Ruthless Podcast

Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook
  • 4.7 (5.6K)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

A variety progrum. Smug, Holmes, Duncan, and Ashbrook bring next generation conservative talk to the next level with RUTHLESS. There is no shelter for anyone as the fellas provide a lighter analysis of the news (and fake news) of the day.

  1. 15H AGO

    Don't Take the Bait - How Libs Trap Conservatives in Pointless Arguments

    🎙️ 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

    1h 10m

  2. 2D AGO

    New Low: Libs Push Anti-ICE *AI* Propaganda

    🎙️ 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

    1h 19m

  3. 6D AGO

    How the Left Creates Fake Narratives - ICE Shooting

    🎙️ We break down how Democrats, activist groups, and legacy media work together to turn massive government fraud into street unrest and false narratives. We walk through the ICE enforcement at the center of the controversy, the viral clips being deliberately misrepresented online, and the way language like “legal observer” is used to confuse the public and protect bad actors. ⚡ From there, we examine how the media and Democratic politicians rushed to create a parallel narrative. Instead of discussing stolen funds, systemic failures, or enforcement responsibilities, the focus shifted to emotionally charged language, selectively edited clips, and invented roles like “legal observers” meant to recast agitators as victims. The manipulation of language isn’t accidental—it’s designed to short-circuit rational discussion and replace facts with moral panic. 🪨 We close with some variety, like a Disney employee taking one to the face, and for what? To impress adult and overweight Diney Adults? And the Colts are in bad shape. If you need it explained, just watch their owner’s last press conference of the season. 00:00 — Why the left always needs a lie first 03:21 — The pepper spray clip the media lied about 05:35 — Why ICE is actually in Minnesota 08:44 — Criminals protected, enforcement demonized 10:29 — “Hands up, don’t shoot” all over again 12:52 — When protests jump the rails 15:11 — Foreign money and coordinated chaos 19:21 — Minnesota schools, unions, and shutdowns 27:08 — Media blaming YouTube instead of fraud 32:12 — The invented term “legal observer” 36:52 — Democrats openly attacking ICE 40:26 — The SUV lie and the use-of-force reality 43:50 — Why this all traces back to fraud 49:31 — When Democrats admit they want blood 53:36 — The IRS finally shows up 59:27 — How big is the fraud really 01:15:45 — Indiana Jones boulder dominates 01:19:41 — The Colts are a total mess 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/ ➢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

    1h 30m

  4. JAN 8

    Are Democrats Trying to Start a Civil War?

    🎙️ We dig into the Minneapolis ICE shooting video that’s lighting up social media, focusing on what the footage shows: officers identify themselves, a “get out of the car” command, the vehicle surging forward, and shots fired as an officer is put in immediate danger. We talk about how the clips are getting spun into a partisan Rorschach test—and why Minnesota’s leadership jumps straight to blaming the feds instead of dealing with the events that brought federal agents into the state in the first place. ⚡ From there, we connect the flashpoint to the bigger story: massive fraud allegations in Minnesota and the claim that officials looked the other way until it blew up. We react to legislative testimony about whistleblowers facing retaliation and intimidation, and we walkthrough audit findings that allege sloppy oversight and even backdated paperwork meant to cover tracks. Then we hit the Keith Ellison audio that sounds like politics and protection money getting way too close for comfort. 👑 King of the Hill returns with reigning champion Steve Schmidt facing off against congressional candidate George Conway, in a battle of pure derangement.️ 00:00- Minneapolis ICE shooting sets the week on fire 01:55 - Why Minnesota leadership keeps humiliating itself 03:29 - Fraud pipeline through programs and the state looking away 05:44 - Agitators, street pressure, and why the story doesn’t stay local 16:01 - Video angle one 17:19 - Video angle two 19:42 - Walz rhetoric heats up the confrontation 27:05 - House testimony: whistleblowers and intimidation claims 37:48 - Ellison tape revelations 39:32 -Backdated docs and covering tracks 51:30 - Dem counter: “look at white men” instead of the spreadsheet 01:03:09 - King of the Hill: Schmidt vs Conway Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.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

    1h 19m

  5. JAN 6

    Maduro Arrested: What's Next?

    🎙️ We walk through the Maduro capture and why it matters that the U.S. can go in, grab the guy, and get out—clean. We talk through the stakes in the region, the role of adversaries in propping up a failed-state mess, and why the oil angle is less about “needing it” and more about who gets to control it in our own hemisphere. 🫏 Then, the democrats trip over themselves to pretend they never spent years saying Maduro had to go, only to suddenly act shocked that anyone actually did something. We run through the Sunday-show spin, the fake confusion routine, and the weird scramble to frame an obvious win as a scandal. Their only reflex is to oppose whatever Trump does, even when it’s something they demanded yesterday. 🗽Did we miss a memo? Is the New York City mayor a global military commander? Plus, Tim Walz is stepping aside, Klobuchar is hovering, and a fraud fiasco that’s about power more than accountability.️ 📦 We close with a USPS driver in Florida allegedly trying to run down a ten-year-old over a misdelivered package, and a loose monkey in Tennessee that apparently wants to “shop local” by wrecking a music store. 00:00 - Maduro captured: why it matters and why it’s funny 03:47 - The failed state next door 05:35 - Rubio crushes the Sunday shows 07:19 - How the mission works and why defenses don’t matter 08:05 - The oil question and why our adversaries care 12:04 - Iran/Russia/China/Cuba ties and the pipeline logic 15:58 - Tactical details and the message it sends abroad 23:44 - Democrats flip to “illegal” and “unconstitutional” 31:10 - Chris Murphy then and now 39:44 - “Epsteinzuela?” 45:16 - Mamdani was “briefed” is pure comedy 50:53 - Minnesota fraud fallout 56:49 - Electability over accountability 01:05:10 - USPS driver vs. kid’s scooter in Florida 01:10:37 - Tennessee monkey hits the music store Our Sponsors: ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 19m

  6. JAN 2

    Spectacular Media Fails of 2025

    🎙️ We review the year that was 2025, counting down the greatest media failures of last year. To top the list, Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad. A basic pun about “genes” turns into a prime-time lecture about eugenics and white supremacy, and watching a major network try to make that argument out loud is the kind of thing you still can’t believe is real. Then over to CBS, where John Dickerson tries to compare modern immigration enforcement to Irish discrimination and deportation crackdowns in the 1800s. 📺 Other favorites included in our countdown: Jim Acosta interviewing AI, Taylor Lorenz romanticizing Luigi and Jim Cramer dropping a giant F-bomb on live TV. Plus Olivia Nuzzi’s chaos, Bill Belichick’s off-camera relationship, and Anderson Cooper snaps at Chris Sununu. 🐘 We recap our favorite moments from just a few of our best interviews, like, JD Vance, Karoline Leavitt, Senator Kennedy, Majority Leader Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson. Looking forward to a great 2026 on The Progrum! 00:00 — 2025 media fails 01:11 — Sydney Sweeney “great genes” becomes a national freakout 06:09 — CBS Saint Patrick’s Day: Irish deportations vs ICE 11:15 — Jim Acosta interviews an AI recreation of a murdered child 13:05 — Taylor Lorenz praises an alleged assassin as “morally good” 15:44 — CNN and the defense-fund moment 19:26 — Jim Cramer drops an F-bomb 20:30 — Olivia Nuzzi interview spiral and her accountability problem 25:24 — Bill Belichick + Jordan Hudson shuts down a standard question 27:56 — Anderson Cooper snaps at Chris Sununu on-air Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢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

    1h 12m

  7. JAN 1

    Should You Run for Congress? What Do Our Wives Think of the Show? Ruthless Q&A part 2

    🎙️ We start by trading stories about the funniest reactions our wives have had to the Progrum, including the moment it dawned on them that this thing might actually be real. From late-night editing side-eyes to the infamous “so you have groupies now?” Uber ride, the fellas compare notes on how humility is enforced at home, no matter how big the show gets. ⚡ We continue to rip through your questions, like what it actually takes to jump into a House or Senate race, why federal campaigns have zero margin for error, and why real groundwork matters more than ambition. The fellas get blunt about grassroots work, campaign mechanics, consultant traps, and why door knocking teaches you more than any consultant memo ever will. We also tackle questions about journalistic giants, what’s actually changed since the Fox deal, and whether Democrats would ever come on the Progrum to face tough questions. ️ 💥 Then, Andrew Bremberg on health care costs, price transparency, and why throwing more taxpayer money at a broken system keeps failing. Plus, a recap of some of the best moments from our favorite variety segments from 2025. We still love the New Yorker shoot of famous democrats and a drunk SC democrat - enjoy! 00:00 — Funniest reactions to the Progrum from our wives 07:29 — When the in-laws realize it’s a real show 08:20 — Getting involved in politics after Trump 15:05 — Why voters humble everyone 16:27 — GOP realignment and progressive policies on the chopping block 23:21 — Skyline Chili: how to try it 27:34 — Journalistic giants and what real reporting looks like 35:04 — What actually changed after the Fox deal 36:42 — Why Democrats won’t come on the Progrum 39:35 — Andrew Bremberg discusses controlling health care costs 44:18 — Price transparency and why it matters in health care 53:55 — Best of variety: notable New Yorkers exposed 01:12:00 — Best of variety: South Carolina Democrat cop car meltdown Our Sponsors: ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ ➢Want to make a difference in your community? https://takeonesmallstep.org/ Join AFP's grass-roots efforts at https://afpvolunteer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 21m

  8. 12/30/2025

    Minnesota Fraud: It’s Worse Than You Think + Jayme Franklin Joins the Progrum

    🎙️ The fellas should open a daycare—because apparently the easiest money in America is getting paid for childcare that doesn’t exist. Nick Shirley’s goes door-to-door in Minnesota: finding blacked-out windows, locked doors, no kids in sight, and big checks flowing anyway. We talk about how this kind of scheme doesn’t just rip off taxpayers—it also squeezes the real families. It’s embarrassing how local and national press frames this story, why “it’s just a few bad actors” doesn’t cut it, and why the incentives behind keeping this kind of grift alive. 🫏 Then, we recap the best 2025 Democratic faceplants and clips. From Kamala to Warren, Crockett to an unfortunate No Kings congresswoman - we show how messaging gets used as a shield by democrats. 🐘Then, Jayme Franklin joins the Progrum. We talk about her work in building The Conservateur and Sincerely American, what it’s like creating a space for conservative women in media. We also address how friendships—and real-life priorities like marriage, kids, and work—are a bigger part of the story than the usual press narrative. 00:00 — The Fellas Need to Get in on the Grift 02:03 — Nick Shirley’s Doing The Work Media Won’t 07:35 — Who Gets Hurt When Money Disappears 13:57 — Finding “Quality Learing” in MN 18:10 — Investigative Compilation from MN 20:04 — This System is Functioning as It Was Intended 22:07 — The New Tammany Hall 26:45 — Why “a few arrests” won’t fix this 34:11 — The DHS Shrug-fest 35:53 — Wisconsin Governor On Immigrants 37:15 — What Elizabeth Warren‘s Stumble S’ays about the Moment 38:08 — Jasmine Crockett’s Messaging Machine 41:46 — Kamala Doesn’t Pick Pete 46:51 — Jayme Franklin On building The Conservateur 53:05 — Why women’s media is so one-sided Our Sponsors: ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ ➢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 ➢We can create a space where girls can connect and thrive. Get involved today at https://empowerourfuturecoalition.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 11m
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4.7
out of 5
5,585 Ratings

About

A variety progrum. Smug, Holmes, Duncan, and Ashbrook bring next generation conservative talk to the next level with RUTHLESS. There is no shelter for anyone as the fellas provide a lighter analysis of the news (and fake news) of the day.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    628
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Bobcat Media LLC.
  • Show Website
    Ruthless Podcast

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