Out Comes The Stick!

Summary

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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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.

Transcript

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[Jack Armstrong]

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[Jack Armstrong]

Your ticket to big savings is that big blue envelope in your mailbox, Valpak. It's brimming with deals from big and your favorite local spots, dining services, stuff you're already buying. All for less. And you could score $100 or other instant prizes just for opening it. Or save even faster with mobile coupons you can use right [e-mail] Valpak there's definitely something in it for you.

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Broadcasting live from the abraham lincoln radio studio at the george washington broadcast center, jack armstrong and jo go getty.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and getty. And now here's armstrong and yeti.

[Jack Armstrong]

Raising money so more kids can join scouts and have the sort of experience my son has had this year, which has been fantastic. $26 from a couple of scouts from the 80s appreciate that $50 from what appears to be a cheesecake. One of our favorite clips ever. 200 bucks from Joe's Doormat Seasoned Ribs. That's a story going way back.

[Joe Getty]

That's a throwback, kd.

[Jack Armstrong]

You've probably never heard that story, Joe.

[Joe Getty]

Dolphin alert.

[Jack Armstrong]

Joe dropped the ribs. He was cooking, and then.

[Joe Getty]

Now, wait a minute. Wait. No, no, no, no. You gotta let me tell the story. It's my story. We were having dinner with a couple that we had just met and befriended, okay? And I worked for a very, very long time to cook some delicious baby back ribs. Took a great deal of care. And it was at the moment that I was going to bring them to the table that I somehow, in trying to open the back screen door and all, they slid off the platter right onto the doormat.

[Jack Armstrong]

The doormat, where everybody wipes their feet coming in and out of your house.

[Joe Getty]

And it was the sort of doormat that held a great deal of material. Okay. It was not, like, a shallow one. It was deep with, like, bristles and stuff like that. And so I pick it up, I look at it and think, what do I do?

[Jack Armstrong]

The doormat has the things from your shoes that you thought were too disgusting to track into your house. Right.

[Joe Getty]

So you scraped them off. Yes, yes. As a dog owner, by the way. Oh, yes. And so I. I decided what I needed to do was to sneak into the kitchen, unleash some very, very hot water from the faucet. Complete. And I had been saucing these ribs and smoking them and cooking them and all. I scrubbed the ribs clean.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Resourced them, throw them back on the grill for, like, three minutes, then brought them in and served them. Doormat seasoned ribs. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, did you tell people? I don't remember. No, no.

[Joe Getty]

Absolutely not.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no.

[Joe Getty]

Which could be my only crime. What is this?

[Jack Armstrong]

A hair and a old band aid.

[Joe Getty]

That's what. I know you. I know you think you're being funny.

[Katie Greener]

Is this a piece of gravel?

[Joe Getty]

But I. But I cleansed that rack of ribs with great energy.

[Jack Armstrong]

How many of those people are still with us?

[Joe Getty]

Just two of the five. Boy, everybody was fine. A little hair, a little gravel. Quit bitching.

[Jack Armstrong]

Ribs. You probably got them through Covid.

[Joe Getty]

Right.

[Katie Greener]

If only it was in the day and age of the ring camera.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, yes, that would have been.

[Joe Getty]

Well, my look would have been, oh, no. And then when the light bulb goes on, ding. Wait a minute.

[Jack Armstrong]

I will watch that. So we got 200 bucks from Joe's doormat season ribs. 50 bucks from love, your Ukrainian girlfriend. I'm happy to see she's still, you know, holding on to hope between the two of us.

[Joe Getty]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

And she can't let go. 25 bucks from that time Jack said his cell number on the air. That's right. I was giving out the text line and I gave out almost all of my own personal cell phone number before I realized I was giving out the wrong number. I think all but like one or two digits. It's probably why I get some of the texts and things that I get. Anyway, we've got an idea for raising money for the Scouts coming up in a little bit. And it's a holiday tradition around here. It's special. We do it every year. I know a lot of people wait for it. You're gonna, like, stop from work or whatever you're doing. Maybe bring the kids in. It's that cherished a Christmas tradition.

[Joe Getty]

It's inspired a lot of giving. Inspired is one word.

[Jack Armstrong]

So we'll get to that next segment.

[Joe Getty]

So a handful of headlines for you, just very briefly. Open Violent Jew Hatred Exposes the Antisemitism of Anti Zionism. It's a really smart, well informed article about all the times people have said, I'm not anti Semitic, I'm just anti Zionist. And then all the poor Jewish people getting beat up around the globe purely for being Jewish. Here's another good one. The west needs to open its eyes to honor killings. That's in the Wall Street Journal. The beloved tradition among some Muslims of if your daughter dishonors you, you get to murder her. And the penalties are very mild in a lot of the Muslim world. That's right, you heard me. There's a great piece by Brendan o' Neill about the hunting of Jews at Bondi Beach. Here's the New York Post. F grades handed to 14 colleges in anti Semitism report card as Jewish students are forced to hide their identities. And then that report from Columbia where instructors told students, a shame your people survived the Holocaust. Wow. Okay. Which leads us to that Turtle island terrorist group, the Turtle Island Liberation Front.

[Jack Armstrong]

Lake.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Their plan was to bomb. To detonate five bombs across LA on New Year's Eve. And they would paint Hamas triangles that Hamas uses to indicate Israeli targets on their targets, according to the federal criminal complaint. That is known. 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. No Democrats in California have commented on the plot. Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla. Adam Schiff, Karen Bass of la. More than a dozen House Democrats who represent parts of LA have remained silent on the coordinated bomb plot a radical anti Israel group planned before it was foiled by the Feds.

[Jack Armstrong]

Imagine if any sort of right wing group had been caught planning a New Year's Eve terrorist attack. Proud boys or whoever you want it to be. Oh my God, how many speeches would Gavin have given already?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I know. And a lot of these people were active on social media with various announcements or complaints or whatever. Representative Robert Garcia, Democrat, posted a statement, lamented the murders of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, and referenced domestic terrorism without providing any additional details. They are extremely uncomfortable with the fact that these people are their people. They are globalize, the intifada people. They are down with capitalism people. They are absolutely steeped in critical theory, I'm sure radical queer theory and race theory and the rest of it. That's something. Your silence is something else. Gabby.

[Jack Armstrong]

So that Bondi beach massacre from Australia, you got the dude from Syria who snuck up on one of the shooters, tackled him, got his gun away from him, and then for some reason, and you can't criticize a guy because he did something heroic, didn't shoot him. I don't know why he didn't shoot him. But anyway, guy runs off and the story I heard yesterday was got a gun and started shooting again.

[Joe Getty]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, I'm not gonna go after the hero.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no, I'm not going after him. It's just a surprising detail. I mean, because if you've seen the whole video, he gets a gun away from him and points it at him, but then the guy runs off.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I think a lot of cops and soldiers would tell you it's a lot harder to shoot somebody than you think it is.

[Jack Armstrong]

The other part that I didn't hear until yesterday is a, a cop did take out dad with what he and other people are calling a miraculous shot, given it was a pistol at quite a distance, but just pulled off the shot of a lifetime, able to bring the guy down, thank God. Yeah, the, the, the. There's pictures and video of it. He, he very wisely really took his time as opposed to like, you know, it'd be very easy to be in a hurry.

[Joe Getty]

Blam, blam, blam, blam.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, but he really took his time as a guy who probably has spent a lot of time at the range and with the proper form, took the guy out.

[Joe Getty]

Exhale, pull gently. Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's something.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Wow. Again, thank God. Could have been worse. Which is hard to picture.

[Jack Armstrong]

How about what would have happened if that terrorist attack for LA New Year's Eve had happened?

[Joe Getty]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

That had been a disruptor for the United States. We don't need that. We do not need more political violence.

[Joe Getty]

No, indeed. But it's being plotted.

[Jack Armstrong]

Because there's always a there's the political, you know, turmoil, the way it roils our rhetoric. But then there's always some sort of actual reaction from the other side. What. Whichever the other side is. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

So my final note from the the piece that I referenced by. Oh, it's the New York Post editorial board. Here's my favorite sentence. What else could globalize the Intifada ever have possibly meant?

[Jack Armstrong]

Right, Right. Very good point. Coming up next, a cherished Was that grown? Was that a groan?

[Joe Getty]

No, that was a. That was an of. Of warm memories, nostalgia and enjoyment.

[Jack Armstrong]

Jack, Is that what that was? A cherished Armstrong and Getty holiday tradition on the way.

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[Jack Armstrong]

Let's see if I can get a decent scale just for.

[Joe Getty]

That's pretty good.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's not bad for having not picked up the violin in a. In a year. Not ear blood.

[Joe Getty]

And your years of studying. I mean, you. You've, like, never even taken a lesson, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

No, no. I've practiced a total of, like, an hour on the violin in my entire life.

[Joe Getty]

Impressive.

[Jack Armstrong]

And, you know, it's a fretless instrument, so I pulled off a scale there. Whatever.

[Joe Getty]

It's actually pretty good. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't, like, put on my hard shoes to go see you in a concert hall, but.

[Jack Armstrong]

You might be. If you just tuned in, you might be wondering, why is Jack, who can't play the violin, practicing a scale on a fiddle?

[Joe Getty]

Well, it's a beloved Armstrong and Getty tradition as we raise money for wonderful causes. In this case, scholarships for young lads and girls who want to be scouts and. And maybe don't have the money. And scouting is such a positive influence in their lives. We want to make sure they. They have that experience. And we've offered plenty of carrot. Nice interviews, stories from scouts and how it's changed their lives and inspired them to become the people they've become. But for some of you, that hasn't been enough. The car has passed uneaten. So out comes the stick.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's right. And the stick is a fiddle and a trombone.

[Joe Getty]

Right. Without music, playing beloved Christmas classics. Until we raise. How much did we decide?

[Jack Armstrong]

Probably three grand.

[Joe Getty]

All right, we need to get $3,000 together, starting right now. Jack, I will call the first tune, if you don't mind. How about the below? And we have no music. And I'VE Oh, I haven't even mentioned I've got my beloved trombone in hand. Many, many years ago. I could play this thing. Not now.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, and you don't have any music. Yeah, like you said, so.

[Joe Getty]

All right, I suggest the Christmas classic, It Came Upon a Midnight.

[Jack Armstrong]

Do I even know how that goes? It came upon.

[Joe Getty]

Okay, midnight. Ready? 2, 3.

[Katie Greener]

All right, folks. OK, so this isn't gonna stop until we get $3,000. Let's see, we've got Jack's podcast. Audible mouth, slurp.

[Joe Getty]

Stay in rhythm.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm sorry about that one. That was a mistake.

[Katie Greener]

All right, since this has begun, we.

[Jack Armstrong]

Need a different song. Kathy, I think I need a different song. Can we just something. I know the melody better. I think I'd be much better. How's the money coming in? And go to armstrongandgetty.com. it's easy to donate. I know it gets jammed up a little bit, but you can do it. Here we go.

[Joe Getty]

All right, you.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm sorry.

[Joe Getty]

What's the tune?

[Jack Armstrong]

Jingle bells.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

Jingle bells. What tempo do we want? Jingle bells. Jingle bells. Two, three, four.

[Katie Greener]

Well, we just got Robert who donated $50. Clearly wants this to come to an end. Gladys. Oh, Gladys. $26. Oh my God.

[Jack Armstrong]

Even this one.

[Joe Getty]

I was 10.

[Katie Greener]

Coming in with 26. Nancy with 52.

[Joe Getty]

Same.

[Jack Armstrong]

Hey, now the dashing through the snow part.

[Katie Greener]

Oh, we're on our way.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm glad you threw in the ha. That was very important. Okay, one more.

[Joe Getty]

Even more painful than it sounds.

[Jack Armstrong]

Let's get one more good song as we. And if you [e-mail] this all come to a stop.

[Joe Getty]

We'll stop. Yeah. All right. Do you have an idea? Oh, come on.

[Jack Armstrong]

Come on.

[Joe Getty]

Silent night.

[Jack Armstrong]

There you go.

[Joe Getty]

All right, here we go.

[Jack Armstrong]

Should be a silent now.

[Joe Getty]

And it's waltz, two, three. Oh, that was almost right. Woo. That was good. So what's the. Wishing? It was a silent night. Michael has his phone now to make this a silent night. Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, Michael.

[Joe Getty]

Beautiful.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's fantastic.

[Joe Getty]

The baby Jesus is about to throw the first punch of his life.

[Jack Armstrong]

Where are we at for our total? Did you refresh?

[Katie Greener]

Yeah, I'm refreshing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay. I think that. I think that might be good.

[Katie Greener]

Stupid did hurt just contributed 50 bucks.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, thank you very much. Stupid did hurt. In for $50. Thank you.

[Joe Getty]

I could. I could be talked into playing a little. Nope. No. Any requests?

[Katie Greener]

I would like more.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I could. I'm a big fan of this every year, I think. You know what? I'm going to start Practicing a little bit and get a little. And then I never do. I literally had not opened the case since this day last year when I.

