

Getting Hammered
Laissez-Faire Media
A sharp, funny politics podcast for people who want the news without the freakout.
Each week, Getting Hammered takes a hammer to the headlines, breaking down politics, media spin, and cultural meltdowns with skepticism and fun. Overcaffeinated and underprepared, moderately right and moderately reliable, we never take ourselves too seriously. But keep you informed on serious topics with no panic and no partisan loyalty tests. Just laughs, well-earned side-eye, and occasional libations.
Each week, Getting Hammered takes a hammer to the headlines, breaking down politics, media spin, and cultural meltdowns with skepticism and fun. Overcaffeinated and underprepared, moderately right and moderately reliable, we never take ourselves too seriously. But keep you informed on serious topics with no panic and no partisan loyalty tests. Just laughs, well-earned side-eye, and occasional libations.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 8, 2022 • 55min
The Bully Who Cried Victim
Taylor Lorenz, a former content cop who went after creators and now writes on the lives of internet-famous teens for a living, claims she’s really the victim of online attacks. And Senate Democrats are convinced that newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson faced worse treatment on the Senate floor than Justice Brett Kavanaugh. But Mary Katharine and Vic question who the real victim is here. Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
11:13 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
11:18 - President Barack Obama visits the White House to tout improvements to the Affordable Care Act
22:36 - University of Chicago student peppers The Atlantic columnist Anne Applebaum with questions on the mainstream media’s Hunter Biden laptop story coverup
39:34 - Taylor Lorenz says she’s bullied for her reporting on internet teens
46:57 - Senate Democrats allege newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson faced worse treatment than Justice Brett Kavanaugh
49:00 - Bojangles to give out gas gift cards to customers
LinksThe Washington Post opinion on Hunter Biden’s laptop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 6, 2022 • 50min
Are the Kids Alright?
From the CDC’s admission that lockdowns caused a mental health crisis among teens to Jennifer Rubin’s worst column ever (yeah, it’s really that bad), we’ve got quite an uplifting lineup for a very important day: Mary Katharine’s birthday!Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
12:23 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
12:31 - Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson goes to final floor vote
15:59 - Elon Musk buys more than 73 million shares of Twitter stock, now a member of the platform’s board of directors
21:40 - The CDC releases information on the impact Covid lockdowns had on teen mental health
31:49 - President Joe Biden shares a story—about what, we don’t know…
42:01 - Jennifer Rubin’s worst column yet: A defense of Biden’s economy
LinksSuzy Weiss piece for Bari Weiss’s Common Sense Substack on teen girls’ experience with Covid lockdowns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 2022 • 55min
How Does It Feel?
…To know that one of the nation’s largest teachers’ unions was directly responsible for keeping schools closed for months? To not be invited to the sex parties that Rep. Madison Cawthorn claims are rampant in the nation’s capital? Or to know that the New York Times and the Washington Post are just now talking about the Hunter Biden laptop story? As Mary Katharine often says, it’s not good! It’s not good, Vic!** Content Warning: Includes conversations on sex that may not be appropriate for young ears **Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
12:57 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
13:02 - New emails show the American Federation of Teachers imposed line-by-line edits to the Center for Disease Control’s school reopening guidance
23:28 - Rep. Madison Cawthorn claims elder statesmen snort cocaine and host sex parties, gets slap on the hand from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
29:22 - More than a year and a half after it was first reported in the New York Post, the New York Times and the Washington Post dig into the Hunter Biden laptop story
30:59 - The Slap Part 2: Revenge of the Takes—a brief unpacking of the takes on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars
40:20 - Disney comes out against parental rights bill in Florida
LinkGuy Benson’s podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 30, 2022 • 51min
The Slap Heard 'Round the World
None of us would've known the Oscars had even happening if it weren't for Will Smith smacking the [bleep] out of Chris Rock on stage. Mary Katharine and Vic have thoughts on that, as well as President Joe Biden's gaffes on the Russian-Ukraine War. Finally, Mary Katharine fears for the safety of her state, as Duke and UNC face off in the Final Four. Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
13:27 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
13:44 - Actor Will Smith slaps the sh*t out of comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars on Sunday
31:59 - President Joe Biden’s team forced to do clean-up after he demands for a regime change in Russia during speech in Poland
43:28 - Duke to face University of North Carolina in the Final Four
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2022 • 51min
What's Worse?
The Washington Post says the line of questioning facing Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson is worse than the inquiries Justice Brett Kavanaugh endured during his nomination. Mary Katharine and Vic aren't so sure. Russia's invasion of Ukraine stalls, gains are now racist, and our ever-so-grateful hosts read some rave reviews from the Hammerheads!Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
10:25 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
10:44 - Russia's Ukraine invasion stalls
16:51 - Updates on Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson
19:00 - The Washington Post says senators have treated Brown Jackson far worse that Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused without evidence of committing gang rape
30:34 - Justice Clarence Thomas hospitalized with infection
31:28 - An update on masking guidance
40:33 - Gains are racist? An MSNBC opinion writer asks...
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Mar 23, 2022 • 51min
Underprepared and Overcaffeinated
And do they have a show for you! The New York Times, after a year and a half, finally gives credibility to the Hunter Biden laptop story; confirmation hearings begin for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson; and some states temporarily eliminate gas taxes to help drivers face skyrocketing prices at the pump. Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
06:58 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
08:38 - The New York Times confirms the legitimacy of Hunter Biden's laptop and emails
21:00 - Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson faces Senate hearing
35:44 - Drivers in some states could see some relief, as legislatures move to temporarily remove gas taxes
39:43 - Democrats change their tunes on masks and other coronavirus mitigation strategies
43:58 - Harris notes the significance of the "passage of time" at a reading event in Louisiana
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 2022 • 45min
We're All Zoomers Now
Happy St. Paddy's Day! Mary Katharine and Vic fact-check some common misperceptions about the holiday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges Congress for support for his country via Zoom, and former CNN host Chris Cuomo sues the network on allegations that they smeared his integrity (spoiler: we think he did that one on his own). Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
12:02 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
12:07 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to Congress
19:45 - One step forward, two steps back for masking during flight
22:03 - Senator Mitt Romney sides with Democrats on measure that would have ended mask mandates in federal childcare facilities
25:25 - Former CNN host Chris Cuomo sues the network for $125, they smeared his journalistic integrity
35:53 - Happy St. Paddy’s Day! Mary Katharine and Vic debunk myths about the holiday
LinksMary Katharine's column on the Cuomo brothers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2022 • 46min
Counterpoint: No
No. Just no. With allergies, with Russia, with gas prices, with poorly designed logos... You get the point.Times
00:12 - Segment: Welcome to the Show
09:55 - Segment: The News You Need to Know
10:04 - An update on Russia's invasion of Ukraine
17:47 - White House invites TikTokers to talk gas prices
22:45 - The View's Ana Navarro. Keith Olbermann says feds should investigate journalists and citizens acting as "Russian assets"
27:26 - Crime spikes in Washington, D.C., Seattle, other big cities
32:51 - Australian government reveals new phallic-shaped logo for women's organization
35:22 - NBA star Kyrie Irving's vaccine controversy takes a turn as restrictions lift
42:11 - Longtime NFL quarterback Tom Brady "unretires," says he'll return to Tampa Bay next season
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 2022 • 47min
You get canceled! You get canceled! Everyone gets canceled!
We have lots to cover this week as inflation soars and cancelations soar even higher. BUT most importantly, we have a very special appearance from baby Holly.Times
0:34 - Youth in the Kitchen
3:59 - MKH keeps her promise
6:52 - When kids know they are funny.
8:00 - The Ukraine Update
13:58 - A word from the Kamala fan club
15:27 - Inflation Inflation Inflation
21:01 - More dumb canceling
26:44 - Let's actually read the bill, folks
33:09 - NYT piles on their own contributor
38:58 - Democrats have new concerns
43:21 - Sad news for coffee drinkers
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Mar 9, 2022 • 54min
Playing Softball With The CDC
We hope you filled your tank before the new sanctions hit! This week we're celebrating anniversaries, watching the press play softball with their favorite institution, and figuring out who we would be in Red Dawn.0:50 - MKH celebrates another anniversary10:19 - Lent Watch 202213:29- CDC Softballs21:42 - The unmasking is happening?!?29:01 - Doctor admits he got COVID wrong33:57 - Inflation is everywhere40:55 - Let's confirm our priors!44:51 - What the heck is going on with baseball52:21 - Ukraine coverage/journalists worth following! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


