Teen Sex Leads To Murder

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "Teen Sex Leads To Murder"

Date: November 3, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty dive into pressing political and cultural events, from the rise of Islamist extremism in the U.S. and Europe to reflections on Halloween, pop culture’s messages to teens, and the current state of American politics. The hosts mix serious analysis with trademark irreverence, blending global affairs, social commentary, and moments of everyday humility.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Foiled Dearborn Terror Plot & Western Responses to Extremism

[00:28–06:19]

• Details of the Plot: The episode begins with a news recap: FBI agents thwart a planned Halloween terror attack linked to ISIS in Dearborn, Michigan. Five suspects, naturalized citizens with weapons and training, were detained.
  • Jack: “We do not need an Islamist terrorist attack in the United States to further get us all worked up.” [00:58]
• Media and Official Secrecy: Discussion follows on the tendency of UK and European authorities to obscure details about religion or background in attacks, breeding public suspicion.
  • Joe: “Authorities systematically cover up involvement of Islamists…and so the Internet goes wild in the other direction.” [01:59]
• Reactions to the Mayoral Race in NYC: Conversation shifts to Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist with an avowedly pro-Palestinian stance, possibly becoming New York’s mayor.
  • Joe: “Part of the reason I believe that [about Mamdani] is because he…proudly stated at the Democratic Socialists of America convention that he came to politics through the Palestinian cause.” [03:47]
• Comparison with Middle Eastern Extremism: Discussion of Abdul Malik Al Houthi, leader of the Houthis, his uncompromising slogans (“Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse the Jews. Victory to Islam.” [05:38]), drawing a parallel to some U.S. political movements.

2. Islamist Activism in U.S. Schools

[06:19–08:24]

• Student Activism: Reports about pro-Hamas activists (notably Abdullah Akal and Mohan Mohammed Bodouay) launching initiatives in NY high schools, creating Islamic-leaning clubs with Students for Justice in Palestine.
  • Joe: “These people are hardcore, end democracy, install Sharia law, and they’re organizing clubs in 50 high schools…” [07:49]
• Scale of Movement: Students for Justice in Palestine now has 350 chapters across North America.

3. Trump’s Foreign Policy Rhetoric on Nigeria

[08:24–09:29]

• President Trump’s Statement: Trump threatens military action in Nigeria in response to attacks on Christians, raising questions about America’s global role.
  • Jack: “Military action in a country of 230 million people ... where does that fit in with the whole America First, minding our own business thing?” [08:58]

4. Subversion and the Influence of Islamism

[09:29–10:32]

• Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Writings: Joe discusses Ali’s comparison of Islamist tactics to Soviet subversion, referencing Yuri Bezmenov’s work on psychological warfare.
  • Joe: “She relates some of the subversion...to the Soviet techniques. It’s absolutely brilliant.” [09:50]

5. Light Interlude – Halloween, Consumerism, and Teen Culture

[11:35–17:19]

• Halloween Observations: Jack reflects on his kids’ Halloween experience, noting the prevalence of “slutty” costumes among college students and the ease with which families can buy candy.
  • Joe: “Big Candy is who’s really pushing Halloween.” [12:07]
• Horror Movie Watching & Messages: Discussion of classic horror movies with Jack’s son, focusing on the trope: “teen sex leads to murder.”
  • Jack: “If you start to get undressed, you are going to be hacked to death. That’s just the way it is. … The nice girl who stayed clothed does not get hacked to death.” [17:40]
  • Joe: “Society is better when we were all steaming up the backs of cars. … Get off the Internet and grope somebody with their consent.” [17:56]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Islamist Movements and U.S. Politics

• Joe: “If you don't think Islamism is on the march in the United States and Europe, which is way down that road, you are a fool or a coward who's been bullied by talk of Islamophobia, et cetera. It is one of the great challenges this country faced, and I'm glad that more and more people recognizing it, but not nearly enough.” [07:10]

On Horror Films & Parental Messaging

• Jack: “Teen sex leads to murder, so… if you start to get undressed, you are going to be hacked to death. … The nice girl who stayed clothed does not get hacked to death.” [17:40]
• Joe: “Society is better when we were all steaming up the backs of cars. … Get off the Internet and grope somebody with their consent.” [17:56]

Political Cynicism & Rhetoric

• Joe: “Politics is so now completely about saying stupid things to stupid people to motivate them to vote stupidly.” [22:46]

• Jack (on Gavin Newsom): “Do you think Joe Biden was capable of serving another term? Yeah, well, my… it was situational. Okay, then you've changed topics already. … He gets away with never addressing whatever issue you're talking about.” [25:55]

• Joe (on Gavin Newsom): “He is utterly soulless and amoral. He is a cipher. He is a tool who changes what he says… entirely situationally.” [27:05]

