The Spectacle Podcast: The Official Podcast of The American Spectator

The Buckley Institute at Yale University found that 42 percent of college students favored socialism over capitalism. The study surveyed over 800 students across the country over topics regarding free speech, economic systems, and artificial intelligence.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Madelynn Gondy, Ellie Gardey Holmes, and Lyrah Margo expand on these findings and more, noting the gap in education and overall cultural decline. They discuss the skewed perspectives on socialism and encourage parents to give their children a solid education and moral foundation. Tune in to hear their discussion!

A recent report from the Wall Street Journal revealed that Kamala Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, privately prefers Harris to stay out of the 2028 presidential run.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Madelynn Gondy, Ellie Gardey Holmes, and Lyrah Margo discuss the potential of Kamala Harris running, Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions, and the disarrayed Democratic Party. Ellie, Madelynn, and Lyrah also discuss the mysterious disappearance of James Talarico, and how the radical like Talarico have ransacked the Democratic Party. Tune in to hear their discussion!

A high-profile lawsuit involving a female student at Cornell University (under the pseudonym of ‘Jane Doe’) and seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity is receiving national attention. The reopened case reexamines Doe’s allegations against the men involved and Cornell’s handling of the investigation.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay weigh in with their thoughts about the case and examine the evidence. Melissa and Scott elaborate on the blurry lines between consent and intoxication, and criticize the Left’s politicization of the case to mobilize women voters. They also point to factors like normalizing casual sex and call for accountability for both men and women. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Eight elections in Latin America are indicating a new shift towards the Right: Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and  Brazil. What changed in these countries that usually favored the Left?

On this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the global shift toward right-leaning candidates and policies, and the uncertainty with the midterm elections here in the United States. Scott points to cutting USAID funds to left-wing NGOs as the reason why foreign countries are seeing the Left’s strongholds diminish. Melissa discusses her observation of once-populated cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles looking eerily deserted, questioning the US population figures. Tune in to hear their discussion!

A 2024 study from the Cultural Research Center found that over 30 million Christians were likely to stay home instead of voting in the election. As one of America’s largest demographics, why aren’t more Christians voting?

Gary Meredith, author of Bible and Ballots: Ten Biblical Reasons Christians Must Engage in Politics, joins The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Madelynn Gondy and Lyrah Margo to examine this question and why Christians need to be active participants in government. Gary shares how the Bible is clear about the need for Christians to be involved in politics. He also debunks the myths that are holding Christians back from going to the polls. Tune in to hear their discussion!

A newborn baby born via surrogate went viral on social media for being frustrated trying to root and latch. Unfortunately, the baby was given to a gay couple and therefore was deprived of his mother.

The Spectator P.M Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes, Madelynn Gondy, and Lyrah Margo discuss why surrogacy is an evil practice. They talk about how surrogacy is a commercial market where babies and surrogates are treated harshly, and how other countries are taking steps to outlaw the industry. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The Department of Education recently implemented a new rule that bars college students from receiving federal loans for degrees that project low-earning incomes.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss the new change and suggest that the rule should be further implemented. They discuss certain occupations that shouldn’t require thousands to pay for education, such as cosmetology and personal care services. Melissa and Scott suggest other alternatives like industry-linked training or taxing large university endowments to broaden education and make it more effective for future generations. Tune in to hear their discussion!

The Trump administration’s decision to keep the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards at 34.9 mpg instead of 50.4 mpg will not only save you money, but also save the car industry from being forced to build purely hybrid or electric vehicles.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay discuss current CAFE standards and what they mean for car manufacturers and the eventual shift to EVs. While Melissa notes the potential demand for EVs for older people, Scott expands on the concerns of regulatory capture. Melissa and Scott also discuss the growing need for a simple, affordable, and repairable vehicle (and a business idea for Elon Musk, too!). Tune in to hear their discussion!

SpaceX made history once again by launching the Starship rocket into Earth’s low orbit for the first time.

The Spectacle Podcast hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay marvel at another astronomical feat and take hope in this era of technological advancement. Melissa and Scott also discuss SpaceX’s proposal to build more launch pads in Louisiana, data centers, and AI innovation. Tune in to hear their discussion!

Roosevelt Avenue on Queens is regarded as the “Market of Sweethearts” for prostitution, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani is doing nothing to stop the illegal activity. NYPD reported a 59 percent drop on arrests relating to prostitution over the past year.

The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes, Lyrah Margo, and Madelynn Gondy discuss the issue of prostitution and the growing amount of sex crime in New York City. They expand on how prostitution enables sex trafficking and devalues human dignity. Tune in to hear their discussion!