Commentary on current events and interviews with prominent figures in politics, media and culture.
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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 the
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 their dis
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 thei
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 lear
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 neglect
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 that they’v
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 s
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 Ma
“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 hav
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 d
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 t
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 president
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 iden
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
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. Tun
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
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
