Truth in the Barrel | “This Week Unfiltered” (08.21.25)
Hosts: Amy McGrath & Denver Riggleman
Date: August 22, 2025
Podcast Theme: Candid, cross-partisan conversations on American politics, current events, and bourbon culture—always infused with military veteran insight and bipartisan respect.
Episode Overview
This “unfiltered” episode reunites co-hosts Amy McGrath and Denver Riggleman for a spirited, in-depth discussion of the week’s most pressing—and controversial—political topics. They unpack global crises like the US response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, dive into the real-world effect of tariffs on small businesses, debate the attack on voting rights and historical memory, and poke fun at bourbon culture. Throughout, Amy and Denver maintain their signature blend of irreverence, mutual respect, and hard-won wisdom.
Key Discussion Points
Denver’s Distillery & The Real Cost of Tariffs
Timestamps: 03:02–06:48
- Denver describes how tariffs and supply-chain disruptions, dating from the Trump administration, are hurting his family-run distillery.
- Details how glass bottle prices have skyrocketed due to limited suppliers (India, Mexico, China), COVID surcharges, and ongoing tariffs.
- “We got an email, Amy, that said we were having a 14% increase in wholesale glass corks, things like that, with another 25% increase coming that directly aligned with the tariffs from the Trump administration. Directly aligned.” — Denver [04:10]
- Margins are being squeezed such that the only options are to raise prices, cut labor, or cut production lines.
- Denver stresses how tariffs function as a tax on consumers—“tariffs passed on to wholesalers, passed on to retailers, passed on to consumers.” [05:11]
- Amy points out most Americans aren’t accustomed to tariffs and “haven’t had leaders that have been so stupid to institute these massive, 1920s, 30s type of tariffs.” [05:33]
What Should the US President Do About Ukraine?
Timestamps: 06:53–20:13
Background: Trump’s recent meeting with Putin in the US, called “historic” by Republicans, led to criticism for lack of follow-through and emboldening Russian aggression.
- Amy decries Trump’s handling of the Putin summit—
- “He’s already rewarding Putin because he’s giving him more time to attack.” [08:25]
- Laments the absence of consequences after Putin declined a ceasefire and highlights how trust among US allies has eroded.
Denver’s Ukraine Strategy:
- “We have to fund Ukraine on a level we’ve never funded before… send our own supply specialists and advisors… increase the amount of drone support.” [09:12]
- Advocates threatening expedited NATO membership and invoking Article 5 if Russia doesn’t withdraw—“Sociopaths only feel pain. There is no other way to deal with Putin than through maximum force.” [10:36]
Amy’s Take:
- Amy recaps sanctions and aid efforts by prior and current administrations—“Russian attacks have gotten worse. There have been no severe consequences that he keeps talking about... thanks to… Donald Trump.” [12:24]
- She supports increased sanctions, continued weapons and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and introduces the concept of secondary sanctions.
Secondary Sanctions Explained (Denver):
- “Anybody who deals with a primary sanctioned country is also sanctioned based on how they act, with support on that. That’s really what it is.” [13:21]
- Amy highlights a bipartisan bill proposing 500% tariffs on goods from countries buying/selling Russian oil to increase pressure on Russia, but doubts if it will pass or if Trump would sign it. [16:49]
Memorable Exchange:
- “Putin giving election tips is like Jeffrey Dahmer giving cuisine tips.” — Denver [26:12]
Mail-In Voting, Election Intimidation, and Republican Tactics
Timestamps: 20:17–29:51
- The hosts discuss Trump’s proposed executive order to abolish mail-in ballots and voting machines—measures the pair see as unconstitutional, intimidatory, and a set-up to deny election results.
- “It’s not about making voting or elections more secure. It’s about scaring people and... laying groundwork to not accept the midterm election results.” — Amy [20:48]
- Denver rails against efforts to disenfranchise voters via restrictive process laws and intimidation: “This is how you steal an election, is by limiting. It’s through subtraction… Republicans have to win by subtraction. That’s the only way they can win based on demographics.” [22:14]
- They highlight the absurdity of the GOP’s distinction between mail-in and absentee voting.
- “Mail-in voting, right, using machines, fine. Everything’s validated. And the fact that they’re trying to intimidate people by going to all paper ballots. Disenfranchising. Trying to gerrymander during midterms, right?” — Denver [26:12]
“War on Woke,” The Battle Over American Memory & Confederate Monuments
Timestamps: 30:11–39:49
- Amy reports on GOP/Trump administration moves to restore Confederate monuments, downplay slavery in National Parks/Sites, and reverse base renaming initiatives—labeling undoing Jim Crow-era memorials as “too woke.”
- “It should be front page news. This is crazy... The Department of Defense is spending $10 million to restore a monument in Arlington National Cemetery that shows the positive aspects of slavery...” — Amy [33:47]
- Denver denounces these efforts as “Christo-fascist” and “white nationalist,” expressing outrage and disbelief.
- Amy lists the diverse, bipartisan, high-ranking members of the Defense Naming Commission that branded these initiatives as not “woke,” but common sense military leadership.
- “We shouldn’t be celebrating these losers that were traitors to our country who fought and killed US soldiers… to uphold the institution of owning other human beings.” — Amy [36:57]
- “Why are we celebrating losing on this level, not only losing a war... but to support something as evil and heinous... as slavery?” — Denver [37:20]
Whiskey Spotlight: Maker’s Mark
Timestamps: 39:52–45:20
- Amy and Denver bond over Maker’s Mark as a favorite bourbon, discussing its Kentucky roots, distinctive dip-sealed bottle, and Margie Samuels’ pioneering influence as a female marketing genius.
- “That was her idea. So it was very much like you and your wife being sort of the husband, wife team there that created Maker’s Mark.” — Amy [42:08]
- Denver: “Maker’s Mark and Four Roses are my favorite table bourbons... Makers on the rocks—how easy that is to say, Amy?” [42:57]
- Fun tidbits: each bottle’s dip is unique, the hand-dipping process is limited to 30 minutes at a stretch due to heat, and Denver’s own distillery adopted similar personal touches inspired by Maker’s.
Quick Shots: Political News Roundup
Timestamps: 45:22–54:05
- J.D. Vance’s Canoe Adventure: Criticism over Army Corps of Engineers adjusting river levels for Vance’s personal recreation amid federal budget cuts.
- RFK Jr vs. The American Academy of Pediatrics: RFK Jr accuses the AAP of being a “pay to play” Big Pharma puppet, sparking concerns about pseudoscience in government. “You should not be listening to this man who unfortunately is in charge of a major department of our government and health... listen to actual doctors.” — Amy [48:43]
- US Navy Moves Near Venezuela: Deployment of Navy Aegis cruisers off Venezuela, raising constitutional and international concerns about military overreach framed as counter-cartel action. Both hosts see it more as a distraction tactic.
- Gavin Newsom Trolls Trump: California’s governor mimics Trump’s online persona, exposing the presidency’s “juvenile” tone. Amy: “It is exposing the... juvenile ness of the current president in a way that hasn’t really been exposed before.” [54:05]
Powerful Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Denver on Russian Disinformation: “Putin giving election tips is like Jeffrey Dahmer giving cuisine tips.” [26:12]
- Amy on Mail-in Voting: “Mail in voting, all of our military members use mail in voting. Anybody that... goes to other countries... elderly people, people who can’t get out, handicapped people. This is like dumb. This is really dumb.” [25:36]
- Denver on Confederate Monuments: “We have an administration that’s embracing the evil of slavery as some type of historical statement to talk to their base, to message for more votes in rural districts.” [37:20]
- Amy on Bipartisan Integrity: “The commission filled with that many experienced military officers and scholars that are not exactly from... left wing institutions... anybody somehow woke. I mean, it’s just ridiculous.” [39:49]
- Denver’s Final Thoughts: “It feels like Newsom had to do it. But it does show when you talk about juvenile behavior... it looks like 8 year olds in a slap battle. And... those eight year olds... can control a trillion-dollar military. That’s what’s scary.” [55:27]
Cheers of the Week
Timestamps: 56:25–58:50
- Texas Democrats protesting mid-decade gerrymandering by occupying the statehouse, especially Rep. Nicole Collier who resisted being followed or detained by state authorities.
- Denver: “There is no way that I had somebody follow me... I would have aided them, because I know how... they’re dumb. I would have left that... I’d have fought people and the fact that they could keep it together like that. Cheers to them for not having violence, because Denver would have been violent.” [57:59]
Conclusion
Amy and Denver wrap up by emphasizing the importance of principled resistance, humor in the face of chaos, and the critical need to stay vigilant and engaged. They encourage listeners to subscribe, share, and join their bipartisan barrel of truth.
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