From Underdogs to Top Dogs: How the Ruthless Podcast Skyrocketed to Political Media Stardom
The conservative media landscape has a new king, and it's not who you might expect. The "Ruthless" podcast, a self-described "variety progrum" that blends irreverent humor with sharp political commentary, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing political podcasts in America. With recent licensing deals with Fox News and recognition as a top news source among men ages 18-45, this four-man operation has proven that authentic voices can break through in an increasingly crowded media space.
The "Variety Progrum" That Changed Everything
Ruthless brings "next generation conservative talk to the next level" with hosts Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook providing "a lighter analysis of the news (and fake news) of the day." But what started as four friends having fun with politics has evolved into something much bigger.
The show's meteoric rise became evident during a particularly telling moment in 2021, when "Ruthless," which was ranked #56 among political programs on Apple Podcasts the day a Politico hit piece was published, reached #1 just one week later. This dramatic surge illustrated not just the podcast's loyal fanbase but the appetite for authentic conservative voices in media.
Ranked #1 Politcal Podcast in July on the Xcelcast Universal Podcast Ranking
Universal Podcast Rank is an innovative ranking system designed to view your podcast's performance across multiple platforms comprehensively. Universal Podcast Rank offers a holistic metric that reflects your podcast's reach and engagement by aggregating streaming data from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and YouTube video.
Meet the Hosts Behind the Success
Josh Holmes: The Capitol Hill Veteran
Josh Holmes is the president and founder of Cavalry, a public affairs firm specializing in issue management, digital advocacy, and strategic communications based in Washington, D.C. After starting his career on the Senate staff of Sen. Norm Coleman, he went on to serve as chief of staff and campaign manager to Sen. Mitch McConnell. His deep political experience provides the show's institutional knowledge and strategic insights.
Comfortably Smug: The Digital Native
Comfortably Smug's real name is Shashank Tripathi. Tripathi is a former hedge-fund analyst, who is a Republican political consultant. Known as "the leader of his Twitter minions, a loyal following of the best conservatives on the Internet," Smug brings digital-first sensibilities and an understanding of online conservative culture that traditional media often misses.
Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook: The Strategic Duo
Holmes, Duncan and Ashbrook are all veteran staffers of outgoing Sen. Mitch McConnell, and worked alongside Holmes in their day jobs at their consulting firm Calvary. Duncan "specializes in angry rants and obscure Internet humor" while Ashbrook serves as "The Voice of the progrum" who "explains how the intersection of media and politics works."
The Secret Sauce: Why Ruthless is Growing So Fast
Authentic Conservative Voices
"We felt like there was a real hole in the conservative media landscape for people who enjoy politics, but want to have fun while doing it. They want to know what's really going on, but could do without the ideological lecture," Holmes explained when the show launched. This philosophy has resonated with audiences tired of traditional talking-head formats.
Trust Through Transparency
The co-hosts have earned trust from their listeners by not being "afraid to discuss hard truths for conservatives over the years, from tackling Trump's defeat in the 2020 election to the underwhelming 2022 midterm results for Republicans." This willingness to acknowledge uncomfortable realities while maintaining conservative principles has set them apart.
Bridging Conservative Factions
The "Ruthless" co-hosts have sought to bridge the divide among conservatives between the more traditional, establishment Republicans and the MAGA base. With their unique combination of D.C. insider knowledge and digital-native appeal, they've created a space where different conservative constituencies can coexist.
Institutional Knowledge Meets Internet Culture
The hosts provide "insight from their experience on Capitol Hill to explain the complexities of legislation" while packaging it in a format that includes everything from "horse fighting" and "fake space" references to their signature "King of the Hill" segments.
The Numbers Don't Lie
The podcast's growth has been nothing short of remarkable:
The show "boasts an average of five million unique listeners"
A recent poll found that "Ruthless" is a top news source among men ages 18-45
Fox News has made it part of their new media expansion, with executives focused on making "Ruthless" a top podcast — "the biggest and best show that it possibly can be"
From Podcast to Platform
As part of the Fox News deal, the four "Ruthless" podcast hosts will serve as Fox News contributors, and John Ashbrook recently "asked the first question as a member of the 'new media' at the White House press briefing". This institutional recognition represents a significant shift in how traditional media acknowledges the influence of independent podcast voices.
The Competition
Many outlets have declared the podcast the right's answer to "Pod Save America," the influential left-wing podcast hosted by former Obama aides and speechwriters often referred to as "Obama Bros." However, Ruthless has carved out its own unique niche by combining insider knowledge with irreverent humor in a way that feels distinctly different from both traditional conservative media and liberal podcast offerings.
What's Next for the "Progrum"
New episodes of "Ruthless" are released every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday on all podcast platforms and YouTube, and Smug signs off every podcast by telling listeners "Keep the faith, hold the line, and own the libs… Stay ruthless."
The show has become "a must-stop for GOP lawmakers, congressional candidates, and presidential hopefuls" with the hosts providing coverage of major political events and interviewing high-profile guests from Vice President JD Vance to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The Ruthless Formula
The success of Ruthless demonstrates that in today's fragmented media landscape, authenticity trumps production value, and audiences crave hosts who treat them like intelligent adults rather than ideological foot soldiers. By combining institutional knowledge with digital-native sensibilities, insider access with outsider irreverence, and serious analysis with genuine humor, the "variety progrum" has created a template that other conservative media outlets are likely to emulate.
As traditional media continues to struggle with credibility and audience engagement, Ruthless proves that the future belongs to voices that can navigate the complex intersection of politics, culture, and comedy while maintaining genuine connections with their audiences. In a world of manufactured outrage and performative politics, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is simply be ruthless about having fun with the truth.
For more information about Ruthless, visit ruthlesspodcast.com or find them on all major podcast platforms.
