Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "The Unifying Message. Gary Dietrich Talks To A&G"

Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong
Guest: Gary Dietrich, CBS News Political Analyst

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the critical state of American political discourse, youth engagement in politics, and the dangers of rising political violence. Jack Armstrong welcomes long-time friend and CBS News political analyst Gary Dietrich to discuss youth voter turnout (notably influenced by figures like Charlie Kirk), California politics and Prop 50, and strategies for national unity in the face of divisive rhetoric and incidents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gary Dietrich's Background and Scouting

• [03:19] Gary reveals he's an Eagle Scout, tying it into Jack's own family and wilderness plans.

  • Quote: “I am an Eagle Scout… My scouting experience was absolutely awesome. I highly recommend it to everybody.” (Gary Dietrich, 03:19)

• Offers tongue-in-cheek survival advice if Jack gets into trouble in the wild, but jokes he doesn’t do bear removal.

  • Quote: “I won’t be available for bear removal, so that’s that.” (Gary Dietrich, 04:04)

2. The Impact of Charlie Kirk and Turning Point on Youth Voting

• [04:09–05:33]

  • Gary discusses Charlie Kirk’s influence on increasing youth and specifically young male voter turnout through the MAGA movement and organizations like Turning Point.

  • Explains that previously, youth engagement was in significant decline, but Turning Point helped reverse the trend.

  • Young male vote is now recognized as a key demographic in recent election outcomes.

  • Quote:
    "Charlie Kirk…I won't say single handedly, but certainly as part of the MAGA movement, really turned this around…Now if you look at the major demographic groups that many people attribute to Trump’s win…one of them was the youth vote, more specifically young males.” (Gary Dietrich, 04:33)

• Discusses challenges for Turning Point after the loss of such a charismatic founder.

  • Quote:
    “Whenever you lose a founder…not just a major spokesperson, it’s tough…especially tough in politics because so much…is personality and capability driven.” (Gary Dietrich, 05:41)

3. California Prop 50, Redistricting, and Gavin Newsom

• [06:37–09:26]

  • Jack introduces Prop 50 debates: whether its potential failure dooms Governor Gavin Newsom’s national prospects.

  • Discussion of tactics being used, especially by Newsom, to equate the proposition with supporting or opposing Donald Trump, regardless of the issue's core nature (redistricting).

  • The importance of messaging: attempts to tap into Trump’s unpopularity in California; opposition using defense of independent redistricting.

  • Caution around relying on internal polling; public support for independent commission is strong, but it’s unclear how that transfers to the specific proposition.

  • Quote:
    “If we start acting like Trump, we’re going to become Trump. So let’s see who wins the day on that messaging.” (Gary Dietrich, paraphrasing Schwarzenegger, 07:34)
    “I never take internal polls seriously because when have you ever heard an internal poll that was bad for their side released?” (Gary Dietrich, 09:11)

4. National and Political Implications if Prop 50 Fails

• [09:26–10:16]

  • Failure would “damage Gavin’s brand,” affecting fundraising, staff, and early donor support. Dietrich notes Newsom has time to recover before 2028, but this would be a significant narrative.

  • Quote:
    “There’s no question that it would damage Gavin’s brand. And certainly, you know, that affects things like early donors, fundraising, people jumping on board, staff wise, et cetera.” (Gary Dietrich, 09:33)

5. The Threat of Political Violence and National Disunity

• [10:16–11:29]

  • Jack asks if America is becoming numb to escalating political violence, or if there will be a reckoning and move back towards unity.

  • Gary passionately calls for a unified disavowal of violence from all credible voices, regardless of ideology.

  • Expresses hope for a “day of reckoning”—but acknowledges uncertainty.

  • Quote:
    “Nobody should be killed over their politics…that needs to be the unified message.” (Gary Dietrich, 10:41)
    “I would hope there is a day of reckoning that’s coming. Is that the case? There’s a lot of people that have questions about whether that’s actually where we’re headed.” (Gary Dietrich, 11:06)

6. Social Media, Extremes, and the "Silent Majority"

• [11:29–12:42]

  • Armstrong notes the overwhelming noise from extreme voices on social media versus real public consensus.

  • Dietrich compares this dynamic to the “silent majority” phrasing used by Nixon about the Vietnam era, stressing most Americans don’t participate in social media or talk radio but are presumed by their loudest elements.

  • Quote:
    “There’s a lot of people who never ever…go on social media. They don’t even have social media accounts. And yet what gets reported is so many people on social media are saying…” (Gary Dietrich, 11:48)

7. Lighter Closing Moments – Disneyland & Personality Quirks

• [12:42–14:25]

  • Armstrong jokes about Gary being an overachiever (Eagle Scout, Harvard, “TV handsomeness”).

  • Gary lightheartedly admits to being a Disneyland fan (due to a tradition with his kids) but only goes with his children—defusing the adult Disneyland-goer stigma.

  • Quote:
    “You’re an Eagle Scout, you went to Harvard, and you’re handsome. It’s really easy to not like a person like that.” (Jack Armstrong, 12:42)
    “After every election cycle…just hang in there, because after November…we’re going to Disneyland. And we did that, like, about every other year when they were growing up.” (Gary Dietrich, 13:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I am an Eagle Scout…My scouting experience was absolutely awesome. I highly recommend it to everybody.” (Gary Dietrich, 03:19)
• “Charlie Kirk…really turned this around…one of them was the youth vote, more specifically young males.” (Gary Dietrich, 04:33)
• “If we start acting like Trump, we’re going to become Trump.” (Gary Dietrich, paraphrasing Schwarzenegger, 07:34)
• “Nobody should be killed over their politics…that needs to be the unified message.” (Gary Dietrich, 10:41)
• “There’s a lot of people who never ever…go on social media. They don’t even have social media accounts…” (Gary Dietrich, 11:48)
• Armstrong’s friendly ribbing: “You’re an Eagle Scout, you went to Harvard, and you’re handsome. It’s really easy to not like a person like that.” (Jack Armstrong, 12:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:19: Gary reveals his Eagle Scout background and connects over scouting
• 04:33: Charlie Kirk’s role in ramping youth political engagement
• 05:41: The challenge for Turning Point post-Kirk
• 06:37: California Prop 50, Newsom’s strategy, and media messaging
• 09:33: National implications for Newsom if Prop 50 fails
• 10:41: The imperative for a unified stand against political violence
• 11:48: “Silent majority” versus social media amplification
• 13:37: Personal stories – Disneyland post-election tradition

Tone and Takeaway

The episode combines pressing political analysis with moments of banter and levity characteristic of Armstrong & Getty. Dietrich’s measured optimism and emphasis on unity theme the discussion, even as he details the challenges of polarization, media distortion, and leadership transitions in American politics. The closing notes of personal storytelling humanize the conversation, making the episode both informative and engaging for listeners seeking clarity amid political noise.