Truth in the Barrel – "This Week Unfiltered w/ Rick Wilson"

Hosts: Amy McGrath & guest co-host Rick Wilson
Date: January 23, 2026
Episode Theme: The Impact of Trump’s Recent Actions on U.S. Alliances, National Security, Trade, and Conservative Identity

Episode Overview

In this wide-ranging episode, Amy McGrath is joined by veteran political strategist and author Rick Wilson to break down the fallout from President Trump's recent speech at Davos, escalating tensions with NATO allies, disputes over Greenland, trade wars with Canada and China, the Supreme Court's controversial rulings, endemic corruption in Congress, and the ongoing redefinition of "conservatism" under Trump. With pointed personal anecdotes and policy analysis, McGrath and Wilson deliver a frank, at times scathing, assessment of America's domestic and international standing in 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's Davos Speech & Its Fallout

• Catastrophic speech:
  Wilson describes President Trump’s address at Davos as “a catastrophic speech for the Western alliance, catastrophic speech for American security, catastrophic speech for the dignity of the presidency.”
  (Rick Wilson, [01:51])

• Disrespect to NATO allies:
  Both hosts elaborate how Trump’s comments dismiss the contributions of NATO nations post-9/11, with Amy recalling her military experience alongside European allies.

  • “It shows that the President is either ignorant or doesn’t give a shit about the sacrifices that were made for our country.”
    (Amy McGrath, [03:39])

• Alienating U.S. veterans and allies:
  Wilson characterizes Trump as having a "cinematic"—and thoroughly inaccurate—version of the military, calling his stance “callous, heartless, clownish, and tragic.”
  (Rick Wilson, [04:00])

• Reagan Republicans in dismay:
  Wilson describes traditional Republicans as “horrified,” but most “too chicken shit to say anything” publicly.
  (Rick Wilson, [04:30])

2. The Greenland and NATO Distraction

• Greenland as a pretext:
  Wilson argues that Trump’s obsession with Greenland is a cover for his intent to fracture NATO and cede spheres of influence to Russia, China, and the U.S.
  “It’s always been about breaking NATO and trying to get into this new world order where Putin gets Europe and Xi gets Asia and Trump gets the Western hemisphere…”
  (Rick Wilson, [06:26])

• Military & security realities:
  McGrath dismantles myths about needing Greenland for Arctic security, emphasizing existing alliances and bases.
  “When we make these threats, we’re ticking off all these other countries with the exception of Russia…”
  (Amy McGrath, [07:27])

• Feasibility of resource extraction:
  Wilson: “If Greenland was chock full of rare earths, it would still not be worth doing it because the difficulty of working there is like working on the damn moon.”
  (Rick Wilson, [08:23])

3. U.S. Reputational Damage and Trade Fallout

• Canada shifts toward China:
  During the Greenland chaos, Canada, “our second largest trading partner,” signs a trade deal with China, citing “China is more predictable than the United States.”
  (Amy McGrath, [15:50])

• Tariff backfiring:
  Wilson and McGrath unpack how Trump’s tariff policies undermine American jobs and industries, specifically in states like Kentucky.
  Wilson: “The idea that tariffs are going to suddenly bring it all over, bring it back here, has not held up.”
  (Rick Wilson, [18:30])

• Tariffs as a tax on Americans:
  “96% of the burden of tariffs…are paid by Americans.”
  (Amy McGrath, [21:03])

• Failure of Republican leadership:
  Both hosts censure the Kentucky delegation and national GOP for enabling policies that hurt their constituents, with specific criticism of Mitch McConnell’s inaction.
  (Rick Wilson & Amy McGrath, [21:58-22:27])

4. The Supreme Court & Executive Power

• Presidential immunity outrage:
  Both hosts are alarmed at the Supreme Court’s granting of sweeping immunity to the president, comparing it to the most notorious decisions in U.S. history: “United States v. Trump and Citizens United…have reshaped the landscape of America fundamentally.”
  (Rick Wilson, [27:55])

• Gutless government branches:
  Wilson critiques Congress and the Supreme Court for passing responsibility back and forth and shying from constitutional duties:
  “Nobody wants to take responsibility. It’s like who will put the bell on the cat in the old children’s fairy tale.”
  (Rick Wilson, [29:40])

5. What Is Conservatism Now?

• Republican transformation:
  Both hosts lament that the Republican Party has become the “party of big government,” government overreach, and even authoritarian tactics—contradicting its former principles.

