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Armstrong
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human no one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal real time customizable alerts make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts forecasts 247 when your schedule sounds like this. Are you kidding me?
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Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
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Armstrong
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Armstrong
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Abraham Lincoln Radio Studio, the George Washington Broadcast Center. Jack Armstro and Joe Getty Armstrong and Getty.
Armstrong
And now, here's Armstrong and Getty. What we're seeing is arguably the largest ever conflict in the Middle east with 11 countries that have been hit by Iranian missiles or drones that as Israeli officials tell me, that they believe that Iran still has about 2500 ballistic missiles which the US and Israel are systematically working to destroy.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Largest conflict ever in the Middle East. And now that's saying something. Iran has struck 11 countries.
Armstrong
Dr. Jeff McCausland joins us to discuss the conflict unfolding in the Middle East. Jeff, of course, CBS News military consultant Jeff, how are you, sir?
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Very busy, guys. I'll bet this has unfolded.
Armstrong
I'd imagine so. So what are your impressions of the conflict as it's taken shape so far?
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Well, again, this is first of all, it's a war of choice, not a war of necessity. I still think the administration has been unable to provide an answer to what was the imminent threat that required this to go down when it did. Now, there's no doubt there's been continued conflict between the Iranians and the United States since 1979 when the Revolution occurred. But that still doesn't explain why things occurred right now. There's no evidence of them preparing for attack. There's no evidence that they were that close to creating a nuclear weapon they were trying to recover. But even our secretary of state said they were no longer enriching nuclear material. And this whole question of regime change seems to be one that the administration is very unclear about. They certainly want to reduce Iran's ability to project threats in the region, ballistic missile capabilities. They certainly want to ensure that Iran does not move towards a nuclear weapon. But the president said we're going to establish conditions whereby the Iranian people could rise up and take over the government. Now I can see as an old military guy how you can use military force to destroy the ballistic missiles and I can see how you can use military force, degrade their nuclear capabilities. I don't see how you can use air power, naval power alone to affect that type of a political transformation on the ground. And then, of course, the last thing I would say, of course, the war has escalated vertically with more and more attacks on Iran and as you guys suggested, has escalated horizontally now to include 11 countries across the region. It also has expanded by the Israelis now have attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon. And of course, we're seeing the stock markets roil in the aftermath and we've seen the price of oil go up to about 85 bucks a barrel as essentially the Straits of Hormuz, where about 20% of all oil and natural gas passes through to the globe, have effectively been shut down. Whether the Iranians can do that militarily or it's just shut down because of fears by maritime countries for the safety of their tankers and crews or even insurance costs. Still doesn't matter. That particular area has been shut down which will continue to affect the global economy in greater and greater fashion as the days go on.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
So why do you think Iran attacked all those countries near them? How was that supposed to help them?
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Yeah, I think that was frankly a strategic error on their part. I think what they thought was that those countries once attacked, would then put pressure on Washington to try to cease and desist, bring this to a close and allow the regime, albeit Bruce, in Iran, to survive. Because for them this is an existential moment. I think the reverse has happened. And in fact what they have done is really solidify opposition in the region to Iran. And you need to understand that there's no love lost between the Iranians and all of these stickier countries in the Middle East. The monarchies in the Gulf, the Saudis, Qataris Emirates, Kuwaitis, et cetera, have long been opposed to Iran. They are Sunni countries largely. Iran is almost solely a Shiite country. Iran, since the revolution in 1979 has been trying to export revolution, so called political Islam across the region, a threat to those monarchies. The Saudis believe they have tried several times to incite Shiites in the eastern provinces where Saudi oil is. They've attacked Saudi Arabia before, of course, in terms of, in 2019, Saudi oil refineries. So there's no great love loss. But I think they thought they, the Iranians, that this would cause the United States to be pressured to restrain and so far at least the opposition, the opposite, I'd say.