[Joe Getty]

Put it away, you know, other than the people I love, music has meant more to me than anything in my life. And I have no idea how I got talked into playing the trombone. It was a bad idea. It's a fine instrument in this symphonic setting, sure. But unless you're James Pankow of Chicago, it won't do you a damn bit of good. In rock and roll.

[Jack Armstrong]

What do you wish you had played and spent as much time practicing if.

[Joe Getty]

You could start over, Honestly, like piano or like saxophone? I mean, I've played zillions hours of guitar and I still stink. But yet something that is more useful in rock and roll, honestly, but it's okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, boy. A great $25 donation from. Needed this when I was 10. That's a great one. As in, I wish I'd had scouts when I was a kid.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, that's.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's a good one. Raging tromboner in for 25. Appreciate everybody donating. Really hoping to hit 150 grand by the end of the show. We do whale. We know that's coming in at some point, which is going to help about 129 right now. So we need a pretty decent chunk of money. I mean, we need about 20 grand to get to our goal by the end of the hour. That's interesting about the musical instrument. I think a lot of people, if they ever play at all, just kind of randomly end up on one. I wish I had taken it way more seriously when I'm younger. If I had a practice like I practice now, I would have loved to have seen, you know, what I could have done. Not that I ever wanted to make money or be professional, anything like it. Just the enjoyment. It's more enjoyable to play better.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I was super motivated, actually. I was. I was a pretty good brass player, but. And it was fun and I met a lot of nice people. No regrets.

[Jack Armstrong]

How much do you think is talent and how much do you think is effort? I always wonder that about some of each.

[Joe Getty]

We're out of time.

[Jack Armstrong]

Thank you very much. We got more on the way. Stay here.

[Valpak Advertiser]

Armstrong and Getty.

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[Trainer Games Promoter]

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[Joe Getty]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Trainer Games Promoter]

Someone will be eliminated.

[Valpak Advertiser]

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[Joe Getty]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com Season 2.

[Announcer]

Of Unrivaled Basketball is here, and the talent is unreal. The best women's players on the planet are running it back with even bigger moments and bigger stakes. Don't miss as Paige Becker, Snafeeza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more. Take the court and redefine the game. This isn't your regular season. This is unrivaled, where the pace is faster, the energy is higher and every athlete shines. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5 on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max.

[Washington Post Advertiser]

A new year is on the Horizon, and your 2026 savings start here. Right now, you can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at the special intro rate. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe, because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washingtonpost.com iheart that's washingtonpost.com iheart and start your year informed with the Post.

[Valpak Advertiser]

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Valpack is here to make it even better. This month, as you sift through holiday mail, don't miss the blue Valpak envelope. From dining to holiday shopping, there's a slate full of savings in your mailbox, plus a chance to instantly win $100. That's right, you can find $100 Christmas cash inside. Want to save even more money on what you love? Go to valpak.com for local coupons and offers. It pays to open Valpak. No purchase necessary for instant win voip prohibited prices are randomly inserted. See specially marked Valpak envelopes for details.

[Jack Armstrong]

Democrat politicians also sent the cost of groceries soaring, but we are solving that, too. The price of a Thanksgiving Turkey was down 33% compared to the Biden last year. The price of eggs is down 82% since March, and everything else is falling rapidly, and it's not done yet. But, boy, are we making progress. Nobody can believe what's going on. 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. 25 years before history is ripe enough to pick off the tree the first time. Something like that. I have no idea how Trump will be treated by history. We certainly know how he's treated now. And here on the Armstrong and Getty Show, I'll speak only for myself. I have no need to defend everything he does or attack everything he does. I don't know what percentage of people are in that camp. It seems like practically everybody in the media either have to defend every single thing he does or attack every single thing he does, which is just intellectually dishonest. It doesn't even make any sense.

[Joe Getty]

It's a little weird as a citizen, too. Although it's kind of the tribal times we live in, and I get why people use that as their business model. I just. We agree. We just don't choose to do that.

[Jack Armstrong]

I wonder how many people in real life feel that way. I don't know. I mean, my family is some of the Trumpiest people I know, but even they have limits where it's sometimes like, why did you do that? Why'd you say that? Like, what he. What he truthed out about Rob Reiner the other day was just horrific. What do you, as the President of the United States, doing weighing in on that? On the other hand, I'm so glad Kamala Harris is not president. I mean, without reservation, that could have been cataclysmic. Oh, my God.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. And I don't use that term lightly.

[Jack Armstrong]

No. Anywho, here's another. Why did he do this Donald Trump thing?

[Joe Getty]

Oh, boy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Did you see this? So in the White House, they got all the pictures of all the presidents in one of your halls, one of your rooms.

[Joe Getty]

Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

And Trump put in new plaques underneath the pictures that it looks like he wrote. And they're big bronze plaques that look like they've been there forever, but they've only been there for a couple of days. And, for instance, under Joe Biden's official picture in the White House, I'll just read you part of the plaque because it's very long. It says, sleepy Joe Biden was by far the worst president in American history. I mean, I understand laughing at it. I'm laughing at it right now. But it's just so hilarious that a sitting president would put new plaques. I mean, these pictures have always been up. Not always, but for many, many, many years. They've had up all the pictures of the presidents, including the latest, and there was no plaque. But he put up accident in, like, completely Trumpy language.

[Joe Getty]

It is hilarious. It's also shocking. It's also incredibly petty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right. And will accomplish nothing other than making me laugh for five minutes.

[Joe Getty]

Well, I'll just give me a good laugh. Which, you know, Jack, with the weight of the world on our shoulders these days, I appreciate it's got the official plaque look.

[Jack Armstrong]

I mean, it's a black with bronze lettering, big, thick. I mean, they put some effort into this.

[Joe Getty]

I'm not laughing, I'm crying.

[Jack Armstrong]

Sleepy Joe Biden was by far the worst president in American history. Taking office as a result of the most corrupt election ever seen in the United States, Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our nation to the brink of destruction. And it goes on from there for, like, he had to do two plaques to fit it all in. Nicknamed both Sleepy and Crooked, Joe Biden was dominated by his radical left handlers. Um, so there you go. That's the plaque he put in. And obviously you don't even need to say this. The next president, probably Republican or Democrat, will take those plaques down. I don't know. It's hard to know if J.D. vance would take him down or not. Might take him down quietly on a holiday weekend and hope nobody notices because it's pretty silly.

[Joe Getty]

What's funny about Trump to me is that he feels like he needs to point that out because I think he's semi obsessed with media. That's critical to him. I mean, because people have made fun of him for watching Fox News all the time. I don't think he does. He watches Morning Joe and he reads the Washington Post and he New York Times.

[Jack Armstrong]

He's obsessed with what Morning Joe and the New York Times say about him.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, right. And I would say to him, Mr. President, there are plenty of us out here, lots and lots of us who, when you're right, say, yeah, he's absolutely right.

[Jack Armstrong]

So, like, the plaque under George W. Bush is fairly. Just. Just looks like a sophomore paper written by somebody who kind of like George Bush. I mean, it's got nothing super critical in it. Barry Hussein, Barack Obama. His plaque says Barack Hussein Obama was the first black president, a community organizer, one term senator from Illinois, and one of the most divisive political figures in American history.

[Joe Getty]

That's in the White House?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, come on.

[Jack Armstrong]

As president, he passed the highly ineffective Unaffordable Care act, resulting in his party losing control of both houses of Congress and the election of the largest House Republican majority since 1946. He presided over a stagnant economy, approved the terrible Iran nuclear deal, and signed the one sided Paris climate accords, both of which were later terminated by President Donald J. Trump.

[Joe Getty]

Gee, I wonder who wrote these.

[Jack Armstrong]

It sounds like Trump wrote them himself.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, 100%.

[Jack Armstrong]

You think he wrote them himself? Yes. So he spent. Because there's a plaque for every president. I've seen the hallway. I wonder if he only wrote some of them. But there's.

[Joe Getty]

Oh yeah, he just said, look, I want to do Obama and Biden, as.

[Jack Armstrong]

Busy as he is, you wouldn't think he'd have time to sit down and dictate off these new plaques to put under the pictures.

[Joe Getty]

Well, you wouldn't think he'd have time to hit social media 20 times a day either.

[Jack Armstrong]

Man, he. I realize his approval ratings aren't that good right now and he takes a lot of flack from all over the place, but he has received more presidential votes than anybody who's ever run for the office. That is just a numerical fact. Having run 3 times and almost won all 3 times. Did win twice. So what would it take to like feel comfortable enough until. I'll use this as an example. Early on in my radio career, I've told the story many, many times.

[Joe Getty]

My.

