate.
• The hosts lampoon the entire process by likening it to making elaborate wedding plans with a celebrity (Sydney Sweeney) who doesn't know you exist.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe (07:19): "That's like me saying my marriage plans with Sydney Sweeney remain out of reach for the moment as she has no knowledge that I exist or interest in marrying me. I mean, it's the same level of ridiculous."
• Jack (09:05): "At least they should do us the favor of saying clearly, these two proposals have serious areas of conflict and each must be altered significantly before we can talk about an agreement."
• Joe (11:31): "So you and the caterer have finally agreed on the buffet, moving you closer to a final agreement with Sydney Sweeney."

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2. Venezuela and U.S. Policy: The “Ill-Advised Cojones”

(12:17–14:11)

• News: President Trump has enacted a “total and complete blockade” on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.
• Hosts ask: Would Venezuelan forces dare confront the U.S. Navy? No, say the hosts; that’s not bravery, that’s “suicide.”
• Armstrong explains: The U.S. strategy is to choke off money to Maduro's regime, hoping cracks appear among loyalists when the money dries up.

Notable Quote:

• Jack (13:12): "That wouldn't be having cojones. That'd be stupid, right?"

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3. Scouting Scholarships and Listener Fundraising

(17:11–21:54, 24:27–24:49, 40:16–41:14)

• Mission: The show is raising funds so any child can join scouts, regardless of financial circumstances.
• Listener stories highlight how scouting changes young people's confidence, resilience, and leadership.
• Anecdotes:
  • A cushy kid who, after a week in the wild, vows never again to say "I can't" (18:31).
  • An ex-Scout emphasizes the real-world preparation the Eagle project gave him (19:53).
• Fundraising Totals: Listeners donate with humorous pseudonyms, including "Can you see my privates?" and "Miss South Carolina. Some people don't have maps."
• Progress: Over $79,000 at recording; target is $100,000.

Notable Quotes:

• Listener Email (19:53, read by Jack): "Nothing in my four years of college came close to teaching me real-world experience and responsibilities than my Eagle project did."

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4. South Korea’s Dramatically Low Fertility Rate

(25:49–37:34)

• Choice: In a new segment ("Jack Makes the Choice"), the show examines why South Korean women are having so few children.
• Facts & Stats:
  • South Korea’s fertility rate was over 6 in 1960, now it’s about 0.8 (way below replacement).
  • Sociocultural factors: intense work culture, high academic pressures, and a significant gender employment gap.
  • Many women are pressured to leave work if pregnant; "27% report being coerced into signing illegal contracts, promising to resign" (32:47).
  • Super-competitive education: “Almost 80% of children attend a hagwon" (cram school).
  • Result: Material success, but highest suicide rate in the world.
• Broader context: While all advanced societies see declining fertility with prosperity, South Korea’s extreme work culture is unique.
• Philosophical reflection:
  • Jack: “Cultures are like individuals. They can get diseased.” (34:27)
  • Joe muses on generational motivation: If people have no children, what compels them to care about the country’s future?

Notable Quotes:

• Armstrong (28:06): “Its population, optimistically, is projected to shrink by over two thirds in the next 100 years if current fertility rates persist.”
• Getty (34:21): “Miserable. They’ve got the highest suicide rate in the world, I think.”
• Armstrong (34:27): “Cultures are like individuals. They can get diseased. And just because a culture is something doesn't mean it should be something.”

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5. Miscellaneous Banter, Humor & Listener Stories

(Throughout)

• UFO Movie: Joking about Spielberg’s new scary UFO film, Jack pretends to have "wet himself," leading to riffs about horror sounds and scary TV shows (03:33–04:29).
• Parental mishaps: Story of a child licking a Target bathroom drain—maybe the grossest possible thing a parent can witness (41:10–41:57).
• "Leftist mentality in a nutshell" cartoon: Satirical commentary on modern discourse, with ants biting a man while a companion chides "not all ants" (24:56–25:41).
• "Jack Makes the Choice": Audience votes between unusual topics—South Korea’s fertility wins over “J.D. Vance is the white Ibram X. Kendi” (25:46–26:23).

Notable Quotes:

• Jack, on Target drain story (41:26): “If you tried hard, you could come up with a more disgusting place to lick. But I don't want to be part of that brainstorming session. That's gross.”
• Joe, on the parenting lesson (41:44): “You know me. I'm free range dad… I see that, I'm screaming, snatching them up, drawing the line.”

