Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Fighting Turf Wars From Home

Date: January 23, 2026
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Jack Armstrong (A), Joe Getty (B)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Armstrong and Getty dive into current events with their trademark blend of biting commentary and humor. Major topics include the historic nationwide winter storm, airline ratings, shifts in media reporting styles, controversial obituaries in the New York Times, academic culture wars, the staggering drop in U.S. murder rates for 2025, American xenophilia, the crackdown in Iran, debates over international athletes and politics, and the dire state of American Studies in academia. As always, their irreverent rapport skewers both the sacred and the ridiculous, with classic recurring skepticism about the media, higher education, and societal trends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brutal Winter Storm and Airline Industry Jokes

[00:14–01:23]

• The show opens with discussion about the historic winter storm paralyzing much of the country and leading to temperatures as low as -40°F.
• Airline banter: Despite the storm, the hosts quip about Southwest Airlines canceling hundreds of flights for unrelated reasons, and reference recent airline ratings.
  • Notably, Southwest tops some reliability metrics, while American Airlines is lowest-rated.
  • A (Jack): "I've been screwed by United more than any other airline. But that's just my personal experience." [01:16]

2. Looksmaxing & Influencer Trends

[01:51–02:25]

• The hosts hint at a discussion about "looks maxing" among young men – efforts to optimize physical appearance for social media. They marvel at how enthralled (and bewildered) their own kids are by this influencer phenomenon.
  • A: “These influencers who are trying to make their faces more attractive… My kids… were just, their eyes were wide with wonder that anybody's actually doing this.” [02:03]

3. Barry Weiss Takes Over CBS News & News Media Critique

[02:25–04:18]

• Barry Weiss takes over CBS News; Jack expresses hope for less bias and faster-paced newscasts, noting growth in the desirable 25–54 demo under new evening anchor Tony Dokoupil.

  • A: “I like it because it's faster paced and they're much less likely to hit you with weather… we have world changing events going on … and you're telling me the weather somewhere 2,000 miles away.” [03:09]

• Behind-the-scenes drama at 60 Minutes: Sharon Alfonsi and Scott Pelley reportedly clashing with Weiss’s new direction, leading to rumors they may be out.

4. New York Times Obituaries: Bias and Controversy

[04:33–09:24]

• Scott Adams’ Death: The hosts discuss how the New York Times obituary for Dilbert creator Scott Adams emphasizes his “racist comments” while being comparatively gentle with obituaries for far more malign figures like ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi, Stalin, and Qassem Suleimani.
  • B: “Somebody says something ‘quote, unquote, racist’ according to the New York Times, I figure probably it's almost certainly not racist. It might be racially provocative or might just be about race.” [04:47]
  • A: “A cartoonist who made some racial comments and they put something negative in the headline, but nothing negative in the headline for the death of Al Baghdadi … which is really quite amazing.” [05:25]
  • B: “Good thing Stalin and Suleimani didn't do anything really awful like make a racist comment on a podcast. Wow.” [08:40]

5. Xenophilia and Critique of American Academia

[09:24–10:33; 25:52–34:50]

• Xenophilia: Joe Getty coins the term "xenophilia" to describe left-leaning Americans’ reluctance to criticize anything foreign, sometimes to absurd or harmful lengths.

  • B: “It is an irrational and obsessive fixation and love of anything foreign. Don't get it.” [10:33]

• Academia Slam: Later, they highlight a study analyzing the flagship journal of American Studies (American Quarterly), finding 80% of articles critical of the US, 20% neutral, and zero positive—a clear sign of anti-American bias in academia.

  • B: “80% of the articles over a three year period were critical… zero were positive. Wow. Zero, wow.” [32:34]
  • A: “If all I need to know is there were zero positive, that's amazing.” [32:43]
  • A: “Has this ever happened in world history or does it always happen… where a really successful culture… hates itself?” [33:11]
  • B: “Now do you believe me? How diseased our campuses are? That's wild.” [34:50]

6. Iran Uprising, Crackdown, and US Responses

[10:33–13:44]

• The show covers the aftermath of Iran’s anti-regime protests, with estimates that 20,000 people were killed and the regime justifying the crackdown on grounds of “foreign plots.”

  • Audio Clip [11:17]: IRGC’s tactic "to traumatize a generation."
  • A: "The aim was to traumatize a generation. Don't even try it." [12:03]

• Trump purportedly announces a "deadly armada" heading towards Iran and the hosts analyze what US options really exist, suggesting there may not be any effective ways to support the protesters after such a harsh crackdown.

• Iranian missile test: The hosts discuss Iran’s claim it tested a missile that could hit the US East Coast—a provocative move in the tense climate.

  • A: “That was provocative … you demonstrate that if you got a nuclear weapon, you've got, you know, rockets that can reach the United States." [14:19]

7. Stunning Drop in US Murder Rate (2025 Data)

[15:24–22:37]

• The hosts highlight the remarkable news:

  • 21% drop in murder rate across major US cities in 2025, lowest since 1900.
  • A: “In 2025… an historic decline in the murder rate. 21% drop across major cities, bringing the national homicide rate to its lowest level since 1900.” [17:06]
    • They joke about people not going out:
      B: “Yeah, well, it's pretty hard to get murdered if you never go outside.” [16:34]

• Why the drop?

  • Experts and chatbots alike are stumped. Theories include normalization post-COVID, changing policing strategies, community programs, and demographic shifts, but “nobody's exactly sure why.”
  • A: “I went to all of my different chat bots and asked them… the biggest consensus is we don't know why.” [17:05]
  • Satirical suggestions (“fighting turf wars from home,” young men working remotely, wearing masks made them nuts) highlight the absurdity of crime trends.

• Additional speculations:

  • Later, a listener suggests lower alcohol consumption among under-40s could play a role.
  • A: “I suspect the murder rate dropped due to decreased alcohol consumption by a lot. For people under 40. Oh, that absolutely could play a factor.” [26:18]

8. Dog & Cat Humor and Pet Owner Responsibility

[06:11–07:37]

• The hosts riff on a viral new story about a woman who rehabs obese cats, segueing into complaints about Americans letting their pets get overweight, and how animal social structures are bizarre.
  • A: "There's not enough criticism of pet owners for letting their pets get fat… they don't make these decisions on their own." [06:49]

9. Microplastics, Autism, and Pop Science

[21:12–22:37]

• With their trademark skepticism, the hosts pick apart recent headlines declaring microplastics aren’t killing us, and note how little real understanding society has about causes for autism, anxiety, or the murder rate.
  • A: "If they could eliminate [microplastics], that'd be a good thing. That's what you do when you do science." [22:23]
  • B: "Relax. Microplastics aren't killing you." [22:00]

10. Sports, Politics, and International Competition

[24:09–26:52]

• The hosts bemoan the trend of putting athletes on the spot in political discussions, referencing American tennis players being grilled at the Australian Open.
• Olympics/Russia update: No official boycotts, but Russian athletes compete without flag, anthem, or “Russia gear.”
  • A: "You work your whole life to do something and it's not your fault." [26:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Media Bias and Obits:

• B (on NYT and Scott Adams):
  “Somebody says something ‘quote, unquote, racist’ according to the New York Times, I figure probably it's almost certainly not racist. It might be racially provocative or might just be about race.” [04:47]

• A (on ISIS leader v. cartoonist):
  “You got a cartoonist who made some racial comments and they put something negative in the headline, but nothing negative in the headline for the death of Al Baghdadi, who started isis, which is really quite amazing.” [05:25]

On Academia:

• B: “80% of the articles over a three year period were critical of the United States. They were bashing. 20% were neutral and zero were positive. Wow. Zero, wow.” [32:34]

Satirical on Academia:

• Comedy classroom skit (parody):
  • “What's one plus one?” – “Two.” – “Incorrect.”
  • “Gender equality.” – “Very good.” [27:08–27:31]

On American Self-Image:

• A: “Has this ever happened in world history or does it always happen… where a really successful culture… hates itself?” [33:11]

On Murder Rate Drop:

• A: “In 2025… an historic decline in the murder rate. 21% drop across major cities, bringing the national homicide rate to its lowest level since 1900.” [17:06]
• B (satirical): “Yeah, well, it's pretty hard to get murdered if you never go outside.” [16:34]

Noteworthy Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |:-----------:|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:14–01:23 | Winter storm, airline ratings, media habits | | 01:51–02:25 | Looksmaxing and social trends among young men | | 02:25–04:18 | Barry Weiss at CBS, newscast changes, 60 Minutes drama | | 04:33–09:24 | NYT obituary controversies: Scott Adams, world leaders | | 09:24–10:33 | American xenophilia, uncritical view of the foreign | | 10:33–13:44 | Iran protests, regime violence, Trump's reactions | | 15:24–22:37 | The historic collapse in the US murder rate; analysis | | 25:52–34:50 | Academia anti-American bias, parody math class, poll data | | 07:04–07:37 | Obese cats and pet owner responsibility humor | | 24:09–26:52 | International sports, Olympics, Russian athletes debate |

Tone and Language

The dialogue is a mix of dry, sardonic, and sometimes dark humor. Armstrong and Getty satirize recent news, frequently use comedic exaggeration to highlight contradictions in media and academia, and openly admit their own limitations ("…this article is very long and I have got things to do"). Quotations maintain their original, conversational tone, often blending feigned ignorance and biting skepticism to make their criticisms more engaging.

Summary Value

For those who missed the episode, this summary offers a comprehensive roadmap of both serious and humorous content discussed. Key news stories are analyzed with a critical eye, and deeper societal trends—such as media framing, American academic self-loathing, and mysterious crime statistics—are explored in accessible language. Comedic moments (from fat cats to mock classrooms) punctuate heavier topics, making the show’s complex blend of news, commentary, and satire clear to any reader.