Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: I Want You To Look At My Liver. It Turns Me On.
Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty

Episode Overview

This episode features Armstrong & Getty’s trademark blend of irreverent humor and sharp social commentary, focusing primarily on the infiltration of artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life, dramatic shifts in immigration policy discourse, and the burgeoning legal battles facing social media giants over youth addiction and mental health. There’s thoughtful skepticism about the pros and cons of technological advancement, societal norms, and current events—all wrapped in the hosts’ biting, conversational banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dangers and Benefits of AI in Modern Life

• Opening Salvos and the Pope’s Warning
  The show opens with mention of Pope Leo’s statement cautioning about “affectionate chatbots” as “hidden architects of our emotions,” leading to discussions of how hard it’s become to discern humans from bots online.

  • Getty (03:17): “He warned against, quote, affectionate chatbots that may become, quote, hidden architects of our emotions.”
  • Armstrong (03:27, tongue-in-cheek): “Maybe if you could get some of those pedo priests in a relationship with a chatbot, then you wouldn’t have to... be involved with 10-year-old altar boys.”
  • Tone: Sarcastic, dark humor.

• AI as Personal Assistant: The Panopticon and Jeremy Bentham
  The concept of the "panopticon" is explored—a design facilitating constant surveillance—and leads to musings about exhibitionism, public display after death, and sensational exhibitions like the Body Worlds show.

  • Armstrong (05:04): “I just want to look at my liver. It turns me on.”

• First-hand AI Productivity Testimony
  A lengthy segment unpacks a Free Press article by Malik Cantelon, who recounts giving over her passwords, calendar, and money to AI (Claude by Anthropic) to automate personal tasks, optimize routines, manage finances, and more.

  - AI canceled unused subscriptions, sought refunds, managed and appealed parking tickets, optimized sleep based on REM cycles, and filtered email.
  - *Getty (09:15):* “She said, one day I got $700 back. This is absurd. I thought it cost 20 bucks a month to use Claude code and in a matter of hours it’s paid for itself.”
  - *Armstrong (09:24):* “Oh my God, I want that.”
  - *Getty (13:39):* “Suddenly, tasks you used to dread can be accomplished in a matter of seconds. It’s like the world unravels.”
  

  • Hosts reflect on the new threshold for tech adoption: “It’s not about programming ability, it’s about gumption and stubbornness to see through it—and another $20 a month to a subscription.” (Getty, 14:33)

  • Both express desire and wariness about letting AI manage more spheres of life:

    • Armstrong (15:04): “I have several thousand unread emails, so I’d like the chatbot to get in there and see if any of those are important from 28 years ago.”

2. Immigration: Changing Policies & Political Rhetoric

• Comparison Between Europe and the U.S.
  The hosts turn to breaking news that Spain is granting amnesty to half a million undocumented immigrants, providing them access to all EU member benefits.

  • Armstrong (19:20): “Spain is fast-tracking the legalization of over half a million illegal aliens and asylum seekers today... It’s going to be quite the mess.”

• Barack Obama’s 2010 Immigration Speech
  The hosts play and dissect an old Barack Obama clip (27:25–27:48) where he argues against amnesty for those in the country illegally, warning it would incentivize further illegal immigration and undermine those following the law.

  • Obama (27:27): “It would suggest to those thinking about coming here illegally that there will be no repercussions for such a decision. This could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration.”
  • Hosts’ reaction:
    • Armstrong (28:18): “Barack Obama, moderate—he would be a right winger by today’s standards to come out and say that.”
    • Getty (28:55): “You could never get the Democratic nomination saying that now.”
    • Armstrong (29:43): “God, that's amazing that we have changed that much in that short a time.”

• Debate Over Policy & Incentive Structures
  The hosts express skepticism towards rapidly changing political stances, argue for consistent legal standards, and muse about the role of “being nice” vs. policy pragmatism.

  • Getty (31:13): “If I were to get into the head of a progressive person... They don’t have, like, fixed, actual principles. It’s just what’s being advocated right now feels like a principle.”

