Standing Room Only

Stories about young men returning to religion are everywhere right now. But when we saw a recent Gallup poll showing that 42% of young men say religion is "very important" to them, we knew something felt off. In this podcast, Amanda breaks down why the so-called rise of religion among Gen Z men has less to do with faith and more to do with gender politics and the growing popularity of podcast bro culture. As Christianity becomes increasingly tied to masculinity and conservative identity, seemingly harmless religious language online often evolves into something far more extreme. Today's guest, Tia Levings, shares her firsthand experience inside tradwife and fundamentalist Christian culture and explains why this type of values-driven spirituality can quickly escalate into rhetoric centered on control, submission and limiting women's rights. Levings is the author of the NYT bestselling book "A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy." Her latest book, "I Belong to Me," is available now. Follow her on Substack: https://tialevings.substack.com.

The "male loneliness epidemic" has a scapegoat problem. In this episode, Amanda takes a closer look at the online media shaping young men, especially podcast culture and the values it pushes around women and politics. From toxic dating advice to bizarre narratives around self-pleasure, she breaks down how some influencers may be making loneliness worse, while promoting dehumanizing views of women. And it's not just online. Political figures like James Fishback are tapping into this audience in real life, which should caution us all.  Amanda's guest this week is Michael E. Hayden, author of "Strange People on the Hill." He has researched and written about the manosphere. Find his writing here: https://substack.com/@michaeledisonhayden

Fox News is suggesting that young women want to ditch their careers and submit to their husbands. The data says otherwise. In this episode, Amanda debunks a Fox News segment promoting the "tradwife" myth and explain what Gen Z women actually want. Spoiler: feminist progress isn't reversing. Today's guest, Kylie Cheung, staff reporter at "Abortion, Every Day," explains why access to birth control could be the right's next major target—and why that matters for all women. Read Kylie's writing here: https://substack.com/@kylietcheung

If you've seen even one video of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. working out shirtless in jeans, you've seen enough. But there are dozens more, featuring him and other men from the Trump administration grinding through pull-ups, push-ups and heavy lifts with a level of intensity that borders on absurd. In this video, Amanda breaks down why these fitness stunts have little to do with improving Americans' health or promoting real discipline. And it goes beyond cringe: RFK Jr. just announced he is launching a podcast with medical "experts," which raises serious concerns about misinformation and public health risks—again. Amanda's guest this week is Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Ph.D., a professor of history at The New School who has written extensively about the history of the American fitness industry.

When Vice President JD Vance was asked about aliens, he couldn't resist steering the conversation toward demons. This demon talk goes beyond his personal beliefs, it points to a broader strategy within MAGA to energize the Christian right. By leaning into dark, supernatural themes, right-wing influencers are trying to tap into curiosity about the diabolical as a way to draw in younger audiences (mostly with fear). In this episode, Amanda shows why this good vs. evil strategy is doomed to fail and discusses the right's obsession with the occult with this week is Taylor Leigh, an ex-evangelical and practicing Satanist. 

JD Vance's defense of the Iran war is raising serious questions about his political future. He is trying to project alpha male strength, but standing next to Donald Trump his image is cracking! For one, he's defending the same war he warned us all against. In this episode, Amanda breaks down why this moment could define Vance's long-term ambitions for the 2028 presidential race with guest Scott Lemieux, professor of political science at the University of Washington

As the U.S. military escalates tensions with Iran, the stakes on the world stage couldn't be higher. But back home, defense secretary Pete Hegseth is preoccupied with something else entirely: his image in the mirror. Reports that photographers were removed from the Pentagon for taking "unflattering" pics raise serious questions about his priorities. In this episode of Standing Room Only, Amanda break down how Pete's macho, ego-driven approach is backfiring in real time and explains the real consequences for the rest of us with guest Heather Digby Parton, contributing writer at Salon.

Turning Point USA wellness influencer Alex Clark regularly urges her female audience to get married young, quit their jobs and have lots of babies. There's just one problem: she's an unmarried, childless working woman herself. In this episode, Amand takes a closer look at Clark's podcast, Culture Apothecary, and her role headlining events for TPUSA. Behind the lifestyle advice and wellness aesthetic is a larger political project—one that mixes anti-science health claims, pro-natalist messaging and close ties to Republican politicians. This week's guest is Rebecca Watson of skepchick.org.

