The Spectacle Podcast: The Official Podcast of The American Spectator

Ten organizations — including Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the National Women’s Law Center — are receiving more than $10 million in donations from Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Festival. More than 45,000 people attended to hear music from Rodrigo and other artists such as Chappell Roan, Mitski and Doechii.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss Rodrigo’s intentions with the concert and the pushback from peaceful pro-life protesters outside the event. Lyrah and Madelynn explain how abortion is not true female empowerment but rather a toxic message th...

Back in the day, there used to be social norms where people who didn’t get in line with what was accepted were typically teased or told to change their behavior. Now that social standards have collapsed, we have what Melissa calls “an overabundance of weirdos.”

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay explain how the decline in public conduct warrants some sort of social correction. They discuss how people have become more sensitive to criticism and how parents, team sports, and structured environments can combat this issue. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Flock cameras are becoming a controversial topic over whether they violate an American’s civil liberties. With constant surveillance in public spaces and even homes, what are these companies doing with our information?

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay address their concerns about public surveillance and the problems within its infrastructure. Melissa and Scott point to increased crime and less enforcement as the reason why more Flock cameras are being used, and how the anti-Flock discussion could be benefiting a police body-camera company, Axon. Tune in to hear their discussion!

President Trump placed a 90-day tariff relief on ground beef, allowing up to 300,000 metric tons of beef from importers. Trump has also indicated that the imported beef will be sold at 25 percent below market prices, noting that the price of ground beef reached a record average $6.89 per pound this year.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss Trump’s beef policy and the broader issue of America’s struggling economy. They cover how the rising costs of gas, cars, housing and maintenance point back to terrible policies enacted by Democrats. Tune in to hear thei...

University Greek life is in full swing as colleges start the new school year, and social media continues to blow up with “RushTok” — girls dancing to popular songs and attempting to convince prospective sorority sisters to join.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss the trends behind RushTok and how it is impacting young women’s college experiences. They debate whether these Rush experiences are worth it and whether it portrays toxic beauty standards. Tune in to hear their discussion!

As closing arguments in Lindsay Clancy’s case are being made this week, a bizarre number of moms — in person and on social media — are showing their support for Clancy and defending her actions of murdering her three children.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin revisit the Clancy case and respond to the growing movement of women who are speaking out “in solidarity” with Clancy. Lyrah and Madelynn reject normalizing these behaviors and violent actions toward children, emphasizing that murder is murder and sympathy does not mean endorsement. Tune in to hear their discu

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who formerly played for Louisiana State University and won the Heisman trophy in 2023, became the target of a joke amongst sports leagues due to a dispute over not retiring his LSU number five. Regina Jackson (Daniels’ mom and manager) sent the university a cease-and-desist letter that they wipe all references and stop selling items related to Daniels and his likeness.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay explain the damage that Jackson has done to her son’s professional football career, and the lessons that can be learned about keeping your...

Declassified documents from the FBI from an operation codenamed “Freshman 15” identified Christine Fang, or “Fang Fang,” as a Chinese intelligence spy connected with disgraced Sen. Eric Swalwell. Fang raised money illegally for Swalwell, had a sexual relationship with him, and placed Chinese-linked interns in Congress.

In a separate case, court documents released this month also revealed that former Playmate Audra Christiansen’s story of being sexually assaulted and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein was reported to the FBI by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in 2005, but Christiansen’s case was neglected till after Epstein’s death in 2019.

The Spectacle...

Jason Arday, who was a former professor at the University of Cambridge, was found dead last week. In the weeks before his death, Arday had been the subject of controversy over alleged plagiarism in his academic papers and questionable achievements listed on his CV.

The Spectacle Podcast host Scott McKay and Townhall senior columnist Kurt Schlichter go through the circumstances surrounding Arday’s death and why the Left is hailing him as a martyr ‘driven to death by racists.’ They discuss Arday’s tenure as a professor and how students have described him as the most abusive professor t...

Parents part of the Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools sued the Palo Alto Unified School District for a field trip to a local mosque where students were pushed to participate in the religious practices of Islam as part of a “social justice pathway program.” During the trip, Qurans were handed out to students, female students were wearing hijabs, and photos of these students were posted on social media without consent.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss the details of the case, criticizing the trip’s one-sidedness to the religi...

