My first brush with the MAGA ‘manosphere’ and why it matters now
Honestly, I never thought I would be the type of person to tune into a "manosphere" podcast. I usually stick to Bollywood gossip, the latest news India feeds about cricket, and a bit of tech. But a few weeks back, a friend of mine, who works in a call centre in Delhi, kept talking about how everyone at the office was listening to a certain podcast that kept popping up in the viral news section of X. He said it was run by a woman named Candace Owens and that she was "blowing the roof off" the usual male‑only chatter.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked on the link. What I found was a whole world that, despite being called a "manosphere", now had a few strong female voices pushing their own agenda. It reminded me of how Indian WhatsApp groups sometimes get hijacked by a new meme or a political rant the conversation shifts, the participants change, and suddenly you have a whole new set of opinions vying for attention.
So, let me take you through what I discovered, why it matters for the US political scene, and how that connects to the broader trends that keep Indian readers glued to breaking news and trending news India feeds.
What exactly is the "manosphere"?
The term "manosphere" first popped up in the early 2010s on sites like Reddit and 4chan. It basically describes a loosely‑connected network of online communities, podcasts and influencers who obsess over masculinity, dating tactics, anti‑feminist ideas and, increasingly, right‑wing politics. In the US, it grew from tiny forums to massive YouTube channels, podcasts and even mainstream social platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
In most cases, the spaces you’d find under the "manosphere" umbrella range from "red‑pill" discussion boards to men’s rights activism, and from self‑improvement content aimed at men to outright misogynistic rants. Critics often label it as a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, and that’s not far off. Yet, the reality is more layered especially now that a few conservative women have started using the same megaphones.
Why the MAGA wing of the "manosphere" is splintering
Two big issues have been shaking the MAGA‑aligned corners of the "manosphere" lately: President Donald Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and the war in Iran. Both topics have become the subject of endless speculation, heated debates and, of course, a flood of viral news content.
On the Epstein front, many long‑time manosphere fans have been accusing Trump of either covering up or deliberately ignoring crucial evidence. The same goes for the Iran conflict some hard‑core supporters claim Israel is pulling Trump’s strings, while others think the President is being too aggressive.
This internal bickering has created a power vacuum. The usual male commentators Andrew Tate, Nick Fuentes, and the like have been at odds, and their audiences are getting restless. That’s exactly where the female influencers have stepped in.
Candace Owens From conspiracy‑fuelled investigations to a podcast empire
One name that keeps coming up in my research is Candace Owens. She’s a well‑known conservative commentator who, in the past year, launched a deep‑dive into the assassination of Charlie Kirk a claim that many mainstream outlets dismissed as a wild theory.
What’s interesting is how she turned that controversy into a massive audience boost. Her podcast now consistently pulls in millions of views per episode. According to Howard Polskin, a conservative media analyst, Owens' show has been the fastest‑growing right‑wing podcast for two consecutive quarters.
Polskin was quoted saying, "She’s thriving in a world where the truth is often irrelevant and outrage trumps logic." And honestly, when you see the comment sections on her episodes a mix of aGreement, heated rants and outright memes you get a sense of why her voice is resonating in a space that traditionally ignored women.
Megyn Kelly’s surprising rise in the MAGA conversation
Another surprising entrant is former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. While she started her career on a more centrist platform, her recent podcast has cracked the top 20 US shows list in 2025 and remains in the top 25 on Apple Podcasts as of the latest India updates.
Kelly’s show has gained traction largely because she’s not afraid to call out Trump over his approach to the war with Iran. In one episode, she asked a blunt question: "Can’t he just behave like a normal human?" This line went viral, prompting countless memes and even a few trending news India posts that highlighted her audacity.
Her criticism, combined with a steady stream of conservative guests, has helped her attract an audience that feels both disillusioned with the administration and hungry for a different kind of conservative narrative.
Bari Weiss and The Free Press Not strictly conservative, but still in the mix
Bari Weiss, the former New York Times columnist, launched a media startup called The Free Press. While she doesn’t label herself as a right‑wing commentator, her outlet’s growth is being measured alongside other right‑leaning news websites, according to Polskin.
The Free Press has positioned itself as a platform for “free speech” and “censorship‑free” journalism. This stance has attracted many readers who are skeptical of both mainstream left‑wing narratives and the more extreme corners of the "manosphere".
In the context of the ongoing US‑Iran tension and the Epstein file debates, Weiss’s platform provides a space where nuanced discussions can happen, albeit still tinged with the outrage that drives much of the viral news today.
How Trump reacted a classic “low IQ” jab
President Trump didn’t stay silent when these women started pulling in massive audiences. He fired off a series of attacks, calling both Owens and Kelly "low IQs" and "stupid people" a line that, believe it or not, became a trending hashtag on X.
When Todd later asked why Trump seemed indifferent, the President replied, "Nobody’s talking about them," while also slipping in a comment about Owens’ appearance. Owens responded with an 11‑word statement: "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home." The brevity of her reply added fuel to the fire, spawning countless reaction videos and being quoted in several breaking news India articles.
What this means for the future of the "manosphere" and Indian readers
From my perspective, the shift is more than just a gender swap. It signals that the online political arena especially one as volatile as the MAGA "manosphere" is evolving to include whoever can capture attention, regardless of gender.
For Indian readers, this is a reminder that even seemingly niche online groups can have ripple effects that touch global politics, and that the very same platforms we use for cricket scores and Bollywood gossip are also feeding into the latest US political dramas.
When I share these observations on my WhatsApp status, I often get replies asking, "Did you see that video of Candace Owens calling out the Epstein files?" or "What's the deal with Megyn Kelly and Iran?" It shows that the conversation has become part of the everyday chatter the kind of thing that makes a story go viral.
So, whether you’re scrolling through trending news India headlines or just catching up on your favorite podcast, remember that the "manosphere" is no longer a men‑only club. It’s a battleground of ideas, outrage, and yes, a surprising amount of female influence.
