I'll Ruin It After. That's What I Do!

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: I'll Ruin It After. That's What I Do!
Release Date: February 13, 2025
Host/Authors: Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty
Producer: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

The episode kicks off with Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delving into a range of pressing political and social issues, blending sharp commentary with a touch of humor. They tackle the inefficiencies within the Department of Education, government corruption, cultural phenomena, and heated debates surrounding LGBTQIA topics in educational settings.

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Department of Education: A Flawed System

Timestamp: [00:24] – [05:51]

Jack and Joe open the discussion by criticizing Congressman Emanuel Cleaver's remarks about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and pivot to the broader shortcomings of the Department of Education (DoE). They highlight the concerning drop in the United States' global education rankings despite increased spending.

Notable Quote:

Joe Getty [00:24]: "Elon, take your musty millions and musty Moscow rights to the moon, because if you don't, we're going to stand up, we're going to speak out, we're going to march."

The hosts express frustration over the DoE's inefficiency, questioning the rationale behind its continued existence. They scrutinize the disproportionate increase in non-teaching staff compared to student enrollment, pointing out that since 1970, student numbers have risen by 8%, while non-teaching staff have surged by 138%.

Jack Armstrong [06:11]:

"With a stroke of a pen, [Trump] canceled a hundred million dollars... DEI funding for local educational programs... [which] is being squandered on that garbage."

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Government Inefficiency and Corruption

Timestamp: [05:51] – [13:05]

The conversation shifts to the excessive reliance of states on federal funding. Jack underscores the alarming statistic that as of last year, the average state depended on 39% of its budget from federal sources, up from 23% in 1993. This dependency, they argue, fosters a system ripe for corruption and mismanagement.

Notable Quote:

Jack Armstrong [09:30]: "The federal government is a giant money laundering and redistributing fraud. I mean it's just nakedly theft."

The hosts lament how federal funds are often misallocated through convoluted grant processes, benefiting cronies and perpetuating a cycle of inefficiency and corruption.

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Cultural Commentary: SNL’s 50th Anniversary

Timestamp: [12:17] – [16:55]

Taking a brief detour, Jack and Joe discuss the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (SNL). They reflect on the show's enduring legacy, highlighting notable cast members and speculating humorously on the reasons behind long-tenured members like Kenan Thompson.

Notable Quote:

Emanuel Cleaver [15:55]: "She's hilarious."

The segment showcases the hosts' lighthearted side, appreciating the impact of SNL alumni in entertainment while maintaining their critical edge on other topics.

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Educational Controversies: LGBTQIA Materials in Schools

Timestamp: [17:31] – [21:08]

Jack and Joe delve into the contentious issue of LGBTQIA-inclusive materials in elementary schools. They recount a chaotic school board meeting in New York where parents vehemently opposed a book titled The Rainbow Parade. The book, aimed at promoting diversity and breaking stereotypes, became a flashpoint for allegations of inappropriate content for young children.

Notable Quote:

Jack Armstrong [19:36]: "Showing sexualized material to little kids has had only one other explanation through human history. You're grooming them for sexual abuse."

The hosts criticize the superintendent's decision to abruptly end the meeting, attributing it to political maneuvering aimed at suppressing dissenting voices.

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Trans Sanctuary Cities: Worcester, Massachusetts Case Study

Timestamp: [21:08] – [27:17]

Shifting focus, the hosts examine Worcester, Massachusetts, touted as a trans sanctuary city. They play clips from a heated city council meeting where proponents advocate for protecting transgender individuals amid fears of anti-trans policies under Trump’s administration.

Notable Quote:

Emanuel Cleaver [22:37]: "Everybody deserves to feel safe, and everybody needs to feel safe."

Jack and Joe critique the authenticity of such movements, suggesting they are influenced by broader political ideologies rather than genuine community needs. They express skepticism over the motivations behind labeling Worcester as a sanctuary city, framing it as part of a larger cultural battleground.

Notable Quote:

Jack Armstrong [26:12]: "Those two little girls pretending to be boys, they were terrified that they'd be hunted down or something."

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Government Mismanagement: EPA Funding Scandal

Timestamp: [29:26] – [34:32]

The discussion turns to a fabricated scandal involving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden administration. Jack shares a clip alleging that billions in tax dollars were mishandled, comparing the DoE's inefficiencies.

