I'm Swimming In Soup

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: I'm Swimming In Soup
Release Date: March 13, 2025
Host/Authors: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

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1. Introduction

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty kick off the episode with their signature banter. Right from the start, they set the tone for a no-holds-barred discussion, touching on hot-button political topics and personal anecdotes.

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2. The State of the Democratic Party

Discussion Points:

• Internal polling and declining trust in the Democratic brand.
• Comparison to political scandals and leadership critiques.
• The impact of party strategies on voter perception.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [02:11]: "Other numbers in the poll are even worse for Democrats. A majority, 56% of those surveyed said Democrats are not looking out for working-class people."
• Joe Getty [02:22]: "It's crap."
• Jack Armstrong [03:21]: "Don't respect work, well, you don't want that brand."

Insights: Armstrong and Getty delve into Politico's report highlighting the Democratic Party's struggles in congressional battlegrounds. They discuss how internal polling reflects a party in turmoil, with voters believing Democrats prioritize others over themselves. The hosts critique the party's leadership choices, particularly spotlighting Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, whom Armstrong describes as an "America hating communist."

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3. Protests at the Kennedy Center Over Drag Productions

Discussion Points:

• The surge of protests, especially involving drag artists, against President Trump's ban.
• The cultural and social implications of such protests.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Getty [03:54]: "This president is demonizing a marginalized community in order to control the arts in America. It's shameful, immoral and weak."
• Jack Armstrong [03:56]: "Wow, an F bomb. It's an earth freak anyway."

Insights: The hosts cover the recent protests at the Kennedy Center, highlighting the participation of drag performers. They express strong disapproval of the administration's policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the cultural significance of drag in American arts. Armstrong and Getty blend humor with criticism, painting a vivid picture of the unfolding events.

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4. The Democratic National Committee's New Executive Director

Discussion Points:

• Introduction of Roger Lau, the former Elizabeth Warren campaign manager, as the new DNC executive director.
• Critique of Lau's background and approach to party rebuilding.
• Discussion on the use of profanity within the Democratic Party.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [04:15]: "He's a former Liz Warren campaign manager... And Lau embodies many of the same characteristics that define the Democrats' defeat in '24."
• Jack Armstrong [06:28]: "Someone said their bottle of Larry root says only use occasionally. Maybe you're not supposed to use it every day."
• Jack Armstrong [14:14]: "Do you mind if I call you Ken tonight, honey?"

Insights: Armstrong and Getty are critical of the DNC's appointment of Roger Lau, pointing out his track record and the perceived disconnect between his strategies and the party's current challenges. They also touch upon the increasing use of profane language among Democratic figures, suggesting it as a symptomatic reflection of deeper issues within the party.

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5. Sleep Aid Supplements and Personal Anecdotes

Discussion Points:

• Joe Getty's struggles with insomnia and experimentation with sleep supplements.
• The adverse effects of supplements like valerian root and magnesium.
• Anecdotes from listeners experiencing side effects.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Getty [06:28]: "I wake up at like 12 o'clock and then stay awake and it's been horrible."
• Katie Green [08:15]: "I tried some valerian root, almost died yesterday."
• Jack Armstrong [10:31]: "Valerian root, magnesium, and something that starts with an 'L'."

Insights: The segment shifts from political discourse to personal health concerns as Getty shares his battle with insomnia. He describes trying various supplements, only to face grogginess and unsettling dreams. The conversation takes a humorous yet cautionary tone as they discuss the lack of regulation in telehealth services and the potential dangers of unsupervised supplement use.

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6. TikTok's New Feature to Help Young Users Relax

Discussion Points:

• Introduction of TikTok's feature aimed at helping users under 16 wind down after prolonged app usage.
• The effectiveness and sincerity of corporate initiatives intended to promote mental health.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael [11:14]: "TikTok will interrupt their feed with a full screen wind down reminder that plays calming music to help them relax."
• Joe Getty [11:24]: "This is like meth telling us to meditate."

Insights: Armstrong and Getty critique TikTok’s latest feature, questioning its authenticity and drawing parallels to contradictory corporate behaviors. They express skepticism about the platform's genuine commitment to user well-being, suggesting that superficial measures are inadequate solutions to deeper mental health issues.

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7. Debunking the Myth: Ukraine's 2022 Deal Rejection

Discussion Points:

• Analysis of claims that Ukraine turned down a favorable ceasefire deal in 2022.
• Examination of Russian and Ukrainian negotiation dynamics.
• The role of Western influence and internal Ukrainian decision-making.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [11:46]: "The idea that Ukraine was ready to come to just this sweet agreement and we talked him out of it is a myth. It's Putin's propaganda."
• Joe Getty [24:52]: "It's like the Cybertruck, like a lot of sharp edges."

