Skinny Dudes

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "Skinny Dudes" (April 7, 2026)

Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Theme:
A high-stakes, rapid-fire discussion on breaking global news, particularly the looming military escalation between the US and Iran under President Trump, his unprecedented threats of obliterating an entire civilization, and the implications for international law, public perception, and history. Interwoven are reflections on college basketball, AI, and the psychology of conflict.

---

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode dives into the escalating Iran crisis, unpacking President Trump’s threats of total destruction (“a whole civilization will die tonight”), the ramifications under international law, and the unpredictable trajectory of war and policy in unprecedented times. The hosts examine what defines a war crime, reflect on the historical uniqueness of the current threats, and contemplate human tendencies toward conflict resolution (or lack thereof). They also weave in lighter cultural commentary, including college basketball results, generational shifts in technology use, and AI.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escalation with Iran: Trump’s Warning

• Trump’s Claims: Major focus on Trump’s statement that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” targeting Iranian infrastructure (bridges, power plants).
• International and Political Fallout: Analysis on whether such action constitutes a war crime (as stated by a former Secretary of State) [02:28].
• Iran’s Response: Iranian President’s vow that "14 million Iranians have committed to die for their country tonight," with talk of human chains around infrastructures [01:43], [07:49].
• Historical Context: Comparing current rhetoric/actions to historic US decisions and norms (“If the Secretary of State under H.W. Bush had said that about Clinton, it would've been huge” [03:25]).
• War Crimes, International Law: Ambiguity and enforceability of international law: “The whole idea of international law is… it's a lovely idea, period.” [05:36]

2. Dilemmas in Conflict and Human Nature

• War as Human Folly: Quoting Eisenhower, Jack Armstrong reflects: “Humans are stupid... our willingness to kill each other rather than come to an agreement of some sort.” [08:50]
• Populace Impact: Discussion on the potential for Iranian civilians to turn against the US if quality of life collapses following attacks [25:25].
• Role of Warnings: Debate about “ample warning” and whether civilian sacrifice is a true choice or the result of regime coercion [08:31].

3. Legal and Ethical Murkiness of Modern Warfare

• Dual-Use Targets: Exploration of legal arguments regarding attacks on dual-use infrastructure: “Power plants, bridges can be legal targets if they support military operations... but it’s in the eye of the beholder.” [22:31], [23:02]
• War Crime Semantics: “If Putin came out and said by 8 o’ clock tonight I’m going to take out an entire civilization of Ukraine, we’d be calling that a genocide threat.” [20:04]

4. Media and Political Rhetoric

• Impact of Language: Observations on the normalization of extreme political language—what would historically have been shocking now gets processed with a shrug [03:25].
• Trumperbole: Hosts coin “Trumperbole” for Trump’s hyperbolic statements—distinguishing rhetorical excess from actual policy [20:03].

5. Hypothetical Outcomes and Future History

• How Will Tomorrow Look? “What is tomorrow gonna look like if in four hours we wipe out a civilization?... Will they just be walking around in the rubble looking for water?” [13:32]
• Legacies and Consequences: The hosts ponder how Trump will be viewed historically depending on current actions, admitting oversimplification is inevitable (bold moves vs. unnecessary destruction) [12:48].
• Potential for Massive Fallout: If worst-case scenarios come to pass—utter devastation followed by global condemnation—the hosts predict lasting global, political, and refugee crises [29:18].

6. Lighter Interludes and AI Culture

• AI as Cultural Shorthand: Banter about conversing with Claude (an AI) and younger generations finding AI easier to talk to—“26% of Gen Z are already dating AI. No they aren’t.” [16:46], [14:27]
• AI Fruit Drama: Lighthearted confusion over a TikTok trend where AI-generated fruit characters have affairs (“Fruit drama”) [17:20].

7. Listener Mailbag and Military Insights

• B-52 Crew Survival: Fascinating and detailed email from a former B-52 tail gunner on survival and POW training, weapons, and psychological preparation for capture [33:54].
• Congressional Role: Some listeners worry about unchecked presidential power in decisions of this magnitude (“Congress needs to get involved”) [31:56].
• Historical Anecdote: Dwight Eisenhower told his son to kill himself if captured, fearing propaganda value—a reflection on the brutal calculus of war [35:59].

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (Timestamps)

• On Trump’s Threats:

  • “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” – Jack quoting Trump [02:17], [07:30]
  • “Who talks like that other than Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan?” – Jack Armstrong [07:35]
  • “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” – Joe Getty [07:43]
  • “Trumperbole. That’s a good word.” – Jack Armstrong [20:04]

• On International Law:

  • “The whole idea of international law is… it’s a lovely idea, period.” – Joe Getty [05:36]
  • “It’s like having… declaring that you’re in violation of the fairy court. Now the fairies say that’s illegal. OK, so what happens now? Well, nothing.” – Joe Getty [04:50]
  • “There isn’t even a final arbiter.” – Joe Getty [24:22]

• On Human Nature and War:

  • “Humans are stupid… our willingness to kill each other rather than come to an agreement of some sort.” – Jack Armstrong, quoting Eisenhower [08:50]
  • “If Trump fulfills his promise of wiping out a civilization, it’s gonna make the papers.” – Jack Armstrong [24:34]

• On Pop Culture:

  • “Talking to AI feels easier than talking to a real person. 26% of Gen Z are already dating AI.” – Katie Green [16:36]
  • “I have no idea what that means.” – Jack Armstrong, about AI Fruit Drama [17:18]
  • “I’ve always found Peaches very attractive.” – Joe Getty [17:33]

• On the Show’s Mood:

  • "May you live in interesting times." – Jack Armstrong [14:02]
  • “I have no problem with being really dark… this could be among the biggest deals of our lifetime…” – Jack Armstrong [21:17]

---

Important Timestamps/Segments

• 01:43–02:57: Real-time escalation news—statements from Iran, Trump, and their immediate analysis.
• 04:04–05:39: International law/who enforces it.
• 07:26–08:50: Trump’s rhetoric and chilling historical comparisons; Iran’s people mobilizing; ethics of “warnings.”
• 12:48–13:32: How will Trump’s legacy be written if he follows through?
• 14:27–18:01: Headlines and lighter news (AI, TikTok trends, basketball).
• 22:31–24:22: Detailed exploration of what constitutes a war crime, “dual-use” targets, and legal ambiguity.
• 25:04–26:36: Iranian population’s feeling about their own regime and US strikes; tipping points for resentment.
• 33:54–36:53: B-52 tail gunner’s email—a unique, detailed behind-the-scenes look at military survival.
• 35:59–36:53: Eisenhower’s advice to his son; ethics under duress.

---

Episode Tone & Style

• Sobering, urgent, and at times flippant: The hosts balance gallows humor and real anxiety about the news.
• Unfiltered, analytical, and deeply American: They offer historical context, skepticism about government, and a sometimes irreverent attitude toward power and war.
• Mixes serious global stakes with characteristic banter and listener engagement.

---

Summary

This episode serves as a time capsule and urgent conversation, capturing both the gravity and absurdity of a historic moment: the US on the precipice of an action that could irrevocably alter the world. Armstrong and Getty combine direct news reaction—especially regarding President Trump’s extraordinary threats—with big-picture musings on the nature of war, international justice, political consequences, and humanity’s persistent drift towards disaster. They intersperse this with cultural asides (AI, basketball, viral fads), listener mail, and dark humor. For anyone who hasn’t listened, this is a gripping, nuanced, and sometimes surreal exploration of a world on edge.

---

For further detail, refer to specific timestamps and segments above for the most critical and memorable elements of the episode.

Transcript

[Katie Green]

This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need, all in one place, from H vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock. So your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop

[Joe Getty]

by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Jack Armstrong]

Broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at the George Washington Broadcast Center,

[Joe Getty]

Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty. Enough.

[Joe Getty]

Here.

[Jack Armstrong]

Here's. Wow, there is a lot going on live from Studio C. Senor, what do you want?

[Joe Getty]

Not want me to do that anymore. That's it keeps not really giving me space.

[Jack Armstrong]

I need space. I kind of like the overlap a div lit with them the bowels of the Armstrong and Yeti communications compound. And today we're toiling under the title

[Joe Getty]

of our show, we're going to have to rehearse that Whole civilization will die tonight. Or in cheerier fair Yukon, you can't. Wolverines reign supreme.

[Jack Armstrong]

So this is all happening really fast. So Israel put out a statement in Persian, Stay off the trains in Iran. The President of Iran put out a statement saying 14 million Iranians have committed to die for their country tonight. Trump just put out a statement as Joe referenced, saying a whole civilization is going to die.

[Joe Getty]

Holy crap. For planning purposes tonight, Trump's whole statement

[Jack Armstrong]

a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. Wow.

[Joe Getty]

I don't want that to happen, but it probably will. He warned grimly.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow. Talking about the bridges and the power plants and everything like that. And the former Secretary of state from the last administration just saw him on MSNBC say that what Trump is promising would be war crimes. So you have the Secretary of State now saying what Trump is proposing are war crimes hours before Trump vows to take out an entire civilization. Wow.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

This is some heavy s. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

I don't know. The whole Jake Sullivan saying strong things.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just.

[Joe Getty]

We actually have a bit of a montage of a couple of Democrats saying things that are just so patently, ridiculously false that it's just anything goes, as you pointed out, more nuts. There's no cost for saying something completely ridiculous anymore because within your circle, either people believe you or they think, well, he's just signaling that he's really with us.

[Jack Armstrong]

And I appreciate to admit, though, if you went back, you wouldn't have to go back Very many years. If the Secretary of State under H.W. bush said what Bill Clinton was about to do would be a war crime, it would be a giant deal. Yeah, it would have, would have been a huge deal.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

We just didn't do that that many years ago, but holy crap.

[Joe Getty]

So I don't know, I feel like

[Jack Armstrong]

we ought to maybe. Should we have an expert on or something about that or who would be a good expert or fair, fair arbiter of the what's a war crime and what's not and all that sort of stuff.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I wouldn't mind that. It's, it's just, it's very much in the eye of the beholder. Is the honest to gosh truth when you're talking about attacking civilian infrastructure? Well, no, it's military or dual use. Okay. Is it isn't or isn't it?

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know. You also.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. At least you know what, that would be helpful in that they could lay out the questions to ask, if not the answers.

[Jack Armstrong]

You also have the reality of. And this is what you said yesterday, and this is true of all international law. Who's going to stop me? Right? How many war crimes has Putin committed? Will he ever pay a price for it? No, no, no, please.

[Joe Getty]

On a daily basis, he commits them. Yeah, it's like having. Declaring that you're in violation of the fairy court. Now the fairies say that's illegal. Okay, so what happens now? Well, nothing.

[Jack Armstrong]

In case anybody's screaming at their radio or headphones or watch or. Amazon.or.

[Joe Getty]

why don't we just say, yeah, listening device

[Jack Armstrong]

I understand we can't use. Well, Putin commits war crimes, so we should do as a, as a defense. No, no, no, no, no, no. It's just the whole idea of international law is.

[Joe Getty]

It's a lovely idea, period.

[Jack Armstrong]

Trump said we've got. This is what he said yesterday, not in a truth post. We'll play this clip later, I suppose, but he said in four hours we're gonna take out all the bridges and power plants. You think that's what's gonna happen?

[Joe Getty]

It's one of several possibilities.

[Jack Armstrong]

I feel like so far, Trump either pulls up way short of what he promised. That's the taco crowd, which is a stupid scenario, but it's a negotiating thing. And so anyway, he either pulls up way short, he promises something huge, then doesn't do it at all, or he goes way beyond what he said he was going to do with Maduro or several different strikes on Iran, often with

[Joe Getty]

a little faint Of, Yeah, I don't know. I. I can't decide what to do. And then, you know, six hours later, Maduro's on a plane and handcuffs and eye shades thinking, boy, this night is taking a turn.

[Jack Armstrong]

And what turns out to be a very popular hoodie.

[Joe Getty]

Yes, yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, I feel like you can't pull out of this one unless Iran really conceded a whole bunch of stuff. You know, they shave their beards. They come out and they say, was that part of the deal? They have to shave their beards, they come out, the straight is open. Unless that happens, I feel Trump, like Trump, has to follow through on this. He's gone so far with these promises. I think he's got to follow through.

[Joe Getty]

I've come across a small handful of learned commentators who are echoing what I said yesterday, which is. It's also entirely possible that there's a limited but significant example of. You think I'm kidding? All right, look at this. Now, the big. The big burrito is coming up tomorrow. Unless you seriously sit down to talk.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know if you can do that after what he said yesterday and has said this morning.

[Joe Getty]

I'm going to give him one more chance. Sure. That would be a very Trumpian thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

Within four hours, we're taking out all the bridges and power plants.

[Joe Getty]

All civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wait, what? Who talks like that other than Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan?

[Joe Getty]

Right, Right. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, my God.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

How about the president of Iran saying, and I don't know how he came up with this number. 14 million Iranians are committed to dying tonight. They're trying to put together human chains that will get around the power plants. Civilians. This would be the crowd that wears the, you know, this is the year 1300 garb and chance. Death to America in the street.

[Joe Getty]

20% of the population that loves the. The mullahs.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you're chanting death to America and we're the great Satan and go ahead, stand in front of the power plant, then enjoy your afterlife.

[Joe Getty]

Well, having given ample warning that we were going to attack those targets, at some point, you got to let people make their own decisions.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, is that a decision you get to make, or are they going to be a whole bunch of bad guys and guns surrounding people up in certain neighborhoods saying, you need to go stand over by that power plant.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Guess what? You're volunteering for the human chain. Yeah. It's ugly and horrifying. That's why this Regime must be ended. Whether it can be ended is an open question.

[Jack Armstrong]

God dang it. It's amazing. I was. I was re listening to the book. I mentioned this book last week, Ike's Bluff, because there's a lot of that sort of stuff going on right now with international diplomacy and. And US versus Europe and that sort of stuff. But anyway, it features a part in there Eisenhower. I forget which awful thing happened, but he saw a lot of awful things happen in a variety of wars he was involved with. And he said people are. Humans are stupid. He wrote in his own diary about just our willingness to kill each other rather than come to an agreement of some sort.

[Joe Getty]

That's been my observation too.

[Jack Armstrong]

It is amazing. You would think when it comes down to somebody's gonna die, we could sit down and think rather than die, let's work something out. But that's just not ever gonna happen.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. You know, Katie, it would have been funnier if my title had been Yukon. No, you can't.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's pretty good.

[Katie Green]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. You can't.

[Jack Armstrong]

You can't.

[Joe Getty]

WOL reign supreme.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yes.

[Joe Getty]

Except the day I say you can't. I'm mother, Mother. I'm afraid you can't.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's like the other day when my son said neither. I said, we are not neither people. We are neither people. We are not a neither family. Who are you?

[Joe Getty]

You're no son of mine. You can't say that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Let's. Let's start the show officially. I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. On this. It is. It's Tuesday, April 7, which might go down as a date in history d the year 2026. We are Armstrong and Getty and we approve of this program.

[Joe Getty]

Let's begin then. Officially, according to FCC rules and regulations, the show starts at mark and it's over.

[Jack Armstrong]

Hail to the champions. Hail to Michigan. For the first time in 37 years, the Wolverines. The national title. You know what would be fun? It'll never happen. It would be impossible to do. It be interesting if you could run the same tournament five times with the same teams. I guarantee you you'd get five different results. Almost impossible. I think that you did some years. Maybe you'd get the same tire tournament. I mean, it's just the winner, I think.

[Joe Getty]

No, I'm sure. But the 64. Starting with the 64, I think it's

[Jack Armstrong]

very unlikely you'd end up with the same champion, let alone, you know, all the other lower tier results.

[Joe Getty]

Right?

[Jack Armstrong]

I mean. Cause you know, you watch seven game Series in the NBA, great teams get beaten by lesser teams all the time, several times in a seven game series. But just that's, that's what makes the tournament so exciting. I guess in Michigan got lucky and hot at this right time.

[Joe Getty]

Someday perhaps man will learn to control parallel universes and we can stage that tournament. Then you'd be like the super universal champion. Of course we'll destroy ourselves before then.

[Jack Armstrong]

Trump goes on to say, after saying a whole civilization will die tonight. Who knows? Well, we will find out tonight. One of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally end. God bless the great people of Iran.

[Joe Getty]

I like when Trump says stuff like the long and complex history of the world. Like, you need to point that out. It's like saying, the late, great Abraham Lincoln.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think it's just a way of saying this is a, we have a

[Joe Getty]

giant monument to him. We know he's late and great.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think in this case it's just a way of saying, this is a really, really big deal. I'm about to do something historic. He is. I mean, if he, if he follows through on his promise, this will be talked about for a long time.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. And it's funny you've brought this up before, but imagining how Trump will be described 50 years from now, it'll be grossly oversimplified because that's what happens with history. But the combination of being completely out of control and doing completely unnecessary damage in a lot of ways, together with bold moves that needed to happen, that nobody had the guts to do, it's

[Jack Armstrong]

possible, it's not going to be very complex depending on how tonight goes.

[Joe Getty]

Ah, I see your point.

[Jack Armstrong]

If tonight unleashes a horrifying period, that'll be the whole first paragraph of his. The story of Donald Trump.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Really? Most of the book.

[Jack Armstrong]

What is tomorrow gonna look like if we actually, in four hours, well, wipe out a civilization, take out all the bridges and power plants, and thousands and thousands of civilians die. What, what's, what's tomorrow gonna look like in Iran? Will they just be walking around in the rubble looking for water?

[Joe Getty]

What will the reaction around the world be? What will the reaction in Congress be?

[Jack Armstrong]

Holy cow. All right, we got.

[Joe Getty]

Good morning.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's a heck of a thing. May you live in interesting times. We've got Katie's headlines next.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Katie Green]

Early birds always rise to the occasion for summer vacation planning because early gets you closer to the action. So don't be Late book your next vacation early on VRBO and save over a hundred and twenty dollars. Rise and shine. Average savings $141. Select homes only.

[Jack Armstrong]

I had an interesting conversation with Claude last night and I want to talk about that a little bit later. I don't understand how these things work. Did they, did they, did they program them to talk to you like their people? Or is that just an accident of the intelligence?

[Joe Getty]

I think it's quite deliberate. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Okay, well, I got a specific question around.

[Katie Green]

I love how we're, I love how we're saying, I talked to Claude last night. It's a person.

[Joe Getty]

Well, yeah, yeah. Let's figure out who's reporting what. It's lead story with Katie Green.

[Katie Green]

Katie, already the Alphabet network's first abc. Trump threatens, quote, a whole civilization will die tonight. As deal deadline looms, CNN US strikes military targets on strategic Iranian Kharg Island. And NBC Vance says the war in Iran will conclude, quote, very shortly. But how that happens is ultimately up to the Iranians.

[Jack Armstrong]

Military strikes on Kharg island, that would be an interesting feint if we promised destroying the civilization, but we're just gonna move on Kharg island, which has been the threat for a long time. They're all prepared around Turan. Sure.

[Joe Getty]

Deception, Absolutely. Part of warfare.

[Katie Green]

USA Today Artemis 2 crew flies by the moon's far side and begins journey back home to Earth.

[Jack Armstrong]

They're already headed back home. That's the way vacations are. Seems like you just got there and it's time to go home.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, no, that's right. You got to, you got to have the right ratio. So got to be at least two to one enjoyment to travel. At least. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

This is like you flew clear across the country, went to the zoo, got on the plane the same day and came back.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Katie Green]

From the Washington Post, at Easter egg roll, Trump tells children about war and mocks Biden.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that was, that was an interesting setting for some of the comments he made about the war with the rabbit standing next to him yesterday. That was funny.

[Katie Green]

And he's sitting at a table with a bunch of kids that are coloring and they're having him sign or their, their little coloring page and he goes, if it was Biden, this would have been an auto pen.

[Jack Armstrong]

It would have been an auto. Hilarious.

[Joe Getty]

Never forget.

[Katie Green]

From Tech radar, talking to AI feels easier than talking to a real person. 26% of Gen Z are already dating AI.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, they aren't.

[Katie Green]

That's what this says.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, they aren't. But that first part is weird. The Second part's just not true.

[Katie Green]

From the New York Post. Woman jumps into action to stave struggling swimmer, only to learn that he's wanted for double murder.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh wow. Oof.

[Joe Getty]

Now that's a twist. Uh huh.

[Katie Green]

Study finds unethical brain rotten. Why are millions of people watching AI Fruits have affairs on TikTok?

[Jack Armstrong]

I have no idea what that means.

[Joe Getty]

Oh boy.

[Katie Green]

It's a new category called AI Fruit Drama.

[Jack Armstrong]

Fruit drama.

[Joe Getty]

Literally like an apple is in love with a banana. Uh huh.

[Katie Green]

And it has like a soap opera storyline and there's an affair.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'll have to check that out.

[Joe Getty]

I've always found Peaches very attractive.

[Katie Green]

And finally, the Babylon Bee.

[Jack Armstrong]

How about eggplant?

[Joe Getty]

Lock em straight. Yes.

[Katie Green]

Look out.

[Joe Getty]

What's wrong? Is your microphone malfunctioning? Katie?

[Katie Green]

No, my brain is because of you two.

[Jack Armstrong]

Babylon Bee.

[Katie Green]

Look out. Shouts female astronaut as Artemis ship gets within 5,000 miles of the moon.

[Joe Getty]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Now that made me laugh. We're not even close.

[Joe Getty]

It's fine, Jee Armstrong and Getty.

[Katie Green]

At vrbo, we understand that even the best of plans sometimes need a little support. So we plan for the plot twists. Every booking is automatically backed by our VRBO Care guarantee, giving you confidence from the very start. Whenever you need help, it's ready before your stay, through the moments in between and after your trip. Because a great trip starts with peace of mind and maybe a good playlist. But we've got the peace of mind part covered.

[Jack Armstrong]

The entire country could be taken out in one night. And that night might be tomorrow night, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o' clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition by 12 o'. Clock. And it'll happen over a period of four hours. If we wanted to, we don't want that to happen. We may even get involved with helping them rebuild their nation. And you know what? If that's the case, the last thing we want to do is start with power plants, which are among the most expensive thing. And bridges. Every bridge and power plant will be taken out. Going to destroy the whole civilization. As his Truth Social post said today.

[Joe Getty]

You got a golf course with an island green. We're taking out that bridge.

[Jack Armstrong]

You're gonna have to use a rowboat in. Bremer said it looks bad for a US President to threaten genocide. Seems a little hot for the rhetoric now.

[Joe Getty]

Well, the quote about destroying an entire civilization was edging close to the G word.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I suppose. I'm probably just giving Trump the leeway of he exaggerates.

[Joe Getty]

Trump Herbole.

[Jack Armstrong]

Trumperbole. That's a good word. If, if you're gonna go literally and pretend you know anybody else had said it. Yeah, Sounds pretty genocide. If Putin came out and said by 8 o' clock tonight I'm going to take out the entire civilization of Ukraine, we'd be calling that a genocide threat.

[Joe Getty]

Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

Although there would be the. The caveat of if Ukraine were trying to get a nuclear bomb and had and was had been promising for a half a century to wipe them out if they ever got a hold of it. And you're saying to them, if you give up your uranium and play ball, we're not going to wipe you all out.

[Joe Getty]

It is a little different. We can be friends, right?

[Jack Armstrong]

We'll help you rebuild the stuff we've taken out.

[Joe Getty]

Coming up, they've started a streaming channel for pets in China. Stay with us. Trying to lighten the mood. I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

I have no problem with being really dark. I don't know if it's dark, but this is a huge freaking deal.

[Joe Getty]

Oh yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Huge freaking deal. This could be among the biggest deals. Could end up being the biggest deals of our lifetime in terms of a story. Depending on how things go tonight.

[Joe Getty]

It could be Pearl harbor, certainly. Battle of the bulgy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, so Trump threatens every bridge, every power plant. I just saw this former Secretary of state under Biden Jake Sullivan say a national security advisor. I would get a Blinken and Jake Sullivan mixed up. Okay, national security.

[Joe Getty]

You know what? I trade one for the. They look honestly a couple of numbskulls.

[Jack Armstrong]

And the skinny dudes. Right. Said these would be war crimes. So did a little researching around what people are saying. There are very few mainstream legal experts saying this is clearly not a war crime. Of course, anything mainst is left leaning.

[Joe Getty]

I read a great quote the other day. NGOs and think tanks exist so that journalists can get a quote that expresses what they believe.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's pretty good.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

The main not necessarily war crime argument is, as Joe has already pointed out, the key idea is dual use infrastructure. Power plants, bridges can be legal targets if they support military operations. Under the laws of war, a target is allowed if it provides a definite military advantage. Well, then that gets into the eye of the beholder. I mean, does a bridge helping people get out of the city on the weekend to get to the suburb give a military advantage? Well, if you're going to roll tanks across it, it does, I guess.

[Joe Getty]

Right, Right. You'd have to get really, really lawyerly to get to the bottom of that.

[Jack Armstrong]

One legal argument cited in news coverage today, Tide said infrastructure tied to military use in any way could be lawful to strike. Well, that is pretty broad. It'd be pretty hard to come up with any infrastructure that you could. You could clearly make the argument it'd be impossible to use this power plan or bridge for any military use.

[Joe Getty]

Exactly.

[Jack Armstrong]

How could you even make that argument? An escalating attacks on infrastructure can be a legitimate wartime tactic. Such targets can qualify as lawful if they're part of an enemy's war capacity, which is even beyond.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, you've got to knock out the power grid, because that's the power grid that powers that missile factory. This is what I was saying before. I mean, you get into this and you realize pretty quickly, all right, the people in favor of it are gonna say it's not a war crime. Those who are against it are gonna say it, yeah, it is. And they'll yell at each other for a while. Then history will move on and never talk about it again.

[Jack Armstrong]

The strongest version of the defense would be, if it helps the military, it's a valid target. Or, yeah, if. If it. If it helps that country wage war, then it's a valid target. So, yeah, what you just said makes sense.

[Joe Getty]

And of course, this law be settled eventually in the International Court of War Crimes. Oh, that's right. It doesn't exist. There isn't even a final arbiter.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, it's gonna be very tiring hearing about that all day long, the whole war crimes. We will. Yes, and we will. And. And maybe for the next several days, weeks, months, or years again, depending on how things go tonight. If Trump fulfills his promise of wiping out a civilization, it's gonna make the papers.

[Joe Getty]

Well, and there'll be a giant refugee crisis, too, so that could destabilize, you know, certainly the region.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I was listening to a podcast yesterday, and they had an Iranian reporter on, and this Iranian reporter said the population is still really gung ho for the strikes the United States is making because they hate the regime so much. I mean, if you were a protester at all, you probably know somebody that died, practically guaranteed.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Like close friend or family member was tortured or killed just a couple of weeks ago by the regime.

[Joe Getty]

I'm sure it's one of those situations where there's hardly a family that wasn't touched by the hand of death.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I could see why you'd give quite a bit of leeway to the United States for bombing crap because you hate the regime so much. At what point could that turn, do you think, to where even the population that hates the regime hates us for destroying their country so much.

