Little Fat Here, Little Fat There

Summary

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Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "Little Fat Here, Little Fat There"

Date: September 30, 2025

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Overview

In this episode, Armstrong & Getty delve into U.S. military readiness and cultural controversy, with a special focus on a fiery speech by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth aimed at refocusing the military on war preparedness and eliminating ideological distractions. The hosts discuss the consequences of "woke" culture in the armed forces, shifting U.S. support for Israel, the proliferation of online conspiracy theories, and touch on recent social media controversies. The episode weaves together sharp commentary, memorable quotes, and timely analysis, maintaining Armstrong & Getty's signature irreverent and provocative style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pete Hegseth's War Department Speech and Military Readiness

(00:30–13:49)

• Origins and Purpose of the Speech

  • Pete Hegseth, in a historic move, convenes all top military leaders for a rousing, almost corporate-style "pep talk" in D.C., aimed at refocusing on warfighting rather than social or ideological priorities.
  • Hegseth echoes ancient military philosophy: "To ensure peace, we must prepare for war." (Pete Hegseth, 00:30)

• Trump's Reaction to Hegseth

  • Trump praises Hegseth's speech effusively, even joking, "It was too good. He wants to fire him... I don't want to go on after that." (Jack Armstrong relaying Trump, 00:50)

• Critique of Military Culture and Focus

  • Hosts lament the prior trend of treating the military as a "progressive jobs program," lacking focus and discipline:
    • "It needed an ass whooping. That's what this sounds like. Pardon my French, folks." (Michael, 01:48)
  • Discussion of how recent military leadership has sometimes prioritized ideology or diversity over merit and war preparedness.

• Hegseth’s Key Messages (Direct Quotes):

  • "From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: war fighting, preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit." (Pete Hegseth, 03:06)
  • Critique of past promotions: "We’ve promoted too many uniform leaders for the wrong reasons. Based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts... We became the Woke department. But not anymore." (Pete Hegseth, 05:42)
  • Rejecting "DEI, dudes in dresses, climate change worship" and promising a military focused purely on combat capability: "No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship." (Pete Hegseth, 06:45)

• Host Responses

  • Jack: "That is good stuff. I can’t wait to see the way this is handled on the lefty media." (06:28)
  • Michael: "No more DEI offices. The military, in my opinion, shouldn’t spend a dollar or a moment worried about climate change. Worry about China and their military, period." (07:33; Jack, 07:46)

• Debate Over Military Standards

  • Hegseth invokes the "Golden Rule Test" for standards in military units, rejecting lowered standards for diversity or ideological reasons.
    • "Would you want him serving with fat or unfit or under trained troops... The answer is not just no. It’s hell no." (Pete Hegseth, 09:06)
  • Hosts briefly debate tech roles vs. combat standards (Jack: "I’m all for fat drone operators if that’s what it takes." 10:28; Michael: "But how about don’t call them a fat pig?" 10:36)

• Final Word on Standards

  • Hegseth: "Standards must be uniform, gender neutral and high. If not, they’re not standards, they’re just suggestions. Suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed." (Pete Hegseth, 11:30)

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2. Culture & Social Media Controversies

(14:30–18:19)

• Band Announcer's Comment and Apology

  • Florida A&M band announcer sparks a social media firestorm with a joke about the ASU Honeybees (plus-sized dance troupe) being "the new face of Ozempic."
    • "The band announcer posted on Facebook that the ASU Honeybees... was ‘the new face of Ozempic.'" (Michael, 16:38)
  • Over-the-top apologies and online outrage are lampooned by the hosts, with Armstrong mockingly describing excessive atonement: "I plucked out one of my own eyes to show how ashamed I am." (Jack Armstrong, 17:29)

• Cultural Observations

  • Jack reminisces about college football chants and the irreverent American spirit: "That is some really great America stuff right there. More of that. Less politically correct." (Jack Armstrong, 17:53–18:19)

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3. Middle East Peace Plan & U.S. Political Realignment

(18:28–29:19)

• Announcement of Trump-backed Gaza Peace Plan

  • Unprecedented broad support across political lines for a new Gaza/Israel peace proposal, with everyone from NPR to Fox News expressing optimism.
    • "You got a group of people that are backing this idea that never come together on anything." (Jack Armstrong, 19:18)
  • Plan involves phased Israeli withdrawal, apolitical Palestinian governance, and oversight by an international board (with Trump as chairman).

• Conditionality and Threats

  • Netanyahu's warning: "If Hamas refuses to accept, then Israel will finish... the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done." (Benjamin Netanyahu, 20:43)

• Skepticism Over Lasting Peace

  • Michael: "Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, period. If they agree to this, it’s only because it’s their last option." (21:45)

• Shifting American Public Opinion

  • Dramatic drop in U.S. support for aid to Israel:
    • "A majority of American voters now oppose economic and military aid to Israel, a stunning reversal in public opinion since the October 7 attack..." (Jack Armstrong, 23:19)
    • Young Americans especially critical—"college kids or a lot of that poll, and that’s what their college teachers are telling them." (Jack Armstrong, 24:35)

• Rise of Anti-Israel Conspiracy Theories

  • Hosts discuss MAGA/right-wing influencers (Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, etc.) now turning on Israel, echoing anti-semitic conspiracy tropes.

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4. The Digital Age of Conspiracies: Gnosticism & Anti-Semitism

(29:19–37:35)

• Modern Gnosticism and Online Influencer Dynamics

  • Josh Apple’s analysis: "What we’re witnessing is a digital form of Gnosticism... Today’s online truth seekers believe malevolent forces control the visible world... Modern Gnostics believe in what is deliberately hidden." (Michael, quoting Apple, 33:41–34:50)

• Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson’s Audience

  • Candace Owens pushes anti-Israel narratives to millions. The hosts note the rapid proliferation and monetization of “secret knowledge” online.
    • "Candace Owens has 7.2 million followers... They're almost all about how Israel's controlling everything, including Trump." (Jack Armstrong, 35:56)

• Critique of Conspiracist Thinking

  • Michael: "This isn't healthy political discourse. It's spiritual pathology masquerading as analysis... You only need to know the right secrets." (36:24)

• Historical Context of Anti-Semitism

  • Armstrong reflects on how blaming the Jews is a persistent Western trope: "I've never quite understood it... It's just been a part of Western Civ for a very long time, for whatever reason." (Jack Armstrong, 37:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the purpose of military strength:

  • “To ensure peace, we must prepare for war.”
    — Pete Hegseth (00:30)

• On the military’s past cultural drift:

  • “We became the Woke department. But not anymore.”
    — Pete Hegseth (05:42)
  • “No more DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division distraction or gender delusions.”
    — Pete Hegseth (06:45)

• Gaza peace plan consensus:

  • “You got a group of people that are backing this idea that never come together on anything.”
    — Jack Armstrong (19:18)

• Skepticism of new allegiances:

  • "I have no idea what's going on with Tucker. I really don't. ...he's either lost his mind or has become completely wildly cynical."
    — Michael (26:49–27:04)

• Modern conspiracy thinking captured:

  • “Modern Gnostics believe in what is deliberately hidden. ...Watch this video, listen to this podcast, read this thread, and you'll be awakened to secret truths.”
    — Michael (34:41–34:50)

• Satirical take on social media apologies:

  • “I plucked out one of my own eyes to show how ashamed I am.”
    — Jack Armstrong (17:29)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30–13:49 — Pete Hegseth’s military speech, reaction, and critique of “woke” culture
• 14:30–18:19 — Band announcer social media firestorm, American cultural commentary
• 18:28–29:19 — Trump’s Gaza peace plan, shifting U.S. sentiment toward Israel, influence of right-wing influencers
• 29:19–37:35 — Digital Gnosticism, conspiracy culture, online anti-Semitism, and its historical roots

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains Armstrong & Getty’s blend of biting humor, skepticism, and cultural conservatism. The hosts punctuate serious policy discussion with satire, cultural observations, and frequent jabs at ideological excesses across the spectrum. Their engagement with social media controversies and conspiracy theories is both critical and mocking, reflecting wariness of both left and right-wing extremism.

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For listeners seeking bold analysis of military affairs, media narratives, and the wild world of online political culture—this episode delivers pointed, opinionated, and at times, darkly comic commentary.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Joe Getty]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Michael]

Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Pete Hegseth]

The origin dates to the 4th century Rome and has been repeated ever since, including by our first commander in chief, George Washington, the first leader of the War Department. It captures a simple yet profound truth. To ensure peace, we must prepare for war.

