Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: The Dead Eyes
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of Armstrong & Getty centers on their fundraising campaign for scouting, exploring the importance of youth leadership, resilience, and patriotism fostered by the program. The hosts also delve into significant current events, including a major Justice Department ruling on "disparate impact," the psychology of online "rage bait" culture, and a viral NFL comeback story. The conversation balances earnest advocacy and tongue-in-cheek banter, maintaining the show’s trademark candid, conversational tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scouting Fundraiser & The Value of Scouting

(03:02–11:39, 14:15–15:05, 37:49–40:00)

• Personal Impact of Scouting

  • Jack shares his amazement at the maturity and responsibility cultivated in scouts, especially compared to today's youth:
    • “I saw 15-year-olds who seemed like they were 25 year-olds... And it's because they've been in this Scouting program.” ([04:15], Jack)
  • Focus on leadership: “Camping’s a great activity to do, to learn leadership… and kids, when you give them responsibility, they tend to rise to the occasion.” ([04:10–05:01], Jack)

• Scouting as a Counterbalance to Modern Trends

  • Hosts discuss the contrast to “helicopter parenting” and “modern era woke crap,” emphasizing personal accountability:
    • “It's 180 degrees from the helicopter parenting… The adults stand back and watch – sometimes the tent falls down or somebody forgot to bring something. Now what are they gonna do?” ([06:11], Jack)

• Inclusivity and Patriotism

  • Noted that girls are now included, and both boys and girls benefit from challenging, responsibility-driven experiences:
    • “They're not treated like lap dogs. They're treated like capable human beings.” ([05:41], Joe)
  • Unapologetic patriotism taught in scouting highlighted as an antidote to cynicism in schools.

• Fundraising Progress & Community Engagement

  • Several donation shout-outs, some humorous:
    • “Already we've had $100 from Tenderfoot Dan... $25 from the ghost of Dominic... 50 bucks from an E Way 02.” ([06:33–07:18], Jack & Joe)
  • Current total: $17,414 as of mid-episode ([39:19], Jack)
  • Flexible, anonymous, or creative donations encouraged: “You can give with your name... be anonymous or come up with a funny name.” ([06:33], Jack)

2. Justice Department & Disparate Impact Doctrine

(15:05–18:56)

• Explaining Disparate Impact

  • Joe summarizes: “If there's a differing result among different racial groups... that's enough proof that there was discrimination.” ([15:20], Joe)
  • Critique of the doctrine leading to reverse discrimination and quotas.

• Recent DOJ Ruling

  • DOJ, led by Harmeet Dhillon, rejects disparate impact theory:
    • “Our rejection of this theory will restore true equality under the law by requiring proof of actual discrimination rather than enforcing race and sex based quotas or assumptions.” ([15:54], Joe, quoting Dhillon)
  • Reflection on Supreme Court history, Griggs v. Duke Power, and impact on employers.
  • Emphasis that change means less incentive for “racial balancing.”

3. Political Violence, Social Media, and Public Discourse

(10:43–11:46, 19:02–23:36)

• Condemnation of Celebrating Deaths Over Politics

  • Jack challenges listeners:
    • “What is wrong with you... if you in any way are happy to see some husband and wife stabbed to death by their kid because of their politics, you've broken. There's something broken with you.” ([10:43], Jack)
  • Referencing both left and right examples of “taking glee” in political opponents’ suffering ([11:25], Joe).

• Response to Rob Reiner/Charlie Kirk Events

  • Concern over tribalistic cruelty and Trump's inflammatory posts:
    • “It’s just where we are. I don’t know what to do about it. Let the pendulum swing back. Or maybe it won’t. Ever.” ([23:23], Jack)

4. The Psychology and Economics of ‘Rage Bait' Online

(29:05–36:41)

• What is Rage Bait?

