Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "Peace in the Middle East"

Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode zeroes in on the extraordinary—if tentative—breakthrough in Middle East peace negotiations, centering on a Trump-brokered plan that has garnered unprecedented global support, with only Hamas left to weigh in. The hosts also discuss the cratering of American support for Israel, the challenges of contemporary media and academia, and the ongoing cultural and political rifts in the U.S., with characteristic humor and candor. Additional conversations explore the nature of human resilience, military reforms, America’s homelessness crisis, and broader societal changes post-Covid.

Main Theme

Historic Prospects for Peace in the Middle East
The central discussion revolves around the surprising and broad-based support for President Trump's latest peace proposal in the Middle East—a plan that appears to have united the most divergent voices in U.S. and international politics, leaving only Hamas as the holdout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trump Peace Proposal: Near-Universal Support

• Key Details:
  • All major political groups and countries (NPR, MSNBC, Washington Post, Fox and Friends, Lindsey Graham, Netanyahu, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Indonesia) support the Trump plan, with Hamas as the lone entity yet to agree.
    "[T]he claim is that they're huddled and gathered and trying to decide what they want to do here. They've got to realize, wow, this is gonna look bad if we say no to this. Given what I just said. I mean, when NPR is, 'boy there's a lot to like here'...Wow, that is something." —Joe Getty [03:00]
• Peacekeeping Force:
  • A multinational peacekeeping force (Indonesia, Italy, and others, led by Tony Blair) is to be stationed in Gaza. Notably, the U.S. would not be directly involved militarily.
• Unprecedented Unity:
  • Media and political personalities across the spectrum, including Tom Friedman (NYT) and Fox News, are signaling support for the deal. “Only Trump could get all these Arab leaders on board with a plan like this because they respect him so much and listen to him...” —Joe Getty [09:32]
• Cautious Skepticism:
  • The hosts suspect Hamas will accept the deal only superficially and regroup as a guerrilla force later, given their stated objectives and ideological long-termism. “I think what they will do is accept it on the surface and melt into the Palestinian territories and reconstitute as some sort of guerrilla force and then attack when the moment is right.” —Jack Armstrong [04:24]

2. American Attitudes Toward Israel Shift

• New Polling:
  • NYT/Siena poll: Only 19% of Americans strongly support providing military and economic aid to Israel; this represents a historic low. “Only 19%...with 20% somewhat support. So you’re way under half...The biggest number is 35% strongly oppose. For young people, it’s 70%.” —Joe Getty [07:12]
• Media Coverage's Role:
  • The hosts argue that persistently inaccurate and biased media coverage since October 7th has dramatically shifted American perception against Israel. “It’s been utterly, obscenely inaccurate, one-sided and bizarre.” —Jack Armstrong [08:05]
• College Influence:
  • University environments, particularly departments focused on the Middle East, are criticized for strong anti-Israel/anti-Semitic attitudes shaping student sentiment. “Four of the seven [guiding Columbia's Middle Eastern studies department] are avowed anti-Israeli, anti-Jew activists.” —Jack Armstrong [08:40]

3. Navigating Political & Human Complexity

• On Trump’s Style:
  • Trump’s disregard for precedent is viewed as both his greatest asset and flaw. His boldness allowed for the peace proposal’s unique support, yet poses risks elsewhere. “Trump’s great strength is that he will do anything. He will chuck all precedent and tradition...It’s also his great weakness.” —Jack Armstrong [10:39]
• Personal Tendencies:
  • The hosts riff on human flaws, shame, and positive thinking—juxtaposed with Trump’s apparent lack of regret or self-doubt. “He is like an NFL cornerback. He has the ability that if he gets burned for a touchdown, you just put that out of your mind...I wallow in my mistakes. I regret them till my deathbed.” —Joe Getty [12:21]
  • Memorable banter about being human and the difficulty of life. “Being human, I tell you what, ain’t easy.” —Joe Getty [16:26]
    —A crowd favorite, destined for a t-shirt.

4. Cultural Shifts: Post-Pandemic and the Death of Reading

• Societal Change:
  • The hosts ponder whether Covid forever altered American society or merely accelerated ongoing titanic shifts. “Did Covid break us...or is it true that there are a bunch of...human being changing things going on? Like we’re at an inflection point...” —Joe Getty [33:34]
• Literacy and Attention:
  • They cite articles about the collapse of reading in the smartphone era; a major, underappreciated shift. “Since the smartphone came on the scene...it [reading] disappearing again.” —Joe Getty [34:09]

5. Homelessness, Drug Addiction & Social Policy

• Ground View:
  • A stark interview with a homeless woman in Portland lays bare the failings (as perceived by hosts and their interviewee) of compassion-first city policy. “It’s a piece of cake, really...they feed you three meals a day, you don’t have to do [anything] but stay in your tent or party...get high, eat...that’s all you do all day long, every day. I’m being honest.” —Junkie Gal [23:12]
• Host Reaction:
  • The hosts argue current policies incentivize addiction rather than recovery.
• Policy Prescription:
  • Enforcement of all laws, including anti-camping and drug statutes, would introduce consequences that could force positive change.

6. Military Fitness & Modern Warfare

• "No Fat Generals":
  • Discussion of new defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive targeting out-of-shape military leaders sparks debate: Should all military personnel meet physical fitness standards, or can specialists be exempt? “Can you do the job that you were given?” —Jack Armstrong [30:07]
• A Modern Military's Needs:
  • Acknowledgement that computer talent and drone operators may not need traditional physical prowess.

7. Mailbag and Listener Engagement

• Angst over Political Retaliation:
  • Listeners are skeptical that appeals to norms will restrain mutual escalation between left and right.
• Cultural Stereotypes in Driving:
  • Playful but pointed discussion on how stereotypes stem from culture, not genetics, relating to differing driving habits among recent immigrants and the American-born.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Middle East Peace Deal’s Support:
  • “It’s unbelievable the support that this thing has. And the only entity that hasn’t said ‘yeah, we’ll go ahead’ so far is Hamas.” —Joe Getty [02:55]
• Cynicism Countered:
  • “Some chance is better than no chance.” —Joe Getty [21:36]
• On Media Influence:
  • “Israel is held to a standard of civilian protection and...nurturing of the civilian population of its adversaries that no force has ever been held to in the history of warfare.” —Jack Armstrong [09:13]
• Being Human:
  • “Being human, I tell you what, ain’t easy.” —Joe Getty [16:26]
• On Boldness vs. Caution:
  • “Trump...will chuck all precedent and tradition...it’s a mental exercise. We got the guy. We got him!” —Jack Armstrong [10:39]
• Honesty about Homelessness:
  • “That is so self-evidently true to anybody with any sense. I...wonder, is there anybody hearing that simple statement...who is persuaded by it?” —Jack Armstrong [23:58]
• On Societal Change:
  • “Did Covid break us or is it true...we’re at an inflection point with a bunch of different things going on?” —Joe Getty [33:34]
• Mailbag on Human Nature:
  • “Stop being so tender and naive...Democrats couldn’t give the first F about getting permission from the Rs to use any tactics.” —Listener email read by Joe Getty [36:43]

Key Segment Timestamps

• [02:20] – Introduction of "Peace in the Middle East" as the General Manager (main topic)
• [02:55] – Listing global political/media voices supporting the Trump peace proposal
• [04:24] – How Hamas might "accept" the deal and regroup as guerrillas
• [04:42] – Details of the planned peacekeeping force in Gaza
• [06:23] – Trump’s ultimatum to Netanyahu if Hamas rejects the plan
• [07:12] – New polling shows historic lows in American support for Israel
• [08:40] – Columbia’s Middle Eastern studies department is run by anti-Israel activists
• [12:21] – Discussion on Trump’s style: boldness, lack of regret, NFL cornerback analogy
• [16:26] – “Being human, I tell you what, ain’t easy” — memorable quote
• [23:12] – Portland homeless woman interview: “It’s a piece of cake, really...”
• [27:10] – Policy suggestions: enforcing the law and consequences for addiction
• [29:35] – Military fitness discussion: value of brains vs. brawn
• [33:34] – Did Covid change American society at a fundamental level?
• [34:09] – The "death of reading" in the smartphone era
• [36:57] – Listener mailbag: skepticism about appeals to political norms

Tone & Style

The episode balances light, freewheeling humor with earnest cultural and political commentary. Armstrong & Getty’s chemistry infuses serious topics with relatability and a distinctly skeptical, self-aware tone.

Summary Takeaway

"Peace in the Middle East" is a wide-ranging, high-energy conversation centered on a possible historic breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the hosts exploring how global politics, media bias, and sweeping social changes are shaping public opinion and policy. The rare moment of political consensus around Trump's plan is marked by the hosts’ studied skepticism and hope, set against background themes of societal flux, human frailty, and the importance of adapting to relentless change.

Listeners are invited not just to observe, but to question the motivations behind headlines, policies, and their own assumptions about the world as it turns.