The feud between Candace Owens and Erika Kirk isn't just juicy online drama. Owens' viral "Bride of Charlie" series, which takes shots at the widow of Charlie Kirk's family and personal life, reveals a deeper problem inside the right-wing movement: why prominent conservative women so often turn on each other. In this episode, Amanda explains the Candace Owens vs. Erika Kirk controversy, what the "Bride of Charlie" videos are really about, and what this conflict says about MAGA media culture, conspiracy theory influencers and right-wing online politics. Brandy Zadrozny, senior reporter at MSNBC, is the guest. Follow Brandy on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:zha4tsu7otgnojc7uoxhjmkr

Having a big family isn't the same thing as having a happy or healthy one, but don't tell that to the MAGA dads shaping policy in the White House. For guys like Pete Hegseth and JD Vance, fatherhood often seems less about being present, supportive or loving, and more about how many kids they can claim as proof of traditional values. At a time when most families can barely afford to raise even one child, this obsession with big families feels tone-deaf at best and dangerous at worst. In this episode, Amanda talks about what's really behind the rhetoric: pro-natalism, Christian nationalism and the politics of control. Steve Kennedy of the People's Parity Project is the guest.

After rapper Nicki Minaj proclaimed she's Trump's "#1 fan" and Kid Rock headlined that sad TPUSA halftime show, it's worth asking: why do certain celebrities drift toward MAGA politics? Amanda breaks down the overlap between right-wing politics and celebrity culture, and why fading stars like Kid Rock and Nicki Minaj have become MAGA magnets. And the reputational fallout cannot be ignored. Artists are pulling out of Kid Rock's Rock the Country festival and Minaj's plans for fresh popularity are backfiring. This episode's guest is hip-hop commentator Jay Smooth.

For over 20 years, Tucker Carlson has persisted as one of the most influential conservative voices. He's a longtime culture-war provocateur, first on cable news and now on YouTube. But the real key to his success isn't longevity, it's his willingness to amplify the right's strangest and most extreme instincts. In this episode, Amanda breaks down why Tucker Carlson's conversations keep getting weirder and why liberals can't afford to ignore his growing political influence. Her guest is New Yorker writer Jason Zengerle, whose book "Hated By All the Right People" is all about Tucker.

Three women close to Donald Trump have recently announced their pregnancies. Is it a coincidence? Maybe. But it reflects something much bigger: MAGA's obsession with boosting birth rates, while doing little to actually support families and make raising kids easier. These three mothers, Karoline Leavitt, Katie Miller and Second Lady Usha Vance, are all cushioned by wealth, power and nannies, while everyday mothers are told to just deal. In this episode, Amanda unpacks the hypocrisy and shows why this is all a PR distraction strategy that is bound to fail with guest Andi Zeisler, senior writer at Salon. 

MAGA's infighting just got worse. We've got all the dirty details from the latest right-wing civil war at TPUSA's AmericaFest. And no, invading Venezuela is not going to mend fences inside the conservative movement. In this episode, Amanda breaks down why Erika Kirk, Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly and other major MAGA figures are openly at war, and why fringe influencers like Milo Yiannopoulos and Nick Fuentes still wield outsized influence over the direction of the Republican Party. The movement is fracturing in real time and panic is setting in across Trump world. The guest is SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah.

Fox News is once again trying to make its annual war on Christmas happen. Surprising? Of course not. Hilarious? Always. In this episode, Amanda and Melanie McFarland, award-winning senior culture critic at Salon, break down some of their most painfully corny holiday segments—packed with forced cheer, smarmy Christian proselytizing and a sudden pivot into full-blown rage bait. Follow Melanie on Bluesky: @McTelevision Learn more about Scott Shoemaker's War on Christmas: https://theatreoffjackson.org

JD and Usha Vance can't escape the divorce rumors and JD certainly isn't helping. Amanda unpacks the couple's catastrophic public relations strategy, JD's latest "jokes" that land as demeaning moments for his wife, and what all of it reveals about gender dynamics in conservative movements, MAGA gender politics and the role political spouses are expected to play within Christian, right-wing family values narratives. Moira Donegan, Guardian US columnist and co-host of the podcast In Bed with the Right, is the guest.

Allie Beth Stuckey, the far-right commentator and host of Relatable, is weaponizing her gender to sell the twisted idea that we need less empathy in the world—not more. In this video, Amanda explains why her philosophy is actually about power and control. The guest this episode is Tim Whitaker, founder of The New Evangelicals media, who recently debated Allie Beth on Jubilee about the Bible.

The Whatever Podcast—also known as "Dating Talk"—isn't just edgy entertainment for young men. It's a pipeline into misogyny. In this episode, we examine how host Brian Atlas stages confrontational "debates" with women to push anti-feminist narratives disguised as discussion. Progressive streamer Erin (Straighterade) joins to share what really happens on set, how conflict gets manufactured and what went down when she debated Charlie Kirk on the show. Together, we break down how red-pill media turns gender resentment into profit and why young men and parents should pay attention. Full story at Salon.com.

An on-stage hug between the vice president and Charlie Kirk's widow sparked wild rumors about their relationship. But the real story isn't an affair, instead it's an image problem for the GOP. JD Vance's marriage to Usha Vance increasingly clashes with the ideals he's selling, built on white supremacy and rigid gender roles. In this episode, Amanda explains why that's becoming a serious liability for the Republican Party and what it reveals about the hypocrisy of MAGA politics and toxic masculinity. The guest this episode is Soraya Chemaly, author of "All We Want Is Everything: How We Dismantle Male Supremacy Hardcover." She warns that Vance's embrace of male supremacy has reached a troubling level.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani beat incredible odds to win in New York City. His campaign rejected old guard, establishment Democrats and leaned heavily into volunteers and a clear vision. In this episode, Amanda talks about why it worked and show how Mamdani is one of many young people helping usher in a new generation of courageous Democratic leadership. The guest is Amanda Litman, president and co-founder of Run for Something, an organization that recruits and supports young leaders to run for office around the United States.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is going to great lengths to exploit the government shutdown in order to hide the Jeffrey Epstein files. Amanda explains why this move is all about silencing victims, defending alleged abusers, and worse of all, protecting President Donald Trump. Trump was already found to have sexually abused journalist E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room by a civil jury in New York. Carroll joins the show to talk about the aftermath of beating Trump in court, Epstein's victims and her book "Not My Type." A documentary film about Carroll, "Ask E. Jean" is currently playing around the country at film festivals: https://askejeanfilm.com/all-events

Pam Bondi's Senate Judiciary Committee appearance revealed just how far the attorney general will go to protect Donald Trump. Channeling the manipulative energy of Mean Girls movie villain Regina George, Bondi has turned cruelty, nasty insults and tantrums into a political strategy. Amanda explains why Trump can't quit this sneering mean girl, no matter how much other Republicans want her gone. This week's guest is Angie "Pumps" Sullivan from the I've Had It podcast. She shares why Bondi's incompetent cover-ups for Trump can only last so long.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has set herself apart from the GOP as an anti-Republican Republican, but her rebellion might finally be catching up to her. As she distances herself from Trump and GOP leadership, Amanda digs into the one big reason why her outsider strategy will actually get her nowhere in Washington. Laura Bassett, journalist and writer of Nightcap on Substack and former editor in chief of Jezebel, joins the show to talk about what Greene's political isolation says about women in right-wing politics and why her brand of anti-establishment will implode sooner than later.

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, is now the CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). But can she ever replace the role Charlie played in his "debates" with college students? In this video, Amanda digs into the myth of those debates and why Erika's record exposes a deep hypocrisy. Drew McCoy of Genetically Modified Skeptic joins the conversation to explain why Charlie Kirk's debate performances were mere theater and why actual human-to-human discourse is more meaningful than these political stunts.

Karoline Leavitt is known for wearing her bold, oversized cross necklaces to the White House press briefings, but what do they really say about faith in politics? Author and SiriusXM radio host John Fugelsang joins Amanda to talk about the hypocrisy behind Karoline Leavitt's statement jewelry. John's new book, "Separation of Church and Hate," is available now.

Some right-wing commentators are saying Taylor Swift's engagement to Travis Kelce means she's turning into a tradwife... wrong! Amanda breaks down why Taylor's love life isn't a conservative turn at all, why her relationship represents a fantasy for single women and how pundits are twisting this to support their anti-feminist talking points. Author Lyz Lenz also joins the conversation.

Katie Miller launched The Katie Miller Podcast to bring honest conversations to conservative moms. Turns out, it's all fluff talk with guests like Mike Tyson and JD Vance. Katie's husband Stephen Miller built his political career by throwing tantrums on cable news and her ex-bosses have included Elon Musk, Mike Pence and Donald Trump. This show may seem like a cute distraction, but the point of it is far deeper. Journalist Tess Owen joins the conversation this episode.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health and human services secretary, has twisted, harmful ideas about health. From restricting access to vaccines to restoring the often-humiliating presidential fitness test for kids, Amanda explains what's really driving RFK Jr. and the MAHA moms who support his every move. This week's guest is "How To Be Well" author and journalist Amy Larocca, who explains how the multibillion-dollar wellness industry has shaped thinking about health and bolstered the type of pseudoscience that MAHA moms and RFK Jr. cling to.

Donald Trump supporters won't stop calling the president "Daddy." In this episode, Amanda explains what's behind the obsession and where Melania comes in as "Mommy." Guest Lux Alptraum, author of "Faking It," helps unpack this strange fixation.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha seem very unhappy together in their public appearances. Usha looks miserable and talks about wanting to return to her career and home, while JD runs her down, uses her as a prop, and discusses marriage and parenthood like they're requirements that must be endured. Joining me this week to discuss the politics of divorce, the second family's interracial marriage and what Usha should do next is Scaachi Koul, a senior writer for Slate and author of "Sucker Punch."

Right-wing media personality Charlie Kirk is turning to religion to level up his racism. The Turning Point USA founder used to call himself "secular," but now he's a radical right-wing Christian arguing against the First Amendment and trying to reach young adults. Amanda's guest this week is Randall Balmer, Dartmouth historian and author of "America's Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State." He explains what Kirk gets wrong about America and religion. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom is a proven political brawler, willing to go toe-to-toe with President Trump, VP JD Vance and even the creepiest figures of the MAGA movement. His social media strategy and theatrics on camera are undeniably effective and Democrats should take notes. Amanda discusses with her guest this week, Salon senior writer Sophia Tesfaye.

Conservative pundits are mad about the new"Superman" movie. They've called the blockbuster "Superwoke" for emphasizing Superman's immigrant roots and complained about Gunn's directorial message of kindness and morality. Amanda explains what their anger really reveals about their deep anxieties around masculinity and race. Also, they completely miss the point of what Superman has stood for forever! This week's guest is Salon senior culture writer Coleman Spilde.

In celebration of Standing Room Only's 10th Episode, Amanda gives her take on your best comments, including your reactions to the Mar-A-Lago Face episode.

Pumped up lips, spray tans, hollowed out cheeks and false lashes are just some of the characteristics of the Mar-a-Lago face that Donald Trump adores in his women. In this episode of Standing Room Only, Amanda talks about why the look is so popular, what it stands for and how it relates to an emerging social media trend called feminine energy. Journalist Laura Bassett joins the booth to talk about some of the notable Mar-a-Lago faces, including Kristi Noem, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Lara Trump and more.

At the right-wing media company The Daily Wire, the ladies' auxiliary keeps outdoing the dudes. Brett Cooper, the 23-year-old host of "The Brett Cooper Show" who says it's cool to be Republican, broke away from the network and made her own show geared at Gen Z and became a Fox News contributor. In this episode, Amanda explains why Brett is an example of how Ben Shapiro, the Daily Wire's founding editor-in-chief, never really believed the "go woke, go broke" nonsense he shamelessly promotes. Turns out hiring women is popular and profitable... until they want control. Journalist Kat Tenbarge from SpitfireNews.com contributes to this episode with her experiences attending Brett's live stand-up show.

Will Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez run for president in 2028? She has not even hinted at that, but from listening to Donald Trump and his MAGA friends talk about her non-stop, they are certainly scared of facing her. In this episode, Amanda talks about what precisely bothers Republicans about AOC and what they actually like about her. She also explains why Trump cannot separate AOC from Zohran Mamdani, who recently defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic primary. Standing Room Only's guest this week is New York Times contributing opinion writer Elizabeth Spiers.

From trolling the media to gaslighting the public, it's no surprise Donald Trump chose 27-year-old Karoline Leavitt as his new press secretary. In this episode, Amanda unpacks Leavitt's combative style with reporters, including scolding the press and calling their questions "stupid." She also looks into her curious rise from White House intern to MAGA mouthpiece and examine why the tactics may backfire. There's also the lie that Leavitt is an empowering role model and her questionable style. Communications specialist Kate Bernyk is this episode's guest.

What's wrong with a kid wearing cat ears or roaring like a lion at playtime? Texas Republicans and Gov. Greg Abbott don't like it and they have a plan to ban dress-up and other "non-human behavior" in schools. In this episode of Standing Room Only, Amanda details how a logic-defying culture war about litter boxes turned into a real bill aimed at forbidding kids from playing pretend at school. For the Pass the Mic segment, Imara Jones, journalist and CEO of TransLash Media, provides more context on why it's happening and how to make it stop.

RFK Jr. and Dr. Casey Means are examples of the weird and growing crossover between health influencers and Christian right politics. Amanda breaks down why it's happening and the specific dangers of Means, an unlicensed functional medicine doctor who talks to trees, hates sunscreen and apparently is also an amateur poet? In this episode, Amanda reads Means' poetry and explains why RFK Jr.'s minions include the Christian right and anti-science MAHA moms. Journalist Lindsay Beyerstein, who writes about fringe health schemes, joins the Pass the Mic segment this week.

In this episode, I try the Hallow app. This Christian prayer app is trending in MAGA circles and as someone who is not religious, I wanted to understand what it's all about. But wow, it's weird. Here's what I found as I took courses on the app, such as "The Feminine Genius" and "Fasting Fridays," featuring actors Chris Pratt and Mark Wahlberg.