2025 Martini Awards Part 2: Sorry to See You Go, Rising Star, Fading Into Oblivion

3 Martini Lunch

Radio America

News, Government, News Commentary

4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 December 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Join Jim and Greg as they offer the second installment of their highly coveted 3 Martini Lunch year-end awards. Today they remark on the people connected to politics that they're most sorry to see pass away in 2025. They also share their choices for rising political stars and those who appear to be fading into political oblivion

They begin with those who left us over the past year. They both select what they consider to be the obvious choice: the shocking, public murder of one of the most powerful and persuasive voices on the right and impact he was having on American politics. Greg also highlights a dedicated policy expert who fought the good fight against Obamacare and the passing of his favorite Democrat.

Then it's on to a much happier subject as they consider the rising political stars for 2024. Jim selects a pair of figures from a key swing state who could end up facing off against each other in 2026. Greg chooses a freshman senator who already has a strong track for getting things done.

Finally, Jim sees one of the most prominent figures from last year already fading into oblivion. Greg's choice goes beyond a single person to an entire nation.

There will be a special replay of a favorite 3 Martini Lunch special on Christmas Day. On Friday, we consider the categories of Biggest Lie, Best Political Theater, & Worst Political Theater for the past year.

Merry Christmas and thank you for listening to the 3 Martini Lunch!

Please visit our great sponsors:

Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use code 3ML at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!

Listeners can start a new tradition this December with 10% off at BetterHelp—visit https://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get started.

New episodes every weekday.
👉 Subscribe to the show so you never miss a moment.
Follow us for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:

Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Website

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to the three martini lunch.
0:04.9	Grab a stole next to Greg Corumbus of Radio America and Jim Garrity of National Review.
0:10.6	Three martini's coming up.
0:13.0	Hey, so glad you're with us for the Christmas Eve edition of the Three Martini Lunch.
0:17.6	We're so glad you're spending a little bit of your special day with us.
0:21.0	Today is day two of our special Three Martini Lunch. We're so glad you're spending a little bit of your special day with us. Today is day two of our special three martini lunch year end awards. We kicked it all off
0:26.2	yesterday on Tuesday with looking at the most overrated, underrated, and honest political figures.
0:33.4	And today we focus on the figures we're most sorry to see go, rising star, and the figure
0:39.4	fading into oblivion. And as we go on past Christmas, we'll be getting into issues with the media,
0:45.0	best idea, worst idea, best political theater, worst and so forth. And ultimately,
0:48.9	person of the year, turn code of the year and predictions as we start 2026. And so Jim, always a somber category, but as usual,
0:58.7	no shortage of options this year. Who are you most sorry to see go in 2025. You are absolutely
1:03.4	correct that, Greg. Before we get into that, though, I do believe there's some breaking news,
1:06.4	right as we started taping, shots fired at Nakatomi Plaza. And so the public is, the authorities are
1:13.6	asking everyone, please do not use the LAPD frequency to order a pizza. That's true. All right,
1:21.1	getting more serious here. This is always one of our least favorite categories to have to talk about.
1:26.4	Sorry to see you go,
1:29.8	which figure departed us in one form or another,
1:33.0	and this one I think was head and shoulders, obvious, Charlie Kirk.
1:38.2	And I think that that was one of the biggest and most consequential events of the year,
1:38.9	his assassination. And I think before his assassination certainly knew who Charlie Kirk was.
1:44.5	I was not as familiar with how extensive his work had been, how many different college campuses he had done.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 13 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Radio America, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Radio America and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.