This week’s episode of The Spectacle Podcast contains a ringer, as author and conservative pundit Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) of Townhall.com sits in for The American Spectator publisher Melissa Mackenzie. Schlichter and TAS contributing editor Scott McKay cover a wide range of topics with a common theme.

Namely, that we’re beset with dangerous weirdos, and the normal folks are on defense.

That was in evidence with the awful mass shooting at a Christian school in Nashville, and it shows up in lots of other places as Kurt and Scott discuss.

But the episode also contains a treat – Schlichter discusses the latest installment of his terrific Kelly Turnbull novels, due out later this spring – and even actors who might eventually play the character when the book series finally makes it to the screen!