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Key Timestamps

• Ukraine/Russia peace process critique: 06:00–12:17
• Venezuela oil blockade discussion: 12:17–14:11
• Scouting fundraising & anecdotes: 17:11–21:54, 24:27–24:49, 40:16–41:14
• South Korea fertility deep dive: 25:49–37:34
• Funniest stories (UFOs, scary shows, bathroom drains): 03:33–04:29, 41:10–41:57
• Listener donations & witticisms: 16:38–17:11, 18:06–18:24, 24:27–24:49, 40:16–41:14

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Memorable Quotes

• Joe Getty (07:19): "My marriage plans with Sydney Sweeney remain out of reach for the moment as she has no knowledge that I exist or interest in marrying me."
• Jack Armstrong (28:06): "Its population, optimistically, is projected to shrink by over two thirds in the next 100 years if current fertility rates persist."
• Joe Getty (34:21): "They've got the highest suicide rate in the world, I think."
• Listener Email (19:53): "Nothing in my four years of college came close to teaching me real-world experience and responsibilities than my Eagle project did."

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Tone and Style

Armstrong & Getty’s signature mix of irreverence, dry humor, cultural critique, and personal storytelling is woven throughout. The hosts rely on sharp analogies (elaborate wedding plans with an oblivious movie star, biting ants as a metaphor for misguided discourse) while grounding more serious issues (war, societal decline) in relatable anecdotes. Banter and callbacks to listeners’ jokes make even their fundraising efforts engaging.

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Conclusion

"I'll Advised Balls" combines sharp political and cultural analysis with the lightness of personal and listener stories. Armstrong & Getty poke fun at world leaders’ diplomatic charades, expose the roots of South Korea’s demographic crisis, champion the value of scouting for youth, and always make room for a good laugh (or groan) along the way.

To donate or learn more about their Scouts scholarship drive: armstrongandgetty.com

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Final Thoughts Segment (43:33)

• Michelangelo donates to the drive ("listening to CD and staring off while running the AG show").
• Katie Greener plugs a new video ("AI George Washington") on their site.
• Jack & Joe urge listeners to help reach their updated goal before year’s end, reminding all how transformative scouting can be.

Jack’s final thought: “Anybody who thinks a bourbon is going to be a bourbon is a fool. I could use a nap. Feel slightly weakened.” (43:25)

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[Advertising, intros, and outros omitted as requested.]

Transcript

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[Jack Armstrong]

Shh.

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

I am Nina Khrushcheva, the great granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union in 1962. And I'm Max Kennedy, the nephew of US President John F. Kennedy.

[Jack Armstrong]

We explore what was a terrifying moment in history, the story of the Cuban missile crisis, how close the world came to nuclear war, and what they had to do to pull it back from the brink.

[Joe Getty]

The bomb, Kennedy and KHRUSHCHEV. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Joe Getty]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center.

[Jack Armstrong]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now, here's Armstrong and Getty. Good morning.

[Commercial Announcer]

Good morning, Kansas City. Let's take a look at today. Let's.

[Joe Getty]

Today is.

[Jack Armstrong]

Today'S. What are you going to do? Full disclosure to the whole world.

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You're coming Get.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, I wet myself.

[Joe Getty]

What. What is happening there? What was that?

[Jack Armstrong]

Can somebody get me some paper towel? I would. That is the trailer from the new Steven Spielberg UFO movie.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, it's a UFO thing. And that's what caused you to lose control of your bowels?

[Jack Armstrong]

It was too scarring.

[Joe Getty]

Not your bones.

[Jack Armstrong]

Weird. Your blood sounds freaked me out.

[Joe Getty]

You kept your bowels intact, you held your mud, but your bladder gave way.

[Jack Armstrong]

Thank you for that. Yes, indeed, the great Steven Spielberg has turned his attention to a scary UFO movie.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, I can't wait.

[Jack Armstrong]

I might go to the theater.

[Joe Getty]

That could be good. Cool. My son is. I'm used to that sound.

[Jack Armstrong]

Katie is freaking out. Would you knock it off? That is sending, like chills down my spine. Oh, it's horrible.

[Joe Getty]

Did you watch Stranger Things, Katie? I forget a few.

[Jack Armstrong]

I watched the first season and then it lost me.

[Joe Getty]

Okay, so you didn't make it far enough to these dog like creatures that eat people and rip their throats out. That's in season two, I guess. My son.

[Jack Armstrong]

I hope Baxter isn't listening.

[Joe Getty]

My youngest is making his way through it because he heard all the good reviews of season five. So he decided to try to catch up and so he's really into it. But lots of scary music like that and creepy things happening and whatnot. There are plenty of actual scary things happening in the world like the war between Russia and Ukraine. And where are we on the peace process? Well, before I get to the New York Times article about it, this is Mark Halperin's summary today and his news roundup. Ukraine is in line to get much more robust security guarantees that were in the first drafts of the peace plan. Putin gets a lot of land bragging rights and a return to the community of nations. Sort of. Everybody is tired of war. Europe now believes that Trump isn't bluffing and that this is the final act. Okay. That this is the final effort by Trump. Then he's going to wash his hands of if it doesn't go any further. Here's the problem, though. As the New York Times points out, Ukraine plan calls for enhanced military with US And European backup. That's the headline. The sub headline is the latest proposal is designed to deter future Russian aggression. But Russia is not part of the talks and has shown little willingness to negotiate. Russia isn't even part of these talks and has shown no indication zero. As I Read the full article. And they get to later. Putin's made no noises. You know how often people. Well, we're willing to take a look at that. Or this is a proposal that, you know, there are kinks to work out. But we believe. No, zero. He's made no noises whatsoever that he has any interest whatsoever in. In giving on any of these issues. So what are we talking about?

