Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: Jack Wants To Put A Camera In Gavin Newsom's Bathroom
Date: January 28, 2026
Episode Overview
In this episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty dive into current California politics, media dynamics, law enforcement controversies, government accountability, and cutting-edge technology. The conversation features sharp criticisms of Governor Gavin Newsom, scrutiny over government processes, insightful media analysis, and a playful but thoughtful discussion about the advances and future of self-driving cars. Interspersed throughout are the duo’s trademark irreverence, humor, and cultural references, as well as a light-hearted animal news segment.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Federal Oversight of California Wildfire Recovery
00:30 - 02:10
- President Trump's Executive Order: Joe Pollock (California Post) reports on Trump’s order to speed up wildfire recovery by federalizing the permit process, responding to delays by state and local officials.
- Newsom Pushes Back: Governor Gavin Newsom resists accusations, insisting what Californians need is funding, not permit streamlining.
- Commentary on Red Tape: The hosts point out systemic government inefficiency.
- “If Gavin Newsom is involved, you can just assume there’s malfeasance or poor management.” — Michael, [01:01]
2. Media Bias & Coverage Disparities
02:10 - 04:45
- California Versus New York Media: Jack rants about how major stories in California get less national play compared to similar New York events.
- “It’s always bothered me that… anything that happens in New York gets national attention. Things happen in Los Angeles or California, nobody pays any attention.” — Jack Armstrong, [02:36]
- California Post as a New Player: Discussing potential for California-focused journalism to gain national relevance.
- Recent LA Police Commission Incident: A radical protest at a police meeting is largely ignored by national outlets, despite its severity.
3. Radical Protest Tactics & Public Perception
04:45 - 06:15
- Harassment of Journalists: Story of agitators targeting a California Post reporter covering a police accountability meeting; panel contemplates the intent behind such intimidation.
- “Terrorizing a young woman, trying to provoke a reaction, desperately hoping for violence and chaos.” — Michael, [04:07]
- Saul Alinsky Tactics: Reference to provoking authorities, banking on public perception of police brutality, even when provocation is intentional.
4. Why West Coast Media Lags Nationally
06:15 - 07:06
- Population Density & Media Origins: Michael suggests historical and demographic factors have entrenched the dominance of East Coast national media.
- “That’s where the infrastructure grew up. So that’s where it is.” — Michael, [06:46]
5. Gavin Newsom’s Image, Hair, and Political Prospects
07:06 - 09:43
- Satirical Praise: Nelly Bowles’s snarky take on Gavin Newsom’s persona, linked to billionaire Alex Soros’s public political endorsements.
- “I like Gavin’s aggressive sociopath energy. I like his whole attractive Marin family… but even I balk at this.” — Nelly Bowles (read by Michael), [07:23]
- Presidential Power Rankings: Mark Halperin’s recent assessment sees Newsom dropping due to unforced errors.
- Vanity Segment: Jack jokes about wanting a live cam in Newsom’s bathroom to document his elaborate hair routine.
- “If somebody could somehow get a camera into his bathroom… Imagine what a great video that would be.” — Jack Armstrong, [09:37]
6. The “Doomsday Clock” and Public Alarmism
10:06 - 15:35
- Mockery & Critique: The Doomsday Clock concept is lambasted as overwrought and unscientific.
- “This is a stupid concept that for some reason gets people’s attention.” — Jack Armstrong, [10:06]
- “This is truly the stupidest concept in the world.” — Charles C.W. Cook (quoted), [14:47]
- Expanded Threats: The hosts chart the shift from nuclear war focus to including climate change and “autocracy” (implicitly referencing Trump).
- Institutional Critique: Many hallowed organizations and their pronouncements are called into question for outsized influence.
7. Russia’s War Crimes in Ukraine
16:05 - 17:06
- Civilian Train Attacked: Discussion of a deadly Russian strike on a Ukrainian passenger train and international silence.
- “If this happened in China or the United States or any African country or anywhere, this would be declared a war crime.” — Jack Armstrong, [16:36]
- Staggering Losses: Over 2 million casualties since the war began.