[Jack Armstrong]

So in a practically unprecedented move, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called all your generals, admirals, everybody in charge of all our military to come together there in D.C. and for some reason, and nobody knew for several days and it turned out it's a bit of a pep talk or like refocusing talk that sometimes you have at your corporation. You know, let's, let's, let's, let's re, let's refocus on what we're trying to do here. And he's given a speech today and Trump came out and said, wow, that was a great speech. I don't want to, I don't want him to be so good. I hate that I almost fired him. I said, I don't want to go on after that. Trump said of Pete's speech that it was too good. He wants to fire him. He also said, Trump said, before we get back to Peach, which I find is funny. Trump said, if you don't like what I'm saying, you can leave the room. Room. Because there goes your rank, there goes your future. To the generals.

[Michael]

Super. Perfect. Yeah, I'm fine with that. You know, I was just reading and then we'll get back to Pete's quotes. But I was just reading about how pre Ronald Reagan are. We were engaged in what was called an active defense strategy of military management, especially in Europe. And we were weak and drug addled and, and not very well armed against the Soviet Union. And it was a very passive, flabby way to run a military. And, and Pete, God bless him, I love what he's saying. Because if as many pieces of evidence reached our ears as did that our military had become a jobs program, a progressive jobs program, then it needed an ass whooping. That's what this sounds like. Pardon my French, folks.

[Jack Armstrong]

And to Trump's comment, if you don't like what I'm saying, you know, you ought to leave. He knows there are a lot of generals out there that were, they got, they rose through the ranks during the, this is a social experiment times and that's what, that's their main thing. Yes, they would like to get Rid of those people. I would like to get rid of those people.

[Michael]

Here, here. Next clip. Michael.

[Pete Hegseth]

The origin dates to from this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this war fighting, preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war, no one here wants war. But it's because we love peace. We love peace for our fellow citizens. They deserve peace and they rightfully expect us to deliver it.

[Michael]

This reminds me in an odd way of our discussion about the Blue City's policies toward junkies and how they make it as easy as possible to be a junkie and then are shocked that they have more junkies. Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense Secretary of War, is saying we need to be so big and scary and capable, nobody dares make war on us. Self evidently true. And to the extent that we strayed from that philosophy, shame on us. Well, right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Try to get the conversations about our preparedness for fighting China as opposed to is the military going to pay for abortions? If someone is pregnant on a base and wants to go to another state where they don't allow, you know, all that stuff.

[Michael]

If a man gets pregnant, will he be able to have, as a birthing person government abortion in Spanish because he's an illegal immigrant and doesn't speak English? That is my question for the general. Oh man, I love this. Let's skip ahead to 63. Michael He I tell you what, some feathers are about to get ruffled. Brace yourself.

[Pete Hegseth]

We have a sacred duty to ensure that our warriors are led by the most capable and qualified combat leaders. This is one thing you and I can control and we owe it to the force to deliver it. For too long we have simply not done that. The military has been forced by foolish and reckless politicians to focus on the wrong things. In many ways, this speech is about fixing decades of decay. Some of it obvious, some of it hidden. Or as the chairman has put it, we are clearing out the debris, removing the distractions, clearing the way for leaders to be leaders. You might say we're ending the war on warriors. I heard someone wrote a book about that.

[Michael]

That was the wind up. Michael. Next clip. Here's the pitch.

[Pete Hegseth]

For too long we've promoted too many uniform leaders for the wrong reasons. Based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so called firsts. We've pretended that combat arms and non combat arms are the same thing. We've weeded out so called toxic leaders under the guise of double blind psychology assessments promoting Risk averse go along to get along conformists. Instead, you name it, the department did it. Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the Woke department. But not anymore.

[Jack Armstrong]

Ooh, that's good.

[Michael]

Oh, that is so good.

[Jack Armstrong]

That is good stuff. I can't wait to see this way this is handled on the lefty media.

[Michael]

Woof. All right. Promoting the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Gender, race, etc. The woke department, that was the gentle part. Now he gets going in 65.

[Pete Hegseth]

This administration has done a great deal from day one to remove the social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department. To rip out the politics. No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division distraction or gender delusions. No more debris. As I've said before and will say again, we are done with that.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know if you could hear that. It sounded like there was a drone attack on Pete during the speech as a daiquiri mixer. Oh, no, no, no. Don't go back to the pizza drinker thing. That's not fair. Michael.

[Michael]

Oh yeah, Michael. Both of you, both of you, step to. Step to attention, both of you, or you'll get drummed out of this man's army. We're done with that S. No more dudes in dresses. No more DEI offices.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, the military, in my opinion, shouldn't spend a dollar or a moment worried about climate change. Worry about China and their military, period.

