DMZ America with Ted Rall & Scott Stantis

Episode 236| April 9, 2026: Life During Wartime

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:00:00 -0400

Join editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to discuss the impact of the Middle East War on the United States, cartooning, and Scott’s views of Israel.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 234| March 26, 2026: Scott, Ted, & Mr. Fish Break Down the End Times

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:00:00 -0400

Join editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) as they hang out with cartoonist Mr. Fish to discuss the state of the world from the Iran War to the collapsing economy to ecocide to everything else you can think of that’s going seriously wrong during the End Times.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 233| March 19, 2026: Scott Has Questions for John Kiriakou

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0400

Join editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) for a collision of podcast worlds! Ted’s Deprogram co-host and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou joins DMZ for a special cross-pollination episode in which Scott gets to ask John about the future of the republic, the Middle East War and anything else that happens to cross his mind.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 232| March 12, 2026: What next in Iran?

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The U.S. and Israel dominate the air, but it’s the water that matters to the global economy, and Iran is putting on the hurt in the Strait of Hormuz, where tankers are being bombed and 20% of the world’s oil supply is trapped. Join Ted and Scott for an in-depth discussion about the U.S./Israeli War against Iran and what comes next.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 231| March 09, 2026: Exiled Iranian Editorial Cartoonist Nik Kowsar

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:00:00 -0400

Nikahang Kowsar, known as Nik Kowsar, is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian cartoonist, journalist, and water issues analyst born in Tehran, Iran, in 1969. He studied geology at the University of Tehran before launching his cartooning career in 1991 with the satirical magazine Gol-Agha. He contributed to numerous Iranian newspapers like Hamshahri and others, often facing censorship and prosecution for his sharp political satire. In 2000, he was imprisoned for a cartoon depicting a crocodile that critics linked to a hardline cleric, sparking death threats and forcing his exile in 2003. He fled to Canada, later settling in Washington, D.C. Kowsar received the Cartoonists Rights Network International Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning in 2001. Today, he focuses on Iran's severe water crisis through journalism, a weekly video show Abangan, websites like AbanganIran.org, BBC Persian contributions, and TV analysis, while serving on CRNI's board.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 230| February 26, 2026: Will Trump Cancel the Elections?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:00:00 -0500

Donald Trump certainly has good reasons to cancel the elections. Will he? Can he? The Washington Post reports that he is considering declaring a national emergency to justify federalizing the midterms—which is unconstitutional—on the grounds that China stole the 2020 election on behalf of Joe Biden.

DMZ America co-hosts and colleagues Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right), who predicted the January 6th Capitol Riot and have been following Trump’s flirtations with American fascism all along, discuss why, how and whether the president may choose to end America’s 250-year experiment with representative democracy later this year.

Joining Ted and Scott to discuss is Charles Lipson. Charles is a political scientist and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where he held the Peter B. Ritzma Professorship and co-founded the Program on International Politics, Economics, and Security. He earned his undergraduate degrees in political science and economics from Yale and his Ph.D. from Harvard. Since joining Chicago in 1977, his work has focused on international relations, cooperation and conflict, and the political economy of global trade, debt, and investment. He is also a prolific columnist for outlets like RealClearPolitics and The Spectator, commenting on U.S. foreign policy and American politics.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 229| February 19, 2026: Cartoonist Mike Luckovich Joins Ted and Scott

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0500

Two-time Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, joins DMZ America co-hosts and colleagues Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to discuss cartoons, journalism and the news of the week:

Economic challenges like inflation, affordability, jobs, and the deficit remain the dominant public concern, contributing to Trump’s approval rating dipping to around 36% as Americans feel his policies have failed to deliver relief. Immigration continues as a flashpoint, with aggressive enforcement, mass deportations, and reduced illegal crossings achieving some goals but drawing criticism over humanitarian issues, overreach, and mixed support amid ongoing DHS funding battles and the partial government shutdown. As the 2026 midterms approach, Republicans defend narrow majorities amid deepening polarization, with key battles over government funding, foreign policy isolationism straining alliances, voter integrity legislation like the SAVE Act.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 228: Cartoonist Steve Kelley on the State of the Nation

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Conservative syndicated editorial cartoonist and comic strip creator Steve Kelley, formerly of the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, joins DMZ America co-hosts and colleagues Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to break down the current state of the Trump Administration in its second year.

A partial government shutdown looms, Trump's approval ratings on immigration--a good issue for the president usually--are tanking and the nation increasingly looks and feels a lot like the chaotic late 1960s. MAGA world appears to be coming apart at the seams, yet Democrats seem unable to seize the moment. What IS the real State of the Nation?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 227: Mr. Fish Draws the End Times

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:00:00 -0500

Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) dive deep with renowned political cartoonist Mr. Fish (Dwayne Booth). This sharp, subversive artist skewers power with bold, provocative illustrations that appear in Harper's Magazine, ScheerPost, and beyond. Known for his raw takes on politics, war, and society, Mr. Fish faces intense scrutiny over cartoons critiquing the Israel-Hamas conflict and U.S. policy. Critics blast some work as employing anti-Semitic tropes and leading to condemnation from University of Pennsylvania leadership. This firestorm culminates in his firing from lecturing at UPenn amid broader debates on free speech, academic freedom, and censorship in higher ed. Mr. Fish pushes back hard, framing it as part of a McCarthyist crackdown on dissent against genocide, apartheid, and fascism. Expect fireworks as these three editorial powerhouses clash and connect over cartooning's role in cutting through BS.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 226: ICE: Trump’s Stormtroopers

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast dives headfirst into one of the most explosive issues rocking the nation right now: the transformation of ICE from a border security agency into a violent, unaccountable domestic force under the current Trump administration. ICE touts itself as DHS's top law enforcement arm, fighting transnational threats while protecting communities, legal immigration, trade, travel, and financial systems. But in practice, the administration ramps up agent numbers aggressively, deploys recruitment tactics that echo white nationalist themes—like using lyrics from "We'll Have Our Home Again" in ads—and slashes training about de-escalation and rules of engagement.

A bombshell 233-page court order from Judge Sara L. Ellis in Chicago exposes widespread duplicity, lies, and abuse of power by ICE and DHS officials. She slams agents for using force that "shocks the conscience"—pepper-balling clergy, tear-gassing kids and pregnant women, tackling protesters without justification—finding no legitimate government interest in many actions.

Top officials push narratives of “absolute immunity,” with Stephen Miller and JD Vance assuring agents they're untouchable, even as former ICE leaders like Deborah Fleischaker call it dangerous overreach that emboldens aggression and erodes public safety. As ICE becomes the biggest military force on Earth, against which Americans will they turn when they run out of illegals to deport?

You and me.

Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) break it down—no holds barred, cutting through the spin with sharp analysis and dueling perspectives that make you think hard about power, accountability, and where this all leads.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 225: Scott Adams 1957-2026

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Tune in to the DMZ America Podcast as hosts Ted Rall from the left and Scott Stantis provide a rare behind-the-scenes remembrance of “Dilbert” cartoonist Scott Adams, who took comics syndication and critiques of office culture to dazzling heights before shifting Right, being canceled, and succumbing to cancer this week.

Ted Rall, a top executive at United Media when “Dilbert” was at its peak, got to know Scott well as his editor and supervisor. He also crossed paths with him when Scott’s TV show was on air and Ted had a show in development at the same network that was intended to air following “Dilbert.”

Scott and Ted consider Scott Adams’ place in the cultural firmament, the future of comics, and the political and racial controversies at the end of his life. Don’t miss this exclusive broadcast!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 224: Rob Rogers, Ex-Cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0500

Tune in to the DMZ America Podcast as hosts Ted Rall from the left and Scott Stantis check in with former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette political cartoonist Rob Rogers. Fired for criticizing Trump in his work, Rogers worked for decades at the Post-Gazette, the highest-profile newspaper top shut down in the journalism bloodbath. Ted and Scott bring you the exclusive dish.

The three will also discuss Trump’s shocking moves to overthrow the president of Venezuela as well as his threats against Colombia, Iran, Cuba and other countries.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 223: 2026—The Year Ahead

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) preview the year ahead in politics and culture.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 222: Cartoonist Mark Fiore on Trump

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

Tune in to the DMZ America Podcast as hosts Ted Rall from the left and Scott Stantis check in with groundbreaking animated political cartoonist Mark Fiore.

Mark Fiore, born 1970, is an acclaimed American political cartoonist specializing in Flash-animated editorials. Shaped by California upbringing and Idaho wilderness, he majored in political science at Colorado College, graduating in 1991 amid Dick Cheney's speech.Starting in print for The Washington Post and LA Times, Fiore joined San Jose Mercury News before pioneering online animation in the late 1990s. His cartoons appear on SFGate.com, NPR, Mother Jones, and KQED.Hailed as "the undisputed guru" by The Wall Street Journal, he won the 2010 Pulitzer—the first for non-print work—plus a 2016 Herblock Prize, 2004 RFK Award, and multiple Online Journalism honors. From San Francisco, Fiore satirizes politics via markfiore.com.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 221: Handicapping Midterms 2026

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are joined by Alice Giordano to handicap next year's midterm elections.

Alice Giordano is a reporter for Newsmax Magazine. She's a former political and news correspondent for The Epoch Times, The Boston Globe, and Associated Press and currently writes a monthly political column for The Boston Broadside and has been a contributor to The Federalist and American Thinker.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 219: Interview with Pat Bagley

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis chat with and showcase the work of liberal editorial cartoonist Pat Bagley of the Salt Lake City Tribune, who decided to leave the United States in part because of the presidency of Donald Trump.

Pat Bagley, born in 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah, is an award-winning editorial cartoonist renowned for his sharp wit and incisive commentary. Since 1979, he has been the staff cartoonist for The Salt Lake Tribune, where his bold, often provocative illustrations tackle politics, religion, and social issues with a distinctive liberal slant. A Mormon by upbringing, Bagley frequently critiques the intersection of faith and conservatism, earning both praise and controversy in his conservative home state.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time, and Newsweek. Bagley has authored over 20 books, including children's titles like I Spy a Nephite and satirical collections such as Clueless George Goes to War. He has won the Herblock Prize (2009), multiple National Headliner Awards, and recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Bagley remains a pivotal voice in American political cartooning.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 218: Interview with Cartoonist Chip Bok

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:00:00 -0500

Hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis chat with and showcase the work of conservative editorial cartoonist Chip Bok.

Chip Bok draws editorial cartoons for Creators Syndicate, syndicating his work to over 150 newspapers worldwide. A Copley News Service alum since 1985, he crafts biting commentary on politics, society, and pop culture from his Akron Beacon Journal perch. Bok's style blends sharp wit with intricate detail, earning him accolades like the 2017 Clifford K. & James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning. He authored The Book of Bok: The Illustrated Guide to the American Presidency and exhibits globally. Beyond ink, Bok lectures on visual journalism and mentors young artists, pushing boundaries in a digital age. His cartoons fearlessly skewer both sides, blending humor with hard truths to spark debate.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 217: “Interview with Matt Wuerker”

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Tune in to the “DMZ America Podcast” as nationally-syndicated editorial cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis interview Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Matt Wuerker of “The Politico.” They’ll discuss their own cartoons about the news and issues of the week, as well as those of their peers. Don’t be surprised if the state of the media and cartooning come up as well.

Matt Wuerker, born in 1956, is renowned for his incisive, visually rich commentary on the absurdities of power. A graduate of Lewis & Clark College with a BA in 1979, he honed his craft as chief editorial cartoonist for the student newspaper, The Pioneer Log, blending satire with masterful draftsmanship inspired by Saul Steinberg and 19th-century masters like A.B. Frost.

Since 2006, Wuerker has been Politico's founding staff cartoonist, his watercolors, cross-hatching, and animated works appearing on front pages and gracing outlets like The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Nation. A 2009 and 2010 Pulitzer finalist, he clinched the prize in 2012 for cartoons that "persuade rather than rant," alongside the 2010 Herblock Award for courageous editorial art. Based in D.C. near the National Zoo, Wuerker delights in the "political circus," wielding humor to illuminate truth with minimal supervision.

Transcript

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 216: “What Next for Gaza and Israel?”

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Tune in to the “DMZ America Podcast” as nationally-syndicated editorial cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis handicap the first phase of President Trump's Gaza Peace Plan, kicking off a possible end to the brutal two-year Israel-Hamas war. Israeli forces pull back from ravaged zones, and now Hamas is expected to release all 20 living hostages—plus remains of the deceased—within 24 hours in exchange for 250 Palestinian life inmates and 1,700 Palestinian hostages.

Ted and Scott will also show and discuss their latest cartoons about the conflict, as well as those by some of their colleagues.

Daily aid trucks are rolling in, easing famine's grip after 45,000+ Palestinian deaths and proving that Israel had been keeping out food and water. Both Israelis and Palestinians are celebrating.

But shadows loom: Will next phases—demilitarizing Hamas, deploying international stabilizers, and rebuilding the Strip—actually occur?

Who will rule Gaza after Hamas abolished all domestic opposition? Ted predicts a Hamas rebrand, as in Ireland after the Troubles. Will Netanyahu’s government survive? Genocide accusations from rights groups will be amplified as mass graves and other evidence of Israeli war crimes surface; can Israel’s reputation in the US rebound? Polls show young Americans souring fast, splitting the Jewish vote and pressuring Biden-era holdovers.

Ted and Scott have vehemently disagreed about the war for two years, while managing to remain respectful throughout. Now it’s time to consider what comes next.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 215: "Democracy in Distress"

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (left-leaning firebrand) and Scott Stantis (right-wing straight shooter) ask why over half of Americans say democracy is on the ropes, unpack Zohran Mamdani's jaw-dropping poll surge in the NYC mayor's race, probe if social democratic vibes—like beefed-up welfare and worker protections—can actually work in the USA's cutthroat system. Plus, they dissect the bizarre Dallas ICE HQ shooting where the official story just doesn't add up, and break down chaos at Area 51 with shots popping off amid wild conspiracy buzz. Serious stakes, real talk, and that signature left-right sparring keeps it electric.

• Democracy in Distress: A Quinnipiac poll reveals 53% of Americans believe U.S. democracy isn't working, up sharply from earlier surveys, with 74% of Democrats echoing the gloom versus just 22% of Republicans. Amid rising political violence fears—71% call it a "very serious problem"—top voter worry is preserving democracy at 32%. Controversies swirl over partisan rifts and recent events like the Charlie Kirk assassination fueling national pessimism.

• Mamdani's Poll Surge: Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani leads NYC mayoral polls by 20 points over Andrew Cuomo in a Suffolk University survey, with 45% support in Quinnipiac's four-way race. His edge stems from affordability (21% voter priority) and crime concerns, but critics slam his anti-Israel stance, NYPD critiques, and bold plans like free buses and rent freezes as too radical for the city.

• Social Democracy's U.S. Fit?: Experts debate if Nordic-style policies—universal healthcare, paid leave, active labor markets—can thrive in America's polarized landscape. Proponents argue flexicurity boosts work and equity; skeptics cite racial divides, weak unions, and GOP resistance as barriers. Recent pushes like Medicare for All highlight feasibility but face extremism and funding hurdles in a capitalist powerhouse.

• Dallas ICE Shooting Spin: A sniper fired on Dallas ICE HQ from a rooftop, killing two detainees and critically wounding one in a van; the gunman, Joshua Jahn, died by suicide, supposedly leaving "ANTI-ICE" ammo casings. DHS calls it targeted hate, but narrative gaps—like indiscriminate shots and Jahn's sparse politics—spark skepticism.

• Area 51 Shots Fired: Guards at Nevada's secretive Area 51 base fired on a gunman blasting the gate in a brazen breach attempt, echoing 2019's viral "raid" memes. No injuries reported, but the incident reignites UFO conspiracies and security debates over the site's classified ops, from drone tests to alien lore, in a year of escalating U.S. mass shootings.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 214: "Kamala Knew"

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:00:00 -0400

It’s time for the DMZ America Podcast, where Left-leaning cartoonist Ted Rall and Right-wing firebrand Scott Stantis tackle the political firestorm that won’t go away no matter how much Democrats would like it to!

The main event: Kamala Harris admits she knew about President Biden’s dementia, a revelation that’s shaking Washington to its core. This bombshell raises serious questions about transparency, leadership, and who’s really been calling the shots in the White House. Should Harris be punished for her complicity in hiding Biden’s condition? Why did it take so long for the truth to surface in a “democracy”? The controversy is sparking heated debates about trust in government and accountability at the highest levels. Ted and Scott dive into the facts, unpacking the timeline, the fallout, and what this means for the 2028 election.

Plus:

• Trump’s bold plan to deploy troops in Chicago to curb violence—genius move or overreach?

• Is America’s global dominance fading fast in a multipolar world?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 213: "Invasion: Chicago"

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Join Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis and his colleague Ted Rall on the DMZ America podcast to discuss Donald Trump’s plan to invade the Windy City with thousands of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement goons to Chicago, as part of his “law and order” push to go after crime and deport working-class immigrants to Third World war zones where they could be killed.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker despises the invasion, citing the Posse Comitatus Act limiting federal military action on U.S. soil. Critics fear this is a political stunt to intimidate Democrat-run cities, with comparisons to “martial law.” Republicans, however, point to Chicago’s high crime rates—over 600 homicides in 2024. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) goons will target “sanctuary city” policies, sparking protests from Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign promise of “retribution” is in full swing, kicked off by a FBI raid on John Bolton’s home and office, probing alleged leaks of classified info. Trump’s team is targeting a long list of critics, with over 100 individuals and entities in the crosshairs, including former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey, and New York AG Letitia James. Trump’s DOJ, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, is digging into figures like Barack Obama for 2016 election meddling, while Ed Martin’s “Weaponization Working Group” is naming and shaming foes like Senator Chuck Schumer. Could more raids be in the works, against Trump haters like Liz Cheney, Anthony Fauci, and Mark Milley?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 212: "Read All About It! In the ‘California Post'"

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400

It’s a rare topic for the DMZ America Podcast, where editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) discuss something the world of print journalism doesn’t see often anymore: the launch of a new daily print newspaper.

Right-wing Australian company NewsCorp is launching the California Post, a brash new daily tabloid, in Los Angeles in early 2026! This isn’t just a newspaper—it’s a Murdoch empire move, modeled after the New York Post with its in-your-face headlines, celebrity gossip, and conservative-leaning lens. NewsCorp’s $10.1 billion media giant is banking on California’s 7.3 million Post readers to embrace this print and digital venture, led by editor Nick Papps.

But critics slam its right-wing bias, fearing it will inflame California’s already polarized media scene. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times is bleeding millions and slashing staff—reeking of death—leaving a gap NewsCorp aims to fill with “common-sense” journalism.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 211: "Foodless in Gaza"

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Israel's War in Gaza is the focus of this to episode of the "DMZ America" podcast with political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right). There have been some major developments in the war over the last week:

• French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this September, becoming the first G7 nation to do so.

• The Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists’ union said that its reporters in Gaza are starving to death due to Israel’s aid blockade, with some, like photographer Bashar, too weak to work. AFP, alongside BBC, AP, and Reuters, issued a statement noting that Gaza’s journalists face dire hunger.

• Doctors in Gaza, such as those at Nasser Hospital and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, are fainting from hunger while treating malnourished patients, with the UN reporting a massive spike in severe malnutrition cases in children under five. Images of skeletal Gazan children are going viral.

• France’s foreign ministry stated that the famine in Gaza is Israel's fault, joining the UK and Germany in demanding an immediate end to the “humanitarian catastrophe.”

• Over 100 aid organizations, including MSF and Oxfam, reported that their staff, including doctors and aid workers, are “wasting away” due to starvation, with 900,000 children facing hunger.

• Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled.

• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called its bombing of an iconic Catholic church a “mistake.”

Scott and Ted are best friends who pride themselves on finding common ground despite the fact that they're on opposite sides of the political divide. But agreement has been elusive on Gaza. Scott is an ardent supporter of Israel whereas Ted is a harsh critic of what he calls genocide.
Get ready for a thoughtful yet passionate argument about the crisis in the Middle East.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 210: "‘Biden’ Was President. Who Was Running America?”

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Time for another episode of the “DMZ America Podcast,” where editorial cartoonist buddies Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) go where mainstream media fears to tread in the story that proves that, for four years, a pen wasn’t just a pen!

President Biden used an auto-pen to sign documents—not just when he was away from Washington, but even when be was at the White House. Why? Was he unable to do his job? Was he even aware of the important documents signed under his name? Who was really running the country?

