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The Skepticrat

Puzzle in a Thunderstorm, LLC

Covering politics from the far center

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  • 21 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 52 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #277
    Monday · 43 min

    277: Skepticrat277 - Lego My Legos Edition

    On this week's episode: The country checks the couch for 40 TRILLION dollars ... We’ll find out just how much money there is in Free Speech ... And the Mormons will LEGO of some money they stole. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Three things to know about the $40 trillion federal debt: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/nx-s1-5939473/40-trillion-federal-debt The Peter Thiel-Linked Race Science Network that Penetrated Cambridge University and Targeted Jason Arday: https://bylinetimes.com/2026/08/18/the-peter-thiel-linked-race-science-network-that-penetrated-cambridge-university-and-targeted-jason-arday/ Revealed: Toby Young free speech group crowdfunded over £60,000 for legal case fought by pro-bono lawyer: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/18/toby-young-free-speech-union-60000-gbp British free speech group hit by unease over Maga links: https://www.ft.com/content/c15ce62d-fc69-4c2f-ae3b-0dc4dac8a49a?syn-25a6b1a6=1 Tory peer’s free speech group urged JD Vance to lobby UK government: https://www.ft.com/content/402d716a-0cf1-46e6-b09b-e37d6ea428a5?syn-25a6b1a6=1 DeSantis ally and appointee is arrested on child sex abuse charges: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/desantis-ally-appointee-arrested-child-sex-abuse-charges-rcna593206 Nigel Farage faces renewed watchdog probe after Clacton by-election victory: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62x1gr62m1o Police dispute Farage claim Clacton count wasn't safe for him - here are the facts: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/police-dispute-farage-claim-clacton-count-safe-facts-4706958 Bricks & Minifigs’ $200,000 Star Wars Lego Dispute That Spawned Reckless Ben Drama Reaches Partial Settlement: https://kotaku.com/reckless-ben-star-wars-lego-bricks-minifigs-mansell-family-mormon-mafia-2000726238 The jaw-dropping list of everything asylum seekers in Thetford were 'given for free': https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2237137/thetford-asylum-seekers-free-goods-list

  • #276
    August 10 · 1 hr 9 min

    276: Skepticrat276 - Casting Fauch Edition

    On this week's episode: We’ve always been at war with Eastasia ... An old Who’s Woo subject gets in touch with an opportunity too good to turn down ... And presidential hopeful Tucker Carlson wants a house to go with his replacement theory. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Trump basically resorts to threatening Iran with imaginary missiles: https://abcnews.com/Politics/crucial-us-missile-stockpiles-extremely-low-official/story?id=135428997 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/05/trump-hegseth-clashed-camp-david-over-iran-missile-depletion-concerns/ Playbooks, plagiarism and a pig’s head: new claims surrounding a star Cambridge professor: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2026/aug/01/playbooks-plagiarism-pigs-head-new-claims-surrounding-cambridge-professor-jason-arday The takedown of Jason Arday has overjoyed the right, and must be a wake-up call for the left: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/06/jason-arday-dei-race-issues-university-of-cambridge Comey prosecution is absurd and Trump reminds us that he was a Russian asset: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/us/james-comey-seashells-trump-secret-service.html https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/trump-russian-asset-comey-fbi-investigation Fauci takes the 5th: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/fauci-contempt-of-congress.html Michael Marshall has a zoom call with an unsuspecting Brian Rose: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1580651800303373 TUCKER CARLSON puts out 10-point manifesto in possible bid for president: https://www.axios.com/2026/08/06/tucker-carlson-third-party-israel-trump

