Droppin' Truth Bombs on Your Head!

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Droppin' Truth Bombs on Your Head!

Date: June 17, 2026
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack and Joe dive deep into recent developments regarding the U.S.-Iran peace deal, growing tensions with Russia, domestic terrorism threats, and the transparency (or lack thereof) surrounding major government decisions. The hosts also weigh in on the political maneuvering of key figures like JD Vance and President Trump, criticize the state of current negotiations, and offer broader commentary on topics from reparation programs to fast food rankings—all with their signature irreverent, skeptical tone. The show is fast-paced, peppered with quick quotes, pop culture references, and classic Armstrong & Getty banter.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Iran Peace Deal: Truth Bombs and Skepticism

• Theme: The details emerging around the new U.S.-Iran peace Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are murky, and the hosts are deeply skeptical both of the terms and the secrecy.
• Jack: “If there’s stuff favorable to the United States, you’d think we would say that out loud. You wouldn’t think we’d keep that quiet. Seems pretty weird.” (03:15)
• Criticism of Government Secrecy: Both hosts repeatedly question why the terms aren't being publicized if there's nothing to hide.
  • “There’s a real easy way to fix this problem. Release the details of the agreement that we’ve made with Iran...other than to hide a bad deal, explain to me any other reason?” (20:42)
• J.D. Vance’s Role: Noted as towing the Trump line, rationalizing the deal, and “doing what Trump wants,” despite the Revolutionary Guard’s documented history.
• Host Tone: Disbelief and frustration at the current U.S. negotiating position, calling out political spin and suggesting the U.S. is letting Iran dictate terms.
  • “I don’t see how you can say we won the war. I think we lost the war. They’re dictating terms to us. Iran is dictating terms to us...” (06:00)

2. Trump’s Position and Rhetoric

• Bluster About Bombing: Discussion of Trump’s threat to “drop bombs on their head,” contrasted with skepticism about whether Iran (or anyone) takes it seriously.
  • Quote: “That’s what Trump threatened is we’re gonna go back to dropping bombs on their head...Is there anybody in the world that thinks that’s a possibility?” – Jack Armstrong (01:30)
  • “If I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head.” – President Trump, clip played at (21:23)
• Comparison to Obama: Trump slams Obama’s JCPOA deal with Iran, claiming he “handed ’em a billion seven in cash,” only for Armstrong to question whether the current deal is any different. (23:33)

3. Russian Aggression and Instability

• Escalating Tensions: Russia recently fired a warning shot at a British vessel in the English Channel, apparently in retaliation for Israel’s actions.
  • “Russia fired on a British boat in the English Channel...that’s crazy.” – Jack (02:11)
• Internal Unrest: Discussion of Russian economic turmoil, money printing, and increasing pressure on Putin from elites—“If I were those elites, I would stay away from windows, open or otherwise.”

4. Leaks, Terror Plots, and Security Concerns

• Domestic Terrorism Plot: Explosive details about a foiled attack involving drones and snipers; some frustration that leaks hampered ongoing investigations.
  • “Thank God they stopped it. How close it was to actually happening...” – Jack (08:47)
• Keystone Cops Analogy: The plot is described as unsophisticated, prompting a classic Armstrong & Getty riff on the difference between incompetence and conspiracy.
• White House Leak Anxiety: Anxiety in the White House about leaks from high-level meetings (Epstein files), and criticism of individuals (like Cash Patel) for leaking to media.

5. Political Maneuvering and JD Vance

• JD Vance as a “Chameleon”: The hosts dissect JD Vance’s political adaptability, labeling him as “an extremely adept chameleon...very slick and extremely bright,” but questioning his sincerity. (29:28)
• Veep Survival Mode: Analysis of how Vance is navigating his role as Trump’s vice president, doing “what he wants” to keep his future political prospects intact.

6. Other News & Pop Culture Touchpoints

• Headlines Recap (15:08–18:19): Heather Myers provides a rundown on stories including Biden’s reelection regrets (from Hillary Clinton), reparations program debates, MLB fast-food rankings (Jersey Mike’s dethrones Chick-fil-A), and a light Babylon Bee gag.
• McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie: Brief diversion noting its return for America’s 250th birthday, with classic “caution: filling may be hot” warning.

7. Listeners' Mailbag (32:31–37:45)

• Soccer Snark: Emails roasting soccer for too many ties, suggesting it's “not a sport.”
• Iran Opinions: Listeners skeptical and/or despondent about the prospect of real regime change in Iran and the effectiveness of current U.S. policy.
• Negotiation Advice: “Listen twice, speak once and let the silence work for you,” as the best negotiation advice.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Threats:
  “You’re the parent in the grocery store that I hear in the other aisle saying for the 15th time, you better stop. You better stop. As the kid does all kinds of crazy stuff. Oh, another threat you’re gonna drop bombs on our heads, are you?” – Jack Armstrong (01:30)
• On the Iran Deal:
  “There will be no American taxpayer dollars that are going to go to Iran. Okay. Doesn’t have to be American taxpayer dollars. Money...Is Iran getting money before they do anything that we wanted them to do around the nuclear deal? The answer to that question is yes.” – Jack Armstrong (04:41)
• Pop Culture Reference:
  “Let’s begin squeezing into the T shirt of truth, even if it’s somewhat uncomfortable.” – Mike (12:14)
• Better Call Saul Clip: Saul Goodman (voice): “Hi, I’m Saul Goodman. Did you know you have rights? Well, you do. Sure, they’re old timey. They were written by a bunch of guys in powdered wigs and knee socks. Boring. But believe it or not, they’re still surprisingly relevant...” (12:22)
• Skepticism About Results:
  “Trump started a war without the guts to actually go to war… some of you are praising that. I know people who voted for Trump three times who are happy he didn’t ever really prosecute this war with like, you know, landing divisions and forcing our will...” – Jack Armstrong (27:29)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:30: Opening Banter – “Droppin’ Truth Bombs” and Trump’s threats
• 02:11: Russia-UK Channel Incident and Russian domestic turmoil
• 03:15: Iran Deal Secrecy & JD Vance “explanation”
• 04:41: Lawyerly language around U.S. funding for Iran
• 06:00: Trump, JD Vance, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard skepticism
• 07:41: Domestic terrorist plot – foiled drone/sniper attack
• 12:22: Saul Goodman “Know Your Rights” monologue
• 15:08: Heather Myers News Segment – rapid-fire headlines
• 18:29: Trump on investment in Iran – direct audio
• 20:42: Discussion of transparency, media skepticism, Wall Street Journal analysis
• 21:23: Trump threatens to “go back to dropping bombs”
• 23:33: Trump attacks Obama’s Iran deal; hosts draw parallels to current policy
• 27:29: Final judgment on Trump’s Middle East strategy; ongoing skepticism
• 32:31: Mailbag segment with listener emails (soccer, Iran policy)
• 37:45: Wrap-up tease, economic pressures topic preview

---

Additional Topics and Tone

• Entertaining Asides: Regular detours—fast food, weight-loss, McDonald’s décor, pop culture gags.
• Host Chemistry: Classic blend of sarcasm, mockery (especially of politicians), and measured outrage.
• Perspective: Consistently critical of spin—mixing humor and seriousness about U.S. foreign and domestic policy.

---

Useful for Non-Listeners

This episode is a rollicking, energetic survey of current international crises and U.S. policy, with Armstrong & Getty’s signature blend of skepticism, dry humor, and insistence on transparency. If you want sharp, darkly comic skepticism about America’s handling of Iran and Russia, a side-eye at politicians, listener input, and a dose of comedy, this episode delivers.

---

For full context on any segment, listen to the episode or subscribe to Armstrong & Getty On Demand.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human

[Joe Getty]

broadcasting. Live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Mike]

Armstrong and Getty. And now he. Live from studio C Senior, deep within the stinking bowels of the Armstrong and Gideon Formation complex on this Wednesday the 17th of June, the year of our Lord 2026. Jack is on the way and will be here in moments to discuss the news of the day and the enduring issues that face America and mankind. I have totally lost track of the time I was waiting for. I was waiting for J. Jack to show up in the studio. Then I'm like, okay, we're about to start because you know we run like clockwork around here.

[Jack Armstrong]

Exactly.

[Mike]

And, and you're non appearance. I, I, I, I totally, completely lost track of the time. The title of the show is you make the title. It's people's choice. Deal or no Deal. That could be one of them. And the other one is, I don't

[Jack Armstrong]

know, dropping truth bombs on your head.

[Mike]

There you go.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right on your head.

[Mike]

Oh, that's what perfect.

[Jack Armstrong]

Because that's what Trump threatened is we're gonna go back to dropping bombs on their head. Is there any, he said that just a little bit ago in France. Is there anybody in the world that thinks that that's a possibility? No. Including the people that were at war with. Using my finger quotes. They don't believe that. So don't, don't. You're, you're the parent in the grocery store that I hear in the other aisle saying for the 15th time, you better stop. You better stop. As the kid does all kinds of crazy stuff.

[Mike]

Oh, another threat you're gonna bop drop bombs on our heads, are you?

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh boy, here you are.

[Mike]

Yeah, I don't know. How does he not get that? Also could have made reference to Russia on the rocks. Really interesting the situation happening in Russia.

[Jack Armstrong]

How about the fire? They Russia fired on a British boat in the English Channel. Did you follow this story?

[Mike]

Yeah, talked about it when you were briefly out. Yeah. They sent a shot across the bow. It was clearly a warning shot, but still that's crazy. Oh yeah, yeah. Vengeance for Israel boarding a Russian shadow fleet tanker apparently. And there's a lot more to some Russian guys and hirees of Russia were just found guilty essentially or indicted for a bunch of arson attacks directed at Keir Starmer and his property. Meanwhile, Russia is printing money so fast to deal with their crushed wartime economy that inflation's about to go hyper bad and Putin's getting more and more pressure from the elites. If I were those elites, I would stay away from windows open or otherwise. But, yeah, things. Things are building there in Russia.

[Jack Armstrong]

So we'll talk more about the whole war with Iran. The details of the peace deal continue to leak out. What's true and what's not. It's hard to say. But like we're saying yesterday, if there's stuff favorable to the United States, you'd think we would say that out loud. You wouldn't think we'd keep that quiet. Seems pretty weird. I saw JD Vance on a couple of different shows. We'll play the audio for you. Say there's a lot of moving parts and there are reasons of sensitivity with a lot of the Arab nations on why we can't. I want to get this stuff out right away. But there's sensitivity with the Arab nations up. I don't. I can't tell you. I personally understand exactly what's going on, but with the sensitivity, we can't allow this. Well, it'll be out today or certainly by Friday or right after the deal is signed. We'll announce. Okay, I'm not an idiot.

[Mike]

Someday.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm not an idiot. I'm not an idiot.

[Mike]

Nobody emails to that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Despite of the. Despite the evidence. Despite the evidence. You could put on a chart that would show I'm an idiot. The world is not an idiot. When, when you're. You're making up all kinds of reasons why. We got to sign the deal. Go ahead, sign some deal with somebody for a house, for a job, for anything.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

I can't.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'd love to give you the details. There's sensitivity with a lot of different things, but you just sign this and

[Mike]

then we'll, you know, what it is, is the message. Essentially, we've got to pass it to know what's in it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Pretty much. And then he used a. I didn't catch it till the second time I heard it. He's a lawyer. Lawyers choose words carefully. And he said, look, a lot of the stuff that's floating around is just not true. There will be no American taxpayer dollars that are going to go to Iran. Okay. Doesn't have to be American taxpayer dollars. Money. Is Iran getting money before they do anything that we wanted them to do around the nuclear deal? The answer to that question is yes, they are going to start getting tons of money right away with the hope that they follow through on the nuclear deal, which makes you guys chumps.

[Mike]

Wow. Strong stuff.

[Jack Armstrong]

And accurate.

[Mike]

On the other hand. There is no other hand. Well, on the other hand, Trump Says that these new leaders are reasonable guys and they're pretty nice guys. J.D. vance, he literally said that.

[Jack Armstrong]

J.D. vance said. We played it twice yesterday. I think it's astoundingly ridiculous. The, the Revolutionary Guard has come to the conclusion that they were making a mistake all these years pursuing nuclear weapons. Oh, I don't believe that. Not even the tiniest bit.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

No, no.

[Jack Armstrong]

Trump Advance. Well, advance is doing what Trump wants. Trump wants out. He's willing to make any deal to get out. I don't see how you can say we won the war. I think we lost the war. They're dictating terms to us. Iran is dictating terms to us that we will accept that the. You know, who does that? The winner of the war.

[Mike]

Yeah, true. The headline from my favorite foreign or global politics geopolitics writer for the Wall Street Journal, Iran is returning to nuclear talks no longer afraid of America.

[Jack Armstrong]

What do you think of that? I think it's accurate.

[Mike]

Yeah. Yeah. What. What you just said needs to be engraved in stone or perhaps just wax money, but yeah, Trump is so desperate to a deal, he's letting Iran, you know, dictate the terms. Sounds like he can semi plausibly claim that he has deterred their nuclear ambitions.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

Right.

[Mike]

Anyway, might it turn for the better? Yes, and I certainly hope it does. But there's a couple of guys who are not suffering from Trump derangement syndrome. This is highly disturbing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. More details out on that crazy terrorist plot, domestic terrorist plot with the drones and the, the dudes with the snipers and all that sort of stuff that Cash Patel came out and announced yesterday and made the Secret Service angry because they said, hey, you know, we haven't arrested everybody. So we were keeping this quiet so we could go ahead and catch everybody. And now you've announced it and we'll never catch these other people.

[Mike]

So.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Yeah. Meanwhile, I'm glad you brought that up. Where did I read this? Doesn't matter. The White House is now going crazy over the question of leaks from highly classified or private meetings. For instance, the stuff that Maggie Haberman and what's His Face reported in.

[Jack Armstrong]

Jonathan Swan.

[Mike]

Exactly. The Black Swan event. Jonathan Swan. The, the very closed meeting about what to do about the Epstein files. I mean, they have. Who was sitting where, who was on the speakerphone, who. Who said what? Allegedly. And, and the White House is, is. Because that's some serious leak. And you gotta look at the guy who, just according to the Secret Service, who, Lord knows, have a bit of a checkered past. You gotta look at the guy who just wildly improperly just leaked something. Cuz it was exciting and made his agency look good. Cash Patel is a guy who leaks a little like that clip we used to play.

