The Spectacle Podcast: The Official Podcast of The American Spectator

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...

Erin Reed, who self-identifies as a transgender journalist, helped transgender Girl Scouts receive over 70,000 cookie donations for various activities and excursions.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo criticize the inclusion of biological males in Girl Scouts. Ellie and Lyrah dive into the transgender Girl Scout list and explain the harms of the transgender ideology on young kids. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Thousands of pro-lifers from across the country braved the impending snowstorm to attend the national March for Life at Washington, D.C., this past weekend. The event featured prominent guests like Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Even Pope Leo XIV sent a message extending his support.

Join The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they recap highlights from the march. Ellie and Lyrah talk about other pro-life wins since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, such as banning aid to abortion services. They also discuss the pro-life mov...

The Left is in anguish over a new policy paper from the Heritage Foundation that encourages pro-family values to save America. Jessica Grose, an opinion writer for the New York Times, expressed her disdain for Heritage’s “retrograde” claim that traditional marriage is the cornerstone of civilization. The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo analyze the claims made by Grose and provide reasons why Heritage is right about the family. Ellie and Lyrah also explain the importance of a healthy marriage and family for a flourishing civilization and a child’s well-being. Tune in to hear the...

In her new fashion book, The Look, Michelle Obama shares her philosophy and insight behind her style choices as the former first lady. Obama received backlash on social media for sharing her preference for wearing pieces from people of color, and her earlier comments in 2025 on her avoidance of wearing the color white. On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss Obama’s comments and criticize the racial motivation behind her fashion choices. They also talk about Obama’s recent appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, where Obama and Co...

The University of Kansas caught backlash for offering a course called “Angry White Male Studies” — yet another example of indoctrination disguised as education.

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they discuss higher education and the growing political bias on campus that is increasingly targeting conservatives. Melissa and Scott talk about the different challenges that conservatives face in academia, such as the political climate and university staff being inundated with crazed liberals. They discuss possible solutions to make universities a place for conservatives to thrive, such as state action, dismantling biased research grants and fu...

Anti-ICE protesters, including former CNN host Don Lemon, interrupted a church service in Minnesota to stage a takeover. The “activists” infiltrated the religious service due to word that the pastor worked for ICE.

Unlicensed Punditry author Michael Smith joins The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay to address illegal immigration and the escalation of violence from the Left happening across the country. Michael, Melissa, and Scot emphasize the need for government action and urge President Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act. Michael draws on historical comparisons from the Bolshevik and Maoist Revolutions, while Melissa recalls 9/11 and...

On this “grab bag” segment of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay debunk and discuss various news and controversies surrounding China, technology, immigration, and more!

Melissa opens the conversation by exploring a Chinese mathematician’s claim that China’s population is closer to 300 million rather than the 1.2 billion that the country reports. They discuss the various factors that led to China’s low demographic, such as its one-child policy and poor living conditions. They also discuss China’s technology exploration with robots and whether test-tube babies are within China’s foreseeable future. Melissa and Scott also disc...

The Iranian regime is crumbling from within, with varying death tolls going into the thousands, hinting at an eventual collapse.

Join The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they explore the various geopolitical challenges facing the regime and the Iranian people. Scott points out Iran’s severe water shortage and overpopulation as major issues that need to be addressed by a competent government. Melissa and Scott also explore the consequences if these issues are left unresolved, such as another mass migration crisis. Can the United States help Iran with a peaceful transition and avoid anoth...

Judicial Watch is cracking down on election fraud by suing states for having dirty voter rolls. One of the states being sued —Oregon— was found to have over 800,000 inactive voters, which accounts for 20 percent of Oregon’s registered voters.

Listen to The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay as they discuss Oregon’s new directives to clean up their voter rolls. Melissa and Scott weigh the pros and cons of mail-in ballots and how they can influence election outcomes. They also call out the Republican National Committee for their delayed action toward election fraud and the Democra...

Former President Barack Obama’s concrete-slab presidential center, which is estimated to cost over $850 million, faces controversy over its DEI hiring practices as well as its promotion of leftist ideology on public land.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo unpack the controversy surrounding Obama’s center and the $40 million lawsuit between two of Obama’s construction contractors, alleging racial discrimination. Ellie and Lyrah contrast Obama’s extravagant center with Biden’s proposed presidential library, which is struggling to meet its $200 million goal. Tune in to hear their discussion!

New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, partnered with YouTube star “Ms. Rachel” (Rachel Accurso) to sing “The Wheels on The Bus” and “If You’re Happy And You Know It” to a classroom of preschoolers. The duo highlighted the city’s plan to enact “2 Care,” a free, universal childcare program for 2-year-olds.

Listen to The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they criticize the pair for their sentiments toward Hamas and the Free Palestine movement, citing Ms. Rachel’s recent controversies that connect her to the Left’s ideology. Ellie and Lyrah al...

What didn’t work in 2025 and still won’t work in 2026? DEI, transgender ideology, vaccines — just to name a few.

Listen to The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss lessons for the new year and what to leave behind in 2025. Melissa unleashes her grievances about her number one pet peeve of the phrase “I don’t prefer it” and the usage of pronouns. She also discusses the perverse consequences of DEI and the strong need for DEI to be rooted out of society. Melissa also calls out the vaccine industry and how new research is showing the...

The Democrats continue to sympathize with Nicolás Maduro’s arrest, such as Rep. Delia Ramirez condemning the U.S. intervention in Venezuela and Sen. Mark Kelly encouraging active duty military members to disobey “illegal orders.”

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay continue their discussion on the reactions and implications of Maduro’s arrest, both domestically and globally. Scott responds to Ramirez’s complaints of U.S. intervention with the economic and human rights violations of the Chavez/Maduro regime. Melissa and Scott offer historical insight into the U.S. relationship with Venezuela and how communis...

2026 is off to an explosive start, with President Trump’s arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay unpack what Maduro’s arrest means for America, Venezuela, and the rest of the world. They explain how the Cuban regime has exploited Venezuela’s natural resources and ripped off the Venezuelan people. Melissa and Scott also debunk Democrats’ false allegations against the operation and bring up the legal precedent behind the arrest of Maduro. Now that Maduro’s out, what does that mean for the economic future of Venezuela, China, Russia, and...

A growing number of job recruiters are returning to heavily relying on elite colleges to find top applicants, a Veritas Insight study finds.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss the factors that play into the phenomenon — such as the usage of AI and the consequences of DEI. They also discuss the growing problem of the lack of academic rigor in higher institutions and offer solutions to the hiring process. Tune in to hear their discussion!

A Chick-fil-A location in Utah prompted controversy for publically posting support of same-sex marriage, contrary to the Biblical principles that Chick-fil-A is founded on.

Join The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo as they speculate why the franchise is bowing to DEI ideology. They scrutinize the company’s response to the incident and call on Chick-fil-A to uphold their reputation by standing firm to their Christian values. Tune in to hear their discussi

Joy Reid furthered yet another woke message by reposting a video that criticized the beloved Christmas tune “Jingle Bells” as a song written to make fun of black people.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo point out the absurd claims about the song’s origin. They also criticize the woke Left for their attempts to ruin Christmas. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Climate change, which former president Joe Biden once hailed as the “number one issue facing humanity,” went on the Left’s back burner this year.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo discuss why and how the Left is distancing themselves from climate change. They point to Bill Gates’ recent blog post critiquing ‘doomsday’ climate change claims and how Greta Thunberg averted the climate platform to support Palestine instead. Tune in to hear their discussion!

On this special episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the growing trend of younger generations returning back to church and express joy at witnessing faith and American values making a comeback.

Side discussion: Why are conservative talking heads at each other’s throats in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death?

Tune in to hear their discussion!

President Trump has been tossing around the idea of extraterrestrial life and called for the release of UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) records.

On this conspiracy watch episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss aliens, CERN portals, and underground obelisks claimed to be found underneath the pyramids. While Scott links a fictional example with the Apple TV+ show Pluribus, Melissa cites historical evidence from ancient civilizations and groups who have supposedly contacted aliens. Are aliens a government conspiracy? Or is the government covering up a conspiracy about aliens?

Tune in to dis...

The Seattle Public School system is forcing students — from kindergarten to fifth grade — to read books that push and teach fluid gender identity.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo analyze the woke curriculum and how there are still cracks of indoctrination in the education system. They discuss the ridiculous lessons taught in different gender identity books such as Introducing Teddy, My Princess Boy, and Red: A Crayon’s Story. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Three months after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk faces constant criticism for her every move.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo express disappointment with how the public is treating Erika Kirk and the conspiracy theories surrounding Charlie’s death. They also discuss Candace Owens and her baseless accusations about Erika and Turning Point USA. Tune in to hear their discussion!