Armstrong & Getty On Demand: Episode Summary – "They Both Have A Little Muffin"

Released on February 4, 2025, Armstrong & Getty On Demand tackles a range of pressing issues, blending environmental concerns, political critiques, and national security topics. Hosted by Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, the episode delivers sharp commentary interspersed with humorous exchanges. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode.

1. Environmental Concerns: Ivanpah Solar Plant and Microplastics

Ivanpah Solar Plant's Environmental Impact

The episode opens with a critical examination of the Ivanpah Solar Plant in California, highlighting its unintended consequences on wildlife. Joe Getty introduces the topic by referencing government footage showing the plant's intense heat causing thousands of birds to perish.

Joe Getty [00:23]: "Ivanpah's impact on wildlife, killing thousands of birds who fly anywhere near the plant's intense heat, as shown in this government video."

Jack Armstrong elaborates on the phenomenon, revealing that the incident has been termed "screamers" due to the dramatic nature of the birds burning upon contact with the solar concentrators.

Jack Armstrong [00:32]: "When they see the birds actually going up in flames, they created a name for that. They call them screamers."

Transition to Microplastics Issue

Later in the episode, the hosts pivot to discussing a startling new study on microplastics in human brains, emphasizing the pervasive nature of plastic pollution.

William Lajeunesse [07:06]: "A spoonful of plastic. It's not microplastic if you have a whole spoonful. It's getting macro."

Jack Armstrong acknowledges the scientific concerns, noting the ubiquity of microplastics originating from various sources, including tires and industrial processes.

Jack Armstrong [07:32]: "There are a million different sources of it from what I understand. It's, it's ubiquitous, it's everywhere."

2. Political Critique: Green Energy Subsidies and Taxpayer Burden

Ivanpah Solar Plant's Financial Viability

The conversation delves into the financial aspects of the Ivanpah project, questioning the substantial subsidies it received and the eventual taxpayer losses incurred.

Jack Armstrong [02:20]: "The fact of the matter is American taxpayers wind up holding the bill, whether it's a Solyndra, whether it's this project here."

Joe Getty outlines the extensive federal support provided to Ivanpah, including loans, grants, tax credits, and accelerated depreciation benefits.

Joe Getty [02:47]: "As part of his climate agenda, President Obama gave Ivanpah $1.6 billion in federal loans, a $535 million grant, a 30% tax credit worth about 600 million..."

William Lajeunesse criticizes the distortion of the energy market due to these expensive subsidies, highlighting how Californian ratepayers were forced to purchase Ivanpah power at exorbitant rates.

William Lajeunesse [03:35]: "These are expensive subsidies and they just, not only are they do they cost the tax raisers, but they just distort the market."

Broader Implications on Green Energy Initiatives

The hosts express skepticism towards green energy programs, suggesting that achieving true sustainability requires more transparent and economically viable strategies.

Jack Armstrong [02:25]: "All right, so just a quick review. State of the art. Supplying green power for at least 30 years. They're shutting it down after 11. Sue. As a rule of thumb, perhaps we go with green energy programs. Cut the estimates by two thirds and you're probably closer to the truth."

3. National Security: Mexican Cartels and Border Patrol Challenges

Rise of Cartel Violence and Government Corruption

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the escalating violence from Mexican drug cartels and their entrenched alliances with local governments, complicating border security efforts.

Jack Armstrong [06:25]: "Well, Rich Lowry at the National Review writes... the Mexican government has fought a bloody years long war against the cartels that it lost."

William Lajeunesse underscores the difficulty of combating such deep-rooted corruption, emphasizing the need for upholding the rule of law.

William Lajeunesse [16:00]: "This is why you got to hold on to rule of law, law and order, civilization."

Threats Against Border Patrol Agents

The hosts discuss emerging threats against Border Patrol agents, including the use of kamikaze drones and explosives by cartels to undermine federal enforcement.

William Lajeunesse [10:34]: "They're not going away. They're not going to wait quietly. No way."

Jack Armstrong reflects on the precarious situation at the border, attributing the potential for increased violence to the stripping away of economic incentives for the cartels.

Jack Armstrong [11:26]: "If we threaten their life, livelihood and their revenue that they use to pay off officials, they're going to react very, very badly to it."

4. Political Events: President Trump Attending the Super Bowl

Security Concerns

A lighter yet significant topic covered is President Trump's unprecedented attendance at the Super Bowl, raising questions about the extensive security measures required for such an event.

William Lajeunesse [17:29]: "Donald Trump is going to attend the Super Bowl. He will be the first sitting president to ever attend a Super Bowl in Louisiana."

Jack Armstrong humorously speculates on the complexities of integrating NFL security with Secret Service protocols.

Jack Armstrong [19:02]: "I've got to believe the NFL's freaking out a little bit because I don't know how well their security will mesh with the Secret Service security protocols and needs and the rest of it."

Historical Context

The hosts mention that while vice presidents have attended Super Bowls, no sitting U.S. president has done so, highlighting the uniqueness of Trump's appearance.

William Lajeunesse [19:26]: "There have been three vice presidents sitting. Vice presidents attend a Super Bowl. Spiro Agnew, al Gore and H.W. bush. There's never been a sitting U.S. president."

5. Government Spending: USAID’s DEI Initiatives

Critique of USAID's Allocation of Funds

The conversation shifts to the White House's plans to eliminate the Department of Education and scrutinizes USAID's spending patterns, particularly on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) projects.

William Lajeunesse [24:49]: "The White House is preparing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education. He can't do it through executive order, but the gesture is something nobody's gone this far."

Caroline Levitt, the new press secretary, is featured discussing USAID's expenditures on DEI initiatives across various countries, which the hosts label as misplaced priorities.

Caroline Levitt [28:09]: "Fire away, Michael, because if you look... $1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia's workplaces. 70,000 for a production of a DEI musical in Ireland..."

Jack Armstrong denounces these allocations as "absurd" and "Marxism masquerading," arguing they divert essential funds from more critical needs.

Jack Armstrong [28:50]: "They now consider themselves, according to insiders who are disgusted with it, they're not accountable to the American people or the American government or even the State Department."

6. Immigration Enforcement: ICE Operations and Public Response

Public Hindrance of ICE Activities

The hosts explore the phenomenon of community volunteers actively thwarting ICE agents' operations, often turning these encounters into public spectacles that undermine law enforcement efforts.

William Lajeunesse [30:02]: "Especially if any ICE vehicles, people arrive in a community, uh, they have volunteers who send out text messages, calls. People hit the streets, they follow them everywhere they go."

Jack Armstrong highlights a recent incident where a San Francisco radio station broadcasted exact descriptions of ICE vehicles in operation, effectively compromising active law enforcement missions.

Jack Armstrong [31:58]: "They just make it a plot point to make the transgender person look like a saint. Anyway... they have a couple of breaking news stories."

The discussion underscores the tension between community activism and effective immigration enforcement, with the hosts expressing frustration over perceived leniency and favoritism based on ethnicity.

Jack Armstrong [34:56]: "They want them arrested a white one, but not a black one."

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Armstrong and Getty offer a blend of critical analysis and satirical humor to address complex issues ranging from environmental policies and government spending to national security and immigration enforcement. Their discussions reflect a skepticism towards governmental initiatives that, in their view, prioritize ideological agendas over practical and economically sound solutions. Notably, the episode emphasizes the need for accountability, transparency, and a return to foundational principles such as the rule of law and constitutional integrity.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong [00:32]: "When they see the birds actually going up in flames, they created a name for that. They call them screamers."
• William Lajeunesse [03:35]: "These are expensive subsidies and they just, not only are they do they cost the tax raisers, but they just distort the market."
• William Lajeunesse [07:06]: "A spoonful of plastic. It's not microplastic if you have a whole spoonful. It's getting macro."
• Jack Armstrong [11:26]: "If we threaten their life, livelihood and their revenue that they use to pay off officials, they're going to react very, very badly to it."
• Mr. Armstrong [28:50]: "They now consider themselves... not accountable to the American people or the American government or even the State Department."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the diverse range of topics covered in the "They Both Have A Little Muffin" episode of Armstrong & Getty On Demand, providing listeners with an insightful overview of the hosts' perspectives and discussions.