DMZ America Podcast with Ted Rall and Scott Stantis

Ted Rall & Scott Stantis
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

Left-wing political cartoonist Ted Rall (ex-Los Angeles Times, Pulitzer Prize finalist) and right-wing political cartoonist Scott Stantis (Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist, "Prickly City" comic strip creator) break down the latest news and trends, with an emphasis on history, current events, cartoons, media and culture. In a world where politics is increasingly polarized, Ted and Scott are two political opposites who used to hate one another. Now they're best friends who work toward common-sense solutions to problems in a respectful yet always fun and freewheeling conversation that gives Americans hope for the future. LIVE Fridays, 10 AM Eastern Time: Streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DMZAmericaPodcast Streaming on Rumble: https://rumble.com/v4gkts0-dmz-america-podcast-with-ted-rall-left-vs.-scott-stantis-right.html

  1. 2d ago

    True Stories of Terrible Editors | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 256

    Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) take aim at a profession they know too well: newspaper and magazine editors. In an industry already bleeding staff, shrinking pages, and outsourcing judgment to lawyers, metrics, and social-media panic, the last people standing between a sharp cartoon and the reader are often the ones who sand it down, spike it, or rewrite the caption until it means nothing. Ted and Scott swap war stories from the newsroom: the editor who “doesn’t get it,” the one who is terrified of letters from subscribers, the one who treats satire like a liability memo, and the rare good one who actually fights for the work. They ask the questions cartoonists mutter after deadline: When did “edit” start meaning “neuter”? Are editors protecting the paper—or protecting themselves? How much of the crisis in political cartooning is the cartoonists, and how much is the people who approve (or kill) the drawings? And if newspapers keep hiring editors who don’t understand visual satire, why keep running cartoons at all? The DMZ America Podcast is recorded by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. X: @tedrall and @scottstantis Web: rall.com

    True Stories of Terrible Editors | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 256

  2. Aug 28

    WTF SCOTUS | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 255

    Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are joined by legal expert Ricardo Aparicio to ask the question: What the heck is going on at the US Supreme Court? The nation’s highest court, once presumed to be nonpartisan, has become brazenly political. In Trump v. United States (July 1, 2024), the Court created absolute immunity for “core” constitutional powers by former presidents (pardons, vetoes, commanding the military, directing the Justice Department), and presumptive immunity for other official acts inside the “outer perimeter” of the job. Prosecutors can try to rebut that presumption, but they cannot use official-act evidence or the president’s motives to prove a crime. In 2026 the Court let the president fire independent-agency heads at will, wiping out a 1935 limit that Congress wrote into statutes. Dissenters said that hands the president a power “unknown even to the English Crown” and collapses the separation of powers. On the emergency docket it has also paused lower-court findings on mail-in voting and immigration raids, which critics say treats facts as optional. Might SCOTUS enable the cancellation or nullification of the midterm elections? Ricardo Aparicio, PhD, directs the Employee Engagement & Experience Council at The Conference Board. A former General Mills organization-effectiveness leader, he ran global engagement surveys covering more than 175,000 employees and helped the company post record scores. Earlier he marketed national brands at General Mills and Colgate-Palmolive. Born in Caracas, he lives in Minnesota and holds degrees from Cornell, Stanford, and the University of Minnesota.

    WTF SCOTUS | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 255

  3. Aug 22

    STFU: Censorship Is Go! | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 254

    Everywhere you look, people are getting told to STFU by censors afraid that truth-tellers might expose or offend them. At Stars and Stripes, the Pentagon has fired editor Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer and Middle East reporter Lara Korte have been fired by the Pentagon. Not for anything they actually published or wanted to publish. Slavin told an interviewer he would fight “hypothetical censorship.” The DOD called that theoretical stance “insubordination.” A song by Elizaveta Gyrdymova has been purged from the Russian version of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” because she’s a Russian who fled to Ukraine and criticizes Russia. Not to be outdone, Ukraine also purged the song—because she’s Russian. Zelensky has officially sanctioned the popular Russian cartoon ‘Masha and the Bear’ in a step to ban the children’s show, accusing the producers of spreading “pro-Russian narratives” and threatening Ukrainian national security. If your censorship victim dies, however, you might face blowback. Neutrogena broke its silence following the death of Hayden Panettiere and mounting backlash over the skincare brand's treatment of the actress, acknowledging that it made her "feel unsupported during a very difficult time." They fired her for talking about postpartum depression. Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) ask the question: Why don’t we censor the censors?

    STFU: Censorship Is Go! | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 254

  4. Aug 15

    Wanted: More Luigis | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 253

    In a surprise turn, Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione admitted he stalked and shot Thompson in 2024 outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan. He potentially faces life in prison. The 28-year-old is also still facing state murder charges for Thompson’s death in New York. He expressed no contrition, no remorse. A 2025 poll of college students found that half view Luigi extremely or somewhat favorably, and nearly half believe the killing was justified. 81% viewed the victim unfavorably. One out of four Americans in general support Luigi. Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) grapple with the question: Why haven’t there been more Luigis?

    Wanted: More Luigis | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 253

  5. Aug 9

    Civil War in the Democratic Party | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 252

    How has the upset victory of progressive Abdul El-Sayed over a DNC/AIPAC-backed corporatist in Michigan transformed the Democratic Party? Drawing on historical precedent, editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) break it down on today’s DMZ America Podcast. The Democratic Party is locked in a fierce internal civil war as progressive and Democratic Socialist insurgents surge against the centrist establishment. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated AIPAC-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in the Senate primary despite over $60 million in dark money, framing the race as a referendum on foreign influence and corporate power. Similar upsets in New York, where Mamdani-backed candidates toppled incumbents, and victories in Colorado, Maine, and elsewhere have alarmed moderates. Groups like Third Way are mobilizing millions to attack the Left within their own party, with strategists warning of a “schism” and labeling progressives “bomb-throwers.” The clash pits economic populism, antiwar stances, and young voters against the old guard’s focus on control and Israel. Establishment figures fear losing their grip on the DNC, while progressives argue the party’s corporate tilt caused recent losses and demand a bold new direction.

    Civil War in the Democratic Party | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 252

  6. Aug 7

    Cartoonists vs. Big Meme | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 251

    Get up to speed on a fascinating legal challenge to Big Tech by an independent web cartoonist. Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) break it down on today’s DMZ America Podcast. Who will win—cartoonists and creators, or Big Tech? Filipino cartoonist Elmer Saflor, who goes by pen name Superelmer, has filed a complaint against Memes App, LLC, the operator of Memes.ai and Memes AI Studio, for copyright infringement when they began selling a commercial template subscription plan that includes his viral cartoon “Running Away Balloon.” The complaint asks the court to stop the defendants use of his comic and compel discovery to see how many ads used his work. If instances are found, Memes App could face statutory damages upwards of $150,000 per “willful infringement.” By taking on the meme generator, Saflor may hit a wall if the court finds that his arguments apply to any meme generator and a finding in his favor could risk undercutting the entire meme ecosystem, Goldman said.

    Cartoonists vs. Big Meme | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 251

  7. Aug 7

    Civil War in the Democratic Party | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 252

    How has the upset victory of progressive Abdul El-Sayed over a DNC/AIPAC-backed corporatist in Michigan transformed the Democratic Party? Drawing on historical precedent, editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) break it down on today’s DMZ America Podcast. The Democratic Party is locked in a fierce internal civil war as progressive and Democratic Socialist insurgents surge against the centrist establishment. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated AIPAC-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in the Senate primary despite over $60 million in dark money, framing the race as a referendum on foreign influence and corporate power. Similar upsets in New York, where Mamdani-backed candidates toppled incumbents, and victories in Colorado, Maine, and elsewhere have alarmed moderates. Groups like Third Way are mobilizing millions to attack the Left within their own party, with strategists warning of a “schism” and labeling progressives “bomb-throwers.” The clash pits economic populism, antiwar stances, and young voters against the old guard’s focus on control and Israel. Establishment figures fear losing their grip on the DNC, while progressives argue the party’s corporate tilt caused recent losses and demand a bold new direction.

    Civil War in the Democratic Party | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 252

  8. Jul 23

    AI and Cartooning | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 250

    How will AI affect (or afflict) cartooning? Artificial Intelligence is reshaping cartooning, hitting political cartooning especially hard while transforming the broader industry. In political cartooning, AI tools now generate satirical images in seconds, flooding social media with viral memes and caricatures that mimic editorial styles. This undercuts traditional artists who rely on sharp timing, cultural insight, and hand-drawn originality for publications.  In general cartooning and illustration, generative AI has commoditized routine work. Studies show a surge in AI-generated images on platforms, driving human artists out and reducing commissions for illustrators and comic creators. San Diego Comic-Con banned AI art from its 2026 show, while animation faces massive job disruption—over 100,000 roles at risk.  Artists adapt by using AI for rapid prototyping and backgrounds, focusing on human storytelling, emotion, and unique vision that machines still struggle to replicate. However, style theft, copyright battles, and market saturation remain major threats, forcing many to rethink careers.  Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) explore the Brave New World of cartooning in the age of AI. 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

    AI and Cartooning | DMZ America Podcast | Ep 250
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Left-wing political cartoonist Ted Rall (ex-Los Angeles Times, Pulitzer Prize finalist) and right-wing political cartoonist Scott Stantis (Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist, "Prickly City" comic strip creator) break down the latest news and trends, with an emphasis on history, current events, cartoons, media and culture. In a world where politics is increasingly polarized, Ted and Scott are two political opposites who used to hate one another. Now they're best friends who work toward common-sense solutions to problems in a respectful yet always fun and freewheeling conversation that gives Americans hope for the future. LIVE Fridays, 10 AM Eastern Time: Streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DMZAmericaPodcast Streaming on Rumble: https://rumble.com/v4gkts0-dmz-america-podcast-with-ted-rall-left-vs.-scott-stantis-right.html

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