[Jack Armstrong]

It might have been 41 years ago tomorrow because that's when my radio career started. Like one of my very first shifts. Like my first full time actually being paid for job. Somebody called up and said, you suck and hung up. And I was devastated by this call. I sat there thinking, oh my God, I suck. This is what I was planning to do. This is what I'm going to college for. This is my only job.

[Joe Getty]

I suck.

[Jack Armstrong]

What am I gonna do?

[Joe Getty]

I mean, I was just right, you know, that's terrible. And I'm laughing because I could relate.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm 19 years old and. And then it went from suck to like, you know, am I funny or not? Well, at some point, after enough years of making a house payment and car payment and feeding myself on being allegedly funny or interesting, you know, I, I just accept that I'm a. I'm funny enough and interesting enough to enough people to make a living. And if other people, if there, if there's a bunch of people who don't think so, know, I'm fine with that. Because enough people do it's been proven through my, you know, making a living.

[Joe Getty]

Especially if you know anything about the business. You just need, just a tiny minority is plenty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. And you know, but not everybody needs to agree. But I'm comfortable in my own skin with that as, as a, as an identity. How Trump can't get there. You were damn near elected. You almost won three presidential elections. You did win two. At what point do you need to feel like you were have been a successful politician to where you're not this.

[Joe Getty]

Thin skinned and petty? The best revenge is living well. Those are good words. Words to know, words to remember. It would be terrifying to spend five minutes in his brain. I mean in a lot of ways to have his energy and drive self belief.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'll bet the pace I would immediately think I can't keep this up all day long.

[Joe Getty]

But the grinding insecurity or pettiness or whatever, that'd be terrifying too.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. One of the more fascinating people who's ever walked planet Earth without a doubt.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

I want to squeeze in before the end of the show and I'll do a very, very short version of it. One of my favorite economic stories. One that should be taught in every high school in America and will be taught in practically no high schools in America. It could have, it could avoid a great deal of pain and angst across the fooded plain for decades to come, but it will be ignored. But you're gonna hear about it. Cool.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, let's break so we can have time for that. And also want to do a big push for Scouts. Boy, we just got a great donation. I love this one. 25 bucks from Scott Wild was the best Scout Master ever. And I don't know who Scott Wild is, but I'm sure this is somebody who was a scout and that guy was a scout master and really, you know, liked him and made a difference in his life. And the, the parents out there that are dedicating so many hours for no pay to do that, whether it's youth sports or at your church or this with Scouts, I, I'm highly impressed by that. Anyway, we want more people to be able to sign up for Scouts even if you can't quite afford it. That's what we're raising money for. Want to hit $150,000 before the show ends or 137 now I know we can get there. We just need you to go to armstrongandgetti.com and donate a little bit. We got plenty of listeners. If everybody donate a little bit. We would get there, including you people.

[Joe Getty]

In the future listening to the podcast. Armstrongandgetty.com yeah, it doesn't close.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, we'll keep adding to this over the next couple of days. We're just kind of unofficially wrapping it up here in the next 15 minutes. Go to Armstrongandgetti.com more on the way.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

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[Trainer Games Promoter]

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[Joe Getty]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Trainer Games Promoter]

Someone will be eliminated.

[Joe Getty]

Pressure is coming down. Trainer games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com Season 2.

[Announcer]

Of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. The best women's players on the planet are running it back with even bigger moments and bigger stakes. Don't miss as Paige Becker, Snafeeza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more take the court and redefine the game. This isn't your regular season. This is unrivaled, where the pace is faster, the energy is higher and every athlete shines. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5 on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max.

[Washington Post Advertiser]

A new year is on the Horizon and your 2026 savings start here. Right now, you can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at the special intro rate. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washingtonpost.com iheart that's washingtonpost.com iheart and start your year informed with the Post.

[Valpak Advertiser]

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Valpak is here to make it even better. This month, as you sift through holiday mail, don't miss the blue Valpak envelope. From dining to holiday shopping, there's a slate full of savings in your mailbox, plus a Chance to instantly win $100. That's right. You could find $100 Christmas cash inside. Want to save even more money on what you love? Go to valpak.com for local coupons and offers. It pays to open Valpak. No purchase no necessary for instant win Void were prohibited. Prices are randomly inserted. See specially marked Val Pack envelopes for details.

[Jack Armstrong]

The number of people with the last name Merkin who donate and I don't believe that's your last name. Google it. It's not a common term you come across.

[Joe Getty]

Anyway, I don't recall any friends or neighbors with that name. That surname Got a hundred bucks from.