Insights: The hosts tackle the contentious narrative suggesting that Ukraine declined a beneficial ceasefire offer, attributing the perpetuation of this story to Russian and pro-Russian propaganda. They reference analyses from various sources, including Politico and the National Review, to argue that no definitive deal was ever reached and that such myths serve to justify ongoing conflict and geopolitical strategies.

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8. Anti-Israel Protests at Trump Tower

Discussion Points:

• Coverage of protesters occupying Trump Tower in New York City.
• The nature of the demonstrations and their implications for free speech and public safety.
• The hosts' opinions on the effectiveness and authenticity of such protests.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Getty [26:00]: "I keep hearing on the pregnant Jack."
• Jack Armstrong [30:43]: "Maybe they're never prosecuted. They're never fine."
• Joe Getty [30:01]: "It's all such kabuki theater."

Insights: Armstrong and Getty discuss the recent anti-Israel protests at Trump Tower, criticizing the demonstrators' methods and questioning the sincerity of their motives. They describe the arrests as performative and lament the misuse of public resources for what they perceive as staged political theater. The conversation reflects their frustration with repeated cycles of protests that yield little substantive change.

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9. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Discussion Points:

• Personal reflections from hosts and crew.
• Brief mentions of celestial events and light-hearted banter.
• Final commentary on ongoing political narratives.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [33:36]: "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon."
• Joe Getty [33:41]: "In the late evening hours tonight, there is going to be a full hour long lunar eclipse."

Insights: As the episode draws to a close, Armstrong and Getty share whimsical final thoughts, blending personal experiences with humorous insights into ongoing political and social issues. They maintain their characteristic blend of satire and critique, leaving listeners with both entertainment and food for thought.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty navigate through a labyrinth of political discourse, personal anecdotes, and sharp social commentary. From dissecting the Democratic Party's struggles and debunking geopolitical myths to critiquing contemporary protests and corporate initiatives, the hosts provide a robust analysis peppered with humor and candid opinions. Notable for their engaging dialogue and unapologetic stance, Armstrong and Getty offer listeners a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of current events.

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

It is not a criminal violation to enter the country illegally in.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's not.

[Joe Getty]

It's not a criminal. It's crime.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's not a crime. Yeah, we're still going to heave you out. All right. Obey immigration law or leave. That's wackadoodle. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, America hating communist. And I'm not trying to be funny. I think she's all of those things.

[Joe Getty]

I thought I had found the miracle cure for my sleep problems. Then the underbelly get to that coming up a little bit later.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, and speaking of similar things, fellas, you attempted to click on the the website and get yourself some Propecia. I think it is for your hair loss. And don't do it until you've listened to this hour of the Armstrong Ungetty show.

[Joe Getty]

Unless you want to be blind.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't think that's a factor here.

[Joe Getty]

Okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

Anyway, I was going to leave it mysterious and you ruined it. So what's the current state of the Democratic Party? Somewhere between a poop show and a dumpster fire. That would seem crap.

[Joe Getty]

It's crap.

[Jack Armstrong]

There you go. Rahm Emanuel there. Democrats are in deep, deep trouble, according to their own internal polling. POLITICO's Elena Schneider was writing about the Democratic numbers on Tuesday, quote, the Democratic Party's brand is in rough shape in the congressional battlegrounds. Nearly two months into the second Donald Trump administration. A majority of voters in battleground House districts still believe Democrats in Congress, quote, are more focused on helping other people than people like me. According to an internal poll among independents, just 27% believe Democrats are focused on helping them, compared with 55% friends. That's more than double who say they're focused on the other people, not people like me.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Although when it comes election time, you just have to be the smartest horse or the tallest little person. Well, where would the Republican Party be by then?

[Jack Armstrong]

Well. And will the Republican Party manage not to nominate jackasses, ironically, elephant jackasses. Democrat pollster Molly Murphy is quoted in the Politico piece as saying while voters were somewhat critical of Trump in some spots, the Democrats have serious damage to fix with their own brand before voters trust them in government again, said prominent Democrat, the Democratic brand is still not where it needs to be in terms of core trust and understanding people's challenges. Other numbers in the poll are even worse for Democrats a majority, 56% of those surveyed said Democrats are not looking out for working class people are not. 42% say they shared values with Democrats. Just 39% said Democrats value work. And just 44% said Democrats even respect work. 39% said Democrats have the right priorities as a party. So that's not great.

