Why The Collapse Of The Left Is Accelerating

Summary

Podcast Summary: Ruthless Podcast – "Why The Collapse Of The Left Is Accelerating"

Episode Details:

• Title: Why The Collapse Of The Left Is Accelerating
• Release Date: February 13, 2025
• Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook

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1. Introduction

In this episode of the Ruthless Podcast, hosts Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook delve into the accelerating decline of the political left. They argue that the left's downfall is largely self-inflicted, stemming from entrenched strategies and policies that have backfired over time. The discussion is peppered with humor, sharp critiques, and insightful analysis aimed at highlighting the inefficiencies and contradictions within left-leaning institutions and policies.

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2. The Left's Decline: Self-Inflicted Issues

Josh Holmes opens the discussion by asserting that the left's decline is rapid because their own strategies have become counterproductive.

Josh Holmes [00:00]: "The left's decline is accelerating because this has been their playbook."

Michael Duncan adds that the left's focus on terminology and political correctness has alienated many.

Michael Duncan [00:05]: "Words."

The hosts criticize the left for prioritizing language over substantive issues, leading to internal inconsistencies and public frustration.

Josh Holmes [00:05]: "You say, we'll take your job away if you don't use the right terminology to misgender somebody."

John Ashbrook echoes this sentiment, highlighting the absurdity of the left's focus on minor linguistic issues while neglecting significant policy failures.

John Ashbrook [00:12]: "They're so serious about that."

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3. Government Efficiency and Pandemic Response

A significant portion of the discussion centers on government inefficiency, particularly highlighted by the federal government's handling of the pandemic.

John Ashbrook criticizes the Biden administration's management of Medicare, suggesting that policies have led to increased costs and reduced drug development.

John Ashbrook [00:29]: "He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death. Joe Biden's legacy for seniors. He raided Medicare, made premiums skyrocket, and drove up drug costs."

The hosts juxtapose this with President Trump's commitment to fixing Medicare, emphasizing a return to common-sense policies aimed at reducing waste and improving efficiency.

Josh Holmes underscores the frustration with government inefficiency, particularly the absurd example of federal employees not fulfilling their duties over several years.

Josh Holmes [08:26]: "It keeps going. So."

The discussion underscores how the left's policies have fostered an environment of inefficiency and entitlement within government institutions.

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4. The Role of DEI and Corporate America

The conversation shifts to the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in corporate America. Michael Duncan argues that DEI programs, based on flawed studies, have hindered genuine business operations.

Michael Duncan [02:58]: "Dude. The whole DEI industrial complex is based off a flawed McKinsey study that has been proven to be wrong."

John Ashbrook highlights how companies like Goldman Sachs have backtracked on DEI policies, signaling a shift towards merit-based hiring and away from mandatory diversity quotas.

John Ashbrook [37:13]: "They have backtracked... They've walked away from DEI-enabled policies."

The hosts criticize DEI as a means of enforcing a quota system that compromises qualifications and business efficiency.

Josh Holmes [38:22]: "It's exactly definition of racism."

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5. Media Influence and CNN's Coverage

The podcast critiques mainstream media, particularly CNN, for their biased and sensationalist coverage that amplifies leftist narratives. The hosts mock CNN's portrayal of political events as constitutional crises, arguing that such reporting fosters unnecessary panic and distrust.

Josh Holmes [25:56]: "Can someone cite what part of the Constitution says, thou shalt waste taxpayer money?"

John Ashbrook further condemns CNN's editorializing, suggesting that their coverage is not aligned with factual reporting but rather serves to undermine conservative policies.

John Ashbrook [25:37]: "Fraud. And they're like, oh, my God, it's the end of democracy."

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6. Corporate Resistance and Backpedaling on DEI

The hosts discuss recent developments where major corporations like Disney are abandoning DEI initiatives in favor of focusing on business outcomes. This shift is portrayed as a victory against the previously enforced diversity quotas that the hosts argue were detrimental to business efficiency and meritocracy.

John Ashbrook [43:00]: "Disney is changing its diversity, equity and inclusion programs to focus more closely on business outcomes."

Michael Duncan emphasizes that such changes indicate a broader rejection of DEI policies that were seen as intrusive and counterproductive.

Michael Duncan [43:03]: "A business that wants to make money. Ludicrous."

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7. King of the Hill: Satirical Segment

A recurring segment in the episode is the satirical game "King of the Hill," where the hosts hilariously mock inflammatory statements made by Democrats. For instance, Sherry Jacobus's exaggerated statement linking Trump supporters to Nazis is ridiculed.

John Ashbrook [51:07]: "Sherry Jacobus says it's hard to say goodbye, but your MAGA friends are now basically Nazis."

This segment serves to highlight what the hosts perceive as the left's extreme rhetoric and lack of nuanced discourse.

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8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, the hosts reinforce their belief that the left's decline is self-driven due to flawed policies and ineffective strategies. They encourage listeners to stay engaged, support their podcast through likes and subscriptions, and remain vigilant against what they view as ongoing leftist overreach in both government and corporate sectors.

Josh Holmes [62:02]: "Keep the faith, hold the line and own the libs. We'll see you on Tuesday. Stay ruthless."

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to participate in upcoming live shows and continue supporting the podcast's mission to provide alternative conservative viewpoints.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Josh Holmes [00:00]: "The left's decline is accelerating because this has been their playbook."
• John Ashbrook [00:29]: "He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death. Joe Biden's legacy for seniors."
• Michael Duncan [02:58]: "The whole DEI industrial complex is based off a flawed McKinsey study that has been proven to be wrong."
• Josh Holmes [08:26]: "It keeps going. So."
• Josh Holmes [38:22]: "It's exactly definition of racism."
• John Ashbrook [37:13]: "They have backtracked... They've walked away from DEI-enabled policies."
• John Ashbrook [43:00]: "Disney is changing its diversity, equity and inclusion programs to focus more closely on business outcomes."
• Josh Holmes [62:02]: "Keep the faith, hold the line and own the libs. We'll see you on Tuesday. Stay ruthless."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of the Ruthless Podcast presents a robust critique of leftist policies and strategies, arguing that the left's own actions have precipitated their political and social decline. Through a blend of humor, sharp commentary, and pointed examples, the hosts aim to persuade listeners of the inherent flaws within left-leaning approaches to governance, corporate policies, and media influence. The inclusion of notable quotes and specific timestamps provides depth and authenticity to their arguments, making the discussion both engaging and informative for audiences seeking conservative perspectives.

Transcript

[Josh Holmes]

The left's decline is accelerating because this has been their playbook.

[Michael Duncan]

Words.

[Josh Holmes]

You say, we'll take your job away if you don't use the right terminology to misgender somebody. You know, like, they're so.

[John Ashbrook]

They're so serious about that.

[Josh Holmes]

That's it. She's like, ponder the words, big balls. Like, right now we're talking about how much of your money's been wasted by people not showing up to the office for four years. And she's offended by the nickname of the dude trying to put an end to that.

[John Ashbrook]

We finally beat Medicare.

[Michael Duncan]

He's right.

[John Ashbrook]

He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death. Joe Biden's legacy for seniors. He raided Medicare, made premiums skyrocket, and drove up drug costs. Worse, the Biden pill penalty is already slashing the development of affordable drugs, forcing seniors to pay the price of Biden's failed policy. Biden broke Medicare, but President Trump can fix it. Call Congress and urge them to end the Biden pill penalty.

[Comfortably Smug]

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.

[Michael Duncan]

Just a catching strays over here.

[John Ashbrook]

You're in for a hell of a show.

[Josh Holmes]

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

[Comfortably Smug]

It's time for our main event.

[John Ashbrook]

Good Thursday to you. Welcome back to the Ruthless Friday program. I'm Josh Holmes, along with comfortably smug Michael Duncan, John Atbrook, a full cast and crew, left to right, across your radio dial. We are excited. This is a big Thursday episode. We always have a lot of fun on Thursdays.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah, we usually. I mean, we have your news, we have your fun and games, and we have King of the Hill on a Thursday.

[John Ashbrook]

We sure do. And. And, like, you know, you get to a Thursday and you got a good sense of the week.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

How things have played out.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

And there's a lot of funny shit involved.

[Michael Duncan]

Well, especially in this era for Donald Trump.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

You know, every week is just banger after banger, so by the time you get to Thursday, it's just an embarrassment of riches, folks. There's just so much progress on all of these things that he promised in the campaign, and he's just delivering.

[John Ashbrook]

He's just delivering, right?

[Comfortably Smug]

Yeah. And on Tuesday's episode, I mentioned to you, Holmes, that last week we talked about how he has basically made a list of everything that pissed you off over the last four years, and he's just ticking it one by one by one. I couldn't remember the item on that list that caught your attention, and it just sprung to my mind. Plastic straws.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Comfortably Smug]

Donald Trump has said, no, you're allowed to use plastic straws again in America. Because this is America.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, right.

[Josh Holmes]

You know, I also saw something on that. So the whole story of like these things kill turtles was apparently some kid's like fourth grade science project.

[Comfortably Smug]

Fourth grade.

[Josh Holmes]

And then it's been disproven since. But all of America for years is having policy pushed on it because of like a fourth grade kid.

[Michael Duncan]

Dude. The whole DEI industrial complex is based off a flawed McKinsey study that has been proven to be wrong.

[John Ashbrook]

What is so amazing is that so Trump's been in office what, three and a half weeks and like, what you find out about the last like six or eight years in terms of what the left is pushing ever since Trump was elected, essentially left starts taking over all the institutions in our country and pushing all these narratives and whatnot. And what you find out, we're not that different than we were in the heyday. Yeah. Like all that shit was, it was nonsense.

[Michael Duncan]

But Trump had to come around to create the permission structure for normal, regular people to be like, yeah, yeah, we don't have to do that.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

You know.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. No, I mean, and that's what this is, is unapologetic.

[Michael Duncan]

Right.

[John Ashbrook]

This is who we are. We're just going to live like everyone was comfortable living for a while.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

Which is great. And that's what we talk about here on the Ruthless Variety program, which is why we encourage you to like and subscribe. Unlike a lot of programs that you are going to watch left, right and center, we're not sponsored by a bunch of like left wing fucking lunatics that are going to spend $50 million on a video DC.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah. We're not pot safe.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Josh Holmes]

George Soros doesn't have an ownership stake.

[John Ashbrook]

Or we don't have like, you know, any sort of like Chinese money rolling in here. These are four guys who put a USB mic in the side of their computers and decided to have some fun. So gratified that so many of you have joined us along the ride over the last four years. And I'm telling you, Wolf says we're like, what, 2,000, couple thousand away from 100,000 subscribers. Which is just the YouTube part. We've only been doing this for a year and a half. You should see the audio side. The audio side is remarkable. Yeah, yeah. Which is. Which is we love to see it. But if you can help us.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

By liking and subscribing and sending along to your friends. First of all, Smug gets a plaque.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah. And when you hit 100k, you get the plaque and so, like Holmes said is, you know, we started this as a group of friends having a chat, having a, having a drink, having a good time and talking to you folks, and the fact that we've almost hit 100,000 on YouTube, I could not be more grateful.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, no, it's fantastic. Should we get into the shit?

[Josh Holmes]

Let's get to it.

[John Ashbrook]

I mean, this show is jam packed. We got a lot of really fun stuff. And as he said, we're going to play a game in here, too. So sit back, relax, and enjoy. Get ready to laugh. Part of topic one here, fellas. It's just like the accelerating of the decline of the left. They're doing it to themselves.

[Michael Duncan]

They are, Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

I mean, it's so great to watch. But like Democrats and their media allies can. This is a story or actually something that Siraj, our boy Siraj tweeted that Democrats and their media allies continue to spiral as their tired strategies fail to slow down Trump. Let's watch clip one and just react to it. And that's where we'll kick it off. Which side are you on?

[Comfortably Smug]

Come on.

[John Ashbrook]

Which side are you on? Are you serious?

[Josh Holmes]

It gets better.

[John Ashbrook]

Which side are you on? Which side are you on? We'll fight against Josh.

[Michael Duncan]

Come on.

[John Ashbrook]

Elon Musk. No Eland scab within our walls. We'll fight from dawn to dusk. All right, so hold on. That group is a. Is like public employee union group, doing it in the middle of a workday of which Donald Trump and Elon Musk simply asked that the people that work for the federal government show back up their desk and do their job as it was intended to do. They can't stay at home, they can't do whatever. And these guys are going to protest that by showing up in the middle of a workday to sing an anthem from Union 1950.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. I mean, that song was actually written by Florence Reese, a social activist. I think it was back in the 1920s.

[Josh Holmes]

It was in Kentucky, right?

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, it was popularized during the Harlan county war by Pete Seeger, who covered that song. But, you know, those folks in that. In that labor dispute, it got violent and ugly. You know, those were hardscrabble coal miners.

[John Ashbrook]

And also these.

[Michael Duncan]

These people haven't got a callus on their hand since, you know, they got a paper cut from filing papers. You know, like, it's just. It's hilarious to think these people consider themselves like the coal miners in Harlan county from the 1930s.

[Comfortably Smug]

People put coal miners out of work.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, they did. And the best part about it is that they were all offered eight months of paid labor. They didn't have to do anything to just go home. We'll give you your full salary, whatever pension, you're entitled to, all of that stuff. And they're like, that's just like the coal miners. And here's the thing. You've done that. Just like the coal miners, who, by the way, we tried to put out of work.

[Josh Holmes]

We're discussing the collapse of the left. And like you said, this is a choice. They are saying, which side are you on? They're like, we will fight Doge. They're fighting government efficiency, being like, everyone get on our side. Right? Don't save taxpayer money. It's like, how the hell did Trump get into a situation where he's just common sense? And his opponents are like, no, we must waste taxpayer money.

[John Ashbrook]

What was that? That old quote, the Voltaire quote? It was like, I. I prayed only.

[Josh Holmes]

For one thing, that my enemies be ridiculous. And Trump has gotten that. That's it.

[John Ashbrook]

That's what's happened. It's like, he's good. No question he's good, but his superpower is making his enemies ridiculous.

[Michael Duncan]

Well, I think the acceleration of the spiral that the left is in right now is because it actually kind of worked the first time against Donald Trump, and it ain't working anymore. Right. Like, the American people are much more comfortable with Donald Trump as president. United States this time around. They cried wolf. They tried back in 2017. They said he was a puppet of Vladimir Putin and Russia. And people bought into that bullshit, and it was wrong. And so this time, their bullshit detection meter is much, much, much higher. And that's why they're flailing so much.

[Comfortably Smug]

Not to mention they're proving the need for government efficiency because they're doing this in the middle of the workday where they're being paid by everyone who's listening to this show using a microphone that's funded by a union that was funded by everybody listening to this show.

[Josh Holmes]

It's unreal. Yeah, it's unreal.

[John Ashbrook]

It's genuinely remarkable.

[Michael Duncan]

It's beyond parody, really.

[John Ashbrook]

It's beyond parody. And like, I was doing Fox last night, and Brett put on the thing that Elon was talking about, the limestone mines.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

That they keep, apparently, the records of everyone who's worked in the federal government. They file like it's 1952. They take them physically.

[Josh Holmes]

Papers, papers, it all has to be printed.

[John Ashbrook]

And they. And they take them and they put them in a limestone mine in, like, West Virginia or somewhere like that's.

[Comfortably Smug]

Pennsylvania or Pennsylvania.

[Michael Duncan]

It's like the end scene in Indiana Jones, you know, where like they're putting in the Ark of the Covenant in some box.

[John Ashbrook]

He was like, they told me that no more than 10,000 people can retire from the federal government at any given year because they can't actually file it. Think about that. If ever there was an advertisement for government efficiency, it's. They're literally saying we have a cap on the number of people who can leave the government because we gotta take these red robed folders down into a limestone mine. Just put your, wrap your mind around that.

[Michael Duncan]

Like, imagine that as a defense of the status quo of government.

[John Ashbrook]

Right?

[Michael Duncan]

And it goes back to that, you know, the discourse around Politico Pro and all those subscriptions that all of these government agencies had to get to get analytics and access into, like, what the government's doing. And my question, all of that is like, aside from the cost of like getting Politico Pro for all these agencies, you're talking tens of thousands of dollars per subscription. Like, maybe the better question is, why does our government not know what our government is doing, that they have to pay someone to find out what they're doing?

[Josh Holmes]

That's a good point.

[Michael Duncan]

You know what I mean? And like, that is the whole point of Doge.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

It's like there are real inefficiencies in our government that are not defensible. Like, you cannot defend this bullshit.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, just this, this one example is hard to wrap your mind around. It's like that scene from Office Space where like, so what do you say you do around here? He's like, well, I actually physically carry the. They're like, we can't afford to have more than 10,000 people retire. We have to keep paying them because we also pay a guy to print out a sheet of paper, take it to a limestone cavern. He's got to have a job too.

[John Ashbrook]

Well, like, here's the thing. I don't expect the guy who physically grabs the red rope and walks to the limestone to self report like it's a gig. Right. He's probably living in the central Pennsylvania area. He's going to drive down once every six months, pick up some folders and roll them to the limestone. But like, if you're in charge of that. And my bigger question is the entire government, the way of getting around whether you have wasteful spending is putting inspector generals at each and every agency. And so for the last like 30 years, there's been people who are serious. Like, they have to be Confirmed, I think, inspector generals of each one of these agencies. What the fuck have they been doing?

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah, that's the thing.

[Michael Duncan]

Like, who signs off on that and is like, you know what? This is the best way.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, think about the whole chain. There's a person who prints it. There's a person who has to run a mailroom to then send it to Pennsylvania. There's gotta be a person who grabs it from a mailroom then files it over to deliver it to the guy who drives it over to the. To the limestone cavern.

[Comfortably Smug]

Right.

[Josh Holmes]

And then there's a guy there waiting for it to then file it away. These are jobs that take a sheet.

[Comfortably Smug]

Of paper and let's. What I think is very important for people to remember is you are paying for each and everything along that supply chain. The mine belongs to you. You're paying for this mine. You're paying for the elevator shaft. You're paying for the operators. So, of course, people are like, wait a minute, what am I actually getting in return for what I'm charged every April?

[John Ashbrook]

Well, if you're 40 years being the guy who picks up the red ropes and marches him down to lent, you're paying him full salary for the rest of his life.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah. You're paying his pension, too.

[John Ashbrook]

I mean, if you've ever wondered why it is that the VAC education homes around where it is that you live are all by people who are like public servants. Well, there it is.

[Michael Duncan]

I think what it reveals is how much institutional resistance there is to change in government.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

And that the easiest thing to business model. If you're those inspector generals or. Or whoever, who's overseeing these programs, like, you ain't gonna get fired for saying it's all good. Right. That we're doing it the best we can.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

And requesting the same amount of budget from Congress for the next year.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

Right. No one got fired doing that.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

So why would they? And there's this don't upset the apple cart mentality to. To, you know, government employment. That is like, the entire reason why Doge and Donald Trump are so important.

[John Ashbrook]

It's just. I'm so happy. This is like, for those of us who spend any time in government, we spent most of our time wishing and hoping that a scenario like this could ever be presented. We just didn't think it was possible. Right. And they just were like, ah, the rules. We don't do rules. We're just gonna do this. We're gonna do Doge. And when I see Elon with his kid in the Oval Just sort of winging it and telling him about how they went into some agencies and all of the government computers that they. Or phones that they took a look at all still had Trump administration information on it because nobody'd been into the office since then.

[Michael Duncan]

You mean Biden administered no Trump. They hadn't been original Trump.

[John Ashbrook]

Original Trump.

[Josh Holmes]

Because in the years since, none of those government employees had even shown up.

[John Ashbrook]

They didn't even show up. They didn't even show up. Wow. Like, that's a breathtaking thing. And like, I just don't.

[Michael Duncan]

Four year vacations.

[Josh Holmes]

Four year paid vacation paid by all of you, dear listeners.

[John Ashbrook]

It's amazing, but it keeps going. So. But like, he's also creating this whole media thing, which I find completely hilarious. Can we play clip 2 2. Take a deep breath for just a.

[Josh Holmes]

Moment and ponder big balls. Meanwhile, that's what they're up to.

[John Ashbrook]

That's the other thing they're doing is it's like the give a factor is zero.

[Josh Holmes]

Yep.

[John Ashbrook]

They're like, they've got this guy big balls. We covered him on Tuesday. But they've also created in the entirety of the primetime lineup of the Democratic left, the things that, like, I don't know, I guess a couple hundred thousand people listen to. They're talking about big balls.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

Just wait for a minute and ponder big balls.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah, take a deep breath.

[Josh Holmes]

Big balls. And you know, I think this again, goes right back to the overarching theme of the left's decline is accelerating because this has been their playbook words. You say, we'll take your job away if you don't use the right terminology to misgender somebody. You know, like, they're so focused.

[John Ashbrook]

Oh, they're so serious about that.

[Josh Holmes]

That's it. She's like, ponder the words big balls. Like, right now we're talking about how much of your money's been wasted by people not showing up to the office for four years. And she's offended by the nickname of the dude trying to put an end to that. It's. It's staggering.

[John Ashbrook]

It's staggering. But also, like, all the names that have, like, tumbled out now with big balls. And like, it was like a 1990s prank phone call. Or like the origin story how I used to make dinner reservations in the early 2000s.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. Hey, would you blow me?

[John Ashbrook]

Well, that was the one that I saw today. There was a guy named Haywood who was testifying before the Doge committee. And I was like, I'm shocked that this guy's name, last name's Not Jablo. I mean, it's just. It's fantastic. I don't know. Everything is great, but there is so much more and so many laughs in this next section. You are not gonna wanna miss any of it because it just continues. We'll get it to it right after this. I don't have to tell you, Americans are ready for what's next. Moving beyond the hardships of inflation and economic anxiety towards building a future, a better future for our families. Ensuring greater access to more affordable energy that powers daily lives. Reliable energy that fuels innovation and economic growth, and the abundant energy that keeps our nation safer and more secure. It's all within our grasp. We'll do this together. Building a brighter future for us, powered by America's oil and natural gas resources. You can learn more about all of this. All right, so we should probably just stay on the fact that these people are losing their minds.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

You know, it's only. There's only so much you can do. Honestly, if you're thinking about the way that Trump has proceeded in the first two and a half weeks that, like, it's great and people love it. That's why he was elected. But it wouldn't be just in the echelon that it is unless you have opposition that are firmly standing behind it and they're like, no, don't do these things. We've got a series of things to set up on this. Everyone. You're going to love this. Let's do clip three, please. You know, $59 million spent on luxury hotels. It's actually not about the FEMA money.

[Comfortably Smug]

That was used for migrants. That was.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, FEMA money for migrants.

[Comfortably Smug]

That's okay now.

[John Ashbrook]

No, I'm not saying it so. I'm not saying it's okay. Don't put words.

[Josh Holmes]

So would you stop that?

[John Ashbrook]

Would you stop that process? Don't be a dick. The portrayal. What I'm saying is the portrayal. Do be a dick. Cnn. Cnn, right? Sununu. Like, look, so we know Sunu. We've done a lot of stuff. This is not a dick. Like, he's probably one of the more reasonable middle of the road Republican human beings. Like, the reason, one of the reasons why he's on cnn, right, is because he's one of those guys that talks left of center, right of center and has that constituency. He can't have it. Anderson Cooper can't have. He's like, don't be a dick.

[Josh Holmes]

Also, it's funny because To Anderson Cooper, 59 million is not a lot because he's an heir to the Vanderbilt fortune. Yeah, he doesn't give a shit about 50 million.

[Michael Duncan]

It's just what it reveals in all of these things is like their position is indefensible.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

You know, and so Sununu saying that is frustrating to him because, like, you know, these panels are supposed to be a. Oh, there's one side and there's another side. There isn't another side. There isn't another side.

[John Ashbrook]

Not in the American public.

[Michael Duncan]

It is not defensible. And Donald Trump, to his credit, has spent this first month of his administration finding every issue that's an 80, 20 issue in this country. And he's been on the 80% side.

[John Ashbrook]

Totally.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, real quick, just to touch on that 59 million, when Sununu brings up rightfully and everyone by now is probably stat. That 59 million went for New York City in Midtown, some of the most expensive hotel rooms, $700 a night to put migrants, people who have broken the law, entering our country illegally, many of whom are continuing to commit violent crimes, getting free hotel rooms every night in some of the most expensive real estate on Earth. And FEMA didn't have a dime for folks in western North Carolina who lost everything. These are US Citizens. These are Americans who were given nothing by their government, by FEMA, and it was given and spent on migrants. $59 million. That's an outrage.

[John Ashbrook]

And as Elon said yesterday, at a rate that was roughly double what a room occupancy rate would be ordinarily.

[Josh Holmes]

Because that's the thing, is these hotel owners love this game.

[John Ashbrook]

They love it.

[Josh Holmes]

They're like, oh, I can be guaranteed my. My hotel has every room occupied at twice the rate. Do it. No problem. Let's run this.

[John Ashbrook]

No problem. I mean, you understand it because they. I mean, they eliminated New York City for two years. Yeah, right. And all the people that moved out of it and everybody who didn't want to do conferences and all the things that they ordinarily did in New York because Democrats ruined the city, introduced crime, the whole Covid backlash, everything else. And so you get a hotel, a luxury hotel, it's like, oh, wait, you're going to pay me double max room occupancy. I don't care who you put in that joint. That's a business. That's a business decision.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah, right.

[John Ashbrook]

I'm actually not even. I don't even blame those people because they're like, you ruined every other way of my life, dude.

[Michael Duncan]

New York had to hire a consulting firm and pay them millions of dollars to Figure out you should probably put trash in trash cans.

[Josh Holmes]

He's not being. He's not joking.

[Michael Duncan]

I'm not joking. This is a serious thing. It's like, oh, wait, we shouldn't just, like, throw trash in the street. Oh, man. Novel idea. All right. Millions of dollars, dude.

[John Ashbrook]

Thanks, man.

[Michael Duncan]

I'm gonna pay this invoice.

[John Ashbrook]

Oh, thank you so much. That's awesome. I appreciate that. All right, clip four. If we get into this, this is one of my favorites. I've been told I have 30 seconds.

[Comfortably Smug]

So I am gonna tell you that.

[John Ashbrook]

We do have to.

[Josh Holmes]

I don't swear in public very well.

[John Ashbrook]

But we have to fuck Trump.

[Michael Duncan]

Lady.

[John Ashbrook]

Let me just say, lady, I don't think you're his type. I don't think you're his type.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, didn't they say that they were gonna go on strike when Trump won? Like, I guess the strike's broken. Like, Trump.

[Michael Duncan]

I mean, I knew they were frustrated. I didn't know they were sexually frustrated.

[John Ashbrook]

I mean, was that like a. Just a call? Like, she was flipping teams?

[Michael Duncan]

I think maybe it was a Freudian slip.

[John Ashbrook]

Maybe she was like, I am with Doge. I am with Doge. I'm going to fuck Trump.

[Josh Holmes]

I saw the tax savings, and what can I say?

[John Ashbrook]

I just don't think, like, just grab a mirror, Melania. Comparison is not a kind one.

[E]

Up to you.

[John Ashbrook]

Clip five, please.

[Josh Holmes]

We are three weeks into the second Trump presidency. Three weeks. And tonight there are warnings that the US Is dangerously close to a constitutional crisis. Now, the first shoe I shot, when a federal judge today said the White House is defying his order to unfreeze billions of dollars in federal aid, why do they.

[John Ashbrook]

Here's the thing. I know Caitlin. We all know Caitlin. I think she's smart. I think she's good. You know, she obviously has her CNN gig. Why would any producer make her do that? Like, why would anybody write that it's a constitutional crisis for spending to be examined in this country? Like, it's not just a leftist talking point, which it is. It's also dangerous.

[Josh Holmes]

I'm gonna toss this alley OOP over to Ashbrook. But a key point here is that's editorializing when you're supposed to be just straight news, right?

[Comfortably Smug]

I mean, and that's what people want. People are opening up the newspaper. People are going to evening newscast to get information, but that's not what CNN is giving them. And I'm of two minds on this because CNN's content is so dunkable. It is so funny for people like Us. I don't want them to stop. And regular people out there know the. Know the gig. You know, what they may not know is the person who runs news at CNN is very close with Kamala and Doug Emhoff and everybody else, but they don't care. They're like, yeah, give me some CNN clips so that I can laugh about them in the day. And, you know, there was. It's very funny. We talked about this on the show. But their viewership is lower than all of the clips of Scott Jennings dunking on them in those Abby Philip families.

[Michael Duncan]

Amazing stylistically, though. I mean, just as an artiste.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, please.

[Michael Duncan]

I gotta say, pretty dissonant audio mixing there to start that clip. We've got, like, hopeful orchestra music, and then it's like, constitutional crisis.

[John Ashbrook]

Can we.

[Michael Duncan]

Can we actually play that against.

[John Ashbrook]

I got to get into this because I missed it.

[Michael Duncan]

Just. Just watch it again.

[John Ashbrook]

Let's do this.

[Josh Holmes]

We are three weeks into the second Trump president.

[Michael Duncan]

It's like, maybe this is positive.

[Josh Holmes]

And tonight there are warnings that the US hopefully close to a constitutional crisis.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah, See, like, they screwed it up. They screwed up the sound.

[John Ashbrook]

Here we are in Washington. We are doing good things.

[Michael Duncan]

Constitutional. I'm so angry. It's like, what are you trying to do to these people?

[John Ashbrook]

By the end of this sentence, you will not have a country.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah, it's like the way you start, like, all right, here's the weather.

[Josh Holmes]

Can someone cite what part of the Constitution says, thou shalt waste taxpayer money? Because I don't remember that. I was never taught that part. A constitutional crisis. What are they talking about?

[John Ashbrook]

Well, it's just. It's just so incredible because it's coming from the same people who, like, you know, staged violent protests in front of Supreme Court justices homes. And, like, those are constitutional crises. That's what that looks like. You know, and, like, the idea that you have a disagreement about spending policy in this country has somehow enveloped the left into saying constitutional crisis. I mean, look, I understand some of this stuff is being litigated in court, but the idea that you can't look at fraud and be like, hey, that's fraud.

[Michael Duncan]

Right.

[John Ashbrook]

Let's not do that. Fraud. And they're like, oh, my God, it's the end of democracy.

[Michael Duncan]

And also cnn, like, your audience pays taxes, too.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. You know, I just. The funny thing is. And I feel bad for the people who are just, like, constant CNN viewers or MSNBC viewers, because the information they flow is just not accurate. It's. It's just not. It's not good. Like, they're actually probably just in a constant state of anxiety.

[Josh Holmes]

They have to be at risk for, like, traumatic brain injuries, like, all day long getting this.

[John Ashbrook]

They have to be. When in actuality, the W2 form that they're filling out and the taxes that they pay are the only thing anybody's looking after here.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

And that's really the only question that you should have on your mind is whether or not you're getting for your tax dollar what you paid for, because that's it. There's not, like, Elon Musk a billionaire. Oh, he's a billionaire. He's stealing our. He's a thief. Yeah. He wants your fucking money. He doesn't. He builds rockets that fly to Mars, for Christ's sakes. This is like, that guy is interested in your $24 Social Security check. No, dude. He wants to make sure, as he said yesterday, that 175-year-old American is not getting a Social Security check. Because you know why? Your kid, who's 35, is probably not going to get a Social Security check as a result of him not looking for it.

[Comfortably Smug]

Right. That's such a good point.

[John Ashbrook]

And, like, constitutional crisis. Oh, my God, what will we ever do? God bless it. These people are fantastic. The content, that's the thing. You have no idea what the pre production. We used to, like, not have pre production in the Biden years. It was like, what happened? Well, nothing.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah, he was asleep.

[John Ashbrook]

What game can we play here on the Ruthless Friday program to try to keep people entertained? Because the guy was asleep again all day. And now every day, it's like we're a meeting. We're, like, going through. We got 20 topics. You should see what hit the cut and room floor. We could do a whole nother two hours on it.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. Is it. The Trump era is like, red zone.

[Josh Holmes]

It is so much going on.

[Michael Duncan]

There's so much going. It's like every. It's like. It's like you got Scott Hansen or Chris Hansen, whatever his name is, and it's like, touchdown. All right, we got to go to another place. Touchdown.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

And it's like, Elon found 40 billion here. Oh, look, 60 billion there. It's like, oh, there's a quarry in Pennsylvania and every piece of paper on a government worker is there. And it's like, holy shit. How we could do an episode every hour.

[John Ashbrook]

Except every team that they flash to your first round draft pick is scoring.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. And they have them on your fantasy team.

[John Ashbrook]

And they have them on your fantasy team.

[Comfortably Smug]

And CNN's interpretation is no, you're not allowed to look.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah, it's incredible.

[John Ashbrook]

You shut up your dumb face.

[Comfortably Smug]

Exactly. Impermissible. You're not. It's unconstitutional to ask your government to spend your money wisely.

[John Ashbrook]

Don't have fun and laugh. Don't do that. All right, so our question of the day is, in their moment of darkness, what's the best troll to make it even worse? Worse for them? This has seen a lot of great trolls about, you know, just rolling something out to the left that just makes them lose their mind. The guy who's, like, most susceptible to it is. Is Chuck Schumer. Like, whatever it is. How minute. If it originates on the online. Right. And, like, rolls anywhere close to his office, he does a press conference on the damn thing. Oh, yeah. And like, within an hour, it's like, well, none of this was.

[Josh Holmes]

Well, it was like, when relevant, Chuck Schumer unveils this website of, like, if you can uncover any, like, government corruption or any danger, please fill it in here. And then it gets filled with conservatives being like, so there's this guy, Chuck Schumer, who threatened the lives of Supreme Court justices. You should look into this.

[John Ashbrook]

Oh, my God. So good. So you gotta put that like. And subscribe if you like and subscribe. We're gonna get your stuff here. In the next program. We'll talk all about it. Coming up next, we're going to have your answers to last Tuesday's question. It was a good one. It was, if Kamala Harris had won, what would she be doing right now? Stands in great contrast. You have great stuff right after this.

[Comfortably Smug]

As President Trump begins his new administration, one of the top Democrats in Congress aiming to undermine the Trump agenda is Chicago's Senator Dick Durbin. And now Senator Durbin has a new scheme, a government takeover of your credit card. Today, Americans have thousands of choices in credit cards, all with equal strong security. But Senator Durbin's plan will result in less competition and less security, and that means more risk for your credit and your identity. Tell Republican senators, stop Dick Durbin's government takeover of your credit card before it's too late. Learn more at www.guardyourcard.

[John Ashbrook]

Okay, so our question of the day from Tuesday that we read on Thursdays is, if Kamala Harris had won, what would she be doing? Everybody's talking about what Trump is doing, but imagine just in a different parallel world.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah. In the bad place.

[John Ashbrook]

In a bad place. And you got great comments. But to do that, we always start with the voice.

[Comfortably Smug]

And as Josh said in the last segment, if you want to comment, if you want us to read your comments. Like and subscribe. Like and subscribe. If you wish to opine we coined that phrase. And here at the Ruthless Variety program, the first comment comes from the Cookie Army. And the Cookie army writes, kamala would be pretty busy if she were president right now. She'd have to address California wildfires by giving government funds to Newsom so that he could redirect the last of LA's water to the ocean to save a guppy.

[Josh Holmes]

That's terrific.

[Comfortably Smug]

Then she'd have to oversee her trans Transportation Secretary to ensure that the FAA was expanding their DEI program to include blind air traffic controllers.

[John Ashbrook]

Trans Secretary is pretty good.

[Comfortably Smug]

The Trans department.

[Josh Holmes]

The Trans Department.

[John Ashbrook]

Trans department.

[Comfortably Smug]

A good friend of the program, Charlie Hurt, who is now a, an esteemed co host of Fox and Friends.

[John Ashbrook]

He's really made it up in the world.

[Comfortably Smug]

He has. Over the weekend he was asking about the trans department and I thought that was quite funny.

[John Ashbrook]

It was very good. It was not unintentional by Charlie. Let's get a comment too from Dunks.

[Michael Duncan]

This is from John from Bayside. If Kamala were currently president, she would be tripling funding to America's great small businesses, the Washington based NGOs creating a new executive agency so USAID could focus on directing its grift to worthy organizations overseas.

[Josh Holmes]

That's so good.

[John Ashbrook]

Well, the, you know, the transsexual population of Tanzania is burgeoning.

[Michael Duncan]

Must be studied.

[John Ashbrook]

They need to be studied and they need to be represented.

[Comfortably Smug]

Their efforts on climate change can't be ignored.

[John Ashbrook]

No. That's what small business is in our world. Thank you, John. I appreciate that. Smug. What do we got?

[Josh Holmes]

Comment 3 is from larinda Leach. Lorinda writes, if Kamala was president, thank God for the hypothetical. After three weeks, she would still be pondering what could be unburdened by what has been riding around in an armored school bus. Cause that was great. Because we all know how Ralshi gets over a good school bus. According to Chuck Schumer, while pondering what day or if every day should be designated as National Wine Wine Day.

[Comfortably Smug]

Perfect.

[John Ashbrook]

Oh, that's good. That's good. Wine and Wine day. Yeah, yeah, that is.

[Josh Holmes]

You should absolutely have that going.

[John Ashbrook]

Well, is anybody tired of winning yet? The winds are stacking up here and we've got some new additional accomplishments that may have missed your radar. You know, unless you're right, listen to the right stuff, watching the right news, you're probably not going to see this in your local newspaper. We're going to get to all of it right after this.

[Comfortably Smug]

So we just got some big news from Americans for Prosperity, the most effective, effective grassroots organization in the country. They've just launched a massive $20 million campaign to protect your hard earned money. Here's the deal. If Congress doesn't act, the Trump tax cuts will expire. That means families could pay 1500 more in taxes next year. We all remember the benefits of those tax cuts. More money in your pocket, higher wages and thriving mom and pop businesses across the country. But bidenomics has us backward. Record inflation and rising costs mean families are paying over $13,000 more per year just to make ends meet. Now is not the time for higher taxes. That's why AFP is unleashing its grassroots army to protect the tax cuts with hundreds of local events, millions of voter contacts and direct pressure on lawmakers. Join the fight. Visit ProtectProsperity.com to demand Congress renews and strengthens the Trump tax cut so we can reignite the American dream. That's ProtectProsperity.com okay, so this is interesting.

[John Ashbrook]

So Goldman Sachs, there's a lot of financial companies that built in this sort of resistance left to the first Trump administration, an entire industry model that was basically DEI enabled. And these things are falling fast. We've covered this a little bit. Interesting though, Goldman Sachs, right? We're talking about blue chip name here. Walked away from. Can we get clip six, please?

[E]

So it effectively was supposed to be the end of the all white straight mail boards. They even upped the ante and made the requirement too for companies that they were taking public in Western Europe and US While today they've formally confirmed that they have backtracked, we've already seen one or two companies where that policy certainly slipped away. And you have to see what's happening in the broader environment. There's obviously everything that you've seen change since Donald Trump reentered the White House. There was of course, the NASDAQ board diversity rule that was killed in the fifth Circuit as well. All of these things played a fact. And this is Goldman just acknowledging and this is a nod to the time that we're in.

[Comfortably Smug]

Finally, Bloomberg, bring in the facts with the real reporter.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, this is insane because, you know, now that we are in the golden age, it's crazy to think back. There was a time when a company like Goldman Sachs could openly say, you know, because they do M and a mergers and acquisition, that we will not take a company public, which means we will not help get them listed on the stock market if their board is white people. Like that was, that was considered okay.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, I mean that like as if that's not racism. I mean that's exactly definition of racism. It also just, it sort of just makes me sad, you know, that we went through a period in American history like this that where there were companies as powerful as Goldman Sachs. And I know of like 2 personally of people who have gone through this process where they had to put two or three people on a board, one of them wholly unqualified, like just, it didn't work out like ended up, they ended up like suing the company, like creating a huge problem with the merger and acquisition because they forced a person who was not qualified into the position. And like there's not a single African American in the world, woman in the world, gay person in the world who would want the opportunity to be like just an add on to a multi billion dollar acquisition just because of what they were born looking like or acting. You know what I mean? It's just like their sexual preference is certainly not a part of whether this com, this company succeeds or doesn't succeed. But we went through a period in history where that was a real thing.

[Josh Holmes]

And then conversely, like crazy, it's like.

[John Ashbrook]

You look back, we're going to look back at this. Like we look back on Bull Connor. Yeah, we really are. Honest to God, we really will. And nobody wants to hear that. But that is true. We will look back on this and say, I can't imagine how nobody thought this wasn't the most racist that we could.

[Michael Duncan]

Because it reduces people down to attributes. And it's a caricature. Yeah, it's a caricature.

[Josh Holmes]

And conversely, in his autobiography, Clarence Thomas writes he's always hated affirmative action and this DEI stuff because when he would walk into a room, he wanted everyone to know he's there because he's the most qualified person there not to look at him and be like, he must have been the quota guy. That's hurtful to everybody.

[Michael Duncan]

Mark Andreessen tells this story about, I think it was Meta's board or something when they were going through having to make sure that they worked within this regulation of board diversity or whatever and that Peter Thiel actually qualified because he was gay. Yeah, right.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

And it's like for those of you who know Peter Thiel, like that that isn't something he would want to qualify him for a board. Maybe it's because he's been one of the most successful angel investors in the history of American capitalism. You know, it's like, the idea that you could reduce somebody that successful down to, like, their sexual preference and be like, now you're qualified, is so fundamentally absurd. And against that, the idea of America.

[John Ashbrook]

But also, also just the action of reporting it back corporately.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

You know, like, I can understand wanting to get different perspectives on a board. Like, that's what boards do. Want to get different perspectives. The boards exist because you don't want to be monolithic in how you think because you might miss something. So I get like. But that's what corporate boards do. I mean, if you're a public company, like, that's what your job is. But then to have something like a DEI regulator where you're like, oh, yeah, Peter Thiel checks the gay box. And then having a corporate structure where you actually have to report back to be like, hey, we got a gay guy. Where does that go? And like, what constituency are you satisfying with that piece without knowing what it is that Peter Thiel has to say? Like, that's unreal.

[Comfortably Smug]

I think now we know the constituency it is. Taxpayer funded NGOs.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. Turns out that's a big part of it.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

Well, they certainly used this to try to push it internationally and made everybody else sort of adhere to it and gave grants as a result of what their social engineering agenda would be, which is why they've run into a whole lot of trouble. I can't. Oh, no.

[Michael Duncan]

Oh, no.

[John Ashbrook]

Oh. Anyway, they're not alone. Disney rebrands. According to Axios, Disney is changing its diversity, equity and inclusion programs to focus more closely on business outcomes. Oh, that's interesting. Shareholders must be drinking a sigh of relief programs.

[Michael Duncan]

A business that wants to make money. Ludicrous.

[John Ashbrook]

According to a note sent to employees Tuesday obtained by Axios as part of the shift. Sources tell Axios Disney is moving and changing its content disclaimers that it started releasing around certain titles in 2020. Like, I don't know what those are. We didn't cover them on the show. I'd love to know what those initial ones were.

[Comfortably Smug]

The content for Disney, remember four years.

[John Ashbrook]

Ago, warning, there's three white guys.

[Michael Duncan]

Exactly.

[Comfortably Smug]

And there was this woman. There was this woman who was in the popular show the Mandalorian. I watched it with our kids and all of a sudden she tweeted something that the. That the wokes didn't like. And so then all of a. She had to be on the show.

[Josh Holmes]

She was a normal conservative, she was a normal American. And they ran her out for that.

[John Ashbrook]

They're also saying they're going to Evaluate executive compensation with a new talent strategy.

[Josh Holmes]

This whole thing.

[John Ashbrook]

So hold on.

[Josh Holmes]

It's mind boggling.

[John Ashbrook]

A talent strategy. You know what? I'm running a business. I'm, I'm considering. Guys, just hold on. Yeah, I'm considering whether or not this person has talent. Yeah, I know it's edgy.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

But that's, that might be the way we head with this.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah, we're going to find good people.

[John Ashbrook]

What do you think? Do you think that's, I mean, too much?

[Josh Holmes]

I mean that's the thing is like evolutionary. It had gotten to this point where you have massive companies like Disney, massive companies like Disney who had been, had this Kool Aid that they drank that made them think that, number one, let's not try to make the best business outcome. Who here is trying to make money? We're a company, guys. What are you thinking? And then to be like, why don't we try to make sure that the person who gets a job is not the most qualified? Right. Just that it won't trigger a trigger warning ahead of our programming that, oh no, there's been three white people cited during the filming of this TV show and that now they're like, this is for it to be considered a bold step that we're going to try to make our shareholders money. We're going to try to make our movies that actually make money. They're like, this is a radical change. Everyone please grab your seats. Second point. We're going to hire people based on merit. It's mind blowing. That's how crazy a period that Americans have endured, that businesses have endured. I mean, good for them. Honestly. I want to see this across the board. I want every company to be able to publicly say, listen, the bad times are over. If you're a qualified person gets, guess what? You get a job. And if, if you're a business, you're allowed to try and make money.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. I don't think people understand how pervasive and insidious all of this was and how organized it was. There are these nonprofits, these, you know, NGOs and groups that raised millions of dollars. A lot of them grants, you know, from USAID and other things that then put pressure on the HR departments of these large corporations to sign pledges on things, whether that's ESG or DEI or what have you, shakedown racket. And what you got was the HR fication of the entire company. And nobody can really go to HR with a complaint about hr.

[John Ashbrook]

Right, Right. No, you can't. And the funny thing is, I Think on the right. As our whole party has become more working class, there has become a misperception about corporate America. Corporate America is and always will be entirely where the business is. They are not concerned about what you believe, they are not concerned about what you think. They're marketing products for you to buy that they think have value and they think you'll enjoy. And they're going to go wherever the culture is, no matter what. Where this took a turn is when a shakedown racket appeared where they could. They could corrupt a media that provided a direct info flow to you, the consumer, that was a negative connotation on their company if they didn't pay the toll.

[Josh Holmes]

Yep.

[John Ashbrook]

And that's where DEI came in. If you didn't incorporate a DEI program, there was an entire ecosystem, a cottage industry, boycotts that had a direct access to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press, all your local news, everything.

[Michael Duncan]

You're seeing protest outside your headquarters.

[John Ashbrook]

They would talk about big questions Rise hq. And they're wondering whether or not they have your best interests at heart.

[Michael Duncan]

Right.

[John Ashbrook]

And that's why they started to do this. Right. It wasn't like a cultural shift. It felt like one. Yeah, it really felt.

[Michael Duncan]

It was really successful.

[John Ashbrook]

It was really successful.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah, but it was. There's no difference between what they did and what the mafia does to run a protection right now. There is no difference.

[Comfortably Smug]

Except that in this case, some of it was funded by people listening to this show without their consent.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, yeah. So anyway, but that's another reason why you got to keep at it. Right? Trump is doing great things. Doge, all this stuff. I can't say I am like over the moon about the way that these first three and a half weeks have gone. And you should be, too. But you gotta stay plugged in because these folks, you can look at these rallies, dude, look what they're trying to do. They are going to, at some point, latch in to another shakedown racket. And you just have to say, no, I'm not doing it. Like, you just have to be steadfast as a good. Like, I know that this is not something you've got lives. You got softball practice, soccer practice, you got all this stuff. But this is why you got to pay attention to this stuff. Because we kind of took our eye off the ball for three and a half years while they built this thing. And the next thing you know, every institution in America was just shoving a quota system down our throat. That's crazy.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

It's wild that it can happen in this country. But it did. Anyway, Wolf gave me the actual, you know, when I asked what the content thing was like that they're now removing on Disney. Yeah, this is what. This is what it is. They had a content advisory disclaimer on some of the show, like Dumbo.

[Michael Duncan]

Come on.

[John Ashbrook]

And Peter Pan.

[Comfortably Smug]

The cartoons.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. That they warn that it, quote, includes negative depictions and or mistreatment of peoples or cultures.

[Michael Duncan]

Okay.

[John Ashbrook]

Dumbo.

[Michael Duncan]

Okay.

[Josh Holmes]

It might offend. What is it? The child donkeys are getting drunk and smoking cigars and Dumbo, like, really, like child donkeys. You remember them?

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[Josh Holmes]

That was it. The, like, island where they're all just.

[Michael Duncan]

Being a misfit toys.

[Josh Holmes]

They're just trying to have a good time. Drink a couple beers, have a few cigars.

[John Ashbrook]

I mean, we're having such a good time, we might as well play a game.

[Josh Holmes]

Let's play a game.

[John Ashbrook]

Let's do it.

[Michael Duncan]

King of the Hill. It's Thursday. We gotta get to it. Our defending champion is Holmes.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

With the ultimate cheat code, Sherry Jacobus.

[John Ashbrook]

I think I'm going for what the Chiefs couldn't accomplish.

[Josh Holmes]

It's a three, Pete.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Josh Holmes]

Going for it.

[Michael Duncan]

And Ashbrook, you have our challenger. Who you bringing?

[Comfortably Smug]

Joe Walsh.

[Michael Duncan]

Joe.

[Comfortably Smug]

Smoking Joe Walsh.

[Michael Duncan]

Okay. And smug. You're judging. I'm bailiff.

[Josh Holmes]

That's right.

[Michael Duncan]

So let's go ringside.

[Comfortably Smug]

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. It's time for King of the Hip. In the red corner, fighting from who knows where, Smoking Joe Wall. And now, in the blue corner, fighting from her own Twitter account, and current champion of the world, Kami Cherry Jacobus.

[John Ashbrook]

It's so good. Every time.

[Michael Duncan]

Seriously, Every time. And he gives a little more when he's playing.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. He throws a little. There's a little more diaphragm.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

To it.

[Michael Duncan]

He projects.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. No, it's great.

[Michael Duncan]

Okay, you're our defending champion, so I will go.

[John Ashbrook]

I'm going to call up exhibit three. Exhibit three is Sherry Jacob is saying simply, it's hard to say goodbye, but there's no denying that your MAGA friends are now basically Nazis.

[Josh Holmes]

Good God.

[Michael Duncan]

She always takes it to 11.

[John Ashbrook]

Not Nazis.

[Josh Holmes]

She only has.

[Michael Duncan]

She just has one speed, dude. It's just not fair.

[John Ashbrook]

It's just so good. It's like, yeah, no, they might vote a little differently on fiscal policy or they may exterminate 11 million people.

[Michael Duncan]

She just. She has one speed. That's why she's unfair in this game.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, like, the first few words, you're like, where's this going? It's hard to say goodbye. And she's like, but you have to abandon all your friends. They're now Nazi and family.

[John Ashbrook]

Whatever.

[Josh Holmes]

Where did that come? Alrighty.

[Michael Duncan]

Ashbrook.

[Comfortably Smug]

Okay. Spaghetti. Can we have exhibit eight, please? And we have Joe Walsh, quote, tweeting himself at almost 11am on February 11th. He says, hey, Maga, if you want to get rid of the Constitution, have the balls to say so. And what I'll tell you, Smokin Joe, is we do. We have big balls.

[Michael Duncan]

Is that a video he has there? That. That's what that is.

[Comfortably Smug]

It looks like it's a 1 minute, 31 second video of himself that he is. That he's offering people promoting a podcast.

[John Ashbrook]

An offering for his followers. Yeah, it's important.

[Michael Duncan]

I like it.

[John Ashbrook]

Well, there's.

[Josh Holmes]

I mean, that's a good. No doubt. I think it might appeal a bit more to Duncan, who's. If Duncan were judged. He's a big fan of like misuse of the Internet self promotion kind of nonsense. But I just can't get over, yes, she has one speed and it's always 11. But to be like, it's hard to say goodbye to all your friends. Be a shut in. It's just you, the cats in a bomb shelter, your friends are all Nazis now.

[John Ashbrook]

They're Nazis.

[Josh Holmes]

I gotta give round one. Sherry Jacobus.

[John Ashbrook]

Every Democrat in the country is Anne Frank. Yeah, you know, I mean, what a wild. What a wild take.

[Michael Duncan]

Hope you got a nuke there, ashbrook.

[Comfortably Smug]

Okay, exhibit 13 from Joe Walsh. And Joe writes helpfully.

[Josh Holmes]

Oh, my God.

[Comfortably Smug]

I'll be on Substack with Acosta this afternoon at 4pm Eastern. Come on over to substack and check it out at the quote Jim Acosta show. Close quote quote. While you're there, hit me up with a subscribe. And then he, he has his substack social contract with Joe Walsh. Back, front slash, subscribe.

[John Ashbrook]

I love that. I, I appreciate it. The self promotion is great. I, you know, I feel a little guilty though.

[Michael Duncan]

Come on.

[Josh Holmes]

You think you gotta.

[Michael Duncan]

You have a nuke. Yeah, he has a nuke.

[John Ashbrook]

I feel, I just feel guilty about it.

[Michael Duncan]

I don't think you do. Not at all.

[John Ashbrook]

I don't actually, because 30 minutes after her take about how all Trump supporters are Nazis, she had Exhibit 4, the only Nazi, the good Nazi, is a dead Nazi. Geez.

[Josh Holmes]

So when she was saying, it's time to say goodbye to your friends, she didn't mean just like via text.

[John Ashbrook]

No, she meant kill them.

[Michael Duncan]

You know, and I don't want to, you know, color the opinion of the esteemed judge here. But I appreciate that holmes provided the 30 minute context there, which I think makes the take even better.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah. Cause it's. They're meant to be together. She knew what she was. Her suggestion is kill your friends. Like, let's not make a mistake here. Like Ashbrooke. Yeah, that's pretty nutty. Being like, yeah, I'm gonna be on with the Costa already. This is gonna be a trash heap. And then he's like, but also, send me some money. Yeah, Normally that's like a solid play.

[John Ashbrook]

Good, solid play, play.

[Josh Holmes]

But to be like, everybody, kill your friends.

[Comfortably Smug]

You can't.

[Michael Duncan]

You.

[Comfortably Smug]

You can't beat the queen.

[Josh Holmes]

I hate to do this. It's a. It's a second round knockout. Oh, my God. Doing who will end the reign of Sherry doing what.

[John Ashbrook]

What the Chiefs couldn't.

[Josh Holmes]

Good.

[Michael Duncan]

I think if we just kill your friends.

[Josh Holmes]

That's a new.

[John Ashbrook]

No. Honestly, the funny thing is, I didn't want it because last week, I literally thought it was the worst one that I've ever heard in this show. And we talked about it, and I don't. I don't like to be hyperbolic about King of the Hill, because King of the Hill, like, you get great stuff. It's hard to say this is the worst.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah.

[John Ashbrook]

Kill your friends.

[Michael Duncan]

Yeah. I think we just got to find her one single friend, Just one other human friend, and then maybe she will stop posting. I mean, so much crazy stuff.

[Josh Holmes]

It's tough to get friends when you're like, there's a 50.50 chance I'll just kill you.

[John Ashbrook]

I might ace you. I might ace you.

[Michael Duncan]

Holy co. Oh, man.

[John Ashbrook]

Well, I appreciate it. Good game. Good game. Nevertheless, I'll continue to play another day with Sherry Macheri. Bad news, folks. Bad news. This is the only piece of bad news that we have on the program.

[Comfortably Smug]

Oh, I hate to hear it.

[John Ashbrook]

There's a convenience store chain that's near and dear to the hearts of many of our listeners in the middle of the country. Come and go. Yes, with a K. It announced, according to the New York Post, that dozens of come and go convenience stores across several states are about to be rebranded. In my view, a massive mistake.

[Michael Duncan]

My mother listens to this. I can't believe we're covering this.

[Josh Holmes]

So my mother listens to this.

[Michael Duncan]

Apologize to my mother.

[Comfortably Smug]

But I do have a question. Are you saying they're just pulling out of the original branding?

[John Ashbrook]

Oh, my God. You apologize to us. Mom, I simply read what Wolf provided me.

[Comfortably Smug]

No, it's a real question.

[John Ashbrook]

I don't Know if you guys have had this experience, but, like, you know, come and goes, they're not everywhere. But if I'm in a town and I see a come and go, I try to go in every. Every single time.

[Josh Holmes]

You're like, I'm gonna come.

[John Ashbrook]

Do not come.

[Comfortably Smug]

No, it's easy because you want to show that receipt to your buddies.

[John Ashbrook]

You do. Because then you'll. You'll. Yeah, exactly. You'll take a picture of the receipt and send it to your boys and. Yeah, look where I'm at.

[Comfortably Smug]

Yeah.

[Michael Duncan]

And that's, you know, for the women listening to this, it's. It's just simply the fact that we could be 80, we could be 40, we're all still 12 in our.

[John Ashbrook]

It turns out it was. It's going to be completed by the summer of 25. The work is a continuation since Come and Go was acquired by Utah based. There you go.

[Comfortably Smug]

Oh, okay.

[John Ashbrook]

Utah based company. Yeah. I mean, they got morals and stuff. This company, Maverick, they're like, we can't have it. I. I'm just. I'm pleading with the good people of Maverick. Listen, you don't know what you have. You don't know what you have here. Come and Go.

[Josh Holmes]

Are you seeing the background? You told that, Wolfgang.

[John Ashbrook]

Oh, my God.

[Josh Holmes]

It says.

[John Ashbrook]

Wait.

[Josh Holmes]

No, the background right here. Are you seeing this? The company was founded in 1959 by T.S. gentle.

[Michael Duncan]

Gentles.

[Josh Holmes]

Come and Go. Like, how do you find this shit?

[Michael Duncan]

Dude.

[John Ashbrook]

Did you hear Ashbrook's?

[Josh Holmes]

No. Yeah, I wasn't paying attention. I was looking. There's a guy named Gentle who started this.

[John Ashbrook]

No, I get that. But he said you could come and go or you can soak and stay.

[Josh Holmes]

Oh, my God.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, he was trying to do a Utah thing there. That's outrageous. I won't stand for it. Regional humor. You're from the area, you know exactly what we're talking about. You're probably offended by the whole segment.

[Josh Holmes]

Frankly, but I apologize to Duncan's mother. That was just.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. What are we supposed to do with that? You know, I mean, story.

[Comfortably Smug]

It's New York Post.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah.

[Comfortably Smug]

Alexander Hamilton started the publication, for crying out loud. You gotta cover it.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, yeah. It's an important publication. All right, so just remember we have a question of the day and you gotta get involved. You gotta like and subscribe. We're almost to a hundred thousand and this is the only way this poor man gets a plaque is if you get.

[Josh Holmes]

Do it for us.

[John Ashbrook]

Do that. So do it for Smug's living room. If nothing else. It's A, you know, I understand it could use Lowell.

[Josh Holmes]

It's going right on the mantle.

[John Ashbrook]

He could use a little something.

[Josh Holmes]

Yeah, it needs it.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah. So the question is, for next Tuesday, in the moment of darkness, what's the best troll to make the experience the Democrats are having even worse?

[Josh Holmes]

How to twist the knife.

[John Ashbrook]

How can you twist the knife? Listen, we got a lot of fans that are in the press office over in the White House that they may take your suggestions very literally. So, you know, be thoughtful, but funny. But funny. So add that to it. While you're liking and subscribing, you might want to check out some merch. My understanding is we're going to provide some new offerings. We've had some great ideas about new offerings lately that I think are going to blow your mind.

[Comfortably Smug]

I can't wait for this one.

[John Ashbrook]

Yeah, there's one. There's one in particular that. It's fantastic. Hopefully we'll be able to announce that next week. And then remember, for those of you who are listening, they're gonna be joining us for the live show next week. Thank you for buying tickets. I'm sorry we don't have a bigger venue. It again, sold out very, very quickly, and we're sorry about that. We wish we could, you know, just do this for thousands, but we got, you know, we did this in two weeks notice. We want to, like, put it together quickly. There's gonna be some great guests, people that have hell of a lineup, formulated the vision of Ruthless. They've been on, you know them. I'm not going to give any hints, but you will be surprised and you will love every minute of it. But also know that this isn't our last one. We're actually going to pick up the cadence. Yeah, we're going to pick up the cadence. We're going to do this a little bit more. We're going to get back out there. We did like, I felt like our 2019 or 2021 rather, cadence was really good. And then, you know, he sort of fell off a little bit. We're gonna get back into, like a full cadence. You're gonna get these all the time, so stay tuned. We're gonna keep providing opportunities to do all that. And with that, I think we did it.

[Josh Holmes]

I think so. Absolute banger of an episode. Gentlemen, again, thank you so much to our listeners. Reminder, if you have not yet. It's more fun and video. Go to the YouTube like and subscribe. So until next time, minions, keep the faith, hold the line and own the libs. We'll see you on Tuesday. Stay ruthless.

[John Ashbrook]

You are no dummy, but you're kind of acting like one. You used to crush it in school, outsmarting opponents on the field. And now? Well, you're still smart, but not exactly challenging yourself. You could be advancing nuclear engineering in the world's most powerful Navy. You were born for it. So make the smart choice. You can be smart or you can be nuke smart. Become a nuclear [e-mail] Nuke Smart America's.

[F]

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