Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "I Lick A Lot Of Stuff"

Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode opens with playful banter about personal health and transitions into a wide-ranging, fast-paced discussion of trending topics in news, politics, social issues, and culture. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, joined by newswoman Katie Green, dig into the Ilhan Omar/Minneapolis fraud scandal, Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon controversies, Google’s top trending searches of 2025, and generational reflections on masculinity and American values. The conversation features the show’s trademark blend of sarcasm, humor, and blunt political commentary.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Jack's "Sickly" Condition

• Theme: Jack admits to being susceptible to illness, wrestling with the implications for his self-image.
• Highlights:
  • [03:13] Jack: “I'm trying to spread my disease around everyone.”
  • The group links frequent illness to parenting, genetics, and lifestyle, with Joe and Katie ribbing Jack about his “licking” habit (surfaces, doorknobs, etc.).
    • [05:00] Joe: “You check your tire pressure by licking your tires. I've asked you not to do that many times. Just… I lick lots of stuff.”
    • [05:08] Jack: “Doorknobs, sure.”

2. Trending Google Searches of 2025

• Theme: An amusing rundown of the most searched and spiking terms of the year, with commentary on cultural relevance.
• Highlights:
  • [06:42] Jack introduces Google’s 2025 trending list, noting distinct US and global patterns.
  • Surprising entries and panel reactions, such as:
    • Charlie Kirk
    • K Pop Demon Hunters (pop culture/lifestyle)
    • Labubu accessories fad—adults doing manicures for toys, prompting disgust.
      • [08:37] Katie: “I've seen something going around on TikTok… fake nail manicures made for their Labubu and then matching with them. And it just made me want to vomit.”
      • [08:48] Joe: “Oh my God. Have a baby. Start a family, for goodness sakes.”
    • The “I hate Elon club,” Google’s deep dives into the newest iPhone, legislation, Chinese AI (DeepSeek), and tariffs.
  • Reflection on how AI is changing search habits—more people using chatbots than Google for certain queries.
    • [11:02] Joe: “I was using the various chat bots. I never Google anything now. Never.”

3. Ilhan Omar & Minneapolis Somali Fraud Scandal

• Theme: In-depth analysis of the federal fraud scandal involving members of Minnesota’s Somali community, political fallout, media coverage, and Ilhan Omar’s possible ties or knowledge.
• Detailed Flow:
  • [03:27] Joe names Ilhan Omar General Manager for the day: “What did she know and when did she know it about the gigantic fraud by all of her buddies… nothing but contempt for the United States of America and its laws and traditions.”
  • Background: Nearly $1 billion in pandemic funds allegedly stolen by a network within the Somali community in Minneapolis.
  • Media framing:
    • [26:22] Jack describes how ABC covered the story: “They mostly went with the angle of Trump and Republicans using this as an opportunity to attack Somalis as opposed to a billion dollars got stolen from taxpayers. That seems like a pretty big story, right?”
  • Political dimension:
    • Trump’s outspoken attacks on Omar and the Somali community, including claims of immigration fraud.
      • [27:46] Trump (clip): “They have destroyed Minnesota. Okay, Minnesota, you have an incompetent governor. You have a crooked governor… the Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country and all they do is complain…”
    • Panelist reflections on media reluctance to address ethnic/cultural angles due to fear of “racism” accusations:
      • [29:47] Joe (on the NY Times coverage): “It's hard to top the story of Somalis, immigrants and US Citizens alike bilking Minnesota's social welfare system.”
    • Historical comparison to UK “grooming scandal” and the challenge of confronting criminal elements within immigrant communities.
      • [31:55] Joe: “In the Twin Cities, state authorities couldn't rouse themselves to stop the theft. Hundreds of millions of dollars… they targeted every program they could see.”
  • Key quote on cultural/ethical divides:
    • [33:18] Joe: “What Christianity has that Islam does not is the concept of the secular… Christianity recognizes the need for those things to be secret or separate so they don't pervert each other. Islam recognizes no such division.”
• Ilhan Omar specifics:
  • Proximity to the accused: parties at implicated restaurants, convicted staffers, legislation involvement.
  • [35:50] Jack: “It's pretty hard to imagine that she didn't know… Also pretty hard to imagine that she's going to get nailed on this because people rarely do.”

4. Pete Hegseth Pentagon Scandal Coverage

• Theme: Ongoing controversy about Hegseth’s legal exposure and shifting explanations on military protocol.
• Highlights:
  • Competing media narratives:
    • [18:53] Joe: “This is a great example of competing narratives… their big lead was pressure growing on Pete Hegseth… I was like, that's funny. I don't perceive the pressure growing.”
  • Inspector General’s report divides along partisan lines, Hegseth’s allies call it a “clearing,” opponents say “damning.”
  • Additional lawsuits over military press policies.
  • Debate over media language:
    • [37:19] Jack: “I want to get into a little bit… people, really? I used the word clinging, and I'm not sure clinging was happening. Every time somebody said clinging, I thought, do we know that they were clinging? Clinging sounds very weak and vulnerable…”

5. Headlines & Oddities

• Reading of Daily Headlines by Katie Green
  • [19:45]–[22:38]
    • Pentagon/Signal Gate media scrum
    • Putin vowing to seize eastern Ukraine
    • Wall Street racing to offer “Trump baby accounts”
    • Subaru drivers confronted by in-dash ads
    • Patients deciding within 20 minutes if they’ll return to a doctor
    • Babylon Bee satire: “Tim Walls offers journalists free tampons to stop talking about the fraud scandal”
      • [22:47] Jack: “I forgot. He's tampon.”
      • [22:49] Joe: “Tim Tampon. What a loser.”

6. Reflections on American Education and Values

• Theme: Value of teaching foundational American concepts (free markets, free speech) to young people.
  • [14:10] Joe: “We have systematically failed to do what he is encouraging us to do. Teach our kids about the things that make America great…”
  • Public education's shifted focus: “It's quite possible. They had a teacher explain to them how we have more inequality in this country than any other country as opposed to the wonders of the free market.” – [14:42] Jack.
• Call to action for more cultural self-confidence and better civic education.

7. Mailbag, Masculinity & Culture

• [41:36+]: Lighter segment with audience emails and philosophical reflections.
  • Jack jokes about being “sickly” like Grandpa Joe from “Willy Wonka.”
  • Joe quotes James A. Garfield on hard work and self-improvement.
    • [42:16] Garfield: “If the power to do hard work is not a skill, it's the best possible substitute for it.”
  • Discussion of masculinity: “The idea that masculinity itself is toxic is one of the sickest, most, well, toxic things that's ever been foisted on a population.” – [43:11] Joe.
• Listener thoughts on driverless cars, insurance, and the timeline for autonomous vehicles.
  • [44:56] Joe (reading from Dan, auto shop owner): “You need to pull your heads out of your asses on this one. Dan.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Illness & Jack's Lifestyle:

  • Jack: “I even practiced with the microphone off for a little bit so I'd be ready. I still didn't pull it off. … I'm trying to spread my disease around everyone.” – [03:13]
  • Joe: “You check your tire pressure by licking your tires. I've asked you not to do that many times. Just in general, you know, I lick lots of stuff.” – [05:00]

• On Adult Fads:

  • Katie: “I've seen something going around on TikTok where people are having full blown like fake nail manicures made for their Labubu and then matching with them. And it just made me want to vomit.” – [08:37]
  • Joe: “Oh my God. Have a baby. Start a family, for goodness sakes.” – [08:48]

• On Media & the Fraud Scandal:

  • Jack: “They mostly went with the angle of Trump and Republicans using this as an opportunity to attack Somalis as opposed to a billion dollars got stolen from taxpayers. That seems like a pretty big story, right?” – [26:22]
  • Joe: “In the Twin Cities, state authorities couldn't rouse themselves to stop the theft… Every program they could see.” – [31:55]

• On Deeper Cultural Issues:

  • Joe: “What Christianity has that Islam does not is the concept of the secular… There's the spiritual religious part and then there's secular part. And Christianity recognizes the need for those things to be secret or separate so they don't pervert each other. Islam recognizes no such division.” – [33:18]
  • Jack: “It's pretty hard to imagine that [Omar] didn't know. It's also pretty hard to imagine that she's going to get nailed on this because people rarely do.” – [35:57]

Key Timestamps

• 03:05 – 05:55: Jack discusses frequent illness and lifestyle; “licking” jokes.
• 06:42 – 12:55: Google trends, end-of-year searches, and AI’s changing impact.
• 13:22 – 14:56: Michael Dell’s Trump savings plans, civic education, and American values.
• 18:16 – 20:49: Pete Hegseth controversy and headlines with Katie.
• 26:04 – 36:36: Ilhan Omar, fraud scandal, and media/partisan reactions (including Trump’s comments).
• 41:36 – 46:50: Mailbag, masculinity, driverless car debate.

Tone & Style

Armstrong & Getty balance pointed political and cultural critique with irreverent humor and exasperated sarcasm. The episode’s voice ranges from mock-serious (“I lick a lot of stuff”) to deeply skeptical of political and institutional behavior. The discussion feels like “barstool news for grown-ups” with a clear center-right flavor.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode offers a good snapshot of the show’s format: rapid-fire headlines, deep dives into headline-grabbing stories, and stream-of-consciousness asides on culture, parenting, and the media. Whether dissecting the Google zeitgeist, slamming both parties on government fraud, or debating the future of driving, Armstrong & Getty keep the pace lively and the commentary unfiltered.

Summary compiled without endorsements, maintaining the original speakers’ tone and intent.