[Jack Armstrong]

Ruin the entire company company ruin the entire country. Newsome 2028 that was Joe's idea. That's a good one. That's a popular T shirt we have at Armstrong&Giddy.com. what the hell is going on? Donate to the scouts, Armstrong and getty.com trying to hit one. We get off the air in 10 minutes.

[Joe Getty]

I would like to design some sort of classroom game that the kids could play in. Probably high school. Although frankly, even adult could understand this. A young dolt. I want to teach this in every high school in America. You got Minneapolis on one side of a river, St. Paul on the other. In 2022, St. Paul enacted one of the strictest rent control regimes in the country. The ordinance capped annual rent increases at 3% for most apartments, even empty ones. No adjustment for inflation across the Mississippi River, Minneapolis steered clear of rent control. Instead, city officials strictly focused on creating new housing. A package of land use revisions in 2020 made it easier to build apartments, in part by removing restrictions that limited houses to single family homes. Now the results are coming into focus. Permits to build apartments in St. Paul, where they did rent control plummeted by 79% in one year. Let's call it 80%. An 80% reduction in anybody saying, hey, I'd like to build some apartments. Real estate investment activity nearly froze. Developers halted projects that were already underway as their lenders pulled back because they doubted that the owners could make their payments. Property values declined as investment cooled. All this compounded the existing real estate problems brought on by the pandemic. St. Paul officials are now walking back parts of the ordinance. Said the new mayor, herself a landlord. Yeah, the math just doesn't work. In Minneapolis, meanwhile, developers kept building. Housing permits surged nearly fourfold in early 22 from the year before. Not cut by 80%, they quadrupled. Downtown hubs blossomed as new apartments hit the market and attracted young professionals and guess what? Minneapolis rents grew much more slowly than both St. Paul and the U.S. overall, it made it better.

[Jack Armstrong]

St. Paul is pretty wacky. Beautiful city. I had a wedding there one time and spent some time in Minneapolis. St. Paul, absolutely gorgeous there. But their political politics are wacky.

[Joe Getty]

It's interesting that Minneapolis, as woke as it is in a lot of ways, had realists who understood real estate for whatever reason. You know, you got your mum, Donnie, Omar, Fattah there in Minneapolis pitching rent control just didn't resonate in Minneapolis. They didn't think it was a good idea and didn't do it.

[Jack Armstrong]

So as we wrap up here, taking a look at people are donating to our cause, raising money. Some more people can join the scouts at Armstrong and getty.com. here you got 70 bucks from a family of seven Eagle Scouts.

[Joe Getty]

Wow something.

[Jack Armstrong]

50 bucks from two Eagles and a soup slurping Marine. But the, the seven Eagle Scouts. It reminds me of my next door neighbors. The perfect family. I always call them nicest people in the world.

[Joe Getty]

World.

[Jack Armstrong]

They're just, I just, I just, I'm not, I can't do what they do. They're like, they, they just constantly exercising kids in all these different projects that they love. They. Yeah, well, they exercise, they speak multiple languages.

[Joe Getty]

I want to see him studied at the molecular level.

[Jack Armstrong]

I wish I was like that. I'm just not. Yeah, yeah. Is it energy? Some people just have more energy than other people.

[Joe Getty]

Some of it's cultural.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Everybody around you acts like that from the time you're a little child. Some of it's personal, I think. I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

I gotta be fighting.

[Joe Getty]

How many Eagle Scouts did you say? Seven. Seven. Why? Can I hang out with you and feel inferior every single minute? That would be great.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, we got 50 bucks from make Jock Make Jack stop talking up Prunes.

[Joe Getty]

Blaze when once you go prune you'll never be marooned.

[Jack Armstrong]

What's 150 bucks from Michelangelo's gas station car wash? Is that a story? I don't remember, Michael. I don't remember.

[Joe Getty]

I recall that. No, no.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay. Tomorrow is our Clips of the Year show. So this is our actual like lie last talking about the news. I mean if something really big happened, we go to war with Venezuela. I suppose we would talk about that tomorrow at some length. But barring some giant news story, it's the clips of the Year show. We go month by month with clips and discuss them and then we get to the actual like 10 biggest clips of the year and it's usually A lot of fun.

[Joe Getty]

And then we vote on the clip of the year. And whoever speaks the clip of the year, nothing for it.

[Jack Armstrong]

Starboard bow. We got a whale.

[Joe Getty]

I can never remember. Is that the left?

