Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Our Own Little Home Strip Club
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of the Armstrong & Getty Show dives into a mix of heavy and light topics, offering their trademark blend of sardonic commentary, current events analysis, and irreverent humor. The major discussion points range from media obsession with celebrity crime stories and challenges surrounding addiction, to health care policy innovations, political activism, and a comedic segment involving AI George Washington. The episode maintains a conversational, skeptical tone, with a strong focus on the difficulties of social progress and the absurdities of modern culture.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Obsession with Celebrity Crime & The Limits of Addiction Treatment

• Nick Reiner Double Murder Story ([02:33]–[06:40])
  • The hosts critique wall-to-wall media coverage of Nick Reiner, a man from a prominent family accused of murdering his parents, questioning why such cases dominate the headlines when there’s little new information:
    • Jack Armstrong: "There's nothing to learn in this story at this point... Why is this the lead story in America?" ([03:16])
    • Joe Getty suggests the unending fascination: "Is it just celebrity? Celebrity and murder, those two things combined are just irresistible for a lot of people." ([03:55])
  • Discussion shifts to addiction, using Reiner’s history as a lens.
    • Joe Getty: "Families that have all the resources in the world can't beat addiction if the addict can’t get there... You have to want to a lot." ([04:19])
    • Jack Armstrong: "There's a big difference between really thinking you want to quit and actually quitting or what that leap is. Nobody really knows." ([04:55])
  • They note the futility and frustration for families, regardless of resources, and question prevailing ideas about rehab and "tough love".

2. Health Care Policy: The GOP’s Proposal for Small Businesses

• Republican Health Bill ([06:49]–[09:00])
  • Discussion of a GOP bill designed to help small businesses avoid strict Obamacare mandates, allowing for association health plans and health reimbursement arrangements:
    • Joe Getty: "The Republican bill would make it easier for small businesses to escape the Obamacare regulatory morass... expand risk pools a lot, and give small employers more leverage with insurers." ([06:49])
    • Jack Armstrong finds humor in pre-Obamacare requirements: "That was very mockable at the time." ([07:54])
  • Skepticism is expressed over whether the plan will succeed in a partisan environment, and they critique Obamacare’s costs and bureaucracy.

3. The Inertia of Government Spending

• Revisiting a Dispatch article about government spending:
  • Joe Getty: "It may be the single most depressing thing I've ever read as the citizen of a free state... how incredibly complex, slow, and difficult it is to get rid of any government spending or any government programs." ([09:00])
  • Jack Armstrong: "That is so frustrating. But yeah, it's an immovable logic." ([09:42])

4. Alcohol Guidelines and Distrust in Scientific Associations

• Shifting Alcohol Health Advice ([09:46]–[11:45])
  • The American Heart Association reverses position, now saying moderate drinking could be good, prompting skepticism toward expert organizations:
    • Joe Getty: "Hadn't most of us assumed that the American Association of Pediatrics, or the American Heart Association... were just rock solid, science based, sober... serious people that would never do anything but give us the truth?" ([10:21])
    • Jack Armstrong: "I almost hate to say yes... but yes, that's exactly what I thought my whole life." ([11:01])
  • They call out politicization of associations, referencing pediatrics groups, AARP, and the CDC, especially their pandemic management.

5. Political Deceit and "Google-Proof" Nominations in New York

• Zoran Mumdani’s Mayoral Transition Team ([13:16]–[15:23])
  • Discussion of New York’s soon-to-be mayor’s team intentionally misspelling appointees’ names to thwart background checks.
    • Joe Getty: "His transition team is intentionally misspelling the names of several appointees... so you can't google them and find out who they really are." ([13:16])
    • Jack Armstrong: "That is pretty clever, though. You slightly misspell your name so that people can't background check you." ([15:16])

6. Humorous Segments: Donor Names and Holiday Banter

• Donor Name Gags for Scouting Fundraiser ([18:12]–[21:12])
  • Reading out tongue-in-cheek donor names (e.g., "Future Beaver Overlords," "Nancy Pelosi's stock portfolio," "Jack's neck valve").
  • Jack Armstrong: "The idea is you got a little hole in the side of your neck with a valve... when you're eating stuff you just want to taste but don't actually want it to go in your stomach." ([19:57])
  • Light banter about Christmas gift-giving with cash, using "rainmaker" gift boxes.

