"Underpants" Seems So Old Timey

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand Episode: "Underpants" Seems So Old Timey Release Date: April 10, 2025

Summary

In the April 10, 2025 episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a range of pressing issues, blending political analysis with social commentary and light-hearted banter. The episode primarily focuses on the escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, the ramifications for the American economy and consumers, educational challenges within the U.S., and touches upon intriguing societal observations and sports anecdotes. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key discussions, insights, and notable moments from the episode.

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1. US-China Trade War Escalates

Discussion Points: Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty kick off the episode by analyzing the intensifying trade war between the United States and China. They examine the recent implementation of significant tariffs—125% by the U.S. and 84% by China—highlighting how both nations are entrenched in a standoff with little room for compromise.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [03:04]:
  "No other president would have done what I did. No other president. I know the presidents, they wouldn't have done it. And it had to be done."

• Ryan Seacrest [03:40]:
  "We have two strong guys, neither of which wants to back down... It is very, very difficult for Xi Jinping to lose face."

Insights: The hosts emphasize that China was anticipating such a move, suggesting that the tariffs are not a surprise but rather a strategic maneuver within a broader plan for economic decoupling. They discuss the potential long-term implications, including the diversion of Chinese goods to other global markets and the strain this puts on international trade relationships.

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2. Economic and Consumer Impacts

Discussion Points: The conversation shifts to the direct effects of these tariffs on American consumers and the broader economy. Armstrong and Getty predict immediate price hikes on everyday items, using "underpants" as a metaphor for the widespread cost increases consumers can expect.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Seacrest [08:28]:
  "That's part of my charm. Anyway, so the prices on a lot of things that people do tend to buy fairly frequently are going to grow, go up, at least in the short term."

• Jack Armstrong [09:10]:
  "Which is what drives inflation, is the fear of inflation... It helps drive it. So everybody's going out buying it and then it just keeps going and going."

Insights: The hosts discuss how the higher tariffs will lead to increased costs for goods manufactured in China, potentially pushing consumers towards more expensive American-made products. This shift could strain household budgets, especially for already financially stressed individuals. They also explore the possibility of a black market emerging for Chinese goods and the broader geopolitical ramifications if more countries re-evaluate their trade relationships with China.

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3. Challenges in the American Education System

Discussion Points: Armstrong and Getty address alarming trends in U.S. education, citing a New York Times article that reveals declining performance among the lowest-performing students since 2013. They attribute these changes to factors like increased immigration, a rise in non-English-speaking students, socioeconomic challenges, and the pervasive influence of technology on cognitive abilities.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [28:24]:
  "What are you supposed to do right there in that situation that they're so blanking dishonest."

• Ryan Seacrest [35:07]:
  "I appreciate the poets and songwriters and soft-hearted people of the world. I really do. They help make the world go around, but I don't want them in charge."

Insights: The hosts critique the lack of accountability in schools and the overwhelming challenges teachers face in addressing the needs of a diverse student body. They discuss potential solutions, such as segregating classrooms by language or increasing funding for specialized educators, but lament that these issues are often overlooked in public discourse. Additionally, they touch upon the detrimental effects of excessive screen time on students' cognitive development.

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4. Identity Theft and Privacy Concerns

Discussion Points: Midway through the episode, Armstrong and Getty briefly discuss a high-profile identity theft case involving Matt Weiss, a former University of Michigan coach. They highlight the ease with which Weiss accessed sensitive information, raising concerns about digital security and privacy.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Seacrest [17:29]:
  "The indictment says Weiss hacked into a third-party vendor that maintains student databases for more than 100 colleges and universities across the country."

• Jack Armstrong [18:00]:
  "How dedicated you are to the kink of being able to see, like really not that sexy pictures of people..."

Insights: The conversation underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in digital systems and the potential for misuse by individuals with malicious intent. While brief, this segment serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting personal and institutional data.

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5. Social Commentary: The DMV Experience

Discussion Points: Armstrong and Getty share their contrasting experiences at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), using it as a metaphor for societal inefficiencies and human behavior under stress. They compare their encounters in different regions, highlighting how population density and local culture influence the quality of service and interactions.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [20:21]:
  "The DMV is like a real-life filter that squeezes out every ounce of human dignity."

• Ryan Seacrest [21:41]:
  "Population density changes human beings. It changes how many rules and regulations and laws they want."

Insights: Through humorous anecdotes, the hosts illustrate broader themes of bureaucracy, social frustration, and the varying standards of public service across different areas. This segment adds a relatable and lighter touch to the episode, balancing the more serious discussions.

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6. Sports and Politics Highlights

Discussion Points: Towards the end of the episode, Armstrong and Getty transition to sports topics, discussing the unexpected trade of Luka Doncic from Dallas to the Lakers. They express surprise and analyze the potential impact on both the player and the teams involved.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [41:12]:
  "Well, Luka Doncic... was traded out of nowhere from Dallas where he had made his home and become a giant part of the community."

• Ryan Seacrest [43:38]:
  "The Democratic field looks pretty clear to me."

Insights: The hosts lament the unpredictable nature of professional sports trades and their effects on communities and team dynamics. Additionally, they briefly touch upon political aspirations within the sports community, highlighting figures like Stephen A. Smith considering presidential runs, which underscores the intersection of sports celebrity and political influence.

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7. Listener Engagement and Social Media

Discussion Points: Throughout the episode, Armstrong and Getty interact with listener emails and social media comments. They address criticisms, such as accusations of bias or affiliations with controversial figures, fostering a sense of community and direct engagement with their audience.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [31:55]:
  "Nobody can. That's the point of a free market. It does itself. You don't need to guide it."

• Ryan Seacrest [32:24]:
  "It's an odd email to send."

Insights: By engaging with listener feedback, the hosts demonstrate transparency and willingness to address differing viewpoints. This interaction enhances the show's relatability and encourages ongoing audience participation.

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Conclusion

The "Underpants Seems So Old Timey" episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand offers a comprehensive exploration of significant economic and educational issues facing the United States, framed within the dynamic between Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Their analysis of the U.S.-China trade war provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of global economic tensions, while their critique of the education system sheds light on internal challenges that require urgent attention. Interspersed with personal anecdotes and lighter segments, the episode maintains an engaging and informative tone, making complex topics accessible to a broad audience.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

1. Jack Armstrong [03:04]:
   "No other president would have done what I did. No other president. I know the presidents, they wouldn't have done it. And it had to be done."

2. Ryan Seacrest [08:28]:
   "That's part of my charm. Anyway, so the prices on a lot of things that people do tend to buy fairly frequently are going to grow, go up, at least in the short term."

3. Jack Armstrong [20:21]:
   "The DMV is like a real-life filter that squeezes out every ounce of human dignity."

4. Ryan Seacrest [35:07]:
   "I appreciate the poets and songwriters and soft-hearted people of the world. I really do. They help make the world go around, but I don't want them in charge."

5. Jack Armstrong [33:55]:
   "For the at least the last decade, starting around 2013, students in the bottom quartile have been losing ground on the national assessment tests."

These quotes encapsulate the show's critical and often provocative stance on current events, highlighting the hosts' perspectives and the depth of their discussions.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Cindy]

Asking the right questions can greatly impact your future, especially when it comes to your finances. So if you're looking for a financial advisor you can trust, certified financial planner professionals are committed to acting in your best interest. That's why it's gotta be a CFP. Find your CFP [e-mail] you know, some.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Joe Getty]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Crawford]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippee. You know, they were getting a little bit, yippee. A little bit afraid, unlike these champions because we have a big job to do. No other president would have done what I did. No other president. I know the presidents, they wouldn't have done it. And it had to be done.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I think we have a really big problem which is we have two strong guys, neither of which wants to back down. And I was in China a couple of weeks ago and the Chinese have been preparing for this for years. They may not have expected quite the scale and speed with which this has become a full on trade war with 125% tariffs, but they are ready for this and they are in no mood right now to back down. And both so practically it's very, very difficult for Xi Jinping to lose face. You know, that's, it's, he cannot lose face. So for the moment, I think quite how they unwind, this becomes hard.

[Jack Armstrong]

That is really interesting. I, you know, I hadn't even thought of the, the Chinese perspective. So they knew at some point America was going to have to do this.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, of course, saying it over and over again.

[Jack Armstrong]

Of course they do. It's so common to, you know, only think about your side of the equation and not the fact that China knows, of course we're going to decouple from the United States. We have, they're gonna have to decouple from us. It's part of our whole taking over the world. And you know, we have a plan for that. Of course they do. It's not like a surprise to them.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So the whole, the US is fat and lazy, but we're not stupid. And just, just very quickly, the reason I paired those two pieces of audio together was to point out that you have the rest of the world. We got our 90 day pause. They're gonna be negotiations. Everybody breathes a sigh of relief. The markets skyrocket temporarily and then you've got China and we're going to talk about China this segment.

[Jack Armstrong]

So China's 84% tariff on US goes into effect today as Trump's 125% tariff goes on effect, in effect on them. But as that person just said, they knew this was coming someday. It's not a shock to them. It's interesting.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So you have multiple layers of gristle in this one as we try to chew it. Unnecessary really.

[Jack Armstrong]

I would rather be the United States than China ultimately in a whole bunch of different ways. But you know, just on the face of a lot of this, China's gotta be thinking, yeah, I'm sure glad we don't make all, all of our drugs in the United States or all of our electronics or all of our, a whole bunch of different things in the country we're about to be at war with.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Right, right. So like I was saying, you have multiple layers going on here. First of all, the ridiculous and idiotic trade imbalance between the countries based on protectionism and flooding the market with cheap Chinese goods and that sort of thing. The whole misguided relationship with China. If we let them liberalize economically, they'll become our buddies. Yeah, no, they never intended to. We all know that stuff. Then you got two really tough guys. Xi Jinping who rules with an iron fist. And if you're an iron fisted ruler, rule number one is don't back down ever, unless you can claim it was your idea and it was a victory. And Trump is making it very difficult for Xi Jinping to back down. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it just, it is. And, and, and Trump, on the other hand, having frankly backed down on the rest of the world tariff stuff or at least changed his sales, I think it ends up in a pretty good place. But he definitely had to change because everybody was getting. Yippee. We talked in hour two, was it, or hour one about the bond market. I guess it was hour one how everybody who buys US Bonds and invests in the US Started to send signals via the bond market that maybe the US Isn't such a great place anymore. And it got everybody's attention in a way that's a little difficult to explain. Maybe we'll, we'll reset it later in the show. But anyway, so Trump absolutely adjusted his sales and so he really needs to look tough against China. I mean, there are great underlying reasons to look tough on China anyway and be tough on China. But for his own self image and his image politically, he doesn't want to back down to Winnie the Pooh. So this one will not unravel quickly or easily, I don't think.