8. Tech History & Self-Driving Car Wars
18:00 - 28:13
- Historical Analogies: Edison vs Westinghouse (AC vs DC), VHS vs Beta, setting up a comparison to current self-driving tech battles.
- Waymo vs Tesla: Contrast between lidar-based systems (Waymo) and Tesla’s camera/computer “vision,” with pros, cons, and personal experience anecdotes.
- “My cybertruck drove me to work today… It’s really quite amazing.” — Jack Armstrong, [20:46]
- “The Tesla idea was that what humans can do with their eyeballs and a brain, a car must also be able to do…” — Michael, [21:21]
- Mapping vs “Eyeballs”: Discussing the strengths and limitations of mapping (Waymo) vs generalized vision (Tesla).
- Potential Societal Shifts: Imagining a future where commuting is transformed by self-driving offices and working on the go.
- “If you can turn that commute… into sleeping, watching a show, going through emails… that will revolutionize life in America.” — Michael, [27:46]
9. Touchscreens in Cars: The Case Against
28:13 - 30:44
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Old Controls Preferred: Michael argues touchscreens are dangerous without tactile feedback—until full automation is realized.
- “Touchscreens are a terrible idea until self-driving comes along because… there’s no tactile response.” — Michael, [29:52]
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Self-Driving Converts: Jack admits he was once a skeptic but finds the technology genuinely life-changing: watching football while being driven.
10. Lighthearted Zoological News
31:32 - 36:08
- Animal Headlines: Bald eagles nesting in California, a mountain lion captured in San Francisco, and a wild elephant encounter in Sri Lanka.
- “Reminding people that wild elephants can be dangerous. For people with an IQ of 6, that’s caution.” — Jack Armstrong, [34:40]
- Fun Facts & Banter: Panting eagles, comedic riffs on animal naming, and affectionate ribbing about patriotic attachment to eagles.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If Gavin Newsom is involved, you can just assume there’s malfeasance or poor management.” — Michael, [01:01]
- “It’s always bothered me that… anything that happens in New York gets national attention. Things happen in Los Angeles or California, nobody pays any attention.” — Jack Armstrong, [02:36]
- “I want to vote for Gavin for things I don’t care about… I like Gavin’s aggressive sociopath energy.” — Nelly Bowles (read by Michael), [07:23]
- “If somebody could somehow get a camera into his [Newsom’s] bathroom… Imagine what a great video that would be.” — Jack Armstrong, [09:37]
- “This is a stupid concept that for some reason gets people’s attention.” — Jack Armstrong, [10:06] (on the Doomsday Clock)
- “If you can turn that commute… into sleeping, watching a show, going through emails… that will revolutionize life in America.” — Michael, [27:46]
- “Reminding people that wild elephants can be dangerous. For people with an IQ of 6, that’s caution.” — Jack Armstrong, [34:40]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Federal vs. State Wildfire Recovery: 00:30 – 02:10
- LA Police Meeting Protest & California Post: 02:10 – 06:15
- West vs. East Media Discussion: 06:15 – 07:06
- Gavin Newsom, Soros, and Power Rankings: 07:06 – 09:43
- Doomsday Clock & Cultural Institutions: 10:06 – 15:35
- Ukraine War Crime Discussion: 16:05 – 17:06
- Historical Tech Battles & Self-Driving Cars: 18:00 – 28:13
- Touchscreen Rant: 28:13 – 30:44
- Animal News: 31:32 – 36:08
Tone & Style
The hosts balance sarcasm, skepticism, cultural critique, and real-world anecdotes, paired with playful banter and layered pop-cultural references, to dissect contemporary issues in media, politics, and technology. Their style is irreverent, skeptical of authority and media “wisdom,” and always ready with a joke—even on serious subjects.
For Further Listening
To catch the spirited debate, tech asides, and humorous rants in full, listen to the podcast episode:
Armstrong & Getty On Demand - “Jack Wants To Put A Camera In Gavin Newsom's Bathroom” (January 28, 2026)