• TMI Show Ep 162: “Will Trump Sell Out to the Neocons?”
    Jun 19 2025

    Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says the world is closer to the “brink of nuclear annihilation than ever before.” What better way to spend your last few moments than watching “The TMI Show” as the Middle East teeters on the edge? We are now entering the sixth day of war between Israel and Iran. Now President Donald Trump faces the biggest decision of his presidency: join Israel’s war against Iran and risk yet another brutal military defeat in the Middle East that would destroy his reputation forever, or try to revive diplomacy and lose his alliance with Israel. Trump’s frustration is growing over those stalled nuclear deal talks—especially after he ditched Obama’s previous accord during his first term. Yesterday, he met his national security team to weigh options, where they discussed attacking the underground Fordo site using top-tier “bunker buster” weaponry. Trump’s social media blasts, threatening Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with assassination and demanding “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!,” have only made the Iranians angrier or more defiant. Khamenei fired back, vowing Iran would never give up and warning of “irreparable harm” if the US intervenes. Will Trump side with peace and his campaign promises, or Israel’s bloodlust? Ted Rall is joined by Robby West, filling in for Manila Chan.

    Plus:

    As Trump listened to neocons calling for the US to join Israel’s war, Tulsi Gabbard made a bold move to push for de-escalation.

    Israeli troops lured hungry Gazans with promises of food, and then slaughtered 70 Palestinians in the latest massacre by the IDF

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    59 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 161: “Bibi Threatens to Assassinate the Ayatollah”
    Jun 19 2025

    The war between Israel and Iran grinds on, and “The TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan” is on top of it! Yesterday, Israel bombed northern Tehran, targeting the headquarters of Iranian state television during a live broadcast, setting the news facility ablaze hours after issuing an evacuation warning for the neighborhood. Israel claims that the TV building concealed military infrastructure, but no independent verification backs this up. The bombing of journalists followed Israel’s attack on Quds Force HQ, part of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard, after four days of intense missile exchanges between the two countries. At least 224 people were killed by the Israelis and 1,400 wounded in Iran, 24 dead and 600 injured in Israel. Tensions are sky-high as Netanyahu is even saying he may assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, while the U.S. slaps a “do not travel” warning on Israel. What’s driving this dangerous spiral, and what’s next for the Middle East? Tune in for a no-holds-barred breakdown of the facts, controversies, and global stakes.

    Plus:

    Trump pushes for Russia, maybe China, to join the G7, stirring debate over authoritarian regimes in a democratic club.

    Scientists uncover a genetic link to autism, revealing a faulty brain “maintenance” system that could unlock new treatments.

    All 50 states secure a $7.4B settlement with Purdue Pharma over its role in the opioid crisis, funding addiction programs.

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 160: “Israel-Iran War Escalating”
    Jun 19 2025

    Happy Monday! It’s time for “The TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan,” catching you up with the latest in the war between Iran and Israel. Iranian missiles slammed into Tel Aviv and Haifa, leveling homes and sparking alarm at the G7 summit—and glee among supporters of the Palestinians. In Petah Tikva, a residential building was scorched, windows shattered, and apartments wrecked, with four elderly residents killed and 87 injured. In the northern city of Haifa, 30 were wounded as fires raged near a power plant.

    Iran’s state TV said the country fired over 100 missiles, retaliating for Israel’s surprise attack against Tehran’s nuclear research facilities and assassinations of top military officials. The Revolutionary Guards claimed that a new Iranian tactic fooled Israel’s defense systems. World leaders fear a wider Middle East war. Ted, who is a rare American to have visited Iran, and Manila unpack the stakes, controversies, and what’s next in this high-stakes showdown.

    Plus:

    Trump’s new “gold card” website lures rich foreigners with fast-track U.S. citizenship for big bucks, replacing the EB-5 visa.

    Labor union giants Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders resign from the DNC, slamming new chairman Ken Martin for shrinking the party’s big tent.

    Rare immune reactions to others’ bodies—like semen allergies or PATM—baffle scientists, with toluene and external allergens as possible culprits.

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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 159: “Israel Attacks Iran”
    Jun 18 2025

    We’re kicking off “The TMI Show” with Israel’s explosive attack against Iran, launched overnight. Israeli airstrikes hit Iran’s nuclear sites, risking radiation releases, and assassinating top Iranian military officials like IRGC chief Hossein Salami and scientists, shaking the Middle East to its core. The U.S. denied having anything to do with the attacks and Trump is presumed to have disapproved, but will the US leave Israel on its own to deal with the inevitable Iranian retaliation? Israel says it’s a preemptive strike to stop a nuclear weapon, but it may also sabotage Trump’s Iran talks. In Israel, this looks like a new gambit to keep Netanyahu in power. With tensions boiling and retaliation on the horizon, this geopolitical showdown is essential to understand.

    Then, we’re diving into Trump’s ongoing push for mass deportations, facing fierce resistance in the courts and streets as families and businesses are ripped apart by unidentified goons who claim to work for ICE. Joined by guest Susan Pai, this segment tackles the legal battles and public protests challenging the policy. Susan Pai is an experienced immigration attorney with over 26 years of legal expertise, focusing on immigration law, business law, estate planning, and guardianships, and has a background as a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Public Defender in Washington.

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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 158: “Happy in the Bronx”
    Jun 18 2025

    Today on “The TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan, we’re exploring animal rights. Should animals be granted legal status? If so, which animals and why? The “Happy the Elephant” lawsuit, launched by the Nonhuman Rights Project, fought for Happy, an Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo since 1977. Living alone since 2006, Happy’s self-awareness—proven by passing a mirror test—sparked the NhRP’s habeas corpus petition, demanding that she receive legal personhood and be transfered to a sanctuary where she would be, well, happier. They argued that her isolation and cramped space were unlawful imprisonment. The Bronx Zoo fought back, insisting Happy is well-cared-for and not alone, calling the suit a stunt. Courts, including New York’s highest in 2022, rejected Happy’s claim, ruling that habeas corpus is for humans only, though dissenters pushed for Happy’s rights. Is animal personhood a legitimate civil rights movement, or a slippery slope? Elephants’ established intelligence—tool use, epic memory, empathy—fuel the debate, alongside landmark cases like Sandra the Orangutan’s. Don’t miss this deep dive into animal rights and legal limits!

    Plus:

    Today’s Loving Day celebrates the 1967 Supreme Court ruling legalizing interracial marriage, sparked by Richard and Mildred Loving’s fight.

    An Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad kills hundreds, including students, after hitting a medical college dining hall. It’s a Boeing 787.

    Israel is gearing up for a potential Iran strike, risking Middle East chaos and Trump’s nuclear deal.

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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 157: “Israel Is Dangerous to Jews.”
    Jun 11 2025

    LIVE 10 AM Eastern time, Streaming Anytime:

    Today, it’s a thought-provoking episode of “The TMI Show”! Political cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall brings his razor-sharp perspective to the forefront with his provocative thesis: Israel Is Dangerous for Jews. This isn’t just talk—this is a deep dive into a topic and longstanding assumptions that turn out to have been totally false. Rall tackles the long-held belief that Israel is the ultimate safe haven for Jewish people, armed with stark statistics: 1,755 Jewish people have died from hate crimes and terrorism in Israel during 2015-2024 (0.024% of its Jewish population) versus just 24 in the diaspora (0.0003%). That’s a 73-times higher risk, and even though the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack contributed, it’s still far more dangerous to be Jewish in Israel than anywhere else.

    Ted challenges the narrative that pro-Palestinian activists want Jews to be killed if Israel dissolves, pointing to historical examples like Austria-Hungary’s dissolution without mass killings, and references Edward Said’s vision of a binational peace and a one-state solution. The controversy heats up as Rall questions U.S. support rooted in 1948 post-Holocaust logic, now strained by decades of conflict. Israel, it turns out, is making life worse for Jews.

    Joined by co-host Manila Chan, this episode promises unfiltered insights into Zionist arguments, pro-Palestinian perspectives, and the messy reality of the Middle East. Whether you’re pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, or just here for the truth, this is must-see TV. Tune in, share your thoughts, and let’s get real about one of the world’s toughest issues.

    Plus:

    At least 10 people were killed and 12 wounded in a mass shooting at a high school in Graz, Austria, marking the deadliest attack in the country’s postwar history.

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 4,000 National Guard troops will remain in Los Angeles for 60 days at a cost of $134M, amid a proposed $831.5B FY 2026 defense budget.

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 156: “Warner Splits Its Bros.”
    Jun 11 2025

    TMI Show Ep 156: “Warner Splits Its Bros.”

    LIVE 10 AM Eastern time, Streaming Anytime:

    On “The TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan,” we investigate the seismic breakup of Warner Bros. Discovery into two publicly-traded companies. Next year the Studios & Streaming unit—HBO, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Studios—will be led by CEO David Zaslav, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels takes the helm of Global Networks, including CNN, TNT Sports, and Discovery. This follows last year’s internal restructuring, with execs saying the split lets streaming chase trends (now 44.3% of U.S. TV usage) while networks manage legacy assets. But the move’s got baggage: Global Networks inherits most of the company’s $34B debt from the 2022 WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, sparking debate over financial stability and market strategy. Will this gamble pay off, or is it a desperate pivot in a cutthroat industry? Critics question if Zaslav’s streaming bet can outpace rivals, while others see debt-laden Global Networks as a ticking time bomb.

    Plus:

    Pentagon deploys 700 Marines & 2,000 more National Guardsmen to L.A. amid immigration protest clashes, escalating tensions with California’s Gov. Newsom.

    Germany plans to build one million war bunker spaces, citing fears of European conflict, with a €500B infrastructure fund to be squandered.

    Iran cracks down on dog walking, enforcing a 2019 ban as a “crime,” stirring cultural and religious backlash.

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • TMI Show Ep 153: “MAGA Civil War: America First or Israel Instead?"
    Jun 9 2025

    LIVE 10 AM Eastern time, Streaming Anytime: Hosts Ted Rall and Manila Chan cover President Trump’s bold new proclamation banning travelers and immigrants from a dozen countries while restricting entry from seven others. Citing national security, terrorism risks, inadequate vetting, and deportation issues, Trump’s decree fully bars entry from nations like Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Yemen, impacting both permanent immigrants and temporary visa holders like tourists. Partial suspensions hit countries like Cuba and Venezuela, with exemptions for U.S. residents, diplomats, and certain visa holders. The ban follows a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, by an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, fueling heated debates over security versus discrimination. Critics say Trump’s move is reactionary and xenophobic, arguing that it unfairly serves as group punishment, while Republicans claim it’s a necessary step to protect the nation. Ted and Manila unpack the facts, controversies, and global implications of this sweeping policy shift. Plus: President Trump orders an investigation into whether Joe Biden’s cognitive decline was hidden by aides using an autopen to sign executive actions. Trump questions the legitimacy of Biden’s pardons, including commuting 37 federal death row sentences. A new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson exposes efforts to downplay Biden’s mental acuity during his presidency.

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    1 hr and 24 mins