[Jack Armstrong]

This is insane. It's a circumstance like the Major League Baseball owners. There's about to be a huge work stoppage, I think after next season. But it's like the owners have gotten together with the league and the umpires, and they've all agreed that the players will play for free after they've made $50 million. But the players haven't joined in these talks and have made it clear over and over again they have no interest in anything like that ever for the rest of their lives.

[Joe Getty]

Nonetheless, the negotiations continue to the New York Times story. American and European diplomats meeting with Ukraine's leaders over the past two days in Berlin have mostly signed off on two documents that outline the security guarantees. The official said publicly and privately, several European countries agreeing to put troops on the ground. Still, a broad ceasefire appears to remain out of reach for the moment, in part because Russia's not party to these negotiations.

[Jack Armstrong]

What the hell are we talking about here? As you just said, that's. What are we doing.

[Joe Getty]

My marriage plan with what's. What's the Nazi chick that's so hot right now.

[Jack Armstrong]

Popular. The Nazi.

[Joe Getty]

The Nazi jeans chicken. That's like me saying my marriage plans with Sydney Sweeney are remain out of reach for the moment as she has no knowledge that I exist or interest in marrying me. I mean, it's the same level of ridiculous.

[Jack Armstrong]

But you keep making announcements about how it's coming along.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, my plans for the wedding are coming along fine. We've now narrowed it down to a several different caterers and the type of ring I plan to buy. The negotiations are being held, by the way, that she doesn't know I exist nor has any interest.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

I don't think you calling her the.

[Jack Armstrong]

Nazi jeans chick is getting any closer to a marriage either. Wow.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Joe Getty]

Again. Still, the ceasefire remains out of reach for the moment, in part because Russia is not party to these negotiations. I don't understand this paragraph. And then it says at the end of the paragraph where they talk about, you know, land this and that, it says Putin has indicated no flexibility at all on his demands. Again, what is this article about? I'm confused. The next paragraph, you know, I've already said about the peace guarantees that the United States and Europe has. They're working out. They've come very close to two agreements, the United States and Europe, on their peace guarantees for troops on the ground and everything like that. Putin has stated previously he will not accept the presence of NATO troop. NATO country troops in Ukraine. Okay, so he's already said that's a no go and has shown no indication of backing off whatsoever. I don't even understand what this article is. I'm seriously. I don't get it.

[Jack Armstrong]

At least they should do us the favor of saying clearly, these two proposals. All of the Russians have. They kind of made a proposal, but they could say something like, clearly, these two proposals have serious areas of conflict and each must be altered significantly before we can talk about an agreement.

[Joe Getty]

It's really weird because these are smart people. The negotiators are smart. The people. Further writing for the New York Times are smart. They're smarter and more sophisticated than I am. Yet they've written this for the first time in months. European officials said they're working well with American negotiators and President Trump. The big breakthrough is that we and Europe are seeing eye to eye on this. But some European leaders hinted at lingering concerns that all the diplomatic work with the Americans could be irrelevant if the fundamental disputes between Russia and Ukraine cannot be resolved.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, that's correct. You mean the two countries at war? The two countries that are fighting the war. If they don't have any agreement, this will all be meaningless. Yeah, I would agree, and I'm no genius here, but, I mean, there's not.

[Jack Armstrong]

No value in the Americans and Europeans working out their differences and forming a united front. I mean, obviously that's very, very important. But it just seems like the headlines keep indicating that we're getting closer to an agreement.

[Joe Getty]

I mean, one of the two documents lays out broad principles. They am to what two American officials and several European diplomats said would be a commitment similar to NATO's Article 5 guarantee, in which all member nations pledge to come to the aid of any nation that is attacked. So it basically be a NATO guarantee for Ukraine if they're attacked by Russia. Again, we, the United States of America, and our friends are at war with Russia. Russia saying, however, of course, I ain't signing that. Not a freaking chance.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I don't know. This might just be signaling back and forth between the sides, but I don't know. It all seems very, well, very shaky. Doesn't even describe how shaky it is.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I don't Know, I'm honestly confused as to what this even is all about. They're putting a lot of time and effort. Again, these are really, really smart people. Marco Rubio is no dummy. Donald Tusk, Poland, no dummy. These people aren't getting together, taking time out of their lives a week before Christmas because, you know, just to go through the motions, they must think it means something.

[Jack Armstrong]

So you and the caterer have finally agreed on the buffet, moving you closer to a final agreement with Sydney Sweeney. Okay. All right.

[Joe Getty]

Again, Sydney Sweeney, yet to be aware of the existence of the 60 year.

[Jack Armstrong]

Old bald man, or more notably, has utterly and unequivocally rejected the idea over and over again.

[Joe Getty]

You're right, my description is not close to right. She is aware of me and has said ew.

[Jack Armstrong]

She's gotten a restraining order on multiple occasions.

[Joe Getty]

Has said ew.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

There seems to be no budging on her feelings about Mr. Armstrong. However, a caterer has been decided upon.

[Jack Armstrong]

Mr. Armstrong has announced a new development in the search for a florist. Okay, great. Super. Speaking of war and peace, we mentioned this quite early in the show today that President Trump yesterday ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela in a major escalation of his pressure campaign against the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro, the commie kleptocrat. Does Venezuela have the cajones, the ill advised cojones? If I might. You can't have ill advised polls. I mean, that's just. That's a bad metaphor.

[Joe Getty]

Sometimes I've felt like mine were ill advised.

[Jack Armstrong]

Hmm. They certainly give bad advice anyway. Is it even possible that the Venezuelans would like fire on the US saying, no, you're not grabbing our tankers.

[Joe Getty]

That wouldn't be. That wouldn't just. That wouldn't be having cojones. That'd be stupid, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

That'd be suicide. So clearly we are trying to squeeze their oil revenue because every dictatorship, Democracies too. But dictatorships are a question of money flowing to loyalists. You buy loyalty, that's it. And if we can choke off their money supply, then the generals who used to be rich, now they got their Mercedes payment and their big expensive villa and the rest of it, and they gotta pay for the upkeep. And they start to think, you know, Maduro's the guy of the past. The US Is saying, if we're just half reasonable, the party can get going again. Maybe we talk to the Americans. Is that what they hope, do you suppose?

[Joe Getty]

Breaking news. We've settled on a limousine company to get us from the wedding to the dinner afterwards.

[Jack Armstrong]

Ms. Sweeney still maintains that she'd sooner be dead than marry Mr. Armstrong, but the limousine company is said to be a reputable one and 4.8 stars on Google.

[Joe Getty]

We're helping raise money for Scouting, in particular that your kid can be in Scouts if the thing that's been holding you back is having the money to sign up. We'll tell you more about that coming up. Among other things.

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[Jack Armstrong]

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The Infinite Monkey Cage returns imminently. I am Robert Ince and I'm sat next to Brian Cox, who has so much to tell you about what's on the new series, primarily eels. And what else that it was fascinating. The eels. But we're not just doing eels, are we? We're doing a bit with brain computer interfaces, timekeeping, fusion, monkey business, cloud signs of the North Pole, and eels. Did I mention the eels? Is this ever since you bought that timeshare underneath the Sargasso sea? Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Joe Getty]

Well, guys, it is such a festive time in New York City. Doesn't it feel great? It's absolutely freezing out there.

[Jack Armstrong]

It is so cold in New York City. On my way into work, I saw a squirrel pouring hot cocoa on his nuts. What? It is so cold in New York. I saw a Wall street stockbroker spooning with Zoran Mamdani. And I go, wait a second, it's cold. He did spooning.

[Joe Getty]

Spooning. Okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe Getty]

It sounded like pouring hot cocoa on his nuts.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Often. I can guess the funny donors, like friends of mine does. This you, Michael? No, no, it's got to be. Michelangelo was in with $50 merkin. Machindo Angelo. That sure sounds like you. You're the one who always brings up the merkin in the chindo. Anyway, they're in for 50 bucks to help scouts. Or in particular, help kids join scouts, which is what we're trying to do. Jack's Heart of Eating Foundation. For the blind Bland. Rather for the bland. In for 50 bucks. I like that one. Can you see my privates? Can you? Can you? Donated 50 bucks. Can you see my privates? Can you? Kenya. Can you see my privates? Can you? Kenya. As my son once coming out of the bathtub when he was like four years old, the way little kids are so happy to be naked out of the bathtub is dancing around the table. Can you see my privates? Can you see my privates? Can you.

[Jack Armstrong]

Can you.

[Joe Getty]

Can you see my privates? Can you? Can you. If he did it now, I'd have to get him into some sort of.

[Jack Armstrong]

Home before the cops got there.

[Joe Getty]

Where the cops got there, Miss South Carolina. Some people don't have maps. Donated 500 bucks. That's a full dolphin right there. It's close to a whale. 500 though. It's pretty good.

[Jack Armstrong]

Dolphins are whales, damn it.

[Joe Getty]

Okay, and then we'll do a total here in a second.

