In short
The hosts argue the government is mishandling crises and transparency: Mitch McConnell’s “proof of life” photo, Kash Patel’s FBI leadership and “comic book” self-promotion, Trump-style anti-drug strikes, continued withholding of Epstein files, and GOP doubts about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid the Iran war.
Guests/backgrounds
Ryan (co-host) joins on McConnell and Patel; Paul (co-host) joins on Hegseth and broader political accountability.
Key claims
McConnell’s photo isn’t credible proof because he reportedly can’t leave rehab or appear on video; Patel’s “victories” are performative and ineffective; bombing drug shipments without proof is reckless; Todd Blanche violated the Epstein files transparency act and will not release names; Hegseth is incompetent and unfit, with only Tom Tillis criticizing him publicly.
Notable examples
McConnell allegedly hospitalized 44 days; Patel’s Spider-Man-style video about preventing attacks at major sports events; judge orders more Epstein-file releases within a week; senators’ concerns as the Iran war reaches five months.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOMitch McConnell's Proof of Life Controversy
0:00 to 1:30
The hosts discuss the recent photo of Mitch McConnell and its implications regarding his health and political responsibilities.
“We have received another proof of life picture from Mitch McConnell that proves absolutely nothing.”
Calls for Special Election
1:30 to 3:30
Discussion about the lack of special election calls and the political landscape amid McConnell's absence.
“We have to have a fighter that meets the moment.”
Critique of Political Leadership
3:30 to 6:00
The hosts critique political leadership in the context of McConnell's health and the perceived rise of fascism.
“Either you are alive and can function in the government or you can't.”
Kash Patel's Comic Book Persona
6:00 to 9:00
The hosts transition to discussing Kash Patel and his self-aggrandizing portrayal in a Spider-Man comic.
“Well, I want to move on to something that I think maybe cash should be focused on.”
Failures of the Trump Administration
9:00 to 12:00
The hosts analyze the inefficacies and reckless strategies of the Trump administration regarding drug trafficking and military strikes.
“Next, we have an update on Todd Blanche and the Epstein files.”
Update on Todd Blanche and Epstein Files
12:00 to 14:00
The discussion shifts to Todd Blanche's legal troubles and implications for transparency regarding the Epstein files.
“He's still not going to turn over the fire files.”
Republican Senators and Loyalty to Trump
14:00 to 15:28
Explore the dynamics of loyalty among Republican senators towards Trump and their criticisms of his administration.
“The fact that they had confidence in him, it's far more fascinating to me.”
Impeachment and Political Accountability
15:28 to 15:47
Discuss the implications of impeachment votes and the perceived courage of senators in political accountability.
“Until they vote to impeach him, until they vote not to affirm Todd Blanche as Secretary of State, all I think this is is bullshit walks.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:04We have received another proof of life picture from Mitch McConnell that proves absolutely nothing. And in my mind, the statement attached where the statement is the attending physician says he's released from the hospital, but he can't leave the rehab facility and he can't go to work. That to me is bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Put your fucking name on it. Trump's Dr. Feelgood puts his face on it. He talks about it all the time. It looks like the exact same photo. And if he, Mitch McConnell, is well enough to sit up and shoot the shit with his wife, contact the governor of Kentucky. Contact somebody by video.
0:47We need to see a real proof of life, especially in the world of AI. What do you think, Ryan? No, it's completely unacceptable. He's been in the hospital for 44 days, six weeks. If I didn't show up to work for six weeks, you'd be a little bit more, you'd need a little bit more than a photo of me in the hospital. I'd be fired. Everybody that just disappears and sends photos would be fired from their job. And this is the chance. I have not been shy about loving Andy Brashear. I think he is so smart. He's so thoughtful. He's a great leader. He's charismatic. He's sensitive, yet he is strong. But here's the thing.
1:31This is a litmus test for me. I am a big supporter. But if you cannot call for a special election right now under this fascist takeover, under the circumstances of a man having made no contact for 44 days, when we know he was in poor health, when IMSA responded that he was unconscious, if you cannot force him to come out of his shell and say, I am alive and here's why, then you're not the fighter that meets the moment. We have to have a fighter that meets the moment. I'm sure there's a lot of political considerations, yik, yik, blah, blah. But the reality is we are fighting fascism. We have a Congress that will not check a president that is so fucking delusional and out of his mind that everybody in the world knows it.
2:23The allies know it. He's turned on Canada. He wants Greenland. He's committing war crimes. He's tanked the global economy. No checks, no balances. Supreme Court has written him a hall pass. It is time for Democrats to show who the fighters are. And Andy Beshear, this is your moment, in my opinion. What do you think about that, Ryan? Well, and the fact that McConnell won't even get on video, I think that says a lot. He could be doing interviews with reporters. He could get on the phone with a reporter, but he's not. So that makes me think that he's not able to speak. Honestly, that's the conclusion that I have to jump to, that something is seriously wrong with this guy right now.
