Smug and Holmes bring next generation conservative talk to the next level with RUTHLESS. There is no shelter for anyone as the duo provide a lighter analysis of the news (and fake news) of the day.
Listeners of Ruthless that love the show mention: libs, smug, progrum, keep the faith, wonderful christmas, ruthless, minions, hold the line, federalist, journos, merrick, swarm, lockers, garland, stuffing, fang, acb, comfortably, mitch mcconnell, swalwell.


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











The fellas are reveling in the Democratic Party's absolute chaos, starting with the government shutdown. Anonymous Democratic senators confess they would vote to reopen the government but are "terrified of getting the guillotine" from the deranged grassroots—a direct admission that their base is driving the insanity. The Civil War's second front is a primary race for a chance to challenge Susan Collins in Maine, and it is a certified freak show. Chuck Schumer's establishment candidate, an ancient, unrelatable governor, is facing off against a Bernie bro who called himself an "Antifa super soldier." Maybe Graham Platner would get further in politics with less 1942 SS tattoos. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the aggressive, transformational change happening at the Army. Driscoll doesn't hold back, detailing the utter waste of taxpayer money caused by decades of calcified bureaucracy, like how the Army pays double for chicken because of an absurd 1930s mandate. He explains how he and the Chief of Staff are cutting $48 billion in expected spending to prioritize the modern warfighter, focusing on next-generation technology, and why President Trump's “peace through strength” approach and air cover have been vital to these efforts. 00:00 - Government Shutdown Drama: "Guillotine" Fear06:06 - Shutdown as Virginia Strategy09:50 - Merkley's 15-Hour Yawn-Fest & Katherine Clark's "Leeeverage" Gaffe16:10 - Maine Senate Primary: Nazi Tattoos, Antifa Soldiers, and the Establishment's Pick44:48 - King of the Hill: George Conway vs. Sarah Longwell58:33 - Secretary of the Army Dan DriscollOur Sponsors:➢Tell Republicans in Congress stop Dick Durbin's takeover of your credit card before it's too late - https://electronicpaymentscoalition.org/➢Big tax-exempt hospitals abuse the 340B markup program, tell congress to fix 340B.https://phrma.org/340Bmarkup➢Find out the true power of America's oil and natural gas. Go to https://lightsonenergy.org/➢The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease wants to act sooner on Alzheimer's, not later. Learn more at https://www.pfcdalz.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
