Ruthless Podcast Episode Summary:
"Another Dem Hoax Unravels + Rep. Steve Scalise Joins the Progrum"
Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook
Special Guest: Rep. Steve Scalise (House Majority Leader)
Overview
This episode of the Ruthless Podcast offers a classic blend of sharp conservative commentary, news analysis, and irreverent humor. The hosts dissect a recent Washington Post story they label as a âDemocratic hoax,â lambast government âboondogglesâ like the USPS electric truck project, and roast media missteps over Morning Joeâs absentee hosts. A major portion is devoted to interviewing Rep. Steve Scalise, who provides exclusive updates on House GOP priorities, including healthcare, higher education NIL reforms, and strategic outlooks heading into the midterms.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The âDemocratic Hoaxâ & Venezuela Drug Boat Story
Main Topic: The Washington Postâs report on a U.S. military operation targeting drug boats from Venezuela.
- The hosts denounce the Washington Post for sensationalizing an incident where SEAL Team 6 engaged foreign drug traffickers.
- They ridicule claims, reported as "blind sourced" in the Post, that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered unlawful strikesâalleging a campaign to paint him as a âwar criminal.â
- Big picture: The hosts argue the vast majority of Americans support such military actions against drug smugglers, seeing them as acts of war. They accuse Beltway insiders of pushing irrelevant legal âtechnicalitiesâ and failing to grasp public sentiment.
- Noted is a lack of confirmation from other major outletsâNYT, WSJ, APâfueling the âhoaxâ framing.
- Key quote (Holmes):
"If youâre intentionally coming into this country, try to harm our people, weâre gonna react to that. I donât know why thatâs a hard concept for people." (04:59)
- Michael Duncanâs recurring theme: the leftâs attempt to âblur black and white issuesâ via âwoke nonsense.â
"Everyone is either a colonizer, a victimâand these are just, you know, these poor, downtrodden cartel members." (05:10)
- Martha Raddatz is cited as an unlikely but credible journalist who helped clarify detailsâaffirming the militaryâs actions were legal (15:00â16:00).
- Ashbrook brings up the broader consequences:
"This also funds a multinational human trafficking operation and organized crime in this country that is destroying communities." (20:49)
2. Media Critique: Morning Joe & MSNBCâs Absenteeism
Segment: Running joke about ânobody watchingâ Morning Joe, noting paid hostsâ constant absences.
- Free Beaconâs reporting: Scarborough and Brzezinski together hosted only 70 of 124 shows in 6 months.
- Willie Geist, regular fill-in, is dubbed âthe real heroââthe butt of workplace comedy.
- Widespread laughter over the âtruancyâ of televisionâs political elite.
- Hosts mock MSNBCâs rebranding to âMS Nowâ and the irrelevance of its programming.
3. USPS Electric Vehicle Boondoggle
Segment: Biting sarcasm about the U.S. Postal Serviceâs failed $3 billion attempt to electrify its fleet.
- Only 612 trucks built (instead of 35,000), costing ~$5 million each.
- Hilarious visual descriptions:
"Dr. Seuss would have [these] driving around Whoville." (32:18)
"Itâs got a five head, not a forehead." (32:08) - Postal Service staff are roasted for customer service and inefficiency, especially around holidays.
- Joni Ernstâs critique and Hunter Biden jokes over contracting are referenced ("Hunter Biden is a major stakeholder in the glass company," 38:29).
4. Listener Q&A: âWhat Criminal Will Democrats Defend Next?â
A running gag: Audience replies range from âDisney Adultsâ to âCharles Manson was misunderstood.â
- Notable, tongue-in-cheek speculation that Dems may eventually defend Jeffrey Epstein.
5. Olivia Nuzzi Book Rollout and Media Ethics
Segment: Extended lampooning of journalist Olivia Nuzziâs attempt at a confessional memoir.
- Nuzziâs interviews (with Tim Miller) are panned as evasive and self-pitying when faced with tough questions about her conduct during a political sex scandal.
- Key quote (Josh Holmes):
"She decided to roll it all back out in her own words and try to sell a book called American Canto, which is this big depiction of all of her experiences." (47:48)
- Nuzzi accused of embodying the âmodern journalistââself-important, lacking integrity or self-awareness.
- Ashbrook quotes the NYTâs negative review:
"Amid the noise around Nuzzi... American Kanto itself drops with a soft, disappointing thud... not a tell-all, not yet a memoir, chapterless and scattershot. I mean, that's being generous." (58:07)
Interview Segment: Steve Scalise (House Majority Leader)
Starts: [63:13]
Topics Covered:
- Holiday Congressional Tempers: Scalise jokes about the necessity of Christmas break, referencing Schumerâs penchant for end-of-year crises.
"He might not like his family; I want to be home with my family during Christmas." (63:42)
- NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Reform in College Athletics:
- Lawless âwild westâ undercuts NCAA governance; bill proposes restoring schoolsâ self-regulation, student protections, and guardrails for agents.
- The bill, supported by all major conferences and US Olympic Committee, is close to passage but faces Dem opposition on making athletes employees.
- Scalise: âPutting structure in NIL⌠is something everybody wants.â (64:59)
- GOP Legislative Accomplishments & 2026 Outlook:
- Retention and expansion of the GOP House majority depends on forward-looking âkitchen tableâ issues (affordability, healthcare, education options).
- Scalise touts Trumpâs âbest salesmanâ status:
"He would call five people an hour before the vote that were on the fence. And all five of them...voted yes." (74:20)
- Healthcare:
- Upcoming "breaking news": Real plans to lower premiums and break Obamacareâs monopoly, increase healthcare choice, price transparency, HSA flexibility.
- âImagine if you said that [Obamacare subsidy] money can now be flexible to go anywhere and everybodyâs going to compete for your business." (81:02)
- Energy and Regulatory Reform:
- Enthusiasm about bipartisan permitting reform to lower construction and energy costs, speed up infrastructure, and counter predatory litigation.
- Redistricting & the Midterms:
- Dismisses redistricting panic; expects a slight GOP net gain due to Dems overreaching and âleaving working people behind.â
- School Choice:
- New federal tax credits for low-income parental choice in education; challenges Dem governors to opt in.
- Scalise: "Low-income parents are going to finally start looking around going, 'Whoa, wait a minute, I voted for that Democrat 18 times. They're now stopping my kid from getting a better education.' Now it's personal." (90:52)
- Overall Tone: Scalise stays relentlessly forward-lookingâwith Holmes praising his resistance to âresting on laurels.â
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
-
Josh Holmes (re: Cartel Engagement):
"If youâre intentionally coming into this country, try to harm our people, weâre gonna react to that. I don't know why that's a hard concept for people." (04:59) -
Michael Duncan (on âwokeâ coverage):
"These poor, downtrodden cartel members... just trying to earn an honest buck. Poisoning Americans." (05:28) -
Martha Raddatz via ABC, validating military operation:
"A JAG officer was also giving legal advice. So again... the two survivors climbed back onto the boat after the initial strike⌠it was determined they were still in the fight and valid targets." (15:18) -
John Ashbrook (on âcartelâ reporting):
"This also funds a multinational human trafficking operation and organized crime... destroying communities." (20:49) -
On Morning Joe absenteeism:
"One out of every three episodes? Joe Scarboroughâs not on that show. Dude, wouldnât you love⌠Iâd love to try to make that argument." (27:07) -
USPS electric truck roast:
"That thing doesnât have a forehead. It is a five head." (32:08)
"It's like something that Dr. Seuss would have driving around Whoville." (32:18) -
Olivia Nuzzi book panning:
"I'm writing... about how I felt privately. About my private reaction, how I felt privately. Right?" (52:08)
(Hosts groan and mock the non-answer.)
"She spent a whole page telling everyone sheâs dumb as hell. And thereâs 300 more of them." (62:32) -
Steve Scalise (on Trump & legislating):
"He is our best salesman, heâs our best closer, because he cares about getting his country back on track." (74:22) -
Scalise (on looming House priorities):
"Itâs not something you see today because it takes effect next year. Letâs wait till those governors have that choice to make. I know where my governor, Jeff Landry, can speak forâwe gonna let those parents have that choice." (90:52)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Dem Drug Boat Hoax segment: 02:12â22:31
- Morning Joe/MSNBC absentee humor: 22:43â28:39
- USPS Electric Vehicle Boondoggle: 30:05â40:05
- Olivia Nuzzi discussion: 46:18â62:37
- Steve Scalise Interview: 63:13â91:58
- Closing thoughts & QOTD: 91:58âEnd
Conclusion & Tone
The episode is signature Ruthless: fast-paced, breezily irreverent, and deeply skeptical of mainstream media, woke ideology, and government waste. Holmes, Smug, Duncan, and Ashbrook banter with inside-joke familiarity while delivering sharp political analysis. Steve Scaliseâs interview injects substanceâhis focus on policy detail and pragmatic optimism shines throughout. Even while skewering political opponents and media figures, the show keeps things lively and engaging, with plenty of zingers for the regulars and newcomers alike.
For further comedic takes, running gags, and the next Q&A, subscribe to the Ruthless Variety Progrumâyou wonât want to miss the inside jokes about Disney Adults, failed EV projects, or the next media meltdown!
