We're Big, Comfortable & Dumb

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "We're Big, Comfortable & Dumb" – January 17, 2025

In this riveting episode of the Armstrong & Getty On Demand podcast, hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a spectrum of pressing issues, ranging from a landmark Supreme Court decision on TikTok to cultural debates and unexpected airline incidents. The conversation is rich with insights, notable quotes, and critical analyses, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of each topic.

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1. Supreme Court Ruling on TikTok

The episode opens with a significant focus on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision regarding TikTok. Jack Armstrong outlines the court's affirmation of a bipartisan law aimed at banning Chinese ownership of the popular social media app due to national security concerns.

• Jack Armstrong (00:11): "The Supreme Court upholds the law that was passed by Congress in a bipartisan manner, signed in the law by Joe Biden last April to find a new buyer within 270 days."

Armstrong emphasizes that the ruling leaves the future of TikTok uncertain, highlighting the app's role as a vast platform for expression and community.

• Jack Armstrong (00:51): "There is no doubt that TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement and source of community."

Joe Getty probes into the implications of the ruling, while Armstrong references Jonathan Schweitzer's article in Breitbart, which discusses TikTok as a modern-day "Trojan horse" for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

• Jack Armstrong (02:09): "China is wielding TikTok as a weapon wage unrestricted warfare on the U.S. that is why the Chinese CCP views TikTok as a 'modern day Trojan horse.'"

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2. TikTok as a Propaganda Tool

The conversation deepens as Armstrong and Getty explore how the CCP utilizes TikTok for psychological warfare and influence operations targeting American youth.

• Jack Armstrong (04:13): "TikTok's constant stream of short and overstimulating videos make for a powerfully addictive source of propaganda."

They reference Chinese military strategists' views on information-driven mental warfare and the strategic use of digital platforms to manipulate perceptions and values.

• Jack Armstrong (08:00): "In their CCP report, Beijing's military strategist revealed that the best formats and forms of propaganda work on young impressionable people through amusement."

Getty draws parallels between TikTok's addictive nature and historical propaganda techniques, questioning whether such influence can be effectively countered.

• Joe Getty (13:17): "We're big, comfortable and we're dumb as a superpower."

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3. Political Polling and Partisanship

Shifting gears, the hosts discuss a new CNN poll indicating fluctuating favorability ratings for President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

• Jack Armstrong (18:39): "A brand new CNN Poll gives us some insight into how Americans are feeling about his return to the White House."

They highlight a growing trend of Americans distancing themselves from traditional party affiliations, with an increasing number identifying as independents.

• Joe Getty (19:47): "Fewer and fewer people want to call themselves either a Republican or a Democrat."

Armstrong speculates on the reasons behind this shift, suggesting disillusionment with the major parties' effectiveness and integrity.

• Jack Armstrong (19:58): "I wonder if it's because they're inept, corrupt, and embarrassing."

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4. Social and Cultural Debates

The episode also touches on contemporary social issues, including gender identity and mental health. The hosts critique how certain incidents are framed in the media and society.

• Joe Getty (31:54): "That's a woman who says she was misgendered. I don't know which direction this is, but a person who says they were misgendered and now needs a month off to feel safe, we gotta stop."

They debate the implications of such narratives on societal perceptions of mental health and personal identity.

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5. Airline Incident: Drunk Pilot Arrested

In an unexpected turn, Armstrong and Getty discuss a recent incident involving a Southwest Airlines pilot arrested for suspected alcohol impairment.

• Jack Armstrong (33:47): "Pilot David Allsop was taken into custody. The TSA says an officer contacted law enforcement, reporting an individual in the crew screening lane who smelled of alcohol."

Getty humorously imagines the pilot’s actions prior to his arrest, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

• Joe Getty (34:34): "So still drunk from the night before is almost certainly what that is."

The hosts express concern over aviation safety and the potential repercussions for the airline and passengers.

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6. Closing Thoughts and Future Teasers

As the episode wraps up, Armstrong and Getty provide teasers for upcoming discussions, including further analysis of the TikTok ban and ongoing cultural debates.

• Jack Armstrong (36:11): "There's a more serious side to that. Perhaps next hour, more on the TikTok ban decision."

