Ruthless Podcast – “How Bad Will the Dem Civil War Get?”

Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook

Overview

This episode of the Ruthless Podcast dives into the unfolding chaos and internal divisions within the Democratic Party following a government shutdown debacle. The hosts—Holmes, Smug, Duncan, and Ashbrook—provide their trademark irreverent conservative analysis, focusing on Chuck Schumer's faltering leadership, the intense fallout among Democrats, and the looming generational and ideological civil war shaking the party from top to bottom. The episode is an energetic blend of political dissection, sharp-witted banter, and satirical commentary, peppered with notable political soundbites and their popular “King of the Hill” Twitter take showdown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democratic Party in Disarray

Timestamps:

• [00:00–03:00] National Nightmare & Schumer’s Failure

• [07:42–09:54] The Roots of the Shutdown and Fake Conditions

• [13:54–16:16] Family Feuds as a Symptom

• The hosts argue Democrats are deep in a “civil war,” sparked by Chuck Schumer’s miscalculated strategy in the government shutdown, which resulted in embarrassment rather than leverage for his party.

• Schumer’s motives are painted as purely self-preservation, particularly his fear of being primaried by AOC from the left.

• Democrats articulated a set of demands (reversing DOGE cuts, Medicaid reforms, restoring Obamacare subsidies, funding PBS/NPR), only to quickly abandon them—exposed as theater, not principle.

"This is amazing because not only does it highlight this Democrat civil war that's going on, because their party is now at war with itself 100%. As a result of the stupidity from Chuck Schumer, the Democrat party is in a civil war." – John Ashbrook [00:20]

2. Media’s Complicity & Narrative Management

Timestamps:

• [03:49–04:13] Mainstream spin (“shutdown loss is actually a win”)

• [23:00–23:40] TV Applause for Schumer's Downfall

• Mainstream outlets (NYT, NBC, etc.) are accused of acting as Democratic stenographers, trying to reframe losses as wins.

• Media is mocked for presenting a united Dem front, with Holmes sarcastically referencing headlines like “What if Democrats' shutdown loss turns out to be a win?”

“It was like, Democrats think this is a big win. And it's like, why, Judy, the fact that you even put pen to paper on the stenography is hard. I don't know how you can look yourself in the mirror.” – Josh Holmes [03:54]

3. Dissension in Democratic Ranks—Clips & Soundbites

Key Segments:

• [05:08–07:42] Andy Kim’s disappointment (Obamacare as rallying cry)

• [12:54–16:16] Senator Shaheen vs. Daughter (intraparty, intrafamily rifts)

• [16:19–18:04] AOC targets Schumer (“coordinated effort… in exchange for nothing”)

• [22:11–25:05] The View and NPR pile on Schumer

• Emotional clips from Andy Kim and other Dems suggest real disillusionment and ideological confusion, with the hosts laughing at their conviction about issues (like protecting Obamacare subsidies) they see as misguided or naïve.

• Inter-family disputes, like Stephanie Shaheen publicly disagreeing with her mother Senator Shaheen, are quoted as proof that “family means nothing” when power is at stake within the party.

• AOC is portrayed as openly gunning for Schumer, using public statements as platforms for a wider insurgency on the party's left.

• Even progressive strongholds and left-leaning media (The View, NPR) turned against Schumer, now a punchline for his perceived weakness.

"If nepotism can't bridge a divide, nothing can. ...They want the power no matter what. So like, you can be for me, you can be against me, whatever it takes to win, no problem." – Josh Holmes [14:39]

“She’s not letting him walk away from the crime scene without blood on his face.” – Michael Duncan on AOC's attacks on Schumer [17:27]

“Your career has become an applause line for people asking you to resign. Think on that.” – John Ashbrook [23:31]

4. The Schumer Dilemma: Party Leadership Vacuum

Timestamps:

• [18:11–21:18] Schumer as a failed “heat shield”

• [28:27–31:21] Mark Kelly and the lack of cover

• The hosts dissect Schumer’s failures, arguing true leadership in Congress requires absorbing blame to protect colleagues, which Schumer avoided in his efforts to keep favor with the party’s activist base. Consequently, both moderates and radicals blame him.

• Vulnerable Dems (like Mark Kelly) are now exposed, lumped in with radicals and devoid of protection.

“What happens when you mortgage the leadership component of a leadership job in pursuit of the good graces of the fringes of your party is that you wind up with neither... And that is what has happened to Chuck Schumer. It is cowardice at its core.” – Josh Holmes [19:13]

"You are not electing a leader of your conference to do that very thing, there's no reason to have leadership in the first place." – John Ashbrook [31:10]

5. The Broader Democratic Civil War: No 'Sane' Faction Left?

Timestamps:

• [32:05–33:39] Is there hope for a moderate resurgence?

• The possibility of a centrist resurgence akin to the “Democratic Leadership Council” era is dismissed; the hosts believe the party is now irreversibly controlled by its activist, left-most elements.

“The DLC ain't walking through that door.” – Josh Holmes [33:11]

6. Satirical Interlude: The Talarico Instagram Fiasco

Timestamps:

• [37:14–46:14] Texas Democrat Candidate's Instagram Follows

• The hosts riff on Texas Senate candidate James Talarico’s social media scandal: following (and liking posts of) adult film performers and escorts while running a faith-focused campaign.

• Much laughter ensues over the campaign's hapless defense ("the team doesn't check backgrounds... he engages with supporters who have large followings") and the absurdity of the optics.

“So we just got an article about how he's liking and subscribing to... well, whores. Essentially alleged whores. I mean, they're escorts. ...What a hilarious... That is such a good. They're smearing them for clickbait articles.” – Josh Holmes [46:03]

7. King of the Hill: Twitter/X/Bluesky Madness

Timestamps:

• [47:14–57:38] Ruthless's signature social media content contest

• Sherry Jacobus and Jennifer Rubin go head-to-head for the best “unhinged” left-wing social media take.

• Notable winning entry: Rubin’s comparison of Senate Dems reopening the government to “Neville Chamberlain betraying thousands...” [57:13]

• General hilarity about obsessive, performative online liberalism.

8. Closing Banter & Commentary

Timestamps:

• [58:07–60:56] China’s Bridge, Listener Comments, Future Questions

• The episode closes with ridicule of China's rapidly collapsing infrastructure and contemplation of shifting Democratic power centers (who replaces Schumer? Murphy? Schatz?).

• Listener comments about Schumer’s fate are read (“dead carcass swinging in the breeze”), and the central question posed to listeners: Which side will win the Democratic civil war?

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "The theater kid syndrome... having a fake little charade. They were willing to shut down the government to the point that air travel was becoming unsafe." – John Ashbrook [06:29]
• "This plan had no strategy for success. It was about showing fight to a base that had lost it over the fact that they got their asses kicked by Donald Trump." – Josh Holmes [00:10]
• "It's even dumber than you think." – Josh Holmes [11:50]
• "She is working it... She’s running something, dude. That was her announcement." – Host on AOC's targeting Schumer [16:49–17:04]
• "Democrats only get criticized by the media when a second Democrat stands to benefit." – Michael Duncan [25:57]
• "Going after the photo-liking habits of a Texas Senate candidate... He's a faith-based Democrat, allegedly." – [Summary, 37:14–46:46]
• "The DLC ain't walking through that door." – Josh Holmes [33:11]

Flow & Tone

• The episode is quintessential Ruthless: energetic, acerbic, relentlessly mocking Democratic strategies, leadership, and media narrative management.
• Hosts gleefully highlight and lampoon Democratic dysfunction, often through pop culture and irreverent analogies (“theater kid syndrome,” “heads I win, tails you lose,” “go get your shine box”).
• Running gags around open season for health insurance (“it’s the holiday season—your premiums are going up”), family breakups over political strategy, and the all-consuming quest for power.

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Opening Analysis: Schumer’s Miscalculation and Dems’ Civil War | | 03:49 | Media Narrative: “Shutdown Loss is a Win” | | 05:08 | Andy Kim’s Obamacare Lament | | 07:42 | Schumer’s Real Motives & Dem Infighting | | 12:54 | Shaheen Family Feud on Shutdown | | 16:19 | AOC vs. Schumer – Direct Targeting | | 22:11 | The View/NPR Audience Turns on Schumer | | 28:27 | Mark Kelly’s Awkward Pivot on MSNBC | | 37:14 | Talarico/Instagram ‘Faith Forward’ Candidate Segment | | 47:14 | King of the Hill: Social Media Showdown | | 58:07 | China Bridge Segment / Listener Q&A / Outro |

In Summary

This episode offers a biting, humorous, and detailed look at the fissures in Democratic leadership (centered on Chuck Schumer's repeated failures and existential job insecurity), the ruthless ambition and cynicism within the party, and the broader cultural and political impacts of the devolving situation. The hosts delight in puncturing the idea of Democratic unity, use real soundbites for comic effect, and ultimately leave listeners with the key question: Which faction will win the Dem civil war—with the implication that the Republicans will happily watch the fireworks.