[Michael]

Yeah, yeah, you worry about that. The rest of us will worry if the ocean levels rise by a fifth of an inch. We'll give you more boats, waterproof boots.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, this is tough year because we're generally preaching to the choir, I suppose. Although we get a fair number of emails and texts from those of you. Tune in because you don't agree us. Agree with us, but find it entertaining on some level. Do you realize if we get beaten by China as the hyperpower in the world, none of this stuff you care about will ever happen? I mean, ever.

[Michael]

You know, that's a great point.

[Jack Armstrong]

Anywhere on earth.

[Michael]

The only hope in hell you progressives have is for the United States to continue to be strong. Think about that as you try to tear it down from K through grad school.

[Jack Armstrong]

If China, Russia, Iran and countries that fall into their orbit get their way, climate change will become a non issue, I guarantee. And nobody will say a word about it for the next 500 years.

[Michael]

Yeah, go.

[Pete Hegseth]

We are done.

[Michael]

We're done with that. S. Tell Xi Jinping about your concerns. These. The man is rolling, Michael. Next clip.

[Pete Hegseth]

Every parent deserves to know that their son or their daughter that joins our ranks is entering exactly the kind of unit that the Secretary of War would want his son to join. Think of it as the Golden Rule test. Jesus said, do unto others. That's which you would have done unto yourself. It's the ultimate simplifying test of truth. The new War Department golden rule is this. Do unto your unit as you would have done onto your own child's unit. Would you want him serving with fat or unfit or under trained troops or alongside people who can't meet basic standards? Or in a unit where standards were lowered so certain types of troops could make it in? In a unit where leaders were promoted for reasons other than merit performance and war fighting, the answer is not just no. It's hell no.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm on Pete's side. But I do wonder if he. If there's not a little bit of the. I'm super fit and everybody should be super fit.

[Michael]

I don't understand why you're undermining it. This is, this is a great moment in America.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, that's fantastic. That's absolutely fantastic.

[Michael]

In your childhood objections. I have no time for them again. I thought I drummed you out like two minutes ago. I meant to.

[Jack Armstrong]

I might be right.

[Michael]

Note to self, drum Jack out of the.

[Jack Armstrong]

Again. As we discussed last hour, I'm all for fat drone operators if that's what it takes. Doesn't matter to me how fit they are.

[Michael]

But how about don't call them a fat pig.

[Unidentified Male Guest]

You can't do.

[Michael]

How about 130 pound women in a infantry combat situation?

[Jack Armstrong]

No, infantry combat. Completely different.

[Michael]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Obviously.

[Michael]

Right. And that's. I, I have a feeling Pete would agree with you. And, and I will be interested to hear him clarify. Going forward, the, the technological branch of the service, however it takes shape, is going to have different requirements and we'll have to approach it in different ways. Well, God.

[Jack Armstrong]

And based on what's happening in Ukraine and all the writing that I've seen about this is what war is going to look like. Everybody pay attention. There's a lot of that. There's a lot of technology involved.

[Michael]

Right, right. But putting that aside for now, and I think they have the common sense to do it. One more clip because I'm loving this. 67.

[Jack Armstrong]

Michael.

[Pete Hegseth]

This means @ the War Department, first and foremost, we must restore a ruthless, dispassionate and common sense application of standards. I don't want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape or in combat unit with females who can't meet the same combat arms physical standards as men or troops who are not fully proficient on their assigned weapons platform or task, or under a leader who was the first. But not the best standards must be uniform, gender neutral and high. If not, they're not standards, they're just suggestions. Suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed.

[Michael]

The time has passed when we could have kind of fun experimental military where we, you know, just have nice people. That the first ever Eskimo woman promoted to a three star general. I mean, isn't that exciting? No, that time has passed. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Just get the best person. And if they are the female Eskimo, fine, then they should be the three star general. But if they're not, then pick somebody else.

[Michael]

Right?

[Jack Armstrong]

Right.

[Michael]

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[Jack Armstrong]

No more fat generals.

[Pete Hegseth]

Yes, we are done with that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, he actually dropped an S bomb.

[Michael]

You know, I'm going into combat next to a dainty little transgender fella. But I tell you what, it's worth it for the equality mom. I'll write to you after the battle's over. We're done with that.

