Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "A B?! She's Graduated To A C!"
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Producer: iHeartPodcasts

Brief Overview

This episode focuses primarily on the landmark Middle East peace deal brokered by Donald Trump between Israel, Hamas, and various Arab states. Jack and Joe discuss the unprecedented bipartisan praise for Trump, the mechanics and aftermath of the peace deal, the shifting attitudes in Gaza, and the roles of personal business relationships in international diplomacy. Other topics include a rapid-fire look at national headlines, media coverage critique, and some lighthearted banter about mortality and current events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trump-Brokered Middle East Peace Deal

a. Unprecedented Praise for Trump

• Both hosts marvel at the rare sight of mainstream media and even staunch Trump critics giving him unmitigated credit for the peace deal.

• Jack reflects on the evolution of Trump’s reputation:

  “I mean, the people that just can't with a gun to their head say anything, even semi-neutral, about Donald Trump. They hate him so much, praising him like crazy today. It's wild.” (01:58, Jack)

• Joe points out that Trump's bold, norm-defying approach was pivotal:

  “Trump's boldness, which borders on, grows into recklessness sometimes, absolutely...the unwillingness to really do anything, try anything bold, ruffle any feathers, break any eggs, that's characterized a lot of American foreign policy for a long time. We've finally seen the contrast and what a robust foreign policy looks like.” (02:25, Joe)

b. Deal Mechanics & Reactions

• Main points of the deal:

  • All living hostages held by Hamas to be released (expected 20 alive, [21:41, Joe])
  • Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange (upwards of 2,000, [12:41, Jack])
  • Israeli Defense Forces withdraw from parts of Gaza ([22:15, Joe])
  • Rafah crossing with Egypt to open for humanitarian aid ([23:04, Joe])

• Jack describes the outpouring of joy:

  “To see people dancing in the streets in Gaza and Tel Aviv over this thing...that's just stunning.” (05:01, Jack)

• The hosts stress the “beginning” nature of the deal:

  “Well, yeah, okay. But that's the way everything in life works...but you gotta start somewhere. And this is the best start that has happened in, I don't know, maybe ever, given the pressure coming from the Arab states.” (09:06, Jack; 09:18, Joe)

c. Hostages & The Human Cost

• Discuss stories of hostages’ families and the trauma they've endured.
• Jack:

  “Imagine how hard it is to sit across a table from [Hamas] and sign something, or shake hands, or say thanks...But what was my point I was going to make? Oh, so David Ignatius with all his sources is saying he has zero doubt the hostages are going to be returned...” (07:41, Jack)

d. Arab States’ New Stance

• Jack explains how pressure from Arab countries and loss of support for Hamas marked a sea change:

  “It's never happened before where they look around like, does anybody support us anymore? No, nobody supports you anymore. Including...the Gazans.” (05:22, Jack)

• Key point: Arab regimes may now view Islamic fundamentalists as more trouble than they're worth ([29:32, Joe]).

2. The Role of Personal Relationships and Business in Diplomacy

• Hosts dissect the role Trump's and Jared Kushner's business ties played:

  “The reason Trump could get the Arab states on board...is partially because of all the personal business deals he and Jared have done...But that allowed them to build all these relationships...with all these people.” (09:25, Jack)

• Joe makes a parallel with government-business mingling in other administrations, acknowledging its ethical complexity but practical impact ([10:13, Joe]).

3. Media, Public Perception, and Political Irony

a. Media Coverage

• Joe and Jack critique "left-leaning" analysis and highlight the broader media’s begrudging approval of Trump’s efforts.
• They reference a radio appearance by a pro-Hamas academic on NPR and note Al Jazeera's internal editorial moderation under Qatari government pressure ([26:49–27:26, Joe]).

b. Partisanship & Political Mirror Moments

• The conversation explores the notion that even Trump’s most ardent critics can't deny this achievement without appearing delusional or unhinged:

  “It's like if...Trump cured cancer, Democrats would come out pro-cancer. And to...be, you know, cynical or dismissive of this is damn close to that.” (20:47, Joe)

4. Challenges Ahead

• The hosts stress this deal is the start, not the finish, with huge challenges:
  • Ensuring Hamas disarms (which the hosts doubt)
  • Preventing released prisoners from rejoining militant ranks ([12:43, Jack])
  • Figuring out governance in Gaza ("Who the hell's gonna govern Gaza?” 24:25, Jack)
• Skepticism about international peacekeeping (“useless blue helmets of the UN” 24:49, Joe)

5. Lighter Segments & Memorable Banter

a. Rapid-fire News Headlines ([15:09–18:29])

• Katie Green brings up stories from the bird flu’s return to TikTok’s dangers and Florida bars livestreaming patrons.
• Lighthearted riffing on abstaining from alcohol:

  “June drink out of a spoon, then you got August angel dust and then no, no, no. Sober October.” (16:44, Joe)

b. Humor & Dark Self-Reflection

• The hosts joke about mortality and depression, referencing a listener’s criticism:

  “We got a text the other day from someone who said, I've been listening for 10 years. You're the most depressing today you've ever.” (38:11, Jack)

• “We'll try not to be the darkest show in America, perhaps the entire Western hemisphere." (38:23, Joe)

c. “Mailbag” and Trump Memes ([34:02–37:30])

• Listener letters compare media reactions to Trump to outlandish satire (“Trump cures cancer; protestors demand cancer back” [36:04, Joe])
• Suggestion: rename ICE to “NICE” just to mess with political rhetoric ([36:39, Joe]).

d. Local/California Politics

• Jokes about California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter and satirical news from Babylon Bee:

  “She's a C. Are you kidding? She's graduated from B school and is...she's a monster. Worse than we thought.” (18:20, Joe)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Trump's boldness, which borders on grows into recklessness sometimes, absolutely is...what a robust foreign policy looks like.” — Joe Getty (02:25)
• “Sometimes it brings amazing things nobody thought could happen that are good, and sometimes it's horrible.” — Jack Armstrong (03:45)
• “He does not care what other people think.” — Jack Armstrong (04:07)
• “We are the only media outlet in Gaza talking to people on the ground...No, Hamas doesn't care about us. They've been ruining our lives for 17 years. We're done with them.” — Jack Armstrong (05:34)
• “To see people dancing in the streets in Gaza and Tel Aviv over this thing...that's just stunning.” — Jack Armstrong (05:01)
• “This is the best start that has happened in, I don’t know, maybe ever, given the pressure coming from the Arab states.” — Joe Getty (09:18)
• “The reason Trump could get the Arab states on board...is all the personal business deals he and Jared have done...they’ve got him on their favorites list, sort of relationships with all these people.” — Jack Armstrong (09:25)
• “What a lesson for life or something: the arc of this is the awful thing that was October 7, two years and two days ago, led to this...” — Jack Armstrong (10:59)
• “There is just no question that we who cherish life are at a disadvantage in that sort of negotiation with people who don’t give a damn, who are anxious for martyrdom.” — Joe Getty (13:23)
• “Damn close to the joke that if Trump cured cancer, Democrats would come out pro-cancer.” — Joe Getty (20:47)
• “Who the hell’s gonna govern Gaza? ...somebody’s got to keep picking up the garbage and be the police force...” — Jack Armstrong (24:25)
• “Qatar is carrying out a purge at Al Jazeera and the network has started to focus more on humanitarian situation in Gaza, instead of praising and boasting about the actions of Hamas...” — Joe Getty (27:26)
• “Islamism isn’t going anywhere. But ... a lot of the hardest core Islamic...lunatics exist in this uneasy alliance with regimes that run their countries. And if those regimes...start to think, you know, these crazy bastards are more trouble than they're worth...” — Joe Getty (29:01)
• “We'll try not to be the darkest show in America, perhaps the entire Western hemisphere.” — Joe Getty (38:23)

Important Timestamps for Segments

• 00:45 – 06:11: Opening banter, Trump & Netanyahu, introducing peace deal topic
• 06:31 – 11:24: Hostages and leverage; hostages' families and the reality on the ground
• 12:32 – 14:03: Parameters of prisoner exchange and earlier deals
• 15:09 – 18:29: Katie Green's news headlines
• 19:34 – 21:41: Guest drops in (likely Trump clip); breakdown of the phase one deal
• 22:07 – 24:25: Deal mechanics: prisoner lists, military withdrawal, humanitarian aid
• 24:25 – 29:34: Governance of Gaza, media critique, leverage of business relationships
• 29:49 – 31:08: Changing Mideast and European dynamics; renaissance/reversal in Arab regimes
• 31:42 – 34:02: Show banter, teasers for other stories, baseball
• 34:02 – 38:42: Mailbag: listener letters on Trump, memes, and show mood
• 38:42 – end: Closing banter

Summary Takeaways

• The episode is a rare, cautiously optimistic appraisal of a major world event with Trump at the center.
• It acknowledges both the historic nature and fragility of the peace deal, credits Trump’s unconventional style, and examines how personal ties and hard-nosed negotiation drove results.
• The hosts maintain their trademark mix of irreverence, skepticism, and sharp observation, offering a welcome synthesis of world news with bracing honesty and humor.

“It’s amazing...Trump’s biggest detractors are saying, got to give him credit on this one.” — Jack Armstrong (21:01)

Listeners come away with an understanding of the deal’s significance, complexity, and unresolved issues—plus a healthy dose of Armstrong & Getty’s wit and realism.