Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "A Blonde Chick On Fox"
Date: November 12, 2025
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

In this episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty break down the recent government shutdown and the political fallout for the Democratic Party, especially Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. They delve into the specifics of Obamacare’s subsidies, the unintended consequences of massive government programs, and public employee retiree benefits. Midway, the episode takes a lighter turn to technology topics, including AI-generated musicians, voice actor job losses, and the perils of holiday rental car bookings. The latter half returns to politics: media coverage of the Epstein files, mortgage proposals floated by Donald Trump, and broader issues in housing and home ownership. The episode closes with a thoughtful reflection on the importance of curiosity in science and a spirited debate about "social credit scores" in private enterprise.

Key Discussion Points

1. Government Shutdown & Democratic Party Fallout

Timestamps: 00:58 – 04:00

• The hosts discuss the recent government shutdown, asserting the Democrats caved and received nothing in return.
• Jon Stewart’s angry reaction on The Daily Show is mentioned, with the hosts expressing bewilderment over what Democrats expected to achieve.
• Attention shifts to the criticism of Senator Chuck Schumer, suggesting he’s "out of touch" and it might be time for him to step down.

Notable Quote:

“Democrats drew a line in the sand… after 41 days, they pulled out a shovel and a bucket and they ate all that sand and got nothing for it.” — Jack Armstrong (01:17)

2. The Limits of Political Leadership in the Senate

Timestamps: 03:11 – 04:00

• Jack notes it’s fundamentally different running the Senate versus the House, as Senators are “not to be told what to do” and have longer terms, making party cohesion hard.

“Every senator thinks they’re going to be president someday. They got a six-year term. They don’t tell them what to do… you can be the messenger, but you don’t control them.” — Jack Armstrong (03:24)

3. Obamacare Subsidies & Phantom Enrollees

Timestamps: 04:00 – 09:10

• Joe explains the fake fight over COVID-era subsidies for Obamacare, referencing exposés about massive fraud and “phantom patients,” where billions were paid to insurers for people who never filed a single claim.
• 12 million enrollees didn’t use their coverage in 2024, translating to at least $35 billion in taxpayer money.

Notable Quote:

“A whopping 40% of enrollees in fully subsidized plans had no claims in 2024… taxpayers sent at least $35 billion to insurers for people who paid no premiums and never used their plan.” — Joe Getty (05:37)

4. Public Employee Retirees & Obamacare Gaming

Timestamps: 06:41 – 13:27

• Cities offloading unfunded health care commitments onto Obamacare exchanges, effectively passing municipal liabilities onto federal taxpayers, are criticized.
• The issue is particularly pronounced in blue cities and states with generous public employee retiree benefits.
• Unfunded liabilities in states like New York and New Jersey far outpace those in the rest of the country; total retiree health obligations top nearly $1 trillion.

Notable Quote:

“Chicago’s $2.1 billion unfunded retiree health care liability vanished. Now US taxpayers pick up the tab for Chicago’s retirees in their 50s and early 60s… Ditto Detroit. Stockton, California…” — Joe Getty (08:02)

5. Political Hyperbole & Media Framing

Timestamps: 09:08 – 10:47

• Joe and Jack lampoon the framing by some Democrats and media figures, suggesting Republicans are intentionally trying to “starve and sicken children” by fighting over government funding.

Memorable Banter:

“I love it. What I like is a kid that is sick and hungry. Boy, does that help me sleep at night.” — Jack Armstrong (09:27)
“Now, a kid who’s just sick, that’s good. Or a kid who’s just starving, that’s pretty good. But by God, if we conservatives can get both… then we just chuckle. We just love it.” — Joe Getty (09:32)

6. AI Disrupting the Music Industry and Voice Acting

Timestamps: 13:49 – 15:31

• The hosts touch on AI-generated singers topping music charts and what this means for traditional voice actors and musicians.
• Both agree that the disruption is inevitable, using the analogy of horse sellers post-automobile.

Notable Quote:

“It really is being a guy who sells horses for transportation in 1910… Some people say fewer people are going to want to buy horses for transportation. Yes, yes, this is true. What can be done about it? Nothing.” — Jack Armstrong (15:12)

7. Rental Car Reservation “Scam” During Holidays

Timestamps: 15:33 – 18:42

• Jack recounts his personal frustrations with car rental companies overbooking and failing to provide reserved vehicles during peak seasons.
• The hosts discuss why overbooking persists and what, if anything, can be done.

“You understand my problem, though, right? I have a reservation… And then I get there and you don’t have the vehicle. You don’t see that as a problem?” — Jack Armstrong (16:54)

8. The Media, Epstein, and Suddenly Resurfacing Scandals

Timestamps: 18:53 – 24:31

• Media (especially MSNBC) suddenly revives the Epstein story, post-shutdown, with claims of “23,000 new documents.”
• Jack and Joe question the reasoning and timing, suggesting it’s a desperate attempt to divert attention from Democratic failures during the shutdown.

Notable Quote:

“If you had any dirt on Trump about Epstein, you would have used it when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were running against him, wouldn’t you?” — Jack Armstrong (21:47)

9. Trump’s “50-Year Mortgage” Proposal & Housing Market

Timestamps: 24:31 – 31:24

• Commentary on Donald Trump’s floated idea (on Fox News with Laura Ingraham) of 50-year mortgages to help younger buyers enter the housing market.
• Joe explains why these ultra-long loans are risky, referencing past financial crises.
• Discussion of present housing affordability, debt ratios, and breadth of government guarantees for distressed borrowers.

“No, this is a bad idea. Don’t do it.” — Joe Getty (27:19)

10. Renting vs. Buying: When Renting Might Be Smarter

Timestamps: 29:53 – 31:04

• Armstrong notes that, for the first time, it may make sense for some people to rent rather than buy, challenging common wisdom about homeownership.

“It’s not automatically true, at least currently, that buying a house is better than renting.” — Jack Armstrong (30:29)

11. Science and the Value of Childlike Curiosity

Timestamps: 32:57 – 35:41

• Joe shares an inspiring anecdote from Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb about retaining childlike curiosity in scientific work, relating it to healthy skepticism and questioning consensus in science.
• Both hosts lament the loss of open-mindedness and the tendency of some in science to chase status or funding instead.

“Science is the privilege of maintaining your childhood curiosity… We have this gift of being paid to stay curious.” — Avi Loeb (as quoted by Joe Getty, 34:19)

12. Social Credit Scores in Private Enterprise

Timestamps: 35:58 – 36:55

• Jack supports the idea of social credit scores for consumers within private companies (e.g., Open Table, Airbnb), differentiating it from government-controlled systems.
• Joe is open to the discussion, noting it aligns with business interests in managing customer behavior.

“As long as the government’s not involved… the social credit score thing seems like a really good idea.” — Jack Armstrong (36:41)

Memorable Quotes (With Timestamps)

• “Democrats drew a line in the sand… they ate all that sand and got nothing for it.” — Jack Armstrong (01:17)
• “A whopping 40% of enrollees in fully subsidized plans had no claims in 2024… Taxpayers sent at least $35 billion to insurers…” — Joe Getty (05:37)
• “I love it. What I like is a kid that is sick and hungry. Boy, does that help me sleep at night.” — Jack Armstrong (09:27)
• “You understand my problem, though, right? I have a reservation… and you don’t have the vehicle.” — Jack Armstrong (16:54)
• “No, this is a bad idea. Don’t do it.” — Joe Getty (27:19)
• “Science is the privilege of maintaining your childhood curiosity… We have this gift of being paid to stay curious.” — Avi Loeb (via Joe Getty, 34:19)
• “As long as the government’s not involved… the social credit score thing seems like a really good idea.” — Jack Armstrong (36:41)

Closing Thoughts

Jack and Joe display their trademark irreverence toward political spin, expose the oddities and flaws in health and housing policy, and span a range of social and technological issues—always with humor and pointed skepticism. The blend of topical depth, memorable anecdotes, and cultural observations make the episode both informative and entertaining for new and returning listeners alike.

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