Comfortably Smug is the pseudonym of Shashank Tripathi, a former hedge-fund analyst turned Republican political consultant and commentator. He is best known as a co-host of the conservative political podcast "Ruthless," which he launched in 2020. The podcast gained popularity for its critical take on legacy media and promotion of conservative values. Comfortably Smug is recognizable for often wearing sunglasses during podcast and TV appearances, adding a sense of mystique to his media persona. The "Ruthless" podcast is co- hosted by him and other Republican political operatives, including Mitch McConnell’s former chief of staff Josh Holmes. His real identity and past include some controversy, such as spreading misinformation during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, but he has since apologized. The "Ruthless" podcast, where he goes by Comfortably Smug, is known for its irreverent, no-holds-barred conservative commentary and has grown to become influential among Republican political circles. In summary, Comfortably Smug is a conservative media figure and political commentator with a background in finance and political consulting, co-hosting the "Ruthless" podcast alongside other GOP operatives.