Ruthless Podcast

🎙️ We’re live in Philadelphia to kick off America 250, and we’re coming in hot: big crowd, big venue, and a full night built around pride in the country and what it still makes possible. We talk about why celebrating the 250th isn’t just a party—it’s a push to re-learn what holds this place together. Then we bring out the NFL’s own Jaws, Ron Jaworski, and the conversation lands on values, work ethic, leadership, and what it takes to win when the stakes are real—on the field, at work, and at home. 🇺🇸 From there, we sit down with the people turning “one small step” into action across communities. We get into why this moment matters, how grassroots pressure actually moves decision-makers, and why civic confidence is slipping for too many people. We also talk through why Philadelphia’s history—Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Constitution Center—hits different when you stand in the middle of it.️ 🐘 Then the fellas bring the games. We play Dem or Journo and Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity joins us to talk service, manufacturing, watching taxpayer dollars, unclaimed property wins, and what it looks like to run a massive office like a serious operation. 💥 Finally, Guy Benson steps in with a sharp take on immigration, federal enforcement, and the outrage of taxpayer fraud—then we cap the night with Hard Pivot, a game where Guy shines as bright as they come. 00:00 - America 250 kicks off live in Philadelphia 06:23 - Ron Jaworski joins the progrum 09:45 - Leadership and the American dream mindset 15:08 - Dick Vermeil, team culture, and paying the price 29:35 - America 250 toolkit and celebrating all year 33:06 - AFP leaders on “one small step” and civic action 38:34 - Libre Initiative and Hispanic outreach 42:33 - Concerned Veterans of America and veteran voices 49:00 - Demerge Snow: wild quotes about American history 1:03:21 - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity on service and stewardship 1:15:21 - Guy Benson on immigration, enforcement, and fraud outrage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ The fellas sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a wide-ranging conversation that hits policy, politics, and the pure theater of the moment. We talk through what Trump Accounts are built to do—seed money, compounding, and a real push toward financial literacy—plus how the private sector and states may stack on top of it. We also get into the broader economic pitch: growth, inflation, deficits, and why Bessent thinks the private sector is about to do the heavy lifting. 💰 Then we sprint to catch up with Senator Ted Cruz after President Trump riffs—very publicly—about Cruz as a possible Supreme Court pick. Cruz gives us a definitive answer, explains why he doesn’t want the robe, and lays out how he sees his role in the middle of policy fights instead. We also get the behind-the-scenes origin story of Trump Accounts—from a late-night Vegas poker table to drafting the provision that ends up in the bill.️ 👑 After the interviews, we talk through what we heard, what it signals for the midterm conversation the fellas are building toward, and we get into listener comments on early Senate predictions. We close it out with our Thursday staple, King of the Hill, where Cheri Jacobus takes on champion Steve Schmidt. 00:00 — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent 03:16 — What Trump Accounts are and why the media isn’t covering it 09:18 — Smug’s big announcement 10:34 — Markets, compounding, and why this is meant to change behavior 14:22 — Davos: what happened with Gavin Newsom 23:32 — Fraud, NGOs, and “benefits turned into business” 31:19 — What “too small to succeed” means 33:32 — Smug’s baby news 44:15 — Trump’s Cruz riff: Supreme Court chatter goes public 45:35 — Ted Cruz on possible SCOTUS nom 59:18 — King of the Hill Subscribe for more unfiltered conservative commentary, interviews with top leaders, and laughs! Hit that like button if you're ready for America's comeback. #RuthlessPodcast #ScottBessent #TedCruz #TrumpAccounts #EconomicBoom #SupremeCourt #maga Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢Tell Congress year-round E15 is long overdue. https://fieldsoffreedomalliance.com/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fellas are laying the whole Senate map on the table and getting real about what’s actually at stake for the next two years. We get into why holding the Senate matters so much for a Trump administration, from confirmations to the very real threat of impeachment politics coming roaring back if Democrats get the chance. Then we start walking state by state through the early battlefield, where the money is going to flood in, where the margins are going to be brutal, and where Republicans can realistically grow the majority.  We start with North Carolina, because the fellas think it’s shaping up to be one of the most expensive races in American history—potentially a $600 million monster. We talk through the matchup dynamics, why the Democrat name ID advantage is real early, and why the race changes once the spending begins. Then we jump to Georgia, where Ossoff’s entire plan looks like it hinges on Republicans not showing up in the rural areas in a midterm—so the primary becomes its own test of who can actually build the kind of turnout operation it takes to win.