Ruthless Podcast Summary

Episode: Why the Democrat Establishment is Collapsing
Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug (Smug), Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook
Guest: Mary Katharine Ham

Episode Overview

This episode of the Ruthless Podcast delivers the signature blend of sharp, irreverent conservative commentary as the hosts dissect the crumbling state of Democratic Party establishment and the growing power of the far-left “lunatic” wing. The discussion weaves through recent primary shake-ups, questionable candidate selection strategies, the fallout from high-profile Democratic missteps (like the Minnesota Somali fraud scandal), and the general loss of leadership confidence in Chuck Schumer. Highlights include the hilariously unfiltered send-ups of current political events, a debate about college football playoff politics, and the usual banter about government inefficiency—peppered with fan questions and fun animal fight club videos.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Democratic Establishment Meltdown (00:00–19:29)

The Schumer Waning Era & Party Identity Crisis

• The hosts assert that the Democratic Party is in turmoil, with establishment figures like Chuck Schumer losing their grip to emboldened progressives.
  • Quote: “You’re not getting signs of life from Chuck Schumer. The guy’s like 900 years old.” (John Ashbrook, 00:11)
• Recent events, like internal party shutdown drama and contentious primaries, expose deep rifts.
• Long-term strategies focused on “centrist” coalition building—winning the middle—have been replaced by catering to ever-more radical base elements.

Progressive Takeovers and Candidate Chaos

• Explored how primary dynamics are flipping: moderates like Colin Allred in Texas are bailing in the face of pressure from farther-left challengers like Jasmine Crockett.
  • Quote: “They were really working on it, and…Jasmine Crockett, the craziest of the crazy within the Democratic Party, is like, no, I want it. And they’re like, okay, yeah, it’s yours.” (Josh Holmes, 07:09)
• The phenomenon isn’t isolated—examples in Maine (Plasket) and Virginia (Jay Jones) illustrate the pattern of radical candidates dominating primaries, even if their general election odds are dismal.

Democratic Fight Club & Schumer’s Diminished Authority

• “Democratic Fight Club” emerges in the Senate: figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren want the DSCC to stay out of contested primaries, effectively undercutting Schumer’s ability to manage candidate quality.
• Internal polling cited showing only 6% of senior Democrat staffers rate Schumer as an effective leader; over half prefer John Thune (the Republican!) among Congressional leaders.
  • Quote: “When you’re talking to Democrat staffers and they’re like, [Republicans] are steamrolling this guy. That’s a tough one.” (John Ashbrook, 16:46)

2. Jasmine Crockett & the Problem of “Lunatic” Candidates (11:19–15:08)

• A segment on Jasmine Crockett’s bizarre accusation on the House floor, mistaking “a” Jeffrey Epstein for “the” Jeffrey Epstein, is played and mocked.
• The hosts argue this illustrates the unseriousness and radicalism now prioritized in Democratic candidate selection—something the establishment is powerless to stop.
  • Quote: “This lady’s not a serious person. So it goes to this larger conversation…if you are willing as a party leader…to let your entire agenda hinge on these candidates…” (Josh Holmes, 14:40)

3. Minnesota Somali Fraud Scandal (27:10–37:34)

Mary Katharine Ham Joins – “Marginalized Fraud” and Political Cowardice

• Guest MK Ham and the hosts break down massive fraud in Minnesota’s PPP programs, largely perpetrated by members of the Somali community, with billions in losses.
• Decry the reluctance of state and federal officials to address the problem—either out of “slush fund” self-interest or fear of being called racist.
  • Quote: “They love the slush fund…And B, they’re afraid to say anything because this is marginalized fraud.” (Mary Katharine Ham, 30:10)
• Notable moment: outrage that mainstream media only now report these abuses, long after the fact. The panel laughs at officials dodging accountability on identity politics grounds.
• Hosts cite reports that extorted funds may be wired to terrorist-linked groups, further amplifying outrage.
  • Quote: “This is not only fraud from the American taxpayers, it’s actually American tax dollars going to fund a terrorist outfit...” (Duncan, 34:27)

4. The Biden Family, Grift, and Greed (40:32–44:55)

• Old-school “Ruthless” riffing on Joe Biden’s declining stage presence (“Put him on a stage!” – Mary Katharine Ham, 40:38), family “greed”, and the sad spectacle of a president reduced to speaking at lesser-known activist events.
  • Quote: “The Biden family are a bunch of crooks...they spend the money faster than they get it.” (John Ashbrook, 41:06)
• Anecdotes include the infamous Biden dental bill swindle and questions around the future of the Biden Presidential Library—a running gag throughout.

5. Pantone’s “White” Color of the Year Mocked (46:59–53:38)

• The hosts and Mary Katharine Ham roast viral outrage over Pantone’s selection of “Cloud Dancer” (a white) as color of the year, ridiculing woke overreach and the media’s earnest attempts to treat pigment as political.
  • Quote: “Choosing a white-based shade feels tone-deaf at best…deeply troubling.” (Michael Duncan, 51:54, reading NPR/NYT reaction)
• Playful back-and-forth as Duncan challenges MK to explain the difference between “eggshell” and “cream.”

6. College Football Playoff Debates (57:00–61:32)

• Spirited debate about the expanded twelve-team college football playoff format, with Ashbrook and Duncan urging Notre Dame to finally “join a conference” if they want playoff respect.
  • Quote: “Just join the Big Ten. Notre Dame, I love you…but it seems obvious.” (Michael Duncan, 58:26)
• College football fandom segues into broad commentary about change, tradition, and the business of sports.

7. Listener Mailbag, Government Inefficiency, and Gift Unboxing (23:54–26:34, 62:27–64:59)

• As always, witty responses to listener-submitted jokes and anecdotes—this time using the disastrous new USPS truck design as comedic fodder.
• MK Ham presents the hosts with custom “Rotten to the Core” postage stamps, commemorating their running feud with the post office.
• Touching on the camaraderie and inside jokes that keep longtime listeners engaged.

8. Absurd Animal Fights & Cruise Ship Insanity (65:22–81:29)

33-Drink Cruise Catastrophe (65:22–76:29)

• The hosts react to a true-crime oddity: a man served 33 drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise, who then died after attacking crew (and receiving sedative injections and pepper spray).
  • Numerous running gags about personal responsibility, bartender ethics, and life at sea: “If you can crack 33 [drinks], you get to drive the boat.” (John Ashbrook, 76:09)

China Zoo Bear Brawl (77:27–81:29)

• Hilariously narrated video breakdown: a black bear in a Chinese zoo attacks its keeper—other staff attempt rescue with a chair, stick, basketball hoop, and, bafflingly, a live parrot.
  • “This is why you subscribe to the YouTube.” (Ashbrook, 78:22)
• Panel posits if the crazy scene was staged for show; concludes the slapstick fight (“it’s the wildest thing”) is the best animal content to date.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“You're not getting signs of life from Chuck Schumer. The guy's like 900 years old.”
– John Ashbrook (00:11)

“Jasmine Crockett, the craziest of the crazy within the Democratic Party…no, I want it. And they're like, okay, yeah, it's yours.”
– Josh Holmes (07:09)

“It's like under pressure, dun, dun, dun. It's just an A Jeffrey Epstein.”
– Michael Duncan (14:06)

“They love the slush fund…and they're afraid to say anything because this is marginalized fraud.”
– Mary Katharine Ham (30:10)

“When you’re talking to Democrat staffers and they’re like, [Republicans] are steamrolling this guy. That’s a tough one.”
– John Ashbrook (16:46)

“If you can crack 33 [drinks], you get to drive the boat.”
– John Ashbrook (76:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–10:00 — Democratic Party collapse & Schumer’s predicament
• 10:00–15:00 — Case study: Jasmine Crockett and “lunatic” candidates
• 27:10–37:34 — Somali PPP fraud deep dive w/ Mary Katharine Ham
• 40:32–44:55 — Biden family 'crookery' and grift culture
• 46:59–53:38 — Pantone’s “white” color drama
• 57:00–61:32 — College Football playoff shakeup
• 65:22–76:29 — Cruise ship tragedy: 33 drinks and a homicide
• 77:27–81:29 — Bear vs. zookeeper: Animal fight club in China

Episode Tone

• Cynically comedic, often veering into satire.
• Unfiltered and irreverent; hosts trade both smart analysis and bro-y, inside-joke-laden banter.
• Frequent mockery of political correctness, focus on absurdity in politics (left and right), and a “no prisoners” attitude toward hypocrisy.

Final Thoughts

This episode solidifies Ruthless's place as a must-listen for conservatives who want political analysis sandwiched between comedy, viral video breakdowns, and a sense of community banter. The show excels at making the news not just digestible, but entertaining—even for listeners who may not agree with every take.

For new listeners:
Start at 00:00 to understand the Democratic Party drama, drop in around 27:10 for Mary Katharine Ham’s unique perspective, and don’t miss the wild animal fight aftermath at 77:27 for an iconic Ruthless moment.