Armstrong & Getty On Demand — "Get Ahold Of Your Panties!" Episode Date: November 6, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Armstrong & Getty, Jack and Joe dive into some of the country’s hottest current events with their signature sharp banter and satirical tone. The main theme revolves around the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on presidential tariff powers—a highly anticipated and potentially transformative case. The episode also weaves in commentary on the looming government shutdown and its impact on air travel, political culture wars, tech frustrations, absurd news stories (including Japanese bear attacks), intra-party turmoil, and the cultural fabric of America. The tone is lively, opinionated, and decidedly irreverent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court Tariff Powers Case (00:44–13:40)

• Main Issue: The Supreme Court is considering the extent of presidential authority to impose tariffs. The oral arguments highlighted the constitutionality of delegating taxing power from Congress to the President, with pointed questions from several justices.
• Joe’s Take: Joe listened to almost the full two and a half hours of arguments, providing insights into the rarely transparent workings of the Court.
• Notable Quotes & Analysis:
  • Joe Getty: “It’s the road I did not travel. It’s like a super hardcore football fan listening to a conversation between Bill Belichick and another legendary coach.” (01:57)
  • Chief Justice Roberts’ view: concern that giving the president wide latitude to impose tariffs is a “major authority” not supported by a proper legal basis. (00:45)
  • Justice Gorsuch: “The power to reach into the pockets of the American people is just different. And it's been different since the founding and the navigation acts that were part of the spark of the American Revolution.” (07:06)
  • Joe: ongoing concern that “You can’t claw that [tariff] power back without a two thirds majority in both houses… once you grant a president that sort of power, ain’t no president of either party gonna give it back willingly… referred to as a one way ratchet.” (10:10)
• Character Takes on Justices:
  • Elena Kagan: “incredibly bright… a serious, serious legal mind. She’s just wrong.” (03:48)
  • Clarence Thomas: reputation for being silent is misinterpreted—Joe calls him “a serious, serious man with a very low voice.” (04:00)
  • Ketanji Brown Jackson: “Not a dope… looks at life through an emotionalistic, progressive lens… but she asked some really good questions.” (04:45)
  • Amy Coney Barrett: Jack teases, “Smart as a whip, cute as a button,” Joe clarifies, “in both intellect and demeanor, I find her comely, indeed.” (05:31, 08:12)
• Case Context & Implications:
  • The justices seem skeptical that national emergencies justify broad tariff powers, raising constitutional guardrails over taxation—a central Congressional power. How to “unring the bell” and fix past tariffs if the Court rules against the President remains an open, confusing question. (13:03–13:37)

2. Government Shutdown & Massive Air Travel Disruptions (13:53–25:59; 19:01–24:58)

• Context: Looming government shutdown triggers the FAA to announce a 10% cut of flights at 40 major U.S. airports—potentially canceling 4,500 flights daily.
• Impact Analysis:
  • Major airports affected: Atlanta (Hartsfield), Denver International, Chicago (O’Hare), LAX, SFO, Oakland, Phoenix, and every other major city. (19:23–23:47)
  • “This is when the shutdown has reached the ‘Okay, that's enough’ point, I think, for everybody.” —Jack Armstrong (20:19)
  • Jack predicts intense public pressure as Thanksgiving nears, while Joe disputes commentary suggesting blame has to build: “My reaction was immediate and strong news. I don’t need it to happen for a few days before I realize what it means.” (20:39–20:51)
• Political Dynamics:
  • Democrats reconsidered reopening government after surprisingly good election results boosted their leverage, reversing “readiness to cave.” Trump said, “We lost because of the shutdown. We're getting blamed for the shutdown. That's why we lost. We need to end this.” (21:31–21:54)
  • Both parties waiting for the other to blink, and poor Republican messaging was harshly criticized: “The Republican Party is just bad at it.” —Joe (23:02)
  • Jack predicts a quick resolution: “I would be shocked if this doesn't get worked out in the next 48 hours.” (24:46–24:58)

3. Political & Cultural Polarization (25:59–32:18)

• Neighborhood Drama: Jack relays a story from a liberal college town where neighbors freaked out over a MAGA-stickered truck in a driveway—amplifying cultural divides.
  • Jack: “What you do is you ignore somebody else's truck in somebody else's driveway.” (26:54)
  • Joe riffs: “Get hold of your panties, pull them in this direction, then that direction and that should unwad them.” (27:03)
  • “People on the right think the people on the left are wrong. People on the left think the people on the right are evil.” —Jack (27:13)
• Satire and Absurdity: They escalate the scenario with escalatingly ridiculous suggestions: “What are our options… set it on fire?” “Maybe we should close the schools.” “Report a pickup truck with a very hostile bumper sticker…” (29:58–30:46)

4. News Roundup and Quick Hits

• Japanese Bear Attacks (14:44–16:11): Bear attacks in Japan’s north prompt military intervention. Joe jokes: “Japanese Bear Attack: the name of my new band. We're gonna tour with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Panic at the Disco.” (15:20–15:32)
• Tech Frustration & ‘Textastrian’ (17:54–18:53): Jack vents about confusing online bill payments, invents the word “textastrian” for that unique tech-frustrated feeling. “That feeling is my least favorite feeling.” (18:04)

5. Intra-Conservative Fights & Drug Pricing (16:11–17:12)

• Heritage Foundation resignation over association with Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes stirs debate about policing political extremes.
  • Joe: “We police our crazies, unlike the left.” (16:39–16:48)
• Trump administration teases big announcement on slashing weight loss drug prices.
  • “Classic Trump… Nation of fat people who want their fat drugs cheaper.” —Jack (16:48)

6. Cultural Commentary & Critique (34:26–37:20)

• Multiculturalism vs. “No American Culture”:
  • Joe responds to lefty podcast host Jennifer Welch’s assertion, “White people need to be taught this… There is no American culture except for multiculturalism.” (34:49–34:58)
  • Joe: “American political culture — free speech, entrepreneurialism, individual rights… has been so incredibly successful and popular around the world.” (35:59–36:16)
  • “How we do things around here is our culture… for this malignant ignoramus to claim that Americans have no culture except for multiculturalism. She's evil. Evil and ignorant.” (37:20)

7. Political Extremism, Security, and “Sharia Law” (31:05–34:26)

• Montage of audio clips: lefty celebrations over Dick Cheney's death and the election of socialist/Islamist NY politicians.
  • “Sharia law starts today. Islamic Caliphate of New York starts today, baby.” —Supporter (31:33)
• Joe and Jack react in disbelief, noting the slippage between freewheeling speech online and dangerous ideologies.
• FBI thwarts planned ISIS attack on LGBTQ bars; Jack and Joe briefly praise law enforcement. (33:00)

8. Lighthearted End Notes

• “Japanese Bear Attack” as a band name and logo. (37:22–37:42)
• Full moon stories and oddities to be discussed, teasing content for hour three. (37:31–38:00)

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Supreme Court Arguments:
  “I love it. It’s the road I did not travel. It’s like a super hardcore football fan…” —Joe Getty (01:57)
• On Justice Kagan:
  “She is a serious, serious legal mind. She's just wrong.” —Joe Getty (03:48)
• On Elastic Tariff Powers:
  “You can't claw that power back without a two thirds majority... referred to as a one way ratchet.” —Joe Getty (10:12)
• On Tariff Rollback:
  "Do you get your money back or how does that all work?" —Jack Armstrong
  "Nobody knows." —Joe Getty (13:29–13:38)
• On Polarization:
  “People on the right think the people on the left are wrong. People on the left think the people on the right are evil.” —Jack Armstrong (27:13)
• On Government Dysfunction:
  "I'm just so discouraged by the state of our government." —Joe Getty (25:59)
• On American Culture:
  "How we do things around here is our culture." —Joe Getty (36:30)
• Satire on Neighborhood Culture Wars:
  “Get hold of your panties, pull them in this direction, then that direction and that should unwad them.” —Joe Getty (27:03)
• On Japanese Bear Attacks:
  “Japanese Bear Attack: the name of my new band.” —Joe Getty (15:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:44–13:40 — Supreme Court case on tariffs
• 13:53–25:59 — Shutdown & air travel chaos
• 14:44 — Japan bear attacks segment
• 17:54–18:53 — Tech frustration & “textastrian”
• 25:59–32:18 — Political polarization, culture wars
• 31:05–34:26 — Extremism, NYC, and ISIS foiled plot
• 34:26–37:20 — American culture & critique of the Left
• 37:22–38:00 — Band name riff and episode wrap-up

This summary encapsulates the breadth and humor of Armstrong & Getty’s episode, retaining their lively banter and pointed commentary. Listeners (or readers) will walk away with a clear sense of the major news stories dissected, the justices’ personalities, cultural rifts explored, and a few satirical gems—no prior listening required.