They encourage listeners to stay tuned for deeper dives into these critical issues, maintaining the podcast’s signature blend of humor and serious commentary.

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Notable Quotes

• Jack Armstrong (00:51): "TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement and source of community."
• Jack Armstrong (02:09): "China is wielding TikTok as a weapon wage unrestricted warfare on the U.S."
• Joe Getty (19:47): "Fewer and fewer people want to call themselves either a Republican or a Democrat."
• Joe Getty (31:54): "We gotta stop [coddling mental illness as described]."

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Conclusion

This episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand masterfully navigates through complex topics, providing listeners with informed perspectives and thought-provoking discussions. From the strategic implications of social media platforms to the shifting landscape of political affiliations and societal norms, Armstrong and Getty deliver content that is both engaging and enlightening. Whether you're a regular listener or new to the show, this episode offers valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges facing contemporary society.

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For those interested in a deeper understanding of these topics, subscribing to Armstrong & Getty On Demand is highly recommended. Stay informed and engaged with one of the most insightful podcasts available.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio Studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

And now here's Armstrong and Getty. At 1002 East coast time, we have a ruling from the US Supreme Court on the popular app known as TikTok. The Supreme Court upholds the law that was passed by Congress in a bipartisan manner, signed in the law by Joe Biden last April to find a new buyer within 270 days. The Supreme Court has now ruled that that law stands. What happens to the app, however, is.

[Joe Getty]

A wide open question. So this is just happening now, and we were planning to talk about TikTok anyway. What does this mean, Joe?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, as always, I want to point out it's a ban on the Chinese ownership of the social media app. Because they are a hostile power. That's what the law says. Supreme Court upheld the ban, quote. There is no doubt that TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenge provisions do not violate petitioners First Amendment rights. Justice Sotomayor has a opinion concurring in part. She thinks it does touch on the First Amendment. Some Gorsuch concurs in the judgment. That is the result.

[Joe Getty]

What was the ruling? I missed that. What was the number? Do we know?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, I don't have that number. There are various concurring opinions. So, yeah, it's not always like six to three come. Sometimes it's four plus one plus one to three, if you know what I'm saying. Because they partially agree with each other anyway. So, yeah, TikTok must divest itself from its Chinese overlords if it wants to keep doing business in the United States.

[Joe Getty]

Thank goodness, in 200 and whatever days starting Sunday. Or did that start a long time ago? And the D and the time is up on Sunday.

[Jack Armstrong]

The time is running out, I think. Yeah, it's up on Sunday. So that was the last minute of Gotcha. And you know what? Listen, I don't want to court a fight with hardcore Trump supporters. And y'all are absolutely welcome anytime. And sometimes we'll agree, sometimes we'll disagree, and that's fine, we can still be friends. But Trump's jumping in and saying, yeah, maybe I can say, well, I can work out a deal because TikTok's been good to me. And they helped me get elected. Nah, I'm sorry. No, no, not going there. And the Supreme Court's not going to let it happen either. So this is by 50 times the most significant thing you will hear about the question of TikTok and its Chinese ownership. Peter Schweitzer, as always, doing some great writing. It was published in Breitbart and you know, Breitbart primarily does a very, very good job. It's, it's disappointing to me that this will not be heard more widely, but he has dug deep and long into available documents, speeches, memos, et cetera from the Chinese Communists. And the title of the article is why Beijing Wants Americans to keep using TikTok. And he talks about how everyone's talking about the potential ban and weighing in with friend of the court briefs and statements and the rest of it, from Trump to Vik Vice, Mike Pence to nearly two dozen state attorneys general, blah, blah, blah. But there's none of their opinion. Schweitzer rights from a source the court will not hear from the Chinese Communist Party. What do they think? Very few are talking about what the communists in Beijing think of the looming TikTok decision. China is wielding TikTok as a weapon wage unrestricted warfare on the U.S. that is why the Chinese CCP views TikTok as a quote, modern day Trojan horse. That's their quote. And classified its powerful algorithm as a top secret, quote, national security asset.

[Joe Getty]

I believe maybe, maybe Xi listens to the Armstrong and Getty show or gets the podcast. I believe we called it a Trojan horse and talked about how it makes the original Trojan horse seem like nothing. The original wooden Trojan horse pushed in there. Okay, some warriors jumped out. That's not like re educating your youth for the next several generations, though.

