Armstrong & Getty On Demand - "The A&G Replay Thursday Hour One"
Podcast: Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: The A&G Replay Thursday Hour One
Date: December 25, 2025
Episode Overview
This replay episode, originally aired on Christmas Day, features Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty engaging in their characteristic banter and discussions about current events, cultural shifts, foreign policy, education, sports, and technology. Despite the holiday, the hosts maintain their irreverent, incisive commentary, mixing humor with pointed critique, particularly focusing on the state of the war in Ukraine, DEI in the NFL and corporate America, impacts of AI on learning and work, and high school dynamics in America.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Christmas Day Musings & Listener Banter
- Tone: The hosts open with tongue-in-cheek remarks about broadcasting on Christmas Day and why anyone would be listening.
- Jack: “It sounds like you're judging people. On all days you're judging people. You have put bitterness under the tree.” (03:52)
- Joe wonders if listeners are alone or just escaping family obligations.
- Notable Quote:
- Joe Getty: “I'm trying to think who's listening right now? Why are you listening to us on Christmas day? Don't you have some family to be around or something?” (03:38)
2. Alien Movie Trailer and Cultural References
- Brief discussion about a new Steven Spielberg UFO movie and the visceral reactions it elicits.
- Jack jokes about “wetting himself” over the trailer.
- Joe: “So it's a UFO thing. And that's what caused you to lose control of your bowels?” (05:03)
- Quick detour into the horror of “Stranger Things” and what freaks out their producer, Katie (05:42).
3. The Ukraine Peace Talks – "Negotiating With Yourself"
- Main Point: The hosts critically dissect recent reports about peace negotiations involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe—while Russia is not even at the table.
- Joe's Summary:
- “Russia isn't even part of these talks and has shown no indication zero … that he has any interest whatsoever in giving on any of these issues. So what are we talking about?” (06:25)
- Jack's Analogy:
- Likens the negotiations to MLB owners making decisions without the players, who have already refused the terms (07:37).
- Highlight: Extended comical analogy about negotiating a marriage to a celebrity (Sydney Sweeney) who is utterly unaware and uninterested.
- Joe: “That's like me saying my marriage plans with Sydney Sweeney remain out of reach for the moment as she has no knowledge that I exist or interest in marrying me. I mean, it's the same level of ridiculous…" (08:40)
4. U.S. Moves Against Venezuela
- News Point: President Trump has ordered a blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers to ramp up pressure on the Maduro regime (13:36).
- Analysis:
- The hosts explain that oil revenue is the lifeblood of authoritarian regimes, and choking it off might force change from within.
- Jack: “If we can choke off their money supply, then the generals… start to think Maduro's the guy of the past.” (14:31)
5. High School Social Structure & Parental Flashbacks
- Personal Reflection: Joe recounts attending a high school basketball game to watch his son play drums, only to be thrown back to the awkwardness of his own youth.
- “I get just as uncomfortable. I was just as uncomfortable last night being in that gym as I was when I was in high school myself." (19:17)
- Social Groups:
- They hilariously break down the classic "cool kids, wannabes, and outliers" social ecosystem still at work in high schools.
- Joe: “There's the group that wants to be them, but not quite is. And there's the outliers… you could just see all the dynamics of high school just right there.” (20:54)
- Observation:
- Advancements in youth sports have raised the bar for high school athletes considerably (23:24).
6. DEI, Critical Theory, and the NFL
- Critical Perspective: Both hosts rail against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), arguing it's misunderstood and equating it with neo-Marxism.
- Joe: “I don't like the fact that journalism regularly fudges the difference between DEI, which is a specific thing, and diversity acting like they're the same thing.” (27:56)
- Jack: “DEI is an insidious plot that masquerades as civil rights.” (28:07)
- NFL’s Stance: The NFL bucks the trend and sticks with DEI initiatives as other sectors scale back.
- Sports-to-Corporate Crossover: Discussion of the skills NFL retirees bring to business—including resilience, feedback, and handling adversity.
- “Manager after manager was telling Callum Borchers that they struggle to recruit people who can take and deliver candid feedback, especially these days.” (31:41)
- “The ability to pick yourself up and get back into the game is really what business is all about.” (34:08, quoting an associate director at Verizon)
7. AI's Reliability and the Education Crisis
- Concerns with AI Search:
- Study shows AI frequently invents (or "hallucinates") news sources, with more than 60% of queries about news handled incorrectly.
- Joe: “AI models incorrectly answered more than 60% of queries about news sources. They have a tendency to… just make stuff up. AI is like your 5-year-old.” (39:06)
- Cheating in Academia:
- Increasing numbers of students use AI to do their homework, often undetected.
- Jack reads an anecdote: “She turned to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini… more often though, AI completed her work.” (42:58)
- Joe: “You're only hurting yourself.” (43:17)
- Wider Questions: They debate the future of learning and the relevance of teaching certain skills if AI can do them.
- “Is there a value in learning how to do it by hand in case you're on a desert island or something? I don't know.” — Joe (45:35)
- “There almost certainly is… you have a bedrock understanding of what you're doing… it helps you in some way.” — Jack (46:09)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Absurdities of International Negotiations:
“That's like me saying my marriage plans with Sydney Sweeney remain out of reach for the moment as she has no knowledge that I exist or interest in marrying me.”
— Joe Getty (08:40) -
On DEI Confusion:
“DEI is Marxism. It's not diversity.”
— Jack Armstrong (28:45) -
On Sports, Success, and Resilience:
“The ability to pick yourself up and get back into the game is really what business is all about.”
— Verizon director, as shared by Jack Armstrong (34:08) -
On AI Hallucinations:
“AI is like your five-year-old. It just makes stuff up.”
— Joe Getty (39:06) -
On the Uselessness of “Cool” Revenge:
“Tell them off for what? How dare you be attractive and have good personalities and good at something how? And screw you. I mean, I don't feel that way, Ben. I don't feel that way.”
— Joe Getty (21:25)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Christmas Day Opening Banter & Movie Talk: 03:38 – 06:30
- Ukraine Peace Talks Satire: 06:30 – 13:12
- Venezuela Oil Blockade Discussion: 13:36 – 15:11
- High School Social Reflections & Sports Change: 18:50 – 23:38
- DEI, Critical Theory, and NFL Analysis: 27:00 – 35:02
- Corporate Adaptation of Athlete Mindsets: 31:41 – 35:02
- AI Hallucinations & Impact on Education: 39:06 – 47:22
Conclusion & Episode Takeaways
This hour of Armstrong & Getty features their signature blend of irreverence, skepticism, and humor. Listeners are treated to sharp takes on the surreal state of global diplomacy (with Ukraine/Russia talks), cultural skepticism of DEI, the surprising positives of bringing sports mindsets into business, and the dilemmas AI presents for news, education, and society at large. Through personal anecdotes and playful analogies, Armstrong and Getty challenge prevailing media narratives, question the direction of American institutions, and reflect on changes in everyday culture.
For New Listeners:
This episode is a solid introduction to the Armstrong & Getty style—incisive, freewheeling, and unafraid to mix jest with critique, offering both laughs and food for thought on the news of the day.