The Republican podcast taking a shot at making conservatism cool

The irreverent Ruthless attracts big-name guests and is offering a rightwing alternative to wildly popular progressive podcasts

An increasingly prominent Republican podcast is emerging as a conservative alternative to the type of political media progressives have had a monopoly on for years: the partisan, edgy-oftentimes-irreverent entertainment show that nevertheless attracts powerful newsmakers.

The podcast, called Ruthless, is hosted by Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Michael Duncan, one of Holmes's colleagues at the consulting firm they work for, and the lawyer pseudonymously known by his Twitter handle Comfortably Smug.