Notable Quote:

Jack Armstrong [30:53]: "The federal government is a giant money laundering and redistributing fraud. I mean it's just nakedly theft."

Joe and Jack expand on this narrative, suggesting systemic corruption within federal agencies, and mock the lack of accountability, reinforcing their overarching critique of government inefficiency.

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Social Contagion and Political Discourse

Timestamp: [27:43] – [35:06]

Concluding the episode, the hosts explore the concept of social contagion, drawing parallels to historical events like the Salem witch trials. They argue that modern political discourse is similarly afflicted by misinformation and groupthink, exacerbating societal divisions.

Notable Quote:

Jack Armstrong [28:05]: "Social contagion... it's like a bug in the program of humankind that we really ought to work out."

They discuss the impact of such phenomena on public policy and governance, emphasizing the need for critical thinking and accountability to restore democratic integrity.

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Conclusion

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty wrap up the episode by reinforcing their stance against government overreach and inefficiency. They call for increased public involvement in local governance to combat the entrenched bureaucratic systems they critique. The hosts maintain a combative tone throughout, urging listeners to question established institutions and advocate for transparency and accountability.

Final Quote:

Emanuel Cleaver [34:55]: "We do four hours of this every day, which is plenty."

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Key Takeaways

• Critique of Department of Education: Highlighting inefficiency and misallocation of funds with declining educational rankings.
• Government Corruption: Examining the heavy reliance of states on federal funding and the resultant potential for corruption.
• Cultural Commentary: Appreciating SNL’s legacy while using it as a segue into broader societal discussions.
• Educational Contentions: Debating the appropriateness of LGBTQIA materials in elementary education and the resulting parental backlash.
• Sanctuary Cities Debate: Analyzing Worcester’s designation as a trans sanctuary city within the context of political tensions.
• EPA Funding Scandal: Allegations of financial mismanagement within federal agencies, emphasizing systemic corruption.
• Social Contagion in Politics: Exploring how misinformation and groupthink undermine democratic processes and societal cohesion.

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This episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand offers a robust critique of various governmental and societal structures, interspersed with cultural observations and sharp commentary. By weaving together detailed discussions with provocative quotes, Armstrong and Getty provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of their perspectives on current events and enduring issues.

Transcript

[Michael]

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

[Jack Armstrong]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

Elon, take your musty millions and musty Moscow rights to the moon, because if you don't, we're going to stand up, we're going to speak out, we're going to march. We're going to do anything we need to do to make sure that the people of this country understand that the CFPB is for them. You get your musty hands off of.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Our money or go to mouse town. We beat you. Western movement. What?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, where to begin? First of all, that's Congressman Emanuel Cleaver pretending to be some sort of civil rights hero while shouting about Elon Musk in concluding with, get your musty hands off our money, you musty moo, moo moo.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Had a bit of a strong words. Had a bit of a James Brown.

[Jack Armstrong]

Thing going there yesterday when the Democrats were just yelling f Trump. And we declared that was the bottom of the barrel of political communication. They bounced back. You musty moo, moo, moo. So apparently, animal noises was what was in the bullpen. Okay. All right. And this guy gets elected. Wow.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I'm gonna tell a story tomorrow. This is a tease for tomorrow. Before we move on here. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Today is Galentine's Day, where apparently women get together for drinks or something, go out to dinner themselves. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, and I got to get permission to tell this story, even though I will still try to make it vague. Of a young girl who, in grade school did not treat well a classmate's Valentine's Day overtures. That boy ended up in a life of crime. And she has always felt like it was her that day that sent him on his wayward.

[Jack Armstrong]

Whoa. Whoa. Wow.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Oh, man. Wow. There are more details that make it really funny, but I'll have to wait and see if I can share those. So, Randy Weingarten, we were talking about her yesterday. Coincidentally, she. She still running the teachers union or she was under Biden.

[Jack Armstrong]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

She is a. An actual evil human being. And I don't mind. I have no problem saying that. That is not hyperbole. She's evil. She. She cares more about money than your kids learning. And. And unfortunately ended up in charge of teachers across the country.

