7 Years 174 days Sober - Mr Veto7 Years 174 days Sober - Mr Veto
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David Boyle, over seven years sober, shares a fast, cynical riff on US politics, capital and fading hope while keeping his trademark dark humour. The episode ties his daily sober reflections to wider questions about who truly holds power and why ordinary people feel so disconnected from change.
7:57•5 Nov 2026
Mr Veto, Crumbling Systems and a Sober Comedian’s Rant
Episode Overview
- Political parties are portrayed as self-serving, with no real intention of changing the broader direction of society.
- Capital and investment interests are described as controlling government decisions, particularly around infrastructure.
- Boyle questions optimism around leaders like Obama, highlighting how quickly hope can turn into disappointment.
- Ordinary people are presented as generally kind and normal, in contrast to the toxic political discourse online.
- Grassroots action by the American people is suggested as the only realistic path to rebuilding a failing system.
“"Your team hates you, they do, your team hates you."”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? Comedian David Boyle, seven years and 174 days sober, takes a sharp detour from the usual booze-soaked reflections into the messy circus of American politics, capitalism and misplaced optimism. You'll hear Boyle break down why both major political sides leave him cold.
He jokes about Republicans calling Donald Trump "Mr Veto" and questions whether anyone in power actually wants to improve things: "I can't believe people think any politician or any government or any political party is ever gonna change the trajectory of the way things are headed." For anyone in recovery who’s sick of black-and-white thinking, this blunt scepticism might feel oddly familiar.
Instead of picking a side, Boyle points to the grip of capital and a crumbling infrastructure that no one seems willing to fix. He talks about property markets, the cost of rebuilding America, and how government decisions are steered by money rather than people’s needs. The tone is harsh but darkly funny, with lines like "Your team hates you, they do, your team hates you" cutting through the usual election hype.
There’s also a reminder of how quickly political "hope" fades. Boyle recalls the excitement around Obama, only to point out how fast that turned to disillusionment, mirroring how false promises can feel in addiction and recovery too. Stylistically, it’s raw, unscripted and fast-paced – the same daily honesty that defines his sobriety podcast.
He closes with a nod to his "Fucked Up Friday" stories, asking for listener contributions and hinting that, if none arrive, you might just get him "coughing for 15 minutes into the microphone." If you’re sober, sober-curious, or just tired of being told which team to cheer for, are you ready to question who actually benefits from all this chaos?
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