Armstrong
Dr. Jeff McCausland online from CBS News. Jeff, I've got to admit I see things a little differently than you. I see a malign regime that has spilled more American blood than any other over the course of decades, shows no sign of reforming, has no popular support among its people, and which is by hook or by crook, desperately trying to develop nuclear weapons. And you know, in terms of the urgency to act, the one argument I've heard that's somewhat compelling is that Israel saw an irresistible opportunity and that the, when the Iranians counter attacked Israel, they would hit all of our bases and hit them hard. Therefore, we said to our ally, okay, now is the time, let's do this.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Well, yeah, there's a lot of bad, there's a lot of bad countries around the world. I mean, North Korea comes to mind and they have the ability to actually strike US with a nuclear weapon, potentially so. And furthermore, you're exactly right. There's been a lot of blood spilled. And the Iranians have certainly have a autocratic, despicable regime. I mean, no, no tears for the ayatollah for sure, but the question is the how and the when. And it seems to me, if you go back to 2003, which is imperfect metaphor, Bush made the case to the United nations on why Iraq was a threat. His entire State of The union in 2003 was devoted to the American people. Explain to them why this was going to have to occur. He created a coalition of the willing of 48 countries that were participating initially from the very onset in that particular conflict. And of course, he amassed a major force in the region, not air and naval, but also ground to affect that. And Mr. Trump made no attempt to argue this in the United Nations. He spent three minutes on it during his State of the Union address. Did not go to Congress. Bush went to congress and got 77 senators to vote in favor. So they had the entire American people behind this, which I think would have strengthened Mr. Trump's efforts in this regard. And then finally, of course, it seems to me the tail's wagging the dog here. I understand the Israelis might want to attack, but they're the junior partner in this alliance. I didn't know that we were going to allow major decisions on going to war and major decisions on American foreign policy to be made by Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as opposed to being made in Washington.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
So I've got a military question. I keep hearing that the aircraft carriers can only sit there for a certain amount of time before they can't just sit there. What's, what's the story on that? How long can they sit there and why can't they sit there?
Dr. Jeff McCausland
I'm not a Navy guy, but you can sustain those things for a long period of time. I mean, take the USS Gerald forward, operating now in the eastern Mediterranean. It left port on its current operation in June of last year. So it's been underway for about eight months or more. It was in the Eastern Med. It went to the Caribbean, of course, for the strikes on Venezuelan and Colombian drug boats coming out there. And the operation to take down Maduro now has returned to the eastern Med. The record, as I understand it, for a carrier operation in the modern age is about 10, 10 months or so. And if they get into May, then the Gerald Ford will cross that line. But it seems to me up until that point at least, these can be operated pretty indefinitely. That being said, over time, of course, maintenance becomes a major problem, the ship and the aircraft, and you've got to sustain it. And an operation like this underscores, if you will, that old adage from World War II, that strategy and tactics is for amateurs and logistics and sustainment is for professionals.
Armstrong
Speaking of which, how concerned should Americans be about our stockpile of armaments after arming Ukraine in particular and then this conflict? Because our manufacturing base is not what it used to be. From what I understand.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Yeah, it has upped a good bit since the Ukrainian war began. But you're exactly right, there is a concern, and I've seen that voice by experts in varying sides. The administration has said, no, no, no, we have plenty of weaponry, but of course, the total arsenal is classified. But I'm sure people in the Pentagon are very worried about the fact that we transferred an awful lot of weaponry to the Ukrainians over the last couple years. We also expended a lot of ordinance on our own in fighting the Houthis down in the Red Sea about a year or so ago. And we also expended a lot of ordinance defending Israel during the couple years of the war in the Gaza Strip when Iran and others attacked Israel. So there is a real concern about sustaining that industrial stockpile. And a lot of what the, for example, big beautiful bill which was passed in the last few months included a plus up of $150 billion on the defense budget over the over several years to come, a good portion of that money going to expanding the industrial base. And even prior to this operation, the administration had talked about delivering its FY27 defense budget at the rather, you know, eye watering top line of about $1.5 trillion for the year, which would be a $500 billion plus up in the defense budget. Again, a good portion of that going to expanding the industrial base and restocking the US AR of weapons.
Armstrong
Right. Dr. Jeff McCausland. Jeff, it's always a pleasure. Thanks for the time.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
My pleasure.
Armstrong
All right. You know, it's funny and look, there's ambivalence and ambiguity all over this, as there always is with war, almost always. But the example of how meticulously and thoroughly the Bush White House prepared the nation and Congress and the UN and everything for that conflict. The coalition of the willing, all those countries, and then the execution of the mission was miserable after the purely military part of it. It's terrible, historically terrible. So it's just, it's kind of ironic that we cite that as this is the way you do it Well, I
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
don't agree with Jeff McCausland on any of that stuff. The beginning. As if you've been listening, you would know that. And I'm glad he's not in charge because I think he's wrong. But I know a lot of you do agree with him because I look at the text. So yeah, he represents.
Armstrong
Those are arguments worth entertaining.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Of course he represents the thoughts of
Armstrong
a lot of you.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I don't agree. I think waiting until it's an imminent threat is a terrible idea. So that's me.
Armstrong
Well, the history of the world is you wait too long. But this debate will be ongoing and it's an important one. We're more than happy to engage with people who disagree. So completely different topic. The health of your dog. Rough greens is not a dog food. You're not going to change your dog's food. It is a supplement. It supplements the diet with natural antioxidants and anti inflammatory compounds that help reduce oxidative stress, support immune defense and slow age related decline, helping your beloved dog stay active, mobile and alert as they age.
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Armstrong
And if you love this stuff, you're probably going to want to to try again to buy some more. But again, it's a free JumpStart trial bag. Ruffgreens.com R u f f greens.com Roughgreens.com Use the promo code. Armstrongs don't change dog's food. Just add rough greens and watch the health benefits come alive. Woof.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
This is a decent question from the text line. I don't know if you need to phrase it this way. Hey, please ask this bozo. See you don't. There's no reason.
Armstrong
All right, is it? Right off the bat?
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Come on. If there is no imminent threat, then why didn't they accept free nuclear power? Right? If there is, if there's any belief that they're not trying to get a nuclear weapon as fast as they can, then why, why wouldn't they either allow all kinds of inspections because we got nothing to hide here. We're just trying to provide nuclear power because it's cheaper than fossil fuels. Or other countries had offered to give them nuclear power, but they didn't want that. It's because they wanted to build a bomb. So how long are you supposed to wait until somebody, how close are they you're supposed to allow them to get a bomb,
Armstrong
Especially a country whose motto is practically Death to America, Right?
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
And I don't think the North Korea example that he used makes any sense because they already have a bomb. That's why we can't do anything now. That's why you don't want Iran to get a bomb. Because once a country gets a bomb like North Korea, you have to let them do all kinds of crazy ass and North Korea.
Armstrong
No, that was. It's a very bad comparison. We'll leave it there because we're out of time. Very bad.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Any thoughts? Text line 415295 KFTC ARMSTRONG and GETTY
Armstrong
no one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. It's hyperlocal, real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free weather bug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts 247 when your schedule sounds like this. Are you kidding me?
Getty
An oil change is the last thing you have time for. So drive into Take five and let our techs change your oil. Check your tires, top off your fluids and have you back on the road pit stop fast all while you stay in your car. No putting your entire schedule on hold. No upsells, no problem. So you can get back to your to do list or not. Find your nearest shop@take5.com Take 5 the stay in your car 10 minute oil
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Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
So a couple of things that have nothing to do with the war. First of all, there's a new Pinocchio slasher movie out. Is it. What is the rating on this? It's not for kids. I assume they took the childhood classic beloved Pinocchio, which is all about. If you lie, your appendages grow. One of your appendages grows.
Armstrong
That's correct.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Which is not true, by the way. No part of your body does grow. If you. If you tell an. If you. If you spread misinformation or disinform.
Armstrong
I would agree. I would agree that, you know, it's. It's not for the kids. But the original Pinocchio was actually very, very dark.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Oh, that's right.
Armstrong
Story.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I'd forgotten that.
Armstrong
I mean, full of, like, violence and abuse and that sort of thing.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Here's the trailer for the new slasher Pinocchio movie.
Getty
Take what they
Armstrong
spy a piece to make yourself. Okay, that sounds good.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I'll take the kids.
Armstrong
Oh, boy. All right.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
And then a darker take on Pinocchio.
Armstrong
Yeah, yeah. Katie, do you want to explain what this next clip is?
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Yeah.
Armstrong
It's a podcast with these Two guys.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
And they have.
Armstrong
But there are no other podcasts. Just ours. But go on. Right.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
This one no longer exists. It's only ours.
Getty
But they have a guest on that is translating the beginning of the Lion
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
King when Rafiki is holding Simba over the Pride Land. And it's that big dramatic moment. Okay, singing, like,
Armstrong
Say it again.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
What does it mean? It means, look, there's a lion. Oh, my God. You're joking.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
That is not what that means. That is not what that means.
Armstrong
That's exactly what it means.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
It means, look, there's a lion.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Oh, my God.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
No, there's a lion. Oh, my God. That's funny. You do it another language and it seems so, like, deep and mystical and powerful. If you said, look, there's a lion, oh my God. It's not quite as deep and mystical.
Armstrong
Well, how many buena vistas are there? All over the place. Just means a nice view.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Right? Right, Right, right, right.
Armstrong
Yeah, yeah.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I can't remember what it was. It was a movie or a song or something, but it was one of those foreign phrases that sounds all mystical, but if you put it in English, it's just so banal. Like the rock or something. Like about.
Armstrong
Right, Exactly. We don't really have time for this, but I want to highlight funk music in a little bit. That's right, he said funk. P H O N K. Okay.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I don't know that music.
Armstrong
People making fun music are making zillions of dollars, mostly because it's become the go to music to back up videos. Short videos on like TikTok or YouTube in particular. Just whatever wacky video you're watching has that annoying music in the background, you know, what the hell? We're already talking about it. Michael, play 13 for us. That's about all we can play because of weird podcast copyright laws. But that's. That's the sort of music that is fong, apparently.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Huh. And is there money in that?
Armstrong
Oh, zillions of dollars because it's used in all of those. Those YouTube videos. And it's copyrighted like any other music is.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
It's.
Armstrong
You know, if I'm surprised there aren't
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
more people that can make that for themselves or so many people making it that it's cheap. My. My son keeps making these songs with some program on his iPad that I'm just amazed. Just musical stuff. He just adds all these different things in. I'm like, oh, yeah, wow, that's incredible. I would have loved being able to do that as a kid.
Armstrong
Oh, yeah. It's effortless. To make. But then if yours gets hot for whatever reason, I mean it's like you pay a three dollars, it's a three dollar raffle ticket. And if for whatever reason your Fong track gets caught and people decide to use it, then you get enormous royalties. Funk is a sleeping giant, said the head of A and R at a big digital music.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I feel like you really enjoy saying that. What Fong Gavin Newsom has an actual learning disorder, which is pretty damned interesting. Among other things on Armstrong and Getty.
Armstrong
No one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free weather bug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts 247 when your schedule sounds like this. Are you kidding me?
Getty
An oil change is the last thing you have time for. So drive into Take five and let our techs change your oil. Check your tires, top off your fluids and have you back on the road pit stop fast. All while you stay in your car. No putting your entire schedule on hold. No upsells, no problem. So you can get back to your to do list or not. Find your nearest shop@take5.com Take 5 the stay in your car 10 minute oil
Sponsor Voice
change support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your pro prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors LLC SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this
Jacob Goldstein
is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out odoo@o-o.com that's o-o o.com get this Southwest Airlines so that they're refining
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
their new seating process amid complaints over
Armstrong
boarding and bin space. Yep. They're going back to their old policy
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
of every man, woman and child for themselves. Airlines need to crack down on the bags. Like just eyeballing it, it seems like practically everybody in line has got a bigger bag or more bags then you're allowed and then fills up really quickly. So they, you know, I follow the rules, so doesn't bother me if they crack down. So this is getting lost in the blur of war. It would have been the biggest story in America today if we weren't at war. They released the videos of Bill and Hillary's interrogation over Epstein last week. They released them today. But because we're at war, they're not getting much attention. And Epstein and it probably shouldn't get much attention, but we do have Hillary being asked about Pizzagate by Nancy Mace, who's a bit of a Kukla, half
Armstrong
a nut job for sure about the
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
whole Pizzagate QAnon thing. And I haven't heard it yet. I'm kind of interested in hearing it. We'll get to that here soon.
Armstrong
Yeah, just in a couple of minutes. But I wanted to get to this really quickly. Big, big, big great news for fans of According to the Supreme Court in a split decision, of course California public schools cannot keep parents in the dark if their child is trying to bend their gender at school under the sway of activists at the school, of course, according to split decision, concluding that parents likely have a constitutional right to be informed if their children adopt new pronouns, use a different name, or take other steps to socially transition to a new gender identity while at school.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Well I think it's abhorrent to the idea of the school keeping it a secret. Just like in, just in the world of common decency, your kids really, you know, struggling with something. So we just wanted to let you know whether it's they're getting bad grades or wetting their pants or want to change their gender, whatever it is, you ought to let the parents know. But what's the constitutional right? What's that?
Armstrong
Friggin groomers. I will. I will read part of it. When a child exhibits symptoms of gender dysphoria at school, California's policies conceal that information from parents and facilitate a degree of gender transitioning during school hours. These policies likely violate parents rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children. In short, you can't cut off parents from children, barring a serious legal need to do so. The court's three Democrat appointed justices dissented from both rulings for various reasons. Partly that they. Some of them are childless. Oh, some or all of them are childless. I think.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
God, you people that want to have children doing secret things against their parents at school with the help of the teachers, you are evil. You people.
Armstrong
Yeah, they're absolute friggin groomers. Stop sexualizing children at school. Sick. Elena Kagan had a bit of a principled argument. She dissented the she criticized rather the majority for using, quote, shortcut procedures on the emergency document to essentially resolve a complex legal question without full briefing or arguments. Quote, today's decision shows not for the first time, how our emergency docket can malfunction. She wrote, adding the court is impatient. It already knows what it thinks and insists on getting everything over quickly. There may be some truth to that because the idea of schools sexualizing and indoctrinating children into a bizarre theory of sexuality and then keeping it secret from the parents is abhorrent and sick. That's probably why the Supreme Court wanted to get to it. So it's a victory. It's kind of temporary. Ish. I don't want to explain the full details of it. What's a stay on what? And reverses the countermanding order to blah, blah, blah.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
No way. At the end of the day, it stands. Even if it goes back and forth a couple of times, there's just no
Armstrong
way it ensures s better. Not so crazy.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
So is the whole Pizzagate theory, in my opinion, that the Clintons were running a pedophile ring out of a pizza a place in the northeast somewhere. Remember some nutjob believed it and went there and shot some people. Remember that? That's horrible.
Armstrong
She shot into the ceiling.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I think it's a QAnon thing. Is that where it originated?
Armstrong
Yeah.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Wow. Is that where the whole pedophile thing originated from? Pizzagate. And it all spread from there?
Armstrong
Jeffrey Epstein really liked getting with underage girls, many of them. So there's. There's basis for. You know, there is some fire as well as the smoke there. Right.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
But then when did it morph into the. You know, the Bushes are raping babies and eating them. When did that happen? You know, that fits in with the Pizzagate thing. Anywho.
Armstrong
Right.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Hillary Clinton was asked about that by Representative Nancy Mace last week when she was being grilled under oath. Here's how it went.
Getty
You described Pizza Gate as a baseless conspiracy theory alleging you and others ran a child sex trafficking ring from a Washington pizzeria. Pizzeria basement. Have you reviewed any 2025, 2026 Epstein files that were released that you believe
Armstrong
reference or relate to those specific 2016
Getty
claims regarding the Podesta emails? Comet ping pong pizza used as code. Possibly. I'm sorry.
Armstrong
Disrespecting her about whether she's reviewed emails
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
in the Epstein files which relate to
Armstrong
the wacky Pizzagate scam.
Getty
Characterize it however you want. I just would like to know if
Armstrong
she's familiar with any of them.
