Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "Take A&G To Bed"

Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode covers a lively mix of current news stories, ongoing controversies in sports and politics, societal trends, and a deep-dive into the accelerating race and implications surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). The hosts blend their signature irreverent humor and sharp cultural commentary, touching on topics from air traffic control woes to the existential risks posed by AI and the impact of technology on music and jobs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S. Air Traffic Control Woes and Retirements

[03:11 - 04:41]

• Major U.S. airports are struggling with significant air traffic control staffing shortages, compounding travel chaos.
  • 36 air traffic control facilities have reported staffing problems, including major hubs like O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, SFO, and LAX.
  • Ongoing aftereffects of a prolonged shutdown (Day 42)—thousands of flight cancellations over recent days.
• Insights:
  • Both hosts are confused about controllers' decisions to retire early due to the shutdown:
    "You had a life plan and then you altered it because of the shutdown? You retired early?" (Jack, [04:08])
• There is concern about travel disruptions continuing into Thanksgiving.

2. Upcoming Winter Olympics and Gender Policy

[04:43 - 07:44]

• The Winter Olympics are coming up in Italy (Milano-Cortina).
• Discussion shifts to ongoing debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports.
  • The IOC is set to possibly impose a ban based on new studies indicating men retain physical advantages over women, even after hormone therapy.
  • Also touches on athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD), such as Caster Semenya.
• Notable quotes:
  "Of course you’re not gonna let men in women’s sports, then it’s not women’s sports." (Joe, [06:29]) "Most of these conversations…are, how do we handle this without being in trouble politically, as opposed to what’s the right thing to do?" (Jack, [06:37])
• The segment critiques past IOC reluctance to address the issue, and the tension between inclusivity and fairness in competition.

3. Transgender Trend, Social Contagion, and Cultural Battles

[09:50 - 13:36]

• Joe discusses an article by Colin Wright and the notion of "social contagion" as a driver of the adolescent transgender surge.
  • Wright posited that rapid increases in teen transgender identification are a social, not strictly biological, phenomenon; he faced academic backlash.
  • Data indicates a recent sharp drop in transgender identification among adolescents, supporting the idea of a boom-bust social trend.
• The hosts draw a parallel with non-binary identities:
  "Unlike right handedness or left handedness, non-binary identities have no anatomical or a physiological reference. They’re conceptual, political, and responsive to cultural trends..." (Joe, [13:01])
• Joe and Jack are critical of activists’ responses and the academic climate around these debates.

4. Protest Culture: Turning Point USA and Antifa Clashes at Berkeley

[13:36 - 14:45; 22:59 - 23:37]

• Reflection on recent confrontations, with Antifa and counter-protesters clashing outside a Turning Point USA event at Berkeley.
  • Jack muses on the futility of physically protesting speaking engagements:
    "Who are these numbnuts that show up to fight this stuff? Let them gather and speak, what is it, what’s the skin off your nose?" (Jack, [13:57])
  • Joe points out the irony:
    "You go to the opposition events and you beat people up and call them fascists." (Joe, [14:27])
• Both hosts reinforce the primacy of free speech and warn against the erosion of civil discourse.

5. Armstrong & Getty Store (Lighthearted Interlude)

[14:45 - 22:48]

• Discussion of show merchandise: pickleball paddles, hoodies, and other customizable products.
  • Some humor about “cheap Chinese crap” toys vs. higher-quality items.
  • Jack reflects on shopping for teens and the prevalence of low-quality goods.
• Occasional zingers:
  • "We put the lash to the Chinese slaves and they made several more of them." (Joe, [21:06], on restocking paddles)
  • Run of jokes about novelty products, e.g. adult items and “Take A&G to bed.”

6. China, AI, and the Next Cold War

[22:48 - 36:46]

• China’s AI ambitions compared to historic Cold War:
  • Jack quotes the Wall Street Journal:
    "The AI race between the U.S. and China is going to be at least as consequential as the Cold War..." (Jack, [29:13])
  • China is massively scaling resources, removing safety constraints in a national push to catch up and potentially surpass the U.S. in AI.
• What if China wins the AI race?
  • Joe wonders:
    "Can their AI essentially crush our AI if it gets to, you know, whatever critical stage first?" ([31:03])
  • Jack notes the main risk isn't sabotage, but an ungoverned AI escaping and acting independently.
  • Both hosts are skeptical of the public’s awareness:
    "I don’t feel like people feel that way about China and AI. The average person doesn't have any idea any of this is happening." (Jack, [32:51])

AI and Economic Impact

• Massive investments from U.S. tech titans (Elon Musk, Zuckerberg, etc.) and the Chinese government.
• Debate over whether AI is another economic “bubble” or a world-changing inevitability.
• Investors, even Amazon-style companies that have lost money for years, are betting big on AI’s future profits.

