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28 March 2024

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The DMZ

Liberal Bill Scher and conservative Matt Lewis meet in the rancor-free DMZ to hash out the week’s political events.

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Jun 11, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ: Why did Eric Cantor lose? Bill argues that Cantor’s loss doesn’t doom immigration reform, and Matt explains why the GOP base is so against reform. What happens now that Cantor is out as Majority Leader? Does Hillary Clinton’s comments about being “dead broke” prove that she’s off her game? Is former Montana governor Brian Schweitzer’s strategy to win the Democratic nomination so crazy that it just might work? Bill defends Woodrow Wilson against critics from the left. Plus: The case for running against a seemingly unbeatable candidate.

Jun 4, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, Bill and Matt respond to a Twitter controversy sparked by their previous diavlog on #YesAllWomen. They debate Matt’s recent piece suggesting that white men are no longer allowed to voice opinions on race and gender. Bill outlines his liberal case for the NSA. Is freed POW Bowe Bergdahl a hero or a traitor? Matt describes what Tony Kornheiser taught him about blogging. Plus: Recapping the Mississippi GOP primary.

May 29, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, Bill and Matt react to the Isla Vista shooting: Has the feminist response been productive or damaging? Matt fears all white men being presumed guilty. Is liberal Hollywood responsible for spreading a message of violence and misogyny? Is normal young male behavior at risk of being stigmatized? Moving to politics: Why did the Tea Party oust a 91-year-old conservative WWII veteran the day after Memorial Day? Matt has some counterintuitive advice for Ted Cruz on how to run for president. Plus: How Godzilla is a cautionary tale about a new kind of terrorist attack.

May 21, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, Matt and Bill react to the latest round of the GOP civil war between the establishment and the Tea Party: the primaries in Georgia and Kentucky. What does the issue of coal in Kentucky show about the politics of climate change? Why is Tom Cotton having such a tough time picking up a Senate seat for the GOP in Arkansas? Why the heck did a conservative blogger break into a nursing home to photograph Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran’s wife? Turning to the scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs, they consider why the GOP response has been muted so far. Plus: Why Democrats are revolting against an Obama judicial nominee.

May 15, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, Matt reveals the long-buried truth behind his mysterious middle initial, then defends Karl Rove’s statement about Hillary Clinton’s mental faculties. How should older politicians respond to attacks based on their age? Bill and Matt do a deep dive into the Nebraska GOP primary, where Tea Party favorite Ben Sasse triumphed. Is there any hope left for passing immigration reform this year? Plus: Does the rash of canceled commencement speeches shows that liberals don’t actually care about free speech?

May 8, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, it’s primary season! Who’s winning the GOP Establishment­­­­–Tea Party civil war? Will Rep. Renee Ellmers’s victory embolden immigration reformers? Is the Republican obsession over Benghazi sincere or cynical? Why are Republicans embracing identity politics? And could conservatives to learn to love affirmative action? Plus: Can Ralph Nader pull off a liberal-libertarian coalition?

Apr 30, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, Matt explains why conservatives are wont to make folk heroes out of figures like Cliven Bundy. Bill and Matt analyze the political valence of the Donald Sterling case, and consider the traits that Bundy and Sterling have in common. Has Sarah Palin’s star faded enough that conservatives can now criticize her without fear? Bill argues that the media has overplayed John Kerry’s comments about Israel and apartheid. Plus: On foreign policy, should Obama be trying to hit singles or home runs?

Apr 18, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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On The DMZ, Matt laments that kids these days are ignorant of the glories of ’80s pop culture, and explains how movies like Red Dawn shaped Gen Xers’ politics. So why has today’s Hollywood abandoned appealing to conservatives? Bill argues that Rand Paul is playing loose with the facts and thus hurting his attempt to rebrand the GOP. Has 2016 reporting gotten out of control? They analyze the new Mother Jones story on New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez that used leaked audio of private conversations to paint her as the next Sarah Palin. Plus: How should politicians navigate a privacy-free world?

Apr 11, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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Bill welcomes Matt back to The DMZ. Why have conservatives embraced Uber? Is technology destroying traditional retail, and is that a bad thing? Are dynasties like the Bushes and the Clintons a threat to democracy? What about the fact that every Supreme Court justice is an Ivy Leaguer? Plus: Matt defends the right of private businesses not to participate in gay weddings.

Apr 4, 2014 — Bill Scher & Justin Green
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On The DMZ, guest-host Justin makes the case for Paul Ryan’s new budget. Is Ryan secretly hoping that Obamacare works? Bill and Justin debate the meaning of the Affordable Care Act’s seven million sign-ups. Bill condemns, and Justin defends, Ezra Klein’s highly critical reporting on Healthcare.gov’s early failures. Is balancing the budget without raising taxes the conservative version of the left’s dream of single-payer health care? Plus: Is Ryan alienating the middle or shrewdly moving the “Overton window”?

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