Ruthless Podcast Summary

Episode: End Game for Dems' Failed Shutdown?
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook
Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This Ruthless Variety Progrum delivers the hosts' signature mix of biting conservative analysis and irreverent banter, focusing primarily on the ongoing government shutdown, its political ramifications, and what the hosts see as failed tactics and deep dysfunction on the Democratic side. The team lampoons Democrats’ defense of the shutdown, scrutinizes the logic behind their policy positions, and discusses the radicalization of their base, with media clips, polling breakdowns, and a revealing segment about a controversial left-wing podcast host.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: Democrat Tactics and Leverage

• Leverage as the "Code Word": The Democrat defense of the shutdown centers on "leverage" to push for Obamacare-related demands, despite lacking control of key branches of government.
  • “They think that they have that, they don’t. They don’t control any of government. But they’ve decided to shut everything down in perpetuity because they think they can bully people into making bad decisions.” – Josh Holmes [01:29]
• Democrats' "Underpants Gnome" Logic:
  The hosts ridicule Democrats for what they perceive as illogical reasoning—breaking systems through their own policies, blaming Republicans, then demanding more taxpayer money to fix what they broke.
  • “This is yet another example…Democrats break something…say, oh, I knew it. Republicans are keeping us from throwing more money into this hole.” – Smug [06:34]
• Obamacare, Entitlements, and Bailouts:
  Discussion about the Affordable Care Act’s ballooning costs and the steadily increasing government role in health insurance payments, with special scrutiny on the UnitedHealth–AARP relationship.
  • “Some of these outfits that cover like tens of millions of people are making like 90% of their money on insurance coverage that is directly paid for by the federal government. What the fuck are we doing here?”– Josh Holmes [11:32]

2. Media, Messaging, and Public Perception

• Media's Diminished Powers:
  Shift in media landscape forces legacy outlets and journalists to be more (occasionally) critical of Democrats, as alternative platforms and podcasts seize influence.
  • “Now there’s new media, there’s podcasts, there’s other sources for information. That monopoly they had is gone.” – Smug [17:23]
• CNN’s Reluctant Polling:
  Citing CNN’s Harry Enten, the hosts highlight polling that—contrary to past shutdowns—shows Republicans’ approval rising and Democrats’ falling, suggesting the shutdown tactic has backfired.
  • “Look at the net approval ratings for Republicans in Congress. It’s actually up five points since pre-shutdown… the Republican brand in Congress has actually improved somewhat.” – Harry Enten (via Josh Holmes recount) [19:36]

3. Democrat Base Radicalization & Party Fractures

• Base Pulling Party to Extremes:
  The hosts tie Democrats’ unwillingness to compromise to an increasingly radical base, referencing anonymous quotes about “fearing the guillotine” from within the Senate Democratic caucus.
  • “Democrats are deathly afraid of a political base that has become way, way more radical than even they could have predicted.” – Josh Holmes [33:58 & 35:01]
• Internal Party Tensions:
  Discussion on cracks between union-aligned federal workers (wanting the shutdown to end) and left-wing activists demanding maximalist policies, with public statements now replacing private negotiation.
  • “Why did it have to become public? It’s a lack of a functioning party on the Democratic side. That conversation in private didn’t yield that result.” – Brent Gardner [38:04]

4. Notable Clips, Quotes & Media Moments

• Let Me Be Clear:
  The panel enjoys mocking Democrat soundbites, especially overused Obama-era phrases.

  • “Let me be clear, dude, let me be clear.” – Smug [00:40]
  • “…They try to mimic the way he speaks so much.” – John Ashbrook [00:33; 17:23]

• Jake Tapper Frustrates Dem Rep:
  CNN’s Tapper questions Congresswoman Stansberry’s shutdown logic; she blames the White House, prompting the hosts to point out media/journalist discomfort as Democrats lose narrative control.

  • “Let me be clear. The administration is choosing to starve American children...” – Rep. Stansberry (via clip) [15:23]
  • “Even Jake wasn’t having this... and she’s like, let me be clear twice.” – Josh Holmes [16:35]

• Are Democrats Dumb or Crazy?
  The "question of the day" distills the hosts’ skepticism of Democratic strategy.

  • “What it really is, is are Democrats dumb or crazy?” – Josh Holmes [40:08]
  • “It's also appropriate to do a chicken or the egg thing. That they were so dumb that they became crazy or that they were so crazy for so long they've become dumb.” – Michael Duncan [41:15]

5. Guest Segment: Brent Gardner, AFP

• Breaking Down the Shutdown
  Gardner asserts Democrats are inflicting pain for “leverage,” with polling and union sentiment eroding their position.
  • "Democrats won't stop explaining how far off they are on this thing…since the Democrat-led government shutdown, Republicans have actually moved up in the minds of voters." – Brent Gardner [22:54 & 23:12]
• Mike Johnson & House Republicans:
  Praise for Speaker Johnson’s "message discipline" and refusal to negotiate against himself in public.
  • “I think the Speaker and the Majority Leader…House has done a really great job…established, I think, a message discipline in this shutdown.” – Brent Gardner [33:01 & 32:16]
• Democrats Out of Step:
  Gardner argues that Democrats ignore both the electorate and basic economic reality; unions and public workers have begun to turn on them.

6. The Rise of the New-Left Media Sphere (Jennifer Welch Segment)

• Radical podcast host Jennifer Welch:
  Smug delivers a lengthy exposé on Welch, who openly celebrated Charlie Kirk's death and pushed for “blood in the streets,” yet is closely allied with top Democrats (photos with Obama, Kamala; book blurbs from Obama; major podcast guests include AOC, Warren, Bernie, etc.)
  • “That's the mainstream Democrat Party. They want blood. They've said it again and again.” – Smug [57:24]
  • “You're seeing the radicalization in real time… her podcast, a million subscribers, platformed by CBS, CNN, guests with Kamala, Obama, AOC…” [56:01–57:13]
• Base Outracing Leadership:
  The segment underscores how media radicals and their audience are now leading, not following, legacy Democrat politicians.
  • “It’s the absence of leadership on the Democrat Party… the consequences of it just continue to reverberate.” – Smug [39:22]
• Dehumanization and Political Violence:
  The hosts connect Welch’s rhetoric to a wider trend of dangerous left-wing dehumanization of conservatives.

7. Lighter Segments & King of the Hill

• Mocking Ben Stiller’s VA Endorsement:
  Ben Stiller appears unenthusiastic in a get-out-the-vote video with a Democratic candidate.
  • “This guy has made a living as a comedian and he shows up in a hostage video...” – Josh Holmes [49:00]
• Monkey News & Other Absurdities:
  Riff on escaped biohazard monkeys in Mississippi and (real) reports of Chinese scientists creating monkeys with autism/schizophrenia, ending the episode on their signature absurdist note.
• King of the Hill (Twitter Madness):
  Smug unseats Sarah Longwell with David Frum’s hot takes about funding the troops and pasta tariffs—delighting the crew.
  • “You can’t even use food stamps to get a good cannoli anymore.” – John Ashbrook [71:25]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro: Why is the Government Shut Down?
  [01:29–03:54]
• Medicare, United/AARP, and the ACA Deep Dive:
  [07:27–11:32]
• Dems’ Media Strategy, Echo Chambers, and CNN Polls:
  [16:35–20:26]
• Guest Segment: Brent Gardner Analysis:
  [22:40–38:41]
• Question of the Day: Are Dems Dumb or Crazy?
  [39:58–41:46]
• Listener Feedback (Shutdown predictions):
  [42:55–47:52]
• Jennifer Welch “Wine Mom” & Radical Media Takeover:
  [50:07–63:43]
• King of the Hill (Twitter Madness):
  [66:39–73:14]
• Monkey News / Absurdity Roundup
  [73:22–79:30]

Notable Quotes

• Josh Holmes (on Dems’ political fear):
  “Democrats are deathly afraid of a political base that has become way, way more radical than I think even they could have ever predicted.” [33:58/35:01]
• Smug (on media’s shifting role):
  “That monopoly they had is gone. And that’s why you’re seeing in real time now. The CNNs of the world are trying to play catch up.” [17:23]
• Brent Gardner (on Dems’ honesty):
  “It's a lack of a functioning party on the Democratic side. That conversation in private didn't yield that result to where one of their biggest constituency groups felt like the way to communicate is through the press.” [38:04]
• Michael Duncan (summing up the dynamic):
  “It's also appropriate to do a chicken or the egg thing. That they were so dumb that they became crazy or that they were so crazy for so long they've become dumb.” [41:15]

Conclusion

This episode of Ruthless casts the Democratic Party's approach to the government shutdown as confused, self-sabotaging, and beholden to an increasingly extreme base—while painting Republicans as unusually disciplined and polling on the upswing. The wide-ranging discussion blends trenchant criticism, media parodies, listener feedback, and an in-depth look at a radical left podcast host to argue the Democrats’ problem isn’t just poor tactics, but a wider ideological and leadership crisis.

Stay ruthless: The hosts encourage listeners to engage, comment, and vote in their “Are Democrats dumb or crazy?” poll, promising more variety and sharp analysis in the next episode.

For those who missed it:
This summary preserves the snark, insider references, and banter that define Ruthless, while presenting a clear map of the episode’s themes, topics, and must-hear moments.