Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Jungle Style

Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Key Guests: Jim Tankersley (New York Times Berlin Bureau Chief), Dr. Jeff McCausland (CBS News Military Consultant)

Overview

This episode dives into current transatlantic politics, security, and media controversy. Highlights include a deep discussion with NYT’s Jim Tankersley about shifting European attitudes on defense and fiscal policy, an expert view on the Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine situations with Dr. Jeff McCausland, and a heated debate over Jimmy Kimmel’s firing, FCC overreach, and freedom of speech in broadcasting. Lighthearted moments involve musings on chimpanzees drinking alcohol, drive-thru drama, and “jungle style” at In-N-Out.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

European Defense, Russia-Ukraine, and Transatlantic Uncertainty

[03:55–11:56; 27:24–38:35]

• Trump and Starmer Press Conference (Russia/Ukraine):

  • President Trump, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, addresses the Russia-Ukraine conflict but offers no new solutions—Europe is wary of U.S. intentions.
  • “He keeps expressing varying degrees of annoyance with Vladimir Putin for not coming to the table and brokering a deal. But he's also not, we didn't hear him say any new big things that he's going to do to put the pressure on.” — Jim Tankersley [04:28]

• European Self-Reliance:

  • Shift in Europe led by Poland’s Tusk, questioning U.S. defense necessity: “Why do we, the 500 million, need the 340 million of the United States to protect us against 160 million?” — Quoting Tusk [05:12]
  • Tankersley notes a real change: Germany and others ramping up military spending due to fear of Russian aggression, not only to defend Ukraine but also in case the U.S. wavers.
  • “German leaders ... are constantly worried that Putin would not stop at Ukraine, that he might go to ... Lithuania or ... Poland ... and that they need to be ready on their own, you know, with or without help from the Americans.” — Tankersley [06:27]

• Fiscal Woes and Military Burden:

  • UK and broader Western world running into “fiscal space” issues—spending outpaces revenue, making promises unsustainable.
  • Pressure to increase military spending comes amidst economic strain.
  • “That's what economists call fiscal space. ... Great Britain does have a coming fiscal space problem. France does. ... The situations have worsened in all of those countries.” — Tankersley [08:33]

• Immigration Trends:

  • Despite heated debate, immigrant flows to Western Europe have dramatically fallen—political credit is lagging public perception.
  • “It’s sort of this weird thing that people don’t realize … that flow of immigrants has gone down.” — Tankersley [09:58]

• Living in Germany/Oktoberfest:

  • Tankersley describes his “cool” assignment in Berlin—reporting, family life, and a tongue-in-cheek mission to Oktoberfest “for journalism”.
  • “Every once in a while you can go like I’m going to do on, on Saturday and, and watch them tap the first keg. For journalism.” — Tankersley [11:44]

Jimmy Kimmel Firing, The FCC, and Free Speech

[16:27–26:18]

• FCC Threats and Kimmel’s Removal:

  • Jack Armstrong reads FCC chairman Brendan Carr’s remarks perceived as a threat: networks risk fines or loss of license if they air content like Kimmel’s.
    • “That's clearly a threat. And it's unacceptable. …We don't win by canceling the right for people to be wrong. That's ridiculous.” — Joe Getty [17:15]
  • Kimmel was removed after controversial comments linked to the controversial shooting of Charlie Kirk.
  • Armstrong and Getty lambast both FCC overreach and Kimmel’s smug tone, attributing his removal to a mix of political heat, poor ratings, and affiliate rejection.

• Media Double Standards:

  • Reference to how “Politically Incorrect” was pulled post-9/11 for much less—distinguishing business decisions from government pressure.
  • “Grocery stores don’t have to stock foods that people find repugnant. And TV affiliates don’t have to run shows they find repugnant.” — Joe Getty [21:20]

• Skepticism Over Comeback:

  • Reports suggest Disney might bring Kimmel back if he apologizes, but the hosts doubt his popularity is enough to warrant it.

Israel-Gaza, Urban Warfare, and Prospects for Peace

[27:24–38:35]

• Israel’s Military Objective in Gaza:

  • Discussion with Dr. Jeff McCausland, who is skeptical about Israel’s goal to “destroy Hamas”—noting Hamas is an ideology, urban warfare is grueling, and civilian casualties accelerate recruitment for opponents.
    • “I’ve never been, frankly, optimistic about them destroying Hamas in the fullest sense because Hamas is an ideology.” — Dr. McCausland [31:53]
  • The Israeli offensive described as massive, deliberate, and highly destructive due to avoidance of own casualties.

• Ukraine War, German Angst, and U.S. Leadership:

  • McCausland echoes Tankersley: European anxiety is real; Germans are haunted by history and concerned about Russian expansion.
    • “You continue to push until you have force coming in the opposite direction. … Germans, … Poles or the Balt[s], … have real concerns about the Russians.” — McCausland [33:27]
  • Notes U.S. under Trump is ending military aid, shifting burden on Europe—raising questions about American leadership and reliability.

• Can Ukraine Win?

  • White House divided: one camp wants to escalate aid to Ukraine, another seeks to exit.
  • “Winning would be, to me, an end of the conflict. … Ukraine would have to have some assurances this is not going to happen again, ... like the European Union, maybe not NATO.” — McCausland [37:12]

Jungle Style: Chimps, Cheeseburgers, and Public Freakouts

[42:30–47:44]

• Chimpanzees Get Drunk (For Real):

  • Amusing riff on recent research: wild chimps ingest the alcohol equivalent of several drinks each day via overripe fruit.
    • “Animals that fling their poop and masturbate in public might be drunk?” — Jack Armstrong [42:48]

• In-N-Out, “Jungle Style,” and Drive-Thru Drama:

  • Light banter about In-N-Out’s “animal style” secret menu (confused as “jungle style”), tricks for getting fries well-done, and insider stories of customers being punished for cutting in line.
    • “When it was my turn to order, I placed my order, and then I was like, by the way, like, that silver Toyota cut everybody in line… They put like a home run note … they’re just gonna take way longer to make his order.” — Caller [44:25]
  • Host Joe Getty jokes about fights in drive-thrus on YouTube and “Public Freakout” videos.

• Societal Decorum and Minor Annoyances:

  • Jack reflects on not sweating small stuff—waiting a couple of extra minutes in line vs. fighting, and how these “freakouts” are an amusing but cautionary spectacle.

Late-Night TV’s Shrinking Relevance

[47:44–48:34]

• Ratings for Kimmel, Colbert, and Fallon are all shadows of their former selves—hosts argue society pays too much attention to shows that now barely register in audience size.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with timestamps)

• European attitude on defense:

  • “German leaders … are constantly worried that Putin would not stop at Ukraine, that he might go to … Lithuania or … Poland … and that they need to be ready on their own, you know, with or without help from the Americans.” — Jim Tankersley [06:27]

• FCC & Kimmel:

  • “That's clearly a threat. And it's unacceptable. …We don't win by canceling the right for people to be wrong.” — Joe Getty [17:15]
  • “Kimmel was taken off … because he was such a jerk about it and so smug in his ignorance that the local affiliates … said, ‘We don’t want this guy.’ But that’s a completely different issue than the government moving in.” — Joe Getty [20:28]

• Urban warfare in Gaza:

  • “Each building, small, large, didn’t matter, had to have two enormous X’s on it before they moved on. What those two X’s mean: that entire building, closet, basement… had to be searched at least twice.” — Dr. McCausland [29:29]

• Media and double standards:

  • “If you want to discredit Jimmy Kimmel, he is your best ally in doing that because he’s such a jackass.” — Joe Getty [21:35]

• Society, public freakouts:

  • “I spent about an hour and a half watching Public Freakouts … it’s a great reminder to not do that because there’s a camera everywhere.” — LG XBoom Advertiser/Caller [46:55]

Structure & Flow

The episode smoothly transitions from geopolitics (with expert guests providing depth on European defense and crisis regions) to U.S. media controversies and then to lighter social commentary. The tone is conversational, sometimes sardonic, but also earnest and accessible—true to Armstrong & Getty’s blend of irreverence and news analysis.

Suggested Listen for Key Topics

• European defense and U.S. leadership: [03:55–11:56]
• Gaza urban warfare and Russia-Ukraine: [27:24–38:35]
• Kimmel, FCC, free speech: [16:27–26:18]
• Drive-thru drama and public freakouts: [42:30–47:44]
• Late-night TV’s fade: [47:44–48:34]

Perfect for listeners seeking a witty, unvarnished take on global and American issues, media freedom, and, yes, why chimps might be drunk in the wild.