Truth in the Barrel

“This Week Unfiltered” | September 25, 2025

Hosts: Amy McGrath & Denver Riggleman
Notable Guest: Dr. Mary Ann McGrath (Pediatrician, Amy’s mom)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, “This Week Unfiltered,” is a rapid-fire ride through some of the week’s most controversial political developments. Amy and Denver bring their sharp bipartisan banter and veteran perspectives to break down the White House’s recent claims linking Tylenol to autism, analyze Donald Trump’s UN speech, examine a bribery scandal at the border, and touch on the misuse and manipulation of governmental power across the board. Despite the heated political content, the hosts never forget their signature joy: bourbon, critical thinking, and a good laugh.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. White House Claims Tylenol Causes Autism

[02:04–22:54]

• Context: At a recent White House event, President Trump, alongside HHS Secretary RFK Jr., claimed pregnant women should avoid Tylenol, suggesting a link to autism.
• Amy responds with alarm: “None of these warnings are claims by Donald Trump, by RFK Jr.—these recommendations that they’re pushing now, none of them are supported or based on science.” (04:16, Amy)
• Clip played of Trump’s statement: Emphasized not giving Tylenol to babies or pregnant women. (02:41)

Expert Interview: Dr. Mary Ann McGrath

• Immediate medical community response: Within 24 hours, doctors nationwide received bulletins debunking the claim. (05:13, Dr. McGrath)

• Understanding autism prevalence: Changes in diagnostic criteria and public awareness, not increases in the disorder itself, account for reported prevalence increases.

  • “We refer to the autism spectrum… we recognize its presence earlier and over a greater spectrum of symptoms… it does not mean the disorder is any more prominent today than it was 100 years ago, but we certainly recognize it more often now.” (08:34–10:58, Dr. McGrath)

• On scientific studies: Publication bias isn’t especially relevant—larger issues are evolving diagnostics and methodology.

• On the “conspiracy” angle: Denver highlights financial motives behind pseudo-medicine grifts and RFK Jr.’s involvement.

  • “It’s a money grab by funneling people’s monies to quack treatments and by demonizing a company that shouldn’t have been demonized.” (17:15, Denver)

• Final clinical guidance:

  • “Is Tylenol okay to take if you’re pregnant?”
  • “Unquestionably… Tylenol, among the medicines that we currently prescribe, is one of the most widely studied and widely used… It is, you know, we don’t take medicine unless we have symptoms…. Tylenol is among the safest medicines that’s commonly used.” (19:12, Dr. McGrath)

• Policy hypocrisy:

  • While stoking fear over Tylenol, the administration is cutting Medicaid programs that genuinely support autistic Americans.
  • “The real impacts of policies that they have pushed through are real and they’re hurting the very people who are on the autistic spectrum.” (22:12, Amy)

2. Trump’s UN Speech & America’s Diminished Leadership

[23:31–32:06]

• Overview: The UN speech displayed “the weakening of American leadership… on full display,” focusing much energy on attacking climate change initiatives. (23:31, Amy)

• Key speech elements:

  • Trump made aggressive remarks about renewable energy, belittled other world leaders (including the Mayor of London), revived anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, and misrepresented economic statistics.
  • “He said to all these other countries, you're going to hell.” (25:05, Amy)
  • “I don't think we've weakened his leadership. I think we're gone.” (25:44, Denver)

• Foreign policy implications:

  • US withdrawal from the UN and international organizations opens power vacuums for China and Russia to fill.
  • “China is going to be setting the rules for the world, thanks to weak, weak Republicans and a weak administration...” (31:43, Amy)

3. Border Czar Bribery Scandal

[32:07–36:32]

• The story: Tom Homan, the administration’s “border czar,” was caught on tape (prior to appointment) accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents/alluded to arranging kickbacks for government contracts.
  • “He crossed the line ... when he goes, when I am in the Trump administration, I'll run contracts to you. That's illegal.” (33:26, Denver)
• Lack of transparency:
  • The case was closed once Homan entered the administration. He hasn’t directly denied taking the money.
  • “I think the Homan tapes are buried next to the Epstein files… It just smells bad.” (36:10, Denver/Amy)

