Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Out Comes The Stick!
Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Guest/Contributor: Katie Greener (news), Michelangelo (technical/crew)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode interweaves the show’s trademark humor and social commentary with an annual holiday fundraising tradition: painful, off-key renditions of Christmas carols on violin and trombone to support scholarships for young people who can’t otherwise afford to join the Scouts. The hosts also dig into pressing social and political issues—ranging from antisemitism, rent control debates, and the Trump phenomenon—while highlighting community contributions, memorable stories, and listener engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fundraising for Scouts: “Out Comes The Stick”

[02:42, 15:15, 16:18]

• Purpose: Raising money so more kids can join Scouts. Donations highlighted throughout; a familiar annual tradition for the show.
• The "Stick": To prompt donations, Armstrong & Getty torture listeners with deliberately bad violin (Jack) and trombone (Joe) performances of Christmas classics—each as cringe-worthy as advertised.
  • “We've offered plenty of carrot...the carrot has passed uneaten. So out comes the stick.” (Jack Armstrong, 16:18)
• Listener Engagement: Playful acknowledgment of returning donors and humorous donor names ("Joe's Doormat Seasoned Ribs," "Love, your Ukrainian girlfriend").

2. Legendary “Doormat Ribs” Story

[03:07–05:19]

• Joe recounts his infamous dinner party mishap, when he dropped a rack of painstakingly prepared ribs onto the family doormat, cleaned them in secret, and then served them to guests—spawned “Joe's Doormat Seasoned Ribs” as a recurring show in-joke.
  • “I pick it up, I look at it and think, what do I do?” (Joe Getty, 03:47)
  • “Doormat has the things from your shoes too disgusting to track into your house. Right.” (Jack Armstrong, 04:02)
  • “I cleansed that rack of ribs with great energy.” (Joe Getty, 05:01)
  • Ends with humor: “Everybody was fine. Little hair, little gravel, quit bitching.” (Joe Getty, 05:10)

3. Antisemitism and Political Violence

[06:40–12:16]

• Headlines Discussed:
  • Violent Jew-hatred and the overlap between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.
  • The rise of antisemitic violence globally (“poor Jewish people getting beat up around the globe purely for being Jewish” – Joe Getty).
  • The Turtle Island Liberation Front—radical group plotting bomb attacks in LA with symbolism referencing Hamas.
    • “They are radically anti-Jewish, anti-Zionist, as well as being anti-capitalism and anti-government. It's the Omni cause turned militant and violent and hateful.” (Joe Getty, 07:55)
  • Lack of comment from California Democrats, despite severity of the foiled plot.
    • “Imagine if any sort of right-wing group had been caught planning a New Year's Eve terrorist attack...Oh my God, how many speeches would Gavin have given already?” (Jack Armstrong, 08:52)

4. Heroism at the Bondi Beach Attack

[09:52–11:23]

• Recounts:
  • Young man at the Bondi Beach massacre (Australia) heroically disarmed the attacker but didn't shoot him—an action the hosts find both understandable and intriguing (“Harder to shoot someone than you think,” says Joe Getty).
  • Praises a police officer for a miraculous long-distance shot, saving more lives.

5. Scouting Fundraiser—Carrots Didn’t Work, Now the Stick

[15:04–18:46]

• Off-key Performances:
  • Jack and Joe play violin and trombone (badly) through “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Silent Night.”
  • Donations and on-air comments punctuate the musical torment.
  • Memorable quote:
    • “Jack, I will call the first tune, if you don’t mind...How about the...We have no music...I haven't even mentioned I've got my beloved trombone in hand. Many, many years ago I could play this thing. Not now.” (Joe Getty, 16:31–16:49)
  • Katie Greener quips, “OK, so this isn’t gonna stop until we get $3,000,” rallying listeners to donate and bring relief.

6. Reflections on Musical Instruments and Talent

[20:08–21:54]

• Joe’s Regrets: Wishes he’d played piano or saxophone instead of trombone for greater utility in music.
• Jack’s Thoughts: Wishes he had been more disciplined in practicing music earlier in life.
• Natural Talent vs. Effort: Brief musings on how musical proficiency is a mix of both—though the episode ends this segment humorously “out of time.”

7. Discussing Trump's Legacy and Peculiarities

[24:40–33:02]

• How will Trump be treated by history? Fascination with his legacy, unpredictability, and the polarized nature of political perception.
  • “I hope I live long enough to see how Trump is treated by history. Nixon used to say it takes...I forget how many years...before history is ripe enough to pick off the tree the first time…” (Jack Armstrong, 24:40)
• Trump’s Thin Skin and Petty Moves:
  • “Why did he do this Donald Trump thing?” (Jack Armstrong, 26:33): Under Trump's presidency, new plaques in the White House used comical, derisive language toward predecessors like Obama and Biden.
  • “It is hilarious. It’s also shocking. It’s also incredibly petty.” (Joe Getty, 27:34–27:38)
• Media Obsession:
  • “He’s obsessed with what Morning Joe and the New York Times say about him.” (Jack Armstrong, 29:07–29:10)
• Personal Parallels to Broadcasting:
  • Jack relates his insecurities in early radio to Trump’s need for validation.

