Truth in the Barrel – "This Week Unfiltered" (08.28.25)

Hosts: Amy McGrath (with guest co-host Col. Nicole Malachowski)
Release Date: August 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Amy McGrath is joined by Col. Nicole Malachowski—pioneering fighter pilot and former Thunderbird, standing in for Denver Riggleman. Together, they dive candidly into the turbulent news of the week: President Trump’s unprecedented domestic troop deployments, mass military leadership firings, debates over gun reform, moves against renewable energy, and more. The conversation is deeply personal, patriotic, and peppered with bourbon—and a dose of hope, as the hosts toast American resilience and civic values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tragic Minneapolis School Shooting & the Need for Gun Reform

[02:23–10:14]

• Both Amy (Marine) and Nicole (Air Force) react to the recent mass shooting at a church/school in Minnesota, highlighting the pain as mothers and veterans.

• Nicole stresses America's "uniquely American problem" with gun violence and calls for incremental action:

  "The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step." – Nicole Malachowski [05:02]

• Both support the Second Amendment but advocate for "reasonable gun control"—background checks, red flag laws, mandatory training.

• Nicole notes even staunch conservatives are losing patience:

  "Even some of the more conservative news sources to include Fox News had people saying enough is enough." [05:02]

• Amy and Nicole emphasize the need to keep the issue out of partisanship:

  "This is not a partisan issue. ... All of these people are evil." – Nicole Malachowski [07:22]

• Memorable moment: Nicole’s encounter with an older, self-identified "MAGA" security guard who supported common sense gun control—reflecting growing bipartisan frustration.

2. Trump's Domestic Deployment of Troops

[10:33–19:12]

• Amy critiques Trump’s plan to send troops into 19 U.S. cities, calling it a "misuse of our military":

  "There's no emergency that warrants these deployments. This is a misuse of our military." – Amy McGrath [10:33]

• Nicole agrees, underscoring lack of local demand and the performative nature of the move.

• Discussion on how National Guard troops are being under-utilized (e.g., picking up trash), with Nicole adding perspective from her own military experience but questioning the waste.

  "It's a very expensive deployment to pick up trash." – Amy McGrath [16:19]

• Both worry that politicized military use erodes public trust in the armed forces and damages the civil-military relationship.

• Amy points out the inconsistency of targeting only blue cities and pardoning convicted criminals, challenging claims of being "tough on crime":

  "This is performative and everybody knows it." – Amy McGrath [19:27]

3. Unprecedented Military and Agency Leadership Firings

[20:32–29:50]

• Amy and Nicole discuss sweeping firings by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Trump: senior military officers, intelligence heads, even the CDC director.
• Nicole provides nuanced insight as a former White House staffer, conceding some turnover is normal but "the quantity [is] unprecedented by tenfold." [21:45]
• The firings appear driven by refusal to "rubber stamp" unscientific or politically-motivated directives—for example, the top AI scientist losing his clearance for confirming Russian election meddling.
• Both stress the grave danger of silencing expert dissent:

  "In the military and in the intelligence community, you have to be able to speak the truth to the leaders." – Amy McGrath [25:38] "The danger is they then get replaced by people who are hand-selected for very probably particular reasons." – Nicole Malachowski [25:50]

• Nicole urges congressional oversight, lamenting the absence of bipartisan pushback.

4. Politicizing the CDC & Erosion of Scientific Independence

[26:50–31:13]

• The hosts detail mass resignations at the CDC, including director Susan Maner and top infectious disease experts, over refusals to support "reckless directives."
• Nicole urges listeners to read Dr. Dimitri Desalius’s resignation email, calling it "shocking."
• Amy proposes removing agencies like the CDC or FEMA from presidential control, modeling after the independent Federal Reserve or Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

5. Flag Burning Executive Order & Hypocrisy

[31:13–36:43]

• Trump’s new executive order seeking to criminalize flag burning receives a thorough dismissal:

  "This has already been adjudicated by the Supreme Court. Don't we have bigger problems to be dealing with?" – Nicole Malachowski [31:45]

• Amy, deeply patriotic, defends the right as freedom of expression:

  "I've been in countries where the government tells you you can't say anything bad about me...that’s not America." – Amy McGrath [34:41]

• The hosts note hypocrisy over Trump’s own defacement of the flag for political merchandise.

• Nicole points out the disconnect with Republican small-government ideals:

  "All we're doing is growing federal government interventions everywhere." [35:15]

6. Political Rebranding of the Department of Defense

[39:59–42:41]

• Quick take on plans to rename the Pentagon “Department of War”: Both hosts see it as wasteful and symbolically aggressive.
• Amy recalls a lesson from the Naval Academy, noting the eagle on the dollar looks toward the olive branch (peace), not arrows (war).

7. J.D. Vance’s Claim: Russia's "Concessions" in Ukraine

[43:02–44:37]

• Both hosts unequivocally reject Vance’s claim; Amy: "He's just lying."
• Nicole reflects on the critical role of education as a national security issue, observing widespread struggles with critical thinking and fact-checking.

8. U.S. Halts on Renewable Energy & False "National Security" Justifications

[44:37–53:41]

• Amy details how the Trump administration canceled a nearly completed Rhode Island wind project under alleged “national security” concerns.

• Nicole, as a former fighter pilot, dismisses these as baseless, explaining radar issues are manageable and such projects undergo full military review.

  "I have no idea what he’s talking about." – Nicole Malachowski [48:17]

• The hosts note the U.S. is ceding global leadership on renewables to China. Amy: "China is the big winner here because they are surging ahead of us in R&D thanks to Donald Trump." [51:20]

• Nicole calls energy independence a true national security issue, not the cited drone/swarm fears.

9. Whiskey Segment

[37:00–39:10]

• Amy enjoys Grand Traverse Distillery Michigan Straight Bourbon, while Nicole shares stories of flying in Scotland and her favorite scotch, The Balvenie Sherry Cask 15.

10. Moments of Hope & Cheers

[54:54–59:17]

• Amy toasts a major Democratic win in Iowa and (tongue-in-cheek) Taylor Swift’s engagement to Jason Kelce.

• Nicole celebrates speaking with young Civil Air Patrol Cadets, feeling renewed optimism.

• Nicole shares her personal "pocket Constitution" campaign—handing out copies to encourage civic literacy.

  “Cheers to the people who reread the Constitution.” – Nicole Malachowski [58:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The status quo isn't working. Let's try to switch just one lever and see what happens.”
  – Nicole Malachowski [09:09]

• “We should not have our military patrolling our streets like we are some third world country police state...that’s just not American.”
  – Amy McGrath [11:57]

• “If you can't speak truth to power...where are we?”
  – Amy McGrath [25:38]

• “I want us to model the behaviors that we want to see, you know, in our kids. And sometimes we as adults need to absolutely remember that.”
  – Nicole Malachowski [57:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mass Shooting & Gun Reform: 02:23–10:14
• Trump’s Troop Deployments: 10:33–19:12
• Military Leadership Firings: 20:32–29:50
• CDC & Agency Politicization: 26:50–31:13
• Flag Burning Order: 31:13–36:43
• Whiskey Segment: 37:00–39:10
• Quick Takes (Dept of War, J.D. Vance, Renewable Energy): 39:59–53:41
• Cheers & Closing Positivity: 54:54–59:17

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is forthright and passionate, blending policy debate, data, and personal experience with humor and warmth. Amy and Nicole, as veterans and patriots, offer a unique, nonpartisan lens—rooted in facts and Constitutional values—calling for reasonable, courageous leadership and a renewed commitment to civil discourse and American ideals.

For more: Visit TruthintheBarrel.com