[Jack Armstrong]

S. They had DEI departments in the military. Oh, that's horrifying. How long did that last?

[Michael]

Oh my God, that is horrifying. We let the woke mind virus, the Neo Marxist infection go so far.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, we got more though. We got to take a break. Stay here.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Michael]

Hey, get this.

[Pete Hegseth]

I read that nearly 200,000 BMWs were just recalled over a potential fire risk.

[Michael]

Oh, don't worry.

[Pete Hegseth]

The rest will continue taking up two parking spaces at the mall.

[Jack Armstrong]

Your car is fancy.

[Michael]

All right. This story came to us via alert listener and longtime friend of the Armstrong and Giddy show, Dave he texted it to me. My words crossed a line after social media firestorm Joe Bullard Apologizes Joe Bullard is the band announcer for Florida A and M University.

[Jack Armstrong]

The band announcer.

[Michael]

The band announcer, yes. Apparently their band is well known for their entertaining halftime shows and they have an announcer who who says stuff during the show. And I read if we had time, I would like to read piece to you because you have to read and read and read things like social media firestorm apology, blah blah blah. My comments directed toward the ASU Honeybees with a Z were men as light hearted banter, but I now recognize that they came across in a way that was hurtful and disrespectful. For that I extend my deepest and most heartfelt apologies to Then he lists like every organization that was within 25 miles of the football field when he did the horrible thing. To anyone who's offended, I am truly sorry. He goes on to write that friendly competition and playful jesting have long been part of the HBCU band culture. Blah blah blah. As an elder who has been blessed to serve and witness the brilliance Blah blah blah. In her own apology, earlier in the day the university president vowed to blah blah blah. When asked about the apology, the other school said blah blah. And they still hadn't gotten to what the f. The guy said.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's what I'm waiting for. What does he say?

[Michael]

Oh, I know you have to go and go and go and go.

[Jack Armstrong]

What do you say? That was so horrific.

[Michael]

What he said was announcer for the band. That's right, the band announcer posted on Facebook that the ASU Honeybees, which is their legendary plus sized girls dance troupe, was quote unquote the new face of Ozempic. What so? And I only gave you like half of the apologizing and bowing and scraping and weeping and tearing of garments and vowing to do better and shame brought to my family in my school and I've plucked out one of my own eyes. It's a show of my bitter, bitter self hatred. Blah blah blah. Finally they get to the comment which was blasted as demeaning and disparaging.

[Jack Armstrong]

I plucked out one of my own eyes to show how ashamed I am.

[Michael]

Right? The big old gal dance troupe was the new face of Ozempic, he said online. So.

[Jack Armstrong]

God, I came across a video the other day of what they do at Alabama games. They play the Alabama song Dixie Land Delight and then the crowd chants things in between the lyrics. Have you ever seen that before?

[Michael]

It's hilarious.

[Jack Armstrong]

Made me wish I was there. They did the It's a famous song. If you don't know Alabama, the music group from the 80s, like the biggest thing in America at the time. Anyway, they sing something and then the whole crowd chants and f. Auburn and then there's another line and Georgia too. It's fantastic. I thought that is great. That is some really great America stuff right there.

[Michael]

More of that. Less politically correct.

[Jack Armstrong]

More of that. That's what we need. A historic day, possibly. Stay tuned.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[News Reporter]

The president laying out a 20 point plan that would see Hamas release all of the remaining hostages and agree not to have any role in the governance of Gaza in any.

[Unidentified Male Guest]

The plan that we put forward today is focused on ending the war immediately, getting all of our hostages back, getting everything back.

[Jack Armstrong]

Now, I don't blame you if you kind of like spaced off during that or thinking about turning the dial or whatever. Yet another how we're gonna solve the Middle east thing. Here's what you need to know. NPR loves this plan. Fox and Friends loves this plan. Obviously, Trump, Netanyahu love this plan. The Arab countries love this plan. Tom Friedman of the New York Times loves this plan. You got a group of people that are backing this idea that never come together on anything.

[Michael]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

Which is pretty damned interesting.

[Michael]

And the cynical man's bet, of course, is this won't work. Nothing ever works. They'll just keep going like they've always been going. The difference being Israel has vowed, with the backing of the US and kind of the sort of backing of everybody else, that if they don't go for this, you get to go hog wild. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

We'll hear more about that in the rest of this reporting on ABC News.