“People who are stealing things like toothpaste … like soap … if you’re stealing those things you need them,” Democratic socialist Emily Gallagher stated. Gallagher is an assemblywoman and represents New York City’s District 50, and her comments about “crimes of poverty” were widely criticized online.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin react to her statement and give context to how shoplifters are prosecuted in New York, and the ample resources given to New Yorkers who are struggling and in need of everyday essentials. Lyrah and Madelynn criticize Democratic socialists for blurring clear moral truths, an...

As the Democratic Socialists of America continue to take over the Democratic Party, DSA leaders like Zohran Mamdani, Francesca Hong, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (and much more) have graced the American public with a barrage of terrible ideas and dumb moments that are laughable.

The Spectacle Podcast host Scott McKay and producers Grace Keller and Madelynn McLaughlin list off their favorite ‘DSA Morons’ and highlight key moments that make these communists extra special. Grace crowns Zohran Mamdani as the most consequential DSA member, Scott frames Francesca Hong as the archetype of the DSA, and Madelynn deems Megan Romero as the c...

“A burrito should not cost $20.” This statement is at the crux of a heated debate amongst conservatives regarding the affordability crisis and Gen Z’s financial situation.

The Spectacle Podcast host Scott McKay and producers Grace Keller and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss ‘Burritogate’ and the underlying issues that keep Gen Z in financial straits — namely, student debt, useless college degrees, and DEI hiring practices. Grace, Madelynn, and Scott elaborate on urban housing and how Gen Z can’t afford to live in safe areas, sharing personal dangerous encounters with violence within cities that have ‘third-world’-like zones. Tune in to hear their di

The Duxbury child killings case, in which Lindsay Clancy murdered her three children, is undergoing trial in Massachusetts. Clancy pleaded not guilty to three charges of first-degree murder, but is claiming a lack of criminal responsibility, as her defense team is emphasizing the 13 psychiatric medications that allegedly caused her postpartum psychosis.

The Spectacle Podcast host Scott McKay is joined by podcast producers  Grace Keller and Madelynn McLaughlin to unravel tragic details of the Clancy case that are pointing to the dangers of overprescribing SSRIs. Scott, Madelynn, and Grace also discuss the recent Anthony Fauci text message leak tha...

Countries such as Britain, Australia and China are implementing strict regulations or bans on social media use for children, citing concerns that social media addiction is contributing to mental health issues. A writer at the New York Times shared her concerns about how artificial intelligence could create similar problems down the road.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss the future of AI and its relational allure as a potential danger. They emphasize that AI should be regarded as a tool, not a replacement for human interaction, and encourage parents to discuss and...

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has been engaged to Riley Roberts since 2022, shared a video of herself injecting hormones as she announced that she will be freezing her eggs.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin respond to her decision to freeze her eggs, offering criticism and discussing the negative reactions from conservatives, including Allie Beth Stuckey. Lyrah and Madelynn point out the risks associated with egg harvesting and the IVF process and address speculation that AOC is doing this as a performative stunt for a potential presidential run. Tune in t...

Caitlyn Clark and Sophie Cunningham are paving the way for the WNBA to receive more traction, but are woke politics withholding the women’s sport from garnering more attention?

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the internal culture problems in the WNBA, the controversy surrounding Angel Reese, and the resentment toward Clark and Cunningham. While Scott doesn’t care to watch the WNBA and argues that it relies on controversy to generate views, Melissa pushes back and argues that women’s basketball could be entertaining if the WNBA can distance itself from identity politic...

Police identified Chad Williams as the gunman who killed three people and injured seven at an In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho. Two citizens with firearms stopped Williams — healthcare worker Jordan Salinas and an off-duty police officer.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay go through the root causes that fuel mass shooters, such as drug use, bad parenting, and radicalization. They criticize the purpose of “gun-free zones” and make the case that an armed public will reduce the amount of mass shootings. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Anthony Fauci’s “plead the fifth” recitation at last week’s congressional hearing prompted Sen. Rand Paul to push for a committee vote to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the legal path forward following Fauci’s hearing and how his diary revealed his megalomaniac behavior. They review all of the COVID policy failures from Fauci and criticize the governmental overreach that occurred during the pandemic. Tune in to hear their discussion!

U.K. political commentator Connor Tomlinson and his wife were infuriated by the treatment they received from the NHS during a maternity emergency, highlighting a significant problem that is not discussed enough: understaffing and a lack of patient care.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss Tomlinson’s account of mistreatment and explain how it is one of many stories from patients who have dealt with the NHS. They highlight broader concerns about government-run health care and express caution about adopting similar practices in the United States. Tune in to hear their dis...

