Truth in the Barrel – “This Week Unfiltered” (10.23.25)
Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: Amy McGrath & (guest co-host) Nicole Malachowski
Episode Theme: Unfiltered discussion on the U.S. government shutdown, dysfunctional leadership in Washington, troubling shifts in military and media oversight, ongoing ICE raids, and uplifting global news from Japan to the Arctic—served with a straight shot of veteran candor.
Overview
In this week’s “Truth in the Barrel Unfiltered,” Amy McGrath, recently launched Senate candidate, welcomes back retired Air Force Colonel and motivational speaker Nicole Malachowski. The pair tackle America’s leadership vacuum as the federal government drags through a shutdown, Congress remains on recess, and executive overreach redefines national precedent. The conversation zeroes in on the erosion of institutional norms—military resignations, ICE raids targeting citizens, censorship in the Pentagon press corps—while spotlighting glimmers of hope, like Japan’s first female prime minister and the U.S. bolstering its Arctic presence.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Government Shutdown & Congressional Stagnation
- Opening Tone: Amy expresses deep frustration about congressional inaction during the prolonged government shutdown, emphasizing the disconnect as members still collect $174,000/year salaries. (00:31)
- Nicole’s Perspective: "Our elected representatives aren't necessarily going to work and they are still getting paid, which I think is absolutely ridiculous." (03:18)
- Both underscore: Ordinary Americans are struggling while legislators make excuses and avoid tough choices. They advocate citizen activism—calling, writing, and pressuring Congress to get back to work (03:18–04:13).
- Statistics: Amy cites 75% of Americans feeling the country’s on the wrong track and broad bipartisan disillusionment with party leaders. (04:14)
2. Polarization and the Call for a Political Center
- Amy: References a New York Times editorial calling for a “creative, re-energized political center,” lamenting that “politics has been hijacked by the extreme 10 percents on the left and on the right.” (05:42)
- Nicole: Champions the value of centrist, civil collaboration, highlighting positive examples like the cross-party camaraderie between Governor Wes Moore (Maryland, Dem) and Utah’s governor (06:45).
- Memorable Quote: “When did the word collaboration become a dirty word? If these problems … were easily solvable, they would have been solved.” (06:45)
- Leadership Models: Both point to Governors Beshear (KY) and Polis (CO) as models for civility and positive, hopeful leadership—contrasting with national figures whose conduct “sets a standard for what is acceptable.” (07:48–09:04)
- Nicole on Beshear: “He starts out every day with something positive to say, something hopeful. It's not just all negativity and all attacks." (07:48)
3. Executive Overreach and Military Turmoil
- Amy coins the phrase “Harry Potter presidency”—Trump “waving Article 2 like a magic wand” (09:26), describing unchecked executive power not rooted in law.
- Military Resignations:
- Southcom commander steps down amid controversial Caribbean kinetic strikes (10:53).
- Nicole: “The southcom commander resigning like one year into a multi year assignment should be a huge red flag.” (10:53)
- Discussion of unusual and asynchronous military retirements—“multiple data points start to create a trend.” (16:25)
- Notably, the Pentagon is building up troops in the Caribbean; Colombia’s President accuses the U.S. of murder after American strikes kill Colombian nationals. (12:13)
- Nicole: “We are flaunting that [our] moral high ground... It's disturbing.” (13:03)
- Legal Minefield: With the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, military leaders face impossible choices: obey potentially unlawful orders or risk their careers. (14:02)
- Nicole references General C.Q. Brown’s advice: “Stay in, don’t resign, because we need people in there to try to, you know, keep these guardrails on.” (15:01)
4. Press Freedom & Pentagon Censorship
- Amy reports the Pentagon’s new press corps exclusively comprises extreme rightwing outlets, with traditional and even Fox News excluded for refusing restrictive policies. (16:53)
- Nicole: “Essentially what they're doing is they're bringing in the right wing, extreme right wing news agencies who are willing to sign onto these rules that basically say you can only publish what we give you or what we approve.” (18:12)
- She stresses the gravity: “When things like Fox News and Newsmax aren't signing onto it, that should be another red flag for everybody.” (19:42)
- Importance of independent, representative war reporting: “Imagine if the Vietnam War happened and you only heard what the government told you...” (19:42)
- Amy: “It would almost be like Soviet Russia...” (19:42)
- Nicole: “This is fundamentally un-American. It goes against freedom of the press.” (20:33)
5. ICE Raids & Erosion of Constitutional Rights
- ProPublica Report: At least 170 American citizens have been “illegally detained by ICE;” Amy notes the government doesn’t keep tabs, so numbers may be much higher. (22:46)
- Nicole: “That's not what's happening. And this should anger every single American out there.” (24:17)
- Recites the Constitution on protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
- Calls out moral relativism: “One American citizen being treated like that is too many. It's too many for me.” (26:41)
- Supreme Court’s role: Justice Kavanaugh’s opinion is lambasted for its naiveté: “Justice Kavanaugh said that citizens shouldn’t be concerned... Well, that isn’t happening.” (23:41)
- Both agree: Immigration reform is needed, but current “heavy-handed tactics are just not what people want.” (27:23)
- Amy: “The Bill of Rights were put together... as a protection for people against the government. Okay? And we're just throwing it ... trampling on it right now.” (27:23)
6. Quick Shots — Glimmers of Hope & Unfiltered Takes
A. Breakthroughs in the Russia-Ukraine War
- Ukrainian forces, for the first time, took Russian prisoners of war using a $1,500 remote-controlled land drone.
- “Is this the natural evolution of warfare with technology?” Nicole marvels. (30:49)
- Amy: “This is the future of warfare.” (32:16)
B. White House Ballroom Construction
- Trump’s $200M+ ballroom (and destruction of the historic East Wing) is criticized as reckless, lacking due process, and a "metaphor" for broader disregard of American norms (35:50).
- Amy: “The White House is the White House. It needs to stay the White House.” (37:53)
- Nicole: “This is like a renter, right, deciding they want to put an addition on the house... That's not his house.” (35:26)
- All historic preservation groups are “totally against” the move.
C. Louvre Jewel Heist
- Amy recounts the audacious theft of Napoleon III’s emeralds by imposters at the Louvre in broad daylight—amusing incredulity and a cautionary tale about complacency (38:31).
7. Celebrating Progress: Japanese Prime Minister & U.S. Arctic Expansion
Japan’s First Female Prime Minister
- Amy and Nicole both cheer the election of Asanai Takachi, sharing stories about Congresswoman Pat Schroeder’s positive influence—“Don't give up. I’m working on it.” (43:27)
- Nicole notes: “When we start bringing in the woman's perspective, we might see how nations interact and develop differently.” (41:26)
- Tidbit: Takachi is a heavy metal drummer who paid her own way through college.
U.S. Icebreaker “Storis” Heads to Arctic
- The U.S. Coast Guard’s new (albeit not “heavy”) icebreaker enters the Arctic theater, helping close the gap with Russia (which has 40 icebreakers to the U.S.’s one). (44:56)
- Nicole: “It is so important that we try to keep the lead there. In the Arctic, we're well behind… on the number of icebreakers we need.” (44:56)
- Amy hails the Coast Guard: “They’re amazing. What a great show. Great discussion.” (47:06)
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- On Congressional Inaction: "I didn't vote for my representatives to be doing nothing. I voted for them to be making progress." — Nicole (03:18)
- On Executive Overreach: “The idea of executive power as magic, not law...” — Amy (09:26)
- On Press Censorship: “This is fundamentally un-American.” — Nicole (20:33)
- On ICE Detentions: “One American citizen being treated like that is too many.” — Nicole (26:41)
- On Historic Preservation: "That's not his house. It's the people's house." — Nicole (35:26)
- On Leadership Role Models: “He starts out every day with something positive to say, something hopeful.” — Nicole on Governor Beshear (07:48)
Notable Timestamps
- [00:31] – Government shutdown & context
- [03:18] – Nicole on Congress’ failures and need for action
- [06:45] – Civil collaboration and centrist hope
- [09:26] – “Harry Potter presidency” and executive overreach
- [10:53] – Military resignations and Pentagon strikes
- [16:53] – Pentagon media blackout and new press corps policy
- [22:46] – ICE raids and constitutional rights
- [30:49] – Ukraine uses land drone to capture prisoners
- [34:03] – Destruction of the White House East Wing for a ballroom
- [38:31] – The Louvre heist
- [40:35] – Japan’s new female prime minister
- [44:56] – USCG icebreaker Storis goes to Arctic
Episode Tone & Takeaways
- Language: Direct, candid, and urgent—with undercurrents of veteran pride and patriotic frustration.
- Mood: Serious but not defeatist—there’s a clear call to action, a longing for functional leadership, and moments of celebration for global advancements and American grit.
- Final Vibe: Veteran-to-veteran candor; the battle for American institutions is alive and being fought—over bourbon, through organizing, and with an unfiltered mic.
For more:
- Subscribe, rate, and review on major podcast platforms
- Follow guest Nicole Malachowski (@RealMalachowski)
- Learn more at www.truthinthebarrel.com
Summary by Truth in the Barrel Podcast Summarizer, October 2025.