Armstrong & Getty On Demand – “Space Gonorrhea”

Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Jack Armstrong, Joe Getty
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

The episode swings between global absurdities and the surreal (the “war” over Greenland, space rescue mysteries), while anchoring itself in pressing domestic headlines (Minneapolis ICE-involved shooting, media narratives) and a deep dive into right-wing conspiracy culture, particularly Candace Owens and theories around Charlie Kirk. The hosts maintain their signature blend of sarcasm, skepticism, and conversational banter, ranging from gallows humor to pointed analysis of political and media landscapes.

Major Discussion Topics & Segments

1. The “War” for Greenland: Realpolitik or Farce?

Timestamps: 00:34 – 03:37 / 10:19 – 12:02

• Setup: Joking about TV coverage showing chaos in Minneapolis and Tehran looking indistinguishable.
• Lars Løkke Rasmussen: Named as “General Manager” of the day (00:59), referencing Denmark’s Foreign Minister and his efforts to prevent a U.S. invasion of Greenland.
• Satirical Coverage:
  • “France is sending troops yesterday to Greenland to help defend.” (01:38)
  • “We literally have more buglers in our military than they have citizens.” (01:31)
• NATO Entanglement:
  • Hosts mock the convoluted scenario where the U.S. would be obligated by NATO to defend against itself.
  • “We have a treaty to defend Greenland.” (02:33–02:35)
• Underlying Critique:
  • “Trump needs to just gear the frig down... quit at making enemies of our friends. Good Lord.” – Joe Getty (03:25)
  • “Kind of worn out by all this.” – Jack Armstrong (03:37)
• Recurrence: Later, mock TV news voices ramp up the farcical coverage:

  “President Trump says anything short of full US Control of the world's largest island is, quote, unacceptable.” (10:28)

Notable Quote:

“Stop it. Act like the president, not a real estate mogul. Stop it.” – Joe Getty (11:02)

2. Space Rescue Secrets & “Space Gonorrhea”

Timestamps: 03:39 – 05:32

• News of mysterious space station rescue mission:
  • “Do we have our first case of space gonorrhea?... They're not saying any more than that.” – Jack Armstrong (03:40)
• Speculation and Jokes:
  • “Why are they keeping it quiet? It's lonely out in space. Elton John told us that.” (03:57)
  • “Is it a HIPAA thing?” (04:34)
• Seriousness of the Event:
  • “...the first time they've ever had to rescue somebody because of a medical emergency.” (04:06)
  • Concern over possible inherent dangers of space travel.
• Segue: Excitement about upcoming moon mission, reflecting the hosts’ interest and awe at human spaceflight.

3. Minneapolis ICE Shooting & Media Framing

Timestamps: 05:50 – 09:30 / 13:51 – 16:59

• Event Recap:
  • “Federal agent shoots immigrant in Minneapolis,” as reported by mainstream outlets—hosts criticize this framing.
  • Details: ICE officer attacked by Venezuelan gang member with a shovel, shot attacker in the leg after a chaotic melee.
  • “I would not want to be an ICE officer in Minneapolis right now.” – Jack Armstrong (06:33)
• Critique of Media Narratives:
  • “The assault on the officer is alleged, but the shooting is listed as a fact.” – Joe Getty (14:18)
  • “MSNBC take is, so DHS is saying the officer was attacked with a shovel, but we all know how they lied last week...” – Jack Armstrong (14:32)
• Societal Tension:
  • The hosts reflect on the escalation cycle between factions and how rare it is for such situations to end well.
  • “There seems to be that and nothing but that in the air right now. And it’s just bad.” – Joe Getty (07:47)

4. Political Showdown: Trump, Cities, and Joe Rogan’s Influence

Timestamps: 08:20 – 09:30

• Trump’s Political Calculus:
  • “Trump sees chaos in cities as people always end up in a place of, we need more order, and he's gonna bring order.” – Jack Armstrong (08:34)
• Joe Rogan’s Critique Broadcast Widely:
  • “They had that on the ABC evening news last night. Joe Rogan now believing we're acting like the Gestapo...” (09:05)
• Media Amplification of Influencers:
  • Hosts note how Rogan’s ambiguous relationship to Trump is magnified because it makes for compelling anti-Trump headlines.

5. Tech Absurdity – Tony Robbins Chatbot & Warnings Culture

Timestamps: 09:30 – 13:42

• AI Tony Robbins Chatbot:
  • “People are paying $99 a month to talk to a Tony Robbins chatbot. Wow.” – Joe Getty (09:52)
• Consumer Skepticism:
  • “Does the chatbot have big, white, perfect teeth?” – Jack Armstrong (10:02)
• Bureaucratic Warnings:
  • Riff on absurd warnings on a new space heater.
  • “It was the dawn of those warnings that was the first step down into the valley of impotency for America.” – Joe Getty (13:24)
  • Banter about dangers of plugging heaters into power strips and the modern safety regime.

6. Quick Hit Headlines (with Katie Green)

Timestamps: 13:51 – 16:59

• National/international stories, both serious and quirky:
  • Iran reopens airspace (“...the oppression and the financing of terror groups will continue.” – Joe Getty (15:28))
  • Kamala Harris buying a seaside mansion after climate warnings (“It’s as if it was a lie all along just to scare people into donating and voting.” – Joe Getty (15:48))
  • Study: mixing Stevia and Rogaine boosts hair growth; office water coolers filthy; Chinese universities rise as US slips; Babylon Bee satire headline.

7. Conspiratorial Fringe: Candace Owens, Charlie Kirk, and Conspirituality

Timestamps: 17:29 – 31:11

• Candace Owens’ Time Traveler Theory:
  • Owens claims Charlie Kirk thought he was a time traveler, and suggests Kirk’s death was a plot involving agents, his wife, and Turning Point USA.
  • “Is that just something people are saying to their homies and text messages?” – Candace Owens (22:41)
  • “They panicked, they freaked out. And their solution was, no, no, just kill him. Just kill him. We can't have this.” – Candace Owens (25:20)
• Hosts’ Reaction:
  • “Turning Point and Erica Kirk, they're agents of the time traveling cabal who are keeping an eye on Charlie, Their fellow time traveler, Terminator.” – Joe Getty (24:23)
  • Reflection on conspiracy media ecosystem:
    • Is Owens delusional (“late onset schizophrenia”) or does she cynically manipulate a gullible audience?
    • The psychology of conspiracy belief: craving simple answers, “secret knowledge” (27:39).
    • Comparison to Gnosticism, QAnon, and the business model of conspiratorial content.
  • Notable Quote:

    “The fact that my prediction didn't come true is proof of how true it was.” – Joe Getty (27:52)

  • Joe draws a line between real-world chaos and the comfort offered by conspiracy explainers.
    • “If that drives you nuts, I guess that drives you into the arms of people who have an answer...Like a simple explanation for why everything's happening.” – Jack Armstrong (30:00)

8. Listener Mail & Cultural Observations

Timestamps: 31:41 – End

• Feedback:
  • Some listeners view Candace Owens content as entertainment parallel to “Bigfoot podcasts,” while others accuse the show/hosts of bias (“apologists for the Jews”).
• Quote of the Day:
  • Napoleon Bonaparte: “If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything. Deliver nothing.” (32:03)
• Light banter on language, gender debates in the Supreme Court, and annoying linguistic redundancies (ATM machines, “cheese quesadilla”).
• Meta-Reflection: The show itself as a place for sorting through chaos with humor and cynicism.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Global Affairs:

  “We literally have more buglers in our military than they have citizens.” – Jack Armstrong (01:31)

• On the Space Rescue:

  “Do we have our first case of space gonorrhea?... They're not saying any more than that.” – Jack Armstrong (03:40)
  “It’s lonely out in space. Elton John told us that.” – Jack Armstrong (03:57)

• On Conspiratorial Culture:

  “The fact that my prediction didn’t come true is proof of how true it was.” – Joe Getty (27:52)
  "Is Candace Owens actually losing her mind... or is she just good at stringing these people along and manipulating them and taking their money..." – Joe Getty (26:04, paraphrased)

• On Contemporary Chaos:

  “The world is crazier now than it has been probably since the end of World War II in terms of what's about to happen and alliances and this and that.” – Jack Armstrong (30:00)

Tone & Style

• Language and Tone: Sarcastic, irreverent, often darkly comic, but with genuine concern about current events and the state of public discourse.
• Relationship Dynamics: On-air chemistry features ribbing, exasperation, and shared bemusement.

Key Takeaways

• Global events are increasingly absurd and surreal—even the threat of war in the Arctic becomes fodder for gallows humor and skepticism.
• Media narratives are scrutinized for bias and manipulation, especially regarding domestic law enforcement stories.
• Conspiratorial thinking, as embodied by influencers like Candace Owens, is dissected for both its entertainment value and its psychological comfort to some in a time of chaos.
• Amidst the darkness, the show hosts make space for everyday gripes—AI chatbots, consumer warnings, and office annoyances—offering listeners a familiar, if jaded, perspective.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, “Space Gonorrhea” is a brisk, wide-ranging episode that skewers a bewildering present, mixing potent social commentary with comedic asides and a sharp eye for both the ridiculous and the dangerous in contemporary culture and politics.