Truth in the Barrel – “This Week Unfiltered LIVE” | 09.04.25 (September 5, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this lively and unscripted live episode, hosts Amy McGrath and Denver Riggleman dive headlong into a sprawling array of current events, touching on everything from the ongoing Epstein scandal and its political fallout, RFK Jr.’s controversial tenure as HHS Secretary, military strikes abroad, public health policy chaos, to the recent move of Space Command, and much more. Throughout, Amy and Denver bring their trademark mix of bipartisan military candor, political savvy, irreverent humor, and whiskey-fueled camaraderie, never shying away from honest—or at times, brutally scathing—takes on today’s most contentious issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein Files Controversy & Political Fallout

Timestamps: 03:00—10:00

• White House Declares Congressional Inquiry "Hostile":
  • Amy highlights (02:50) the White House’s declaration that any Congress member signing a discharge petition to release Epstein files as committing a "hostile act" against the Trump administration.
• Victims Speak Out—Accusations of Cowardice and Deflection:
  • Coverage of Epstein survivors’ press conference and President Trump labeling the renewed focus on Epstein “a Democrat hoax.”
  • Amy notes, “He ran on this as a campaign issue and now he's saying it's a hoax.” (04:27)
  • Denver satirically speculates about the administration's tangled excuses: “Maybe he was fooled because Joe Biden…was orchestrating this conspiracy behind closed scenes where they even fooled Donald Trump into thinking there was a list.” (04:41)
• Hypocrisy and Partisan Handling:
  • Discussion of Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene considering reading victim-compiled lists on the House floor for legal protection (06:47).
  • Denver speculates: “Maybe the Epstein list is dominated by the GOP…which is why they’re trying to cover this up.” (07:25)
• Release Prospects Grim:
  • Amy doubts any true disclosure will come.
  • Denver flatly states, “Nope. They’re going to keep retreading the same documents” (08:47), expressing concern over a culture of protecting pedophilia in power: “I don’t want to go from a democracy to a pedo-ocracy.” (09:17)
• On Congress, the Constitution & Overreach:
  • Both decry the idea that legislating is now “hostile” to the executive: “They are the Congress. They're an equal branch of government.” (10:18 – Amy)

2. RFK Jr. at HHS & the State of Public Health

Timestamps: 10:12—21:55

• Health Crisis and Institutional Chaos:
  • Seven former CDC directors and 1,000+ HHS employees call on RFK Jr. to resign, citing dangerous leadership and anti-science policies (11:00).
  • Amy details bipartisan consensus among experts: “Directors from Democratic and Republican administrations...that in itself is news.” (11:20)
• Senate Hearings—Ignorance Spotlighted:
  • Denver: “He couldn’t answer basic scientific questions...To have a hoodoo witch doctor in charge of HHS, I think is great look for the United States.” (11:42)
  • Amy: “We are weakening our country and our people against cancer, against heart attacks, against lead poisoning, against measles.” (12:42)
  • Noting a Senator claiming “only non-citizen kids can contract measles” as “galactically stupid.” (12:49 – Amy)
• Anti-Vax Populism and Policy Damage:
  • Mark Wayne Mullen’s evolution exemplifies the cultish transformation in the GOP over recent years (13:36—Denver).
  • Amy laments: “Smallpox killed 500 million people before vaccines, measles killed 300 million...right now we’re being led by, by the crazies.” (15:32)
• Florida and Anti-Science Escalation:
  • Critique of Florida’s elimination of vaccine mandates and general trend toward undermining public health infrastructure (15:54—Denver).
  • Denver: “Downstream effects of stupid are usually terminal and people die.” (15:54)
• Proposal: Make CDC an Independent Agency:
  • Amy floats the idea of a CDC removed from direct executive control to preserve scientific integrity (18:10).
  • Denver questions viability given Congress’s current composition (19:43).

Notable Quotes:

• Amy: “There’s a permission structure for crazy...Covid and QAnon came together in this sort of toxic meatball.” (20:38)
• Denver: “We've crossed the Rubicon into insanity.” (21:52)

3. January 6th Committee—Now Under Investigation

Timestamps: 21:55—28:39

• Inversion of Oversight:
  • The current House creates a subcommittee to investigate the investigators of January 6th—a move both call “retribution” and “cult-like.”
  • Barry Loudermilk, who once was suspected (without proof) of abetting January 6th, now leads this new subcommittee—questioning impartiality and intent.
  • Denver, who was senior technical advisor to the original committee, gives inside perspective: “I was already working with Liz and Adam… the only person they really have to be careful with is me, because once I have the data, it’s going to be awful.” (24:49)
• Jim Jordan's Hypocrisy:
  • Amy criticizes Jordan’s refusal to honor a subpoena, now sitting on a committee that will subpoena others (26:05).
  • Denver: “Every time there’s a real bar fight, this guy seems to run into the bathroom.” (26:07)
• Overall:
  • Both agree it’s a distraction from more damaging issues like Epstein and symptomatic of a broader authoritarian turn.

4. Kinetic Military Strike on "Drug Runners"—Rule of Law or Lawless?

Timestamps: 28:41—34:42

• Strike Off Venezuela—11 Killed:
  • US strike kills suspected drug runners in international waters with no explicit congressional authorization.
  • Amy argues: “A crime is not an act of war.” (31:12)
  • Denver: “Is the Epstein files must be really, really bad now to just, you know, shoot at boats in international waters.” (29:25)
• Dangerous Precedent:
  • Both see this as a dangerous, norm-smashing escalation.
  • Amy: “He’s just doing it,” noting Trump bypassed even seeking a “blank check” from Congress. (33:45)
• Foreign Policy Consistency Debunked:
  • Amy punctures the facade: “Didn’t he run on…ending wars? Isn’t this …an escalation?” (34:28)

5. Whiskey Break & Lighthearted Banter

Timestamps: 35:07—38:03

• Bourbon Reviews & Smoking Techniques:
  • Denver drinks Willett Kentucky bourbon; Amy enjoys Basil Hayden’s Red Wine Cask Finish; they debate the merits of smoked whiskey cocktails.
  • Fun mutual invitation: “I’ll make you some smoked old fashions...Let me help you. Help me help you.” (37:24—Denver)

6. Space Command Relocates from Colorado to Alabama

Timestamps: 38:03—42:04

• Political Motivations:
  • Both contend the decision is nakedly partisan.
  • Denver: “Colorado's a blue state. Alabama's a red state. That's it." (38:40)
• Disastrous for Readiness, Families, and Diversity:
  • Amy highlights impacts on military families, female personnel, and access to reproductive health care (40:58).
  • Blames Sen. Tuberville's anti-abortion posturing for catalyzing the move.

7. U.S. Global Standing & Trump’s Foreign Policy

Timestamps: 42:11–45:42

• U.S. Isolation & Adversaries Aligning:
  • Vladimir Putin’s hand-holding photo op with Indian PM Modi is discussed as a geopolitical “troll” undermining US alliances (42:47—Amy, 43:25—Denver).
  • Denver: “We are isolating ourselves as sort of this bizarre, infantile, twice held back in the fifth grade schoolyard bully...” (43:25)
  • Amy underscores Financial Times reporting on the U.S. pulling back from security partnerships in Europe.

8. Department of Defense Rebranded as the "Department of War"

Timestamps: 45:42–51:29

• Satirical Absurdity & Masculinity Politics:
  • Amy and Denver ridicule Pete Hegseth (now Defense Secretary) for changing the DOD's name to “Department of War” and focusing on gym stunts for social media.
  • Denver: “You said a guy who couldn’t get promoted above O-4 in the Guard is now the Secretary of Defense.” (47:29)
• The Real Leaders:
  • “The guys who were the most respected...were also the most professional, the quietest...” (48:13—Amy)
  • Denver calls out the current crop of appointees as “non-hackable losers” promoted for loyalty, not competence: “Their only talent is bootlicking.” (50:14)

9. Cabinet Hypocrisy & Administrative Corruption

Timestamps: 51:33–53:31

• Double Standards on “Primary Residence” Scandal:
  • ProPublica exposé reveals multiple Trump cabinet members guilty of the same “offense” used to justify attempting to fire the Fed governor.

10. Audience Q&A: Lincoln’s Party? Ronnie Jackson, and Ashley Babbitt

Timestamps: 53:31–61:26

• Could Lincoln Run as a Modern Republican?
  • “No, this is not the party of Lincoln. This is literally the party of Putin.” (53:43—Denver)
  • “Abe Lincoln is too honest.” (53:51—Amy)
• Restoring Ronnie Jackson’s Rank:
  • Seen as a reward-for-loyalty symptom of the administration’s authoritarian cronyism.
• Ashley Babbitt, Military Honors, and Violent Symbolism:
  • Nuanced debate about whether Babbitt deserved full military honors in death (Amy: “What it really is...a flag, and you get two soldiers or airmen at your memorial service”—57:57)
  • Denver: “The message…is a dog whistle and a radicalization measure towards other military members...” (60:06, warning of its chilling effect)

Notable and Memorable Quotes

• Denver (on anti-vax populism): “Downstream effects of stupid are usually terminal and people die.” (15:54)
• Amy (on legislative power): “They are the Congress. They're an equal branch of government.” (10:18)
• Denver (January 6th subcommittee): “Every time there’s a real bar fight, this guy seems to run into the bathroom.” (26:07)
• Amy (Use of military force): “A crime is not an act of war.” (31:12)
• Denver (about appointees): “Their only talent is bootlicking. They have the longest tongues of any servants ever...” (50:14)
• Amy (about leadership): “The ones that you knew were the real deal...were…the quietest, most humble in many respects.” (48:13)
• Denver (re: Lincoln): “No, this is not the party of Lincoln. This is literally the party of Putin.” (53:43)

Episode Flow & Tone

Language & Tone:

• Frank, irreverent, and deeply critical; leavened by humor and mutual ribbing.
• Essential messages delivered with military and political insider candor.

Engagement:

• Frequent use of audience questions and direct appeals to listeners to stay engaged, vigilant, and involved.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a rapid-fire, unfiltered tour through the American political moment as seen by two sharp-tongued veterans. Amy and Denver dissect hypocrisy on all sides, mourn the damage to democratic norms and public trust, warn of the dangers of governmental overreach, and champion common-sense, fact-based leadership—even while sharing their favorite bourbons. For those alarmed by recent headlines, their wit and clarity offer both a stiff drink and a call to stay awake.

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