DMZ America Podcast Ep 198: “The Boy/Man Problem: Too Much Empathy?”

In this episode of the DMZ America podcast, hosts Ted Rall and Scott Stantis dive into "the boy/man problem," spotlighting the cultural, economic, and educational challenges facing boys and men. 

We kick off with Elon Musk’s "Joe Rogan" claim that empathy is "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization," a "bug" exploited to foster "civilizational suicidal empathy." Is society’s focus on empathy sidelining male struggles? 

Rall and Stantis note the stark educational gap, with the female-to-male college ratio nearing 60:40, and the closing gender pay gap—driven not by women’s gains but by men’s stagnating or declining wages. We tie this to Kamala Harris’s 2024 election loss; she failed to address men grappling with economic stagnation and cultural marginalization, a misstep that cost her against Donald Trump’s hyper-masculine appeal. Rall, from the left, and Stantis, from the right, discuss root causes—systemic neglect versus cultural shifts. Let’s unpack why boys and men are falling behind.

The DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis.

Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrall

Web: Rall.com