️  From there, we hit the rest of the map: Susan Collins once again fighting upstream in Maine while Democrats try to sort out their own mess, Michigan opening up with Democrats in a fractured primary and Republicans feeling like they’ve got a real shot, and the Texas situation that could turn into a full-blown runoff slugfest with massive consequences. We also get into Alaska’s quirks and why polling there is always a mess, Ohio’s matchup potential, Iowa’s open seat and why candidate quality matters, and the Louisiana calendar that’s set up to produce a low-turnout sprint into a runoff.  Then we talk with US Attorney Jeanine Pirro about crime in D.C., what changes when prosecutors actually prosecute, how the federal component of her office plays into major cases, and why she’s approaching public safety like it’s the job—not a press strategy.Our Sponsors:➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins.  https://permittingreformnow.org/➢Melania from Amazon MGM Studios captures the personal moments that come with stepping into the role of the First Lady for a second time - in theaters exclusively on January 30th, 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ No better start to a Friday than the fallout from the church disruption in Minnesota, and for once, we actually get the kind of consequences we hoped for. We talk through the arrests, the perp walks, and the sheer audacity of watching people try to rewrite what happened in Minneapolis. However, there is a continued refusal to bring charges against Don Lemon. We go through what it says about Minnesota’s political rot, what it says about activist media, and why this whole “I’m just reporting” act falls apart when the so-called journalist is obviously part of the operation. 🫏 We saved this for your Friday: Krysten Sinema getting dragged into a divorce filing that reads like a political thriller written by a horny screenwriter. We get into the alleged affair, the weird trips, the gifts, the encrypted messaging, the drugs, and the “this can’t be real” details that somehow keep piling up. It’s messy, it’s ridiculous, and it’s exactly the kind of story that makes you wonder how anyone in Washington functions in public at all.️ 🏠 Then, we sit down with HUD Secretary Scott Turner to discuss housing, homelessness, and disaster recovery. He tells Ashbrook that HUD uncovered $1.9 billion in misplaced funds and moved to return those dollars to the Treasury. Turner also explains why they cut contracts, including $4 million in DEI-related contracts. 00:00 - Crime, punishment, and chaos 04:10 - It’s perp walk season 05:58 - Activist goes on CNN and tries to rewrite the story 10:07 - Another perp walk: “Da Woke Farmer” gets arrested 15:47 - Activists + media collusion 19:44 - Krysten Sinema scandal is totally wild 28:15 - Divorce filing details: affair allegations and power dynamics 37:30 - MDMA, “boring” missionary talk, and peak absurdity 47:33 - Variety with a great pic and taking a whale ride 57:49 - HUD Secretary Scott Turner Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢Tell Washington it's time to end middlemen markups and put American patients first. Visit https://phrma.org/middlemen ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Once again the left has given the American people a bait-and-switch with the promise of “moderate Democrats” in VA and NJ. We walk through how that brand gets sold, why it keeps working in purple places, and what happens the minute governing power shows up. Virginia Governor Spanberberger shows how a “most bipartisan” claim turns into a very different set of priorities once the ink is dry. 🐘 Border Czar Tom Homan explains how the same enforcement tools that were treated as normal for decades are now used as a political weapon. He walks us through how the rhetoric shifted, why “enforce the law” became controversial, and why he thinks so much of the outrage is less about policy and more about denying wins—no matter what it costs in public safety. 🌽 Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins discusses a year of governing and the White House efforts on warp-speed execution. Namely: trade, prices, inputs, exports, and making sure America stays the breadbasket for ourselves and the rest of the world. Then Rollins lays out why the administration wants real food back on plates, why whole milk is returning to schools, and how the old low-fat dogma flipped incentives in the worst direction. 