While there was no video of Hugh Hewitt's interview with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) Monday night, it was obvious that the former GOP VP candidate was squirming at some of the questions Hewitt was asking. Hewitt tried to convince Ryan he should run for Speaker of the House, saying, "I have been told that the Speaker wasn’t going to stand for reelection, but now that the majority leader was defeated, and he’s been replaced by Kevin McCarthy, he doesn’t think there’s anyone but you who can run the House."

After asking if he thought Mitt Romney should run again (yes), whether there was any chance Romney would (no), and whether he was going to run for President (he will decide early next year), Hewitt began to ask uncomfortable questions about Ryan's Republican House leadership.

Hewitt: But here’s my real argument with your book, the thing that really stunned me, actually. I like John Boehner. He’s a man from Ohio. He grew up in tough circumstances. He’s an Irish Catholic. I like him a lot. I’ve known Kevin McCarthy for 25 years. I like him a lot. But the House leadership in the last 18 months, you write about John, “One thing I like about John is he always speaks his mind. You know where he stands and what he thinks.” John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy, despite a combined 100 invitations, not one of them has appeared on this show in the last two years.

Ryan: Yeah, I don’t understand that. That puzzles me. I don’t, Kevin doesn’t come on either?

Hewitt: No. None of them, and they don’t go anywhere. They don’t talk to Levin, they don’t show up with Laura Ingraham. That’s why Eric Cantor got beat.

Ryan: Yeah, I don’t get that. I don’t have a good answer for you. I wish I did. Sorry.

Hewitt moved to internal House Republican politics, causing Ryan to squirm, asserting that regarding the speakership he didn't want to be away from his kids every weekend. Regarding the other candidates for speaker Ryan didn't really want to answer.

Hewitt: Okay, so that leads me to leadership in the House. I have been told that the Speaker wasn’t going to stand for reelection, but now that the majority leader was defeated, and he’s been replaced by Kevin McCarthy, he doesn’t think there’s anyone but you who can run the House.

Ryan: I know.

Hewitt: I agree with him.

Ryan: Everybody says that. Look, I make my decisions on what I feel is right for me and my family. That’s a job where you’re expected to travel all weekend. My kids are 9, 11 and 12 years old. I’m doing Cub Scouts, cross country, soccer, Mass with my family, and I’m just not going to spend my weekends away from my family. It’s just that simple.

Hewitt: Can I put it in tough terms to you?

Ryan: And I prefer being a policy chairman. I prefer being a committee chairman writing the policy, which is very important. It’s got to get done right. And it’s one where I can have good balance in our lives.

Hewitt: Okay, now this is going to sound harsh, but I don’t mean it to be. I just mean it to be emphatic. I think you’d be the best Speaker. There are lots of men and women who have been deployed six, seven and eight times.

Ryan: You’re right about that. And I don’t hold a candle to those people, and I can’t even put myself in the same sentence. I wouldn’t even suggest that. It’s just a job that I have been broached with a number of times, and I have, you know, on each of these times, I’ve concluded I prefer being a policy chairman. And it’s not as if I don’t have sway with leadership on the policy decisions we make. I have tremendous sway, and I appreciate having that. But as far as being in that elected leadership position, and not seeing your kids as much, and look, I thank God for the men and women who put on the uniform and keep us safe. I’ve got a lot of friends, I’ve got some friends who are over there right now.

Hewitt: Well then, how about Jeb Hensarling is mentioned well in this book. Jeb’s wrong on Ex-Im as well, but he’d be a better Speaker…

Ryan: You’re listening to John Campbell, who I love, by the way, but you’re listening to him too much on that one.

Hewitt: No, no, it’s our Defense industrial base. We’ve got to keep Boeing, there’s a long argument there.

Ryan: All right.

Hewitt: But Jeb Hensarling would be a better Speaker than the Speaker. Can you…

Ryan: I’m not going to get into personality conflicts. Jeb, as you probably know, is my best friend in Congress, but I’m not going to get into that stuff, Hugh.

Hewitt: Is it a good idea for the Republicans to delay the vote long enough after the new Congress for there to be a healthy discussion about who ought to be the Speaker and the Leader?

Ryan: We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I'm not going to weigh into that.