[Jack Armstrong]

Anyway, some of the details on the terrace plot are worth talking about. They're pretty exciting. Thank God they stopped it. How, how close it was to actually happening. You know, I heard a bunch of reporting around the idea that it was not a sophisticated plot. I mean these are the. What do people always say? The Keystone Cops play. Okay, right?

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

How good a plan was? I'll show up the fairgrounds, climb up on a roof right in front of everybody with a rifle and shoot the President. How good a plan was that? Not very good.

[Mike]

And that's why some people have to believe it's some sort of conspiracy. And if the President can't comprehend an idiot with that idiotic a plan being half an inch from success.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I get that. But he almost, he almost pulled it off. And that wasn't, you know, that wasn't the most brilliant plan anybody's ever had.

[Mike]

So we've lived a couple of years between the two of us and if it's a question of malfeasance or incompetence. Incompetence is usually the answer.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Getting back to the plot, just briefly, one of the guys whose picture you saw everywhere, bald headed dude with a beard, 510, 260, rarely left his his parents basement. Apparently spent all his graduation money on his armaments for starting a revolution. Two things. Number one, jackasses who think your spectacular attack is going to quote, unquote, start a revolution. I don't care if it's 1968 and you're in the Black Panthers or you're the Weather Underground or you're Tim McVeigh or you're this fat idiot. It's not gonna start a GD revolution. People are going to be very sad about all the innocent people who were killed. You will be executed or live in a cage for the rest of your miserable life. And the revolution won't adv an inch, you stupid, stupid idiots. Second thing is, the guy's 5 10, 2 60. I am 510 and a solid £60 less than him. And today, because I'm flirting with being in the 1/ hundreds again. Lost a little weight. I put on one of my large T shirts and it's not loose. But I think you can agree I can get away with it. My moobs are straining slightly at the fabric, but only slightly. And this is very important for me Because Jack knows this about me. I am the world's biggest swag ho. If I go to a ball game or a concert or a Civil War battlefield or a. You name it, I come home with a T shirt. And I have dozens and dozens and dozens of really cool large T shirts. That again, would be it. Leave too little to the imagination if I were to dawn them. So I'm very excited about my weight loss.

[Jack Armstrong]

But you might be able to start wearing them again. So that'll be. Yes, that's what you're.

[Mike]

Exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes, that's the. The carrot of the weight loss, which would be a good thing to eat because it's healthy.

[Mike]

For the record, wearing a USSSN, rather sorry. Submariners775, the USS Texas, which was a submarine my brother served on. I was privileged to visit a couple of times.

[Jack Armstrong]

Cool. Yeah, we got a good opening clip. So let's start the show officially. I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty on this. How did it already get to be. I don't even know the date it is Wednesday, June 17, year 2026. We're Armstrong and Getty and we approve of this program.

[Mike]

Let's begin squeezing into the T shirt of truth, even if it's somewhat uncomfortable. Precisely according to FCC rules and regs at. Mark.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

Hi, I'm Saul Goodman. Did you know you have rights? Well, you do. Sure, they're old timey. They were written by a bunch of guys in powdered wigs and knee socks.

[Mike]

Boring.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

But believe it or not, they're still surprisingly relevant. Your rights include, but are not limited to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom against unreasonable searches and seiz, et cetera, et cetera. Wow, you lucky so and so. Look at you. You got rights coming out the wazoo. All because a whole bunch of good people, 250 years worth, sacrificed everything they had for this awesome wallpaper behind me. Know your rights and for the love of Mike, don't ever give them up.

[Mike]

I'm Mike and I approve this message. Better Call Saul reference there. Yeah, love that from Bob Odenkirk.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you ever saw either the the original or the sequel. Better Call Saul. Yeah, that lawyer character. Very, very good. Good for him standing up for the rights that we have.

[Mike]

I love that. Way to go, Bob.

[Jack Armstrong]

You don't hear that out of our entertainment industry that often. We've got the headlines from Heather Myers and then we'll get into some of the details on a variety of things. Wall Street Journal claims they've got some of the details of the MOU memorandum of understanding. They don't look good. Is there anybody calling this good other than J.D. vance and the President? Anyone?

[Mike]

I don't come across it, no.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay. Lots on the way. Stay here.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty here. For hims, there are all kinds of great weight loss approaches that fit into your world. Out there. They've got them at hims with a wide range of affordable GLP1 options.

[Mike]

You've got weight loss goals, but hitting them is another story. Check out Weight Loss by hims. It's designed to support you in losing the weight and keeping it off. And Hims now offers access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP1 medications, including the Wegovy pill and the Wegovy pen.

[Jack Armstrong]

Through hims, everything happens online. You'll connect with a licensed provider who will determine if treatment's right for you and then if prescribed, your medication is delivered right to your door. No insurance necessary.