00:00 - Dems reveal their moderates were a bait-and-switch 04:02 - Spanberger drops her moderate face 07:15 - The campaign ad pitch vs the record 15:40 - Mikie Sherrill rhetoric ramps up 20:06 - Eric Swalwell on ICE and law enforcement 25:57 - Border Czar Tom Homan 42:41 - Davos, Greenland talk, and Macron’s sunglasses 51:21 - King of the Hill: Steve Schmidt vs Rick Wilson 59:34 - Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We break down the left’s overt hatred of religion in America - on display Sunday in Minneapolis. More than unhinged, it’s dangerous. Then we get into Don Lemon showing up on the scene and trying to dress the whole thing up as “First Amendment” theater, while the fellas call out what’s really happening: organized chaos with a media camera crew conveniently on-site. We dig into the growing sense that the activist left is operating with zero fear of consequences, and why the DOJ is actually stepping in. ⚡The political hypocrisy tour continues with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirming what everyone already knew: Kamala Harris’s team was obsessively paranoid about Israel and anti-Semitism politics during the VP vetting process. We react to the insane details, including the question that basically asks if Shapiro was some kind of undercover operative, and we connect it back to a broader pattern of the modern Democratic coalition’s hatred of religion.️ 💥 Virginia Democrats are openly gunning for a 10–1 map and Republicans in places like Indiana are refusing to play hardball when it matters in the redistricting fight. We talk through why this stuff is never polite, never clean, and why pretending the other side won’t do it to you has become a political death wish heading into the midterms. ⛷️ Variety with ski jumpers “ehancing” suit measurements, Bears fans painting their nails during a playoff run, and airlines quietly celebrating Ozempic. Come join us with AFP in Philadelphia - get tickets here http://a250philly.com/ruthless 00:00 — The left’s “religious tolerance” problem 06:06 — Consequences, law enforcement, and why this can’t keep sliding 09:04 — Don Lemon shows up and hides behind the First Amendment 18:33 — The organizers post the whole op on Facebook 23:55 — Why Shapiro mattered for the Harris ticket 46:02 — Redistricting fight: Texas, California, Indiana, and Virginia 58:56 — Ski jumping suit scandal goes nuclear 01:06:12 — Bears fans embrace matcha and mannies 01:08:37 — Ozempic saving airlines millions Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢ Tell President Trump and Congress to deliver American greatness and fund fusion. https://www.builtforamerica.us/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ ➢Melania is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look from the perspective of the First Lady. In theaters January 30th, find out more: https://www.amazon.com/salp/melaniamovie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Watching SCOTUS this week, it’s obvious that the left’s entire legal theory collapses once someone asks simple questions. We talk about why this case isn’t just about sports, and why the arguments we’re hearing put far more than one issue at risk. Serious question, though, is Ketanji Brown Jackson the dumbest current justice, or the dumbest justice ever? I bet she doesn’t understand. 👩🏻‍⚖️ Then, we break down why this thinking from left-wing justices collapses under even mild pressure. It also exposes years of sloppy logic, and why watching actual litigators respond to it is both painful and deeply satisfying. This reveals the broader pattern we’ve seen for years: vibes over facts. 🏀 Bruce Pearl joins us for a deep conversation on leadership, college basketball, NIL disorder, and the cost of speaking freely. He explains why accountability matters in sports and politics, reflects on coaching at the highest levels, addresses campus anti-Semitism, and makes the case for courage, clarity, and responsibility in public life. 00:00 - Supreme Court arguments and the definition problem 03:30 - Why laws collapse without clear definitions 06:30 - The Alito moment and unintended consequences 09:18 - Ketanji Brown Jackson‘s “I don’t understand” problem 12:40 - Lawyers dunking on the bench 15:34 - Language games 19:58 - MAGATKO 23:02 - Why the mob never expects pushback 25:16 - Tim Walz audio and unforced errors 35:30 - Dem or Journo returns 45:24 - What the media used to brag about 46:01 - Coach Bruce Pearl joins the Progrum 55:32 - NIL, college sports, and leadership 01:03:09 - Speaking freely and paying the price Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Why does it feel like we’re bouncing from one high-stakes fight to the next without ever forcing the real public debate? Because liberals and the media use this as a tactic. The fellas explain how narratives and process drama help the bigger questions get ignored: like why federal law enforcement is in Minneapolis in the first place, and what elected leaders did to set the whole mess in motion. ⚡️ Then, we get into the sanctuary city pressure campaign and the Feb 1 payment cutoff that Trump has planned. Then, how the loudest voices on the left treat “oppose Trump” as a full personality. How do libs expect that if laws are on the books, that it won’t be enforced? We explain how these fights get reframed into “Gestapo” language, and why that reframing is the point. 👑 It’s Thursday, so we play our signature game: King of the Hill. It’s a truly deranged week featuring Joe Scarborough and champion Steve Schmidt. ️ 🐘 Montana AG Austin Knudsen on how foreign influence and dark money can end up behind pressure campaigns and litigation. He walks us through how funding trails get buried through layers of orgs and intermediaries. Knudsen also explained how climate lawsuits can be used to choke an energy state one permit at a time. Then: China-linked consumer platforms, Second Amendment fights, and what it takes to keep states from getting steamrolled by activist-law tactics. 00:00 - Why the real debate gets dodged 02:02 - Rapid-fire fights and the missing public case 05:33 - Minnesota confrontation narrative shifts 07:06 - Process arguments vs the underlying problem 09:52 - “Gestapo” framing and the sanctuary-state contrast 13:51 - Trump announces Feb 1 sanctuary-city payment cutoff 16:03 - Progressive push to block immigration enforcement funding 18:56 - Lawsuits to block federal enforcement inside states 22:13 - Trump and Eric Adams have deuling f-bombs 25:42 - The media fever dream 31:42 - King of the Hill: Joe Scarborough vs champion Steve Schmidt 37:41 - Montana AG Austin Knudsen joins the Progrum Our Sponsors: ➢The Durbin / Marshall credit Card bill would benefit corporate mega stores. Tell Congress to https://guardyourcard.com/ ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ There is a new internet sickness: AI-generated rage bait dressed up as “real life.” We walk through the fake priest clips, the Italian deli “Basta” performance art, and the comment sections that somehow make the videos look subtle. We explain why this stuff works, who it’s really built for, and how the left treats the internet like an indoctrination machine—because if they can’t find enough real people to sell the outrage, they’ll just manufacture them. 🫏 After that, we shift to the sudden Democratic heel turn on Hamas. We react to the Queens rally chant (“we support Hamas here”), then watch the rapid-fire flood of identical condemnations roll out from the usual suspects. We also get into the broader pattern: how narratives get laundered, how “authoritarian” comparisons get deployed on command, and why the party’s selective outrage always seems to arrive right when it’s politically useful.️ 🐘 West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading the case headed to the Supreme Court on women’s rights. He explains how West Virginia passed a straightforward law in 2021, how the ACLU sued almost immediately, and why this ends up at the Court, even though most Americans think the answer is obvious. We also talk through why states regulating athletics matters and why he thinks this lands as a wide-margin win. 🏒 The greatest hockey game ever played was on a Friday in Hershey, PA. The fella’s review the largest, longest and greatest hockey fight on record… with 6 year olds. Enjoy a great laugh with us to cap off a great episode. 00:00 — Minneapolis liberals scramble to change the subject 09:23 — The rise of liberal AI rage bait 18:26 — Viral propaganda imagery and how it reverses the facts 28:52 — Democrats’ Hamas posture pivot 48:19 — Youth hockey intermission brawl 52:35 — JB McCuskey joins the Progrum Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢ Tell President Trump and Congress to deliver American greatness and fund fusion. https://www.builtforamerica.us/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We break down how Democrats, activist groups, and legacy media work together to turn massive government fraud into street unrest and false narratives. We walk through the ICE enforcement at the center of the controversy, the viral clips being deliberately misrepresented online, and the way language like “legal observer” is used to confuse the public and protect bad actors. ⚡ From there, we examine how the media and Democratic politicians rushed to create a parallel narrative. Instead of discussing stolen funds, systemic failures, or enforcement responsibilities, the focus shifted to emotionally charged language, selectively edited clips, and invented roles like “legal observers” meant to recast agitators as victims. The manipulation of language isn’t accidental—it’s designed to short-circuit rational discussion and replace facts with moral panic. 🪨 We close with some variety, like a Disney employee taking one to the face, and for what? To impress adult and overweight Diney Adults? And the Colts are in bad shape. If you need it explained, just watch their owner’s last press conference of the season. 00:00 — Why the left always needs a lie first 03:21 — The pepper spray clip the media lied about 05:35 — Why ICE is actually in Minnesota 08:44 — Criminals protected, enforcement demonized 10:29 — “Hands up, don’t shoot” all over again 12:52 — When protests jump the rails 15:11 — Foreign money and coordinated chaos 19:21 — Minnesota schools, unions, and shutdowns 27:08 — Media blaming YouTube instead of fraud 32:12 — The invented term “legal observer” 36:52 — Democrats openly attacking ICE 40:26 — The SUV lie and the use-of-force reality 43:50 — Why this all traces back to fraud 49:31 — When Democrats admit they want blood 53:36 — The IRS finally shows up 59:27 — How big is the fraud really 01:15:45 — Indiana Jones boulder dominates 01:19:41 — The Colts are a total mess Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We dig into the Minneapolis ICE shooting video that’s lighting up social media, focusing on what the footage shows: officers identify themselves, a “get out of the car” command, the vehicle surging forward, and shots fired as an officer is put in immediate danger. We talk about how the clips are getting spun into a partisan Rorschach test—and why Minnesota’s leadership jumps straight to blaming the feds instead of dealing with the events that brought federal agents into the state in the first place. ⚡ From there, we connect the flashpoint to the bigger story: massive fraud allegations in Minnesota and the claim that officials looked the other way until it blew up. We react to legislative testimony about whistleblowers facing retaliation and intimidation, and we walkthrough audit findings that allege sloppy oversight and even backdated paperwork meant to cover tracks. Then we hit the Keith Ellison audio that sounds like politics and protection money getting way too close for comfort. 👑 King of the Hill returns with reigning champion Steve Schmidt facing off against congressional candidate George Conway, in a battle of pure derangement.️ 00:00- Minneapolis ICE shooting sets the week on fire 01:55 - Why Minnesota leadership keeps humiliating itself 03:29 - Fraud pipeline through programs and the state looking away 05:44 - Agitators, street pressure, and why the story doesn’t stay local 16:01 - Video angle one 17:19 - Video angle two 19:42 - Walz rhetoric heats up the confrontation 27:05 - House testimony: whistleblowers and intimidation claims 37:48 - Ellison tape revelations 39:32 -Backdated docs and covering tracks 51:30 - Dem counter: “look at white men” instead of the spreadsheet 01:03:09 - King of the Hill: Schmidt vs Conway Our Sponsors: ➢We need to stand with President Trump in his fight against big insurance companies. Learn more: https://www.americansforopengovernment.com/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We walk through the Maduro capture and why it matters that the U.S. can go in, grab the guy, and get out—clean. We talk through the stakes in the region, the role of adversaries in propping up a failed-state mess, and why the oil angle is less about “needing it” and more about who gets to control it in our own hemisphere. 🫏 Then, the democrats trip over themselves to pretend they never spent years saying Maduro had to go, only to suddenly act shocked that anyone actually did something. We run through the Sunday-show spin, the fake confusion routine, and the weird scramble to frame an obvious win as a scandal. Their only reflex is to oppose whatever Trump does, even when it’s something they demanded yesterday. 🗽Did we miss a memo? Is the New York City mayor a global military commander? Plus, Tim Walz is stepping aside, Klobuchar is hovering, and a fraud fiasco that’s about power more than accountability.️ 📦 We close with a USPS driver in Florida allegedly trying to run down a ten-year-old over a misdelivered package, and a loose monkey in Tennessee that apparently wants to “shop local” by wrecking a music store. 00:00 - Maduro captured: why it matters and why it’s funny 03:47 - The failed state next door 05:35 - Rubio crushes the Sunday shows 07:19 - How the mission works and why defenses don’t matter 08:05 - The oil question and why our adversaries care 12:04 - Iran/Russia/China/Cuba ties and the pipeline logic 15:58 - Tactical details and the message it sends abroad 23:44 - Democrats flip to “illegal” and “unconstitutional” 31:10 - Chris Murphy then and now 39:44 - “Epsteinzuela?” 45:16 - Mamdani was “briefed” is pure comedy 50:53 - Minnesota fraud fallout 56:49 - Electability over accountability 01:05:10 - USPS driver vs. kid’s scooter in Florida 01:10:37 - Tennessee monkey hits the music store Our Sponsors: ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We review the year that was 2025, counting down the greatest media failures of last year. To top the list, Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad. A basic pun about “genes” turns into a prime-time lecture about eugenics and white supremacy, and watching a major network try to make that argument out loud is the kind of thing you still can’t believe is real. Then over to CBS, where John Dickerson tries to compare modern immigration enforcement to Irish discrimination and deportation crackdowns in the 1800s. 📺 Other favorites included in our countdown: Jim Acosta interviewing AI, Taylor Lorenz romanticizing Luigi and Jim Cramer dropping a giant F-bomb on live TV. Plus Olivia Nuzzi’s chaos, Bill Belichick’s off-camera relationship, and Anderson Cooper snaps at Chris Sununu. 🐘 We recap our favorite moments from just a few of our best interviews, like, JD Vance, Karoline Leavitt, Senator Kennedy, Majority Leader Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson. Looking forward to a great 2026 on The Progrum! 00:00 — 2025 media fails 01:11 — Sydney Sweeney “great genes” becomes a national freakout 06:09 — CBS Saint Patrick’s Day: Irish deportations vs ICE 11:15 — Jim Acosta interviews an AI recreation of a murdered child 13:05 — Taylor Lorenz praises an alleged assassin as “morally good” 15:44 — CNN and the defense-fund moment 19:26 — Jim Cramer drops an F-bomb 20:30 — Olivia Nuzzi interview spiral and her accountability problem 25:24 — Bill Belichick + Jordan Hudson shuts down a standard question 27:56 — Anderson Cooper snaps at Chris Sununu on-air Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We start by trading stories about the funniest reactions our wives have had to the Progrum, including the moment it dawned on them that this thing might actually be real. From late-night editing side-eyes to the infamous “so you have groupies now?” Uber ride, the fellas compare notes on how humility is enforced at home, no matter how big the show gets. ⚡ We continue to rip through your questions, like what it actually takes to jump into a House or Senate race, why federal campaigns have zero margin for error, and why real groundwork matters more than ambition. The fellas get blunt about grassroots work, campaign mechanics, consultant traps, and why door knocking teaches you more than any consultant memo ever will. We also tackle questions about journalistic giants, what’s actually changed since the Fox deal, and whether Democrats would ever come on the Progrum to face tough questions. ️ 💥 Then, Andrew Bremberg on health care costs, price transparency, and why throwing more taxpayer money at a broken system keeps failing. Plus, a recap of some of the best moments from our favorite variety segments from 2025. We still love the New Yorker shoot of famous democrats and a drunk SC democrat - enjoy! 00:00 — Funniest reactions to the Progrum from our wives 07:29 — When the in-laws realize it’s a real show 08:20 — Getting involved in politics after Trump 15:05 — Why voters humble everyone 16:27 — GOP realignment and progressive policies on the chopping block 23:21 — Skyline Chili: how to try it 27:34 — Journalistic giants and what real reporting looks like 35:04 — What actually changed after the Fox deal 36:42 — Why Democrats won’t come on the Progrum 39:35 — Andrew Bremberg discusses controlling health care costs 44:18 — Price transparency and why it matters in health care 53:55 — Best of variety: notable New Yorkers exposed 01:12:00 — Best of variety: South Carolina Democrat cop car meltdown Our Sponsors: ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ ➢Want to make a difference in your community? https://takeonesmallstep.org/ Join AFP's grass-roots efforts at https://afpvolunteer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ The fellas should open a daycare—because apparently the easiest money in America is getting paid for childcare that doesn’t exist. Nick Shirley’s goes door-to-door in Minnesota: finding blacked-out windows, locked doors, no kids in sight, and big checks flowing anyway. We talk about how this kind of scheme doesn’t just rip off taxpayers—it also squeezes the real families. It’s embarrassing how local and national press frames this story, why “it’s just a few bad actors” doesn’t cut it, and why the incentives behind keeping this kind of grift alive. 🫏 Then, we recap the best 2025 Democratic faceplants and clips. From Kamala to Warren, Crockett to an unfortunate No Kings congresswoman - we show how messaging gets used as a shield by democrats. 🐘Then, Jayme Franklin joins the Progrum. We talk about her work in building The Conservateur and Sincerely American, what it’s like creating a space for conservative women in media. We also address how friendships—and real-life priorities like marriage, kids, and work—are a bigger part of the story than the usual press narrative. 00:00 — The Fellas Need to Get in on the Grift 02:03 — Nick Shirley’s Doing The Work Media Won’t 07:35 — Who Gets Hurt When Money Disappears 13:57 — Finding “Quality Learing” in MN 18:10 — Investigative Compilation from MN 20:04 — This System is Functioning as It Was Intended 22:07 — The New Tammany Hall 26:45 — Why “a few arrests” won’t fix this 34:11 — The DHS Shrug-fest 35:53 — Wisconsin Governor On Immigrants 37:15 — What Elizabeth Warren‘s Stumble S’ays about the Moment 38:08 — Jasmine Crockett’s Messaging Machine 41:46 — Kamala Doesn’t Pick Pete 46:51 — Jayme Franklin On building The Conservateur 53:05 — Why women’s media is so one-sided Our Sponsors: ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢We can create a space where girls can connect and thrive. Get involved today at https://empowerourfuturecoalition.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Get ready for a whole stack of holiday-flavored chaos. We start with the most deranged “ideology in baking” moment imaginable: a decolonized Christmas cookie pitch that tries to rewrite history through masa, honey, and pure self-seriousness. From there, we’re right into the spirit of the season: the stuff that’s supposed to be wholesome, until it isn’t. 