Armstrong & Getty On Demand: Replay Thursday Hour Four (Nov. 27, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this special Thanksgiving edition, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty reflect on the latest political upheavals in Washington, dissect shifting party ideologies, and dive into the ways generational dynamics are changing digital communication. The duo’s lively, irreverent banter covers everything from arcane tax policy to what emojis really mean, the effects of AI on society, and the evolving landscape of American politics, all delivered in their trademark tone: skeptical, biting, and always a bit exasperated.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Thanksgiving & “Political Leftovers”

• [03:34] Joe Getty opens with Thanksgiving wishes, humorously hoping everyone eats to excess.
• The concept of “leftovers” is playfully used as a segue into deeper discussions of political “leftovers”—issues that just won’t go away.

“I hope you eat as much as you can. I hope you’re in pain by the end of the day. I know I will be.”
— Joe Getty [03:34]

2. The Big GOP Tax and Immigration Bill: Disgust with Political “Sausage Making”

• [04:17 – 12:03]
  • Discussion of the last-minute passage of a GOP tax and immigration package—a “sausagey” process reflecting the dysfunction and hypocrisy of Washington politics.
  • Jack expresses deep frustration with how “deficit hawks” in the House Freedom Caucus caved by voting “present,” allowing deficit-growing legislation to pass.
  • Analysis of shifting Republican stances: formerly core positions (fiscal conservatism, cutting Medicaid) are now considered “ultra-conservative” outlier views.
  • Critique of the expansion of the SALT deduction, which benefits high-tax states at the expense of fiscally responsible states.

“This is the most sausagey of sausage making… The Republican Party with both houses of Congress and the White House are going to grow the deficit. It’s undeniable.”
— Jack Armstrong [04:47–06:01]

“Now the party of pandering to and writing checks to people to win their votes.”
— Jack Armstrong [07:56]

“Spending your children and grandchildren into tax-and-spend oblivion. Well, all right.”
— Jack Armstrong [08:43]

• Jack and Joe lament the loss of distinct party principles and muse whether true party identity exists at all anymore.

“There are no political parties. There’s just whoever emerges as the candidate, cycle by cycle, and then whatever they believe, the party goes along with.”
— Sarah Isgur (quoted by Joe Getty) [12:03–12:17]

• Jack likens his old affection for the Republican Party to realizing “your wife of 40 years is… killing people for the mob”—a darkly humorous way to underscore disillusionment.

3. Generational Shifts in Emoji Usage & Digital Tone

• [13:41 – 20:34]
  • The hosts tackle the “periodic warning” about how Gen Z interprets emoji differently than Gen X/Boomers.
  • The “smiley face” and “tears of joy” emojis hold conflicting meanings across ages: Gen Z sees sarcasm or hilarity where Boomers see simple happiness or sympathy.
  • Katie joins the conversation to provide nuance from a younger perspective.
  • Stories of miscommunication—such as someone replying “LOL” (thinking it’s “lots of love”) to a death in the family—drive home these generational divides.
  • Jack and Joe riff on the evolving slang behind emojis, explaining that symbols like the skull or sparkle have very different meanings for young people.
  • A segment on “drug” and “sex” emojis highlights how quickly language evolves in digital spaces and how outsiders can be left hilariously clueless.

“We use [the tears emoji] in my family a lot… you’re being sarcastic about how upset you are.”
— Jack Armstrong [15:45]

“Linguists… have also pointed out that the symbol’s new meanings can often emerge from slang that older users might not be aware of.”
— Jack Armstrong [17:15]

“I send [the eggplant emoji] if somebody has some good news… the traditional vegetable of success!”
— Joe Getty (tongue firmly in cheek) [19:06]

4. The Societal Impact of AI

• [23:48 – 36:38]
  • Jack voices existential dread about AI—calling it “mankind’s doom”—and shares insights from Alicia Finley’s Wall Street Journal piece on how AI is already displacing white-collar work.
  • They discuss “cognitive offloading,” how technology (and especially AI) erodes our mental and learning capacity.
  • Joe and Jack reflect on research showing that handwriting strengthens neural pathways in ways typing can’t, drawing parallels with learning music and solving crossword puzzles.
  • They debate the importance of boredom and mental downtime for synthesizing ideas and creativity.

“You can’t skip to bench pressing 250 pounds having not bench pressed 100… neurologically speaking.”
— Jack Armstrong [26:10]

“I now discipline myself… to be bored a certain amount of the day, to be doing nothing, reading nothing… I am committed to being not occupied a certain chunk of the day.”
— Jack Armstrong [31:31]

• The conversation shifts to AI’s use in the NFL—how soon it will be standard for play calling, and whether sports might become “AI vs AI” rather than coach vs coach.

“I feel pretty confident saying some team is going to win a Super Bowl in the next few years utilizing AI at a very high rate… There’s going to be more and more separation with teams that have bought in.”
— Jack Armstrong (quoting an NFL coach) [35:15]

“That’ll be cool up until the point it’s just AI against AI… a season from now.”
— Joe Getty [34:28]

5. Polls & Party Brand Meltdown for Democrats

• [40:25 – 45:05]
  • Aisha Hosny presents recent Wall Street Journal polling: only 33% of voters have a favorable opinion of Democrats, their worst since 1990.
  • Jack and Joe debate whether the real reason for Democratic struggles is policy or “the crazy factor”—perceptions of ideological extremism on cultural issues.
  • Jack notes Republicans still score higher on voter trust for issues like inflation and immigration, despite Trump’s personal unpopularity.
  • Brief speculation on the Democratic Party’s future—will someone like AOC be its leader, or is a moderate blue-state governor the only path forward?

“I think it’s the crazy factor… You’re the people that want boys playing girls’ sports. You’re the people that want me to say Latinx. You’re the people that think we shouldn’t have police. I don’t trust you on anything.”
— Joe Getty [41:41]

“Trump is seven percent underwater, and Republicans are eleven percent underwater. But again, keep in mind—the Democrats are thirty points underwater.”
— Jack Armstrong [43:26]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Political Disillusionment:
  “There are no political parties. There’s just whoever emerges as the candidate, cycle by cycle, and then whatever they believe, the party goes along with.”
  — Sarah Isgur as cited by Joe Getty [12:03]

• On AI’s Societal Risks:
  “I am completely convinced that mankind has invented its doom. I’m just—there’s nothing I can do about it, so I try not to worry about it.”
  — Jack Armstrong [23:48]

• On the SALT Deduction’s Absurdity:
  “My brothers in Kansas pay some of my taxes because I live in California. That makes sense.”
  — Joe Getty [10:32]

• On Boredom and Creativity:
  “I now discipline myself harshly…to be bored a certain amount of the day…not occupied a certain chunk of the day.”
  — Jack Armstrong [31:31]

• On Social Media Generational Gaps:
  “We old people run the world. You adapt to us.”
  — Jack Armstrong [14:28]

• On Democrats’ Brand Problem:
  “Dems are 33% favorable, 63% unfavorable. Far weaker assessment than voters give to President Trump or the Republican Party.”
  — Jack Armstrong [42:19]

Segment Timestamps Overview

| Segment | Timestamps | |---------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Thanksgiving and Leftovers Humor | 03:34–04:00 | | GOP Tax Bill, Republican Party Transformation, SALT | 04:17–13:29 | | Emoji Generational Divide, Digital Miscommunication | 13:41–20:34 | | AI Worries, Cognitive Offloading, Handwriting Debate | 23:48–32:24 | | AI in the NFL, Future of Sports Strategy | 32:26–36:38 | | WSJ Poll: Democratic Brand Meltdown, Future Leadership | 40:25–45:05 |

Overall Tone & Takeaway

Armstrong & Getty marry frustration, gallows humor, and skepticism in a meandering yet insightful look at contemporary American politics, culture, and technology. Their discussion is deeply grounded in traditional principles (especially fiscal conservatism), but they’re not above poking fun at themselves, their audience, or the ever-shifting sand dunes of digital and political discourse. Whether you’re here for the policy talk, the rants about AI, or simply to enjoy two radio pros riffing on the contradictions of modern life, this episode delivers a hearty portion of “leftovers” worth digesting.

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