[Mike]

Ready to reach your goals? Visit hims.comarmstrong to get a personalized affordable plan that gets that's H I M S.com Armstrong himss.com Armstrong Weight loss by

[Jack Armstrong]

HIMSS is not available in all 50 states. WeGovy is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk. As to get started and learn more, including important safety information, WeGovy clinical study

[Mike]

information and restrictions, visit HIMSS.com just came

[Jack Armstrong]

across a great economics thing about the affordability problem in America. Among things we'll talk about.

[Mike]

Let's figure out who's reporting what. It's the lead story with Heather Myers.

[Jack Armstrong]

Heather.

[Heather Myers]

Well, good morning Joe and Jack. And the story with Trump and Iran is being covered in very different ways this morning. ABC News says G7 leaders support and ready to contribute to U.S. iran MOU. CBS News says this more Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Confusion over Strait of Hormuz ahead of signing. And Reuters, Trump threatens to resume bombing campaign if Iran does not behave.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, nobody believes that threat is real. And yeah, the European countries don't mind if we do a bad deal with Iran because they don't care. For whatever reason Iran gets a nuclear weapon. Obviously because they had no played no role in this and they're not going

[Mike]

to get nuked because they're entirely passive. Now on the world stage, they don't care what bad actors do.

[Heather Myers]

For Fox News this morning, Major League Baseball softens after warning to Christian players sparked a conservative firestorm.

[Mike]

I'm sure was very disappointed on Special Report that they reported on this story last night but didn't mention all the times Major League Baseball had permitted players to write messages on their caps in the past.

[Heather Myers]

News Hillary Clinton said former President Joe Biden made a terrible mistake by running for re election in 2024.

[Jack Armstrong]

She's right about that.

[Mike]

Oh yeah.

[Heather Myers]

Reuters are saying this this morning that wash led Fed expected to keep interest rates steady. From the ap, Federal government seeks to halt the first US Reparations program for black people.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh my God.

[Heather Myers]

Yeah. This is a small town in Illinois where so far people have been receiving reparations payments and the federal government wants to put a stop to that.

[Jack Armstrong]

They have.

[Mike]

I'd love to know.

[Heather Myers]

$25,000.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'd love to know the details of that, who they picked, how you qualified for it, where's the company coming from?

[Mike]

I grew up in Illinois. Heather, do we know what town that was? Was it Stupidville? Oh, Olney.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Mike]

A bunch of half wits in Olney, please.

[Heather Myers]

Stupidville. All right. From NBC News, Florida, couple in IVF clinics. Embryo mix up will keep the baby who is not genetically theirs.

[Mike]

Wow, that's such a tough thing, those cases.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, wow.

[Heather Myers]

New from Fox News, they're saying this morning new chain dethrones Chick Fil A in customer satisfaction rankings for the first time.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, you got any guesses who beat out Chick Fil A? In and out.

[Heather Myers]

Joe, any guesses?

[Mike]

Oh, that was. In and out was the only guess I had.

[Heather Myers]

Oh, no, no Jersey mics.

[Mike]

They say Jersey Mike, so I'll be damned.

[Donald Trump]

I've never been.

[Jack Armstrong]

Never had the pleasure.

[Joe Getty]

Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, well, I'll keep that in mind if I see a sign.

[Heather Myers]

Speaking of fast food, McDonald's is serving fried apple pie again for America's 250th birthday.

[Jack Armstrong]

Fantastic. Caution filling may be hot. I was in the McDonald's the other day. They have a couch in there now. Wild.

[Saul Goodman (voice actor or character)]

Wow.

[Heather Myers]

And finally this morning from the Babylon B, MLB rebrands to MLB TQ plus.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, we'll catch up on a bunch of different news stories coming up including the the big ones. So stay here. If you missed a segment, get the podcast Armstrong and Getty on demand.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Donald Trump]

Have I read it?

[Mike]

Well, it's been reported that it includes a 300 billion dollar exports.

[Donald Trump]

People. You can invest if you want. I mean, what am I gonna do? Say nobody's ever allowed to invest? No, we're not investing, we're not putting up. And people can decide to do that, but that's up to them. I mean, do you want me to say nobody's ever allowed to invest in a country?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I mentioned that. A little bit ago that I feel like I figured out what JD Vance was up to. Say people talk about Iran is going to get money, they're going to get relief before they do the things we want them to do. They're not getting $1 from the American taxpayer. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Doesn't have to be the American taxpayer. Do they get to start selling oil immediately, Friday when they open the Strait of Hormuz? Every leak of anything about the MOU says they do, in which case that they. Then they start having money to start trying to get a nuclear weapon or build their rocket program back up or, or survive. And then we're gonna start negotiating the nuclear deal. This seems insane, right?

[Mike]

Yeah. We'll take the pressure off, then start negotiating. And this is less skepticism than just curiosity. There's allegedly a big giant investment fund funded by the Saudis that Iran will get access to. But when, at what stage, after they perform what tricks? That's, you know, that's a critical question. That's, you know, related to at what point do the incentives kick in? That's the question across all of these. These topics.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. Well, let's hear more from President Trump. This is in the last couple hours over there in France.

[Donald Trump]

We are not investing in it and we do not have a fund.

[Mike]

Are you asking Gulf countries?

[Donald Trump]

No, I'm not. I'm not. If they do it, fine. But I would say they won't be doing it for a while until they find out the behavior. It's a behavior thing, but we are not invested. That's a false story that got picked up incorrectly from a statement that was pretty well made. I think maybe a little bit could have been a little more accurate. It frankly. But it's a story. We are not investing 10 cents.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's a real easy way to fix this problem. Release the details of the agreement that we've made with Iran. There's. That makes no sense that you're keeping this a secret other than to hide a bad deal. Explain to me any other reason?

[Mike]

Yeah, just like yesterday, the editorial boards of the big newspapers are saying, essentially, the New York Times, it looks like a duck Wall Journal, it quacks like a duck. And you know, the New York Post is. It is a freaking duck.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, here's Trump with a threat. You think the Iranians take this threat to heart? Do you think they're shaking in their sandals when they hear this? The text of the agreement now final,

[Donald Trump]

or are you still. No, it's not final. It's a memorandum of understanding. And if I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head. I don't like it. If they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head. Okay? Because they've misbehaved for 47 years. All right?

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't, I don't think they feel that threat.

[Mike]

I love Yaroslav Trofimov, the musically named analyst for the Wall Street Journal. Iran is returning to nuclear talks no longer afraid of America. After more than three months of bombing and blockades, the US And Iran are back to square one, preparing for what promises to be difficult negotiations over limits to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. This time, though, the Iranians will come to the table armed with valuable knowledge. They can survive the worst the Americans can throw at them. And I would suspect, as you've been hinting, no belief that Trump is going to seriously go back to work militarily.

[Jack Armstrong]

Do you think Trump's hoping that the whole 60 days to have more talks on the nuclear program, people lose interest. It's summertime and people just lose interest. And he can kind of yada, yada, yada, it away, it just goes away as a story.

[Mike]

Yeah. And I think he believes the world economy and the US Economy will be aided enough that people will say, hallelujah, he's done the right thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Gas will go back up and people stop, start talking about it. I mean, I've heard a bunch of people speculate, and I'll bet they're right, that. But toward the end of the first 60 days, it will announce we are making great progress. So if extended for another 60 days. Now you're really into the, Nobody's paying any attention. We're into the fall.

[Mike]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

And just, and, and, and, and all that while, they will be trying to make a nuclear bomb and they'll announce in November of this year or March next year or whenever that they've got a nuclear weapon.

[Mike]

It's not beyond the realm of possibility.

[Jack Armstrong]

Heck no. Trump throwing some shade at a previous

[Donald Trump]

president here, but nobody could have made this deal. I mean, the JCPOA done by Obama, he handed him a billion seven in cash, gave him hundreds of millions of dollars. Hundreds of, gave him billions and billions of dollars. But he gave him $1.7 billion in cash, green cash from banks into a Boeing 757 and flew it into Iran. And they stood at the plane. I have pictures of it like, oh my, look at this money. He's giving US he tried to bribe his way out. I didn't do that. Nobody mentions that. 1.7 billion and hundreds of millions of dollars. They tried to bribe their way out of it. And you know what the Iranians did? They laughed at Obama and they said he's a stupid son of a bitch.

[Jack Armstrong]

How's that not exactly what's happening here.

[Mike]

Well, the Trump deserves credit for the getting off his butt and doing something about the nuclear program militarily and the making the cost terribly high.

[Jack Armstrong]

And the bombing is not nothing. So it would have been the JCPOA after you, you know, set back their program by years by bombing it and killing all the, killing the leadership and bunch of scientists and everything like that. But the details that are out today that Trump says aren't true, but if they aren't true, release the memorandum of understanding. Release the details. Then US Ends blockade on Iran. Okay? They're going to start making money immediately. Strait of horror moves opens more talks in Iran nuclear program in the next 60 days. $300 billion to rebuild Iran, which Trump just said isn't true. Well, we'll find out. And if you want to prove it, go ahead and release the details. All sanctions lifted on Iran. The sanctions are lifted. The money's gonna start flowing back into Iran. How they get the money, whether it's pallets in a plane or flowing in from countries around the world like China and Japan. I didn't realize Japan got 90% of their oil is imported to them and a lot of it from the Middle East. So these countries are gonna start spending money getting, trying to get their oil going again. Iran's gonna have tons of money and talks about whether or not they, what they should do about their Iranian nuclear deal.

[Mike]

Two points. I can't be the only person from the last few generations that every time you say release the, the next word that comes to my mind is hounds. Secondly, the question, the great unanswered question before us that we're clearly worried about and all the editorial boards are worried about is Trump having done what no previous president had the nerve to do and that's take serious steps to deny them their nuclear program. Will he lose his nerve and give back all those gains? And perhaps Even more if Mr. Trofimov is right in the Wall Street Journal now the IRGC is like, wow, those dudes are not willing to finish the job. We don't have to be afraid of them at all. And here's the moment I think Trump showed his cards in. Clip 54 Michael.

[Donald Trump]

So that's what Speaks that speaks louder than words. The alternative would be a worldwide depression. You know, the stupid people want to have a worldwide depression, and they're stupid people. So you can only go so far. You drive somebody into the ground and a lot of bad things happen. Number one, the strait would never open because they don't like floating billion dollar ships up and down a straight when there are rockets flying over them and mines all over the place. So the strait would never be open. It wouldn't be open for a long time.

[Mike]

Is there any way to interpret that other than if I kept the hammer down, we'd have a worldwide depression? I'm not willing to do that. We gotta open the strait and I'll just negotiate with these guys.

[Jack Armstrong]

Why didn't we force it open militarily?

[Mike]

It's a really tough thing to do.

[Jack Armstrong]

It could be done. It's the same thing as I said yesterday. I really think this is gonna be the final judgment. Trump started a war without the guts to actually go to war. And that doesn't, some of you are praising that. I know people who voted for Trump three times who are happy he didn't ever really prosecute this war with like, you know, landing divisions and forcing our will, but probably shouldn't go to war

[Mike]

unless you're willing to continuing to squeeze Iran economically.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's an option with the blockade. That's a great middle ground.

[Mike]

Give it a try. Well, we don't want a worldwide depression. I don't think we're having. One quote from J.D.

[Jack Armstrong]

vance on the Iranian regime today. I kind of want to figure it out. How real are they? How fake are they? Yeah, we, we got a half a century of an idea of what they are and who they are. Yeah, he's a Super smart guy, J.D. vance. I, I feel like he's doing something different than what Trump's doing. I feel like he's like absolutely 100% knowingly thinks he can fool us, like he's smarter than we are. Look, they, I've talked to these guys. They've admitted it was a mistake all these years to try to get a nuclear weapon. They're good dudes.

[Mike]

I figured JD out the other day. I was thinking about this loved hillbilly elegy. We interviewed him at length about his book. Fascinating, truthful, honest, insightful, eloquent, book. Just wonderful. Here's a guy who moved fairly successfully in the dead negativity soaked towns of Appalachia. Then he moved fairly comfortably in the Marine Corps, moved pretty comfortably at Yale, and then in local politics and now in power.

[Jack Armstrong]

He was floating around San Francisco in the financial world. And.

[Mike]

That's right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Fit in.

[Mike]

That's right. He is an extremely adept chameleon and very, very slick and extremely bright. He has realized, all right, I'm the veep under Donald Trump. This is what he wants. I've got to survive this to keep my future intact. Here's how I do it. But I don't. Sincerity is not something he brings to the party.

[Jack Armstrong]

At this point, I'm not as willing to go as far as some people in this, which I'll explain in a second after we tell you about rough greens, which is a good idea for your dog. There ain't much to your dog's food. It's fine and all that, but it doesn't have a tremendous amount of nutrients. And with rough greens, you sprinkle it on top of your dog's food. You don't change your dog's food. Then they get 20 vitamins and minerals, lots of live probiotics, enzymes, omega oils. It's all natural, made in the usa. You just sprinkle it on top of whatever you're already feeding your dog.

[Mike]

It's all about keeping your dog healthier and energetic and happier for a longer time, from the inside out with some really good nutrition. All natural, made in the U.S. thousands of dogs are feeling younger, more energetic and healthier than they have in years, and your dog could be the next one. Get a free Jumpstart trial bag for your dog today. You just cover the shipping. Go to roughgreens.com use the discount code ARMSTRONG. That's ruffgreens.com the discount code is Armstrong. Of course. Ruff greens. They make any dog food better. Ruffgreens.com/arm or the code is Armstrong.

[Jack Armstrong]

We'll move on so we can get to Mailbag. But I saw an old woman, I forget what publication she is from. She's one of the deans of the press corps in Washington, D.C. with some major publication. Anyway, she was talking on a podcast I saw yesterday about how what Trump has done is not as quite as bad as the war in Iraq, but it's right next to it. And I thought that's a ridiculous thing to say. That went on for years. We had hundreds of thousands of troops, thousands of lives lost, trillions of dollars spent. They're not even in the same category. So how do you make those words coming out of your mouth?

[Mike]

I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I'm not going that far. I just, I. I don't think I still don't think it was a mistake. The mistake will be if they end up getting a nuclear weapon. God dang it. That'll change the world. Some of you don't believe that. I guess. Some of you don't think that's a problem.

[Mike]

You're fools. You think you can cuddle up in the fetal position and the world will go away.

[Jack Armstrong]

We got Mailbag on the way next. Stay here.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Have a really good economics thing for you from the Dispatch that I look forward to talking about trying to break it down. One of the reasons I like it is it agrees with something we've been saying for a long time. But lots of people are feeling squeezed and for all kinds of different reasons. And you got to look at the different reasons and people end up in a situation being squeezed. Your spending habits, the choices you made in your life and all that sort of stuff. It's really interesting. Maybe we'll get to that now. Or two.

[Mike]

Yeah, I'd love to talk about that. It's a super interesting topic. Here's your freedom loving quote of the day from Var who I didn't have time to look up. It's on my series on negotiation in the in the Art of Negotiation. Listen twice, speak once and let the silence work for you. It's the best advice I ever got about negotiating. Don't fill the silence. We can talk about that more later. Mailbag Drop us a Note [e-mail] Try to keep it briefish if you can. First and most importantly, got this email from News Nation teasing their stories. Hoping to get me to click on it. The headline is Missing Scientists Man Fears for his Safety. If you are into the missing scientist story, you lack the capacity for rational analysis. Which is fine. Some people do. I can't judge jump very high. That doesn't make me a bad person. Good lord.

[Jack Armstrong]

Interesting way to judge people on how high they can jump.

[Mike]

Drew the millennial right? Soccer is not a sport. And before you say this is just belligerent American jingoism, Hear me out. Eight of the 20 FIFA games so far have ended in a tie.

[Jack Armstrong]

Really?

[Mike]

I watched last half hour of two of them. Saturday both ended in 11 ties. During the last 20 minutes of the game time of both the announcers explained how both teams benched their because they had tacitly agreed to end the game with a 11 tie so as not to risk losing. That's a common thing apparently. They just play kind of play hacky sack at midfield till time runs Out. Pathetic.

[Jack Armstrong]

I had no idea that that went on. The poor fans, it paid money to be there. Do they know that the stars are sitting and they're playing hacky sack in midfield till the 90 minutes are up.

[Mike]

Wow.

[Heather Myers]

Wow.

[Mike]

So they want to advance to the next round. They want to have enough points in their little pool. So they're like, hey, we haven't taken control. You haven't taken control. Let's both grab a tie. Okay? Let's not make this a coin flip. Somebody gets lucky and scores. And as True writes, imagine if 7 of the 16 NFL games ended in 7. 7 ties. Every week a sport has games or matches. Those matches are intended to decipher which team is better at the sport. If your matches are unable to decide which team is better at the sport, then you don't have a sport. You have a feminine exercise, which is what soccer is. Oh, my Lord. Euros can keep it. It suits them well. Love the show. Thanks, Drew.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow, that's strong stuff.

[Mike]

Belligerent, offensive. I hate it. But he makes a point. Let's see. Moving along to the Iran thing, which people are weighing in on at high frequency. Aaron, Y' all forget we killed the Ayatollah or something. Think we'd be in a better spot with an Ayatollah and a status quo irg. Get excited about the new new new New deal memo. Deal. And come in for the big win. Be more Trumpy. Katie would agree with me.

[Heather Myers]

Me.

[Mike]

Okay. And this from Paul. I think it's possible we've made credible threats. Oh, do you think it's possible we've made credible threats to Iran that'll be carried out after the midterms if we're not satisfied by then.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just came across a piece that I. I could explain as an optimistic view of why this is happening the way it's happening. So we should set that later because maybe that's what's going on.

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah, I'm. We are much more into figuring out what's actually happening than selling you on one particular point of view, at least on this topic. Crestfallen in Santa Cruz writes, I've been praying for the downfall of the IRGC since the 2000s. Through the years, my Persian friends were astonished at how up to date I was on the facts. I was very excited when this war started. Very exciting times indeed. So much hope and promise. Cannot think of a bigger disappointment than how this war ended up. Maybe something changes, but I doubt it. I will believe it when I see it. God help those poor people in Iran. Trump had Faye has failed when it counted the most. Still a better candidate than Kamala. Not even effing close. Well, true. Yeah, nobody's suggesting that nobody's sane. Let's see in some, as usual, thorough analysis from JT and Livermore about the mou. As far as we know. I don't need to see the MOU to know it's a terrible deal. He makes five points, he supports them all. But I'll just hit the headlines. One, Trump is pressuring the wrong country, just like Russia Ukraine. 2. A deal with the current regime is a waste of time based on 47 years of their constant lies and broken promises. 2. Too many groundhog days to think this is anything different. 39 times we're close to a deal for nuclear material cannot be destroyed nor can it safely be enriched to non military levels. That's just physics. We could explain that, but trust us on it. Well, seeing it, I know it's a terrible piece of paper for et cetera.

[Jack Armstrong]

We'll rehash it a little bit later. Got a really interesting thing about economics and people feeling like life's too expensive. It's lots of different kinds of situations though. If you miss it, get the podcast Armstrong and Getty on demand.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Gettysburg.