Transcript

Josh Holmes (0:00)

Kamala's back.

Michael Duncan (0:01)

Her delusions of grandeur have continued. She has always thought that I'm Obama.

Josh Holmes (0:06)

The good first step of any relaunch is to ensure that you look like grimace from McDonald's right from the jump.

John Ashbrook (0:14)

The important thing here is not what the relaunch of Kamala means about Kamala, but what it means for the Democratic.

Josh Holmes (0:20)

Party writ and large about how bankrupt?

John Ashbrook (0:23)

Just entirely bankrupt.

Smug (0:24)

Kamala's running again, and she wants to make sure people don't just, like, forget about her. I think Newsom's there not letting it go.

Josh Holmes (0:32)

She might be the front runner.

John Ashbrook (0:36)

For years, the big health insurance companies have been raising the price of insurance, denying care and delaying treatments while making record profits and receiving trillions of America's tax dollars through federal programs. When they get asked why health insurance prices keep skyrocketing, the big insurance companies dodge, distract, and blame everyone else. But the American public isn't buying it. Recent national polling shows that voters are concerned about affordability and most importantly, want Congress to prioritize lowering the cost of health insurance. That's why Congress recently grilled the CEOs of the big health insurance companies to answer questions. After years of denying responsibility and pointing fingers everywhere but at themselves, the big insurance bosses are finally being asked to answer for skyrocketing premiums while they make record profits. It's an important first step, but Americans are demanding action and accountability, not more excuses and denials from big health insurance companies. Learn more@americansforopengovernment.com.

Announcer (1:45)

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.

Smug (1:49)

Keep the faith, hold the line, and own the libs.

Michael Duncan (1:52)

It's time for our main event.

Josh Holmes (1:57)

Fun Times Friday. Welcome back to the Ruthless variety program. I'm Josh Holmes along with comfortably smug Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook. Left to right across your radio dial. As always. As you know, on Funtime Friday, we save some of this stuff that we've witnessed throughout the week, and, well, it's worth laughing about.

Summary

Ruthless Podcast

Episode: Return of Kamala?
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook
Special Guest: RNC Chairman Joe Gruters

Episode Overview

On this lively “Fun Times Friday” edition, the Ruthless crew delivers their signature irreverent and biting conservative commentary, focusing on the breaking political headline: Kamala Harris's oddly executed campaign “relaunch.” They skewer both Harris's strategy and delivery, diving into what her return signals for the Democratic Party at large. The fellas also dissect the implosion of legacy left-leaning media (with a special roasting of The Washington Post’s layoffs), riff on a planned “free” grocery store in NYC, and welcome new RNC Chairman Joe Gruters for an inside look at midterm strategy. The energy is high, with non-stop jokes, rapid-fire anecdotes, and plenty of memorable moments.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

Return of Kamala Harris: The Relentless Rebrand

[03:59 – 19:00]

Kamala's campaign accounts return:
The crew analyzes Kamala Harris reactivating her “Kamala HQ” account (now “Headquarters Six Seven”) and releasing a vague, meme-heavy video aimed at the youth.
- Josh Holmes: “A good first step of any relaunch is to ensure that you look like Grimace from McDonald's right from the jump.” [00:06 & 10:02]
- Michael Duncan on the “gen Z” / “67” branding: “It doesn't really mean anything.... It is so fitting that Kamala Harris’s next election theme is: I don't know, it doesn't mean anything. That is her theme.” [04:44-05:31]
- The crew riffs extensively on Kamala's rambling announcement clip, dubbing it “words slapped together” and making fun of her demeanor.

Kamala's Communication Style & Political Baggage

Smug: “She's not beating the drunk allegations with the video.” [06:52]
They play and dissect the campaign video twice, emphasizing how it “says nothing” and only reinforces Kamala’s image as vacuous and detached.

Kamala as Symbolic of Broader Democrat Weakness

John Ashbrook: “The important thing here is not what the relaunch of Kamala means about Kamala, but what it means for the Democratic party writ large about how bankrupt. Just entirely bankrupt.” [09:14]
Discussion of Democrats’ historic drop in youth and minority turnout; the guys roast the Party for sticking with the architect of their failures.
Callbacks to Kamala’s most infamous gaffes, namely her condescending remarks about 18–24-year-olds (“they are stupid…” [11:52]) and the notorious child actor-filled space event video (“They couldn't even find normal kids. They gotta start paying kids…”) [13:07–15:57]

The Kamala vs. Newsom Dynamic

Kamala is positioning herself against rival Gavin Newsom; Smug and Holmes argue that, despite her embarrassing image, she may actually be the Democratic frontrunner.
“Democratic voters at a base are like hostages that suffer from Stockholm syndrome.” —John Ashbrook [19:00]

Digital/Tone-Deafness of Democrats

Smug brings in an “exhibit” showing how Biden staff almost tweeted a bunny meme about George Floyd ([20:05]–[21:12]), highlighting the disconnect and internal confusion of digital Dem operatives.

Mainstream Media Meltdown: Washington Post Layoffs

[25:27 – 45:21]

The team reacts gleefully to The Washington Post firing 300+ journalists and losing over $100 million annually, roasting journo calls for Jeff Bezos to keep funding their salaries as “philanthropy.”
They revisit infamous WaPo headlines (“Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi...an 'austere religious scholar'”—Smug [29:25]), COVID “lab leak” skepticism, and coverage double standards (contrasting terrorist and Republican obituaries).
On journalism’s self-importance:
- “If they dance on the graves of conservatives, I will dance on their layoffs. I will dunk on them.” —Smug [31:03]
Debate on whether reporters are “victims” of newsroom bias (Duncan) or just ideologically programmed from college onward (Smug).
The infamous Post layoff GoFundMe—”essentially for Washington Post journals to buy booze”—gets special ridicule, with Kara Swisher’s $10,000 donation lampooned as shameless signaling. [43:05]
Michael Duncan: “These organizations do not reflect this country. Until these organizations have half Republicans and half Democrats working inside, they will not reflect the coverage that readers really want.” [44:41]

Democratic Nomination Odds: Kamala, Newsom, or Someone Else?

[45:36 – 48:37]

The crew debates who is really poised to win the 2026 Democratic nomination: Kamala, Newsom, Pritzker (“Fat boy from Illinois” —Josh Holmes), or Gretchen Whitmer.
Josh Holmes: “If the election were today, [Kamala] would not be close. The question is, what happens from here on out?”
General consensus: Kamala remains the accidental frontrunner by default, showing Democratic inertia and lack of bench.

NYC’s “Free Grocery Store”: Supermarket Sweep (But for Real)

[53:07 – 58:43]

Polymarket is opening an actual “free grocery store” in NYC.
The crew bets on how long until it’s “ransacked” or sees its “first murder” ([55:03, 55:37]), comparing the likely chaos to Black Friday and “Supermarket Sweep meets American Gladiators.”
Smug: “I'm hopeful there will be some assaults.”
Discussion of livestreaming the opening as a social experiment in economic delusion.

Absurd Headlines & Lighter Variety

[58:43 – 66:02]

The gang reviews the latest absurdity: A Frenchman hospitalized after getting a WWI artillery shell stuck in his rectum.
Endless jokes about “fire in the hole,” French hospital specialties (“accustomed to treating victims injured during sexual games”), and the “Hurt Locker dude” bomb squad being called in. [59:39–63:50]

Midterm Strategy & Interview: RNC Chairman Joe Gruters

[66:03 – 85:25]

Joe Gruters joins to discuss the GOP’s midterm groundwork:
- Fundraising: RNC’s cash vs. DNC's debt, breaking records, and legal strategy.
- Grassroots: Building national, state, and local coordination for voter turnout and election integrity (over 110 active lawsuits focused on ballot handling and non-citizen voting).
- Midterm “Trumpapalooza” convention plans: Working to bring spectacle and energy to an off-presidential cycle.
Transparency about the challenge: “Only four times in the last 150 years has the incumbent party been able to be successful holding the majorities. We have a real chance to defy history because of the president.”
Final call for audience involvement and enthusiasm for GOP momentum.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

(with timestamps)

Josh Holmes (re: Kamala): “A good first step of any relaunch is to ensure that you look like Grimace from McDonald's right from the jump.” [00:06]
Michael Duncan (on Kamala’s branding): “Her theme is she means nothing. Couldn't find a better [description].” [05:32]
Kamala Harris (clip): “Age is more than a chronological fact... [young people] are stupid. That is why we put them in dormitories.” [11:52]
Smug (on Washington Post layoffs): “If they dance on the graves of conservatives, I will dance on their layoffs.” [31:03]
Michael Duncan: “These organizations do not reflect this country. Until these organizations have half Republicans and half Democrats...they will not reflect the coverage that readers really want.” [44:41]
John Ashbrook (on Dem prospects): “The Democratic Party can’t stand on its own feet with DS anymore. It's all downstream of us.” [48:02]
Smug (on grocery chaos): “I'm hopeful there will be some assaults.” [56:17]
Josh Holmes (re: French bombshell butt story): “Talk about some explosive diarrhea. That is tough stuff.” [60:22]
Joe Gruters (on being RNC Chair): “When you have the president doing the job that he's doing and you have the vice president as your finance chairman, it makes your job as chairman a lot easier...Because if you don't have the resources, you know, you can't file the missile.” [67:00]

Timestamps for Major Segments

Kamala Relaunch & Mockery: [00:00–19:00]
Media Layoffs & Washington Post takedown: [25:27–45:21]
Democratic nomination speculation: [45:36–48:37]
NYC Free Grocery Store segment: [53:07–58:43]
Oddball headlines (WWI shell story): [58:43–66:02]
Joe Gruters RNC Interview & GOP strategy: [66:03–85:25]

Tone & Style

The conversation is relentless, sarcastic, mocking, and fast-paced.
Unapologetically partisan and often gleeful in the face of Democratic/media woes.
Tar-in-barrel joking, exaggerated hypotheticals, and abrupt changes in topic for comedic effect.

Summary Takeaways

Kamala Harris’s attempt at political relevance is seen as both farcical and symbolic of the Democratic Party's fundamental staleness.
Mainstream media is in decline—deservedly, per the hosts—due to years of bias and narrative-driven reporting.
The panel is convinced Kamala is the unintentional Democratic frontrunner, only by virtue of default and internal party dysfunction.
“Free” left-wing economic ideas (like a free grocery in NYC) are lampooned as naive, destined for immediate chaos.
The GOP, under new RNC chair Joe Gruters, is portrayed as energized, flush with cash, and taking nothing for granted; midterms are “all-out war.”