Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Michael, Bathe The Camel
Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty tackle a whirlwind of topical issues ranging from the consequences of sanctuary city policies and illegal immigration, to the Democratic Party's voter registration crisis, political tactics in Ukraine and Russia, and media narratives shaping public opinion. With their signature irreverence and biting commentary, the hosts offer plain talk ("Big dude with a penis won the track meet!") and raise skeptical questions about the state of politics, culture, and media. The episode blends hard-hitting news analysis with wry banter and memorable asides—plus a little in-studio camel humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sanctuary Cities, Immigration, and Tragedy in Florida

[00:49 – 05:31]

• General Manager of the Day: Joe Getty names "Sanctuary cities and states" as the show's focus, setting the stage for a critical discussion.
• The Florida Truck Crash: Jack recounts the story of a fatal crash in Florida involving a commercial truck driver who was in the country illegally and unable to read English—and yet held a valid commercial driver's license, obtained in sanctuary states.
  • "So you got three sanctuary states and sanctuary cities who let this guy, who should never be piloting a giant gazillion ton truck..." – Jack Armstrong [01:51]
• Policy Critique: Both hosts are exasperated by policies allowing non-citizens with questionable qualifications to operate dangerous vehicles, arguing that illegal status granted privileges not available to citizens.
  • "They're going to elevate them, give them special privileges for being illegal." – Joe Getty [02:31]
• Public Outrage: Jack expresses incredulity at apparent double-standards.
  • "You people are so freaking crazy... How nuts is that?" – Jack Armstrong [02:35]

2. The Democratic Party's "Hemorrhage" of Voters

[02:57 – 10:18]

• NYT Coverage: Joe references New York Times reports on a voter registration crisis hitting the Democratic Party.
  • "There are 30 United States states... Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one of them between 2020 and 2024... They called it a hemorrhage." – Joe Getty [09:11]
• Preference Falsification & Cascade: Joe explains how a vocal minority can create an illusion of majority consensus through intimidation and media support, until a "preference cascade" happens and true sentiments emerge.
  • "A very vocal minority can convince a nation... that most people agree with me." – Joe Getty [05:31]
• Culture Wars Fallout: The hosts link this trend to Democratic stances on controversial issues—particularly trans rights and sanctuary policies.
  • "Big dude with a penis won the girls' track meet. Yay. I wonder why that hemorrhage is happening." – Joe Getty [10:09]

3. The Politics of Museums and Progressivism in Public Culture

[06:28 – 08:15]

• The hosts lampoon mainstream media and progressives for what they see as heavy-handed activism in museum exhibits.
  • "Our museums have become Marxist activist, you know, education centers, re-education camps..." – Joe Getty [07:08]
  • "Can I look at one fossil that doesn't mention one of those things?" – Jack Armstrong [07:08]

4. Memorable Banter – Catchphrases, Merchandise, and Camel Jokes

[08:25 – 10:44]

• The hosts reflect on inside jokes, like "Goats of Corruption," and the show's difficulty maintaining catchphrases.
  • "You're wearing a T-shirt that says goats of Corruption. And I have no memory of where the phrase goats of corruption comes from." – Jack Armstrong [08:28]
• Wednesday is "camel" day in-studio; Michael is (playfully) assigned the job of bathing the camel.
  • "Michael, that needs to be your job title from now on... Washing the camel. Bathing the camel before we bring it in." – Jack Armstrong [10:30]

5. Radioactive Shrimp News & Snackable Satire

[10:59 – 11:48]

• The FDA warns about potentially radioactive shrimp at Walmart—hosts joke about glowing teeth and "value".
  • "It's a great value because it's radioactive and most people want to not radioactive shrimp." – Joe Getty [11:20]
  • "Look, my teeth glow now." – Jack Armstrong [11:48]

6. Headlines with Katie Green

[14:20 – 18:20]

• Israel - Gaza Offensive: 60,000 reservists called up; hosts question Israeli politics and media biases.
  • "It's hard to get a fair assessment... the media is so anti-Israel." – Jack Armstrong [14:28]
• Crime & Data Manipulation: D.C. police allegedly misclassifying deaths to boost crime stats; major media scrutiny questioned.
• Border Wall Tactics: Painting the wall black to deter climbers discussed with skeptical amusement.
• ChatGPT Speech: People reportedly starting to "talk like chatbots."
• ADHD Medication Study: Raises questions for future exploration.
• McDonald's Combos: Fast food price drops tied to customer financial struggles.
  • "You decide... skip it when you run out of money." – Jack Armstrong [17:38]
• Babylon Bee Satire: Playful jab at political choices and social media algorithms.