[Jack Armstrong]

Got a couple of emails of note that I thought were absolutely fantastic. One we shared earlier in which Al Anonymous was on a trip to the northern tier scout camp, Boundary Waters between Minnesota and Canada, which I'll bet is amazing. Pack your bug spray. But had a scout with us who was, let's say, used to living comfortably. Day two. Some of the other boys wanted to go 10 miles that day. No way we can go that far, the boy said and talked us out of it. Day 8 When we were out there pretty deep into Canada, had two days to be back at camp and well, the same kid said, well, what if we pushed it to this lake out here? It was 26 miles. He said, we'll be able to see more before we get back. When I asked him what changed, he said, Mr. Anonymous, I'm never saying I can't do something ever again. That's just amazing, awe inspiring.

[Joe Getty]

I've heard so many stories like that, including from my son's own leader with some of the older kids that some of them are already Eagle Scouts. They did a big hardcore thing where they actually had a pack mule to get him down into this canyon out. And they were really struggling with the mule and in the way that the Scouts do, none of the adults stepped in. They had to figure it out on their own. That's part of the whole learning, leadership, learning to be self reliant, all that sort of stuff. And this Scout leader in my son's troop actually said, you could see them grow. He said they came back, they almost looked taller coming out of the canyon.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. So. And then we got this note from a good, good man and a good friend of the show, Matt, the land surveyor, who was an Eagle Scout. And he realized that that meant more on his resume, certainly to one boss than Bachelor of Science. And then he says, to earn the rank of Eagle, a lot of people outside of Scouting probably know about having to earn merit badges and needing to go camping, et cetera. What a lot of people might know, not know about, is the Eagle project and the subsequent border review. The Eagle project is a massive organizational effort and the Young Scout is 100% in charge. You need to come up with the community service idea, get it approved by several people in the Scouting organization as being big enough and beneficial enough for the community. Then you need to start planning, contacting stores, vendors, organizations, explain your your project, convince them to donate, often hundreds of dollars worth of materials depending on what the specific project is. You also need to worry about getting enough people to show up and donate their man hours to get the actual work done. You also need to document everything you're doing, pictures, written descriptions, to be able to present your project to a border review and explain it in detail with the board asking a bunch of different questions. All of this being done by young 15 to 17 year olds and was by far the most daunting part of earning my Eagle Scout. Needless to say, nothing in my four years of college came close to teaching me world real world experience and respons responsibilities than my Eagle project did.

[Joe Getty]

Wow, that's interesting. I went to my first Eagle ceremony a while back. I talked about it after I was there. Saw this kid that's in my son's troop get his Eagle Scout and the story of the project and then like teachers and coaches and everybody that were there when he got his Eagle, it was really, really cool.

[Jack Armstrong]

And kids need not get to the Eagle Scout level certainly to benefit enormously from scouting, but we want to make sure every kid who wants to can and money doesn't hold them back. So this is all about scholarships. Go to armstrongygetty.com the donate now button is easy to yeah, it's super easy to donate.

[Joe Getty]

Go to armstrongandgetty.com we'll hit a total in the last half hour before we get out of here today.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty Shh.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

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Podcast, Good Bad Billionaire.

[Joe Getty]

We're telling the story of how Elon Musk amassed half a trillion dollars from.

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His troubled childhood in South Africa to.

[Joe Getty]

Buying Twitter and and launching rockets into space with all the boardroom dramas along the way. Find out how he did it on Good Bad billionaire. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Joe Getty]

Among my favorite donations so far, 25 bucks from unclear where they may have gotten that cheesecake. Oh, a great callback. Anyway, welcome to the Armstrong and Getty Show. If you want to donate to more people being able to get into scouting, just go To Armstrong and getty.com Armstrong and getty.com we made it easy.

[Jack Armstrong]

First a witticism and then a new feature. Jack makes the choice.

[Joe Getty]

Oh boy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Here is the witticism. It is actually a cartoon. Two fellows. One is obviously in terrible distress. The other looks very, very smug. The caption is leftist mentality in a nutshell. The distressed guy is screaming, help. I'm getting bitten to death by ants. This smug companion says, not all ants. Oh boy. It makes you stopping. Welcome to Jack makes the Choice.

[Joe Getty]

There's going to be a concern, there's going to be a backlash against all ants. So we don't want to say anything about the ants that are biting you to death.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, just the radicalized ants really are biting us to death.

[Joe Getty]

Is one of my choices going home?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh boy. If it were, you wouldn't be hearing my voice. So here's your choice. Why is South Korean fertility so low?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, it's the lowest in the world, isn't it?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes. Yeah. And well, they're both so good. Or J.D. vance is the white Ibram X Kendi, I'm sorry, I stumbled over that. Ibram X Kendi, as soon as you.

