Why Are We Doing This?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Why Are We Doing This?" – Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Date of Release: November 18, 2024
Host: Armstrong & Getty
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

---

Introduction

In the "Why Are We Doing This?" episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Steve Post and Mike Bagley delve into pressing societal and political issues, examining the intricate web of policies, economic realities, and human behaviors that shape contemporary America. Skipping over the usual advertisements and promotional segments, the episode zeroes in on topics ranging from illegal immigration's impact on agriculture to the evolving landscape of warfare and the controversial potential appointment of RFK Jr. as Health Secretary.

---

Illegal Immigration and Agricultural Labor in California's Central Valley

Timestamp: [02:56] – [14:15]

The episode opens with a discussion inspired by a recent ABC segment addressing the critical role of undocumented workers in California's Central Valley—a region responsible for producing 17 billion dollars' worth of crops and 25% of the nation's food supply. The Department of Agriculture estimates that over 330,000 workers in the Central Valley alone lack legal status.

Key Points:

• Dependency on Undocumented Labor:
  Steve Post highlights, “We have accepted that our American-born people shouldn't have to do those jobs.” This reliance raises questions about societal values and labor distribution.

• Economic Realities vs. Societal Willingness:
  Despite offering some of the highest wages in the nation, farm owners report a stark lack of interest from American workers willing to engage in labor-intensive jobs under extreme conditions. Post questions, “Why would people who are unemployed or underemployed take the option of not doing a job even if it paid really well?”

• Policy and Sanctuary Cities:
  The hosts discuss California's 2017 measure prohibiting state resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement, effectively making it the sanctuary city capital of America. Post remarks, “If you're going to accept that our American born people shouldn't have to do those jobs, then you're gonna have to have illegals here.”

• Philosophical and Moral Questions:
  The conversation delves into the moral implications of delegating essential but unappealing jobs to undocumented immigrants. Bagley analogizes the situation to family counseling, suggesting, “Imagine if you went to family counseling and you said, my children refuse to do their chores. And the counselor said, well, let's talk about how you can hire someone to do your children's chores.”

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Post [03:30]: “300,000 workers in the Central Valley alone that if you followed what recent polling says 60% of America wants, would all be booted out of the country.”

• Mike Bagley [07:11]: “The more, quote unquote progressive you are, the more in favor of white people won't do this work. Let's bring in some of those brown people.”

---

Political Dynamics: Trump's Public Appearance with Influential Figures

Timestamp: [15:33] – [23:36]

The hosts shift focus to a high-profile event where former President Donald Trump attended a WWE event alongside notable figures like Elon Musk, RFK Jr., and Dana White. This appearance underscores Trump's enduring influence and strategic alliances within diverse sectors.

Key Points:

• Event Highlights:
  Post describes the scene: “Trump holds up the championship belt, and the crowd goes absolutely berserk.” The presence of Elon Musk and other influential personalities signals potential political maneuvers and endorsements.

• Implications for Trump’s Political Future:
  Bagley and Post speculate on the sustainability of Trump's alliances, especially with figures like Musk, noting, “Elon's got a pretty big platform to badmouth Trump if it goes wrong.”

• Media and Public Perception:
  The overwhelming positive reception from the crowd contrasts with media narratives, suggesting a disconnect between public sentiment and mainstream media representation.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Post [19:16]: “I wish the people that go home could hear the sound in this room. It is so loud.”

• Mike Bagley [23:02]: “This will be brilliant... I can't wait till that story is completely told.”

---

Health Policy Debate: The Controversial Stance of RFK Jr.

Timestamp: [43:27] – [48:29]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s potential role as Health Secretary, focusing on his controversial views on vaccines and water fluoridation.

Key Points:

• Vaccination Skepticism:
  RFK Jr. asserts, “No vaccine is safe and effective. I do believe that autism does come from vaccines.” These statements spark debates about public health policies and scientific consensus.

• Fluoridation of Water:
  Contrary to the widespread acceptance of fluoride in water as a successful public health measure, Kennedy contends its removal. Post notes, “There's a whole bunch of countries around the world that have decided, no, this is not good, it can cause all kinds of problems.”

• Public and Political Pushback:
  The hosts explore the societal resistance to changing established health policies, reflecting on past debates like those surrounding the food pyramid.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Bagley [46:25]: “There's like a direct correlation between that belief and masters degrees are higher in any given zip code.”

• Steve Post [45:01]: “Before we get to some good stuff about RFK Jr. from the Washington Post, here's him talking about vaccines.”

---

The Future of Warfare: AI and Autonomous Weapons

Timestamp: [28:04] – [38:55]

Post and Bagley examine the rapid advancements in military technology, particularly the rise of AI-driven autonomous weaponry and its implications for future conflicts.

Key Points:

• AI-Enabled Weapon Systems:
  The discussion centers on the development of systems like the Bullfrog, an AI-powered machine gun designed to target drones with precision beyond human capability. Bagley summarizes from Wired.com, “It's a computerized drone machine gun with AI and optics that see drones coming in, blows them out of the sky with a machine gun.”

• Impact on Soldiers and Military Strategy:
  The hosts express concern over the ethical and practical ramifications of reducing human involvement in combat, pondering whether this shift will lead to safer soldiers or more detached, yet equally devastating, warfare.

• Global Military Dynamics:
  Reference is made to Russia's ongoing conflicts and the potential obsolescence of traditional military assets like aircraft carriers in the face of smart weaponry. Post remarks, “The future might be what you're talking about. We just don't have to have human beings doing that.”

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Bagley [29:19]: “Seeking an edge in combat, the Navy has created boats so powerful that riding in them can destroy sailors' brains.”

• Steve Post [38:55]: “RFK Jr might be crazy about some stuff, but here it wraps up the...”

---

Conclusion: Societal Reflections and Policy Challenges

Timestamp: [43:22] – [49:57]

Wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the broader themes discussed, emphasizing the complex interplay between policy decisions, societal values, and technological advancements.

Key Points:

• Resistance to Change:
  Post acknowledges the difficulty in overhauling entrenched systems, noting, “Because we're unlikely to change these complicated things, it doesn't mean the first person with any idea to come along automatically should be considered the answer.”

• Ethical Considerations:
  The episode underscores the moral dilemmas inherent in delegating essential yet unappealing jobs to specific populations and the broader implications of technological advancements in warfare.

• Call for Comprehensive Policies:
  Both hosts advocate for thoughtful, inclusive policy-making that addresses root causes rather than superficial solutions, especially concerning immigration and labor.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Post [49:32]: “And we are underway. The Great American Race.”

• Mike Bagley [49:35]: “Photo finishes Ryan Blaney will win the...”

---

Final Thoughts

"Why Are We Doing This?" serves as a thought-provoking exploration of some of America's most contentious issues. Through incisive dialogue and critical analysis, Armstrong & Getty challenge listeners to reconsider prevailing narratives and question the underlying motives and consequences of current policies and societal trends. By weaving in current events, historical context, and ethical debates, the episode provides a comprehensive look at why certain systems persist and what it might take to effect meaningful change.

---

Note: This summary selectively includes significant portions of the episode's content, omitting repeated advertisement segments to focus on the core discussions pertinent to the episode's theme. Notable quotes are attributed with approximate timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

Head over to NFLShop.com today for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate destination for the official NFL Sideline collection worn by players and coaches on game day. Explore the same sideline and on field gear worn by your favorite players and coaches at NFL Shop. To shop now, go to NFLShop.com.

[Joe Getty]

Immerse yourself in a world of over a billion vibrant colors with Vizio's quantum QLED TVs. No matter where you're sitting, everyone gets the perfect view thanks to wide viewing angle. Enjoy truly immersive gameplay with 120fps at 1080p. You can even stream your favorite songs with the iHeartRadio app. Ready to go on every Vizio Quantum TV. From movie nights to gaming marathons, the Vizio Quantum TV delivers unparalleled performance in picture. Head to Walmart to find your Vizio Quantum TV today.

[Steve Post]

After investing billions to light up our network, T Mobile is America's largest 5G network. Plus right now you can switch keep.

[Mike Bagley]

Your phone and we'll pay it off up to $800. See how you can save on every.

[Steve Post]

Plan versus Verizon and AT&T. @t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch up to four lines.

[Mike Bagley]

Via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlocked device credit service ported 90 plus days with device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires.

[Ryan Seacrest]

In six months we are the Voice of nascar.

[Mike Bagley]

The green flag is in the air.

[Steve Post]

And we are underway.

[Jack Armstrong]

The Great American Race.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The Motor Racing Network, NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series Racing live on your hometown radio station and MRN or NASCAR.com Martinsville Talladega the Chicago Street Course. We have the side by side action and last lap passes for the win.

[Steve Post]

Photo finishes.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Ryan Blaney will win the voice of nascar, the Motor Racing Network.

[Mike Bagley]

Stay Farming DJ Dramos from life as a Gringo No Making smarter financial moves today secures a financial freedom for a successful tomorrow. Now we have a level of privilege that our parents never had. So what do we do with it? Right? How do we utilize the opportunities that we have that they don't? Right? And a lot of that is educating ourselves. Educating ourselves on how to not make the same mistakes they did. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. State Farm. Proud sponsor of my Kultura Podcast Network broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio Studio, the George Washington Broadcast Center. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Ryan Seacrest]

California's Central Valley is without question one of the most vital agricultural regions In America, producing 17 billion worth of crops, 25% of the nation's food supply. And to help grow and harvest those crops, many farmers here rely on undocumented workers. The Department of Agriculture estimates that about half of the hired crop workers do not have legal status. That is estimated to be more than 330,000 workers in the Central Valley alone.

[Steve Post]

300,000 workers in the Central Valley alone that if you followed what recent polling says 60% of America wants, would all be booted out of the country. And that would be, obviously, if you did that all at once, would be quite the wrecking of the whole agricultural system. Doesn't mean it's not a good idea though, because you got to have a system of some sort for having workers. And that's the job of Congress to come up with and be implemented and follow through. I don't know if they're going to or not, but Joe and I have been talking about illegal immigration and farmworkers for, geez, 25 years or whatever being on the air in this very part of the California of the country that they're talking about on ABC this week. And we used to talk about it all the time when we were only on in the Sacramento area and people would always talk, do you want tomatoes to be $5? Well then you know, who's gonna pick the lettuce? Yeah, exactly. It was always the conversation and our.

[Mike Bagley]

Answer was always somebody or nobody or a machine.

[Steve Post]

Well, let's hear from a couple of farmers in the Central Valley and their theories on why you need to have illegals picking. Here's more from ABC this week. We can't afford a labor shortage. Back during Obama we had a labor shortage and there were times where we.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I think people will look and say, but wait a minute, there are Americans who are unemployed. Why can't you just hire them?

[Steve Post]

They don't want to come out here and work in this extreme conditions, 100 plus degree temperatures, dust, hard work.

[Ryan Seacrest]

What if you paid them more?

[Steve Post]

It doesn't matter. You know, we pay some of the highest wages for farm workers in the nation right here in California, and they won't come out. And just so before we have that conversation, here's a different farmer, same question, same topic there. I don't care what you pay them. I don't care if you pay them $26 an hour. It ain't gonna happen. They're not gonna get up at 4 or 5 in the morning, drive to the Field and pick fruit. So. And the question was, why don't you just hire Americans? They won't do it. I don't care what you pay them. They're not gonna get up that time of day and come out and do that job. So I don't understand why that isn't a. Hold on pause. Let's have a conversation about that sort of revelation on ABC this week. They just move on to. And there you see, Americans won't do this work. So it makes sense to have illegal brown people do it. What. What. How do you craft a society like that? How about, why would people who are unemployed or underemployed take the option of not doing a job even if it paid really well?

[Mike Bagley]

Right, right.

[Steve Post]

How could they do that? How does that work? How does that. How are they paying the rent? How are they eating?

[Mike Bagley]

Can you imagine if you went to family counseling and. And you said, my children refuse to do their chores. And the counselor said, well, let's talk about how you can hire someone to do your children's chores.

[Steve Post]

Right?

[Mike Bagley]

No, that's not the right question. Right, yeah. Oh, that's funny.

[Steve Post]

And we've been. We. We've been talking about this very topic for decades now. How have we just accepted that people born in this country shouldn't have to do work that's not, I don't know, glamorous or kind of hard or it's outside or whatever the reason is, people don't want to do it. I did that kind of work when I was in high school. Lots of us did. You can't do it anymore.

[Mike Bagley]

Many, many Americans did.

[Steve Post]

But is everybody okay with that? Creating a welfare state so lavish that people can choose not to do jobs that they don't find, like something they want to do, even. Even if it pays $29 an hour?

[Mike Bagley]

And one more amusing irony, this has amused me for many, many years, is the more, quote unquote progressive you are, the more in favor of white people won't do this work. Let's bring in some of those brown people. I mean, that's. The further left you are, the more you're a hardcore. Open up the borders and let them in person, Which I think is hilarious.

[Steve Post]

There's also the unspoken, unstated realization that if millions of people come here and do those jobs, they're getting by. They must be able to live somewhere and have a car and eat and, you know, do all the things you want to do with a job.

[Mike Bagley]

Right?

[Steve Post]

By definition, yeah.

[Mike Bagley]

It's just. It boils down to a Couple of very, very simple principles. Number one is the purpose of getting the reins of government is to be able to distribute money from the treasury. Doesn't matter what the system is. They vary in how they do that, but that's the point. And in our system, you've got to get a little support from a lot of people. Kim Jong Un just needs a hell of a lot of support from a fairly small group of people. But in a democracy, you need a little support from a hell of a lot of people. How do you do that? By handing out money, Government benefits, three and a half dozen different social programs that make sure nobody's going to starve. And so the second very broad and easy to understand principle is people go for their best alternative. They will do their best option. And for Americans, working in a field in the heat and the dust bent over is not nearly their best option. For some Guatemalan, it is.

[Steve Post]

I just, I don't understand how we got to where we're okay with that or think that that's a workable plan going forward that doesn't end up with like, I've been taking in a lot of French Revolution stuff over the weekend, you know, that sort of society falling apart.

[Mike Bagley]

I believe the French Revolution is your Roman Empire, although you are quite interested in the Roman Empire as well.

[Steve Post]

It is.

[Mike Bagley]

Well, so the answer of how we get there is because nobody asks the question, the moral question there, the one that we keep harping on. It's not part of the conversation at all.

[Steve Post]

No, it wasn't. ABC this week did a long segment on this topic and not a word of. Doesn't seem a little weird to have a society where you've declared certain jobs off limits for your citizens. Like, no, that's too grungy a job. Even at $29 an hour, you just don't want to have to do. I mean, would you do that with your own kids? I'll, I'll keep supporting you, you know, until you're 30 or past, rather than you go do that job. What?

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah.

[Steve Post]

Who would live their lives like that?

[Mike Bagley]

Democracies end when they realize they can vote themselves money from the treasury. Can you imagine running on the platform. I'm going to get you off of your couch and into the field. Good luck with that.

[Steve Post]

Right.

[Mike Bagley]

We're a soft, decadent country. That's just, that's it.

[Steve Post]

We really are. Which is what France was when they fell apart. Not to get back to the revolution, but. And then here they wrapped up the.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Conversation with this portion deporting undocumented workers in California is complicated. The state enacted a measure in 2017 that prevents state resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement. And while that law varies by city and county, California is the sanctuary city capital of America with dozens of cities and counties protecting undocumented residents from arrest based solely on their immigration status.

[Steve Post]

So that's a problem. I mean, it all fits together as part of a puzzle. I hate the whole thing, but if you're going to accept. I'm not, but apparently we have accepted that our American born people shouldn't have to do those jobs. Well, then you're gonna have to have illegals here. And then if you're gonna have illegals here, you can't have them being deported. So you gotta be a sanctuary county. I mean, it all fits together.

[Mike Bagley]

Or you just admit all of the above and you design a temporary worker.

[Steve Post]

Program, which is what Congress should do. Also not a part of the conversation where they said, well, if you want it to be this way, and apparently people do, well, then Congress needs to sit down and come up with a very complex system for workers or making these people citizens or whatever it is you're going to do. But you got to come up with a plan. Um, all the arguments I seem to see on the Sunday talk shows, nobody was offering anything other than continuing to just randomly let people come in by the millions, come and go by the millions, not know who they are. Martha Raditz even admitted to whoever was pushing back on this story. There are 600,000 known criminals. Not the crime of being here illegal, but like other crimes from Mexico or Venezuela. 600,000 criminals in the United States right now. We don't know where they are. What kind of. Who does that?

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, yeah, that's nuts. Yeah, it is. It's, it's self destructive. It's, it's horrible because we won't get to the root questions. And the final annoying reality I'd like to trot out there. This is why I don't get many invitations to dinner parties. Oh, you invited Mr. Annoying Reality. Oh, good. Is the left raises money from soft heads, in my opinion, with their no human being is illegal. Build bridges, not walls nonsense. And the right raises money on boot them all out, seal the borders. And to say we're going to craft a guest worker program that's going to let 1.1 million people in temporarily, we'll keep track of them, blah, blah, blah, we're going to streamline the course. It's just you can't raise money on that. It's too Complicated. The devil is in the details. And there's always plenty to anger, you know, virtually everybody in the discussion. So, I don't know. I don't mean to be discouraging, but as long as small money donations rule politics, it's going to be hard to work out stuff like this.

[Steve Post]

I'm just appalled by the idea. I've always cringed when anybody says those are jobs Americans won't do. That makes me cringe. You cannot be a strong, functioning, successful society if you've decided certain jobs are off limits to your citizens. That's sickening as a notion.

[Mike Bagley]

Well, that's how empires fall back to Rome. Or if you'd prefer, I assume with your French Revolution passion, you'd like to say, see guillotines all over America cutting off the heads of the disloyal or immigrant. I don't know what in your crazy world. But anyway, speaking of donations contributions, the good folks at Prize Picks are going to give you $50 instantly after you just play your first $5 lineup if you use our Code Armstrong with the Prize Picks app. It's fun. All you do is pick more or less on at least two players for a shot to win up to a hundred times your cash. Run your season all season long on Prize picks.

[Steve Post]

Yeah, that. 100 times your money. That's a pretty big deal with just four correct picks. Spend a little time looking into that, but not like the kind of time you got to put into fantasy football at all. This is something you can do on a daily basis. Prizepix now offers Venmo for quick and easy deposits and withdrawals into your account. You could get your money within 15 minutes.

[Mike Bagley]

And prize Picks invented the Flex play, which means you can still cash out even if your lineup isn't perfect. You can double your money even if one of your picks doesn't hit. And again, it is easy and fun. Download the Prize Picks app today. Use the Code Armstrong. Get that 50 bucks instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. You don't have to win, you just have to play five bucks and they give you 50 using prize picks. Run your game.

[Steve Post]

Did everybody see highlights of Trump rolling into that WWE event over the weekend with Elon and Kid Rock, everybody? That was something.

[Mike Bagley]

To a deafening reception.

[Steve Post]

Yeah, absolutely. And then. And then when the greatest MMA fighter maybe of all time wins at the end, he goes over and gives his belt to Trump and everybody's cheering like crazy. I mean, that is. That is something.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, yeah. I want to talk about the dynamics at work there, because it's brilliant.

[Steve Post]

So if you haven't heard it, we'll play a little of the audio and a bunch of other stuff on the way. Stay here Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Head over to NFLShop.com today for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate destination for for the official NFL Sideline Collection worn by players and coaches on game day. Explore the same sideline and on field gear worn by your favorite players and coaches at NFL Shop. To shop now, go to NFLShop.com.

[Joe Getty]

Ready to unleash the power of 4K Vizio's 4K TV collection has you covered with sizes ranging from 43 inches all the way up to a jaw dropping 86 inch Experience stunning clarity like never before, bringing your favorite shows and movies to life. And with Watch Free plus built in, you'll enjoy free live and On Demand TV right out of the box. You can even stream your favorite songs with the iHeartRadio app ready to go on every Vizio 4K TV. Upgrade your entertainment. Head to Walmart to find your Vizio 4K TV today.

[Unknown]

Black Friday is coming. And for the adults in your life who love the coolest toys, well, there's something for them this year too. Bartisian is the premier craft cocktail maker that automatically makes more than 60 seasonal and classic cocktails each in under 30 seconds at the push of a button. And right now, Bartisian is having a huge site wide sale. You can get $100 off any cocktail maker or cocktail maker bundle when you spend $400 or more. So if the cocktail lover in your life has been good this year or the right kind of bad, get them Bartesian at the push of a button. Make bar quality Cosmopolitans, Martinis, Manhattans and more all in just 30 seconds. All for a hundred off. Amazing toys aren't just for kids. Get a hundred off a cocktail maker when you spend 400 through Cyber Monday. Visit bartesian.com cocktail that's B A R T E S I A N dot com cocktail hi, this is Mike Bagley.

[Mike Bagley]

Join me along with the cast and crew of the Motor Racing Network for NASCAR Live. Hear exclusive interviews. It's my responsibility as a driver to leave the sport in a better place than it was when I got here. The best moments from each of NASCAR's premier series, they bang sideways at the line. Photo finish, an in depth breakdown to the latest NASCAR news and more. It's NASCAR Live. Listen today in the iHeartRadio app or on your favorite podcast platform.

[Unknown]

Looking for Excitement. Chumba Casino is here. Play anytime. Play anywhere. Play on the train. Play at the store. Play at home. Play when you're bored. Play today for your chance to win and get daily bonuses when you log in. So what are you waiting for? Don't delay. Chumba Casino is free to play. Experience social gameplay like never before. Go to Chumba Casino right now to play hundreds of games, including online slots, bingo, Slingo and more. Live the chumba [e-mail] VGW Group no purchase necessary Void were prohibited by law. See terms and conditions and ladies and.

[Steve Post]

Gentlemen, look who is now making his.

[Mike Bagley]

Way to the world famous Octagon flanked by UFC CEO Dana White, 45, soon to be 47. President elect Donald Trump.

[Steve Post]

I wish the people that go home could hear the sound in this room.

[Mike Bagley]

It's so loud in here.

[Steve Post]

It is so loud. He's always loud when he comes here, but now that he's won, now that he's the president again, oh my God, that is something.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah. And if you saw any videos people took of their phones and posted on social media, I mean, because that didn't. They didn't have a crowd mic on that little bit of audio, but yeah, just deafening. Like the championship has just been one noise in a sports arena.

[Steve Post]

Well, they did a thing up on the screen where they had Trump's name and 45, and then it kind of swept away and turned into 47. And then that's when the crowd really went berserko when Trump walked out with Elon RFK Jr, Vivek Tulsi, kid Rock, Joe Rogan, Dana White, Jelly Roll, the Singer and Don Jr. Wow. And the crowd going absolutely berserk. And then I don't follow mma. But then whoever supposedly is the current greatest MMA fighter of all time, he wins his big championship match, goes over and gives Trump the belt. Trump holds it up, crowd goes absolutely ape ass again at the end of the night. And it's just like, if you're trying to run against that, how do you run against that?

[Mike Bagley]

Well, Trump's gift, and the mainstream media in particular has just tied themselves in knots trying to understand this is Trump, a billionaire, gets working people. And I think honestly, his kids have talked about how he always took them to the work sites and explained what was going on and why the people were doing this, that and the other, and how a building takes shape and blah, blah, and spent a lot of time interacting with the contractors and the workers and that sort of thing. And, you know, for whatever reason, Born to Wealth, billionaire, developer. He gets working folks and he does not have contempt for them, which is an incredible gift politically.

[Steve Post]

How about that picture from the Trump plane where they were eating all the McDonald's food? So it's him and Elon and his son and RFK Jr. And Mike Johnson all having McDonald's Big Macs and stuff like that. And Trump says, make America healthy again starts tomorrow, which is also really relatable to regular people sort of thing. We'll start eating healthy tomorrow.

[Mike Bagley]

And again in this. I know it's ironic. It's A, hilarious. That's not ironic, but B, an incredibly down to earth thing to say. Down to earth. Oh, that is funny. Hey, I can't help but note in that really interesting group of folks who entered the UFC arena, Nomad Gates, who would have crawled across cut glass and turned down a date with three 17 year olds to be there.

[Steve Post]

This was held at Madison Square Garden, the very same arena where that Nazi rally reminiscent of the one from 1939.

[Mike Bagley]

Was held in a different building that happened to have the same name. It was just like it. Yes, because there were people and speeches and shouting. Yes.

[Steve Post]

First of all, the fact, again, that Elon is at Trump's side for everything that's happening all the time. I can't wait till that story is completely told. And then RFK Jr there holding the Big Mac in his hands. He's gotta hate that.

[Mike Bagley]

Oh, he did not look overly pleased.

[Steve Post]

No, he did not.

[Mike Bagley]

I think Trump told him here to grab this. This will be funny. So that bromance. Trump and Elon, how long can it last, right?

[Steve Post]

Dang it. I wonder, too. I wonder, too. Axios is reporting a blow up between Elon and one of Trump's advisors over some cabinet pick. But I mean, Trump and Mad Dog Trump and, you know, lots of people went sideways and Elon's got a pretty big platform to badmouth Trump if it goes wrong.

[Mike Bagley]

Uh oh. All right, everybody. Everybody keep cool. Let's remember our manners, all right? Generous listening, et cetera.

[Steve Post]

Oh, yeah, right.

[Unknown]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Head over to NFLShop.com today for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate destination for the official NFL sideline collection worn by players and coaches on game day. Explore the same sideline and on field gear worn by your favorite players and coaches at NFL Shop. To shop now, go to NFLShop.com.

[Joe Getty]

Step into a world of unparalleled brightness and lifelike color with Vizio's Quantum Pro TV. This premium QLED TV, available in 65 and 75 inch sizes, is designed for those who demand the best in picture quality. Breathtaking brightness brings every scene to life while wide viewing angle delivers the perfect picture from any seat in the room. Enjoy all your favorite apps built in so you can blast your top songs through the iHeartRadio app straight out of the box. Head to Walmart to find your Vizio Quantum Pro TV today.

[Unknown]

Black Friday is coming and for the adults in your life who love the coolest toys, well, there's something for them this year too. Bartisian is the premier craft cocktail maker that automatically makes more than 60 seasonal and classic cocktails each in under 30 seconds at the push of a button. And right now Bartisian is having a huge site wide sale. You can get $100 off any cocktail maker or cocktail maker bundle when you spend $400 or more. So if the cocktail lover in your life has been good this year or the right kind of bad, get them Bartesian at the push of a button. Make bar quality Cosmopolitans, Martinis, Manhattans and more all in just 30 seconds. All for 100 off amazing toys aren't just for kids. Get 100 off a cocktail maker when you spend 400 through Cyber Monday. Visit bartesian.com cocktail that's B A R T E S I A N dot.

[Jack Armstrong]

Com cocktail hi, I'm MRN Lead Pit.

[Steve Post]

Reporter Steve Post and I'm championship winning Crew chief Todd Gordon.

[Jack Armstrong]

Go behind the scenes each week with us for MRN Crew Call where we'll talk to some of the biggest names standing atop the pit box as well.

[Steve Post]

As break down all the exciting action from the weekend in NASCAR and go into detail on the winning strategies.

[Jack Armstrong]

Crew Call is also where you'll hear from the first time winners and the.

[Steve Post]

Champions from the NASCAR Cup Series to the Craftsman Truck Series.

[Jack Armstrong]

Listen today in the iHeartRadio app or on your favorite podcast platform.

[Unknown]

Looking for excitement. Chumba Casino is here. Play anytime, play anywhere, Play on the train, play at the store, play at home, play when you're bored. Play today for your chance to win and get daily bonuses when you log in. So what are you waiting for? Don't delay. Chumba Casino is free to play. Experience social gameplay like never before. Go to Chumba Casino right now to play hundreds of games including online slots, Bingo, Slingo and more. Live the chumba [e-mail] VGW Group no purchase necessary void were prohibited by law. See terms and Conditions.

[Steve Post]

A Spirit Airlines flight was forced to divert after it was struck by gunfire from gangs while trying to land in Haiti, a rare setback for people who fly Spirit to Haiti.

[Mike Bagley]

That's pretty funny. Oh, that's really funny. Great delivery, too.

[Steve Post]

That one made me laugh out loud. One of the great things that's going to come out of the RFK Jr thing, you know, if he makes it all the way to being questioned in the confirmation. And I don't know, I'm not exactly sure where I am on him as running HHS right now, but like, there's an article in the Washington Post today I, I regularly am hearing he wants to end one of the most successful health programs in world history, fluoride in the water. Well, the Washington Post today with a one of their respected opinion writers, RFK Jr. S views on fluoride aren't as crazy as you might think. And I will run through that next segment. Maybe, but there's a whole bunch of Germany, Denmark, a whole bunch of Western countries that banned fluoride for a bunch of reasons that are decent. I don't, you know, I've never looked into it myself, but it's not insane. It's not an insane idea.

[Mike Bagley]

I remember that argument slash conversation from my youth, as a matter of fact. So yeah, I'm looking forward to hearing that. Plus, we're talking to the fabulous Mike Lyons about various developments in war and peace. Speaking of which, I found this so interesting, particularly in the wake of a conversation I had over the weekend with a guy who's involved in the sciences and knows a bunch of people in the military. But and I mentioned this briefly last week, it's a piece in the New York Times about how chronic brain trauma has become a terrible, terrible problem in the Navy's elite speedboat crews. These are the super fast speedboats that often deliver Navy SEALs to their targets. They go across the rough seas at 60 miles per hour per hour.

[Steve Post]

And I don't know if you've ever done that before, but it is so incredibly jarring. We did that. I've done that a couple of times in my life. But we were on a boat in Hawaii, went flying around, taking us to some caves on the other side of the island and just like flying through the water on the bam bam bam and you had to have a rope over the top of your feet and hold onto it with your hands to keep from flying out. But I thought, what is this doing in my head? This is a hell of a blow to your whole body over and over again.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah. And the point of this article is you got A bunch of guys who are in their 30s or early 40s, they're just rising to the point that they ought to be in command. But. But they are exhibiting many, many signs that are much like NFL players who've had the worst of the chronic brain injury problems. Junior Seau. Delusions, depression, suicide, substance abuse. Lots of, not lots of, but because it's a fairly small number of people, but a shocking number of suicides as these guys brains just leave them. And I was struck by this sentence. Seeking an edge in combat, the Navy has created boats so powerful that riding in them can destroy sailors brains.

[Steve Post]

Wow.

[Mike Bagley]

And so the theme is of a couple of stories I've got for you is the future of unmanned war is clearly the future on the land, in the air and on the sea. And those technologies are coming on fast and furious. Here's a headline for you. Kim Jong Un orders mass production of suicide attack drones. And you know, when he decides, yeah, our society, this is our priority, it becomes their priority. It's one of the benefits of being a dictator. But they are going to produce shocking numbers of these suicide attack drones both for their own use and to export to others.

[Steve Post]

So if this is the future, and I'm sure it is, being the biggest economy in the world has got to be a huge advantage since it's not about feeding human beings into a meat grinder in a war. It's having the most, you know, technologically advanced stuff.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, you know, that's an interesting point because we are at a disadvantage in a way. I mean, obviously this is a long philosophical discussion, but in a way, because we have such high regard for individual life.

[Steve Post]

Yeah, I was going to talk about it later. Russia had the deadliest month last month. They've had the entire war breaking the record they set like two months ago. So they're having, they're. I mean speaking of feeding human beings into a meat grinder, that's what they're doing. The Russians in Ukraine and now they're reporting today from South Korea that North Korea's may put in 100,000 troops because Russia's running out of people to be fed into the grinder. That is the war in the Ukraine. But the future might be what you're talking about. We just, we don't have to have human beings doing that.

[Mike Bagley]

Right. You know, as long as you brought that up, I've been looking for an excuse to mention this. I thought this was crazy. From the journal the deathonomics powering Russia's war machine. And they talk about how particularly in the poorer parts of Russia's hinterlands that are really poor. I mean you've got Moscow and a couple of other big cities, St. Petersburg and then the rest of the country.

[Steve Post]

Yeah, I talked about when I rode the train from Moscow to St. Petersburg. When we're out in the is like a six hour train ride and out in the middle of nowhere it looked like it was the 1800s. These big old wooden houses with big old board barns and when it was getting dark, there was no lights on anywhere, it was just dark.

[Mike Bagley]

I thought, wow, this is something they mentioned that Russia is, you know, running out of dudes and having heavy losses and heavier by the minute. In Ukraine they're offering high salaries and bonuses to entice new recruits because they have the opposite regard for their soldiers lives as we do in the US they'll feed as many guys to the machine guns as they need to from World War II on or before that even. But they have now offered higher salaries and bonuses. And in some of the country's poorest regions, the military wage is as much as five times the average wage. Wow, five times. Plus if you die on the front line, your family receives a big compensation payment from the government and so it's life changing for your family.

[Steve Post]

So it wouldn't only be patriotic to whatever extent they're patriotic about. Yeah, it could change your family's trajectory.

[Mike Bagley]

So they say a family of a 35 year old man who fights for a year and is then killed on the battlefield would receive the equivalent of $150,000. That's more than he would have earned cumulatively working as a civilian until the age of 60 in some regions.

[Steve Post]

Wow, that is something.

[Mike Bagley]

So again, either 25 years of work or you get killed on the battlefield of Ukraine and you get it right up front. Not to mention other bonuses and insurance payments too.

[Steve Post]

I don't know how much they count on that money actually coming to them. I don't have any sense of if Russia usually follows through on those promises or not.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, I think they do. But anyway, you made the point about, you know, willingness to feed people to machine gun fire. Here's another headline. Killer robots are about to fill Ukrainian skies. Kiev's drone suppliers are ramping up production of computer guided drones that are cheap and can't be electronically jammed. And I guarantee our Pentagon and darpa, or at least for God's sake they ought to be, are studying these drones and their designs and the production of them and that sort of thing, this is going to completely change the face of Infantry. And then finally this. I thought this was so interesting. This is actually from wired.com the AI machine gun of the future is already here. It's a robotic twist on its standard issue small arms. Amid a rising tide of low cost weaponized adversary drones menacing American troops abroad, the US is pulling out all the stops to protect its forces from the ever present threat of death from above. But between expensive munitions, futuristic but complicated directed energy weapons, and its own growing drone arsenal, the Pentagon is increasingly eyeing an elegantly simple solution to the growing drone problem. Reinventing the gun. And the Defense Department is testing an artificial intelligence enabled autonomous robotic gun system developed by a new defense contractor, Allen Control Systems. Dubbed the Bullfrog, it consists of a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun mounted on a specially designed rotating turret, outfitted with an electro optical sensor, proprietary AI and computer vision software. And it's designed to deliver small arms fire on drone targets with far more precision than the average US service member can achieve with a standard issue M4 carbine or even next generation XM7 rifle. So it's a computerized drone machine gun with AI and optics that sees quote unquote drones coming in, blows them out of the sky with a machine gun.

[Steve Post]

The only I don't doubt this and we're in a different technological time, but I just remember people saying in the 80s, smart people saying the next war will be a push button war. It'll be all robots. And this. There have been awful lot of human beings run straight into gunfire in the past 40 years since I heard smart people saying that, including today in Russia.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, I think it, and this sounds horrible, but to think about it for a second, I think it's similar to the question of are we going to have robots or human beings manning the drive through at McDonald's or flipping burgers. The availability and cost has changed so much now. This stuff seems realistic. It's not going to cost you a billion dollars to develop this super mobile eye in the sky machine gun. It'll be a fraction of that now.

[Steve Post]

Right. But you're right, there will be. Yeah, the same economics exist obviously. And if you can get some poor Russian dude, a whole bunch of them to run straight at a machine gun nest until they it might be a lot cheaper than the robots. I don't know.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, I've got a friend in four.

[Steve Post]

Countries that are willing to do that. We're not willing to do that. So the equation is different.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, it's funny and I don't know much about this, but I have a friend who operated in Europe in engineering for a long time and he says the Russians, this goes back to the Soviet Union days, but it's still true. The Russians are great at science and terrible at manufacturing for some reason, so that might be their great disadvantage. Whereas we're pretty damn good at both when we, when we get it right. Anyway, the, the future warfare is changing so rapidly. You know, let's pray we don't find out what the US ultimately does and how we do it for a very long time on a grand scale. But who knows.

[Steve Post]

Yeah, I've read a whole bunch of stuff. It was in the David Sanger book and the Bob Woodward book. Bunch of stuff about this has been the practice ground in Ukraine with this war for all kinds of different technology and weapons that didn't even exist when this thing started. So it is the next big war between US and China or whenever when that comes, hopefully no time soon will be on the back of a lot of the stuff that's happened in the last three years in Ukraine, no doubt.

[Mike Bagley]

And how long is it until our many, many billions of dollars worth of aircraft carriers are completely obsolete in a great power? I mean, they're just like a cow in a field in terms of their vulnerability to smart weapons.

[Steve Post]

And that's been one of our greatest advantages for the past 75 years. RFK Jr might be crazy about some stuff he's apparently not crazy about fluoride in the water, among other things that we can talk about coming up.

[Mike Bagley]

Stay here Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Head over to NFLShop.com today for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate destination for the official NFL Sideline collection worn by players and coaches on game day. Explore the same sideline and on field gear worn by your favorite players and coaches at NFL Shop. To shop now, go to NFLShop.com Ready.

[Joe Getty]

To unleash the power of 4K? Vizio's 4K TV collection has you covered with sizes ranging from 43 inches all the way up to a jaw dropping 86 inch screen. Experience stunning clarity like never before. Bringing your favorite shows and movies to life. And with Watch Free plus built in, you'll enjoy free live and on demand TV right out of the box. You can even stream your favorite songs with the iHeartRadio app ready to go on every Vizio 4K T upgrade your entertainment. Head to Walmart to find your Vizio 4K TV today.

[Unknown]

Black Friday is coming. And for the adults in your life who love the coolest toys. Well, there's something for them this year too. Bartisian is the premier craft cocktail maker that automatically makes more than 60 seasonal and classic cocktails each in under 30 seconds at the push of a button. And right now Bartisian is having a huge site wide sale. You can get $100 off any cocktail maker or cocktail maker bundle when you spend $400 or more. So if the cocktail lover in your life has been good this year or the right kind of bad, get them Bartesian at the push of a button. Make bar quality cosmopolitans, martinis, Manhattans and more all in just 30 seconds. All for 100 off amazing toys, Art, not just for kids. Get 100 off a cocktail maker when you spend 400 through Cyber Monday. Visit bartesian.com cocktail that's B A R T E S I A N dot com cocktail hi, this is Mike Bagley.

[Mike Bagley]

Join me along with the cast and crew of the Motor Racing Network for NASCAR Live. Hear exclusive interviews. It's my responsibility as a driver to leave the sport in a better place than it was when I got here. The best moments from each of NASCAR's premier series, they bang sideways at the line, photo finish, an in depth breakdown to the latest NASCAR news and more. It's NASCAR Live. Listen today in the iHeartRadio app or on your favorite podcast platform.

[Unknown]

This holiday season, surprise everyone on your list with the best gifts tickets to see their favorite artists live. Choose from thousands of concerts and comedy shows including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Matt Matthews, Metallica, Thom Rhett, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Sarah Silverman, and so many more. Share a memory together or give a gift they'll never forget. Find the most exciting gift for every [e-mail] gifts. That's livenation.com gifts.

[Mike Bagley]

So here you go. You've got fourth and two fakes left now taken off. Going to run for it. He got it.

[Steve Post]

And there he goes inside the 10 to five. Oh, the play of the year and the NFL. That was the play of the year in the NFL. Josh Allen with the Bills running on fourth and two in a game in which the Chiefs almost certainly would have won and stayed undefeated if they hadn't made the first down. Guy runs all the way in for a touchdown. Very exciting. Several of the most exciting NFL games over the last years have been Chiefs Bills games. And at the end I saw Mahomes. They caught it on Mike, slap Josh Allen on the head and say I was a hell of a play. Let's do it again in January Yeah, which I'm sure they will.