Humility & Perspective

• Jack: “Every once in a while I need those... dose[s] of perspective every now and then. … Here I am, poor me on this beautiful Sunday… and there’s a mom… with two obviously very special needs kids. … Do I need to be slapped in the face any harder than that?” [31:21]
• Joe: “I'm just annoyed because I'm a terrible piano player with my fingers.” [31:37] (after Jack describes seeing an armless woman play piano with her feet)

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Political Coverage: Gavin Newsom, Zohran Mamdani, and U.S. Elections

[20:22–29:48]

• Gavin Newsom on Meet the Press: Jack and Joe critique Newsom’s evasiveness and political tactics.
  • Jack: “He gets away with never addressing whatever issue you’re talking about.” [25:55]
  • Joe: “He is utterly soulless and amoral.” [27:05]
• Prop 50 and Presidential Ambitions: Discussion about Newsom’s growing donor support and opposition research (“oppo”) efforts by rivals like Rahm Emanuel.
• Barack Obama’s Political Calculations: Obama notably did not appear with Mamdani, seen as too politically radical even for a progressive establishment.

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End-of-Episode Reflections: Life, Fairness, and TV

• Golden Bachelor Controversy: Reflection on ageism and dating standards; the "golden bachelor" was criticized for limiting his prospective dates to women under 45, despite being 66. [35:47]
• Obama & New York Mayoral Race: Obama campaigned for candidates nearby but avoided Mamdani, highlighting Democratic tensions. [36:49]
• Perspective and Gratitude: Closing thoughts on seeing others with greater struggles, emphasizing humility and gratitude for ordinary challenges. [31:21]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Foiled Terror Plot & Extremism: [00:28–06:19]
• Islamist Activism in U.S. Schools: [06:19–08:24]
• Trump on Nigeria & Internationalism: [08:24–09:29]
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali & Subversion: [09:29–10:32]
• Halloween, Consumerism, Traditions: [11:35–13:20]
• Horror Movies & Cultural Norms: [15:02–17:56]
• Gavin Newsom Political Analysis: [20:22–29:48]
• Gratitude & Perspective Stories: [30:04–32:39]
• Golden Bachelor/Age Controversy: [35:46–36:49]
• Discussion of Obama/Mamdani: [36:49–39:04]

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Summary Tone

The episode maintains Armstrong & Getty’s signature blend of irreverence, skepticism, and sharp-edged humor. Political analysis is direct and often biting, cultural observations veer from sardonic to sincerely self-reflective, and the hosts’ chemistry fosters a conversational flow that moves seamlessly from world events to personal life lessons.

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Recommended for listeners seeking:

• Unfiltered commentary on politics, public safety, and shifting American culture
• Debates on extremism, activism, and the pitfalls of media and politics
• Insights into modern traditions and pop culture—delivered with wit and candor

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast broadcasting live from the Abraham Lincoln radio studio at.

[Advertisement Voice]

The George Washington Broadcast Center. Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty. And now here's Armstrong and Getty.

[Joe Getty]

An alleged Halloween terror attack foiled. FBI agents yelling in Arabic this is the FBI warning residents of this home that they have a warrant and to come out. Video showing the agents using flashbangs then storming into the house. In Dearborn, Michigan, five young individuals were taken into custody involving a plot to conduct an attack in the US that has a connection to isis. The suspects are naturalized citizens from a Middle Eastern country who had access to firearms and firearm training.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, that's horrifying. I don't know how close that was to reaching its conclusion, but thank God the FBI was able to stop it. We do not need an Islamist terrorist attack in the United States to further get us all worked up. So before we go any further with that, the do we have any more details on that stabbing situation in on the train in London over the weekend?

[Joe Getty]

No.

[Jack Armstrong]

Originally, originally it was two men stabbed a whole bunch of people. And then the Internet, Twitter went wild with it being, you know, Islamic something or other. But then since then, it's only one person arrested is a British national. Don't know anything about the person. But in Great Britain and Europe in general, they had, they go out of their way to hide that sort of thing. Which they ought.

[Joe Getty]

To a horrendous extent.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Which they ought to stop doing because it makes people like me more suspicious, not less of what's going on here. Right.

[Joe Getty]

It's so annoying because the, the authorities systematically cover up involvement of Islamists and Islamic people to avoid the backlash that we all fear. And so the Internet goes wild in the other direction.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, exactly. So yeah, it's doing more harm than good. So I, I don't know what happened there. And then you got an Islamist. Well, Muslim adjacent. Islamist adjacent. Maybe that'd be fair to say. Mamdani is going to become elected get elected mayor in New York tomorrow.

[Joe Getty]

I think he's out. He's an out and out Islamist.

[Jack Armstrong]

You think?

[Joe Getty]

100%. Yeah, I do. And here's why. Unless he is just so young and fuzzy headed that he himself hasn't connected the dots. And you know, it's funny, I shouldn't grant him that benefit of the doubt. I just happen to come across and I don't want to get off cuz it's a tangent. But a young celebrity who donated a tremendous amount of money to these completely fuzzy headed illogical Causes, but it's just childlike in her understanding the world. And I guess it's possible that this guy raised by academics and filmmakers just has a fanciful understanding of the world. But if somebody like that kills you every bit as dead, it's funny.

[Jack Armstrong]

Somebody sent me a New Yorker cartoon over the weekend. They were applying this to Gavin Newsom, but it applies to Zohran. Also, the New Yorker cartoon was. They're presenting this pitch for a show. It's sort of a popular, attractive kid from a well to do, stable family succeeds against all odds story. That is what Zoran and Gavin both are. Rich, good looking, connected people. Succeed against all odds.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, I love that. So anyway, back to my, my main point. Part of the reason I believe that is because he, he admitted, well, proudly he stated at the Democratic Socialists of America convention that he came to politics through the Palestinian cause. That's why he's involved in all this. And I think he is intelligent enough to understand and, and know probably historically how Marxists and Islamists have to overthrow the status quo in non Islamist countries. And then the Islamists, because generally speaking they're much more brutal and unified, they win over the Marxists. See Iran. Anyway, I was reading this profile of the leader of the Houthis, whose name is Abdul, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, who survived relentless attacks by Israel. He's seen in the Arab world, in the eyes of a lot of supporters, is the last militant leader still fighting in the Middle East.

[Jack Armstrong]

His last name is Houthi. I've never known what Houthi meant. So it's a family name?

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, I think so. That's his nom de guerre.

[Jack Armstrong]

Okay.

[Joe Getty]

I don't know if that's his real name, but I think the, the movement is named after him. Anyway, he has said, and here's the connection to Mamdani. Okay. Mamdani, who said he came to politics through the Palestinian cause. Al Houthi says he'll respect any truths. Truce signed by his Palestinian allies Hamas. But whatever the outcome, the Houthis are expected to continue their religious war against Israel and the US over time. The group slogan chanted at rallies. This is their slogan now. Not E pluribus unum or whatever is God is great. Death to America. Death to Israel.

[Jack Armstrong]

Curse the Jews.

[Joe Getty]

Victory to Islam. How do you sign a peace treaty with that guy? Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse the Jews. Victory to Islam. God is great. They have one purpose. That's to Islamize the planet, period.

[Jack Armstrong]

It'll be interesting to see what Mamdani says tomorrow night in his victory speech and in the coming days, if he's going to try to be, you know, I'm a mayor to all people, people who voted for me and people who voted against me, or if he's going to double down on some of his earlier Rhettic rhetoric from earlier in his life, which is, you know, fairly recent since he's only 34 years old.

[Joe Getty]

In a related story, a top Qatari official who served as ambassador, Ambassador to the US has repeatedly praised slain Hamas leaders as martyrs, called on the terror group to pursue resistance until victory, and denounced Israel as the enemy of humanity. Right. He has repeatedly used his ex account to glorify Hamas and vilify Israel. This is a Qatari leader who was ambassador to the US Well, Trump threatening.

[Jack Armstrong]

To send US Troops to Nigeria over the weekend because of the slaughtering of Christians. Right, by fundamentalist Islamist nut jobs.

[Joe Getty]

Meanwhile, in Nigeria. Oh, I'm sorry. In America, in New York, specifically, pro Hamas activists Abdullah Akal and Mohan Mohammed Bodouay have called to, quote, strike Tel Aviv and destroy the illegitimate Zionist occupiers and all of their supporters. They're now launching an initiative to form student chapters in dozens of New York City public high schools. Ackel, an advocacy director with the Muslim American Society Youth center in Brooklyn, recently announced the group's Mas in Schools initiative, which aims to create prayer spaces and host Islamic events at 50 New York High schools. The group will partner for the first time ever with Students for Justice in Palestine, the radical organization that earlier this month called for death to all collaborators of Israel to do so. And now they are trying to organize in New York City schools. If you don't think Islamism is on the march in the United States and Europe, which is way down that road, you are a fool or a coward who's been bullied by talk of Islamophobia, et cetera. It is one of the great challenges this country faced, and I'm glad that more and more people recognizing it, but not nearly enough. These people are hardcore, end democracy, install Sharia law, and they're organizing clubs in 50 high schools and, oh, by the way, Students for Justice in Palestine. Palestine has 350 chapters at universities across North America.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, what I'm not good at is knowing how big various countries are that aren't. Well, that are in Africa generally. Nigeria is a country of 230 million people. I had no idea the population of what the United States was, you know, 20 years ago.

[Joe Getty]

It's in your top five or six countries on earth.

[Jack Armstrong]

Isn't it? Yeah. Anyway, Trump put out a truth social post over the weekend. I am hereby instructing our department of war to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious and sweet. Just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians. Fast, vicious and sweet is an odd phrase. Anyway, military action in a country of 230 million people. And I don't know where that fits in with the whole America first, no more forever wars, minding our own business thing because you got the competing notion of protecting Christians around the world.

[Joe Getty]

Right.

[Jack Armstrong]

As far as MAGA goes.

[Joe Getty]

But at some point we probably ought to spend a little time, maybe when we have time to do an extended look at it. I reread Ayaan Hirsi Ali's brilliant essay. If you don't know her, she was a former Muslim immigrant to her land or Britain actually. She is married to the absolutely brilliant historian Neil Ferguson and she is one of the most brilliant and persuasive writers on the topic of Islamism on Earth. And she relates some of the subversion, subverting of US society to the Soviet techniques. And a lot of you are familiar because you email us like twice a week of Yuri, was it Yuri Besmanov, the KGB agent who did that sit down interview back in 1983 about psychological warfare, subversion and the control of society. It's absolutely brilliant. And Ms. Ali relates Islamism to those techniques and it's absolutely incredibly revealing. We'll, we'll figure out when we want to unleash that and do it at some point.

[Jack Armstrong]

So we want to mention this. This Thursday is the annual Warrior Foundation Freedom Station give a THON 21 years Warrior Foundation Freedom Station has been serving our ill and injured warriors and the giveathon is a chance to fly them home for the holidays. Because everyone deserves to be with loved ones, especially those who've sacrificed so much for our country. Your tax deductible donation is more than a gift. It's a powerful way to say thank you to warriors who would never ask for help themselves.

[Joe Getty]

So this Thursday, help fly warriors home for the holidays. And for those who cannot fly, Warrior foundation will fly their loved ones to be with them. Warrior Foundation Freedom Station would not exist without the continued generosity of you good folks. So to learn more and donate call 619warrior that's 619warrior or visit warriorfoundation.org it is not that similarly named organization that is not as careful with your dollars. We'll just leave it there. Check Charity Navigator if you like warrior foundation.org an incredible organization. Warriorfoundation.org I wanted to mention a couple.

[Jack Armstrong]

Of things about Halloween, which was Friday and we've been on the air since then, and what my kids did and what I saw in my town and neighborhood for Thanksgiving. Costumes, candy, etc. Trying to push occultism on us?

[Joe Getty]

I don't think so. I think they're trying to push consumerism on us.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, no kidding. Candy is practically free. Nobody really nobody needs more candy.

[Joe Getty]

I think Big Candy is who's really pushing Halloween. Because if you think about it, virtually every single American family could afford a giant stack of candy for the kids to mange on 12 months a year, right? Oh yeah, because it's practically free.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Joe Getty]

But for one day, and by extension, as the candy lasts a couple of weeks, maybe a year, the parents can completely give in to the kids lust for candy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Or at least partially.

[Joe Getty]

You know, I think good families apportionate. You can only have two pieces a day.

[Jack Armstrong]

My kids have never gotten through all their candy. I mean, we start out that way and then pretty soon I think I'm throwing this out and they forget about it.

[Joe Getty]

Maybe it's just in addition to being a plot by Big Candy, it's another one of those desperately needed common experiences you're always talking about.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, there you go. That could be a lot of it. Yeah, especially now. How much candy gets thrown away every year. That would be an interesting number to know how much ends up in the trash. So I'm not going to donate it. Who, who's struggling out there and needs candy anyway?

[Joe Getty]

Well, yeah. This is the first time in human history the poor have been fatter than the rich. Yeah, so truckloads of candy being delivered to poor neighborhoods ain't gonna help.

[Jack Armstrong]

Best thing I could do for humanity is put it in the garbage. But I got a few things to say about that and a lot of other stuff on the way.

[Joe Getty]

Steer, Armstrong and Getty.

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[Joe Getty]

Gonna be a great Halloween, but I'll just put it out there. Wrong year to go as a mariachi band. Look, it's a fun time. Also a dangerous time, right? I mean, we're all aware of that. I mean last year I, oh, I had a bad time last year someone laced my drugs with candy.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I live in a college town. I had to go pick up my high schooler a little bit later in the evening and you would have thought we lived in. I've never actually been to Amsterdam. Are there hookers everywhere in Amsterdam? I'm trying to use a city where there are hookers everywhere.

[Joe Getty]

No, there are red hotels.

[Jack Armstrong]

Something I don't know because it looked like there were hookers everywhere with all the college kids, college girls dressed in their. I'm a slutty witch, I'm a slutty nurse, I'm a slutty whatever outfits. My 13 year old though, he wanted.