[Jack Armstrong]

If she merely cared about money more than the kids, I could live with that. I guess she doesn't care about the kids at all. She doesn't care if they learn or not, if they're miserable or not, if they're set back and will never recover or not. She doesn't give a single s about that.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Yeah, she's the one that brought you school close downs and all that sort of stuff. Anyway, here's her talking about Trump and Elon's attempt this week to go after the Department of Education. What is now coming down the pike.

[Jack Armstrong]

In this aura of efficiency.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

It's not efficiency, it's evisceration. It is an attempt to take the funding and take the rights away from each and every child. Oh, my God.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. She is more than happy to use these souls of your children as some sort of righteous bargaining chip when she'd willingly crush them for another dollar for her union members.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Here's Trump making his argument for why we should do apart away with the Department of Education.

[Michael]

Do you want the Department of Education to be closed?

[Donald Trump]

Oh, I'd like it to be closed immediately. Look, the department of a big con job. We're ranked. So they ranked the top 40 countries in the world. We're ranked number 40th, but we're ranked number one in one department. Cost per pupil. So we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, but we're ranked number 40. We've been between 38 and 40. The last time I looked it was 38 and then I looked two days ago. It came out, the new list, it came out at number 40. So we're ranked 40. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, I hate to say it, China, as big as it is, it's ranked in the top five. And that's our, that's a primary competitor. We're ranked number 40. So if we're ranked number 40, that means something's really wrong.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I would agree and I would like to hear. Anybody I know I brought this up last week. We'll say it again. Since 1970, somebody, if you're listening right now, and maybe you don't listen to this show, if you have this point of view because we've annoyed you so much over the years with our point of view. But if you're of the point of view that no, the Department of Education is very necessary and the public school system is not a disaster, please explain to Me why since 1970 students have increased by 8% but non teaching staff has increased by 138%. Why somebody. Have you heard anybody make the argument why? Oh, that's completely necessary. And here's why I haven't.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no, never. Absolutely not. The only thing that I will Occasionally get is people will say the federal requirements for record keeping and compliance and all are so onerous. We have an entire department filling out government forms. That probably explains part of it.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Well, okay, that, that might be the explanation. But the explanation, the answer then is, well then you got to get rid of all the freaking forms so you can also get rid of the people.

[Jack Armstrong]

With you, not against you.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

The students have increased by 8% since 1970. Teaching staff by 60%. Total staff 84%. But if you take the teachers out of that total staff increase, it's 138% non teaching staff increase. You got so many people bumping around in a school in offices doing stuff that nobody did 10 years ago or 20 years ago or sure as hell 40 years ago, and everything seemed to be fine.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. Well, and in the last 10 years or so, a lot of it's been DEI departments. I was just, I just saw the number. Trump has, with a stroke of a pen, canceled a hundred million dollars, I think it is, of DEI funding for local educational programs, that sort of thing. $100 million being squandered on that garbage.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I thought it was more than that. I had the numbers. But anyway, your point being?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, that may just be, you know, one particular line item. I mean when you get into what the universities themselves are spending, never mind the directly federal funded stuff, it's. The numbers are mind blowing.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Yeah. But again, I usually know what the argument on the other side is on a lot of big issues because I watch enough Ms. MSNBC or listen to npr, whatever, but I haven't heard the argument for why you need many multiples more people in your schools just doing something in an office.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. Well, government education has become like so many government agencies and programs, just this giant, unwieldy, ungovernable, self governing colossus. And as Elon Musk was pointing out so eloquently yesterday, and we replayed one of the pieces of audio today, if the bureaucracy is not accountable to the elected representatives, it has truly become a fourth branch of government and it is not democratically influenced, you've lost a significant chunk of your democracy. If the government schools do what they, they want to do and they're going to keep doing it and you get, you don't get a say. That's a terrible, terrible way to be.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

So they're voting currently on RFK Junior as Health and Human. Health and Human Secretary, HHS Secretary. And he's supposed to pass, although McConnell is voted against. But I'll bet it's Going to be the same as Tulsi Gabbard. All the Republicans for, all the Democrats against, all the Republicans, but McConnell for. And he'll pass. And then Patel, Cash Patel, the FBI director, he has gotten out of that committee vote just now, and he'll get the full floor vote tomorrow. So it looks like everybody but Matt Gaetz that Trump initially wanted is going to get through.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

There you go.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm a little surprised, but we'll see how it goes. And, you know, as important as some of that stuff is, I almost think it's a distraction from some of the bigger issues that we have. Like, we've been talk.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Absolutely.

