Armstrong & Getty On Demand – Episode Summary

Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: Stabby McStabberson
Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty

Overview

This episode of Armstrong & Getty dives into the controversies and cultural debates dominating headlines, from the latest gender policy battles in schools, to the fallout over Jimmy Kimmel's on-air emotional response to recent political violence, to the ongoing debates about free speech and censorship. In characteristic style, Jack and Joe balance spirited critique, mocking humor, and pointed commentary on the major political and social stories of the week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening: Mainstream Media Distractions & The Kimmel Segment

• Context: While Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV after a major news event is widely covered, Jack notes, “it’s like the fourth most interesting or important thing that happened yesterday” ([03:30]).
• Anticipation: The hosts tease a later discussion of Kimmel’s most dramatic, yet underreported, statement.

2. Gender Policy & Schools: ‘Gender Bending Madness Update’

• Elk Grove, California School Policy Battle ([04:01–09:06])

  • Controversy: A school board is debating whether to allow trans girls (biological males) to participate in girls’ sports and access girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms.
  • Community Pushback: Overwhelming opposition from parents, highlighted by calls for rules ensuring women's sports remain limited to those "assigned female at birth".
  • Legal Bind: The district cites state law as the reason they can’t challenge the policy.
    • Jack Armstrong: “You could in a non-cowardly fashion say, I agree that I don’t think boys should be participating in girls sports, but the current law of California says... But you didn’t say.” ([08:22])
  • Hypocrisy Call-Out: Hosts point to 15 other districts that have defied similar laws—“finding their moral courage and stood up for the girls” ([08:36]).

• Secret LGBTQ+ Clubs in Schools ([09:36–10:47])

  • Parental Concerns: Parents were kept in the dark about a “safe space” club for LGBTQ+ discussions in an elementary school, even though permission is required for other clubs like gardening.
  • Term “Groomers” Thrown: Jack expresses frustration at secrecy, referencing the excess of required permissions for other school activities.

• Personal Story: Chloe Cole’s Detransition Experience ([11:05–13:55])

  • The hosts read from an op-ed about Chloe, a young detransitioner, forced through medical transition starting in early adolescence.
    • Jack Armstrong: “How do you find a doctor that's gonna cut the breasts off a 12 year old girl?” ([12:58])
    • Both hosts unite in condemning the medical establishment and the pressure put on parents under the threat: “She'll kill herself if you don't.” ([12:35])
    • Michael: “It’s absolutely horrific and unforgivable. … Now imagine the weight they’re carrying in their hearts.” ([13:57])

• Discussion on Suicide Statistics

  • Hosts contest studies claiming denied gender care leads to suicide, calling it “completely bogus” ([14:33]).

3. Shifts – Brief Asides & Pop Culture

• Golden Bachelor Jokes: Lighthearted banter about new reality TV shows aimed at seniors ([18:51–19:15]).
• Housing Market: Brief astonishment at rising home sales after a slight mortgage rate cut ([19:12–19:39]).

4. Censorship, Free Speech, and Government Pressure

• YouTube & Biden Administration:
  • Google announces the unbanning of accounts previously removed at the Biden administration's urging, raising concerns about censorship.
  • Hosts highlight the hypocrisy of defending Kimmel’s free speech while applauding COVID “misinformation” crackdowns on others.
    • Jack Armstrong: “Exactly the same as canceling Jimmy Kimmel because you don’t like what he said.” ([20:23])

5. Political Violence: The Ryan Ruth Case (‘Stabby McStabberson’)

• Assassination Attempt Fallout
  • News Recap: The man convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump tries to stab himself with a pen in court, but is prevented due to “anti-suicide proof” pens ([20:35–21:51]).
  • Courtroom Stunts: Hosts note that such attempts, while dramatic, are often calculated to gain single-cell custody or grounds for appeal ([21:08–21:43]).

6. Progressive Politics: NYC Mayoral Race Concerns

• Democratic Socialist Candidate: Hosts discuss how a far-left, self-described communist mayor could challenge the Democratic Party, predicting a long-term political backlash ([21:55–23:26]).