Did his team hide cognitive decline? Former Biden deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini took the Fifth Amendment before the House Oversight Committee, joining other aides like Anthony Bernal and Biden’s doctor in refusing to talk about Biden’s mental state or auto-pen use, intensifying claims of a cover-up. Plus the White House Counsel’s Office has launched a full investigation, pulling over 27,000 documents from the National Archives to examine whether Biden’s aides used the auto-pen to sign documents without his full knowledge. Ted and Scott give you the facts, from the legal implications to the political fallout, as this scandal shakes up D.C.

Tune in for a clash of perspectives from two sharp minds who don’t pull punches!

Plus:

RussiaGate drags on with new twists in the ongoing investigation.

Colbert’s firing shocks late-night TV. Was this censorship or just about money?

Public Broadcasting faces massive cuts, threatening local stations and emergency alerts.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 209: "Ambiguous Grief: Steve Benson Dead at 71"

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Steve Benson, former cartoonist for the Arizona Republic, a fierce critic of the Mormon Church despite his family’s prominence within it, and a notable creator of controversial cartoons during the 1990s and 2000s, has passed away. Born in 1954, Benson began his career at the Arizona Republic in 1980, where he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1993. His work sparked debate, reflecting his acidic stance on political and social issues, including his public critiques of the Mormon Church, which led to personal shunning and professional tensions. On the “DMZ America Podcast,” fellow political cartoonists Scott Stantis and Ted Rall discuss Benson’s life as they knew their colleague, both professionally and personally.

For Scott, who was deeply wronged by Benson, this news carries a complexity that those left behind are rarely permitted to acknowledge, let alone discuss publicly. On DMZ, we explore that strange feeling when someone who passes leaves behind a mixed legacy.

Tune in for a thoughtful, intelligent discussion about humanity and death.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

DMZ America Podcast Ep 208: “The History of Third Parties”

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Hey Elon! You’re going to need this history lesson. On the “DMZ America Podcast, Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) consider the prospects for Elon Musk’s “America Party” and the wild ride of third parties in U.S. politics! On Saturday, Musk, the billionaire disruptor, announced the launch of his “America Party” after blasting Trump’s $3.3 trillion spending bill as “criminal.” Promising fiscal restraint and liberty, his party has MAGA World furious, with critics like Steve Bannon seriously annoyed. Third parties, like Perot’s Reform Party, Greens, Prohibition Party and Eugene Debs’ Socialist Party often shake things up but tend to crash against America’s winner-takes-all electoral college system. Can Musk’s cash and clout change the game, or will it fracture the Right? Does this flaky dude have the followthrough necessary to see this project through? Ted and Scott dive into the facts, the beef, and the history without pulling punches. This ain’t your average political chat—expect straight-up analysis off why third parties have an uphill battle under our system!

Plus:

Texas floods devastate communities, with relief efforts lagging amid chaos. And there’s little to reason to think it won’t happen again.

The Trumpies’ embrace of cruelty, especially against trans soldiers and migrants, sparks debate: can America heal from this?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 207: "Zohran Mamdani's Shocking Win in NYC"

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0400

In a stunning upset, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani clinched the Democratic primary for New York City’s mayoral race, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a centrist heavyweight backed by billionaire donors. Mamdani’s victory, declared on June 24, 2025, after Cuomo conceded, marks a seismic shift in the city’s politics, fueled by a progressive surge and ranked-choice voting. His grassroots campaign, emphasizing rent freezes, free public transit, and affordability, resonated with young and marginalized voters, drawing endorsements from figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Despite Cuomo’s early lead and establishment support, including from Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg, Mamdani’s momentum—bolstered by over $7 million from 16,000+ donors—overturned expectations.

The race was volatile, with incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, indicted on corruption charges, opting to run as an independent after exiting the Democratic primary. Adams’ unpopularity and the dismissal of his charges in April reshaped the contest, setting up a potential four-way general election in November against Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent Jim Walden. Mamdani’s lead in the primary, where over 1 million voted, signals a generational revolt against the Democratic old guard. His platform, rooted in social justice and affordability, could redefine New York’s future, though his progressive stance may polarize voters in the general election. This upset underscores the city’s appetite for change amid rising costs and political disillusionment.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 206: "U.S. War Against Iran?"

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Get ready for an explosive episode of the “DMZ America Podcast,” where Left-leaning editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and Right-wing cartoonist Scott Stantis tackle the hottest geopolitical mess of the moment: Should Donald Trump throw the U.S. into Israel’s unprovoked air war against Iran? The past 24 hours have been wild—Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear sites, Iran retaliated with missiles that struck an Israeli hospital, and Trump’s White House announced that the president will decide within two weeks whether to join the war against Iran with 30,000 megabombs. With global powers like Russia and China both sides to de-escalate and Congress pushing to limit Trump’s war powers, insiders like DNI Tusli Gabbard warn that World War III could happen any moment. Ted and Scott break down the situation, slicing through the noise with their no-holds-barred takes and deep dives into historical precedent. Expect a raw, unfiltered clash of perspectives as two friends with very different views of Israel grapple with Trump’s next move and what it means for America and the world. Tune in for a convo that’s as intense as the headlines!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 205: “Will Dems Pay for BidenGate?”

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0400

Time for the “DMZ America Podcast,” where best friends from opposite politics come together. Left-wing firebrand Ted Rall and right-wing sharp-shooter Scott Stantis dive headfirst into the wild revelations about Joe Biden’s mental acuity and physical state, as exposed in Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s explosive book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.” Joined by political scientist Charles Lipson, the trio unpacks the alleged cover-up that hid Biden’s condition from voters, donors, and even insiders, fueling a political scandal that’s rocking the nation.

This no-BS discussion cuts through the spin, exposing the raw truth behind a deception that tanked Biden’s campaign and reshaped America’s trust in its leaders. With Lipson’s expert insight, Rall’s progressive grit, and Stantis’ conservative edge, expect a fierce, bipartisan takedown of a constitutional crisis that’s got everyone talking. The “DMZ America Podcast” is your go-to for unfiltered takes on news, politics, and culture, recorded weekly by two cartoonists who don’t mess around. Don’t miss this electrifying episode—it’s a must-listen for anyone who cares about truth in politics!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 204: “BidenGate: We Told You So”

Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

It's time for a payback episode of the "DMZ America Podcast"! Hosts Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) dive into the jaw-dropping revelations of Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

The book confirms what Ted and Scott have been shouting from the rooftops for years: Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline started as early as 2015, after Beau’s death, with telltale signs like forgetting aides’ names, losing focus, and even blanking on George Clooney at a 2024 fundraiser. Despite being mocked and slammed as “conspiracy nuts,” Ted and Scott stuck to their guns, and now Tapper’s exposé backs them up, detailing a calculated cover-up by Biden’s family and aides to hide his condition from voters, donors, and even Cabinet members.

This deception propped up Biden’s doomed reelection campaign, crashing in a debate disaster that paved the way for Trump’s comeback. Critics now blast Tapper for cashing in on a story some say he soft-pedaled before the election, while Biden’s team calls the claims overblown, insisting he led effectively. Ted and Scott unpack the facts, the vindication, and the fallout for America’s political trust. This ain’t just a podcast—it’s a no-BS reckoning of a scandal that’s got the nation buzzing. Tune in for a raw, bipartisan take that cuts through the spin!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 203: "SCOTUS to Decide Birthright Citizenship”

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:00:00 -0400

This week’s DMZ America podcast delivers a compelling deep dive into the Supreme Court’s high-stakes oral arguments on national stays, separation of powers, and the 14th Amendment. Hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis, joined by legal expert Ricardo Aparicio, unpack a case that could reshape the core of American governance. The Court is grappling with the controversial use of nationwide injunctions that halt federal policies, the boundaries of authority between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and the 14th Amendment’s role in safeguarding rights in today’s polarized climate.

These arguments strike at the heart of how power is balanced and how laws are enforced across the nation. With the potential to set precedents that will echo for decades, the outcome could redefine judicial reach and constitutional interpretation. What’s at stake for democracy when the justices weigh these monumental issues? How will their rulings impact the fabric of American law? Tune in for an incisive, serious discussion that cuts through the complexity, offering sharp insights into a defining moment for the nation’s highest court.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 202: “50 Years Post-Saigon”

Thu, 01 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Join Ted Rall and Scott Stantis as they dive into the enduring lessons of the Vietnam War, marking 50 years since the fall of Saigon. This episode unpacks America’s failure to learn from defeat, exploring the universal value of self-determination, the pitfalls of military hegemony, and the staggering costs of war—$1 trillion in today’s dollars, millions of lives lost, and a legacy of PTSD and neglected infrastructure. From the haunting parallels in Iraq and Afghanistan to the historical ramifications of colonial powers like the Netherlands and France, who turned defeat into domestic renewal, Rall and Stantis challenge us to rethink America’s global role. Tune in for a raw, thought-provoking left-vs-right dialogue on how the U.S. can finally accept defeat and invest in its own future.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 201: "The Death of Cartooning"

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Get ready for an intimate episode of “DMZ America” with political cartooning giants Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Ted Rall, a fearless left-leaning cartoonist and author, has wielded his pen to challenge authority, sparking both praise and controversy. Scott Stantis, a razor-sharp conservative cartoonist, has drawn for The Chicago Tribune and created Prickly City, captivating audiences for decades. With a combined 90 years of experience, they offer a rare glimpse into the heart of political satire.

This episode dives deep as Rall and Stantis confess their exhaustion with politics, even with the endless material provided by the daily firehose from Trump. They share raw, unfiltered insights on the perilous state of editorial cartooning, threatened not just by authoritarianism but by shrinking newsrooms and AI’s rise. Expect lively banter, clashing perspectives, and their trademark humor as they wrestle with the question: can cartooning survive in today’s world? From their creative struggles to their enduring passion, this is an insider’s look at two masters navigating a fading art form.
Don’t miss this thrilling, candid conversation that’s equal parts frustration and inspiration. Will these legends rediscover their spark, or is political cartooning on its last legs?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 200: Is the 21st Century Economy Crushing Your Soul?

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The DMZ America Podcast dives in! Buckle up for a MIND-BLOWING episode of DMZ America with political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis as they rip into the chaotic 21st-century economy! The securities markets are in a tailspin over tariffs, and it’s exposing a brutal truth: the way we pay our bills is BROKEN. Is the classic “work for pay” model dead in the water? This episode tackles the question head-on, dissecting how globalization, automation, and gig jobs have left workers scrambling.

But it gets DARKER. A 2023 Gallup poll reveals 38% of Americans feel “mostly negative” about their financial future, while a 2024 CDC study reports depression rates spiking to 20% among adults. Rall and Stantis dig into the gut-punch reality of economic turmoil fueling widespread ennui. Are sky-high costs and stagnant wages sucking the life out of us? A 2022 Pew Research study ties financial stress to mental health declines, suggesting the link is REAL—and it’s brutal.

Why are we so damn UNHAPPY? This episode isn’t just talk—it’s a wake-up call. From Wall Street’s tariff tantrums to the quiet despair in our daily grind, DMZ America lays bare the forces shredding our economic and emotional fabric. Can we fix this mess, or are we doomed to dystopia? Tune in for a raw, no-BS breakdown that’ll leave you questioning everything about how we live and work today. Don’t miss this economic EXPOSÉ—it’s the convo you NEED to hear NOW!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 199: “Is It Time To Leave the USA?”

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0400

Hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis dive into a heated question: Is the United States veering toward fascism under Donald Trump’s influence? They analyze recent political trends—Trump’s tightening grip on power, weakened democratic institutions, and polarizing rhetoric—debating whether these signal an authoritarian shift. The conversation then takes a dramatic turn: If fascism is emerging, is it time to leave the U.S.? To ground the discussion, they highlight high-profile Americans who have already fled, linking their departures to Trump’s impact.

Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley, a fascism expert, is leaving the U.S. for the University of Toronto in fall 2025, citing America’s authoritarian slide under Trump. Author of "How Fascism Works," he points to threats like Columbia University’s compliance with Trump’s demands as evidence. Stanley, who compares the U.S. to pre-WWII Germany, wants to protect his family and continue his work from Canada, sparking talk of a U.S. intellectual exodus.

Former Gawker publisher Nick Denton also left, settling in Budapest and citing the U.S.’s authoritarian leanings as his motivation. Adding to the list, filmmaker Michael Moore relocated to Ireland, publicly stating that Trump’s policies and cultural influence made staying untenable. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s ex-partner, musician Grimes, departed for New Zealand, expressing unease with America’s political trajectory under Trump’s shadow. Even conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, despite his ideological differences, moved his family to Israel, hinting at discomfort with domestic unrest tied to Trump’s polarizing return.

With their dynamic interplay of perspectives, Rall and Stantis probe whether these notable exits reflect a broader crisis, challenging listeners to consider: Should I stay or should I go?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 198: “The Boy/Man Problem: Too Much Empathy?”

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the DMZ America podcast, hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis dive into "the boy/man problem," spotlighting the cultural, economic, and educational challenges facing boys and men.

We kick off with Elon Musk’s "Joe Rogan" claim that empathy is "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization," a "bug" exploited to foster "civilizational suicidal empathy." Is society’s focus on empathy sidelining male struggles?

Rall and Stantis note the stark educational gap, with the female-to-male college ratio nearing 60:40, and the closing gender pay gap—driven not by women’s gains but by men’s stagnating or declining wages. We tie this to Kamala Harris’s 2024 election loss; she failed to address men grappling with economic stagnation and cultural marginalization, a misstep that cost her against Donald Trump’s hyper-masculine appeal. Rall, from the left, and Stantis, from the right, discuss root causes—systemic neglect versus cultural shifts. Let’s unpack why boys and men are falling behind.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 197: “Trump’s Iron Fist: ICE Nabs Khalil, Tourist”

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0400

In this important episode of the DMZ America Podcast, hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis dive into the escalating fears of authoritarianism under Trump, spotlighting the chilling ICE arrests of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Palestinian activist, and a German tourist along with his American girlfriend. Khalil, a Columbia grad targeted for his pro-Palestinian advocacy, and the tourist couple, caught in a murky immigration sweep, highlight a disturbing trend: even legal status offers no shield. Rall, the fiery leftist, argues this signals a deliberate erosion of rights, while Stantis, the libertarian conservative, questions the government’s overreach. They wrestle with the core issue—if a green card isn’t enough, does citizenship truly protect anyone? With sharp debate and dark humor, the duo unpacks the implications for liberty, immigration, and America’s democratic facade in an increasingly authoritarian climate.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 196: Dem Dum Dems

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the DMZ America Podcast, hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis dive into the Democrats' alarming ineffectiveness and inability to push back against President Trump, a weakness laid bare by Congressional Democrats’ limp reaction to his commanding speech before a joint session of Congress.

Rall, a passionate progressive cartoonist, and Stantis, a razor-sharp conservative illustrator, bring their ideological clash to the table, dissecting the party’s half-hearted gestures—symbolic votes, vague statements, and little else—that crumble under Trump’s relentless drive.

The duo debates whether Democrats need to escalate their efforts to reclaim relevance. Rall demands a fiercer approach: nationwide protests, targeted filibusters, and a cohesive message to rally their base. Stantis, skeptical of their spine, questions if they’ve got the stomach for such a fight or if they’re too fractured to unite. Is this just a fleeting stumble after a bruising election, or a chilling omen of the party’s decline into irrelevance? With wit and grit, Rall and Stantis explore whether the Democrats can adapt and rise—or if this signals a deeper, existential crisis foreshadowing political doom in an era dominated by Trump’s unyielding force.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 195: Dems Finally Admit Biden Was Senile

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500

We've been telling you the truth for years. But we were denounced and insulted and ridiculed.

Now that Biden is out, Democrats who repeatedly dismissed claims of his dementia are shifting their stance, prompted by mounting evidence and political fallout. CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson’s upcoming book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” set for release on May 20, exposes a alleged "cover-up" of Biden’s "serious decline," based on over 200 interviews with insiders. The book highlights how Biden’s team concealed his diminishing faculties, a narrative Democrats now grapple with post-2024 election loss.

Top figures like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, once silent or defensive, are implicated as likely aware of the truth, per sources like the Wall Street Journal. Even Barack Obama is suggested to have suspected Biden’s condition, yet the party maintained a united front. Tapper, previously downplaying concerns, now frames Biden’s re-election bid as "narcissistic" and "reckless," signaling a broader Democratic reckoning as they distance themselves from the cover-up narrative they once rejected. This shift reflects both self-preservation and acknowledgment of a deception that cost them politically.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 194: Is This 1933?

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Hitler was elected democratically and consolidated his dictatorship after seizing power. Donald Trump just won a fair election. Is he plotting to subvert American democracy?

There are signs that suggest “yes.”

Presidents may only serve two terms, yet Trump repeatedly suggests that he ought to run and win a third term. A “Third Term Project” was announced at CPAC. This past week, Trump called himself “The King” and quoted the French Emperor Napoleon, who argued, “He who saves his country does not violate any law.”

More materially, Trump fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and two other top military officers. He will be replaced with a MAGA loyalist. History shows that the military is key to a successful coup d’état or revolution. And Trump has a strong reason to want to stay in office: if and when he steps down, he again becomes vulnerable to criminal charges.

Is it 1933 in Germany? Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) talking about the prospects for democracy under Trump on today’s DMZ America Podcast.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 193: Democrats Say Resistance Is Futile

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 22:00:00 -0500

House Leader Jeffries sounds like a Vichy Democrat who has given up. “What leverage do we have?” he asked reporters at his weekly news conference on Friday. “They control the House, the Senate and the presidency. It’s their government.”

Yet Republicans had a very different attitude when they found themselves in the same position Democrats are in now. They threatened to shut down the federal government and sometimes did so. They extracted concessions in order to raise the debt ceiling. They blocked judicial and other nominations.

What parliamentary and other tools could Democrats deploy to block or slow down Trump and his initiatives? Do they want to use them? If not, why not?

That’s what editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are talking about on today’s DMZ America Podcast.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Show Ep 192: Trump Trashes Checks and Balances

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 20:00:00 -0500

Is this the end of the American experiment? Donald Trump, Elon Musk and his administration are flouting the Constitution and making a mockery of the checks and balances that have kept U.S. democracy going over nearly a quarter millennium. Congress has signaled that it does not plan to rein in the president so it’s mostly up to the Supreme Court. With governing norms demolished, will we still be able to say this is a nation of laws?

Editorial cartoonists and best friends Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) draw on history to forecast what appears to be a rapidly growing constitutional crisis.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 191: Political Potpourri

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500

It’s Trump’s second week as president and he’s a busy boy. He’s expanding Guantánamo Concentration Camp to accommodate as many as 36,000 migrants in perpetuity, working on ways to get a third term, firing the inspectors general and running roughshod over the hapless Democrats who still seem to think they shouldn’t change a thing.

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) could talk about all that and more. And maybe they will. But this is a Political Potpourri episode in which they’re going to roll open mic style: whatever comes to mind is what will come up.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 190: So It Begins…Trump 2.0

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) break down Donald Trump’s first week as president. From pardons to executive orders to cabinet appointments to the inauguration to domestic and foreign policy legislation, what does what we’ve seen so far augur for the next four years of the Trumpian restoration?

On the DMZ America podcast, political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) let you know how they see things without indulging in the usual fussing and fighting.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 189: Darrin Bell Arrested for Child Porn

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) react to the arrest of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist and comic-strip artist Darrin Bell for possessing and distributing child pornography.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 188: Ann Telnaes Quits Washington Post

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Free speech is in the news! Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) discuss the high-profile departure of their colleague, Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist Ann Telnaes, from The Washington Post. Meta and Facebook are getting rid of their fact checkers. And TikTok is begging the Supreme Court for its life.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 187: Interview with Cartoonist David Fitzsimmons

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast’s Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) are joined by David Fitzsimmons, Cartoonist and Columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, to discuss David’s role as a Democratic activist and the future of the Democratic Party following Biden’s dropping out of the race and the defeat of Kamala Harris.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 186: Happy Festivus!

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast’s Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) celebrate the December 23rd holiday of Festivus with the traditional Airing of Grievances. As “Seinfeld”’s Frank Costanza said it in the show’s Festivus episode: "I got a lotta problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it!"

Scott and Ted are deeply, deeply disappointed by many people and things, and now you’re going to hear about it.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 185: Political Potpourri

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0500

As the Biden era yields to the second rise of Trumpism, the transition to What Happens Next is continuing with a sense of purpose as well as foreboding. Editorial cartoonist Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) analyze the mood of the country, handicap Kamala Harris' next moves and try to figure out where the Democrats go from here. Joe Biden, perhaps not strangely, has vanished from the political scene entirely. Meanwhile, victorious Republicans appear to have little standing in their way to impose their radical MAGA agenda on just about every major policy question you can think of.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 184: It’s Vigilante Time!