3:07Especially we know how conniving and completely below board the behavior of Mitch McConnell has been in the past. Let's not forget, he was dancing on Ruth Bader Ginsburg grave before it was even published that she was dead. So I don't want to hear people be nice to the sick and elderly. Bullshit. He holds one of the most powerful offices in the United States. Put up or shut up. Either you are alive and can function in the government or you can't. It's that simple. Full stop. Yeah, we should expect more than this from our leaders and we deserve better. We deserve better. This is unacceptable. And I mean, again, Andy Brashear, this is your time.
3:46This is your moment. Make it happen. And here's the deal. The worst thing that could happen is we see Mitch McConnell say, hey, I'm here. I can govern. I just can't be there physically. But I don't think we're going to see that because we're getting too much bullshit of these, you know, pictures that look like him that aren't like him, you know, it's just a bunch of horseshit, in my opinion. And speaking, that's a perfect segue into the horseshit, the pile of steaming horseshit that is Kash Patel. This is a guy that I don't, I mean, like, Donald Trump's issues, like his narcissistic personality disorder, that's obvious, he behaves, textbook, book, Kash Patel is another one.
4:31Like, holy shit. So now he's making himself the main character in a Spider-Man comic about what a great job he's doing at the FBI. Oh, I forgot. The Epstein files are not released. Now a judge has given the Department of Justice five more days to release it. He has completely rubber stamped everything Trump wants to do. But let's just take a little walk through the picture book, the AI picture book of Kash Patel in a Spider-Man comic book.
5:04Since Kash Patel took command of the FBI, America's biggest events have had a powerful ally watching from the shadows. Baseball's All-Star Week in Atlanta, the AL champion. Don't take it down, but stop. You're bragging about what you're supposed to do. These are sporting events. It's not like the Super Bowl gets blown up every year. It's not like the All-Star Games ever had a disruption. I mean, bitch, this is your job. It gets worse as we go on. So, Kylie, just keep playing it. Okay, sorry. Series in Seattle. Formula One roaring through Las Vegas. UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. The Kentucky Derby.
5:43The Super Bowl. The Winter Olympics. And the FIFA World Cup. The Winter Olympics? What? you know what pumps i think you were really onto something with what you first said cash patel i think he thinks of himself as this comic book superhero as the fbi director that's why he's so obsessed with getting the right fbi jacket getting you know his plane the women's extra small fbi jacket yeah and it's so sad that so sad they make a video to celebrate these things that there wasn't some massive terrorist attack at these sporting events that happen all the time in the winter olympics you're the winter olympics were not in the united states you dumbass i mean shut the up he is so bad he's running around spending gazillions of dollars to go see his country music sensation girlfriend that no one's ever heard of seeing and he's just an embarrassment let's talk about the assassination of charlie kirk on your watch cash remember y 'all are meeting in valhalla and all that crazy shit and prematurely announcing that they had apprehended the suspect yeah and then we find out maybe you did maybe you didn't but you for sure it's looking like the the evidence that you're talking about and posting about how many investigations has he botched because he has to run to social media countless us remember the article about he's wasted and they can't find him and all that break down the door catch the last thing you need to do is post a video of yourself as a comic book character talking about how you saved all these events that have never been i mean like that's your job a and B, the Winter Olympics were not in the United States.
7:39Well, I want to move on to something that I think maybe cash should be focused on. Kylie, if you can pop up this next post. The Trump administration's deadly military strikes on alleged drug trafficking votes have not reduced the amount of cocaine entering the U.S., but they're prompting criminal organizations to develop new tactics, according to an unreported assessment. This is so exemplary of the approach that Trump has to everything. Oh, there's a boat that's carrying drugs. Bomb it. It's that simple to him. Oh, we're spending money on USAID. Just cut it. Thousands of people are going to die.
8:23the the simple approaches that these people are taking to our government it's like if a child were in charge it literally is i almost feel like i mean like i almost feel like even just a person with a teeny bit of common sense just like you have to prove that there's drugs on the boat you have to prove all of these things before you bomb it but they're just like oh it's war games click click they're dead aren't we cool that's what they're doing and here's the deal let's talk about the rapists the criminals all of the shit they were going to do trump has pardoned so many drug traffickers number one bolsonaro you know i mean it's like do not piss on my leg and tell me it's raining when all you do is release drug traffickers and you're committing crimes every day with corruption and all this other shit we haven't even talked about the rapper that paid for a pardon and didn't get it now he wants his money back i mean this cannot be real and cash patel taking a victory lap in a comic book while drugs that it it's the perfect snapshot you're exactly right this is who they are this is how they govern because they are dipshits with horrible personality disorders.
9:44I mean, really, really bad. Stunning. Next, we have an update on Todd Blanche and the Epstein files. Kylie, if you can pop this up. A federal judge just declared acting attorney general Todd Blanche admitted to violating the Epstein files transparency act. Blanche now has one week to release more names and redacted information from the files or explain why the Trump administration withheld them. So Todd Blanche's nomination vote is going to be coming up soon. If Republicans vote for this fucking guy who just admitted that he didn't follow the law that was passed by both Democrats and Republicans, we should be fucking outraged.
10:29This is the guy who is responsible for the cover-up of the Epstein files. They will approve him. And we see so much theater in these congressional hearings. Like, you know, was it John Thune? Well, you know, Todd Blanche needs to meet with the victims. The victims say he was arrogant. He didn't give a fuck. Right. Tell he wasn't going to take action. It's good enough for that one. But checkmark. So now I can cover my own ass when I vote for him. It's political theater. We should all be outraged. Thank you, Katie Fang, for filing this lawsuit or we wouldn't even be here. And here's the thing. He's still not going to release him in five days.
11:06And it's going to be incumbent upon the judge to make consequences. There is what's called a contempt of court order that he could be put in jail until he produces these files. And it's just like all of these things we saw with Greg Bovino in Minnesota. They know he's lying. They know he is directly violating a court order. And they give him chance after chance. And they never do anything about it. there's never any real accountability and it makes me sad that it falls on the judiciary because cash patel he's running around with his spider-man costume on so he's certainly not going to help out but it's just it's a stunning day when the uh acting attorney general is blatantly flaunting the law a judge says it gives i mean this was supposed to happen months ago yeah the Judges get around Christmas time.
12:00Right. Yes. Yeah. Yes. He's still not going to turn over the fire files. He's never going to turn over the files. Whoever Trump, you know, let's say he doesn't pass the vote. Whoever he puts in that position cannot release the files because Trump is all over him. This is not difficult. This is not a labyrinth. This is a straight line. No. Trump wouldn't appoint them if they would. No, he's not going to appoint anybody that's going to release these files. So next we have an update on Pete Hegseth. Kylie, if you can pop this up. GOP knives come out for, quote, insecure Pete Hegseth. Republican senators are increasingly voicing doubts about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership as the war with Iran stretches into its fifth month with no resolution in sight.
12:54Bumps, what do you think? This drives me crazy. Pete Hegseth should have never been confirmed. Pete Hegseth is incompetent. It's like I tell people that voted for Trump, give it a goop. He wasn't a great businessman. He was a cheap bastard that fucked everybody over. Pete Hegseth's own mother talked about how he treated women. He ran two nonprofits into the ground. He has white supremacy tattoos. Coworkers at Fox said he would show up wasted on the fucking weekends. He signed an NDA. This man is not capable. Not even going into the fact that he's a white supremacist, a misogynist and a religious fucking fanatic.
13:37He's incompetent. The fact that they're losing confidence. I think the bigger story is why did you ever have confidence in him? Why did you ever think this would end any other way than it is? Because this to me, the backstory, why did you, what made you confident? Because he was in the National Reserves? Because he has good hair on Fox News? Like, I don't know. His hair isn't even that great. Blowing past that for his age group. He does. You're right. He does have it. It looks kind of greasy, but whatever. What I was going to say is this article, when you read the rest of it, it lists a bunch of Republican senators speaking out about Hegseth, but only one of them is on the record in that one senator is Tom Tillis, who isn't running for re-election, who finally decided to grow a spine and actually criticize someone in this administration.
14:32um you know i don't think it criticism from senators really matters because what trump wants is loyalty and pete hegseth is giving him whatever 100 so and he has no qualms about the war games killing people remember i mean like trump says he you know pete hegseth wanted pardons for all these people so they could do illegal shit like that's out of trump's own words this is i mean This is not that deep. The fact that they had confidence in him, it's far more fascinating to me. And you know, all these cowards that either lost their primary, that wouldn't go on the record before. I'm talking about Bill Cassidy.
15:15I'm talking about John Cornyn. Like, all of a sudden you have a pair of balls. Let's see it. Because we saw that Cassidy tucked his tail between his legs after Trump went to the hill. So here's the deal. Until they vote to impeach him, until they vote not to affirm Todd Blanche as Secretary of State, all I think this is is bullshit walks. And all of this is bullshit. No, I think you're completely right, Paul. I'm sorry. Do you want to close this out? Okay, please. Do you have the book? I do. Here comes October 6th. It's not that far away. Please pre-order Jennifer's book, Not Today, Fascist. It is linked below in the show notes, and we will be back with more news.
From the publisher
New Mitch McConnell proof of life image was just released and its not proving anything.
Pre-order Jennifer’s new book Not Today, Fascists today: https://linktr.ee/ivehaditpodcast
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