[Joe Getty]

Said GD Vance I was thinking the other one I want because I don't want anything politics. But that is intriguing just because I can't even imagine what it is.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, I'm going to give you a very capsule summary of that one. Then we'll do the South Korea story. JD who wrote so movingly and persuasively in hillbilly elegy about his people in rural Appalachia and their self defeating beliefs and attitudes. It was a look at and I've made this quote several times. Great Elvis Costello song the Deep Dark Truthful mirror. It was a good long stare into that mirror and it was remarkably candid. It seems as though he's decided it's much, much better politics to work the grievance side of the aisle and tell people you're being cheated and the world is stacked against you and I will be your savior. That might just be a reflection of the fact that, yes, that sort of politics is much more popular than you need to take a look at shelf and solve your own problems. And kind of as an adjunct to that, there's an interesting story in the Journal today entitled the war on Poverty failed this West Virginia county and they're no longer waiting for help.

[Joe Getty]

Well, good, good.

[Jack Armstrong]

And you know, someday I'd like to get back to discussing how the average American would move to find work many times in their lives a very, very short time ago and now people seem to have some sort of belief that they have a God given right to stay where they are because it's familiar and comfortable. It's odd. It's a real change. Anyway, this is longish and we'll just touch on some of the main points.

[Joe Getty]

South Korean men can't satisfy their women's.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm not sure that's it. Why is South Korean fertility so low? Listen to this now, comprehend this if you can. Its population optimistically is projected to shrink by over two thirds in the next 100 years if current fertility rates persist. You've got 100 South Koreans today. They will have only six great grandchildren between them.

[Joe Getty]

Wow. Yeah, yeah. I remember from reading America Alone by Mark Stein back in the days when you do the math on the spiral of dropping below 2.1 kids per woman, it's amazing math. It's like compound interest. Well, it's exactly like compound interest the way it works. And it's astounding how quickly you run out of people.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. So here are a couple of stats for you. The world fertility rate in 1960, which line's the world? Oh, there it is. Was around five children per.

[Joe Getty]

That's because men back then could satisfy their women.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, boy. Interesting. They don't have the US Rate. It's mostly about Asia. But in South Korea it was actually in 1960, was closer to six children per woman.

[Joe Getty]

Wow, that's a lot of kids for the average.

[Jack Armstrong]

And I will tell you, South Korea is more severe than the world. But the world's fertility rate has been declining quite significantly. But anyway, I'm just gonna go one decade at a time for South Korea in 1960, it was a little over six children per woman. In 1970, it was about four and a half. In 1980, it was about 2.7. 1990, it was 1.8. 2000. 1.5. 2010, about 1.2. And 2020, it's like, what is the figure now? 0.8, I think.

[Joe Getty]

You know, my theory, which, I mean, it's not even really a theory, it's just a fact, isn't it, that for whatever reason, successful safe cultures stop having kids? South Korea, in 1960, they were coming out of the Korean War, not that many years earlier. When was the armistice? 53. So I mean, they're, they're all, you know, children of war and they're cranking out kids. As soon as you become very successful and safe, you stop having kids.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, in contrast to Jack's old bluesman theory, Father, women's scientists take a different view. Although it is like so many things cultural in every developed country, I'm quoting now from the science newsletter I'm reading here, women struggle to reconcile their careers with a satisfying family life and their preferred number of children. This trade off is exceptionally severe in South Korea. Despite its very high level of female education, South Korea has the largest gender employment gap in the developed countries. There is almost no employment gap between men and unmarried women. I mean, the numbers are almost precisely the same. It's around 73% employment. The gap is driven by the fact that large numbers of women stop working when they have kids. Only 56% of mothers work, the fourth lowest in the OECD, which I can't remember what that stands for. It's the. It's your developed countries. In South Korea, mothers employment falls by 49% relative to fathers over 10 years. In the US it falls by 25%. In Sweden, by only 9%. South Korean women face a steep motherhood penalty partly because of their insane work culture. South Koreans work more hours per year. It's about a thousand more. It's about three. Well, I'm sorry, it's about 130 hours more a year than Americans and about 430 more than Swedes, for instance. How many makes it harder to balance work in motherhood or work or anything else?

[Joe Getty]

How many more hours a year than Americans? Three.

[Jack Armstrong]

Where? Oh, 130.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

So more than two hours a week? More.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

There is intense pressure from employers for women not to have children. In surveys, 27% of female office workers report being coerced into signing illegal contracts, promising to resign if they become pregnant or get married. Korean work Culture is notoriously sexist, blah, blah, blah.

[Joe Getty]

But this is different than the fact that they're not having kids in Italy or France, where you have so much time off and you could say, well, you want to vacation and eat and blah blah, blah, and self indulge and you don't have kids. South Korea, they're working their asses off and not having kids.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, it is interesting. You're right. These facts about South Korea cannot be applied universally. I mean, the insane work culture.

