The Spectacle Podcast: The Official Podcast of The American Spectator

With leftist political figures refusing to agree to necessary budget cuts, a government shutdown is approaching. Moderate conservatives in office are refusing to take action and bring the government back to its best operational form. No agreement is distracting enough for real appropriation changes to occur.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay talk about the approaching government shutdown caused by a lack of agreement in Congress and how it is good for the conservative party. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Conservatives around the world are mourning the death of Charlie Kirk, and they refuse to let his voice die with him. For years, left political figures have ignited a violent fire with their rhetoric, labeling Trump and others as “criminals” and “facists”, but the left’s hate only fuels and strengthens Charlie’s mission. The FBI made the investigation into Charlie’s murder a complete disaster. After arresting the “decoy” who pleaded guilty as a distraction, the true murderer’s father acted on his convictions and alerted Utah authorities. How do we move on in a productive way? Silence and lack of action i...

Author Daniel J. Flynn has written the definitive account of Frank Meyer in his new book, The Man Who Invented Conservatism. Meyer was not only a political thinker but also a man who helped shape the modern conservative movement. Following Meyer’s transformation from a communist to a conservative leader, Flynn brings his story to life and shows why his legacy still matters.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay sit down with Daniel Flynn to explore Meyer’s influence on generations of conservatives and why he should matter to conservatives toda...

A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee fled the war with Russia only to be murdered on a train in Charlotte. Iryna Zarutska came to America seeking safety but instead lands in the hands of a killer, a black man named Decarlos Brown. Our system failed her by keeping a violent man with a long criminal record out on the streets. Yet Democrats and the media are more than happy to look the other way and ignore this story completely.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay examine what Iryna Zarutska’s tragic death re...

Texas A&M is in the hot seat after emails and video revealed how university officials tried to silence a conservative student who was kicked out of class for opposing a lesson on gender identity. Instead of firing the professor responsible, leadership blamed the student, schemed to keep her out of the classroom, and even threatened her against releasing undercover video evidence. Representative Brian Harrison has been exposing the cover-up and trying to hold Texas A&M accountable.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay sit down with Representative Harrison to...

Comedy writer Graham Linehan was arrested over his so-called “anti-trans tweets” after landing in England. At the same time, England is facing political unrest, rising crime, and an immigration crisis that the government refuses to handle. Instead of fixing these issues, leaders are more interested in policing speech rather than protecting their citizens. This all leads to only one possible outcome: civil war.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down what Linehan’s arrest reveals about the state England is in, why citizens are losing patience, and how misplaced priorit...

The CDC has long outgrown its original purpose, transforming into a political arm of the state rather than the protector of public health. Now, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is challenging this system and calling for a complete overhaul of America’s medical standards. Democrats are furious at his efforts to reshape how we approach health, but they can’t stop the reforms that are coming.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down why the CDC has lost credibility, how the CDC has strayed away from its original purpose, and why...

Chicago just endured another bloody Labor Day weekend, with shootings once again driving up the city’s crime rate. Instead of addressing the problem directly, Democrats deflect by pointing to “red state crime,” ignoring that it’s still blue cities fueling those numbers. There is a straightforward solution to the violence however, Trump already showed it. In Washington, D.C., he proved that calling in the National Guard can restore order. Chicago deserves the same treatment.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down Chicago’s latest wave of violence, the failur...

From Gillette and Bud Light, companies keep alienating the very people who built their brands. Now Cracker Barrel has joined the list, making changes to its branding and design that nobody asked for.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay explain how Cracker Barrel’s new marketing will wreck the brand and why companies need to stop pushing marketing that alienates their customers. Melissa and Scott also take a closer look at how “girlboss” corporate leadership has accelerated this problem in almost all of these companies.

Tune in to hear t...

 A Democrat-aligned think tank has released a list of more than forty “woke words” it wants Democrats to stop using. Terms like “privilege,” “birthing person,” and “Latinx” have been blacklisted, supposedly to help Democrats reconnect with voters.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down the Democrats’ messaging crisis, what it reveals about their march toward irrelevancy, and why the left’s obsession with language policing is backfiring. Melissa and Scott also highlight how Democrats have remained more focused on imposing this vocabulary rather than addressing real issues like the surging crime in Wash...

Trump has announced his interest in allowing hundreds of thousands of Chinese students into the United States. The move raises serious concerns about espionage from Communist China and its exploitation of America’s open society. Even more disturbing is the reality of forced organ harvesting in China. Innocent people are targeted, and the regime has built an industrial-scale system that most Americans can hardly comprehend.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay are joined by Jan Jekielek, Senior Editor at The Epoch Times and host of American Thought Leaders. Together they ex...

New crime data shows that Washington, D.C. has seen major drops in crime only a week after Trump federalized law enforcement in the city. The move is giving the capital’s citizens more freedom and offering a glimpse of what could be possible in America’s most dangerous cities.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down Trump’s takeover of D.C. policing, why crime numbers are falling so quickly, and what this bold federal intervention means for the future of America’s capital city.

Tune in to he...

An Israeli official arrested in a Nevada child sex sting has been released and sent back to Israel, avoiding punishment. This is not a one-off: dozens of Jewish Americans accused of similar crimes have fled to Israel to escape justice. Are we watching a system that gives certain people a “get out of jail free card?”

Meanwhile, is arson the real cause for the Palisades fires in LA? And now, new data is emerging that the flu vaccine may be far less effective than advertised.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and...

Description: MSNBC is being forced to drop the “NBC” from its name and ditch the Peacock logo along with it. Now rebranding as MS NOW, the network is trying a makeover that few will fall for. And with Variety openly wondering how television should depict “American fascism,” the timing of MSNBC’s rebrand couldn’t look more ridiculous.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down MSNBC’s decline, why this rebrand signals weakness rather than strength, and how the mainstream media will continue making the mistake of alienating the public. Melissa a...

A new Bank of America survey reveals that Gen Z is taking more steps to be financially responsible. With the cost of living rising, 72% of young adults say they have made changes to improve their financial situations.

Join Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they discuss what’s driving these changes in Gen Z’s spending habits and what this says about this generation’s approach to money. Tune in to hear their conversation!

China is finally facing the long-term consequences of its one-child policy as the nation heads toward a population collapse. Where the government once fined families for having more than one child, it is now offering financial incentives for parents to have more. But for many struggling families, it’s simply not enough.

Join Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they discuss the reality facing Chinese society as its population continues to shrink. They explore the lack of hope many in China feel and what this crisis can reveal about what our own s...

Nick Fuentes was at the Capitol on January 6th calling for people to take over the building, yet unlike many others who were there, he has never been arrested. Elon Musk, Milo Yiannopoulos, and others have speculated that he might be working as a federal informant. Bill Gates reveals his new carbon-based butter and new information has been revealed on Clinton’s connection to a notorious gangster.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay examine the evidence for and against the theory that Nick Fuentes is a Fed. They also discuss how his...

The new War of the Worlds film starring Ice Cube has hit theaters, and audiences are already calling it one of the worst movies ever made. But it is far from the only contender for that title.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay reveal their picks for the worst movies of all time, including why they think Avatar is one of the most overrated blockbusters in history. Melissa and Scott also dig into what truly makes a movie terrible and also share those “so bad they’re good” movies that are st...

Liberals are in meltdown mode over Donald Trump’s plan to send the National Guard to tackle Washington, D.C.’s crime crisis. Their weak arguments are showing just how desperate they are to protect the chaos they created.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay break down the left’s reaction to Trump’s decision to send in the National Guard into our nation’s capital. Melissa and Scott also examine the state Democrat-run cities are in, and explain why Trump’s solution is long overdue.

Tune in to hear their...

Harry Potter voice actors are now facing another round of backlash simply for participating in projects tied to the franchise. It seems in today’s climate, anyone even loosely associated with Harry Potter is expected to endure criticism and go through the ritual of denouncing J.K. Rowling.

Join Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they discuss the latest round of Harry Potter actors targeted by LGBTQ activists, and what lessons conservatives can take from it. Tune in to hear their conversation!

In our culture that increasingly pushes sexualization onto young women, a former YouTube child star has made over $1 million within hours of launching her OnlyFans on her 18th birthday.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo, along with American Spectator editorial intern Madison Fossa, discuss the reality of the OnlyFans pipeline being presented to young girls in today’s culture—and the consequences that will follow if it isn’t addressed. Tune in to hear their conversation!

Bill and Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and other top officials have reportedly been subpoenaed to testify about their dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, the 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut looks more like a documentary by the day with its predictions of secret societies. Additionally, is Tucker Carlson a CIA agent? 

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay continue their discussion on the Epstein case and the future implications of the subpoenas. Melissa and Scott also take a look at how Stanley Kubrick’s final film eerily predicted the elite secret societies that are no...

ChatGPT was asked: “What are the 5 things everyone must understand about their own psychology or they risk failing at life?” The results were surprisingly insightful.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay react to the AI-generated life advice and offer their insight on whether the advice is useful or not. Melissa and Scott also discuss how the advice has helped them in their own lives and share how they can also help in our current political climate.

Tune in to hear their discussion!

Texas House Democrat legislators took off on a jet to avoid doing their jobs in an attempt to prevent the state from redistricting, which would reduce the number of Democrat seats. Now, these “fleebaggers” are getting what they deserve, as civil arrest warrants are being issued for those who left. 

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay criticize the Democrats’ dramatic attempt at “showing up” and how this whole tantrum over gerrymandering will blow up in their faces. Melissa and Scott also discuss the history of gerrymandering and how it has impacted blu...

In a society becoming increasingly polarized by politics, Catholics and Protestants need to unify together to fight the culture war.

Join Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo on this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast as they discuss the importance of Christians coming together on issues such as abortion, marriage and family, and more. Ellie and Lyrah explain how both Catholics and Protestants can work together despite theological differences in order to further progress within the conservative movement. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Eight months after her crushing defeat to President Donald Trump, Kamala Harris reappeared on the public scene to announce her decision to not run for California governor and to promote the release of her new book, 107 Days, in an interview with Stephen Colbert.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss Harris’ interview with Colbert and analyze her revelations about her failed run for president. Ellie and Lyrah also discuss the fallout between Harris and the Democrat Party due to her role as vice president under Joe Biden. Tune...

Two professors from Western Michigan University published a medical paper promoting the idea of using a tick disease in order to reduce the number of people eating meat. This paper forces us to face a reality: could we handle an infectious disease–based weapon?

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay criticize the research and express caution with the rapid advancements in technology and medicine. They also discuss the ethical dangers of biomedical weaponry and call for these professors to be prosecuted.Tune in to hear their discussion!

The Environmental Protection Agency is preparing proposals to remove the CAFE standards that held back the auto industry from manufacturing cars that Americans actually want.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the EPA’s rollback and how government regulation has hindered the auto industry. Melissa and Scott criticize both the Obama and Biden administrations’ heavy regulations and focus on green initiatives that resulted in inefficient everyday appliances and negatively impacted our economy.

Tune in to hear their discussion!

Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle advertisement caused a social media uproar with the Left claiming it was “Nazi propaganda.”

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the Sydney Sweeney controversy and how American companies are turning away from DEI marketing campaigns and the Left’s woke ideology. Scott and Melissa also explain the various factors behind the rise of young men and women embracing traditional values, such as artificial intelligence entering the job market. They also discuss CNN’s misreporting on the race of the gunman who targeted the NFL’s headquarters...

In a shocking report released last week, the Department of Health and Human Services revealed that an organ procurement organization is engaging in “disturbing practices” that demonstrate a “systemic disregard for the sanctity of life.”

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, American Spectator editorial intern Jonah Apel joins hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo to discuss the horrific stories that were detailed within the HHS findings. Ellie, Jonah, and Lyrah talk about the medical and ethical concerns that are being raised about organ harvesting and how further transparency is needed about this practice. Tune in...

Instead of embracing true motherhood, women are collecting lifelike baby dolls and raising these dolls as though they are actual human beings. These “reborn dolls” retail for thousands of dollars and are often given luxurious treatment by their owners.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo along with American Spectator editorial intern Jonah Apel discuss the oddity of this trending phenomenon. Ellie, Lyrah, and Jonah discuss how these realistic dolls are symbolic of American attitudes toward motherhood, the sanctity of life, and coping with loss. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay in a recurring series as they dive into more conspiracy theories.

In this segment, Melissa and Scott reinvestigate and discuss Pizzagate and the relationship of the Podesta brothers and Hillary Clinton. They also discuss the idea of government agencies playing a role in the Pacific Palisades and Maui fires to steal land and displace people out of their homes. Melissa and Scott also talk about the ethics and origins behind artificial intelligence, and an interesting phenomenon occurring amongst babies and Amazon Alexa. Tune in to hear their di...

CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the WNBA’s complaint about not making the same salary as the NBA, and continued mismanagement in Democrat-run cities all have one thing in common: the Democrats lose money.

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they discuss these stories and how the Left’s inefficient DEI/woke policies have resulted in their initiatives going broke. Melissa and Scott also explain how being politically correct and subscribing to the Left’s ideology is becoming increasingly detrimental to society. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s release of declassified documents revealed how former President Barack Obama and his administration manufactured the lie that Russia and Trump conspired together to undermine the 2016 presidential election.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss and analyze the bombshell report and who’s responsible for the hoax — including but not limited to, Obama, Joe Biden, Susan Rice, Jake Sullivan, James Clapper, John Brennan, James Comey, and Hillary Clinton. Melissa and Scott also explain the challenges that Gabbard and the Trump administration will have to face in...

A recent poll found that 45 percent of Americans agree that the Democratic Party has become “too radical in its views and policies.” The poll also revealed that 29 percent of Democrats are “not sure” who the current leader of Democrat Party is, indicating the party’s lack of leadership and unity. On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo analyze the poll and suggest possible factors that contribute to these findings, such as how proposed Democratic leaders like Kamala Harris, Hakeem Jeffries, and Gavin Newsom were complicit in covering up Joe Biden’s cognitive decl...

This past week, Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia changed its policies to no longer require teachers to use a student’s preferred pronouns.

Join Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo on this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast as they celebrate this educational breakthrough for the rejection of transgender ideology. Ellie and Lyrah discuss how this new development is indicative of promising education reform that will put an end to the Left’s indoctrination. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they discuss various conspiracy theories, such as the ’true gender’ of Emmanuel Macron’s wife, the potential of a new strain of COVID-19 around, and the continuation of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Melissa and Scott expand on last week’s discussion on Epstein and the recent developments in the case. They reanalyze the details surrounding his death and the authenticity of the client list. Melissa and Scott also discuss those involved with Epstein — including Oprah Winfrey, the Clintons, and Bill Gates — as well as the possible revelations th...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom took issue with the ICE raids on a weed farm that employed underage minors who are undocumented migrants. The weed farm was found to be owned by a Democratic donor who has previously donated to Newsom and other Californian Democrats.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay defend the ICE arrests and explain how these arrests largely involve people with criminal records involving drugs and human trafficking. They also criticize the Democrats’ continued dependence on illegal immigration for political and financial gain.

Tune in to hear their discussion!

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh both lack an understanding of what it means to be an American. The Federalist senior editor John Daniel Davidson joins The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay to discuss the ideology of multiculturalism, and this is a destructive worldview for America.

John explains how mass immigration is being used as a proxy for discussing the bigger issue — American naturalization and cohesion. Melissa, Scott, and John also discuss mass immigration throughout history and the lessons it holds for us today. They also emphasize the importan...

HGTV celebrities Chip and Joanna Gaines, a couple known for being vocal about their Christian faith, are receiving backlash featuring a gay couple on their new HBO show Back to the Frontier. The couple has two children who they created with an “egg donor” and a “surrogate.”Join The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo with American Spectator editorial intern Andrew Gondy as they discuss the Gaines’ addition of the gay couple and the disappointment amongst the Christian community. They address the Gaines’ response to the criticism and highlight their adherence to the LGBTQ community rather...