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.

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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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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.

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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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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

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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

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.

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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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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.

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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

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?

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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

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?

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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

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. 

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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

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.

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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

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