Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "Reading! It's Not Just For Road Signs!"
Date: March 25, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Armstrong & Getty delves into California politics—particularly the gubernatorial race and debates, education culture, and the shifting value of college. Jack Armstrong, Joe Getty, and guest Steve Hilton (Republican candidate for California governor) criticize the state's political establishment and address the need for a broader approach to learning: valuing actionable knowledge over credentials. The show is rich with humor, sharp critiques, and anecdotes that connect the education discussion to broader trends.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. California Governor's Race and Debate Drama
- Debate Cancellations and Political Intimidation
Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for governor, details how the California legislature pressured USC to disrupt a scheduled gubernatorial debate:- State legislature leaders (Robert Rivas and Monique Limón) sent a letter demanding inclusion of low-polling Democrats (“LPDs”) on the debate stage or face consequences.
- Quote: "That is bullying and intimidation from the state legislature to USC. That’s why the debate was cancelled." – Steve Hilton (07:26)
- Hilton argues this is symptomatic of one-party rule and arrogance.
- He credits ABC (the debate broadcaster) for refusing to bow to pressure, leading to the debate’s ultimate cancellation.
- State legislature leaders (Robert Rivas and Monique Limón) sent a letter demanding inclusion of low-polling Democrats (“LPDs”) on the debate stage or face consequences.
- Polling and Momentum
Hilton shares his campaign's growing popularity, with anecdotes from town hall meetings attended by both Republicans and disaffected Democrats.- "We do these town halls up and down the state... now we’re getting 200, sometimes 300 people coming along. This is open to everyone. They’re not Republican events." – Steve Hilton (09:27)
- Poll data referenced: Hilton leading with 20%, Eric Swalwell at 15%, another Republican at 14%.
- The LPD Label and Divided Democratic Field
Hilton coins the term “LPD”—Low Polling Democrats—to mock how minor candidates blame racism for their exclusion from the debate, rather than their lack of support.- Quote: "It’s not because of your race. It’s because you’re not doing well enough in the race. That’s why you weren’t on the debate." – Steve Hilton (07:26; repeated 18:35)
- One-Party Rule and Corruption
Discussion about a "culture of incompetence" after 16 years of Democratic rule, referencing failed California infrastructure projects, homeless crisis, and corruption revelations:- External investigators—James O’Keefe, Manhattan Institute, Chris Rufo, federal prosecutors—are drawing attention to growing scandals.
- "There's volume on California, and it's just going to get louder and louder because everyone is sick of it." – Steve Hilton (11:33)
2. Voter Attitudes & Obstacles
- Voter Apathy and Dissatisfaction
- Poll cited: 52% think California is on the wrong track, yet 33% still feel it's “right direction.”
- Armstrong: "What’ll it take, a junkie to move into your house and like... on your carpet, you 33%?"
- Poll cited: 52% think California is on the wrong track, yet 33% still feel it's “right direction.”
- Getting Non-Republicans to Listen
- Hilton discusses needing to create a “permission structure” for Democrats and independents to vote Republican:
- Emphasizes the need for balance rather than partisan loyalty:
- "Even with Democrats... I would say, look, come on, it's not healthy to have 16 years of one party rule. Just a bit of balance in the system is a good idea." (14:47)
- Emphasizes the need for balance rather than partisan loyalty:
- Jack Armstrong brings up the challenge for Republican candidates in California: needing to distinguish themselves from Trump and focus on state issues to broaden their appeal. (18:02)
- Hilton discusses needing to create a “permission structure” for Democrats and independents to vote Republican:
3. Culture, College, & Real Learning
- Spring Break Vox Pop: Student Ignorance/Humor
- The hosts play and comment on interviews with college students who display alarming ignorance about public affairs:
- Students answer that their biggest concerns are bikinis, Starbucks, and “ice” (as in putting it in drinks, not Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
- “Who is Chuck Schumer?” and “What’s the Federal Reserve?” draw blank stares.
- Armstrong: “Having never heard the phrase Federal Reserve means something.” (33:35)
- Armstrong defends fun at the beach, but notes these responses reveal a deeper lack of knowledge.
- The hosts play and comment on interviews with college students who display alarming ignorance about public affairs:
- Critique of College as Automatic Path
- Armstrong questions the cultural default of sending everyone to four-year college, often at great expense and with little gained:
- Quote: “I'm not doing the whole 'you get four years to screw around and not learn anything' thing. I'm just not doing it...” (36:33)
- Notes a societal sea change: once 70% thought a degree was critical, now about 72% think it's not.
- Armstrong shares an anecdote: when he tells someone his eldest might not go to college, he's pitied, which he pushes back against.
- “I think college is mostly a waste of time and money for most people.” (38:09)
- Armstrong questions the cultural default of sending everyone to four-year college, often at great expense and with little gained:
- Pro Knowledge, Not Pro College
- Armstrong and Getty are adamant: learning and acquiring knowledge is essential, but college is not the only—or often the best—way to do that.