[Jack Armstrong]

No. So all of this stuff that we're talking about yesterday, still a fact. The shelves in Walmart full of Chinese products, Amazon just full of Chinese products. And how long does this last and how, how soon do we notice it? Remember what inflation was like and you go to the grocery store, whatever you do, and you'd be shocked every time you got the bill. How soon do we notice that sort of thing, I wonder, in, in weeks. And then how does, how does working class America, which is the base of the MAGA movement, react to that? Is the reaction, I knew it was going to cost more, but it's, it's good for the long term. Or does Trump's poll numbers go in the toilet immediately?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, well, anybody who's gotten a little older in life understands that sometimes the things you have to do are painful and uncomfortable. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Most of the things you have to do are painful.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. Yeah. And here's the reality, because the long term prospect of like going back to manufacturing our own underpants and T shirts in this country, it's conceivable, but it would make them much more expensive and it would take a while to gear up and do that.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think it's funny to use the term underpants.

[Ryan Seacrest]

As opposed to what? Underwear.

[Jack Armstrong]

Underwear, yeah. Just underpants seems so old timey.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's part of my charm. Anyway, so the prices on a lot of things that people do tend, tend to buy fairly frequently are going to grow, go up, at least in the short term. And one of the reasons that's going to be painful is a. According to every economic survey I've seen, people are already kind of at the end of their rope financially because of the past inflation.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's interesting.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So borrowing credit card balances, the rest of it.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was about to say, as soon as people catch wind of this, and some people already have, you're going to buy your underpants or your cheap electronics or whatever. Now, which is what bloomers.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Your brassieres. Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Which. Your corsets. Which is what drives inflation, is the fear of inflation. I mean, it helps drive it. So everybody's going out buying it and then it just keeps going and going. But maybe that won't happen if everybody's maxed out their credit cards. You'll just think, you know what I'm going to have to wear. Holy underpants.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Exactly. Yeah. I don't know. And the other aspect of it that's interesting, and again, this is absolutely not an argument against doing it or an argument about the way Trump's doing it, because we all knew something like this had to come, as Jack was just describing, China knew, is that there are so many Americans who are employed in retail, in trucking, in, you know, the various handling of the goods that come from China or build stuff with parts that come from China. It's going to hurt sectors of the American economy where the working people work. So that's going to be kind of difficult to work through. Not kind of. It's going to be difficult to work through, depending on how this goes, of course. But man, it is so layered and One sector and one aspect of this is interwoven with the other ones in a way that, I mean, it would take forever to describe it even if I had the knowledge to. Nobody can. That's the point of a free market. It does itself. You don't need to guide it. But, well, so what were ripped off for a long time.

[Jack Armstrong]

What were the tariffs on China a week ago? Below 50. So it's like, yeah, it's going to be about two and a half times the tariff on all Chinese goods coming into this country. I think we're going to notice that hard and fast, for better or worse.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So with the new US Tariffs making the American market all but close to Chinese products even this is from the Wall Street Journal. Even more Chinese goods will be rerouted to countries in Europe and Asia where leaders are already concerned about a flood of Chinese products have jeopardized jobs. Which leads me to clicking over to this piece also in the Journal. The rest of the world is bracing for a flood of cheap Chinese goods.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So China sold a hell of a lot of stuff to us.

[Jack Armstrong]

Sure.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And it's funny, this was written a couple of days ago when it was tariffs for around 70%.

[Jack Armstrong]

A lot of it crappy. But a lot of it not Nikes aren't crappy.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No. And a lot of it was good enough. We've talked for years about this experiment going on. If we gave you something that was a third less good but costs 40% less, would you buy it knowing you have to replace it sooner? And Americans have answered yes, absolutely, over and over again on cheap Chinese junk.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was watching a guy at a shoe store sells gymnasium shoes and brassieres and he said this pair of and I don't remember what he was holding up. It wasn't Nike's. It was one of the other brands. And I don't, I don't know which ones are made where but Asics or Adidas or whatever they were. And he said these are I'm already have already marked them up from 180 to 200 and might have to go up higher already and prepare for now. You know, the media is going out of their way to find people that are doing that to present this as scary and as bad for Trump as you can. But I wonder what that will be. What will a pair of Nike shoes cost next week or next month and when people still want to buy them? Of course, the idea is that you don't. Right. Isn't that the whole point of what Trump wants to do is you won't buy the Nike shoes at that price. You'll buy some shoes that were made in somewhere else or in the United States and Nike will be forced to move their factor.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, ultimately the United States, if you believe the first argument that this is permanent or you know, somebody other than China, if you believe what I believe, this is all mostly posturing to get better trade deals. But so the rest of the world is not going to love this either. Now, I don't particularly give a crap how shoe stores in London are doing, but the towering tariff wall also risks diverting some US Bound Chinese exports into a global market already swimming in China made goods worsening. What is a China shock that was already facing pushback from countries around the world according to other. According to economists. Other major exporters like Vietnam, South Korea and Japan could also see barriers grow as US Spending on import falls in general. But so China's got to sell their cheap crap somewhere and so they're going to cause just enormous economic shocks wherever they find they can dump their goods.

