Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "It's All Crap!"

Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty deliver a spirited, skeptical takedown of the emerging hard-left politics gaining traction in American cities, particularly focusing on the recent victory speech of Zoran Mamdani, labeled by some as a "communist" mayor in New York. The show explores the history and radical evolution of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), debates the risks of far-left governance, and laments the loss of traditional fiscal conservatism—all with their trademark sarcasm and wit. The episode then pivots sharply to lighter fare, including unusual sandwich combinations and a tale of miraculous survival in the wilderness, before closing with existential dread about economic collapse and the uncertain realignment of American politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zoran Mamdani's Victory & The "New" Left

[03:45 – 14:20]

• Opening with Mamdani’s Speech: Jack shares a portion of Zoran Mamdani’s victory speech, where Mamdani lists a diverse coalition of supporters and unapologetically states his identity as a young, Muslim democratic socialist.

• Joe’s Analysis:

  • Marxist Evolution: Joe argues Mamdani represents a dangerous shift, noting "he is a fabulous, talented populist, and a Marxist and Islamist and incredibly dangerous. But he's skilled." ([04:17])
  • Criticism of Coalition Politics: Joe and Jack suggest that while diversity is embraced rhetorically, the economic engine (taxpaying professionals) is overlooked.

• The Shift Within DSA:

  • Joe outlines how the DSA, once moderate and pragmatic, is now dominated by radicals. He quotes Maurice Isserman, a DSA founder, who left after the group "failed to condemn Hamas for October 7th, but celebrated it." ([09:00])
  • The new DSA is described as "hard core Marxist Leninists and they're proud of it. They don't hide it." ([10:45])

• Memorable Quote:

  • Joe: "We think, come on, those people will never get over. It'll never happen here. They'll come and they'll go, this is a fad. It'll be fine." ([11:21])
  • Jack: "George Will was writing about this... every generation or so you have to reteach people that socialism doesn't work. We are the best example of free market self governance in world history." ([11:42])

2. Ideological Realignment and the Dangers of Complacency

[14:00 – 16:20]

• Youth and Socialism:

  • The hosts express concern about rising rates of young people identifying as socialists and the historic tendency to dismiss these movements as fleeting.

• Joe’s Warning:

  • “The further we let it go, it's like a disease, an infection. The more painful it will be to beat it back.” ([13:32])

• Overconfidence in the System:

  • Both hosts warn that assuming the American system is immune to radical change blinds citizens to slow-moving, but profound, shifts in power.

3. Old Socialism Excuses & Historical Amnesia

[14:00 – 16:20]

• Jack on the Excuses of Socialism:

  • “Socialism is built on the excuse ...‘they didn’t let us do it our way.’ ...We got 98% of it. But that last 2%—that was the 2% that mattered. So let’s try it again.” ([14:00])

• Election Trends:

  • The conversation touches on current elections where socialist and Marxist-leaning candidates hold serious sway, including Minneapolis.

4. Skepticism toward Victimhood Narratives & Modern Political Theater

[15:33 – 16:20]

• Mamdani’s Claims to Victimhood:

  • Jack and Joe sarcastically dismiss Mamdani’s claims of overcoming adversity ("against all odds"), pointing out he won by a huge margin and that New York elected a Muslim mayor handily.

• Quote:

  • Jack: “You live in such a Islamophobic city. They elected an unqualified Muslim as mayor. That's how Islamophobic New York is.” ([15:33])

5. Survival Story and Satirical Tech Musings

[20:11 – 24:04]

• 20 Day Survival Story:

  • The hosts discuss a man’s miraculous survival in the woods, while expressing skepticism about his survival choices and using the story to riff on new satellite phone technology for emergencies (“Find a satellite and it tells you which direction to point...Anywhere on the planet. …You can text anybody.” —Jack [23:01]).

• Humorous Asides:

  • Joe: “Communists are taking over the country, but the technology is pretty cool.” ([23:11])
  • This segment provides comic relief and highlights their lighthearted approach amid the gloom.

6. Economic Doomspiral & Vulnerability in the Digital Age

[30:21 – 35:34]

• Supreme Court & Presidential Tariff Power:

  • Discussion of Neil Katyal’s Supreme Court argument over whether the president has unchecked authority to impose tariffs, with both hosts agreeing these justifications are often retrofitted for political expediency.