4. The Whiskey Minute

[36:32–39:15]

• Bourbon Talk:
  • Amy and Denver review Woodford Reserve Double Oak. Denver offers technical insight: “Means they just added more fresh staves … or they might transfer it to another barrel.” (37:02, Denver)
  • Lighthearted banter about bourbon snobbery and campaign optics.
  • “If I ever run for office again, this is the picture they're going to have...drinking out of the bottle.” (37:46, Denver)

5. Quick Shots: Data, Defense, and Domestic Terror Labels

[39:28–49:10]

• USDA Halts Food Security Reports:

  • Government stops tracking food insecurity—a move the hosts see as calculated to conceal the effects of benefit cuts.
  • “Any data, any facts-based data is an enemy to a non-transparent and corrupt government.” (40:19, Denver)

• Pentagon Restricts Reporting:

  • New rules force reporters to only use DoD-sanctioned information or lose credentials:
  • “It's almost like our press has become Pravda and our Congress has become The Duma.” (42:19, Denver)
  • “Imagine if we didn’t ... have any reporting or any reporters that don’t, you know, say the Kool Aid that we want them to say.” (43:49, Amy)

• ANTIFA Labeled Domestic Terrorists—Right-Wing Groups Not:

  • Administration labels Antifa but doesn’t extend same treatment to Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, etc.
  • “Insurrectionists ... are running around out there weaponized by a gaslighting glue sniffing president ... but we have an acronym and anti-fascist. What is anti antifascist, Amy? That would be fascist.” (48:14, Denver)

6. Good News & Cheers

[49:10–54:26]

• Tech Advances:

  • AirPods can now function as hearing aids and real-time language translators—a boon for travelers and individuals with disabilities.
  • “You can have a fluid conversation being translated. Isn’t that cool?” (49:59, Amy)
  • AI glasses can assist the visually impaired by reading signs or identifying people.

• New Astronauts:

  • NASA’s new class: 10 new astronauts, six women, several veterans.
  • Amy spotlights Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash from Kentucky—Navy pilot, Ironman athlete.
  • “Cheers to all of the astronauts and specifically to those from Kentucky. I’m not proud.” (54:26, Amy)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On science and misinformation:

  • “There are no words… my first reaction was to laugh out loud. But following very close behind that, I wanted to cry.” – Dr. Mary Ann McGrath (06:37)
  • “Tylenol is among the safest medicines that's commonly used.” – Dr. Mary Ann McGrath (19:12)

• On political grift:

  • “Stupidity is terminal." – Denver Riggleman (16:49)
  • “Make America Healthy Again is really, you know, keep America in the dark ages.” – Denver (17:40)

• On Trump’s UN speech:

  • “He said to all these other countries, you're going to hell.” – Amy (25:05)

• On U.S. global standing:

  • “I don't think we've weakened his leadership. I think we're gone.” – Denver (25:44)

• On government secrecy:

  • “Any data, any facts based data is an enemy to a non transparent and corrupt government.” – Denver (40:19)
  • “Our press has become Pravda and our Congress has become The Duma.” – Denver (42:19)

• On reasonable confrontation:

  • “If you've got an idiot comes up to you and says don't take Tylenol because it causes autism, you need to let them know immediately that they have been misled by the dumbest human being on the planet because sourcing and science says that he's wrong.” – Denver (45:33)

Episode Flow and Tone

• Tone: Combative, exasperated, bipartisan-yet-blunt, peppered with humor and sarcasm.
• Style: Filled with real-time reactions, irreverent takes, and back-and-forth storytelling.
• Key Moments: Dr. McGrath’s calm expertise is a factual island amid political absurdities, Denver’s rants keep energy high, and Amy grounds discussion with sharp data and deeply personal connections.

Engaging For New Listeners

Missed the episode? You’ll walk away with a clear sense of political dysfunction—but also with practical science, some hope in new tech and astronauts, and the sense that not everyone has lost their mind. If you like facts presented with laughs, outrage, and a bit of whiskey, Amy and Denver provide an unfiltered but insightful summary of America’s week.