Ruthless Podcast

🎤 Trump turns the State of the Union into a midterm war map — and Democrats can’t decide whether to sit, shout, or show up in frog costumes. Is this the moment that resets 2026? Or just another viral night in the circus? Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook break down the speech the way the MSM won’t. The optics. The traps. The binary choice moments. And why some Democrats might wish they had just stayed home. In this episode… • The “stand up if you agree” moment that froze the Democrats cold • Why sitting might haunt Democrats in campaign ads • Trump’s closing argument for the midterms • The alternative “State of the Swamp” disaster PLUS, DEMOCRATS ROLL OUT A GIRAFFE AND FROG BRIGADE. YES, REALLY. Then we deliver on a promise. Special Guest: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton 🇺🇸 • The high-stakes Texas Senate primary showdown • Runoff math and what happens if no one hits 50% 🗳️ • How he answers the impeachment and personal attacks • Why Texas could shape the national Senate map We also sit down with Jessica Anderson of Sentinel Action Fund 📊 • Can Republicans break the midterm curse? • The economic message that actually moves voters • How to keep the Trump coalition engaged And we unveil something big: RuthlessPodcast.com/Map — click your state, watch the candidates, decide for yourself. No filter. No spin. Just the fellas asking the questions. Question of the Day: Did this State of the Union change the midterm trajectory — or not? Drop your take in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fun Time Friday. Follow Ruthless on social for clips all week. Comment, share, and send this to the group chat. 00:02:30 State of the Union sets the 2026 midterm battlefield 00:05:52 Congress stock trading crackdown and the political optics 00:08:24 Minnesota fraud scandal and the immigration culture clash debate 00:13:15 The stand-or-sit moment that becomes campaign ammo 00:16:52 Why the “they’re crazy” line lands with voters 00:20:22 New interactive map to vet candidates by state 00:27:44 Democrats’ disruptions and the sanctuary cities flashpoint 00:31:59 The alternative SOTU meltdown and why it backfires 00:36:59 Democrats mock American heroes and the backlash case 00:40:04 Trump’s “golden age” pitch and the midterm contrast strategy 00:48:59 Question of the Day: Does this SOTU move votes? 00:50:21 Listener responses on Democrats’ biggest midterm liability 00:52:20 Interview: Texas AG Ken Paxton on the Texas Senate primary 01:18:55 Post-interview: Can Paxton clear 50% or trigger a runoff? 01:21:19 King of the Hill: Bill Kristol vs. Joe Walsh meltdown tournament 01:32:49 Interview: Jessica Anderson on winning the midterms with data 01:49:36 Strategy debrief and why the map could change primaries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Team USA delivers gold — and the Democrats deliver… whatever this is. The fellas break down Gavin Newsom’s bizarre “I’m just like you” pitch, Gretchen Whitmer freezing on Ukraine, and Andy Beshear wrapping progressive policy in Sunday-morning language. Then it gets worse: Democrats quietly admit their 2024 problem in a locked-up autopsy they don’t want you reading. Also in this episode: • The Texas Democrat primary FCC “equal time” twist no one in media wants to talk about • Trump’s greatest stand-up hits (yes, we play them)• Canada coping after hockey heartbreak • A runaway hog with maximum confidence Then — Featured Interview: Stephen Moore 📈💰 • What’s really driving inflation right now • The outlook heading into the State of the Union • Tax policy, spending fights, and the midterm stakes • Why energy policy and deregulation matter more than headlines • How voters should actually think about growth, wages, and the economyA straight-up economic breakdown from one of the architects behind major tax reform — no spin, just the numbers and what they mean going forward. Sports pride. Political malpractice. Variety the way it’s supposed to be. Question of the Day: What’s the Democrats’ biggest liability right now? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fun Time Friday. Like. Comment. Share. Stay ruthless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York just dropped a $127 BILLION budget — and somehow you’re still not getting what you paid for. Where’s the money going? And how long before this model spreads to every blue state in America? The fellas — Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook — dive headfirst into the insanity. New York’s Mamdani budget math doesn’t add up. $50 billion for schools. Massive spending hikes. “Tax the rich” — except it never stops there. Is this the future Democrats want nationwide? IN THIS EPISODE… • The jaw-dropping NYC budget breakdown • Why raising taxes never fixes the problem • Eric Swalwell’s resurfaced poetry • Trump’s stand-up moments at the Board of Peace PLUS, A LIBERAL PARENTING GROUP CHAT TURNS INTO A WAR ZONE. Yes. A DC mom group melts down over Israel, Gaza, and “comrades.” You truly can’t make this up. Then — Featured Interview: Todd Ricketts 🇺🇸⚾ • Cubs season outlook • The MLB salary cap fight • Bears stadium drama • Launching the new “Free Spoke” search engine Serious policy. Cultural absurdity. Sports. Politics. All in one. Question of the Day: What’s your favorite Trump stand-up moment — and why? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fun Time Friday. Like. Comment. Share. Stay ruthless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colbert says he was “silenced.” Reality: CBS lawyers reminded him the FCC equal-time rule exists — and he didn’t want to give the other Democrat equal airtime. So instead of booking other candidates, he kicked the interview online and cried censorship. This wasn’t Trump. It wasn’t the FCC storming the studio. It was a late-night host trying to tilt a primary on broadcast TV — and getting boxed in by the rulebook. Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook break down the spin, the fundraising play, and the Democrat-media machine that treats late night like a campaign arm. In this episode:• The Equal Time rule Colbert pretends doesn’t apply• Why CBS lawyers stepped in• How a “banned interview” turns into a multi-million dollar outrage haul• The real reason Jasmine Crockett didn’t get the same invite PLUS — we actually believe in equal time. Featured Interview: Coach Dooley, candidate for U.S. Senate in Georgia 🇺🇸• Why he’s running• What makes this Georgia race critical• How Republican primaries are shaping up nationwide• What voters in Georgia are really focused on. Then it’s King of the Hill chaos — Bill Kristol vs. Steve Schmidt — because no episode is complete without a little courtroom carnage. Question of the Day: Should CBS pull Colbert off air for turning his show into a Democrat campaign shop? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fun Time Friday. Like. Comment. Share. Stay ruthless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AOC hits the Munich Security Conference and faceplants on foreign policy—so why is the media acting like it was a breakout moment? Is this the Democrats’ next presidential contender… or a kingmaker they’re trying to polish in real time? The fellas break down the Taiwan dodge, the Venezuela spin, the “global south” rhetoric, and the press running cover like it’s their full-time job. Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook connect the dots—and then pivot to the chaos back home. In this episode… AOC’s Munich meltdown and the 2028 implications Rubio’s contrast and the Western values fight Democrats shutting down DHS—who owns it? The media’s “just a few stumbles” spin cycle PLUS, OBAMA SAYS ALIENS ARE REAL… AND NOBODY FOLLOWS UP?! Special Guest: Congressman Andy Barr 🇺🇸 Why he’s running for Senate How he plans to win a tough GOP primary 🗳️ What Kentucky voters are actually talking about Why this race matters nationally Question of the Day: Can AOC actually win the White House? Why or why not? Drop it in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fun Time Friday. Follow Ruthless on social for clips all week. And jump in the comments—we read them. #RuthlessPodcast #Ruthless #AOC #Munich #Politics #ForeignPolicy #MarcoRubio #DHS #ICE #AndyBarr #Kentucky #SenateRace #PoliticalPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Minnesota Mayhem, Irish Heat, and Kentucky Senate Showdown | Ruthless Podcast Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook kick off another Fun Time Friday with the Ruthless Podcast crew tackling the week's most unbelievable stories. This episode features incredible congressional testimony that has to be heard to be believed, some well-deserved heat thrown at Minnesota's left-wing imports, and the Irish finally getting their turn in the hot seat. 🎙️ What's in This Episode: Unbelievable congressional testimony from Thursday that we couldn't ignore Why every horror seems to come from Minnesota (sorry, Josh) The Irish take some heat - it's not just the Italians anymore Serious topics delivered with the signature Ruthless sense of humor FEATURED INTERVIEW: Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron joins us to discuss his 2025 Senate primary campaign. Cameron breaks down his vision for Kentucky, explains his approach to the competitive three-way Republican primary race against Andy Barr and others, and shares why he's focused on kitchen table issues like groceries, gas prices, and summer leagues instead of political drama. Get an inside look at one of the most closely watched Senate primaries in the country. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ruthless 💬 Drop a five star review 👍 Like if you enjoyed this Fun Time Friday episode Question of the Day: What’s the most obvious fake-news immigration story you’ve seen in the last year? Drop it in the comments—local stories welcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fellas discuss one of the biggest political stories flying under the radar: a State Department report identifying far-left activist groups as potential vectors of Chinese influence operation. That’s not just politics — that’s national security. Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook break down: • The State Department naming Code Pink and The People’s Forum in a report to Congress • How foreign influence exploits U.S. nonprofit networks • Why Minnesota protests and ICE clashes don’t look organic • The money trail behind radical “riot-on-demand” activism • Ways & Means Chairman Jason Smith launching investigations into foreign-backed nonprofits Then it’s media malpractice time. Axios had to delete a headline after reporting that crime plunged in major cities “despite” Trump’s crackdown. The fellas unpack what that framing says about the press — and why enforcing laws suddenly became controversial. Plus: • A liberal columnist admits broken windows policing might actually work • The SAVE Act panic — and why requiring ID to vote is suddenly “controversial” • Somalia requiring voter ID before Democrats can agree on it And it’s primary season. Senator John Cornyn joins the program to discuss: • His reelection fight in Texas • Border security and ICE enforcement • Texas securing $11 billion in federal reimbursement • Performance politics vs actual legislating • The stakes of a contentious Republican primary Texas voters have a big decision ahead — and the outcome could impact Senate races nationwide. Question of the Day: What’s the most obvious “revelation” a liberal has had during the Trump era? Drop your answer in the comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fellas tackle the Olympics controversy head-on as US athletes seem more interested in trashing America than representing it. What happened to patriotism in elite sports and why is anti-American sentiment getting rewarded instead of condemned. Plus, Congressman Pete Stauber joins to share his unique perspective on the US Olympic hockey team, Minnesota's political transformation, and his family's Olympic legacy. The fells also discuss the train wreck Super Bowl halftime show, was it the worst halftime shows of all time? Ruthless delivers sharp political commentary with humor, insight, and unapologetic conservative values. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe now and stay ruthless! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Ruthless Variety Program, hosts Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook dissect Kamala Harris's awkward campaign relaunch and what it means for a bankrupt Democratic Party. From her Gen Alpha "skibidi" vibes to failed youth appeals, we break it all down with zero holds barred. Then, tune in for an exclusive interview with RNC Chairman Joe Gruters on crushing fundraising records, election integrity lawsuits, midterm battle plans, and a potential game-changing "Trumpapalooza" convention to defy history and secure Republican majorities. Key topics: Kamala's rebrand flop, Democratic desperation, health insurance greed, media meltdowns, Supreme Court wins, grassroots strategies, and holding the House & Senate in 2026. Perfect for fans of sharp political satire and insider GOP insights. Subscribe now for weekly episodes packed with laughs and analysis! #RuthlessPodcast #KamalaHarris #RNCMidterms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We open by laying out what actually just happened with the SAVE Act and why it matters right now. The bill clears the House, heads toward the Senate, then gets stripped out during a government funding move. We walk through the numbers, the polling, and the quiet shift from open opposition to procedural delay. We also get into why voter ID keeps pulling strong public support while Democratic leadership keeps finding reasons to slow-walk it. From there, we get into the arguments we keep hearing and why they don’t hold up under scrutiny. We talk through the bipartisan Carter–Baker commission findings, the Real ID framework, and the data showing how few registered voters lack identification. We also address the push to blame online narratives and personal attacks instead of dealing with the policy itself, including outside agitators trying to redirect frustration away from Senate leadership decisions. After that, we move fast. The lightning round hits a law firm offering to evict Billie Eilish from a Los Angeles mansion on behalf of a native tribe and the plan to reinstall a Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds. King of the Hill returns with a fresh matchup, Florida enters the taco business with cold-stunned iguanas, and we sit down with Byron Donalds for a wide-ranging conversation on ICE, immigration enforcement, and the Florida governor’s race. We close by asking what it will really take to get elected Democrats to stop dodging voter ID and deal with it head-on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The left has become insufferable theater kids 🎭 — staging Iwo Jima reenactments with the wrong flag 🇸🇴, blocking Minneapolis streets with shipping crates 🛑, and screaming “no one is illegal on stolen land” while living securely mansions 🏰. Josh, Smug, and Duncan and Ashbrook break down the performative outrage 😤, the foreign money behind it 💰, the recycled San Francisco protests 🔄, and why social media + cash incentives have turned activism into cringe cosplay 📱🤡 Plus: NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson joins for a deep dive on the 2026 midterms 🗳️ — record fundraising 💰, prime pickup opportunities 🗺️, Democrat civil war 🤯, redistricting battles ⚔️, and why turning out Trump voters is everything 🇺🇸 Also in this episode: Australian strip club chair fights 🪑🥊, the immortal name “Dick Bigger Jr.” 😂, cold-stunned Florida iguanas 🦎❄️, and more unhinged variety 🔥 Keep the faith , hold the line, and own the libs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We’re live in Philadelphia to kick off America 250, and we’re coming in hot: big crowd, big venue, and a full night built around pride in the country and what it still makes possible. We talk about why celebrating the 250th isn’t just a party—it’s a push to re-learn what holds this place together. Then we bring out the NFL’s own Jaws, Ron Jaworski, and the conversation lands on values, work ethic, leadership, and what it takes to win when the stakes are real—on the field, at work, and at home. 🇺🇸 From there, we sit down with the people turning “one small step” into action across communities. We get into why this moment matters, how grassroots pressure actually moves decision-makers, and why civic confidence is slipping for too many people. We also talk through why Philadelphia’s history—Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Constitution Center—hits different when you stand in the middle of it.️ 🐘 Then the fellas bring the games. We play Dem or Journo and Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity joins us to talk service, manufacturing, watching taxpayer dollars, unclaimed property wins, and what it looks like to run a massive office like a serious operation. 💥 Finally, Guy Benson steps in with a sharp take on immigration, federal enforcement, and the outrage of taxpayer fraud—then we cap the night with Hard Pivot, a game where Guy shines as bright as they come. 00:00 - America 250 kicks off live in Philadelphia 06:23 - Ron Jaworski joins the progrum 09:45 - Leadership and the American dream mindset 15:08 - Dick Vermeil, team culture, and paying the price 29:35 - America 250 toolkit and celebrating all year 33:06 - AFP leaders on “one small step” and civic action 38:34 - Libre Initiative and Hispanic outreach 42:33 - Concerned Veterans of America and veteran voices 49:00 - Demerge Snow: wild quotes about American history 1:03:21 - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity on service and stewardship 1:15:21 - Guy Benson on immigration, enforcement, and fraud outrage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ The fellas sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a wide-ranging conversation that hits policy, politics, and the pure theater of the moment. We talk through what Trump Accounts are built to do—seed money, compounding, and a real push toward financial literacy—plus how the private sector and states may stack on top of it. We also get into the broader economic pitch: growth, inflation, deficits, and why Bessent thinks the private sector is about to do the heavy lifting. 💰 Then we sprint to catch up with Senator Ted Cruz after President Trump riffs—very publicly—about Cruz as a possible Supreme Court pick. Cruz gives us a definitive answer, explains why he doesn’t want the robe, and lays out how he sees his role in the middle of policy fights instead. We also get the behind-the-scenes origin story of Trump Accounts—from a late-night Vegas poker table to drafting the provision that ends up in the bill.️ 👑 After the interviews, we talk through what we heard, what it signals for the midterm conversation the fellas are building toward, and we get into listener comments on early Senate predictions. We close it out with our Thursday staple, King of the Hill, where Cheri Jacobus takes on champion Steve Schmidt. 00:00 — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent 03:16 — What Trump Accounts are and why the media isn’t covering it 09:18 — Smug’s big announcement 10:34 — Markets, compounding, and why this is meant to change behavior 14:22 — Davos: what happened with Gavin Newsom 23:32 — Fraud, NGOs, and “benefits turned into business” 31:19 — What “too small to succeed” means 33:32 — Smug’s baby news 44:15 — Trump’s Cruz riff: Supreme Court chatter goes public 45:35 — Ted Cruz on possible SCOTUS nom 59:18 — King of the Hill Subscribe for more unfiltered conservative commentary, interviews with top leaders, and laughs! Hit that like button if you're ready for America's comeback. #RuthlessPodcast #ScottBessent #TedCruz #TrumpAccounts #EconomicBoom #SupremeCourt #maga Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢Tell Congress year-round E15 is long overdue. https://fieldsoffreedomalliance.com/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fellas are laying the whole Senate map on the table and getting real about what’s actually at stake for the next two years. We get into why holding the Senate matters so much for a Trump administration, from confirmations to the very real threat of impeachment politics coming roaring back if Democrats get the chance. Then we start walking state by state through the early battlefield, where the money is going to flood in, where the margins are going to be brutal, and where Republicans can realistically grow the majority. We start with North Carolina, because the fellas think it’s shaping up to be one of the most expensive races in American history—potentially a $600 million monster. We talk through the matchup dynamics, why the Democrat name ID advantage is real early, and why the race changes once the spending begins. Then we jump to Georgia, where Ossoff’s entire plan looks like it hinges on Republicans not showing up in the rural areas in a midterm—so the primary becomes its own test of who can actually build the kind of turnout operation it takes to win.️ From there, we hit the rest of the map: Susan Collins once again fighting upstream in Maine while Democrats try to sort out their own mess, Michigan opening up with Democrats in a fractured primary and Republicans feeling like they’ve got a real shot, and the Texas situation that could turn into a full-blown runoff slugfest with massive consequences. We also get into Alaska’s quirks and why polling there is always a mess, Ohio’s matchup potential, Iowa’s open seat and why candidate quality matters, and the Louisiana calendar that’s set up to produce a low-turnout sprint into a runoff. Then we talk with US Attorney Jeanine Pirro about crime in D.C., what changes when prosecutors actually prosecute, how the federal component of her office plays into major cases, and why she’s approaching public safety like it’s the job—not a press strategy.Our Sponsors:➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/➢Melania from Amazon MGM Studios captures the personal moments that come with stepping into the role of the First Lady for a second time - in theaters exclusively on January 30th, 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ No better start to a Friday than the fallout from the church disruption in Minnesota, and for once, we actually get the kind of consequences we hoped for. We talk through the arrests, the perp walks, and the sheer audacity of watching people try to rewrite what happened in Minneapolis. However, there is a continued refusal to bring charges against Don Lemon. We go through what it says about Minnesota’s political rot, what it says about activist media, and why this whole “I’m just reporting” act falls apart when the so-called journalist is obviously part of the operation. 🫏 We saved this for your Friday: Krysten Sinema getting dragged into a divorce filing that reads like a political thriller written by a horny screenwriter. We get into the alleged affair, the weird trips, the gifts, the encrypted messaging, the drugs, and the “this can’t be real” details that somehow keep piling up. It’s messy, it’s ridiculous, and it’s exactly the kind of story that makes you wonder how anyone in Washington functions in public at all.️ 🏠 Then, we sit down with HUD Secretary Scott Turner to discuss housing, homelessness, and disaster recovery. He tells Ashbrook that HUD uncovered $1.9 billion in misplaced funds and moved to return those dollars to the Treasury. Turner also explains why they cut contracts, including $4 million in DEI-related contracts. 00:00 - Crime, punishment, and chaos 04:10 - It’s perp walk season 05:58 - Activist goes on CNN and tries to rewrite the story 10:07 - Another perp walk: “Da Woke Farmer” gets arrested 15:47 - Activists + media collusion 19:44 - Krysten Sinema scandal is totally wild 28:15 - Divorce filing details: affair allegations and power dynamics 37:30 - MDMA, “boring” missionary talk, and peak absurdity 47:33 - Variety with a great pic and taking a whale ride 57:49 - HUD Secretary Scott Turner Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢Tell Washington it's time to end middlemen markups and put American patients first. Visit https://phrma.org/middlemen ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Once again the left has given the American people a bait-and-switch with the promise of “moderate Democrats” in VA and NJ. We walk through how that brand gets sold, why it keeps working in purple places, and what happens the minute governing power shows up. Virginia Governor Spanberberger shows how a “most bipartisan” claim turns into a very different set of priorities once the ink is dry. 🐘 Border Czar Tom Homan explains how the same enforcement tools that were treated as normal for decades are now used as a political weapon. He walks us through how the rhetoric shifted, why “enforce the law” became controversial, and why he thinks so much of the outrage is less about policy and more about denying wins—no matter what it costs in public safety. 🌽 Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins discusses a year of governing and the White House efforts on warp-speed execution. Namely: trade, prices, inputs, exports, and making sure America stays the breadbasket for ourselves and the rest of the world. Then Rollins lays out why the administration wants real food back on plates, why whole milk is returning to schools, and how the old low-fat dogma flipped incentives in the worst direction. 00:00 - Dems reveal their moderates were a bait-and-switch 04:02 - Spanberger drops her moderate face 07:15 - The campaign ad pitch vs the record 15:40 - Mikie Sherrill rhetoric ramps up 20:06 - Eric Swalwell on ICE and law enforcement 25:57 - Border Czar Tom Homan 42:41 - Davos, Greenland talk, and Macron’s sunglasses 51:21 - King of the Hill: Steve Schmidt vs Rick Wilson 59:34 - Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We break down the left’s overt hatred of religion in America - on display Sunday in Minneapolis. More than unhinged, it’s dangerous. Then we get into Don Lemon showing up on the scene and trying to dress the whole thing up as “First Amendment” theater, while the fellas call out what’s really happening: organized chaos with a media camera crew conveniently on-site. We dig into the growing sense that the activist left is operating with zero fear of consequences, and why the DOJ is actually stepping in. ⚡The political hypocrisy tour continues with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirming what everyone already knew: Kamala Harris’s team was obsessively paranoid about Israel and anti-Semitism politics during the VP vetting process. We react to the insane details, including the question that basically asks if Shapiro was some kind of undercover operative, and we connect it back to a broader pattern of the modern Democratic coalition’s hatred of religion.️ 💥 Virginia Democrats are openly gunning for a 10–1 map and Republicans in places like Indiana are refusing to play hardball when it matters in the redistricting fight. We talk through why this stuff is never polite, never clean, and why pretending the other side won’t do it to you has become a political death wish heading into the midterms. ⛷️ Variety with ski jumpers “ehancing” suit measurements, Bears fans painting their nails during a playoff run, and airlines quietly celebrating Ozempic. Come join us with AFP in Philadelphia - get tickets here http://a250philly.com/ruthless 00:00 — The left’s “religious tolerance” problem 06:06 — Consequences, law enforcement, and why this can’t keep sliding 09:04 — Don Lemon shows up and hides behind the First Amendment 18:33 — The organizers post the whole op on Facebook 23:55 — Why Shapiro mattered for the Harris ticket 46:02 — Redistricting fight: Texas, California, Indiana, and Virginia 58:56 — Ski jumping suit scandal goes nuclear 01:06:12 — Bears fans embrace matcha and mannies 01:08:37 — Ozempic saving airlines millions Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢ Tell President Trump and Congress to deliver American greatness and fund fusion. https://www.builtforamerica.us/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ ➢Melania is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look from the perspective of the First Lady. In theaters January 30th, find out more: https://www.amazon.com/salp/melaniamovie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Watching SCOTUS this week, it’s obvious that the left’s entire legal theory collapses once someone asks simple questions. We talk about why this case isn’t just about sports, and why the arguments we’re hearing put far more than one issue at risk. Serious question, though, is Ketanji Brown Jackson the dumbest current justice, or the dumbest justice ever? I bet she doesn’t understand. 👩🏻‍⚖️ Then, we break down why this thinking from left-wing justices collapses under even mild pressure. It also exposes years of sloppy logic, and why watching actual litigators respond to it is both painful and deeply satisfying. This reveals the broader pattern we’ve seen for years: vibes over facts. 🏀 Bruce Pearl joins us for a deep conversation on leadership, college basketball, NIL disorder, and the cost of speaking freely. He explains why accountability matters in sports and politics, reflects on coaching at the highest levels, addresses campus anti-Semitism, and makes the case for courage, clarity, and responsibility in public life. 00:00 - Supreme Court arguments and the definition problem 03:30 - Why laws collapse without clear definitions 06:30 - The Alito moment and unintended consequences 09:18 - Ketanji Brown Jackson‘s “I don’t understand” problem 12:40 - Lawyers dunking on the bench 15:34 - Language games 19:58 - MAGATKO 23:02 - Why the mob never expects pushback 25:16 - Tim Walz audio and unforced errors 35:30 - Dem or Journo returns 45:24 - What the media used to brag about 46:01 - Coach Bruce Pearl joins the Progrum 55:32 - NIL, college sports, and leadership 01:03:09 - Speaking freely and paying the price Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Why does it feel like we’re bouncing from one high-stakes fight to the next without ever forcing the real public debate? Because liberals and the media use this as a tactic. The fellas explain how narratives and process drama help the bigger questions get ignored: like why federal law enforcement is in Minneapolis in the first place, and what elected leaders did to set the whole mess in motion. ⚡️ Then, we get into the sanctuary city pressure campaign and the Feb 1 payment cutoff that Trump has planned. Then, how the loudest voices on the left treat “oppose Trump” as a full personality. How do libs expect that if laws are on the books, that it won’t be enforced? We explain how these fights get reframed into “Gestapo” language, and why that reframing is the point. 👑 It’s Thursday, so we play our signature game: King of the Hill. It’s a truly deranged week featuring Joe Scarborough and champion Steve Schmidt. ️ 🐘 Montana AG Austin Knudsen on how foreign influence and dark money can end up behind pressure campaigns and litigation. He walks us through how funding trails get buried through layers of orgs and intermediaries. Knudsen also explained how climate lawsuits can be used to choke an energy state one permit at a time. Then: China-linked consumer platforms, Second Amendment fights, and what it takes to keep states from getting steamrolled by activist-law tactics. 00:00 - Why the real debate gets dodged 02:02 - Rapid-fire fights and the missing public case 05:33 - Minnesota confrontation narrative shifts 07:06 - Process arguments vs the underlying problem 09:52 - “Gestapo” framing and the sanctuary-state contrast 13:51 - Trump announces Feb 1 sanctuary-city payment cutoff 16:03 - Progressive push to block immigration enforcement funding 18:56 - Lawsuits to block federal enforcement inside states 22:13 - Trump and Eric Adams have deuling f-bombs 25:42 - The media fever dream 31:42 - King of the Hill: Joe Scarborough vs champion Steve Schmidt 37:41 - Montana AG Austin Knudsen joins the Progrum Our Sponsors: ➢The Durbin / Marshall credit Card bill would benefit corporate mega stores. Tell Congress to https://guardyourcard.com/ ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ There is a new internet sickness: AI-generated rage bait dressed up as “real life.” We walk through the fake priest clips, the Italian deli “Basta” performance art, and the comment sections that somehow make the videos look subtle. We explain why this stuff works, who it’s really built for, and how the left treats the internet like an indoctrination machine—because if they can’t find enough real people to sell the outrage, they’ll just manufacture them. 🫏 After that, we shift to the sudden Democratic heel turn on Hamas. We react to the Queens rally chant (“we support Hamas here”), then watch the rapid-fire flood of identical condemnations roll out from the usual suspects. We also get into the broader pattern: how narratives get laundered, how “authoritarian” comparisons get deployed on command, and why the party’s selective outrage always seems to arrive right when it’s politically useful.️ 🐘 West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading the case headed to the Supreme Court on women’s rights. He explains how West Virginia passed a straightforward law in 2021, how the ACLU sued almost immediately, and why this ends up at the Court, even though most Americans think the answer is obvious. We also talk through why states regulating athletics matters and why he thinks this lands as a wide-margin win. 🏒 The greatest hockey game ever played was on a Friday in Hershey, PA. The fella’s review the largest, longest and greatest hockey fight on record… with 6 year olds. Enjoy a great laugh with us to cap off a great episode. 00:00 — Minneapolis liberals scramble to change the subject 09:23 — The rise of liberal AI rage bait 18:26 — Viral propaganda imagery and how it reverses the facts 28:52 — Democrats’ Hamas posture pivot 48:19 — Youth hockey intermission brawl 52:35 — JB McCuskey joins the Progrum Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢ Tell President Trump and Congress to deliver American greatness and fund fusion. https://www.builtforamerica.us/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices