Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "I'm Like a Bull Moose!" – January 12, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty deliver their signature blend of news, cultural commentary, and political discussion, diving deep into controversy around protests and law enforcement, America's two-party "duopoly," and a heated on-air debate about immigration enforcement. The hosts also riff on social trends, media sympathy, fundraising after tragedy, and the role of activism in American life—all laced with their trademark sarcasm and wit.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Minneapolis Protest Shooting & Activist Choices
[03:22 – 08:25]
- The hosts discuss recent protests in Minneapolis, initially described as "peaceful" by media and Mayor Fry, contrasted with chaotic street sound (“Get back! Get back!”).
- Focus on a fatal incident involving a woman activist and federal agents: Armstrong reads a viral tweet analyzing the woman's actions and motivations as a mother and activist.
- They scrutinize her decision to protest and disobey commands, expressing skepticism about prioritizing activism over parental responsibilities.
- Jack Armstrong: “She thought about the camera. She thought about the crowd. She thought about the moment. There’s no amount of evidence, money, tears on TV or news spin that can make this make sense. As a mother, nothing about this makes sense.” [06:33]
- Joe Getty: "She chose strangers, she chose chaos." [08:03]
Memorable Quote:
“Hardcore activists. You’re weird. Just because you’re hardcore doesn’t mean you’re right.”
— Jack Armstrong [08:25]
- Sara Isger is quoted for contextual legal insight, noting officers’ vulnerability to vehicles and the standards set by the Supreme Court for deadly force.
- Sara Isger (clip): “Every officer is trained to avoid the danger of a vehicle... legally, I think it is a relatively clear case once it gets to federal court.” [08:43]
2. The Psychology and Reality of Modern Activism
[08:43 – 14:50]
- Discussion turns to the modern activist mindset—contrasted with Civil Rights-era protestors. The hosts argue that some activists are "LARPing" (live-action role playing) revolution, more interested in attention or drama than actual change.
- Joe Getty: “No smart person does that. Go back and watch the civil rights era... They talked in measured tones about what they were trying to accomplish.” [07:08]
- Armstrong and Getty lament the role of media in shaping sympathy, especially by highlighting personal details (“mother of three,” “poet,” etc.).
- They joke about how media portrayal can skew public perception, while reiterating that such personal details are irrelevant to the core legal or moral questions.
3. The Failure of Civic Purpose & The Desperate Search for Meaning
[12:11 – 13:49]
- Armstrong and Getty riff on the decline of civic organizations, religion, and family as sources of meaning, suggesting this vacuum is fueling radical activism and social aimlessness.
- Jack Armstrong: “If you don’t have those things going for you, you’re desperate for a purpose for your life. So you go find one and radicalize yourself.” [12:45]
4. Media Sympathy & Social Narratives
[13:49 – 14:50]
- Hosts critique selective media coverage, especially when focusing on sympathetic angles (“mother of three”) but glossing over other details.
- They mock the tabloid fascination with personal life over actual policy or principle.
5. The American Political "Duopoly" & Lack of Alternatives
[18:32 – 23:10]
- Citing a recent Gallup poll, the hosts note that almost half of Americans identify as "independent," but only Democrats and Republicans dominate power.
- Jack Armstrong: “Let’s make them less and less and less popular and see if anything new emerges or if they can just hold onto power... If you had a couple [restaurants] and they both sucked... wouldn’t something new emerge in virtually every market?” [18:58]
- They adapt a restaurant metaphor to point out how ballot access, gerrymandering, and institutional barriers keep new parties from emerging.
- Joe Getty: “We shouldn’t be choosing for the rest of our lives between fish and chicken because they rigged the system. If some of us want hamburgers...” [21:29]
6. Border Policy Debate: Congress vs Customs and Border Patrol
[27:01 – 30:52]
- Playback/summary of a heated exchange between Rep. Sandra Feist (D-MN) and Chief Dan Bovino (CBP) in the Capitol, dissecting what counts as a “crime” in illegal immigration and the effectiveness of law enforcement tactics.
- Rep. Feist: “Why are so few of the people you have arrested and detained and deported people with criminal records?” [27:01]
- Jack Armstrong: “They’re all criminals. They’ve all crossed the border illegally.” [27:10]
- The conversation expands to common refrains in gun control debates and the effectiveness of new laws, with Armstrong and Getty querying the logic of more legislation if existing laws go unenforced.
- Joe Getty: “What about the lives that are saved by guns? You don't talk about that, do you?” [29:33]
7. GoFundMe, Social Media, & America as "Game Show"
[41:10 – 42:52]
- Discussion of how GoFundMe has become a “game show” where public sympathy or outrage turns instantly into fundraising and sometimes creates perverse incentives or rewards questionable behavior.
- Joe Getty: “America’s become one big like weird jury where two people get in a screaming match in an airport, one of them gets doxed and run out of their job and the other one gets rich.” [42:33]
- The hosts question whether this is good for society, pondering the fairness and unintended consequences of online fundraising.
8. News Odds & Ends – Technology, Elon Musk, and Cultural Notes
[25:41; 42:52 – 44:21]
- Brief light-hearted discussion of Elon Musk’s latest bizarre social media post proposing robot-human romance, referencing his growing family and technocratic ambitions.
- Touch on security issues at Jewish places of worship following a synagogue burning, contrast with less concern for mosques, and lament the lack of broad outrage.
- Joe Getty: “If that was a mosque, that would be the biggest story in America.” [35:42]
9. Finishing Out: Jokes, NFL, and Show Banter
[39:44 – 45:38]
- Sean Penn is roasted in a Golden Globes monologue:
-
“Everyone in this town is obsessed with looking younger. Meanwhile, Sean Penn is like, What if I slowly morph into a sexy leather handbag?... Sean Penn will go to the places in the world that need help the most, and he will do cocaine there.” [39:44]
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- Discussion of the NFL playoffs’ suspenseful “last play” drama, the idea that “the fix is in” or, more seriously, how the sport has managed to remain so gripping.
- Recap of stories not covered and the ongoing need to “stop and smell the monkeys” as a metaphor for missing interesting stories in favor of heavier news. [45:14]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Hardcore activists. You’re weird. Just because you’re hardcore doesn’t mean you’re right.”
— Jack Armstrong [08:25] - “They were larping, they were live action role playing.”
— Jack Armstrong [07:00] - “If you don’t have those things [community, religion, family] going for you, you’re desperate for a purpose for your life. So you go find one and radicalize yourself.”
— Jack Armstrong [12:45] - “Let’s make them less and less and less popular and see if anything new emerges or if they can just hold onto power... wouldn’t something new emerge in virtually every market?”
— Jack Armstrong [18:58] - “America’s become one big like weird jury...”
— Joe Getty [42:33]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Minneapolis protest/shooting analysis: 03:22 – 14:50
- On modern activism & meaning: 12:11 – 13:49
- Political duopoly and independents: 18:32 – 23:10
- Congress-member vs. CBP border debate: 27:01 – 30:52
- GoFundMe, social media society: 41:10 – 42:52
- Sean Penn Golden Globes roast: 39:44 – 40:23
- NFL/Show wrap banter: 44:21 – 45:38
Tone & Style
- Sarcastic, irreverent, plainspoken
- They mix earnest commentary with biting humor and occasional self-mockery.
- The show is lively, peppered with banter, and never short on strongly held opinions.
Conclusion
This episode showcases Armstrong & Getty’s style: dissecting news events, challenging activist tactics and media narratives, questioning the U.S.'s two-party political structure, and highlighting the quirks of modern American life—all while maintaining a blend of seriousness, mockery, and self-awareness.