🐫 ️Next up, we hit peak pageantry with a live-nativity-adjacent church scene that includes camels walking the aisle—right up until one of them detonates a kick into an unsuspecting face. Then we keep the decorations theme rolling: a car fully wrapped in Christmas lights attempts a heroic pass… and immediately turns into a cautionary tale. 🎄 And because the holidays are nothing without juvenile sabotage, we get the garage-door letter swap that takes “Merry Christmas” somewhere deeply unfit for polite company—followed by our own story time about a neighborhood snow sculpture that gets an anatomical “upgrade.” ⚡Then we flash back to our favorite variety segments from 2025. From men fighting gorillas to umpire nut-shots. Relive the best of 2025 with the fellas. ️ 00:00 - Holiday laughs with the fellas and a fresh stack of variety 03:23 - “Decolonized Christmas” cookies 07:03 - Live nativity chaos: camel strolls into church, then the kick lands 10:08 - Christmas car eats it 11:18 - Classic Christmas Variety 18:12 - Vintage Variety: 100 men vs 1 gorilla simulations 22:39 - 10,000 gorillas vs 1,000,000 men and the morale problem 24:39 - Airborne elbow-drop strategy talk for gorilla combat 29:18 - Vintage Variety: Rhode Island prosecutor arrest bodycam 37:40 - The Washington Post tries “Gen Z” sketch comedy 42:49 - New angle on the F-15 backseat ejection footage 44:24 - Padres field-runner kid gets tackled 45:21 - ESPN tries to fix itself 50:33 - Best umpire nut hit in history 54:12 - Wild pigs turn bright blue in California 57:35 - Drunk man drives airport cart through walkway 51:28 - Adults using pacifiers to cope 51:55 - Year-end reflections and variety chaos Our Sponsors: ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢We can create a space where girls can connect and thrive. Get involved today at https://empowerourfuturecoalition.com/ ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We kick off our Christmas Day Q&A by answering the burning questions from the audience. We talk through how our careers actually started, how campaign instincts and comms muscle turn into real-world wins, and why the Progrum isn’t just “four guys with microphones,” but four guys who’ve lived the jobs we talk about. ⚡ Then, how the sausage gets made: how messages spread, why creativity beats policy-speak, and how the right phrase at the right moment can take over the conversation. We also talk about the early internet era in politics—how it worked, why it mattered, and what separated the serious operators from the scammy money-grab crowd.️ 🥸 More of your questions in this proper holiday hang: Holmes’ on-again/off-again mustache situation, where ‘Progrum’ actually comes from, and whether we still have day jobs (we do). More Q&A in Part II - coming next week. 00:00 - Christmas Day Q&A - Our gift to you 04:16 - The backstory on the fellas 05:14 - How comms work actually gets learned in the Senate 11:12 - Selling stories to reporters and shaping the narrative 12:50 - Branding moments that stick in politics 17:30 - The road back to winning in 2014 24:58 - Building a real professional partnership 28:37 - Smug’s bio: finance to politics to operating in NYC 30:00 - Inside the financial crisis panic 35:52 - Where “Comfortably Smug” comes from and why it takes off 40:16 - Covid-era Zoom happy hours give birth to an idea 49:52 - Why does Holmes mustache come and go? 53:19 - Where “Grum/Progrum” comes from—dialects, sports, and Senate impressions 59:17 - Do we still have day jobs? What we actually do now Our Sponsors: ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ ➢Want to make a difference in your community? https://takeonesmallstep.org/ Join AFP's grass-roots efforts at https://afpvolunteer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎁 A happy Festivus to all those who celebrate. Today, the fellas have their a festivus celebration for the ages. Everyone shares their personal and political grievances, plus we review the best feats of strength from the year. ️ 💥 Whether it’s a debate about nachos being a total scam or Donald Trump’s decisive bombing of Iran, you won’t want to miss a bit of our Festivus Celebration. Grab your aluminium pole and prepare for your own Festivus miracles! 00:00 - A Festivus for the rest of us 04:18 - Moving the chains on the NFL 08:06 - Immigration enforcement and prioritization 13:41 - Burgers that are too tall to eat 18:21 - Nachos and restaurant food scams 20:00 - Political ads and candidate disclaimers 24:49 - Speakerphone use in public spaces 28:44 - Democrats pretending to be TikTok Zoomers 33:25 - Walking on the wrong side of the sidewalk 36:03 - Conservatives complaining about Congress out of session 42:42 - The 2025 Feats of Strength 45:04 - American military action abroad 50:35 - Minnesota cheerleaders and cultural madness 53:18 - Border numbers and enforcement strength 56:14 - Fighting bears and unhinged bravery Our Sponsors: ➢Beverage America believes in the promise that makes this nation great. Learn more at http://wedeliverforamerica.org/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ Another democrat