Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: We Would All Weigh 800lbs

Release Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty
Summary prepared by podcast summarizer

Episode Overview

In this episode—broadcast during the show’s final week of 2025—Jack and Joe launch a fundraising drive for Scouting USA, take on a heavy news cycle, and weave their signature blend of sharp analysis, gallows humor, and candid reflection. The main conversations orbit around the value of the Boy Scouts, the global significance of anti-Semitism and terrorism, the media's priorities in covering news, and the toll that a constant stream of bad news takes on individuals. Lighter moments include Christmas cookies and remote-control cockroaches.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fundraising for Scouting USA (03:19, 19:49, 20:06, 23:00, 48:36)

• Main theme: The show is raising funds for Scouting USA, emphasizing the importance of making scouting accessible to all kids, especially those who can’t afford it.
• Personal Testimonies:
  • Joe shares how Boy Scouts have transformed his son’s life:

    “What I’ve seen since my son joined Boy Scouts last March is just stunning. Stunning as an organization.” (04:14 – Joe Getty)

• Mission Statement:
  • Jack underscores broader cultural implications:

    “You’ve got the War on Boys, you got the left demonizing boys, and you got a great organization that advocates traditional values and training kids up to be great young men. I love it.” (04:01 – Jack Armstrong)

• Call to Action: Donations encouraged at armstrongandgetty.com.
• Preview: Teaser for an upcoming interview with a Scouting America representative to highlight the group’s good work (23:00).

2. Media Coverage & “Horrible Weekend” News Cycle (05:34, 12:23, 13:44)

• Media Priorities:
  • Joe laments mainstream media choices, noting that high-impact international violence against Jews is often buried or ignored:

    “There are three, like, big stories going right now, and it seems like they put the only one of world significance last.” (04:14 – Joe Getty)

• Challenging Narratives:
  • Jack critiques how the causes of anti-Semitism are tiptoed around:

    “Nobody ever says, where’s all this antisemitism coming from? Exactly. … What a strange coincidence. Well, let’s just move on because I’m uncomfortable with this discussion.” (05:34 – Jack Armstrong)

• Root Causes:
  • Discussion of Australian attacks motivated by ISIS loyalties and anti-Jewish hatred, and how authorities shift focus to gun laws instead of ideological motivations (06:14).
• The Toll of Bad News:
  • Listeners are affected by constant horror in the news, leading to emotional overload:

    “It’s just yet another example of the omnipresence of the worst things on earth in our news feeds and the rest of it, all the time. It’s not healthy. No. Human beings are not designed for that.” (13:24 – Jack Armstrong)

3. Major News Stories Breakdown (08:30–12:04, 21:09)

• Rob Reiner & Wife’s Death:
  • Speculation about causes; debate over media responsibility in presenting potential suspects (family vs. external threat).
  • Commentary on legacy:

    “He was on Bill Maher’s basement show just a couple of weeks ago… Giant. Absolute giant.” (11:08 – Jack Armstrong)

• Brown University Shooting:
  • Ongoing manhunt, rarity of suspects still on the loose (08:24).
• Australia Terror Attack:
  • Explicitly tied to radical Islam and anti-Semitism but downplayed in news priorities (21:09).
• Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong:
  • Outrage over the silencing and jailing of a democracy hero (12:04).

4. The Emotional Impact of News & Coping Mechanisms (13:21–14:22)

• Personal Filters:
  • Hosts discuss the importance of balancing awareness with mental health.
  • Joe recounts having a positive weekend focused on family, charity, and Christmas, contrasting with the horror in the news feed.

5. Cookie Roundtable – The Source of the Title (14:22–15:11)

• Comic Relief:
  • The hosts and crew share favorite cookies; Jack’s quip explains the episode title:

    “Because we’d all weigh 800 pounds. It’s got to be carefully limited.” (14:32 – Jack Armstrong)

6. International Relations & Military Readiness (26:48–36:42)

• Ukraine & NATO:
  • Zelensky’s willingness to forego NATO if given strong U.S. security guarantees (27:07).
  • German rearmament; shifting European attitudes toward defense in response to threats; acknowledgment of historical concerns:

    “Anytime anybody brings up the German military, everybody’s gotta say, but people are uncomfortable about this because of the Nazis… given that was 80 years ago.” (29:12 – Jack Armstrong)

• Emerging Tech & Drones:
  • U.S. military adapting to fast-paced drone warfare; the new arms race with China (31:28–35:16).
  • “Remote-control cockroaches” segment adds absurd humor about potential new tech (28:17–28:56).

7. News Roundup with Katie Green (20:17–22:49)

• Headlines cover the Brown University shooting, Rob Reiner murders, Australian terrorism, lawsuits against OpenAI, Pelosi on Obamacare, a sperm donor’s genetic fallout, and a satirical headline from the Babylon Bee.

8. Mailbag & Listener Feedback (43:58–48:36)

• Features old cowboy sayings as "freedom-loving quotes of the day," sparking philosophical discussion (44:43).
• Lighthearted stories: Lawn dart nostalgia and tales of MIT-Caltech “Beaver Cup” hockey.

9. AI & the Future of Entertainment (46:49–48:17)

• Jack references a Wall Street Journal piece on AI-generated movie stars and debates whether AI will help more people bring their stories to audiences.
• Discussion of “reading is dead” and how film/visual media may soon be the only way to reach mass audiences.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “What I’ve seen since my son joined Boy Scouts last March is just stunning. Stunning as an organization.” — Joe Getty (04:14)
• “If you direct your gaze in the right directions, you’re going to have a horrible weekend and a horrible day every single day of your life.” — Jack Armstrong (13:24)
• “Because we’d all weigh 800 pounds. It’s got to be carefully limited.” — Jack Armstrong (14:32) (on why Christmas cookies are seasonal)
• “It’s just yet another example of the omnipresence of the worst things on earth in our news feeds… It’s not healthy. No. Human beings are not designed for that.” — Jack Armstrong (13:44)
• “You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.” — Old Vaquero Saying via Jack Armstrong (44:43)
• “Nobody ever says, where’s all this antisemitism coming from? Exactly… What a strange coincidence. Well, let’s just move on because I’m uncomfortable with this discussion.” — Jack Armstrong (05:34)
• “Anytime anybody brings up the German military, everybody’s gotta say, but people are uncomfortable about this because of the Nazis… given that was 80 years ago.” — Jack Armstrong (29:12)
• “I made Christmas cookies, watched some Christmas shows, worked at the Christmas tree lot for the Boy Scouts. … Very few rapes or murders in my life over the weekend.” — Joe Getty (14:08)
• “None of those [horrible news events] really impacted that person or me personally. … Human beings are not designed for that.” — Jack Armstrong (13:24)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:19] – Fundraising launch for Scouting USA
• [04:01] – The importance of Boy Scouts amid “War on Boys”
• [05:34–06:56] – Critique of media’s handling of global anti-Semitism and violence
• [08:24] – Brown University shooting (ongoing manhunt)
• [10:07] – Rob Reiner murder speculation and media coverage
• [12:04] – Jimmy Lai’s trial and what it says about China
• [13:21–13:44] – Managing exposure to disturbing news
• [14:22–15:11] – Cookie roundtable; “we’d all weigh 800 pounds”
• [20:17] – Katie Green’s headline rundown
• [26:48] – Ukraine, NATO, and German military rearmament discussion
• [31:28] – U.S. military retooling for drone warfare
• [43:58–44:43] – Cowboy wisdom and mailbag
• [46:49–48:17] – Creating AI movie stars, the end of reading, media trends
• [48:36] – Previewing hour two on the case for Boy Scouts

Tone & Style

Armstrong & Getty continue their characteristic blend of irreverence, candor, and concern for American culture. Even when discussing heavy topics, humor and warmth surface—especially in lighter sidebars and calls for community engagement. The hosts invite listeners into both introspection and action, making the episode accessible and relevant even to those who haven’t tuned in.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode features a nuanced critique of the week’s most pressing (and least discussed) news, an earnest effort to fundraise for accessible scouting opportunities, reflections on the psychological drain of modern media, and the kind of zany banter (“remote control cockroaches!”) that defines Armstrong & Getty’s appeal. You’ll find both substance and levity, with a particular focus on the intersection between world events and everyday experience.

If you have kids, are concerned about civic values, or just want a smarter take on the news cycle, this episode is for you.

End of Summary