[Jack Armstrong]

Is there going to be a black market? Are people going to be driving into Canada to buy Nikes?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I have no idea. That's an interesting question, but I'm thinking more geopolitically, Jack. And I wonder whether more and more countries and more and more peoples wake up to the fact that if you're in bed with China, it's for China's benefit. Don't believe. Don't trust China. Right, Michael?

[Jack Armstrong]

Don't trust China.

[Ryan Seacrest]

What, do we have to tip you to play these sounds now or what? Why am I yelling at Michael?

[Michael]

I don't know.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's just the stress, Jack, from the tariffs. But anyway, will this alert more and more countries around the world? Okay, Trump's a little mercurial, but China's just predatory. I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you're smart, know where this is going or have an idea. Text us 415295 KFTC ARMSTRONG and GETTY.

[Michael]

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[Cindy]

Asking the right questions can greatly impact your future, especially when it comes to your finances. So if you're looking for a financial advisor you can trust, certified financial planner professionals are committed to acting in your best interest. That's why it's gotta be a CFP. Find your CFP [e-mail] hi, I'm Cindy.

[Crawford]

Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaning. Meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty, which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty Confidence is beautiful. Learn more@meaningful beauty.com.

[Joe Getty]

You know how we're always talking about what's next? Well, I found it. It's called Formula E. Forget everything you think you know about racing. This isn't just cars going fast. It's like a supercomputer on wheels. The tech is insane and the drivers, they're like chess grandmasters at 200 miles per hour. You've got to see it. Trust me, you'll be hooked. Follow Formula E live on Roku next race. Miami, April 12 the stunning volume of.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Explicit images investigators say they've seen from former University of Michigan coach Matt Weiss. The Justice Department emailing thousands of victims, telling them Weiss Gained hon unauthorized access to their email, social media and cloud storage accounts and stole thousands of intimate photographs and videos. The indictment says Weiss hacked into a third party vendor that maintains student databases for more than 100 colleges and universities across the country and even cracked the encryption protecting the passwords simply by doing research online.

[Jack Armstrong]

What a weirdo. So dedicated to the kink of being able to see, like really not that sexy pictures of people, but because you know them or you have the power to see stuff you're not supposed to see. I guess that's exactly. That's the payoff for you because there's plenty of pictures of naked women online. You can see anything you want doing anything you want if you want that. But the fact that this girl is at your college, even though it's like a blurry picture from across across the locker room or something, it's better, it.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Might be extremely explicit and it's a hundred different universities. Whatever.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's just.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It was somebody who did not want to share that with me. And I get to see it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. That's weird.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And you're that dedicated and that knowledgeable and skillful, Right. In the arts of computer hackery. And that's your goal.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, no kidding. If you've got that kind of hacking ability and you're willing to commit crimes, there's a lot of really lucrative things you could do.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. Do something respectable like emptying people's bank accounts, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes, Katie.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, and that was one of the big things that they came out with yesterday was the fact that he didn't have big computer skills. He figured all of this out just by doing simple searches online is how.

[Jack Armstrong]

He figured out how to do it. Really? That's troubling.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So college encryption services. What are their algorithms? There it is. Okay, I'll type that in. That's a. Wait a minute. Really? Yeah. That was what they were saying is that he's not some computer genius. He was just searching online how to figure out to get into these files and he was able to do it.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's the most interesting part of the whole story.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I'm not sure I've been ever been dedicated to anything except perhaps being a father. The way this guy was dedicated to looking at pictures of unclothed women.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Weirdo.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Lord, they're inventing a new kind of crazy every day.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I was at the DMV for a couple hours yesterday. I was tweeting about it a lot, got a lot of responses. Some of them I thought were interesting in a variety of ways, including this One, because I asked, like, why are there no normal people? Dmv, at least my, my experience seem.

[Ryan Seacrest]

To be life's losers.

[Jack Armstrong]

My whole life I've. I've thought that like the first time I went to the dmv, it's like there are no normal people here. Like the no. How many people here have a job?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Folks, I found that screed off putting in the elitist, honest answer.

[Jack Armstrong]

The DMV is like a real life filter that squeezes out every ounce of human dignity. It's where time goes to die and ambition takes a smoke break. Dented cars, dead stares and crushed dreams. It's basically the lobby of government efficiency. But hey, maybe that is the secret. The winners don't wait in line. They get private plates, personal assistance, or just skip registration like half of Congress does. Like I've heard those stories years after years. They just don't register their cars and stuff like that because nothing's going to happen to them. I thought that was pretty good. It's where time goes to die and ambition takes a smoke break.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's some good writing. Well done, friend.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, I moved to North Idaho in 23. If you want to know the difference between California and Idaho, just go to the dmv. You get right in. Even without an appointment, people are genuinely helpful and friendly. It's a fraction of the cost. It's a delight.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, there are so many examples of this because we've gotten emails from folks who have like a delightful DMV in their corner of California, for instance, whereas Jack's not so much. Population density changes human beings. It changes how many rules and regulations and laws they want. That's why cities are always blue. They want lots and lots of rules. They want Democrats in charge. Rural areas, northern Idaho, not so much. And it extends how nice people are.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm not the only person that's ever thought this about the crowd at the dmv. Like, where are the normal people? Seinfeld used to have a whole bit about it way back in the day. But anyway, somebody tweeted this line, as Seinfeld once said, about the people at the dmv. Undateable. Where are all these undateable people coming from that are at the dmv? I don't know. Again, like I said, the percentage of crutches and slings was way out of proportion to the normal population. And I can't imagine how those two things fit together. The key is, how did they get those injuries? I should have gone around asking. Excuse me. I see in her Sling. How did you hurt your arm? Excuse me. I see you're on crutches. What did you do to your knee?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Wow. So let me squeeze this in just real quickly. Jack, you'll enjoy this. 10 seconds. There's not even. Okay. After the break, an email so devastating I was about to read it.

