Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "Then You Need New Underwear Because You Wet Yourself"
Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty (with Michael)
Overview
This episode of Armstrong & Getty navigates a mix of heavy current events and lighter, humorous anecdotes. The show opens with reflections on the return of Israeli hostages and deceased hostages' remains, pivots into a critical discussion of political language and leadership, then shifts into a "Gender Bending Madness" segment about trans athletes and cultural conflicts. There's discussion of viral youth memes, Halloween hijinks, retirement policy in Europe, and crime stat manipulation in the U.S., all delivered in the duo’s signature irreverent, opinionated, and at times self-deprecating style.
Key Discussion Points & Segment Highlights
1. Hostage Crisis in Israel/Gaza & Political Language
[00:27 - 11:13]
- Clarissa Ward (CNN) Recap: Reports return of living hostages and the remains of deceased Israeli hostages from Gaza. The clock in Hostages Square (Tel Aviv) keeps ticking until all are home.
- Discussion:
- Jack Armstrong questions the sanitized language in media (“the deceased will be returned” rather than “murdered” or “tortured to death”) and the rationale for diplomatic phrasing.
- Michael adds context about Hamas losing track of some victims' remains amidst war chaos, noting the horror of the situation.
- The hosts highlight the value for families of closure, even if remains, not living loved ones, return.
"To say that the deceased will be returned as opposed to the murdered or tortured to death or executed is, you know, really something." – Jack Armstrong [01:07]
- Political Gaffe Moment:
- Clip of UK Labour's Keir Starmer mistakenly calling for the "return of the sausages, the hostages" during a Gaza statement.
- Laughter and reflection on the seriousness of the subject versus the absurdity of the gaffe.
“It's tough to enjoy that idiotic gaffe as much as I should... The conflict would have gone on forever if these people were in charge.” – Michael [03:15]
- U.S. Political Leadership:
- Critique of U.S. leaders (Biden, Harris, Blinken) for what hosts see as failed, toothless diplomatic efforts.
- Praise for Trump’s unconventional, forceful negotiating style, quoting various pundits and “Trump haters” admitting he got results.
“Trump embodying U.S. power as no president since Lincoln was uniquely essential. The hard part... Trump is by orientation truly a bastard. How can such a sensibility have done so much good?” – Quoted unnamed pundit [08:15]
- Foreign Policy Philosophy:
- Debate over American presidents’ willingness to exercise power. Both hosts argue world leaders must be credible and feared to effect change.
- Joe laments what he calls the “lowest moment in American foreign policy”—America’s hesitation and hollow threats.
“If you're an American president and you're not willing to be a brutal bastard when it's necessary, you have no business being in charge of a superpower.” – Michael [09:34]
2. Gender Bending Madness: Sports Edition
[13:13 - 18:20]
- Case Summary:
- Washington State: a 15-year-old girl refused to play in a girls’ basketball game against an 18-year-old “boy” (trans athlete), calling out the unfairness.
- The girl was then charged with bullying and harassment for “misgendering.”
- Parent describes the scene and frustration with state law and athletics policy.
“If as a 15 year old girl you object to playing against a grown man and say that's a man, you're charged with bullying, harassment, intimidation and misgendering.” – Michael [16:02]
- Host Outrage:
- Armstrong and Getty decry the situation as dangerous and insane, focusing on competitive imbalance and girls’ safety.
- Mention of similar incidents in Canadian sports, concluding with pointed remarks about the absurdity and dangers of letting ideology trump fairness and realism.
“There has never been a spot in the world or a time in history where anybody agreed with this nonsense.” – Jack Armstrong [16:21]
3. Halloween Store Antics & The Mannequin Incident
[19:53 - 24:22]
- Jack’s Halloween Tradition:
- Shopping at pop-up Halloween stores, buying new yard decorations annually.
- This year, Jack bought a mannequin, leading to repeated household scares—family members forgetting the mannequin is fake and being startled.
“I put my foot on the thing and it leapt for really fast with its mouth open and I whipped about wet my pants. It was very, very embarrassing and children laughed at me...” – Jack Armstrong [21:16]
- Host Banter:
- Discussion of possible prank ideas (dressing up as the scarecrow, fog machines, etc.).