7. European Tensions and War Readiness

• Europe Preparing for War ([21:44]–[22:39])
  • Discussing statements from MI6 and European leaders regarding escalating tensions, cyber warfare, and the real risk of direct conflict with Russia.
    • Jack Armstrong: "One of these attempted drone attacks is successful. All of a sudden you got a big war going. Holy cow." ([22:39])

8. Seattle Pride, International Football, and the Irony of Scheduling

• Seattle’s Pride Week World Cup Draw ([27:03]–[28:49])
  • The hosts riff on the coincidence of Egypt and Iran playing in Seattle during Pride, nations not known for LGBT friendliness.
    • Jack Armstrong: "Not your gayest countries." ([27:54])
    • Nellie Bowles satirical quote read by Joe: "All I can say is I was supposed to be the Pride Float Grand Marshal but now they tell me I have to be pushed off a Pride roof instead." ([28:49])

9. The Resurgence of Antisemitism

• Candace Owens on Russell Brand’s Podcast ([29:11]–[33:39])
  • They respond in horror to an antisemitic screed by Candace Owens, read from her podcast appearance.
    • Joe Getty: "That is unmitigated calling for the slaughter of Jews." ([31:27])
    • Jack Armstrong: "That's the most anti-Jew thing I think I've ever heard." ([31:33])
  • Discuss the long history of antisemitism and the human tendency to seek scapegoats.

10. Behind-the-Scenes: Candace Owens Encounter & Reflections

• Personal Story About Meeting Candace Owens ([35:56]–[37:28])
  • They describe Owens as previously "aloof" and reflect on her transformation from a young anti-victimhood commentator to her current, more radical persona.
    • Jack Armstrong: "She just, she, she was just aloof, like incredibly aloof... She turns out to be a complete nut job." ([36:33])

11. AI “George Washington” Interview by Glenn Beck

• Satirical and Serious Take on America’s Malaise ([41:42]–[46:42])
  • Glenn Beck's creation of an AI George Washington who opines on the moral decay of modern America.
    • AI George Washington: "America's biggest problem isn’t political or economic. It’s all moral. You've drifted from the virtues that make liberty possible in the first place." ([43:50])
    • Jack Armstrong acknowledges: "Part of the problem is a lot of the morals, virtues... came out of being a religious people." ([45:28])
  • The hosts agree with the diagnosis of moral decline but question whether religion is a panacea.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Addiction & Media

• “There’s nothing to learn in this story at this point... Why is this the lead story in America?” — Jack Armstrong [03:16]
• "Families that have all the resources in the world can't beat addiction if the addict can't get there." — Joe Getty [04:19]

Health Care

• "The Republican bill... would make it easier for small businesses to escape the Obamacare regulatory morass." — Joe Getty [06:49]

Institutional Distrust

• “Hadn't most of us assumed that... these associations... would never do anything but give us the truth?” — Joe Getty [10:21]

Satire & Humor

• "Let's turn Christmas around the tree on Jesus's birthday into our own little home strip club." — Jack Armstrong [26:43]
• "Future Beaver Overlords gave 25 bucks.” — Jack Armstrong [19:03]

Pride/Irony

• “Not your gayest countries.” — Jack Armstrong [27:54]
• "All I can say is I was supposed to be the Pride Float Grand Marshal but now they tell me I have to be pushed off a Pride roof instead." — Satirical reading from Nelly Bowles [28:49]

Antisemitism

• “That is unmitigated calling for the slaughter of Jews.” — Joe Getty [31:27]
• "That's the most anti-Jew thing I think I've ever heard.” — Jack Armstrong [31:33]

National Decline

• "America's biggest problem isn’t political or economic. It’s all moral. You’ve drifted from the virtues that make liberty possible." — AI George Washington [43:50]
• "Part of the problem... came out of being a religious people." — Jack Armstrong [45:28]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:33] – Opening on Nick Reiner case and addiction discussion
• [06:49] – GOP small business health care bill
• [09:46] – Alcohol guidelines and politicization of associations
• [13:16] – Zoran Mumdani's team misspelling names to dodge scrutiny
• [18:12] – Donor name gags and fundraising for scouts
• [21:44] – War readiness in Europe and relationship to Russia
• [27:03] – Seattle Pride/World Cup irony
• [29:11] – Antisemitic remarks from Candace Owens and broader discussion
• [35:56] – Personal reflection on Candace Owens' trajectory
• [41:42] – Glenn Beck AI George Washington interview and America’s decline

Overall Tone & Takeaways

True to Armstrong & Getty’s style, the episode weaves together critique, skepticism, and dry humor across the spectrum of current affairs. They probe deep frustrations—society’s recurring problems with addiction, the sclerosis of government, distrust in institutions, and renewed forms of bigotry—while leavening the conversation with running jokes, sarcastic asides, and absurd mental pictures (from “neck valves” to “home strip clubs”). Even as topics shift, their tone remains sharply observant, blending resigned realism with a plea for moral clarity and social sanity.