Ruthless Podcast

Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook
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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. 4 HR AGO

    Why Nobody Stopped Iran Until Now w/ Sen. Sheehy + Sen. Husted On The Ohio Senate Race

    What happens when a sitting U.S. Senator, who’s also a former Navy SEAL, walks in and breaks down the Iran conflict with the kind of clarity you only get from someone who’s lived the GWOT? Everybody’s got a take on Iran. Almost nobody can explain it like this. The fellas — Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook — listen to Senator Tim Sheehy to lay it out: why this moment feels like the culmination of a fight that’s been running for decades, why the “we’re starting a war” framing doesn’t match reality, and why the potential domestic ripple effects are concerning. In this episode… Sheehy’s Iran breakdown: proxies, deterrence, “finish the job” logic. PLUS, DHS funding fight and what’s at stake when the basics get politicized.Variety chaos: the kind of headline that makes you rewind to make sure you heard it right. The show swings to Ohio: the fellas sit down with Senator Jon Husted — a legit football guy with a national championship story — to talk the Ohio Senate race, how he pitches “grow the pie” economics, and why career and technical education is the part of the jobs debate that actually touches real families. Then we hit the rest of the mix: quick hits, clips, and the kind of cultural weirdness that only lands in this feed. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next drop, follow us on social for the clipped moments, and hit the comments hard — we’re stealing the funniest and the sharpest for the next round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 22m

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Is This The End For Iran? + NASA's Jared Isaacman

    War in Iran continues — and the fellas are not holding back. Does Iran have a Navy or just expensive toys? And why do Democrats suddenly sound like they don’t know what they believe? Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook jump straight into the politics of war. The fellas break down what the Iran operation signals about American power, why the isolationist panic might be missing the point, and how the left keeps getting the messaging wrong. From Chuck Schumer confusion to House Democrat word salads, it’s a masterclass in political incoherence. Then it’s off to Texas — where John Cornyn shocks the field, Ken Paxton gears up for a runoff, and Jasmine Crockett flames out in spectacular fashion. What does it mean for 2026? Who’s up? Who’s cooked? Special Guest: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman 🚀 • Trump’s mission to return to the Moon 🌕 • Beating China in the new space race • Building a permanent moon base • The future of Mars and American dominance in orbit This one covers everything — war, primaries, media meltdowns, and literal space exploration. Question of the Day: What’s Jasmine Crockett’s next move? Cable news contract? Podcast? TikTok prophet? Drop your funniest prediction in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Follow us on social for clips and behind-the-scenes. Comment, like, share — and stay ruthless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 33m

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    What Comes Next In Iran? w/ Sen. Kennedy

    Trump green-lights the strike on Iran—and Washington instantly splits into two camps: strength vs. “what did you just start?” So what’s the real play here… and do you trust Trump’s plan, or are we walking into the world’s messiest endgame? The fellas—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook—jump in fast, cutting through the spin and asking the questions everyone’s thinking but nobody on cable will touch. In this episode… Trump’s Iran strike and the nuclear clock Why China and Russia stay weirdly quiet DHS shutdown chaos vs. “big boy stuff” reality A palate-cleanser that somehow gets even more unhinged Special Guests: Senator John Kennedy + Brian Hook 🇺🇸 Kennedy on why Trump owns the moment—and why Capitol Hill can’t stop making it political 🧠 Hook on the 1979 origin story, proxies, missiles, and why “negotiations” so often turn into a time-buying trap 🎯 What “success” looks like when you’re trying to stop a nuclear breakout—not win a news cycle 🌍 The regional chessboard: allies, Abraham Accords math, and what comes after the ayatollah Question of the Day: Do you trust Trump’s plan for Iran—or do you think this spirals? Drop your take and tell us what people in your group chat are saying. Hit subscribe right now so you don’t miss the next drop, follow the show on your socials for clips, and comment like you mean it—because we’re reading them and bringing the best ones into the next episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 27m

  4. 27 FEB

    What Democrats Keep Getting Wrong w/ Michael Knowles

    When Michael Knowles joins the fellas, the gloves come off. The culture war isn’t slowing down — it’s exposing who’s ready for the moment and who isn’t. Why do Democrats keep misreading the country? Why do they double down on the exact messaging that turns voters away? And is the cultural fight now more decisive than any policy debate? Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook kick off with Michael Knowles and dig into what’s really driving the political realignment. In this episode… • Why the culture war is remains a battlefield heading into 2026 • What Democrats keep getting wrong about voters • How elite institutions overplay their hand every time • The messaging mistakes Republicans still need to fix PLUS, A STATE OF THE UNION HARD PIVOT THAT DESERVES ITS OWN AWARD. Special Guest: Michael Knowles 🎙️ • The deeper cultural divide shaping national politics • Why Democrats can’t stop misreading middle America • Faith, identity, and populism in the modern Right • Where the movement goes from here Special Guest: Congressman Wesley Hunt 🇺🇸 • His closing argument in the Texas Senate primary 🗳️ • Youth, energy, and the next generation of GOP leadership • Why Texas could reshape the national Senate map Special Guests: Nick Shirley and David Hoch 🎥 • The fraud investigations forcing DC to pay attention • How independent journalism is driving accountability • What happens when grassroots reporting outpaces legacy media And we roll out ruthlesspodcast.com/map — click your state, watch every candidate interview, and decide for yourself. No spin. No filters. Just the fellas asking the questions. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fun Time Friday. Follow Ruthless on social for clips all week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 41m

  5. 26 FEB

    What Does The SOTU Mean For The Midterms?

    🎤 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

    1h 57m

  6. 24 FEB

    Democrats’ 2028 Problem

    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

    1h 26m

  7. 20 FEB

    Mugged By Reality: Mamdani Is Already In Trouble + Todd Ricketts Joins The Progrum

    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

    1h 39m

  8. 19 FEB

    The Truth About The Colbert Hoax + Coach Derek Dooley Joins The Progrum

    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

    1h 38m
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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
    650
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Bobcat Media LLC.
  • Show Website
    Ruthless Podcast

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