[Mike Bagley]

If I'm some extremely athletic, talented, 200 pound defensive back, I'm going to stop the game and I'm going to say, excuse me, excuse me. The quarterback is as big as a truck. Is this fair? Is this. I'm just asking to be that big and that fast and yeah, yeah, Mike.

[Steve Post]

Tyson could have said that Friday night. I'm an old man. Is it fair?

[Mike Bagley]

Why are we doing this? Yeah, good question.

[Steve Post]

So RFK Jr. Is quite the controversial figure. I mean, I knew that going in, but taking in a bunch of social media over the weekend, there are a whole bunch of you who are really, really, really into the idea of RFK Jr. Taking over the health of America. Like it seems to be among your more important priorities. Now I do agree with. I tweeted this out over the weekend from the Babylon B and the pushback to RFK Jr. Fattest sickest country on Earth concerned new health secretary might do something different. There's a certain amount of truth to that with just any time you try, anytime there's a giant problem and somebody comes along that's going to interrupt what you have been doing. There's always so much pushback. And we use the example of illegal immigration or the tax code or the way we eat. We got every, every person I know has got a kid with autism or ADHD or anxiety medications they got to take. And we like, we just accept that as okay. I guess times change. I guess every family needs to have a kid who needs to be on drugs.

[Unknown]

What?

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, yeah, I agree completely. The question, you know, is, is this guy the right shaker, upper right, right. Or is he a nut job? But yeah, it's like the tax code. Oh, we better not change anything. No, no.

[Steve Post]

Nobody in the history, there's no human.

[Mike Bagley]

Being ever would think this is a good system, yet you're completely resistant to changing it. Explain, please.

[Steve Post]

Yeah, I recognize my logical fallacy that because we're unlikely to change these complicated things, it doesn't mean the first person with any idea to come along automatically should be considered the answer. But before we get to some good stuff about RFK Jr. From the Washington Post, here's him talking about vaccines over the year, keeping over the years, keeping in mind that last week, every time a microphone was in his face, he said, no, I'm not anti vax.

[Mike Bagley]

COVID 19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese. Can you name any vaccines that you think are good I think some of the live virus vaccines are probably saw averting more problems than they're causing. There's no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective. I do believe that autism does come from vaccines. A mountain of scientific study links autism to early vaccination with certain vaccines.

[Steve Post]

So no vaccine is safe and effective. He believes vaccines cause autism. It's interesting that a lot of the pushback from the left on that, given the fact that my entire, like radio career, it's been the parents of Marin county, the super lefties who have been saying autism is caused by vaccines. Yeah.

[Mike Bagley]

There's like a direct correlation between that belief and. And master's degrees are higher in any given zip code. Yeah.

[Steve Post]

Yeah. So now it's a right wing crazy thing as opposed to it was a left wing crazy thing. But anyway, he also wants to get the fluoride out of the water, which I heard, I still heard yesterday, people saying that's one of the most successful health programs in world history. Well, their person who writes about this sort of stuff for the Washington Post says RFK Jr's views on fluoride aren't as crazy as you might think and lists all of the pushback there's been over the years. We've been doing this since 1962, by the way, putting fluoride in the water. And most states have been on board for decades and decades. But there's a whole bunch of countries around the world, like real countries that have decided, no, this is not good, it can cause all kinds of problems. So I just want to point out that on this particular topic, it's not nuts that he's going around saying that.

[Mike Bagley]

Yeah, I know. My own personal level of belief in health authorities was seriously damaged by observing everything that happened during COVID No doubt became clear, no doubt that they'll listen if we say there are downsides to this. People won't do it. So let's pretend there are no downsides. Saw it running rampant. That doesn't mean you have to reject everything all the time in a knee jerk way. But yeah, they are willing to trade off good for bad in their perception and then downplay the bad, sometimes to the point of utter dishonesty.

[Steve Post]

Well, how about the food pyramid throughout my lifetime and the lies around that.

[Unknown]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Head over to NFLShop.com today for the largest collection of officially licensed gear from all your favorite brands. NFL Shop is your ultimate destination for the official NFL sideline collection worn by players and coaches on game day. Explore the same sideline and on field gear worn by your favorite players and coaches at NFL Shop to shop now, go to NFLShop.com.

[Joe Getty]

Ready to unleash the power of 4K? Vizio's 4K TV collection has you covered with sizes ranging from 43 inches all the way way up to a jaw dropping 86 inch screen. Experience stunning clarity like never before, bringing your favorite shows and movies to life. And with Watch Free plus built in, you'll enjoy free live and on demand TV right out of the box. You can even stream your favorite songs with the iHeartRadio app ready to go on every Vizio 4K TV. Upgrade your entertainment. Head to Walmart to find your Vizio.

[Unknown]

4K TV today this holiday season. Surprise everyone on your list with the best gifts Tickets to see their favorite artists live. Choose from thousands of concerts and comedy shows anchor including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Matt Matthews, Metallica, Thomas Rhett, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Sarah Silverman and so many more. Share a memory together or give a gift they'll never forget. Find the most exciting gift for every [e-mail] gifts that's livenation.com gifts we are.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The voice of NASCAR.

[Mike Bagley]

The green flag is in the air.

[Steve Post]

And we are underway.

[Jack Armstrong]

The Great American Race.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The Motor Racing Network, NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series racing live on your hometown radio station and MRN or NASCAR.com Martinsville, Talladega, the Chicago street course. We have the side by side action and last lap passes for the win.

[Mike Bagley]

Photo finishes Ryan Blaney will win the.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Voice of nascar, the Motor Racing Network.

[Mike Bagley]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest. Life comes at you fast which is why it's important to find some time to relax a little you time. Enter Chumba Casino with no download required. You can jump on anytime, anywhere for the chance to redeem some serious prizes. So treat yourself with Chumba Casino and play over 100 online casino style games, all for free. Go to chumbacassino.com to collect your free welcome bonus. Sponsored by Cumba Casino. No purchase necessary. VGW Group void where prohibited by law. 18 plus terms and conditions.