[Jack Armstrong]

We've got an hour and a half. We got plenty of time.

[Crawford]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Cindy]

Asking the right questions can greatly impact your future, especially when it comes to your finances. So if you're looking for a financial advisor you can trust, certified financial planner professionals are committed to acting in your best interest. That's why it's gotta be a CFP. Find your CFP [e-mail] hi, I'm Cindy.

[Crawford]

Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results. And then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty. Confidence is beautiful. Learn [e-mail].

[Joe Getty]

You know how we're always talking about what's next? Well, I found it. It's called Formula E. Forget everything you think you know about racing. This isn't just cars going fast. It's like a supercomputer on wheels. The tech is insane and the drivers, they're like chess grandmasters at 200 miles per hour. You've got to see it. Trust me, you'll be hooked. Follow Formula E live on Roku next race. Miami, April 12th.

[Unknown]

You know Israel is still under attack. Missile fire has resumed from the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas enemies seeking Israel's destruction. This is the reality since October 7, 2023. Parents now taking their kids to school, falling to the ground to lay on top of their small children to protect them. Because sirens are blaring because of incoming rocket attacks. The next attack against Israel is happening right now. That's why your generosity is critical. That's why we have partnered with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews to help provide not only humanitarian assistance, but life saving aid and security essentials. Your urgently needed gift today will help provide security essentials. It will provide bomb shelters, flak jackets, bulletproof vests for first responders and so much more. Call now. 888488 IFCJ. 888488 IFCJ or one word supportifcj.org that's one word supportifcj.or or 88488 IFCJ at.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Ameca Insurance, we know it's more than just a car. It's the two door coup drive the hatchback that took you cross country and back and the minivan that tackles the weekly carpool for the cars you couldn't live without. Trust Amica Auto insurance. Ameca Empathy is our best policy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Sandwich chain Subway has announced it'll be.

[Michael]

Offering reward members free Doritos foot long.

[Jack Armstrong]

Nachos with the purchase of any sub.

[Cindy]

And you know you're in a good.

[Jack Armstrong]

Restaurant when the food is sold by length. I should think about that when I'm at Subway and I'm buying a three foot churro or whatever it is that we get sometimes. Pretty good.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, that's plenty of churro.

[Jack Armstrong]

That is really good. Breaking news. The House has passed the blueprint for President Trump's tax and spending cuts after opposition from hard right Republicans. I'm reading from the New York Times, any, you know, hard right goodness for.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The hard right Republicans.

[Jack Armstrong]

Opposition from hard right Republicans threatened to tank it and warned that it would add too much to the nation's debt. Chip Roy and that crowd who, who are just saying the math doesn't work. I mean, I'm all for tax cuts, love it. But where are spending cuts?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

But as usual, spending cuts will not happen.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Without them, we would be careening toward the cliff even faster. Thank goodness for Chip Roy. Pray for his health. What happens if Chip has a heart attack and goes away?

[Jack Armstrong]

So this story in the New York Times got my attention and I read the whole thing and there's a lot of interesting stuff in it. The pandemic is not the only reason us Students are losing ground. For the country's lowest scoring students, things have really gone off a cliff since 2013. And they used the bottom quintile, broke it down into fifths and actually looks like both the bottom quintile and the second to the bottom. So that'd be two quintiles which would add up to 40% are both going down quite a bit in terms of reading and math for eighth graders and fourth graders. And they're trying to figure out why that is. The reason is not just the pandemic. Although obviously that didn't help anything because. Yeah, but probably a lot of socioeconomic things that factor in with that lower performing student crowd that the pandemic really did not help.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, I have, I have a couple of suggestions of what's behind this, but I'll, I'll hold off.

[Jack Armstrong]

For the at least the last decade, starting around 2013, students in the bottom quartile have been losing ground on the national assessment tests. It's made up of students from various backgrounds, but includes a higher proportion of students with disabilities, students learning English. Hello, you could be as smart as you want, but if you don't speak the language the teacher's speaking and don't read the language, they're handing you the test in.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Dot dot, dot. Enough said.

[Jack Armstrong]

And children from poor families. Whatever happening to the lower performers is still happening and we got to figure this out, said the American Enterprise Institute of right leaning think tank. Of course they don't label think tanks. All the other think tanks is left leaning. They're just regular think tanks. But anyway, that's it. But I liked this one. You brought this up the other day. Researchers point to a number of educational and societal changes over the past decade, including, well, retrenchment and school accountability. How do you take that?

[Ryan Seacrest]

What the.

[Jack Armstrong]

What, what's retrenchment in school accountability?

[Ryan Seacrest]

They're saying that schools are less accountable for their results. Well, I. All right, I can't stand it anymore. I'm going to throw mine out there and then you can go back to your, your analysis from the the old gray lady. Number one, rampant immigration. Obviously we've covered that. Secondly, the teachers unions who have demanded less accountability and who have joined hand in glove with the progressive education establishment in introducing the WOKE crap. Not only the gender bred person in the Rainbow Boy or whatever the hell else, teaching the kids about radical gender theory, but also undermining all of the values that tend to make you a good student. How many times have you heard showing up on time and trying hard is white supremacy? Handing in assignments on time or thinking logically is that's racism. That's white supremacy. You send that message year after year after year after year to kids, you're going to get better students or worse ones. Please.

[Jack Armstrong]

And I don't know, I don't know if these numbers are big enough to make a difference. But. But we all know the number of kids that are homeschooled or have been moved to private schools has exploded.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Oh, true.

[Jack Armstrong]

And so most of those kids were probably above average performing.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And so at least live in families that value education.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. So just statistically, if you took those kids out of the public school, that's going to give you a bigger chunk of lower performing as a percentage. Right. I mean, it's just right. That's just. That's just math. Even if you are, if nothing has changed, just moving all those kids out of the school of the public school system. But I thought this was good because you brought this up the other day. Worsening cognitive abilities because of smartphones, which has happened even among adults. And it links to the story you talked about the other day on how we may have reached peak brain power a few years back. That our cognitive abilities are just getting worse due to squish and that they think that that's a chunk of it for kids also, which I don't doubt. And I thought about that. Well, I won't say where I was, but I was someplace where I was watching kids just glued to their smartphones and iPads in a situation where you could have been interacting with. You could have been doing something else but the parents were busy doing their own thing. Certain socio economic crowd. Their kids are going to spend way more time staring at an iPad or an iPhone or a phone than they. Than. Than. Than other kids are. And so you're going to have worsening cognitive abilities. More I look at my phone, the worse my brain works.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's just a fact, right? Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know what you can do about that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Is there more to this analysis?

[Jack Armstrong]

Can be. Doesn't need to be.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's up to you. I was going to say in spite of my public school analysis or education rather, I'm able to read. So I would like to read this email from Ray that we received. You guys need to quit pretending to be a conservative show because you're not. You're probably paid by George Soros or the Chinese. I will not listen to your show again. Actually we're paid by both George Soros and the Chinese. It's like a timeshare. Monday, Wednesday and Friday we do the bidding of George Soros. Tuesdays and Thursdays the communist Chinese have us. Then he says it's obvious you're trying to emulate another very popular radio show, but you're failing.

[Jack Armstrong]

What one is that?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I have no idea. I can't imagine.

[Jack Armstrong]

And do you know what topic this was?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, he doesn't say. It's. It's the usual blast of indignance without explanation or whatever. I don't. I don't know Ray feel well, I could write back to him I suppose, just out of curiosity.

[Jack Armstrong]

But I will get to this chunk.

[Ryan Seacrest]

An odd email to send.

[Jack Armstrong]

I will get to this chunk from the New York Times way further down because this is a very long article. And it's something that a long article is, is wanted, needed. I mean it's a bad thing. It's heartbreaking.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It might be the most important issue in America.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's heartbreaking. You got that many kids that you got no shot at making a go of it in a, in a world with AI coming in it. I don't know. Anyway, the United States since the early 2010s has taken in more immigrants. As the New York Times.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I've noticed. Yeah, we noticed.

[Jack Armstrong]

Which means more students who don't speak English and notice that too have entered public schools.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yep. Ding.

[Jack Armstrong]

These demographic ships could shifts could explain some changes in scores. You think so? I like the way they act like it's not. You never hear anybody left of center even come close to being honest about the reality of being okay. I'm a fourth grade history teacher. I walk into class the first day, I got 30 students and six of them don't speak a word of English.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That could explain some of the change in your ability to teach. Oh could it? Thanks for that analysis.

[Jack Armstrong]

How's that always completely left out of any conversation. Like what is supposed to happen right there in that situation that they're so blanking dishonest.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That's why it's left out.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think it's because they feel like it'd be hurtful to point out how difficult that is and it, and, and any, any remedy you have for that situation. And I know what some of them are. I've seen them with my own eyes. Really nice guy. One of the best, nicest people I've ever met in my life. Teacher both my kids had. But he would stand up there with his, his phone and his Google translation and he would do everything twice. And if you spoke English, you had to hear it twice. Once in another language. If you speak the other language, you hear it just slow but slows everything down. What else is he supposed to do? You just gave them a classroom with, you know, a percentage of kids that don't speak English. What are you supposed to do? And then when you have scores going down or whatever your problems are, you completely ignore that. Like it's a, like it's a minor point. You throw it in a paragraph later. We've had more immigration in the United States in the last 10 years. Don't know if you noticed people who.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Might not, who don't speak English, which might have an effect. You know, I've said this a million times. I appreciate the poets and songwriters and soft hearted people of the world. I really do. They help make the world go around, but I don't want them in charge. If you cannot look at the situation we're describing, non English speaking kids in American schools and recognize the difficulty of that, both for the kids and the teachers and the schools and the parents, and not speak honestly about it because you're afraid somebody's feelings might be hurt. I don't want you in charge of anything, but you're not an adult.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know what the answer is, but ignoring a question doesn't work. Look, somebody should at least raise their hand for this point of view. And I don't know if America would go for it or not. How about we say if you can't speak English or read English, you can't go to school here? That's one option. Maybe you think that's too hard, but that's one option.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Sure.

[Jack Armstrong]

At least. At least it's a solution because just putting them in the classroom is not a solution for anyone. Now you could also say, okay, I'll go way the other direction. We need to raise taxes X percent and it's going to be a pretty big chunk to come up with teachers that speak Spanish, Punjabi, you know, whatever it is, so we can educate all these kids to the level that we do other kids. That's one option. It's probably somewhere in between those two things that I mentioned. Yeah, but nobody even discusses it. I don't understand how more teachers don't just pull their hair out or quit on day one or have a march, I guess because they'd feel like they were racist. Say, what am I supposed to do with this?

[Ryan Seacrest]

I got to be called racist by their progressive overlords. Exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

I got six kids who don't speak English and they don't even speak the same language. So it's not even like I have to learn one language.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's multiple languages, right? Yeah. Do we have to open international academies in every town where they have multilingual teachers who divide up the kids by the tongue they speak? I don't know. But you know, it's. I hate to sound like a victim of Stockholm syndrome or battered spouse or something, but the fact that like the New York Times is at least admitting, hey, our government schools are miserably ineffective and the kids aren't learning, I mean, that's at least slightly encouraging. The fact that they still aren't, they are so delusional or lacking in spine or adult character that they can't say, yes, an enormous influx of non English speakers is tough on schools. I mean, for God's sakes, that's not asking much for them to say that. The fact that they can't say that yet. I fear for the state of the nation if our schools continue to be the source of the infection.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what the right outcome is, but you could never get to the right outcome if you're not willing to be honest about what the problems are.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I'm so sorry. Our Chinese overlords just texted. We need to take a break.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's Thursday.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The Chinese are in charge, Ray. We need to take it. Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

And I'm supposed to give George Soros a foot rub during the commercial. Stay here.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Cindy]

Asking the right questions can greatly impact your future, especially when it comes to your finances. So if you're looking for a financial advisor you can trust, certified financial planner professionals are committed to acting in your best interest. That's why it's gotta be a CFP. Find your CFP [e-mail] hi, I'm Cindy.

[Crawford]

Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results, and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty. Confidence is beautiful. Learn [e-mail].

[Joe Getty]

You know how we're always talking about what's next? Well, I found it. It's called Formula E. Forget everything you think you know about racing. This isn't just cars going fast. It's like a supercomputer on wheels. The tech is insane and the drivers, they're like chess grandmasters at 200 miles per hour. You've got to see it. Trust me, you'll be hooked. Follow Formula E live on Roku next race. Miami, April 12th.

[Unknown]

You know Israel is still under attack. Missile fire has resumed from the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas enemies seeking Israel's destruction. This is the reality since October 7, 2023. Parents now taking their kids to school, falling to the ground to lay on top of their small children to protect them because sirens are blaring because of incoming rocket attacks. The next attack against Israel is happening right now. That's why your generosity is critical. That's why we have partnered with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews to help provide not only humanitarian assistance but life saving aid and security essentials. Your urgently needed gift today will help provide security essentials. It will provide bomb shelters, flak jackets, bulletproof vests for first responders and so much more. Call now 888-488-IFCJ, 888-488IFCJ or one word supportifcj.org that's one word supportifcj.org or 88488 IFCJ.

[Ryan Seacrest]

At Ameca Insurance, we know it's more than just a house. It's your home. The place that's filled with memories. The early days of figuring it out to the later years of still figuring.

[Jack Armstrong]

It out.

[Ryan Seacrest]

For the place you've put down roots Trust Amica Home Insurance Ameca Empathy is our best policy. Donic Inside puts it up and in.

[Jack Armstrong]

45 for Doncic and Doncic now 16.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Of 28 from the field.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, Luka Doncic, who got traded out of nowhere from Dallas where he had made his home and become a giant part of the community and started a big charity and just loved it there and was a fan favorite. Beloved by the fans. He loved them, they loved him.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Everything.

[Jack Armstrong]

Like it got traded in the middle of the night. No idea why. No discussion. Wasn't just out of nowhere. Anyway, playing for the Lakers last night, played back in Dallas, scored 45 points and then got all teary eyed and actually quiver lipped. I saw that at one point greeting the fans at the end of the game because he loved it there so much. You know, that's a problem with professional sports is even if like one of your players really likes the community and wants to be there and help you, you know, build schools and all that sort of stuff. Yeah, that's not the way the business works.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Nope, it's rough.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Pays pretty well.

[Jack Armstrong]

Does pay pretty well. Anyway, the Lakers are a three seed and the playoffs start next week and that's going to be fun to watch. I'm rooting for him to do well. The Dallas GM is hated by the Mavericks. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Unknown]

All night long.

[Ryan Seacrest]

They want a chance for him to be fired.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's rough.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Does anybody still know why he did that?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No. I don't want to get too sportsy because we don't do a sports talk show. But when that trade was announced, I was playing golf with a professional sports writer who was so astounded he was texting all of his friends and nobody had an explanation. And I still haven't heard it.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's one of the weirdest things in professional sports history. Speaking of sports. Not really, but of a sports guy. Stephen A. Smith, which might be the most famous voice in all of sports right now, ESPN or whatever, has been for quite a while. He has really strong opinions. He yells about everything and he's yells about everything.

[Ryan Seacrest]

His wife asks him, hey, you need anything from the grocery store? He says, we need more yogurt. Just yells about it.

[Jack Armstrong]

He's considering a 2028 presidential run. He has been approached by Capitol Hill officials and elected leaders who would like him to run. He says his lack of political record would be a campaign advantage and his exploratory committee is looking into it. But he'll only run if he believed he had a legitimate chance to win. And based on our recent politics, I think he has a legitimate chance to certainly make some noise. I don't know about when I could see getting the nomination. I assume he's going to run as a Democrat.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, well, the Democratic field looks pretty clear to me.

[Jack Armstrong]

Could he turn out a whole bunch of people that don't normally vote? Heck yeah, he could.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

In a primary, guy.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And you know, fine, go ahead. I assume he's running as a Democrat or would.

[Jack Armstrong]

He didn't say, but I just. Yeah. Based on all the opinions he shouts on a regular basis. He seems like a Democrat, but that'll be exciting. There's another non political person getting involved.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's funny, I was just listening to a little Gabby Newsome audio off the air from his conversation with Bill Maher not long ago when he was on Bill Maher show and Bill hit him with the, you know, transgender kids in school thing. And Gabby's answer was terrible. It was indefensible. And we're working on that audio for you. But so, yeah, again, run, Gavin, please run. I would be more amused than I have been since the first time I saw Monty Python's Flying Circus.

[Jack Armstrong]

And the New York Times has got a piece out today about Kamala Harris saying that it's way more likely that she runs for governor in California than ever runs for president again. But that one of the things they point out in the article in the New York Times is that the Wisconsin Democrats told her to stay away from Wisconsin leading up to the big judge election last week.

[Ryan Seacrest]

They thought she'd be a bigger poisonous.

[Jack Armstrong]

They thought she'd be a bigger negative than a positive as the Democratic presidential nominee to come to her state and try to, you know, turn people out.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, no, no, no, no. We played that professor, was it Harvard guy just yesterday who Said the only reason she lost was America didn't want a black woman as president. Yeah, that was his explanation.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't want to talk about this for a variety of reasons, but the fact that she's going to be the next governor of California, and I think she will, is horrifying to me. Just horrifying.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It is. It's. It's the stuff of nightmares.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. There's no limit. She'll be governor. Adam Schiff will be one of the senators.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I mean, what is that horrifying? So the guy who tried to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh's pled guilty, might go to jail for good. It's crazy as a nut.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, really?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. Yeah, we'll talk about that a little bit next time.

[Jack Armstrong]

I didn't realize he was completely nuts. Well, I have some sympathy for that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

He seems to be. He's one brand of nuts or another. Whether he's quote unquote, completely nuts, I guess is in the eye of the beholder. But got a lot of stuff to squeeze into next hour. What you don't get next hour. You got to work or something. Hey, grab it via podcast. You ought to follow us or subscribe to Armstrong and Getty on demand, wherever you like to get your podcasts.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, my. My technical, scientific assessment of completely nuts. I'd have to hold that out until I've talked to the gentleman. You're completely nuts.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Filled out the form. Check the box.

[Jack Armstrong]

Exactly.

[Crawford]

Armstrong and Getty. For some of us, personal finances aren't just personal. They include a lot more people than ourselves. Loved ones, neighbors, the communities we call home, and the causes we hold in our hearts. At Thrivent, we help plan your financial picture with the bigger picture in mind. Because even though our business is helping guide your finances, our ambition is to make it mean so much more. Thrivent, where money means more.

[Jack Armstrong]

Connect with [e-mail] you know how we're.

[Joe Getty]

Always talking about what's next? Well, I found it. It's called Formula E. Forget everything you you think you know about racing. This isn't just cars going fast. It's like a supercomputer on wheels. The tech is insane, and the drivers, they're like chess grandmasters at 200 miles per hour. You've got to see it. Trust me, you'll be hooked. Follow Formula E live on Roku next race, Miami, April 12th.

[Walton Goggins]

So you want to start a business. You might think you need a team of people and fancy tech skills, but listen to me when I say you don't. You just need godaddy Arrow I'm Walton Goggins, an actor and I like the sound of starting my own business. Walton Goggins Goggle Glasses. But I couldn't do this my own. GoDaddy Arrow uses AI to create everything you need to grow a business. It'll make you a unique logo, it'll create a custom website, it'll write social posts for you, and even set you up with a social media calendar. How cool is that? Well, listen to this. For a limited time, you can get Arrow all access for just a dollar a week for 12 weeks. We're talking all the AI power of GoDaddy Aero plus a Domain E commerce store, payments, professional email, a unified inbox. All for less money than I spend on deep tanning lotion while sunbathing off the Amalfi coast. You know what? That sounds like a plan. Get [e-mail] terms apply.

[Cindy]

Asking the right questions can greatly impact your future, especially when it comes to your finances. So if you're looking for a financial advisor you can trust, certified financial planner professionals are committed to acting in your best interest. That's why it's gotta be a CFP. Find your CFP [e-mail] It's tax season, and by now.

[Michael]

I know we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to hear. $16.5 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Here's another 20%. That's the overall increase in identity theft related to tax fraud in 2024 alone. But it's not all grim news. Here's a good 100 million. That's how many data points Lifelock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it, backed by another good number, the million dollar protection plan. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock identity theft protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply.