Overview of This may be the most disgusting political ad ever run
This episode is a fast-moving political commentary segment focused on three main themes: Donald Trump’s bizarre Kansas rally remarks, a deeply personal and widely condemned attack ad in Ohio targeting Democrat Amy Acton, and J.D. Vance’s denial that Trump and his family have profited from the presidency. The hosts mix outrage, analysis, and humor, arguing that Republicans are leaning into increasingly shameless tactics while also underestimating how much voters now care about corruption and cruelty.
Trump’s Kansas rally: bribery, slurs, and “giraffe” trivia
The hosts open by mocking Trump’s rally in Kansas, where he:
- Promised voters $5,000 if they elect Republicans
- Used an anti-Semitic slur
- Repeated a story about identifying a giraffe on a cognitive test
What the hosts made of it
- They argued the $5,000 promise is not persuasive and has no real political value.
- They mocked Trump’s obsession with the cognitive test as a weird brag, comparing it to boasting about passing a field sobriety test.
- They said the rally showed Trump doing what he does best: chasing applause and feeding his ego, even when the message makes little sense.
The Ohio ad targeting Amy Acton
The centerpiece of the episode is a condemnation of a campaign ad tied to Vivek Ramaswamy’s side in Ohio against Amy Acton. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother attacking her character and calling her a liar.
Why the hosts said it was so disgusting
The hosts explain that the backstory matters:
- Acton’s mother stayed with a man who allegedly sexually abused Acton as a child
- Court records reportedly confirm the man was charged with rape
- Acton and her brother were removed from the household
Against that background, they described the ad as:
- Cruel
- Dishonest
- Beyond the bounds of acceptable politics
Their political read
- They think the ad will likely backfire, reinforcing voters’ already negative view of Ramaswamy.
- They said he is already losing because Ohio voters see him as sleazy and unlikeable.
- They noted that even some Republicans and conservatives condemned the ad.
- They urged listeners who are offended to donate to Amy Acton, since she is being heavily outspent.
J.D. Vance on Trump family wealth and corruption
The last major segment covers J.D. Vance’s interview with Mark Halperin, where Vance dismissed concerns that Trump and his family have gotten richer while Trump has been in office.
The hosts’ criticism
They called Vance’s defense absurd and dishonest, pointing to:
- Trump’s financial disclosures
- Crypto-related income
- Meme coin promotions tied to access to Trump
- A reported luxury jet from Qatar
Their broader point: voters are increasingly angry about corruption, and Republicans who deny it are out of touch.
Why they think this matters politically
- The hosts argue corruption is now one of the top voter concerns, alongside cost of living.
- They believe Republicans will pay a price for enabling Trump’s self-enrichment.
- They also mocked Vance as a candidate who only thinks about surviving the moment rather than how his answers will sound later.
Key takeaways
- Trump’s messaging is increasingly erratic and ineffective, even when it gets attention.
- The Ohio attack ad is the most morally outrageous item in the episode, and the hosts think it reveals the campaign’s ugliness more than it hurts Acton.
- Corruption is becoming a major political liability for Trump and his allies, despite Vance’s attempts to deny it.
- The hosts see J.D. Vance as a likely 2028 GOP frontrunner, and they’re already eager to see Democrats hammer him on corruption and loyalty to Trump.
Action items and recommendations
- Donate to Amy Acton if you want to push back against the Ohio ad and help her compete financially.
- Subscribe to Pod Save America on YouTube, which the hosts promote at the end of the segment.
- For viewers and listeners, the episode’s practical warning is clear: watch how Republicans use cruelty and denial as campaign strategy—and don’t let it go unanswered.