[Jack Armstrong]

I mean, I came across a fabulous piece by Tony Woodley, who's a, you know, political writer, and he's talking about some of the slashing of. Of grants and payments and the rest of it that's caused such angst and caused the people to gather in D.C. and sing that idiotic union tune yesterday. Which side are you on? Which side are you on?

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I'll sing this. Last night I learned the chords and I was just bellowing it out in my bed.

[Jack Armstrong]

We had not set that up in advance, friends. And as I was saying those words, half of me was hoping Michael had it handy, and half of me was afraid he had it handy. Anyway, it turns out that's like an old union song from back in the day, and they're trying to revive it with idiotic new lyrics. But anyway, so all of that angst about how dare they cancel payments and cut back and Elon Musk and Doge is unelected and scary, and it's gonna ruin America. In 1993, the average state counted on federal agencies for 23% of its revenue, which is a little odd, as I often say. Your state, like, sends all that money to D.C. then begs for it back and under a quarter. But nearly a quarter of its budget is the largess of our federal overlords. Okay, that was in 1993. Last year, this average reached 39%. Wow. With two states, Alaska and Louisiana, dependent on D.C. for half of their funds. And there are many state leaders who present themselves as conservatives who despise federal bloat. It might be hard to blame them for taking all that free money if not for the fact that anyone who pays more than rudimentary attention to the mechanics of federal grants knows that this money is neither free nor is it reliable. And we could certainly get into. I don't think it's necessary. But as that money is collected and processed in D.C. and then doled out again. It is a giant money laundering cash for my cronies, phony green energy, fake grants to never do anything anti homeless coalition bull crap. It's a giant money laundering exercise and you send $100 to DC and if you get back 90 of it, it's only because they've drained 20 cents of it and borrowed another 10 cents to at least keep you semi happy with the amount that you get back after your beg. It is, it is a horrible system. It's indefensible. As Elon said about the idiot record keeping thing we described yesterday, literally anything would be better than this.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Right?

[Jack Armstrong]

But. But you try to change it and reform it, people say oh no, no, that might be change. Yikes.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I'm excited. I think it's this Sunday night that Saturday Night Live is having their big anniversary show. The 50th anniversary. Yeah, I remember when they.

[Jack Armstrong]

I want to see the. The documentary about all the music that Questlove of.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I saw the promos. That looked pretty fantastic together. SNL's 40th anniversary show was spectacular. God, I thought that was so entertaining. I bet. I watched that four times. Kept that on my DVR there. The big 50th anniversary. But anyway, USA Today put out a list of the 20 greatest, greatest SNL cast members of all time. Maybe I'll run through that at some point, see if you agree or not. Among other things, we'll get to today. Stay here.

[Michael]

Armstrong and Getty, I guess.

[Jack Armstrong]

See this?

[Emanuel Cleaver]

A new study found that taking Ozempic could lead to vision problems. Problems. How cruel. You finally lose weight, now you're seeing double. When they heard the alternative to Ozempic is exercise, people were just like, well, just how blind are we talking here?

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, that second part was darkly hilarious. The first part, I just thought I wouldn't make a joke about that.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

No. But the second part is pretty accurate. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oof.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

You can either exercise to lose weight or take this 50 chance you go blind. Do I need to see that bad? I mean, Jimmy Fallon there, who got his start on Saturday Night Live like Seth Meyers did, who's on the other show. And lots of people have it. Well, as it says here in the USA today, Saturday Night Live, which is having its 50th season, it started in 1975, before many of you were born. Over the years, alumni have gone on to become Oscar and Emmy winners, box office superstars, late night hosts, multi hyphenated producers, and even a US Senator. In the name of what's his name from Minnesota. Who grabbed the woman?

[Jack Armstrong]

Franklin?

