Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: We're Now the Department of War!
Date: September 5, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of Armstrong & Getty dives into several current news topics and injects characteristic humor and riffs on societal trends. Major themes include a reported covert SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea, the potential renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, U.S. military activity near Venezuela, RFK Jr.'s comments on chronic disease and health policy, and consumer trends such as Nike’s slogan change and America’s growing appetite for chicken. The show features guest news reader Jensen and welcomes listener engagement throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rebranding: “We’re Now the Department of War!” (00:20–01:13)

• The hosts joke about renaming everything “the Department of War,” highlighting a satirical take on government nomenclature.
• “I think everything should be called the Department of War. I'm all for that… Everything's the Department of Readiness.” (B, 00:26)

2. General Manager of the Day — SEAL Team 6 vs. Chicken (01:13–02:29)

• The comical setup for choosing the show’s “general manager” offers two unlikely options: SEAL Team 6 and chicken.
• The hosts settle on SEAL Team 6 due to a recently disclosed, bold and failed mission in North Korea.

Notable Quote (A, 02:10):
“The New York Times has disclosed a highly inflammatory top secret SEAL Team 6 mission that went sideways.”

3. SEAL Team 6’s North Korean Operation (02:29–03:39, 11:01–11:04, 20:21–20:32)

• The mission involved planting an intelligence listening device in North Korea during Trump’s first term. No American lives were lost, but some North Korean fishermen were killed.
• “They punctured their lungs with knives to make sure they sank to the bottom.” (A, 03:38)
• Promises more detail in the next hour.

4. U.S. Military Posture in Venezuela (04:08–05:27)

• Discussion pivots to speculation over potential “kinetic action” involving U.S. Marines in Venezuela, including comparisons to past interventions (e.g., Grenada).
• Referencing geopolitical analyst Ian Bremmer predicting a possible amphibious landing, “We might have a mini little Normandy beach landing there in Venezuela with our Marines. Holy cow.” (B, 05:23)

5. Nike’s Slogan Change: “Just Do It” → “Why Do It?” (06:19–08:29)

• Nike is changing its iconic slogan to appeal to the “anxious generation.”
• Armstrong & Getty question the effectiveness of corporate slogans and explore youth attitudes toward motivation, fitness, and social engagement.
• “The anxious generation doesn't really understand why you would want to do a lot of these things. Just do what, why, what's the point?” (B, 07:28)
• Humor about fitness culture: “Can we have a running club online where we just like sit at desks and post about running?” (A, 07:31)

6. RFK Jr. Hearing Highlights: “We are the sickest country in the world” (09:08–10:17)

• Audio of RFK Jr. sharply criticizing the CDC and chronic disease rates among U.S. children.
• “Senator, you've sat in that chair for how long, 20, 25 years, while the chronic disease in our children went up to 76%. And you said nothing.” (A, 09:15)
• Both hosts agree there’s a lack of urgency about youth health issues, though they remain skeptical of RFK Jr. as a solution.

7. Jobs Numbers & Trump’s Preemptive Reaction (10:19–10:54)

• The latest jobs report is lower than expected; Trump preemptively questions government-released figures, alleging they’ll be manipulated.

Rapid Fire Segments

8. Guest News Headlines with Jensen (12:25–17:12)

• White House Ballroom Demolition OK’d by Trump-appointed commission.
  "A new ballroom, I just wasn't on my radar." (B, 14:13)
• LSD Research: Microdosing may help anxiety, new studies suggest.
• Tesla & Elon Musk: Pay package could make Musk world’s first trillionaire, alongside news that electric vehicle sales are down in Europe.

9. Chicken Mania: Why So Popular? (28:41–30:46)

• Taco Bell and U.S. fast food chains are seeing explosive growth in chicken sales, reflecting changing consumer tastes.
• “There’s an explosion in chicken lust among Americans, fast food consumers. Apparently their chicken sales…the last two years…and are on pace to double.” (A, 29:32)
• Both hosts note their own shift toward chicken at fast food restaurants.

Humor, Commentary, and Memorable Moments

• Deliberate misnaming: “Armstrong and Gary” instead of “Armstrong and Getty.” (00:22)
• Running joke on changing show roles and the pandemic of choices.
• “I smashed up all my Coca-Cola bottles and poured it down the drain… I was shocked. I was horrified.” (A, 06:53)
• The “Department of War” satire thread recurs, linking to both military news and the show’s tone.
• Banter about Madden clip-like voice-over seriousness re: Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl.
  “Tonight, speculation mounting over whether Taylor Swift will perform at the Super Bowl.” (B, 20:50)
• Jensen, the guest newsreader, receives real-time compliments for her voice from listeners.

Other Noteworthy Segments

10. Clips of the Week (20:45–24:17)

• A rapid-fire montage of notable audio moments, mixing real news with absurdity for comic effect.
• “Are you sure that wasn’t clips of the month? There's no way all that happened in a week. No wonder I'm exhausted.” (A, 23:30)

11. Listener Mailbag (32:17–39:20)

• Discusses listener questions about “woke right,” vaccine mandates (including polio concerns), future of warfare with AI and drones, and more.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “The anxious generation doesn't really understand why you would want to do a lot of these things. Just do what, why, what's the point?” — B, 07:28

• “They punctured their lungs with knives to make sure they sank to the bottom.” — A, 03:38 (on the SEAL Team 6 mission)

• "We might have a mini little Normandy beach landing there in Venezuela with our Marines. Holy cow.” — B, 05:23

• “Senator, you've sat in that chair for how long, 20-25 years, while the chronic disease in our children went up to 76%…” — A, 09:15 (RFK Jr. clip)

• “There’s an explosion in chicken lust… Chicken sales have grown 50% in the last two years and are on pace to double.” — A, 29:32

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:20 – “Department of War” satire; setting the show’s irreverent tone
• 02:10 – SEAL Team 6’s North Korea operation details first shared
• 04:08 – Venezuelan military action speculation
• 06:19 – Nike’s slogan change and youth culture
• 09:08 – RFK Jr. CDC hearing audio
• 12:25 – News rundown with Jensen
• 20:45 – Clips of the Week compilation
• 28:41 – Fast food chicken mania
• 32:17 – Listener mail and AI/drone warfare talk

Summary

This episode exemplifies Armstrong & Getty’s blend of sharp current events analysis, political satire, and commentary on American culture, all delivered with their trademark banter and irreverence. The SEAL Team 6 story, Venezuela speculation, and the generational shift from motivation (“Just Do It”) to existential questioning (“Why Do It?”) provide both humor and insight. The regular digressions into fast food trends and pop culture, paired with robust listener engagement and a “clips of the week” segment, make for a dynamic and engaging listen—even for those who missed the live broadcast.