- Armstrong: “I am not pro college. I am pro knowledge. I am 100% pro knowledge. I do stuff every day to get smarter.” (39:17)
- Armstrong and Getty are adamant: learning and acquiring knowledge is essential, but college is not the only—or often the best—way to do that.
- The Importance of Actual Knowledge in Reading
- Highlighting Steven Pinker’s piece on reading, the hosts stress that education should focus on knowledge acquisition, not just reading “for road signs” or test-taking.
- Quote: "Schools have been teaching reading but ignoring the importance of acquiring knowledge for a very long time. And for whatever reason we're having a moment where educators are catching on to the fact that knowledge is the point." (39:17)
- Getty: "Reading not just for road signs. That would be my slogan." (40:39)
- Armstrong: "Acquiring knowledge is huge for human success and enjoyment in my opinion." (41:01)
- Highlighting Steven Pinker’s piece on reading, the hosts stress that education should focus on knowledge acquisition, not just reading “for road signs” or test-taking.
- Critique of K–12 and Educational Bureaucracy
- Schools tend to become more about maintaining institutions/bureaucracies than about enabling human flourishing.
- "Every bureaucracy goes from an institution that's dedicated to a particular purpose to... an institution that's devoted to the institution itself and forgets its purpose." – Getty (42:08)
- Excessive teaching to the test, failure of organizations to prioritize student flourishing.
- Schools tend to become more about maintaining institutions/bureaucracies than about enabling human flourishing.
4. School Choice, Teachers Unions, and Policy
- Federal Tax Credit for Educational Scholarships Blocked
- Getty explains a federal program offering up to $1,700 in tax credits for donations to K-12 scholarship funds (including for private school).
- Many deep-blue state governors refused to opt in, pressured by teachers unions who argue it takes money away from public schools.
- Kentucky’s “moderate” Governor Andy Beshear vetoed participation despite overwhelming bipartisan state support (the veto was overridden).
- Quote: "It's 100% because the teachers unions told him, if you want to keep getting our money, you will veto this." – Getty (53:47)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On California's State of Affairs:
"You had we got the highest taxes in the country for the worst results, highest poverty rate, highest unemployment rate, highest cost of living. 50th out of 50 according to U.S. news and World Report for opportunity, 50th out of 50." — Steve Hilton (15:25) - On Education Culture:
"How did we decide that, culturally, if you’re middle, upper class, and above, we should all spend… for four years screwing around and learning nothing and just partying because that's part of life and everybody should do it?" — Jack Armstrong (36:33) - On “LPDs” (Low Polling Democrats):
"LPDs all chomping up and down, 'oh, it's race, you race racism.' No, it's because it's not because of your race. It's because you're not doing well enough in the race." — Steve Hilton (07:26, 18:35) - On Knowledge and School:
“I love acquiring knowledge however you get it—through talking to somebody, a YouTube documentary or reading, whatever. Acquiring knowledge is huge for human success and enjoyment, in my opinion.” – Jack Armstrong (41:01) - On Teachers Unions:
"It's just another example of how teachers unions have perverted the educational process." — Getty (53:47)
Important Segment Timestamps
- California Governor’s Race & Debate Cancellations
04:47–15:25: Steve Hilton interview, political process, Democratic field analysis, debate pressures - Polling, Town Halls, and Voter Sentiment
08:58–13:36: Hilton’s campaign experiences, polling, and outreach - College and Student Knowledge Discussion
32:15–40:12: College spring breaker responses, value of college, societal attitudes, Pinker on reading/knowledge - School Bureaucracy & Teachers Unions Impact
42:08–54:19: School bureaucracy, Andy Beshear’s veto of scholarship tax credit, teachers unions - Reading for Knowledge, Not Just Reading
39:17–41:01: Steven Pinker, importance of knowledge in education
Episode Takeaways
- The episode is a pointed critique of California’s political structure, focusing on the lack of debate transparency and the perils of one-party dominance.
- Armstrong & Getty urge listeners (and voters) to value knowledge, not credentials—calling out the “college at all costs” culture and teaching-for-the-test bureaucracies.
- Guest Steve Hilton frames the governor’s race as a rare opening for reform and balance in California, energized by bad policy outcomes and a divided Democratic field.
- The influence of teachers unions (and their power over Democratic politicians) is highlighted as a central obstacle to reform in public education and school choice policies.
- There's hope expressed for a changing educational paradigm: shifting focus back to the substance of learning and knowledge, rather than just procedure or credentialing.
Summary for New Listeners
This Armstrong & Getty episode serves as both a passionate primer on the dysfunctions of California politics—full of inside-baseball campaign anecdotes—and a cultural commentary on the drift of American education. If you care about why debates are canceled, why your college-aged kid seems clueless about the news, or why sending them to college is no longer a sure bet, this episode brings clarity, sharp takes, and wit. The main message: We need to recommit to actual knowledge—reading is not just for road signs or passing tests. And in politics, as in education, sunlight and competition may be the best reform.