Ruthless Podcast

Are Democrats losing control of their own coalition—or is this exactly where it was always headed? The fellas—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and (briefly missing) John Ashbrook—talk about a political landscape that feels less like strategy and more like chaos. From fringe activists gaining mainstream influence to protests that look more like performance art than persuasion, the question becomes unavoidable: who’s actually in charge anymore? The fellas break it all down with zero patience for nonsense and plenty of laughs, cutting through media spin, exposing contradictions, and calling out the uncomfortable reality shaping today’s political battlefield. And yes—it gets weird. Really weird. In this episode… No Kings protests that feel more staged than organic The rise of Hasan Piker and the Democrats’ growing identity crisis Media scrambling to clean up a monster they helped create Why Michigan—and voters in Dearborn—are suddenly center stage PLUS, A CHOCOLATE HEIST SO RIDICULOUS IT SOUNDS MADE UP. Special Guests: Scott Kupor (Director, Office of Personnel Management) – Fixing the federal workforce pipeline 🏛️ – Why young talent is avoiding government—and how to change it – AI, innovation, and rebuilding American competitiveness 🤖 – The real problem with outsourcing vs in-house expertise Daniel Bassali (Americans for Prosperity) – The push to celebrate America’s 250th 🇺🇸 – One Small Step: how everyday Americans can make an impact – The Liberty Bracket and ranking the greatest champions of freedom – Why cultural confidence in America actually matters right now We also dive into Hack Madness chaos, America’s 250th birthday, and yes… somehow a debate over George Washington vs Reagan vs MLK breaks out mid-show. And just when you think it can’t get stranger… 12 TONS of KitKats vanish in Europe. No, seriously. If you’re not subscribed yet, you’re already behind. Hit subscribe, follow us everywhere, and jump into the conversation—we read it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Foreign policy chaos, media narratives spinning out of control, and politicians dodging the simplest questions… Special guests - Rep. Julia Letlow and Laurie Buckhout join us for two great interviews as we update our midterms race map! So what’s actually true—and who’s just playing politics? Don't forget to visit Ruthlesspodcast.com/map to check out all our interviews for midterm races! The fellas—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook—jump straight into the mess. From Iran to Congress to campaign season, they break down the gap between reality and what’s being pushed in the headlines. In this episode… Schumer pressed on Iran—and can’t give a straight answer Democrats echoing foreign narratives Media vs reality on negotiations and military action Why this moment feels fundamentally different in U.S. politics PLUS, POLITICIANS ARE TAKING IRAN’S WORD OVER AMERICA—WHAT?! Then we bring in a major voice from the campaign trail as the stakes for 2026 heat up… Special Guest: Julia Letlow • Personal story of loss and public service 🇺🇸 • Senate run and Louisiana politics 🗳️ • Responding to stock trading accusations 📊 • Priorities: education, energy, and working families ⚡ And another key battleground voice… Special Guest: Laurie Buckhout • Military leadership and cyber warfare insights 🪖 • What voters actually care about on the ground 🏠 • Border security, economy, and “America First” 🇺🇸 • Taking on a vulnerable Democrat seat 🔥 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Government shutdown chaos. TSA lines out the door. Political blame flying everywhere. So what’s really going on—and who’s actually responsible? The fellas—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook—cut straight through it. No spin, no fluff. Just the reality behind the dysfunction, the strategy, and why you’re the one stuck dealing with it. In this episode… DHS shutdown fallout and TSA chaos Chuck Schumer under pressure inside his own party ICE funding fight and political maneuvering Dem strategy exposed in immigration debate PLUS, POLITICIANS ARE PLAYING CHESS… WHILE YOU’RE STUCK IN A SIX-HOUR AIRPORT LINE We also sit down with Senator Pete Ricketts for a real look at what’s happening behind closed doors—and what it means for the country moving forward. Special Guest: Senator Pete Ricketts • DHS shutdown negotiations and political gridlock 🏛️ • Economic pressure on everyday Americans 💵 • Election strategy and “fake independent” campaigns 🗳️ • Global tensions and impact on U.S. markets 🌍 Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s next. Follow us across social, drop your thoughts in the comments, and get involved—we’re watching and responding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the problem bad messaging—or is it something deeper? When legacy media starts copying podcasters and still can’t win back trust, what does that tell you? The fellas—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook—get into it as they break down a media landscape that’s clearly shifting, a government fight that’s hitting real people, and a growing gap between what’s being said… and what’s actually happening. From CNN experimenting with a more “authentic” look to ongoing fallout from DHS funding issues, the conversation keeps circling back to one thing: credibility. And if audiences don’t trust what they’re hearing anymore… where do they go? In this episode… CNN tests new formats but struggles with audience trust DHS funding fight impacts TSA workers and travelers Hack Madness returns and spotlights media figures Cuba debate highlights contrast between messaging and reality PLUS, A BAR BUILT TO “MONITOR THE SITUATION”… WITH NO WORKING SCREENS?! We also sit down with Senator Bill Cassidy for a grounded look at what’s happening in Washington and how it’s affecting everyday Americans. Special Guest: Senator Bill Cassidy • DHS funding and TSA disruptions ✈️ • Healthcare affordability and policy priorities 🏥 • Stop Insider Trading Act in Congress 💼 • Louisiana Senate race and voter concerns 🇺🇸 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when the Democrats stop pretending to be normal? What happens when the mask slips and the people running for office start sounding completely insane? This week, the fellas jump straight into the chaos and ask the obvious question: how is this the bench the left thinks is ready to run the country? Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook are in peak form as we break down the weirdest, creepiest, and most revealing Democrat candidate moments of the week — and then unleash the most glorious tradition of the year. PLUS, IT’S HACK MADNESS SEASON. In this episode…Democrat candidates getting exposedJames Talarico’s bizarre vegan turn resurfacesA Texas congressional candidate’s truly insane music videoA New York Democrat attacking the 13th AmendmentThat’s right — the fellas officially launch Hack Madness, our annual tournament of the worst liberal hacks in media. The bracket is here. The seeds are set. The hacks are trembling. And the voting madness is about to begin. We also get some elite Trump stand-up, including his perfect St. Patrick’s Day riff on Mike Johnson and a brutally funny read on Macron. Because even in the middle of all the insanity, nobody does comic timing like Trump. What Hack Madness brings this year…Media accountability by forceThe 65 worst liberal hacks in the gameBracket drama, seeding chaos, and online warfareYour chance to vote and crown the absolute worst Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Follow us on social for clips, bracket updates, and Hack Madness voting. And get in the comments, because this one is too ridiculous not to argue about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democrats are melting down, and the fellas are not letting them hide it. When party leadership is getting dragged around by the radical left, what’s left of the “moderate Democrat” brand? And when Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries can’t even steer their own caucus, how exactly are they planning to steer the country? Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook jump into the chaos surrounding Democrat leadership, the DHS shutdown disaster, and the growing reality that there is no such thing as a moderate Democrat anymore. In this episode… Democrat leadership in free fall Abigail Spanberger’s “moderate” mask slips DHS shutdown politics and the national security fallout The SAVE Act fight and what it actually means PLUS, Why are Republicans fighting each other while Democrats hand them a winning issue? The fellas break down how Schumer and Jeffries are boxed in by their own base, why the immigration debate keeps exposing Democrat weakness, and how even purple-state Democrats govern like full-blown radicals the second they get power. It’s not subtle anymore. It’s not complicated. And voters are starting to notice. Special Guest: Rep. Buddy Carter joins the progrum to talk Georgia’s massive Senate race and the road to taking out Jon Ossoff. What Buddy Carter breaks down… Georgia’s fight to flip a key Senate seat Why Ossoff doesn’t match Georgia values How Trump voters can be turned out in a midterm What separates him from the rest of the GOP field Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Follow Ruthless on social for clips, updates, and all the Hack Madness insanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when Iran turns into a global punchline, and the fellas decide to have a little too much fun with all of it? Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook are back, and this one goes all in. We kick things off with the wildest story in the world right now: the alleged “Gayatollah” intel bombshell out of Iran. Is this real life? Is this the weirdest regime collapse subplot imaginable? And why does every new detail somehow get even crazier? In this episode… The “Gayatollah” story and the internet’s total destruction of the new Iranian leader CNN’s absurdly soft coverage of the regime Joy Reid comparing America to Iran The media lies stacking up since the conflict began PLUS, THE NINTH CIRCUIT JUST WROTE “SWINGING DICKS” INTO A JUDICIAL DISSENT. We also get into the latest Democrat excuses; a would-be Senate candidate trying to explain away a scandalous skull tattoo, the Oscars’ insane eligibility rules, and one more brutal Harry Enten segment that shows just how deep the hole is for Democrats right now. Question of the Day: What’s the most outlandish media lie you’ve seen since the Iran conflict started? Drop it in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday , Thursday and Friday, follow Ruthless on social for clips and updates, and get in the comments because we read the best ones on the next show. 00:02:16 Iran’s New Supreme Leader Rumor Sends the Show Off the Rails 00:04:14 Mossad’s Wildest Assignment Ever 00:13:31 Why Mockery Might Be the Best Weapon Against Tehran 00:16:43 Hack Madness Tease and CNN’s Media Circus 00:18:44 CNN Guest Says America Is the "Real Bad Guy" 00:23:15 Natasha Bertrand’s Latest Spin Gets Torched 00:28:07 CNN and the UK Caught Cozying Up to Iran 00:32:32 Joy Reid Compares America to Iran 00:39:07 Bernie-Backed Candidate’s Nazi Tattoo Disaster 00:45:50 Ninth Circuit Forces Women’s Spa to Admit Men Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some episodes start with laughs. This one starts with a warning. When a convicted ISIS supporter is released from prison and then allegedly shows up at the center of another attack, it’s not politics as usual. It’s not abstract. It’s not theoretical. Lives are at stake. So the question hanging over everything is simple: how many warnings does this country need before people start taking terrorism seriously again? The fellas — Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook — start this episode where it matters. The Old Dominion attack, the synagogue attack in Michigan, and the reality that DHS funding has been blocked while terror threats continue to rise. Then… because the news cycle refuses to stop being insane… things take a turn. Because while America is dealing with real threats, Iran’s regime is busy looking like the world’s most dysfunctional dictatorship. 