[Joe Getty]

So you can have more stuff, starting when.

[Jack Armstrong]

You'Re a child, but so you can.

[Joe Getty]

Have more stuff, the two of you or the one of you with no kids.

[Jack Armstrong]

They mentioned that there's intense competition for university places. Cram schools and private tuition are popular in many low fertility Asian countries. Taiwan, Singapore, China, they mentioned. But South Korea is even worse. Almost 80% of children attend a hagwon, which is a type of private cram school operating in the evening and on weekends. Almost 80%. In 2023, South Koreans poured billions of dollars into the shadow education system. They're just absolutely obsessed with material success.

[Joe Getty]

How happy are they?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, miserable. They've got the highest suicide rate in the world. I think.

[Joe Getty]

Wow, that's something. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's giant decline in marriage. You know what I think is underappreciated. And I think about this a lot. And I don't think people feel it. I have, let me put it this way, I have trouble running into people who see it the same way I do. Not that they disagree, they just haven't thought about it. Cultures are like individuals. They can get diseased. And just because a culture is something doesn't mean it should be something or that there's nothing. I mean, there's little you can do as an individual about it. But. But it's. You've got to look at your culture like you're in a group of five friends and your five friends make a terrible decision about what they're going to do. It's like the proverbial if your friends jumped off a bridge, you've got to look at yourself separate from your culture. Cultural going around with the cultural, going along with the cultural current needs to be a choice. We started the show by talking about living. What the hell?

[Joe Getty]

That's funny.

[Jack Armstrong]

I couldn't remember the term aware itly in the moment. What's the mindfulness? Mindfulness, Right. Mindfully. Participate in your culture mindfully. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

It's like I made this joke kind of a couple weeks ago on our friend Tim, who's a famously childless him and his wife, two very smart, successful people who have no interest in having kids is just, you know, how upset can you be about kids that aren't born? I mean, you'd have to care about your culture carrying on. And that's not the same as, like, a lot of what you and I do probably is because we got kids out there that are going to have to live in this country. And so I care a lot. The direction goes. It's a hell of a motivator. It's a. It's one of the biggest motivators in world history. So nobody knows what it's like to have a society where you don't have kids, where you feel like, when I'm dead, what the hell do I care what happens to this country? Or everybody else is going to be dead too.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, my.

[Joe Getty]

None of my friends have kids. I mean, it's. It's a. It's pretty hard to get super motivated to care about what the country's going to be like in 50 years if I'm gone and none of. I've got no offspring.

[Jack Armstrong]

So, interestingly, back to Korea briefly, like China, they decided in the very early 60s as a new regime came to power, that, that families were way too big. There are too many people, and shrinking family sizes would fuel economic development by freeing up more women to work and decreasing the number of dependents per worker. And so they had all sorts of, you know, societal pressure and tax breaks and slogans. Have few children and bring them up well. Later, posters encouraged parents to prioritize quality over quantity with mottos such as, let's have two children and raise them well. Or the frantic two children is already too many. And it was absorbed into Asian culture, including South Korean culture, and they just stopped having kids. It's interesting, but as you point out, that ain't the story. In Italy, for instance, Germany, the U.S. it's an interesting phenomenon.

[Joe Getty]

Gotta learn to satisfy your woman.

[Jack Armstrong]

Your women's.

[Joe Getty]

Women's got. Satisfy your women's natural born lover, man.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's obvious, of course.

[Joe Getty]

We will finish strong.

[Jack Armstrong]

Next Armstrong and Getty. Shh.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Jack Armstrong]

Sunday is a boringly simple way to get a green, healthy yard. No harsh stuff, no big trucks, no chaos. This holiday. Sunday plans are 20% off. Buy today and lock in your spring subscription. Sunday Smarter Lawn care for less getsunday.com.

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[Joe Getty]

The infinite Monkey cage returns imminently. I am Robert Ince and I'm sat next to Brian Cox, who has so much to tell you about what's on the new series. Primarily Eels and what else. It was fascinating. The Eels. But we're not just doing eels, are we? We're doing a bit with brain computer interfaces, timekeeping, fusion, monkey business, cloud signs of the North Pole and eels. Did I mention the eels? Is this ever since you bought that timeshare underneath the Sargasso sea. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Joe Getty]

I don't believe Bernard Sanders actually did give 25 to our charity, which is raising money so more people can join scouts because it costs a couple hundred bucks to get your kid into scouts and we want everybody who has a kid who wants to get involved so they can get the leadership skills and all that sort of stuff to be able to do it. Trying to raise a hundred thousand dollars. Bernard Sanders $25.

[Jack Armstrong]

Bernard Sanders $27.

[Joe Getty]

Ah, that's why it's $27. Now I get it. Okay, obviously 100 bucks from Jack's Ukrainian girlfriend. Appreciate that. Where did she go? Yeah. She told me that if I didn't start answering her questions, that our love was going to die. And she was right. 25 from Walmart bathroom Drain Liquors Association. Now, it was a target. And was it a story? Was it a story about someone else's kid? Or was it a story about my own kid?

[Jack Armstrong]

It was yours. Your kid?

[Joe Getty]

Was my own kid. Licking the drain at the target. Yep. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Wow.

[Joe Getty]

That's not good. No, that's right. I turned around and there he was. I think it was Henry. He's, like, on his hands and knees licking the drain. It's like one or two.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that's.

[Joe Getty]

Here's a tip there, Katie. Don't let them out of your sight when they're little. You don't know what they're gonna do.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know me. I'm. I'm free range dad. I'm. Let him get dirty. It's better for their immune system. Blah, blah. I see that. I'm screaming, snatching them up, drawing the line.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, my.

[Joe Getty]

That's rough.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, if you tried hard, you could come up with a more disgusting place to lick. But I don't want to be part of that brainstorming session. That's gross.

[Joe Getty]

I think at the time, that's what we were saying is, like, that might be the single worst thing. Be hard to beat without, like, breaking into a plant or something. Well.

[Jack Armstrong]

And if somebody comes up with it, I don't want to hear it.

[Joe Getty]

They've got some final thoughts you should know.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty close the show.

[Joe Getty]

Here's your host for final thoughts, Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Let's get a final thought from everybody on the crew. Michelangelo, lead us off.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just made my 25 donation to.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

The US it's gonna be under the.

[Jack Armstrong]

Name listening to CD and staring off while running the A G show.

[Joe Getty]

So I like it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Beautiful. Katie Greener, esteemed newswoman, has a final thought. Katie. We have a new Katie's corner [e-mail] as well. That in concludes the AI George Washington video.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, that's good.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, Glenn Beck interviewing George Washington. That's a great get, as we say in the business. Jack, a final thought for us.

[Joe Getty]

Yes. We'll get a total for today. See where we are currently. Go to armstrongetti.com Click on the Donate thing. It's super easy. Get more people into scouting. It's been so great for my son. 79,377.

[Jack Armstrong]

Really want. Fantastic.

[Joe Getty]

To get to 100 grand before the end of the show tomorrow. So please a little bit.

[Jack Armstrong]

Give whatever you can. Yeah. A little or a lot? Whales. My final thought. I mentioned this jack to jack off the air. I invited the fellows over for a bourbon last night. Anybody who thinks a bourbon is going to be a bourbon is a fool. I could use a nap. Feel slightly weakened.

[Joe Getty]

I don't know anything about hard liquor. I was a beer drinker. How many bourbons is too many? And how much do you drink at a time? You usually.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, that's the thing.

[Joe Getty]

How.

[Jack Armstrong]

How big a pour are you pouring? That's large. It doesn't come in like in individual cans. Like beer.

[Joe Getty]

Huh?

[Jack Armstrong]

It's more of a. You have a freer hand. So it was, you know, just over a little ice.

[Joe Getty]

Several of them.

[Jack Armstrong]

What are you gonna do?

[Joe Getty]

And something you do sips of. Oh yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Unless you got like a Rob Reiner's son problem. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty wrapping up another grueling four hour workday. So many people.

[Jack Armstrong]

Thanks a little time. Go to armstrongandgetty.com give as generously as you can to help more young kids get into scouting. Check out Katie's Corners, the hot links drop us line. Mailbagarmstrongetti.com clips of the Year show on Friday.

[Joe Getty]

So tomorrow's the last traditional sort of Armstrong and Getty show of the year. I hope you can join us. We'll see you then. God bless America.

[Jack Armstrong]

Kiss the Armstrong and Getty show.

[Joe Getty]

Here's a little gift from Jack and Joe.

[Jack Armstrong]

From Jack and Joe. Enjoy.

[Joe Getty]

Straight from Today show.

[Jack Armstrong]

I wish that what Susie Wiles said instead of just being the usual Washington pissing match might lead to a discussion of it. It's an expression. It's not an actual contest.

[Joe Getty]

Is there a lead? No, no.

[Jack Armstrong]

Let it go unsaid.

[Joe Getty]

Which channel has that?

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

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[Jack Armstrong]

People, don't listen to radio ads while you're driving or making a sandwich. Your subconscious pays full attention.

[Joe Getty]

So relax.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

Richest person in the world? Start with the latest episode of our.

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Podcast, Good Bad Billionaire.

[Joe Getty]

We're telling the story of how Elon Musk amassed half a trillion dollars, from.

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His troubled childhood in South Africa to.

[Joe Getty]

Buying Twitter and launching rockets into space.

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With all the boardroom dramas along the.

[Joe Getty]

Way, find out how he did it on Good Bad Billionaire. Listen on on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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