Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: Bring Back The Ham Kick!
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Producer: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Armstrong & Getty jump from the latest social and political controversies to the bizarre history of “the Ham Kick,” before dissecting complex global geopolitics, AI misinformation, and the lived realities of socialism and gentrification in America. The pair maintain their irreverent, conversational tone throughout, offering both pointed critique and comedic relief.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Socialist Hypocrisy & Gentrification Debates
00:28–07:36
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Sia Weaver Controversy: The hosts discuss the backlash faced by Sia Weaver, a newly appointed New York City housing official, for her public statements on property ownership and gentrification, especially targeting white homeowners, while her mother owns a $1.6M home in Tennessee.
“She's got a graduate degree from a fancy college. I mean, she is your stereotypical cookie cutter, privileged, rich, white graduate student who, you know, wants to turn the world upside down against her own class for some weird reason.”
— Jack Armstrong [01:46] -
Gentrification Explained: Jack shares with his kids how neighborhoods go from “crap” to cool and then to unaffordable. The hosts highlight the irony of decrying revitalized areas while lamenting previous conditions.
“It's just the free market. People think other people think it's cool and think, I want to live there...and then the landlord figures, well, I can raise the rent. There's competition now for the apartments here.”
— Jack Armstrong [06:07] -
Mobility in America: Joe laments cultural reluctance to relocate for opportunity, referencing J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy as an example of rootedness despite economic decline.
2. The History & Humor of the “Ham Kick”
07:36–11:42
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Origin Story: From a plaque at Pete Lala’s saloon in New Orleans, Jack recounts the “ham kick”—a saloon event where women (without undergarments) would attempt to kick a suspended ham, a spectacle clearly designed for male voyeurism.
“Ham was suspended from the ceiling and women could win the ham by kicking it, but only if they were not wearing undergarments.”
— Jack Armstrong [10:11]“If you are a hungry, voyeuristic, martial artist arts enthusiast, that was the event for you.”
— Joe Getty [10:41] -
Hosts’ Reflection: The duo riff on the absurdity and historic quirks of old-time entertainment, with Joe declaring this “historic plaque” one of the best he's ever heard.
3. Geopolitics: The Greenland Question
11:49–17:13
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Greenland’s Future & U.S. Strategy: Armstrong & Getty discuss the U.S. crafting a potential deal for Greenland’s free association, independent from Denmark, and analyze the strategic implications of the move, referencing reports of Trump’s intentions.
“It appears Trump is executing the most elegant imperial maneuver of the 21st century. No bullets, no treaties, no war...The move is genius because it compresses five vectors into one stroke.”
— Quoting a writer on the subject [13:58] -
Strategic Value: They recount the enormous value of Greenland for Arctic resources, radar/military dominance, and geopolitical leverage—likening it to the importance of the Panama Canal in the previous century.
“Greenland is the Arctic Panama...This is Roosevelt Doctrine 2.0 now in the Arctic theater.”
— Joe Getty [15:54]
4. Media Critique & Girl Scout Cookies
17:13–19:31
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They transition to lighter fare, mocking network news’ tonal inconsistencies and briefly reviewing the new Girl Scout “Explore Mores” cookie. Jack’s son Henry critiques anchor David Muir’s identical tone no matter the news:
“You can't use the same tone of voice for firefighters dying as you do for, ‘There's a new Girl Scout cookie.’”
— Jack Armstrong, quoting his son Henry [18:08] -
Joe praises the “meatier” content of CBS News with Tony Dokoupil compared to other networks.
5. Socialism in Practice: The Cuba Debate
19:31–25:14
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Washington Politician Praises Cuba: The hosts revisit a viral interview where State Rep. Sean Scott, a democratic socialist, touts Cuba as a socialist success—citing literacy and public health—before being confronted with the reality of Cuban citizens risking their lives to flee.
“You chose a country that people will risk their lives to flee from…There’s a reason for that, Sean.”
— Brandi Kruse [20:53]“You could make me an argument about what a Valhalla Cuba is…But when I came back to you with, ‘but people risk their lives to flee there,’ all of your arguments are now a joke.”
— Joe Getty [22:35] -
Counterpoints: Armstrong & Getty dismantle the Cuba literacy/healthcare arguments, noting that oppressive regimes often ensure basic literacy for propaganda and that real outcomes are far bleaker than advocates highlight.
6. AI, Rumor Mills, and Technosocial Harms
25:33–33:55
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AI as Ferocious Gossip: The hosts highlight research on AI’s tendency to amplify and spread unchecked rumors. They cite a case where tech journalist Kevin Roose became widely trashed across multiple AI platforms based on viral incidents and how AI “learned” negative associations by ingesting user chatter.
“Normal human gossip faces social constraints about plausibility...but bot-to-bot gossip is feral, meaning it can become increasingly exaggerated and distorted as it moves from system to system.”
— Joe Getty [27:31]“How are you going to stop misinformation, disinformation if something's out there that's false and it treats everything exactly the same?”
— Jack Armstrong [31:11] -
AI in Academia: The discussion turns to how college students routinely use AI as a proofreader or outline builder, prompting a debate on the “cheating line” in academic settings.
7. Miscellaneous Moments
28:40–29:16
- Bizarre Medical Trends: Briefly, Joe jokes about a rising trend of using fat from the deceased for cosmetic surgery, riffing on Kim Kardashian as a possible “serial killer.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On socialist hypocrisy:
“If there's anything more classic than the socialists with the privileged upbringings, amazing.”
— Jack Armstrong [04:24] -
On Cuba as a model:
“It's all kinds of a disaster…You can't hang your hat on. Everybody can read at the second grade level in Cuba. So socialism works. I mean, that's a crazy claim.”
— Jack Armstrong [22:21] -
On old-timey fun:
“I feel like they had more fun back in the old days with Ham kicks and whatnot.”
— Jack Armstrong [35:42]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Sia Weaver/NYC Gentrification Debate: 00:28–07:36
- Ham Kick Story (History & Humor): 07:36–11:42
- Greenland Geopolitics & U.S. Strategy: 11:49–17:13
- Girl Scout Cookies/Media Critique: 17:13–19:31
- Cuba & Socialism Debate (Brandi Kruse Interview): 19:31–25:14
- AI Gossip & Misinformation Risks: 25:33–33:55
- Fat Grafting & Bizarre News: 28:40–29:16
- Final Thoughts & Banter: 34:09–36:39
Style, Tone, & Atmosphere
- The episode moves quickly between biting cultural critique, witty banter, and deadpan historical asides. Armstrong & Getty maintain their signature contrarian but good-natured style, punctuating serious analysis with absurd humor, e.g. the ham kick or Girl Scout cookie digressions.
For New Listeners
This episode is a microcosm of Armstrong & Getty’s show: a blend of serious current affairs, skepticism of political dogma (left and right), historical oddities, and offbeat humor. Expect rapid topic shifts, interjected with both memorable one-liners and in-depth, sometimes irreverent, reflection.