DeProgram: Iran Nukes, State Dept Shakeup, and Pentagon Pandemonium

LIVE 3 pm Eastern and Streaming Afterward:

In this compelling episode of DeProgram, hosts Ted Rall and John Kiriakou tackle three pressing issues dominating U.S. policy: Iran’s nuclear talks, the State Department’s drastic overhaul, and chaos at the Department of Defense.

The discussion on Iran centers on recent U.S.-Iran negotiations in Rome, with senior negotiators set to reconvene on April 26, amid Tehran’s insistence on peaceful nuclear intentions and U.S. threats of military action if talks fail. They explore how Saudi Arabia’s defense minister’s visit to Tehran reflects regional tensions.

The State Department segment examines a draft executive order, reported by The New York Times, proposing to eliminate Africa operations, shut embassies, and cut bureaus on climate, human rights, and democracy by October 1, sparking panic among diplomats despite Secretary Marco Rubio’s “fake news” dismissal.

Finally, the hosts address the Pentagon’s turmoil, highlighted by a report of a former aide’s op-ed calling it “total chaos” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing leaked texts on Yemen airstrikes and firings of top staff like Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick. Rall and Kiriakou dissect these events with their signature clarity, questioning U.S. policy motives and systemic flaws. DeProgram challenges listeners to see through mainstream narratives, offering incisive analysis on Iran’s talks, the State Department’s restructuring, and the DoD’s disarray, making it essential listening for understanding global power dynamics.

TMI Show Ep 122: “Happy Scary Earth Day”

LIVE 10 am Eastern & Streaming Afterward at Your Convenience:

In this episode of “The TMI Show,” hosts Ted Rall and Manila Chan welcome Dr. Reese Halter, a renowned conservation biologist, to mark Earth Day with a deep dive into the state of the global environment. Airing live at 10 AM Eastern and streaming 24/7 thereafter, the discussion confronts pressing ecological challenges drawn from recent developments. The trio examines the alarming surge in global temperatures, with 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record, driven by relentless greenhouse gas emissions. They explore the intensifying climate crises—devastating wildfires in Canada, catastrophic flooding in Spain, and unprecedented coral bleaching events threatening marine ecosystems.

Dr. Halter brings insight into the accelerating loss of biodiversity, spotlighting the collapse of insect populations critical to pollination and food chains. The conversation also tackles the plastics crisis, with microplastics now pervasive in human tissues and remote Arctic ice, posing risks to health and ecosystems. Recent policy shifts, including rollbacks on U.S. environmental protections and debates over renewable energy subsidies, frame a heated discussion on political barriers to sustainability. The episode doesn’t shy away from solutions, delving into innovations like carbon capture technologies and rewilding initiatives, while questioning their scalability. With Ted and Manila’s incisive commentary and Dr. Halter’s expertise, the episode unpacks whether humanity can pivot toward a greener future or if entrenched interests will prevail. This urgent, no-holds-barred conversation challenges listeners to confront the planet’s precarious state and consider actionable steps forward.

TMI Show Ep 121: “Pope Francis Dead + Ukraine Cease-Fire”

LIVE 10 AM Eastern time, Streaming Afterward On Demand:

On “The TMI Show,” hosts Ted Rall and Manila Chan mourn the death of Pope Francis, a profound loss that has reverberated globally, intensifying calls for peace in conflict zones like Ukraine. The pontiff, known for his humility and advocacy for the marginalized, leaves a legacy of interfaith dialogue and environmental stewardship through Laudato Si’. His passing, at age 88, has prompted tributes from world leaders, with millions reflecting on his message of compassion.

Francis’ final days were marked by appeals for non-violence, notably in Ukraine, where he urged reconciliation. His absence now challenges global leaders to honor his vision for a more just world, as vigils and memorial masses unfold from St. Peter’s Square to Buenos Aires.

Shifting to Ukraine, Rall and Chan dissect the fragile Russia-Ukraine cease-fire talks, clouded by ongoing violence. The Kremlin’s Easter truce, announced for April 19-20, was undermined by air raid alerts, with Zelenskyy reporting thousands of violations. A U.S.-brokered partial cease-fire on energy infrastructure, agreed in March, falters as both sides trade accusations. Trump’s minerals deal with Kyiv fuels Moscow’s ire, while Russian drone strikes in Kyiv and a Palm Sunday bombardment in Donetsk crush peace hopes. With Russian offensives surging in Kursk and Zelenskyy seeking European aid amid Trump’s tariff threats, the hosts probe Putin’s motives behind pausing energy strikes and whether Trump’s April 20 deadline is a bluff. Rall and Chan’s sharp analysis unravels this diplomatic chess game, where civilian lives hang in the balance. Stream The TMI Show 24/7 for unfiltered truth—don’t miss this critical episode!