[Joe Getty]

If the grandest of Trump's threats comes true, I think we're at a real tipping point for that. There's a great email that's going to be part of Mailbag about that. I hate to steal the thunder, since I'm kind of stealing the thought, but whether it's the Greenland thing or Canada or, you know, a handful of other examples, Trump seems incapable of realizing, okay, now this is unproductive. This is causing more harm than good. Let's reign in a little bit. Sometimes he can't find a break.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's pretty tough, though. I mean, because to live in Iran, especially the younger crowd, and they have so many more young people as a percentage than we do, but it's very young country to have a regime that murders and tortures your friends. Things would have to get pretty bad before you'd be upset about what happened. But it, but if, but if by this time tomorrow, people are just stumbling around looking for water, no electricity, chaos in the streets, it's anarchy. Whoever's got the guns rules. You might think, you know what, it was better last week. Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

And it's possible to do the right thing in the wrong way, as we've learned through various chapters of history. So, yeah, boy, Trump is the all

[Jack Armstrong]

time go big or go home.

[Joe Getty]

He is.

[Jack Armstrong]

Go big. Whether it's making a ballroom or, or taking out a civilization, whatever, whatever you're doing, go big or go home.

[Joe Getty]

Or expressing the desire to perhaps have a security agreement with Greenland. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Or, you know, criticizing someone who just died. Whatever, whatever it is, go big or go home. I'm glad it's dead. I hated him.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I know. I, again, I'm amazed at your capacity to laugh at this stuff because it feels like the unintended and unfortunate consequences of his excesses are accumulating.

[Jack Armstrong]

We'll see. We'll know a lot more tomorrow. Holy crap.

[Joe Getty]

Well, and my point is the month after that and the month after that and the month after that, there are a lot of stories we don't cover because, you know, number one, we're not the anti Trump left media and they're a little in the weedsy, but there are negative consequences piling up in various departments of government and that sort of thing.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm trying to figure out, do I hope he pulls back before 5 o' clock our time on the west coast or not? I suppose if I, if I'm using my rational, good person brain, I'm hoping he pulls back the kind of wants to see what happened is hoping he follows through.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I like the idea of a demonstration strike of significance but not wiping out a civilization. You know what I'd love to hear and I gotta do some digging is an expert, like a real expert on the IRGC with given their interests and their control, what will their probable reaction to the various scenarios be? Because I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'll tell you what I don't want and then we can take a break and get the mail back. Here's what I would this would be the worst case scenario. We do take out all the bridges, all the water plants, everything you have absolute anarchy. Chaos in the streets. Every country on planet earth, including our closest friends, decries it as war crimes. Snap polls come out where like 85% of Americans, including lots of Republicans, a majority of Republicans say that was awful,

[Joe Getty]

Congress convenes emergency sessions, etc.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that's. That's on the table, right?

[Joe Getty]

It is, yeah. Yeah. Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay, mailbag next.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Katie Green]

With Vrbill's last minute deals, you can save over $50 on your spring getaway. So whether it's a mountain escape city break or a week at the beach, there's still time to get great discounts. Book your next day now. Average savings $72 select homes only.

[Jack Armstrong]

I think I'm learning leaning it's a diversion tactic. Gonna take Kharg Island. Fooled you. Anyway, we'll talk more about that later. Got interesting AI conversation that happened. Lots of stuff to talk about. I hope you can stick around.

[Joe Getty]

Here's your freedom loving quote of the day. This one from William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil war general on the union winning side. I believe this is from his letter to the city fathers of Atlanta. I'm pretty sure of it. War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over. I have read most of that on the air at least once. Maybe it's time to read it again. There are some who debate his logic. I think he's absolutely right. Mailbag, drop us a note, will you? Mailbagarmstrongygetti.com Keep it as short as you can, but you know, within reason if you're brilliant. You're making great points. Yeah, ramble a little. Obviously people are concerned with the war situation. One of our main themes, Ryan from Houston, Dear cold warrior and old fancy Jack. Whether Trump is right or wrong. I don't want the destruction of a civilization to come down to one man. Congress needs to get involved. This from another J in San Jose. If Trump takes down the Iranian regime, it will bring a prosperity to the world not seen before. It opens up Gaza, it's the end of Hezbollah, and Iran is sitting on immense wealth that can be spent peacefully. All the other countries in the region seem to be basically on board with trade, not war. Love him or hate him, he saw around this corner back in his first term and we're all just catching up.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, well, he's not threatening the regime will be gone by the end of the day. He's threatening the civilization will be gone by the end of the day.

[Joe Getty]

Again, Trump herbole. I think this from Paolo, guys. Trump says a lot of wacky stuff and only he knows why he says it. Although I have to wonder here if he isn't risking fairly broad support re Iran the same way his undisciplined handling of immigration enforcement turned people against him there. And he cites a couple of articles. Da, da, da, deadline. Threatening the entire civilization. Yeah, okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's hard to imagine how it is to your benefit to say an entire. A whole civilization will die tonight. Wow. I mean, that makes his other hyperbolic statements throughout all the years seem like

[Joe Getty]

nothing, like he was just stretching and getting loose, getting ready for this one. Yeah, this is just because it's interesting. Oh, you know what, do we have time? Yeah, we'll do this one because it's longer and save that one. Hey, big Freedom. And old man Jack writes, ed, I was a B52 tail gunner back in the day. While the communications for downed air crew has certainly changed, the ejection process is basically the same as when I was in while I had a signal mirror and a flare gun. I'm sure they now have encrypted satellite communications. Correct. And then he talks about similar technology he uses now as a private pilot. As to ejection, imagine being accelerated from zero to 40 miles per hour. In 1/10 of a second, you sustain about 20 GS of force. And that can tear muscles, cause hemorrhages in the eyes, blow out your eardrums, et cetera. You're sitting on your survival kit, and a half second after the rocket motor fires, the seat kicks you out, quote, unquote. A seat separation device literally kicks you in the ass to separate you from the seat, which weighs a few hundred pounds. The seat crashes to the ground while your parachute deploys.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oof.

[Joe Getty]

You're surviving. So Already you are seriously traumatized. As you float to the ground, your survival kit contains some signaling devices, camouflage makeup, water space blanket, fire making device, iodine tablets to purify water, and an mre. It may contain a map of the local area, but I'm pretty sure this is now a GPS device. Also contains a small American flag, a translation card that says I am an American airman in multiple languages and a couple of gold sovereigns you can use to bribe the locals. Your weapon is the sidearm you are flying with and you have very limited ammo. Your flight suit has been sterilized before the mission. Your name, rank, squadron patch are all put on with Velcro and for a combat mission, all of that comes off before you take off.

[Jack Armstrong]

Interesting. I didn't know that then.

[Joe Getty]

All airmen undergrow undergo survival training. There are basic land survival, water survival, desert survival, jungle survival and arctic survival courses in which you take depends on the environment you're expected to fly in, obviously. There's also a simulated POW camp where you are captured while trying to evade. There is a solo experience and a group experience where they teach you various interrogation techniques and how to resist them without being killed. The John Wayne name, rank, serial number, date of birth approach is taught, but slightly discouraged because it leads to a lot of torture and death. The instructors speak their own made up language and they're very good at stressing you physically without leaving any permanent damage. They have several stress positions and mechanical torture devices that you're subjected to that simulate torture. Trust me, it doesn't take long before your muscles are quivering and you're feeling the pain. There's a little more. Let me finish this, just a couple more sentences as to whether to fight or surrender. You're taught to do what you think will allow for the best survival. But if you fire a weapon or harm the enemy, you are still combatant and the enemy has the legal right to kill you. What I'm interested in is why a colonel was flying this mission. Once you become a senior officer, you become a planner, manager, mentor to young troops and are typically considered too valuable to risk. Interesting. Thanks, Ed.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was kind of surprised the guy was a colonel.

[Joe Getty]

Me too.

[Jack Armstrong]

I was gonna bring this up with Mike Lyons, but I thought it might be too indelicate. Is there any situation where you kill yourself rather than be taken, captured? And I thought about that and then I was listening to the Eisenhower book and when Dwight Eisenhower's son was in Korea, he had told his son, if you're ever captured, I want you to kill yourself because he was worried about the son of Dwight Eisenhower being too valuable a prize for the enemy so he said if you're capt. Kill yourself before they have a chance to to take you.

[Joe Getty]

Hey dad, how about maybe they don't treat me too bad because I am your son and they'll parade me around and use me for propaganda and stuff

[Jack Armstrong]

but I get to that point could. And then that was the concern right that they capture this guy and use him for propaganda. Could it be so bad that you'd be you'd we would want them to kill themselves rather than be used for propaganda. Do we do that or not? Probably not.

[Joe Getty]

A case by case decision. Oh boy.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you know any more about that email or text us. I thought that was interesting Dwight Eisenhower telling his son that. Holy crap.

[Joe Getty]

We got a lot more to come

[Jack Armstrong]

if you miss a segment get the podcast Armstrong and Getty on demand Armstrong and Gettysburg.