Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "I'm Going With The Demons"
Date: February 26, 2026
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around several hot-button political stories, with particular focus on the fallout from newly revealed Epstein files relating to major political figures (notably the Clintons and Trump), media coverage of socialism and communism, and analysis of American political theater—especially surrounding events like the State of the Union. The hosts offer pointed, satirical, and often irreverent takes on these news narratives, injecting personal anecdotes and broader cultural observations throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cuba Boat Incident: Communism & Border Irony

• [03:02–04:17] The hosts discuss recent news of armed clashes between Cuban security forces and a speedboat from Florida, suspected to be Cubans trying to rescue relatives from the island.
  • Armstrong and Getty use this incident to critique socialism, arguing that "communist countries have to have guns at the border pointing inward to keep people in."
  • Quote (Jack Armstrong, 04:17):
    "How’s that just not end the whole discussion of socialism right there? That all your socialist communist countries have to have guns at the border pointing inward to keep people in their country… Doesn't that end the discussion?"
  • They note how socialist regimes often claim their borders are heavily guarded to keep out desperate Westerners, which Joe Getty relays via a Slovakian tour guide story.
  • Quote (Joe Getty, 05:25):
    "In the communist days... they would tell everybody that the West is so poverty-stricken and violent and terrible, everybody’s desperate to get into the socialist paradise... So that’s why we have such carefully guarded borders."

2. The Epstein Files & Political Fallout

• [07:47–11:11][14:29–20:08][36:36–37:05] The biggest story of the episode is the media storm over new NPR reporting on missing documents in the Jeffrey Epstein files, especially those involving Trump and underage girls.
  • Clinton-related files are accessible, but Trump-related files are reportedly missing, raising questions of political bias and cover-up.
  • Hillary Clinton is testifying behind closed doors, a historic and politically charged event discussed at length.
  • Quote (Jack Armstrong, 07:34):
    "I do think it’s kind of an interesting angle that Hillary Clinton at, what is she, 80, still having to get involved in Bill’s philandering ways, being dragged in to talk about it, you mean? … She’s still gotta answer to various things and explain away his behavior."
  • The hosts question whether the purported privacy of a closed-door testimony actually matters if video releases are likely.
  • Notably, Hilary Clinton wanted public testimony, but the GOP preferred it closed; speculation is video will leak regardless.

3. Clinton Marriage, Power Couples, and Political Partnership

• [08:55–13:43] Armstrong and Getty dive into the Clintons’ marriage dynamic, inspired by realpolitik and mutual interest more than romance, comparing it to arranged marriages and examining how political partnerships sometimes outlast traditional relationships.
  • They reference Stephanopoulos’s memoir describing “bimbo eruptions” (Carville-coined) and how Hillary would handle them, exposing a pragmatic rather than emotional partnership.
  • Quote (Joe Getty, 09:13):
    "I hope he does. I could use the action. Anyway, where was I? Oh, the notion of these power couples, these DC super power couples that may not have exchanged so much as a peck on the cheek for a decade, but they stay together because they’re a quote-unquote power couple."

4. The Media’s Handling of the Epstein Story

• [14:04–14:52][19:31–20:08] Armstrong and Getty critique the relentless wall-to-wall mainstream media focus on the Epstein documents, highlighting incentives for both parties and questioning whether anything substantive will result from the furor.
  • Quote (Joe Getty, 14:52):
    "I haven’t paid attention. This is a pseudo-event of the sort you’re always talking about.”

5. Headlines Roundup (With Katie Green)

• [19:30–22:52] Katie Green delivers a rapid-fire news segment on the day’s headline stories:
  • DOJ review of Epstein files withheld reports (ABC)
  • Hillary Clinton’s deposition in Epstein probe (NBC)
  • Iran strikes risking U.S. weapons depletion (Politico)
  • Nvidia’s explosive profits (NYT)
  • Alleged terrorism claims from Cuba on the speedboat shooting (CBS)
  • Subpoenas related to Trump investigations (Fox News)
  • Light-hearted: Soccer player revives a seagull with CPR, butterfly caterpillars "speaking ant", and a Babylon Bee joke about Trump securing a third term by speaking for seven straight years.

6. American Political Theater: State of the Union & Pseudo-Events

• [27:04–31:25] Armstrong and Getty dissect the State of the Union, exploring the increasing performativity of these events, bipartisan bickering, and how both the event and its dissent serve political theater rather than governance.
  • Quote (Joe Getty, 27:16):
    “The fallout continues from the State of the Union address, an event that exists entirely to create fallout... It doesn’t really do anything except create fallout.”
  • Guest JD Vance, 28:47:
    "I guess maybe they were worried about being primaried by the far left fringe of their party... They lean on the person to their left and their right rather than actually have some conviction."
  • The hosts discuss the concept of "pseudo-events" (citing Jonah Goldberg), where everyone involved is incentivized to treat the event and its outrage as crucial when it often means little.

7. Marxism, Engels, and the Ironies of Socialist Founders

• [37:33–38:22] In response to the Cuba discussion, the hosts revisit the roots of Marxism, pointing out the personal irony that Engels worked while Marx lived off his friend, paralleling the system they criticized.
  • Quote (Jack Armstrong, 38:14): "It’s kind of funny, isn't it, that you have the two founding fathers of Marxism. One of them worked and the other one just lived off the other one. Which is exactly what happened."

8. Reader/Listener Mailbag: State of the Union, Demonic Ketchup

• [39:09–44:10] A classic Armstrong & Getty lighter segment featuring listener emails:
  • Dismissing the seriousness of standing/sitting during the State of the Union.
  • “Demonic possession” theory as an explanation for Jack and his brothers’ genetic reaction (heavy sweating) to ketchup.
  • Quote (Jack Armstrong, 43:31): "Well, we have some sort of genetic predisposition to sweat when we eat ketchup."
  • Quote (Joe Getty, 43:29):
    "Yeah, I’m going with the demons."

9. Mini-Stories: Political Protest Coverage & Media Bubble

• [44:57–47:09] The hosts lampoon the ‘People’s State of the Union’ protest rally, noting that journalists vastly outnumbered attendees, demonstrating media’s inflated sense of such events versus actual public interest.
  • Quote (Joe Getty, 46:05):
    "That rally got more coverage in advance of its sad, sad actual existence than like 10 years running of the March for Life in Washington, D.C.... That sad spectacle was talked up like it was the super bowl."

10. Final Teasers & Next Episode Topics

• [47:29–48:50] Coming up: California's possible release of a repeat child rapist due to new laws (emphasizing the consequences of "woke" criminal justice reform) and developing news on Iran’s military escalation.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “How’s that just not end the whole discussion of socialism right there?...”
  — Jack Armstrong, [04:17]
• “The great bargain of the philanderer and the poor wife is just: ‘Don’t embarrass me, alright?’ ... Decades, decades of nonstop humiliation.”
  — Joe Getty, [08:09]
• “I hope he does. I could use the action.”
  (In reference to Kevin Spacey grabbing him, irreverently mocking Hollywood scandals)
  — Joe Getty, [09:13]
• “I do think it’s kind of an interesting angle that Hillary Clinton at, what is she, 80, still having to get involved in Bill’s philandering ways, being dragged in to talk about it, you mean?”
  — Jack Armstrong, [07:34]
• “The fallout continues from the State of the Union address, an event that exists entirely to create fallout... It doesn’t really do anything except create fallout.”
  — Joe Getty, [27:16]
• “It's not an aerobics class. They have a constitutional obligation to sit there for the silly formality. You talk, I sit. Chop, chop, wrap it up. This could have been emailed.”
  — Listener email (read by Jack), [39:09]
• “Yeah, I’m going with the demons.”
  — Joe Getty, [43:29]
• “It’s kind of funny, isn’t it, that you have the two founding fathers of Marxism. One of them worked and the other just lived off the other one. Which is exactly what happened.”
  — Jack Armstrong, [38:14]
• “That rally got more coverage in advance of its sad, sad actual existence than like 10 years running of the March for Life in Washington, D.C.... That sad spectacle was talked up like it was the super bowl.”
  — Joe Getty, [46:05]

Important Timestamps for Segments

• Cuba Boat Story / Socialism & Borders: 03:02–05:47
• Epstein Files Media Frenzy: 07:47–14:52, 36:36–37:05
• Clinton Marriage / Power Couples: 08:55–13:43
• Headlines with Katie Green: 19:30–22:52
• State of the Union / Political Theater: 27:04–31:25, 39:09–44:10
• Marxism, Engels, and Irony: 37:33–38:22
• Listener Mailbag (incl. ketchup/demon segment): 39:09–44:10
• Media Bubble Example, Protest Rally: 44:57–47:09
• Upcoming Topics & Final Thoughts: 47:29–48:50

Episode Tone & Style

As always, Armstrong & Getty present their analysis with biting satire, irreverence, directness, and a conversational blend of humor and realpolitik skepticism. They regularly break the “fourth wall” to engage with listeners, lampoon both political parties, and take aim at the culture of American media and government spectacle.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode offers a comprehensive and entertaining critique of today’s headlines, punctuated by memorable commentary on the nature of political power, the emptiness of media spectacle, and the bizarre absurdities of both current events and personal quirks. The dominant thread is the Epstein files and related media circus, closely followed by sharp observations on socialism, the Clinton power marriage, and the performative nature of American political rituals. If you’re looking for straight news, look elsewhere—this is Armstrong & Getty’s unfiltered, sarcastic, occasionally profound take on the week’s news.