Francis: The People’s Pope

The remarkable story of Pope Francis and his politics is in my book: “Francis, The People’s Pope.” He will be hard to replace:

Order here:
https://a.co/d/9kmQuZ3

DMZ America Podcast Ep 201: “Cartoonists Unplugged: Rall & Stantis on Politics Fatigue”

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?

ChatGPT Is Disappearing Its Enemies

People worry about generative artificial intelligence.

Some are afraid it will put them out of work. Others think AI could become too autonomous, like the drones programmed to select their own targets. It will almost certainly accelerate the spread and power of government surveillance. Deep fakes are already being used in efforts to impact public opinion in politics.

Add another reason to keep awake at night: AI could “unperson” you.

Under Stalin the Soviet Union disappeared not only anti-government dissidents but evidence that they had ever existed, famously airbrushing those who had fallen out of favor out of official photos. Retro-engineering history was the inspiration for Orwell’s main character in 1984, who toils at a government ministry in charge of rewriting the past. Eliminating an enemy of the state is one thing; ensuring that their ideas can never inspire anyone in the future by erasing them from history is especially sinister.

The Internet has replaced print newspapers as the first draft of history. Traditional web search engines like Google are increasingly powered by AI. Many people are currently using AI large language models like ChatGPT in lieu of Google. But ChatGPT is not trustworthy, and the problem isn’t merely its tendency to “hallucinate” things that aren’t true. Nor is ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI—because it’s abusing its power to unperson its enemies.

I know. I’m one of them.

Type my name into ChatGPT and it’ll respond like a confused robot in a 1960s sci-fi show that shouts “does not compute” as smoke pours out of its ears. “Tell me about Ted Rall” gets you “I’m unable to produce a response.” Try reverse-engineering a response by asking it who did something I did, like win a certain prize or write a particular book; it either lies or refuses to answer. It’s that determined not to admit that I exist.

What did I do to piss off Sam Altman or someone else at ChatGPT (I don’t know who, they won’t answer my emails)? I wrote a 2023 op-ed titled “ChatGPT Libeled Me. Can I Sue?” for The Wall Street Journal about how their AI lied about me. I hoped to get their attention so they’d fix the problem. Instead, they shipped me off to a cyber-gulag.

OpenAI won’t get back to me, so I asked Elon Musk’s generative AI app Grok if I might pay a price career-wise. It replied: “If ChatGPT, used by millions weekly (e.g., 300 million by 2024), refuses to acknowledge you, it could reduce your discoverability. New readers researching ‘Ted Rall’ via AI might find nothing, assuming you’re obscure or irrelevant, especially younger audiences (16–30) reliant on AI tools.”

However, a fellow cartoonist who still has access to ChatGPT (they blocked my account too) got into an interesting, albeit circuitous conversation with the bot over my situation, even as it refused to say my name: “You’re saying he wrote one article in a newspaper, criticized OpenAI, and that alone got him erased? If that’s the full story, that’s deeply troubling. Open societies, and even organizations that value innovation, should be able to handle criticism—especially from thoughtful people.”

My colleague asked to remain anonymous “so they don’t disappear me lol.”

OpenAI’s enemies list is growing. Writing in The Hill in December, George Washington University law professor and TV legal expert Jonathan Turley noted that he had joined “a small group of individuals who have been effectively disappeared by the AI system,” including Harvard Professor Jonathan Zittrain, CNBC anchorperson David Faber, Australian mayor Brian Hood and English professor David Mayer, now deceased yet still unpersoned. As with me, Turley’s banishment was apparently triggered by his writing that he had been defamed by ChatGPT. “The common thread [in these unpersonings] appears to be the false stories generated about us all by ChatGPT in the past,” Turley says. “The company appears to have corrected the problem not by erasing the error but erasing the individuals in question.”  Zittrain, however, wrote in The Atlantic that he has no idea why ChatGPT “appears to release a guillotine” after someone enters his name.

In Europe, privacy advocates achieved a legal “right to be forgotten,” deleting search results that are inaccurate and needlessly distressing, like news accounts of an arrest for a crime in which a suspect was later found innocent. Here in America, individuals need a right not to be disappeared from the public record at the whim of a capricious corporation that refuses to answer any questions. (I contacted OpenAI for comment about this piece. They didn’t reply.)

ChatGPT is projected to control one percent of the search market within this year. So I’ll still be discoverable 99% of the time. Still, this current sliver is growing fast. It seems to me that some higher authority—the government, what else?—ought to nip this novel form of censorship in the bud before it expands to full-fledged Orwellian dystopia.

(Ted Rall, the political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist, co-hosts the left-vs-right DMZ America podcast with fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis and The TMI Show with political analyst Manila Chan. Subscribe: tedrall.Substack.com.)

TMI Show Ep 120: “China’s Economic Surge & US Trade Tensions”

LIVE 10 AM Eastern time today, then Streaming whenever:

Tune into “The TMI Show” with hosts Ted Rall and Manila Chan, featuring guest KJ Noh, as they dive into China’s latest economic numbers and sizzling US-China topics! KJ Noh is a journalist, political analyst, and peace activist specializing in Asia-Pacific geopolitics, contributing to outlets like CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, and KPFA Flashpoints.

Freshly released data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics reveals 5% GDP growth for 2024, hitting the government’s target with a robust 5.4% Q4 surge, fueled by stimulus measures and export booms. But whispers of skepticism linger—analysts like Rhodium Group peg growth closer to 2.8%, citing overstated figures and a shaky property sector. With deflation persisting and consumer confidence wobbling, what’s the real story behind China’s economic engine?

We unpack these numbers, exploring the impact of Beijing’s push for consumption-led growth and looming challenges like youth unemployment and a trillion-dollar trade surplus.

Switching gears, the conversation heats up with US-China tensions, spotlighting President Trump’s threatened 60% tariffs and China’s retaliatory 125% duties. How will these trade war salvos reshape global markets? From semiconductor dominance to geopolitical chess moves, KJ Noh brings sharp insights to the table.

DeProgram: “Trump’s Deportation Chaos”

LIVE 2 pm Eastern + Streaming After:

Buckle up for “DeProgram,” where hosts John Kiriakou and Ted Rall rip into the Trump administration’s explosive deportation policies, slicing through the chaos of immigration news. This episode unpacks three jaw-dropping stories rocking the nation, exposing the raw edge of America’s border crackdown.

First, the gut-wrenching case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father wrongly deported to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison despite a 2019 court order, with a federal judge blasting the administration for flouting the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Next, Trump’s team brazenly shares photos of alleged Venezuelan gang members, shaved and shackled in Salvadoran cells, igniting outrage and chilling Abu Ghraib comparisons from human rights groups. Finally, a Texas federal judge slams the brakes on Venezuelan deportations, revealing flaws in Trump’s reliance on a 1798 wartime law to expel migrants, sparking fierce legal battles. Kiriakou, a CIA whistleblower, and Rall, a fearless cartoonist, deliver razor-sharp analysis, dissecting the policies’ human toll, from shattered families to courtroom showdowns. With over 32,000 arrests since January 2025, a $6 million deal to outsource detainees to El Salvador, and 350 reported deaths in CECOT, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Why is the administration doubling down on defiance? How are communities, from Maryland to Texas, fighting back? This episode is a must-watch for anyone hungry for unfiltered truth on America’s immigration firestorm.

TMI Show Ep 118: “Decorations Ramping Up”

LIVE 10 AM Eastern, Streaming Later:

On TMI, hosts Ted Rall and Manila Chan tackle President Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, centered on his vow to deport 1 million undocumented immigrants. Immigration attorney Allen Orr joins to dissect the practicality of this audacious plan, navigating the legal quagmires and logistical nightmares. Recent reports estimate ICE’s capacity at just 300,000 detentions annually—can Trump’s team scale up to meet his target amidst strained resources?

The conversation shifts to a high-profile case rocking headlines: a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador, despite a Supreme Court order demanding his return. News outlets note the administration’s defiance, raising the stakes—can Trump ignore the nation’s highest court without consequence?

The hosts also confront the plight of alleged gang members, like those swept up in ICE’s recent “Operation Safe Streets,” deported without due process. Stories reveal thousands branded as gang affiliates based on flimsy evidence, leaving lives in limbo. Is there any path to justice for those denied fair hearings? Most alarmingly, Trump’s provocative claim—made in a widely circulated Mar-a-Lago speech—about deporting U.S. citizens he dislikes to El Salvador ignites a firestorm.

Legal scholars cited in recent articles call it a constitutional nonstarter, but could executive overreach make it reality? With families shattered, court orders challenged, and the very notion of citizenship under siege, this episode lays bare the raw human and legal toll of Trump’s deportation juggernaut. Will it reshape America’s future, or collapse under its own weight? Join Rall, Chan, and Orr for a gripping, no-holds-barred analysis of a policy driving national division. Don’t miss this urgent exposé that pulls no punches, revealing the chaos and consequences of a nation at a crossroads. Tune in to uncover what’s really at stake!

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