Getty
Pizzagate was totally made up. It was an outrageous allegation that ended up hurting a number of people that caused a deranged young man to show up with his assault rifle and shoot up a local pizzeria. I can't believe you're even referencing it.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Is there more to that or is that more or less where it ends? That's.
Armstrong
That's that part of it. Yeah. I.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Bill Clinton. I would never have left Bill Clinton with my sister alone in a room if I had a sister. I don't like Bill Clinton and I don't think he's a good guy when it comes to how he treats a woman.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Women.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
But I don't think they were running a child sex ring out of a
Armstrong
pizza place in the basement.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I think that's crazy. And Nancy Mace, does it sound to you like she was trying to take that seriously or believes it?
Jacob Goldstein
Yes.
Armstrong
Oh, yeah.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Yeah.
Armstrong
She is half a whack job. Definitely. Yeah. I know her act pretty well.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
And now how are we ever gonna
Armstrong
get past any of this? I don't know that we can. It's absolutely become the case that there are too many wacky conspiracy theories and subgroups and activists of various. You just. You'd Spend all your time running around trying to refute their wackadoodle arguments.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Suppose we should hear from Bill Clinton. Ask a specific question here. There. Clip 35.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Michael, I do think you should be talking to me. I think you should have called me. I did take those plane trips with him. And you have a right to ask those questions.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Okay, that was 34. Do we have 35 or. They missed nine numbered. Yeah, that's.
Armstrong
That's. I've got the right numbers, I think.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Okay, so what's the one about? Did you have sexual contact? Because I.
Armstrong
36.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Okay. Did you ever have any sexual contact with young women or girls in the presence of Epstein or Maxwell?
Dr. Jeff McCausland
No.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Did you ever have sexual contact with any young woman or girl introduced to you by Epstein or Maxwell?
Armstrong
No.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
And then just roll that next one. Mr. President, with the benefit of hindsight, were there things you witnessed that could have suggested that Epstein was trafficking and sexually abusing young women and girls?
Dr. Jeff McCausland
I did not believe so.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Put a little thought into that one. One I just read he was asked specifically about Trump and he said, I never saw anything that would indicate to me that Donald Trump was doing anything illegal or untoward with young girls. Although the crowd, I personally know that believes all this pedophilia stuff. They think the Trump and Clintons and Bushes and Hollywood are all working together on this. So of course he would say that.
Armstrong
Can we go back to Hillary briefly? This was very jazzy. Speaking of half a nut job, Lauren Boebert took a picture, evidently.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Yeah.
Armstrong
And sent it to a right wing podcaster. Dude. Right. Who put it out immediately. And Hillary got wind of it in the middle of the hearing, even though that's strictly against the rules that they had all agreed on. And it went like this. 31.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Michael.
Getty
Michael, excuse me, can I interrupt? I have another photos that are being released of the secretary as she is testifying from inside this room. Can you please advise me as to whether or not that's permissible and consistent with the rules, particularly given that we have asked for a public hearing. If there are photos that are being released of the secretary, she is testifying. Can you please explain how.
Armstrong
I'm done with this.
Getty
If you guys are doing that, I am done. You can hold me in contempt from now until the cows come home. This is just typical behavior.
Armstrong
Oh, for heaven.
Getty
So I would like to understand how that permissible before the hearing was.
Armstrong
It doesn't matter.
Getty
We all are abiding by the same rules. I. I will take that down. Yeah, well, I would like to take a Break at this moment, I'd like to have done for now.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Wow.
Armstrong
Yeah. Hillary comes off as sharp and feisty through the whole thing. Bill is a very old fellow who.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Scarborough. Well, we should play that just because it's kind of interesting. We have time. Nobody ever let this cat out of the bag. Scarborough's friends with all these people, Joe Scarborough and msnbc. And then. And then there was the scene of an aging Bill Clinton, obviously suffering through Parkinson's, being being held there for hour after hour after hour like you all
Armstrong
are doing something to an ex president
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
that nobody's ever done. Just the fact that he said Bill's suffering with Parkinson's.
Armstrong
Nope.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
That's never been released before.
Armstrong
No. I wonder if he accidentally let that slip.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I think he did.
