Conservative syndicated editorial cartoonist and comic strip creator Steve Kelley, formerly of the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, joins DMZ America co-hosts and colleagues Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to break down the current state of the Trump Administration in its second year.

A partial government shutdown looms, Trump's approval ratings on immigration--a good issue for the president usually--are tanking and the nation increasingly looks and feels a lot like the chaotic late 1960s. MAGA world appears to be coming apart at the seams, yet Democrats seem unable to seize the moment. What IS the real State of the Nation?

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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

Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) dive deep with renowned political cartoonist Mr. Fish (Dwayne Booth). This sharp, subversive artist skewers power with bold, provocative illustrations that appear in Harper's Magazine, ScheerPost, and beyond. Known for his raw takes on politics, war, and society, Mr. Fish faces intense scrutiny over cartoons critiquing the Israel-Hamas conflict and U.S. policy. Critics blast some work as employing anti-Semitic tropes and leading to condemnation from University of Pennsylvania leadership. This firestorm culminates in his firing from lecturing at UPenn amid broader debates on free speech, academic freedom, and censorship in higher ed. Mr. Fish pushes back hard, framing it as part of a McCarthyist crackdown on dissent against genocide, apartheid, and fascism. Expect fireworks as these three editorial powerhouses clash and connect over cartooning's role in cutting through BS.

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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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The DMZ America Podcast dives headfirst into one of the most explosive issues rocking the nation right now: the transformation of ICE from a border security agency into a violent, unaccountable domestic force under the current Trump administration. ICE touts itself as DHS's top law enforcement arm, fighting transnational threats while protecting communities, legal immigration, trade, travel, and financial systems. But in practice, the administration ramps up agent numbers aggressively, deploys recruitment tactics that echo white nationalist themes—like using lyrics from "We'll Have Our Home Again" in ads—and slashes training about de-escalation and rules of engagement.

A bombshell 233-page court order from Judge Sara L. Ellis in Chicago exposes widespread duplicity, lies, and abuse of power by ICE and DHS officials. She slams agents for using force that "shocks the conscience"—pepper-balling clergy, tear-gassing kids and pregnant women, tackling protesters without justification—finding no legitimate government interest in many actions.

Top officials push narratives of “absolute immunity,” with Stephen Miller and JD Vance assuring agents they're untouchable, even as former ICE leaders like Deborah Fleischaker call it dangerous overreach that emboldens aggression and erodes public safety. As ICE becomes the biggest military force on Earth, against which Americans will they turn when they run out of illegals to deport?

You and me.

Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) break it down—no holds barred, cutting through the spin with sharp analysis and dueling perspectives that make you think hard about power, accountability, and where this all leads.

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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 hosts Ted Rall from the left and Scott Stantis provide a rare behind-the-scenes remembrance of “Dilbert” cartoonist Scott Adams, who took comics syndication and critiques of office culture to dazzling heights before shifting Right, being canceled, and succumbing to cancer this week.

Ted Rall, a top executive at United Media when “Dilbert” was at its peak, got to know Scott well as his editor and supervisor. He also crossed paths with him when Scott’s TV show was on air and Ted had a show in development at the same network that was intended to air following “Dilbert.”

Scott and Ted consider Scott Adams’ place in the cultural firmament, the future of comics, and the political and racial controversies at the end of his life. Don’t miss this exclusive broadcast!

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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 hosts Ted Rall from the left and Scott Stantis check in with former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette political cartoonist Rob Rogers. Fired for criticizing Trump in his work, Rogers worked for decades at the Post-Gazette, the highest-profile newspaper top shut down in the journalism bloodbath. Ted and Scott bring you the exclusive dish.

The three will also discuss Trump’s shocking moves to overthrow the president of Venezuela as well as his threats against Colombia, Iran, Cuba and other countries.

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

Political cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) preview the year ahead in politics and culture.

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

Tune in to the DMZ America Podcast as hosts Ted Rall from the left and Scott Stantis check in with groundbreaking animated political cartoonist Mark Fiore.

Mark Fiore, born 1970, is an acclaimed American political cartoonist specializing in Flash-animated editorials. Shaped by California upbringing and Idaho wilderness, he majored in political science at Colorado College, graduating in 1991 amid Dick Cheney's speech.Starting in print for The Washington Post and LA Times, Fiore joined San Jose Mercury News before pioneering online animation in the late 1990s. His cartoons appear on SFGate.com, NPR, Mother Jones, and KQED.Hailed as "the undisputed guru" by The Wall Street Journal, he won the 2010 Pulitzer—the first for non-print work—plus a 2016 Herblock Prize, 2004 RFK Award, and multiple Online Journalism honors. From San Francisco, Fiore satirizes politics via markfiore.com.

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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

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) are joined by Alice Giordano to handicap next year's midterm elections. 

Alice Giordano is a reporter for Newsmax Magazine. She's a former political and news correspondent for The Epoch Times, The Boston Globe, and Associated Press and currently writes a monthly political column for The Boston Broadside and has been a contributor to The Federalist and American Thinker.

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

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.

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

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.

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