From Epstein to the End Zone: A Week of American Whiplash

Miranda hosts solo while Meghan remains on maternity leave, joined by Mo Kelly and Kristen “Colonel Kurtz” Lacefield for a wide ranging conversation about power, trust, and the chaos cycle dominating the news. They break down the massive Epstein document release and what millions of pages actually tell us about elite accountability, public transparency, and why powerful people rarely face consequences. The discussion turns to outrage fatigue, conspiracy spirals, and whether constant information drops are making Americans informed or simply exhausted. Then the panel tackles the escalating situation in Minneapolis, ICE enforcement tactics, civil liberties concerns, and how immigration politics collide with public perception. They also dig into new polling showing economic anxiety shaping voter attitudes ahead of the midterms and why perception often matters more than the data. To close, the mood lightens with the coming Super Bowl culture clash, from Bad Bunny and Green Day to the rival conservative halftime event and why entertainment has become inseparable from politics. It is a conversation about power, media, and the modern American attention span. Many thanks to our advertiser, QUINCE! Use code "MCCAIN" to get free shipping and 365-day returns.  #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miranda hosts solo while Meghan is out on maternity leave, joined by Ben Ferguson and Christine Rosen for a wide-ranging and intense breakdown of one of the most chaotic political weeks yet. The panel dives into the fallout from violent incidents involving ICE and Border Patrol in Minnesota, the leadership scramble inside DHS, Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem pointing fingers, and why Republican trust in ICE just dropped eight points in two weeks. They debate whether this is a messaging failure, a tactics failure, or both, and what it means for the administration moving forward. The conversation then turns to rising political violence after Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed at a town hall and other recent attacks on public officials. The group discusses security failures, online radicalization, social media outrage culture, and why politicians across parties are becoming increasingly vulnerable targets. Finally, they shift to the looming Big Tech trial, where Meta and other platforms face lawsuits over alleged harm to children. Miranda, Ben, and Christine unpack what the case could mean for social media regulation, parental responsibility, algorithm design, and whether Silicon Valley can actually be held accountable. It’s a raw, unscripted conversation about institutional trust, digital addiction, political extremism, and the growing consequences of a hyper-online culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miranda had a kid emergency pop up literally 12 minutes before showtime, so Ryan Girdusky slid into the host chair at the last second while Meghan is still out on maternity leave. Because if you’re a parent, you already know how this goes. Ryan and political commentator Yemisi Egbewole dive into Usha Vance’s pregnancy and the White House baby boom, then break down the Nicki Minaj versus Don Lemon feud tied to the Minneapolis church protest and DOJ investigation. They also react to Michelle Obama’s appearance on ‘Call Her Daddy,’ debate whether Democrats can win with a woman at the top of the ticket in 2028, and dig into CBS’s internal shakeup, Gayle King’s reported salary scrutiny, and what it all says about the future of legacy TV news. Plus, Josh Shapiro’s new book revelations about Kamala Harris’ VP vetting process, Brooklyn Beckham’s viral family drama, and the unexpected Trump and Zohran Mamdani texting “bromance.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miranda Wilkins hosts ‘Citizen McCain’ while Meghan McCain stays in her maternity leave baby bliss bubble. Miranda is joined by Fox News contributor Mary Katharine Ham, with Guy Benson popping in to break down the escalating ICE flashpoint in Minneapolis, including the tragic death of Renee Good and the debate over enforcement tactics, sanctuary policies, and public safety. They dig into why Minneapolis feels like ground zero right now, how sanctuary rules change the way ICE operates, and why the temperature keeps rising when activists and officials escalate in public. Plus, what the latest polling says about trust in ICE, how Democrats and Republicans are handling the messaging, and why more Gen Z and millennials are identifying as independents, even if they are not disengaged. Many thanks to our advertiser, QUINCE! Use code "MCCAIN" to get free shipping and 365-day returns. https://www.quince.com/mccain #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan is out on maternity leave after welcoming baby Ransom, so Miranda is in the driver’s seat with Daily Mail White House reporter Nikki Schwab and lawyer-comedian Seena Ghaznavi. They break down the stunning U.S. arrest of Venezuela’s sitting president Nicolás Maduro, what the legal and geopolitical fallout could look like, and why the story is raising serious Iraq-era warning signs. The panel digs into the wild Polymarket angle, where massive anonymous bets were placed just before the raid, and what “insider trading for war” could mean if anyone actually enforces it. Plus, Nikki shares Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve details and why the political optics around Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance are suddenly shifting. The group also reacts to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s appearance on ‘The View’ and her unfulfilled Epstein-files promises. Finally, they discuss Finland’s media literacy model and why AI misinformation may become the defining parenting challenge of the next decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and welcome to the final episode of Citizen McCain for 2025. Meghan and Miranda close out the year with a chaotic, emotional, and very on-brand holiday spectacular as Meghan prepares to head out on maternity leave and Miranda gears up to keep the show rolling with guest hosts in the new year. Friends of the show Colonel Kurtz and Jessica Reed Krauss join for a deep dive into conservative media chaos, the fallout from Candace Owens' online crusade, Megyn Kelly's viral rant, and why some internet controversies feel huge online but barely register in the real world. The group also breaks down the Vanity Fair interview that set Washington buzzing, questionable political media judgment calls, and the difference between real accountability and click-driven outrage. The episode wraps with Bravo royalty Carlos King, who delivers a no-holds-barred reality TV breakdown. From 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' divorces and reunion power rankings to why 'Beverly Hills' is boring right now, Candy Burruss and Todd Tucker's heartbreaking split, and which Housewives are most likely getting the boot next season. The episode wraps up with a Festivus-style airing of grievances from the audience and the hosts, covering everything from bots, brand deals, and political nonsense to coconut water, Costco, and pregnancy photo shoots. Then the conversation turns serious with a thoughtful exchange about antisemitism, allyship, and what it actually means to show up for Jewish communities at home and abroad. It's funny, unfiltered, heartfelt, and very long. A perfect send-off to 2025, with gratitude for the audience, love for the team, and a promise that Citizen McCain is not going anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. We open this episode with Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song" and quickly shift into one of the darkest news cycles we've seen in a long time. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt joins us to discuss the horrific Hanukkah celebration attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, the surge in antisemitism, and what allies can actually do right now: check in, show up, and speak out. We also reflect on the shocking death of filmmaker Rob Reiner and the legacy of his work, from 'When Harry Met Sally' to 'The Princess Bride' and 'This Is Spinal Tap'. Then we break down the very online conservative media chaos surrounding Charlie Kirk's assassination, Candace Owens, and Erica Kirk's blunt message to stop exploiting grief for clicks. Plus, a tease of our Festivus-style year-end breakdown, upcoming Bravo deep dives, and why this episode is a reminder that even during the holidays, the news does not stop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas from Citizen McCain. Meghan and Miranda were supposed to have Congressman George Santos, but when he tapped out sick, friend of the show Ryan Girdusky swooped in to save the day. The three dive into Tyra Banks' unhinged Santa ice cream performance in Australia, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet's matching neon Chrome Hearts looks, Jen Shah's early prison release, and why "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" might be the best reality show on TV right now, with detours into "Sister Wives," "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," and who actually cashes in on long running shows. Then they pivot to airports and politics, roasting Sean Duffy's "pull ups at the gate" idea, griping about airport inflation and $27 ice cream, and breaking down Trump's Poconos rally comments about prices "coming down," Miami's surprising mayoral result, housing and crime, Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski rumors, and chatter about Kash Patel (potentially) getting fired, and RFK Jr's possible prenatal health push. Meghan also talks through her looming maternity leave, why nothing fits except giant turtlenecks, the latest Douchebag and Darling of the Week, and why the Diddy documentary is so dark they have to save the full review for Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan and Miranda are in full holiday mode with the decorations glowing and the cactus tinsel shining as they dive into a packed week of politics, pop culture, and online drama. Meghan opens up about the latest body shaming from Tucker Carlson's show and talks honestly about pregnancy, weight, and the pressure women face in the Ozempic era. The conversation is real, grounded, and deeply relatable. Political strategist Yemisi Egbewole joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion about Trump-world extremism, Tucker's sudden fascination with Qatar, the GOP's Nick Fuentes problem, and what all of this means for voters who do not want political chaos. They also break down the early buzz around Josh Shapiro, the Democrats' struggle with Black voters ahead of 2028, Clyburn's kingmaker influence, and whether Gavin Newsom's California brand can translate nationally. Then the fun starts. Meghan and Miranda get into Quentin Tarantino's attack on actors Paul Dano and Matthew Lillard (and his emotional response), and the very confusing 2026 Golden Globes nominations. They also talk about why television is outperforming movies right now, and tease their upcoming watch of 50 Cent's new Diddy documentary on Netflix, which they will review on the next episode. Many thanks to our sponsor! COZY EARTH: Use promo code MCCAIN for up to 40% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan and Miranda soldier on — decorations half-up, vibes fully chaotic — as they round out a wild week in politics and pop culture. They kick off with Quentin Tarantino’s very weird (and very personal?) attack on Paul Dano, run through Tarantino’s surprise Top Films of the 21st Century list, and then hit the hard stuff: the explosive Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz’s growing problems, and why both hosts think this could reshape 2026. Ben Ferguson jumps in to break down Tennessee’s special election, what the numbers really mean for the midterms, and how Nashville voters are signaling a shift. Then political commentator Mo Kelly joins for a raw conversation on rising “woke-right” extremism, Kash Patel’s messy leadership at the FBI, and why 2026 is too chaotic too predict, but impossible to ignore. Plus: movie bombs of 2025, the kids-movie takeover at the box office, what everyone’s watching this weekend, why cozy sheets matter (seriously), and Meghan + Miranda’s weekly *Douchebag & Darling* segment featuring Tim Walz truthers and unsolicited tree-shamers. It’s politics, pop culture, holiday chaos, and absolutely zero tolerance for conspiracy weirdos... just another week on Citizen McCain. Ben Ferguson jumps in to break down Tennessee’s special election, what the numbers really mean for the midterms, and how Nashville voters are signaling a shift. Then political commentator Mo Kelly joins for a raw conversation on rising “woke-right” extremism, Kash Patel’s messy leadership at the FBI, and why 2026 is too chaotic to predict — but impossible to ignore. Plus: movie bombs of 2025, the kids-movie takeover at the box office, what everyone’s watching this weekend, why cozy sheets matter (seriously), and Meghan + Miranda’s weekly Douchebag & Darling segment featuring Tim Walz truthers and unsolicited tree-shamers. It’s politics, pop culture, holiday chaos, and absolutely zero tolerance for conspiracy weirdos — just another week on Citizen McCain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices