The Ruthless Podcast’s 2025 “Hack Madness” tournament is stirring up conservative media fans as liberal journalists face off in a bracket-style roast. With over a million brackets filled out in its five-year history, this year’s contest features the toughest competition yet.
CBS’s Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell are leading the pack as top seeds in the “Fake News” and “Establishment” divisions. Brennan, hosting Face the Nation, is considered a frontrunner thanks to her harsh criticism of conservative policies and frequent “fact-checking” interruptions aimed at Republicans during interviews. Her rivalry with O’Donnell, another CBS heavyweight, could set up a historic final showdown between colleagues from the same network.
The “Liberal Activist” division is anchored by MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace, known for her melodramatic Trump-era monologues, while the “Way Too Online” division stars Politico’s Eugene Daniels. Both have built careers on viral anti-Republican takes. Dark horses include MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, whose conspiracy theories about Trump often backfire, and New York Times writer Peter Baker, who narrowly defeated his own wife, Susan Glasser, in a tense first-round matchup.
Voting is live on X (formerly Twitter) through host Comfortably Smug’s account, with brackets available at RuthlessPodcast.com. The event mocks media bias with a sports-style format, letting fans decide which journalist best represents “activist” reporting. Past winners include Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow, but 2025’s bracket is seen as the most stacked—with CBS possibly dominating the finals for the first time.
Conservatives argue the tournament highlights how corporate media prioritizes partisan narratives over fairness. The Ruthless hosts joke that outlets like CBS and the Times are “recruiting halls” for Democratic operatives turned journalists. With Trump back in office, they say liberal hacks are working overtime to distort his agenda, making this year’s competition essential viewing.
The tournament’s success reflects growing frustration among Republicans with mainstream coverage. As one fan tweeted, “Hack Madness isn’t just funny—it’s a public service.” Results will be announced in April, but the real winner is already clear: the audience tired of media double standards.