7. Elon Musk’s “Optimus” and the Reality of Robotics

[26:43 - 29:00]

• Commentary on viral video of Optimus, Elon Musk's robot, struggling to perform basic tasks like fetching a Coke.
  • Musk admits: "We need to give it more room." (Jack, [27:19])
  • Both hosts are underwhelmed:
    "We ain't even close yet. We're not even close to robots taking over yet." (Jack, [27:13])

8. The Future of Work and Social Upheaval

[33:18 - 36:46]

• Worried that rapid AI advances could eliminate millions of jobs, leading to economic and social upheaval:
  • "What if it wipes out 75% of jobs?" (Jack, [35:03])
  • Joe adds, "...then political turmoil and revolution in the streets, et cetera, while you’re fighting robots. Great." ([35:10])

9. AI in the Music Industry: Country Hit “Breaking Rust”

[36:46 - 48:00]

• Discussion of a new country track, "Walk My Walk" by the AI-generated artist Breaking Rust, topping Billboard’s country digital sales chart.
• Both hosts react to hearing the track:
  • Jack: “That is highly troubling. That is way too good." ([45:04])
  • Joe: "The fact that that is cranked out by a computer because they know you like that sort of thing makes me want to vomit." ([46:55])
• Concerns about the future for human musicians, the erosion of “real” emotional content in music, and how AI-generated art may undercut genuine creativity and personal connection in music.
• Raises the issue of transparency in music production—whether audiences should be informed if a song is AI-generated.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Olympics and Gender Policy:

  • “You had a life plan and then you altered it because of the shutdown? You retired early?” – Jack Armstrong [04:08]
  • "Of course you're not gonna let men in women's sports, then it’s not women's sports." – Joe Getty [06:29]

• On Protest Culture:

  • "Who are these numbnuts that show up to fight this stuff? Let them gather and speak, what is it, what’s the skin off your nose?" – Jack [13:57]
  • "You go to the opposition events and you beat people up and call them fascists." – Joe [14:27]

• On AI and China:

  • "The AI race between US and China is going to be at least as consequential as the Cold War." – Jack quoting WSJ [29:13]
  • "Can their AI essentially crush our AI if it gets to, you know, whatever critical stage first?" – Joe [31:03]
  • "I don’t feel like people feel that way about China and AI. The average person doesn't have any idea any of this is happening." – Jack [32:51]

• On AI in Music:

  • "That is highly troubling. That is way too good." – Jack [45:04]
  • "The fact that that is cranked out by a computer because they know you like that sort of thing makes me want to vomit." – Joe [46:55]

• On the Coming AI Jobpocalypse:

  • "What if it wipes out 75% of jobs?" – Jack [35:03]
  • "…then political turmoil and revolution in the streets, et cetera, et cetera, while you’re fighting robots. Great." – Joe [35:10]

Memorable Segments & Timestamps

• 03:11 – Air traffic control staffing crisis
• 05:01 – Olympics and transgender athlete controversy
• 09:50 – Social contagion and gender identity debate
• 13:36 – Berkeley protest/riot reflection
• 22:48 – Outsourcing and lament on "cheap Chinese crap"
• 29:13 – China vs. U.S. in the AI arms race
• 35:03 – Job loss and existential AI threat
• 36:46 – AI “artist” tops music charts & emotional reaction
• 45:04 – Hosts react to AI-created song "Walk My Walk"

Tone and Style

• Informal, humorous, occasionally sardonic
• Hosts frequently riff, joke, and push cultural hot-button topics with irreverence but also deeper concern
• Frequent pop-culture and political references; relatable analogies

Summary

This Armstrong & Getty episode is a fast-paced, wide-ranging conversation blending topical news humor and deep unease about technological change. The hosts highlight major travel disruption, emerging gender policies in sports, and culture war skirmishes, pivoting quickly to the implications of AI—from jobs to music to geopolitics. Both are troubled by America's complacency compared to China’s assertive moves in the AI arms race. The episode’s most striking moment is their emotional reaction to hearing a hit AI-generated country song—underscoring both the promise and peril technology holds for society, creativity, and the future of "authentic" culture.

For anyone who missed the episode: this summary gives you the essential news, the context, the best lines, and the flavor of Armstrong & Getty's distinctive take on our changing world, with a special lens on what matters as humanity barrels into an AI-dominated future.