Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: That's Right. You'll Lose A Foot If You Eat A Brownie
Release Date: March 5, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction

In this engaging episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty dive deep into a myriad of pressing topics, blending political analysis, personal anecdotes, and contemporary societal issues. From dissecting President Trump's congressional address to exploring the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Armstrong and Getty provide listeners with insightful commentary and lively discussions.

The Unfolding of Trump’s Congressional Speech

The episode kicks off with Armstrong and Getty reflecting on President Donald Trump's recent address to Congress, which they describe as a pivotal moment in the current political landscape.

Key Points:

• Partisan Nature of the Speech: The hosts highlight the unprecedented partisanship in Trump’s speech, with Armstrong quoting Brit Hume’s observation: “In 40 years of covering, this is the most partisan one I’ve ever seen” [04:43]. Both agree this trend has been escalating over the years, leading to an erosion of bipartisan dialogue.
• Symbolism and Public Reaction: Trump’s portrayal of Democrats, including a scene with an elderly man aggressively shaking his cane, was a focal point. Getty remarks, “Rich Lowry of the National Review tweeted, Democrats are the party of the future and if you don't believe them, they have a 77-year-old man shaking his cane to prove it. Well said, Rich” [06:39].
• Impact on Media and Public Perception: The hosts discuss how mainstream media struggles to adapt to the new level of partisanship, contrasting traditional broadcasts with platforms like Joe Rogan’s podcast, which attract vastly larger audiences by avoiding such divisive content [03:21].

Notable Quote: Jack Armstrong reflects on the speech's length and Trump’s television instincts: “It's the longest one of these anybody has ever given... It's interesting that Trump being such a good TV sort of guy... doesn’t fit together” [10:05].

Economic Policies and Tariffs

Armstrong and Getty transition to a detailed analysis of the current tariff situation, emphasizing Trump's frustration with existing trade agreements and the impact on various industries.

Key Points:

• Tariffs on Canada and Mexico: Tugging at longstanding trade tensions, the hosts discuss the new tariffs imposed by Trump, with Armstrong questioning the reciprocity as Canada has maintained high tariffs on US goods for decades [14:20].
• Impact on Industries: A humorous yet pointed remark about the curling broom industry underscores the unpredictable repercussions of tariff policies: “Trump's Canadian tariffs expected to have devastating impact on curling broom industry” [16:56].
• Public and Market Reaction: Joe Getty expresses skepticism about the efficacy of these tariffs, noting, “As a student of economics since I was a wee lad, I'm really curious to see how this plays out” [14:20].

Notable Quote: Jack Armstrong emphasizes the personal impact of tariffs: “This is going to affect every one of our lives” [34:14].

Artificial Intelligence: The Coming Revolution

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the rapid advancements in AI and their potential implications for society, the labor market, and national security.

Key Points:

• AI’s Role in Modern Life: Armstrong references Ezra Klein’s NYT opinion piece, highlighting how AI can outperform human teams in complex tasks within minutes. “I asked AI... it produced in a matter of minutes, I would say, was at least the median of what any of the teams I've ever hired could produce within days” [20:28].
• Implications for Employment: The hosts express concern over AI replacing jobs, particularly in coding. Armstrong warns, “Learn to code... that's going to be a worthless skill by the end of the year” [22:05].
• National Security and AGI: They delve into the dangers of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) falling into adversarial hands, especially China’s potential dominance. “Whoever gets there first is going to have such a dominant role on the planet on hacking or stopping hacking” [25:01].
• Economic Investments in AI: Discussing massive investments, they cite a $2 billion bank loan for an AI data center in Utah, underscoring the booming demand and uncertainty surrounding AI’s trajectory [30:25].

Notable Quote: Jack Armstrong shares a profound insight from JFK’s moon speech: “Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man... Only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new and terrifying theater of war” [24:20].

Party Politics and Media Representation

The conversation shifts to the current state of party politics, emphasizing the Democratic Party’s challenges and strategic shortcomings.

Key Points:

• Democratic Party’s Direction: Getty critiques the Democrats as “utterly sapped, clueless and directionless” [04:43], reflecting on the party’s inability to present a cohesive vision.
• Media’s Role in Political Narrative: The hosts discuss how media outlets, including CNN and former personalities like Brit Hume, are grappling with the heightened partisanship, often struggling to present balanced coverage [05:00].

Notable Quote: Getty highlights the artificial nature of Democratic responses: “Everything is premeditated. Everything is top down. And nothing reflects like real people and how they behave” [09:43].

Current Events and Tragic News

Armstrong and Getty touch upon recent tragic events, including the discovery of dismembered bodies of students in Mexico, highlighting ongoing issues with safety and governance in the region.

Key Points:

• Violence in Mexico: They discuss the grim news of nine students found dismembered by a Mexican highway, underscoring the persistent dangers posed by cartels and governmental inadequacies [16:26].
• Comparison to Historical Events: Getty references historical incidents to contextualize current violence, such as the Brooks-Sumner affair of 1856, contemplating the potential for future conflicts [12:36].

Notable Quote: Getty poignantly comments on personal safety concerns in a world with rampant cyber threats: “The number one target of any cyber attack would be the banking systems... my accumulated wealth, such as it is, is not in gold bars nor cash buried in my backyard” [27:56].

Personal Anecdotes and Reflections

The hosts share personal stories, adding a relatable human element to the episode.

Key Points:

• Jack’s Processing Disorder: Armstrong reveals his struggle with a processing disorder that affects his ability to read certain names correctly, such as mistakenly saying “Urza” instead of “Ezra” [17:54].
• Importance of Silence and Meditation: Reflecting on a homily about silence, Armstrong and Getty discuss the necessity of introspection amidst a noisy, media-saturated world. Getty quotes St. Jose Maria Escriva: “Silence is the doorkeeper of the interior life” [34:17].

Notable Quote: Jack Armstrong muses on his newfound awareness: “I've learned that with my son, that everybody knows about dyslexia, but there's all kinds of different things, minor or major, and lots of people have some of them, and you might not even know you have them” [19:08].

Conclusion and Future Topics

As the episode winds down, Armstrong and Getty tease upcoming segments, including more in-depth analysis of Trump’s address and listener interactions through the mailbag segment.

Key Points:

• Upcoming Discussions: They hint at expanded coverage on AI advancements and more clips from Trump’s speech, promising listeners a comprehensive exploration in future segments [17:41].
• Engagement with Listeners: Encouraging audience participation, they direct listeners to submit questions and comments via their mailbag portal [35:59].

Notable Quote: Getty wraps up with a reflective thought on the complexity of AI and its unpredictable future: “Whatever you've got planned for you or your kids, it probably ain't going to happen that way” [29:33].

Final Thoughts

In this episode, Armstrong and Getty adeptly navigate through complex and multifaceted issues, offering listeners a blend of critical analysis, personal insights, and candid humor. Their discussion on the implications of AI development, the polarized state of American politics, and the socio-economic impact of current policies provides a thorough examination of the challenges facing contemporary society. With their characteristic blend of wit and wisdom, Armstrong and Getty deliver a podcast episode that is both informative and thought-provoking, making it a valuable listen for anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of today's world.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "You don't want to do that, Michael. Yeah, I try to avoid them with the diabetes, so I will not eat one either." – Jack Armstrong [00:41]
• "It's the most partisan one of these he's ever seen." – Brit Hume, quoted by Jack Armstrong [04:43]
• "Silence is the doorkeeper of the interior life." – St. Jose Maria Escriva, quoted by Joe Getty [35:35]
• "Educate a man in mind and not morals is to educate a menace to society." – Trump, quoted by Joe Getty [31:11]

For More Information:

• Mailbag Submissions: mailbagarmstrongandgetty.com
• Prize Picks Advertisement Mentioned: Listeners are encouraged to join and benefit from promotional offers, though detailed information was skipped in this summary.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions presented in the episode.