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast’s Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) discuss a pair of stories that reflect a disturbing trend: as the government turns more lawless and fails to enforce the law, Americans are taking the law into their own hands—and voters seem to approve.

A Manhattan jury acquitted Daniel Penny, the subway rider who strangled a mentally-ill homeless man, Jordan Neely, using a choke hold that the NYPD is banned from using in the line of duty. And Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to death in New York has become a folk hero to patients angry at the way they’re treated by health insurance companies.

If the system fails, is it acceptable to roll “Death Wish” style? Ted and Scott debate the social and political ramifications.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 183: The Censorship War Against Political Cartoonists

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast’s Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) are joined by Terry Anderson of the Cartoonist Rights Network International to discuss the state of political cartooning in the United States and around the world during a time of political transition and the ongoing seismic disruption in the print media ecosystem that supported the profession throughout the previous century.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 182: United Healthcare CEO Killed: Vigilantism or Justifiable Homicide?

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast’s Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) dig into the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Does the misery intrinsic to the profit model of companies like United Healthcare justify violent acts like this in a society where there is little recourse for justice? Or is taking the law into your own hands always inherently wrong? And is there any chance that corporate America might start to rethink its rapacious business practices?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 181: Special Guest Clarence Page—Democrats Take Stock, Hunter Biden Pardoned

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:00:00 -0500

The DMZ America Podcast’s Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) are joined by syndicated columnist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune to discuss the despondent state of the Democratic Party in the wake of their defeat. Progressives like Bernie Sanders say the party erred in neglecting the working class, moderates think the party appears too “woke” for mainstream Americans and it’s hard to reconcile Biden and the Democrats’ criticism of Donald Trump as dishonest with his decision to pardon Hunter Biden despite numerous categorical denials that he would do so. Where does the Democratic Party go from here? Is “resistance” possible and, if so, what will it look like?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 180: Trump’s Concentration Camps

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0500

Trump recently reconfirmed that he plans to carry out his campaign pledge to enforce mass deportations of many of the 10 million migrants with varying statuses who have entered the United States in recent years. Some overstayed their tourist visas. Some snuck across the border, the so-called “got-aways.” But the majority arrived legally and were admitted as asylum applicants—a status the new Administration plans to revoke. At the helm of this massive undertaking will be former ICE chief Tom Homan, a hardliner who promises no mercy in his plans, including the separation of children from their parents by force of arms.

ICE will probably take lead on detentions, but the military may be involved in the construction and administration of Trump’s gulag archipelago of concentration camps. Profiting, as always, will be the prison-industrial complex.

On the DMZ America podcast, Scott and Ted explore the legal and logistical challenges for Trump. History suggests that not enough Americans will care to make a difference. The co-hosts and friends also consider whether or not there will be substantial political implications: will Americans care enough about these new arrivals to protest and sabotage the program? Scott focuses on the economics. Decreased consumption, reduced tax collections and increased labor shortages could stymie the economy and add trillions to the deficit.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 179: The Ukraine War: Why It Began, How It Ends

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

During the campaign, President-Elect Donald Trump promised to bring a rapid conclusion to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that began in 2022. But most Americans aren't aware of how or why the war began in the first place. Now the waters are getting further muddied by a decision of President Biden, a lame duck with just two months left in his term, to allow Ukraine to fire long-range American missiles deep into Russia itself.

The DMZ America podcast’s Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) review the relationship between Russia, Ukraine in the United States, how the current conflict began either in 2014 or 2022 depending on your point of view, and how it is likely to end. Can Trump make good on his promise?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 177: Interview with Ben Sargent

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0500

As President-Elect Donald Trump fills out his cabinet and key White House positions, including creating a new government-efficiency office for Elon Musk, the DMZ America podcast’s Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are joined by their colleague, fellow political cartoonist Ben Sargent, formerly of the Austin American-Statesman and now at the Texas Observer.

Republicans are urging a peaceful easy feeling between Americans whether or not they voted for Trump, but is that possible with an ideologically far-right slate of top personnel? On the other hand, many in MAGA world seem disappointed that Trump’s appointees include long-time Washington “swamp creatures.” Whatever happened to draining the swamp?

If personnel is policy, what do these choices harken about Trump’s intended policies for his second term?

Ben Sargent is the Texas Observer's longtime cartoonist. He launched his career drawing editorial cartoons for the Austin American-Statesman in 1974. Sargent won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1982. He has also received awards from Women in Communications, Inc., Common Cause of Texas, and Cox Newspapers. He is the author of Texas Statehouse Blues and Big Brother Blues.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 178: Are Trump’s Cabinet Picks the Worst Ever?

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0500

President-Elect Donald Trump has made headlines with an extraordinarily esoteric group of appointments to his cabinet and other top jobs in his incoming second administration. Controversial alleged sex criminal Matt Gaetz has been named Attorney General, the nations chief law-enforcement officer. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., widely if somewhat unfairly described as a skeptic of vaccinations, has been nominated to run the Department of Health and Human Services. The Defense Department will be run by a 44-year-old Fox weekend host, Pete Hegseth. Tulsi Gabbard will be Director of National Intelligence.

The DMZ America podcast’s Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) consider this cast of characters and handicap the odds of being able to get them through a standard Senate confirmation process. Always aware of history, Ted and Scott also ask the question: who are the worst Cabinet members in U.S. history and are Trump’s choices likely to join their ranks?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 176: Can the Democrats Be Fixed?

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0500

The Democratic Party finds itself in nearly as much disarray as the GOP did following Barry Goldwater’s 1964 defeat to LBJ. DMZ America co-hosts Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) turn to American political scientist Charles Lipson to dissect what went wrong for the Democrats in the election and to discuss their prospects for renewal. Can Democrats follow the Republican example and rebuild their grassroots organization from the ground up at the local level? Can they free themselves of their addiction to corporate money in order to increase their populist appeal? Or should the party add domestic policy to a foreign policy that has already moved to the Right of the Republicans, completing a realignment that reverses much of what transpired between 1928 and 1932?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 175: Interview with Animated Political Cartoonist Mark Fiore

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0500

DMZ America co-hosts Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) turn to their colleague, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Mark Fiore, known for his hard-hitting animated shorts about U.S. politics, to discuss the fallout of the 2024 election results and to prepare for another four years of satirizing Donald Trump. In what ways can we expect Trump’s second term to differ from his first, and does that mean approaching and criticizing him using a new or different approach? Should we expect the unexpected, and if so what?

The Wall Street Journal has called Mark Fiore “the undisputed guru of the [animated political cartoon] form.” His work has appeared on the San Francisco Chronicle’s website, Newsweek.com, Slate.com, CBSNews.com, MotherJones.com, NPR’s web site and is currently being featured by KQED. Fiore’s political animation has appeared on CNN, Frontline, Bill Moyers Journal, Salon.com and cable and broadcast outlets across the globe. Mark Fiore was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for political cartooning in 2010 and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in 2004.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 174: Before Trump, There Was Grover Cleveland

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0500

DMZ America co-hosts Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) look back at the only other president in history who returned to the White House after having served and then been defeated: Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th Presidents the United States who served 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.

Cleveland was a Democrat renowned for honesty and probity, but otherwise there are some remarkable parallels between Cleveland and Donald Trump. Both were portly, had healthy libidos and a predilection for age-inappropriate wives, were skeptical of military imperialism and favored pro-business policies that prompted a reaction by labor. Listen to these two history buff’s take on a 19th century leader we’ll all be hearing more about in the years to come.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 173: Trump Reelected!

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

DMZ America co-hosts Ted Rall (from the Left) and Manila Chan (from the Right) analyze Donald Trump’s shocking reelection victory and the Republican sweep of Congress. What should we expect from a second Trump term: A federal ban on abortion rights? Mass deportations? Tariffs on Chinese imports? An end to the war in Ukraine? Gaza?

The Democratic blame game has already begun. Corporate DNC Democrats say Harris couldn’t have done anything differently, but that can’t possibly be true. Were working class voters turned off by glitzy campaign events showcasing Hollywood celebrities at a time when they were struggling with high prices and stagnant wages? Was progressive turnout depressed by Harris’ refusal to throw them a bone, especially on the genocide in Gaza? Did Democrats overreach with lawfare and an endless barrage of attacks against Trump rather than state an affirmative policy case for Kamala?

Or is it just a very conservative country?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 172: Interview with Cartoonist David Horsey on Campaign 2024

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

It may feel surreal, but tens of millions of Americans have already voted and the wild 2024 presidential campaign comes to an end in days. The DMZ America podcast, which began at the beginning of the Biden Administration, reviews how we've arrived at this unexpected contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist David Horsey, formerly of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, joins DMZ co-hosts and cartoonist pals Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to analyze the closing minutes of the race and make their predictions.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 171: Why Americans Distrust the Media

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Two major newspapers owned by billionaires with business interests tied to the government, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, prompted reader anger when they nullified their intention to endorse Kamala shortly before the election. More than 250,000 people canceled their Post subscriptions.

The non-endorsement scandals are the latest manifestation of Americans' longstanding distrust of the news media upon which democracy depends in order to function.

In the 1970s, when the media went after Nixon, Watergate and the Vietnam War, 70% of people told Gallup they trusted the media. Now, just 31% express a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly."

Why so much distrust? What are the different reasons people with different politics cite for their feelings?

What and how can media organizations and reporters do to restore trust?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 170: Canadian Cartoonist Michael deAdder on Our Crazy Election

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400

With one week left before Election Day 2024, editorial cartoonists with opposing politics and a great friendship, Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) ask: why is Kamala Harris dead-even in the polls, and seemingly losing ground, against a maniac like Donald Trump? How did we get here? What did Biden, Harris and the Democrats do wrong and what could they have done better? And, if she wins, will they learn any lessons from the votes they left on the table through their own unforced errors?

Joining Ted and Scott is award-winning political cartoonist Michael deAdder, a Canadian artist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post and many other American publications. What is the view of the American race as seen by our northern neighbor? What would be the likely reaction to each potential outcome?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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DMZ America Podcast Ep 169: Kamala Flagging as Trump Gains

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) discuss news, politics, current events and culture without the screaming or the shouting...because they're best friends. Less than two weeks before Election Day, polls and a general sense of zeitgeist has many political commentators feeling that the tide is running away from Kamala Harris and toward Donald Trump in a razor-tight election campaign. Is it too late for Harris to solve her big problems: voters who don't feel that they know her well enough to trust her with the launch codes, and her failure to articulate an enticing policy agenda they can easily understand? Political cartoonists and best friends Ted Rall (recovering Democrat, now Left) and Scott Stantis (recovering Republican, now Libertarian) walk you through the lay of this strange new land.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 168 | October 14, 2024: Interview with Chase Oliver, 2024 Libertarian Candidate for President

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0400

2024 Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate Chase Oliver sits down for a wide-ranging interview on domestic and foreign policy as well as the role and challenges of running as a non-duopoly candidate, with DMZ America podcast co-hosts, the political cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right). Ted and Scott found Mr. Olver to be forthright, smart and engaging, and so will you!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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Episode 167 | October 11, 2024: Megahurricanes and the Climate Crisis

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0400

In just two weeks, two huge Category 5 hurricanes slammed into Florida and North Carolina, killing hundreds of people and causing tens of billions of dollars in property damage. The new reality of climate change is that global warming is no longer in the future. It's here now. The question is: what are we going to do to adjust in order to survive and mitigate the damage?

Two veteran political cartoonists who also happens to be best friends despite having diametrically opposed politics, Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right), focus on the hard decisions America and the world need to be taking going forward. Will some places have to become off-limits? Should insurance companies be allowed to deny coverage to people who live in dangerous place is vulnerable to climate change? What is our responsibility to people affected by these storms?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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Episode 166 | September 28, 2024: Israel Kills Hezbollah Leader, State of Campaign 2024

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Join political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the left) and Scott Stantis (from the right) in a wide-ranging conversation about today's pressing issues.

First up, Ted and Scott connect the dots on the assassination of long-time Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, by Israeli military forces. Will this event lead to the Middle East spiraling into a regional war? What should the United States do or not do in response?

Next segment, they break down current political events and discuss their frustrations with Kamala Harris remaining silent on just about everything. In the meantime, Donald Trump continues to flail on the campaign trail.

Other issues discussed include: Michigan Muslims are turning out big for Jill Stein, the death penalty and indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

All of this and a few other surprises coming up in this edition of the DMZ America Podcast.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 165 | September 18, 2024: Pager Rager, Dogging Cats, Half the Point

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) take on the week in politics.

First up, Israel's Mossad launches a fearsome attack against Hezbollah by blowing up their pagers and walkie-talkies throughout Lebanon, injuring thousands of people and killing at least a dozen. Does this impressive act of international terrorism cross a red line for supporters of Israel against Gaza? What happens next in the Middle East?

Springfield, Ohio has made headlines, most of them probably false, about the allegation that Haitian migrants have been chowing down on the locals' cats and dogs. Ted relates what he heard from relatives who live in Springfield and Scott and Ted dissect Trump's ability to touch upon big truths even while lying like the day is long.

Finally, the Federal Reserve Bank has decided to cut short-term interest rates by 0.5%. How much will juicing the economy help Kamala Harris' campaign?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 164 | September 11, 2024: The post-debate debate

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonist Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) conduct an extensive postmortem on the first (and only?) Harris/Trump debate. From giving their final grades to a deep dive into what was, and wasn't, said during the most consequential debate in our lifetimes, here's your objective guide to this important political event.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 163 | September 9, 2024: The Pre-Debate Debate!

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and commentators Ted Rall and Scott Stantis set the scene and calculate the stakes in the September 10th Presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Ted and Scott analyze what both candidates must do, what they should do and what they probably can't do to win the most consequential debate in a generation.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 162 | August 31, 2024: Kamala’s Big First Interview a Flop? & Trump Tries to Abort His Abortion Problem

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) take on the week in politics.

Forty days after becoming the de facto nominee of the Democratic Party, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz have finally held their first interview, with Dana Bash of CNN in Savannah, Georgia. Scott disagrees with Ted’s assessment that Harris’ performance was a disaster. Ted Scott handicap the upcoming debate on September 8th, wondering what Trump can do to counter Harris despite her interview.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is still struggling to find his sea legs regarding Harris. Most problematic for him, abortion has surpassed the economy as the number-one issue for voters in key battleground states. Desperate for votes, Trump is even endorsing federal subsidies for in vitro fertilization, which is anathema to pro-life Republicans.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 161 | August, 24 2024: It's on like Donky Kong! Harris vs Trump plus, Gaza and Ukraine updates

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0400

The Republican and Democratic conventions are in the books and the Fall campaign is joined in ernest. That means Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis break it all down for you. Also, does RFK, Jr. dropping out of the race and endorsing Donald Trump have any impact? Where does the campaign stand and what can we expect coming up?

Also, while all eyes were on the political conventions, what has been happening in the Ukraine and Gaza wars?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 160 | August 17, 2024: Kamala Takes the Lead, Ukraine Takes a Risk

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) take on the week in politics.

The 2024 presidential campaign settles into the new reality following the withdrawal of Joe Biden and the ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris. Donald Trump, 78, is having trouble pivoting and accepting going from a six-point lead to a three-point deficit. Vice Presidential candidates Walz and Vance prepare for a pair of debates next month. Economic policies, all populist but vaguely formed and seemingly untethered to basic economic philosophies, are beginning to emerge from both sides—and Harris is lifting the Trump ones she likes best.

The Russo-Ukraine conflict has entered a new phase as Ukrainian forces invade Russia and seize territory in the rural Kursk region. At the same time, Russian forces are advancing inside Ukraine. What next?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 159 | August 8, 2024: Election 2024 So Far

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 19:00:00 -0400

Internationally-syndicated Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss all things Election 2024. Starting with Former President Donald Trump's decision to join Vice President Kamala Harris in the September 10 debate on ABC, Scott and Ted dive into the bizarre trend of the mainstream media and many voters to project attributes onto the Veep she may or may not actually posses. Ted and Scott ask about Harris: "Where's the beef?"

Ted and Scott go on to dissect the current race and put their own sense of where things stand.

They go on to assert the utter meaninglessness of the choices of JD Vance and Tim Walz as the running mates and the silly stories being foisted about the other by the opposing campaigns.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 158 | August 2, 2024: Trump's Racist on Kamala Harris & Israel Attacks Iran

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) take on the week in politics.

Kamala Harris has secured the nomination of the Democratic Party officially, via virtual roll call, less than two weeks after Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Scott and Ted discuss how she quickly consolidated control of the party in one of the most startling reversals of political fortune ever, taking her from pariah to Internet darling with a $1 billion war chest in a matter of a month. Donald Trump is attacking her race and gender; will these punches land?

Meanwhile, the Middle East conflict is heating up with the prospect of a wider regional conflict so pronounced that Ted thinks the unthinkable, considering scenarios for nuclear confrontation. At the same time, Scott declares the Russo-Ukrainian War all over but the shouting, with the outcome increasingly obvious.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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Episode 157 | July 21, 2024: Biden Drops Out. What's Next?

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 19:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) react to a shocking development in the world of politics: President Joe Biden has finally, after weeks of intrigue and pressure from within the Democratic Party succumbed to concerns about his mental acuity and dropped out of the 2024 presidential campaign weeks before the Democratic National Convention.

What happens next? Scott and Ted conduct a postmortem of what amounts to a coup d'etat and call for a serious investigation of who knew what when about Biden's mental state. They assess Vice President Kamala Harris' chances of securing the nomination for herself, who she will pick as her own running mate, how she will likely run her campaign and what could amount to a winning strategy against Donald Trump this fall.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 156 | July 20, 2024: Trump's Triumphs and Biden's Final Days

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 13:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) take on a dramatic week in politics. Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt and emerged looking great from the Republican National Convention. Meanwhile, Democrats continued to call for President Joe Biden to step aside from the presidential race, Kamala Harris began to fend off attacks from the Right and the Left and the beleaguered Biden was forced to quarantine himself after he came down with Covid-19.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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Episode 155 | July 14, 2024: Assassin Shoots Trump

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt yesterday afternoon when a gunman shot at him at a rally in Pennsylvania, grazing the former President's right ear. He appeared defiant, raising his fist as Secret Service agents spirited him away from the scene. Political cartoonists and analysts Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) look into the political and cultural ramifications from the history of political violence in the United States to gun culture to the upcoming Republican National Convention to the question of whether overheated rhetoric, this time by Democrats, contributed to the current volatile situation.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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Episode 154 | July 5, 2024: Biden Death Watch

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:00:00 -0400

An anxious America is hanging on tenterhooks to see whether Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. will be able to hang on to the Democratic nomination, and whether he might even be compelled to resign amid a whirl of news stories following his disastrous debate performance, indicating that he has been mentally and physically incapacitated, and not fulfilling the duties of the Presidency, for many months and probably years.

Political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis (from the Left and Right, respectively) delve deep into U.S. history to contextualize this serious political crisis. Can Biden hang on? Who is really in charge of the government? Will Kamala Harris take over and, if so, when and how? Are there other options? What would be her chances against Donald Trump in the general election? Should there be, and will there be, any accountability for the men and women in the government and the media who carried out and abetted the 2020 coup d’etat in which a man pretended to be president while an unelected cabal of shadowy figures determined policies of war and peace?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

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Episode 153 | June 27, 2024: Simulcasting the Biden/Trump Debate with Special Guest Angie Wong

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) simulcast their reactions to the 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Joining them is Angie Wong, political analyst, fundraiser and Ted's co-host on "The Final Countdown" on Radio Sputnik.

In a special DMZ America Podcast, Scott, Angie and Ted react to the Trump/Biden debate as it unfolded.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 152 | June 21, 2024: What If a Huge Asteroid Was About to Smash into the Earth? How Would Humans React? Debate Primer, Religion in Politics

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 18:00:00 -0400

Internationally-syndicated Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the left) and Scott Stantis (from the right) discuss the pressing issues of the day.

First up, there is an asteroid headed for the Earth and will pass the closest to our planet in the history of our species. Happily, the asteroid will miss us but how would humanity react if the next time we weren't so lucky? Ted and Scott reveal their sense of how our species would respond.

Next, Ted and Scott handicap the upcoming presidential debate. With a combined 80 years of experience observing and commenting on presidential politics they project what each candidate needs to accomplish and what the risks are for both.

Lastly, with the Ten Commandments law enacted in Louisiana, the question of the separation of church and state is more pressing than ever.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 151 | June 12, 2024: Canada Fears US Civil War, Many Elderly Will Die Homeless, Cartoonist Jailed in Iran

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:00:00 -0400

The DMZ America podcast is where you'll hear civilized, spirited debate and discussion about the politics and issues of the day. Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) deliver a fast-paced look at some stories others are missing this week.