7. Jimmy Kimmel’s Emotional Broadcast & Media Coverage

a. Kimmel’s Reaction to the Kirk Shooting

• Context: Kimmel was emotional on-air after right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot. Kimmel initially implied the violence stemmed from right-wing rhetoric ([27:21–30:29]).
  • Jack Armstrong: “I think it’s fake. … Could I go through this kind of controversy for a week and a half… and still turn into a tearful, blubbering person? I don’t think so.” ([28:47])
  • Michael: “Well, you’re a very different person than Jimmy Kimmel. I don’t judge people’s blubbering.” ([28:51])

b. Forgiveness and Christianity Excerpt ([30:55–31:50])

• Kimmel expresses admiration for Charlie Kirk’s wife’s act of forgiveness:
  • Kimmel (read by Jack):

    “A very beautiful moment. … Erica Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him. That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply and I hope it touches many.” ([30:55])

• Hosts express surprise that this moment wasn’t broadcast elsewhere.
  • Jack Armstrong: “Why has nobody played that clip?... To me, that was by far the most emotional, interesting thing he said last night.” ([31:31])

c. Perceived Media Hypocrisy on Christianity

• Michael argues media outlets are uncomfortable airing positive references to Christianity, particularly from a liberal figure ([31:50–32:52]).
  • “He dropped a J-bomb, the way I would put it.”

d. Lack of Genuine Apology

• The hosts critique Kimmel’s failure to explicitly retract or apologize for erroneously implicating the political right in the shooting:
  • Jack Armstrong: “I won’t even make you say the shooter was of the left. Just say he was not MAGA. … He couldn’t do it last night.” ([33:33–34:09])

8. Broader Free Speech Debate & Government Overreach

• Jen Psaki & Social Media Pressure ([34:16–36:12])

  • Clip montage: Psaki references government coordination with social media to suppress "disinformation" during COVID.
  • Hosts compare this stifling of dissent to current free speech debates, blasting political hypocrisy on both sides.
    • Michael: “To have Jen Psaki coming out waving the First Amendment around is just disgusting.” ([36:12])

• Reaffirmed Free Speech Principles

  • Both assert that even offensive or wrongheaded speech—by Kimmel, or by COVID “contrarians”—should be constitutionally protected ([36:37–37:57]).
  • Michael: “By always standing up for it. That’s my only answer. ... Jimmy Kimmel has the right to be a complete a-hole.” ([37:57], [38:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On gender policies:

  “It’s so enlightened. Well, predictably, the parents despise it.” — Michael ([04:14])

• On medical transitions for minors:

  “How do you find a doctor that's gonna cut the breasts off a 12 year old girl?” — Jack Armstrong ([12:58])
  “It’s absolutely horrific and unforgivable. … Now imagine the weight they’re carrying in their hearts.” — Michael ([13:57])

• On Kimmel’s forgiveness clip:

  “If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That's it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow.” — Jimmy Kimmel (read by Jack Armstrong) ([30:55])

• On media treatment of Christianity:

  “He dropped a J-bomb, the way I would put it.” — Michael ([32:41])

• On apologies:

  “I won’t even make you say the shooter was of the left. Just say he was not MAGA. … He couldn’t do it last night.” — Jack Armstrong ([33:33–34:09])

• On freedom of speech:

  “By always standing up for it. That's my only answer. And that's why I'm doing it. Jimmy Kimmel has the right to be a complete a hole.” — Michael ([37:57–38:05])
  “Without freedom of speech, may we be led dumb to the slaughter like sheep.” — Michael ([48:42])

Key Timestamps

• 03:30 — Mainstream media overfocus on Jimmy Kimmel’s return vs. more important news
• 04:01–09:06 — ‘Gender Bending Madness Update’: Elk Grove school policy and parental reactions
• 09:36–10:47 — Secret LGBTQ+ clubs and parental exclusion
• 11:05–13:55 — Chloe Cole’s detransition story and broader critique of “gender affirming care”
• 20:19–21:51 — Biden administration’s YouTube bans and the Ryan Ruth courtroom stabbing incident
• 23:26 — Democratic Socialists and the future of NYC
• 27:21–34:09 — Jimmy Kimmel’s emotional response, Christian forgiveness, and media coverage
• 34:16–36:12 — Jen Psaki vs. social media “misinformation” and free speech hypocrisy
• 37:57–38:05 — Defense of free speech, even for “a-hole” commentators
• 45:32 — Trump, Ukraine, and the surprising political statement
• 47:31 — Final thoughts: humor, discipline, freedom of speech

Tone & Style

• The tone is conversational, irreverent, and combative.
• The hosts often deploy sarcasm ("Stabby McStabberson," "he dropped a J-bomb") while advocating serious points about free speech, institutional cowardice, and media hypocrisy.
• Personal, at times emotional, candid discussion interspersed with jokes and light moments—true to Armstrong & Getty's established radio persona.

Conclusion

This episode is a wide-ranging, high-energy critique of contemporary cultural politics, packed with pointed analysis of gender policy debates, media narratives, political violence, and free speech controversies. Armstrong & Getty’s signature mix of satirical banter, righteous anger, and unexpected empathy produce a lively "catch up" on the cultural battles of fall 2025.