Podcast Summary: Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "Man... That Was Low Rent"
Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty | Producer/Contributor: Michael Hanson

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a variety of hot-button topics—from the end of the U.S. penny to sharp political shifts in Seattle and generational divides, to international headlines, economic anxieties, and a quirky foray into soap selection. Armstrong and Getty use their trademark blend of sarcasm, curiosity, and cultural critique to unpack political, financial, and social developments in the U.S. and abroad, offering both sharp analysis and dry humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Death of the Penny (00:28)

• Background: The U.S. mint in Philadelphia presses the final penny, ending more than 230 years of the coin’s circulation.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • Jack ridicules the longevity of the penny:

    “All these years was moronic. Especially after inflation. It was already dumb before inflation, but an extra dumb then.” — Jack Armstrong (01:07)

  • The penny’s decline in real-world value and the absurdity of production costs are highlighted:

    “A penny is now worth something like a tenth of a penny compared to what it was in 1940 ... Combine that with the fact it costs 4 cents to make one, right? Insane.” — Michael Hanson (01:13, 01:29)

• Sentiment: Mild nostalgia for Lincoln, but relief at the penny’s overdue demise.

2. Political Shifts: Seattle’s Democratic Socialist Mayor (01:29)

• News Recap: Seattle elects its first Democratic Socialist mayor, Katie Wilson.
• Critique of Hypocrisy:
  • The hosts lampoon Wilson's privileged background and her reliance on parental support at 43:

    “God, you’re in your 40s and you’re still on your parents’ paycheck.” — Jack Armstrong (04:20)

  • Skepticism about Wilson’s ability to address affordability, given her personal finances:

    “Of course, of course you’d turn to that person for the answers to economic problems. Somebody that has not figured out how to support themselves at all.” — Jack Armstrong (04:36)

  • Broader jab at millennial/Gen Z “elite activism” driven by wealthy (but self-identified as struggling) urbanites.

3. Generational Trends: Isolation, Addiction, and Political Extremes (04:44)

• Profiled by Michael:

  • Discusses Derek Thompson's "Monks in the Casino" and the emergence of isolated young men:

    “Dating less, socializing less, leaving their homes less. ... They seem to prefer the financial discomfort of losing a bet to the social anxiety of being rejected on a date.” — Michael Hanson (05:41)

  • New terms like “pornosexual”—people addicted to porn, avoiding real intimacy.
  • Parallels between radical activism on both the young left and right:

    “Societies have-nots raging against societies haves with the same poison coursing through the veins of both radical wings of our modern politics.” — Michael Hanson, citing Jeff Blair (08:55)

  • Explains the “overproduction of elites”—too many graduates for too few elite jobs leading to frustration, radicalism, and mass political discontent (09:39).

• Insightful Quote:

  “Nihilism is contagious and it spreads quickly.” — Michael Hanson (07:43)

4. Reflecting on Modern Loneliness: Kelsea Ballerini’s “I Sit in Parks” (11:17)

• Theme: The emptiness of chasing career status over family life, as expressed in the lyrics.
• Hosts’ Reaction:
  • Armstrong notes, “Somebody’s actually admitted that, ‘I’ve been chasing things the world told me to chase. And all I really want to do is have a family.’” (12:44)
  • Both recognize a common, often unspoken regret among high-achievers.

5. Economic & Social Trends: The Mouse Utopia Analogy (14:08)

• Universe 25 Experiment:
  • "Utopia" for mice led to social and reproductive collapse despite all needs being met.
  • Parallels drawn to modern, affluent societies:

    “We stopped having babies ... Our basic needs are being met and we’re stopping getting together. We’re starting to act weird.” — Jack Armstrong (16:26)

  • Lack of struggle linked to societal malaise; need for challenge to thrive.

6. European News: The "Euro Bureau" Segment (19:04)

France: Rising Art Crime and Declining Security

• France experiences a spike in museum robberies—nine major heists in a year due to underfunded museum security.
• Satirical merchandise plug:

  “Ruin the entire country. Newsom 2028.” — Michael Hanson (19:31)

UK: Approaching a Fiscal Cliff

• Britain facing a debt crisis and major tax hikes; economic stagnation linked to costly “net zero” climate policies.

  “The UK has long been torn between two mutually exclusive desires. Voters want European levels of welfare with American levels of taxation.” — Michael Hanson (21:02)

• Comparison to increased tax burden in Germany and the pitfalls of overspending (22:59).

Big Picture:

• Hosts predict the U.S. is on a parallel course, headed for a fiscal reckoning:

  “It’s the francification of the United States.” — Michael Hanson (19:06)
  “The only thing that will stop us wolfing down bacon ... is a fiscal heart attack. The problem being you don’t always survive them.” — Michael Hanson (25:51)

7. U.S. Military Buildup Near Venezuela (28:07)

• News Recap: U.S. naval presence off Venezuela grows; tensions rise, Maduro signals readiness for war.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • Jack jokes about the 2024 election being a mandate for war:

    “You went to the polls ... and voted for Donald Trump because you wanted to go to war with Venezuela.” — Jack Armstrong (28:27)

  • News reports detail U.S. strikes on boats, regional unease, and legal shields for U.S. troops (29:05).
  • Discussion about the real endgame—armed presence as support for a possible coup, but doubts about Venezuela’s military loyalty (31:52).

8. Trump’s Approval Ratings and Political Ramifications (32:30)

• Polls: Trump’s approval has sunk to 33%, with Republican support down and independents at 25%.
• Hosts’ Analysis:
  • Trump’s disconnect on economic messaging—especially regarding everyday affordability:

    “He’s got to stop saying that stuff like yesterday.” — Michael Hanson (34:41)

  • Questioning the staying power of political brands with deep internal skepticism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the end of the penny:
  "All these years was moronic. Especially after inflation. It was already dumb before inflation, but an extra dumb then." — Jack Armstrong (01:07)

• On privileged politicians:
  "God, you’re in your 40s and you’re still on your parents’ paycheck." — Jack Armstrong (04:20)

• On alienated young men:
  "They seem to prefer the financial discomfort of losing a bet to the social anxiety of being rejected on a date." — Michael Hanson (05:49)

• On modern economic malaise:
  "The UK has long been torn between two mutually exclusive desires. Voters want European levels of welfare with American levels of taxation." — Michael Hanson (21:02)

• On societal drift:
  "It's the francification of the United States." — Michael Hanson (19:06)
  "Nihilism is contagious and it spreads quickly." — Michael Hanson (07:43)

• On economic catastrophe:
  "The only thing that will stop us wolfing down bacon, drinking a quart of bourbon a night, and smoking four packs a day is a fiscal heart attack. The problem being you don’t always survive them." — Michael Hanson (25:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• End of the Penny: 00:28–01:29
• Seattle Elects Democratic Socialist Mayor: 01:29–04:28
• Younger Generations’ Social & Political Trends: 04:44–10:11
• Kelsea Ballerini’s “I Sit in Parks”: 11:17–13:06
• Mouse Utopia/Universe 25 & Loneliness Analogy: 14:08–17:08
• Euro Bureau – France, UK, Germany: 19:04–25:15
• US Military Moves Near Venezuela: 28:07–32:08
• Trump’s Approval/Political Analysis: 32:30–35:00

Tone and Style

The episode maintains the Armstrong & Getty hallmark of sharp, sardonic banter while serious discussions are peppered with asides, deadpan humor, and vivid analogies. The hosts freely question prevailing orthodoxies—left and right—while expressing real concern over social isolation, political extremism, and fiscal instability.

Final Thoughts

Whether lamenting social atomization, mocking policy hypocrisy, or sounding the alarm about creeping economic disaster, Armstrong & Getty bring a mix of skepticism and exasperation to the day’s headlines. They blend humor with hard truths, leaving listeners with equal parts enlightenment and unease.