🎙️ Special Guest: Sean Hannity • Launching his new podcast Hang Out with Sean Hannity • Why authenticity beats chasing clicks and algorithms • Lessons from Rush Limbaugh and the early days of conservative talk radio • The mindset and work ethic behind decades of media dominance Then the fellas get back to Fun Time Friday chaos: • The internet roasting Iran’s leadership meltdown • Dem-on-Dem political warfare in California • A viral generational fight over boomers, inheritance, and retirement • Italian baseball antics and the espresso-fueled dugout debate Question of the Day: What’s the worst excuse you’ve ever heard from a Democrat after getting caught red-handed? Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow Ruthless on social for clips and behind-the-scenes chaos. And if you enjoyed the show, send it to a friend who needs a little more ruthless in their life. 00:03:00 Fun Time Friday Kickoff 00:04:15 Synagogue Attack in Michigan and Rising Terror Threats 00:05:28 ISIS-Linked Shooter at Old Dominion University 00:10:12 DHS Funding Fight and National Security Fallout 00:13:52 Iran Regime Chaos and the New Ayatollah Drama 00:15:02 Internet Roasts Iran’s “Cardboard” Leadership Moment 00:22:24 Dem-on-Dem Warfare in the California Governor Race 00:33:28 Question of the Day: Obama’s Post-Presidency Role 00:39:47 Sean Hannity Joins the Show 00:50:30 Boomer Wealth Debate Goes Viral Online 00:59:32 Sean Hannity Interview 01:26:37 Wild Live TV Moment to Close the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yet another massive taxpayer fraud, this time in California. Why does the media seem more focused on narratives than the billions being stolen from taxpayers? Guests: Chevron CEO Mike Wirth on that state of American energy + AFP's Brent Gardner discusses the on-going Democrat shutdown of DHS. The fellas — Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook jump straight into the chaos. From shocking Medicare hospice fraud (89 HOSPICE COMPANIES REGISTERED IN ONE BUILDING?!) to Democrats shutting down the Department of Homeland Security during heightened global tensions, the episode asks a simple question: what the hell is actually going on in Washington? The fellas break down the latest political insanity, media spin, and policy failures — while also bringing in real experts who actually know what they’re talking about. In this episode… • Massive hospice fraud uncovered in California • Democrats blocking DHS funding during global tensions • Media narratives around terrorism and political violence • The economic and national security stakes of American energy Special Guest: Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron • Global energy markets and the Iran conflict ⛽🌍 • The Strait of Hormuz and why energy security matters • AI, data centers, and the coming explosion in power demand ⚡🤖 • Why skilled trades and energy jobs are the future of the U.S. workforce Special Guest: Brent Gardner, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) • Why Democrats are blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security 🇺🇸 • The national security risks of shutting down DHS during global tensions • How grassroots pressure is being used to force Congress to reopen funding • The push toward America’s 250th anniversary and the “One Small Step” campaign celebrating American ideals Plus: The fellas break down media coverage of a terror scare in New York and play a new round of the legendary King of the Hill. Question of the Day: What do YOU think about Barack Obama? New episodes Tuesday, Thursday and Friday! Stay Ruthless Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when a guy screams “Allahu Akbar,” throws an explosive at a crowd in New York, and the media still twists itself into knots trying to protect the narrative? Who’s the real target here, and why does the press seem more offended by the protest than the violence? The fellas — Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook — jump straight into the insanity, breaking down the NYC attempted terror attack, the liberal media spin machine, and the misplaced empathy that keeps letting radicalism hide in plain sight. In this episode… The NYC bomb attack and the media’s absurd framing Why the left keeps downplaying Islamic extremism Democrats blocking Homeland Security funding PLUS, THE MEDIA IS REALLY OUT HERE DEFENDING WHO NOW?! And we’ve got Special Guest Todd Blanche — the Deputy Attorney General — joining the fellas for a conversation on what the DOJ is actually doing while the press chases fairy tales. We get into: - The attempted terror attack in New York and how quickly law enforcement moved - Why homeland security actually has to mean something again - The fraud explosion bleeding taxpayers dry - What it’s like going from Trump defense lawyer to the number two guy at DOJ Go to  https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Question of the Day: What’s your best fake lib-journal headline for the New York City terror attack? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices