"The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too." That was Vivek Ramaswamy during the recent Republican presidential candidates debate - on Fox. Oh wait -- no it wasn't -- that wasn't Vivek Ramaswamy at all. Let's try that again. That was Barack Obama, delivering the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention - on C-SPAN. Many observers said Vivek Ramaswamy sounded a lot like Barack Obama when he said during the Fox debate: "Who the ...
Sep 07, 2023•13 min
"When we were vacationing on Martha's Vineyard on two different occasions we went sailing off Martha's Vineyard, and James Taylor was a member of the crew. It wasn't such a great thing watching him work the ropes and the sails , although that was truly impressive -- though when we go to a calm sea-- he sang for us. And the stars were out, there was a moon out, and the water calm. It was something that none of us will ever forget." Ah, summertime on Martha's Vineyard… Just as President Bill Clint...
Aug 31, 2023•15 min
"It is great to be here. Honestly. It's so great to be out of the tough backbiting world of Hollywood and into the benign and polite world of New York book publishing." That was comedian Steve Martin, appearing on a book panel on BookTV on September 27, 1998... It was just two weeks after BookTV started on C-SPAN, 25 years ago -- and it was one of the earliest programs seen on BookTV. Steve Martin made four more appearances on BookTV -- all hosting the National Book Awards.. Decades later, Steve...
Aug 24, 2023•13 min
BRIGADIER GENERAL PAT RYDER: "All right, let me do one more from the phone here. Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose. JEFF SCHOGOL: "Thank you. Does the DOD know for a fact that Prigozhin is still alive or are we in a Weekend at Bernie's scenario right now?" The premise of that question? The June mutiny against Russian president Vladimir Putin. Who got the question? Defense Department Spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder. But the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" isn't about Presi...
Aug 17, 2023•14 min
You might think Cory Booker and Aaron Bean have nothing in common. One is a tenured Democratic Senator from a blue state (New Jersey) … the other is a freshman Republican Congressman from a red district (in Florida). But they do share one thing – they both seem to get a kick out of presiding over their chambers. What does it sound like two politicians with seemingly different politics have a common characteristic– enlivening floor proceedings with zest and zeal? Find out in the latest episode of...
Aug 10, 2023•8 min
"There is that Eddie Murphy skit where Eddie Murphy is on a bus and he's the only Black person on the bus, and no one is speaking, like people in an elevator. Just sort of stand there and watch. Silently. But Eddie Murphy gets off the bus, leaving only whites, and they immediately pull off their out garments, they have part outfits beneath, they start drinking champagne, the band strikes up. So to some extent .this could be happening when I leave the Court" That was Supreme Court Justice Clarenc...
Aug 03, 2023•15 min
"Before I took up my current line of work, I got to know a thing or two about negotiating when I represented the Screen Actors Guild in contract talks with the studios. After the studios, Gorbachev was a snap." That was Ronald Reagan --- speaking to the Chamber of Commerce -- November 17, 1988 --- one of his final speeches as president. The topic of the speech: world trade and world economics. But that's not the topic of the July 27, 2023, episode of C-SPAN'S "The Weekly." In the latest episode ...
Jul 27, 2023•18 min
"New beginnings" indeed! That was Dr. Barry Black ... July 7, 2003 .... his first opening prayer in the U.S. Senate. This month marks 20 years since Dr. Black became Senate chaplain. And in C-SPAN's "The Weekly," we hear some of his most notable prayers from those two decades. How did we select the prayers? Well, we asked Dr. Black himself! His responses to C-SPAN Radio's "The Weekly" are what you'll hear in this podcast. A Barry Black Pray List! Find out which prayers he chose as his favorites ...
Jul 20, 2023•20 min
During the summer of 1991, Soviet Communist hardliners tried to seize control of the country from Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Now the summer of 2023 – an attempted mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin. With that backdrop – the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" goes back and remembers the 1991 coup attempt in the Soviet Union – and we do it through the words of then-American President George H. W. Bush . Like Day One of the attempted coup, August 19, 1991. Preside...
Jul 13, 2023•14 min
Who needs the Major League Baseball All Star game when you have All-Star plays like that one -- in the Congressional Baseball Game ... This year, freshman Democratic Representative from California Kevin Mullin made that all-star catch playing left field. The big league All Star Game is approaching (July 11, Seattle) ... but you might not be interested ... you might want good, alternate, yet still baseball-themed programming -- Well, here's one idea ... listen to the latest episode of C-SPAN's "T...
Jul 06, 2023•16 min
Typically on the Fourth of July, you hear Americans praise America. The C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly" is going in a different direction. We hear British praise America. Specifically, British leaders who have addressed Congress and the White House and other large public venues – and have only nice things to say about the country that gained its independence from the British empire 247 years ago. King Charles, Boris Johnson, Teresa May, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth – and even Winst...
Jun 29, 2023•12 min
Last week, President Biden ended a speech in Connecticut by saying: "God save the Queen, man." And during his State of the Union address, President Biden told Republicans, "Lots of luck in your senior year." Both times, media observers wondered: What does that mean? In C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," we don't answer that. We do something else. We provide other times, in other settings, with other people, and with other policy issues -- when President Biden wished lots of luck in senior years. Fin...
Jun 22, 2023•12 min
You might not think listening to a Supreme Court oral argument could make you chuckle. But when Justice Elena Kagan is involved in the conversation, there's often a chance that will happen. In what is typically a world of dry legal argument, Justice Kagan can provide snappy comebacks, witty repartee, and quick delivery -- providing a humor and lightness to the oral arguments. In the latest episode of the C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly" -- marking the conclusion of the current Supreme Court term -- h...
Jun 15, 2023•17 min
Rosalynn Carter has championed mental health since her days as President Jimmy Carter's First Lady -- and even before. With the announcement that she has been diagnosed with dementia, C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" looks back at her advocacy of mental health awareness and mental health programs. But with a unique perspective: we focus on her collaboration with -- and friendship with -- fellow First Lady Betty Ford. We use clips from single and joint appearances at the National Press Club, Congres...
Jun 08, 2023•11 min
In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" -- we mark Henry Kissinger's 100th birthday -- but not with him talking about himself -- with him talking about milestone birthdays of other famous statesmen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 01, 2023•15 min
PEPFAR -- The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief. The multi-billion-dollar government initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic turns 20 years old this week – President Bush signed PEPFAR into law on May 27, 2003. When it was proposed and implemented 20 years ago, PEPFAR was the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history. Now, to mark PEPFAR's 20th anniversary, we hear directly from the politicians involved in the program -- and the bipartisan t...
May 25, 2023•18 min
May is Jewish American Heritage Month. It was established by Congress and President Bush in 2006. Since Congress helped create Jewish American Heritage Month, it's as good as chance as any to hear members of Congress speak Yiddish. Actually, to hear members of Congress say one specific word in Yiddish: Chutzpah. In the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly," to mark Jewish American Heritage Month, you'll hear e Congressmen and Senators -- from both parties -- give definitions of Chutzpah and in...
May 18, 2023•14 min
More than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America are on strike. It's the first TV writer's walkout in more than 15 years ... and it has halted production on some of the most popular shows in the U.S. One immediate casualty: late-night TV ... The talk shows are shut down. No new episodes. No new words. But there’s one place on TV where the words never stop, where the content is always fresh, where there is always new programming - the US Congress.... Congress on TV. LIVE on C-SPAN, and th...
May 11, 2023•16 min
It's time for Cinco de Mayo. Looking for a way to mark the Mexican holiday? Here's one serious thing you can do: Listen to the latest episode of the C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly." You'll hear politicians -- from both parties -- speak Spanish in a variety of public and political venues over the years... with messages targeted both for the Mexican community and other Spanish-speaking communities as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 04, 2023•15 min
How are you marking 30 years of C-SPAN bringing America LIVE coverage of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner? Well, here's how the C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly" is doing it -- with a Top Ten list. If you've watched all the dinners – going back to our first live one in 1993 -- you probably noticed one common thread. The comedians entertaining the dinners often make a joke about C-SPAN. So, we're turning that into a podcast! Sure, the premises vary. So do the styles. And the punchlines...
Apr 26, 2023•12 min
Mark Russell -- the piano-playing political pundit -- performed on C-SPAN many times. His career as a political satirist spanned half a century. The latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" remembers Mark Russell, who died March 30, 2023. But more than just Mark Russell: We celebrate others who have sung their way into political parody stardom. Bipartisan political and musical satire is hard to come by these days. Mark Russell's death presents an opportunity to hear from him one more time...
Apr 20, 2023•12 min
George Santos. Everyone's familiar with the controversies surrounding the new Republican House member from New York. But what has he been saying in Congress? That might be less well-known. So, in the next episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," we find out. We dive into Rep. Santos' House floor speeches and hear what he's been talking about during these early weeks of his young congressional career. He's made several speeches - with some surprise topics. Plus -- what have his congressional col...
Apr 13, 2023•16 min
How closely did you watch C-SPAN's coverage of 2023 State of the State addresses? Can you name the governor who: -- went off site to a remote location to deliver his speech? -- despite being a Democrat, cited two legendary Republicans? -- mentioned chocolate lobsters? -- mentioned crabs? -- cited F. Scott Fitzgerald? -- cited James Baldwin -- cited Ted Lasso? And which governor was inspired both by South Park and Lord of the Rings? Able to answer none of these questions? Able to answer all of th...
Apr 06, 2023•18 min
Often after mass shootings, you hear Senators and Congressmen say that more than thoughts and prayers were needed in reaction to the tragedies. That was the case once again after the shooting at The Covenant elementary school in Nashville. But there are people in Congress whose job it is to specifically provide prayers -- the Chaplains. In this episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly," we hear prayers offered by Chaplains opening the House and Senate following decades' worth of mass shootings in America...
Mar 30, 2023•19 min
Quick question – Who said this to the White House press corps in the White House press briefing room on Monday, March 21? "On behalf of myself, everyone here with me today and the numerous other folks that — that it takes to make our show, 'Ted Lasso,' it is sincerely an honor to visit the White House and to have the opportunity to speak to the President and to the First Lady about the importance of mental health." If you answered: Hey, that's Jason Sudeikis of the hit Apple TV+ series "Ted Lass...
Mar 23, 2023•18 min
"This is the day that all Irish Americans share their common heritage. It is also a day when just about everyone gets a little Irish feeling. One of the great things in my life has been the opportunity to see the Irish of this country use the power of the ballot box to pull themselves up, to join the front ranks of every profession and every walk of life." That's what House Speaker Tip O'Neill told a St. Patrick's Day dinner in his honor - on March 17, 1986. For St. Patrick's Day this year, the ...
Mar 16, 2023•16 min
"Tucker Carlson is a staff writer for the Weekly Standard. Good morning. Thanks for being with us." And that's how Tucker Carlson's first appearance on C-SPAN began ... taking audience calls... December 30, 1995 … Between 1995 and 2015, Tucker Carlson appeared on C-SPAN call-in programs 17 times. In this episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly," you'll learn personal information Tucker Carlson shared about himself ... during 20 years of taking calls and talking with the C-SPAN audience. Learn more about...
Mar 08, 2023•15 min
Ed Koch died ten years ago this week, But it feels like his feuds live on. Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, his own Democratic Party -- he picked fights with all of them. In this episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly," we remember New York City Mayor Ed Koch and his feuds-- ten years after he died. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 02, 2023•18 min
"My name is Jimmy Carter, and I'm running for President" ... ... And that's how Jimmy Carter began his speech accepting the presidential nomination ... at the Democratic Convention ... July 15, 1976. But in this episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," that's the only clip you'll hear of Jimmy Carter talking about himself. Because this episode is all about what President Carter said ... about other presidents. Like the man who defeated him when he ran for re-election in 1980... Ronald Reagan "U...
Feb 23, 2023•13 min
Ever hear of the Battle of Saratoga? Volodymyr Zelenskyy has. When the Ukrainian President addressed Congress, he reached back to American Revolutionary War days to make his plea -- Ukraine needs more military assistance. It wasn't the first time a foreign leader addressing a Joint Meeting of Congress went deep into American history -- particularly from the Revolutionary War days -- to make a rhetorical point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2023•22 min