First up, a Canadian government assessment of threats to Canadian national security worries aloud about instability on their southern border: us. The worry: “U.S. ideological divisions, democratic erosion, and domestic unrest escalate, plunging the country into civil war.”

Second: People over 50 face a radically increased danger of becoming homeless and dying on the streets. What does the fact that younger generations don't seem to care about the elderly say about American society?

Third: Cartoonist Atena Farghadani, who is on trial at Branch 26 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court, was charged with "insulting sacred values" and "propagating against the state" for attempting to post her cartoon on the wall outside the home of the Supreme Leader. The court sentenced the cartoonist to six years in prison.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 150 | June 6, 2024: Hunter Biden Trial, Is Biden's Brain Mush?, Help Ted Vote French!

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:00:00 -0400

Best friends and Political Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss and debate the issues of the day. This week they start by taking on the meaning of the Hunter Biden and Donald Trump trials. Are they "Gotcha Lawsuits"?

Next, Ted and Scott dig into the recent Wall Street Journal article quoting people in the West Wing who claim that President Biden's cognitive abilities are even worse than we thought.

Lastly, a touch of French charm as French citizen, Ted Rall, asks the DMZ America community to assist him in choosing whom to vote for in the upcoming EU election in France.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 149 | May 31, 2024: Trump Is Now a Felon. What Happens Next?

Fri, 31 May 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) analyze the conviction of Donald Trump. How did it happen? Will he go to jail and/or be put on probation? Will he drop out of the race? How will it affect the campaign? Might we soon have a sitting president forced to govern from prison?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 148 | May 24, 2024: Israel the Pariah, Alito's False Flags, Artificial Journalism

Fri, 24 May 2024 16:00:00 -0400

It's the DMZ America podcast, where political cartoonists bring their smart takes on the news to spirited, intelligent, civilized dialogue from both sides of the political aisle. Ted Rall (WhoWhatWhy, Creators Syndicate) comes from the Left, Scott Stantis (Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News) comes from the Right and sparks fly.

First up: the guys react to the increasing diplomatic isolation of Israel, marked by the decision of the International Court of Justice to order Israel to stand down in the Gaza Strip, following on the heels of the International Criminal Court's decision to issue a warrant for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Scott, a supporter of Israel, debates Israel's intentions and war aims with Ted, a supporter of Palestinian emancipation.

Second: Scott's expertise as a vexologist comes into play in light of Supreme Court Samuel Alito's decision to fly flags associated with the extreme Right at his homes. How much should we make of Alito's flag choices? Scott argues: a lot. Should he recuse himself from Trump's Jan. 6th case?

Third: The Washington Post tries to solve its budgetary difficulties by putting A.I. "everywhere in the newsroom," whatever that means. Considering that Google AI is a total disaster, this might need to be rethunk. Too bad a rich guy like Jeff Bezos can't afford to save the paper.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 147 | May 17, 2024: The 2024 Presidential Debated

Sat, 18 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists and best friends Ted Rall (from the left) and Scott Stantis (from the right) take a deep dive into the recently announced two presidential debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. (And RFK, Jr.?). Ted and Scott talk a little about the history of presidential debates (it's pretty short) and the ramifications and expectations for both candidates. They also make the case for widening the number of participants.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 146 | May 9, 2024: Biden Pauses Bombs to Israel, Trump on Trial, and It's Still the Stupid Economy

Thu, 09 May 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Fellow political cartoonists Ted Rall, from the Left, and Scott Stantis, from the Right, conduct a lively discussion of issues facing the world.

First up: President Joe Biden breaks with the long tradition of the United States being a steadfast ally of Israel. In a recent statement, Biden has said the United States is pausing sales of arms to Israel, hoping to prevent Israeli forces from invading Rafah in Gaza. This has sparked outrage in pro-Israel circles, not to mention a little outrage on this podcast.

Second: Trump on trial. Is this a legitimate prosecution? And what will the eventual outcome be? Scott and Ted lend their observations and discuss their own jail experiences.

Lastly, it's still the economy, stupid. With many economic indicators pointing towards a steep downturn, what can, or should, be done to prevent it?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 145 | April 28, 2024: Mass Graves in Gaza, Imperial Presidency, Menthol Madness

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) debate the week in news and culture as friendly adversaries to bring you spirited debate and smart insight.

First up: The Israel-Hamas War seems to be entering some sort of tipping point in terms of international public opinion. As the International Criminal Court weighs issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his government’s policy of blockade and mass starvation in Gaza and student protests over America’s support of Israel spread from Columbia University to college and university campuses around the nation, the disturbing discovery of a pair of mass graves containing the bodies of hospital patients and personnel apparently summarily executed in areas under IDF control prompt Scott to say that, if this is confirmed to be an Israeli war crime, he would be done with Israel after supporting the Jewish state for many years.

Second: The US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case with ramifications both for Donald Trump’s January 6th insurrection case and the separation of powers under the US Constitution. The court is asked to answer the question of whether a president enjoys absolute immunity for acts committed while in office, whether immunity might be partial, and whether it’s possible to separate those acts committed as an individual from those performed as an officeholder. At stake: the nature of the nation’s top political job.

Finally: In an act that appears to reek of cynicism, the Biden Administration has paused a long-planned ban on menthol-flavored tobacco products, which are popular among Black Americans, because of concerns that Black voters might be annoyed at the President when they go to the polls this November. Vote for us before you die, please.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 144 | April 17, 2024: USC Cancels a Muslim-American Valedictorian over Fake Fears, Trump on Trial, and Biden's Flaccid Steel Tariffs

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists and best friends Ted Rall (of the left) and Scott Stantis (of the right) discuss and debate the issues of the week.

First up, a USC valedictorian is denyed her earned right to speak. USC authorities claim fear of violence without any actual evidence. Meanwhile, Ted makes a plea to pro-Palestinian protestors around the country. Lastly, Ted and Scott tie this segment up with the long view on the Iran/Israel conflict, where it stands and where it goes next.

Second segment finds our hosts in agreement concerning the lawfare being waged against Donald Trump. Their concern is born, not out of love of the former President, but respect for justice.

Lastly, Ted and Scott switch places on the issue of trade. In particular, President Biden's proposed tripling tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 143 | April 12, 2024 (together in person!): #MeToo Drives Cartoonist Ed Piskor to Suicide, Abortion Drives Republicans Insane, Might Gaza Drive Israel Out of Statehood?

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 18:00:00 -0400

Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) present a Very Special Podcast. For the first time, Ted and Scott do the pod from Hotel Clovis, a.k.a. Ted’s place in New York. As always, Ted and Scott put friendship first in their spirited but civilized debates and discussions about the issues at hand.

First up: The world of comics and cartooning was upended by the tragic suicide of Eisner-winning cartoonist Ed Piskor, who shot himself to death after being hounded by an online mob and stripped of his professional associations after a younger female cartoonist accused him of “grooming” her four years ago, when he was 17. What lessons can we learn from this episode? Has the #MeToo movement finally gone too far? What of the online posters who gleefully celebrated Piskor’s death? Can comics address systemic sexism without descending into Lord of the Flies-style vengeance?

Second: The Alabama Supreme Court has affirmed an 1864 state statute that bans abortion in all cases excepting danger to the life of the mother (which Texas still refuses to do). In Arizona, if you are raped or subjected to incest, the state refuses to grant you an abortion. Ted and Scott discuss the political implications for a Republican Party that now finds itself out of step with 85% of American voters on an issue with massive symbolic resonance.

Finally: Scott, a long-time supporter of Israel, has reluctantly concluded that Israel’s war against Hamas has claimed too many innocent Palestinian lives and destroyed too much infrastructure in Gaza. Ted suggests that the window for a two-state solution may have passed and that it’s time to consider merging the Occupied Territories and Israel into a democratic Republic of Palestine where all votes and voices are treated equally.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 142 | March 31, 2024: RFK Jr.'s Running Mate, Inflation and Low Sperm Counts

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Best buds Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are back after a brief break and, man, is there a lot to talk about!

First up, Independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, Jr. picks Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. Ted and Scott explain why this is a dreadfully unserious choice and illustrates the whack-a-doodle nature of the Kennedy campaign. Ted and Scott go on to rank the other third-party candidates. (For those who have followed this podcast, you already know Scott and Ted are proponents of opening the democratic process to more third, forth and fifth party candidates.)

Next, numbers versus real life. Inflation continues to hurt American consumers. The Biden campaign grumbles that, according to the stats, inflation is now under control. Yet a couple of cups of coffee put the lie to those numbers.

Finally, Ted and Scott discuss a recent scientific study that shows a bacteria may be responsible for lowered sperm counts. This, coupled with the trend of Americans having fewer babies leads to the obvious conclusion to open the borders. (Trust me, it makes sense when you hear it.)

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 141 | March 14, 2024: TikTok AtToked, Third Parties on the Rise, Crises in Gaza, Haiti and Ukraine

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss the week's biggest stories without the boring yell fests but with force and passion.

First off, the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation that would force the Chinese company that owns TikTok to divest itself of the social media company within six months. President Biden says he will pass the measure if it hits his desk but its future is uncertain in the US Senate. Scott and Ted discuss the cultural, economic, legal and political implications of targeting a company purely based on conjecture and speculation with no proof that it has any plans to act nefariously.

Secondly, third and independent party presidential runs are in the news. Robert F Kennedy Junior is about to announce his choice for his voice presidential running mate. No Labels is about to appoint a committee to determine its options for president and vice president this year. Dr. Jill Stein will almost certainly be the nominee for the Green Party. And Dr. Cornel West is running his so-called jazz campaign.

Finally, five months into Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, it is very clear that Israel has overreached and is dangerously close to becoming an international pariah. Meanwhile, United States considers the possibility of military intervention in Haiti, something that has never gone well in the past. Ukraine, of course, will soon have to accept the difficult truth that it has lost its war against Russia.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 140 | March 6, 2024: Super Tuesday Leaves Two, Euthanasia Comes to Illinois, Troops in Subways

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss the week's biggest stories without the boring yell fests but with force and passion.

The first segment of this week’s offering covers some major developments in the 2024 presidential campaign. The US Supreme Court followed Ted’s lead, choosing democracy over the Constitution, ruling 9-0 to invalidate the 14th Amendment cases attempting to remove Trump from the ballot. Super Tuesday saw broad sweeps by Biden and Trump, Nikki Haley’s withdrawal and progressive discontent over Biden’s support of Israel’s war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Scott and Ted preview the State of the Union Address and detail what Biden would have to do there—it involves violating the laws of physics—to drive a stake through concerns about his mental acuity. Oh, and it’s definitely Biden versus Trump this fall.

The second segment takes a hard turn into Illinois’ move toward legalizing doctor-assisted suicide. Scott expresses concerns about whether God would approve and whether there might be a potential for abuse. Ted gets personal about a friend and colleague who recently decided to end her life after suffering from depression.

Finally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered state police and the National Guard to New York City’s beleaguered subway system to restore law and order…and search your bags.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 139 | February 29, 2024: Happy Leap Day! Mitch McConnell and the Age-Old Age Issue, Can You Be Pro-Life and Pro-Death at the Same Time?, Gen Z is Dumping Dating Apps. Will This Hurt the Birth Rate?

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0500

Best friends and fellow Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) welcome Leap Day by discussing 81-year-old Mitch McConnell's decision to step down from his leadership position in the U.S. Senate. Should President Joe Biden follow his example?

Next , Ted and Scott discuss the glaring hypocrisy of Bible-thumping states that bellow about the right-to-life while at the same time promoting with great relish the death penalty. (We're looking at you Texas, Idaho and Alabama!)

Finally, in the last segment, Ted and Scott reveal where babies come from as a segue to explore the reasons Gen Z is dumping dating apps.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 138 | February 23, 2024: Alabamapalooza, Haley’s Last Stand, Two Years in Ukraine

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss the week's biggest stories without the boring yell fests but with force and passion.

This week, Ted and Scott start with Alabamapalooza! Scott lives in Alabama, which happens to be the improbable center of the week’s news. After a botched execution using a novel Neue asphyxiation method, the state pronounces itself ready to do a lot more. At the same time, the State Supreme Court has declared that frozen embryos developed for in vitro fertilization are full human beings entitled to the full protection of the law, with devastating consequences for women.

In the 2024 election campaign, former ambassador Nikki Haley takes on Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina with the polls showing her behind by about 65% to 35%. Ted and Scott wonder aloud why exactly she’s still in the race and what is her strategy. On Tuesday, the race moves to Michigan, where Muslim Americans angry about the Biden administration’s support of Israel against the people of Gaza are trying to organize a substantial protest vote against the incoming president.

Finally, it’s the beginning of the third year of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Clearly Russia has won the war. When, if ever, will American policy makers recognize the reality on the ground and reflect that with their funding decisions in Washington? What will a negotiated settlement look like? What should it look like?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 137 | February 14, 2024: Bah-Humbug to Valentine's Day, Biden Age Issue Keeps Creeping Along, Another Loss for the GOP in a Special Congressional Election, Stupid Impeachment Tricks

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:00:00 -0500

Fellow Editorial Cartoonists and best buddies Ted Rall (from the left) and Scott Stantis (from the right) discuss the topics of the day. First up on this installment of the DMZ America Podcast, Ted and Scott share their mutual dislike of all things Valentine's Day which, naturally, segues into President Joe Biden's age and possible senility.

Next, the Republicans have lost yet another special election. Does all of this losing portend a GOP shipwreck in November?

Lastly, Ted and Scott take a look at the growing perposterousness of impeachment in 21st century America. The latest to get the I brand is Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas by a single vote in the House. Scott and Ted wonder out loud what strong-arm tactics were used to get the Republicans who initially voted against impeachment to change their vote.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 136 | February 9, 2024: Suffering from Dementia, Joe Biden Tanks His Presidency in Insane Rant

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0500

Since Joe Biden announced his run for president in 2020, cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) have warned America that he suffers from dementia. They were ridiculed, marginalized and insulted as a result. Now a devastating report by Special Counsel Robert Hur confirms that a pair of editorial cartoonists were right while the elite political class were wrong and/or lying: Biden has been so addled for so long that he cannot identify which years he served as vice president and that, in 2017, he could not say when his son Beau died (it was 2015). He is so senile, Dur says, that he cannot be held accountable in a court of law. Minutes after the Dur Report’s release the president called an impromptu press conference where he raged at White House reporters that he was still mentally sharp—and then said that Sisi was the president of Mexico (it’s actually Egypt). Biden’s presidency is effectively over. Ted and Scott ask: how will the unwinding go down?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 135 | February 7, 2024: 14th Amendment at SCOTUS, Putin Speaks, Predicting 2024

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss the week's biggest stories without the boring yell fests but with force and passion.

First up this week: The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the groundbreaking attempt by Colorado voters to remove Donald Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Scott and Ted dissect the arguments pro and con and explain how they would resolve the impossible choice faced by SCOTUS: put the law first, or the country.

Second: Tucker Carlson's interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin will prove especially notable for Americans' unfiltered chance to hear firsthand about Russia's views on the war in Ukraine. Scott and Ted explain where we are now and lay out possible scenarios for the inevitable peace negotiations now that it is clear that Ukraine has decidedly lost.

Third: Alan Lichtman's 1981 13-point theory on predicting presidential elections based on historical metrics gives Scott and Ted a chance to geek out over the current 2024 campaign.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 134 | February 2, 2024: The Good Economy and Why It's Not Sticking to Joe Biden, DA Fani Willis' Lame Excuses and Are We in the Death Throes of Journalism?

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 19:00:00 -0500

Best friends and fellow Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis offer a unique, one-segment podcast this week that covers a ton of stuff. First up, with the economy doing well you would think this would bode well for President Joe Biden. You would think wrong. At least fo the moment. Scott and Ted discuss why it's not the economy, stupid. Next, they take a deep dive into Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis and her preposterous explanation of her unseemly actions in prosecuting former President Donald Trump. The boys make the case for why she should step down or be removed from prosecuting this case.

Ted and Scott try to explain the accelerating pace of the demise of journalism. With massive layoffs announced at numerous news outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and many others, Scott and Ted wonder if this is the end of journalism and what, if any, form it may take going forward.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 133 | January 25, 2024: New Hampshire 2024, The Truth About Migrants, Is Anti-Zionism Anti-Semitism?

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0500

In the latest DMZ America Podcast, editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) analyze the latest news and trends affecting the nation and the world.

First, the guys break down the 2024 New Hampshire primary, in which Trump handily defeated Nikki Haley in his apparently inevitable track to the GOP nomination, though the South Carolina senator has vowed to remain in the race. Although Democrats snubbed the Granite State in favor of South Carolina, Biden’s write-in campaign prevailed over challenger Dean Phillips, avoiding embarrassment while pointing to fractures in the Democratic coalition. Now Trump is ahead of Biden by 4 points.

Second, Scott explains the real reasons for the migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border and advises the White House to come clean with the American people. Ted, it turns out, had reached an identical conclusion.

Finally, Ted and Scott once again explore the differences between anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and anti-Israelism, and speculate on the future of the Gaza Strip and the Middle East crisis.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 132 | January 18, 2024: Iran and Middle East Turmoil, Joe Biden's Possible Rude Awakening in New Hampshire, and the Death of News

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0500

Editorial Cartoonists and best friends Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss the issues of the day. This week the guys get into a bit of a kerfuffle over Iran. Much of the mayhem foisted on the Middle East recently has Iran's fingerprints all over it. What should be the world's response?

Next, Ted and Scott look at where the presidential race stands. Could the fact that President Joe Biden and his campaign decided to blow off the New Hampshire primary come back and bite them in the rear? Scott predicts a catastrophe for Biden if he losses to little-known Congressman Dean Phillips.

Lastly, the death of the news industry and who is to blame. Scott and Ted find common ground in sharing their disdain for the wretched leadership of the news industry that has led to this sad state.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 131 | January 11, 2024: Debating the Gaza War

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:00:00 -0500

In the latest DMZ America Podcast, editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) explore the threat of the Israel-Hamas War spreading from Gaza, where 1% of the total population has been killed, to Iran, the Red Sea and Lebanon and beyond. Ted, who sympathizes with the cause of Palestinian emancipation, presses Scott, who supports Israel's response to Hamas' October 7th attack, on what line Israel would need to cross before he would consider them to have gone too far. It's a tough debate, and a passionate one, but the guys manage to keep things civilized and productive enough to agree on what policy the U.S. should adopt toward the Netanyahu government in light of the flattening of Gaza and the humanitarian crisis.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 130 | January 3, 2024: President Gay Out At Harvard, Israeli Assasinations and Explosions in Iran, Is This the Last Year of Democracy As We Know It?

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 22:00:00 -0500

Award-winning Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) bring their unique perspectives to the issues of the day.

First up—Ted and Scott dig deep into the reasons for and repercussions of the frenetic and failed three-month term of President Claudine Gay of Harvard University. Should she have lost her job? And are there any lessons to learn from this fiasco? (Speaking of fiascos, Scott reveals his twisted and abbreviated academic career.)

Next, Scott relies on Ted to get us all up to speed on the war in Gaza, where things stand and where they ought to be headed. (Scott and Ted disagree on this one.) The discussion shifts to the assassination of Hamas bigwig Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon. Was this the right thing to do and what will be the after effects? This leads us to the bombing in Iran of the ceremony at the grave of Commander Qasem Soleimani. Who is responsible?

Finally, Ted and Scott ask the question: If Donald Trump is returned to The White House will that be the end of American democracy as we know it? And will this affect the celebration of the United States Quarter Millennium of the founding of the republic?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 129 | December 20, 2023: Trump Dumped from Colorado Ballot, Biden's Record-Low Polls, Will Anyone Care When Gaza is Gone?

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0500

In the latest DMZ America Podcast, editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are joined by their colleague Rob Rogers, editorial cartoonist formerly of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First up: The political world reeled after the Colorado state Supreme Court issued a stunning ruling declaring Donald Trump an insurrectionist under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, thus making him ineligible to appear on the ballot in the upcoming state Republican primary. 13 other states are facing similar lawsuits so the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on whether Trump can appear on the ballot. Will judges decide our next president?

Second: President Biden is suffering from the lowest poll numbers of his presidency, bottoming out at 34% in one survey. He is even losing voters aged 18 to 29, an important part of his coalition back in 2020. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place on issues like Gaza. Is there any way that he can possibly turn this dismal situation around, given the fact that no one who his position has gone on to successfully be re-elected?

Finally: Most of the world now agrees that Israel overreacted to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. Gaza has been flattened. Will the attention of the world move on after the bombing stops? Or will images of shattered millions of Palestinian refugees living in the Egyptian desert prove to be a political game changer during the election next year?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 128 | December12, 2023: Ukraine War Funding, College Presidents Gone Wild and Texas Sentences Woman to Hard Labor

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0500

In this week's edition, Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the left) and Scott Stantis (from the right) discuss the pressing issues of the day.