[News Reporter]

In exchange, Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza and would slowly withdraw its military, though not fully.

[Unidentified Male Guest]

All parties will agree on a timeline for Israeli forces to withdraw in phases. They'll be withdrawing in phases. No more shooting, hopefully.

[News Reporter]

Gaza would be governed by an apolitical Palestinian committee overseen by an international board of peace with Trump as its chairman. And while just months ago Trump said Palestinians would have to leave Gaza, under this plan, no one will be forced to leave Gaza. We will encourage people to stay.

[Jack Armstrong]

Trump's the chairman of the Board of Peace, but it's going to be run by former Prime Minister of Great Britain and then a whole bunch of Arab countries right underneath him working together. So, and then here comes the threat part.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims.

[News Reporter]

But Netanyahu, with this warning, if Hamas refuses to accept, then Israel will finish.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

The job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, we ought to play, play 43 there, Michael, because this is Trump on that.

[Unidentified Male Guest]

I have a feeling that we're going to have a positive answer. But if not, as you know, Bibi, you'd have more full backing to do what you would have to do.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that's a heck of a thing. Netanyahu is saying they don't agree to this, we're going to do whatever we got to do. And Trump says you got our full backing.

[Michael]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

So to me, one of the reasons this is such a big deal is when you've got NPR saying this is, this is, they get a lot. Hamas should agree to this, and Fox agrees that. Would Hamas have any political cover, at least domestically, if they reject this for what happens next?

[Michael]

Well, they don't depend on political cover in the same way that normal societies do, because they just slaughter you if you, you disagree with them. Here's what does not change. No matter what else changes, this does not change. Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, period. If they agree to this, it's only because it's their last option. They know they won't survive not agreeing to it, but they will plot from this moment on to once again become a force that can obliterate Israel. But, you know, Bibi, Netanyahu knows that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes, but that's fine. I mean, if you establish, if this, if they agree to it and you establish some sort of area there with Gaza with eight Arab countries and, and former Prime Minister Cameron running the thing and Hamas attacks, that, that would be, that'd be a big deal.

[Michael]

Well, and especially if, if this plan works out, and, my God, I hope it does, but you will have a new level of peace and prosperity in those territories that the good people, you know, perverted as they are by the propaganda that they've been fed their entire lives, they will start to think, hey, this is really, really great. And so Hamas ought to be starved of the support and the lifeline that they would need to reconstitute themselves as a significant force.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, so here's the interesting thing here. So while you've got a peace plan coming out of Donald Trump that's got the backing of left, right and center. And I mean, many of Trump's biggest critics that exist in America are on board saying this is a good deal. Support for Israel has dramatically declined, according to this poll that's out in the New York Times today. A majority of American voters now oppose economic and military aid to Israel, a stunning reversal in public opinion since the October 7 attack, says the New York Times. It is dropped off a cliff. And we have explained that. And we'll explain it again here in a little bit. A majority of Americans now oppose sending money or military aid to Israel, which we've been doing for a very long time. About 6 out of 10 voters said that Israel should end its military campaign even if the remaining Israeli hostages were not released or Hamas was not eliminated. 60% of Americans say that.

[Michael]

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[Jack Armstrong]

40% of voters say Israel was intentionally killing civilians in Gaza. That's double the number of a year ago.

[Michael]

Propaganda works well.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. So getting to that and the numbers are really high among the young. So as we were talking about last hour, you know, okay, so you're, you got all your college kids or a lot of that poll, and that's what their college teachers are telling them. And that's what like most of the mainstream media is telling them. Then you got to wonder how many of those people that have turned on Israel are MAGA or Republicans or, you know, the right that are into Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens and Benny Johnson in that crowd.

[Michael]

Oh, the whole Jews are kind of trying to control America. Jews do control America.

[Jack Armstrong]

The Jews killed Charlie Kirk.

[Michael]

That crowd, right. Yeah. Speaking of which, I made reference to this, I think a couple of days ago, but the headline from the Times of Israel is Tucker Carlson appears to blame Jews for killing Charlie Kirk with his story on Jesus death. And they describe, if you heard the speech he talks about, just like Jesus, a bunch of hummus eating people who didn't want to let him speak anymore decided to kill him. That was the only way to stop his message. And you know, as far as it went directly, the idea was that they didn't stop Jesus and his message and they won't stop Charlie Kirk's message either. And so that was nice and life affirming. But the whole people sitting around eating hummus deciding who should live and who should die and who should speak was viewed as coded. The Jews did it in Israel, in Arab countries, Muslim countries, they were celebrating it. Tucker Carlson, prominent American Conservative, blames the Jews for killing Charlie Kirk.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, Tucker's not sitting around eating hummus. He appears to be sitting around eating donuts as he has gotten quite round faced over the last couple of years.

[Michael]

Maybe anti Semitism slows your metabolism. Don't call him a fat pig.

[Unidentified Male Guest]

You can't then.

[Michael]

But.

[Jack Armstrong]

This is a, this is a sideline, this is not important. But do you think Tucker comes by this naturally or has he just found an angle to like be more popular and make money? Does he believe this stuff?

[Michael]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

There's no way he grew up the way he grew up in the Bay Area and then Washington D.C. and all the stuff he's done his whole life that he believes this.

[Michael]

Yeah, there are, there are a list of quote unquote right wing influencers and hosts and, and, and such who I would go ahead and just describe as shameless grifters preying on the weak of mind. Tucker, I don't know. I don't know because I admired him so much as a thinker and a writer and he's so smart and funny. But yeah, he's either lost his mind or has become completely wildly cynical.

[Jack Armstrong]

But, but the cratering support for Israel, financial aid, economic aid and military aid, that's a big political problem for Israel because you're going to have, you're going to have a House, whether it's run by the Democrats or Republicans who are under a lot of pressure to not continue what we've been doing my whole life.

[Michael]

Yes, it's a bigger problem for Republicans, no doubt, who are much more staunch in their support of Israel. Yeah. And whether it came about through shameless propaganda by the media and the educational system or not is still a challenge. As I said earlier, Israel is being held to a standard for protecting, feeding, nurturing the civilians of its adversaries adversary in a way that no government or army has ever been held to that standard in the history of warfare. Just completely unique. I mean an invented, Are you out of your mind? Set of standards that the New York Times and company hold Israel to. And yet because it is put forth, is what is plainly, clearly good and true. People think, yeah, that's plainly good and true. They're right. Israel's being way too mean. And I don't demand that every American study the Middle east for their entire life. They've been misled the argument or the issue has been reframed in such a way that Israel can't win.

[Jack Armstrong]

But how about this coming out of last week when Israel was really, you know, all Those countries that came out in favor of a two state solution and for the first time recognized a Palestinian state and everybody badmouthing Israel. We're the only country that stood with Israel. And now here you are a week later with all the major players, Arab states, lefty journalists and people on the right saying this is a good plan. Hamas should take it. That is something.

[Michael]

Yeah, it is. So what is Gnosticism and what does it have to do with Candace Owens and hating the Jews and stuff? What was that word being a Gnostic with a G. The G is silent.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right?

[Michael]

Gnostic. That in just a second after a word from our friends at Trust and Will. You know, you should do this. You've been meaning to do do it. You've been hesitating for a variety of reasons. It feels so good when you do it. Get the security and peace of mind by making an estate plan now with our friends at Trust and Will.

[Jack Armstrong]

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[Michael]

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[Jack Armstrong]

It's kind of become a joke in my house. Like if you, if I like eat a lot. Like I ate a lot of breakfast the other day. Surprising. And I say, oh my God, I'm having a heart attack. It's a race between Sam and Henry for one of them to say, I get your watch.

[Michael]

It's like calling shotgun. Exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh boy.

[Michael]

Oh, exactly. Well, you got a lot to keep from crying. The. The story of Candace Owens and, and. And blaming the Jews and Gnosticism. You will recognize people in your life when I hit you with this description.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm gonna check out of all of this and watch baseball later today. That's what I'm gonna do. Okay. We got a lot on the way. Stay here.

[Michael]

Being human. I tell you what ain't easy, Armstrong.

[Joe Getty]

And.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I was asking the question of. So the cratering support for Israel according to this New York Times poll that is out today. A lot of it is the young who've been told by all of the media practically and their college professors that Israel is evil. So not surprising that they've changed their views. But how about the right, you know the Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens crowd that think Israel is evil now I guess we got this text. I kind of think Tucker and Candace et al are being paid handsomely by Qatar. That explains a lot.

[Michael]

Now remember they are spreading tens of billions of dollars around to universities and lobbyists and anyone they can get influence with.

[Jack Armstrong]

Now Benny Johnson who does a talk.

[Michael]

Show.

