Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: “Free The Sandwich!”

Date: December 1, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode tackles two major themes:

1. Allegations of a US Military War Crime – Armstrong & Getty analyze the bombshell Washington Post report alleging that US military leaders ordered a second drone strike on survivors of an attack, potentially constituting a war crime.
2. AI Regulation & Existential Risk – The hosts dive deep into the rapidly developing capabilities of artificial intelligence, its potential dangers, the lack of regulations (“free the sandwich!”), and whether society can be galvanized to act before disaster strikes.

Sprinkled throughout are their trademark takes on media culture, fleeting viral topics, and some Thanksgiving holiday banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Allegation of a US War Crime: The “Double Tap” Strike

(02:31–16:29)

The Story (02:55–04:26)

• Context: Washington Post alleges Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth verbally directed Special Forces to finish off the survivors of a US drone attack on a drug boat, possibly a war crime.
  • Sources vary: some say the second strike was to “clear debris,” others say it targeted survivors directly.
  • “According to the Post mission commander, Admiral Frank Mitchell Bradley ordered the second strike specifically to kill the two survivors.” – Joe Getty (05:25)

Questions and Skepticism (04:50–08:12)

• Chain of Command: Hosts question how orders flow, whether communications are recorded, and if there’s physical evidence (video).
• Congressional Response: Both parties (including key Republican chairs) are opening inquiries.

Political Dimensions (07:19–08:12)

• Motivation and Cynicism: Jack voices cynicism about Democrats possibly using the incident for political gain rather than out of concern for human rights. Joe insists the fundamental issue is whether a war crime occurred, regardless of motives.

Congressional Commentary (08:26–09:47)

• Clips from Reps. Mike Turner & Don Bacon (Republican defense/intel): Both say if true, it’s a clear illegal act and “a violation of the law of war. When people want to surrender, you don’t kill them. And they have to pose an imminent threat.” – Don Bacon (~09:03)
• Jack: “It’s hard to believe that two people on a raft trying to survive would pose an imminent threat.” (09:08)

Media Critique (09:35–10:02)

• Hosts express frustration over media’s use of anonymous sources, lack of follow-up, and comparison to past “scandals” that fizzled.
  • “If it turns out this didn’t happen, how about a little pressure on the Washington Post to not put out this sort of crap…” – Jack Armstrong (09:23)

Military Training & War Crimes (11:02–14:10)

• Armstrong and Getty ponder whether US drone pilots are trained in laws of war and how real-time decisions are made.

Expert Takes (13:17–14:15)

• Clip from Gen. Barry McCaffrey: “The easy question is whether or not we are allowed to use lethal force against people clinging to wreckage. They have submitted. They’re no threat to the US military forces. That seems to me, it needs to be investigated…It’s no different than a Nazi submarine machine gunning survivors in the water of a sunken ship in World War II.” – Gen. McCaffrey (13:29)

Summing Up (14:53–16:29)

• Urgency for clear documentation/video evidence.
  • “It’s very easy to get to the bottom of. Then whichever committee just needs to say, okay, we need to see videotape, like, by noon today.” – Jack Armstrong (15:25)
• Frustration at government delays and obfuscation.
• Open call for expertise or military input from listeners.

2. The Existential Threat of Artificial Intelligence

(19:07–39:35)

Why AI Should Be the Top Issue (19:07–20:59)

• Jack: “I might want to get super involved in the AI argument because it might be the most important thing that’s ever happened in the history of the world.” (19:07)
• Intro to Eliezer Yudkowsky’s new book: “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies”—AI pioneer turned doomer.

Misleading Comfort: Chatbots Aren’t “AI” (25:27–27:37)

• Armstrong warns that reliance on chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT) gives a false sense of understanding; the true risk is much greater.
• Reference to Yudkowsky and Elon Musk’s warnings. “Elon said the other day he thinks there’s a 10 to 20% chance that AI destroys mankind. Why in the hell would you build anything that there’s even a 10% chance that it destroys all mankind?” – Jack Armstrong (27:09)

Calls for Moratorium – “Free the Sandwich!” Regulation Analogy (29:37–30:45)

• Yudkowsky and others want governments and companies to halt AI development until more is understood.
• “One of the points being made is we have way more regulations on sandwiches in America currently than we do on AI. It’s not even close. There are almost…free the sandwich. There are almost zero. Almost zero regulations on AI at this point.” – Jack Armstrong (29:52)

International Dilemma: China and Global Action (30:45–32:12)

• Classic “what about China?” debate—would a US-led pause even matter if geopolitical adversaries race ahead?