- Reflection on primal startle response to unexpected “intruders” and aging.
4. Viral Memes and Shared Experiences: The 'Six Seven' Phenomenon
[24:32 - 29:46]
- Trend Explained:
- "Six Seven" meme: youth in schools shout “6, 7!” from a Skrilla song (“Doot Doot 67”)—now an in-joke and classroom disruption.
- Jack’s theory: Kids create memes/inside jokes to fulfill basic human need for shared experience in a fragmented media landscape.
“These completely manufactured common experiences have been created. I think it's our—we're just trying to grasp some shared experience to feel a connection.” – Jack Armstrong [26:47]; [27:41]
- Host Analysis:
- Notable disdain from some adults (e.g., Jack’s kid), but Jack defends the impulse behind seemingly meaningless meme trends.
- Reflection that sports remain one of the last communal conversation topics for strangers.
5. Retirement Age and Policy in Europe
[33:58 - 37:53]
- German Retirement Age:
- Germany proposes raising retirement to 73 to preserve pension system solvency, linking age to longevity.
- Historical perspective: Original Social Security intended most wouldn’t reach retirement age.
“When we originally set up Social Security, life expectancy was so much different. I mean the idea was most of you aren't going to make it that long. So those of you that do, at 65, you can quit.” – Jack Armstrong [34:40]
- Comparison with France:
- French retire in their 50s; creates strain on government finances.
- Hosts question philosophical basis for guaranteed retirement.
“Who came up with this everyone deserves to retire idea? I mean, that's completely a manufactured notion… that's not the way animals are built, human beings are built.” – Jack Armstrong [35:30]
6. European Business/Work Culture vs. U.S.
[35:59 - 38:00]
- Firing and Hiring Laws:
- Armstrong reads from The Economist on contrast between U.S. and European layoffs: U.S. gets it done quickly, Europe involves endless negotiations, strikes, and court cases.
- Result: less dynamism, fewer mega-corporations in Europe.
“You can never ever fire anyone... You just can't do anything.” – Michael [36:11]
- Entrepreneurial Climate:
- Hosts credit U.S. system for creating Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, etc.
7. Crime Statistics Manipulation in D.C.
[38:00 - 39:10]
-
Dept. of Justice Probe:
- Reports that D.C. police manipulated crime data to make city stats look better; officers whistleblowing.
-
Media Critique:
- Hosts criticize Washington Post's language as if officers were mob informants, not public servants.
“They're cops telling the truth. Why are you saying they're feeding information to the Justice Department? WaPo. Come on.” – Michael [39:03]
Memorable Quotes
- Jack Armstrong:
"The crazy man theory or the bastard theory... both sides actually believe he's willing to do anything." [10:39]
- Michael:
"If you're an American president and you're not willing to be a brutal bastard when it's necessary, you have no business being in charge of a superpower." [09:34]
- Jack Armstrong:
“How insane is that fight?” [16:14]
- Michael:
“The meme is A prime example of brain rot. The Internet. Junk food consumed by people of all ages to suck away time...” [27:15]
- Jack Armstrong:
"I screamed at the top of my lungs and waved my hands like this." [24:07]
- Michael:
“It’s a gender bending madness update.” [17:56]
- Jack Armstrong:
"This isn't going away. This is going to be the rest of our lives because we don't have those common experiences anymore." [29:27]
Tone
Direct, irreverent, sardonic, and occasionally reflective, Jack and Joe balance heavy, often provocative takes on serious topics with personal vulnerability and comedic self-mockery.
Suggested Listening Timestamps
- Return of hostages & media language: [00:27 - 03:58]
- Political gaffes & U.S. leadership: [03:58 - 11:13]
- Gender Bending Madness—trans athlete in girls’ basketball: [13:13 - 18:20]
- Halloween mannequin story: [19:53 - 24:22]
- 'Six Seven' meme & shared experience: [24:32 - 29:46]
- Retirement age in Europe: [33:58 - 37:53]
- Crime stats probe: [38:00 - 39:10]
Note
Advertisements and sponsor mentions have been omitted for clarity and brevity. The summary includes only content segments relevant to listeners interested in the hosts’ political, cultural, and personal commentary.