Who is Comfortably Smug? Real name and all about Ruthless podcast host amid Fox News licensing deal
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Comfortably Smug with his Ruthless podcast co-hosts (Image via Instagram/@ruthlesspod)Podcaster Comfortably Smug, a co-host of the Ruthless podcast, is back in the news after the Fox News’ licensing deal with the podcast was announced on July 15. The popular sunglass-donning commentator hosts the podcast alongside Mitch McConnell’s former chief of staff Josh Holmes, the Republican communications strategist Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook. All three are partners at the PR firm Cavalry.
Comfortably Smug’s real name is Shashank Tripathi. Tripathi is a former hedge-fund analyst, who is a Republican political consultant. Tripathi was previously embroiled in controversy when he, under his internet pseudonym Comfortably Smug, spread misinformation related to the Hurricane Sandy which struck the entire east coast of United States in 2012, and also impacted infrastructure in the New York City.
At the time, Tripathi had been working as a campaign manager for Christopher Wight, who was running for the House of Representatives from New York’s 12th District, according to Buzzfeed News.
As per The Daily Beast, Tripathi used his social media account to falsely allege that the hurricane led to a blackout in Manhattan and the flooding of the New York Stock Exchange.
The rumors were picked up by media outlets and cause grave concern before the energy company, Con Edison denied the claims. According to New York Magazine, he apologized in a tweet after the incident, writing,
“I wish to offer the people of New York a sincere, humble and unconditional apology.”
Comfortably Smug’s media appearances, explored
Shashank Tripathi began podcasting under his pseudonym, Comfortably Smug, when the Ruthless podcast was launched in 2020, before the presidential elections, as per The Guardian.
The podcast gained popularity through its criticism of legacy media and propagation of conservative values, according to the publication.
The Guardian also noted that within a few months of its launch, Ruthless welcomed eight senators to its show as well as three Representatives, one governor and a few potential presidential candidates from the Republican Party.
In 2024, the Ruthless hosts were hosted by CNN’s Dana Bash on her show, Inside Politics.
During the segment, in which Bash largely questioned the hosts on Mitch McConnell stepping down as Senate Minority Leader, Bash also probed into Tripathi’s choice of pseudonym.
According to The Daily Beast, she asked,
“Smug? That’s your—I’m guessing your parents didn’t give you that name?”
Tripathi responded to Bash by saying,
“That’s what I’m known as, and it makes me and everyone else happy.”
Bash also asked Tripathi about his characteristic look which involves wearing dark sunglasses while appearing on screen, and asked him to return to the show for a discussion, noted The Daily Beast.
She said,
“Okay, and you have to come back because we’re running out of time to get into a discussion about the sunglasses.”
The Daily Beast also noted that Tripathi’s appearance on CNN was widely criticized by commentators who questioned the news outlet’s intentions of inviting someone who had deliberately speak misinformation in 2012.
About Fox News’ deal with the Ruthless podcast
Suzanne Scott, the CEO of Fox News Media announced the network’s partnership with Ruthless in a statement, and according to Variety, said,
“The pact with ‘Ruthless’ is a natural extension of our powerhouse brand as audiences reshape how they consume quality content. We have cultivated an unrivaled bench of successful personalities who are well-positioned to excel in today’s evolving media landscape, where podcasting offers the kind of deep engagement our platforms are known for. Porter is a talented executive whose leadership will enhance these new media ventures and creators, while further strengthening Fox News Digital.”
Scott also referred to Porter Berry, the president of Fox News Digital who oversees the networks’ new media and podcast ventures.
According to Variety, the Ruthless podcast’s target audience is men between 18 years and 45 years, a target group that Fox News seems to have set its eyes on.
The podcast also announced the news. In a clip from the podcast posted to Instagram, the hosts could be seen saying,
“We come to you today with breaking news out of New York. Fox News has announced a new media expansion that includes a licensing agreement with Ruthless podcast…What a dream come true, fellas.”
In reaction to the news, Comfortably Smug also chimed in and seemed to be excited about what the partnership with Fox could offer to the podcast.
TOPICS: Comfortably Smug, Fox News Channel, Ruthless podcast