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Al Franken?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, he didn't actually. He pantomimed it and never should have resigned. But Democrats are wacky.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

There have been 167 cast members with the shortest one lasting a month, the longest lasting, 22 years. And Kenan Thompson, who is still on the show, I haven't heard any explanation for why they've kept him on for 20 years. 22 years. I mean, he's great, but there have.

[Jack Armstrong]

Been lots of funniest people who've ever lived.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

But there have been lot been lots of really funny, great people that, that didn't stay that long.

[Jack Armstrong]

Maybe he was. Why? Well, right. Why is he there?

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Why hasn't he gone off to do movies or something?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I mean, because Saturday Night Live is famously on weeks that they're working. Tremendous amount of work.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Right. And most people, most of the, most of the people become stars. They leave on their own because they're, they're into the movie business or talk show or whatever or, or Lauren, because I've read a lot about this. Lauren gets rid of them because they're so distracted. I remember, like Chris Farley and David Spade, they're flying around making movies all the time. And it's like, okay, you, you're too busy doing this to do my show, so, you know, how about we get somebody else? Anyway, USA Today named the top 30 cast members of all time. I think they went out of their way to make a list that people would argue about, which is what most lists are, because I think it's wrong. And I've watched Saturday Night Live practically every episode over the entire 50 years. I am a Saturday Night Live devotee. Top 10 of all time, Maya Rudolph. They have a 10 who is absolutely hilarious and can make me laugh doing anything. Number nine, Dan Aykroyd. Number eight, Kate McKinnon.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. She should be hired, Nate.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

But you think I would think. No.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

She's hilarious. Number seven, Chris Farley. Number six, Amy Poehler. Number five. Boy, I don't know. He five's high, but he might need to be. Top two, Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell. I remember hearing a Tina Fey say one time, like some of the big people at, like, Adam Sandler left and she thought, who's Will Ferrell? And she, and then she said, oh, I realize he's the greatest sketch comedy artist of all time, which he might be. Wow. Number four, John Belushi. Number three, Gilda Radner. Too high for me. I like her. But number Three. Number two, Phil Hartman.

[Jack Armstrong]

Number one. Wow.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Number one. They have Eddie Murphy. I think Christian Wiig is a top fiver, personally, but, man, there's a lot of choices. Dana Carvey, Andy Sandberg, Fred Armisen, Adam Sandler, obviously. I'll be watching Sunday night. Their 40th anniversary special was fantastic and hilarious. They brought back all the cast members. It was really, really good.

[Jack Armstrong]

Phil Hartman. No matter how hot the cokehead babe is, who comes on to you, it's a bad idea.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

No kidding. We now have a trans sanctuary city. Some of the arguments from the city council meeting coming up.

[Michael]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

One thing we were hoping would come out of COVID was people getting more involved in city, county elections, school board, that sort of stuff. I don't know if that's happened, but when we realized how much power those people have in an emergency and what.

[Jack Armstrong]

Perverse things they were doing.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Yeah, this might be partially that. We'll start here. We're going to get to the trans sanctuary city of Worcester, Mass. And the city council meeting they had last night. First, we'll start with the New York School board meeting, which descended into chaos over lgbtqia. Plus books that showed up in the library. And parents got outraged. Parents took over a school board meeting this week, demanding to know why their elementary school children were exposed to this book that included depictions of naked people in bondage. Enthusiasts. We've heard this kind of story from all around the country. This is the classic. We put a book in there because we're sicko, weird, pedophile, something or others. More on that later. I don't even understand what you're trying to do, you creepos. But we put the book in the library, and then when you demand it be taken out, we call you censors or book banners or something.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. Because we tried to ban porn from little children. Yeah.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Anyway.

[Jack Armstrong]

Groomers.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

A large and animated crowd of parents gathered in a Monroe county auditorium on Tuesday and voiced their concerns to the superintendent and school board about their young children having access to the book. The Rainbow Parade. A celebration of LGBTQIA plus identities and allies. Just the sort of book you need to have in your library when all across the country kids aren't reading at proficiency level. This is what we're focused on. The controversial book tells the story of a young girl and her two mothers attending an LGBT parade and follows a child who's exploring their. Quoting from the book here. Gender identity. The book's lesson for kids is to break down stereotypes and embrace diversity. The Rainbow Parade. The book, the Name of the book includes depictions of a naked person shown from behind furries. A gay couple outfitted in leather, BDSM bondage, domination, sadomasochism attire. Students that were shown the book were in grades one through five, meaning they're roughly ages five through 11.

[Jack Armstrong]

Lord. Showing sexualized material to little kids has had only one other explanation through human history. You're grooming them for sexual abuse.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

So a whole bunch of outraged parents showed up.

[Jack Armstrong]

Good.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

And the superintendent, Tasha Potter, had to end the school board meeting without hearing any more complaints or any voting because it got, she said it got too chaotic. I think it was just they didn't like the politics of the people that were there. I, I've been involved in this sort of thing before. A lot of it is who can mask the. That's a lot of it. And like I live in a college town and college kids don't have jobs, don't have to get up so they can show up to these city council meetings if there is a big conversation happening on and happening and overwhelm the tax paying parents who have to get up in the morning and take their kids to school. And then if it's not, if the, if the, if the crowd isn't the right direction, you can call it off. It's too chaotic. Bring it back next Tuesday and maybe the parents don't show up and the activists do and then, you know, that's the way it works a lot anyway at this particular school board meeting. We are here at our board meeting conducting our business. The superintendent said to parents who were trying to get the word in edgewise, who then booed loudly. It's our board meeting, said one parent. We pay you. Another male parent shouted as the booze rained down. The school officials called the meeting to a close without officially hearing any public comments. They're just leaving. One parent filming the event said in disbelief. So it never really got off the ground on that one.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yep.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Because they just hide they didn't like the politics of the people that showed up to the meeting. So they'll, they'll have their next meeting. Maybe not announce it, but this sort of thing happens too. Maybe announce it last minute or they'll get the word out to the people on their side anyway that we're having a meeting today at 4, but not to the people that are going to be loud and you know, it's, it's really frustrating. If you've ever been involved in this sort of thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh yeah, they know what they're doing. They know they can't stand up to scrutiny. So they find every way they can to eliminate scrutiny.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

The opposite was happening in Worcester, Mass. Where apparently their city council loves the idea of being, I think, the first trans sanctuary city in America or the first of its size or the first of the east coast or something like that. Something. They're very proud of being a trans sanctuary city. And, and, and they, they were digging a lot of the commentary from the pro trans crowd that showed up. We're just gonna play a little montage here. And then in our One More Thing podcast, we're gonna play a really long segment because it is so entertaining. I watched it last night and I was like, we gotta play this whole thing in our podcast because it's just too dang good. You can't believe there's that many people in a fairly small town in this community that would show up and speak their mind. You have something to say before we start the clip?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, yeah, I was going to say, I don't doubt for a second how entertaining it is. I'll ruin it afterward. That's what I do.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Okay, here we go.

[Michael]

I need the city to protect me because the federal government won't. And if you think you're afraid of Trump, you should see how afraid of Trump I am. You better prepare for trans people to make this a very unsafe space.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't want to be here.

[Michael]

I'm sorry. Am I taking too long pleading for my life?

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I speak as both the B and the T in the lgbt.

[Michael]

I don't want to spend an hour.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Applying glitter on my face so that you will hear and see me.

[Mara Gay]

Let us remember that the Nazis burned the books.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

That the. The Nazis burned books on gender sciences first.

[Mara Gay]

Now the administration has villainized and marginalized.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Migrant workers, trans, LGBT people. I speak as someone who is always misgendered. Like, all the time, people refer to me as sir when I prefer to be referred to as ma'am. My name is Katie.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right now in our country, Trump is threatening the trans and gender diverse community. Noticing people here are trying to control the.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

The rights of others, and that's not right.

[Jack Armstrong]

We should make Westero sanctuary city for trans people.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Everybody deserves to feel safe, and everybody needs to feel safe. Yeah. The worst part being the little kid there standing with his mom who was holding the script in front of him so he could read that at the microphone, obviously having not the slightest idea the context or what he was talking about. By the way, the guy who say. Who said, I get misgendered every day and I prefer to be called ma'am, I mean, is like, not transitioning yet, apparently. Or maybe he's not planning to. He's just a dude in dude clothes. It's like, how can I be blamed for saying, sir, you're a, you're a. You're, you're a guy dressed as a guy, look like a guy. What indication would I have? Am I supposed to ask everybody I meet?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I would be more entertained by all of it were this cult not in charge of America's schools to a large extent and universities. I mean, that level of crazy is being taught to a lot of your children. Yeah, this. Saw this text string from Kaylee. We'll leave her last name out of it. A few years ago, I infiltrated a support group of parents of quote unquote trans children. What I found, they're mostly attention seeking women eager to use their children as pawns in their own personal fight for relevance. As they say, a transgender child is like a vegan cat. We all know who's making the decisions. I feel zero guilt for exposing this child abuse. Vegan cat.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Oh my God. Oh my God. That's straight out of Portlandian Fred Armisen. My cat loves.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, yeah, well, and just to hit some of the quotes from this message.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Board, I think it might have been in this. That will play in the podcast. One more thing. Podcast. The long montage. I think it was from this or I read it somewhere different yesterday. Anyway, it was some mom who said, both of my kids are trans. And I thought, okay, I'm trans. Both of my children are trans. Okay, gotcha.

[Jack Armstrong]

That Cynthia Nixon clip, guys, if you could find that for the podcast, that would be great. But this message board, this is my child. Mine is five. My child is five and a half, but new at age three. Mine is five as well. Started. Started expressing her true self at just under two today. She is socially transitioned and they all congratulate for these 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 year old children transitioning and being so brave and you're so brave and I love you so much, much. Or fully support. Blah, blah, blah. It's so obvious what's happening. Good lord.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Yeah. The person bellowing, I need to put glitter on my face just to be seen. It takes me an hour every day. Because born, she now wants to be he. And the only way he can get people to recognize him as he is to put fake beard stuff on his face and how much work that is. What am I supposed to. I don't know what I'm supposed to do about that.

[Jack Armstrong]

I get them treatment.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

But. But all this driven by is a couple of people referenced Trump becoming president. You got to be a trans sanctuary city now with Trump's anti trans hate coming into office.

[Jack Armstrong]

Those two little girls pretending to be boys, they were terrified that they'd be hunted down or something.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Yeah, we'll play the beginning. That one person. What they said play the beginning of that again.

[Michael]

I need the city to protect me because the federal government won't.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Right.

[Michael]

And if you think you're afraid of Trump, you should say how afraid of Trump I am.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. So, yeah, you've been misled and terrorized.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

By activist elders and you think you're afraid of Trump. It's like the group I was in over the weekend, I mentioned the other day where everybody kept talking to everybody else about it. How are you holding up? Are you doing okay? He's staying strong. Like we all just are terrified under Trump being president. Okay, whatever. I'm holding up fine, by the way, until I have to pay my taxes which are way too high, then. Then I won't be holding up so well here in about a month or so.

[Jack Armstrong]

But I. Caramba. And that's social contagion and a cult.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

As I saw a number of people respond to the really long video, I watched the montage of the people there. How are there so many mentally ill people in one spot?

[Jack Armstrong]

I. I think it has to do with the nature of social contagions, which I've read about. A. Fair enough to be dangerous, as they say, but it's a. You know, the Salem witch trial is the classic example of it. As that caught on and people gave. Became more and more frantic, they actually thought they'd seen these things or they were just so desperate to be of the people who were getting all the attention that they repeated, you know, the same lies. And, you know, there are all sorts of examples of it through history of people convincing themselves of just ridiculous, ridiculous things. The moment it's over, everybody's like, that was crazy. That was really stupid. What was everybody thinking? But in the midst of the contagion, people just get feverish. It's a weird. It's like it's a bug in the program of humankind that we really ought to work out. Yeah, Elon could get to work on that next.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

I find it fascinating to watch. I couldn't. I. I don't know how long the thing was. I watched that. We'll put in the podcast, but I couldn't stop watching. It's just like another one. Well, there's Another one there with this right. Whatever it is thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Odd times.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

You think you have any explanation for that? What's going on? Social contagion like Joe says or whatever. Text line 415295KFTC.

[Michael]

ARMSTRONG and GETTY.

[Mara Gay]

An extremely disturbing video circulated two months ago featuring a Biden EPA political appointee talking about how they were tossing gold bars off the Titanic, rushing to get billions of your tax dollars out the door before Inauguration Day. The gold bars were tax dollars and tossing them off the Titanic meant the Biden administration knew they were wasting it. Fortunately, my awesome team at EPA has found the gold bars.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

What? That?

[Jack Armstrong]

So Lee Zeldin, who's now in charge of the epa, is clawing back billions of dollars that were illegally inappropriately handed out in the last seconds of the Biden epa. In fact, what the heck, I hadn't planned on it, but. Play the next clip, Michael, if you'd be so kind.

[Mara Gay]

Shockingly, roughly 20 billion of your tax dollars were parked at an outside financial institution by the Biden epa. This scheme was the first of its kind in EPA history and it was purposefully designed to obligate all of the money in a rush job with reduced oversight. Even further, this pot of $20 billion was awarded to just eight entities that were then responsible for doling out your money to NGOs and others at their discretion, with far less transparency.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Somebody should be jailed for that.

[Jack Armstrong]

I know. We're executed. The federal government is a giant money laundering and redistributing fraud. I mean it's just nakedly theft.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Who was I talking to the other day about this? I. I've fantasized about this before. If I could live my life over again, I don't think this would be as fun, but it'd be kind of interesting if I had dedicated myself to getting government money, figuring out where they're throwing money around, whether it's for a dam or a bullet train or a help the homeless project or whatever and you know, starting a non profit and just all the things you can do to get government money and made that my life because I think a lot of people do and they get really, really wealthy and you don't have to accomplish much.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think once you did the first one or two, you'd probably get pretty good at it. You could, you know, adopt, adapt the scam really, really quickly.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Well, and certainly you get in with the crowd that also does it. You become one of them. They'd be like, oh yeah, Jack, who runs the non profit homeless for bullet trains thing oh, yeah, he's great. Send him some money and.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. And he'll turn out the vote, if nothing else. Yeah. So we posited yesterday that political communication had gotten as low as it could when they were just saying, f Trump. F Trump. These are Congress people. Then we had this humdinger, which is one of my favorite clips of the decade, perhaps 64. Michael Elon.

[Joe Getty]

Take your musky millions and musty Moscow rights to the moon, because if you don't, we're going to stand up, we're going to speak out, we're going to march, we're going to do anything we need to do to make sure that the people of this country understand that the CFPB is for them. You get your musty hands off of.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Our money or go to mouse town and beat your mustard movement.

[Jack Armstrong]

You musty moo moo moo. Okay. And that was over trying not to toss gold bars off the deck of the Titanic. How dare he? And as the conversation descends even further. Clip 36. This is Congressman Robert Garcia of Cali Unicornia.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Chairwoman Green literally showed a dick pic in our oversight congressional hearing, so I thought I'd bring one as well. Now, this, of course, we know, is President Elon Musk. Oh, boy. I get it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Clever. Then Mara Gay, who's a member of the New York Times editorial board. I just clipped a little bit of this. She's talking to Chuck Schumer about how he's going to fight like hell and beat Trump and stop this. S. That's what we're doing. And she writes, it was a welcome sign of life. For three weeks now, President Trump and the world's richest man have ransacked from within a Democracy that took 250 years to build. Who say in this, Mara Gay of the New York Times, editor over the top. President Trump and the world's richest man have ransacked from within a Democracy that took 250 years to build. And then she mentions that the country faces the second crisis. An opposition party that doesn't seem to know how to respond. Well, that. That part is true.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Right? Different kinds of people, I guess.

[Jack Armstrong]

So.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Wasting money, agencies that don't need to exist. That's not ransacking democracy or getting far away from the founding division, but stopping it is. Stopping it is.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's right, you musty moo moo moo.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

And I think they actually believe it because they just believe in government in a way that I don't get.

[Jack Armstrong]

But I think their believers believe in it. I think those people are absolute crooks. They just understand that their scam depends on them making these fake moral, civil rightsy arguments.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

Whatever that means.

[Jack Armstrong]

So is your sister.

[Emanuel Cleaver]

So's your sister. We do four hours of this every day, which is plenty. If you don't get every segment or every hour, look for the podcast Armstrong and Getty on demand.

[Michael]

Armstrong and Gettysburg.