Trump green-lights the strike on Iran—and Washington instantly splits into two camps: strength vs. “what did you just start?” So what’s the real play here… and do you trust Trump’s plan, or are we walking into the world’s messiest endgame? The fellas—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook—jump in fast, cutting through the spin and asking the questions everyone’s thinking but nobody on cable will touch. In this episode… Trump’s Iran strike and the nuclear clock Why China and Russia stay weirdly quiet DHS shutdown chaos vs. “big boy stuff” reality A palate-cleanser that somehow gets even more unhinged Special Guests: Senator John Kennedy + Brian Hook 🇺🇸 Kennedy on why Trump owns the moment—and why Capitol Hill can’t stop making it political 🧠 Hook on the 1979 origin story, proxies, missiles, and why “negotiations” so often turn into a time-buying trap 🎯 What “success” looks like when you’re trying to stop a nuclear breakout—not win a news cycle 🌍 The regional chessboard: allies, Abraham Accords math, and what comes after the ayatollah Question of the Day: Do you trust Trump’s plan for Iran—or do you think this spirals? Drop your take in the comments and tell us what people in your group chat are saying. Hit subscribe right now so you don’t miss the next drop, follow the show on your socials for clips, and comment like you mean it—because we’re reading them and bringing the best ones into the next episode. 00:03:25 Trump’s Iran strike: Senator Kennedy’s take on why now 00:04:32 The nuclear threat case: why Iran can’t be allowed to break out 00:08:39 Capitol Hill fallout: war powers vote, DHS fight, and partisan reflexes 00:10:58 Europe on the sidelines: why allies won’t back the U.S. publicly 00:12:12 Diego Garcia drama: the UK, Mauritius, and a strategic base at risk 00:16:25 The “be rational” problem: Ukraine, energy money, and political blinders 00:20:33 War powers reality check: who breaks with Trump and why it won’t matter 00:25:39 Schumer vs. AOC: Democrats’ internal power struggle and midterm fear 00:44:27 Brian Hook joins: Iran’s long war on the U.S. and the proxy machine 00:53:25 What the Obama Iran deal ignored: missiles, proxies, and oil money 01:00:24 After the ayatollah: command-and-control collapse and what comes next 01:15:28 Variety break: the most chaotic local news on-air meltdown you’ll ever see 01:18:11 Congressional football game: Fitzpatrick, Capitol Police, and injury potential ➢ Subscribe on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ruthless/id1535384390 ➢ Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Uj2OGFyb9QnrpZw1nYv7E ➢ Visit our website: https://www.ruthlesspodcast.com/ ➢ Ruthless on X: https://x.com/RuthlessPodcast ➢ Ruthless on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthlessPodcast ➢ Ruthless on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthlesspod ➢ Ruthless on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialruthlesspod