Ruthless Podcast Episode Summary

Title: AOC’s Thanksgiving Scam + ICE Director Todd Lyons

Date: November 25, 2025

Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug (“Smug”), Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook (“John”)

Episode Overview

This episode of Ruthless blends the show’s signature irreverent, combative conservative humor with sharper news analysis and an in-depth interview. The fellas set the scene for Thanksgiving Week—promoting their special holiday episode—before diving into high-profile liberal hypocrisy (with particular focus on AOC’s now-infamous “turkey giveaway” campaign fundraising), the saga of Democrat Eric Swalwell’s awkward gubernatorial campaign launch, and outrageous D.C. media gossip. The main event features ICE Director Todd Lyons, who gives a candid, eye-opening account of the border, deportations, backlog, and the day-to-day realities of immigration enforcement under the current Trump administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Spectacular Promo and Show Spirit

• The team reminisces about their Thanksgiving tradition—their annual “Thanksgiving Spectacular”—emphasizing how its irreverence “put this show into orbit.”
• They frame the episode as a palate cleanser before facing “lib relatives” over the holiday:

  "Listen to this and have a couple of yucks before you go into that lion's den. You won't regret it." (Josh Holmes, 02:36)

• Tone: Unapologetically unserious, fun, overtly anti-liberal.

2. AOC's "Thanksgiving Scam" — Fake Charity, Real Fundraising

Context:

• AOC’s campaign sent out an email soliciting donations for “turkey giveaways,” but the funds actually went to her campaign, not charity (per New York Post reporting).

Panel Reaction & Breakdown:

• Smug: “Unreal.” (04:17)
• Email with turkey emojis and images of AOC handing out turkeys, but donation link goes directly to her ActBlue campaign page.
• Holmes: "It's the Salvation Army. Except you're the army and she's the one who receives the salvation." (04:40)

Notable Criticisms & Quotes:

• John: “If you made a recurring monthly donation off of this page, they're not sending you a turkey every fucking month.” (07:22)
• Josh Holmes: “Most people stuff their turkeys with breadcrumbs. She's giving you the opportunity to stuff hers with cold hard cash.” (06:14)
• Smug: “It's a blue state machine. It atrophies all the talent.” (15:56)
• Liberal campaign fundraising is lambasted as insincere, self-serving, and “part and parcel of the newfound Democratic Party.” (Michael Duncan, 08:58)

Local Commentary:

• City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens): “Socialists like AOC and Mamdani love to promise everything for free, but somehow it always ends up shaking them down, working people under the guise of community goodwill...typical bait and switch.” (08:26)

3. Eric Swalwell's ‘California Campaign’ — DC Address, Mortgage Issues, and Hypocrisy

Situation:

• Eric Swalwell appears to have filmed his California gubernatorial campaign launch video at his Washington, D.C. residence, not in California, raising questions about his connection to the state (New York Post).
• Further allegations about not owning property in California for a decade and constitutional questions about residency requirements.

Panel Skewering:

• John: “California sucks so badly that the people that want to run the place don't even want to live there.” (11:44)
• Smug: “Trump’s got the National Guard out here making sure I don't get robbed or shot. This isn't LA.” (11:58)
• Constitutional rules declared “unenforceable” by the secretary of state; panel ridicules this loophole.
• Michael Duncan: “One guy doesn't even pretend to live there...His only thing is making an ass out of himself online and then, you know, allegedly sleeping with Chinese spies. And then the other one is just an absolute volcano, right?” (15:34)
• Conclusion: The Democratic Party offers voters “just slop, slop, slop.” (Josh Holmes, 15:58)

4. Liberal Elite Gossip: Olivia Nuzzi, Mark Sanford, Ryan Lizza & RFK Jr.

Recap:

• Panel dissects the ongoing, increasingly scandalous media drama swirling around journalist Olivia Nuzzi—including an alleged affair with RFK Jr., a “digital affair,” and even—per Ryan Lizza’s Substack exposé—her writing an imaginary tabloid article about her own relationship with Mark Sanford.

Notable Moments:

• Josh Holmes: “He’s a real poet. Some people might call him Edgar Allan Pogo Stick.” (22:28)
• Smug: “Meanwhile, Lizza’s, like, arranging her high heels. He’s a weird feet dude.” (23:16)
• The “Drink from My Love” poetry exchange is parodied at length, descending into farcical readings and disbelief (23:32–24:13).
• The group admonishes young men to value their sanity:

  “You should never stay with someone who’s fucking crazy.” (Smug, 30:12)

• Cultural pretentiousness in D.C. journos ridiculed ("James Thurber-inspired tattoos," age gaps, and at-home-with-the-dogs rationalizations).
• Josh Holmes: “They’re pretending to be American and yet they live in New York. They are so out of touch. And then normal people are like, what are you even talking about?” (38:54)

Wildest Quote:

• Josh Holmes: “Columbia University is passing out flying in pilot's licenses so that all these journals can do 9/11 on our minds.” (39:22)

5. Listener Mailbag—Nuzzi's Music and Media Mockery

• The hosts play a clip of an old Olivia Nuzzi song and mock her book and writing style.
• Listener album title suggestions: “Living La Vida Viagra for the B Side of Jail Bait,” “Fail Bait,” and “Hitting Below the Beltway.” (45:27–46:25)
• John: “That’s the best writing she’s done.” (44:48)

6. Variety & Sports — Football Lamentations

• Lighter, inside-joke banter about the hosts’ losing teams (Bengals, Colts, Vikings, Eagles) and sports misery.
• Michael Duncan particularly sullen about the Vikings; theme of “dragging my ass in here today.” (48:00)

7. Home Depot "ICE Out" Protest Ridiculed

• Panel displays viral video of activists engaging in an ineffective, confusing “protest” at Home Depot by buying and returning putty knives as "ice scrapers" to protest the presence of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
• Josh Holmes: “These people are insane.” (51:13)
• The group points out these demonstrators don’t even know what an ice scraper is, revealing their unfamiliarity with basic American life.

FEATURE INTERVIEW: Todd Lyons, ICE Director

[52:36 – 79:42]

A comprehensive, candid, and occasionally wry conversation with ICE Director Todd Lyons, covering:

a. Professional Background and Getting the ICE Job

• Lyons describes a career from Air Force to Tampa cop to ICE field agent to top director (“Got a call...I'm gonna announce you as the ICE Director. New phone, who's this?” 53:00)
• Strong Boston, Southie roots; self-awareness and humor about ending up in DC as a top cop.

b. Trump Administration Policy Shifts

• “When you’re chosen to be the tip of the spear of the president’s number one agenda, it definitely gives you some gray hair real quick.” (53:37)
• Contrasts enforcement under prior (Biden, Obama) and current (Trump) administrations; Biden era characterized by “processing as enforcement,” resulting in migrants qualifying for benefits, and massive enrollment inflating "enforcement" stats.
• “People were just released into the country...Once they get settled...they get state benefits." (55:57)
• Describes crazy backlogs: "Court dates were going out 2034, 2035." (56:42)

c. Current ICE Priorities

• Focus on deleting dangerous criminal aliens first, but states:

  "If we encounter someone that's here illegally, that's got to go." (60:40)

• Sanctuary city complications — local officials refusing to cooperate with ICE leads to repeat violent crimes.
• Lyons tells stories about sanctuary jurisdictions leading to preventable crimes:

  “This guy rapes a young lady, gets arrested...They don’t honor it, they release. Goes, rapes another person. We finally arrest him...They release him again. Goes, rapes somebody again.” (71:51)

d. Recruitment, Expanding ICE, and Public Perceptions

• Lyons expresses surprise at recruitment success: “We have over 200,000 applicants…it keeps growing every day.” (69:30)
• Discusses working to “make it attractive” to join ICE despite negative public/media perception.

e. Fentanyl, Human Trafficking, and Local Cooperation

• Draws direct line between sanctuary policy and drug trafficking/fentanyl:

  “Lawrence [MA] is the number one hotspot for fentanyl distribution...Dominican nationals in Lawrence.” (73:45)

• Personal connection: lost a cousin to fentanyl overdose due to a previously deported illegal alien trafficker released by sanctuary policies (74:27).

f. Security Threats and Challenges

• Many “military-age males” from dangerous countries have been allowed in, some even receiving real IDs or CDLs. “Mohammed, no name given” on a CDL in New York. (64:49)
• “That’s our best chance of stopping any attack in the future...that’s the key thing that’s my biggest fear.” (63:20)

g. Political Obstacles

• Frustration with Congress writing laws but not supporting enforcement: “You all write the laws. You can change this…But this is how it’s written right now.” (60:50)

h. Dedication to Officers

• Repeatedly highlights the vital and dangerous work done daily by ICE field agents, rising assaults on officers, and the “God’s work” they’re assigned.

Closing Thoughts from Hosts

• Smug: “These are horrific things…ICE and this administration are doing everything they can to make America safer and put an end to this human trafficking.” (79:54)
• John: “This is a guy who’s been out on the streets, you know, trying to stop crime his entire life...hard-nosed Boston cop.” (80:44)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "It's the Salvation Army. Except you're the army and she's the one who receives the salvation." – Josh Holmes [04:40]
• "If you made a recurring monthly donation off of this page, they're not sending you a turkey every fucking month." – John [07:22]
• "Most people stuff their turkeys with breadcrumbs. She's giving you the opportunity to stuff hers with cold hard cash." – Josh Holmes [06:14]
• "California sucks so badly that the people that want to run the place don't even want to live there." – John [11:44]
• "You should never stay with someone who’s fucking crazy." – Smug [30:12]
• "Columbia University is passing out flying in pilot's licenses so that all these journals can do 9/11 on our minds." – Josh Holmes [39:22]
• "These people are insane." – Josh Holmes, about "ICE out" protesters [51:13]
• "You all write the laws. You can change this…But this is how it’s written right now." – Todd Lyons [60:50]
• "If you pull someone over and someone in your passenger seat has a warrant for unpaid child support, you're not gonna leave that guy." – Todd Lyons [58:41]

Important Timestamps

• [04:17] – AOC’s “turkey scam” breakdown
• [11:44] – Swalwell DC residency scandal
• [22:28 – 24:13] – RFK Jr. poetic “affair” parody
• [39:22] – “9/11 on our minds” journalistic rant
• [52:36 – 79:42] – ICE Director Todd Lyons interview
  • [53:00] – How Lyons got the ICE director job
  • [55:57] – Fake “enforcement” as processing
  • [56:42] – Court backlogs to 2035
  • [71:51] – Sanctuary city releases leading to recidivist rape
  • [74:27] – Personal loss to fentanyl, illegal re-offense

Conclusion

This Ruthless episode fuses scathing and funny analysis of leftwing political theater with rare, unvarnished insight from ICE’s top cop. More than a news recap, the show delivers a raucous, ruthless critique of elite insularity, blue state complacency, and progressive hypocrisy—all delivered in the hosts' trademark, rapid-fire, “barstool politics” tone. The interview with Todd Lyons is a must-listen segment for anyone who wants to understand the human and political realities of the border, the criminal justice system’s failures, and the complicated, often thankless work of ICE in 2025.

Don’t forget to tune in to their Thanksgiving Spectacular, which the hosts promise will be the wildest, most useful guide to surviving family political combat this holiday.