Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "How Are Your Glands?"

Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Producer/Contributor: Katie Green
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode blends the show’s signature sharp-witted commentary with a focus on world affairs, particularly the recent Trump-Xi summit, national security, and nuclear testing. The hosts delve into media bias, the reliability of news reporting, unexpected (and humorous) disease outbreaks involving escaped monkeys, the ongoing government shutdown, and the surging influence of AI in medicine and the stock market. Rich banter and pointed cultural commentary run throughout, complementing updates on trending stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trump–Xi Summit and Nuclear Testing

• Trump Meets Xi Jinping: The show opens with news of Trump’s two-hour meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping. Jack and Joe poke fun at Trump’s self-assessment (“12 out of 10,” [04:28]), noting neutral observers aren’t as upbeat.
• Media Bias & Varying Narratives: The pair lament the polarized coverage, with Jack stating:

  "I have two very distinctly contrasting accounts of the meeting and its results. It just goes to show you the nature of journalism." ([05:23])

• Nuclear Weapons Testing Announcement: Trump’s sudden directive to the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing is discussed. The hosts note the ambiguous details, with Joe referencing Pentagon sources suggesting the focus is Russia’s nuclear delivery systems, not the weapons themselves ([05:50]).
• Broader Security Implications: Joe stresses the gravity of new Russian “unstoppable” delivery systems ([07:55]) and reflects on Cold War nostalgia and how the post-Cold War era's optimism now seems naïve.

Joe Getty (on media coverage):
“What's the point of even reading the newspaper to try to figure out what happened when there's a decent chance that they're giving you 180 degrees opposite of what occurred?” ([05:53])

2. Escaped Diseased Monkeys & Public Health Humor

• Escaped Lab Monkeys: The recent escape of experimental monkeys becomes a running joke. The banter is classic Armstrong & Getty—Joe claims he pet a monkey during a walk and woke up with a sore throat.
• Public Distrust & Institutional Honesty: Both Jack and Joe skewer official university reassurances that the monkeys are “not infectious,” paralleling broader skepticism of institutional truthfulness.
• Recurring Gag: The monkeys resurface throughout, with phrases like “How are your glands? A little swollen—monkey-sized," showing the duo’s penchant for darkly comic asides ([11:26]).

Jack Armstrong:
“Yesterday it was one monkey, now it's three. What, did they clone it? Did it have sex and have baby monkeys?” ([14:21])

Joe Getty:
“If they create a heinous disease that gets loose and kills lots of people, they pretend like there's a zero chance that that's what happened, even though everybody can see that's what happened.” ([15:32])

3. Government Shutdown & Media Messaging

• Shutdown Developments: The mainstream media’s focus on food benefit deadlines is critiqued, with Jack attributing Republican struggles to “D-minus messaging” ([12:50]).
• Media Framing: The hosts argue the blame game is skewed by liberal outlets, making it hard for Republican messaging to cut through.

Jack Armstrong:
“That's why you've got to be good. That's the game we play on the right side of the aisle. Got to be sharp with your messaging.” ([13:08])

4. The News Rundown with Katie Green ([20:19-24:04])

(Timestamps are approximate.)

• Key Headlines:
  • Trump secures South Korea trade deal and a “glittering crown” ([20:29])
  • Western intelligence alleges Iran is secretly rearming with Chinese help ([21:00])
  • AI is dominating global markets—“all that matters right now” ([21:25])
  • NFL Hall of Famer Antonio Gates tied to rigged poker [22:02]
  • Daily Mail: Plane delayed after crew brawl [23:13]
  • Babylon Bee satire: “Newsom issues licenses to women” [23:55]
• Memorable Reaction:
  Joe on Anne Frank parody musical:

  “Well, and the fact that I couldn't obviously tell it was a parody shows you where we are.” ([23:06])

5. The AI Stock Market Boom ([28:12–33:50])

• Fed Interest Rate Cuts: The show notes a .25% rate cut, bringing rates below 4% ([28:12]).
• AI as Market Mover: Citing Bloomberg, Jack and Joe discuss the “Magnificent Seven” (AI heavyweights) driving a multi-year bull run, highlighting Nvidia’s $5T market cap.
• Bubble Dynamics: They muse on the difficulty of timing bubbles and marvel at those who’ve held through 67% and 27% annual surges without “getting out too early.”
• Cultural Reflection:
  Joe:

  “It’s like not recognizing that gas powered engines were going to be a thing or something.” ([33:12])

6. AI and the Future of Medicine ([33:56–41:38])

• Personalized AI Medical Advice: Reporting on Daniel Axt’s use of Chatbot “Grok” for nuanced, tailored medical counsel, contrasting its depth and patience with frustrated, overworked doctors.

• Practical Examples: AI’s dietary iron advice surprises the hosts with tips like cooking in cast iron pans — to much amusement ([37:06]).

• AI as Ever-Present Medical Assistant:
  Katie:

  “It just creates one conversation and I don't have to go in and re explain myself every time. It just picks up right where we left off.” ([40:19])

• Cautions & Concerns:
  Jack shares a listener's experience of AI’s dangerous mistakes and notes the problem of chatbots giving harmful mental health advice. Joe cites a stat: over a million people per week show suicidal ideation to ChatGPT ([45:30]).

• On AI Medical Use:
  Jack:

  “Probably quite ready yet, but that could be the role of AI as like a supervising health quarterback.” ([36:49])

7. Mailbag & Listener Interaction ([45:59–51:07])

• Classic Listener Contributions:
  • Stories of self-reliance and hard work vs. “culture of dependence”
  • A tongue-in-cheek manifesto: If you want "free food, water, shelter," here's your tent, seeds, and river spot—nothing else ([49:22]).
• Populist Slogans: Armstrong & Getty are working on a “Starve the Lazy” merchandise campaign, blending tongue-in-cheek populism with commentary on welfare policy ([46:41]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On News Coverage Bias:

  “What's the point of even reading the newspaper…?” —Joe Getty ([05:53])

• On Government & Morality:

  “[John Adams] Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people…” —Jack Armstrong quoting Adams ([45:59])

• Gallows Humor Re: Monkeys:

  “How are your glands? A little swollen. —Monkey sized.” ([11:26])

• On AI Medical Information:

  “Grok explains everything and if something seems unclear, I can ask a question or get clarification and ask again and again. It never runs out of time or patience.” —Jack Armstrong ([39:37])

• Cynicism on Official Reassurances:

  “If they create a heinous disease that gets loose and kills lots of people, they pretend like there's a zero chance that that's what happened, even though everybody can see that's what happened.” —Joe Getty ([15:32])

• Reflecting on Financial Bubbles:

  “How many people actually do that? Get on at some point on the rise up, knowing it's a bubble, get out on time. That's got to be a pretty small group of people.” —Jack Armstrong ([31:44])

• On “Starve the Lazy” Populism:

  “We're working on the T-shirt slash hoodie slash hat design for the Armstrong & Getty 'Starve the Lazy' campaign. Very excited about this.” —Jack Armstrong ([46:45])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening/Trump–Xi Meeting & Media Bias: 03:45–08:57
• Nuclear Weapons Testing & Delivery Systems: 04:48–09:44
• Monkey Escapade & Health Paranoia: 10:19–15:32
• Government Shutdown Discussion: 12:08–13:16
• Katie’s Headlines & News Rundown: 20:19–24:04
• AI Stock Market Discussion: 28:12–33:50
• AI in Medicine Discussion: 33:56–41:38
• Listener Mail & “Starve the Lazy”: 45:59–51:07

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and deeply skeptical of both mainstream media and institutional politicians
• Frequent use of dry humor, playful banter, and periodic mock outrage for comedic effect
• Willingness to oscillate between light pop culture references (World Series, monkeys, satire) and weightier policy issues, all colored with personal anecdotes

For newcomers:
This episode typifies Armstrong & Getty’s unique blend of political commentary, skepticism, and dark comedy, using the headlines of the day as a springboard for broader reflections on media, technology, medicine, and American culture.