[Jack Armstrong]

In the commies own words, TikTok's constant stream of short and overstimulating videos make for a powerfully addictive source of propaganda. In a restricted Chinese academic journal, Colonel Deju, a professor at China's top military academy, wrote that the real battle between the US and China is quote, information driven mental warfare. In a separate journal, he said younger People's Liberation army propagandists increasingly realize the popularity of short videos online, and TikTok is the best example of this so far. He's talking about Red army propagandists and how valuable they think TikTok is leading the Chinese People's Liberation Army. In the future, we'll refer to it as the PLA. Strategist Zhang Hufeng argues that the CCP must Use information and popular spiritual and cultural products as weapons to influence people's psychology, will, attitude, behavior, and even change the ideology, values, cultural traditions and social systems. According to Zhang, these cultural tools, including apps, video games, et cetera, should be used, quote, to target individuals, groups, countries, and even people around the world.

[Joe Getty]

So they are obviously have been. And we're planning to continue using our freedom against us. The, the battle between democracies and authoritarian regimes. Sometimes you hear it argued as to like, which is better for the people. You people are crazy. I mean, it's not even a close call. Democracies are better for, for human beings. Then I don't care if they can build bridges more efficiently and quickly or whatever. But in terms of which system is going to win, which is going. Which is better in terms of dominating the world. I'm not certain in the modern techno era where you can reach across borders that the free countries can survive ahead of the. The. The mean countries.

[Jack Armstrong]

I want to get back to the text of this because it's so great, but that is a great topic. And if you look at the history, we'll just say, of the United States during certain times of extreme strife, trouble, world wars, civil wars, that sort of thing, measures have been taken that in retrospect, during peace times, when all the danger is past, it's very easy to say that measure was unfair, it was mean, it was too much. But that happens in history because if you lose the great battle with communism and are, you know, feeling the whip of your Chinese overlords but are saying to yourself, well, at least we didn't do anything that could be seen as racist.

[Joe Getty]

At least we didn't suspend habeas corpus.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah, that sort of thing. Well, congratulations. That's just groovy. Good for you. But anyway, so where was I? According to Chinese military strategists, Beijing can win this in this way. I'm sorry, can in this way win, quote, mind superiority by cutting off historical memory, deconstructing cultural symbols and perception manipulation via propaganda spread on digital platforms like TikTok. All of these are quotes from the Chinese themselves. TikTok is a means of, quote, subconscious messaging in which Chinese strategists say is more effective than overtly political propaganda. And I quote, the ultimate goal is to manipulate a country's values and achieve strategic goals without an actual overt military battle. In an obscure CCC CCP report titled Analysis of Modern Network Media Warfare in the Perspective of Intelligent Technology, Beijing's military strategist revealed that the best formats and forms of propaganda work on young impressionable people through amusement and I quote, and you know, people say it's dance videos, take it easy. Entertainment is the main motivation for Generation Z content consumption, said Pang Zheng Gang, the Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department in another strategy paper entitled Research on International Communication Strategies and Practice Paths of Generation Zone. Entertainment is the main motivation for Gen Z content consumption. By better understanding those we mean to propagandize, the CCP can explore effective communication strategies and paths and improve the ability to set agendas. There are a litany of these quotes about how content control is becoming more and more important, digital propaganda and opinion manipulation and social media platforms and found that emotional content can easily lead the audience to have the illusion of independent thinking and attribute irrational emotions to righteous indignation or empathy, which intensifies the value of delusion. In other words, to boil it down, they've realized that if you can give impressionable young people pleasure or righteous indignation through entertainment vehicles and then direct that entertainment in subtle ways towards shaping their beliefs, it will be extremely effective. And they're right.

[Joe Getty]

Of course.

[Jack Armstrong]

I remember talking about the contrast between like Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and TikTok attitudes toward the Chinese Communist Party, the beliefs about the Uyghurs in China. Huge gulf in the numbers of the users of those various social media platforms.

[Joe Getty]

So I've, I've kind of assumed this whole time that the way out of this not very satisfying, but the way out of this was somebody else is going to come up with something more entertaining or as entertaining or TikTok in the way that Facebook obliterated MySpace, that it'll get taken care of that way, but maybe not. I mean, is the algorithm, is the algorithm just something we can't replicate?

[Jack Armstrong]

Apparently not. I mean it's like, you know, the iPhone took other companies a long time to come up with a product that was as good.

[Joe Getty]

Uh huh.

[Jack Armstrong]

I also, I'm kind of amused by the argument that we just need to come up with a better one and then kids will forget about TikTok. But meanwhile, and this will be my final quote from Peter Schweitzer's piece, oh whoops, it's on this page. Chinese government study on online manipulation further noted that online propaganda quote is a highly concealed propaganda method and its effect can far exceed traditional propaganda. The study's authors say such propaganda could even affect the social stability and political security of a target country or region. Wow, that is a quote.

[Joe Getty]

Wow, that is something. Well, you can't keep the Chinese out of your Internet, but maybe you can keep the bad guys out of breaking in your back door if you got simply safe.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Joe Getty]

China is the Larry Bird of the world. I don't has an enemy ever announced what they're going to do the way China is and then they just continue to do it and seem to be fairly successful. Well, like Larry Bird would say, okay, I'm going to get the ball before the play would start. Say I'm going to fake left, I'm going to move right and then I'm going to lay it up in your face. And then he would do it even after he told him what he was going to do. China is that way. We're going to do, you know, X, Y and Z. This is our plan. There are books out there how we're going to, you know, build islands and turn them into military bases and use TikTok to educate your youth and all kinds of different things they did. They tell us. It's not like they keep it a secret. Our goal is to, to, to take over the world and supplant you as the world's only hyperpower. That's, that's our plan, not hiding it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Boy, we're dumb. We're big and we're comfortable and we're dumb as a superpower.

[Joe Getty]

Interesting.

[Jack Armstrong]

Everyone knows it.

[Joe Getty]

Those who are used. Tick Tock. I can't wait till Monday you start talking about is it any different then or, or not. A lot more on the way. Stay with us. Armstrong and Getty taxes was Feeling so stuck sitting in traffic, squeezing into a parking spot. All to squeeze in. Getting tax help during your lunch break. NowTaxes is a TurboTax expert who does your taxes for you while you go about your day. Getting real time notifications about their progress and the most money back guaranteed. Now this is taxes intuit. TurboTax get an expert now on TurboTax.com only available with TurboTax LIFO service. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app. See guarantee [e-mail] guarantees Vice President Kamala.

[Jack Armstrong]

Harris is reportedly planning to write a book after leaving office. Look for it in your bookstore's How not to section.

[Joe Getty]

I missed the beginning of the joke.

[Jack Armstrong]

This is like based on events.

[Joe Getty]

I missed the setup.

[Jack Armstrong]

Who wrote a book? Harris's new book.

[Joe Getty]

Gotcha. Yeah, that makes sense.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

The NFL this weekend. Very, very exciting. And there are four games for the two teams with home field throughout the playoffs. Pretty big betting odds on there. The Lions are expected to win by nine and a half points. The Chiefs are expected to win by eight or that's what the betting odds are. Currently Eagles over the LA Rams by six and a half. The exciting game that's been going back and forth by a point. Tomorrow, Bill's Ravens up in Buffalo. One point this way or that way. I'm really looking forward to that game. I plan to watch it. But you, you might know if you follow the this sort of thing, that the halftime show at the super bowl, that's why they're doing these playoffs, is to figure out what teams are going to play in the Super Bowl. The halftime show this time around is Kendrick Lamar, which I don't know. I don't know Kendrick Lamar that well. I know he's a really big deal. My son is super into Kendrick Lamar. He. That's his kind of music.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Very well thought of creatively even among people who are not like hardcore hip hop people. He's an artist. Definitely. A lot of people are just half talented. Warblers are called artists.

[Joe Getty]

So when we go drop driving around me and the kids like we are going out to eat and we take turns on who has ox, which is a term teenagers use. That's really. That's who has access to the music. I get ox. It comes from auxiliary A, the auxiliary plug, even though nobody uses that anymore. It's all Bluetooth. But I get ox. No, you had ox last time is the way he and his okay high school friends talk if you want to sound hip. But anyway, my, my oldest son had auxiliary on the Way back from the restaurant. And so he plays his stuff. I say, okay, here we go with the cop killer rap. And then he's giving him crap. Where's the melody with his various songs? But Kendrick Lamar, Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, we were listening to on the Way Home featuring Good Kid and Maad City. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe by Kendrick Lamar. I just. My question was going to be to you. Have you ever read anything or do you have any theories on how musical taste develops? Why some people like certain stuff and other people like different stuff? I got two kids, grew up in exactly the same household. The younger one basically likes the same music as me. He wants. He likes classic rock. He wants to listen to the Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bachman Turner Overdrive and that sort of stuff. He's 13. His older brother is all Kendrick Lamar and Ken Carson and Cardi, Cardi B or Card. No, different Cardi. Playboy Cardi, Playboy, Cardi and that sort of stuff. And do you have any. Do you know why?

[Jack Armstrong]

If you'd made up all of those names, I would still be sitting here with the same look on my face?

[Joe Getty]

I know.

[Jack Armstrong]

No.

[Joe Getty]

Do you have any idea how people come to their tastes?

[Jack Armstrong]

No. No.

[Joe Getty]

But like with food, don't you kind of assume to a certain extent they perceive it differently?

[Jack Armstrong]

Like, yes, the flavor of upbringing. I mean, it can't be a coincidence that billions of Indian kids like Indian food.

[Joe Getty]

Right, but okay, well that on my two kids grew up in the same house with the same exposure. So I don't know. I don't even know how he found this stuff. Wouldn't ruin me.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I don't have any idea. That reminds me, I came across the woman who has my dream job. I mean it makes this job look like digging ditches, which I've also talk about that a little bit later on.

[Joe Getty]

You have a theory there, Katie? I'm just wondering if it has to do with his friends, your friend group.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, sure. Yeah. Maybe that's your formative years of forming musical taste, which is probably typically between 8 and 15.

[Joe Getty]

Maybe that's 90% of it. Your friend group. What is going to make you more popular with the people you want to be popular with pushes you that direction.

[Jack Armstrong]

I could be part of it.

[Joe Getty]

Like I don't even know why my musical tastes are what they are. I couldn't tell you more. Analysis from smart people about the Supreme Court ruling over TikTok and a bunch of other stuff.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty, a brand new CNN Poll gives us some insight into how Americans are feeling about his return to the White House. Look at his favorability. It's at its highest in four years. It's at 46%. Still underwater, but better than it's been. When you ask Americans the question, will the United States be better off in four years from now? Well, more than half of those polled say yes.

[Joe Getty]

That's in that poll. In many polls, Trump has got the highest favorability he's ever had in his political career, which is something heading into a new term. I thought this on the back of it was pretty damned interesting. Gallop out with their political party identification. Are you a Republican or Democrat? Those continue to go down, down, down, down, down. There are fewer. Yeah, both of them. They're tied at 28. Fewer and fewer people want to call themselves either a Republican or a Democrat. I mean, it's been going down my entire adult life, actually. It's pretty much a straight line down since. Since I started voting in the 80s. Fewer and fewer people want to be a Republican or Democrat. The number of people who call themselves an independent has been going up, up, up, and is now 43%.

[Jack Armstrong]

You need not be a mathematician to understand we're heading toward below. Half of people identify with either of the, quote, unquote, major parties. I wonder if it's because they're inept, corrupt, and embarrassing.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, because it's mostly an emotional thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

It doesn't make any difference, really, because people are going out and voting Republican or Democrat. We just had a presidential election, but they don't want to call themselves a Republican or a Democrat. Yeah, that's interesting.

[Jack Armstrong]

It is. It speaks to a need for something different.

[Joe Getty]

You would think in that environment, a third party would emerge, but so far, it has not. Big ruling from the Supreme Court. Trump was wanting the whole TikTok ban to not happen the day before he becomes president, because his argument was, I'm gonna be president. I'm gonna be dealing with this. Put it off until, you know, I'm in charge. And we'll. We'll take a look at it then. But the Supreme Court said, nah, it stands.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, Trump considers himself the greatest dealmaker in the history of the world. And he thought he could work out a deal, which, you know, he may be. Have been able to. But the Supreme Court has spoken rather loudly, as Shannon Bream will inform us here.

[Shannon Bream]

They say this. There's no doubt that for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. They say, listen, this doesn't violate First Amendment rights. And there's a big conversation. Conversation when the hearing was held last week. ByteDance is a foreign entity. It does not have First Amendment rights. Why would it?

[Joe Getty]

Why does every conversation about TikTok have to begin with? Many millions of people enjoy the cat videos and college girls twerking. We know. But that's got nothing to do with anything, does it?

[Jack Armstrong]

Can I choose one or the other? Yes. The headline, which I'm afraid we are buried, is that the Supreme Court has ruled this unanimously. They were unanimous in their conclusion that Congress could ban the hostile foreign ownership of TikTok. That's what we're talking about here. Now, how they got to that conclusion varied a bit among the justices. So they have concurring opinions that are agreeing while subtly disagreeing. But it was unanimous that, yes, Congress can do this. It is proper to ban Tickety tock.

[Joe Getty]

Unanimous.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just said it. To ban the hostile foreign ownership of TikTok. One more note from a learned observer than I have a thought or two. Turley in 29B, please, Michael.

[Joe Getty]

But the general thrust of the oral argument was that they would let this band stand. And that's going to kick this into the political realm or back there where President Trump will have to address it. You know, these justices tend to view these types of questions as something that should be resolved in the legislative and executive branches. They try not to get ahead of their skis on questions like this. For many of the justices, they were faced with the government, including the Biden administration, saying that there are serious national security risks here, so they're not in a position necessarily just to dismiss those concerns.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you're just tuning in, I would beg of you to grab the podcast later and listen to the beginning of our two of the show today. Armstrong, you get on demand. We went over a piece by Peter Schweitzer in which he was extensively quoting Communist party officials, military officials, propagandists, intelligence people, talking about how incredibly important and useful TikTok is in influencing people of other nations, including the United States, obviously, primarily. And how it is so useful as a propaganda tool, because it's not perceived as propaganda yet can do enormous damage or great stuff. From the perspective of the Communist Chinese, it's just beyond dispute that we are under attack in 50, 100 different ways from the Communist Chinese. And if you as a nation don't understand that you're under attack until actual bombs go off, you're too dumb to survive as a superpower.

[Joe Getty]

Well, read Pillsbury's book, the Hundred Year Marathon. They think long term in China and this is a great long term plan. We're going to educate their youth to think more like we think than way Americans normally think. And it takes a country.

[Jack Armstrong]

Deny their history and hate their country.

[Joe Getty]

But that's fine with us. So I would love to know, since they're not an open society, we don't know, did this happen organically in China? Did some because you can become rich and successful in China, your company, you know, the books have to be open to the Communist Party because that's the way everything works there. But you can become rich and successful. Did some who's a smart coder in the United States, some Zuckerberg type person in China, figure out an algorithm for just a really good social media app? And then the Chinese Communist Party thought, ah, this would be a good way to hook young people. I mean, did it happen that way? Or did they set out originally to come up with the best, most addictive app you can come up with? This is how we're going to infiltrate the United States. I wonder which happened first.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think you nailed it with the first one. Honestly, it reminds me of what they taught us in script writing class back when I was doing that back in the day, that if you are trying to write a movie that moves people to believe something or other, it's never going to get made and people are never going to watch it because it won't be entertaining. Make an entertaining movie and if there's some messaging around the edges, fine. I don't think they would have come up with something so brilliant if it was in the hands of the military. Yeah, you're right.

[Joe Getty]

You're right. That is almost certainly true.

[Jack Armstrong]

But here's what you need to know. And again, we highly recommend Michael Pillsbury's book, the Hundred Year Marathon. One of the other aspects of it that's crazy interesting is that there are all these. I can't remember the 18 strategies or I should remember it. It's around here somewhere. But ancient Chinese wisdom about warfare and strategy, and a lot of it has to do with not letting your opponent know you're at war with them until you have to masquerade as a friend. Masquerade is someone cooperating, perhaps a trade partner. Deception is to be respected and, and worshiped and sought. It's not mean and cheating. How dare they? No, it's clever in the Chinese traditions, and that's exactly what's going on here. But that was a tangent. Go ahead. Then I'll make.

[Joe Getty]

How much of a win did she think it was when the worst virus to hit the planet in a century leaks out of their lab? And he observed that. Oh my God. In the United States. The President of the United States is stopping people from claiming it was us. Isn't this awesome? He's yelling at Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook to make sure nobody says it was our fault. This is fantastic.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, yeah. Xi Jinping's advisors are probably. How did you. How did you manage this? So wise one, he's like, yeah, I don't know. They're just doing it. They're weird. Anyway, so here's my, my main point. Getting back to your excellent question about TikTok. They have a whole of society program to bring down the United States and achieve Chinese supremacy over the globe. It's absolutely well known whole of society. So I'm sure they have an entire bureau full of people that like, I don't know, scroll through newspapers or TV or social media or the financial pages and they go, let's see, we've got, you know, Xi Jinping's flower mill that makes flour for baking bread. Is there anything we can do with that? Probably not. I don't see it as very promising. Okay, let's move on. We've got TikTok. It's a crazy popular short video platform that American kids love. Could we do anything with that? And obviously the answer was, hell yeah, we can. Are you kidding? Yes. So it literally, they go through banking, industry, trade, food, media, clothing, everything. And they assess how can we utilize this to affect our main goal, which is the, you know, usurpation of the United States. And TikTok is just a gold mine, mine.

[Joe Getty]

They're educating their young people that China is fantastic and the savior of the world and the United States is evil. We're educating our young people that the United States is evil.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

And anything that's not the United States is good. That's when they're paying attention to anything at all and not just watching videos until it's time to go to bed.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, right. And as they made clear in the Schweitzer piece that we cited extensively earlier, they understand that they need to be subtle about it. They need to tweak and move by inches, not feet and yards in terms of changing young people's perceptions. But they're very, very good. At it. And again, if you have a hundred year time frame, you have the patience to be subtle.

[Joe Getty]

But final word on TikTok for now anyway. I did not understand how this would work. You. You did because you've been reading about it. But I wasn't. I thought it was just going to like end on Sunday. It will be imperson, imperceivable when the deadline comes. Right. You won't even be able to notice any difference for maybe quite some time. It'll still be on your phone and you'll still be watching videos.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. That's the best understanding I've come to it, that, yeah, you just can't download the app anymore. And because of the nature of apps and the Internet, change is absolutely inevitable. And at a certain point, the amount of change that has to do with how apps connect and they function and they process things will make it unusable.

[Joe Getty]

You know how often you update all your apps? There won't be an update for TikTok.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

So at some point it'll stop working, but it'll happen slowly. I was picturing more of a big giant off switch and TikTok goes off Sunday, but that's not how it's happening.

[Jack Armstrong]

And if I'm Xi Jinping, I've got my best and brightest saying, all right, how do we get it into the hands of the American youngsters anyway? What do we do? What route do we go through? They're working on that like crazy.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. And may have a good solution. I'll be darned. Senators were a lot more vocal behind the scenes urging Joe Biden not to run. The news is out today. As we have predicted around now, people are going to start running to. Mark Halpern had a great podcast yesterday, the $4 million question. He was calling it. Who are the first biggest people to turn and run to book publishers to have the book written about all the things that were going on? Is it common?

[Jack Armstrong]

Delicious.

[Joe Getty]

Is it? I mean, who is it going to be? Because they're going to be a bunch of people anyway. We got some of that. We'll get into an hour three and other stuff on the way.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Shannon Bream]

The counselor says they're taking a month off for emotional and mental safety. Worcester city councilor at large to Nguyen uses the pronouns they, them. The counselor accuses the mayor and another counselor of referring to them in a way that does not reflect their gender identity. Now Nguyen has filed a complaint with the city's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. An investigation is underway. Last night at the Council meeting, Nguyen said they didn't feel safe coming to the council floor. One of the counselors Nguyen accused did issue a statement, essentially saying that she referred to the counselor in a way that was an honest mistake, and she apologized.

[Joe Getty]

That's a woman who says she was misgendered. I don't know which direction this is, but a person who says they were misgendered and now needs a month off to feel safe, we gotta stop.

[Jack Armstrong]

Me too. Me too. I feel completely unsafe. Oh, we gotta see you in February.

[Joe Getty]

We gotta quit acting like mental illness is something to be coddled or described in any way other than you're mentally ill. You might need a month off because you're mentally ill. Maybe you need to be in a hospital or something like that, but you're mentally ill. You're a paranoid schizophrenic or you're depressed or something. But you're, like, clinically, diagnosably mentally ill is the thing. It's not. You were misgendered and you need a month off. That's not the story.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, we used to treat mental illness, not affirm it.

[Joe Getty]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Can you imagine?

[Joe Getty]

What would you do that whole month? Get up on a weekend. You'd get up and say, am I okay? They called me a dude when I'm a chick. Or vice versa. Am I all right? I'm still on. All right. I better go back to back.

[Jack Armstrong]

Actually, what's even funnier, really, is that they called him a dude when he is a dude. That was the crime.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, well. Right. Yeah. So.

[Jack Armstrong]

But he presents as a they them it. Right.

[Joe Getty]

Okay. So that's that story. Update you on another story that we had. The drunken Southwest pilot. We now know more, but we heard we did get a text from a pilot about the whole eight hours. Bottle to throttle is the guideline. So eight hours between your last tip on a bottle in your mouth and when you're supposed to grab the throttle. Bottle of throttle. I don't know if this guy did it or not. Let's find out. Clip 24, Michael.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I downloaded red note and pilot David Allsop was taken into custody. The TSA says an officer contacted law enforcement, reporting an individual in the crew screening lane who smelled of alcohol and appeared into the flight, was scheduled for a 6:05am takeoff to Chicago. According to the police report, Allsop was seated in the cockpit performing pre flight checks. The arresting officer saying he detected a strong odor of what seemed to be alcohol, adding Allsop claimed he last drank last night and had a Few light beers. They conducted a sobriety test there on the jet bridge. And officers saying Allsop failed and refused a state mandated blood test. Federal regulations ban pilots from consuming alcohol within eight hours of a flight takeoff. Southwest Airlines tells abc this pilot has been removed from duty.

[Joe Getty]

He was going through his pre flight checklist. Do I have a vomit bag? Do I have a big greasy burger? Because I'm gonna need that.

[Jack Armstrong]

You got some snacks? Can I get some snacks?

[Joe Getty]

So still. Still drunk from the night before is almost certainly what that is. Closed her down at 2 or later and then.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, man. Sir, you don't have the right stuff to fly for a major airline. Goodbye. Good luck in your future endeavors. It's terrible.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. End of his career plane.

[Jack Armstrong]

Chicago directly on Rush Street. Run into some bar, get a double bourbon. Not enough party going.

[Joe Getty]

Did the. Were the passengers aware of this? I wonder if they were told. They probably just told. There was an issue with the. There's an issue with the. The crew. And we're gonna have to, I don't know, sit here for four hours and not tell you anything.

[Jack Armstrong]

We're gonna get a backup crew in a bit of a scheduling snafu. Hope everybody's comfortable sitting here on the tarmac for hours.

[Joe Getty]

Pilot. Pilot was drunk off his a. And. And so we're gonna get you a new pilot. He was. He was twerking his way down the ramp and hitting on all the stewardesses. And so we're gonna get a new pilot.

[Jack Armstrong]

Now you have advocated in the past for a passenger vote.

[Joe Getty]

Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Before you turn back. And we've got a bit of a.

[Joe Getty]

Problem with the laboratory to Oklahoma City on time. Bring him out here. I'll question him. I'll see if I think he's drunk enough to fly or not. Because. Yeah, you don't want him to drunk drunk, but if he's just a little buzzed, he can fly the plane.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wait a minute. The copilot's young, healthy, and stone cold sober. I say we roll the dice. Let's tax.

[Joe Getty]

That is the way to do it. A passenger vote.

[Jack Armstrong]

I do want to return to the gender bending madness story about that city council person. There's a more serious side to that. Perhaps. Next hour, more on the tick tock ban decision.

[Joe Getty]

People are starting to talk about Joe Biden's mental state in a way they have not before. This is so freaking good. You got to stick around for hour three.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Gettysburg.