Blow Their Beards Off

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand — "Blow Their Beards Off" (April 7, 2026)

Overview

In this episode, Jack Armstrong, Joe Getty, and the team dive into two urgent and compelling topics: the cultural and ethical upheaval surrounding AI-generated music, and the unprecedented, possibly world-altering threats coming from President Trump regarding Iran. With their customary mix of incisive debate, irreverent humor, and open-ended questions, the hosts unpack the implications of these seismic shifts in technology and geopolitics. The episode oscillates between existential musings on art and authenticity, and a tense anticipation about U.S.-Iran brinkmanship, all while maintaining the show's trademark conversational and sometimes sardonic tone.

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Key Discussions & Insights

1. AI-Generated Music: Is It Art? And Can You Love It?

[01:58–13:50]

• The Eddie Dalton Revelation:
  The team discusses the viral soul singer "Eddie Dalton," who turns out to be an entirely AI-created persona with no human behind the music.

  • "He appears to be a 40-year-old black man, but he doesn't exist. All of it is generated by a content farm..." — Joe Getty [02:48]
  • Katie shares how her mom was "legitimately bummed out" to learn Eddie Dalton wasn't real. [03:53]

• Debate: Can AI Create Art?

  • Jack ponders if he'd enjoy music the same way knowing it was AI-generated. [04:06]
  • Joe argues art must be human:
    "Because it's not art. I mean, what's the definition of art... does the definition of art have to be a human expression?" — Joe Getty [05:37 & 06:05]

• The Generational Divide:

  • The team speculates that younger generations may care less about the "realness" of music compared to older listeners. (Katie: [08:17])
  • Jack doubts the experience will be the same without a human artist to connect with. [07:56]

• Legal and Ethical Nightmares:
  Folk singer Murphy Campbell tells the story of AI copies of her music being uploaded and then used to file copyright claims against her own work.

  • "My problem with AI generated music has just worsened exponentially... This is crazy. It's unprecedented. It's the Wild West..." — Murphy Campbell [09:19]
  • The group expresses strong disapproval of AI’s ability to “lift” from others and then claim copyright. [11:07]

• The Blending Problem:
  Joe compares AI vocal generation to mixing elements from famous voices into something "new," but legally difficult to stop. [11:28]

  • "It's almost like a wine blend—40% Chris Stapleton, 40% Sam Cooke, 10% Lou Rawls." — Joe Getty [11:28]

• Will Audiences Care?
  The rise of DJ stardom (performers playing computer-generated or pre-mixed music) is discussed as precedent for audiences enjoying music with minimal "human touch." [08:51]

• Art, Literature, and Authenticity:
  Jack and Joe extend the discussion to visual art and literature, questioning if they'd ever want to read or hang AI-created works. [16:48–17:09]

Notable Quotes

• "If I'm listening to [what] I think is a human expression... then I'm told it's a computer. Am I supposed to punch myself in the face or cry?"
  — Jack Armstrong [06:11]

• "It's like a sexy woman, but she's a slave. Not interested."
  — Joe Getty, on rejecting non-human art [13:19]

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2. Trump’s Historic Threat Against Iran: "A Civilization Will Die Tonight"

[00:44–29:50 & 14:20–34:50]

• The Threat:
  Jack outlines Trump’s declaration:

  • "A whole civilization will die tonight. Never to be brought back again. So states the president of the United States about Iran.” [00:44]

• Is This Bluff or Real?
  The hosts analyze whether this is typical Trump posturing or a real step to escalation. They run through Mark Halperin’s pros/cons list on possible escalation. [17:25–22:47]

  • Arguments for escalation: repeated deadlines, lack of negotiation progress, international signals, and canceled Pentagon briefings.
  • Arguments against: Trump’s past bluffing, possible last-minute negotiations, and presence of “human shields” at Iranian infrastructure.

• International Reactions & Stakes:

  • Joe: "Nobody ever brought up, except for a couple books... how do you negotiate with death cultists? Who will kill however many of their people is necessary?" [23:30–24:02]
  • Discussion of possible massive civilian casualties and unpredictable world/regional response. [25:51–26:17]

• Presidential Style & Diplomacy:
  The group critically reviews Trump’s recent comments about MBS (“he’d be kissing my ass”), concluding it was a major diplomatic misstep. [29:51–31:09]

• Pop Culture & Terminology:
  The episode title comes from:

  • "You got to squash them. Squash them like bugs, blow their beards off."
    — Jack Armstrong [29:23]

Notable Quotes

• "It's unholy. It's like a sexy woman, but she's a slave. Not interested."
  — Joe Getty, connecting the "inhuman" nature of AI to the morality of action [13:19]

• "I just don't feel like you can make the threat of all threats like that and then back down."
  — Jack Armstrong [35:08]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Young Listeners and DJ Culture:
  "I can't imagine that anybody's gonna go to an arena and just listen to the sound system with... an iPhone on a stool and a spotlight." — Jack Armstrong [08:39]
  "They do already with these DJs, electronic music... you go, and there's a dude standing in front of a system with a laptop..." — Katie Greener [08:51]

• On AI 'Stealing' and Copyright Hell:
  “AI replicated her songs, then filed copyright claims on them.”
  — Joe Getty, summarizing Murphy Campbell’s story [10:05]

• On History in the Making:
  "One way or another, history will have taken a pivot by the time we address you again manana."
  — Joe Getty [34:40]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:44: Trump’s threat – "A whole civilization will die tonight"
• 01:58: Introduction to AI-generated music discussion
• 03:53: Katie Greener on her mom’s disappointment after learning Eddie Dalton is AI
• 04:58: Defining "art" — AI vs. human creation
• 09:19 & 10:14: Folk singer Murphy Campbell on AI copyright abuse
• 11:28: “Wine blend” analogy for AI vocal generation
• 13:19: Joe Getty on the “unholiness” of AI art
• 17:25: Mark Halperin’s analysis on U.S.-Iran escalation scenarios
• 29:23: The “Blow their beards off” moment
• 31:09: Trump’s faux pas with Saudi leader MBS
• 32:05: Catholic Church spike in converts — possible "great awakening"
• 34:40: Joe's final thought on history pivoting tonight
• 35:08: Jack doubts a walk-back is possible after such a major threat

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Conclusion

This episode captures Armstrong & Getty at their most engaged and provocative, applying their signature banter and skepticism to two urgent topics: the collision of AI and authenticity in art, and the razor’s edge of international conflict. The show doesn’t promise answers but rather frames the questions—philosophical, cultural, and geopolitical—that listeners will be grappling with as history unfolds in real time. As always, listeners are urged to come to their own conclusions, and to tune in tomorrow, when the world may look very different.

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Notable Closing Reflection:
"The modern world is leaving a lot of people feeling like there's got to be more than this. They're looking for it somewhere and maybe find it in the church. But the modern world leaves you feeling empty."
— Jack Armstrong [33:54]

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Jack Armstrong]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center,

[Joe Getty]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty. A whole civilization will die tonight. Never to be brought back again. So states the president of the United States about Iran. A whole civilization will die tonight. The cutoff time for the civilization that has existed for a couple thousand years. It's going to end on April 7th at 8pm Eastern. And they've had a good run, so claims the President. So more on that a little bit later this hour. It's historic, man.

[Joe Getty]

I'm making light of it because it's so incredibly heavy.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's unbelievable.

[Joe Getty]

Well, and this may be certainly in your top three threats of all time, if you consider the size of the threat times, the capability of to make it come true. That's a hell of a threat. So more on that to come.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I'm going to take out every bridge and every power plant. According to Trump, in four hours we can have them all taken out. He said so. Okay, more on that later.

[Joe Getty]

Boy, oh boy. A less weighty topic, but interesting and thought provoking AI music. Ladies and gentlemen, before we get to the AI stuff, the soulful, soulful sounds of Eddie Dalton.

[Jack Armstrong]

Another slow dance.

[Joe Getty]

Eddie doesn't exist. It's all a computer.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. So I've been thinking lately, like I'm really into Olivia Dean, right? That album that she. Fantastic. Just think she, she sings that kind of soulful stuff, right? And. Or does she? She did on the Grammys. Unless she was listening to Fembot did. But one of the things is that one of the things I enjoy about it is just, you know, how good she is and that there are people that still sing that way and blah, blah, blah. That guy sounds like a male Olivia Dean. Except for he's not real, doesn't exist.

[Joe Getty]

He appears to be a 40 year old black man, but he doesn't exist. All of it is generated by a content farm run by Dallas Ray Little out of Greenville, South Carolina, who's already got dozens of these faux songs and videos by different artists, quote unquote on YouTube.

[Mark Halpern]

Well,

[Jack Armstrong]

why, why do you even claim it's a 40 year old black man? Why not claim it's a two year old poodle or a coffee cup?

[Joe Getty]

Well, now, if that was a dog, that is worth the money. I would go see that. Or a coffee cup. Yeah, exactly. Because either people aren't aware of it

[Jack Armstrong]

or I would go see that. I got tickets for the show tonight, honey. A dog who sings like Sam Cook.

[Joe Getty]

Or either people aren't aware of it or he just realizes the barrier for entry for some people might be. Wait, that's a computer. That's weird. But if he gives them a human face for that Sam Cook meets Chris Stapleton voice of his, then people dig it.

[Katie Greener]

The, the album cover is definitely believable. And this totally got my mom. She loves his music and just found out it was AI and was legitimately bummed out. She's like, this wasn't. This isn't even a person.

[Jack Armstrong]

I would like to have that happen to me. Unfortunately, it's always been introduced to me as, as AI to start with, I would love to get into an album like I got into the Olivia Dean stuff and then have somebody say, here's the catch, this is not real. This was just me putting prompts on a computer that would blow my mind.

[Katie Greener]

Yeah, she, she said, hopefully the guys will talk about Eddie Dalton because I really love his music. And then I found out he's AI And I was really disappointed, but I still like the music.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's where we all got to get. And I haven't gotten there yet. And I don't know if I can. As a guy who practices a musical instrument every day of my life, do I get any enjoyment out of listening to computer made up music or does it not make any difference? It shouldn't make any difference, should it?

[Joe Getty]

I disagree. Although from a certain perspective, here's the way I respond to that. Music has always been the nexus between art and entertainment and commerce. Depending on the setting and if you remove the art from it, other than ability to recognize, ah, the computer got it right, then you've just got entertainment and commerce, which for some people I think is perfectly fine. And you know, if you enjoy music on that level, good for you. I don't care.

[Jack Armstrong]

Why are you saying the artificial intelligence can't create art?

[Joe Getty]

Because it's not art. I mean, what's the definition of art,

[Jack Armstrong]

then that has to be human being.

[Joe Getty]

That was a childlike argument by me and I apologize for it. Well, it's not art because it's. The programming of the computer was art. In a way, it was astounding grasp of science.

[Jack Armstrong]

Anyway, I'm thinking this through as I'm saying it. I don't have the answer to it. Why is it not art? Does the definition of art have to be a human expression?

[Joe Getty]

Yes, I would say yes. Although I'd certainly be willing to hear a counter argument because it's such an interesting topic.

[Jack Armstrong]

What if you can't tell? So what if I'm listening to what I think is a human expression, really enjoying it. Then I'm told that was a computer. Am I supposed to, I don't know, punch myself in the face or cry or that do if I enjoyed the art, Right.

[Joe Getty]

Quote, unquote. Sure, that's a great question.

[Jack Armstrong]

Or a painting is even a better example. I'm looking at it really, you know, enjoying it. Getting all those chemicals frying, flying. Sure. Firing off in your brain that you get when you look at good art. But you're told that's made by a computer. Ah, gouge my eyes out. I'm so embarrassed.

[Joe Getty]

Wow, you're punching your face, you're gouging your eyes. Yeah, I know. I'd actually. I was trying to think last night of what, like well known songwriters I could actually get hold of. They're just a couple. Because I'd love to write something about creating music in the age of AI music creation when. I mean, there are plenty. It's funny, I've joked in the past, there are plenty of songs there's no need to write anymore, but people still do it and enjoy it. It gives me joy to do it. People like new music and that sort of thing. I think it's wonderful. It's one of my favorite things in life, honestly. But what does it mean now is I'm thinking of a couple of my favorite songwriters. They're getting ready to do their next album.

[High Ranking Source]

Why?

[Joe Getty]

Just because they want to get it out of them. They. They want to make the very paltry sum of money it'll get them.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, I can't answer this question in my own head, so I certainly can't answer it for. Or. Or guess how this is going to play out for society.

[Joe Getty]

Yes, Michael, I think younger people aren't going to care. Older people are going to hate this.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't. I don't know. I'm guessing. I'm actually guessing. I don't think unless you've got the human being to attach it to in your mind, that it's gonna hit you the same way.