  • Defined as “intentionally posting something... that will anger people.” ([29:23], Joe)
  • Oxford’s ‘Word of the Year’ is ‘rage bait.’ ([29:46], Joe)
  • Negative content gains more engagement due to human “negativity bias.”
    • “Anger suggests that action needs to be taken... happiness suggests everything is okay.” ([31:54], Joe)

• How Algorithms Amplify Outrage

  • Social media rewards engagement, not positivity.
  • Jack: “We gotta fix this. We cannot survive this if we don’t fix it.” ([30:57])

• Psychological Insights

  • “People bond more quickly over what they don’t like… they bond over what they hate.” ([33:16], Joe)
  • Jack describes learning to recognize and disengage from online trolls:
    • “I am better than I was even a couple of months ago at recognizing... you're just trying to... I see what you're trying to do.” ([32:23], Jack)

• ‘Dead Eyes’ Technique

  • Joe’s “superpower” for dealing with provocateurs:
    • “If you can just fix them with the dead eyes and show a complete lack of reaction... it's like a superpower.” ([35:40–36:05], Joe)
    • “I'm not angered by you... I'm bored by you. That's what the dead eyes say.” ([36:39], Joe & Jack)

5. NFL Comeback—Philip Rivers Returns

(43:36–49:54)

• The Remarkable Story

  • 44-year-old retired quarterback Philip Rivers returns to play after 5 years away, captures widespread attention ([43:55–45:19]).
  • Jason Gay: “He moved like a man trying to make a sandwich in the dark... at one point... he fell over without anyone touching him, like your uncle does every Fourth of July party...” ([44:16–45:27], Joe, quoting Jason Gay)

• Rivers’ Reflection

  • “You can... The guaranteed safe bet is to... not go for it. And the other one is, shoot, let's see what happens, you know?” ([46:08], Rivers)

• Connection to Episode Theme

  • Pushed as an example to “go out and try something,” resonating with the scouting fundraiser's empowerment message.

• On Playing Quarterback

  • Jack: “There’s really only like eight to ten guys that are really capable of being an NFL quarterback at any given time... That’s why the really good ones get to play so long.” ([46:52], Jack)
  • Discussion of how greater skill and experience in high-pressure situations causes “the game to slow down”—also connected to learning and leadership.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Scouting’s Purpose
  • “Camping is a great activity... kids, when you give them responsibility, they tend to rise to the occasion. It just changes them. It's amazing.” ([04:10–05:01], Jack)
• On Social Media Negativity
  • “We gotta fix this. We cannot survive this if we don't fix it.” ([30:57], Jack)
• On Rage Bait
  • “In evolutionary terms, it's more important for us to pay attention to a situation that has caused anger... than to a situation that has created happiness.” ([31:54], Joe)
• On the ‘Dead Eyes’ Response
  • “If you can give them the... I heard everything you said and you're getting nothing out of me. Oh, please. They wither like a violent [flower] in winter...” ([36:01–36:27], Joe)
• Philip Rivers Inspiring Young People
  • “The guaranteed safe bet is... not go for it. And the other one is, shoot, let's see what happens.” ([46:08], Philip Rivers audio)

Important Timestamps

• Kickoff of scouting fundraiser: 03:02–06:33
• Discussion of scouting's impact and philosophy: 04:10–07:39, 37:49–40:00
• Major DOJ ruling on disparate impact: 15:05–18:56
• Condemnation of political extremism/violence: 10:43–11:46, 19:02–23:36
• Full rage bait/online engagement discussion: 29:05–36:41
• NFL comeback story (Philip Rivers): 43:36–49:54

Additional Notes

• Fundraiser Progress & Fun: The segment features ongoing updates on funds raised, with humorous donor pseudonyms and anecdotes about past show members for levity.
• Inclusion & Maturity: The hosts strongly argue that hands-off, responsibility-based programs create mature, capable, patriotic young adults, in sharp contrast to “woke” and overprotective trends.
• Rage Bait Solutions: Psychology-backed advice is given—recognition, emotional distance (“dead eyes”), and educating oneself about manipulation can help break the cycle.
• Positive Risk-taking: The story of Rivers is used as a teaching moment, tying back to the theme of embracing challenging, growth-oriented experiences for youth and adults alike.

For full details, personal anecdotes, and the hosts’ signature banter, listen to the episode or catch up on Armstrong & Getty On Demand.