[Joe Getty]

Don'T look at me twice because that makes you sexist in a perv.

[Jack Armstrong]

My 13 year old wanted to stay home and watch classic scary movies which we ended up doing and eat some candy. Not very many people come to our house because we don't live in like a busy street where people would come by. I had a few neighbor kids and stuff like that. Very cute. Gave him some candy that was very nice. We watched the original Friday the 13th from like 1978 or something and the original Halloween from roughly the same era with young Jamie Lee Curtis. And I hadn't watched either one of them. I'm old Katie. So I had seen both of them in the theater when they originally came out and not since for because horror is not really my thing. Although Friday the 13th is ridiculous. I don't know if it seemed ridiculous at the time, but it's ridiculous. I mean we, we spent the entire movie shouting, why are you going in there? You just heard a scream. You're going into a dark room without a flashlight. What the hell are you doing?

[Joe Getty]

That's what makes horror movies fun, is that.

[Jack Armstrong]

And so I was wondering, is that how, why they're successful in that we're dealing with our fears and these people are put in a position where we know we would never do that. So we're safe. We're safe in that we're smarter than those people.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's the whole thing.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, yeah. When you're. When people look at real life news stories of horror and murder and death and pain, you see that all the time. I remember when we used to take calls 100 years ago, people would always explain what the victim did wrong in kind of a, you know, come on. Tone of voice. It's how we protect ourselves from our fears.

[Jack Armstrong]

So they make the people do dumb things on purpose. That's what we like. Because otherwise I think that's too terrifying.

[Joe Getty]

Katie. I. I think so. I drew and I did the same thing on Halloween and it sounded like we were watching a sports game, you idiot. Yeah, right.

[Advertisement Voice]

Come on.

[Jack Armstrong]

In Halloween or Friday the 13th in particular? Well, first of all, both movies, teen sex leads to murder, so. And I like that message for my kids. If you start to get under my experience.

[Joe Getty]

But go on.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you start to get undressed, you are going to be hacke to death. That's just the way it is. You know who lives in both movies? The nice girl who stay clothed. The nice girl who stayed clothed does not get hacked to death. She trips and falls a few times while being chased, but she's able to get up and outrun the murderer.

[Joe Getty]

Sorry. Society is better. When we were all steaming up the backs of cars. Sorry. It was this. These people get off the Internet and grope somebody with their consent.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you want to get hacked to death or get a like, you're banned.

[Joe Getty]

I don't particularly.

[Jack Armstrong]

Friday the 13th looks like it was filmed by me. I mean, what was the budget for that movie? Just ridiculous. That's the one. I love that Jason.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah. Is it the Geico commercial where the guy says, let's go into that shack with all the chainsaws. And the girl says, why don't we.

[Jack Armstrong]

Just get into that running car?

[Joe Getty]

Everybody's like, you're an idiot. Let's go into the chainsaws.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, you haven't seen your friend in an hour. You've heard her scream a couple of times. She just go wander that direction in the dark, wondering what's going on. Idiot. Who would do that in your underwear?

[Joe Getty]

You've nailed it. You've nailed the analysis, though. That's exactly what's happening.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. And I again, I hadn't seen these from Forever Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis. The John Carpenter. Is that what his name is? Film. It's way more artistic and no wonder he's kind of a legendary director, way, way, way more artistic and not, you know, has some art to it in addition to being a slasher film with ridiculousness. And again, the good girl who keeps her clothes on rewarded by not having her head cut off, which is always nice. Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump with big interviews yesterday. May we can do some highlights from those among other things Armstrong and Getty.

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[Political Commentator]

I feel like we're on the precipice of a remarkable moment on November 4, and not only where I'm confident we're going to win here with Proposition 50, but you're going to have two new remarkable governors in Virginia and New Jersey. You're going to have a dynamic young mayor regardless of where you are on the political spectrum that ran an extraordinary and exceptional campaign that galvanized people that frankly have been disenfranchised from politics. And we've got leaders now that have a united front and a message that's breaking through.

[Jack Armstrong]

I can't even listen to the rest of this. I just can't. I just can't. I just, I can't stand.

[Joe Getty]

Sure there was a phrase in, in there.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's just, it's just that didn't deserve.

[Joe Getty]

To be dissected and well, murdered politician.

[Jack Armstrong]

Gobbledygook and I'm just so over it. But that's Gavin Newsom on Meet the Press yesterday, which is a big deal for him. He got the full like multi segment interview as the governor of California who's made it clear he's running for president. Prop 50 is going to pass tomorrow. Freaking unbelievable that that's where we are, that we're going to do away with the. No, no, no, we don't let politicians draw their own district stuff. And, and that Arnold got through. Now we're going to go back to that. It's just unbelievable.

[Joe Getty]

In the name of fairness, in the.

[Jack Armstrong]

Name of democracy, saving democracy, this never ending race to the bottom.

[Joe Getty]

I'm sorry, I've got to kick him on the one sentence about a dynamic young mayor who's, no matter who, where you are on the political spectrum has run an amazing campaign. I would like to sit Gavin down with microphone say, you know, Hitler was an unbelievably galvanizing politician. I mean, he had a populist gift unlike any other. So regardless of where you are on the spectrum, you've got to admire that. Really. Well, if you're a load of crap.

[Jack Armstrong]

If you're going to go with that, I think you didn't need to drop an H bomb, for crying out loud, Trump. Okay, well then regardless where you are on the political spectrum, you've got to admire Trump and his blah, blah, blah.

[Joe Getty]

Right? Oh, man.

[Jack Armstrong]

I want to talk about Mondami later.

[Joe Getty]

But I want to do a gardening show. It's very satisfying making something grow and nurturing it and the rest of it. Politics is so now completely about saying stupid things to stupid people to motivate them to vote stupidly.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, you're a perfect person to ask about this because you're a big fan of. You called me stupid, H.L. mencken, writing about the politics of the early 20th century.

[Joe Getty]

Yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

And you've been pointing out over the years various stupid crap that existed back, you know, 100 years ago. But do you think things are actually stupider now than they used to be in terms of our politics?

[Joe Getty]

Yes. Only because the means by which to connect with the aforementioned stupid or ignorant, which is a different thing. It's so much more effective these days. You can reach them via social media and in a way that William Jennings Bryan dreamed of. He would have to go to your town and give some galvanizing, you know, rabble rousing speech and then maybe hope it was reprinted in a couple of newspapers and travel the country tirelessly to spread his crap.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, pushing back against people I like in principle. It's very similar though, pushing back against people I like and friends of this show who, who will regularly, regularly say, Tim will say this, Lonnie Chen will say this. Lots of different people say our politics have always been stupid. And then they'll throw out an example.

[Joe Getty]

Okay.

[Jack Armstrong]

You can very easily pick out examples over the last 250 years of things that are as stupid as today, but now it's all day, every day. It's not just like six times spread out over 250 years where you can find, you know, awful things said about candidates or duplicity, blah, blah, blah. It's always. It's the only thing. Because at the same time where you had dumb politics going on, you also had debates were way more serious than they are now.

[Joe Getty]

100%. Yeah, a million percent. And look, you. You don't need to be H.L. mencken or George Will or some learned observer of politics to understand that money motivates politics, Right? Well, what is the biggest source of money ever seen in politics? Small donations on the Internet. How do you get small. How do you generate giving on the Internet? Appealing to our basest fears and our most base prejudices and saying anger and fear and resentment and anti. Antisemitism or whatever.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Here's two clips of Gavin Newsom. Both need to be commented on.

[Advertisement Voice]

Do you legitimately believe that he was capable of serving as president until January of 2029?

[Political Commentator]

Yeah, I think my focus was frankly, situational. It was making sure Donald Trump didn't get back into office to experience everything that we're experiencing today. And there was no interaction I had that suggested otherwise. I hate when I. Nothing I dislike more than the politician that sits there and lies to you and we all just sit there rolling our eyes going, give me a break.

[Jack Armstrong]

That second one is too much.

[Joe Getty]

But yeah, you're black. Said the kettle.

[Jack Armstrong]

The first clip was classic Gavin Newsom, which I think we're all going to grow to really beatable to recognize as he runs for president. I mean, if he gets the nomination, it's going to be lots of this. He is his getting around, answering questions. He's pretty good at it. At least the interviewers let him get away with it all the time. You really think Joe Biden was capable of serving another term? Yeah, well, my. It was situational. Okay, then you've changed topics already. I mean, what. What are we talking. He does that all the time. Do you think boys should be able to participate in girls sports? Look, it's a matter of fairness. And yes or no, he just. He gets away with never addressing whatever issue you're talking about.

[Joe Getty]

And he pulls it off. Pretty good at it. Yeah. Yeah. Long ago I used to call him lunkhead Gavin Newsom, but then I realized now that's the wrong epithet for him. He's utterly soulless and amoral. He is a cipher. He is a tool who changes what he says. What he says, he believes entirely situationally. Speaking of situationalists, here's something situational thinking. He has no principles.

[Jack Armstrong]

Glad I just.

[Joe Getty]

Other than a lust for power.

[Jack Armstrong]

Glad I just remembered this. This is from Mark Halperin's newsletter today. Let me find that for you. Or it's on the idea that Gavin's gonna get a huge win tomorrow. I mean, it's. It's really big for him that he was able to come up with this Prop 50 thing to look like he's fighting against Texas. It pulled horribly in the beginning. They've turned it around, making it all about Trump. And it's going to pass. Tomorrow, after Prop 50 passes, Gavin Newsom's donor juggernaut will scare off some rivals who want to challenge him to be president. Because a lot of donors are going to come forward and think this is a guy that can get things done. But at least one Democratic rival is going to drop oppo research on the California governor to slow the train down. That's his. That's his insider reporting. So somebody, and I don't know who, if it's Kamala or Josh Shapiro or somebody we don't even know the name of who wants to get the nomination, has got some oppo research. There's got to be a lot of oppo research on Gavin. There has to be.

[Joe Getty]

How about somebody who's very, very smart, very, very tough, and more than willing to stick the metaphorical knife in. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Rahm Emanuel.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, right, right.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, please. He is right now plotting with the rnc, writing and producing the commercials showing Gavin Newsom's California and the state it's in.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. And he's my guy if it has to be a Democrat. Cause sometimes, you know, just. We go back and forth. Neither party can hold onto the presidency for too long because it's just the way it works. And if it has to be a Democrat win the next time around, I'd rather it be Rahm Emanuel than Gavin Newsom by a long shot.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, yeah, there's plenty to not like about Rom. But at least. At least he is. I was gonna say principled. Woke. Well, no, he's not woke. He's a moderate Democrat of the conventional sort. Yeah. Gavin. God, no. Gavin. I tell you what. If some. By some bizarre, horrific twist of fate, there was some movement for forced sex changes of kids. If you catch a kid playing with a doll, he's obviously transgender, whether he realizes or not. And you will get a sex change. Whether the child or the parent wants it or not. Gavin would get behind that if it would get him more power. So yeah, Rahm Emanuel is not that.

[Jack Armstrong]

I just saw something on tv. Squirrel. I'm easily distracted. I just got a whole bunch of TVs on in here and I just saw something on TV and it was a woman, no arms, playing the piano with her toes.

[Joe Getty]

That's awe inspiring and annoying.

[Jack Armstrong]

Katie, why did you make that face? I was going to. Well, you what? What is your takeaway on that before I unleash some serious wisdom?

[Joe Getty]

No, just amazing.

[Jack Armstrong]

That is not. Liar. That is not what your face said.

[Joe Getty]

That was like a really big pivot, Jack.

[Jack Armstrong]

I don't know. Every once in a while I need those. Sometimes they land like this for me. I, I should not complain about anything. I got arms.

[Joe Getty]

Right. I'm just annoyed because I'm a terrible piano player with my fingers.

[Jack Armstrong]

Like the homeless person I saw the other day. I was talking about this guy, couple of teeth, dirty, scabby, no shoes or socks. Couldn't have been more filthy. Sitting there playing a beat up guitar and way better than me. And I thought that is so maddening.

[Joe Getty]

But more, I think I might have played with that guy once.

[Jack Armstrong]

But the armless woman playing the piano with her toes, I got, you know, I need that dose of perspective every now and then. Yes.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah, it does help.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, here. Can I be serious? I got to make the transition into serious. Because this is serious serious right here.

[Joe Getty]

Respect that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Doing the oil change yesterday in my truck and I really long Sunday for a Sunday. Sundays, God wanted us to rest. Even God was tired on Sunday. After six days of creating the world is worn out, took a day off. Sunday, I'm working my ass off running kids around and doing these various things just non stop all day long. And I was a bit, feeling a bit, I don't know, put upon.

[Joe Getty]

Beleaguered. Is that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, like, like, like, you know, poor me. That's it. I was feeling a little poor me on this beautiful Sunday as I was busy every minute all day long. And I pulled in there and I looked over and there's a mom and she's got two obviously very special needs kids in her are adult or adult adjacent that are, you know, they're the kind of special needs are going to be. Need to be taken care of the rest of their lives. And I mean, come on, do I need to be slapped in the face any harder than that with my two healthy kids in my very normal life? Yeah. So that was a that was a good one. God put that one there for me at the right time. Now look at that mom. She's probably complaining less than I am about my very, very easy compared to her situation.

[Joe Getty]

So you think God trotted them out for your enlightenment?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, I think it works. It's very complicated. It's very complicated.

[Joe Getty]

As the sun and the planets revolve around you.

[Jack Armstrong]

That's not. It works that way for everyone at the same time.

[Joe Getty]

I know. We all interact. It's part of the grand mosaic that none of us can comprehend.

[Jack Armstrong]

Exactly.

[Joe Getty]

Sorry. I told you I would take it seriously then I didn't.

[Jack Armstrong]

I lied.

[Joe Getty]

I'm a hypocrite and I apologize.

[Jack Armstrong]

And the oil change cost like 120 bucks. Is that what they've always cost or is that with inflation? I don't remember it costing that much.

[Joe Getty]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Anyhow, so I went over to that woman with the special needs kids and I said, can you believe the prices?

[Joe Getty]

Okay, good.

[Jack Armstrong]

And let me tell you about how hard my day has been.

[Joe Getty]

I said, oh boy. No, no, no, no. So maybe next hour a trio of college related stories that run the gamut from the hilarious about the little snowflakes to a college football story that amazed me to a giant company you've heard of. That said, college has become a waste of time. We're hiring high school grads. Just really, really good, wide variety.

[Jack Armstrong]

I love that college is a waste of time for like, I don't know, 80 to 90% of people. Really, really is. The faster we figure that out, the better. A lot more on the way. So stay here.

[Joe Getty]

Armstrong and Getty.

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[Jack Armstrong]

An 80 year old woman set a record for oldest female to hike the Appalachian Trail.

[Joe Getty]

And also the record for most circling vultures.

[Jack Armstrong]

I thought was the funniest joke of the night.

[Joe Getty]

That's insensitive.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh, my God. Hey. So somebody told me this. I didn't come across this controversy from the Golden Bachelor. Are you familiar with that TV show? I think they've had a Golden Bachelor and a golden. Have they had a Golden Bachelorette? Do you know that Katie Michael says.

[Joe Getty]

Yes, yes.

[Jack Armstrong]

So they've had. They have. And their, their old person is also often somebody in their mid-60s. 60s.

[Joe Getty]

But well, for dating shows, that's aged.

[Jack Armstrong]

Absolutely. Golden Bachelor said the other day that 45 was his upper age limit for somebody who is willing to date. Oh, and got a huge blowback and had to apparently apologize for that and walk it back. They got so much hate mail and commenting, everything like that on the show.

[Joe Getty]

But well, how old was this dude? Do we know?

[Jack Armstrong]

66.

[Joe Getty]

Oh, wow, dude, come on.

[Jack Armstrong]

45 is. Anyway, it started a conversation about. For women where. What? What? When old hits for women versus when old hits for men. And life ain't fair.

[Joe Getty]

Whether you're, you know, 58 or 41. If a 66 year old guy says to you, yeah, I'm not going to date anybody over the age of 45, you know what you're getting into.

[Jack Armstrong]

Exactly.

[Joe Getty]

It's kind of handy that he would go ahead and say that.

[Jack Armstrong]

So I didn't, I wasn't gonna bring up politics, but I just saw this. I just came across this. I missed this somehow. Over the weekend, Barack Obama campaigned in New Jersey and Virginia for various people, did not campaign for Zoharan. And that is not like those. I don't know if you know how the map works or if you've ever looked at a map, but the pretty close there. New York, New Jersey and Virginia.

[Joe Getty]

It's tough to get flights to New York, though. They got no good airports.

[Jack Armstrong]

So as a gazillionaire former president, yeah, it had been very difficult for him. He did not stop by any of the many campaign stops for Zohran Mumdani.

[Joe Getty]

That's Zoharan.

[Jack Armstrong]

Barack Obama a little too well, it might just be being principled here, but also a little too good a politician to want to be on the stage with that guy.

[Joe Getty]

I don't have the wording in front of me, but he made some sort of vague praise of the energy of the campaign.

[Jack Armstrong]

And mom, Donnie cleverly went with the. Well, we're not. We don't. We don't mind because obviously beneath a president to weigh in on mayor races, right? People were quick to point out that Barack Obama had went on stage with many mayoral candidates for New York over the years, including winning Bill de Blasio not that many years ago.

[Joe Getty]

Well, Mamdani makes Obama look like Mitt Romney.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, yeah, absolutely. And good for Barack Obama to not be on a stage with an actual freaking socialist and Israel hater, right? That. That was too far for him. It is. It is. It is. It has gotten a lot of attention. Obviously. We've talked about it a lot. Everybody who follows politics talked about it a lot. I still think it's being underplayed that the financial capital of the planet is about to elect a socialist right as their mayor. Zoran Mandani, Islamist and it's not like people called Barack Obama socialist. Okay, fine. His politics were way closer to that than I like. But he didn't come up through the Socialist Party, for crying out loud, and run on a socialist ticket.

[Joe Getty]

It was just an extension of conventional expanding the welfare state. Thinking this is a big deal.

[Jack Armstrong]

A socialist is going to be mayor of New York.

[Joe Getty]

Coming up next hour, a really entertaining trio of stories about college today. Also, it is now possible to clone the Neanderthal, but is it a good idea? Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm interested in that.

[Joe Getty]

Stay with us. If you can't stay with us, grab the podcast.

[Jack Armstrong]

Armstrong and Getty. This is an I heart podcast.