[Joe Getty]

I think you're right. I don't know that you speak for the shallow simpletons of the world, Katie.

[Katie Greener]

You know, on Michael's point, there's been kind of this weird transition of inserting technology into music in the last decade or so, you know, with the auto tune and that. So it's. It's kind of like we've phased that way. So maybe he's right. I think maybe the younger generation is gonna just. It's just like computers and music are one or. But nope, you know, hand in hand.

[Jack Armstrong]

I can't imagine that anybody's gonna go to an arena and just listen to the sound system with a. An iPhone on a stool and a spotlight.

[Katie Greener]

They do already with these DJs, electronic music that. I mean, that's. That's what it is. You go, and there's a dude standing in front of a system with a laptop plugged in with a lot of lights.

[Joe Getty]

It's the Soul Rave featuring Eddie Dalton. Yeah. I don't know. Here's another interesting angle of the whole AI thing. This is a folk singer by the name of Murphy Campbell. Traditional folk, beautiful voice. But she brings up a problem.

[Murphy Campbell]

My problem with AI generated music has just worsened exponentially. I'm gonna try to catch y' all up on what happened, because this is crazy. It's unprecedented. It's the Wild west, and it could happen to anyone. Roll on an entity called Timeless Sounds, IR uploaded AI generated versions of my songs to all major streaming platforms. And to do that, they fed YouTube videos of me to an AI engine that then mimicked my voice and playing. They used a distributor, which I just discovered, and that distributor's name is Vidia. They used Vidia to upload all these AI generated songs. Nvidia has since decided that it was going to make copyright claims on all the videos that were used to feed the AI engine to sound like me.

[Joe Getty]

So AI replicated her songs, then filed copyright claims on them. Roll on, Michael.

[Murphy Campbell]

So Vidya has come forward and made copyright claims on my YouTube page. And because YouTube does not personally review these things, I am no longer making money on YouTube videos. Making money on YouTube off of my own videos of me playing my own banjo in my own backyard with traditional folk songs, some for my own family, over AI generated music.

[Joe Getty]

Last clip.

[Murphy Campbell]

So I just wanted to update y', all, and I wanted to let you know that the only thing I can do about it is dispute this copyright claim. I can't dispute the copyright claim of YouTube because YouTube doesn't get involved. I can dispute it with video. Do you think Vidya is going to listen to me? I don't think so. So, yes, that's AI generated music for y', all, and these are the consequences of using it. So

[Joe Getty]

I don't like the modern world. Not a fan. One star can't recommend.

[Jack Armstrong]

It shouldn't be surprising that AI creates music that it's lifted from other people. I mean, where else would it get the idea? And it's LLMs. That's what they are, language learning models. They're going out there and grabbing everything that's out there in the world and, you know, spitting back whatever he asked to do based on what it's learned.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I don't know how to quote, unquote, read an algorithm, but, like the voice of that Eddie Little character, like you said, that that's like. It's almost like a wine blend. That's 40% Chris Stapleton, 40% Sam Cooke, and 10% of, I don't know, Lou Rawls.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and you. I don't see how you would ever be able to stop it legally, because whatever precedent you set, you know, these. These trials that they've had over the years where people get sued for, you stole my melody are often so stupid because there's 8 million songs with the same melody. There's just only so many melodies. But sometimes people win money and sometimes they don't. But so if you. If you do this with AI, well, then the AI, the creator, will just say, okay, the government regulation is it can only be 11% of anything. So we'll do 10.8% Sam Cooke and 10.8% Chris Stapleton and another 10.8% this, and come up with our own thing just to stay below the threshold for breaking the law. I don't see how you'd ever change that. Donal.

[Joe Getty]

Music has changed over and over again as technology's changed the way it's presented and written and sung and the rest of it. I've recommended David Byrne's book How Music Works many times. It's a good read, at least the first few chapters.

[Jack Armstrong]

The.

[Joe Getty]

And it's about to change again. Fundamentally.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. But the open question is how we are going to receive it if we're going to be think. I don't care if it's a computer or not, I still enjoy it. Or if it just lacks something when we know it's not a human being.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, we don't know that. Change as younger people come along, as Michael indicates.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know.

[Joe Getty]

I won't listen to another second of it. I loathe it. But really, even if you like grandkids,

[Jack Armstrong]

even if you like the sound of it, you're not going to listen to it if it's not a human?

[Joe Getty]

No, no. It's unholy. It's like a sexy woman, but she's a slave. Not interested.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm like a sexy woman, but a slave. Let's all ponder that for a while.

[Joe Getty]

It's something to be enjoyed, but it is evil in its origin. Wow, that's some deep S. Oh, please. I'm all about deep S. Stay here, Armstrong and Getty.

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[Jack Armstrong]

So we got into the conversation of where. Where does this all go? And will people enjoy listening to that? And I really don't know the answer. Some of it might be if you're young. So, like a lot of your young pop stars. She doesn't sound like that. She's a model. She didn't write the songs. They become giant stars. How much separated from that is AI? Not a lot. Not much difference.

[Joe Getty]

No. I think for a young audience, very little, if any.

[Jack Armstrong]

Katie brought up the idea of people fill arenas to watch DJs just kind of spin records. Although there is a human being there. Anyway, we got this text. You two are getting really old and at this point have become irrelevant. Happy Tuesday.

[Katie Greener]

Oh, great.

[Joe Getty]

Thanks.

[Katie Greener]

Well, I think what I was telling Joe off the air was, my mom's a. My mom and my dad are both musicians. And when they hear the AI music that turns them off because they're like, this is something that people practice that for their entire lives to perfect. And now here's a top chart song that took none of that.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I just. I don't. That's not even what bothers me. What bothers me is music is artistic expression as opposed to mastery. Maybe I just think that because I suck. But Jack Asked an intriguing question. You know, we're all into music. If you see art, neither one of us has any talent for, like, visual arts, painting or drawing or whatever. I have none. And it's funny, I've run into artists who like, oh, sure you do. And I'm like, no, no, no, I don't. But anyway, do I feel the same way about AI generated art? And Judy and I do have a fair amount of art. I wouldn't call myself an art collector. We have pretty stuff on our walls and we ran into one artist who does like AI or Computer Assisted Art photography that then is altered and uses computers to create a composite image of the photography and changes it in the way she wants. And some of it's really whimsical and it's really good art. But we're like, do we want this? What are we buying? What is this? Exactly. So is visual art different than music?

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know. I really, really like literature. If there was a book that was getting rave reviews, but I know it was written by AI, would I have any interest in reading it? I don't think I would, other than

[Joe Getty]

to wonder at the technology.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I. I actually don't know for myself even. We're gonna find out really soon, though. Like really soon in the next couple years.

[Joe Getty]

It's clear to me that this will kill the human soul. But we've had a good run. What are you going to do? Beavers? Ants. Ants probably are going to take over AI.

[Jack Armstrong]

Killing the human soul. Trump. Killing off an entire civilization, or so. He has vowed that coming up, Armstrong

[Mark Halpern]

and Getty, the entire country can be taken out in one night. And that night might be tomorrow night, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o' clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again. I mean, complete demolition by 12 o' clock, and it'll happen over a period of four hours. If we wanted to, we don't want that to happen. We may even get involved with helping them rebuild their nation. And you know what? If that's the case, the last thing we want to do is start with power plants, which are among the most expensive thing, and bridges.

[Jack Armstrong]

So you've probably heard by now that Trump truthed out early today, a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. That's an extraordinary thing, even by Trump standards, to say, I don't want that to happen, but it probably will. So Mark Halpern in his newsletter, laid out the arguments that it will happen and the arguments that it won't happen. And they're pretty darned interesting.

[Joe Getty]

As ian Bremmer's outfit, G0 Daily put it. Is it Taco Tuesday or Fafo Tuesday? Oof.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'll tell you what, if, if Trump backs down on this, I, I don't call it chickening out, but if it's another, you know, I'm gonna, okay, but I will next time. I don't. I think this is the last one he can do. I don't think you can get the world's attention or anybody's attention one more time with this if you don't follow through with some. But anyway, here's Mark Halpern laying out the arguments, facts, data for escalation that it will happen tonight. Trump was very definitive. Countless times on Monday about the deadline, he was. Trump called the Iranians bull s artists. He the actual word, of course, when it came to negotiations, which was to veteran Trump watchers, the biggest tell of the day. When Trump declares that you're just full of crap, then he decides no more negotiating with you. The two sides are so far apart on what it would take to end the war or even get a ceasefire, there's just no point.

[Joe Getty]

And the New York Times actually says that after those threats in response, Iran has stopped engaging in the talks completely.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, Iran's alleged demands are non starters and are no longer even negotiating, as Joe just said. Another one that Halperin says is BB Would be leaking more to force Trump's hand if he was worried that there was going to be a taco. So if BB had any sense that Trump wasn't going to follow through on this, he would be leaking out various things to try to push him that direction, and he's not. He must feel like Trump's gonna. Gonna do it. A bunch of international law professors told Trump not to do it. Halperin takes that as an argument that Trump probably will. Just because the law professor said don't, that is not good. That you would do something just because it would make them mad. But knowing Trump's personality, that certainly could be true. And then the cancellation of the Pentagrand briefing today, we didn't even mention that Hegseth was supposed to do one of his briefings and they canceled it last minute. I think that is a sign that it's happening to me.

[Joe Getty]

Interesting.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's.

[Joe Getty]

Speaking of the New York Times, there's a headline just like three stories down. Hegseth likens Easter rescue of US Airmen, a resurrection of Jesus Christ. When did he do that? Oh, this is dated yesterday. Okay, that's. But they're so anxious to portray Hegseth and others as crazy Christians in the New York Times. This is still one of their lead stories.

[Jack Armstrong]

Really? Okay.

[Joe Getty]

God, they're nuts.

[Jack Armstrong]

Here are the arguments, facts and data that it won't happen tonight. Trump asserted several times yesterday that the Iranians are negotiating. We think in good faith. He did say that a couple of times. Trump can claim no matter the facts, that more significant progress has been made today and extend the deadline. I think it's the last time he can play this card, but he could do that this afternoon. He could say we've made great strides in the negotiation, gonna hold off for five days, 10 days, three hours, whatever he says. But I don't think he can play that card again. He certainly can't play that card on me again and get me all excited.

[Joe Getty]

Only if it's real. If two days later the Pakistanis announce, hey, good news, the Straits Open pieces have been restored. Damn, that was crazy, wasn't it? Everybody back to real life. Well then, okay, but no, you can't bluff again with that card.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that's one of the arguments why this won't happen. Trump has blown through a whole bunch of self imposed deadlines already in this war and he lists them and it is quite a few times. International mediators are highly motivated to succeed and reportedly have the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as an interlocutor. A person that they can have a conversation with.

[Joe Getty]

If that's true, today he's the head of the Guard Corps, tomorrow he's just

[Jack Armstrong]

ahead of the Guard Corps or he's a headless. How about this as an argument why it won't happen. The human shields of young people around power plants that Iran is reportedly arranging could give Trump an excuse not to attack. Blaming Iran for the delay.

[Joe Getty]

I could easily see Trump saying, are they there yet? Go now, go now, go now. And adjusting his sales because the human shield thing, the Iranians who are.

[Jack Armstrong]

Unless he wants out, and then you let the human shields get there and then you say, I look what they've done and I don't know what's in his head. I don't know if he wants out or wants to do it.

[Joe Getty]

In all my years of studying and reading and international relations and the rest of it, nobody ever brought up except for a couple of books. Now that I think about it, how do you negotiate with death cultists? Who will Kill however many of their people are necessary is necessary. And so how does that work? What levers do you use?

[Jack Armstrong]

Another. Another argument against is that the US could suffer massive losses in the attack if Iran's air defenses are not as degraded as the Pentagon has claimed.

[Joe Getty]

I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, that would have happened already.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I think so, too. They're getting blasted every single dang day. There is this breaking news thing that I hadn't mentioned. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the Gulf states today that it will no longer show restraint in choosing targets for retaliation. I don't know that they'd showed a lot of restraint so far. Finally, this for Mark Halpern, who has a lot of sources and is a pretty smart guy, basing this on Trump yesterday talking a lot about how his CI direct CIA director looks like he's from central casting, how Pete Hegseth looks like he's from central casting, how Trump just likes these, the way things look or whatever. If you want to know what Trump will do at 8 Eastern at the deadline, ask yourself one question. Which is the better movie plot development? What is the better movie plot development? Doing it or not doing it?

[Joe Getty]

Oh, my.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know what the answer to that question is.

[Joe Getty]

I don't either. Depends on what sort of movies you like, I guess.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't think he's, I, I think he's going to come out in the middle of the day and say negotiations are going well, 48 more hours or something like that, but I don't know. Canceling the Pentagon briefing, the fact that we're bombing Carg island, the fact that Israel said stay off the trains. There's a lot of things lining up for kind of like, you know, 38 days ago, when the attacks happened originally,

[Joe Getty]

if he were to say progress has been made or given him another 48 hours or whatever. What's going to happen in those 48 hours, though?

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know.

[Joe Getty]

Just hoping things break in a productive way, I guess.

[Jack Armstrong]

I have no idea. If Trump follows through on this and takes out lots of bridges and power plants and trains like Israel is saying, and, and thousands die, not just by Iranian news agency standards, by. It seems pretty obvious thousands and thousands die, how's the world going to react? How's Congress going to react? How's America going to react?

[Joe Getty]

Oh, boy. Those are three different questions, but none of them are answered by the word just fine. WOR yeah, how the market's gonna react.

[Jack Armstrong]

That, that's my least concern because they, they go up they go down, but

[Joe Getty]

yeah, they'll bounce back. Buy the dip, Michael. I request. No, no, I demand. Clip 53 Trey Youngst but what's very

[High Ranking Source]

interesting here, I spoke with a high ranking source last night and I asked what happens next if the President orders these strikes. And they said, again, this is the Achilles heel of the regime targeting energy infrastructure. And what it may actually do is force their hand at the negotiating table. Because again, the President has, time and time again, even before Operation Epic Fury began, preferred a diplomatic option, but the Iranians have been unwilling to take a diplomatic option. And that is how we ended up in this Operation Epic Fury that is unfolding before our eyes as we speak. But the President very clearly on true social just moments ago saying, however, now that we have complete and total regime change where different, smarter and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionary wonderful can happen.

[Joe Getty]

Mm.

[Jack Armstrong]

U.S. officials. This is from the New York Times. U.S. officials have countered all arguments that if Iran showed a serious desire to end its nuclear program, it wouldn't have triggered the war in the first place. The officials said the U.S. would face significant hurdles in getting Tehran to agree to a ceasefire because the Iranian regime sees its survival is at stake and thinks it retains leverage over the US through the straight of horror moves. That reminds me of the Eisenhower book that I'm reading. Eisenhower was big on that Art of War book by the ancient Japanese. Dude, Chinese, Chinese dude.

[Joe Getty]

Racism right there, folks. Just making a note

[Jack Armstrong]

that cornered beasts fighting for their lives are very dangerous. And that is definitely where the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the mullahs will be maybe are right now and certainly will be tonight after the attacks.

[Joe Getty]

I mean, the great Filipino General Sung to actually said always leave your opponents an escape route because cleaning up the end will be terrible.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I mean, because obviously they are going to Iran will show no restraint if they think this is the end. Like in the end might be tonight. I mean, Trump stated it's tonight. It's the end of a civilization.

[Joe Getty]

Oh my gosh. There's so much uncertainty in the road ahead, including what would it take to actually crush the will of the irgc. Nobody knows the answer to that question.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't think you can crush the will of the mullahs. They actually believe that this is the purpose Allah put them on earth for and that they are going to a better place because of this, right?

[Joe Getty]

Indeed. And that Armageddon is the goal.

[Jack Armstrong]

So how do you leave that crowd? An escape route.

[Joe Getty]

You got to squash them.

[Jack Armstrong]

Squash them like bugs, blow their beards

[Joe Getty]

off Blow their beards off. It's an expression. It's just a. Incredibly trouble.

[Jack Armstrong]

I know one thing. I'm gonna be gathered around the TV tonight. Five o', clock, west coast time. Holy crappings.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I know, I know.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wonder what MBS wants.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, that's. I meant to mention that earlier I had missed this somehow when I was criticizing the President for unnecessarily antagonizing our allies. And I'm not talking about the boot in the ass that they need to actually do their share and get off their socialist added thrones, but the other day he was in front of a Saudi audience and he said, I bet you never thought you'd have a leader who kissed my ass. Which you do not say about ambitious.

[Jack Armstrong]

No.

[Joe Getty]

That apparently caused extremely high levels of consternation and offense.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm surprised Trump didn't know that was a bad idea.

[Joe Getty]

Has he lost his old man filter?

[Jack Armstrong]

He's a sales guy. He knows. You got to make everybody feel good about themselves. You can't. You make me feel like a putz. I won't take a good deal.

[Mark Halpern]

But.

[Joe Getty]

Well. Right, but that's what happened with the Denmark Greenland thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

True.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. That was a real misstep. Why would you do that? We need their help.

[Katie Greener]

Oof.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's going to be an interesting day. We'll finish strong. Next.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Mark Halpern]

A short time ago, we were together and he looked at me and he said, you know, it's amazing. One year ago, you were a dead country. Now you're the hottest country anywhere in the world. He didn't think this was going to happen. He didn't think he'd be kissing my ass. He really didn't. He thought he'd be just another American president that was a loser, where the country was going downhill. But now he has to be nice to me. You tell him he better be nice to me.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, he's gotta be. That doesn't work on mbs. That was a mistake.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, boy.

[Jack Armstrong]

That was a mistake. I didn't hear that.

[Joe Getty]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm surprised. Most salesmen are the opposite. They want to make you feel like, boy, you got the best of me there.

[Joe Getty]

We're the best buddies ever. Yeah. Troubling, flawed human, no doubt. Aren't we all?

[Jack Armstrong]

You've probably seen this kind of story bouncing around. The increase in people joining churches and that sort of stuff. Catholic Church saw a massive spike in converts over Easter. 38% increase in Easter converts across US diocese according to compared to the previous year. That's a pretty big Jump. I'd say all four of the largest diocese in the United States, Chicago, Louisiana, New York and Phoenix saw significant growth. LA 8,000 converts this Easter. 139% growth from last year. That is something. And the Orthodox Church is having that sort of growth too. Wonder what's happening. Is there another great awakening going on?

[Joe Getty]

You want to hear my stupid headline? Sure. Bringing Mass Back to Mass.

[Jack Armstrong]

There you go.

[Joe Getty]

You like it?

[Jack Armstrong]

You'll get the facts. They're sharp and steady. Tune in tomorrow. Don't you forget it. For more from Armstrong. I couldn't love that more. Here's your host for final thoughts, Joe Getty.

[Joe Getty]

Let's get a final thought from everybody on the cry in the crew to finish the day. Michelangelo, would you lead us off, please?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, this afternoon I'm thinking I'm gonna

[High Ranking Source]

just park myself right in front of the television and just wait till 5

[Joe Getty]

o' clock and see what happens.

[Jack Armstrong]

No kidding.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I might go with the Twitter, but yeah, same idea. Katie Greener, esteemed news woman, has a final thought.

[Katie Greener]

Katie, I'm going to work on getting a shirt made that says blow their beards off.

[Joe Getty]

Love it. I'll take one. Jack, final thought for us to the surgeon.

[Jack Armstrong]

People joining churches can that sort of stuff. I think. I think the modern world is leaving a lot of people feeling like there's got to be more than this. They're looking for it somewhere and maybe find it in the church. But the modern world leaves you feeling empty.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, it's funny you should bring that up. I've actually been sitting on a couple of stories about towns and organizations that are leaving the Texas behind to a large extent, especially for kids. I think that's a good trend. Who knows? My final thought was going to be essentially that one way or another, history will have taken a pivot by the time we address you again manana.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, you think so?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Even if he tacos, that would be a pivot. Armstrong and Getty wrapping up another grueling four hour workday.

[Joe Getty]

So many people to thank, so little time. Go to armstrongandgetti.com we have hot links for you. You can drop us a note. What do you think about all this? [e-mail] is the email address. Pick up some Angie Swag. Wouldn't your favorite ang fan love a T shirt or a hat or a hoodie? Perhaps you are that very person. Armstrongandgetty.com I just don't feel like you

[Jack Armstrong]

can make the threat of all threats like that and then back down we'll see you tomorrow. God bless America. Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

How does this happen?

[Jack Armstrong]

I bought the Muse online. And? And they're just. They're like two sizes way too big.

[Mark Halpern]

You want them really bad.

[Jack Armstrong]

Why buy them two sizes too big?

[Mark Halpern]

You shoes.

[Jack Armstrong]

They never really fit you. Shoes.

[Joe Getty]

What is this, the olden days?

[Jack Armstrong]

Hey, Jack, go buy yourself some brand new shoes.

[Joe Getty]

I think we can all agree on that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Gettys.