Ariana Grande’s team announced that she will be taking a step back from the public eye after her Eternal Sunshine tour amid “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” The Wicked star has been the subject of intense online discussion regarding her gaunt appearance, dividing her fans.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin address concerns surrounding Grande’s health, noting her influence on young girls. Lyrah and Madelynn discuss the body positivity movement and why women should not compare themselves to toxic beauty standards. Tune in to hear their discussion!

A six year old girl has passed away in China due to an experimental brain gene editing therapy gone wrong. The treatment, which cost over $800,000 to perform, involved injecting trillions of viruses with a base editor into her spinal fluid.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the dangers behind gene editing and how biotechnology has yet to be further studied. They bring up concerns revolving around tech billionaires and the elites attempting to become immortal, current experiments being done in the US and in China, and recent breakthroughs in gene editing. Tune in t...

Despite doing reasonably well in the box office, Christopher Nolan’s latest film The Odyssey continues to divide viewers over his casting choices.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss and debate the reasoning behind Nolan’s artistic choices in his adaptation of Homer’s epic. Scott argues that Nolan has strayed away from its historical context and opted for modern day political messaging. Melissa argues that the intentions behind the film were to expose Hollywood’s woke ideology for what it is rather than cater to it. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Far Left organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, Code Pink, and others were revealed by the State Department’s recent report as Cuban-backed organizations. The report also details how Cuba has managed to infiltrate the United States and other countries with communism.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay dive into Rubio’s report and expand on Cuba’s underlying influence in spreading communist ideology. Melissa and Scott also discuss various models of communism from Cuba, the Soviet Union, and Mao Zedong’s CCP. They also explain current implications for the Trump administration in comba...

Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the I’ve Had It podcast, claim that homeschooling is “a bad idea from soup to nuts.”

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo (who received a public school education), and Madelynn McLaughlin (who received a homeschool education) discuss and react to Welch and Sullivan’s outrageous comments about homeschooling. Lyrah and Madelynn draw on personal experiences growing up in different educational settings and defend the homeschool experience. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The University of Minnesota spent six years researching and developing transgender dolls — MyGender Dolls — that have interchangeable genitalia. These paper dolls are set to debut in select Minnesota classrooms for children as young as four.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin disdain the transgender dolls’ purpose and explain the adverse consequences of introducing transgender ideology to young children. They also call out the Left for encouraging sexual education at inappropriate ages and see this as an overreach into the parental role. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Veggie lovers took an abrupt halt from consuming iceberg lettuce due to an outbreak of Cyclospora — a microscopic parasite — that has caused explosive diarrhea for over a thousand people across the country.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the unfortunate lettuce recall and make the case that being a vegan or a vegetarian doesn’t make one healthier. They explain how class politics tie into food consumption and point out the nutritional deficiencies of vegetarians. Scott and Melissa bring down the moral high ground of vegetarians by debunking various claims about cow methane, sugar...

Democratic talking heads like James Carville, Van Jones, and Bill Maher are mourning the turnover of the Democratic Party to communists disguised as socialists. However, they have no one else to blame but themselves.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the downfall of the Democrats during this midterm, despite the DSA wins in low-turnout races. They explain how the Democrats have created the conditions for a socialist takeover, pointing to the previous Obama administration and other Democratic leaders like Bernie Sanders. Tune in to hear their discussion!

President Trump gave an address to the nation last week, and mainstream media coverage was scant to none. Why? They knew that his speech would reveal what Democrats were trying to hide: their dependence on election fraud.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the broad support by Americans for voter ID and why honest elections are a huge threat to the Democrats. Melissa and Scott discuss comments from Elissa Slotkin about halting the passage of the SAVE Act and recent rulings that should propel election integrity efforts moving forward. Tune in to hear t...

The use of AI by preachers has become a cause for concern among Christians. A Barna Group study found that roughly a quarter of pastors have used AI to help prepare their sermons.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin debate AI’s role in the church and how it has affected people’s relational needs. They also discuss China’s growing restrictions on romantic AI chatbots, noting the country’s declining birth rate. Lyrah and Madelynn express curiosity about the future of AI and impending legislation governing its use. Tune in to hear the...

Released body camera footage of the arrest of 27-year-old Jarrett Vick, who identifies as transgender, went viral after Vick expressed outrage at a police officer for misgendering him.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin react to the altercation and criticize Vick for his reluctance to comply with authorities. They discuss why the video received widespread attention on social media, pointing to Vick’s childlike behavior and the broader implications of identity politics. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The foreign ministry of Mexico filed criminal complaints in the U.S. for 17 Mexican nationals who were killed while in ICE custody or in immigration raids. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced these complaints as a “human rights violation,” but she isn’t really acting out of concern. Rather, this is Sheinbaum’s way to serve the interests of the cartels that truly run the country.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay criticize Sheinbaum’s disingenuous efforts and the true outrage of migrants suffering to cross the border. Melissa and Scott also explain the cartel’s influence o...

The communists wearing democratic socialist clothing are buffoons making their idiocy known not just in America, but around the world, too! Just recently, Rep. Ro Khanna was called out for his dishonesty about his ‘detainment’ by Israelis while he was visiting the West Bank in Israel. Khanna tried to frame his visit’s interruption by the IDF as an “unprecedented, illegal detention of Americans by a foreign country.”

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay give a broad overview of the buffoonery of communists across the country and around the globe, and how this evil ideology has...

After three weeks of silence, Mitch McConnell and his staff set out to end the speculation about whether he is still alive by posting a “proof of life” photo of him and his wife together. However, that photo only left more questions than answers.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss McConnell’s political tenure, how he has been an obstruction to Trump’s agenda, and why he is a symptom of a broken system. Melissa and Scott explain the implications of replacing his Senate seat and offer arguments as to why the 17th Amendment...

Conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro, Allie Beth Stuckey, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt have either welcomed new additions to their families or are currently expecting children. Celebrities like Barbara Sprouse, Anne Hathaway, and Natalie Portman are expecting mothers as well, indicating a growing trend among young adults who desire marriage and family.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin praise this new phenomenon, citing a study from the Institute for Family Studies’ 2026 State of Fertility Report. Lyrah and Madelynn discuss how these celebrities and influencers are shining a positive light on fam...

The worst state to live in is Tennessee, and the best state is Vermont — at least according to CNBC’s standards.

On this episode of The Spectator P.M. Podcast, hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin parse through CNBC’s annual “Top States for Business” study and discuss why many people think it is a joke. Lyrah and Madelynn examine the survey’s emphasis on each state’s inclusivity policies regarding LGBTQ issues, DEI and reproductive rights, which they argue caused conservative-leaning states to sink to the bottom of the list. They criticize the ranking for not only being bias...

Rather than reminding fellow Americans of what has made this nation great for 250 years, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke from George Washington’s desk and criticized the nation’s history. “You each hold a special power. The power to determine what America means. The powerful have always known their answer. America, in their view, is an arena of supremacy, where only a select few are allowed freedom, where not all are created equal,” Mamdani said.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin analyze Mamdani’s speech and criticize what they describe as his portraya...

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift tied the knot this weekend at Madison Square Garden, celebrating with more than 1,000 guests in attendance. The lavish wedding included a complete transformation of the arena for the occasion and had a raffle with luxury prizes for their guests, including Cartier watches and Chanel and Dior handbags.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Lyrah Margo and Madelynn McLaughlin discuss details of the wedding that have emerged through leaks and offer their congratulations to the newlywed couple. Lyrah and Madelynn also respond to reactions from fans and critics, discussing Swift’s past relationships and...

Generation X leadership is desperately needed in our country, yet why are the aging Boomers still adamant about holding the reins?

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and ‘Gen X Spokesperson’ Scott McKay chime in on the debate over why Gen Xers should be running the country, arguing that Boomers are selfish and are not setting up the future generations for success. Melissa and Scott discuss the unique qualifications and upbringing of Gen Xers who have grown up with analog childhoods but adjusted to the digital world. They criticize Boomers for selfishly withholding what could be for futur...

Democrats like Rahm Emanuel are still trying to diagnose what truly went wrong with their party, yet they don’t want to claim responsibility for enabling what led to their defeated state in the first place.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay go through the institutional problem with the Left, noting Emanuel’s observations of how the Democrats have officially ‘lost the plot’ by advocating for woke policies. Melissa and Scott discuss the slippery slopes with policies enacted by the Democrat Party, such as how Title IX provided the gateway for gay marriage and transgend...