Ruthless Podcast Episode Summary: "Did Journos Really Overlook Biden's Health Issues?"

Release Date: April 29, 2025

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

Introduction to the White House Correspondents Dinner

The episode opens with a critical examination of the White House Correspondents Dinner, where the hosts argue that the event fails to honor true "fearless journalism." Josh Holmes (00:00) sarcastically suggests that journalists from Fox News, such as Siobhan Hughes and Annie Lynske, deserve celebration for their unbiased reporting:

Josh Holmes [00:00]: "If the essence in the core of a White House correspondents dinner is to reward and celebrate fearless journalism... then Fox News, Siobhan Hughes, Annie Lynske and all of those people should have been having a ticker tape parade outside of the Hilton."

John Ashbrook (00:43) adds that fearless journalism should defy the prevailing narratives, emphasizing the importance of reporting truths that political action committees (PACs) might suppress.

Personal Anecdotes and Team Dynamics

Josh shares a personal story about his family's passion for NFL teams, highlighting the personal sacrifices and humorous tensions that come with differing sports loyalties (02:29):

Josh Holmes [02:33]: "You notice I'm in a suit, purple tie, I got some purple socks on underneath here. It's compensating... my oldest son just became an Eagles fan."

Comfortably Smug (Michael Duncan) and John Ashbrook discuss their unwavering commitment to the podcast, likening their teamwork to a "strike team" capable of handling any situation (02:12):

John Ashbrook [02:12]: "We just need grenades and ammo just like."

Critique of Media Performance at the Correspondents Dinner

The hosts recount their experiences attending the dinner, criticizing the media's insularity and lack of accountability. Comfortably Smug praises the first half of the event for honoring deserving journalists but condemns the later proceedings as sanctimonious and out of touch (07:33):

Comfortably Smug [07:33]: "They gave it to him for a photo of Joe Biden... They don't trust it because it's owned by Rupert Murdoch."

Josh Holmes (08:31) laments the selective recognition of journalists, arguing that true fearlessness is overlooked in favor of those who play by the media's internal rules.

Highlighting Failures in Journalism

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Alex Thompson's award acceptance speech at the dinner. The hosts dissect Thompson's remarks (15:35) and argue that his acknowledgment of missing key stories about President Biden's health issues was inadequate:

Alex Thompson [15:39]: "We, myself included, missed a lot of this story... We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows."

John Ashbrook (17:49) criticizes Thompson for attempting to maintain a non-partisan stance while selectively reporting issues that align with a particular narrative.

Listener Engagement and Critical Questions

The hosts pose a critical question to their audience: "What would a true reckoning for journalists look like?" They explore possibilities ranging from bankruptcy to formal truth and reconciliation processes, reflecting on the media's failure to hold the Biden administration accountable adequately.

Josh Holmes [37:33]: "...we recommend a truth and reconciliation, like South Africa after apartheid. What do you think?"

NFL Draft Commentary

Transitioning from media critique, the hosts delve into the NFL Draft, focusing on the unexpected fall of quarterback Cheder Sanders and the emerging talent of wide receiver-triple threat Travis Hunter. They discuss the implications for the Cleveland Browns and the broader NFL landscape (51:47):

Michael Duncan [52:06]: "He had a lot of question marks over his head based on the interviews."

Bill Belichick's Personal Life and Impact on Coaching

The conversation shifts to an awkward interview with NFL legend Bill Belichick, highlighting his relationship with a younger girlfriend and questioning its impact on his coaching performance at UNC Chapel Hill (57:51):

Comfortably Smug [59:35]: "Being on national television and sitting in that chair as a 24-year-old girlfriend... is embarrassing."

Listener Travel Stories and Transportation Suggestions

Listeners share their travel experiences, prompting the hosts to suggest improvements for family travel. They advocate for dedicated family concierge services at airports to ease the stress of traveling with children (61:28):

John Ashbrook [62:32]: "If you're a family, you get through this free... Make travel easier for your family."

Interview with Tim Murtaugh: Campaign Strategies and Legislative Priorities

The episode features an interview with Tim Murtaugh, a communications advisor for Donald Trump's 2020 campaign. Murtaugh discusses the administration's legislative priorities, including:

1. Extension of the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (77:10): Emphasizing the need to make these tax cuts permanent to prevent automatic tax increases.
2. Border Security and Immigration (77:09): Highlighting significant reductions in illegal immigration and the administration's efforts to enact strict border policies.
3. Biden Pill Penalty (77:25): Criticizing the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on prescription drug innovation, arguing it has stifled the development of lifesaving pills by penalizing small molecule medicines.

Annie Lynskey [81:21]: "Joe Biden was going to do the cancer moonshot. He said he was gonna... But what he did was he made it more difficult."

Murtaugh underscores the administration's commitment to reversing policies that, in his view, hinder medical advancements and economic growth.

Closing Remarks and Audience Engagement

In their closing segment, the hosts reiterate their critique of mainstream journalism and encourage listeners to engage with the podcast by liking, subscribing, and sharing. They emphasize the importance of independent, partisan media in providing accurate interpretations of events, contrasting it with what they perceive as the media's failure to report significant issues accurately.

Josh Holmes [42:18]: "They don't know up from down. It's not that there's many of them are malicious, they're not. It's that they literally don't think you're true. The truth that is in the middle of this country exists because they've never seen it."

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Holmes [00:00]: "Fox News, Siobhan Hughes, Annie Lynske and all of those people should have been having a ticker tape parade outside of the Hilton."

• John Ashbrook [02:12]: "We're like special Forces. You just drop us in the horn, some grenades and some ammo and we figure it out."

• Alex Thompson [15:39]: "We, myself included, missed a lot of this story... We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows."

• John Ashbrook [17:49]: "Why do you feel like you have to have it both ways and be like, you know, I don't wanna make my Journal buddies mad."

• Josh Holmes [37:33]: "What would a true reckoning for journalists look like?"

• Annie Lynskey [81:21]: "Joe Biden was going to do the cancer moonshot. He said he was gonna... But what he did was he made it more difficult."

Conclusion:

This episode of the Ruthless Podcast offers a scathing critique of mainstream journalism, particularly focusing on the White House Correspondents Dinner and the media's handling of President Biden's health issues. Through personal anecdotes, listener engagement, and expert interviews, the hosts argue that the media has become insular, biased, and ineffective in fulfilling its role as the fourth estate. They advocate for more partisan, truth-oriented journalism and highlight specific legislative priorities aimed at reversing what they perceive as the administration's detrimental policies.