Podcast Summary: This Guy Sucked – The Worst Wing with Nicole Hemmer and Kevin Schultz (Preview)
Release Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Dr. Claire Aubin
Guests: Professor Kevin Schultz and Professor Nicole Hemmer

Episode Overview

This lively, live-recorded episode of This Guy Sucked introduces the special game show format, “The Worst Wing.” Host Claire Aubin invites two prominent political historians—Kevin Schultz and Nicole Hemmer—to each pick and defend their choice for the absolute worst U.S. president. Through a mix of humor and sharp historical insight, the panel dives deep into presidential failures, historical context, and the continued impact of lousy leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Introduction & Format

• Claire welcomes the audience to the first-ever live recording and explains the show's satirical mission: “We prove it’s never too late to have haters and you can't libel the dead.” (01:17)
• The structure for the evening: each guest filibusters for 10 minutes about why their chosen president is “the worst,” and Claire awards arbitrary points based on “vibes.”
• Claire admits a wicked pleasure in moderating “two very fancy political historians” in a contest of presidential awfulness: “Much like many presidents, I was given power and immediately abused it.” (03:49)
• Nicole is delighted to join: “We get to talk about presidents and we get to rag on presidents for a full hour. I’m 100% in.” (02:55)

2. Kevin Schultz’s “Filibuster” Against Andrew Johnson (17th President)

Start: 05:42
Key Quote:
“This country is for white men and by God, as long as I’m president, it shall be a government for white men.” (05:46)

Kevin’s Case Against Johnson

• Immediate Context & Presidency

  • Johnson came to power after Lincoln’s assassination.
  • He allowed the hard-fought Civil War victory to be squandered by letting Southern elites regain power (05:46–07:18).
  • “All the awful presidents that came after him could do the kinds of things that they did… Which continue[d] when it was almost open for equality. Andrew Johnson, thanks so much for that.” (06:09)

• Personal Flaws and Incompetence

  • Deeply insecure and obsessed with gaining respect from wealthy Southern planters (08:06).
  • Notoriously belligerent, prone to drunkenness and outbursts (08:06–08:45):
  • “He had a terrible personality as well… He famously got so drunk at the inauguration of 1865 when he was sworn in as Vice President… that it became national news. That is very, very drunk.” (08:20)

• Obstruction of Racial Justice

  • Powerfully opposed to the Freedmen’s Bureau, vetoed its activities, and replaced its leaders to undermine Reconstruction (11:15).
  • “Andrew Johnson fought against the creation of the Freedmen’s Bureau… And when that was overruled by the Congress, he ended up purging all the leaders and putting all of his own personal people in charge so that they could use that to do all sorts of terrible things.” (11:19)
  • Trivialized black aspirations: revoked “40 acres and a mule” by returning land to former enslavers, forcing freed people off reclaimed land (13:00–14:30).

• Authoritarian & Paranoid Tendencies

  • Demanded loyalty oaths from his cabinet, making him the first president to be impeached (09:35).
  • Engaged in public self-aggrandizement:
    • “He spent his time on George Washington’s birthday celebration, giving a speech that lasted an hour where he mentioned George Washington’s name only a handful of times, but he mentioned his own name 200 times.” (12:03)
  • Paranoid accusations of plots against him led supporters to attack political opponents (12:13).

• Destruction of Reconstruction’s Promise

  • Granted amnesty to Southern elites who demonstrated groveling fealty; disenfranchised newly freed Black people by enabling “Black Codes” in Southern states—a form of “slavery by another name.” (14:00–15:25)
  • “After four years of bloodshed in the name of slavery because of what Andrew Johnson did, we did not have racial equality in the United States. When there was a small sliver of hope that it could come about, and whatever hope there would be, Andrew Johnson pulled the rug out. And we’ve been living with the consequences ever since.” (15:17)

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Game Show Format:
  • Claire, playfully acknowledging her own authority:
    • “Much like many presidents, I was given power and immediately abused it.” (03:49)
• On Johnson’s Racism:
  • Kevin (quoting Johnson):
    • “This country is for white men and by God, as long as I'm president, it shall be a government for white men.” (05:46)
• On Presidential Ego:
  • Kevin:
    • “He spent his time on George Washington’s birthday … giving a speech that lasted an hour where he mentioned George Washington’s name only a handful of times, but he mentioned his own name 200 times.” (12:03)
• Summing Up:
  • Claire, post-filibuster:
    • “That guy sucks. ... And he sucks. He sucks so much.” (15:32)

Important Timestamps

• 01:05 – Claire welcomes audience to the first live episode, introduces game format.
• 02:18 – Kevin is introduced as both esteemed historian and frequent guest.
• 02:55 – Nicole expresses why she’s delighted to participate.
• 05:42 – Kevin begins his filibuster on Andrew Johnson.
• 05:46 – Kevin quotes Andrew Johnson’s infamous racist declaration.
• 09:35 – Kevin details Johnson’s impeachment and authoritarian style.
• 11:15 – Discussion of Johnson sabotaging the Freedmen’s Bureau.
• 12:03 – The egotistical George Washington’s Birthday speech.
• 13:00–15:25 – Johnson’s postwar amnesty, enablement of Black Codes, and destruction of Reconstruction’s promise.
• 15:25 – Claire enthusiastically wraps up Kevin’s filibuster.

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is fast-paced and irreverent, blending dark humor with rigorous historical critique. Claire’s sarcastic asides and the guests’ scholarly candor make for both an educational and entertaining listen. The spirit is fundamentally critical, aiming to expose and ridicule historical failures with both expertise and wit.

For More

To hear Nicole Hemmer’s presidential pick and the rest of the “Worst Wing” showdown, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the show’s Patreon.

Summary prepared for those seeking an insightful and sharp-witted breakdown of This Guy Sucked’s live “Worst Wing” special, with a focus on the case against Andrew Johnson as the worst U.S. president—all before the scoring and the show’s second round.