First up--Ukraine President Zelensky comes a-calling in Washington, begging for more funds to support his war effort. Ted and Scott question whether America should spend any more on this war.

Next--During a Congressional hearing, the Presidents of UPenn, Harvard and MIT gave tortured, convoluted answers to a grindingly simple question. The UPenn prez stepped down. Should the other two follow?

Lastly--Texas denies a woman an abortion following the discovery of her potentially deadly pregnancy. Ted and Scott discuss the civil liberties issues here. Ted sounds a LOT like a Libertarian here, folks.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 127 | December 7, 2023: GOP Debate, No Money for Ukraine or Israel, Pearl Harbor Day

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonist Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) discuss the week in politics, culture and current events.

Four top contenders for the Republican nomination for president — Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis — met for the fourth GOP debate of the current cycle. What, if anything, was the point of this exercise when Donald Trump clearly has the nomination wrapped up, as Ted and Scott pointed out many months ago?

For the first time in memory, Congress voted no to a major military spending package, this one for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. What does the failure of Congress to rubberstamp proxy warfare say about the current state of partisanship in Congress and militarism in general?

Today was the anniversary of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack as well as the beginning of the third month after the October 7th Hamas attack against Israel. Ted and Scott discuss the nature of surprise attacks and their ability to traumatize a society and debate the importance of such benchmarks.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 126 | November 29, 2023: Twice the Wars, Twice the Outrage. Should America Adopt a Guaranteed Minimum Income?

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0500

In an extended segment Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (coming from the Left), and Scott Stantis (coming from the Right), discuss the two wars Americans care most about at the moment: Ukraine and Gaza. Combining history, politics and common sense, Ted and Scott take a deep dive to unpack the profound long-term meanings of both conflicts. Not surprisingly, they reach differing conclusions.

Next, Ted and Scott discuss Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin's proposal to make permanent a pilot program that guaranteed a minimum income to single mothers.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 125 | November 15, 2023: Is "From the River to the Sea" Genocidal? Mike Johnson Flirts with Adulting

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:00:00 -0500

Political Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) discuss the hot news and current events of the week on the DMZ America podcast. On DMZ, you’ll hear two best friends who happen to come from opposite sides of American politics. Ted and Scott disagree, passionately, but they’re always calm, civilized and respectful. DMZ is a no-yelling zone!

First up this week: Ted and Scott debate the phrase “From the River to Sea” in the context of the heated debate over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Is it genocidal or a kumbaya dream? Does Israel have a “right to exist”? Is Hamas exaggerating or underplaying the death count? Who will govern post-Hamas Gaza? Is Israel planning to annex some or all of Gaza? You won’t want to miss this smart take on the Middle East crisis.

Second up this week: Ted and Scott reflect on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s attempt to avoid a government shutdown by—gasp!—working with Democrats. Will acting like adults get Republicans credit? Is it even possible? Can a shutdown be avoided? Will Johnson go the way of Kevin McCarthy and have his gavel taken away too?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 124 | November 8, 2023: 2023 Election Results and Gaza War (with special guest Marshall Ramsey)

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0500

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are joined by special guest, fellow editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey of Mississippi Today to discuss the news and politics of the week.

First up: Democrats sweep the 2023 off-year election. Abortion rights win a landslide in the red state of Ohio, sending up warning signals to Republicans. What, if anything, does this portend for the 2024 presidential election?

Second: Israel's bloody conflict in Gaza is already splitting Americans politically. Will this proxy war affect the domestic scene?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 123 | October 31, 2023: Passions Flair Over Gaza, Does Dean Phillips' Presidential Bid Matter? The Weird 14th Amendment Case in Colorado

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Passions flair as Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (for the Left) and Scott Stantis (for the Right) discuss Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Is Israel practicing self-defense or apartheid? Are the actions of either side even remotely justified? Scott, who supports Israel, and Ted get into it with verve and more than a little zeal.

Next, they turn to domestic issues to discuss Congressman's Dean Phillips (D-MN) announcement that he will run for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in the New Hampshire primary and presumably beyond. New Hampshire was a primary President Joe Biden decided to skip. Does Representative Phillips' campaign matter? (Sidelight: Ted Rall's short-lived presidential ambitions are dashed by the Congressman's announcement!)

Lastly, some folks in Colorado are trying to use an obscure section of the 14th Amendment to keep former President Donald Trump off of the 2024 ballot in Colorado and other states. While neither Ted nor Scott is a MAGA person, they share their strong opinions on this topic.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 122 | October 26, 2023: We have a Speaker! Meet the Woke Pulitzer Prize. Should Americans Pay for Ukraine and Israel's Endless Wars?

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) discuss newly-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (R-LA) and the process that led to his ascension. Scott raises the possibility that Representative Matt Gaetz and the far right-wing Freedom Caucus played the Republicans in the House to get the most radically-right Speaker in the history of the institution.

Next, Ted and Scott fill out the painfully woke questionnaire sent out by journalism's most prestigious award, the Pulitzer Prizes administered by Columbia University. Listen, (and watch on YouTube), as the questions get progressively more politically correct. Making Ted rename the award "The Woke-litzer Prize."

Finally, Ted and Scott discuss the question of the United States and its taxpayers spending billions and billions on the Ukraine and Israel wars. Should monies that might be better spent here at home be sent to conflicts that have very little to do with America? Scott and Ted take a deep dive into both and find disagreement over Israel as well as common ground over Palestine.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 121 | October 20, 2023: Israel Playing Into Hamas’ Plans, House Speaker Crisis, Biden’s Terrifying Speech

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss national and international events of the week. First up: as we enter the third week of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, there are rising fears of regional escalation. Has Hezbollah agreed to open a second front against Israel? Will Iran attack Israel? How long will it take Israel to overthrow the Hamas government and what kind of regime do they plan to install if and when they succeed? Right now, it looks like they are poised to repeat the mistakes America made in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

In the second segment of the podcast, Ted and Scott discuss the constitutional crisis created by the Republican Party’s inability to choose a Speaker of the House of Representatives. Steve, Scalise and Jim Jordan are both out. Will the speakership ultimately wind up in the hands of an obscure congressman? In the meantime, congressional business has ground to a standstill.

Finally, Ted and Scott react to President Biden’s second Oval Office speech since he became president. Squinting, unable to read the Teleprompter, tripping over his words and slurring, this was an extremely disturbing performance that seems to belie Democrats’ claim that he is a viable candidate for 2024. Will he resign? Step aside mid-campaign? Or try to muddle through somehow to reelection? Scott and Ted also discuss the substance of Biden’s speech: his attempt to link the Ukraine and Israel conflicts.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 120 | October 9, 2023: Hamas Goes to War with Israel

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Hamas fighters swarmed into Israel from the Occupied Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a grinding economic blockade since 2007, killing Israeli civilians and soldiers and taking hostages. Political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) debate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ramifications of what Israelis are calling their 9/11. Scott, an ardent defender of Israel, tries to find common ground with Ted, who supports Palestine’s independence struggle.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 119 | October 6, 2023 with Guest Jack Ohman, SF Chronicle Cartoonist: Congressional Poop Show, Western Support for Ukraine, the State of Editorial Cartooning

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:00:00 -0400

Jack Ohman, editorial cartoonist and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins fellow Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) this week.

First off, the cartoonist trio unpacks the meaning and repercussions of the recent vacating of the Speaker of the House seat in Congress. Who should and who will be the next Speaker? Will/can Donald Trump take the seat?

Next, there is deep disagreement over whether or not the West, and more specifically the United States, ought to continue sending arms and taxpayers money to Ukraine.

Lastly, Ted, Jack and Scott discuss the state of American editorial cartooning. Guest Jack Ohman is the current President of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, while Ted Rall and Scott Stantis have served in that role. A combined 120 years of editorial cartooning experience leads to the conclusion that the profession is in crisis with no relief in sight. Yet we remain optimistic.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 118 | September 28, 2023: The Second Pointless GOP Debate Reminds Us That Trump Will Be the Republican Nominee

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:00:00 -0400

In this week’s installment of the DMZ America Podcast, political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) digest and analyze the second GOP debate featuring North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C.

The clear winner was the man who is ahead of number two DeSantis by 47 points, Donald Trump—and he wasn’t there. What’s the point of this exercise, considering that Trump rather credibly says he won’t choose his veep from these seven? Who will drop out soon? What happens to the survivors? What does the current state of the Republican primaries and the general election race say about the U.S. system in general? Scott and Ted turn over the Rubik’s cube of 2024 presidential campaign to examine all the angles.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 117 | September 21, 2023: Should President Biden Be Impeached? What is the Legacy of Rupert Murdoch? and Are the Two Major Political Parties Switching Positions?

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss and dissect the issues of the day.

First up, the U.S. House of Representatives has begun an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden. The question before the House and the country is; if the facts of the Hunter Biden fiasco be traced back to President Biden, should he be impeached?

Next up, Ted and Scott discuss the legacy of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The good, the bad and the ugly. (Scott contends that Murdoch is as important a figure as William Randolph Hearst.)

Lastly, Scott asks Ted to expand on his recent syndicated column, documenting the fact that the Republicans and Democrats are realigning themselves in surprising and unexpected ways.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 116 | September 10, 2023: Bidexit, UAW Strike Deadline, Autonomous Assassination Drones

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss breaking news and politics.

This week, Democrats are finally focusing on and starting to become alarmed by President Biden’s stubbornly-low poll numbers. 67% of Democrats say they don’t want him to be their candidate next year. Democratic senators say that even voters who think he has done a good job think he is simply too old to run again. Now mainstream media outlets are starting to float the possibility that he may decide to step aside, and either open up the Democratic primary process or anoint a successor. Scott and Ted handicap the various scenarios for Bidexit.

Four days away from their strike deadline against the big three Detroit auto makers, the United Auto Workers union is still far away from the latest offers on the table. In agreement that a strike currently looks likely, Scott and Ted discuss the state of negotiations, the future of the auto industry and the economic impact of a walkout.

Reuters has published a shocking expose of the advanced state of autonomous AI weapons currently in development and available for sale on the international arms marketplace. From drones to trucks to submarines to fighter jets, the dark vision of the Terminator movies is upon us. Will the world act to ban these dystopian killer robots?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 115 | August 30, 2023: Rudy Giuliani Gets SLAPPed, Don't Run Joe! & the Tipping Epidemic

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss breaking news and politics. Former New York City mayor and Trump attorney, Rudy Giuliani, loses his anti-SLAPP motion against Georgia election workers whom he libeled during the 2020 election controversy. Ted and Scott discuss the ramifications on the upcoming Trump RICO trial in Georgia. Plus, we discuss Ted's recent birthday and his getting closer to Medicare and thus death.

In the second segment, more and more commentators from the left and the right are saying that President Joe Biden should not run for reelection in 2024. Citing the enthusiasm gap, which Biden can't seem to close, leads many in his own party to hope for a big convention surprise.

The last segment finds Scott and Ted discussing the deep ramifications of the tipping epidemic. Besides being super annoying, are there deeper, more nefarious reasons for this? Ted and Scott dig deep and give you even better reasons to be pissed off the next time you're asked to add 30% to the barista handing you a latte.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 114 | August 24, 2023: GOP Debate Kills DeSantis' Candidacy, Trump Surrenders at Georgia Jail

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) discuss the week in politics.

In the first of two segments, an analysis of the first Republican primary debate for 2024. Who were the winners, who are the losers? Where does this leave the state of the race? Was Donald Trump smart to skip the festivities? Ron DeSantis only had a fourth chance to make a good first impression; looks like his candidacy is dead.

In the second of two segments, former President Donald J. Trump surrenders and submits to a mugshot at the Atlanta jail in the charges filed by Fulton county Georgia district attorney, Fani Willis. Half the country celebrates with glee, while the other half seethes. Can this end well?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 113 | August 17, 2023: How Hunter Biden's Case Could Bring Down Joe's Presidency, How Trump's Georgia Indictments Impact the 2024 Race

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the political Left) and Scott Stantis (from the political Right) are joined by eminent academic Charles Lipson, the Peter B. Ritzma professor of political science emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he founded the Program on International Politics, Economics and Security, is a Spectator World contributing writer as well as a regular contributor to Real Clear Politics.

Lipson has written extensively on the Hunter Biden case as it has unfolded, while it has been censored by corporate media. His sober analysis continues to be a bright light in these hysterical times. Lipson has pointed out time and time again that, while the mainstream media continues to ignore this story, there has been an awful lot of smoke and, perhaps, emerging fire. (For the record, Rall and Stantis have been saying the same thing ever since the discovery of Hunter's now famously unclaimed lap top).

In their second segment, Rall, Stantis and Lipson explore the ramifications of the Hunter Biden case on the 2024 election as well as the mounting indictments against former President Donald Trump, who now faces 91 criminal counts in four jurisdictions.

(P.S. Ted Rall is still traveling in Canada, so this edition of the DMZ America Podcast is shorter and only two segments long. We hope Ted will return to the United States sometime soon but, as he seems to be having far too good of a time, our hope is dimming.)

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 112 | August 10, 2023: Ecuadorian Candidate Assassinated, Dark Times for Democracy, the 2024 Election Crisis

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonist Ted Rall (from the Left) checks in from the road in the maritime provinces of Canada while fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis (from the Right) holds down the fort here in America on this special shortened version of the DMZ America Podcast.

First up, Scott and Ted use the recent assassination in Ecuador of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio as a springboard to discuss the wider issue of the seeming crisis of representative democracy across the globe. Is the growing distrust of basic institutions and the failure of the political left to improve the lives of its followers the cause? Or is it the growing aggression of authoritarian forces being seen as the true allies of the working class?

The second segment continues to explore this theme, ending with the conclusion that the Democratic Party has abandoned those it long promised to support, with the consequences being the ascent of far-right political parties across the globe.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 111 | August 3, 2023: Trump Indicted for Jan. 6th, Kamala Harris Less Unpopular Than Biden, Texas Border Buoys Kill Migrants

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:00:00 -0400

Check out the latest edition of the DMZ America Podcast, where a pair of American political cartoonists (Ted Rall, who leans left, and Scott Stantis, who leans right) who happen to be best friends analyze and discuss the major and minor stories of the week while having a few laughs along the way.

The long-awaited indictment of former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th Capitol Hill riots took place this week, bringing to 78 the number of criminal accounts faced by the Republican frontrunner for president. Scott believes Trump faces serious jeopardy, but Ted doubt a jury, even in deep-blue Washington DC, will convict based on the legal theory that Trump must have known that he had lost the election to Biden and acted differently nevertheless.

Most Democrats would rather see a different candidate than Joe Biden, and a new New York Times poll indicates just how bad things are going for the president: Democrats are less unenthusiastic about Vice President Harris, one of the most historically unpopular political figures of all time, than Biden. Also, in the mix: the Hunter Biden laptop scandal is about to blow, with the big question of the week being: did the president take millions of dollars in bribes from a country for whom he later went to war?

Texas Governor Greg Abbott defied the federal government, placing a plastic buoy wall in the middle of the Rio Grande river along the international border separating the United States from Mexico. Now migrants are drowning in the river as a result. As Scott points out, this should come as a little surprise, considering what a nasty person Governor Abbott is and how corrupt Texas politics can be.

Or Watch the Video Version of the DMZ America Podcast:

DMZ America Podcast Ep 111 Sec 1: Trump Indicted for Jan. 6th

DMZ America Podcast Ep 111 Sec 2: Kamala Harris Less Unpopular Than Biden

DMZ America Podcast Ep 111 Sec 3: Texas Border Buoys Kill Migrants

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 110 | July 27, 2023: Hunter Biden Plea Deal Meltdown, Fed Reserve Rate Increase, Kevin Spacey Cleared

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Syndicated Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall, (from the left) and Scott Stantis (from the right) unpack the many layers from the week's top stories.

First up, the Hunter Biden plea deal. The judge said it was unconstitutional and the defense wanted it to provide a blanket get-out-of-jail card. Why it fell apart and how it reflects the media's disdain for anything that may conflict with its prevailing narrative. Ted and Scott take a rhetorical side trip to explore other issues they have been way in front of, and examine why the mainstream media takes so long to catch up to common sense.

Next up, the Federal Reserve Board continues to raise interest rates although it seems from this healthy economy that they shouldn't. Scott argues against government overreach while Ted makes the case for deeper regulation of the American economy.

Lastly, Kevin Spacey, one of the best actors of his generation, has been found not guilty of sexual malfeasance in yet another trial. Ted and Scott discuss whether he should be welcomed back to the entertainment business.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 109 | July 20, 2023: Neither Biden Nor Trump Fit for Office, Texas Sucks Best, Highly Sensitive People Catch a Break

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0400

A new kind of poll dissects public opinion about presumed presidential nominees Joe Biden and Donald Trump as we begin the 2024 campaign cycle. We already knew that voters did not want this rematch. What we did not know was that so many voters do not believe either man is fit to hold office. Scott asks: where do we go from here and what does this say about American democracy?

CNBC issues its latest list of the best and worst states to live in. Vermont is supposedly best. Texas is supposedly worst. You might find the results interesting, frustrating, even perplexing. Like everything these days, politics has a lot to do with it.

Walmart has become the latest organization to embrace a new trend of sensory-friendly hours for neurodivergent people. Ted applauds the move to make public spaces more pleasant for everyone while Scott suggests that we might want to buck up and quit whining.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 108 | July 12, 2023: Three Pulitzer-Winning Editorial Cartoonists Canned the Same Day, Nazis Symbols Worn by Ukrainian Troops, Can Biden Capitalize on Lower Inflation?

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) discuss the latest startling development in the ongoing demise of American editorial cartooning. With the recent firing of not one but three Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonists, Ted and Scott mourn the job loss of their fellow journalists and those who preceded them. Was the demise of editorial cartooning as a profession the planned end-game all along by antagonistic editors?

The New York Times reports that there have been more and more sightings of Nazi symbols being worn by Ukrainian troops. Ted has said for years that neo-fascism runs deep in Ukraine. Russian President Putin has framed the Ukraine War as partly motivated by a desired "De-Nazification of Ukraine." Does he have a point? Ted and Scott debate discuss what the Times describes as mere bad optics.

Inflation is down to its lowest level in years. If it is the economy, stupid, why are President Biden's approval numbers still so low? And does this open the door for Green Party candidate Dr. Cornel West? Or other third-party candidates?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 107 | July 7, 2023: Banning Bad Jokes, Defending Abusers with Guns, the Government’s First Amendment Right to Censor You

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right) discuss the week in news and current politics on the DMZ America podcast.

When does a joke go too far? A Subway store in Georgia got in trouble with the Internet and its national parent company when it posted a sign seeming to make light of the recent submersible implosion. As professional humorists, Ted and Scott bandy about whether or not it’s ever OK to make fun of the dead, or whether this particular incident even qualifies as disrespecting the dead in the first place.

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case of a man who claims that his Second Amendment right to bear arms was infringed because of a Texas law that prohibits people under a restraining order for abusing their domestic partner from possessing a firearm. You may be surprised at how Ted and Scott come down on this somewhat complicated case.

A federal district judge in New Orleans has issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the federal government from telling social media companies to take down your post or even to cancel your account, something that the Twitter Files proved was an ongoing practice. The Biden ministration is appealing the injunction on the ground that it constitutes prior restraint on their First Amendment right to quash your First Amendment right.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 106 | June 30, 2023: A Big Week of Supreme Court Opinions

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Syndicated Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) analyze the issues and news changing our world. This week's podcast is entirely dedicated to a historic week of opinions handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States.

First up, a look at a pair of landmark cases affecting higher education. Ted and Scott put into perspective the court's decision to end race-based Affirmative Action and President Biden's Student loan forgiveness program. Ted concisely explains the basis for the build-up of resentment over decades towards Affirmative Action and what led to the court's ruling. Scott takes a victory lap after arguing for months that Joe Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness program was executive overreach and should and would be struck down.

Next up, a pair of cases impacting the workplace: the Postal Worker and the Web Designer (which sounds a lot like a really lame Hallmark Christmas romance movie). The mailman refused to work on his Sabbath; the web designer refused to create a site for a LGBTQ couple. When does common sense check bigotry? Scott and Ted's spin on these decisions may surprise you.

In the last segment, Ted and Scott applaud the court shooting down, yet again, Independent State Legislature Theory (ISL), which would have allowed states to set up draconian voting procedures that would have served to deny ballot access to millions of voters.. They end up tying everything up in a neat little bow. You should listen.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 105 | June 20, 2023: Hunter Biden Skates, Donald Trump Going to Trial, Teenage Depression

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:00:00 -0400

The DMZ America podcast features two political cartoonists who happened to be best friends. Ted Rall (Andrews McMeel Syndication, Wall Street Journal, WhoWhatWhy) comes from the Left; Scott Stantis (Andrews McMeel Syndication, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News) comes from the Right.

Hunter Biden once again assumes his role as America’s Prince Andrew: safe, protected, facing minimal charges. In this case, it’s two years probation for evading the payment of $100,000 in taxes and for a gun charge. Republicans are going crazy. Maybe they have a point.

Former President Donald Trump has a trial date in his federal criminal case related to improper handling of classified documents: August 14. Scott and Ted examine the shocking political and legal repercussions of this completely unprecedented case, and what it means for the future of the country and democracy as we head into a presidential election.

Teenage depression hits new lows as more young people than ever before tell psychologists, that they feel worthless and without hope for the future. The cause: social media and digital devices. We don’t let a 12-year-old drive a car. Should we be allowing a six-year-old on Instagram?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 104 | June 7, 2023: The More the More the Not-So-Merrier in the Republican Primary, the PGA Tour Merges With Murdering Thugs, Bad Pot Neighbors and Apple’s New VR Viewer

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:00:00 -0400

Internationally-syndicated cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall joins Chicago Tribune Editorial Cartoonist Scott Stantis to try to make sense of the issues of the day.

First up: the ever-growing list of candidates in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. Two of the most interesting entries (according to Scott), Mike Pence and Chris Christie, have thrown their hats into the ring. Both have a sizable bone to pick with frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.

Secondly, Ted's lack of sports knowledge doesn't impact his and Scott's disgust with the PGA Tour's decision to merge with LIV Golf, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bloodstained House of Saud.

And finally, Ted and Scott combine two seemingly-unrelated subjects; pot-smoking neighbors and Apple's new VR viewer. The first conversation was inspired by a woman in Washington, DC whose home was stunk up by her neighbors weed smoking. The courts seem to agree with her that her neighbor had no right to inflict their skunk on others. The second topic of conversation is Apple's new VR viewer and the repercussions it portends. (Spoiler alert: it ain't good.)

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 103 | May 31, 2023: Debt Ceiling Madness, Gaming the GOP Primaries, and the War on Gay

Wed, 31 May 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) analyze the week in politics, and what’s coming up next. Tune in for informed passionate debate between two best friends who prove that it’s possible to disagree while remaining civil.

A controversial compromise bill negotiated between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy goes to the House of Representatives for a vote. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Will the US government default on June 5? Even if this bill gets through, is it too late to preserve America’s credit rating?

Donald Trump has a full slate of new primary rivals for the GOP presidential nomination, most notably, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had a disastrous launch and is now seeing his polls go exactly the wrong direction, and former Vice President Mike Pence. Does Trump face any credible threat from these competitors?

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made a name for himself, declaring war on “woke,” even including Disney in his campaign to demonize LGBTQ people. Why do Republicans keep waging culture war even though it’s a loser at the polls? Also: separating reactions to gays and lesbians from controversies over transgender people.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 102 | May 17, 2023: RFK Jr., the Durham Report, Texas GOP Undermines Democracy, Trans Sorority Sisters

Wed, 17 May 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Nationally syndicated Editorial Cartoonists, Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right), start off this edition of the DMZ America Podcast with a deep dive into the fight for the 2024 Democratic Party nominating process for president. Prevailing wisdom is that President Joe Biden will get the nomination in a cakewalk. Not so fast, says RFK Jr., who is polling at 19% among Democratic primary voters, not to mention Marianne Williamson, tracking at 9%. Ted and Scott go on to look over the Durham Report and its implications, which prompts the question of the Corporate Left and Mainstream Media dismissing the overwhelming evidence that the Russia-Trump collusion story simply isn't real and never was. Finally, in the third segment, Texas' red legislature's decision to strip its blue cities of much of their administrative power is fodder for discussion—is this a constitutional move or will it be allowed to stand? Finally, Ted and Scott wrestle with changing views of trans people and the specific case of a trans person in a sorority. Should this be allowed? You'll have to listen to learn what the guys think of this.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 101 | May 11, 2023: Trump Returns, Biden’s Brewing Scandals, Behind the Pulitzers

Thu, 11 May 2023 16:00:00 -0400

As the 2024 presidential campaign begins in earnest, political cartoonist Ted Rall, (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) dig into what looks like an 1892-style political rematch, between former and possibly future President Donald Trump, and current President Joe Biden.

Trump appeared on CNN for the first time since 2016, at a raucous town hall meeting that received widespread criticism from liberals and their mainstream media allies. He advised congressional Republicans to be willing to risk default in the debt-limit crisis, signaled that he would reduce or eliminate military aid to Ukraine, and made fun of Jean Carroll, the columnist who won $5 million from a jury that found him liable for sexual battery and defamation. Trump is just Trump being Trump as usual, but what else did we expect? The question now is, will old Trump 2016 win, or will old Trump 2020 lose?

The Republican-controlled House oversight committee has its sights set firmly on the current president, Joe Biden, the First Lady and other members of his family. The first family acquired $13 million from unknown sources a few years ago, and Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop seems to indicate that the money may have originated from covert and corrupt sources in places like Romania, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and China. If the president really accepted bribes and kickbacks from foreign countries, this could be the biggest scandal in American presidential history.

Columbia University announced the winners of the Pulitzer Prizes earlier this week, and with all such pomposity, there’s a lot less than meets the eye to the proceedings. Scott and Ted dish on everything you need to know about how this particular sausage is made, as well as the self-dealing and conflicts of interest on a staggering scale.

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Episode 100 | May 4, 2023: Making the Case for Third Party Candidates, Criminal Trials Are Endangered, on This, Our 100th Episode Scott and Ted Explain Why They Podcast

Thu, 04 May 2023 15:00:00 -0400

Gail Collins, columnist for the New York Times, writes that if you don't like the choice of Biden or Trump TOUGH! Don't you dare vote for a third party! American Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) strongly disagree with her and make the case for voting and supporting third party candidates. Next, NPR and other news organizations are reporting that trial by jury is becoming less and less common. This is bad for you and bad for a justice system that gets worse and worse every year. Lastly, Ted and Scott celebrate their 100th episode of the DMZ America Podcast by discussing why they do it, and announce plans for future podcasts they know will interest you. You really should listen.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 99 | April 26, 2023: Biden Runs Again, Tucker & Lemon Out, Minnesota Throws Granny Under the Train

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Award-winning political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) analyze an eventful week’s breaking news and current events on the DMZ America podcast.

President Joe Biden released a video on Tuesday announcing his bid to run for reelection next year. Scott and Ted discuss what’s missing from the video—promises, bragging about low unemployment, Ukraine—and what it portends for the Democrats’ campaign strategy. An 1892-style rematch, between the President and former President Donald Trump, both very old men, now looks all but certain. Is this what democracy looks like?

On Monday cable news networks gave the axe to two bold-face names in opinion journalism, Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and CNN’s Don Lemon. Did Dominion Voting Systems negotiate Tucker’s head on a plate as part of its $787 million settlement with Fox? Did CNN use Tucker’s demise to bury its decision to part ways with its gay Black morning anchor? What does it say about corporate media and what happens to both men now?

A Minnesota grandmother, 94, is poised to receive justice from a sympathetic Supreme Court after county tax officials seized her condo over $2300 in unpaid property taxes and pocketed that along with $40,000 in equity just because they could, Constitution and property rights be damned. Scott and Ted go over the state’s increasing tendency to steal individual property via the government’s wide-scale abuse of eminent domain and civil asset forfeiture laws. How long will Americans put up with official thievery?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 98 | April 19, 2023: Fox News vs Dominion Settlement, Kathy Griffin's PTSD, the Horrors of the U.S. Prison System

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 18:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) take a slight detour away from breaking news to discuss crucial issues flying under the radar. But first they contextualize the blockbuster $787 million settlement between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems. Does this mean the beginning of the end for Fox News, or does it just confirm what we all knew Fox was? Next, Ted and Scott discuss their own Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following high-profile controversies in their careers. Inspired by recent revelations by actress and comedian Kathy Griffin,in her struggles with PTSD, following fallout from her own controversial holding up a bloody Donald Trump mask in 2017. Finally, Scott and Ted delve into the horrid state of the American prison system, following an award to thousands of New Yorkers who were wrongly held in solitary confinement in local jails. They discuss the ghastly conditions and abuses now commonplace in prisons across the country, from malnutrition to grossly overcrowded prison cells. Ted and Scott sound the alarm on an inhumane system right here in the home of the brave. Will anyone listen?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 97 | April 12, 2023: New Presidential Candidates for 2024, Electric Cars, the Terrifying Rise of Digi-Dog

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Political analysts and cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left, Wall Street Journal) and Scott Stantis (from the Right, Chicago Tribune) dive into the latest developments in politics and culture.

The 2024 presidential campaign has some new candidates. On the Democratic side, Marianne Williamson returns for another attempt to challenge presumed reelection campaigner Joe Biden and Robert F Kennedy, Jr. throws his hat into the ring as well. On the Republican side, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott joins declared candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. Trump’s indictment has Republicans rallying around him, vastly increasing his lead over Florida governor Ron DeSantis. On the GOP side, it looks like Donald Trump may have this sewn up.

The Biden Administration has announced that it wants to have as many as two out of three automobiles sold in the United States to be fully electric by the year 2032. How will Americans be able to afford these more expensive vehicles? Will there be enough charging infrastructure? How will our lives change as a result? Geopolitical relations will change as well; electric vehicle batteries require lithium, which is mined in places like Afghanistan and central Africa, where China has an outsized advantage on mining rights.

The NYPD rolls out three high-tech devices designed to take beat cops off the street and replace them with autonomous gadgets out of a dystopian movie. The K5 “SnitchBot” is a 400 pound, 6 foot tall, automated spy. Then there’s “Digi-Dog,” a $375,000 robotic dog supposedly designed to handle hostage situations. Will these devices be powered by artificial intelligence? Will they select their own targets? Will the public put up with them? Unsurprisingly, flamethrower drones may be the answer.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 96 | April 6, 2023: Trump Indictment, Progressives on the March, Is France Moving Right?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Two of America's best Editorial Cartoonists dissect the issues of the day. First up: the Trump Indictment. Is it folly? Or good justice? Scott and Ted take a deep dive into the recent, historically unprecedented arraignment of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. What are the repercussions and what can and should come next? Following that, Ted and Scott look at not one but two high-profile progressive victories: one for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, assuring abortion rights in the state for the foreseeable future, and the other for Mayor of Chicago. Is this a sign of a leftward movement by the country, or a pair of anomalies? Lastly Scott and Ted (both of French descent, Ted even holding dual French-U.S. citizenship), discuss a recent poll showing current French President Emmanuel Macron trailing far-right politician leader Marine Le Pen. Does this poll reflect a shift in French attitudes, or is it more of a reaction to Macron's unilateral decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64? This DMZ America Podcast spans the globe!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 95 | March 29, 2023: Senate Votes to Deauthorize Iraq War, DeSantis the Gitmo Torturer, Reparations to Black Americans

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Two of America’s top political analysts, left-wing cartoonist Ted Rall and right-wing cartoonist Scott Stantis, discuss the week’s events and cultural happenings on the DMZ America podcast.

In a surprising move, the United States Senate has voted to revoke the 2002 Authorization to Use Military Force legislation that presidents beginning with George W. Bush relied upon in order to invade and occupy Iraq, as well as a number of other military conflicts. Will the House of Representatives follow suit? The answer is more complex than you might expect. Will Congress reassert its Constitutional exclusive right to wage war?

The Washington Post revealed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible top contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, enthusiastically participated in torture as a JAG at Guantánamo Bay concentration camp in 2006, where he suggested that hunger-striking inmates be force-fed and personally supervised and smiled while observing what international human rights organizations universally describe as torture. DeSantis hasn’t denied the shocking charges. Will Trump make it an issue? Would a Democratic challenger? What does it say about the United States that the story doesn’t seem to be catching on?

San Francisco and the State of California are contemplating the issue of reparations to Black American descendants of slaves in order to compensate them for being the victims of systemic racism. Setting aside the issue of the vast amount of money involved, who would qualify? What would be the practical considerations of such a program? Is it even possible to compensate for such enormous injustice that is baked into the American economic and political system?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 94 | March 24, 2023: Is TikTok a Threat? France is Burning! The Non-Arrest of Donald J. Trump

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Two American Editorial Cartoonists, Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right), bring into focus the pressing issues of the day. First up: the CEO of the social media app TikTok comes under scrutiny by the U.S. Congress. Is it a threat to national security? Next, Ted and Scott discuss the growing unrest in France. (Both cartoonists have deep French roots. Especially Ted who is, in fact, a dual citizen of the United States and France.) And finally, Scott and Ted discuss the non-arrest of former President Trump and make a bet if he ever will be.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 93 | March 18, 2023: Trump Says He's About to Be Arrested

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Former President Donald Trump announced that he expects to be arrested this Tuesday by the Manhattan district attorney in connection with charges related to misappropriation of campaign funds to pay hush money to porn star stormy Daniels, who alleges that she had an affair with him. In this special edition of the DMZ America podcast in which left-leaning editorial cartoonist Ted Rall debates politics with right-leaning editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis, they go over the social, legal and political implications of what appears to be an imminent indictment, the first of its kind against a former President of the United States. Is political violence inevitable? Will there be an uprising near the New York courthouse similar to January 6? Will Trump-weary republicans close ranks behind the former president? Does this hurt him or help him in his election campaign for 2024? Spoiler alert: Democrats should be careful what they have long wished for.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 92 | March 15, 2023: Are SVB and Signature Bank Just the Beginning? When Did the GOP Become the Peace Party? Things Seem Unreal Since Reality is Now Subjective

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 18:00:00 -0400

Internationally-syndicated cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) discuss the week's pressing issues. In Segment One they break down the banking crisis, weighing the causes of the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature failures and what the repercussions may be. (Ted also congratulates Scott on his warnings that the Federal Reserve Board was pushing its anti-inflation rate increases far too hard, with the bank failures being the early results of those policies.) Next, Scott and Ted get you up-to-date on the most recent events in Ukraine. Which raises the question: will Ted join the Republican Party because of its ever growing antiwar stance on the Russia-Ukrainian conflict? Lastly, the boys discuss the growing notion that reality is subjective since we all seem to subscribe to our own version of what is real. A far-reaching and incredibly interesting DMZ America Podcast.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 91 | March 8, 2023: Abortion Bans Kill Women, France's Fight for Retirement, "Liberal" Media Companies Line Up Behind Fox News

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500

American political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) discuss the hottest issues of the week. Abortion is at the top of the news again in the week of a landmark lawsuit filed by five Texas women who almost lost their lives because Texas Republicans have banned abortion in the state. As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, pro-choice sentiment hits a record high in the polls—what does this mean for Republicans? French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to increase the national retirement age from 62 to 64 has united the French people against him. Biden and the Democrats think they have a winning issue here with Social Security and Medicare, given Republicans’ previous messaging on the entitlement programs. Corporate media lawyers fret that defamation defendants could be vulnerable to accountability for their newsroom decisions should Dominion Voting Systems prevail in their $1.6 billion libel claim against Fox News. Would that be so terrible?

Watch the Video Version of the DMZ America Podcast:
Ep 91 Sec 1 - Texas Abortion Lawsuit
Ep 91 Sec 2 - France's Retirement Fight
Ep 91 Sec 3 - Dominion vs. Fox News Defamation Lawsuit

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 90 | February 27, 2023: Two In-the-Know Cartoonists Analyze "Dilbert" Creator Scott Adams and His Racist Rant

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Professional cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) dig deep into the dumpster fire started by "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams, who used his YouTube channel and Twitter account to espouse apparently racist views that got his once-huge comic strip decimated by cancellations across the nation over the course of a few days. Ted and Scott dive into the fraught waters of this cartoon-world controversy, first analyzing whether the context of what Adams was saying differed from the news coverage. Ted shares his personal and professional interactions with Adams. Scott contextualizes the effect on syndication and the newspaper business from his vantage point as a long-time comic strip artist himself. Could Adams be suffering from a cognitive disorder or early onset Alzhemer's? Is he evil or just weird? Does the punishment (in this case, being dropped by most of his client newspapers), fit the crime? Finally, Ted, a former newspaper syndicate executive at the company that distributed "Dilbert," reveals how he and his colleagues would have handled the imbroglio and what Adams' current syndicate will likely do going forward.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 89 | February 21, 2023: Jimmy Carter Death Watch, Over/Underrated Presidents, China Backs Russia in Ukraine

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) join an about-to-grieve nation considering the presidency and legacy of Jimmy Carter, 98, who recently entered hospice. Not discussed elsewhere yet important is Carter's policies, which began the current trend of the conservative Democrat. Yesterday was Presidents' Day so it's time to take a walk down historical-memory lane and consider which of our leaders enjoy an undeservedly positive reputation, and which presidents have been unfairly overlooked for their accomplishments. It's the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: what happens next? Quagmire and escalation. Most notably, the president of China is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this spring in Moscow in order to discuss material ways China can help the Russian war effort in Ukraine.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 88 | February 15, 2023: Is the GOP Racist? Nikki Haley, Taking on Chinese Death Balloons and the Ukraine Quagmire

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:00:00 -0500

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right), discuss the pressing issues of the week. First up: a discussion of the presidential candidacy of former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, which dovetails into the question: is the Republican Party too racist to elect a woman of color? Also, the apparent inevitability of President Trump becoming the 2024 GOP nominee. Following that, Scott and Ted discuss the seemingly nonstop parade of Communist Chinese balloons invading American airspace. Ted offers a never-before-suggested solution (which is his answer to just about everything): FLAME THROWER DRONES! Lastly, Ted and Scott examine next steps in the Ukraine War, which they agree has become a quagmire and could remain one for the next decade.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 87 | February 8, 2023: Biden's Raucous, Bizarre State of the Union Address

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) discuss President Biden's wild and crazy State of the Union address last night. What SOTU is supposed to be versus what it actually is, and how Republican hecklers and the President mutually owned one another. What happens next in the 2024 presidential race as a result? The president outperformed expectations, but the fact that the expectations were low reflects a fundamental problem in the political system and Democratic prospects for next year. Scott and Ted handicap the Democratic primaries, Republican primaries, and spend some time deep-diving whether Ron DeSantis is really a thing or just a figment of the media imagination.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 86 | February 1, 2023: Tyre Nichols Killed by Memphis Police, Biden's Beach House Searched by the FBI, Now Ukraine now wants F-16s Too

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0500

Progressive editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and Conservative Scott Stantis discuss and debate the breaking news of the day. They take a deep dive into the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the Memphis Police's Scorpion Squad. What should real police reform look like? Scott and Ted offer an in-depth plan for turning the police from brutish adversaries to supportive problem-solvers. Next, Ted and Scott turn to the breaking news that Biden's Delaware beach house has been searched by the FBI in search of classified documents. Is the Federal Government classifying too many documents? What about the implications for 2024? Lastly, Rall and Stantis look at Ukraine, whose leaders are now asking for fighter jets on top of all of the military equipment the United States taxpayers have already gifted them. Scott and Ted consider if the U.S. should even be involved at all in this seemingly endless conflict.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 85 | January 24, 2023: Pence's Classified Documents, Ukraine Slog, Parents Rights & Trans Kids, the Fight to Save Downtowns

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) break down another interesting week in news and current events. Former Vice President Mike Pence, it turns out, also had classified documents left over from his time in office. Is it time to admit that (a) everyone has classified documents and (b) way too much stuff is overclassified and we should just stop caring about this? Now Ukraine wants tanks. But it turns out many of President Zelensky’s top officials were corrupt, so he fired them. Should the U.S. establish a war aim to define what victory looks like? If so, what should it be? Angry parents, including some liberal Democrats, say schools should tell them if their kids are identifying as a different gender in the classroom. Do parents have a right to know that their boy is really a girl? Finally, downtowns are dying as a result of workers no longer going into the office. Why do Americans hate commuting so much?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 84 | January 18, 2023: Debating the Debt Ceiling, Biden's Secret Papers and Potpourri

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 15:00:00 -0500

Internationally-syndicated Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis analyze the news of the day. Starting with a brisk debate about whether or not the Debt Ceiling should be lifted or if there should be one at all. Next, Ted and Scott weigh in on Secret Documents President Biden had piled up in his garage. Does this preclude a run for reelection in 2024? Lastly, a potpourri of topics ranging from the Wyoming Legislature proposing a ban on the purchase of electric vehicles to the Russian troop buildup in the west of Ukraine to recent projections that 90% of online content will be generated by AI by 2025. (This podcast is not, btw.)

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 83 | January 10, 2023: Two Hosts, Two Cases of COVID! McCarthy's Bosses' House. Biden's Pilfered Docs.

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:00:00 -0500

Political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis may come from opposite sides of the political divide, but they have something in common: both of them currently have COVID-19. But they also have a work ethic! So here's the brain-fog edition of the DMZ America podcast, complete with live Covid swab tests, a look at the House of Representatives in the Kevin McCarthy era, or more accurately the era of those who own Kevin McCarthy, and the entertaining prospect of watching Democrats explain the subtle differences between Joe Biden's decision to take classified documents from the White House home with him, and Donald Trump's decision to do the same thing.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 82 | January 4, 2023: McCarthy Loses Again, “Don't Run, Joe!” and Is It Time to Ban Football?

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0500

Big issues face our award-winning editorial cartoonists here on the DMZ podcast. Ted Rall and Scott Stantis analyze the deadlock in the race to choose the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. They beg President Biden not to run for reelection. Lastly, Scott and Ted debate whether football should be banned following the near-fatal injury Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin suffered during the recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Which comes on the heel of several studies showing that players suffer from significant brain damage after playing the sport for years.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 81 | December 28, 2022: Southwest Airlines, Mark Santos and Title 42

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0500

What's to blame for mass cancellations and dysfunction at the formerly beloved Southwest Airlines? Long Island has a new Congressman-elect, Mark Santos. But nothing he told us about himself seems to be true. Ironically, his lies make him look worse than the reality of his hardscrabble upbringing. Supreme Court is allowing Section 42 to remain in place, trapping tens of thousands of asylum seekers at the Mexico border. Surely there's a better way. Editorial cartoonists Scott Stantis and Ted Rall break it down for you.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 80 | December 21, 2022: Zelensky in Washington, House Committee Releases Trump's Taxes and WTF Is Up with Twitter?

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0500

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis unpack a lot of stuff surrounding the visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Zelensky. They agree that the House committee decision to release former President Trump's tax returns sucks. Finally, the artists question whether social media giants should be regulated and, if so, how?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 79 | December 15, 2022: Musk's Pronoun Wars, NYC's War on the Homeless, Republicans' Wars on Everything. Plus: Breaking News on Flamethrower Drones!

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis take a different view of the pronoun wars raging across America in response to Elon Musk's jibes. Then they take on New York City Mayor Eric Adams' policy of involuntarily detaining the homeless. Ted and Scott dismiss the Mainstream Left's hopes and prayers that the Trump era is behind us. Most importantly, they announce the latest breakthrough in flamethrower-drone technology!!!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 78 | December 9, 2022: Kyrsten Sinema's Bait and Switch, Brittney Griner Home After Prisoner Swap with Russia

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema took the wind out of the sails of Senatorial Democrats two days after they got a 51-seat majority, announcing that she will no longer be a Democrat. Meanwhile, WNBA player and convicted marijuana transporter Brittney Griner is back home in Texas after being traded for a Russian arms dealer. Editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and Scott Stantis, battling the flu, nevertheless find the energy to tell you what it all means and why you should care.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 77 | December 5, 2022: Twitter Files Hunter Biden, Gender Transition for Kids, What to Do about Kanye West

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis, coming from the left and the right respectively, analyze the fallout from the weekend's media dump at Twitter. Not only was the Hunter Biden laptop story real, censorship of the New York Post was worse than you imagined. Should children be able to change their gender surgically or otherwise? Adults attempting to detransition are forcing a reevaluation. Finally, what's the best way to deal with Kanye West?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 76 | November 23, 2022: Another Shooting, Misinterpreting the Midterms, Should Greta Thunberg Offer Solutions?

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:00:00 -0500

Ted Rall and Scott Stantis, two of the finest editorial cartoonists in all the land, dig deep into the ongoing rash of mass shootings in America. Is there any cause for hope? They demystify the meaning of the midterms and debate whether an activist has a larger obligation than just pointing out a problem. Should they also offer solutions?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 75 | November 16, 2022: Trump Runs Again. NATO Almost Starts WW3. What Should the 2024 Campaign Be About?

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Donald Trump is running a third time. Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss his prospects and possible challengers, as well as the media's attempt to pretend he doesn't exist. A stray Ukrainian missile kills two people in Poland, Poland blames Russia and NATO almost goes to war with Russia over the mistake. Did Russia have a point about an intertwined military alliance along its border? Finally, a contrast between what the 2024 campaign will look like and what, in a saner country with a functional political climate, it should be about.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 74 | November 9, 2022: Post-Election Analysis and Pre-Election Prediction Mea Culpas

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Two of America's top cartoonists perform their postmortem on the 2022 midterm elections. Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss what happened and, more importantly, what will happen going forward into 2023 and divided government, and a certain former president's plans for the near future. They also revisit their pre-election predictions which were, (as Bob Uecker might say), juuuust a little outside.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 73 | November 3, 2022: Ukraine War, British Pipeline Shenanigans and Midterms Prognostications

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Leftie cartoonist Ted Rall and rightie cartoonist Scott Stantis file their last analysis and handicap before the 2022 midterm elections, both in agreement that things currently bleak for Democrats. Evidence surfaces implicating the British Navy in the bombing of the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline. Congressional progressive Democrats are humiliated by having to withdraw their tepid call for diplomacy between Ukraine and Russia. Speculation abounds surrounding the brutal hammer attack against Nancy Pelosi's husband in their San Francisco home.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

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Episode 72 | October 26, 2022: The Midterms are Looming, What Will the Republicans Do If (or When) They Take the House? And What Does Haiti Have To Do with Ukraine?

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 17:00:00 -0400

In this edition of the DMZ America Podcast, nationally-recognized Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss the quickly-approaching midterm elections. How the Democrats are blowing it and why it will be partly their fault if a bunch of MAGA nutbags get elected. Also: what does Haiti have to do with Ukraine?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 71 | October 21, 2022: A Look Behind the Looming Freight Railroad Strike

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Freight-train conductor Toby Kemp joins political cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) for a behind-the-scenes look at life for railroad workers in the run-up to a likely national rail transport workers strike next month. Between 30% and 40% of all freight moves via rail, so a strike would cause major supply-chain disruptions as the country faces down higher interest rates and an OPEC-led oil shock. Rall and Stantis discuss the political and economic implications while Kemp provides a fascinating look at an important sector of the workforce that often gets ignored.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 70 | October 10, 2022: Ukraine War Update, Are These the Most Consequential Elections in Modern Times? How to Come Up with a Cartoon—Plus a Little French

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Editorial Cartoonists Ted Rall (Left) and Scott Stantis (Right) bring the heat in this edition of the DMZ America Podcast. The first segment hears them putting the latest escalation in the Ukraine War into perspective and define what modern warfare has become. Next up, Ted and Scott debate the importance of the 2022 midterm elections. Lastly, these two top cartoonists discuss process in this muddled media market. Finally, they bring in a little French. You should listen.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 69 | October 6, 2022: Could Ukraine War Go Nuclear? Are Saudis Fixing the Midterms? How Bad Is Afghanistan?

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists and best friends Scott Stantis (Right) and Ted Rall (Left) discuss the week's news for their DMZ America podcast, where disagreement and civility go hand in hand. First, Washington floats the idea that Russia might use tactical nuclear weapons and suggests the US might escalate to a "hot" war with Russia. Second, Scott offers a unified theory explaining why Saudi Arabia and OPEC denied Biden's pleas for increased oil production and how this might be an October Surprise. Finally, Afghanistan has collapsed again. Here's why you should care.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 68 | September 26, 2022: The rise of neo-fascism, Is the Federal Reserve Board destroying the economy for the rich? Edward Snowden granted Russian citizenship by Putin

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 20:00:00 -0400

Ted Rall, coming at things from the Left and Scott Stantis, coming from the Right, tackle the major issues of the day. First off, Italy elects Giorgia Meloni, head of the Brothers of Italy, a political party founded by neo-fascists which begs the question: is the whole world going totalitarian or what? Next, Scott and Ted discuss the Fed and its passion for bringing back the '70's and all the economic pain that comes with it. Lastly, breaking news as Edward Snowden, ( Ted wrote his biography), is granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin. Is this just the Russian system working or is it Putin thumbing his nose at America? All of this and more on the best podcast in the world!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 67 | September 21, 2022: Russian Plebiscites in Ukraine, Migrants up in the Air and the Midterms

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Left-leaning editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and right-leaning editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis debate the two major developments in the Ukraine Russia war. Russia is calling up more troops and wants to hold plebiscites in the territory it controls with a view toward annexation. Ted and Scott have differing views about which aspect could lead to further escalation in the conflict. The governors of Texas and Florida are deporting asylums seeking immigrants to Northern states. We discuss the humanitarian and political aspects of this strange story. Finally: where are we in the upcoming key midterm elections?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 66 | September 13, 2022: Special guest Charles Lipson joins Scott Stantis and Ted Rall to discuss the war in Ukraine and what happens if the President-elect dies before the electoral college meets?

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 20:00:00 -0400

Charles Lipson, University of Chicago Professor Emeritus of political science, and a regular contributor to Real Clear Politics, Newsweek, Spectator/World and The Wall Street Journal, joins cartoonists Scott Stantis and Ted Rall in a freewheeling discussion on the continuing war in Ukraine. They also take a deep dive into presidential succession. With Joe Biden insisting he’s really running for reelection and Donald Trump doing the same, we have to wonder—because at the time of the next election, one will be 82 and the other 78. What happens if the winner dies before the electoral college convenes? Interesting people having interesting conversation. You should listen.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 65 | September 7, 2022: Abortion and the Midterms, Hunter Biden's Secret Laptop and Gannett Fires Its Last Political Cartoonist

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis are in a glum mood following the Gannett newspaper chain's decision to fire/lay off/buy out their colleague Andy Marlette, marking another milestone in the media's war against political cartooning. First, however, Rall and Stantis discuss the evolving prospects for the midterm elections in light of the increasing impact of the Dodds decision overturning abortion rights, Hunter Biden's laptop and what's on it and why corporate media still refuses to talk about it.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 64 | September 2, 2022: Gorby Dies, Biden speaks and how'd we handle Covid?

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 22:00:00 -0400

This week's episode sees two of America's top editorial cartoonists, Ted Rall (on the Left) and Scott Stantis (on the Right), debate the legacy of the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Next, the boys critique President Joe Biden's recent speech calling MAGA Republicans fascist. In the third segment Scott and Ted review the reports coming out analyzing America's Covid response. (Spoiler alert: we didn't do too good). Plus, as always, flamethrower drones.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 63 | August 25, 2022: Student Loan Forgiveness, Quiet Quitting and Zelensky's Big Lie

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0400

Joe Biden wants to forgive up to $20,000 per student loan borrower. Ted and Scott do a deep dive into who qualifies and why and why it's weird, and Scott takes a stand against executive action rather than congressional debate in the situation. America's favorite left wing and right wing political cartoonist discuss the phenomenon previously known as slacking, now known as "quiet quitting." Finally, Ukrainian President Zelensky has been outed as a major liar to the Ukrainian people, some of whom are not pleased about it. In a democracy, or what passes for one, what if anything are the people entitled to know?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 62 | August 17, 2022: Liz Cheney, Sarah Palin and the Midterms, Salman Rushdie and Personal Political Violence, Superhero Movies and the Cancellation of Bat Girl

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:00:00 -0400

Two of America's top editorial cartoonists sit down to discuss the future of Republican firebrands Liz Cheney and Sarah Palin. Then they talk about the horrible knife attack on author Salman Rushdie and their own experiences with political violence aimed at them and other US political cartoonists. Finally the two get into how much they love/hate superhero movies, (can you guess which one holds which opinion?).

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 61 | August 10, 2022: Trump Under Fire. More Truth From Inside Russia. Does Democrats' Good Week Matter?

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Former President Donald Trump's Florida home raided by the FBI as he prepares to be deposed by the New York attorney general's office. Will Trump be able to survive, or even thrive, as a result of overreach that feeds into his supporters' sense of eternal grievance? Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis discuss the political ramifications. Ted downloads about his second week in Russia and how it bore zero resemblance to the picture of doom and gloom depicted by Western news media. Democrats got stuff done, finally. Does it matter? If so, how much?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 60 | August 3, 2022: Pelosi goes to Taiwan, Midterms, U.S.-led Assassinations, Monkey Pox and Ted Reports from Russia

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 21:00:00 -0400

This episode finds award-winning cartoonist Ted Rall Zooming in a report from St. Petersburg, Russia. He and Scott Stantis (not in Russia) discuss Speaker Nancy Pelosi's historic trip to Taiwan. Which leads the lads to talk about the assassination of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Scott and Ted also discuss Monkey Pox and, last, Ted delivers a boots-on-the-ground report about life inside the Russian Federation under Western sanctions. Spoiler: it's nothing like you think.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode #59 | July 29, 2022: Ted Calls in from Moscow; Paul Pringle and Other Self-Serving Figures at the LA Times

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 10:00:00 -0400

In this week's DMZ America Podcast, cartoonist Ted Rall calls fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis on a shaky line from Russia. Listen to this first-hand account of how US sanctions are (not) affecting Moscow and how things look and feel in the Russian capital. LA Times investigative reporter Paul Pringle, in the news over his controversial book ("Bad City") calling out corruption at the Times and in LA in general, and attacking his own newspaper over a USC scandal, played a key role—perhaps largely forgotten—in the LA Times' infamous decision to fire and smear Ted as a favor to the LAPD. Scott and Ted remember how things went down in 2015 and analyze how few people at the LA Times have much to be proud of.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 58 | July 21, 2022: With special guest, Editorial Cartoonist Mike Thompson! Workplace Bullying, the VERY Shallow Democratic Bench for 2024 and Hunter Biden

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 19:00:00 -0400

Ted and Scott welcome their good friend Editorial Cartoonist Mike Thompson (ex-USA Today, Detroit News) to the podcast as a guest. Mike has written a fascinating graphic-journalism piece on workplace bullying and its role in the Great Resignation. We go on to handicap the candidates for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. (Spoiler alert: It's pretty bleak.) Finally, we go into the sordid story of Hunter Biden. Should we care that the Mainstream Media doesn't give a rip about this growing scandal?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 57 | July 18, 2022: Cowardly Cops and the Middle East: Who Should We Cozy up with, Iran or Saudi Arabia?

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Scott Stantis and Ted Rall engage in a lively debate over the Middle East. Iran claims to have nuclear weapons technology, whatever the hell that means, which has Scott worried to the point that he's contemplating bombing the country. Meanwhile Biden cozied up to Saudi Arabia's dictator this week, prompting Ted to to go off the rails. But first, the final report is out on the police non-reaction at the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and the question is: can the cops be redeemed?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 56 | July 7, 2022: Another day, another mass shooting in America, Putin's victory and Hillary 2024 is a thing

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 19:00:00 -0400

Ted and Scott have a full plate. First off, they discuss the latest mass shooting, on July 4th in Highland Park Illinois, and what, if anything, can be done to prevent the next ones. (Spoiler:they actually come close to agreeing on a solution). Next up, Ted predicted it and, sadly, it looks like Putin's forces are pushing on to victory in eastern Ukraine. What comes next? Lastly, (and we are not making this up), there is movement afoot suggesting the Democrats need to make Hillary their nominee in 2024. Scott and Ted totally agree on what should be done about this...

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 55 | June 29, 2022: Jan. 6th Investigation Gets Hot, Abortion Gets Aborted, Russia Bites Back

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis debate and discuss the week's issues from the Left and the Right. The Democrats' Jan. 6th hearings turned interesting as a White House staffer claims she overheard the Secret Service discussing Trump's trying to grab the wheel of the Presidential limo to lead the insurrection. Office gossip or treason? Women's right to choose—is it toast in the red states or will a sustained campaign of protest...never mind. As Russia consolidates its gains in Ukraine, Presidents Rall and Stantis propose peace terms.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 54 | June 25, 2022: Roe v Wade Killed, Guns, Ukraine and Male Masturbation

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The DMZ America podcast falls off of the rails hard, but first Ted and Scott discuss the SCOTUS decision to throw abortion back to the states. Earlier the court struck down a New York gun law. Then the boys discuss Ukraine and living the narrative vs reality. Finally, the conversation inexplicably turns to masturbation and involuntarily celibates aka Incels.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 54 | June 17, 2022: UK Close to Extraditing Julian Assange to US

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Ted and Scott break down the breaking news that British authorities have approved the extradition of Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange to the United States to face espionage charges in connection with the Chelsea Manning leaks. Both Scott and Ted are deeply disturbed by the implications and threats to free speech, a free press and democracy itself.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 53 | June 15, 2022: If I Were President! What We'd Do on Inflation/Economy, Human Rights/Foreign Policy & Guns/Red Flag Laws

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Ted Rall and Scott Stantis believe that every political cartoonist should know what he or she would do if they became President of the United States. This week we put that question to the test. What, if anything, can the president do to combat inflation? As President Biden prepares to suck up to murderous Saudi Arabia, does he have an alternative? Are red-flag laws common-sense gun legislation or are they the first step down the path to dystopian authoritarianism?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 52 | June 6, 2022: An In-Depth Interview with Cartoonist Ted Rall, One of the Most Unique Voices in America

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Scott, who was interviewed by DMZ America podcast co-host Ted Rall, finally returns the favor and interviews Ted. Where he came from and how his opinions were shaped. From a troubled and tumultuous childhood in Dayton, Ohio to becoming a bestselling and highly-regarded editorial cartoonist, columnist and author. Learn about this most fascinating man in this week's Season One-ending episode.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 51 | June 1, 2022: Police Wuss Out in Uvalde. What To Do About Gun Violence. Ukraine Update.

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Police are supposed to protect and serve, but apparently all they were good for at the school shooting in Uvalde Texas was standing outside and beating up distraught parents. Why are cops cowards? Ted and Scott have different theories. Can mass shootings be prevented? Probably not, but Scott and Ted have suggestions on ways to mitigate the bloodshed. Finally, the war in Ukraine. Looks like Russia has the upper hand. What's next?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 50| May 24, 2022: President Biden proposes a two front nuclear war, Just how shallow is the Democrats bench for 2024? and a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Tue, 24 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

In the first segment Ted Rall gives a brief history lesson of Taiwan and why President Joe Biden's recent comments about the island non-state are so dangerous. Segment two has co-host Scott Stantis and Ted wondering just who is the next big thing in the Democratic party. (Hint-it's NOT Vice President Kamala Harris). Lastly but certain not least, Ted and Scott have a HUGE announcement they want to share with you.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 49 | May 20, 2022: This Rotten Economy, Ukraine War Propaganda and a Potpourri of Politics

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis is back from hiking the Grand Canyon and ready to rumble with fellow cartoonist Ted Rall about inflation, Joe Biden's sinking approval ratings, that $40 billion we're sending to Ukraine and a bunch of observations on other stories from this week's news headlines.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 48 | May 12, 2022: Pulitzer Prize, Roe v. Wade and our Rotten Economy

Thu, 12 May 2022 17:00:00 -0400

In this episode Ted, (who is suffering following his fifth Covid shot), and Scott discuss the lousy state of editorial cartooning illustrated by the horrendous winners of the Pulitzer Prize. Next, they discuss the aftermath of the leaked SCOTUS Roe v. Wade decision and the state of progressives in the United States. Lastly, the U.S. economy in free fall and the Biden administration's stumbling response.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 47 | May 3, 2022: US Supreme Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade

Tue, 03 May 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (left) and Scott Stantis (right) analyze the breaking news that the US Supreme Court will almost certainly overturn the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade. Ted and Scott consider the impact on the midterm election campaign and the result, predict the likelihood of a sustained campaign of protest by the left, and ponder the nature of existence itself.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 46 | April 28, 2022: Women Who Subject Men to Domestic Abuse, Ukraine and Disney Uber Alles

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 22:00:00 -0400

Scott and Ted dedicate the first segment of this episode to delve into the taboo subject of adult males who become victims of domestic abuse at the hands of their female partners, the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard defamation trial being a case in point. In the second segment, we delve into Ukraine, DisneyWorld having its own government taken away in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis, the floundering Biden economy and driverless cars.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 45 | April 21, 2022: Biden's Racist Immigration Policy, Another Civil War in Afghanistan?, Johnny Depp's Courage

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Joe Biden is throwing America open to any Ukrainian who wants to come here, but even if you've been waiting for years to cross the southern border as a refugee because the United States overthrew and destroyed your home country's democratically elected government, you need not apply. Simultaneous terrorist attacks throughout Afghanistan paint an ominous portrait of renewed civil conflict in a country that is suffering from 97% mass starvation due to White House policies. Johnny Depp's extraordinary courage testifying to being abused by his mother and his ex-wife Amber Heard prompt a discussion about the hidden epidemic of American men abused by women. Check out this week's DMZ America podcast with political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 44 | April 15, 2022: Is This the End of the American Century? Sex Education in Schools and How Low in the Polls can President Biden and the Democrats Go?

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Two of America's best political commentators, cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis, discuss the sun setting on this last American century. The "Don't Say 'Gay'" policy in our public schools gets a closer look and the latest polls are in, and things are looking pretty bleak for the Biden Administration and the Democratic Party.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 43 | April 6, 2022 Ukraine vs. Russia, Taiwan v. China, 2024 Presidential Election

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 15:00:00 -0400

If you like your podcasts focused like a laser, this isn't your episode. Cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis are as scattered as the world itself in their takes on foreign crises in Ukraine and the Taiwan Strait and the weird prospects for the 2024 presidential election.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 42 | March 30, 2022 Ukraine War Enters its Second Month, Could Old Joe Stumble Us into a War? and the Slap

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 17:00:00 -0400

In this edition two of the top commentators in the country, Ted Rall and Scott Stantis, discuss the Ukraine War so far. The dangers of having an old president and The Slap. (No surprise, Ted thinks all of these problems can be solved with a flamethrower drone...)

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 41 | March 23, 2022: Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings, Ukraine and Kinky Sex

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson appears almost certain to be headed towards Senate confirmation as soon as the next US Supreme Court justice. What does it say about America that she is taking heat for representing Guantánamo detainees? Ted is dismayed by Jackson stated acceptance of late Justice Antonin Scalia's radical-right originalist theory of constitutional interpretation. Scott and Ted debate major talking points surrounding America's involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Finally, Scott comes out as the most sexually repugnant thing you can be in the age of libertinism: a prude. Christine Emba's new book "Rethinking Sex: A Provocation" is the starting point of the discussion about how younger women feel pressured to do things in bed that they really don't want to do.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 40 | March 16, 2022: Don't call us traitors, we ask for your advice on next steps and, of course, flamethrower drones!

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:00:00 -0400

Ted gets called a traitor, Putin lackey and useful idiot. Ted takes umbrage. Scott and Ted ask our listeners for their input on how to continue to grow our podcast and we have our fingers crossed that the makers of flamethrower drones would sponsor our show.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 39 | March 10, 2022: Journalistic Malpractice, Ukraine and Why Ted Draws for Sputnik

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Scott points us to an excellent example of journalistic malpractice, this time by the New York Times about COVID-19 and different outcomes in Democratic versus Republican states. Ted and Scott dig deep into the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ted talks about why he draws cartoons for Sputnik News.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 38 | March 3, 2022: The Ukraine Crisis Continues; Is the Bigotry Pendulum Swinging Too Far the Other way?

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

In the first segment of this edition, Ted and Scott discuss the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian army. What happens next? What about the dangers of painting Russia into a corner? The second segment is focused on whether sins of the past are manifesting themselves into a new type of exclusionary bigotry.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 37 | February 24, 2022: Russia Invades Ukraine. Is It Our Business?

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Russian troops launched military operations throughout Ukraine, as Scott predicted. Scott thinks it's 50-50 whether they remain for a full-fledged occupation or, as Ted speculates, this is a temporary incursion/raid intended to flesh out the breakaway eastern Russian-aligned republics and degrade Ukraine's military prior to withdrawal. Scott favors an aggressive response from the West; Ted argues this is a fight in which the US shouldn't get involved.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 36 | February 17, 2022: Should the U.S. Send troops to Ukraine? Sarah Palin Gets anti-SLAPPed and a Look into the Cartooning Creative Process

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Scott and Ted debate what the United States response ought to be should Putin's Russia invade Ukraine. Ted goes deep into the weeds to explain how anti-SLAPP laws in America have been used by the powerful to screw over the weak and damaged, and destroy defamation law. (You know it's bad when the likes of Ted feel sorry for Sarah Palin.) The third segment has Ted and Scott discussing what they are going to create, and how, as they are teamed up to draw on the same day on CounterPoint.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 35 | February 10, 2022: felony protections for makeshift memorials, Biden keeps sinking and the Uyghurs

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:00:00 -0500

It's a lively fast moving episode as cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis marvel at a First Amendment that allows felony prosecution of someone ripping up a piece of paper and throwing it away, try to predict just how far Joe Biden's poll numbers can fall, and talk about the Uyghurs, suddenly at the center of discussion after years of being ignored due to the winter Olympics in Beijing. Who are they? Why do they matter? And how can we live with ourselves for being so incredibly hypocritical?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 34 | February 1, 2022: Banned Books, Affirmative Action, Elon Musk's right to privacy and, of course, Flame Thrower Drones!

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:00:00 -0500

In this edition of the DMZ America Podcast Ted explains his dislike of "Maus" cartoonist Art Spiegelman while Scott explains how this particular book banning is no banning at all. The boys go on to discuss Senator Ted Cruz's ham-handed attack on Affirmative Action that may, in fact, have some merit. They conclude the episode by defending Elon Musk's right to privacy and, of course, Ted brings up his favorite subject: Flamethrower Drones.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 33 | Supplemental | January 26, 2022: Justice Breyer Retires, What Next?

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:00:00 -0500

Justice Stephen Breyer has announced his retirement at age 83. Biden gets to appoint his replacement. Will he use this opportunity to solve the Incredible Shrinking Kamala problem? Conservative cartoonist Scott Stantis argues yes. Ted Rall suggests how freeing up the veep seat could unify the Democratic Party with a specific pick to replace Harris as vice president. Hint: she's progressive.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 32 | January 26, 2022: Russia/Ukraine, Should We Care? Pelosi Runs for Her 18th Term, SCOTUS on Affirmative Action, UWash's Banned Word List

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500

It's a busy news week as political cartoonists Scott Stantis (right) and Ted Rall (left) solve the world's problems. Ukraine: will Russia invade and, if they do, should we care or do anything to show it? College admissions policies are back before the Supreme Court. The University of Washington releases something close to a comprehensive list of words and phrases woke Americans aren't allowed to utter. And House Speaker, age 81, announces she's running for Congress again. Does this mean she'll break her promise to step down as Speaker at the end of this year?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 31 | January 19, 2022: Grading Biden, Will Congressional Democrats ever get their act together? and What is Bidenisim?

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Ted and Scott grade President Joe Biden's first year in office. They go on to discuss the hot mess that Democratic Congressional leadership has made and conclude with a potpourri of issues ranging from the delay in launching 5G network to current tensions over Ukraine to the new Anne Frank book.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 30| January 12, 2022: Why Trash the Filibuster Now? Prince Andrew's Privilege. And Hillary Clinton Redux Redux.

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0500

Democrats will almost certainly lose control of the Senate in November. Why, 10 months before that disaster, would a party about to become a minority party want to get rid of the filibuster, the most potent weapon a minority party can have? Scott and Ted speculate on what appears to be the stupidest political decision of their lifetimes. Prince Andrew is a pig but you already knew that; Scott and Ted talk about the nature of privilege and how it games the system. And it looks like Hillary Clinton is flirting with yet another run for the presidency — God help us all, there's actually a possibility.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 29| January 6, 2022: Happy Insurrection Day!

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Ted and Scott talk about the one year anniversary of the riot/uprising/coup of January 6 and its effect on the future of America. Be warned, they go deep into the weeds of history and political philosophy to find meaning in that one, crazy day.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 28 | December 31, 2021: Looking Back at 2021, Predicting 2022 and Beyond (and Ted has Covid)

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500

For the last podcast of the year, Scott and Ted look back at the year that was and consider the world of politics and culture in the year ahead and beyond. From January 6 to the midterms to scary prospects for Democrats in 2024, we don't hesitate to speculate. Also, Ted has Covid.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 27 | December 23, 2021: Never-ending Covid, PPP Fraud, Should We Declare War on Saudi Arabia? and Dogs vs. Cats—the debate rages on

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Scott and Ted discuss the never-ending pandemic and the issues surrounding it. Including Dr. Fauci and President Biden's warning of a "Winter of Death." (Fun.) Scam artists ripped off Uncle Sam to the tune of $2.5 billion. We explore the Khashoggi murder by the Saudis and how the UAE got involved. Ted asks, is this an act of war? Lastly, Ted and Scott take on the most difficult issue of them all: Dogs vs. Cats. We find NO common ground on this one.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 26 | December 18, 2021: Why Biden is Tanking, War over Ukraine? and Holiday Blues. Plus: Flamethrower Drones!

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500

You have heard the rest, now here are the best political analysts in America! Cartoonist-hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis unravel the mystery of why Joe Biden's poll approval numbers continue to tank despite the economy not really being that bad, grizzly prospects for the Democrats in the midterms and 2024, Russian saber-rattling along the border with Ukraine and whether we should get involved, as well as feeling seriously bummed about Christmas time and holidays in general. Plus: flamethrower drones!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 25 | December 8, 2021: Ethan Crumbley Tried as an Adult, Sex Offenders and Criminal Justice Reform

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Ted and Scott dedicate the whole podcast to a subject nobody cares about: the abominable state of America's criminal justice system. Major focus this week is on the decision by Michigan prosecutors to charge a 15-year-old child as though he were an adult. From the need for top-to-bottom reform at all levels of the criminal justice system to finding a place of agreement on sex with cats. This may not be the podcast America wants, but it is the podcast America needs!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 24 | December 1, 2021: Another School Shooting (in Michigan), Roe v. Wade on the Ropes, What's Wrong with the Left, Time for Joe to Admit the Truth?

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0500

Best friends and political cartoonist Ted Rall and Scott Stantis dissect a busy news week. Yet another school shooting, this one north of Detroit, prompts the question: can we do anything to control guns? Abortion rates are before the US Supreme Court and this time it's really serious. This segues into an unscheduled digression about what the hell is wrong with the American left or even if one exists. And finally: should Democrats admit the truth — Joe Biden isn't really running for reelection?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 23 | November 23, 2021: The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, We ask the question, 'Does America need a new Constitution?'Also, inflation, Biden taps the Strategic Oil Reserves & a potential battle royal between VP Harris and Sec. Buttigieg

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Our cartooning colossuses have a full plate this week. As Scott and Ted predicted last week, Kyle Rittenhouse got a get-out-of -jail-free card for early Christmas. We discuss the political and practical ramifications. In addition, we discuss whether or not the U.S. Constitution is in dire need of an upgrade. Also, piggybacking on Ted Rall's column we dive into inflation. With Scott getting bent all out of shape over President Biden raiding the Strategic Oil Reserves and the boys giggle over a potential Harris vs. Buttigieg contest in 2024.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 22 | November 15, 2021: Kyle Rittenhouse, anti-SLAPP Saves Trump Again, Russiagate Becomes Hillarygate, and It's the Leadership, Stupid

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Another busy news week and America's cartooning sweethearts are here to break it down for you. Conservative cartoonist Scott Stantis and progressive cartoonist Ted Rall are best friends who agree to disagree. Kyle Rittenhouse looks like he's about to walk on charges of shooting three people at a Black Lives Matter protest in Wisconsin last year. The Steele Dossier has completely collapsed but media organizations won't admit they published garbage. Donald Trump shakes off yet another of his alleged sexual assault victims using America's corporate-backed anti-SLAPP statute. Biden passed infrastructure but his numbers are still tanking and we know why.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 21 | November 7, 2021: Election Results, Progressives on the Edge and the Death of the Political Middle

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 18:00:00 -0500

Ted and Scott discuss the meaning, content and ramifications of the Infrastructure Bill and what Progressives will do if they don't get a real Build Back Better bill. What do election results portend from Virginia and New Jersey? They ask, "Are there any moderates left?"

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 20 | October 27, 2021: Culture Warriors, Facebook and Let's Go Brandon!

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis bring all of the issues into crystal-clear focus from their vastly different political perspectives. From culture wars to Facebook to "Let's Go, Brandon!" to the coarsening of America . And what the Hell is wrong with Virginia?!?!?!

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 19 | October 19, 2021: Colin Powell DOA, Buttigieg MIA, China the new USSR, Taliban vs. ISIS-K and More

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Conservative cartoonist Scott Stantis and progressive cartoonist Ted Rall go even longer this time! Sparks fly over whether Colin Powell was a hero or a zero, Ted offers a primer on the internal politics of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, Scott calls for a new Cold War against China while Ted deplores the old one against the Soviet Union, and Ted and Scott trade ideological places on whether transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg ought to take two months off from work six months into his new job. Plus more!

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 18 | October 15, 2021: The Great Resignation, Katie and Ruth, Alden Capital, Social Media, Whitman's Militant Moderates

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis go long this time. Millions of Americans are quitting their jobs because they hate them. But why now? Katie Couric admits that she ran interference for Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the Colin Kaepernick story. What does it mean, who will remember? Alden Capital, notorious for destroying newspapers, has come for the Chicago Tribune chain and it's the end of the end for American journalism. You already knew that social media was terrible; here's why it's just as bad as cigarettes. Finally, Christine Todd Whitman becomes the latest centrist Republican to waste her time and ours trying to turn the GOP into a bunch of nice moderates.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 17 | October 10, 2021: Dumb Dems—Can They Save Themselves? Also, will we go to war over Taiwan?

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Leftie cartoonist Ted bungles the opening but circles back after rightie cartoonist Scott gives advice to a Democratic Party facing major electoral challenges. Then it's off to the Taiwan crisis and what you need to know: A little history lesson on how did we get here? How can there be two Chinas? Will mainland China go to war? Will we? And a look at how we'd look at Taiwan if we were Chinese.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 16 | October 5, 2021: Ted and Scott say "Death to the internet!" (yes, they see the irony)

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 11:00:00 -0400

If you had a chance to travel back in time and kill the Internet before it ever started, would you do it? In a grindingly ironic conversation, Scott and Ted ON THEIR PODCAST ON THE INTERNET discuss the pluses and mostly minuses of the invasive and often corrosive effects of the World Wide Web.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 15 | September 30, 2021: The Debt Ceiling Debate Triggers an Existential Discussion About Consumerism and Facebook Kids

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0400

From the left, political cartoonist Ted Rall discusses the dysfunctional political climate that gave us the ridiculous debt ceiling crisis with, from the right, political cartoonist Scott Stantis. Revelations in the Wall Street Journal about Facebook internal research and the company's attempt to appeal to young children sparks a soulful discussion about everything from getting rid of your local cashier to self-driving cars.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 14 | September 26, 2021: America's latest pretty dead white woman fixation and Haitian refugee ambivalence

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 23:00:00 -0400

Ted and Scott discuss the American media's latest obsession with an attractive Caucasian dead woman.

Also, our national disregard for the plight of tens of thousands of Haitian refugees. Plus, the scare-mongering of John Bolton as neo-conservatives scramble to stay relevant.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 13 | September 21, 2021: After Afghanistan, Another War? And: What Are Our Values, Anyway?

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400

President Joe Biden delivers his first speech to the United Nations, prompting political cartoonist Ted Rall and Scott Stantis to ponder what comes next in foreign policy under Biden and for the foreseeable future? Ted pushes back against Scott's description of China as a "threat." Scott surprises with his updated take on 1930s-style isolationism. Border patrol goons use whips to control Haitian immigrants at the border with Mexico; can we really say at this point that, as the secretary of homeland security argued, this is against American values?

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 12 | September 17, 2021: California Recalls to SCOTUS Hacks to General Miley. This podcast has it all!

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0400

It's an ADD episode where Ted and Scott discuss everything from SCOTUS political hacks to Covid-19 booster shots to outlawing drones. Also we ask the question: where do you buy YOUR submarines?

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 11 | September 15, 2021: How to Convince the Unvaxxed, AOC and About Cussing

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Cartoonists and best friends Ted Rall and Scott Stantis react to Biden's vaccine mandate and suggest ways to talk to the resistant. AOC's controversial dress at the Met Gala prompts the question: is it possible to affect change from within the system? And there might be some cursing.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 10 | September 11, 2021: Ted and Scott get personal recollecting September 11 and connect 9/11 and the assault on the U.S. Capitol on 1/6

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 16:00:00 -0400

How did the terrorist attacks on American soil on 9/11 result in Donald Trump and the rise of totalitarianism in the United States? Ted and Scott explain it for you.

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The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 9 | September 6, 2021: Is It Too Late to Save the Planet from Climate Change Apocalypse?

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400

It's another free-wheeling discussion between right-wing cartoonist Scott Stantis and left-wing cartoonist Ted Rall. It's another 9/11 week—what, if anything, have we learned? Scott responds to a listener. Ted and Scott clash on climate change: Ted thinks we're doomed because it's probably too late to save ourselves and Scott supports incremental action based on self-interest: pollution sucks for all concerned.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 8: Should we kill all of the babies? You won't believe what Scott and Ted have to say about the recent abortion non-decision from the U.S. Supreme Court

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 18:00:00 -0400

Ted and Scott take surprising views of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to decide the Texas abortion ban. They also take more shots at President Biden for his Trump -like doubling down on Afghanistan speech.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 7 | August 27, 2021: ISIS Not-So-Special K, When Cartoonists Should Shut Up, Vax Mandates

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 11:00:00 -0400

It's a full plate of debate and discussion between political cartoonists Scott Stantis (on the Right) and Ted Rall (on the Left) as they confront the closing days of America's chaotic pullout from Afghanistan, the rise of an Afghan terrorist group that makes the Taliban look warm and fuzzy, and the issue of what to do (or not to) when a cartoon deadline looms. Plus: school is back in session and we still can't decide what to do about COVID: mask mandates, vaccine mandates or nothing at all.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 6 | August 23, 2021: Impeach Biden! Or at Least Get Him to a Home

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis are aghast at the obvious failing cognitive abilities of America's chief executive and Commander-In-Chief as he fends off media queries about American incompetence in the face of the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban. What can or, more to the point, should be done about our befuddled commander-in-chief? Riffing off personal experience, Ted and Scott have a few ideas on this latest edition of the DMZ America Podcast.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 5 | August 20, 2021: Afghanistan Down the Toilet. Is Biden Going Down Too?

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0400

President Joe Biden's poll numbers are falling along with the desperate Afghans falling off fleeing American airplanes evacuating Kabul. How does his Saigon moment affect the remainder of Biden's presidency? Political cartoonists Scott Stantis of The Chicago Tribune and Ted Rall of WhoWhatWhy.org, both with Andrews McMeel Syndication and Counterpoint, draw upon Ted's experience in Afghanistan and Scott's distrust of government to analyze the current situation. Plus: Scott makes a strong case for voting third party.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 4 | August 16, 2021: The Sad Fall of Kabul and Was Any of This Worth it?

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Hosts Scott Stantis and Ted Rall go deep into the meaning and effects of the shocking victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Scott is reminded of his mortified 16-year-old self watching the fall of Saigon to the Vietcong. Ted, who had predicted this ending since before the U.S. invasion, speaks from deep personal knowledge about the people and culture of Afghanistan and what we can expect next.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 3 | August 11, 2021: Gone Cuomo Gone, Debt-Crazed Dems and Afganistan Re-Talibanized

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Conservative political cartoonist Scott Stantis and progressive political cartoonist Ted Rall download about the resignation of New York soon-to-be-ex Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic guilt over Bill Clinton.

Also on the agenda is whether deficits really matter when the spending is on infrastructure or something they call infrastructure.

Scott and Ted talk about the rapidly deteriorating war in Afghanistan, which Ted has visited several times.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 2 | August 9, 2021: Eviction Moratorium, Violent Crime and (ugh) Kamala Harris

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400

DMZ America is the podcast in which two fierce partisans of the left and the right, both of them controversial political cartoonists, face off and try to find sanity in an increasingly insane world. In this, their Second Episode Ted Rall of Sputnik News and The Wall Street Journal and Scott Stantis of The Chicago Tribune talk about President Biden's extension of the possibly unconstitutional Eviction Moratorium, look into the sharp increase in violent crime in America and you'll never guess which one of these guys actually likes Vice President Kamala Harris, and whether a free society can live with any of it.

There will probably not be blood. There will, however, be cursing.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com

Episode 1 | August 4, 2021: Vaccine Mandates, Infrastructure and Cigar Bars, Oh My!

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0400

DMZ America is the podcast in which two fierce partisans of the left and the right, both of them controversial political cartoonists, face off and try to find sanity in an increasingly insane world. In their Inaugural Episode Ted Rall of Sputnik News and The Wall Street Journal and Scott Stantis of The Chicago Tribune talk about New York City decision to impose vaccine mandates on people who want to go to a restaurant, Governor Andrew Cuomo on the ropes following a devastating report by the attorney general, and whether a free society can live with any of it.

There will probably not be blood. There will, however, be cursing.

Support the show

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com