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The Skepticrat

The Skepticrat

By: Puzzle in a Thunderstorm LLC
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Covering politics from the far center

Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 265: Skepticrat265 - Hellebuyck Stops Here Edition
    Feb 23 2026

    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.

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    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/

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    50 mins
  • 264: Skepticrat264 - Files To Go Before I Sleep Edition
    Feb 9 2026

    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

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • 263: Skepticrat263 - Moral Kombat Edition
    Jan 26 2026

    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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
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