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Guaranteed Human support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It's IT screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available@public.com disclosures not everyone can.
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Hey, this is US Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis Woodhull.
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And I'm US Paralympic gold medalist Hunter Woodhull.
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Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center.
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Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty Armstrong and Getty Armstrong and Yeti. Well, I don't think they're going to push back too much. Look, we have to have it, they have to have this done.
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They can protect it.
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Denmark, they're wonderful people and I know.
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The leaders are very good people, but they don't even go there.
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And you know, because the boat went.
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There 500 years ago and then left.
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That doesn't give you title to property.
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So we'll be talking about it with the various people. So that is an interesting angle that Trump's going with because they, a boat showed up there 500 years ago. They don't get to keep it forever. Come on, that's crazy. And then basically just continuing to state that people are going to come around to his thinking just because I guess. And we talked earlier about the, the back and forth with the leader of Norway when the leader of Norway and the leader of Finland got together and wanted to do a three way phone call and try to de escalate and calm things down. And Trump responded with, well, you didn't give me the Nobel Prize, so I no longer care about peace. To which the response was I don't control the Nobel Prize. It's like a private commission. I mean they, they're from our country, the Nobel Committee in Oslo, but I don't have any. And Trump said that's not true. You control it. You could have done it. You could have, you could have made the decision. So I don't know what's going on there. This is gonna be a heck of a week. All the world leaders are in Davos, given speeches. Macron just gave a speech about might not making right. Except Macron was wearing sunglasses while he gave the speech, like I'm a cool guy, sunglasses with his extra long sideburns. And it was hard to take him seriously. I don't know what's going on in the world anymore.
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He's in a Steve McQueen phase. Let him go through it.
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He's got to live it. I don't know what's going on anymore.
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Kevin Williamson, who is I think with the, the, the dispatch these days. Yeah, terrific conservative, really smart guy. I don't always agree with him, blah, blah, blah. But anyway, he was saying that the Trump exhaustion is a strategy. He floods the field, confuses people, exhausts them Makes them uncomfortable, freaks them out with, you didn't give me the Nobel, so I'm stealing Greenland. I mean, everybody's like, wait, what? Kevin is saying that's his strategy.
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Okay?
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And people get so exhausted and confused. They're like, all right, all right. What do we have to do to end this? What sort of deal can we live with?
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Well, so we got into the conversation last week. I thought I had misunderstood something. Now I'm not so sure that I misunderstood it. So the Danes said they were sending troops to Greenland. McCrone said he was sending French troops to Greenland. Now, when I first heard that, I thought, wow, they're sending troops saying, hey, if the United States, if Trump lands Marines on Greenland, we're going to fight him. Then on Friday, I thought I had become informed that, no, no, no, no, they're showing that we can protect Greenland against the Russians and the Chinese. We're committed to it. But then I heard another report over the weekend suggesting that, no, no, no, no, they're sending the troops in case they have to fight the U.S. marines. So I don't, I don't know what it's going.
C
No, I think that last thing was the way Trump took it, that it was intended originally because they said so as, look, we can protect Greenland. We'll protect it. Fine.
A
Well, the problem is when they say we can protect Greenland, you don't know if they mean from the Chinese or the United States. And so some of us, like me, jump to the conclusion that they meant the United States. But you're saying they meant you and Trump. You think they meant China and Russia?
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Well, yeah, like I said, they said, so NATO can protect Greenland. It's fine. Look, we'll go have a military exercise there. It's fine. The status quo is fine. Not from the US From China. Nobody talks about protecting one NATO country from another NATO country except you and Trump.
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No, they're both maniacs. No, no, no, no. Fox is talking about it. NPR is talking about it. Lots of people are talking about it.
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They're maniacs, too.
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Now, they might be wrong, but I'm not. I didn't make.
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Maniacs is growing.
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I didn't make this up. There's lots of people that interpreted it that way. So I. Yours. Yours makes more sense, and I hope it's right. Here's what the Wall Street Journal said.
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You know what? It's a measure of the times we're in, that there's ambiguity there, which was my point in my, My faux rant. I mean, what the. What?
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Wait a Second.
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Oh, France has ordered anti aircraft systems. I wonder if they're going to use them against Germany.
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Wait a minute.
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Right. Who asked that? Why are you asking that?
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Yeah, the fact that there could be any confusion. It has to be spelled out is a sign of the times. This from the Wall Street Journal. On the whole thing, senior administration officials have tried to reassure European allies that there are currently no military plans to take over Greenland. Again, just what we're saying. If senior administration officials have to contact their counterparts in France and Germany and England to Sherm. Look, we're not actually going to invade Green. How crazy is that? That that's where we are?
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Very crazy.
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That they have to contact them and reassure them and that European leaders are working the phone with Trump and his inner circle in a bid to de escalate. One top diplomat said that unlike in Trump's first term, Europeans are taking his threats seriously. Now anyway, that's reporting in the Wall Street Journal that European leaders are taking it seriously, that Trump's talking about militarily taking Greenland.
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Maduro called Macron said, trust me, take it seriously.
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Well, if McCrone's going to show up in sunglasses like that, I say we snatch him up, put him on a plane, put him in the the cool hoodie that everybody likes and send him to Gitmo.
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You know who loves that plan? Mrs. McCrone.
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Well, I almost made a joke about his wife being a dude, but if I say that I get sued.
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No, you can touch on it. I'd touch on it and move on. She maybe I wouldn't dwell on it. So Scott Besant, who is often the what he really meant interpreter in 64 Play that, Michael, then we'll move on.
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Sit back, relax. I am confident that the leaders will.
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Not escalate and that this will work out in a manner that ends up.
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In a very good place for all, for national security, for the US and for Europe. So is that sort of grown up language going to be the speeches we hear this week or is Trump going to go full on. Greenland's ours. The boats landed 500 years ago. They don't get to keep it. And if you want to fight the Marines, knock yourself out.
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That one. That's the one Trump's going to be. That's right. And Bessant, by the way, reminds me a little bit, not coincidentally of a proctologist with the. You're going to feel a little pressure. Just relax. This will end up in a good place for all of us. Sit back, relax. Yeah, yeah, that's right. So they're in Davos amidst all the chaos. You remember Positive. Sean taught us this from the Game of Thrones with the dragons and the swords and everything and the magicians and various stuff, that chaos is a ladder. There are actors, and I think Donald J. Is one of them who views chaos as an opportunity. Gavin Newsom is another one. The tussled haired reptile who runs California into the ground currently is he called him a reptile trying to shine up his reputation as a statesman and indeed has seized on the idea that taking on Trump is the way to really, really raise his profile. Doubling down on that strategy, Michael, we'll start with 65 Europeans think this is diplomacy and this will ultimately diplomacy with Donald Trump. He's a T. Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. One or the other people need to stand. But no, the Europeans could be if they continue down this path and process, they need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united.
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Well, you just said you got the option of mate with them or get devoured. I figure you might as well take the mate. I'd take the mating over the being devoured.
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Wow, that is. That does not speak of consent. To me that sounds more like rapine.
A
I know you got more, Gavin, but I wanted to get this in. This is the only place I've seen. The New York Post had this over the weekend about Greenland, because you've seen all the polling. Polling shows the people of Greenland absolutely do not want to be controlled by the United States. Well, the New York Post had some different interviews. Green litters speak out against Danish rule. After decades of forced sterilization, poor living conditions, they stole our future. The Danes don't see us as human. This person told the Post. They think we're too expensive, too small a population. But they take our land, our children, our lives and expect thanks. So not everybody's happy with the Danish rule.
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That's why you come on to him with a little sweet talk and you don't slap them around like Trump is doing. He's like a T. Rex anyway. Morgan Newsom, it's time to buck up. It's time to get serious and stop being complicit. It's time to stand tall and firm, have a backbone. You know, either that tape has slowed down or he's got a little jet lag or something. His voice is lowered a couple of, you know, levels and he sounds better. He doesn't have that, you know, that, that horse raspiness to him as much. One more just. I can't take this complicity People rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of.
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Knee pads for all the world leaders.
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I mean, handing out crowns and handing.
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I mean, this is pathetic.
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Pathetic Nobel prizes that are being given away. I mean, it's just pathetic. And. And I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage. I mean, at least from an American perspective.
A
Did he do a BJ joke with all the world leaders?
C
Yes, indeed. Yes. That's where he was headed. Wow. So there were times.
A
You laugh, I laugh. Henry Kissinger never said, perhaps they should have pads on their knees. We didn't talk like this back in the day.
C
The mayor of. I'm sorry. The governor of a single American state. Granted a gigantic one, who has run that state into the ground. Into the ground. Is now lecturing all the world leaders on toughness.
A
This is going to be times. This is going to be quite a week if everybody plays their script out the way they have been. Trump's going to give one hell of a speech tomorrow, and Gavin's going to give one hell of a counter speech on Thursday because he thinks this is really going to launch him on the world stage. I wouldn't be surprised if he and his handlers aren't looking at this as the most important speech of his life.
C
Yeah, I wish I hadn't forgotten to gas up my G6 because I was going to go to Davos, but I, you know, by the time I got to the gas station back then, I'd have been late, so I stayed home.
A
G6 better than a G5, I assume?
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Oh, it's one better, but not quite.
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As good as a G7.
C
I don't want to get showy, so I'm sticking with my six. My old six.
A
You don't have to clean two bathrooms, so you go with the G6.
C
I don't know anything about this.
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I don't either.
C
The G7, I made that up.
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How would I know?
C
That was very smooth fraud. Yes.
A
What's the likelihood things calm down and people start talking like diplomats versus people talking like they're doing a podcast this week.
C
Wow, that's. That. That was great, by the way. I think it's very good. Just because the. The chaos, ugliness, threats thing is not sustainable. And I think even. Even Trump will sense that. All right, that's enough of that now. Let's move on to the next phase. I hope I'm right. I don't have a lot of confidence about it.
A
Well, according to the Wall Street Journal, who claims that they've been talking to world leaders the world leaders are taking this threat seriously. A military threat. You're taking a military threat from the United States seriously.
C
What would happen? Here's your your thought starter. What would happen if Trump announced we are going to invade Greenland? How many commanders would resign? Oh, that's a attack a NATO country.
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Because I think if we put Marines on the beaches of Greenland. Do they have beaches? Nobody's going to fire.
C
Surely they got some sort of C interface, right?
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Nobody's going to fire a shot. But the outcry would be insane from all of our closest friends and, and, and all the Democrats and half the Republicans, maybe, maybe three, four the Republicans.
C
But one farmer. Do they have farms or beach comber or something? Snowplow driver might squeeze off a shot and get killed and then. Good God.
A
Right? But you're right. Would a ton of commanders resign and the SEC def Resign? Well, probably not. Pete Hegseth no. No. Oh boy. If you have a thought on this text line 415295 KFTC Armstrong and Getty oh, gotta download the Prize Picks app if you haven't yet. The big game is almost here and there's no better way to cash in during America's biggest sporting event than Price Picks.
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I don't know about you, but every January I kind of get the itch to upgrade my tech. Like a new phone, new laptop, fresh start. But here's the thing. New devices mean new risks. Like lots of people last year clicked on sketchy links and then bam. Your info's out there. It's a huge mess that's why we're.
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To buy your way? Of course you do. That's why CarMax offers an experience designed just for you. Want to start online, then visit the lot, then go back online? Sure. Want to talk to a real person or chat online? Either works. Want to take your time and compare all the makes and models? No problem. Then make up some time by filling out the paperwork at home and schedule express pickup or home delivery. Done. When it comes to how you buy, CarMax puts you in the driver's seat. Want to drive CarMax delivery restrictions apply. See CarMax.com for details.
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Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you try transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures the Most.
C
Beautiful girl, woman I had ever seen in my life, lived. We didn't go to town that much, but when I would, I would go to see her because she had these long red fingernails, she wore bright lipstick, she had peroxide blonde hair, wore tight clothes, short. And I thought, she is the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And my mother said, oh, she's just trash. She's just a tramp.
A
And I thought, that's what I want to be when I grow up. Dolly Parton explaining where she came up with her look. The hottest woman or a little berg looked like that. She thought, that's what I want to look like.
C
She's been married to the same bloke happily now for what, 50, 60 years.
A
He died, if you remember. We spent time talking about how wonderful their marriage was. They met at the laundromat and stayed together all those years.
C
Oh, right, right, right. Yeah. Handsome fella. Yeah, yeah. Interesting. How funny. Speaking of celebrities, I think I've never been a great fan of LeBron James as a, a guy who says stuff. I, I think he's a perfect example of hot chick syndrome, where if you're a really good looking woman, every guy laughs at your jokes, every woman wants to be your friend and you start thinking, you know, you're right about everything or funny or whatever, and you're not. And LeBron has just been such a superstar of sports that, you know, since.
A
He was to think 14 years old, right.
C
So don't blame him. But he's come up. This might be his worst idea ever. I saw this, the new Honor the King edition of the LeBron basketball shoes. The shoe has a color scheme nodding to the color of the Lorraine.
A
Colorway. You don't say color scheme. Colorway is the term all the kids use. I really like the colorway. I'd never heard it before until my son used it. It's the word.
C
I'll not say that. It's a nod to the color of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where Martin Luther King had his brains shot out in 1968. Excuse me. A shoe commemorating where King was assassinated. The hotel, which is now a museum, had no idea this is coming out. The shoe doesn't pay tribute to anything King did or said, but where he was murdered. It's not a partnership with the museum, it's just for profit. If the goal was to bring attention to the museum, the idea misses the mark and it's just troubling.
A
So they're teal and they have equality on the heel and Commemorates James once scoring 51 points.
C
All right.
A
At Memphis on MLK Day back in 2008.
C
There's a loving tribute.
A
There's a lot of different stuff. There's a lot of different stuff that just does not fit together in this shoe. The LeBron. What is. Which number is it? It's the 23, which is his number on his jersey.
C
Yeah.
A
So buy the shoe if you want to wear it, I guess to commemorate mlk.
C
I'm trying to think what that's like some sort of Lincoln comfortable theater seat or, you know, Abraham Lincoln bulletproof hairpiece. I don't even know.
A
Oh, my God, this is terrible.
C
This is terrible. LeBron.
A
The world's gonna run out of people. That's an interesting story. Among other things we've got coming upstairs.
B
Armstrong and Getty.
A
I don't know about you, but every January I kind of get the itch to upgrade my tech. Like a new phone, new laptop, fresh start. But here's the thing. New devices mean new risks. Like lots of people last year clicked on sketchy links and then bam, your info's out there. It's a huge mess.
C
That's why we're fired up about Webroot. Whether you're upgrading or sticking with your trusty old gear, now's the time to lock down your digital life. Webroot's total protection cover your devices, your identity, even your family. Antivirus, firewall, password, manager, vpn, you get the works.
A
Yeah, my mom loves this especially. And right now, Webroot's giving our listeners 60 off. That's right, 60 off. Just head to webroot.comarmstrong you get real time protection, lightning fast scans, no annoying pop ups, and US based support if you ever need help.
C
There's so much, we can't even squeeze it all into this ad. But it is sure worth checking out, especially with you getting 60 off. Just head to webroot.comarmstrong webroot.com Armstrong wanna buy your way?
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Of course you do. That's why CarMax offers an experience designed just for you. Wanna start online, then visit the lot, then go back online?
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Sure.
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Wanna talk to a real person or chat online? Either works. Wanna take your time and compare all the makes and models? No problem. Then make up some time by filling out the paperwork at home and schedule express pickup or home delivery. Done. When it comes to how you buy, CarMax puts you in the driver's seat. Wanna drive? CarMax delivery restrictions apply. See CarMax.com for details.
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Support for the show comes from public. The investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures Want to score? When your favorite player does well, you.
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Can'T unless you download Better Picks who's.
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Better back, steps up, delivers downfield and they're shot good. Jamari Shark makes the pick that will clinch Indiana's first national championship.
A
So that was from. That was from last night. And Indiana finishes off with a perfect season to win college football championship. But that reminded me that like, you know, practically Hail Mary at the end to try to win it by Miami. Did you see the end of the Chicago Bears game?
C
Yeah.
A
If they hadn't lost, that would be remembered as the greatest play in the history of the National Football League. I mean, there are a lot of great plays that happen all the time. Like Chris Collinsworth said, there's never been anything like that. That touchdown from the Bears was just ridiculous.
C
Yeah. Yeah, that was a great game. Super. Although I was rooting for the Bears, all my favorite teams have lost. So now I'm bitter.
A
How do I root for? I think I'm rooting for the Patriots. I like that Patriot quarterback dude.
C
Yeah, me too. And the new coach and all and how they took over. But gosh, the Patriots fans. I mean, how many super bowl wins. Do they deserve.
A
You're going to basically root on whether or not the fans are too happy or get their fair share somebody else. You're a socialist when it comes to happiness among fans.
C
That's right.
A
Spread around equally.
C
Give, give the, give the trophy to poor Houston.
A
How about Denver wins and their quarterback breaks his ankle on the last play of the game? Wow. Now they're going to have somebody play in the AFC Championship game who hasn't thrown a pass in three years. That's something We've talked about demographics a lot. A new report came out of China. I guess Katie mentioned this earlier in headlines. I just came across this. This is written by an AEI guy who's into demographics. That's his, that's his wheelhouse. This is what he tweeted out today. With China's new numbers having come out, I have been posting repeatedly on X about the extraordinarily fast collapse of births across the planet. This is the part I didn't know, he said. It's happening in rich and poor countries, in fast growing and slow growing economies, in religious and secular societies, under right wing and left wing governments. The high taxes, the low taxes. The pattern is universal around the world. Have we stopped having kids? That's the first time I've heard that. I've been based a lot on like first world comfort or whatever, but it doesn't matter. Everybody stop. I knew this trend would continue, he writes. Still, the figures released this morning from China left me genuinely speechless. China's government announced today that births in 2025 fell to under 8 million, a staggering 1.62 million fewer than the year before.
C
And the total decline.
A
Yeah, I'd say. And the total fertility rate has dropped to 0.93. To put this into perspective, if China. Well, I won't give you that because that's too complicated. He says best case scenario, in a generation they'll have 600 million people. That's like high estimate. If they can keep on keeping on the way they've been doing. But it's unlikely they will based on trends in how many generations? In one generation.
C
So what the what?
A
It goes really, really fast. They have an old population.
C
Yeah.
A
How about this? There were fewer birds in China last year than in 1776 in China.
C
You are, I gotta come up with a good Chinese cliche. You are sweet and sour in my.
A
Pork grease in my walk. You.
C
That's, that's a good one. That's a good one. I think we'll go with that. Are you greasing my walk. I don't know.
A
That's a little too right. The guy said, I'm still trying to process these numbers. This is the defining issue of our time.
C
Yeah. Craig, the healthcare guru, sent Jack and I a piece of naturalist journalism a number of years ago, but it stuck in my head. It was so amazing. It was about coyotes across the American west and how if you try to eradicate them, their reproductive numbers rise, like, in proportion to how many of them you kill.
A
Same with bees.
C
Is that right?
A
As I learned with wasps when I was trying to kill them. They go into. They're trying to get rid of us, and they. They have babies, like, they've, like, way faster than they were already having.
C
Yeah. Wow, that is amazing. And it's not like, hang with me now. It's not like coyotes get online and. And look at Twitter and like, hey, honey, did you say, you know what I saw today?
A
Then they have a. They form a committee and then have.
C
A meeting, and then they offer tax incentives to the other coyotes to have more children, blah, blah, blah. No, it is entirely instinctive. Yeah. And. And through a mechanism I can only guess at because I'm not a naturalist. Is it pheromones? Is it when they mark their territory, their. Their. Their very urine puts out the message that, hey, we gotta have more kids now? And everybody's like, oh, more kids. Okay, okay. It's entirely instinctive and natural. It's not much of a stretch at all. In fact, now it sounds kind of obvious to say, is it possible human beings have something similar, too? And it was right around where we hit 8 billion or so that we all got the unconscious natural pheromones or whatever message. Let's throttle her back a little bit.
A
Well, can we get away from the conversation then, given what that guy just said about doesn't matter. The religion, the economy, the climate. Nothing matters. People have stopped having kids. So can we get away from the whole it's porn or smartphones or whatever conversation? Or people are too selfish or microplastics or women are too liberal or whatever. Whatever.
C
Anyway.
A
Well, all those things are true, but that's not the reason.
C
There's.
A
It's what you said. There's something going on. We decided as a species, we had more than enough of us, and then we went into retracted gear.
C
There are some pretty serious scientists who still can't explain or can't adequately explain the drop in sperm production and testosterone among young men. I have my theories, but they're crackpot. Probably true, but crackpot Nonetheless, could it be the. The coyote factor. Oh, that's such a good title for a science fiction novel about this very time. Not.
A
Could it be 100%? It is. It clearly is. Now.
C
Why?
A
I mean, because there's all kinds of reasons a species would go into we need to have more babies mode under threat. Why a species decides there's too many of them and shrinks. I don't know that that's known.
C
Well, especially because there. If you've ever driven across Nevada, you know, there's plenty of room if we need more room. Yeah. In fact, hell drive from Kansas City to San Francisco sometime. It's actually beautiful and fascinating because you realize how big this country is, but you also realize, holy crap, we got nothing but room. So it's not that. It's not a lack of food resources. Look around, Everybody's fat. And even in the third world these days, what would it be if not geographic or food resources? Because if I'm picturing coyotes and deer and. I don't know. I don't. I don't know. I'm mystified by this.
A
Well, everyone's mystified by it. So, you know, if you figure it out, you'll win a Nobel Prize. I mean, it's.
C
I'd give it to Trump because he got screwed by those damn Norwegians.
A
Well, the Prime Minister of Norway didn't give it to him.
C
Oh, for the love of God.
A
Wow.
C
Okay. All right.
A
And, you know, we'll move on from.
C
This, but it feels funny to move on from the populations dying off worldwide.
A
I was about to say. I. We say this is the biggest story in the world about, you know, eight things a week. Eight different things a week. Because there are a lot of big things going on. AI. And what it's going to do to the world. Sure. You know, the smartphone age and nobody trusting any news source and all that sort of stuff. That's a big, big, big deal. And I don't know how we're ever going to recover beneath. But there is nothing bigger. You can't make an argument that there's anything bigger than human beings decided to stop having kids.
C
Here's your fascinating follow on question. How does that affect the utterly practical and brutal Xi Jinping's plans? We've peaked. We're declining fast. If we're going to do X, Y or Z, it's got to be now. And both X and Y and probably Z are taking over Taiwan. He can't afford to have a million soldiers die in a conflict. Well, he can, but but not for long because they're not having babies.
A
I don't know. It's stunning. And how long will this last? How low will it go? Are we just going to recede back to like 7 billion people and then for whatever reason we decided that's okay, or are we just going to keep shrinking and be, you know, 80 million people spread across the world here by the end of the century?
C
Yeah, well, if you accept my coyote theory, at some point. Yeah. As you. You're hinting at, we would say no, that's. That's a low enough population. Now let's start getting busy again. And then, you know, I'll be disappointed I'm as old as I am because I'd be more than happy to join in on that.
A
Well, you're not going to have any kids.
C
Well, I know. That's what I'm saying. It's too bad because I really enjoy the procreative act.
A
Yeah. I was too good at it. I was able to cause a pregnancy with one tribe both times.
C
Oh, boy. Wow.
A
I just got my semen are amazing.
C
Oh, my God. It. It just keeps getting worse. Michael. What? Oh, my God.
A
Yes, Katie. Wondering when Michael was. Just wondering when Michael was going to use his powers and cut you off. But I know I. I'm sitting here.
C
Sleep at the switch, Michael. No, I'm not asleep. I'm just stunned. Oh, we've all suffered for your froze. You said you.
A
You said you put out a picture of your baby bump over the weekend. Where'd you.
B
I did.
A
I put it on Twitter. Okay. And a lot of the feedback. Very sweet. Some of it. Yeah. Don't read the comments. It entertains me. Okay. If you're thick skinned enough for it. Oh, yeah. There are plenty of people in the world that can come up with something negative to say about someone happy about being pregnant.
C
Yeah. And I hate the Internet, partly because a lot of what shapes the Internet, virtually everything that shapes social media and the Internet is either A, people who are profiting from it and don't give a single crap about the cost to people's souls, or B, evil doers who profit by us being at each other's throats. Those two things together shape. I don't know, pick your number. 78% of online culture, those two malevolent forces. Yeah. So I'm checking out. Heading to the woods.
A
Well, all the people will be gone soon, so it won't make any difference.
C
It's a good point.
A
He got a theory why we all stopped having babies. I hadn't read that that it's poor countries, rich countries, doesn't matter, the climate.
C
I had assumed they were knocking out kids like crazy. And you know, that's what I thought.
B
Whatever.
A
That's what I thought too. Economy grown, economy slowing, war torn. Peaceful, doesn't make any difference. Everybody just decided kids are kind of a pain in the ass. I mean, I look at my brother in law, looks like a lot of work, think I won't do it. I guess that's what people have decided. Yes. Katie, I went into a baby store over the weekend and this sweet.
C
Oh my God, they're selling babies in stores now. They are. They were in little cushiony cages.
A
It was pretty cute, no?
C
Wow. But well played.
A
The woman who was working there was.
C
Darling and she asked, you know, oh, what is it, a boy or a girl?
A
And I was talking to her and.
C
She goes, oh, you did ivf?
B
She's like, I've been thinking about doing.
A
That because I just can't find a.
B
Real man anywhere again.
C
I wish I was younger. Sorry, honey. Let me freelance a little bit. That's all I'm asking.
A
But yeah, we got onto the topic of like she's like, they're all the men now just are weak and I don't want anything to do with them. So she's considering doing IVF to just have a kid on her own. I've heard that from people. People.
C
Yeah.
A
Interesting. And then final note on this. We'll get a chance to talk about this a lot in the coming years. Probably is how do the politics change as childlessness becomes the norm? Oh, it could really, really change the politics of things.
C
We will have a very even more live for today style of politics as opposed to look, we've got to invest in the future. We got to be responsible and then it won't be good.
A
How do people look at schools and all kinds things of, of different things. Anyway, we'll finish strong. Back the relax okay and have a child. All right.
C
Get, get pregnant.
A
We'll finish strong.
C
Next Armstrong and Getty. It is amazing how much you get from webroot. Total protection. New year, new devices, new you, new smarts. On the Internet you can protect your device's identity and privacy this year with 60% off Webroot.
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A
We probably didn't spend enough time today on how the anti ice nut jobs went into that church in Minneapolis and disrupted a absolutely unbelievable and clearly a violation of the first amendment rights to peacefully worship well and of every measure.
C
Of decency and good manners and political discourse. It was just utterly aberrant. They should get their asses beat. And I don't care whether their cause is anti ice or up with socialism or the designated hitter rule. That is just horrific. And disease. Don Lemon, he doesn't have a disease. He is a disease. He is an infected sore on the height of mankind, in my opinion. He was leading, encouraging. Happened to be there. Embedded him embedded with them. Ah, I see. Here's what it sounded like.34, where Don is attempting to talk to the poor pastor of the church. What do you think of this?
A
I mean, this is unacceptable. It's shameful. It's shameful to. To interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.
C
But there were folks. I have to take care of my block. Listen, we live in a. There's a constitution in the First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest. We're here to worship. We're here to worship Jesus because that's.
A
The hope of these cities.
C
That's the hope of the world.
A
World is Jesus Christ.
C
I'm gonna be very respectful. Please don't push me, though. We're here. We're here to worship Jesus.
A
Yes.
C
That's why we're here.
A
Okay? That's why we're here.
C
That's what we're about. Don't you think Jesus would be understanding? And we're about love, these folks.
A
We're about spreading the love of Jesus.
C
But did you try to talk to them as a.
A
No one is willing to talk, okay? I have to take care of my church and my family.
C
So I asked this.
A
You actually would also leave this building.
C
You don't want us to worship unless you're here to worship. I'm always worship. I'm a Christian. We're here. Well, we're here to worship. We're here to worship. Okay, thank you. Here's some hate speech for you. I hate Don Lemon, you dick. He's evil. What a dick is right. First of all, he goes with a horrifically Stupid first Amendment take. Then wouldn't Jesus look at. Listen to these people. And I'm just here chronicling it. You're just here trying to create jazzy content. See your sh. Crappy podcast, get some hits. You are a piece of garbage. Don Lemon.
A
Almost had a January S bomb. Here's your host for final thoughts, Joe Getty.
C
Let's get a final thought from everybody on the crew. Wrap up the day. There he is, Michelangelo, pressing the buttons. Our technical director, Michael.
A
What's your final thought? Yeah, we still need more final thoughts. New submissions, new intros.
B
So.
C
Mailbagarmstronggetty.com oh yeah, let me search if we've gotten any. Thanks for the reminder, Michael. Katie Greener, esteemed newswoman, has a final thought.
A
Katie, I'm completely with you on everything you said about Don Lemon. His ego is so big that he's grasping at anything he can to still be relevant.
B
Relevant.
A
I think. Yeah.
C
Here. Well, he's pathetic. Pathetic. Jack, a final thought for us.
A
My entire upstairs smells like teenage cologne. Teenage boy cologne. I need to do something about this. They discovered cologne and they're going with the theory that more more is better.
C
Ask a girl. Ask any girl. Any woman from 8 to 80. Yes, my final thought is if I could be assured that the only ass beatens were righteous ass beatons, I'd call for more ass beatons.
A
No kidding.
C
But you can't assure that. Wow. That is why you gotta find a different way than violence.
A
That was so incredibly out of line.
C
Oh, I haven't wanted to whoop up on somebody like I do right now for a long time.
A
Armstrong and Getty wrapping up on of the grueling four hour workday feels kind of good.
C
Hey, so many people, thanks. A little time. Go to armstrong yeti.com drop us a note mailbag@armstrong getty.com check out the hot links.
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Original Air Date: January 20, 2026
This episode of Armstrong & Getty features Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty in their usual irreverent style, discussing the political chaos surrounding Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland, the state of global leadership at Davos, and the mysterious global decline in birth rates. They also touch on the controversy around LeBron James’ new sneakers commemorating the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, and end with lighter banter on sports, masculinity, and the Internet. Listeners are treated to both biting satire and thoughtful, if somewhat off-the-cuff, cultural analysis.
Timestamps: 02:52–16:18
Timestamps: 09:33–12:57
Timestamps: 11:39–12:16
Timestamps: 12:57–14:47
Timestamps: 14:47–16:18
Timestamps: 20:13–23:24
Timestamps: 27:55–36:47
Timestamps: 36:47–40:27
Timestamps: 43:41–46:23
Timestamps: 46:23–end
Armstrong & Getty tackle world politics and culture with sharp parody and skepticism, focusing on the absurdities of international crises—particularly Trump, Greenland, and Davos. They raise genuinely thought-provoking questions about why global birthrates are collapsing, speculate (half-seriously, half-comically) about instinctual species responses, and highlight the societal impact of mass childlessness. Interwoven with humor, irreverence, and mock outrage, the episode delivers insight into both the gravity and comic relief of current events.