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. The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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. The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.)   The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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. The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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? The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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. The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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?The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.   The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.  The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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? The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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?The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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.   The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

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? The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com