Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "Pass The Baton You Selfish Bastard" (February 18, 2026)
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Episode Overview
This episode dives into a variety of contemporary cultural and political topics with classic Armstrong & Getty wit and candor. The main focus is on the social media addiction trial involving Meta and Google, the cultural impacts of the Olympics, escalating gang violence in Sweden linked to immigration, and the ethics of Supreme Court retirements. The hosts share personal reflections, sharp criticism of Big Tech, the media’s treatment of controversial Olympic athletes, and the broader social consequences of policy decisions in the US and abroad.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Social Media Addiction Trial & Tech Accountability
[03:17–15:23]
- Mark Zuckerberg on Trial:
The hosts discuss Mark Zuckerberg taking the stand in a high-profile trial over social media addiction and related teen mental health crises. Google and Meta are in the dock; Snapchat and TikTok have settled out of court already. - Personal Responsibility vs. Corporate Accountability:
Jack and Joe openly question to what extent parents vs. platforms are responsible for children’s social media use, suggesting legal cases are complicated by parental choices:“Why the heck this mom was letting her six year old stare endlessly at YouTube and then blaming YouTube for the kid spending too much time looking at YouTube. I don’t, I don’t quite get that.”
— Jack Armstrong (05:00) - Damaging Data Points:
Referencing internal Meta studies showing 13.5% of teen girls had worsened suicidal thoughts and 17% had worsened eating disorders from Instagram.“If looking at lots of pictures of other people having a good time makes you suicidal, is that Instagram's fault?”
— Jack Armstrong (05:56) - Corporate Mindset Exposed:
An internal Zuckerberg email highlights the intent to keep teens’ social media activity hidden from parents for product growth:“If we tell teens’ parents about their live videos, that will probably ruin the product from the start.”
— Email attributed to Mark Zuckerberg (07:09) - Tech as "Digital Drug":
Armstrong & Getty explore the addictive aspect of infinite scroll and dopamine “hits” engineered by social platforms:“People are binging on Instagram so much they can’t feel the reward anymore.”
— Armstrong paraphrasing an internal note (11:40) - Discussion of Self-Regulation & Societal Values:
Joe draws analogies to addiction and questions whether even adults’ brains are being changed:“How much like alcoholism or drug addiction is that? … All I think about is getting my next drink. I don’t feel my wife’s love. My kids’ birthday party doesn’t delight me. I’m just thinking about drinking.”
— Joe Getty (11:55) - Skepticism About Solutions:
The hosts doubt that regulations like “banning infinite scroll” would ever materialize in the US, and favor greater cultural awareness instead.
2. Olympic Coverage & Athletes Under Scrutiny
[18:00–34:44]
-
Olympic Rivalries & Media Whitewashing:
The hosts question why American media avoids criticizing Eileen Gu (or "Goo"), an elite skier who competes for China:“She is beautiful. She’s betrayed her country and she loves dem commie dollars. It’s Eileen Goo.”
— Joe Getty (25:50) “Glowing profiles of Gu in the American press are often indistinguishable from the coverage of Gu in official state-sponsored Chinese media. Wow.”
— Joe Getty (28:18) -
Ethics of Representing Rival Countries for Money:
The hosts contrast the media’s treatment of Gu with her own agency and business savvy, showing frustration with double standards. -
Abusive Training in Russian Figure Skating:
They highlight coach Eteri Tutberidze’s tough, exploitative training methods and note the dark side of youth athletes’ sacrifices:“You have these little kids snatched away from their families as toddlers and then compelled to compete for the glory of the fatherland until it ruins them. Then they’re just thrown away like garbage.”
— Joe Getty (32:30) -
Reflection on Youth Sports “Professionalization”:
Drawing a line to American experience, the hosts reflect on children focused on one sport to the exclusion of all else, sometimes expressing regret later in life.“I wish I hadn’t spent every hour of my childhood playing tennis… I wish I had lived a regular life like other people. I hate all of this. I wish I hadn’t done it.”
— Jack Armstrong, paraphrasing a retired tennis pro (33:36)
3. Sweden’s Gang Violence and Immigration Policy
[18:11–22:23]
- Bombings Plague Sweden:
The show reports on an unprecedented rise in gang violence and bombings, directly linked to the country's struggle to integrate a high volume of immigrants:“An explosion a day in a country that size.”
— Jack Armstrong (19:43) - Political and Social Consequences:
Discussing the link between social exclusion, crime, and failed integration strategies—a warning about the limits of importing populations into homogeneous societies. - A Cautionary Tale:
The hosts criticize US and European elites for ignoring culture's importance in shaping outcomes:“Culture matters. It matters more than almost anything.”
— Joe Getty (21:49)
4. Supreme Court Succession & “Passing the Baton”
[39:48–44:46]
- Potential for a New Supreme Court Vacancy:
Hosts speculate on whether a Justice (especially Clarence Thomas, now 77) should retire so a like-minded appointee can take his place before a possible shift in Senate control.“Pass the baton, you selfish bastard.”
— Joe Getty (42:10) - Debate Over Age, Legacy & Service:
The practical and ethical aspects of justices timing their retirements for political reasons are debated ("I don't like that."). - Youth on the Court Thought Experiment:
The hosts jokingly imagine a slippery slope where all justices end up in their twenties under political pressure.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Parental Responsibility and Tech:
“This doesn't seem like the best test case to me, because why the heck this mom was letting her six year old stare endlessly at YouTube …"
— Jack Armstrong (05:00) -
On Social Media Addiction as Corporate Evil:
“People need to know that these companies are evil. They not only do not have your well-being in mind, they couldn't give a crap. … All I care about is the almighty buck.”
— Joe Getty (06:14) -
On Regulation:
“We're not gonna tell Instagram you can't have Infinite Scroll. … Might be good for us, but gotta be self-imposed, folks.”
— Jack Armstrong (14:45) -
On Olympic Hypocrisy:
“Glowing profiles of Gu in the American press are often indistinguishable from the coverage of Gu in official state-sponsored Chinese media. Wow.”
— Joe Getty (28:18) -
On Sweden’s Challenges:
“An explosion a day in a country that size.”
— Jack Armstrong (19:43) -
On RBG and Timed Retirements:
“RBG famously did not.”
— Joe Getty (41:24) -
On Passing the Baton:
“Pass the baton, you selfish bastard.”
— Joe Getty (42:10)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- [03:17] Social Media Addiction Trial: Zuckerberg, Meta, Google in the dock
- [06:14 & 07:09] Corporate indifference, internal emails, and growth-at-all-costs
- [11:40–14:15] Comparisons to addiction; infinite scroll; dopamine “binging”
- [18:11–22:23] Sweden’s gang violence, immigrant integration, and cultural consequences
- [25:50–34:44] Olympics: Eileen Gu/US vs. China; Russian coaching and youth sports angst
- [39:48–44:46] Supreme Court politics and "passing the baton"
Tone & Style
The conversation embodies Armstrong & Getty’s signature blend of humor, skepticism, and pointed cultural criticism. Their tone oscillates between irreverent, self-deprecating, and exasperated—balanced with moments of earnest concern about society and public policy.
Closing Thoughts
This episode delivers incisive commentary on the technological, cultural, and political stories shaping the news, threading together disparate issues with the hosts’ unique blend of skepticism, humor, and concern for the fabric of civil society. Their advice? Be wary of Big Tech, think critically about youth sports and media narratives, and question both the motives and the wisdom of long-serving public officials.