Major Analysis Segments

7. Ukraine-Russia Conflict – The Prospects for Peace

[19:32 – 32:38]

• Massive Russian Attack: Russia fires drones and missiles at Ukraine, signaling increased intensity and little appetite for peace.
  • "Despite all the good feeling... Russia, if anything, is intensifying its attacks." – News Reporter [19:32]
• Is Peace Possible?: The hosts dissect why Putin likely has no interest in talks with Zelensky; logistical and ideological demands make peace talks a non-starter.
  • "Putin's not meeting with Zelensky. It's not going to happen." – Joe Getty [20:13]
  • "He has no morals, he has no emotions, he has no bleeding heart... He's just a cold calculator." – Joe Getty [31:04]
• U.S. and Allies' Dilemma: Aid to Ukraine weighed against "prolonging" the meat-grinder dynamic and the risk of depleting U.S. military stockpiles.
  • "Are you doing anything other than just prolonging it?" – Jack Armstrong [21:59]
  • "If the Ukrainian people say, yeah, we'd rather have the history written that we held out..." – Joe Getty [23:14]
• Putin's Calculation: Analysts agree Putin is stalling for maximal gains, unwilling to negotiate unless Ukraine surrenders—meetings would expose him as the true obstacle to peace.
  • "A meeting with Zelensky could bring an unwelcome moment of truth. That's when he's got to take off his mask." – Joe Getty [30:27]

8. Trump as a Global Power Broker

[24:43 – 27:52]

• Trump's Influence: Hosts discuss Trump's unprecedented dominance on the world stage; dynamics with other leaders, reliance on flattery, and the symbolism of being called "Mr. President" by world leaders.
  • "He is astride the world in a way... I mean, for better or worse, if you hate him, you hate that, and if you like him, you like that." – Jack Armstrong [25:38]
  • "Trump needs more flattery than most leaders... But unless you have the position of power, they don't do it." – Joe Getty [27:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Illegal Immigration and Driving Licenses:
  • "You're illegal. Well then we'll let you operate this dangerous equipment. We wouldn't if you were a US-born citizen. How nuts is that?"
    — Jack Armstrong [02:35]
• On Museums and Radical Change:
  • "Our museums have become Marxist activist, you know, education centers, re-education camps, if you will."
    — Joe Getty [07:08]
• On Media Narratives:
  • "The so-called mainstream media, when somebody says, hey, whoa... that's a sudden radical change, is branded as the agent of sudden radical change for opposing it."
    — Joe Getty [07:44]
• On Culture Wars and Party Exodus:
  • "You keep talking up trans bathrooms and sanctuary cities and good luck with that."
    — Jack Armstrong [10:01]
  • "Big dude with a penis won the track meet. The girls track meet. Yay. I wonder why that hemorrhage is happening. It's mysterious."
    — Joe Getty [10:09]
• On Radioactive Shrimp:
  • "My shrimp's radioactive and I agree with Joe. It is a great value. I'm getting a little, a little dose of radioactive, probably clear some things up."
    — Jack Armstrong [11:27]
• On How Power Works:
  • "You can't compel people to flatter you unless you have a position of them needing something from you."
    — Jack Armstrong [27:22]
• On Putin:
  • "He has no morals, he has no emotions, he has no bleeding heart... He's just a cold calculator."
    — Joe Getty [31:04]

Segment Timestamps

• Sanctuary cities & Florida truck crash: [00:49 – 05:31]
• Democratic Party "hemorrhage" & culture war fallout: [02:57 – 10:18]
• Museums as activism: [06:28 – 08:15]
• Inside jokes, camel banter: [08:25 – 10:44]
• FDA’s radioactive shrimp recall: [10:59 – 11:48]
• Headlines with Katie Green: [14:20 – 18:20]
• Russia-Ukraine conflict, peace prospects: [19:32 – 32:38]
• Trump on global stage, leadership dynamics: [24:43 – 27:52]
• Putin/Zelensky meeting feasibility: [29:11 – 32:38]
• ChatGPT-influenced language teaser: [32:38 – 32:59]
• Mailbag (audience feedback, DEI in schools, grocery store failures): [34:15 – 38:35]

Takeaways

• The episode offers a sharp, critical perspective on current policies and political trends, especially around immigration and progressive cultural issues.
• The hosts view the Democratic Party as losing touch with mainstream voters due to niche activism and out-of-step positions.
• The Ukraine-Russia segment is notable for its sober assessment of the conflict: that current strategies may only prolong suffering without shifting outcomes, especially if Putin remains intractable.
• Segments about media, academia, and government programs are framed as examples of systemic dysfunction, often sparking satirical or incredulous responses from the hosts.
• Throughout, Armstrong & Getty deliver their unique blend of brash humor, skepticism, and occasionally poignant cultural criticism.

For listeners seeking plain talk on today's big news, laced with irreverence and memorable one-liners—even when the topics turn grim or absurd—this episode reflects Armstrong & Getty at their most characteristic.