Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: A&G Replay Monday Hour Four
Date: November 24, 2025
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Overview
In this replay hour, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty traverse a mix of major news topics and their characteristic banter, tackling everything from pop culture oddities like Tom Brady's cloned dog to deeper issues such as housing affordability, airline chaos around Thanksgiving, rare earth dependency on China, and the latest in global politics. The conversation weaves humor and skepticism throughout, with plenty of listener interaction and pointed rants about societal trends.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Tom Brady’s Cloned Dog
[03:35, 38:32, 39:42]
- Headline: Tom Brady revealed that his new family dog is a clone of his previous pet, Lua, who died in 2023. This sparked a philosophical debate about cloning among the hosts.
- Ethical & Practical Considerations:
- Joe questions, “If you cloned Tom Brady, he would have the same genetics but a different brain…that shapes a person.” (03:51)
- Cloning your pet is characterized as “self-indulgent, more money than sense madness.”
- Jack and Joe both agree it's not really the same dog and mock the notion: “You're stupid and think it's going to be the same dog.” (40:33)
- Wealth & Status:
- Jack equates wealthy people cloning pets to people spending extravagantly just to show off, e.g., overpaying for wine. (41:19)
2. Thanksgiving Airline Chaos & Public Reaction
[04:52 – 08:10]
- Airline Flight Cuts:
- Major announcement: 10% of flights cut at 40 unnamed major airports, equating to about 4,500 canceled flights on a Saturday alone.
- Jack critiques the reporting: “No, no, no, no, no. They say it's going to be more like 4,500 flights canceled on Saturday.” (05:20)
- Listener's Harsh Text & Family Dynamics:
- Responding to a hostile listener who downplays holiday travel, Jack laments, “I pity you, my friend. To have a pinched heart full of dark hatred like that.” (05:51)
- Joe uses the moment to discuss "projection" and how personal heartbreak can color one's attitude toward holidays: “Today’s word is projection. Projection or projecting. Putting your psychology on somebody else.” (07:25)
3. Affordability: The Word of the Year
[08:22 – 15:23]
- Cost of Living:
- Pundits and politicians focus on ‘affordability’ in wake of recent elections.
- Joe comments: “It is one of the biggest problems we’ve got… I’m still shocked every time I go to the grocery store.” (08:30)
- Housing Market:
- The median age of first-time homebuyers is now 40 (was 29 in 1981 and 33 in 2021), the largest jump ever recorded.
- Jack: “Wait, wait, wait—it’s moved seven years in four years. That’s practically impossible. That’s crazy.” (10:11)
- Student & Family Perspective:
- Both reflect on their children’s and their own experiences facing sky-high rent, energy, and insurance costs.
4. Changing Social Structures & Delayed Adulthood
[11:22 – 13:51]
- Free-Range Parenting & Growing Up Late:
- Jack: “The style of parenting that has removed all risk…has contributed to people who do not do the things it takes to get ahead because they’re still learning how to be an adult and at a much later age.” (12:38)
- Fewer Families Forming:
- “You’re much less likely to buy a house if you’re not getting married and having kids.” (13:23)
- Priorities Shift:
- Younger people choosing travel (“putting your money into backpacking through Europe”) over down payments.
5. Political Messaging & The Role of Government in Economics
[13:51 – 15:59]
- Blaming/Championing Politicians for Economic Trends:
- Jack rants on the “perversion” of crediting or blaming an entire party for economic performance:
“It’s worse than dumba. Because…they have made the assumption that the government ought to run the economy, which is an incredibly stupid and dangerous thing to do.” (14:26)
- Jack rants on the “perversion” of crediting or blaming an entire party for economic performance:
- Health Insurance Costs:
- The average family health insurance plan now costs $27,000 a year. (15:23)
- Insurance and housing costs spark debates about possible government price caps.
6. Language Trends: Dropping the Letter 'T'
[18:11 – 20:10]
- New Linguistic Quirk Among Young People:
- Linguists report the letter ‘T’ is disappearing from words like “kitten," "mountain," and "interview.”
- Jack’s and Joe’s families notice it too: “My son does that and I have no idea…It's so grating.” (18:37, 20:00)
- Producers and hosts push for “bringing back the T.”
- Discussion of Annoying Language Habits:
- They compare it to other trends like “up talk.”
7. News Roundup: O.J. Simpson’s Estate, Political Merch, and More
[16:18 – 18:02, 17:07]
- O.J. Simpson’s Estate:
- $58 million claim from the Goldman family after his death.
- Political Merch:
- Armstrong & Getty Superstore is selling satirical “Newsom 2028: Ruin the Entire Country” and branded water bottles.
- Joe: “Ruined the entire country, Newsom 2028. People are loving that T shirt.” (17:12)
8. China, Rare Earth Dependency & Economic Vulnerability
[24:15 – 30:44]
- Dependence on China:
- Jack: “When China faked out the US…they poured government money into their rare earth mining and refining operations…crushed the market.” (24:15)
- Current Risk:
- “China could bring all of our car companies and most of our tech companies to their knees in a day.” (26:52)
- Policymaking Dilemma:
- Should the US government get more involved in rare earth mining/production?
- “Do we have a government controlled giant mining apparatus…or do we actually have the government pick winners and losers?” (30:14)
9. Foreign Policy – Trump, China, Putin & Ukraine
[30:48 – 35:17]
- US Strategic Approaches:
- Chatter about Trump possibly meeting Xi or Putin.
- Frustration with perceived leniency toward Putin; contrast with “maximum pressure” tactics elsewhere.
- Debate over whether offering Russia a carrot (sanction relief) could end the Ukraine war.
- Jack: “The message is you push hard enough, the west backs down, gives you what you want.” (34:06)
- Media and Conspiracy Theories:
- Joe pokes fun at the “Tucker Carlson 9/11 documentary: Oh, boy. Here’s a hint—it’s the Jews.” (32:47)
10. Bidet Humor & Modernization Hesitance
[42:10 – 44:53]
- Bidet Jokes:
- Jack admits to never using the bidet in his new house, expressing trepidation about the unfamiliar device.
- Joe mocks the fear: “What do you think, it’s gonna blast your junk off or something? Give it a try, you coward.” (43:21)
- Jokes comparing the adoption of bidets to penicillin or electricity, musing on reluctance to try new things.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Cloning & Identity
-
“If you cloned Tom Brady, he would have the same genetics but a different brain... That shapes a person.”
– Joe Getty [03:51] -
"It's not the same dog, period. You don't even really need anything after that. It's not the same dog."
– Joe Getty [40:00] -
"It's a weird sort of conceit to think that Fufu was just so special. She was the most special dog ever."
– Jack Armstrong [40:54]
On Affordability
-
“It is one of the biggest problems we’ve got going and... we’ve never adjusted emotionally to the new prices. I know I haven’t. I’m still shocked every time I go to the grocery store or go to a restaurant.”
– Joe Getty [08:30] -
“Wait, wait, wait—it’s moved seven years in four years. That’s practically impossible. That’s crazy.”
– Jack Armstrong (on first-time homebuyer’s median age) [10:11] -
“The average cost of a family health insurance plan is now $27,000 a year.”
– Jack Armstrong [15:23]
On Political Reality
- “It’s worse than dumba. Because…they have made the assumption that the government ought to run the economy, which is an incredibly stupid and dangerous thing to do.”
– Jack Armstrong [14:26]
On Language Trends
- “There are 26 letters in the alphabet, but one is just not getting enough love... Linguists say the letter T is being dropped from words like ‘kitten,’ ‘mountain,’ and ‘interview’ coast to coast.”
– Joe Getty [18:13]
On China & Rare Earths
- “China could bring all of our car companies and most of our tech companies to their knees in a day if they were to announce, ‘Hey, by the way, you can’t buy any of this stuff. Fu.’”
– Jack Armstrong [26:52] - “We painted ourselves into a strategic corner through the naivete of the past.”
– Jack Armstrong [30:39]
On Modernization Jitters
- “What do you think, it’s gonna blast your junk off or something? Give it a try, you coward.”
– Joe Getty (to Jack about bidets) [43:21]
Important Timestamps
- 03:35 – Start of discussion on Tom Brady cloning his dog
- 04:52 – Airline cuts and public reaction
- 08:22 – "Affordability" as focal issue
- 09:03 – Impact of rising costs on young people
- 10:04 – Median age of first time homebuyer discussion
- 13:51 – Political messaging, role of government in economy
- 15:23 – Average family health insurance plan discussed
- 18:11 – Dropping the 'T' in American speech
- 24:15 – Rare earth dependency on China explained
- 30:48 – US, China, and meeting with Putin and Ukraine situation
- 38:32 – Tom Brady's cloned dog revisited, cloning ethics mocked
- 42:10 – Bidet jokes & hesitation
Tone & Style
True to Armstrong and Getty’s hallmark, the tone is fast-paced, irreverent, self-deprecating, and skeptical. They blend genuine concern with sarcasm, social critique, and personal anecdotes, making complex ideas accessible while staying rooted in humor and normalcy.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
Expect an episode that pinballs briskly among current events, media trends, politics, lifestyle commentary, and cultural quirks. Major concerns center around the unaffordability of daily life, uncertain geopolitics, and the absurdities of modern trends—always with Armstrong and Getty’s signature animated, occasionally exasperated take.