President Trump says he federalized the Washington police department and deployed the National Guard on the city’s streets in order to fight street crime and make people safer. However, it looks far more likely that he is trying to normalize the ubiquitous presence of military troops in civilian life.
We’re LIVE 10 am Eastern time Saturday. But you can watch via Streaming Any Time!
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?
Live 12 noon Eastern and Streaming Afterwards:
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?
Live at 12 noon Eastern/11 am Central time, and Streaming 24-7 Thereafter:
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.
Co-hosts Ted Rall and Manila Chan analyze Donald Trump’s reelection victory and the Republican sweep of the Senate, with the House still up in the air. Conservative analyst Malik Abdul and progressive analyst Craig “Pasta” Jardula help break down how Trump pulled off his shocking win, what Democrats could have done differently and what to 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? What about Gaza? Are we really witnessing the end of democracy—and how long can Trump stay in office before his age catches up with him?
Keywords: Donald Trump, 2024 election results, 2024 election, 2024 campaign, fascism, authoritarianism, deportations, migrants, immigration crisis, tariffs, trade, age, elderly, Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Democrats, blame, House, Senate, House races, Senate Races
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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Keywords: Donald Trump, 2024 election results, 2024 election, 2024 campaign, fascism, authoritarianism, deportations, migrants, immigration crisis, tariffs, trade, age, elderly, Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Democrats, blame, House, Senate, House races, Senate Races, Hollywood, celebrities, lawfare, indictments,convictions
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.
Watch the Video Version of the DMZ America Podcast:
DMZ America Podcast Ep 112 Sec 1: Ecuadorian Candidate Assassinated, Dark Times for Democracy
DMZ America Podcast Ep 112 Sec 2: The 2024 Election Crisis
Supporters of Ukraine keep saying that it’s a democracy. But it’s not. President Zelensky has banned rival political parties and shut down all media outlets except for official state media that supports him. On the other hand, the United States doesn’t really have much democracy to brag about either.
The United States identifies as a democracy but it behaves like an authoritarian duopoly. Is it too late to transition?
