Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "Those Danged Robot Wolves"
Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Episode Overview
In this episode, Armstrong & Getty blend their trademark humor and skepticism to tackle a diverse slate of current events, ranging from the credibility of polls and national mood, to geopolitical developments, immigration policy, oddball tourism, and pop culture. Listeners are treated to conversations about robot wolves, rat tours in New York, immigration raids, and the new Nike slogan, interspersed with the duo’s playful banter and pointed critiques of political and social trends.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Credibility & Polling in America
[03:55 - 09:40]
- Credibility Loss: Joe Getty admits to repeatedly confusing major Brazilian cities, musing about how hard it is to regain lost credibility, paralleling this with institutions like the CDC post-COVID (“I have blown all my credibility on knowledge of big cities in Brazil...” – Joe Getty, 03:55).
- Polling Skepticism: Jack received a poll text from Emerson University Polling, but agonizes over how to answer the “right direction/wrong track” question regarding America, expressing frustration at the simplistic binary and concern about how his answer will be interpreted.
- "I don't want my checkmark to be interpreted in that way. I'm agonizing over this." – Jack Armstrong, 07:53
- They agree most people answer polls with little thought (“They're lazy bastards. Wrong track. Got it.” – Jack Armstrong, 09:40).
- Societal pessimism is evident as both think the U.S. is generally headed in the wrong direction, especially on issues like education, woke ideology, and national debt.
2. Clips of the Week & Robot Wolves
[09:47 - 12:16]
- The “Clips of the Week” montage sets a chaotic tone, covering violence in Chicago, global power shifts, “robot wolves” for military use, China’s global ambitions, and a medley of pop culture snippets.
- Notable quote: “And four legged robot wolves designed to locate mines and hunt down soldiers.” (Clips of the Week, 10:22)
3. Epstein List Speculations
[12:16 - 13:31]
- Discussion about the press conference regarding the Epstein deal and the vagueness of rumored lists of alleged offenders.
- “Why are you holding it back if you have..." – Joe Getty, 12:58
- They question the usefulness and credibility of such lists, noting how social circles do not equate to guilt, and the fatigue surrounding the ongoing coverage.
4. Geopolitics & Pessimism
[13:31 - 14:52]
- The hosts link U.S. debt and shifting global alliances (referencing recent meetings between China and Russia) to an undercurrent of anxiety about the future.
- “If you combine our national debt with the changing world order, man, I don't want to be, you know, a pessimist. I mean, those are two...” – Joe Getty, 13:31
5. Weekend Blues, “Sunday Scaries,” and Relatable Humor
[14:00 - 15:24]
- The hosts have a philosophical exchange about weekend anxieties and "Sunday Scaries."
- “But that is a feeling. I remember saying that to my dad when I was young. God, when Sunday night comes, I just look at the week and then he said, I've been doing that my whole life.” – Joe Getty, 14:16
6. Rabid Robot Wolves & Listener Emails
[15:24 - 15:50]
- Citing an email from a listener, the hosts humorously discuss the hypothetical idea of Chinese “robot wolves” infected with rabies—tying back to the episode title and current anxieties about AI and foreign militaries.
- “Now picture the Chicoms infecting their robot wolves with rabies. Oh boy. Rabid Chinese robot wolves.” – Listener email read by Jack Armstrong, 15:24
- “If you didn't see those Chinese robot wolves, that's wrong track for sure.” – Joe Getty, 15:44
7. The Reality of Polling & Lotteries
[19:59 - 24:59]
- Contradiction between media perceptions and polling data, e.g., RFK Jr.'s higher-than-expected approval rating (“You would assume he's got an approval rating of about 1%. It's 45.” – Joe Getty, 19:59).
- The psychology behind lottery fever and irrational beliefs about lucky stores and number choices.
- “Players tend to choose numbers that have a personal connection, like birthdays of them and their kids.” – Jack Armstrong, 22:18
- Both hosts agree most winners end up worse off, but disagree on whether that's media bias or true (“So hard for me to imagine most people winning a billion dollars and not having it ruin their lives...” – Joe Getty, 24:21)
8. Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant
[28:33 - 33:09]
- News break: nearly 500 people, mostly South Korean nationals, arrested at a Hyundai battery plant under construction in Georgia.
- Discussion about top-level deals that lead to concentrations of certain nationalities in certain jobs.
- Possible “wink and nod” agreements between U.S. and foreign companies, and how labor/immigration policy enforcement often targets workers but not employers.
- “You could snuff out illegals working in hotels and restaurants... if you went after the businesses. But there's never been much political will do that.” – Joe Getty, 32:25
- The politics of U.S.-South Korean investment, tariffs, and potential hardball tactics.
9. Ukraine, Europe, and Russian Threats
[33:16 - 35:39]
- Significant international tension as 26 European countries pledge troops for Ukraine; Putin says any NATO troops in Ukraine will be "legitimate targets."
- “Any European troops, any NATO troops in Ukraine, I will consider legitimate targets. That's some pretty hard ball right there.” – Joe Getty, 33:16
- Cynical take on peace negotiations, with Zelensky refusing Putin’s “invitation” to meet in Moscow.
10. Weird Tourism: New York Rat Tours
[35:39 - 40:48]
- “Rat tourism” is now a thing in NYC, with guided tours of rodent-infested areas becoming trendy.
- “Multiple tours now lead visitors to rat infested hotspots. With tickets going as much as $50 a pop.” – Jack Armstrong, 38:09
- The hosts grimly reminisce about giant urban rats and marvel at American ingenuity: “That’s the most American thing I’ve ever heard.” – Jack Armstrong, 39:20
11. Evolving Brand Messaging: Nike’s New Slogan
[44:26 - 48:24]
- Nike launches “Why Do It?” campaign alongside “Just Do It,” aimed to counter “cringe culture” and the stigma against trying and failing.
- “I like trying to turn the tide on that. The fact that the tide needs to be turned is disturbing.” – Joe Getty, 46:28
- Hosts approve of the intent, but remain slightly wary of corporate bandwagoning.
- Broader themes of effort, failure, and youth culture are discussed, with Jack emphasizing teaching his kids resilience: “It’s okay to be bad at something. In fact, it’s necessary. Embrace it.” – Jack Armstrong, 46:58
12. Final Thoughts & Lighthearted Close
[48:34 - End]
- Armstrong and Getty each share a personal anecdote. Joe resolves to engage with neighbors at a BBQ (49:07), while Jack bemoans a surprise food coma from an unexpectedly heavy bagel sandwich (49:29).
- The episode closes with their signature blend of earnestness and humor, referencing the week’s oddest headline: “Unless those dang commie robot wolves show up to do us in.” – Jack Armstrong, 50:39
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On pessimism and the “direction” of the country:
“How would you claim the United States is not going in the wrong direction as opposed to the right direction?”
— Joe Getty, 08:07 -
On the absurdity of lottery habits:
“Oh, they’ve sold two winning tickets in the last 20 years. I’m going to that store.”
— Jack Armstrong, 21:30 -
On bizarre tourism trends:
“The rat tour is the new trendy thing.”
— Jack Armstrong, 38:56 -
On the Nike rebrand:
“It’s okay to be bad at something. In fact, it’s necessary. Embrace it.”
— Jack Armstrong, 46:58 -
Humorous callback to “robot wolves”:
“If you didn’t see those Chinese robot wolves, that’s wrong track for sure.”
— Joe Getty, 15:44
Timestamps of Important Segments
| Timestamp | Topic | |----------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 03:55-09:40 | Credibility & polling in America, public pessimism | | 09:47-12:16 | Clips of the Week, robot wolves, world disorder | | 12:16-13:31 | Epstein list and victim/abuser confusion | | 13:31-15:24 | Geopolitics, pessimism, “Sunday Scaries” | | 15:24-15:50 | Listener email: rabid Chinese robot wolves | | 19:59-24:59 | Polling realities, lottery psychology | | 28:33-33:09 | Hyundai immigration raid, labor market oddities | | 33:16-35:39 | Ukraine, NATO, Russia: escalation and peace talk | | 35:39-40:48 | Rat tourism in NYC | | 44:26-48:24 | Nike’s “Why Do It?” campaign, cringe culture | | 48:34-End | Show wrap-up, final thoughts, neighborly updates |
Tone & Style
Armstrong & Getty bounce between gallows humor, exasperated critique, and relatable musings, maintaining a conversational and sometimes absurd tone even as they address serious global and domestic issues. Listeners who haven’t heard the episode will enjoy this mix of satire, skeptical news commentary, and pop-culture observations—with a dash of Midwestern neighborliness and a running theme: “Those dang robot wolves!”
This summary skips all sponsor segments, promotional spots, and non-content material, focusing purely on the main show conversation.