Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: Sick, Angry F's — September 12, 2025

Brief Overview

In this somber and reflective episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty respond to the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college event. The hosts analyze the immediate aftermath, the suspect’s confession and motives, the broader implications for American political discourse, and the younger generation’s shifting values. They thread listener reactions, press conference updates, and personal reflections throughout, maintaining an urgent yet introspective tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: The Charlie Kirk Assassination

• [00:27-01:33] The episode leads with the breaking news that Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin has turned himself in after confessing to his father, influenced by guilt. The hosts touch on J.D. Vance’s personal involvement with Kirk’s family and lament the senselessness of the event.
  • Jack Armstrong: “You have a friend gunned down like that.”
  • Joe Getty: “Horrifying. Yeah, on virtually every level.”

2. Media & Social Media Reaction

• [01:33-03:16] The hosts relay commentary from public figures, especially Peggy Noonan, highlighting national anxiety and the sense of a turning point.
  • Joe Getty [01:51]: “The assassination of Charlie Kirk feels different as an event, like a hinge point, like something that is going to reverberate in new, dark ways.”
• The volatile and extreme reactions on platforms like Twitter and Bluesky are discussed, emphasizing the dangers of mistaking online noise for broad public sentiment.
  • Jack Armstrong [03:16]: “A very low percentage of people are on Twitter or Blue sky. Very low. So how much should you look to that for what the nation thinks?”

3. Political Violence & Its Fallout

• [03:35-06:40] Armstrong and Getty cite positive gestures on college campuses as students gather for vigils, underscoring the tragedy of political violence silencing peaceful discourse.

  • Joe Getty, quoting Kim Strassel: “[Charlie Kirk’s] message was never violence. Let’s talk...for a man advocating that to be gunned down at 31 years old is a measure of the perversity of our political discussion.” [04:45]

• The hosts reject any attempt to justify or rationalize the killing based on Kirk’s political views:

  • Jack Armstrong [05:49]: “If it was somebody that was a real flamethrower, you still don't shoot them.”

4. The Danger of Social Media & ‘Nut Picking’

• [06:46-09:33] Extended reflection on the corrosive effects of social media. Armstrong and Getty caution against letting the worst, most extreme voices online represent an entire movement or society (“nut picking”).
  • Joe Getty [08:17]: “Practically unrestricted exposure to the sickest, angriest minds on earth...I don't think it's a beast we're designed to endure that.”
  • Jack Armstrong [08:25]: “Nut picking is so dangerous. You…let that seep into your brain that they represent the other side. They don't.”

5. Details from the Press Conference

• [10:45-12:40] Utah officials confirm details about the rifle used (a common Mauser Model 98 hunting rifle) and reveal the bizarre inscriptions found on the bullet casings, like “hey fascist! catch!” and “oh bella ciao bella ciao,” referencing a revolutionary song.
  • Jack Armstrong [12:01]: "‘Bella Ciao’ is a song favored by resistance movements and revolutionary anti-capitalist partisans.”
• The assailant’s confession and the role of family and online communications (Discord messages) are summarized.
  • Utah Official [13:38]: “A family member referenced a recent incident…They talked about why they didn’t like [Kirk] and the viewpoints he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”

6. Reflection on Political Messaging and Disconnection

• [16:06-17:44] They discuss the murderer’s background, the banality of violence, and the lack of anything “exotic” about the weapon, despite media attempts to hype it.

• [17:30-18:21] Armstrong questions how anyone could think political violence is ever justified or beneficial:

  • Jack Armstrong [18:01]: “How you could possibly convince yourself that this is going to make America a safer, better place in any way when you have political violence? You are crazy.”

7. Generational Change & Shifting Values

• [19:18-24:49] The conversation pivots to broader generational trends:

  • The decline in traditional milestones among young adults (moving out, working, marrying, having children):
    • Jack Armstrong [20:44]: “That percentage is 8%.” (down from nearly half in 1975)
  • Armstrong and Getty dispute the narrative that young people are waiting due to financial caution, arguing instead that priorities and values have shifted.
    • Jack Armstrong [22:04]: “Why are people just not willing to admit that [they just don’t want kids]?”

• They reflect on how becoming a parent helped them feel fully adult and connected, expressing concern about the diminishing role of family responsibilities.

  • Joe Getty [24:03]: “If you remove that from the culture entirely, that is absolutely going to affect people's behavior.”

8. Devaluation of College Degrees

• [25:43-27:24] The declining public confidence in higher education is highlighted:
  • Jack Armstrong [26:22]: “In 2010, three quarters of Americans thought a college education was very important. 3/4. It is now down to a third.”
  • They question the rigor and value of many degrees, especially in the liberal arts, and mock the disconnect between woke academic trends and practical job skills.

9. Disconnection, Community, and Social Pressure

• [34:56-37:18] The hosts link the assassin’s isolation to the wider cultural drift away from community institutions (marriage, parenting, church, even scouting), suggesting that social ties and responsibilities are key deterrents to extreme behavior.
  • Joe Getty [36:45]: “You're gonna tell me that doesn't keep you in line. Of course it does. Relationships, connection to other human beings.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe Getty [01:51]: “The assassination of Charlie Kirk feels different as an event...something that is going to reverberate in new, dark ways.”
• Jack Armstrong [05:49]: “You still don't shoot them.”
• Joe Getty [08:17]: “I don't think it's a beast we're designed to endure [social media exposure].”
• Utah Official [13:38]: “A family member referenced a recent incident…they talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”
• Jack Armstrong [18:01]: “How you could possibly convince yourself that this is going to make America a safer, better place in any way when you have political violence? You are crazy.”
• Jack Armstrong [20:44]: “[50 years ago] nearly half had reached all four milestones…Now [it’s] 8%.”
• Jack Armstrong [26:22]: “In 2010, three quarters of Americans thought a college education was very important...It is now down to a third.”
• Joe Getty [36:49]: “Relationships, connection to other human beings...I bet he was a fairly disconnected person.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Assassination News, J.D. Vance Involvement — [00:27-01:33]
• National Anxiety & Commentary — [01:33-03:16]
• Violence & College Vigils — [03:35-05:49]
• Rejecting Excuses for Violence — [05:49-06:40]
• Social Media's Distortion — [06:46-09:33]
• Press Conference/Rifle & Casings Details — [10:45-12:40]
• Suspect Confession & Discord Messages — [13:38-15:42]
• Banality of Violence/Weapon Discussion — [16:06-17:44]
• Why Political Violence Never ‘Works’ — [18:01-18:21]
• Young People & Adult Milestones — [19:18-24:49]
• Devaluing College Degrees — [25:43-27:24]
• Isolation vs. Community — [34:56-37:18]

Overall Tone & Conclusion

Armstrong and Getty balance urgency and lamentation, lamenting both the loss of Charlie Kirk and the dangerous climate of political hyperbole. They scrutinize media, political culture, and generational change, urging listeners to remain grounded in real-world relationships and not lose perspective to online anger or division. The episode is ultimately a plea for sanity, connection, and reflection amid a time of sorrow and upheaval.