Ruthless Podcast: “Why are Democrats Defending Criminals? Plus, Sen. John Thune Joins the Progrum”

Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook
Main Guest: Senate Majority Leader John Thune

Episode Overview

This episode of the Ruthless podcast takes aim at what the hosts see as Democrats’ increasing tendency to “defend criminals,” with a blend of sarcastic wit and pointed political commentary. The hosts riff on headline-grabbing examples from D.C., Minnesota, and beyond, using recent news as a springboard to mock Democratic politicians and highlight ideological divisions. The episode is divided into two main sections: the first half focuses on the “Defending Criminals” theme and contemporary political antics, while the second half features Senate Majority Leader John Thune discussing legislative gridlock, bipartisan opportunities, and the GOP strategy heading into the 2026 midterms.

I. Why Are Democrats Defending Criminals? (00:00 – 14:00)

The Central Theme

The hosts discuss what they view as a pattern among Democrats of defending lawbreakers, from narco traffickers to murderers. They argue opposition to Trump fuels a reflexive defense of almost anyone or anything he opposes.

Key Discussion Points

1. Democratic Politicians and Criminal Defense

• Narco Traffickers and Senator Jack Reed

  • The hosts play a clip of Senator Reed explaining that small-time couriers aren’t really narco traffickers, but more like “the DoorDash of the narco traffickers.”
  • Memorable Moment:
    • Comfortably Smug quips:

      “It was like, okay, well, these people in these boats, they’re not actually drug traffickers. It’s more like the DoorDash of the narco traffickers.” (04:32)

    • Hosts: “It’s simply an Uber for drug trafficking and the supply and demand, as you understand.” (04:39)

• Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the D.C. National Guard Shooting

  • The former DNC chair blames Trump for a terrorist attack on National Guardsmen.
  • Smug reacts:

    “Most unhinged thing… horrific that you’d hear any individual be that unhinged. But to be an elected official.” (06:20)

2. Mayoral Pandering and Lawlessness in Minneapolis

• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s Somali-language Appeal
  • Mayor Frey’s re-election and outreach to competing Somali clans are lampooned, with detailed breakdowns by Holmes and Smug about how clan politics and a massive fraud scandal have intertwined in Minneapolis politics.
  • Smug criticizes:

    “He exploited Klan warfare… it’s a clash of clans, but in politics.” (07:57)

  • Holmes sums up:

    “Anyway, he’s not gonna cooperate with ICE. They’ve got the largest fraud in the history of this country happening in that community, and he’s just gonna give it to you right as he is.” (10:14)

3. “Hero Worship” of Criminals

• The Case of Luigi Mangione
  • Segment highlights left-wing lionization of a murderer, with “Cougars for Luigi Mangione” trending.
  • Comfortably Smug:

    “You can lionize a murderer who’s seen on film shooting and killing a health care executive, and immediately you had just the absolute insanity of the left celebrating this.” (10:56)

4. Diagnosis of Modern Democrats

• Comfortably Smug offers a thesis:

  “It’s not actually about any of these constituencies. It’s not about any principle. It’s just the opposition to Donald Trump writ large.” (11:53)

• Smug, again on meme culture:

  “They will oppose him on literally everything that he does. So if he’s opposed to narco trafficking, they have to be pro narco trafficking.” (12:24)

5. Listeners’ Engagement

• Question of the Day:
  • “Which criminal will Democrats defend next?” (13:20)
  • Suggestions include: “The Grinch… He’s the moderate option for Democrats. He can’t survive today’s party.” (13:49)

II. Interview: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (15:38 – 41:12)

1. Life as Majority Leader

• On Accomplishments and Gridlock

  • Thune:

    “We’ve been in so many days, so many hours, cast more votes than any Senate in history… Democrats are forcing us to do everything the long way and the hard way.” (17:19)

• Democrats’ Strategy

  • Thune notes Democrats’ refusal to cooperate on even routine votes as a manifestation of “Trump derangement syndrome.” For many Democrats,

    “Doing anything that helps or supports anything the President might be trying to accomplish has just become anathema to them.” (16:20)

• On Government Shutdowns

  • Thune points to the recent historic government shutdown, blaming refusal for bipartisan cooperation:

    “They really dug in on that and, you know, unfortunately drugged the country through the longest government shutdown in history.” (17:56)

2. Bipartisanship: Prospects and Obstacles

• Thune is hopeful about some bipartisan items:

  • Permitting reform (for both conventional and renewable energy projects)
  • Digital market structure bills
  • NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in college athletics
  • The farm bill, highway bill

• Obstacles:

  • “The progressive wing… very unforgiving, want nothing more than a confrontation with Trump on every issue.” (20:01)
  • “Anybody who comes in the middle to try and solve a problem or get a result or solution gets penalized and punished for it.” (23:13)

• Notable Praise for Sen. John Fetterman:

  • “He genuinely wants to do the right thing for the country. … I give him great credit and I have told him that personally.” (23:19)
  • “We need more people like that that are willing to put aside, at least for a while, some of their [political differences].” (23:28)

3. 2026 Midterm Messaging and GOP Agenda

• Core Issues for the GOP:

  • “Safer streets, more money in your pocket, and new opportunities for a better life.” (24:23)
  • Focus on “bread and butter” economic and security issues.
  • Tax policies:

    “The average family in this country, at least in my state, is about $2,500 less in taxes that they’re going to pay next year because we extended the tax relief from 2017.” (25:44)

  • Border security: “Most Americans… trust this president and his team to handle [border security] effectively.” (26:48)

• Thune on Political Reality:

  “You don’t get a lot of credit for avoiding a catastrophe.” (26:48)

• Strategic Considerations:

  • Quality candidates, message, resources, and turnout are keys.
  • “Ground game is something I’m a big believer in.” (30:03)

4. Economic Messaging & Policy

• Massive policy achievements in the “one big beautiful bill”—much of it unheralded.
• Child savings accounts (praised by Michael Dell), school choice expansion, farm bill components, tax credits, and energy policy.
• Thune:

  “We did literally a decade’s worth of policy last summer… as members get out there on the trail and start telling the story, those newborn accounts, that’s a great story.” (32:10; 32:51)

• “School choice has been a part of our movement agenda forever. We got that in this. Childcare things that Dems have been trying to do, childcare tax credits for both employers and employees in this bill.” (32:56)

5. Morale in the Senate, Looking Ahead

• Despite frayed nerves after shutdown battles, Thune says Republican morale is surprisingly good.

