The Skepticrat

Latest Episodes:

281: Sack-ariah Edition Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Eli learns we’re having one of them election thingies again this year, Republicans want to trigger some libs with an actual trigger, and we’ll get one step closer to the Kash Patel versus Heath Enwright drunken cage match we’ve all been waiting for.

Check out more from Cecil on Cognitive Dissonance and the Know Rogan Experience
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

Headlines:
Election update: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/midterm-elections-early-voting-tracker-battleground-states.html and https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/james-talarico-ohio-texas-senate-race.html and https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/paxton-dubai-fugitive-fraud-allegations-texas.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/politics/trump-hasan-fort-hood-execution-livestream.html
Trump Cancels Planned Execution Livestream of Nidal Hasan, Fort Hood Shooter - The New York Times
The Kelly Clarkson Store Saga Has Only One Guilty Party, and It Is Her
https://slate.com/life/2026/10/kelly-clarkson-art-of-play-brooklyn-store-bird.html
Trump trots out another stepford press secretary: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/katie-zacharia-white-house-first-briefing.html
Trump Says He Will Import Russian Diesel Fuel Amid High Prices - The New York Times
Opinion | Trump’s Democracy-for-Diesel Deal Shames Us All - The New York Times
Why Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal Is Unlikely to Lower Fuel Costs - The New York Times
After Russian Diesel Deal, Trump Faces New Crisis Over Ukraine - The New York Times
Report: FBI awarding UFC exclusive agreement to train agents
https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-fbi-awarding-ufc-exclusive-agreement-train-agents--flm-2026-10-10/

280: Skepticrat280 - Delulu Lemon Edition Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode: Trump handles being midterm like a sickly preemie ... We’ll apply for White House press credentials because why not ... And if we move the clock FOUR hours we can REALLY ramp up the daylight saving.

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 and links:

Candidates of the day:
https://www.sherrodbrown.com/
https://angienixon.com/

Trump's insane interview with Time: https://time.com/article/2026/10/01/donald-trump-2026-interview-transcript/

Eli explains how the Daily Wire is trying to cancel our GAM episode: https://youtu.be/4nZYgLcQR5U

Man builds AI torture chamber after discovering artificial intelligence ‘feels pain’: https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/man-builds-ai-torture-chamber-103106113.html

Trump boots White House reporters, takes out tax-payer funded ads about how he’s actually pretty great: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/business/trump-white-house-ban-cnn-politico-ms-now.ht https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/us/politics/trump-ads.html

Attempted gotcha on Jack Smith goes SO BADLY for GOP senator: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6124359-schmitt-perjury-claim-debunked/
https://www.ms.now/news/eric-schmitt-jack-smith-texts-grassley-judiciary

Elon Musk And Shivon Zilis Have Broken Up, She Says: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/10/02/elon-musk-and-shivon-zilis-have-broken-up-she-says/

Trump shares Tom Cotton’s personal cell number in effort to solve DST in the dumb way: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/03/trump-tom-cotton-cell-phone-daylight-savings-01105998

279: Skepticrat279 - Empty Your Ka$h Edition Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode: The Iran war is somehow going less awesome than we were hoping ... We’ll admit that a pile of demolished rubble is a fitting memorial to Trump ... And we learn about the time Ka$h Patel wanted to fistfight a Twitter bot.

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:

Iran situation gets somehow worse for Trump; gas is out of fucking control: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/17/diesel-gas-prices-oil-us-economy.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/09/trump-oil-gas-prices-midterm-elections.html
Also, new cat discovered: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/science/tilcayo-new-cat-species-bolivia.html

Photos Spur Speculation About Possible Demolition of Kennedy Center: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/politics/trump-kennedy-center-photos.html

The House is heading home ahead of the midterms even earlier than planned: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/16/mike-johnson-cancels-house-vote-hegseth

ICE warns about fake Tradwives looking to dox agents: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/fbi-ice-tradwife-doxing

English village votes to leave the UK over migrant housing plan: https://apnews.com/article/uk-village-piddington-independence-vote-migrants-camp-72d568813051c91e4e6590970abedcd9

Ka$h Patel Told FBI To Reply to Epstein Troll Account:
https://www.newsweek.com/kash-patel-troll-account-fbi-said-no-12430600
Ka$h tries to defend his work during insane Senate hearing:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/us/politics/patel-fbi-agents-election.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/09/kash-patel-senate-hearing-bestiality/688658/

278: Skepticrat278 - NESS Edition Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode: Trump limits mail in voting to whites-only envelopes ... We learn how to join the FBI just by drawing the turtle on the matchbox ... And bad video game design flips Noah to a solid Democrat.

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 administration asks SCOTUS to allow anti-democracy mail voting scheme: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-mail-ballots.html
https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-clear-the-way-for-new-mail-in-voting-rule-to-be-imple/

FBI lowers hiring standards for applicants who solicited sex workers, stole, or engaged in bestiality: https://people.com/fbi-lowers-hiring-standards-for-applicants-who-solicited-sex-workers-report-12072726

Pentagon secretly hires right wing influencers to sell their wars: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/30/pentagon-secretly-installs-military-influencers-civilian-roles/

Pete Hegseth is an idiot who needs to be fired: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/03/politics/pete-hegseth-problem-trump
https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/08/driscoll-hegseth-military-resignation/688479/

The Lion King composer ordered to pay comedian after $27m lawsuit over podcast joke backfires: https://thetab.com/2026/09/02/the-lion-king-composer-ordered-to-pay-comedian-after-27m-lawsuit-over-podcast-joke-backfires

Trump administration debuts low res video games that promote their agenda: https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-video-game-arcade-d540ff089ed5b1d432715a4209b16a23

277: Skepticrat277 - Lego My Legos Edition Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

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: Skepticrat276 - Casting Fauch Edition Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

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: Skepticrat275 - 2026 A Race Odyssey Edition Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

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: Skepticrat274 - Trump Card Edition Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

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: Skepticrat273 - Alga Rhythm & Blues Edition Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

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: Skepticrat272 - SpaceX Machina Edition Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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/