Andrew Farago Upskirt Scandal: The curator of the San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum was arrested for secretly recording up to 20 people (including children) in his bathroom at a birthday party using a hidden phone. Farago admitted the act in an email as a “tremendous lapse in judgment” and has been fired.

Broader Scandals in Cartooning: Discussion of multiple past incidents including Al Capp’s predatory behavior, Darrin Bell’s child pornography charges, Ben Sargent’s indecent exposure arrest, Mike Lester’s domestic violence case, and the Superman artist secretly drawing S&M comics.

Why Cartoonists Behave Badly: Exploration of whether the solitary nature of cartooning, arrested development, abusive childhoods, and lack of socialization lead to higher rates of weird or destructive sexual behavior among cartoonists.

Separating Art from the Artist: In-depth debate on whether immoral or criminal behavior by creators (Picasso, Woody Allen, Hitler’s paintings, etc.) should affect enjoyment of their work. Hosts largely agreed the art stands alone, especially after death.

Forgiveness, Firing & Judgment: Should Farago have been immediately fired before conviction? Discussion of presumption of innocence, redemption, Jean-Paul Sartre vs. Ted Lasso philosophies, and how people are often judged by their worst actions.

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) bring you up-to-date on this bizarre case rocking the American cartooning world.

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

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) disagree on quintessential issues like whether God is real, capitalism or communism is better, and whether Gregorian chants are more listenable than the Dead Kennedys. But they’re best friends, so those disagreements come from a place of mutual respect. Check out the conversation that is giving hope to more and more Americans!

Today's special guest is cartoonist Rob Rogers, formerly of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Ted and Scott react to the latest political absurdities making headlines this week. They break down fresh cartoon ideas that are already stirring controversy. And they tackle listener questions in today’s polarized landscape.

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

Steve Benson, former cartoonist for the Arizona Republic, a fierce critic of the Mormon Church despite his family’s prominence within it, and a notable creator of controversial cartoons during the 1990s and 2000s, has passed away. Born in 1954, Benson began his career at the Arizona Republic in 1980, where he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1993. His work sparked debate, reflecting his acidic stance on political and social issues, including his public critiques of the Mormon Church, which led to personal shunning and professional tensions. On the “DMZ America Podcast,” fellow political cartoonists Scott Stantis and Ted Rall discuss Benson’s life as they knew their colleague, both professionally and personally.

For Scott, who was deeply wronged by Benson, this news carries a complexity that those left behind are rarely permitted to acknowledge, let alone discuss publicly. On DMZ, we explore that strange feeling when someone who passes leaves behind a mixed legacy.

Tune in for a thoughtful, intelligent discussion about humanity and death.

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

Why is American editorial cartooning in crisis? Sure, journalism is melting down. But the cartoonists might be guilty too.

Joining cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to discuss is DC-based cartoonist Alexandra Bowman.

Alexandra Bowman is a versatile American political cartoonist, illustrator, satirist, journalist, and fine artist based in Washington, D.C. Born in March 2000 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, she graduated early from Georgetown University with a BA and MA in English while double-majoring in Art.

Bowman served as editorial political cartoonist for The Hoya (Georgetown’s student newspaper) and has created work for The Lincoln Project, Our Daily Planet, World War Zero (John Kerry’s climate initiative), Voice of America, BBC Books, and the National Wildlife Federation. She is known for live political cartooning at events like the MSNBC Climate Forum and her role as Director of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Her syndicated work appears via Cagle Cartoons.

A multi-medium artist skilled in traditional pen-and-ink, digital tools, murals, and fine art painting, Bowman also illustrates children’s books, designs costumes, and hosts The Hilltop Show, a student political comedy series. Her sharp, witty style blends cultural commentary, environmental advocacy, and satire, establishing her as a rising voice in editorial 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

Join editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) for a collision of podcast worlds! Ted’s Deprogram co-host and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou joins DMZ for a special cross-pollination episode in which Scott gets to ask John about the future of the republic, the Middle East War and anything else that happens to cross his mind.

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

Politics is what happens when members of a society identify problems, determine which ones are most pressing, and debate proposed solutions to those priorities. It’s a messy process that, over time, hopefully leads to progress. But what happens when members of society live in completely different realities, in which the major problems that afflict one half of the population doesn’t exist, much less matter, to the other half? Politics don’t happen at all—and there’s no hope for building a better world. That’s where America is today.

Editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) disagree on quintessential issues like whether God is real, capitalism or communism is better, and whether Gregorian chants are more listenable than the Dead Kennedys. But they’re best friends, so those disagreements come from a place of mutual respect. Check out the conversation that is giving hope to more and more Americans!

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

Sarah F. Davidson joins editorial cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to check in on the Graphic Novels industry. (Ted has authored numerous graphic novels, including My War with Brian, The Stringer and The Year of Loving Dangerously.)

Sarah is a graphic novelist, colorist, and Professor of Sequential Art at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Creator of the award-winning Jackson’s Wilder Adventures series (ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children), she specializes in middle-grade comics filled with magic, nostalgia, and feel-good vibes. She has colored for major publishers including Random House, Feiwel & Friends, and Webtoon.

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

Donald Trump certainly has good reasons to cancel the elections. Will he? Can he? The Washington Post reports that he is considering declaring a national emergency to justify federalizing the midterms—which is unconstitutional—on the grounds that China stole the 2020 election on behalf of Joe Biden.

DMZ America co-hosts and colleagues Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right), who predicted the January 6th Capitol Riot and have been following Trump’s flirtations with American fascism all along, discuss why, how and whether the president may choose to end America’s 250-year experiment with representative democracy later this year.

Joining Ted and Scott to discuss is Charles Lipson. Charles is a political scientist and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where he held the Peter B. Ritzma Professorship and co-founded the Program on International Politics, Economics, and Security. He earned his undergraduate degrees in political science and economics from Yale and his Ph.D. from Harvard. Since joining Chicago in 1977, his work has focused on international relations, cooperation and conflict, and the political economy of global trade, debt, and investment. He is also a prolific columnist for outlets like RealClearPolitics and The Spectator, commenting on U.S. foreign policy and American politics.

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