Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "I Have Had 19 Cups Of Coffee"
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this lively, broad-ranging episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty discuss a mix of serious political topics and lighter news, with signature sarcasm, skepticism, and wit. Main themes include the hypocrisy in Western progressive responses to police brutality in Iran, the surprising turnaround of Mississippi’s public schools, and a mix of sports updates, odd news stories, and classic Armstrong & Getty commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks News

[01:10–02:59]

• Breaking news about upcoming trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US, possibly with both Zelensky and Putin present.
• Hosts are openly skeptical about meaningful outcomes, comparing it to endless headlines on familiar scandals ("Epstein files").
• Quote ([01:59], Joe Getty):
  “I will ignore the next three rounds of them and you tell me if anything significant happens. And if it does, I will say, wow, and I will pay attention.”

2. Hypocrisy on Police Brutality: The US vs. Iran

[03:07–10:51]

• Jack and Joe, referencing an article by Nellie Bowles, dissect the double standards among Western leftists who call for abolishing police domestically but rationalize brutal police crackdowns in Iran.
• Quote ([08:38], Joe Getty):
  “They're all for, like, abolishing the police until the police is named Ayatollah. And then it's like, come beat me, Ayatollah.”
• Discussion about Progressive International’s statements excusing Iranian state violence as resistance to Western interference.
• Hosts reflect on how activists and progressives justify supporting repression, and the historical context of compromised moral stances in international relations.
• Quote ([09:56], Jack Armstrong):
  “I'm surprised by this. I didn't know that they would...come up with a way to support putting down the protests in Iran. That’s shocking to me.”

3. Historical Perspective: Revolutions and Moral Compromises

[10:51–13:48]

• Drawing on “The Rest is History” podcast and personal reading, the hosts discuss the Iranian Revolution and the necessity of sometimes siding with unsavory allies.
• Questions about the real motives of noisy protesters—whether they're useful idiots for activist elites or genuinely believe in their causes.
• Quote ([11:31], Jack Armstrong):
  “It's really hard to like draw bright lines of we're never gonna support despots or whatever when you get out into the real world.”

4. Science News: Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough

[14:34–16:24]

• Short discussion about a University of Indiana (er, Indiana University!) research team finding biomarkers that might help detect pancreatic cancer earlier.
• Classic comedic detour on the confusing names of Indiana’s universities.
• Highlighting the terrible survival rates of pancreatic cancer and the promise of early detection for improving outcomes.
• Quote ([15:13], Jack Armstrong):
  “You just don't know you have it until it's so late... It's the deadliest cancer out there.”

5. NFL MVP Finalists and Oscar Nominations

[16:38–18:02]

• Sports “fluff”: Recap of MVP finalists, with Jack’s trademark lighthearted but knowledgeable banter.
• Oscars record for a new movie, “Sinners,” setting a new bar with 16 nominations.
• Quote ([17:38], Jack Armstrong):
  “16 Oscar nominations breaking the all-time record shared by Titanic, that weird trans movie last year and a couple others. I'll watch it and review it for you.”

6. Mississippi’s “Education Miracle”

[18:02–33:17]

• Deep dive into the dramatic improvement in Mississippi’s public schools, especially reading proficiency, after rejecting modern “progressive” methods in favor of phonics and traditional discipline.
• Quote ([21:19], Joe Getty):
  “So a lot of folks who are honest are hailing the state of Mississippi, whose public schools have rocketed from 49th place in the nation to 9th in reading.”
• Harsh critique of education fads, teachers unions, and failed reading approaches—highlighting the return of phonics and order.
• Discussion on the failure of “restorative justice” and its effect on discipline and bullying.
• Revelation that the positive article was written by Democrat Rahm Emanuel, with Jack lampooning Emanuel’s hedging critiques of both left and right.
• Quote ([32:14], Jack Armstrong):
  “He's running for president and wants to get the Democratic nomination... but I think that's a moronic way to look at it.”
• Passionate call for focusing on practical solutions rather than ideology in education.

7. Tangent News & Oddities

[18:21–19:45, 35:06–36:43]

• Story of a Canadian man posing as a pilot/flight attendant to ride hundreds of flights for free—musings on TSA inefficiencies and security loopholes.
• Brief discussion: The Eagles’ Greatest Hits goes “quadruple diamond,” outselling even Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
• MLB potentially facing another lockout, and the negative effect of work stoppages on baseball’s popularity.

8. Proficiency Standards & Education Metrics

[33:24–34:15]

• Listener message reveals “proficiency” in reading/math is often set at the 60th percentile or above an 'F' grade, making celebrated benchmarks depressingly low.

9. Final Reflections: Are Schools Failing on Purpose?

[34:16–35:06]

• Pessimism about whether education experts are intentionally keeping kids uneducated to stoke revolutionary sentiment or are simply misguided.
• Reiteration of the need for competency, basics, and outcome-focused policies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Exchanges

• [01:59] Joe Getty:
  “I will ignore the next three rounds of them and you tell me if anything significant happens. And if it does, I will say, wow, and I will pay attention.”
• [08:38] Joe Getty (on hypocrisy regarding Iranian police):
  “They're all for, like, abolishing the police until the police is named Ayatollah. And then it's like, come beat me, Ayatollah.”
• [15:13] Jack Armstrong (on pancreatic cancer):
  “You just don't know you have it until it's so late that it. It's the deadliest cancer out there.”
• [21:19] Joe Getty (on Mississippi schools):
  “Mississippi, whose public schools have rocketed from 49th place in the nation to 9th in reading.”
• [32:14] Jack Armstrong (on Rahm Emanuel):
  “He's running for president and wants to get the Democratic nomination... but I think that's a moronic way to look at it.”

Important Timestamps

• 01:10–02:59 – Ukraine/Russia peace talk skepticism
• 03:07–10:51 – Hypocrisy on police, Iran, and the Western left
• 10:51–13:48 – Historic perspective: revolutions and moral complexity
• 14:34–16:24 – Pancreatic cancer breakthrough news
• 16:38–18:02 – NFL & Oscars chatter
• 18:02–33:17 – The Mississippi “education miracle” deep dive
• 18:21–19:45 – Fake airline pilot story
• 33:24–34:15 – Education metrics/proficiency explained
• 34:16–35:06 – Are schools failing by accident or design?
• 35:06–36:43 – Eagles album, baseball lockout

Overall Tone & Style

Armstrong & Getty’s tone is direct, sarcastic, and opinionated—often poking fun at political and bureaucratic absurdities. Substantive issues (education policy, geopolitics) are balanced with humor and lighthearted asides, making the episode engaging and approachable even when tackling complex topics.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a prime example of Armstrong & Getty’s style: a fast-moving combination of sharp political critique, wry humor, and in-depth exploration of current events. If you’re interested in debates about education reform, the double standards in modern activism, and a sampling of offbeat news, their spirited back-and-forth delivers both insight and entertainment.