• Shutdown Gamesmanship & Political Cynicism
  Discussion veers into speculation about government funding, shutdowns, and the tactic of attaching or detaching funding for agencies like DHS as a means to hurt the economy ahead of elections.

  • Getty (36:30): “Wow, that would be really, really cynical. Which means it’s probably likely.”

3. Social Media on Trial: Addiction, Harm, and Legal Accountability

• Landmark Case in Los Angeles
  The latter segment delves into the beginning of a major trial against big tech companies (Meta, ByteDance, Google, et al) accused of intentionally making platforms addictive and harmful to children’s mental health.

  • Armstrong (41:46): “Major tech platforms are being sued over youth addiction and mental health harms... They purposefully created Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to be addictive.”
  • Getty (43:18): “How do you prove what's addictive and what's just so much darn fun?”
  • Armstrong (43:49): “And now social media is evil. Evil for kids, especially. Evil.”
  • Getty (45:47): “If you are selling something and you are aware of the harms it is causing...where’s the liability?”

• Skepticism About Legal Definitions and Responsibility
  The hosts dissect features like infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications, and recommendation algorithms, questioning how they could be criminalized when their purpose is user engagement—just like any other business.

  • Armstrong (44:29): “How could that be a crime? You just made a product I like easier to use.”

• Jury Decisions and the Precedent Problem
  There’s cynicism regarding jury ability to award massive damages even in the absence of scientific certainty (as with the Roundup/lymphoma lawsuits).

  • Armstrong (46:36): “I think it's not going to be hard to convince a jury, especially with the kind of money Google’s got, Zuckerberg’s got...I think there's going to be big payouts.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Irreverence and Satire

  • Armstrong (03:27): “Maybe if you could get some of those pedo priests in a relationship with a chat box, then you wouldn't have to be involved with 10-year-old altar boys.”
  • Getty (05:07): “I just want to look at my liver. It turns me on.”
  • Dark humor and quick switches from absurdity to serious analysis punctuate the tone.

• On AI-as-Assistant

  • Getty (13:39): “This is Claude code. My mom, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, stared at it for a minute, then typed, ‘show me everyone who hasn’t paid an invoice in the last 90 days.’ She looked at me like I’d performed a magic trick.”
  • Getty (14:33): “The bottleneck is no longer programming ability. The bottleneck is gumption.”

• On Political Hypocrisy & Memory

  • Armstrong (28:18): “Barack Obama...he would be a right winger by today’s standards to come out and say that.”
  • Getty (31:13): “I’m fascinated by the concept of how differently people’s brains work. If I were to get into the head of a progressive...they have no neurological memory of what they believed yesterday at all.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• AI Dangers and the Pope’s Warning: 03:00–04:10
• Panopticon, Bentham, and Body Displays: 04:10–06:24
• Story of Using AI Assistant (Claude): 06:38–14:33
  • Overview and key uses: 06:38–13:15
  • AI managing family finances: 13:15–14:33
• Immigration Policy Shifts (U.S. and Spain) & Obama Clip: 19:20–29:08
  • Obama’s 2010 Speech Segment: 27:25–27:48
• Philosophical Discussion on Changing Partisan Positions: 29:08–31:36
• Speculation on Political Shutdown Tactics: 35:05–36:54
• Major Social Media Addiction Lawsuit: 41:00–47:11
  • Jury’s role and stakes: 41:00–44:44
  • Legal definitions and features: 44:44–46:36

Episode Tone and Conclusion

The show maintains its fast pace, satirical edge, and willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, whether regarding tech, policy, or public discourse. While the hosts are skeptical about both AI utopianism and the wisdom of jury-based regulation of tech, they also highlight the real anxieties and cultural shifts underlying both phenomena, using humor as a lens for critique.

For listeners: This episode is a lively exploration of how AI and social media are reshaping our lives and how political consensus on immigration has shifted dramatically. If you’re interested in trenchant social commentary mixed with laughs, this one’s for you.