Can Mass Mobilization Happen? The Politics of Trying to Stop AI (36:12–38:18)

• Jack ponders whether a broad public movement (marches, demonstrations) could pressure politicians on AI before partisanship poisons the cause.
  • “If Trump weighs in one way or the other on AI, forget it, we’re done. Or if some pundit, you know, assigns…being pro AI is what Trump wants or being anti AI is Trump, it’d be like masks and vaccines and everything else. It’s over at that point.” – Jack Armstrong (37:21)

Philosophical Arguments: What Would a Superintelligent AI Do? (32:49–34:40)

• Emailer “JT in Livermore” suggests that super AIs might have greater empathy, based on higher intelligence.
• Jack counters with historical existential risk examples—Nazi Germany as a highly cultured society committing atrocities.

The Timeline Question (35:53–36:12)

• AI “milestones/benchstones” could be just 5–10 years away, say AI insiders interviewed by Armstrong.
• “So far it has been on the forward end of things happening as opposed to the back end.” – Jack Armstrong (36:10)

3. Other Notable Topics

The “Man Keeping” Viral Article and Modern Feminism (19:17–21:28)

• Hosts lampoon an article defining “man keeping” as a form of emotional labor, mocking debates over gender roles and the rebranding of ordinary acts of love.

Demographics and Western Culture (43:56–44:24)

• Sobering stat: In Canada, over 42% of children born last year had foreign-born mothers, up from 21% in 1997.
  • Joe Getty: “The west is rapidly becoming…not the west anymore.” (44:07)

Thanksgiving Banter & “Leftover Regret” (44:41–45:22)

• The team laments the pain of attending Thanksgiving dinner at someone else’s house: “No leftovers sucks.” – Jack Armstrong (45:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If it was as if the article said, that is a violation of the law of war. When people want to surrender, you don’t kill them. And they have to pose an imminent threat.” – Don Bacon, Rep. (R), clip (09:03)
• “It’s very easy to get to the bottom of. Then whichever committee just needs to say, okay, we need to see videotape, like, by noon today.” – Jack Armstrong (15:25)
• “Elon said the other day he thinks there’s a 10 to 20% chance that AI destroys mankind. Why in the hell would you build anything that there’s even a 10% chance that it destroys all mankind?” – Jack Armstrong (27:09)
• “One of the points being made is we have way more regulations on sandwiches in America currently than we do on AI. It’s not even close. There are almost… free the sandwich.” – Jack Armstrong (29:52)
• “If a whiff of partisanship comes into this, it’s over. If Trump weighs in one way or the other on AI, forget it, we’re done.” – Jack Armstrong (37:21)
• “Japan didn’t have mutually assured destruction in 1945, right? And, well, they were on the receiving end.” – Joe Getty (39:27)
• “The west is rapidly becoming…not the west anymore.” – Joe Getty (44:07)
• “No leftovers sucks.” – Jack Armstrong (45:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Breaking Down the Alleged War Crime & Media Reporting: 02:31–16:29
• Thanksgiving, viral culture, and “man keeping”: 19:07–21:28
• AI: Existential Risk & Lack of Regulation: 25:27–39:35
• Western Demographics & Immigration: 43:56–44:24
• Thanksgiving Leftovers & Final Thoughts: 44:41–45:51

Episode Tone & Style

Consistent with Armstrong & Getty’s style, the episode blends deep policy concern, rapid-fire skepticism, gallows humor, and cultural pop shot-taking. They openly wrestle with the limits of knowledge, their own bias, and the failures of both media and government to meet the moment. Their tone is irreverent yet thoughtful, mixing sarcasm (“free the sandwich!”) with solemn warnings about AI and war crimes.

Closing Summary

For listeners concerned about both immediate global scandals and the long-term future of humanity, this episode delivers robust, skeptical debate on what matters most—whether the U.S. military may have committed a war crime, and whether the world is sleepwalking toward AI-driven doom. All of it is filtered through Armstrong & Getty’s signature blend of seriousness, cynicism, and snark.

Missed the episode? This summary gives you every essential argument, quote, and moment that mattered—just as Jack, Joe, and their guests delivered it.