Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "Smell The Guano"

Release Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong, Joe Getty, Michael, Katie Green
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode of "Armstrong & Getty On Demand," the hosts tackle the chaos of the holiday season, reflect humorously on their personal preparations (or lack thereof), and dig into one of the week's hottest issues: the controversial U.S. military strike on Venezuelan drug boats and the dramatically polarized reactions in Congress and the media. Other key topics include the state of education in the smartphone era, news headlines from around the world, and how shifting cultural memory impacts society.

The tone is as irreverent as ever, veering from playful self-mockery to sharp, critical analysis of media narratives and American policy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Holiday Season Antics and Personal Stories (03:11–07:16)

• Jack bemoans not having a Christmas tree up yet, joking about being a "bad parent" and riffing on what he would have brought to the manger: "No frankincense, no gold... Nomura gift card. I’d have showed up with a gift card for the baby Jesus." (03:53 – Jack Armstrong)
• The hosts swap tales of holiday concerts and fundraising; Jack bought a 10-lb box of homemade toffee at a school band auction and hilariously details his struggle not to eat it all himself.
  • Notable Quote: “Drive bites. That's a good. You should get that patented. That is a good T-shirt.” (05:30 – Jack Armstrong, coining a new term for stealth snacking)
• Katie Green observes: "There is when food gets to a certain size... mentally you think it doesn't really even count at this size." (05:39 – Katie Green)

2. The "Double Tap" Venezuelan Drug Boat Controversy (07:04–14:26)

Background: Congressional committee members viewed classified video of the U.S. military strike against Venezuelan drug cartel boats. The incident sparked outrage from some (claiming a war crime was committed by killing survivors) while others insisted it was a justified act of war against narco-terrorists.

• Partisan Divide: Two committee members emerged with fundamentally opposed interpretations:

  • “What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public.” (07:37 – Jack Armstrong paraphrasing the Democratic committee chair)
  • “No, I didn’t see anything disturbing about it.” (07:40 – Michael, paraphrasing Republican Rep. Tom Cotton)

• Discussion of media portrayal:

  • NYT not taking a sensationalist angle; instead, focusing on legal implications and how focus on this strike implicitly accepts broader military action against cartels.
    • “The focus on the second strike... could end up being a favor to the Trump administration.” (10:26 – Jack Armstrong, citing NYT)
  • Hosts criticize outlets (like MSNBC) for one-sided reporting, and general trend of using selectively-edited clips to drive political narratives.

• Broader Questions Raised:

  • Is the U.S. really “at war” with Venezuelan cartels, and if so, what precedent does that set?
  • Michael muses: “Are we all comfortable with the idea that, okay, we’re going to take out these drug boats, because that’s how they finance their nefarious operations... is that all appropriate for the military?” (12:25 – Michael)
  • Jack jokes: "If this is how the war on drugs has morphed, bad news if you’re on the wrong end of the war on poverty." (12:49 – Jack Armstrong)

3. News Headlines & Rapid Reactions With Katie Green (18:31–22:30)

Highlights:

• Conflicting accounts about the Venezuelan boat strike:

  • CNN: “Survivors clinging to capsized boat didn’t radio for backup.”
  • CBS: “Survivors say admiral testified that there was no kill order.”
  • Guardian: “Survivors clung to boat wreckage for an hour before second deadly attack.”
  • Discussion ensues about reliability of testimony, gaps in official timelines, and why the government won't just release the video footage.

• Other Headlines:

  • Jan 6 Pipe Bomber: Evidence allegedly ignored for years by FBI (Breitbart). Jack wonders if AI could have expedited the investigation.
  • Supreme Court: Decision favoring Trump on Texas congressional map (Washington Post).
  • Global Affairs: Putin receives praise from Modi during India visit, signaling Russia is not isolated as hoped.
  • Education: Parents report school-issued iPads causing chaos.
  • Tech and Behavior: Social media detox leads to even greater phone use among young adults.

4. The Transformation of Education and Literacy (30:13–35:42)

• The hosts take a more philosophical turn, lamenting how technology, especially smartphones, has rewired attention spans:
  • “That should get more discussion. Not only is our curriculum a mess at schools, but... how is any teacher going to hold a kid’s attention?” (31:21 – Jack Armstrong)
  • Michael: "I would far rather have my kid smoke a little pot, have sex, and not be addicted to the endorphin thing with a smartphone. I think it’s far more damaging." (31:44 – Michael)
  • Jack: “Book sales, long form reading is down so much that it’s over. It was about 300 years of people reading and it’s just over.” (33:25 – Jack Armstrong)
• The hosts speculate that education may need to be reformatted into TikTok-style short videos: "That may be the only choice.” (33:38 – Michael)

5. Societal Amnesia and the Erosion of Tradition (40:47–41:45)

• Michael shares a poignant quote:
  • "A people that has forgotten its traditions... is a people already conquered. For the man without memory is easily ruled..." (40:58 – Michael, quoting Hilaire Belloc/Orwell)
• The decline of traditional education, literacy, and collective memory is seen as an existential crisis.

6. Mailbag & Listener Feedback (41:45–46:58)

• Fun fact about President James Garfield: “Garfield was ambidextrous... would often write in Latin with one hand and Greek with the other, all while holding a casual conversation.” (42:14 – Michael)
• Listener’s son dubs the hosts “professional complainers.” (43:01 – Michael, reading listener email)
• Sarcastic listener suggests the President ask Congress for an “authorization for use of military force” (AUMF), poking fun at how infrequently such constitutional steps happen now.
• Driving pet peeves; suggestion that habitual phone-users should only be allowed in self-driving cars.

7. Ending Notes and Teasers (47:00–47:12)

• The hosts (half-jokingly) declare the Venezuela boat strike controversy over and tease further discussion about the Jan 6 pipe bomber in the next hour.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christmas procrastination:
  "It’s the 5th of December and we don’t have our tree up yet. That makes me a bad parent." (03:43 – Jack Armstrong)

• On school fundraising:
  "So I paid 100 bucks for this toffee... What am I going to do with 10 pounds of the best candy I’ve ever had in my life?" (04:50 – Jack Armstrong)

• On the drug boat strike:
  "How do you possibly have two people see the same video and come away with such different views?" (08:19 – Jack Armstrong)

• On smartphone addiction:
  "I remember... our parents were worried about us, you know, smoking pot and having sex or whatever. I would far rather have my kid smoke a little pot, have sex, and not be addicted to the endorphin thing with a smartphone." (31:44 – Michael)

• On cultural memory:
  “A people that has forgotten its traditions… is a people already conquered. For the man without memory is easily ruled…” (40:58 – Michael quoting Belloc/Orwell)

• On education in the TikTok era:
  “We’re going to have to restructure all teaching in like, video form and little snippets... That’s your only hope.” (32:47 – Jack Armstrong)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Holiday Stories & School Fundraising: 03:11–07:16
• Venezuela Drug Boat Controversy: 07:04–14:26
• Rapid Headlines Roundup (Katie Green): 18:31–22:30
• Education, Literacy & the Smartphone Era: 30:13–35:42
• Cultural Memory Discussion: 40:47–41:45
• Listener Mailbag: 41:45–46:58

Conclusion

This episode skillfully blends the hosts' signature humor with sharp, informed commentary on current events, from the absurdity of holiday gift-giving to the serious implications of how Americans are informed (or misinformed) about military actions and global politics. The recurring themes—decline of traditional education, the dangers of media echo chambers, and the loss of cultural memory—give the episode more heft than a typical Friday edition. Whether you’re interested in news analysis or just need a laugh over Christmas procrastination, this installment delivers both candor and wit in spades.