  • #275
    July 27 · 47 min

    275: Skepticrat275 - 2026 A Race Odyssey Edition

    On this week's episode: Trump finds a new way to bomb ... Americans learn they will diarrhea themselves to death with measles before they’ll vote for a black lady ... And Republicans get mad about the ethnic retcon of the epic poem they all definitely read. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Trump tries jokes at WHCA dinner 2: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/24/us/trump-news#is-this-supposed-to-be-fun-trump-hurls-insults-at-correspondents-dinner Dr. Phil reveals the White House had him review UFO files to see how the public would react to them: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/dr-phil-trump-ufo-files-b3019901.html America, land of diarrhea lettuce and measles: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/well/eat/cyclospora-outbreak-states-cdc.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/well/measles-record-united-states-numbers.html Trump Orders Warnings Placed at ‘Inaccurate’ Smithsonian History Museum: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/arts/design/smithsonian-signs-trump-executive-order.html New York sculptor spent $100,000 to make a Charlie Kirk statue no one wants to buy: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/20/sculptor-charlie-kirk-statue-new-york Elon Musk is gonna make his OWN Odyssey: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jul/22/elon-musk-grok-imagine-historically-accurate-ai-homers-odyssey-christopher-nolan

  • #274
    July 13 · 1 hr 3 min

    274: Skepticrat274 - Trump Card Edition

    On this week's episode: Nigel Farage will argue that, if anything, he’s TOO innocent ... Mitch McConnell is busy hanging out with a cat and some uranium in a secret box ... And Donald Trump will call FIFA to tell them they just need to find him three more goals. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: NATO summit in Turkiye: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/five-key-takeaways-from-the-nato-summit-in-ankara https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/08/nato-leaders-world-cup-donald-trump-ankara-summit https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/politics/trump-air-force-one-security.html Farage resigns as MP and vows to fight by-election amid finances row: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ly51kzdz3o Mitch McConnell is not well: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mitch-mcconnells-health-absence-mystery-with-us-senate-poised-return-2026-07-09/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/11/mitch-mcconnell-senator-health Starmer quits as Labour leader and paves way for contest for new prime minister: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxd00lg599o Trump calls FIFA prez to pressure a red card review: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/world/europe/fifa-trump-infantino-world-cup-red-card.html https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/07/fifa-trump-red-card-belgium/687820/

  • #273
    June 29 · 48 min

    273: Skepticrat273 - Alga Rhythm & Blues Edition

    On this week's episode: Donald Trump surrenders in victory ... Trump aides explain why you can’t waterboard algae ... And we learn about the profound geopolitical impact of Waffle House and ranch dressing. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: US Iran agree to Memorandum of…never mind: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/27/us-iran-trade-strikes-what-to-know-will-it-unravel-the-mou RFK Jr. is in charge of special education: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/20/us/politics/special-education-rfk.html Trump floats reflecting pool sabotage plot: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-floats-up-wild-new-reflecting-pool-sabotage-plot/ https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/25/politics/reflecting-pool-firm-renovation-unfeasible White South African “refugees” in America get a welcome bag: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/us/politics/south-africa-refugees-welcome-bags.html Taylor Swift is getting married at MSG on July 4th: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/nyregion/taylor-swift-wedding-madison-square-garden.html

  • #272
    June 15 · 1 hr

    272: Skepticrat272 - SpaceX Machina Edition

    On this week's episode: Space X’s IPO is a POS ... We’ll explain to Eli why you can’t bet against Kalshi’s continued existence on Kalshi ... And Knicks fans like Heath can finally die happy. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: SpaceX IPO is full of shenanigans: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/business/spacex-ipo-what-to-know.html https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/06/12/business/spacex-ipo-elon-musk No injuries, no props - CFTC proposes prediction market rules: https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/49019930/cftc-proposes-rules-limiting-prediction-markets-kalshi-sports https://www.theverge.com/business/948083/kalshi-prediction-markets-insider-trading Pentagon releases third tranche of UFO files, revealing more nothing: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ufo-files-pentagon-3rd-release-documents-videos/ Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpT4K5ZElXE CIA officer found with $40 million in gold bars and his entire life story was a lie: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/arrest-303-gold-bars-cia-officer-spun-tale-was-top-gun-fighter-pilot-rcna349037 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/us/politics/pentagon-cia-officer-gold-bars.html Bathroom break during French Open match: https://apnews.com/article/arthur-gea-bathroom-break-french-open-3c031bafb4dd161fb074ccadb091e6d1 Bryce Harper toothpaste insanity: https://apnews.com/article/bryce-harper-phillies-toothpaste-toothbrush-63653a5054c0acd4c2db43da48d75590 Trump ruins the Knicks 13-game playoff win streak but then hopefully it's happy or something: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/08/trump-booed-knicks-spurs-madison-square-garden.html Pete Hegseth’s fitness calamities continue to be impossibly funny: https://www.reddit.com/r/SipsTea/comments/1u3b1b4/hegseth_struggling_to_put_up_weight_at_guantanamo/

  • #271
    June 1 · 56 min

    271: Skepticrat271 - Rats on a Lip Syncing Ship Edition

    On this week's episode: Florida declares infinity plus ONE congressmen ... Bret Michaels had better things to do ... And we learn how a weighted penis bag might affect your weekend. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Trump’s attempt at slush fund for Jan 6 rioters goes poorly: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/29/politics/federal-judge-halts-work-on-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund Judge Allows Florida House Map That Could Add 4 Republican Seats: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/us/florida-congress-map-redistricting.html Were the Enhanced Games a Bust? - Organizers Are Upping the Ante to $10 Million: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/story/enhanced-games-ten-million-reward Kash Patel's apparel site is trying to trick visitors into installing malware: https://www.pcmag.com/news/kash-patels-apparel-site-is-trying-to-trick-visitors-into-installing-malware Ka$h Patel actually does my joke 2 days later with custom engraved bourbon: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/05/kash-patel-fbi-bourbon/687066/ Kash goes snorkeling at Pearl Harbor: https://newrepublic.com/post/210478/report-kash-patel-desperate-snorkel-graveyard-pearl-harbor Almost everybody pulls out of Trump’s stupid America rally and then he cancels it:: https://pagesix.com/entertainment/freedom-250-concert-festival-artists-backing-out-lineup/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy02j1n87wlo The Knicks are in the finals and Donald Trump might ruin it: https://thespun.com/nba/knicks-fans-urged-to-ignore-president-trump-at-nba-finals Clavicular gives penismaxxing advice and gets mogged by a judge: https://www.wonkette.com/p/dont-go-taking-any-penis-advice-from

  • #270
    May 18 · 49 min

    270: Skepticrat270 - Taipei Personality Edition

    On this week's episode: Marsh will explain British elections just in time for the empire to fall ... Donald Trump gets through his China visit without jumping out of the car at a red light and running around it ... and Trump supporters still won't have their gold phones. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat Headlines sources: Trump’s China summit: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/15/key-takeaways-from-trumps-china-trip/ England Local election results 2026: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2026/england/results#council-scoreboard The More Than 30 Scandal-Hit Reform Candidates Elected Last Week: https://bylinetimes.com/2026/05/12/the-more-than-30-scandal-hit-reform-candidates-elected-last-week/ How Mamdani and Hochul Are Solving New York City’s Budget Crisis https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/nyregion/mamdani-budget-nyc.html Trump phone shenanigans: https://www.pcmag.com/news/after-delays-scam-accusations-trump-mobile-says-t1-phone-ships-this-week https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-mobile-shipping-gold-t1-phones-after-nearly-a-year-of-delays/507-28f15b24-fc2a-45b0-bea1-23effcad36b5 Favorites to Win Eurovision: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/arts/music/eurovision-song-contest-favorites.html

  • #269
    May 4 · 53 min

    269: Skepticrat269 - Kash Heap of History Edition

    On this week's episode: Claude takes a proactive approach to the tech sector ... Another would-be Trump assassin turns out to be as inept as his intended victim ... And Trump realizes that if you fire all of science, the lying thing works itself out in payroll. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) quince.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: White House Correspondents' Dinner attack: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/27/politics/conspiracy-theories-whcd-attack Claude-powered AI agent’s confession after deleting a firm’s entire database: ‘I violated every principle I was given’: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/29/claude-ai-deletes-firm-database King Prince Charles lectures America on the dangers of monarchy: https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-us-state-visit-trump-congress-4cd294e6333b4a9ba7ada2af4dd71aa9 Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for pointing out he's drunk all the time: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences/686839/ https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/kash-patels-implausible-lawsuit-against-the-atlantic Trump fires entire advisory board of National Science Foundation: https://apnews.com/article/national-science-board-nsf-trump-6a23f3ab1b4c6eb131b4e79d95b3536f Everest guides accused of poisoning foreign climbers to force fake rescues in $20m scam: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/mount-everest-climb-nepal-insurance-scam-sherpa-poisoning-b2952027.html#

  • #268
    April 20 · 55 min

    268: Skepticrat268 - First Lady Doth Protest Too Much Edition

    On this week's episode: It's been 12 years worth of weeks this month ... We all continue to be more qualified to run the FBI than Kash Patel ... And thanks to Donald Trump, the Strait of Hormuz exists in a quantum state of close-open. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Pete Hegseth does war crimes, calls media "pharisees", and quotes Pulp Fiction Ezekiel: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5834822-hegseth-pulp-fiction-bible-reference/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/politics/hegseth-military-iran-blockade.html Melania’s insane speech that nobody asked for: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/us/politics/melania-trump-jeffrey-epstein.html https://epsteinexposed.com/reports/melania-epstein-april-2026 LIV golf is collapsing, which is awesome: https://www.news.com.au/sport/golf/liv-golf-on-brink-of-collapse-as-saudi-backers-consider-pulling-funding/news-story/00e48c301b5d90d0249035c959958ea4 While Iran gets paid for oil in crypto, let's not forget all the giant crypto scamming: https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/actor-ben-mckenzie-slams-bitcoin-on-jon-stewart-show Mayor Mamdani is doing a great job: https://www.nyc.gov/content/100days/pages/map Kid Rock’s music tour is a sad, pathetic mess: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/rock-the-country-tour-prices-drop-jelly-roll-drops-out-1235548014/

  • #267
    March 23 · 57 min

    267: Skepticrat267 - Quantum Foreign Entanglement Edition

    On this week's episode: "Iran So Far Away" becomes more than a Flock of Seagulls song ... Virtual reality will get all the more virtual by existing less ... And the Trump cabinet gets some sweet new kicks for their Foot Klan. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Trump starts looking for an off ramp in Iran: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/us/politics/trump-iran-offramp.html 98th annual Academy Awards: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/movies/oscars-winners-list.html Former DOGE guy can't define DEI in deposition video - judge orders video taken down: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/nyregion/doge-depositions-musk-lawsuit.html https://abcnews.com/Politics/groups-fight-release-doge-deposition-videos-after-judge/story?id=131150741 DOGE was even dumber than we thought: https://fortune.com/2026/03/19/doge-cancelled-350000-hvac-grant-dei-lawsuit-elon-musk/ https://mashable.com/article/former-doge-employees-deposition-inside-look-elon-musk-agency Zuckerberg reminds everyone that he’s not a business genius, he was just lucky: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/technology/mark-zuckerbergs-metaverse-vr-horizon-worlds.html Trump makes a Pearl Harbor joke to the Prime Minister of Japan: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/politics/trump-japan-pearl-harbor-oval-office-takaichi.html Rubio, Vance wearing clown shoes because Trump is obsessed with Florsheim: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/13/style/rubio-vance-big-shoes-florsheim-cec https://www.wsj.com/style/fashion/trump-florsheim-shoes-tucker-carlson-jd-vance-bessent-448567ab Megyn Kelly feuding with Mark Levin about micropenis: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/03/mtg-megan-kelly-have-bizarre-feud-over-fox-news-hosts-genitals/

  • #266
    March 9 · 47 min

    266: Skepticrat266 - Poly Noemial Edition

    On this week's episode: The news plays our least favorite repeats of the 90s ... Reform UK will tell us that voting for any party other than them is cheating ... And Kristi Noem gets old yellered but she might need to get shot by a puppy if she wanders back. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: groundnews.com/skepticrat mintmobile.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: War with Iran: https://www.theinternet.boingsploosh.net Polymarket bans "nuclear detonation" bets: https://ground.news/article/2a768216-a0a1-44c0-8b14-e57702bfe1fb Lord Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office - BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cew8jde9pxqt Andrew released under investigation after arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office - BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx28yel4811o Callers to Washington State hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English instead: https://apnews.com/article/washington-dol-spanish-accent-ai-3a1b8438a5674c07242a8d48c057d5a3 Kristi Noem fired and replaced with a guy named Markwayne: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/kristi-noem-lost-trump-markwayne-mullin Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection, pushing Labour to third place: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/27/green-party-wins-gorton-and-denton-byelection-in-blow-to-keir-starmer Reform and Tories report ‘family voting’ allegations to watchdog | Byelections | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/27/family-voting-allegations-gorton-and-denton-byelection-tories-reform-watchdog Osaka stunned by anonymous gold bar gift worth $3.6M to fix aging water pipes: https://apnews.com/article/japan-osaka-gold-donation-water-pipes-2f2e68017b7b041858c2de46a67be7ab

  • #265
    February 23 · 49 min

    265: Skepticrat265 - Hellebuyck Stops Here Edition

    On this week's episode: The Supreme Court does a good thing to keep us on our toes ... Obama outs the aliens in hopes they’ll beam him up before it’s too late ... And RFK Jr. is the relatable kind of guy you wanna sit down and have a milk with. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Trump’s tariffs ruled invalid: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9 How Mamdani’s Income and Property Tax Proposals Could Affect New Yorkers: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/nyregion/mamdani-millionaire-tax-property.html Obama says we definitely don't have aliens at Area 51 wink: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/politics/obama-clarifies-alien-comments-scli-intl Cortina condom shortage: https://www.thestar.com/sports/olympics-and-paralympics/cortina-condom-shortage-athletes-were-given-10-000-free-condoms-at-the-olympics-they-disappeared/article_6136a95e-d991-4e4d-95c1-332585a3ed00.html https://youtube.com/shorts/3GF43uY2LkU?si=QOu31kbrpOkUo9W1 SHENANIGANS at the Olympics: https://www.startribune.com/feuding-curlers-slushy-ice-and-other-shocking-olympics-scandals/601583262 Trump hosts first “board of peace” meeting: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/19/trump-gets-his-board-of-peace-even-as-bigger-countries-steer-clear-00789617 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/azerbaijan-trump-board-peace-protestors RFK Jr. and Kid Rock collaborate on MAHA video with hot tub and milk: https://www.thedailybeast.com/rfk-jr-and-kid-rock-bizarrely-strip-off-to-push-maha-agenda/

  • #264
    February 9 · 55 min

    264: Skepticrat264 - Files To Go Before I Sleep Edition

    On this week's episode: Olympians will get private about their jump technique, two thirds of us will not appear in the Epstein files, and we're gonna make you wait way too long to learn which of us is the third. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Epstein document release: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/epstein-files-key-takeaways-trump-musk-rcna256713What do emails between Mandelson and Epstein say? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9vz8d0n85o 'I never left your side': Emails reveal more about Mandelson's Epstein friendship https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cevn33kgxgmo Mandelson offered to help Epstein get Russian visa, documents suggest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r4knee4gno ‘Penis injection’ claims in Winter Olympics ski jumping investigated by Wada https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/05/penis-injection-doping-claims-in-winter-olympics-ski-jumping-investigated-by-wada Did Trump shit himself on live television? https://uk.news.yahoo.com/no-credible-evidence-trump-pooped-002800721.html Farage unveils plan to cut price of pint by reinstating two-child benefit cap https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/03/farage-unveils-plan-cut-price-pint-reinstating-two-child-benefit-cap-26689701/ Braverman and Jenrick 'accidentally' vote for two child cap to be removed in blunder https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/braverman-jenrick-accidentally-vote-two-child-cap-5HjdRpJ_2/ Rupert Lowe’s sim-plistic approach to counting migrants https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/2014083705493483760 / https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sack-rupert-lowes-sim-plistic-approach-to-counting-migrants/ (https://archive.is/Ch84S) Ukip logo 'linked to Nazi symbol' thrown out by Electoral Commission https://www.thenational.scot/news/25799148.ukip-logo-linked-nazi-symbol-thrown-electoral-commission/Rep. Nancy Mace made aides upvote her in Reddit “who’s hotter” posts, former staff allege https://dailydot.com/nancy-mace-reddit-polls Police chief retires over Israeli fans ban row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77k670ez6yo

  • #263
    January 26 · 1 hr 2 min

    263: Skepticrat263 - Moral Kombat Edition

    On this week's episode: After crossing a red line, Trump goes yellow on Greenland ... A Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner bribes a demon kid so she won’t get wished into the cornfield ... And Republicans invite the world's leading expert on Donald Trump's crime to headline a big public hearing on Donald Trump's crime. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: mintmobile.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Trump at Davos: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/us/politics/trump-davos-speech-takeaways.html https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-davos-speech-greenland-stupid-moments.html Protest at Minnesota Church Service Adds to Tensions Over ICE Tactics: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/us/politics/minnesota-church-protest-ice.html White House Uses AI to Alter Protester’s Face So That She’s Sobbing: https://nz.news.yahoo.com/white-house-uses-ai-alter-211105749.html Guinea-Bissau halts RFK Jr. inspired Hep B vaccine trial: https://apnews.com/article/guinea-bissau-suspends-us-hepatitis-b-study-9d172d68afb36c62a85d1236f639ddcf Journalist Laura Jedeed applied for a job at ICE as a joke and got the job way too easily: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/ice-recruitment-minneapolis-shooting.html ICE agents slipping on ice in Minnesota and falling so hard: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/us/minneapolis-ice-protest-winter-weather.html ICE slipping on ice montage: https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qaljce/ice_agents_slipping_on_ice_a_montage/ Machado Presents Trump With Her Nobel Peace Prize Medal: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/world/americas/machado-trump-meeting-nobel-peace-prize.html Jack Smith testifies before congress: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/us/politics/takeaways-jack-smith-congress-testimony.html

  • #262
    January 12 · 56 min

    262: Skepticrat262 - Klanifest Destiny Edition

    On this week's episode: We’ll talk about the most dangerous ICE on the roads ... Elon Musk will show us what he really meant about making Twitter the everything app ... And the original 6-7 is a sex thing that came from Monica Geller on Friends. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: ICE agent Jonathan Ross executes Renee Good: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000010631041/minneapolis-ice-shooting-video.html https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/us/ice-shooting-minneapolis-renee-good-cell-phone-invs https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-minnesota-ice-shooting-video.html We took Venezuela: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/us/politics/trump-capture-maduro-venezuela.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/09/trump-machado-meet-peace-prize/ Elon Musk’s Grok Apologizes After Generating Sexual Image of Young Girls: https://www.newsweek.com/grok-apology-deepfake-images-sexualized-young-women-pornography-11297025 Elon Musk's Grok AI image editing limited to paid X users after deepfakes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99kn52nx9do Betty Boop and Blondie enter the public domain: https://apnews.com/article/public-domain-2026-betty-boop-40cb2f7a30ba9d7aec0bfc9191ab02c1 Trump says he's taking Greenland too: https://ground.news/article/us-weighs-paying-greenlanders-up-to-100-000-to-leave-denmark-reuters_076ad6 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/world/americas/trump-greenland-annex.html Ten found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78v6z7597yo Viral ‘6-7' tops 2025 list of overused words and phrases: https://apnews.com/article/2025-words-slang-phrases-list-university-67-59f896e28b7b16edfdfcc453a8af388a

  • #261
    Dec 15, 2025 · 49 min

    261: Skepticrat261 - Butter Emails Side Down Edition

    On this week's episode: Kash Patel calls shotgun ... We will be shocked to find out what a young Nigel Farage thought about jews and brown people ... And Eli's a narc about medical marijuana. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: Kash Patel is giant embarrassment who wouldn't leave his plane without an FBI jacket: https://nypost.com/2025/11/30/opinion/damning-report-labels-fbi-rudderless-ship-under-kash-patel-with-he-and-dan-bongino-more-concerned-with-building-personal-resumes/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrats-probe-fbi-director-kash-patel-fbi-gulfstream-jet/ https://people.com/fbi-director-kash-patel-directed-security-detail-to-drive-girlfriend-friend-home-report-11862942 Farage turns on broadcasters over racism allegations as number of claims hits 28: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/04/farage-turns-on-broadcasters-racism-allegations-bbc Indiana Lawmakers Reject Trump’s New Political Map: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/us/indiana-senate-redistricting-republicans.html Feds bring woman to US to face charges, then say she's here illegally: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/12/10/extradition-deportation-belarus-russia/ The Liz Truss Show review – hapless ravings from a cupboard: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/the-liz-truss-show-review-hapless-ravings-from-a-closet Beware the Liz Truss chatshow - viewers will require survivor therapy: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/06/welcome-to-the-liz-truss-chatshow-but-beware-viewers-may-end-up-in-survivors-therapy Review of Medical Cannabis Use Finds Little Evidence of Benefit: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/health/medical-cannabis-benefits.html

  • #260
    Nov 17, 2025 · 51 min

    260: Skepticrat260 - Bubba Trump Pimp Company Edition

    On this week's episode: The Epstein files completely ignore Trump’s golf score ... Donald Trump hides his declaration of war behind a lace fan ... And Andrew Cuomo just keeps losing elections to the same guy. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Another amazing word of the day from Susie Dent: https://bsky.app/profile/susiedent.com Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) groundnews.com/skepticrat betterhelp.com/skepticrat Headline Sources: New emails released from Epstein files: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/us/politics/epstein-emails-trump.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/business/media/epstein-trump-emails-conservative-media.html Trump summons Boebert in order to pressure against Epstein files release: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/us/politics/trump-epstein-vote-boebert.html Democrats cave on shutdown: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/held-democratic-voters-support-party-after-shutdown-ends/story?id=127542740 Trump would like to go to war with Venezuela, please: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-venezuela-sort-of-made-up-mind-after-top-officials-spent-3rd-day/ Big wins on Election Day: https://apnews.com/article/virginia-new-jersey-trump-election-democrat-republican-fad109893cfd4be5b49a5bb1b0138d8d Drinking is cool: https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/heavy-drinking-youth-career-success-b92scqwdh Russian robot faceplants in its debut: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/technology/ai-robot-russia-falls.html

  • #259
    Nov 3, 2025 · 30 min

    259: Skepticrat259 - Heath is Furloughed Edition

    On this week's episode: We’ll check in with American democracy quick while we still can ... Our trip to Europe matches up with a jewel heist as a COINCIDENCE ... And Elon Musk will continue to try to build a world where he’s right rather than admit he was wrong. Learn more about Vulgarity for Charity here: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ To support our show on Patreon, go here: https://www.patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: https://www.facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars

  • #258
    Oct 20, 2025 · 40 min

    258: Skepticrat258 - Young Republicans Chat the Bed Edition

    On this week's episode: RFK Jr. tries to give Tylenol credit for Eli's son's puzzle skills ... It turns out Hitler was just a young guy making offensive jokes ... And Dr. Phil is a sad pile of failure. To support our show on Patreon, go here: patreon.com/skepticrat To hear more from Evil Giraffes on Mars, go here: facebook.com/EvilGiraffesOnMars Another amazing word of the day from Susie Dent: https://bsky.app/profile/susiedent.com Get great deals while supporting the show by checking out our sponsors: quince.com/skepticrat groundnews.com/skepticrat betterhelp.com/skepticrat auraframes.com (code: SKEPTICRAT) Headline Sources: Young Republicans' group chat: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146 NYC mayoral race debate featuring Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/16/nyregion/nyc-mayor-debate-mamdani-cuomo-sliwa RFK Jr. v Tylenol continues: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/reupping-unproven-claims-about-tylenol-kennedy-claims-a-link-between-circumcision-and-autism DHS claims that Mexican cartels are offering bounties on ICE officers up to $50,000: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/16/mexico-sheinbaum-cartel-bounties-immigration-officials Bari Weiss is now editor-in-chief of CBS News: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/queer-anti-woke-journalist-bari-weiss-is-now-cbs-news-editor-in-chief-thats-troubling/ Everything going very badly for Dr. Phil: https://slate.com/business/2025/10/dr-phil-mcgraw-donald-trump-merit-media-maga.html https://www.nationalmemo.com/dr-phil-bankrupt

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