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Jack Armstrong
Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty Enough here. Armstrong and get ready live from Studio C. Si, senor.
Joe Getty
Am I correct that it is the common work day known as Friday that tends to people get people's hearts racing with excitement.
Jack Armstrong
That's very exciting. Your heart is racing with excitement. See your physician right away.
Joe Getty
You've taken one too many Flowmax or something. Anyway, dimly lit room. Etc, etc. Today we're under the tutelage of our general manager.
Jack Armstrong
Are you enthusiastic about anybody in particular? I have a decent one. Anything leap to mind?
Joe Getty
I hadn't thought about if I was going to think about it for a second.
Jack Armstrong
You know, maybe Rand Paul. We've got some great audio from Rand Paul there. You know what I was going to go with was Donald Trump and his arch nemesis. Donald Trump.
Joe Getty
Right, right. I was just reading Mark El Prince morning newsletter before we went on there as I do every single day because I think he's the best political reporter in America. But he said there are no articles anywhere with anybody even on background explaining why he decided to attack the pilots yesterday of the helicopter after a crash.
Jack Armstrong
Just speculate.
Joe Getty
And Mark Halperin's summary was that's just because that's who he is and always has been and always will be. And some people like it, some people put up with it. It's not going to do him any harm because nothing new. And the end. Yeah, the attack in the pilots thing was weird and bad. The DEI stuff originally I thought well that's pretty early to be jumping on that as an excuse or anything like that. But it's becoming more and more clear that there is a tremendous lack of air traffic controllers around the country, including at Reagan Airport at the time of the crash. They're having way fewer than they are supposed to have thing. They're supposed to have 30 and they have 19 or something like that. And particularly that night dealing with that they had one instead of two. And there was a lawsuit last year. A thousand people that had applied to be air traffic controllers got together with a class action lawsuit. Now it hasn't been settled yet, but they are claiming that they got turned away because of their race. They were otherwise qualified. If it turns out that we have half as many air traffic controllers in this country then we're supposed to. Because you're turning away people that are qualified. Right. Because of the whole DEI thing, that's going to be quite the explosive story. Whether or not that directly was the reason this crash happened. Who knows? Right.
Jack Armstrong
Well, first to the first part of the point. Yeah. I've come across some stuff that I'll share later on that suggests very, very strongly that the standards and the methods by which we get our air traffic controllers were perverted completely to serve DEI goals. So he's absolutely right on that. I just, my gripe with it was that was not the time. And to throw it out there without evidence instead of presenting it as a rock solid indictment that nobody could deny and winning the day, it's just, you know, just a loose reference here and kind of a half accusation there. And that's, that's not the way to prosecute a case and turn the ship of the culture around. I just find it frustrating.
Joe Getty
Yeah, well, if the topic is critiquing Trump's press conference, that's true. I'd moved on to the what's wrong with our air traffic control system? Because clearly they got half as many people as they're supposed to.
Jack Armstrong
Well, yeah, but my point is if you want to fix it, you can't be dopey. Strategically. Yeah, it's a huge issue.
Joe Getty
Pete Hegseth is out on it and he is going to get to the bottom of it. And yeah, that. And if that turns out to be the case. So they laid off so many air traffic controllers over Covid when nobody was flying. And then when people tried to come back to work when people started flying again, they wouldn't let a whole bunch of people come back because they weren't the right color or gender or sexual orientation or whatever.
Jack Armstrong
Keep those quotas intact. That's despicable.
Joe Getty
Well, if that's the case, and it sure looks like it is, and it doesn't need to be the specific cause of this crash.
Jack Armstrong
Right. It's still horrific.
Joe Getty
And I think it's interesting the New York Times has really gone big on this story. For whatever reason, the whole. We talked about this yesterday at the end of the show. Why? What? Eric? Plane crashes get so much attention. I mean, it's just amazing. We've had. This is the worst one we've had. And now it's like 25 years or something like that. It almost never happens. It's the safest thing you'll do today if you go flying a plane. It's certainly safer than driving to the airport. But anyway, we go crazy over air crashes. Washington crash renews concerns about air safety lapses since the New York Times and they get into a lot of how we are understaffed at Reagan Airport and at Airports all across the country, they do not get into the why because that might be uncomfortable, but that is, that is interesting that they are pointing out that a lack of aircraft traffic controllers is a big hole we've got all across the United States. Air traffic control tower at Reagan national has been understaffed for years. The tower there was nearly a third below targeted staff levels with 19 fully certified controllers as of this past fall when they're supposed to have 30 some. But again, they don't get into the why. Well, we're going to get into the why, or the Trump administration is going to get into the why.
Jack Armstrong
Well, and we are, too. And it is a shocking indictment. And, you know, this is the age of hyperbole, and I hate to sound like I'm just trying to be hyperbolic, but it is truly a shocking indictment of the way the federal government has been run and how it's leached into society. Something as critical as life and death as air traffic control was perverted to become some sort of social upward mobility program. Regardless of qualification. It shocks the conscience.
Joe Getty
It does. If it turns out, and it really looks like it's going to, that we have half as many controllers as we're supposed to because you didn't want white males to get the job or whatever. That's insane.
Jack Armstrong
It really is.
Joe Getty
And you think that's okay. That is crazy. So, yeah, maybe, maybe even if that wasn't specific the reason, it'd be impossible to nail that down. Obviously, it doesn't make any difference. That's. Somebody at some point decided that's how many air traffic controllers we, we should have. It's how many we used to have. Right. And the end.
Jack Armstrong
But, but again, even if that horrific tragedy hadn't occurred very, very recently, it would still be an incredible problem that needed to be solved. That, I'd say outrageous.
Joe Getty
Well, I believe that played a role in some of those meltdowns over some of the holidays where we, you know, the planes got all out of whack and backed up and everything like that, because the lack of air traffic controllers and being able to deal with the number of flights and stuff like that. So just convenience in addition to safety.
Jack Armstrong
Well, I've heard 50 times we don't have enough air traffic controllers.
Joe Getty
I, yeah. Without pointing out the why. Now we're pointing out the why. That's. I, I don't, I can't believe how off track we got. And we, and we're gonna go another four years down that road.
Jack Armstrong
As Dr. Savage said many years ago, I'm Paraphrasing. Progressivism is a mental disorder.
Joe Getty
I want to start the show officially then I want to tease a couple of things that I think are really, really interesting on. On a Friday. Man, I have been sleeping so poorly this week. I got to get figured out. Oh, me and my son both got off track where we were so tired that we went to bed super early couple nights ago. But we went to bed so early we woke up in the middle of the night. But then you end up, you know, you get in a, you get stuck in a loop there where then like yesterday we went to bed really, really early because we were so tired we could barely move around the house. But then we were up in the midd night again. Anyway, I'm laying there awake from like 1:30 on and when, when are you sound asleep? Where, when are you so deep asleep it's like you're in a coma when your alarm goes off.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, it's just ah, it's just, it's.
Joe Getty
Just, it's just tartarus.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, melatonin. Like you've been drugged and you just can't wake up. Bad feeling. Yeah.
Joe Getty
I'm Jack Armstrong, he's Joe Getty. On this Friday, January 31st, the year 2025 were Armstrong and getting we approved of this program.
Jack Armstrong
All right, let's begin then officially, according to FCC rules and regulations. The FCC a strict meritocracy by the way. Here we go. Proceeding at mark.
Rand Paul
I chose to wait on my hepatitis B vaccine and we did it when they went to school. Does that make me an awful person? Does that make me an anti vaxxer? Because I questioned the government dictate of whether I do it and I'm not speaking for anybody else, I'm only speaking for myself. But for goodness sakes let's have an honest debate about these things.
Joe Getty
Senator Rand Paul, you don't want him for a neighbor because he'll put your his lawn clippings on your lawn.
Jack Armstrong
But well, I know how to turn that around.
Joe Getty
A great rant yesterday about the hearings about vaccinations, about a whole bunch of different stuff that we will feature later in the show. Really, really good thought provoking stuff.
Jack Armstrong
I thought it was terrific. Especially the last part. Whatever you think about, you know, vaccines and the schedule and the rest of it. But he echoed the point that was made in that brilliant essay I was reading part of the other day that the only thing that really threatens us is not people getting something wrong, it's.
Joe Getty
When we're forbidden from saying it's wrong.
Jack Armstrong
Or questioning it or having an honest debate about it. That is when something is dangerous. So, yeah, let's talk about all this.
Joe Getty
So I was just wondering, those of you did dry January, it's the 31st, you're gonna go ahead and not drink tonight. I would think if I liked to drink at all, I would think I made my point. It's Friday. I'm gonna go ahead. If you're not gonna drink tonight for dry January, then. Then you should get no credit for dry January. You're not really a drinker anyway, so whoop de doo. That's like, that's like me saying I did no yoga January and I stayed away from yoga the whole month, for instance.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, I see your point. Or I don't, I don't know if I agree with you. You're just, you're doggedly going to finish it because you committed to it. God bless you.
Joe Getty
I think you made the point. Go ahead, drink them if they got them. How does Mailbag look?
Jack Armstrong
Oh, it's fine. Plus we have clips of the week in moments, all on the way.
Joe Getty
Here's our text line. 415295 KFTC.
Jack Armstrong
Armstrong and Getty.
Joe Getty
I was playing around with the new Apple update that's got the AI in it, especially the stuff around the camera. Really interesting. Talk about that later if you haven't messed around with it yet.
Jack Armstrong
I have. Excuse me, I have not. Actually.
Joe Getty
It's fun.
Jack Armstrong
Curious to know more.
Joe Getty
And it's a glimpse into the future.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, I'm a guy who likes a nice 300 page manual to come with every device. I don't, I don't like the idea that I've got to go seek out how to do stuff on the Internet.
Joe Getty
Stuff like I'm never going to read a manual under any circumstances.
Jack Armstrong
Well, well. So we have a freedom loving quote of the day that's terrific coming up. Plus Mailbag is excellent. But first let's take a fun look back at the week that was. It's cow clips of the.
Katie Green
Yes, yes, yes.
Joe Getty
What is going on? This is Cowell twist of the week.
Jack Armstrong
I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone.
Rand Paul
We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions.
Joe Getty
How you can come to the conclusion right now that diversity had something to.
Jack Armstrong
Do with this crash?
Rand Paul
Because I have common sense.
Katie Green
One of the dumbest phrases in military history is our diversity is our strength. Our diversity is not our strength. Our unity and our shared purpose is our strength.
Joe Getty
Three tough hearings. Loom Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and RFK.
Katie Green
Jr. You may hear lies and smears in this hearing. Accusing me of being Trump's puppet, Putin's puppet, Assad's puppet, a guru's puppet, Modi's puppet. Not recognizing the absurdity in that threat.
Joe Getty
I was called a detestable sand. That's what was sent to me.
Jack Armstrong
Senator, you're asking me not to sue. Vaccine. Pharmaceutical copies.
Joe Getty
Are you supportive of these onesies? I'm supportive of vaccines.
Jack Armstrong
They have Velcro in the crotch. What's wrong with snaps?
Joe Getty
It is one piece of clothing that satisfies the needs of the entire baby. Are you in favor of this or not? You're getting the dirt bags off these streets. Exactly. Giving the authority to go into churches and go into schools. We empowered law enforcement to enforce the law. I'm so sorry. I wish I could do something, but I can't. I don't know what to do.
Rand Paul
We got a quarter million Americans dead from fentanyl across the open border.
Joe Getty
Where's the tears for them? Tom Holman showed up in Chicago and within 24 hours found a convicted sex offender. That is their job, the federal government. Their job's not to keep people.
Katie Green
It's a huge problem in our neighborhood. The noise, the contamination.
Joe Getty
We don't know these people, where they come from, if they have a criminal record.
Jack Armstrong
A son lost his mom in the most unthinkable tragedy. This is never something to forget and.
Joe Getty
We'Re trying to parent through it.
Jack Armstrong
Hello.
Rand Paul
Very nice to meet you.
Jack Armstrong
I'd like to know about sex change operations.
Joe Getty
I see, I see, I see. We all have a place things in this world.
Jack Armstrong
Musical bunch at the end.
Joe Getty
Of Cow, the most nominated movie for the Oscars is about a trans person.
Jack Armstrong
Of course, and transgender cartel leader in.
Joe Getty
Mexico and it's got Selena Gomez and it features Mexico and the country of Mexico hates it.
Jack Armstrong
Yes, yes. They laughed at the dramatic parts.
Joe Getty
Got to talk about that again. We got to talk about.
Jack Armstrong
We're going to play that song again too.
Joe Getty
So interesting.
Jack Armstrong
It is the most egregious, hilarious, Oscar bait, virtue signaling moviegasm in the history of lefty Hollywood stupidity. Unbelievable moviegasm. Here's your freedom loving quote of the day from ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. I love this one, Jack, and you will too. I. I hope that all you folks love it. If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
Joe Getty
Yeah, yeah. Some of those are just so, so simply true.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. Yeah. It's so interesting that human beings need to be reminded of that sort of thing now.
Joe Getty
And yeah, I like the if you keep doing what you're doing, you're gonna keep getting what you're getting. Always like that one.
Jack Armstrong
If something can't go on like this, it has to change.
Joe Getty
It will stop.
Jack Armstrong
Or this can't go on forever. It won't. It will stop. Yeah. Mailbag drop us note mailbagarmstrongygetti.com right into it. I love this note from John Diversity is an advantage. Unity is our strength. But the fact that we have a system under which diverse people can unite is our advantage. Over every single nation on earth. Where racial and ethnic divisions always cause violent tensions and conflict, liberals mistake the effects for the cause, the unity of ideals. The American ideal, which brings diverse people together. Bringing diverse people together does not produce unity. Unity brings people together, I would agree. Plunging along we received a number of amusing or troubling stories about school bus drivers in the wake of a tale we told the other day. This is my favorite Matt in beautiful Macomb, Illinois. When he was a young Marine in the Northern Territory of Australia, he came across this headline in the local paper. Mates put rum in school bus driver's beer.
Joe Getty
Oh.
Jack Armstrong
Evidently having a beer as you make your rounds was perfectly normal in Australia in 2001. But his buddies put rum into his beer and and that was seen as a bad thing.
Joe Getty
Wow. Two great tastes. It tastes great together. We got a lot more news to catch up on. I think it'll be a good show. I hope you can stick around. If you missed a segment, get the podcast. Armstrong and Getty on demand.
Jack Armstrong
Armstrong and Gettysburg.
Rand Paul
I vaccinated all my kids. I believe vaccines are one of the modern miracles. Beyond all pale. The Speckled Monsters, a great book about the introduction of the smallpox vaccine in 1720 into our country. All miracles. But I'm not a one size fits all. It's not all or nothing. I chose to wait on my hepatitis B vaccine and we did it when they went to school. Does that make me an awful person? Does that make me an anti vaxxer? Because I questioned the government dictate of whether I do it And I'm not speaking for anybody else. I'm only speaking for myself. But for goodness sakes, let's have an honest debate about these things.
Joe Getty
Rand Paul with a pretty long rant during the hearings this week. A lot of we shouldn't call it a rant because that has negative connotations. It's really, really interesting and we're going to play more of it.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, and I Appreciate it. One of our themes of late has been that the silencing of opposition is evil and almost always leads to evil, no matter the intentions, whether it's in Covid or you know, and that's part of Rand's speech here. So I'm not going to steal a sudden they're thunder.
Joe Getty
The term alone pro vax or anti vax, which vaccine are we talking about? Why have an overall category of vaccines where they are all either bad or all good? That's nuts.
Jack Armstrong
Or any discussion of the schedule in which they're given, by which they're given or whatever is just that makes you an anti vaxxer. That was going to be my next point. The other trend that we've seen writ large, and I don't know if it's the Internet or it just always existed, is that certain people, certain political parties, government officials have really taken to hanging labels on anybody who dares question anything. And by question I mean can we talk about this? Why, why are we doing this in this way? You're an anti whatever or you're a puppet of whatever. You're a neocon or what have you. The discrediting, you know, name that they, they paint on you.
Joe Getty
I know, I heard on the different topic I heard it presented is so crazy that this Cash Patel, a guy, a guy who's criticized the very organization he's hoping to run. What kind of world do you live in where you should. That. That. That's out of line.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, what a strange world, isn't it? All right, much to be said but let's let the Randy man take it over. Michael, we'll just proceed on with the next clip.
Rand Paul
The COVID vaccine. If you ask me my opinion. There are reporters run up and down the soil and they say you still anti vaccine. No, I'm pro vaccine. But on the COVID vaccine and on the COVID illness there was a thousand fold or more difference between the elderly and children. If you don't acknowledge that you're committing malpractice, you're showing your ignorance. If you say a six month old must be mandated to get it. The science is not there. So all this blather about the science says this and the science says that. No, it doesn't. The science actually shows that no healthy child in America died from COVID Look it up. No healthy child died from COVID Not one.
Joe Getty
Not a single one in the third biggest country in the world.
Jack Armstrong
And the kids were a far less dangerous vector of disease than virtually anybody else. And the schools remained closed. Okay, don't get me started. I thought that was terrific. Let's go on.
Rand Paul
So if you asked me my advice as a physician, if you were 65 or older or overweight and some other conditions, I would have said, hell yes, I'd take the COVID vaccine. The risks of the disease were real and much greater than the vaccine. But if you ask me, should my healthy 6 month old get it? See, these are the nuances you're unwilling to talk about because there's such a belief in submission. Submit to the government, do what you're told. There is no discussion. There ought to be a debate. You're not going to let him have the debate because you're just going to criticize and say it is this and admit to it or we're not going to appoint you. But it's more complicated than that. And this is why people distrust government, because you're unwilling to have these conversations and go home. Ask your Democrat young mothers, your Republican young mothers, if they're vaccinating their kid for hepatitis B and they're like, well, do I have to do it on day one? Is this precious little baby. Is there science to say you shouldn't do it? Probably not, but it's my kid. You know, it's like there isn't clear cut science saying not to audit the Fed.
Joe Getty
Oh, that's his dad.
Jack Armstrong
I think we cut out, edited out somehow. Him making the point that hepatitis B is transmitted through drug use or sexual activity.
Joe Getty
You're saying almost certainly not sharing needles as a heroin user or engaging in.
Jack Armstrong
Sex if they are. You're a bad parent, honestly.
Joe Getty
Exactly. You've got one wild child.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. I wouldn't worry about the vaccine schedule so much. You know, and the other great trend that just makes me insane, and I know it does to you too. Jack is. And Rand was referring to it there. I know. I can hear the thinking of Fauci and company Biden. If we're honest with people about the vaccine or whatever, we'll get lower compliance and therefore more people will get sick and perhaps die. Therefore, we are doing them a favor by lying to them and grossly oversimplifying what's happening here.
Joe Getty
Sure. We're going to tell pregnant women you can't have even a tiny drop of alcohol at all. Science says, because if we tell them you can have one drink and it's healthy, it's okay, they'll take it too far. We don't trust people, so we'll exaggerate to get them to. How has that worked?
Jack Armstrong
Out.
Joe Getty
It's. I don't think it's worked.
Jack Armstrong
It's the sort of lesson human beings either never learn or they have to learn over and over again. My answer to that is you don't get to do that. Yeah, that's a judgment you can't, you aren't allowed to make. Don't give me that s. Tell me the truth and let the chips fall. It's. It's the same sort of hubris that the censors and quota fillers and DEI folks have no. Trust us with the power to be racist because we are so wise and benevolent. We will fix the problems of society using this terrible tool. No, you don't get to do that. Next clip.
Rand Paul
But on autism, there's no good science of anything to show what causes autism. We don't know. It's a profound disease. I know many moms here and dads who have kids with autism. I know them personally. I've met their kids. But the thing is is they saw their kids developing completely normal. Maybe speaking 100 words go to no words at about 15 months of age. Now, there isn't proof. There isn't proof that the vaccines cause it. That's true. There isn't proof that it caused it. But we don't know what causes it yet. So shouldn't we be at least open minded? We take 72 vaccines. Could it be, I don't know. But we shouldn't just close the door and say we're no longer. Because we believe so much in submission. We're not going to have an open mind to study these things. And so it's sort of this crazy.
Joe Getty
Notion why every parent has dealt with that. I remember when I did. And then you just move on with your life when you start getting your kids shots there at the hospital and there's so much going on and everything like that. And it's the first week of having a baby and everything like that. You don't research the dozens and dozens and dozens of inoculations. Your kid gets hope that you hope that they're right. 72 is that. That's the number that's floating around everywhere. That's a lot.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, it absolutely is. You know the point Rand made that last screed that was a scientist talking and the idea that you leap to one side or the other and you, you're either in eagle's garb or chief's garb, if you will, on a question that is a million miles from being decided. That's a bizarre way to approach science.
Joe Getty
Keeping in mind defensible, keeping in mind that you Eagles jersey wearers, a lot of you were wearing Chiefs jerseys pre Trump when you were anti vaccine because you were convinced vaccines were causing autism. They were all liberals.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, yeah.
Joe Getty
Leading that charge.
Jack Armstrong
So strange.
Rand Paul
Next clip Schizophrenia. I would put in the same notion. You have a kid who's completely normal to 18 or 19 and their brain goes haywire. How does that happen? It's the most bizarre disease. Shouldn't we be open? Could it be our food? It might be vaccines, it might be our food. But autism's more common. I don't know about the schizophrenia statistics, but autism is more common. Shouldn't we want to be open minded instead? We're so close minded and we're so consensus driven that the science says this. Well, science doesn't say anything. Science is a dispute. And 10 years from now we could all be wrong.
Jack Armstrong
There's more on that theme.
Rand Paul
20 years ago they did this enormous study and they said everybody over 50 should take an aspirin. I thought, well, that's a pretty good idea. It makes sense. But you know what? 20 years later they measured it and they found if you had no heart disease and you were taking aspirin, your chance of dying from a brain bleed or from a stomach bleeding, we're greater than the risk of heart disease. Do you have heart disease? They still say take an aspirin. If you don't, they've changed their mind 20 years later. But would you have all said I was crazy and I should no longer be in public discourse if I had said 20 years ago, I don't feel like taking an aspirin. I ride my bike all the time. I'm afraid I might hit my head. But that's what country's about, is what dissent is about.
Joe Getty
Excellent example.
Jack Armstrong
Right, right. Or your neighbor might tackle you over long clippings, you get a concussion, finally audit the Fed.
Joe Getty
Oh, again. That's his dad.
Jack Armstrong
That's his dad. Jack. Finally this.
Rand Paul
So just ask you to look at the larger picture and give the guy a break. Who says, I just want to follow the science where it leads without presupposition. I think really what we have up here is presupposition. You've already concluded it's absolute, that autism isn't caused by it. We don't know what causes autism, so we should be more humble in what we say. Sorry, I didn't get to a question.
Joe Getty
One of the very few times that I find a rant that to be, you know, the juice worth the squeeze.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, that the end of that need not be to you, whoever you are. That therefore RFK Jr. Is a perfect choice to run HHS. You know, given his, his conflicts of interest and stuff like that. I got some problems with the guy so tan. There's that too. But the Randy man's absolutely correct. We need to be more humble in the face of scientific uncertainty. I represent science. You were wrong about effing everything, you old gain of function promoting lying murderer.
Joe Getty
Yeah, usually like I was just talking about, you know, your kid gets all the jabs and you, you don't look into the. However many dozens and dozens of different jabs with the sciences on him. You just go with it. But on this one on Covid, because it was such a giant cataclysm. The biggest non war disaster in non war non asteroid disaster in world history. So we, you know, we put more scrutiny around it and it turns out yeah, they were wrong about everything they told us. Dang, dang near everything was wrong. And so maybe you ought to be a little more skeptical when they start laying out all these guidelines and rules for whatever the hell it is before we just accept them as fact.
Jack Armstrong
I represent science.
Joe Getty
We had a little, we had a little experiment here where we, we. We found out they are regularly wrong. Even people, some of them were not without motives, but even the people without motives they can be wrong. They want to be right as much as you want to be right, but they're wrong a lot. It's just, it's just the, you know, the way the world works.
Jack Armstrong
Well, and I would like to sentence to a six month self examination camp. Anybody who said the lab leak theory was racist, for instance. Or that asking hard questions of the Chinese government was somehow racist or might cause anti Chinese bias. You people are dangerous.
Joe Getty
Yeah, I hope we've come out of that period. Got a little more on that, but maybe we'll get to it later. I do want to talk about the new download for the Apple phone with the AI in it. Some interesting stuff. My son and I were doing it with it yesterday. Very fun. I don't know if it's improved my texting or not. My son said it's so much better. Texting is so much better now. It gets it right way more often when it's guessing your word. Since, since that happened. I don't know. I don't know.
Jack Armstrong
I haven't. Funny. I just said less than 24 hours ago to my beloved bride. Apple's voice to text is getting worse and worse. But who knows?
Joe Getty
My high School son said, dad, literally nobody voice texts but you. Literally nobody. I said, I think old people do. Maybe young people. That's flying thumbs. They, they, you know, they got the, the flying thumbs.
Jack Armstrong
Well, plus they're terrified of speaking and anybody hearing them.
Joe Getty
Yeah. And they're doing it in class. It'd be disruptive to the teacher. So you got it. Maybe that's where you get your practice. We've got Katie's headlines on the way.
Jack Armstrong
Armstrong and Getty.
Joe Getty
Weird enough football this weekend. I've gotten in a role of watching a game every a game or more every weekend and nothing this weekend. Grammys Sunday night. I like the Grammys. Joe hates Grammys, but no football till next weekend.
Jack Armstrong
I hate the awards part of the Grammys. Having a bunch of interesting music that you might not be aware of. I'm in favor of that. The ords are stupid. Let's figure out who's reporting what. It's the lead story with Katie Green.
Katie Green
Alrighty. Starting with ABC. NTSB says preliminary investigation to take 30 days. Final report will take up to a year.
Joe Getty
Yeah, I think they're gonna nail down the. Why do we have half as many air traffic controllers as we're supposed to have nationwide pretty quick. I think that's going to be figured out much sooner than a year.
Jack Armstrong
And airline pilots have been complaining about the helicopter traffic around Reagan for decades, saying it's really dangerous. You need to do something about it.
Katie Green
From cnn. Trump's cabinet nominees faced sharpest bipartisan grilling to date.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah. Tulsi Gabbard's on the ropes, especially Cash Patel flying colors.
Katie Green
RFK coin flip from USA Today. FBI tells multiple senior leaders to resign or be fired.
Joe Getty
I don't know this story. Okay. Do we know why?
Katie Green
This is the DEI situation.
Joe Getty
Okay, gotcha.
Katie Green
President Trump's administration expanding its purge from.
Jack Armstrong
The USA root and branch, as they say.
Joe Getty
You know, just in general, I saw this graph Ian Bremmer put out on his Twitter feed about Trump going, going to war with his own government or something like that. Was the headline from something. You can easily divide people into two camps. When you hear government employees are losing your job, you think, yay. Or you think, oh, that's terrible, because I'm an, I'm an immediate yay. When I hear government employees getting fired, I mean, my, you know, there could be some extraneous factors that would change it. But my first emotion, the shrinking of any government agency is all right. But I know people whose their first thought is, oh, that's horrible. Okay, That's a Quick. Pretty big dividing line between tons of people.
Jack Armstrong
Sit down, junior. Let's talk about the deficit.
Katie Green
From Fox News, Netanyahu furious about chaotic handover of Israeli hostages from Hamas.
Jack Armstrong
Yeah, I wanted to get into that.
Joe Getty
A little bit later.
Jack Armstrong
Hamas has turned it into a we might kill you or we might not. All right, I guess we'll let you loose circus every time they turn hostages.
Joe Getty
And touchdown. Dancing about having one and everything. Whoo. That's rough.
Katie Green
From NBC. Unprecedented number of lithium ion batteries complicating LA wildfire cleanup.
Jack Armstrong
Oh, yeah, they burn with the heat of the sun and take zillions of gallons of water to put out those fires. It's. It's an issue.
Katie Green
From breitbart.com meta employees protest removal of tampons from men's bathroom by bringing their own.
Jack Armstrong
All right, go ahead, you dip asses. You nutjobs. This is your big. This is your big issue. You're a real revolutionary there, Che Guevara, with your tampons for men. Okay?
Joe Getty
This is the hill you're gonna die on.
Jack Armstrong
All right. Yeah. Wow, you're the new mlk. What was your tampons for? Dudes stance. Way to go.
Katie Green
From the New York Post. South African woman has rescued more than 2500 of the lovable, quote, clowns of the dog world. She's talking about pugs, and at one point, she had 19 of them in her house.
Joe Getty
That seems like plenty.
Katie Green
And your meme of the day. It's a picture of a nice young woman, and underneath it, it says, I'm 35. I have my whole life ahead of me. And then next to it is a picture of a sports broadcaster, and it says, here comes the oldest player in the league. He's 32. A miracle.
Joe Getty
Yeah. That is always weird about watching sports. The old man who's 36. Yeah, whatever.
Katie Green
Finally, the Babylon B number of genders hits 10 year low.
Joe Getty
Yeah, I love that. Elon Musk tweeted out a great graph. Number of genders in world from 5000 BC until 2022.
Jack Armstrong
Right.
Joe Getty
From 2020 till like a week ago, 72. And from last week till now, back to 2. Brilliant number of genders hits all fantastic.
Jack Armstrong
Armstrong and Gettysburg.
Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "I'll Never Read A Manual Under Any Circumstances"
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Produced by iHeartPodcasts
In the episode titled "I'll Never Read A Manual Under Any Circumstances," hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a series of pressing societal and political issues, blending humor with sharp commentary. From the critical understaffing of air traffic controllers potentially linked to recent aviation tragedies to a robust discussion on vaccine skepticism and the pitfalls of modern DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives, Armstrong and Getty navigate through complex topics with their characteristic wit and insight.
00:35 – 08:07
The episode kicks off with a serious examination of the recent helicopter crash at Reagan National Airport, highlighting a significant shortage in air traffic controllers. Jack and Joe discuss how the lack of qualified personnel—only 19 staffers against the required 30—may have contributed to the disaster. They cite a class-action lawsuit filed by a thousand aspiring air traffic controllers who allege discriminatory hiring practices driven by DEI policies.
Notable Quote:
"If it turns out that we have half as many air traffic controllers in this country then we're supposed to have because you're turning away people that are qualified... that's going to be quite the explosive story."
— Joe Getty [04:06]
Jack expresses his frustration with how DEI initiatives have distorted the hiring standards:
"I've come across some stuff that suggests very, very strongly that the standards and the methods by which we get our air traffic controllers were perverted completely to serve DEI goals."
— Jack Armstrong [03:12]
They argue that strategic, evidence-based approaches are essential for rectifying the staffing crisis, rather than attributing failures to broad, unverified claims.
09:21 – 29:33
Shifting gears, the hosts introduce a segment featuring clips from Senator Rand Paul addressing vaccine policies. Rand criticizes the government's handling of vaccine mandates, particularly focusing on the hepatitis B vaccine and COVID-19 vaccinations for children. He emphasizes the importance of open debate and scientific humility, questioning the rigid adherence to vaccine schedules without sufficient evidence.
Notable Quote:
"The only thing that really threatens us is not people getting something wrong, it's when we're forbidden from saying it's wrong."
— Jack Armstrong [10:13]
Rand points out inconsistencies in vaccine recommendations over the years:
"20 years ago they did this enormous study and they said everybody over 50 should take an aspirin... If you have no heart disease and you're taking aspirin, your chance of dying from a brain bleed or from a stomach bleeding, we're greater than the risk of heart disease."
— Rand Paul [26:10]
Joe adds his agreement with Rand's call for skepticism and transparency:
"My answer to that is you don't get to do that. You don't get to make that judgment. Don't give me that S. Tell me the truth and let the chips fall."
— Jack Armstrong [23:05]
The discussion underscores a broader critique of how scientific information is managed and communicated, advocating for a more balanced and open-minded approach.
03:12 – 07:33
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the impact of DEI policies on critical sectors like air traffic control. The hosts argue that such initiatives, while well-intentioned, have led to the undermining of meritocratic hiring practices, resulting in operational inefficiencies and safety risks.
Notable Quote:
"Something as critical as life and death as air traffic control was perverted to become some sort of social upward mobility program."
— Jack Armstrong [06:11]
Joe highlights the broader implications of these policies beyond just the aviation industry:
"If that turns out to be the case... they were turned away because of their race... That's insane."
— Joe Getty [06:43]
08:07 – 17:25
Amidst the heavy discussions, Armstrong and Getty interject with personal stories and humor to maintain a relatable and engaging atmosphere. Joe shares his struggles with poor sleep, while Jack vents about his aversion to reading device manuals, a nod to the episode's title.
Notable Quote:
"I'm never going to read a manual under any circumstances."
— Joe Getty [11:20]
They also touch upon technological advancements, specifically the new Apple phone update featuring AI capabilities, expressing mixed feelings about the necessity of manuals versus user-friendly interfaces.
17:25 – 35:34
The hosts present a series of clips dubbed "Cow Clips of the Week," featuring humorous and satirical takes on current events. This segment covers a range of topics from political hearings, gender debates, to bizarre news stories like a South African woman rescuing over 2,500 pugs.
Notable Quote:
"If you don't change direction, you may end up where you are heading."
— Lao Tzu [15:39]
Jack offers a "freedom-loving" quote from Lao Tzu, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and proactive change.
35:34 – End
The episode concludes with a reflection on the discussed topics, reiterating the need for open dialogue, skepticism in governmental policies, and a return to merit-based systems in critical sectors. Armstrong and Getty encourage listeners to engage with the content through mailbags and remain informed through their on-demand platform.
Closing Quote:
"We’re so close-minded and we're so consensus-driven that the science says this. Well, science is a dispute."
— Rand Paul [25:15]
"I'll Never Read A Manual Under Any Circumstances" serves as a compelling blend of investigative discussion, personal anecdotes, and satirical humor. Armstrong and Getty effectively highlight significant societal issues such as the detrimental effects of DEI in critical industries, the importance of maintaining scientific integrity, and the necessity of open discourse in policy-making. This episode not only informs but also challenges listeners to think critically about the structures and policies that shape our world.
Key Takeaways:
Air Traffic Controller Shortages: A critical staffing deficit, potentially exacerbated by DEI hiring practices, may have contributed to recent aviation accidents.
Vaccine Skepticism and Scientific Debate: Emphasizing the need for open, evidence-based discussions on vaccine policies, highlighting inconsistencies in government recommendations.
Impact of DEI Initiatives: DEI policies, while aiming for inclusivity, can inadvertently undermine meritocratic standards and operational efficiency in essential sectors.
Importance of Open Dialogue: Advocating for transparency and humility in scientific discourse to foster trust and informed decision-making.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
Joe Getty [04:06]: "If it turns out that we have half as many air traffic controllers in this country then we're supposed to have because you're turning away people that are qualified... that's going to be quite the explosive story."
Jack Armstrong [03:12]: "I've come across some stuff that suggests very, very strongly that the standards and the methods by which we get our air traffic controllers were perverted completely to serve DEI goals."
Jack Armstrong [10:13]: "The only thing that really threatens us is not people getting something wrong, it's when we're forbidden from saying it's wrong."
Rand Paul [26:10]: "20 years ago they did this enormous study and they said everybody over 50 should take an aspirin..."
Lao Tzu [15:39]: "If you don't change direction, you may end up where you are heading."
This episode is a must-listen for those interested in understanding the intricate dynamics between government policies, scientific integrity, and societal well-being, all delivered with the engaging banter that Armstrong and Getty are known for.