  • McGrath: “Is pardoning criminals conservative? Is having a federal government control prices and impose tariffs conservative?”
    ([31:14])
  • Wilson: “Trump is not a conservative. He’s a big government guy…He took the branding…but he didn’t take the values…”
    ([37:30-38:49])

• The "hate machine":
  Wilson discusses how cultural grievance and fear-mongering, not policy, now dominate Republican campaigning and voter loyalty:
  “They built what I call the hate machine…they’re winning elections based on culture war.”
  (Rick Wilson, [37:30])

6. Corruption, Stock Trades & the Rich Buying Elections

• Insider trading in Washington:
  Both endorse a ban on congressional stock trading; Wilson calls for a constitutional amendment:
  “There’s a massive amount of insider trading going on on Capitol Hill…This is absolutely bipartisan and it absolutely has to stop.”
  (Rick Wilson, [41:53])

• Elon Musk and big money in politics:
  McGrath highlights Musk’s $10 million Senate primary donation in Kentucky as a symptom of a broken system:
  “We’re buying elections. The richest man in the world is buying elections.”
  (Amy McGrath, [44:21])

• Party priority: wealth:
  Wilson: “That is the only thing the Senate committee on the Republican side looks for now. Can you self-fund?”
  (Rick Wilson, [45:06])

7. Shout-Outs and Hopes for Reform

• Celebrating new governors:
  McGrath notes the inaugurations of Governors Spanberger (VA) and Mikey Sherrill (NJ) as a “breath of fresh air,” highlighting their leadership and national security backgrounds.
  (Amy McGrath, [47:12])

• Reforms needed:
  Calls for term limits and campaign finance reform, bemoaning the influence of dark money and the escalating costs of elections.
  (Amy McGrath & Rick Wilson, [46:09-46:55])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If grandpa did this or dad did this, you’d say, okay, time to take the keys. It was chaotic and self-referential and abusive to our allies.”
  — Rick Wilson, on Trump’s Davos speech ([01:51])

• “Denmark had one of the highest casualty rates of any of our partners over there per capita.”
  — Amy McGrath, recalling her service with NATO allies ([03:06])

• “He can be a callous, heartless asshole, but he can also be somebody who just has this…cinematic version of the American military in his head.”
  — Rick Wilson ([03:59])

• “If Greenland was chock full of rare earths, it would still not be worth doing it because the difficulty…is like working on the damn moon.”
  — Rick Wilson ([08:23])

• “It just hurts our state. There was a new study…that said that 96% of the burden of tariffs…are paid by Americans.”
  — Amy McGrath ([21:03])

• “Nobody wants to take responsibility. It’s like who will put the bell on the cat in the old children’s fairy tale, right?”
  — Rick Wilson ([29:40])

• “Trump is not a conservative. He’s an authoritarian statist…He took the branding of the old Republican Party…and conservative movement…he didn’t take the values.”
  — Rick Wilson ([37:30-38:49])

• “They built what I call the hate machine where they told people…you lost your job because of a woman…this constant cultural stew where they’re winning elections…based on culture war.”
  — Rick Wilson ([37:30])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:07 – Setting the scene: Trump's Europe trip and Davos speech
• 01:51 – Wilson’s assessment: catastrophic for the Western alliance
• 03:06 – NATO’s real contributions; McGrath’s experience in Afghanistan
• 04:21 – Traditional Republicans’ reaction to Trump’s conduct
• 06:26 – Greenland, the Arctic, and Trump’s true motive: breaking NATO
• 09:56 – Can the US repair NATO relationships post-Trump?
• 12:20 – Russian disinformation victory; U.S. credibility at risk
• 14:39 – Under-reported shifts: Canada signs trade deal with China
• 21:03 – Tariffs as taxes on Americans & Kentucky’s economic exposure
• 27:55 – The Supreme Court’s controversial presidential immunity ruling
• 31:13 – Redefining “conservative” in the Trump era
• 35:40 – Immigration overreach: ICE and 4th Amendment erosion
• 37:30 – GOP’s “hate machine” and culture war politics
• 41:53 – Congressional insider trading and reform
• 44:21 – Elon Musk’s $10 million injection in Kentucky’s Senate race
• 47:12 – Shout-outs to new women governors

Overall Tone & Language

The episode is informed, unfiltered, and deeply critical, especially regarding Trump-era policies, Republican Party transformations, and failures in political accountability. Both McGrath and Wilson intertwine personal anecdotes with policy analysis and humor, granting unique voice and credibility to their critiques.

Summary Takeaways

• Trump’s erratic foreign policy and open disdain for allies have done real and lasting damage to U.S. international relationships.
• Longstanding Republican values—particularly around free markets, small government, and rule of law—have been upended under Trump.
• Economic nationalism is hurting American industries and consumers, all while the political class profits.
• There’s bipartisan corruption in Congress via stock trades and the outsized influence of the ultra-wealthy in elections.
• Urgent reforms are needed—campaign finance, term limits, and a recommitment to constitutional principles.
• New state-level leadership, especially from women with national security credentials, brings hope for American democracy.

For those who want a thorough, honest critique of today’s political realities from two pro-America, anti-authoritarian patriots—this is required listening.