Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: I Have a Why, and It's Burning
Date: March 6, 2026
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the challenges and peculiarities of modern political leadership, focusing extensively on California Governor Gavin Newsom—scrutinizing his media appearances, policy record, and prospects for higher office. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, with producer Michael, tackle the inherent difficulties of running for president, public perception of politicians, and broader issues like the rise of socialism, information literacy, and the cultural disconnect between real news and entertainment. The episode maintains the classic A&G blend of wit, skepticism, and cultural critique.

Key Discussion Points

1. Gavin Newsom in the Spotlight

[03:30–15:52]

• The “I’m No Better Than You” Persona:
  The A&G team criticizes Newsom and others (like AOC) for attempts at populist relatability in public speaking, questioning its effectiveness.

  Jack: “If you just sit in front of people and say, hey, you dumb, I’m dumb, too. I can’t even read, you know, if you present it like that, it’s not that handy.” [03:30]

• Media Treatment and Policy Record:
  The hosts cite critical articles that suggest Newsom has “never faced major league pitching,” with California’s soft political environment and favorable media shielding him.

  Michael: “He’s the product of a one party, very soft media state. He’s never faced major league pitching and he can’t hit it.” [07:23]

• On Policy and Poverty:
  Newsom’s explanations for California’s persistent poverty and housing issues are mocked for shifting blame and offering little transparency.

  Jack: “I don’t understand why politicians don’t bring people along for the ride. What’s the supplemental poverty rate? I don’t know what that is. Why wouldn’t he explain it?” [09:14]

• The Motivation to Run
  Discussion includes Mark Halpern’s interview with Newsom, focusing on the driving force (“the why”) behind a presidential run—and the toll it takes on families.

  Mark Halpern (Newsom voice): “Right now, the reason I'm leaning in is because I have a why and it’s burning. And I’m going to stand up and I’m going to draw a line...” [10:35]

  The hosts dismiss Newsom’s assertion that his kids would have veto power over his candidacy as unlikely.

  Jack: “I don’t think he’s going to let that be the primary decision.” [12:56]

• Form vs. Substance:
  Citing Willie Brown’s comment:

  Michael (reading): “Is it clear what Newsom actually believes? [Willie] Brown answered, ‘I don’t know. I’ve never asked him for fear. He doesn’t.’” [13:39]
  Jack, on Reagan: “Ronald Reagan was an actual movie star, but he knew what he believed.” [13:48]

• 2028 Prediction:
  Skepticism abounds over Newsom’s prospects; the sense is that he’ll struggle to win the nomination with heavyweight intra-party rivals like Rahm Emanuel.

  Jack: “The other Democrats are just going to kill him.” [14:04]
  Michael: “Rahm Emanuel is going to subject him to such a beating, they’re going to step in and stop the fight.” [14:14]

2. Polls, Socialism, and Party Identity

[26:35–30:08]

• Rising Support for Socialism:
  Reviewing a Fox News poll that reveals 38% of voters think a shift toward socialism would be good—with support highest among younger and more liberal groups.

  Jack: “Two thirds of Democrats under 45 prefer socialism or leaning socialism.” [28:12]

• Party Labels Are Misleading:
  Both hosts note that many voters now eschew party labels, calling themselves “independent” while voting reliably for one side—leading to polls painting false pictures of party extremism.

• The “Socialism in the Classroom” Problem:
  Both criticize educational systems for failing to explain the flaws of socialism.

  Jack: “Nobody’s taking the time to say, here’s why socialism has failed everywhere it’s ever worked.” [29:30]
  Michael: “Anybody who’s against free markets is a lunatic.” [28:16]

  Armstrong gives a classic analogy about grade redistribution to explain why collectivism fails in practice.

3. Celebrity Culture vs. Real News

[31:15–34:57]

• Entertainment as “The News”:
  A running joke and lament: many Americans treat celebrity gossip (e.g. TMZ, Entertainment Tonight) as news, to the detriment of civic awareness.

• Don’t Look Up Analogy:
  Jack references the film, where real threats are ignored in favor of celebrity break-ups—paralleling today’s inattentiveness to serious news.

  Jack: “That is pretty accurate as to where we are.” [33:11]

• Audience Self-Awareness:
  The team humorously suggests polling organizations should stratify respondents by real awareness, from “morons” to “experts.”

  Michael: “Let’s call the bottom group morons.” [34:31]

4. The Informed Citizenry & Checking Out

[35:18–37:27]

• Low Engagement Numbers:
  Only 29% of Americans follow politics at all; just 14% follow closely enough to understand key issues.

  Jack: “That sounds about right to me.” [35:18]

• Why People Tune Out:
  A mix of news fatigue, skepticism, and cynicism—some due to perceived lack of consequences in society or loss of trust post-Vietnam.

  Jack: “So I’ve met more people that have decided that ... they just gave up. I checked out. I just. I don’t even pay attention anymore.” [36:19]

5. Political Prediction Markets

[42:45–48:39]

• Rise in Betting on Political Outcomes:
  Discussion of new “prediction markets” (Kalshi, Polymarket) where people bet on everything from “Will Trump say ‘hottest’ in his speech?” to geopolitical events.

  • Some betters made huge money off inside knowledge of events, raising ethical and legal concerns.

  Michael: “There are various people who made a crapload of money on when the US Bombing campaign would start, even though it was secret.” [46:11]

• Hosts’ Introspective:
  Michael admits he could profit handsomely thanks to his political obsession, but isn’t greedy enough.

  Michael: “Oh, I could have made a mint. Yeah, just not greedy enough. That’s one of my faults. I’ll try to get greedy.” [48:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Newsom’s Motivation:

  Mark Halpern (as Newsom): “Right now, the reason I’m leaning in is because I have a why and it’s burning. And I’m going to stand up and I’m going to draw a line... I don’t like what’s going on in this country. I don’t. Period. Full stop.” [10:35]

• On Willie Brown’s Take:

  Michael (reading): “‘Is it clear what Newsom actually believes?’ Brown answered, ‘I don’t know. I’ve never asked him for fear. He doesn’t.’” [13:39]

• On Polling and Party Identity:

  Jack: “A lot of the normal people in both parties have now called themselves independents because hardly anybody wants to be attached to either party at this point.” [28:12]

• On Entertainment as News:

  Jack: “We were talking yesterday about people who refer to the news and it’s like TMZ or Entertainment Tonight... That’s what they call the news.” [22:33]

• On Teaching Socialism:

  Michael: “Anybody who’s against free markets is a lunatic. But I see your point. It’s worth keeping in mind.” [28:16]

• On Informed Citizenry:

  Jack: “We need an informed citizenry—that would take four lifetimes.” [36:36]

• On Prediction Markets:

  Michael: “They were making predictions as to what celebrities would show up at the super bowl... the original source of the information was the stepson [of Jeff Bezos] himself.” [47:23] Jack: “I gotta jump on these sites and see if there’s any categories that I feel like I’m particularly knowledgeable about while it still lasts.” [48:09]

Timestamps for Highlights

• [03:30] — Jack critiques Newsom’s communication style
• [07:23] — Michael on Newsom’s sheltered record
• [09:14] — Confusion over “supplemental poverty rate”
• [10:35] — Halpern interviews Newsom on motivation
• [13:39] — Willie Brown’s doubts about Newsom’s convictions
• [14:14] — Mocking intra-party battles Newsom would face
• [28:12] — Jack on party identification trends
• [29:30] — Socialism/grading analogy
• [33:11] — Don’t Look Up as an allegory for news avoidance
• [35:18] — Poll numbers on Americans following politics
• [36:19] — Why people have checked out from news
• [46:11] — Prediction markets, insider trading angle
• [48:09] — Hosts joke about gambling on politics

Tone & Style

Armstrong & Getty balance skepticism and humor with earnest concern about civic literacy, political authenticity, and modern media trends. Their language is direct, informal, and often self-deprecating, weaving current headlines into larger cultural observations.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This installment offers an incisive, wide-ranging critique of today’s political and media environment with Newsom as a central case study. Whether you’re interested in the prospects for 2028, changing party identities, the chasm between news and entertainment, or the ethics of political gambling, Armstrong & Getty tackle it all with wry wit and a willingness to call out absurdities—making for an entertaining but substantial listen.