Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "You Could Hang Him With Dental Floss"

Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the latest in U.S. and world politics—focusing on explosive recent rhetoric between Donald Trump and congressional Democrats around military "illegal orders," seditious behavior, and the state of American political norms. Other significant themes include vintage fashion trends, inflation and the impact on the middle class, the continuing fallout from the Epstein saga, gender-affirming care debates, and even the wild lives of jazz legends. Armstrong & Getty navigate the heated landscape with their trademark mix of irreverence, analysis, and dry humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s "Five Words" and Washington Chaos ([03:15] - [14:55])

• Controversial Trump Post: The hosts dissect Donald Trump's viral five-word Truth Social post:
  "Seditious behavior, punishable by death" ([08:13]).
  • Getty notes this may be a record for how much commotion Trump has generated with so few words.
  • Armstrong is sharply critical of the "peace offer" to Ukraine, allegedly formulated by Trump with Kremlin input but simultaneously praises Trump's insistence that NATO nations take more responsibility for their defense ([05:26]).
  • Both hosts agree Trump’s rhetoric on “seditious behavior” is dangerously escalatory and not presidential.

"So what is he talking about? We escalated quickly."
— Joe Getty ([08:20])

• Congressional Democrats’ Video: They play and analyze a recent video featuring Democratic senators urging military personnel to refuse unconstitutional or illegal orders.
  • Armstrong accuses the video’s creators of trying to foster chaos or martyrdom in the ranks for political gain ([10:00]).
  • Both hosts warn that such gestures risk undermining military discipline and national security, likening the situation to a "race to the bottom" in political discourse ([12:57]).

"It is so far out of line...they actually want to incite some poor son of a [expletive] to...become a martyr."
— Armstrong ([10:00])

• Call-Outs to Leadership: Mike Johnson and Lindsey Graham’s reactions are discussed, with both saying Trump’s language was inappropriate but also criticizing the vague insinuations from the Senate side ([13:04]).

2. International Tension: The Ukraine "Deal" ([03:15], [39:08])

• Ukraine’s Existential Moment: The hosts return repeatedly to the rumored deal pushed on Zelensky: Russia gets sweeping concessions or U.S. support for Ukraine dries up.
  • Armstrong points out how Europe is deeply alarmed and how Trump’s tougher NATO stance is, in some ways, overdue ([04:26], [39:08]).
  • Getty floats the idea of back-channeling through European leaders to fight for Ukraine's interests.
• On-Going Crisis: Near the episode's end, Getty provides an update:
  "President Zelensky has just spoken with leaders of France, UK and Germany about this proposal..." ([39:08])

3. Socialism Condemned in Congress ([06:23])

• Recent Vote: The House passes a resolution condemning socialism, just as NYC mayor-elect Zorhan Mandani (dubbed "Mom Donnie" by the hosts) prepares for a White House visit.
  • Armstrong mocks the gesture as symbolic and overdue, bemoaning a lack of practical consequences.
  • Getty cynically recaps: "Socialism sucks. Whatever, whatever." ([06:53])

4. The Erosion of Political Norms & Outrage Culture ([12:14])

• The hosts lament the breakdown of past norms, joking about "hanging senators with dental floss" (hence the episode title) but explicitly condemn any real-world violence ([14:43]).

"You could hang him with dental floss."
— Armstrong, joking about Adam Schiff’s slender build ([14:43])

• They reference the absurd escalation of rhetoric and the impossibility of dialing back the temperature:

“It’s like running onto a football field and screaming, ‘Stop tackling each other’…it’s a fantasy. It’s not gonna happen.”
— Armstrong ([12:23])

5. Economic Struggles: Inflation and the Middle Class ([28:18] - [31:13])

• Armstrong details a Wall Street Journal piece: "America’s middle class is weary. After nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners thought life would be more affordable by now. Costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020." ([28:46])
  • The hosts highlight the difficulty of “catching up” with inflation—discussing how few have received a 25% raise to match rising costs.
  • Getty sharply sums it up: "We took a 25% pay cut, essentially." ([29:52])

6. Cultural Trends: Vintage Fashion & Old School Cool ([19:16] - [21:15])

• The hosts banter about their sons' love for vintage clothing, e.g., Members Only jackets and 80s Levi’s. ([19:16])
  • Armstrong quips: "Wow. So they rejected you as a member for Members Only jackets." ([20:35])
  • They discuss the cyclical nature of trends, comparing it to band revivals ([21:15]).

7. Congressional Use of "Democracy" as a Buzzword ([21:23] - [23:12])

• Armstrong describes a fascinating visual study tracking House mentions of “democracy” since 1880, noting recent years have seen a massive spike—and not always in earnest, substantive contexts.

8. Epstein Fallout & Legal Distinctions ([32:12] - [36:55])

• The hosts share details from the Epstein saga:
  • "Larry Summers and his wife flew on Epstein's plane to 'Pedo Island' for their honeymoon...this is 2005, before his conviction. I'm sure everybody knew Epstein was living a pretty wild life and on the very edge..." ([33:06])
  • Discussion on the distinction between “pedophilia” and sexual crimes with older minors, referencing Megyn Kelly’s recent controversial comments.
  • Armstrong and Getty agree that acts with a prepubescent child and with a nearly 18-year-old are both abhorrent, but should be labeled differently in language and law.

"A 7 year old and a 17 year old is a completely different situation."
— Armstrong ([34:02])

9. Gender Care Science & Backlash ([38:22] - [39:06])

• Armstrong explains a major Department of Health and Human Services review stating there is “no science to support this gender bending madness, especially for kids.”
  • Both hosts predict there will come a reckoning over the current era of “mutilating and pumping kids through permanent changing chemicals.”
  • Getty: "One of the craziest things that's ever happened." ([39:06])

10. Jazz Legends, Vice, & Living Hard ([43:25] - [47:27])

• Getty enthusiastically describes discovering the legendary “Jazz at Massey Hall” album and recounts tales from Miles Davis’ memoir about Charlie Parker’s decline into addiction ([43:25]).
  • Anecdotes include Parker eating fried chicken and having sex in a cab—simultaneously—while Miles Davis looked on in horror ([44:43]).
  • Armstrong jokes, “The whole sex and fried chicken thing, I’m not ready to condemn it.” ([46:44])
• The conversation is a reminder of wild creativity—and wild living—in history’s greats.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Ukraine’s Dilemma:
  “Europe is horrified by this idea...because it empowers Putin, it rewards him for his aggressions, it shows him a roadmap for how to do it in the Baltic states next...”
  — Armstrong ([04:26])

• On Political Norms:
  “There are no norms that will go untrampled upon.”
  — Armstrong ([13:04])

• On Inflation:
  “Costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020.”
  — Armstrong (quoting WSJ, [28:46])

• On Trump’s Rhetoric:
  “The current President of the United States should not say ‘seditious behavior punishable by death’, suggesting they had committed a crime that they could be executed for...”
  — Getty ([11:37])

• On Congressional Cowardice:
  "If you think something is really out of bounds illegal. Well then name the specific act and put your name on it. Why not?"
  — Getty ([13:49])

• On Jazz Legends:
  "He [Charlie Parker] was having sex with this woman while he’s eating fried chicken...the sounds and the noises coming out of there between the sex and the smackin’ his lips with the chicken and licking his fingers from the chicken and having more sex...it’s an amazing description."
  — Getty ([44:43])

• On Gender Care:
  “We are soon all of us going to look back on that period ... and we’re going to think, how in the name of God did we let something so terrible happen?”
  — Armstrong ([38:22])

Additional Brief Highlights

• DoorDash data breach jokes and delivery fees confusion ([18:31])
• Trends in thrift/vintage clothing and the way cultural coolness cycles ([19:16])
• Runaway use of “threats to democracy” in Congress over the last 100 years ([21:23])
• Musings on band comebacks, Members Only jackets, and retro brand resurgences ([20:56])
• Controversial musings on age of consent laws and linguistic distinctions for sexual crimes involving minors ([34:02])

Conclusion

True to form, Armstrong & Getty blend sharp political critique and cultural curiosity, oscillating between grave warnings on the state of the Republic and light-hearted banter about fashion and music. The episode is an energetic snapshot of a moment when American politics seems to be escalating toward rhetorical extremes, and the co-hosts respond not with panic but with their signature sardonic wit. For old listeners and new, the discussion is both insightful and entertaining.

Interested in in-depth commentary on each topic? Subscribe to Armstrong & Getty On Demand, and don't miss out on “hour four” for further detail on inflation and other pressing issues.