Ruthless Podcast Episode Summary
Title: Another Bad Week for Democrats & Left-wing Violence Is On The Rise
Release Date: July 11, 2025

1. Introduction: Setting the Stage

In this episode of the Ruthless Podcast, hosts Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan (Comfortably Smug), and John Ashbrook delve into the escalating tensions within the Democratic Party and the surge in left-wing violence across the United States. Balancing serious discourse with moments of levity, the hosts aim to provide listeners with a comprehensive analysis of the current political climate.

2. Democratic Strategies Against Trump

Key Discussion Points:

• Ad Campaigns Targeting Trump: Michael Duncan highlights how Democrats have intensified their advertising efforts against former President Donald Trump, employing harsh labels such as "fascist" and "Hitler."

  Notable Quote:
  Michael Duncan (00:00): “The Democrats are pulling all ads against Trump. Stop calling him a fascist. Stop calling him Hitler.”

• Influence of the "Hamas Caucus": Josh Holmes introduces the controversial notion of a "Hamas caucus" within the Democratic Party, suggesting it influences key decisions, including vice-presidential candidate selections.

  Notable Quote:
  Josh Holmes (00:22): “They have the Hamas caucus literally living in the base of their party.”

• Impact on Democratic Leadership: The discussion touches upon Josh Shapiro's high approval rating in a pivotal swing state and the internal conflicts arising from attempts to balance party loyalty with broader electoral strategies.

  Notable Quote:
  Josh Holmes (00:24): “They chose a vice president, presidential candidate exclusively because he wouldn't offend the Hamas caucus within the Democratic Party.”

3. Mocking Democratic Rhetoric

Key Discussion Points:

• Washington Post's Coverage: The hosts critique a Washington Post article titled "Donald Trump is not a Clown," penned by an actual clown affiliated with "Clowns Without Borders." They ridicule the earnestness and perceived absurdity of the piece.

  Notable Quote:
  John Ashbrook (04:23): “It feels like we're opening up the term, first term time capsule to some of this content. But no, it's here today. Washington Post is sending in the clowns.”

• Clowns Without Borders Satire: The conversation mocks the organization's serious approach to defining clowns and their historical significance, juxtaposing it with the absurdity of applying such a definition to political figures.

  Notable Quote:
  Michael Duncan (06:45): “He goes on to write clown, and I guess you don't write clowning or clowns. It's just the word clown.”

4. Rise of Left-wing Violence

Key Discussion Points:

• Assassination Attempts and Violence: The hosts discuss a series of violent incidents targeting ICE agents and other officials, attributing the rise in aggression to unrestrained left-wing activism and lack of accountability within the Democratic leadership.

  Notable Quote:
  Josh Holmes (26:00): “Assaults on immigration enforcement officers are up almost 700% when compared to the same time last year.”

• Lack of Denouncement from Democrats: A significant portion of the episode focuses on the absence of strong condemnation from Democratic leaders regarding these violent acts, contrasting it with the expected accountability following such events.

  Notable Quote:
  John Ashbrook (36:14): “They can't denounce globalize the Intifada. Right. They can't do that because those are their voters.”

• Impact on Law Enforcement and Public Safety: The discussion highlights how Democratic policies have undermined respect for law and order, leading to real threats against federal agents and creating an environment where violence is more likely to escalate.

  Notable Quote:
  Josh Holmes (35:36): “It's a total lack of respect for law and order one way or another, and they're not saying a fucking thing about it.”

5. Fun Time Friday: Viral Golf Fight

Key Discussion Points:

• Viral Video Clip: Transitioning from serious topics, the hosts introduce "Fun Time Friday," featuring a humorous video of a golf fight where one participant is repeatedly thrown into a lake by his opponent.

  Notable Quote:
  Josh Holmes (55:27): “He's eating it like a Snickers walker’s bar. Every punch goes directly into his mouth.”

• Humorous Commentary: The hosts provide running commentary on the absurdity of the fight, blending physical comedy with witty observations.

  Notable Quote:
  John Ashbrook (57:30): “You're not scaring anybody.”

6. Interview with Kevin Keane, CEO of the American Beverage Association

Key Discussion Points:

• Zero Sugar Initiative: Kevin Keane discusses the American Beverage Association's commitment to producing zero sugar products across various categories, emphasizing innovation and consumer choice.

  Notable Quote:
  Kevin Keane (60:20): “Our companies listen to their consumers and they respond to their consumers. And so consumers want balance, so we've created meaningful choice.”

• Transparency and Innovation: Keane highlights the industry's efforts to enhance transparency through the "Good to Know" initiative, providing detailed information about product ingredients to empower consumer decisions.

  Notable Quote:
  Kevin Keane (61:58): “We've created meaningful choice. These products taste good, too. That's why people are buying them.”

• Alignment with "America First" Policies: The interview underscores how the beverage industry aligns with the administration's "America First" agenda by fostering domestic production, supporting local economies, and creating well-paying jobs.

  Notable Quote:
  Kevin Keane (62:18): “We're delivering on that in ways I just mentioned, you know, the jobs that we produce, the products we make, the workers we employ.”

7. Listener Comments and Engagement

Key Discussion Points:

• Audience Feedback: The hosts engage with comments from listeners, addressing their perspectives on recent political events and the ongoing investigations into figures like James Comey and John Brennan.

  Notable Quote:
  John Ashbrook (50:07): “Nobody deserves it more.”

• Encouraging Interaction: Emphasizing community involvement, the hosts invite listeners to submit their thoughts on stopping left-wing violence, promising to feature selected comments in future episodes.

  Notable Quote:
  Josh Holmes (47:42): “We give them back to you on Tuesday. It's gonna be a big week next week.”

8. Conclusion: Looking Forward

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reiterate the significance of addressing left-wing violence and the importance of accountability within political leadership. They also highlight upcoming segments and encourage continued listener engagement through comments and subscriptions.

Final Notable Quote:
Josh Holmes (76:03): “Stay ruthless.”

Overall Insights and Conclusions

• Escalating Partisanship: The episode underscores a deepening divide within American politics, with Democratic strategies against Trump becoming increasingly aggressive and divisive.

• Rise in Political Violence: There's a pronounced concern about the surge in left-wing violence, particularly against law enforcement, and the perceived failure of Democratic leadership to adequately address or denounce these actions.

• Impact on Democratic Integrity: The discussion suggests that internal party conflicts and external pressures are weakening the Democratic Party's cohesion and public perception.

• Importance of Transparency and Innovation: Through the interview with Kevin Keane, the podcast highlights the value of transparency and consumer-focused innovation as essential elements for industries to maintain relevance and trust.

• Community and Engagement: The hosts emphasize the role of listener interaction in shaping the discourse, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among their audience.

This summary encapsulates the key themes and discussions from the July 11, 2025 episode of the Ruthless Podcast. Listeners are encouraged to tune in for a detailed exploration of these topics and more.