Advertise on podcast: The TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan

Americans are having less sex, and new research suggests political ideology may play a role. Are liberals really getting less action than conservatives? And could our increasingly digital lives be interfering with real-world intimacy? On this episode of TMI with Ted Rall and Manila Chan, we're examining four stories that challenge what we think we know about health, science and modern life. First, scientists are testing whether a vibrating mattress could help the brain clear proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. Could a good night's sleep eventually come with an added neurological benefit? Next, new research suggests some children diagnosed with peanut allergies may no longer be allergic. Are families living with unnecessary dietary restrictions, anxiety and expensive emergency medications? Then, Air New Zealand is introducing sleeping pods for economy passengers, charging hundreds of dollars for a four-hour nap. But as airlines continue squeezing passengers into increasingly cramped cabins, we have one question: How much more comfort are travelers expected to pay for? Finally, America's sex recession appears to have a political dimension. Research suggests married conservatives report more frequent sexual activity than liberals. Is religion, marriage, social media or our growing dependence on screens driving the divide? Join Ted Rall and Manila Chan for sharp analysis, surprising science, social commentary and the stories that deserve a closer look. Join the TMI Show LIVE every Tue & Thurs 10am ET.

How far can human endurance go? And what happens when the pursuit of a longer life comes with a rather uncomfortable catch? On today's TMI Show, Ted Rall and Manila Chan examine disturbing allegations surrounding a Ukrainian military facility associated with the controversial Azov formation, where reports of unlawful detention and abuse have sparked outrage and demands for accountability. Then, meet Karl Bushby, the British adventurer who finally made it home after spending 28 years walking some 31,000 miles around the world. From dangerous jungles to frozen seas, his remarkable journey offers a fascinating look at human determination and the kindness of strangers. Could losing your testicles actually help you live longer? A surprising mouse study suggests castration may extend male lifespans by as much as 33 percent. We examine the science, the historical evidence, and whether men would ever seriously consider such a trade. And finally, an extraordinary survival story from the South Pacific. Five people, including two children, have been rescued after drifting more than 3,300 miles across the ocean for three months. How did they survive, and what happened to the four passengers who remain missing? Four remarkable stories exploring military accountability, human endurance, survival, and the strange science of aging. Join the TMI Show LIVE every Tue & Thurs 10am ET.

Are older women getting pickier about dating, or are men simply failing to keep up? And what happens when the criminal justice system relies on scientific evidence that turns out to be flawed? On this episode of TMI, Ted Rall and Manila Chan examine four stories raising uncomfortable questions about modern society. LOVE AFTER 60: Divorced baby boomer women are returning to the dating scene, but many are finding that independence beats compromise. Are their standards too high, or have the rules of romance permanently changed? VIRGINIA CRIME LAB SCANDAL: Thousands of criminal cases are being reviewed following forensic testing failures at a Roanoke laboratory. Could innocent people be sitting behind bars? And what does that mean for a justice system that still permits executions? GENETIC MEDICINE BREAKTHROUGH: Scientists have begun testing an advanced CRISPR technology designed to correct inherited genetic mutations inside the human body. Could a single treatment eventually replace a lifetime of medication? STARBUCKS AND THE DEATH OF THE COFFEEHOUSE: Once marketed as everybody's living room, Starbucks is imposing stricter rules on who can sit and socialize. Are we losing yet another public gathering place to corporate efficiency? Four stories. Four bigger questions about relationships, justice, medicine, and the society we're becoming. Join the TMI Show LIVE every Tue & Thurs 10am ET.

Is Russia really behind every American conspiracy? Or has blaming Moscow become Washington's favorite excuse? On this episode of TMI with Ted Rall and Manila Chan, we examine explosive allegations that Jared Kushner secretly accessed billions of dollars in Middle Eastern funds while serving in the Trump White House. Russian intelligence reportedly uncovered the financial arrangements, but Kushner denies the allegations. We also challenge a new book claiming Russia manufactured the Jeffrey Epstein intelligence conspiracy. Is the Kremlin pulling every string, or are Americans being discouraged from asking uncomfortable questions? Then, could an ancient virus be responsible for the evolution of the human brain? Scientists have uncovered fascinating evidence that prehistoric viral DNA may have influenced human intelligence millions of years ago. And finally, Airbnb is cracking down on hosts who expect guests to perform household chores while charging hefty cleaning fees. Is the vacation rental giant finally remembering what a vacation is supposed to be? Join Ted and Manila for another edition of TMI, where politics, science, and everyday absurdities collide. LIVE TUE & THURS AT 10am ET.

Is America's confidence in mail-in voting collapsing? Can artificial intelligence predict your death from a photograph? Could the foods you eat every day be quietly damaging your brain? And should bad manners on public transportation come with a hefty fine? On today's TMI, Ted Rall and Manila Chan examine a new Pew Research Center poll showing declining confidence in mail-in voting, particularly among Democrats, and what that could mean for upcoming elections. Then, scientists have developed AI technology that can analyze your face to estimate your mortality risk. Could this medical breakthrough become a privacy nightmare? Plus, new research links ultra-processed foods to hidden brain abnormalities, raising uncomfortable questions about America's increasingly industrialized food supply. Finally, Britain is cracking down on commuters who blast music and videos without headphones. Have we reached the point where common courtesy needs government enforcement? Four stories, plenty of questions, and the TMI perspective you won't get from the usual headlines.

The American dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach. As starter homes disappear and housing costs soar, Massachusetts is considering a controversial solution: allowing smaller homes on smaller lots. But are restrictive zoning laws responsible for pricing an entire generation out of the housing market? Then, marijuana has a reputation for making people mellow, but new research suggests cannabis use may be linked to an increased risk of violent behavior. What does the science actually tell us, and could the findings complicate the growing push for legalization? Plus, a man named Hitler Mussolini wins a mayoral election in Peru. His unusual name opens a much bigger conversation about parental rights, bizarre baby names, and whether governments should protect children from their parents' questionable choices. And finally, German police have confiscated a humanoid robot accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The incident raises a distinctly 21st-century legal question: When a robot behaves badly, who's responsible? Join Ted Rall and Manila Chan for another episode of TMI, where politics, science, culture, and the absurdities of modern life collide.

Weight-loss drugs for children, the widening family divide, a looming shift in America’s housing market and a new scientific search for Noah’s Ark are all on today’s docket. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... The World Health Organization has issued its first global guidelines for treating childhood and adolescent obesity. As drugs such as Wegovy reshape adult medicine, health officials are drawing a much sharper line when it comes to children. Kim Kardashian’s five-nanny household is easy celebrity fodder, but it also opens the door to a serious economic question. Has America made larger families a practical option mainly for the very rich? Millions of homes owned by baby boomers and the Silent Generation could change hands over the next decade. The coming housing shift sounds promising for frustrated buyers, but the types of homes entering the market may complicate the picture. Researchers are drilling deep into a mysterious boat-shaped formation near Mount Ararat. New soil samples could revive one of history’s oldest religious and archaeological debates, but faith, geology and hard evidence do not always travel in the same vessel. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

A lawsuit in Maine is raising troubling questions about ICE, Palantir and the surveillance of Americans who observe immigration operations. Information collected for one purpose can travel across interconnected federal systems, creating consequences far beyond the original encounter. We examine how that expansion could discourage lawful protest, political criticism and public oversight protected by the First Amendment. North Carolina’s so-called “homewrecker” law has returned to the spotlight after a lawsuit involving a former NASCAR driver. The unusual case also carries striking similarities to the legal fight surrounding former Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema. We look at the old common-law claims that allow betrayed spouses to pursue the alleged third party and why these lawsuits remain alive in only a handful of states. Kid Rock and Eminem are recording together despite occupying opposite ends of America’s political divide. Their collaboration has reopened a larger debate about friendship, artistic partnership and whether working with someone amounts to endorsing that person’s beliefs. Music has carried political meaning for generations, and even the guest list can make a statement. Finally, an older couple’s unexpected romance offers a warm entry into dating, intimacy and companionship inside senior communities. Their story leads to a broader look at loneliness, the social realities of assisted living and the complicated questions facilities face when residents seek privacy, affection and second chances. 00:00 Show Open and Today's Story Preview 03:08 The Ellison Merger and Who Runs the News 12:32 Media Ownership, Israel Coverage, and In-Group Preference 17:20 AI Actresses, Remakes, and the Future of Hollywood 31:02 ICE Surveillance of Observers in Maine 46:44 A North Carolina Home-Wrecker Verdict and Kyrsten Sinema 68:06 Kid Rock, Eminem, and Friendship Across Politics 82:34 Love and Dating in a Senior Community Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

Today, we examine a federal voter-fraud investigation facing serious questions, student unrest sweeping France, new science challenging how we understand ADHD, and a dating app betting on marriage and old-fashioned courtship. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... The Department of Homeland Security launched an initiative to identify noncitizens illegally registered to vote. Now court filings are raising troubling questions about the government’s data, its investigative methods and what can happen when someone’s name enters a powerful federal screening system. French high school students are blockading campuses over overcrowding, teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings. As demonstrations spread nationwide, clashes with police, mass detentions and accusations of political interference are turning an education dispute into a major test for Emmanuel Macron’s government. ADHD may be real, treatable and badly named. A major brain-imaging study is challenging the familiar belief that stimulant medications work by correcting an attention deficit, pointing scientists toward a different explanation for distraction, restlessness and difficulty completing everyday tasks. The killing of a New York Times Games executive has exposed a years-long family battle involving divorce, child custody, restraining orders, mental-health crises and competing allegations of abuse. Newly uncovered court records reveal a grim history behind the arrests, while the motive for the deadly confrontation remains unanswered. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

A DOGE insider breaks his silence, DraftKings faces troubling questions about artificial intelligence, and two unusual health stories examine grumpy aging men and the hidden burdens of having a larger bust. On today’s TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... A former DOGE insider is offering a rare account of life inside Elon Musk’s controversial government-efficiency operation. His story begins with three suitcases, a room full of hoodie-clad engineers and an assignment involving an entire federal department. What followed became one of Washington’s most chaotic experiments in government reform. Is “Irritable Male Syndrome” a genuine hormonal condition or simply a medical-sounding excuse for middle-aged men behaving badly? The label involves testosterone, depression, fatigue and, strangely enough, research involving temperamental sheep. We sort the legitimate biology from the barnyard psychology. DraftKings reportedly developed powerful artificial-intelligence tools capable of predicting which customers would respond to promotions by continuing to gamble. Former employees are now raising questions about what the company’s algorithms were designed to detect, which projects received support and whether the house has gained a troubling new advantage. Women with disproportionately large breasts already know about back pain, unwanted attention and the lifelong search for a truly supportive bra. New research suggests macromastia may be connected to several less obvious medical problems, pushing doctors to consider the condition as more than a cosmetic concern. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

A mysterious cyanide death resurfaces in the Tylenol murders investigation, DNA reopens a defining chapter of American history, brain-computer interfaces move closer to personalized treatment, and artificial intelligence starts influencing what Americans eat. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... For more than four decades, a well-dressed stranger found dead inside an Idaho church had no name. Investigators have finally identified the “Unknown Wanderer,” but the contents of his past have raised a far more chilling possibility involving one of America’s most notorious unsolved crimes. A lock of hair reportedly taken from Thomas Jefferson on the day he died is offering new genetic evidence in the long-running debate over his relationship with Sally Hemings. The 15-year Smithsonian investigation confronts the private history of the man who wrote America’s most famous declaration of equality. Brain-computer interfaces are moving beyond fixed electrical stimulation. Newer systems can monitor neural activity, recognize abnormal patterns and adjust treatment in real time, offering hope for people with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression and paralysis. The medical promise is enormous, but so are the questions about surgery, cost and ownership of neural data. Americans are increasingly asking artificial intelligence what they should snack on. A massive analysis of 53 million shopping transactions finds consumers searching for protein, fiber, energy and bolder flavors instead of reaching automatically for familiar brands. Even Slim Jims apparently need a digital strategy now. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

A White House press fight creates an unlikely alliance, the FBI offers ICE agents some deeply unromantic dating advice, researchers examine music’s connection to brain health, and a tiny Bolivian wildcat earns a place in scientific history. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... Donald Trump’s latest battle with the media has spread well beyond the news organizations he targeted. A familiar conservative network is now standing with its competitors, turning a dispute over White House access into a much larger confrontation over press freedom. The FBI is warning ICE agents that an online match who seems almost suspiciously perfect may deserve exactly that suspicion. Alleged “tradwife” profiles, political catfishing and the government’s own use of dating-app data combine to produce one of the strangest security advisories Washington has seen lately. Could your daily playlist help keep your brain healthier as you age? A large study of adults over 70 found a notable connection between regular musical activity, memory and dementia risk, although the results come with an important scientific caveat. A three-pound spotted cat from Bolivia has forced researchers to redraw part of the feline family tree. His unusual journey through a family home, a wildlife sanctuary and a DNA laboratory could carry major consequences for threatened animals throughout South America. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

Weight-loss drugs enter the longevity debate, Japan crosses a remarkable demographic threshold, an alleged assault aboard a Navy vessel becomes entangled in workers’ compensation law, and FBI hiring rules produce one of Capitol Hill’s strangest exchanges. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... Ozempic and Wegovy transformed the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Now, new research is testing whether the drugs could influence aging itself. The early findings are attention-grabbing, but the limits and potential risks deserve just as much attention as the promise. Japan has reached a longevity milestone no country has seen before. Behind that achievement lies a growing national challenge involving a shrinking population, rising social costs and an economy increasingly responsible for supporting its oldest citizens. A civilian engineer alleges she was raped by the captain of a U.S. Navy-operated ship while asleep in her locked cabin. Her effort to hold the government accountable has now collided with a legal argument that raises disturbing questions about what qualifies as a workplace injury. The FBI has revised hiring standards involving prostitution, workplace theft and, remarkably, bestiality. Director Kash Patel says the changes protect trafficking victims, but senators want to know whether the bureau added necessary context or simply removed some very reasonable red lines. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

Politics enters the concert arena, artificial intelligence raises new questions about ownership and privacy, modern dating collides with old expectations, and another commercial flight goes spectacularly off script. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... A politically charged performance has triggered a larger dispute involving Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and some of America’s biggest concert venues. The controversy raises an old question about who controls an artist’s message once music, business and political pressure share the same stage. Meta is confronting new allegations involving the photographs people have uploaded to Facebook and Instagram. The case could affect far more than one experimental AI feature, especially as writers, performers and artists challenge how technology companies acquire the material used to train their systems. A new matchmaking survey examines what men and women expect their partners to earn. The findings reveal a curious gap between the qualities people describe as ideal and the compromises they may make when choosing someone in real life. Finally, a routine American Airlines flight to Miami became anything but routine after cabin crew reported deeply inappropriate behavior from a passenger. It joins a growing list of incidents that suggest post-pandemic air travel has developed a serious civility problem. Join The TMI Show LIVE Tues & Thurs at 10am ET.

On this special anniversary edition, we revisit September 11 through the established historical account and the alternative theories that continue to surround the attacks. We also examine fashion’s massive waste problem, new research involving prenatal Tylenol exposure and a theater dispute that ended with a two-year prison sentence. On today's TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan... Twenty-five years after 9/11, the official account remains familiar, but questions involving the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and World Trade Center Building 7 have never entirely disappeared. We present both versions without mockery, examining the accepted timeline alongside the structural arguments, recovered evidence and unusual details that continue to fuel suspicions of an inside job. Fashion Week sells glamour, exclusivity and the promise of something new. Behind the runway, however, manufacturers produce billions of garments that will never be worn. We look at the mountains of discarded clothing, luxury products deliberately destroyed and governments finally beginning to confront an industry built around relentless overproduction. Tylenol has long been considered one of the safer pain relievers during pregnancy. A new Danish study has complicated that assumption after researchers observed reproductive differences in girls exposed to acetaminophen before birth. The findings come with significant limitations, but the numbers are substantial enough to warrant closer attention and years of follow-up. Finally, a British theatergoer objected to a woman singing during the Queen musical We Will Rock You. His response went far beyond an annoyed glance or a complaint to the usher. The confrontation ended in court, where a judge handed the former Scottish laird a two-year prison sentence and an involuntary intermission. Join The TMI Show LIVE Mon-Fri at 10am ET. ******************** Smart analysis. Bigger questions. Stories that matter. And a big heaping of laughs! New episodes weekdays at 10:00 a.m. ET.