8. The Economics of Rent Control: St. Paul vs. Minneapolis

[37:41–39:52]

• Joe presents a real-world policy lesson:
  • St. Paul imposed strict rent control, leading to an 80% drop in new apartment construction and a freeze in investment; Minneapolis liberalized zoning and saw a quadrupling of new permits and slower rent growth.
  • “Permits to build apartments in St. Paul...plummeted by 79% in one year...developers halted projects...property values declined...In Minneapolis...housing permits surged nearly fourfold.” (Joe Getty, 38:16–39:38)
  • Quick conclusion: “It made it better.”

9. Listener Donations & Community

[40:27–42:05, 42:33, 43:13]

• Names & Dedications:
  • Humorous donor names and dedications—“Raging tromboner,” “Needed this when I was 10,” “Make Jack stop talking up prunes.”
• Large Donation:
  • A $10,000 "whale" pushes the fundraising close to the $150,000 goal, met just as the episode closes.
  • “I want you to come over for dinner tonight, Jack’s house…Joe will rub your feet.” (Joe & Jack, 43:07–43:27)

10. Closing Section: Reflections and Final Thoughts

[43:36–45:36]

• Crew’s Final Thoughts:
  • Michelangelo laments not putting up Christmas lights (“I feel like I failed.”).
  • Katie Greener jokes about her AARP renewal being declined before leaving for vacation—gets an affectionate sendoff.
  • Joe’s Principle: “How about instead of yelling angrily at people, you ask them questions and see if you can understand their point of view…You don’t have to agree with it, but you won’t come off like an a hole.” (Joe Getty, 45:02)
• Thanks and Wrap-Up:
  • Fundraising hits its milestone as the show ends.
  • “We hit 150 by the end of the day on Thursday. Very awesome.” (Jack Armstrong, 45:32–45:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Charity and the "Stick":
  • “So out comes the stick. That’s right. And the stick is a fiddle and a trombone.” (Jack Armstrong, 16:18)
• Bad Music, Good Cause:
  • “It’s actually pretty good. Yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t, like, put on my hard shoes to go see you in a concert hall, but…” (Joe Getty, 15:34)
  • “Jack, who can’t play the violin, practicing a scale on a fiddle?...a beloved Armstrong and Getty tradition…” (Joe Getty, 15:41–15:48)
• Joe’s ribs saga:
  • “It was deep, with bristles and stuff...doormat seasoned ribs.” (Joe Getty, 03:47–04:45)
  • “Everybody was fine. Little hair, little gravel, quit bitching.” (05:10)
• Political Media:
  • “It seems like everybody in the media either has to defend every single thing [Trump] does or attack every single thing he does, which is just intellectually dishonest. It doesn’t even make any sense.” (Jack Armstrong, 25:28)
• Trump’s plaques:
  • “Sleepy Joe Biden was by far the worst president in American history...Nicknamed both Sleepy and Crooked, Joe Biden was dominated by his radical left handlers...” (Jack Armstrong, 27:27–27:57)
• Rent Control Takeaway:
  • “Permits to build apartments in St. Paul...plummeted by 79%...In Minneapolis...housing permits surged nearly fourfold...Minneapolis rents grew much more slowly...it made it better.” (Joe Getty, 38:16–39:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:42]: Kicking off Scouts fundraising, donor shoutouts.
• [03:12–05:19]: The “doormat ribs” story returns.
• [06:40–12:16]: Discussion on antisemitism, Turtle Island plot, political reactions.
• [15:04–18:46]: The “stick” comes out—violin and trombone performances for charity.
• [20:08–21:54]: Reflections on music, talent, regret.
• [24:40–33:02]: Trump’s legacy, White House “prank” plaques, and media obsession.
• [37:41–39:52]: Economic policy lesson: rent control’s effect vs. zoning reform.
• [43:07–43:36]: $10,000 donation; wrap-up and thanks.
• [43:44–45:36]: Final thoughts, crew reflections, fundraising milestone reached.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is quintessential Armstrong & Getty: blending sharp, unsparing political/cultural critique with personal stories, meta-media commentary, and a goofy, communal holiday fundraising event that brings listeners together. The show strikes a balance between highlighting serious issues and celebrating the lighter, often ridiculous, moments of American life and tradition.

The fundraising torture-by-music segment is hilarious (and slightly painful)—but it's all for a good cause, engaging the audience in both laughter and generosity. Political discussion, especially around antisemitism, media partisanship, and policy consequences, is delivered candidly and (sometimes) irreverently, giving both substance and entertainment to listeners.

For fans and newcomers alike, “Out Comes The Stick!” is a perfect snapshot of Armstrong & Getty’s blend of sincerity, wit, and the sense that—even on serious days—it’s ok to laugh at yourself and at the news.