• “We have worked really hard at trying to keep people unified…. The collaboration, the outreach and just hearing and listening and making sure that everybody is hitting on the same cylinder.” (37:08–37:36)

• Bipartisan Achievements Don’t Get Headlines:

  “They never get the headlines… People want to write about the friction, the fighting.” (37:56)

6. Foreign Policy: Venezuela and National Security

• Thune defends Trump’s actions in Venezuela, focusing on peace through strength and confronting narco-cartels.

  “The actions that he’s taken are consistent with protecting America’s national security interest… the peace through strength theme and approach that this president has taken…makes people think twice.” (39:00)

• Thune’s Parting Note on Leadership:

  “Most of the people who are involved in public life, certainly people I work with and around me, are purpose driven people. They really believe in what they’re doing.” (40:35)

III. Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Democrats and Lawbreaking:

  • “It sort of reflects how much these folks have lost their brains in the era of Donald Trump.” – Michael Duncan (00:07)
  • “If he’s opposed to narco trafficking, they have to be pro narco trafficking.” – Comfortably Smug (12:24)

• On Political Cynicism:

  • “It’s not actually about any of These constituencies. … It’s just the opposition to Donald Trump writ large.” – Comfortably Smug (11:53)

• On Modern Senate Life:

  • “It’s been, you know…we’ve surpassed [the Contract with America Congress], and we still got three weeks to go before the end of the year.” – John Thune (18:16)
  • “We did literally a decade’s worth of policy last summer.” – John Thune (32:10)

IV. Gamified & Variety Segments

King of the Hill: Twitter Derangement Edition (46:36 – 58:08)

• Contenders:

  • Smokin’ Joe Walsh (ex-GOP Congressman turned anti-Trump digital ranter)
  • Ron Filipkowski (lawyer and deeply anti-Trump tweeter)

• Highlights:

  • Filipkowski claims:

    “Maybe Trump got the MRI as a follow up on his injured ear.” (50:01) “I would call Pete Hegseth a war criminal, but we aren’t at war. He’s just a mass murderer.” (51:19) Complains about Trump memes violating intellectual property rights: “Why does the Trump admin continue to steal people’s intellectual property?” (55:42)

• Hosts’ Judgement:

  • Filipkowski wins the round for “heel turn” hypocrisy and sheer online hysteria.
  • “Filipkowski gets the W. New champion. Huge win.” (58:08)

Bizarre Animal Story: The Intoxicated Raccoon (58:52 – 66:51)

• News report: Raccoon breaks into a liquor store, drinks, and passes out in the bathroom.

  • Smug: “This is like a raccoon of taste…he chose certain bottles, like he’s picking the right bourbon.” (59:40)
  • Duncan: “These are dangerous animals. … I don’t know if you’ve ever seen what a raccoon can do to it. Like a dog. Have you ever seen a dog? …Their claws are so sharp. They are so vicious.” (61:26)

• Raccoon survival war stories and home-remedy pest control tips ensue—deadpan, over-the-top, classic Ruthless.

V. Listener Engagement

• Question of the Day:
  • “Which criminal will Democrats defend next?”
  • Hosts encourage inventive and satirical suggestions from listeners.

VI. Notable Timestamps

• Democrats Defending Criminals (Narco, D.C. shooting, Minneapolis): 00:00 – 13:57
• Sen. John Thune Interview Begins: 15:38
  • On Democratic gridlock: 16:20 – 19:21
  • On bipartisanship: 20:01 – 22:29
  • On GOP messaging: 24:23 – 25:44
  • Economic achievements: 32:10 – 32:56
  • Senate morale: 37:08 – 37:36
  • Venezuela/foreign policy: 38:54 – 40:53
• King of the Hill Segment: 46:36 – 58:08
• Raccoon/Liquor Store Story: 58:52 – 66:51

VII. Tone & Style

• Irreverent, rapid-fire, intentionally over-the-top.
• Conversational, mocking of political adversaries, and highly self-aware.
• “No shelter for anyone”—willing to critique all sides or turn the ridicule on themselves.

VIII. Summary Takeaways

• The Ruthless crew paints a picture of Democrats in a perpetual “opposition to Trump” mode—defending even the indefensible.
• John Thune, in a lengthy and substantive interview, details both the achievements and challenges in the Senate, emphasizing policy wins (especially on the economy) and the need for persistent, clear messaging going into the 2026 midterms.
• Satirical and meme-heavy segments (especially the King of the Hill Twitter war) underline the show’s unique blend of conservative analysis and culture-war trolling.
• Offbeat stories (like the “intoxicated raccoon”) and war stories from the hosts offer comic relief and a sense of camaraderie with listeners.

Memorable Quote:

“It’s not actually about any of these constituencies. … It’s just the opposition to Donald Trump writ large.” – Comfortably Smug (11:53)

For next time:

• Watch for responses to “Which criminal will Democrats defend next?”
• Tune in to “Fun Time Friday” for follow-up on recurring bits (e.g., the “nuzzy situation”).

[End of Summary]