political fairy tale collapses in real time. We start with Ilhan Omar’s claim that ICE pulled over her son, then walk through how DHS says it never happened, how the story keeps shifting, and why the media still gives it oxygen. We discuss why this keeps happening and why Minnesota keeps finding itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. ⚡Eric Swalwell has painfully forced taco campaign content, just cringe at its worst. Then, Kamala Harris reappears on late night, and the Biden administration is suddenly pretending like it always respected the Department of Justice. We talk through why that story doesn’t hold up, how selective memory works in politics, and why Jimmy Kimmel asking “soft” questions still manages to expose a mess. Plus free booze to hobos in San Francisco.️ 🐘 Then, former AG Bill Barr sits down for a wide-ranging interview on Venezuela, narco-terrorism, Hezbollah, climate lawfare, the Supreme Court, and the Epstein case. Barr lays out what actually happened, what matters, and why so much of the noise is just that. It’s a long run, a lot of laughs, and more than a few uncomfortable truths. 00:00 - Omar has entered the chat 07:03 - DHS says it never happened 09:16 - Omar responds and the story keeps changing 12:30 - Past immigration allegations resurface with Tom Homan 15:04 - Swalwell’s taco content and campaign cringe 23:36 - Kamala Harris on late-night and the DOJ excuse 29:18 - San Francisco’s free alcohol program for the homeless 41:45 - World Cup Pride match lands Iran vs Egypt in Seattle 49:47 - Bill Barr joins on Venezuela and narco-terrorism 59:12 - Bill Barr on climate lawfare and the courts breaking the system 1:07:38 - Barr on Epstein, the files, and what actually happened Our Sponsors: ➢Go to https://zbiotics.com/RUTHLESS and use RUTHLESS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. ➢Tell Washington it's time to end middlemen markups and put American patients first. Visit https://phrma.org/middlemen ➢We can create a space where girls can connect and thrive. Get involved today at https://empowerourfuturecoalition.com/ ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢ A new rule can put privacy first, strengthen protections, and let free markets work without compromising on safety for consumers. https://dataexposure.cslf.us/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ We break down why “just asking questions” turns into an incentive structure for inventing madness. We discuss what this kind of content does to real people who are living through real grief, and the influencers online who are trying to cash in on Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk and the fight with Candace Owens. ⚡ Then we pivot to a brutal week of terror news and the political responses that make our blood boil. We run through the headlines, the media gymnastics, and the hard pivots. Primarily, Debbie Wasserman Schultz wandering into Trump-land while the question is about jihad, Chris Murphy turning violence into a fundraising pitch, and the broader weakness that keeps showing up across Western politics. What will it take for liberals to get serious about radical Islamic terrorism? 🐘 Then, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joins the Progrum. We talk Arkansas momentum, National Guard troops in D.C. and what changes on the ground. Plus, her quick stop at the White House to address farmers' needs and the economy going into 2026. And, what does the Huckabee family Christmas look like? 👑 And our signature game, King of the Hill with Adam Kinzinger taking on champion Steve Schmidt. 00:00 - Why we refuse to commentate on commentating 04:24 - The Charlie Kirk tragedy should not be a content machine 10:09 - How conspiracies hijack the vacuum before court facts land 21:47 - Debbie Wasserman Schultz hard-pivots away from jihad 28:28 - Chris Murphy blames Trump for violence and gets roasted 31:52 - Australia clip: leaders stammer around radical clerics 43:45 - King of the Hill: Steve Schmidt vs. Adam Kinzinger 55:38 - Ja Rule’s golf shot goes sideways 56:54 - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joins The Progrum 59:04 - Arkansas Guard in D.C. and what the city feels like now 1:04:10 - Why food security is national security 1:09:41 - The economy, midterms, and selling the administration’s case Our Sponsors: ➢Tell your lawmaker to put parents first. NetChoice is dedicated to making the Internet safe for free expression and free enterprise: http://netchoice.org/keepappstoressafe ➢We can create a space where girls can connect and thrive. Get involved today at https://empowerourfuturecoalition.com/ ➢Unleash American energy to be bigger and better than ever before, because when America builds, America wins. https://permittingreformnow.org/ ➢John Deere is investing billions in American factories and launching new tools to help customers repair their machines: https://www.deere.com/ ➢Want to make a difference in your community? https://takeonesmallstep.org/ Join AFP's grass-roots efforts at https://afpvolunteer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices