You Get It From Having Sex With A Whooping Crane, Right?

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand Episode: You Get It From Having Sex With A Whooping Crane, Right? Release Date: May 12, 2025 Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty Producer: iHeartPodcasts

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Overview

In this lively episode of "Armstrong & Getty On Demand," hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty delve into a range of pressing topics, blending humor with incisive commentary. From the exorbitant costs of theme parks to the complexities of California's regulatory landscape, the duo navigates through current events with their signature banter. The episode also touches on the resurgence of classic diseases, international corruption scandals, the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, and ends with reflective final thoughts from the hosts and their team.

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1. The High Cost of Disney Adventures

Timestamp: [00:28] - [01:45]

The episode kicks off with a humorous yet critical examination of the escalating costs associated with visiting Disney parks. Katie Greener shares a detailed breakdown of her family's $1,391 bill, highlighting expenses from parking fees to food and drinks.

Notable Quote:

• Katie Greener: "The grand total for our day was 1,391 dollars." [01:34]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty use this as a springboard to critique the broader issue of rising costs in entertainment and lifestyle expenses.

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2. California's Regulatory and Economic Challenges

Timestamp: [01:45] - [13:15]

The conversation shifts to California, where Armstrong and Getty express frustration over the state's stringent regulations and high costs. They discuss the mass exodus of businesses to Texas, attributing it to California's "brutally regulated" environment. The hosts critique state policies, including the controversial SALT deductions and Governor Gavin Newsom's administration.

Key Points:

• SALT Deductions: Critique of moderate Republicans' push for tax exemptions benefiting taxpayers in high-tax states like California.
• Governor Gavin Newsom's Policies:
  • Anti-Terrorism Grants: Controversy over Newsom awarding a $200,000 grant to the Islamic Center of San Diego, despite its alleged connections to extremist activities. [04:23]
  • Parole Decisions: Discussion on the impending release of Ally Brown, a convicted baby murderer, under California's Prop 57. [05:27]
  • Safety Act: Analysis of Newsom's bill requiring teachers to withhold information about students' gender identities from parents, raising concerns about privacy and parental rights. [07:15]

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong: "California is crumbling." [13:15]
• Joe Getty: "It's too expensive to do anything, including making movies." [02:19]

The hosts also mock California's high-speed rail project, contrasting it with Texas's stalled efforts. They highlight the inefficiencies and delays plaguing California's infrastructure initiatives.

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3. Resurgence of Classic Diseases in the United States

Timestamp: [13:15] - [19:07]

Armstrong and Getty address the alarming rise of diseases like whooping cough, measles, and tuberculosis in the U.S. They explore potential causes, including increased immigration of unvaccinated individuals and growing vaccine skepticism among native-born Americans.

Key Points:

• Whooping Cough: Joe Getty shares his personal battle with the disease, emphasizing its severity and the challenges in combating its spread. [14:39]
• Vaccine Hesitancy: The hosts discuss how declining vaccination rates have compromised herd immunity, leading to the resurgence of preventable diseases. [16:05]

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Getty: "The vaccine had worn off for me and anybody over a certain age." [16:19]
• Jack Armstrong: "But you've got to get to that percentage to have that luxury." [16:48]

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4. Corruption in International Organizations

Timestamp: [19:07] - [29:52]

The discussion pivots to international bodies, specifically the International Criminal Court (ICC), highlighting corruption and misconduct within such organizations. The hosts recount accusations against ICC prosecutor Kareem Khan, including allegations of sexual assault and potential misuse of power.

Key Points:

• ICC and Kareem Khan: Detailed account of Khan's controversial actions, including the rape allegations and his aggressive pursuit of Israeli officials amidst personal scandals. [20:53] - [24:40]
• Lack of Accountability: Armstrong and Getty criticize the absence of effective oversight mechanisms within international organizations, leading to unchecked abuses of power. [25:44]

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong: "The power corrupts. The Old Testament is full of these stories and human nature never changes." [28:36]
• Joe Getty: "But how do you end up with so many people in these positions who take advantage..." [26:11]

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5. Trade Relations and Tariff Adjustments

Timestamp: [29:52] - [21:05]

The hosts briefly discuss recent developments in U.S.-China trade relations, noting the reduction of tariffs on Chinese goods. They critique the effectiveness and sincerity of such measures, suggesting that the trade war's dynamics remain complex and unresolved.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong: "California's high speed rail leaves Texas in the dust." [20:56]
• Joe Getty: "The 90 day truce will become semi permanent." [20:55]

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6. The Future of Work and Artificial Intelligence

Timestamp: [30:03] - [33:31]

Armstrong and Getty explore the implications of artificial intelligence on the future workforce. Drawing on Nick Bostrom's "Deep Utopia," they discuss how increased productivity could theoretically reduce work hours but argue that human nature drives people to seek more, not less.

Key Points:

• AI Productivity: Examination of Keynesian predictions vs. current realities, highlighting that technological advancements have outpaced initial expectations. [30:27]
• Human Behavior: The hosts argue that despite the potential for reduced work hours, societal desires for greater wealth and possessions will perpetuate long workweeks. [32:05]

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Getty: "People aren't going to need to work. People aren't going to be satisfied with a medium sized house." [32:05]
• Jack Armstrong: "We're just built to work and build and acquire." [33:10]

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7. Final Thoughts and Personal Anecdotes

Timestamp: [33:31] - [35:29]

As the episode wraps up, Armstrong and Getty, along with guest Katie Greener, share personal reflections and anecdotes. They discuss their interactions with AI tools like ChatGPT and its practical applications in everyday life.

Key Points:

• AI Usage: Examples of how ChatGPT has been utilized for tasks like redesigning walkways and troubleshooting household items. [33:55] - [34:22]
• Work Ethic: Armstrong muses on the intrinsic motivation to work beyond financial necessity, seeking purpose and fulfillment. [33:40] - [34:08]

Notable Quotes:

• Katie Greener: "I was playing with Chat GPT over the weekend, and it redesigned the entire front walkway to my house." [33:55]
• Joe Getty: "I was listening to a guy who said he used Chat GPT... and ordered parts for his grill." [34:15]

The episode concludes with the hosts expressing their ongoing commitment to engaging discussions and their signature humor.

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Conclusion

"Armstrong & Getty On Demand" delivers a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of contemporary issues, blending personal stories with critical analysis. From the soaring costs of leisure activities to the deep-seated challenges within international institutions, Armstrong and Getty provide listeners with both information and insightful perspectives. Their candid dialogue encourages audiences to reflect on the societal and economic dynamics shaping today's world.

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Notable Quotes Summary:

• Joe Getty: "The sanitizing of taxpayers for high-tax states like California is just insane." [03:32]
• Jack Armstrong: "California's crumbling." [13:15]
• Katie Greener: "The grand total for our day was 1,391 dollars." [01:34]
• Joe Getty: "People aren't going to need to work. People aren't going to be satisfied with a medium sized house." [32:05]
• Jack Armstrong: "We're just built to work and build and acquire." [33:10]

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This episode serves as a reflection of the hosts' ability to tackle diverse topics with humor and depth, making it a must-listen for those seeking both entertainment and enlightenment on current affairs.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln Radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

So for the first time in many.

[Jack Armstrong]

Years, we'll slash the cost of prescription drugs. And we will bring fairness to America.

[Joe Getty]

Drug prices will come down by much more.

[Jack Armstrong]

Really?

[Joe Getty]

If you think this is not what it cost to go to Disney, clearly.

[Jack Armstrong]

You'Ve lost your mind, Michael.

[Katie Greener]

Before we even got into the park, it cost me $30 just for parking. And even being a Florida resident, tickets for a family of five with one child under 10 was still $974. Right after our first ride, we bought two waters and three ice creams. This totaled $29.50. After the second ride, they wanted a pretzel and I wanted a beer. This was another 19. After that, it was time for lunch. We each ended up with a small pizza. Each had a side and a small drink totaling 44.35. Once we got to Star wars land, we had to buy some blue milk for 10.29. It tasted like a slushie with nerds on top. The kids then snuck away and bought some Star Wars Coca Cola. This was 6.50. After the next ride, we went and had a churro, a water and a margarita. This was another $36. We ended up at the Formata Cina for some Mexican food totaling 245.27 for dinner. The grand total for our day was 1,391 dol.

[Joe Getty]

1400 bucks for him and his kids.

[Jack Armstrong]

Does everybody in that family have a tapeworm? They are hungry bastards, aren't they?

[Joe Getty]

Amount of eating and drinking more than I usually do.

[Jack Armstrong]

Come on. Wait a minute. Y' all took in like 5,000 calories each. I see your point. You're right. It's incredibly expensive. Disney, I'm telling you. You know, I wasn't gonna get off on this tangent, but the idea of you have metal guy get ready, Michael, because we got a California crumbling update coming. But the idea that Hollywood needs some sort of tax subsidy when a lot of the problem is just it's so expensive and brutally regulated in California. It's too expensive to do anything, including making movies.

[Joe Getty]

Right? That's a good point. It is too expensive. That's why so many companies have moved to Texas. It's not, you know, it's the same as the Hollywood industry. It's just way harder and more expensive and more of a pain in the ass to do it in California than other places.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. In a semi related story, there are a bunch of quote unquote moderate Republicans who are in purple districts but in the blue states that are desperate to get the GOP to get in favor of the state and local tax exemption on your federal income taxes. What's the. What's the nickname for that? State and local as the SALT deductions. And they want to raise it, like, 30 grand so that the people of the other, you know, 40 states or whatever it is, if you're in a blue state that spends money like lunatics on, I don't know, fake bullet trains, for instance, and. And drives businesses out and the rest of it. Well, you know, that's fine. You're. All those incredible taxes you're paying. We'll. We'll make those tax deductible on your federal turns so the rest of the country can subsidize it. It's just. It's. It's insane. There's no justification for it. And I'm sorry to say it if it hurts you personally, but there's just no justification.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, it hurts me personally as a Californian to be way better be able to deduct my state taxes, but it's incredibly unfair to, like, my brothers who live in Kansas to pick up the tab because our government's out of control.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, you got some disciplined wise with their money states subsidizing the lunatics. It just doesn't make any sense. Speaking of which, California's crumbling. Thanks. Metal guy. Tell you what, what he lacks in length, he makes up for an intensity. Play it again, Michael. Yeah. Oh, he's always right there when you need him. A handful of stories about the Golden State and in particular, the governor, Gavi Newsom. Here's the headline for you. Gavin Newsom awards anti terrorism grant to the mosque linked to 911 hijackers and a pro Hamas cleric. $200 to the Islamic center of San Diego.

[Joe Getty]

200?

[Jack Armstrong]

About a month ago. $200,000.

[Joe Getty]

Okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm sorry.

[Joe Getty]

I was gonna say that's not much of a grant.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's. What. Well, you want to go out to eat, honey? No. $200,000 to the Islamic Center San Diego in March, Part of a program to help religious institutions and nonprofits beef up security to protect against potential terrorist attacks. Blah, blah, blah. So the Islamic center of San Diego, led by Imam Taha Hussain, has condoned anti Israeli violence over the years. Hussein, who's been around now for, like, 20 years, defended Hamas's slaughter of Israeli civilians on October 7, saying in a sermon weeks later that resistance against Israel is justified. We cannot accuse someone who's fighting for his life to be a terrorist. The terrorist is the one who started the occupation, not the one who was defending himself.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, but even without that, even if.

[Jack Armstrong]

They'Re, you know, peace loving Muslims.

[Joe Getty]

What?

[Jack Armstrong]

What?

[Joe Getty]

Why? Why me and a taxpayer given $200,000 to some mosque? Why?

[Jack Armstrong]

And the Islamic center in San Diego gained notoriety in the wake of 911 after revelations that two of the Al Qaeda operatives who flew the plane that hit the Pentagon prayed regularly at the mosque. And by golly, somebody at the mosque also gave him thousands of dollars to get by on while they were planning the brutal attack against the infidel Americans. Absolutely lovely. But Gavi awarded the grant even as California faces a steep bank budget shortfall. Speaking of Gavi and policies and consequences, San Luis Obispo DA Dan Dow just sent California Governor Gavin Newsom an urgent letter urging him to reverse the board of parole hearing to release Ally Brown, formerly Herbert David Brown III from prison. Herbert David, now Ms. Ally Brown is a baby murderer convicted of horrific crimes that killed a toddler. He is, he was sentenced to 15 years to life. He entered prison 10 years ago and the parole board said, ah, turn her loose. This transgender baby murderer and the victim's family and the prosecutors and all are saying what kind of system is this? He's not even going to serve his minimum for baby murder.

[Joe Getty]

But what's the argument for letting her out?

[Jack Armstrong]

He is a dude. It's, it's just the California, the policies under Prop 57, you got to get people out of prison as soon as possible.

[Joe Getty]

All right?

[Jack Armstrong]

It's just turning scumbags loose, man.

[Joe Getty]

If, if something like that happened in your life and they let the person out, you would, man, you'd have to commit yourself to meditation or God or something to deal with. That be so frustrating.

[Jack Armstrong]

California's crumbling metal guy. Did I mention that? The National Review, writing with interest about Gavi Newsom's teachers union backed bill that requires teachers to lie to parents but only on the matter of a school kid's gender identity. If little Bobby wants to be Susie wants to use pronouns that don't match his biology or wants to get into the girls locker room. Newsom's acronym acronym acronymically clever support academic futures and educators for today's youth. The safety act bar bars schools employees from disclosing to parents their child's on campus behavior. And the state recommends that schools keep se secret separate files to document the kids sexual identity. The Safety Act. Yes.

[Joe Getty]

The safety is hiding from the parents that their kids are struggling at school.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's the safety part. And struggling with gender identity because the activist teachers and administrators have been trying to tell the kids that you can be a different sex if you want to be and we will get you hormones and surgery to mutilate you if you want it. But the bill's backers claim it's necessary because parents might go ape upon learning that their own children have gender dysphoria of some sort. Of the bill's backers, including the majority of California news organizations, refer to the law's critics as supporting forced outing. Three points. Number one, you can't out a child to his or her own parents because those parents, not government officials or employees, have the ultimate authority for rearing their children. There's no such thing as outing a child to their parents. Second, teachers are mandated reporters under state law. If they think a child faces abuse at home for any reason, they're required to report their suspicions to Child Protective services or police. And third, the so called Safety act violates the Federal Education Rights and Privacy act, the FERPA Act 1972 law that establishes parents absolute right to access their children's records. When can a judge please strike this down?

[Joe Getty]

I can't believe Newsom's going to try to run for president with this in his background.

[Jack Armstrong]

I know, I know. I can't wait. I hope he does. I cannot wait. Who are the most regulated states in the U.S. jack, this will shock you if you're an idiot. They are New Jersey and New York and Illinois, but they all fall the number one, California. According to the Mercatus center, there are 420,000 some different business regulations in California. Actually, the California Globe notes slightly snarkily that California is listing 10 ways California leads the nation. Well, in business regulation. That's one of them. Yeah. 50th in the country for business regulation. Or first, depending on how you look at it. Once again this year. And finally, this, which is one of the more hilarious and ridiculous cell phones I've ever seen. Gabby Newsom in his office just put out an online post mocking how advanced California's plans were for a high speed rail system compared to Texas's pathetic high speed rail line program. On Instagram, Gabby showed this. It's a big poster. It says California's high speed rail leaves Texas in the dust. How many miles? 494. San Francisco to Los Angeles. Much longer than Texas's plan. Texas hasn't even started. California's got 171 miles being developed. 100, whatever that means. 119 miles being built. 50 built structures.

[Joe Getty]

What?

[Jack Armstrong]

Texas has no opening date and no jobs created. California's early operating segment, Bakersfield to merced, opens between 2030 and 2033.

[Joe Getty]

Sure.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's no freaking way it will.

[Joe Getty]

Sure it does. And to whose benefit if it did in 2033? In eight years. In eight years they're going to open up that little Bakersfield to Merced segment they claim.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, that's tens of billions of dollars.

[Joe Getty]

And that's a bragging point.

[Jack Armstrong]

So here's, here's what the mayor's, the governor's office said and their big release last Wednesday. What's the difference between California high speed rail and Texas high speed rail? California's system is under construction. Texas is yet to break ground. California's transition from vision and ideas to active construction and tangible economic benefits. While the Texas project remains a dream, mostly on pa despite the noise from Washington. That's right. The only objection to the California high speed rail is noise from Washington. Despite the noise, California's high speed rail is becoming real. It's another critical project, part of the governor's build more faster agenda, delivering infrastructure upgrades and thousands of jobs across the state. Despite the Trump administration's assaults, both California and Texas are working to build high speed rail. But only one state has built anything. California.

[Joe Getty]

All right, man. Good luck standing up on a debate stage against other Democrats who want the nomination and them taking you apart on that stuff.

[Jack Armstrong]

There will be raucous laughter, raucous, gabby, as you try to defend your record. I mean, people won't even bother, like yelling at you angrily. They won't need to. You'll be laughed out of the primaries. And I for one, just pray I live long enough to see it. California is crumbling.

[Joe Getty]

So I just got a text from a friend who said, I think I've got a sore throat. I look forward to complaining to you about it for the next six weeks. That is a shot at me being sick for so long and my never ending complaint about it. But I think I do have some news you can use around this whole whooping cough thing, which you do not want. And how have we let it get into the country? It had more or less have been eradicated. It's kind of being hidden. The needles, the measles, the tuberculosis, the whooping cough that's come back into the United States. And why?

[Jack Armstrong]

Who would hide that? Why?

[Joe Getty]

Anyway, more on that coming up. Stay here.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

A new report lists the happiest city in the US As New York. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I don't know who took that survey. The happiest city in the US was New York. While the least happy. Dick Splinter, North Dakota.

[Jack Armstrong]

All right. Really? Wow.

[Joe Getty]

So I'm asking a question here, not making an assertion because I don't know. Joe might actually know. So we got a number of old timey diseases that are making a comeback in the United States. Tuberculosis, Remember last year we're talking about. Tuberculosis was set in records that hadn't been around for like a century.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

Measles. And now because I've got it, I've been paying more attention to it. Freaking whooping cough, which I didn't even know was actually a thing for adults anymore. We've been vaccinating against it forever. It's part of the TDAP you get as a little kid. It's the pee and the tdap and, and they came up with a vaccine for it for, for a long time ago because it's such a horrible disease. It's terrible. And it kills babies.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's terrible.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. If you're a baby, it can really kill you. But it's a miserable disease. It's the worst thing I've ever had besides cancer in my whole life. And the doctor told me on Monday, he said, you might be halfway through, you probably got a little, you probably got a little longer than that. So anyway, I'm on eight different medications. It's insane. But. So I was reading about whooping cough and the statistics.

[Jack Armstrong]

You get it last year with a whooping crane. Right?

[Joe Getty]

The, the, the stats from last year where it was on the rise a lot from 23 to 24. Well now this year we are, we have doubled the increase from last year to this year. So 24 is a big jump from 23. And now we've doubled from 24. Is it because we let in millions of people. The biggest migration in world history? I say that every time because it's true. The biggest migration in world history happened across our southern border in a very short period of time. Did that bring a whole bunch of unvaccinated people bringing diseases in that we had kind of gotten rid of?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes. Plus vaccine skepticism among native born Americans. Yeah. The two things in concert. Yeah. That's the explanation for the explosion of all these old timey diseases that we thought we'd gotten rid of? Yeah, 100%.

[Joe Getty]

But like clearly the vaccine had worn off for me and anybody over a certain age. It didn't matter before because I wasn't going to come in contact with whooping cough, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. We don't really have time to explain. I'm not an expert anyway. But how herd immunity if it's 95% or higher, it's weird. In effect, you don't even need it as much because you're not going to be exposed to it. But you've got to get to that percentage to have that luxury.

[Joe Getty]

I think this should get more attention. The vaccine hesitation and RFK Jr bashing is everywhere. The, hey, we let in a gazillion people that aren't vaccinated gets like no coverage whatsoever.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, I know. We don't want to demonize migrants, Jack, or just looking for a better life. The right wing might tend to use that to scapegoat them and we can't be a part of that. So we'll just not report facts.

[Joe Getty]

I feel like that aspect of the story should get more attention. I hope you don't get whooping cough.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, man, look at these coughing now, folks. Armstrong and Getty. In 2020, Miller was appointed to an independent watchdog committee that tracked how Covid relief money was spent. We could tell right away it's like.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, well, that's all gonna get stolen.

[Jack Armstrong]

You saw it coming? Oh, yeah.

[Joe Getty]

I mean, it was like they threw money in the air and just let run around and grab it. That's from 60 Minutes last night. This should be a giant story. There should be hearings and you can get so people march. You can get people so fired up about the latest Trump this or that. The story on 60 Minutes last night, does that not have any heft with the left and mainstream media freaking 60 minutes that of just Covid relief money. A trillion dollars was stolen.

[Jack Armstrong]

A trillion. A trillion. Yes.

[Joe Getty]

And you can't. You just. You can't get anywhere with this. And that woman there says that it's about three quarters of a trillion every year.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

And it's going to be approaching a trillion soon. That gets stolen mostly by foreign governments because it's so easy to rip off the government because they don't pay enough attention to where money goes.

[Jack Armstrong]

But, well, they knew as they were churning that money out that the safeguards were wildly, almost hilariously insufficient. They knew that at the time.

[Joe Getty]

Well, yeah, as you heard her say there, my first thought was, oh, wow, this is all going to get stolen. That's what she said. She works in the government, knows how it works, knew it would get stolen. There's nothing you can do about it.

[Jack Armstrong]

And people get higher taxes. We need the Rich to pay their fair share.

[Joe Getty]

You can get people so energized for like a news cycle over, I don't know, a couple hundred thousand here or there. A couple hundred million or even tens of millions. That's nothing compared to a trillion dollars.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right, right. I don't know what to say. I don't. It's worth. Yeah. 60 Minutes was oddly weirdly throwbackish yesterday with a story that was honest with one dopey exception, but with a tone that would tend to be sympathetic to Doge and Trump. The fact that it was true, it's reason enough to run it, but yeah, they ran that. Then they ran a couple of other stories that were not the least bit progressive. It was like it was 15 years ago.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, it was very old timey. You had the government fraud, a science story and a celebrity profile. That's the way 60 Minutes used to be every week.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. So speaking of numbers, perhaps you've heard this already. The US has agreed to lower base levels of tariffs on most Chinese goods, goods from 100 and whatever it was, 145% down to 30%.

[Joe Getty]

Essentially your kids getting $30 again this.

[Jack Armstrong]

Year and each one clutching a shiny new pencil. That's right. Meanwhile, China will cut its U.S. levies down from 125 points to 10%. So the 30 points, 30% imposed by the U.S. includes the 10% quote, unquote, reciprocal tariff, whatever that means at this point, plus 20%. Would you quit sending fentanyl our way? Super bonus tariff. But the mostly toning down of the trade war has reassured the world economy and markets all over the world and everybody's just joyful. And check your 401k right now. In fact, withdraw it all and quit your job. You're rich anyway. So that's good news, at least for the moment. And Jack, your theory is the 90 day truce.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Will become semi permanent.

[Joe Getty]

Exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

With maybe a couple more tweaks.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I think, I think the, I think the big oh my God, this is going to upend the world economy thing is over.

[Jack Armstrong]

So do you remember last year, or I think it was the very end of 2023, the International Criminal Court, whatever that is, announced that it was prosecuting Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes. That was pretty controversial. And the US was like, we're not going to extradite him if he comes to the country. We're not a signatory to your wackadoodle court. Leave us alone. Well, it's gotten really, really interesting. So two months after the October 7th attacks. Pressure was mounting on Kareem Khan, the chief prosecutor of the icc, to consider criminal charges against Israeli officials because of the war in Gaza. Pro Palestinian activists had labeled him a genocide enabler. And a block of ICC members in the developing world insisted that action was long overdue. They pushed him, blah, blah, blah. So Khan, who's a hard charging British lawyer, he's in New York in early December for the court's governing body meeting at the UN headquarters. He's stung by the criticism. He was lashing out at his team. And one assistant, a woman in her 30s who often traveled with him for her job, asked him to meet with, asked to meet with him and to urge him, hey, you got to take it easy on staff. I realize we're under a lot of pressure. Well, long story short, she gets to his hotel suite, knee touches her sexually and rapes her, according to testimony. All right, this is the guy again bringing charges against Netanyahu. And there's the incident is one of multiple allegations, of course, sexual intercourse that the woman has made against Khan. Khan, the woman who is married and has a child, alleges Khan performed non consensual sex acts with her on missions to New York, Columbia, Congo, Chad and Paris and, and, and more. He's denying it, of course, but the woman, who's a lawyer from Malaysia, stayed at the job because she didn't want to leave one of the most important offices in human rights law. She worried she wouldn't be able to pay the medical bills of her mother who was dying of cancer. And she came to fear retaliation from Khan. Also, as I recall, she was like a super Palestinian activist and, and, and wanted to be part of prosecuting the Israelis anyway. So the accusations. Oh, I'm sorry. So just two and a half weeks after Khan learned of the allegations against him, he surprised Israeli and US officials by announcing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. It was the first time in the history of the court that they had sought a warrant for a Western line democratically elected leader. And Washington has been staunchly against this. Both, both parties, as you might guess. So the timing of the announcement has spurred questions about whether Khan was aiming to protect himself from the sexual assault allegations. The day before announcing the warrant application, Khan abruptly canceled a trip to Israel and Gaza that he previously said was important to make his decision. He says there's no connection, but anybody who might have testified against him, who is like the icc, like super pro Palestinian, has backed off on the Eurorapist stuff because they don't want to derail the prosecution of the Israeli people. So this looks like a serious, nasty, rapey, political soap opera thing.

[Joe Getty]

Amazing how often these big international bodies are corrupt. I mean, you would think just statistically, it wouldn't happen as often as it does with the ioc, with the Olympics, the who, with health, as we all saw around Covid and everything else. The United nations over and over and over and over again in this body here. You wouldn't think it would happen this often, but it does.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, it's got to be. And I'll bet we have folks listening who've worked with organizations like this who could really lay it out for you. But it's got to be the power, the international prestige. They're probably pretty damn decent budgets. And so you live, you know, in high style all over the world, in the great capitals of the world. Plus, where's the accountability? Well, yeah, we're talking about you. You squander or give away a trillion dollars of U.S. taxpayer money, and we have a system of accountability in this country. Imagine being this vaguely understood international colossus that's funded, I guess, by the UN or something. There's. There's no accountability at all.

[Joe Getty]

So this is getting into real Jordan Peterson territory here. Are we all capable of this? I. I feel like you could put me in charge of the IOC and I wouldn't be corrupt. I wouldn't take, you know, cash payments to choose which city gets the next Olympics. And you could put me in charge of the who, and I'm not gonna side with whichever country gives me the biggest amount of money. And if you put me in charge of this organization, I'm not going to rape the first hot chick I come across because I think I can get away with it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, look at you, Polly. Pure heart. I'd be a monster. Oh, my God. It'd be money and prostitutes. I mean, you'd have to come across with the hose as well.

[Joe Getty]

But how do you end up with so many people in these positions who take advantage of what you just explained? I mean, that's what I don't get.

[Jack Armstrong]

I. I think. Well, first of all, I. I salute you for your. Your principles and your scruples. They are not universally very high standards.

[Joe Getty]

I just threw out.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, well, you, an earnest young man from the sticks in this country, Jack, a big city boy like myself, can educate you. I'll tell you this. Some people are just corrupt, incorruptible, I think, for a lot of people. And there are all sorts of examples of this in life. It is a step by Step slide. And as you pass one ethical milestone limit. I wouldn't do that. You know, I've heard it described in dealing with addictions. Your list of I would nevers gets shorter and shorter. And if you are surrounded by a culture like the ioc, for instance, forever and probably now, let's not be naive. If you're at the IOC and you're rising up through the organization and you witness all the corruption and the luxury and, and the just fawning that countries do you, well, that slide, that'd be.

[Joe Getty]

The easiest one for me to get on board with.

[Jack Armstrong]

Where I would think, who gives a crap?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I would think you're gonna give me $5 million. Me and my family are set for life. And why do I give a crap whether the Olympics are in Paris or in London, Right?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, Athens and then Nice are fighting it out. Okay, but what the hell do I care, right? Who comes across with the most money and hoes.

[Joe Getty]

But that's a far cry from raping people.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. Although we've seen that a fair amount too, among We're. In fact, it came up in the context of the Diddy trial. Who was the diplomat? Oh, was it an IMF guy who got busted in New York City? Oh, right, one of those. One of his defense attorneys is on Diddy's dream team, which is why I bring it up. But yeah, he just. Yeah, the.

[Joe Getty]

The.

[Jack Armstrong]

I can do whatever. I want to summarize it briefly. Just. The power corrupts. The. The Old Testament is full of these stories and human nature never changes. That's right, sir. That was a reference to the Bible. Yeah, I don't. I don't know.

[Joe Getty]

Well, you know, that's yet another argument for those of us on the right who don't like the idea of international bodies because they're, you know, they're a step above national bodies which already have enough corruption in them. There's just like nobody they have to answer to.

[Jack Armstrong]

There are a hell of a lot of really smart, well informed people listening to the show right now. Also a fair number of dunderheads, morons. Yeah, but among you, the wise, the experience, the intellectual. Can you explain to me the methods, the. The procedures for accountability for a high level UN employee or official? Explain to me what that would look like. And you're saying to yourself, well, Joseph, I'd be delighted to answer, but I've never heard a damn syllable about how that would work. Yeah, there's a reason for that, friends, because there isn't much. If there's any. They've got diplomatic immunity for God's sake. It's like a law that they're not held accountable for things that you and I, as poor, humble, unwashed citizens of this dopey land, we would be held accountable. But they're not. I mean it's written in the law that they're not accountable.

[Joe Getty]

I think I got something kind of interesting for you. How come we're not working 15 hours a week maximum at this point? Came across everybody, let's get started. Came across this over the weekend.

[Jack Armstrong]

I say 11 hours max.

[Joe Getty]

We'll finish strong.

[Jack Armstrong]

Next, Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

A new report shows that there have been at least nine incidents at Newark Airport where air traffic controllers have lost contact with planes that were about to land. But luckily it's Newark so planes can just follow the smell.

[Joe Getty]

So we talked a fair amount about AI last week. Joe and I just both got into chat GPT and using that and have been pretty amazed by it. And I'm fascinated by the whole topic. I got into a couple of books over the weekend by Nick Bostrom. He's written some of the most famous things about AI and what the future could be. And this book that came out last year called Deep Utopia was kind of predicting like how is the world? I mean if it, if it eliminates all work, what is that going to look like? Anyway, part of what he was, he started talking about in the book was Keynes, as in Keynesian economics. Keynes way back in the 30s was writing how much he thought productivity was going to explode over the coming decades and then how much less we were going to have to work. And he predicted that we would be able to produce somewhere between four and five times as much by now. And so therefore everybody'd be working a 15 hour workweek or less. What he got wrong was one, he was way short. We're more like eight times as productive as we were in the 30s. What he got wrong was people wouldn't be satisfied with the amount of stuff they had. People would be willing to work as many hours or more to have more stuff, which I find fascinating because that, you know, why isn't that, why can't you extrapolate that going forward with the whole AI thing? People aren't going to need to work. People aren't going to be satisfied with a medium sized house in the media. I mean if you less travel or whatever, they're going to want more and more, more, more, aren't they?

[Jack Armstrong]

So we'll all keep working 40 hours more or less, but we'll all have 15,000 square foot homes, two cars, private jet.

[Joe Getty]

Like that'll make us happy. Or have visited every, you know, city in the world and.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Eaten all the rarest foods.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. We got to talk about this at greater length that, you know, it's funny, as you were saying that I thought, you know, I have my entire life from when I was quite financially strapped to now where I'm considerably more comfortable, thank God. But I work more. If I see a reward for working more, I could have cut back at various times in my life and had arguably enough, I suppose. But I thought, well, if I bust my butt a little bit more, I'll get more and have a little more financial security or I can do this for my kids or, you know, put this away for retirement or whatever. I just.

[Joe Getty]

Isn't it interesting that he missed that? And I can see how you would. You'd think everybody could have that life they have now that they're pretty happy with and work 15 hours a week and have all the rest of the time to do whatever they want, but people would rather work more and have more stuff.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think we're just built to work and build and acquire.

[Joe Getty]

I think you're right. Check your clock.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's time to stop Jack and Joe.

[Joe Getty]

They've gotta go.

[Jack Armstrong]

And if they don't get canned, they'll be back tomorrow. Putting a bit of a fine point on it, isn't it?

[Joe Getty]

Here's your host for final thoughts, Jo Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Let's get a final thought from everybody on the crew to wrap up the show for the day. Michelangelo, our technical director, will lead us off. Michael.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was just thinking, even if I could work less, I think I'd still work a lot. Just because you gotta have a purpose, you gotta have a reason to get out of bed and do something, you know?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. It's so true. Katie Greener, steamed newswoman, has a final thought. Katie?

[Katie Greener]

I was playing with Chat GPT over the weekend, and it redesigned the entire front walkway to my house.

[Jack Armstrong]

And I'm gonna go with it. But, yeah, super cool, boy. I've used it for a handful of things, too. I just. I'm a big fan. Jack, a final thought for us.

[Joe Getty]

Well, on that topic, I was listening to a guy who said he used Chat GPT. He needed to fix his grill. So he took a picture of the grill, AI identified the model, which parts were broken, where to find them on Amazon, and ordered them for him.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Yeah. My final thought, on the other end of the technological spectrum, my kids doing a study abroad thing for a month in the UK for law school. One connection with a two hour layover, they lose the bag temporarily. Thank goodness. One connection. You gotta take the bag from plane one to plane two. That's it. Just one time. Couldn't get it right. Major American Airlines.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and get you wrapping up another grueling four hour workday of whooping golf.

[Jack Armstrong]

So many people. Thanks. So little time. See you tomorrow. Yep.

[Joe Getty]

God bless America.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

What do we want to be? Losers or winners? I want winners.

[Jack Armstrong]

We smell like winning around here.

[Joe Getty]

I think you're star spangled Austin.

[Jack Armstrong]

They are the true heroes. You know what?

[Joe Getty]

Everybody knows it.

[Jack Armstrong]

So let's go out with a bang and then Pete Boot Edge. Edge.

[Joe Getty]

He drinks hazelnut coffee, if you know what I'm saying.

[Jack Armstrong]

I do know precisely what you were saying. You're saying he's gay. Anyway, on that high note, bye bye Armstrong and gay Yeti.

[Joe Getty]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.