The Spectacle Podcast: The Official Podcast of The American Spectator

Catholic priest and exorcist Chad Ripperger shared the top 10 American places with the highest amount of demonic presence. Among them were places like Washington, D.C., Salem, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Scott McKay and Melissa Mackenzie discuss the supernatural and challenge the different perspectives about demons. Scott and Melissa survey American attitudes toward spiritual warfare and how it has contributed to the rise of a religious revival here in America. They also discuss classified documents regarding UFOs and UAPs, and political leaders alluding that it reveals spiritual activity here on earth. Tune i...

The Washington, D.C., chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, an organization that claims to uphold the ethics of the journalism industry, is giving ex-Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah the Distinguished Service Award. Attiah gained notable public attention for being fired from the Post because of her inflammatory comments following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo highlight the absurdity of the award, highlighting Attiah’s victim mentality. Ellie and Lyrah review Attiah’s recent work and point out her flawed beliefs about white women, Palestine, and...

This Easter, Catholic dioceses across the country are reporting a strong surge of converts into the Roman Catholic Church.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss the rising trend of Americans turning to Christianity and going back to church. They discuss Pope Leo XIV’s influence in the Catholic Church’s growing numbers and how there is also church growth on the Protestant side. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The premier of the latest season of The Bachelorette was suddenly canceled due to recent and previous domestic violence allegations against Taylor Frankie Paul, who Disney and ABC had selected as the show’s star. Taylor Frankie Paul’s rise to fame has been fueled by her toxic tendencies, some of which are documented on the Hulu show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss footage of the incident, which involves Paul throwing metal chairs at her boyfriend and her daughter. Elli...

A demonstrator at the “Hands off Iran” protest in Philadelphia was caught on video cheering for American troops to be returned “in a casket,” and called for the Iranian regime to bring the U.S. “to its knees.”

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo criticize the protest and the protester’s speech for cheering for the death of Americans. They discuss the Left’s lack of insightful thought on the Iran war and their hatred of President Trump. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The trend of “looksmaxxing,” which involves men hyper-fixating on their look to become physically attractive, with some going to extreme measures by hammering their cheekbones or breaking their jaws.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss how the trend is attributed to the lack of meaningful relationships between men and women. They point out how influencers like Andrew Tate and Clavicular are cautionary tales of what happens when men emphasize looks over character and concrete skills. Melissa and Scott survey what’s going on amongst young men and women, pointing out the...

Traveling Americans are complaining about the extra-long TSA lines at airports across the country, which is due to a partial government shutdown. This particular grievance leads The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay to one idea — to get rid of the TSA altogether.

Melissa and Scott discuss the impact Americans are experiencing from the shutdown, criticizing both Republicans and Democrats for their response. They explain the absurdity of the TSA, deeming it a theatrical system that serves no purpose in protecting Americans from terrorist incidents. Melissa and Scott also propose suitable replacements to TSA, such as i...

While Cubans continue to struggle without power, the Leftist organization Code Pink took a trip to provide “humanitarian aid” to stand in solidarity with the people to go against the Trump administration. Code Pink’s “humanitarian aid” took the form of music festivals and an art mural, while they stayed at a five-star hotel that was one of the few places in Cuba with power.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the poor optics of Code Pink’s virtue signaling amidst Cuba’s country-wide blackout. They accuse the organization of trying to leverage the Cuban peopl...

It’s no secret that the Left employs disinformation to distract the American people from knowing the truth, and the Trump-Russia Collusion hoax is no exception.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, host Scott McKay is joined by Drew Allen, the host of The Drew Allen Show to discuss … Drew talks about his new book being released this week, Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story Of The Trump-Russia Delusion, which details how Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton conspired a coup in an attempt to squash Trump from winning the 2016 presidential election. Drew offers special insight into his...

The people of New York City who voted for Zohran Mamdani hold high hopes that his socialist policies will make the Big Apple appealing again. However, his first couple of months in office have already shown how leftist politics and Islamic ideology are not compatible for the American people.

The Spectacle Podcast host Scott McKay is joined by special guest Drew Allen, host of The Drew Allen Show, to discuss Mamdani’s horrid leadership and how it is ruining New York City. Scott and Drew point out recent events and controversies surrounding Mamdani, such as the recent terro...

The Cuban people have had it with the ills of communism and how it has hurt their country, and they are making it known that they are in desperate need of change. 

Drew Allen, host of The Drew Allen Show, joins The Spectacle Podcast host Scott McKay to discuss the nearing end of the Castro regime in Cuba. Scott and Drew discuss recent key events that indicate this change, such as major blackouts, riots, and negotiations with the United States. Drew compares the policy positions of Donald Trump and Barack Obama, and explains how Obama is largely respo...

The online gambling industry is projected to amass over $1 trillion by 2028 — at the price of many young men’s lives.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss online betting and go through testimonies of recovering men who are bringing awareness to the addiction. Ellie and Lyrah talk about the concerning statistics about online gambling and its overconsumption by young men, especially for sports. Tune in to hear discussion!

While Kamala Harris’ continues her tour for her book 107 Days, the possibility of her being a contender for the 2028 presidential election makes Democrats shudder.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss Kamala Harris’ potential bid for the presidency. Ellie and Lyrah explain how Harris is irrelevant to the Democratic Party and what her chances are for securing the nomination amongst other presidential hopefuls like Gavin Newsom. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Is LGBTQ out of trend for young adults? A further look into the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that young adults ages 18–24 are identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual in smaller numbers.

Find out why on this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, in which hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo analyze the data and explain how young adults are recognizing the consequences of the transgender movement and LGBTQ ideology. Ellie and Lyrah point out the social factors fueling this change, such as increased parental involvement in education and awareness by detransitioners and...

Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, has been receiving backlash for liking posts on Instagram that supported Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo point out Duwaji’s status as a public figure, contrary to Mamdani’s claims that his wife is a “private person.” They also discuss Mamdani’s decision this week to host anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil for dinner. Ellie and Lyrah also discuss the recent attempted terrorist attack in front of Gracie Mansion by two ISIS-inspired teenagers. Tune in to hear their podcast!

Social media users were frazzled with the appearance of ‘Jim Carrey’ at the César Awards, lighting up conspiracy theories that he was cloned.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay decipher Jim Carrey’s face and the facts to determine if that was really Carrey or not. Despite Carrey’s make-up artist claiming that it was not Carrey but the artist, his publicist clarified that it was indeed Carrey at the award show. Melissa and Scott also dig deeper, explaining how people cannot trust what they see online due to deep fakes...

A psychology study found that kids raised in the 1960s and 1970s are more emotionally resilient than any of the following generations, due to how they were raised.

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they discuss the truth behind these findings and go back to the good ol’ days. Melissa and Scott share experiences from their childhood where parental watch could be described as ‘reckless’ in today’s standards. They also discuss the other factors behind the emotional vulnerability of younger generations, such as the reliance on technology and the educational system.

Tune...

Operation Epic Fury is unleashed in Iran, which led to the death of Iranian regime leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and resulted in six American military casualties.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the implications of war against Iran and debate whether U.S. involvement is warranted. Melissa criticizes the U.S. for its current actions, expressing her concerns about a lack of a clear mission and the potential for more loss of American lives in this conflict. Scott offers the historical context and current arguments supporting the bombing of I...

The Trump administration is enforcing the English proficiency requirement for commercial drivers, of whom over 200,000 are immigrants. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that over 10,700 CDL drivers could not sufficiently read or speak the English language and were disqualified from holding their license.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss the findings and talk about the importance of the English proficiency tests for these truckers. They discuss recent fatal incidents involving truckers who could not understand English, and how this standard should be common sense. Tune in to hear their...

People involved in polyamorous relationships are seeking legal protections for their “family structure” in highly liberal cities in the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, they are seeking to protect their relationships, including “consensual nonmonogamy,” via nondiscrimination laws.

Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss polyamory’s evils and dangers, as well as why the practice should not be legally protected. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died this Sunday from a Mexican military raid aided by U.S. intelligence. Widespread violence in Mexico followed El Mencho’s death, which included civilian casualties and airport closures.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the aftermath of the cartel leader’s death and the unintended consequences of the cartel system on Mexico’s government. Melissa and Scott talk about the cartel’s major role as a fentanyl distributor and how China is the ultimate culprit behind the war on dru...

There is one factor that the suspects responsible for the Mar-a-Lago incident, the Pawtucket hockey game in Rhode Island, and the Tumbler Ridge school shooting in Canada have in common: they all suffer from a mental illness.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the rise of leftist violence across the United States and even globally. Melissa and Scott criticize the mainstream media’s narrative for labelling Austin Tucker Martin, who was shot by Mar-a-Lago security for approaching with a shotgun and a gas can, as a “Trump supporter.” They also discuss the tragic events...

Minnesota Rep. Leigh Finke, a man who identifies as a woman, thinks that it’s essential for queer kids to access porn sites for “educational purposes.”

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo call out the evil of pornography and criticize Finke’s bizarre statement. Ellie and Lyrah explain why age verification laws need to be put in place and how children need to be protected from sexually explicit content. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Gavin Newsom has been busy touring around the country to promote his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. While speaking to a crowd in Atlanta about his book, he told the audience that he is just like them because he scored a 960 on his SAT.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss Newsom’s comments and his political posturing as a presidential hopeful for the 2028 election. Ellie, who is the author of Newsom Unleashed: The Progressive Lust for Unbridled Power, shares the truth behind Newsom’s opulent life that he tries to down...

Artificial intelligence is constantly advancing and improving its technology. The question remains — Are we ready for it, and what do we do when it takes over human labor?

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay talk through the intricacies of artificial intelligence. Melissa shares some of her experiences learning about AI, offering insight into what she’s discovered about learning language models and if morality exists for AI. Scott also shares his usage of AI for entertainment, highlighting the groundbreaking work by The Dor Brothers for creating a $200 million AI-generated movie that...

If you were forced to choose between dogs and Muslims, which would you choose? For Nerdeen Kiswani, a key supporter of Zohran Mamdani, dogs are unclean in Islam and therefore don’t have a place in society.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay respond to the debate and give reasons why Americans would choose dogs over Muslims. Melissa and Scott criticize Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called for Florida Rep. Randy Fine to be punished for saying that the “choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.” They also talk about t...

Just like at Davos, the Democrats showcased themselves once again as America’s laughingstocks at the Munich Security Conference.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay scrutinize Democrat leaders  — namely, Gavin Newsom, Mark Kelly, Hillary Clinton, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — for their worthless offerings at the Munich conference. Melissa and Scott criticize Newsom for his complaint about President Trump repealing EPAs, Kelly for continuing to victimize himself, Clinton’s self-absorbed behavior, and AOC for simply being embarrassing. Melissa and Scott contrast their speeches to those of JD Vance and Marco Rubio, who are eloquent speakers. Tune in to hear...

The Epstein files continue to reveal insight into the horrors committed by global elites.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay continue their deep dive into the Epstein files. Melissa calls out corporations like Wayfair and Walmart for their roles in child trafficking, and other high-profile individuals like Bill Gates and Steve Bannon. Melissa also details the evil research into children that Epstein explored for his own perverted interests, such as the baby’s suck reflex. Melissa and Scott address the systemic corruption from both the Left and the Right, and emp...

While most Americans couldn’t understand Bad Bunny’s Spanish halftime performance, the songs selected were inappropriate in nature and simply not enjoyable.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss Bad Bunny’s performance and the reactions it received from the Left and the Right. Scott criticizes Jay Z, whose company is responsible for selecting the halftime performer, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for being complicit. Scott and Melissa also contrast Bad Bunny’s performance with Turning Point USA’s alternative Super Bowl halftime, and the opportunity it presents for conservatives. Scott also criticizes Olympian Hu...

There’s a pandemic much worse than COVID — and it’s not spread through body contact, but from mind to mind.

University of Texas Professor and author J. Budziszewski joins The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay and offers insight into his new book, Pandemic of Lunacy:  How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. Melissa and Scott inquire about higher academia and how J instructs college students in a world of AI. J also shares his experiences teaching as a professor and his hope for young conservatives. Tune in to hear their discussi

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are expected to testify in a deposition about their relationships with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Recent documents released in the Epstein files revealed Maxwell and Epstein’s part in funding the start of the Clinton Global Initiative.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo speculate on the relationship between Epstein and the Clintons. They discuss the evidence that points to the Clintons’ friendship with Maxwell and Epstein, which suggests the Clintons knew much more than they’ve publ...

This year’s Super Bowl commercials featured patriotic messaging from Budweiser as well as a pro-adoption message — just to name a few.

Join The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they discuss highlights of this year’s Super Bowl ads. They also address the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny’s halftime show, and contrast it with Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” alternative. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The evil atrocities detailed in the 3.5 million documents on Jeffrey Epstein and his connections with the global elite are continuing to be exposed.

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss what’s in the Epstein files. They talk about high-profile individuals who were revealed to be complicit in Epstein’s pedophilia, such as the Clintons, Bill Richardson, Prince Andrew, and Bill Gates. They also discuss the allegations of child trafficking, sacrifice, and the eating of children that  Epstein and various elites mention in their emails. Melissa and Scott talk about the gra...

Communism continues to show its failures here in the U.S. and globally.

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts, Scott McKay and Melissa Mackenzie, as they continue to unpack the latest news on the ills of communism. They discuss the recent fallout of British ambassador Peter Mandelson due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Scott and Melissa probe into the problems within the United Nations, noting the UN’s financial struggles and its lack of relevance. Additionally, they discuss the ramifications of Cuba and Venezuela’s collapse. Melissa and Scott also criticize Hollywood communists at the Grammys like Billie...

What happens when you vote for a socialist to govern New York City? Piles of garbage at your doorstep and no one to plow off the snow from the streets.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay highlight the best of communism’s worst this week — kicking off with New York City and its newly elected Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Melissa and Scott discuss the current rotten state of the Big Apple and contrast its governance with that of Mamdani’s predecessor, Bill de Blasio. They discuss the implications of Mamdani’s socialist policies, which could usher in...

Eileen Gu is a two-time Olympian gold medalist who was born and raised in San Francisco but insists on competing for China because the “U.S. has enough representation.”

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo criticize Gu for staying silent on China’s human rights violations and pocketing money from her Chinese sponsorships. Ellie and Lyrah probe Gu’s refusal to answer any questions about China or the Chinese government, and how Gu cannot be both for the United States and China at the same time. Tune in to hear their discussi

Two New York doctors pushed Fox Varian to get a double mastectomy when she was just 16 years old. Varian, who is now 22 years old and detransitioned, filed a lawsuit against the doctors for pushing the surgery on her and won. This is the first time a plaintiff in such a case has won a judgment.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo unpack the case and praise the ruling for bringing to light the harms of “gender-affirming care.” Ellie and Lyrah discuss how this decision serves as a warn...

Last week, elite leaders from around the world gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay recap the WEF event and criticize the WEF for its lack of relevance and influence. They discuss President Trump’s deal with Greenland, and ‘WEF sweethearts’ like Gavin Newsom, Alex Soros, and Justin Trudeau being mocked on the world’s stage. Melissa and Scott also criticize WEF policies that inevitably failed, such as the net-zero emissions and the elimination of farms.

Tune in to hear their discussion!

The rising escalations against ICE in Minnesota continue to show the Left’s ignorance of what ICE is actually doing — making our cities safer by removing and detaining illegal criminals.

Listen to The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they analyze and discuss the challenges faced by ICE in performing their jobs, such as the lack of cooperation from the local and state governments. Scott points to an example in his home state of Louisiana, where over 400 of the worst criminal illegal aliens were arrested by ICE. He also points out the culprits behind the in...

A couple of weeks have gone by since the U.S. captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, leaving the country’s future potential up to the interests of the U.S. Additionally, the U.S. actions in Venezuela has pressured other corrupt government leaders to follow suit or face conflict with the United States.

Canadian conservative and political theorist William Barclay joins The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay to discuss the future of Venezuela, the relationship between Canada and the U.S., and the rising problems posed by progressive ideology and identity politics. William, Melissa, and...