Armstrong
If this, this is grandstandy crap. And look, I'm a proud conservative or reluctant Republican, more or less.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I can't stand the Clintons, but I think it was grandstandy crap, right?
Armstrong
Yeah. If you were serious about this stuff and anybody who's done any serious reading of reasonable sources about the whole Epstein case over the years, you would be subpoenaing and questioning local authorities in the Palm beach area in Florida and state prosecutors in Florida. There are half a dozen FBI agents who you ought to be subpoenaing. You ought to be talking to some of the prosecutors in New York who took a look at these charges and passed over them or thought there wasn't enough evidence or mysteriously just let it go. You would be talking to cops and FBI agents and. And victims, you witnesses who filed, who called the FBI and said, hey, I just saw this and were ignored for a year. That's who you would be talking to, not freaking Bill and Hillary.
Getty
Oh, for heaven.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Now, if you were grilling Bill and Hillary about the Clinton foundation and what they were giving people for the tens of millions of dollars that people gave them. Now, that would be a hearing. I'd be all for, all for heaven.
Armstrong
So I would say, oh, yeah, it's pretty easy to understand. You get the hundreds of millions of dollars and you spread a fair amount of it around doing good, but then you use the rest of it to live like King Croesus of old. We go anywhere and do anything we want for the rest of our lives.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
We travel around the world on a private plane, give a speech that you pay us $300,000 for because you needed to hear this speech because it was going to help so much.
Armstrong
All of our family and friends are on the payroll, too. It's great. It's Great scam. And we actually do some good with the money sometimes. But it's mostly for us.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Now, that would be a hearing.
Armstrong
Yes. Grandstandy Crap. Hey. Hey. 250 years. It was a good run.
Dr. Jeff McCausland
Wow.
Armstrong
Goodbye, sweet America. So you think last time I said that, it's been years. Goodbye, sweet America.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
That's right. That used to be your slogan, Hogan.
Armstrong
Yeah.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
So you're thinking, you think this is a little grim. But you think, you're like, sometimes people get really old, they hang on long enough to turn 90 or 100 or their daughter, granddaughter's wedding or whatever. We're as a country hanging on for the 250th birthday. Then we will expire.
Armstrong
Yeah, well, kind of. It's not going to be that quick. I'm reminded of, you know, there comes a time in a war, for instance, like World War II, when was it absolutely clear the Nazis could not win. Different people, different historians would pick different dates. But my point is, it was well before the end. Then there was the hanging on, even though it was never going to be successful, period. Which was unfortunate because many people died. There are days I feel like our republic is about to clearly move into the then they hung on out of patriotism and pride and because the Constitution was so amazing. But it clearly was no longer a functioning democratic republic.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
That part of World War II is the part in the movie Fury with Brad Pitt as a tank commander. Whoa, is that rough? That's a good war movie. If you haven't seen it.
Armstrong
I just thought recommending that I got to see it.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
It's pretty good. It's pretty good.
Armstrong
We got more on the way.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Stay here.
Armstrong
Armstrong and Gettysburg.
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Getty
When your schedule sounds like this.
Armstrong
Are you kidding me?
Getty
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Jacob Goldstein
is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate.
Armstrong
Great.
Jacob Goldstein
Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at O D O o dot com. That's O D O o dot com.
Armstrong
Although Khamenei's got to be on high alert.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I mean I doubt he's anywhere near a location that obvious given the advanced surveillance he's been under from American and Israeli intelligence.
Armstrong
This is the moment that officials say the 86 year old Ayatollah was killed.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Dennis, he stayed in his house.
Armstrong
Old people are so stubborn.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
It's. They really are like you cannot tell them anything. Sir, please, you are in danger here. I'm not leaving. This is my house. I didn't ask you to stay. You could go. I'm staying.
Armstrong
What are they gonna do?
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
It's now being reported that the Israelis struck the meeting of the Iranian Supreme Council where officials were gathering to choose a new supreme leader. Israel struck while they were actually counting the votes for the appointment of a new supreme leader. So they're counting votes to replace the dude. Pick a guy to replace a dude and killed everybody at the same time.
Armstrong
So that's ironic. They could have, you know, just saved themselves the pain of the meeting.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
Couple of other. Yeah. A couple other news of the day things. President Trump said it's too late for talks with Orange and warned that United States has enough munitions to fight forever. I think that defies logic, but it's a good thing to say to your enemy. No point in saying to your enemy. And we got about another week's worth of stuff.
Armstrong
Yeah, yeah. I'm a little concerned about all of that.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I think this one is interesting. So ever since the Iraq War, the whole boots on the ground thing has been a real red line. And journalists love asking, what about boots on the ground? Is there a possibility of boots on the ground? And everybody, every president or senator, whoever says, I have no plans on my desk for boots on the ground because that's a line to not cross. Trump was asked about that the other day and he said maybe Exit said, yeah, we might. And Trump was asking about it again today and he said, I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground. Like every president says there'll be no boots on the ground. I don't say that. Trump said after launching strikes. I say probably don't need them or if they are necessary. But I'm not worried about saying it, which is just a moral more, you know, it's odd that, that, that, that sometimes Trump can be so childish, but often is the adult in the room on questions like this. Yeah, we might.
Armstrong
I'm.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
I don't mind saying that. Big deal.
Armstrong
I choked down about 10 minutes of the obnoxious Margaret Brennan on Meet the Press on Sunday. And her, her lead question to Tom Cotton, noted Republican hawk senator, was the president said this campaign might last more than days, perhaps weeks. Does that mean boots on the ground ground? And I'm like, what is this a cliche? Are you, Are you. This is a parody, right? She didn't even like justify therefore because of the ongoing might we have. No, it just goes with that knee jerk, idiotic good thing or bad thing question.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
And what did he say?
Armstrong
He more or less said it's irrelevant to ask that at this point, which is true.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
It is a fact though, that no regime has been changed without boots on the ground. Ground it's never been done by airstrikes alone, even if you kill the people in charge, right?
Armstrong
I think we they are counting on the incredibly low level of support for the regime among the Iranian people. But who got the guns wins the fights.
Co-host (possibly Joe Getty)
That is the advantage of in a country like ours where we have we're armed, we have a second Amendment. They don't have that in Iran.
Getty
Armstrong and Gettysburg.
Armstrong
No one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a Weather App that can Help Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal, real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecast forecasts 247 when your schedule sounds like this. Are you kidding me?
Getty
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Jacob Goldstein
this is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need.
Armstrong
Need.
Jacob Goldstein
Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at O d O o dot com. That's O d O o dot com
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Armstrong
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Episode: If Your Fonk Gets Hot
Date: March 3, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Main Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Special Guest: Dr. Jeff McCausland (CBS News Military Consultant)
This episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand centers on analysis and debate surrounding the escalating multi-country conflict in the Middle East, prompted by recent Iranian aggression, alongside a lively mix of cultural commentary, Supreme Court news, and critical takes on ongoing political scandals. The show features an in-depth interview with Dr. Jeff McCausland on the war’s origins, geopolitical strategy, and U.S. military readiness, followed by the hosts’ signature banter on trending topics—ranging from new Pinocchio movie oddities to Epstein interrogations and the resurgence of the Pizzagate conspiracy.
(02:30 – 12:05)
War of choice or necessity?
Iran’s apparent strategic misstep:
Sectarian divides:
Alliances and decision-making:
Aircraft carrier deployment:
Stockpile and industrial base concerns:
Notable Quotes
(18:38 – 23:07)
(27:19 – 30:19)
(26:13 – 38:54)
(43:22 – End)
True to form, Armstrong & Getty balance news with irreverence, critical thinking, and the occasional foray into cultural absurdity. Their talk blends serious policy analysis (often with a sharp, skeptical edge) with humor, generational cynicism, and offbeat observations. The episode is a mosaic of hard news, rapid-fire opinion, and pop-culture detours—keeping the pace lively for listeners both engaged in global events and hungry for mainstream contrarian takes.
Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode—covering all the in-depth discussion, memorable quotes, and signature Armstrong & Getty commentary minus the ads, plugs, and fluff.