[Jack Armstrong]

He is not cool with Israel. He was getting paid by rt, Russian state media.

[Michael]

Yeah, but hugely popular. He's shockingly popular online. So I thought this was interesting. Wall Street Journal would Tucker need.

[Jack Armstrong]

Tucker doesn't need money.

[Michael]

I have no idea what's going on with Tucker. I really don't. I would love to know that but Josh Apple wrote a piece the assassination of Charlie Kirk has become another battleground for conspiracy theories about Jewish influence and other nefarious forces. Just as an aside, I think I mentioned this yesterday on the show that as I was getting ready to kick off the Monday show, I realized that a lot of the stuff from Friday was not one horrific America stops and takes a look at itself act of violence ago it was two ago. So I mean all those follow ups and stuff like that that probably ought to be talked about was just too out of date. We've had so much Horror since then 3 days ago probably ought to move on which is a hell of a deal anyway. So conspiracy theories about Jewish influence and other nefarious forces. Within hours and despite evidence of the alleged shooter's identity and motive, online influencers began weaving elaborate tales. Ian Carroll declared within 24 hours that quote, the Internet already figured out who most likely the culprit was. Spinning a story of financier Bill Ackman and B.B. netanyahu pressuring Kirk behind closed doors. Candace Owen a week suggesting that Jews had been threatening Kirk because he was seeing the light about Israel's influence. When others debunked these fantasies, the conspiracy theorists didn't retreat. They doubled down. For instance of the New York Post's reporting quite specifically about the shooter and what he believed. Ms. Owens wrote, you don't have to listen to that cuz the New York Post is an outfit of the Mossad. Anyone rebutting their claims was accused of participating in a cover up. And here's the kind of interesting somewhat 300 level class part of this piece by Josh Appel. This should sound familiar to anyone who studied religious history. What we're witnessing is a digital form of Gnosticism, a 1st century Christian heresy that holds the material world as evil and that a special knowledger Gnosis, lifts us out of its corruption into redemption. Salvation under its theory requires neither faith nor action, only the recognition that you're being lied to and that your soul belongs belongs elsewhere. Then it talks about malevolent forces controlling the world, and they get into some fairly elaborate descriptions. But here's where the rubber meets the road. Modern conspiracy culture operates on similar principles. Like ancient Gnostics, today's online truth seekers believe malevolent forces control the visible world. Mainstream institutions, media and government aren't imperfect human constructs, but tools of a cosmic deception. Modern Gnostics believe in what is deliberately hidden. Watch this video, listen to this podcast, read this thread, and you'll be awakened to secret truths that ordinary people can't see. It doesn't hurt that many offerings are behind a paywall. Then they give a bunch of different examples, but it's always we have the secret knowledge other people don't have. You will be in the enlightenment one. You will be smarter. Your soul will be redeemed because you know the truth that's absolute. That's a great description of so much of the pizza gate infernal Hollywood child trafficking thingamajigger.

[Jack Armstrong]

So Candace Owens has 7.2 million followers on Twitter. That's a lot. And I just looked through her top tweets of the day. They're almost all about how Israel's controlling everything, including Trump. Trump is allowing Israel to purchase our speech and everything that he says. So that's interesting. So that crowd has turned on Trump, I guess.

[Michael]

Yeah. Oh yeah, 100%. This some of them.

[Pete Hegseth]

Anyway.

[Michael]

This isn't healthy political discourse. It's spiritual pathology masquerading as analysis. Still, the appeal is obvious. Gnosticism offers a flattering explanation for life's difficulties. Your problems aren't the result of bad decisions, random misfortune, or complex social forces. They're the fault of human shadowy puppet masters. Most seductively, you don't need to do anything difficult to overcome them. You only need to know the right secrets. Charlie Kirk, for what it's worth, saw the danger of that sort of thinking and denounced it as demonic last month. And like the ancient Gnostics, modern conspiracists view contradiction as confirmation. When authorities debunk their theories, it's proof that the conspiracy actually goes deeper.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know the whole blaming the Jews has been around forever, and I've never quite understood it. Reading Ulysses, which is about the year 1904, they're walking around Dublin constantly blaming the Jews for everything and their conversations at the bars and everything like that. I mean, it's just. It's been a part of Western Civ for a very long time, for whatever reason. If you missed a segment, get the.

[Joe Getty]

Podcast Armstrong and Gettysburg.

[Michael]

This is an I heart podcast.