[Jack Armstrong]

This isn't the biggest whale we've had yet. By far. Good God. It's going to turn over the ship.

[Joe Getty]

Yar.

[Jack Armstrong]

Somebody wanted to be Anonymous. A supporter. $10,000.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, my goodness. Thank you, my friend.

[Jack Armstrong]

Thank you very much. That came in. We are at 1 48, 609. We only need 1400 bucks to get to 150.

[Joe Getty]

So you know what? To thank you. To thank you, my friend. I want you to come over for dinner tonight, Jack's house. If I come, I mean go. I was gonna say Jack will prepare you a four course meal.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes, I was gonna say. And Joe will rub your feet. But no, Joe invited them over to my house. But if you're coming to my house, have low expectations for your meal.

[Joe Getty]

I'll tell you that. One is named Jack and one is named Joe.

[Jack Armstrong]

And they've got some final thoughts you should know.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty close the show.

[Washington Post Advertiser]

Now.

[Jack Armstrong]

Here'S your host for final thoughts, Joe Getty.

[Joe Getty]

How about a final thought from everybody on the crew? Wouldn't that be exciting? How about Michelangelo leading the way? Better yet. Michael, final thought. I'm kind of disappointed I didn't put.

[Jack Armstrong]

Out outdoor Christmas lights this year. It's a first year in several years.

[Joe Getty]

I haven't done it.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just didn't get around to it.

[Joe Getty]

I feel like I failed.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, way to let down. Jesus, Michael.

[Joe Getty]

Wow. Okay. Not at all. Judgy. Katie Greener, esteemed newswoman. As a final thought, Katie, well, it.

[Katie Greener]

Is the time of the year. I'm really disappointed. I was just emailed that my renewal for my AARP was declined.

[Joe Getty]

What scam? Am I correct? You will not be here for the Clips of the year show tomorrow?

[Katie Greener]

I will not. I will be in Portland.

[Joe Getty]

All right, well, let us just say you're the best. We love you. Have a great vacation and see you in a bit.

[Jack Armstrong]

See you next year.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, you're great.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's always so much fun to say see you next year here. Yes. Our total is 149,000, 169 as we go off the air today. We're just 800 bucks short. I'm sure that will flow in over the next three minutes. So thank you for helping us get to 150. But as Joe said, donations can continue to come in. If you hear this in the future or whenever it all adds up to a total total. So thank you very much. Armstrong and getty.com My final thought.

[Joe Getty]

Thinking of a couple of stories and and pieces of audio we brought you today. How about instead of yelling angrily at people, you ask them questions and see if you can understand their point of view. Give that a try. You might enjoy it. You don't have to agree with it, but you won't come off like an a hole.

[Jack Armstrong]

Sounds crazy. Armstrong and Yeti wrapping up another grueling four hour workday.

[Joe Getty]

So many people. Thanks a little time. Go to armstrong yeti.com look for the donate now tab. Drop us note mailbagarmstrongeti.com we did it.

[Jack Armstrong]

We hit 150 by the end of the day on Thursday.

[Joe Getty]

Very awesome.

[Jack Armstrong]

See you tomorrow. God bless America.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Katie Greener]

Oh, we're on our way.

[Trainer Games Promoter]

Ha.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm glad you threw in the ha. That was very important. That's fantastic.

[Joe Getty]

The baby Jesus is about to to throw the first punch of his life. Armstrong and Getty not everybody can be.

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[Trainer Games Promoter]

Athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contest for $250,000.

[Joe Getty]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Trainer Games Promoter]

Someone will be eliminated.

[Joe Getty]

Pressure is coming down. Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com Season 2.

[Announcer]

Of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more are back to redefine the game. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy Tips off January 5th on TNT, TruTV and HBO. Max.

[Washington Post Advertiser]

A new year is on the Horizon and your 2026 savings start here. Right now you can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at this special intro rate. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime you'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washingtonpost.com iheart that's washingtonpost.com iheart and start your year informed with the Post.

[Valpak Advertiser]

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Valpak is here to make it even better. This month, as you sip through holiday mail, don't miss the blue Valpak envelope. From dining to holiday shopping, there's a slate full of savings in your mailbox, plus a chance to instantly win $100. That's right, right? You can find $100 Christmas cash inside. Want to save even more money on what you love? Go to valpak.com for local coupons and offers. It pays to open Valpak. No purchase necessary for instant win voip we're prohibited. Prices are randomly inserted. See specially marked Valpak envelopes for details.

[Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.