Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Calls for Unity
Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Notable Segments: Governor Spencer Cox, Mark Halpern, Trey Gowdy

Main Theme / Overview

This emotionally charged episode covers the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college campus. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty discuss the incident’s immediate aftermath, the alleged motives and suspect, reactions from media and political leaders, and the broader issue of rising political violence and its divisive impact on American society. The episode calls explicitly for unity and reflection, highlighting the need for a return to civil discourse and a rejection of celebratory political hatred.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Reactions and Rumors

• TMZ Incident Clarified ([00:06]–[01:51]):

  • Jack and Joe discuss an online rumor that TMZ staffers cheered the news of Kirk’s death.
  • Harvey Levin (TMZ) insists celebrations were due to watching a car chase, not the shooting.
  • Quote:
    • Joe Getty: “He said that absolutely was not about Charlie Kirk and if it was, those people would not work for me anymore. I’ve got to take him at his word.” ([01:36])

• Reports of School Celebrations ([02:03]–[02:48]):

  • An email from a listener describes students at a Roseville, CA high school laughing and cheering at the news.
  • This leads to a discussion on how children develop polarized and hostile political worldviews, possibly from parents or the education system.

2. Details on the Shooting & Suspect

• Evidence of Political Motive ([02:54]–[03:47], [16:47]–[17:22], [28:14]–[28:28]):

  • Authorities found bullets in the killer’s gun inscribed with references to Antifa and transgender activism.
  • The New York Times, after lagging, confirms reports “expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology” were on the ammunition, but cautions about unverified evidence.

• Suspect Description & Planning ([03:57]-[05:06], [24:07]-[25:32]):

  • The FBI released images of a college-aged, white male suspected to be the shooter, who used a bolt-action rifle suitable for long-range shots.
  • The suspect planned his actions carefully, choosing location, weapon, and getaway strategy.

• On the Difficulty of Political Violence ([05:35]–[06:22]):

  • Jack and Joe debate the emotional capacity required to assassinate a public figure, concluding the killer is likely a sociopath or someone radicalized to the point of dehumanizing opponents.
  • Quote:
    • Joe Getty: “If you can dehumanize your enemy to the point that you can shoot them in the throat for talking, you have become functionally a psychopath.” ([06:22])

3. Media & Public Reaction

• Media Reluctance to Adjust Narrative ([03:33]–[03:47], [07:29]-[08:15]):

  • Joe contends mainstream outlets underplay stories confirming right-wing narratives, resisting facts incongruent with their established views.

• Student Reaction on Fox News ([08:50]–[11:27]):

  • Fox’s attempt to interview eyewitness students yields awkward, unfocused answers.
  • Jack’s sharp, sarcastic comment:
    • “If you two are having sex, please wear a condom and do not reproduce.” ([10:04])

• Social Media Celebration & Its Dangers ([31:15]-[32:09]):

  • The “woke mind virus” (citing Elon Musk) is referenced in the context of left-leaning social networks needing to remind users not to celebrate a political assassination.

4. Governor Spencer Cox’s Address

([11:55]-[16:09], [36:14])

• Governor Cox delivers an emotional, nonpartisan speech seeking unity, mourning Kirk, and warning against political violence.
• Quote:
  • “If anyone in the sound of my voice celebrated even a little bit at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere. I don’t care what his politics are. I care that he was an American.” ([15:47])
• Cox further threatens full accountability for the perpetrator, acknowledging Utah’s death penalty, and laments the surge in political rancor and violence.

5. Calls for De-escalation and Civil Discourse

• Reflections on Political Rhetoric ([07:10]-[08:04], [32:11]-[33:15]):

  • Jack and Joe repeatedly stress the dangers of normalizing violent rhetoric and dehumanization, regardless of political affiliation.
  • They warn against the escalation into “shooting wars” and historical cycles of violence.

• Media Responsibility and Criticism ([35:12]-[35:39]):

  • Jack criticizes news outlets for showing cherry-picked clips of Kirk’s support for the Second Amendment, implying a “checkmate” without acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

6. Notable Quotes on Unity & Humanity

• Mark Halpern ([17:25]-[19:32]):

  • Mark Halpern condemns MSNBC’s divisive initial coverage, calls for resisting unnecessary politicization, and hopes for national unity in response to tragedy.
  • Quote:
    • “This needs to be a time to bring the country together, regardless of what happens... I’m hoping that people use the opportunity to bring the country together.” ([17:25]-[18:20])

• Trey Gowdy ([20:01]-[22:29]):

  • Gowdy makes an impassioned case for confronting the reality of violence by (cautiously) watching the video of the shooting to grasp the human tragedy, not just the political controversy.
  • Quote:
    • “While they’re watching it ... you need to imagine this as a husband and a father and a friend, not someone politically that you may happen to disagree with.” ([20:01])

7. Personal Reflections & Parental Concerns

([22:41]-[23:46])

• Jack describes his own son’s fear that he (Jack) could be targeted for his views, and the challenge in allaying such anxieties in a charged environment.

8. Discussion on Motive and Ideological Heat

([26:13]-[27:14])

• The hosts discuss Kirk’s stances, noting that the most intense opposition stemmed from debates over transgender rights, and speculate (with caution) about possible ideological motives behind the killing.

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• TMZ Cheering Clarified: 00:59–01:51
• Student Celebration at School: 02:03–02:48
• Ammunition with Political Inscriptions: 02:54–03:47, 16:47-17:22, 28:14–28:28
• Student Reaction on Fox, Jack’s Quip: 09:11–10:13
• Governor Spencer Cox’s Address: 11:55–16:09, 36:14
• Mark Halpern on Unity: 17:25–19:32
• Trey Gowdy on Watching the Video: 20:01–22:29
• Discussion on Dehumanization: 06:22
• Personal Reflections (Jack’s Son): 22:41–23:46
• Criticism of “Checkmate” Gun Clips: 35:12–35:39

Memorable Moments & Tone

• Jack’s Outburst at Student Interviewees:

  • His harsh joke after the stilted Fox News college student interviews:
    • “If you two are having sex, please wear a condom and do not reproduce.” ([10:04])
  • Lambasts the lack of serious, thoughtful response among campus youth and television producers.

• Governor Cox’s Emotional Plea:

  • A highlight of the episode, Cox’s speech stands out for its gravity and clarity, universally praised by the hosts.

• Parental Anxiety:

  • Jack’s story about his son worrying he could be next after seeing his father targeted for political views puts a human face on the episode’s themes of fear and violence ([22:41]).

Final Thoughts & Podcast Crew Comments

• Need for Boring, Less Toxic Politics:

  • Michelangelo: “We need politics to be boring again... now people just want to be entertained or shocked. They don’t want policy. I know it’s boring, but it’s what we need.” ([34:27])

• Critique of Media Irony:

  • Hosts mock the idea that showing gun rights clips after a gun violence tragedy is somehow “clever.” “You’re not accomplishing anything, you morons.” ([35:26])

• Condemnation of Political Violence:

  • Jack: “If your side starts killing the other side, they’ll think, ‘hmm, I guess we should start doing the same thing.’ And then we’re all killing each other. It’s happened many, many times throughout history.” ([32:34])

Closing Sentiments

• The hosts express fatigue and deep sadness at the need to spend a whole show on such a tragedy, but reaffirm their commitment to facts and civil discourse.
• They express hope for quick resolution and warn repeatedly against both the dehumanization and celebration of assassinations, regardless of one’s political point of view.

Summary

In "Calls for Unity," Armstrong & Getty respond to the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and use the tragedy as a powerful lens to examine political violence, the toxic state of national discourse, and the ethical responsibilities of media and citizens alike. The episode delivers gut-level reactions, updates on the manhunt, reflections from leaders and media critics, and frequent explicit, heartfelt appeals for a return to civility—even as Jack and Joe deride hypocrisy and extremism from all sides. Governor Cox’s speech and candid moments with listeners stand out as especially poignant, driving home that the solution to America’s polarization isn’t more outrage, but mutual respect and the search for our “better angels.”