• Debt & Investment Crisis:

  • Insight from an economic podcast: If the U.S. is ever no longer the safest place to invest, it’s time to buy “bullets and food”—not invest elsewhere.
  • Jack: “That's the level of crisis we'd be talking about if we ever aren't the best place to park your money.” ([31:44])

• Tech Vulnerability:

  • Joe worries about a scenario where Chinese hackers wipe out the financial system, rendering all digital money inaccessible.
  • Joe: "Where's your money? ...unless you got gold bars buried in your backyard. China has already hacked into our various financial systems..." ([32:58])

• Societal Fragility Compared to the 1930s:

  • Jack notes the shift away from self-sufficiency: "It's something like 40% of people made their living something adjacent to farming. Now it's 0.3%... As soon as the shelves go bare ...I can't feed myself." ([35:00])

• Dark Humor:

  • Jack: “Yeah, and so as soon as the shelves go bare...I can't feed myself."
  • Joe: “We both get in the gym and stuff, but I’m not sure I’m hearty enough for the apocalypse. Cannibalism. …I am delicious.” ([35:34])

7. Political Realignment & the State of Healthcare

[38:02 – 46:21]

• Marjorie Taylor Greene on The View:

  • Surprising bipartisan populism: MTG appeared to endorse single-payer healthcare based on personal experience.
  • Jack: “A Republican, one of the more popular, one of the most MAGA Republican congresspeople in America wants to go single health care. So where are we?” ([43:09])

• Left-Right Distinctions Blurring:

  • Bill Kristol—a major conservative pundit—declares he’d vote for Mamdani, revealing how “Trump derangement” has realigned priorities for some.
  • Jack: “I don't know where we are ...the whole left right thing is going to break down completely and maybe it should.” ([44:08])

• Healthcare Woes:

  • Joe laments: "Crony capitalism has ruined it. The idea that we are in the mess we're in because of the free market is the opposite of the truth. …It's so discouraging." ([44:48])

8. Final Thoughts: Cynicism, Candy, and Limited Government

[46:21 – 48:47]

• Joe’s Core Principle:

  • "This is why you want limited government. Because once unlimited government takes hold, the power and complexity of it is impossible to undo." ([47:34])

• Comic Relief:

  • Michael Angelo contemplates bartering personal belongings after economic collapse; Katie Green jokes about bidets.

• Jack indulges:

  • “I've eaten more candy in the last four days than I had in the previous year...I just can't walk by a bag of Hershey Kisses and not pop one in my mouth.” ([48:24])

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Joe Getty:

  • “He is a fabulous, talented populist, and a Marxist and Islamist and incredibly dangerous.” ([04:17])
  • "As Margaret Thatcher reminded us, sooner or later you run out of other people's money to spend." ([04:40])
  • "It’s all crap. So what brand of crap it is? I just. I run out of patience." ([07:08])
  • “They control a majority of the votes ...there’s this real tension... between pragmatic means and people who are these purists who believe they're going to start a vanguard and have a revolution.” ([08:40])
  • "We are gonna reap what we sowed. Wake up, friends." ([12:27])
  • "The further we let it go, it's like a disease...the more painful it will be to beat it back." ([13:32])
  • "Hard core Marxist Leninists ...they don't hide it. They tell you what they are." ([10:45])
  • “This is why you want limited government. Because once unlimited government takes hold, the power and complexity of it is impossible to undo.” ([47:34])

• Jack Armstrong:

  • "While it's nice you want to stand up for that crowd you just mentioned, you also need the kind of regular makes a lot of money taxpayer to fund everything." ([04:25])
  • “Socialism is built on the excuse ...‘they didn’t let us do it our way.’ So let’s try it again.” ([14:00])
  • "It's something like 40% of people made their living something adjacent to farming. Now it's 0.3%...I can't feed myself." ([35:00])
  • "A Republican, one of the more popular ...MAGA Republican congresspeople in America wants to go single health care. So where are we?" ([43:09])
  • "I just can't walk by a bag of Hershey Kisses and not pop one in my mouth." ([48:24])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Mamdani’s Speech and DSA Analysis: [03:45 – 14:20]
• Complacency and Danger of Radical Shifts: [11:21 – 16:20]
• Wilderness Survival Story & Tech: [20:11 – 24:04]
• Tariff Power Supreme Court Case: [28:26 – 36:44]
• Economic Collapse Scenario: [32:58 – 35:34]
• Populism & Political Realignment: [38:02 – 46:21]
• Final Thoughts—Cynicism and Looming Realignment: [47:10 – 48:47]

Conclusion

This episode is a blend of sharp historical and political critique, urgent warnings about ideological drift, and the wry, sardonic humor Armstrong & Getty are known for. While the show is rooted in conservative skepticism of socialism and populism, the hosts also express disillusionment with the lack of genuine free-market arguments on either side and bemoan the state of American discourse, all while maintaining an accessible, conversational tone that veers from serious to silly.

For listeners seeking insight into the current state of American political realignment—with historical context and a fair dose of satire—"It's All Crap!" is quintessential Armstrong & Getty.