2025 Martini Awards Part 2: Sorry to See You Go, Rising Star, Fading Into Oblivion

Join Jim and Greg as they offer the second installment of their highly coveted 3 Martini Lunch year-end awards. Today they remark on the people connected to politics that they're most sorry to see pass away in 2025. They also share their choices for rising political stars and those who appear to be fading into political oblivionThey begin with those who left us over the past year. They both select what they consider to be the obvious choice: the shocking, public murder of one of the most powerful and persuasive voices on the right and impact he was having on American politics. Greg also highlights a dedicated policy expert who fought the good fight against Obamacare and the passing of his favorite Democrat.Then it's on to a much happier subject as they consider the rising political stars for 2024. Jim selects a pair of figures from a key swing state who could end up facing off against each other in 2026. Greg chooses a freshman senator who already has a strong track for getting things done.Finally, Jim sees one of the most prominent figures from last year already fading into oblivion. Greg's choice goes beyond a single person to an entire nation.There will be a special replay of a favorite 3 Martini Lunch special on Christmas Day.  On Friday, we consider the categories of Biggest Lie, Best Political Theater, & Worst Political Theater for the past year. Merry Christmas and thank you for listening to the 3 Martini Lunch!Please visit our great sponsors:Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use code 3ML at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!Listeners can start a new tradition this December with 10% off at BetterHelp—visit https://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get started.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Today, Jim and Greg begin handing out their prestigious annual 3 Martini Lunch Awards! Starting today and running through New Year’s Day, they’ll unveil their picks in categories ranging from rising star to the best and worst political ideas, plus the stories the media ignored and the ones they couldn’t stop talking about. It all builds toward next week, when Jim and Greg reveal their Person of the Year, Turncoat of the Year, and their political predictions for 2026.In this first installment, Jim and Greg offer their individual selections for Most Overrated Political Figure, Most Underrated Political Figure, and Most Honest Political Figure.In the overrated department, Jim picks a guy who managed to lose two elections this year while acting like he was entitled to the office the entire time. Greg picks a likely 2028 presidential candidate whose record is one of repeated, abysmal failure.When it comes to underrated political figures, Jim and Greg agree on a Trump cabinet member who avoids the spotlight but consistently delivers strong results. Greg also offers an honorable mention to a figure who played a key role in the GOP’s victory in the government shutdown fight, even if there’s still significant room for improvement in other parts of the job.For Most Honest Political Figure, Jim highlights a Democratic lawmaker who openly criticized his party’s incoherent stance during the shutdown and beyond. Greg points to a House member willing to publicly condemn electoral shenanigans committed by a fellow Democrat.Don't miss tomorrow's special edition, when Jim and Greg list the political figures they were sorry to see pass away in 2025. They'll also name their rising stars over the past year and those who seem to be fading into political oblivion.Please visit our great sponsors:Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use code 3ML at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimumpurchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!Listeners can start a new tradition this December with 10% off at BetterHelp—visithttps://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get started.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Monday 3 Martini Lunch as they break down growing tensions on the right following a heated Turning Point USA event, Rep. Elise Stefanik’s abrupt exit from the New York governor’s race, and a Michigan U.S. Senate candidate fantasizing about assaulting U.S. Supreme Court justices.First, they react to Ben Shapiro’s speech on how politics and journalism should be conducted, including his sharp criticism of Tucker Carlson for platforming figures like Nick Fuentes without challenging their views. Carlson then returned verbal fire and accused his critics of trying to divide people. Jim says the right is not well-served by tolerating conspiracy theories and playing footsie with anti-Semitism.Next, they dig into why New York Rep. Elise Stefanik decided to pull the plug on her campaign for governor. They also examine how the year started with President Trump choosing Stefanik to be his ambassador to the United Nations and ended with Trump refusing to endorse her run for governor.Finally, they get a glimpse of another unhinged Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Michigan, as State Senator Mallory McMorrow says she heard Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh attended a tailgate at her alma mater of Notre Dame University. McMorrow suggests she would have thrown beer in their faces. But the rest of the Democrats running are also really bad.Please visit our great sponsors:Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use code 3ML at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!Listeners can start a new tradition this December with 10% off at BetterHelp—visit https://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get started.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Friday 3 Martini Lunch as they break down what we know and still don’t know about the Brown University and MIT shooter found dead on Thursday. They also applaud a Wisconsin jury for convicting a judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade ICE and condemn Virginia prosecutors whose decision to release an illegal immigrant on an assault charge led to a murder the very next day.First, they’re relieved the man accused of killing two people and wounding nine others at Brown University, before murdering an MIT professor two days later, has been located. The 48-year-old Portuguese immigrant was found dead in New Hampshire in an apparent suicide. Jim and Greg walk through the confirmed facts, explain that some early theories were not correct, and go over the unanswered questions.Next, they welcome the conviction of Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan on felony obstruction of justice charges for helping an illegal immigrant exit her courtroom in an unusual manner so ICE agents waiting in the courthouse lobby could not detain him. Jim also revisits the outrageous reactions from Democrats and media figures who rushed to defend Dugan following her arrest.Finally, they fume over Fairfax County, Virginia, prosecutors refusing to pursue assault charges against an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with a lengthy criminal record. Authorities also declined to hold him for ICE. The very next day, the suspect murdered his roommate. Jim unloads on both the prosecutor’s office and local law enforcement for a decision with deadly consequences.Please visit our great sponsors:Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls, no missed customers.Give your liver the support it deserves with Dose Daily.  Save 35% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout. Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments and go to https://ZocDoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Thursday 3 Martini Lunch as they break down disastrous polling for Democrats and the DNC’s quiet effort to bury its 2024 election autopsy, President Trump’s move to reclassify marijuana under federal law, and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s plans to leave the bureau after less than a year on the job.First, they have some fun speculating about why Democrats are suddenly backing away from their promise to release a full autopsy of the 2024 elections. Some explanations are obvious, while Jim claims to have “uncovered” a few others. They also look at the the Dems' disastrous approval numbers. But will they still do well in the midterms?Next, they react to President Trump’s decision to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance, allowing expanded research into potential medical benefits. While the change does little to alter marijuana’s overall legality, Jim and Greg vent about the widespread normalization of pot use and the ever-present stench that seems unavoidable in many major cities and beyond.Finally, they discuss the impending resignation of FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino after just over nine months in the role. Greg notes there were signs of Bongino’s frustration with the job months ago, while Jim credits him for taking on difficult cases and reassessing positions he held before joining the bureau.Please visit our great sponsors:Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls, no missed customers.Give your liver the support it deserves with Dose Daily.  Save 35% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout. Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments and go to https://ZocDoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Wednesday 3 Martini Lunch as they unpack Sen. John Fetterman’s clarification on U.S. strikes against Venezuelan drug boats, wince at House Republicans helping Democrats push an Obamacare subsidy extension, and vent over the deeply troubling conduct of police and politicians in the Brown University shooting investigation.First, they respond to Sen. Fetterman’s explanation that U.S. intelligence on the Venezuelan drug boats is clear and comprehensive, with American officials knowing exactly who and what is on board. Jim argues that President Trump’s national security team should declassify as much of this information as possible so the public can hear the facts directly.Next, they groan as four House Republicans sign a discharge petition forcing a vote on the Democrats’ Obamacare subsidy extension bill. If it passes, pressure will immediately shift to Senate Republicans to follow suit. Jim questions what the point of the shutdown fight was if this is the inevitable outcome, while Greg asks why Republicans in competitive districts can’t offer a stronger alternative instead of aligning with Democrats.Finally, they react to the latest, deeply unreassuring statements from officials overseeing the Brown University shooting investigation. Authorities refuse to say what students told them the shooter said before opening fire and are openly scolding reporters for asking questions they don't like.Please visit our great sponsors:Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls, no missed customers.Give your liver the support it deserves with Dose Daily.  Save 35% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout. Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments and go to https://ZocDoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Tuesday 3 Martini Lunch, as they serve up all good martinis and discuss the FBI thwarting a major terrorist plot, another conservative elected president in South America, and growing outrage in Minnesota over massive welfare fraud and Gov. Tim Walz’s handling of the scandal.First, they applaud the FBI for thwarting a chilling plot by the Turtle Island Liberation Front to carry out a coordinated bombing campaign across Los Angeles beginning on New Year’s Eve. Authorities describe the group as pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist. Jim and Greg are grateful for the arrests and are reminded that evil people love to plan horrible things around the holidays.Next, they celebrate the election of conservative Jose Antonio Kast as the next president of Chile. While the media absurdly label him as "far-right," Kast is a conservative Catholic who wants to crack down on crime and secure the border. He's also called a neo-liberal on economics, which means he's for smaller government, free markets, and deregulation. Seems like a leader the U.S. might be able to work with.Finally, they discuss new polling from Minnesota showing deep voter frustration with the state’s sprawling welfare fraud scandal. Nearly 80 percent of residents say it is a major problem or the worst problem facing the state, while just 14 percent believe Gov. Tim Walz has handled it well. Jim questions whether Minnesota Democrats will abandon Walz in 2026 or continue standing by him despite the growing scandal.Please visit our great sponsors:Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls, no missed customers.Give your liver the support it deserves with Dose Daily.  Save 35% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout. Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments and go to https://ZocDoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Monday 3 Martini Lunch as they confront four devastating news stories, including the massacre at a Hanukkah festival in Australia, American service members killed in Syria, a mass shooting at Brown University, and the shocking murders of actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.First, they lay out the details of the apparent Islamist attack at Bondi Beach in Australia, where at least 15 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah festival crowd. Jim and Greg also hammer Australian political leaders for falling back on predictable left-wing talking points instead of confronting the ideology behind the violence. Next, they dig into the details of the mass shooting at Brown University over the weekend that left at least two people dead and several others seriously wounded. Jim and Greg are also disturbed by the lack of apparent leads in the case while authorities keep insisting there's no further danger to the community.Finally, they react to the brutal murders of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, at their home near Los Angeles. Police and politicians are also struggling to stay on the same page in this case. Despite Reiner's very public left-wing politics, right-leaning social media has been very respectful in response to this horrific news, with one notable exception.Please visit our great sponsors:Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use code 3ML at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls, no missed customers.Give your liver the support it deserves with Dose Daily.  Save 35% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout. New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Friday 3 Martini Lunch, as they serve up three lousy but important martinis. They chronicle how lots of your tax dollars are being used to help the Taliban and its allies, Indiana Republicans refusing to change the congressional map, and Marjorie Taylor Greene trying to cause as much chaos as possible on her way out of Washington.First, they explain how many millions of our tax dollars are spent every day to help needy women and children in Afghanistan through the United Nations. But there's a problem: The Taliban controls how the money is spent. So their allies get lots of help while everyone else gets the shaft.Next, they react to the Republican-controlled Indiana State Senate rejecting a new congressional map that might have given the GOP a chance to win all nine House seats in the Hoosier state.Finally, they shake their heads as Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene reportedly wants to boot House Speaker Mike Johnson before she exits Congress in January.Please visit our great sponsors:Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com, use code 3ML for 50% off sitewide + $35 off during the Sizzle All the Way Sale.Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls and no missed customers.Get up to half off plants and more for your yard. Plus, save 15% on your next purchase with code MARTINI at https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com Hurry, offer valid for a limited time; terms apply.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite

Join Jim and Greg for the Thursday 3 Martini Lunch as they tackle Erika Kirk’s fierce pushback against conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s murder, President Trump’s plan to block states from regulating artificial intelligence, and why so many people seem horrified by large families.First, they applaud Erika Kirk for publicly condemning Candace Owens and others promoting baseless claims that Charlie Kirk’s murder was an inside job at Turning Point USA. Although not mentioning Owens or anyone else by name, Kirk denounced the accusations as dangerous, unhealthy, and driven by a “mind virus.” Jim says she shouldn’t have to defend her family from such nonsense but he appreciates her speaking out.Next, they shake their heads as President Trump prepares an executive order barring states from regulating artificial intelligence. Trump argues the U.S. needs a single national standard, not fifty, when it comes to AI. Jim points out that an executive order cannot stop state legislation. A congressional statute could do that but Congress hasn't even begun to address AI. Both Jim and Greg say protecting personal liberty should take priority over staying ahead in the AI race.Finally, they discuss the case of Philip Rivers, the longtime NFL quarterback who signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad nearly five years after retiring. The news has also revived widespread social media mockery of Rivers because he has ten children. Why are so many people angry or uncomfortable with the idea of large families?Please visit our great sponsors:Listeners can start a new tradition this December with 10% off at BetterHelp—visit https://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get started.Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls and no missed customers.Get up to half off plants and more for your yard. Plus, save 15% on your next purchase with code MARTINI at https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com Hurry, offer valid for a limited time; terms apply.New episodes every weekday. 👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:FacebookInstagramYoutubeWebsite