[Joe Getty]

Don't respect work, well, you don't want that brand.

[Jack Armstrong]

Gosh. And in a completely wildly unrelated story, hundreds of protesters, many of them in drag, descended on the Kennedy center on Saturday as part of a rally in March. For drag was the latest in a series of protests in response to President Trump's ban on Kennedy Center Drag Productions. Said drag artist Tara Hoot, this president is demonizing a marginalized community in order to control the arts in America. It's shameful, immoral and weak.

[Joe Getty]

Keep going with it. Good luck with it.

[Jack Armstrong]

All right, I'm looking at a picture of this freak. Wow, an F bomb. It's an earth freak anyway. And finally this. The DNC has picked a new executive director. Have you heard about this guy? He's a former Liz Warren campaign manager. Now this is the guy who's gonna bring the Democratic Party back. From what I was just describing and all those poll results, he's a longtime staffer and failed campaign manager for a handful of people who not only lists his pronouns on his website, but lists them in Mandarin. Roger Lao, he touts his decades long experience. He served. There's a campaign manager for a bunch of losers. But Lau embodies many of the same characteristics that define the Democrats defeat in 24. He said in October that it was very cool when vice presidential candidate Tim walz live streamed 1/2 of a Madden NFL video game with AOC. The final score was 0 to 0 because they were so bad at it. In addition to disclosing his Chinese pronouns on social media, Lau made far left identity politics a central focus of Warren's 2020 president. He noted in a campaign memo the company invested more than $700,000 in radio, print, mail, advertisement to reach Latinx communities, et cetera, et cetera. So it picked a far lefty to lead them back from the brink of irrelevance that they're on. Then finally, this from Politico. And we saw this the other day. I should have asked for all those videos when everybody was reading from the same script saying here's what you're going to hear. S that isn't true. Do we have that? Evidently, using foul language is the new strategy in the Democratic Party. Jasmine Crockett who we just heard from telling Elon Musk to F off. You got it, Michael. Don't worry, it's not that important. Ken Martin, the new chair of the dnc, took a more Midwestern approach. Go to hell, he said later on X. Let's see. Democrats are cursing up a storm, said John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. GD Tell me who started that. It's kind of a funny thing to say. Former DNC chair Tom Perez frequently deployed profanity in 2017, saying, for example, that Trump doesn't give an ass about health care. Okay, there you go. There you go.

[Joe Getty]

So I have talked a little bit lately about how much trouble I'm having sleeping. Worst I've ever had in my life. It's really a drag. I wake up at like 12 o'clock and then stay awake and it's been horrible. So somebody suggested these various supplements that they said really worked for them. So I ordered them on Amazon, had them the next day and tried it for the first time Monday night and Tuesday night and had the two best nights of sleep I've had. This is an ad, by the way. It sounds like an ad. It is the opposite of an ad. Soon to be. I had the two best nights of sleep I've had in years. I slept all night long. Like, I don't remember the last time I went to sleep and didn't wake up until the alarm went off. God, it's been years. It was so awesome. I thought, wow, this is fantastic. This will change my life. Except for I'm so freaking groggy during the day. And like, today is even worse that I like. It's like I'm swimming in soup trying to wake up, which you know, is no good. And so I was taking valerian root and I don't know which one of these is doing it or all three. Valerian root, magnesium, and something that starts with an L. I don't remember what is Lia fine or Leah something like it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. Something that starts with an L. That's.

[Joe Getty]

How you know it's not an ad. I don't even know the name of the thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Lf lion urine or lysinopril or.

[Joe Getty]

And last night I had some sort of crazy dream that I tried to wake myself out of. And I was up out of my bed at one point. It was like I couldn't tell what was happening. And it was. It's like I was just drugged.

[Jack Armstrong]

So then, well, and you were describing trying to get ready for work this morning. I found that.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I Couldn't. I couldn't. I was like, do I have my keys? Okay, I got my keys. Where are my glasses? Okay, which car? My drive. I was just. This is horrible.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, even worse than that, Katie, who.

[Joe Getty]

On my recommendation tried some valerian root, almost died yesterday.

[Katie Green]

Yeah, I was sitting here for an hour with a resting heart rate at 149.

[Joe Getty]

And how do you trace this back to the valerian root?

[Katie Green]

I messaged my doctor and I. He asked me, what have you changed? And I mean, what, did you do anything differently? Because I am on a bunch of different medications and stuff. And I said the only thing that I changed is I. I took valerian root last night to try to, you know, sleep through the night. And you went, well, there it is. Those cause heart palpitations. That causes heart palpitations in some.

[Jack Armstrong]

Katie and I do a huge line of cocaine together before the show just to get up for it. But we do that every day.

[Katie Green]

Yeah, so that didn't change.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Joe Getty]

I'm going to be accused of a classic pump and dump here where I talk up valerian root, wait till the stock goes up.

[Jack Armstrong]

Is there stock?

[Joe Getty]

And then I shorted it somehow, and then I come out and talk about how it gives you heart attacks and you sleepwalk or whatever.

[Jack Armstrong]

But yeah, longtime friend of the show, Mike, the lawyer in Chicago, said, yeah, I bought some on Jack's recommendation and took. Tossed it on Katie's because he was having bizarro dreams that he couldn't wake up from.

[Joe Getty]

Sucks. You know, and I. I've talked about sleeping before and my doctor has never recommended valerian root or any of that sort of stuff. And you know, some of your hippie types would say that's because big pharma only wants you to take the stuff manufactured by whoever. And. And we are. Our. Our nationalism won't allow us to use Eastern medicine. They Chinese figured this out years ago.

[Jack Armstrong]

And shut up and get a ha. Damn hippies.

[Joe Getty]

All that sort of stuff. And turns out maybe there's. I don't know, some. Somebody said their bottle of Larry root says only use occasionally. Okay, maybe you're not supposed to use it every day. I just stick the magnesium, Jack. That should be good. You think?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Do you take magnesium?

[Jack Armstrong]

I've taken magnesium. Yeah.

[Katie Green]

See, now I have a friend who takes magnesium and he said it gave him insane dreams.

[Joe Getty]

Well, maybe it was the magnet. See, I took all three of them last night. The magnesium, the flurrying root, and the thing that starts with an L. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, see, I don't know I don't, I don't want to tell anybody how to live, but like I say, I start my day with an enormous line of cocaine and then I put myself to sleep with the propofol like Michael Jackson. So, you know, it's worked for me for years.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, you have a doctor that comes by and starts an IV drip.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Anyway, so excited about this, though.

[Joe Getty]

I thought this could be life changing. Damn it.

[Jack Armstrong]

We don't have time to get into this thoroughly. But next segment, I'll just pay this off quickly. Then we'll move on to other fair stories about people getting the hair loss drugs online without a visit to the doctor and some of the side effects. We're talking about hair loss pills, fellas. Trust me when I say you want to stay tuned, okay? Trust me.

[Joe Getty]

Love this. It's on the way. Stay here.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

TikTok has announced a new feature that is designed to help younger users relax and wind down after being glued to.

[Joe Getty]

Their app all day.

[Michael]

If a kid under 16 years old is still using the app after 10pm TikTok will interrupt their feed with a full screen wind down reminder that plays calming music to help them relax. That's great. TikTok is trying to help kids relax. This is like meth telling us to meditate.

[Joe Getty]

A little bit.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's a good punchline. Coming up later in the hour, the myth that Ukraine turned down a perfectly great deal in 2022. It is a myth, friends. So I will just read this as presented. Mark Jones, not his real name. 26 years old, insecure about his thinning hair. Was curious. Curious about the ads he saw promising to reverse his hair loss. He completed a 14 question intake on a certain website and received a bottle of finasteride pills days later. This is the generic name for Propecia. Soon after taking the medicine, Millet said he felt. That's his last name. I just gave it to you. Well, it's published. Doesn't matter. Said he felt strange symptoms. He woke up one day anxious, dizzy, and slurring his words. Hell, I just called that Tuesday. Hey, but wait a minute. Later, his libido plunged and his genitals shrank and changed shape. Okay, gotta take these one at a timeout.

[Joe Getty]

So when you said genitals shrink, I was assuming just your testicles, but like the whole. The whole. The whole wedding tackle. And then changed shape. What's it shaped like now, exactly?

[Jack Armstrong]

Mickey Mouse. That's. And it's a dude wrote this article. I'm like, hey, hey, hey, come on. On behalf of every Damn man. And 90% of the women listening changed shape how?

[Katie Green]

Picturing a balloon animal, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

Exactly.

[Joe Getty]

Perfectly square.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's like. It's like staring at clouds. Oh, today it looks like an elephant.

[Joe Getty]

Is that Snoopy?

[Jack Armstrong]

His doctor said the symptoms were caused by the drug. His wife said the symptoms upended their lives. Here's the deal. Your telehealth companies don't have to disclose side effects that the drug manufacturers do.

[Joe Getty]

In their side effects may include genitals changing shape.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know they shrinking genitals changing shape.

[Joe Getty]

Is disturbing all the other side. Not the same old, same old. You've been with the same guy for years, dude.

[Katie Green]

Get something new now.

[Joe Getty]

Every time you have a romantic time, it's like, what is it this time?

[Jack Armstrong]

Hey, look. It's like getting some strange.

[Joe Getty]

Looks like a daisy or something.

[Jack Armstrong]

Do you mind if I call you Ken tonight, honey? Let's see this. Urologist at Cedar Sinai in LA said he has seen a steady increase of young men, one or two a week, seeking treatment for finasteride sexual side effects. Some also experience panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. He said the side effects are very, very common these days because the medicine is easier to get from telehealth.

[Joe Getty]

You get the side. You get the suicidal thoughts because your junk is corkscrew shaped like a pig.

[Jack Armstrong]

Or a quarter of its normal size, which wasn't that great to begin with.

[Unknown]

Hey.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. The companies deny this. Our customers go through a comprehensive intake that is reviewed by a licensed provider. Blah, blah, blah. What our attorneys told us to say.

[Joe Getty]

I don't want to give away too much my personal life, but I've got a variety of medical things through these websites. I mean, they ask you a couple of questions, you talk to a doctor on the phone, and then they sign you off on it. They've never seen you, they've never met you. It's very easy to get a ton of stuff that way. They're actual doctors. I'm surprised there aren't more laws around. And I'm a libertarian, so buyer beware. Do it or don't. But it's. It's funny the stuff that you can get. It's a. You know, it's an actual doctor, it's an actual prescription.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Try it. You have nothing to lose but your genitals. According. According To Propecia's label, 3.8%, about 4% of patients experience one or more sexual side effects. Interestingly, that's twice as many, but only twice as many as the folks who took a placebo. 2% of them report sexual side effects of their sugar pill.

[Joe Getty]

Not including changing shape of your pants.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, not that one. No.

[Joe Getty]

I don't see how placebo could all of a sudden.

[Jack Armstrong]

If it can, I'd retest that. It's a placebo. Right. Some men report worsening side effects after stopping finasteride, a condition sometimes called post finasteride syndrome. Wow. Wow.

[Katie Green]

What's it shaped like today, Hun?

[Joe Getty]

Right. You'd get up in the morning and you'd think, I don't even want to look. No, but I might as well. What is it today?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. Shaped like a Tesla. That's weird. So much in the news. I don't. I don't know, It's. It's odd. Like a cyber truck.

[Joe Getty]

It's like a cybertruck, like a lot of sharp edges.

[Jack Armstrong]

So this is a study in not only the myth that Ukraine turned down a perfectly great deal with Putin, but also a study in how partial information can mislead people. Coming up.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. And some of the results of Trump's method. We'll see if it happens. Stay tuned.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Unknown]

Vladimir Putin said there is that first of all, the Russians want to kick all of the Ukrainians off their territory and also create a buffer zone in that area, which obviously could take months of combat operations to do. So the Russians right now feel that they have the edge on the battlefield and that they are not going to be pressured or rushed into any sort of cease fire agreement.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, well, if you didn't see it on TV last night, Putin showed up to the front lines there in military garb as the Russians took back the biggest city in that chunk of Russia that Ukraine had been holding to for 10 months, I think, and they're going to push the Ukrainians out of there. And that was going to be a good bargaining chip for the Ukrainians to have to try to get back some of their land, which of course Putin knows, which is why he's there dressed as a general, trying to make sure his troops. His troops. North Koreans take back their chunk of land.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, The North Koreans, convicts and conscripts. Yeah. Right. And just on a purely practical level, if I was advising Putin, I would say, no, no, we're on the front foot right now. We got plenty of machine gun fodder here. Let's keep going. Here's Clarissa Ward with another report.

[Clarissa Ward]

President Zelensky gave a press conference and he was really walking a very straight line. He only spoke in Ukrainian. He would not. Despite the best efforts of a number of reporters be drawn into more talk about his spat with President Trump. He really wanted to keep the focus on where the narrative is now. Effectively, we are not blocking peace. The words he used, I believe, were to say, it's very important to me to end this war, and I very much want Americans to know and to feel this.

[Joe Getty]

Well, we all know where he is. He's. He's got to make sure Trump's happy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Sure, sure. By the way, after the Trump spat, his popularity in Ukraine surged higher.

[Joe Getty]

Interesting.

[Jack Armstrong]

Which is interesting. Yeah. Speaking of interesting. So there's this. This story that some of our beloved listeners, perhaps you're listening now, sent along to us, said, you guys are totally missing the boat on Ukraine. It's completely corrupt. I've addressed that more than once. Every post Soviet republic struggles with corruption and claws its way toward something close to actual democracy and decency. It's inevitable when you throw off the yoke of communism. Anyway, I've never argued for a minute that there's no corruption in Ukraine. There's plenty of corruption in America. Ask Joe Biden and Hunter and James. Anyway, but the story is.

[Joe Getty]

I feel like that's a complete distraction anyway. Yeah, I would if it were a friendly dictatorship. We don't want Russia taking it over.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no. So the other story that's making the rounds and we've had sent to us, is that Russia, and this is the essence of it. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators sat down early in the war in the spring of 2022 and reached a deal, or were very close to one. Ukraine became overconfident and influenced by Boris Johnson of the UK and the US Decided, no, we're not gonna sign this excellent deal. We're gonna fight instead. And it's the US that promoted this, this war, not Putin. And we're the bad guys. It's very much the same strain of thinking that Churchill was the bad guy in World War II and Hitler just accidentally killed all those people. Lunacy. Anyway, it goes on, and Ukraine accepted the deal. It could have escaped with its territory or at least its sovereignty intact. It would have had to renounce joining NATO, and the Brits and the US didn't want that. Therefore, the continuation of the war for the past four years is essentially Ukraine's fault and proof that Putin is right to resist by arms any Ukrainian steps toward NATO membership. And this justifies abandoning Zelensky now to leave him to face the consequences of a bad choice. That's a pretty good summary of what people have tried to pitch to us, whether it's through other media or even emails and that sort of thing. And as usual, there is a grain of truth to the fraud. The myth, it started in Ukraine, Pravda or whatever. A member of Zelensky's own negotiating team said, quote, when we returned from Istanbul, Boris Johnson came to Kyiv and said we would not sign anything with them at all. Let's just fight, essentially, because the Russians can't be trusted and this doesn't assure your security. Well, in an interview with Tucker Carlson last year, Putin brought up the story, claiming it showed the west had pushed Ukraine further into the war. And he quoted this guy. But what he leaves out is the other part of the quote in which the same guy said the Ukrainian delegation had not planned to sign anything. In any case, we were already where the Brits said, you know, it ought to be. We'd come to that conclusion already. Comments by Victoria Nuland, former State Department official, have also fed this storyline, although Nuland similarly argues that Western skepticism only confirmed what Ukraine had already concluded. Again to that point. And then Dan McLaughlin writes in the National Review, as typical of usable myths, there are strains of truth here. But the myth far outruns the evidence. In fact, from what we can gather from the public record, while the talks between the two sides extensive in early 22, there was never a finally agreed deal between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. The deals on the table would have stripped territory from Ukraine and limited its military and departed from joining NATO. And the Ukrainians were prepared to agree, at least in principle, to all three of these conditions. And they negotiated a bunch of other stuff. But the deal breaker was Russian insistence that any security guarantees given to Ukraine in exchange for its effective disarmament must be subject to a veto by Russia itself. So Russia would be the judge and jury of any security guarantees and could invade any minute, anytime, for any reason.

[Joe Getty]

You'd be crazy to agree to that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, yeah, that would be insane. You know, if anybody wants more details, we can go into more details down the road. But the idea that, yeah, Ukraine was ready to come to the just this sweet agreement and we talked him out of it, is a myth. It's Putin's propaganda.

[Joe Getty]

Okay, so back in the real world, this think tank person tweeted out today, and I thought it was interesting as to where things are right now. It's useful. Speaking of skeptics, like you were just talking about people who believe that thing. It's useful that the skeptics in the American population now see that Ukraine is working with U.S. negotiators. Trump forced him into it. He's agreeing with it and is doing its part to end the war and have a ceasefire. Russia is and always has been the problem, but now it's going to be more easily seen by everyone. That's got to be true, right? And maybe to a certain extent, I don't know if this has given Trump too much credit or not. Maybe he figured out a way to bring that crowd you were just talking about along for the ride was so hard on Zelensky, so openly, you know, dismissive of him and critical of him and everything like that. And now that Zelinsky's gone along, it's just like, okay, now you see, he's playing ball with us. It's all Russia that's stopping this at this point.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think that is probably excellent analysis. I think Trump, who, you've got to remember, he's really good at shaping public perception. Like when he wanted to build a giant golf resort in Ireland or whatever, and people were against it at first, and he's very sensitive to, okay, where are the people? What are they thinking? What do I have to overcome? And I think, you know, to rephrase what you said, he said, all right, first thing I need to do is make it explicitly clear to my supporters that Ukraine is not playing me in any way. They're not somehow cleverly duping us out of cash. I'm in charge of this, and I'm going to do X, Y and Z. Whether he, you know, spelled that out to himself or to his aides or just knows it instinctively. Yeah, I think you're right.

[Joe Getty]

So before we take a break, right now, there are protesters occupying Trump Tower in New York City over the whole detained, anti Israeli agitator Columbia student dude whose wife is pregnant. I keep hearing on the pregnant Jack.

[Jack Armstrong]

Not just a little pregnant.

[Joe Getty]

The question is whether or not he's a, you know, cross the line into advocating for terrorists and legally he can be held. Whether or not his wife is pregnant plays no role.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't care if he has three wives, each pregnant with triplets. That's irrelevant to the case.

[Joe Getty]

Right? It is. But anyway, you got a whole bunch of protesters in front of Trump Tower, and they've occupied the bottom floor and they're trying to arrest them right now. And they're all wearing no more Aid to Israel T shirts. So this continues to be a spicy story, certainly in New York. Anyway, more on the way.

[Katie Green]

Armstrong and Getty going on now with.

[Unknown]

The White House Tesla auto mall. It's the biggest sale of the year.

It's safe, it's very strong, heavy. It's all steel, stainless steel.

Come on down to Pennsylvania Avenue just off Route 29 to get our best deal ever on a brand new Tesla.

I want to make a good deal here. They have one which is $35,000, which is pretty low.

Get a model one with a different panel and everything's comp.

This is a different panel than I've had. Everything's computer.

So don't waste your time going to those other Tesla dealerships with riots and flaming cyber trucks. You gotta come down to White House Tesla Auto Mall.

I love Tesla.

You gotta come down to White House Tesla Auto Mall.

This is really amazing.

[Joe Getty]

That's really well done. Where'd I come from? That's funny.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, the Internet comes out of the Tesla. Tesla, Tesla automobile.

[Joe Getty]

That's pretty funny. I, I wonder if they're ever gonna have to put a limit on electric cars and their, their power because the Cyber truck weighs 7,000 pounds.

[Jack Armstrong]

Holy crap.

[Joe Getty]

And if you get the cyber beast version with the three motors in it, it's insanely fast. Like it's faster than a lead, than most sports cars. Gas powered sports cars that people spend 7,000 pounds and but weighs 7,000 pounds.

[Jack Armstrong]

What's the math on stopping one of those things if they're flying.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Or if it's got, you know, you know, somebody wants to say, hits the gas. There's no gas. Hits the accelerator. She got all that momentum. At £7,000, you just crush anything else on the road.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, sounds great.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. If you're in it. If you're in that one.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Hey, one final, very quick note on the Ukraine thing we were just talking about is the, the draft agreement that the Ukrainians rejected had Russia and China as the, as two of the guarantors that Russia would not invade. Meaning Russia could veto any assistance given to stop another Russian invasion. And Ukraine said no way. So yeah, the US and UK said this is a terrible agreement. They were already there.

[Joe Getty]

So I'm watching live on cable news. Only Fox has it, these anti Israel protesters that have occupied the bottom floor of Trump Tower and now they're all being arrested. This whole game that we play all over the country with protesters, so they're all standing there clapping their hands, they've got music playing, they're dancing around and then one by one the cops will come to him and they turn around and they put their hands behind their back and then they zip tie them and then they go put them on A car and all. Just how much money do taxpayers spend on these? They're going through the motions of a pretend arrest and a pretend take them down and a pretend book them and all that sort of stuff. I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

Maybe they're never prosecuted. They're never fine.

[Joe Getty]

They're never. No. And just the whole thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

And if they are, Kamala Harris will pay their fine.

[Joe Getty]

I never use the term kabuki theater, but this is. It's all such kabuki theory. I mean, the protest is kabuki. The arrest is kabuki. Kabuki. It's all kabuki, but we're paying a lot of money for it, and it's very disruptive. Is there any way to get around that in a. In a country with free speech and right of assembly and all that sort of stuff?

[Jack Armstrong]

Less kabuki, more wood shampoos. That's what I say.

[Joe Getty]

I mean, they're having. That's a party. They're having way too much fun there as they're getting arrested. I've never been arrested in my life, and I always pictured if I got arrested, it wouldn't have been a pleasant experience. But they're having a good time. Almost entirely white women and asexual males, as far as I can tell.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that fits. Are they all wearing the terrorist scarf?

[Joe Getty]

There's only one of them wearing the keffiyeh. Some of them have Covid masks on, but they're just clapping and playing music. And then you, when it's your turn, you put your hand behind your back, and then they arrest you and march you off into a big truck and take you down. It's just, what, a waste of time and money.

[Jack Armstrong]

Here's a crazy idea, and this is why I'm known as such an extremist. How about we follow the law, for instance, the laws that say you can't be masked in a demonstration. It's anti Klan laws. A lot of cities had them from the 1930s, I guess, 20s and 30s. Those laws are still on the books. Enforce them.

[Joe Getty]

Free Mohammed, free them all, is what they're mostly chanting.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. All right. Good for you. And then they feel like they're really brave standing up for. I take your free speech concerns, which. I have concerns about that on this case too, but I take your free speech concerns more seriously. If you weren't also protesting, you know, for Hamas before this happened.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that's. That's the. The beauty of these people is they are demonstrating in favor of Islamist organizations that would beat them Torture them, rape them, heave them off the building. A building before noon, day one, when they were in charge. Every damn one of those linguine, armed, radical, sexless, pale, women's study major jackasses. God, how do you not get that? It's like Jews for Hitler. Seriously. I don't know why it's that bizarre and troubling.

[Joe Getty]

I don't know why the size of their arms comes into play.

[Jack Armstrong]

Just descriptive. I'm an artist.

[Joe Getty]

That's true. You're just describing the scene. And I'm looking at the scene right now, live. And that's a pretty accurate. I'd be willing to arm wrestle almost every dude I can see up there.

[Jack Armstrong]

At your advanced age. Old. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Okay, great. Now you get to say forever you were a protester. And arrested by the man standing up for something or other. Whoop dee doo.

[Unknown]

I have some final thoughts. And some people say they are the greatest final thoughts they've ever heard. But if you look at what's happening, I would have to say Armstrong and Getty have some wonderful final thoughts. They are right up there with Abraham Lincoln and everybody knows it.

[Joe Getty]

Here's your host for Final Thoughts, Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

How about a final thought from everybody on the crew to wrap up the show for the day? There is Michelangelo into the control room. Michael, final thought. Trying to think of what Jack can.

[Joe Getty]

Do to get himself so he could sleep at night.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was thinking warm milk maybe, or.

[Joe Getty]

I guess you could get yourself right with the Lord, Jack. Maybe that's it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Maybe that's a problem. Right? That's right. Sir. Katie Green, our esteemed newswoman, has a final thought. Katie?

[Katie Green]

So the popular vote on Twitter from our first hour, from when I almost died on the show yesterday, is that they all think it would have been great ratings. Great radio and great ratings.

[Joe Getty]

There's no doubt I don't know about. Yeah, well. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Jack, a final thought for us.

[Joe Getty]

In the late evening hours tonight, there is going to be a full hour long lunar eclipse. If you are somewhere where the sky is clear. Supposed to be longer and better to see than they usually are just because of the way the earth's tilted and variety of things. So, hoping for clear skies tonight.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'll see you on the dark side of the moon. Speaking of music, I was tossing and turning last night for a very long time and just kept having music go through my head. I kept telling myself, shut up, shut up. Then I thought, you know what? Every single band going through my head is a British band. I wonder what that means. Then I said shut up with that. To shut up. Analyzing your insomnia. It's crazy when the brain turns on. Turns on. You can't turn it off.

[Joe Getty]

We have breaking news. Putin says he agrees to the US plan for a Ukraine cease fire. But the details are the key.

[Jack Armstrong]

What does that mean?

[Joe Getty]

I know. Hilarious. Armstrong and Getty wrapping up another grueling four hour workday.

[Jack Armstrong]

I am rolling my eyes violently. So many people. Thanks. So little time. Go to armstrong getty.com check out Katie's Corner. Katie and corner are both spelled with K. You got your hot links, you got your A G swag. Drop us a note. If there's something we ought to be talking about, send it along. Mailbagarmstrongandgetti.com so we're advocating illiteracy, are we? See you tomorrow.

[Joe Getty]

God bless America.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Unknown]

Our message is clear.

[Joe Getty]

You're going to continue to speak lies to his truth.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was wondering, you know, what you felt about that. It makes no sense. Are you sure?

[Unknown]

Pocahontas says yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

So let's go out with a bang. Comes to trade though. China's like a pig with an enormously long tongue. I mean, really, if you think about it. Oh, I'm sorry.

[Joe Getty]

Bye. Bye.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Gettys.