Extreme Mortman

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

News
**Extreme Mortman**

Original political stories inspired by current events. A weekly fix for political junkies combining compelling clips from the C-SPAN archives (iconic and obscure), history, trivia – and often a healthy helping of comedy.

Latest Episodes:

Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon Jokes – Best, Worst, and Everything in Between Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

"As thanksgiving nears, a seasonal gift to President Eisenhower is this strutting, impressive Tom Turkey.

Handsomest bird in all Nebraska. And perhaps the other 47 states as well

All the trimmings for the White House dinner come with him

A Big basket of cranberries to complete the holiday platter.

It's a lucky bird that graces the President's table.

And he's gobbling with excitement at the prospect."

Hey ... wait a minute ... that's not funny at all..

Thanksgiving and turkey and the White House -- but where are the jokes?

Sure, it was a news report from 1955 about President Eisenhower pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey.

But isn't there supposed to be original -- sometimes hilarious, sometimes painful -- presidential humor about turkeys?

Well, give thanks for the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly."

Because in this podcast, we're stuffed with Presidential comedy -- Presidents pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys -- and the jokes they told. ...

Which jokes were a huge hit? Which jokes were guaranteed groaners?

You get to decide ... just by listening to "The Weekly."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kennedy Assassination 60th Anniversary: The Zapruder Film Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

"On November 22, 1963, at precisely 12:30 PM, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the youthful 35th President of the United States drove triumphantly into this square, where hundreds waited to cheer him...and where another waited as well. Seconds later a dying President sped away from Dealey Plaza -- into history, into legend, into a national nightmare of suspicion that persists to this day."

--Walter Cronkite, opening a special four-part CBS News inquiry on the Warren Report, June 25, 1967

Walter Cronkite said suspicion about the Kennedy assassination persists to this day. He said that in 1967. But it also applies to 2023.

In the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" - we mark the 60th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination by focusing on one specific surviving artifact from November 1963 ... The Zapruder film. … We hear how the Zapruder film was reported on that CBS News inquiry into the Warren Report -- and we even hear from Abraham Zapruder himself.

What did CBS News say about the Zapruder film four years after the Kennedy assassination?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Schwarzenegger -- A Milton Friedman Fan, Not An Economic "Girlie Man" Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

"Now there's another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people, and faith in the U.S. economy. And to those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: 'Don't be economic girlie men!'"

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – speaking at the 2004 Republican National Convention..

Quite a choice: Free enterprise or economic girlie men.

Wondering who inspired Arnold Schwarzenegger's economic view of the world?

The answer: Milton Friedman.

And what inspired this episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly"?

"Books that Shaped America" – the C-SPAN original series which next week features Free to Choose – by Milton Friedman.

This is a second installment of a special two-part episode of "The Weekly" in support of C-SPAN's series "Books that Shaped America" and the upcoming episode on "Free to Choose,"

This week's podcast is all about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Milton Friedman.

In last week's podcast, we heard from Presidents Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, Biden, several candidates for the presidency -- and even Margaret Thatcher.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milton Friedman: Worshipped by Some Politicians, Rejected By Others Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" presents a special two-parter on Milton Friedman.

In support of C-SPAN's series "Books that Shaped America" and the upcoming episode on "Free to Choose," The Weekly hears from politicians who both worship and reject Milton Friedman's economic theories.

In this first part, hear directly from Presidents Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, Biden, several candidates for the presidency -- and even Margaret Thatcher.

In next week's second installment -- hear from just one politician, a big admirer of Milton Friedman: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Almanac of American Politics Is Out! Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Well, it's another odd year in politics.

And by odd year, we don't mean what's happening in politics.

We mean – the year itself.

Every odd year we get a new Almanac of American Politics.

There are at least two things we can be sure happen in politics every two years: (1) elections for Congress; and (2) the publication of a new and updated Almanac of American Politics.

With a collection of best-of mentions on C-SPAN, the latest episode of "The Weekly" marks the latest edition of a political reference icon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NRA Democrat John Dingell Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

"I have defended the Second Amendment more than any Member of this body, and I am a past member of the board of directors of NRA and a life member of that body. "

That was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives … speaking on the floor of Congress ... in 2012 ...

Past NRA board member ... life member of the NRA... defender of the Second Amendment.

So, the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" obviously is about a Republican, right?

Nope... would you believe -- a Democrat?

Who was that Democrat?

Here's a hint: he holds the record for longest-serving member of Congress in American history.

Still stumped?

Don't fret: Listen to "The Weekly" for the big reveal.

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presidents and the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

"This past Sunday, at 22 minutes after 6 Beirut time, with dawn just breaking, a truck, looking like a lot of other vehicles in the city, approached the airport on a busy, main road. There was nothing in its appearance to suggest it was any different than the trucks or cars that were normally seen on and around the airport. But this one was different. At the wheel was a young man on a suicide mission The truck carried some 2,000 pounds of explosives, but there was no way our marine guards could know this."

That was President Ronald Reagan -- addressing the nation -- October 1983.

What happened next?

And what have other presidents since Ronald Reagan said about that day in October 1983?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" -- as we mark the 40th anniversary of the Beirut Marine Barracks terror bombing.

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Byrd Answers The Old Age issue Head On Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

"Mr. President, I feel compelled to address head on, I mean

head on, the news stories in recent weeks that have pointed out the

shocking discovery, yes, shocking discovery, that I am growing older.

Did you get that? Shocking discovery that I am growing older."

And with that opening, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) addressed the U.S. Senate ... June 28, 2007.

Thus began one of the most notable speeches given in the Senate in modern times about age ... and still today a textbook example of how a politician might handle questions about age.

With abundant conversation these days about the advanced age of politicians on both sides, in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," we remember one specific speech made by one specific politician who addressed the age issue directly.

What did Senator Byrd say next that people still talk about today?

Find out in "The Weekly."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Hawk Down: 30 Years Since the Battle of Mogadishu Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

30 years ago: The battle of Mogadishu.

October 3rd and 4th,1993 in Somalia: 18 American soldiers killed ... 73 wounded ... and one captured in a street battle with the forces of Somali warlord Mohamed Aidid.

In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," we mark that30th anniversary ... What is now commonly remembered by the book and movie title Black Hawk Down was a deadly two days for American military and foreign policy... it sparked strong real-time disagreements and anger in Congress ... and it's still cited among policy-makers today.

What were the answers to the questions President Clinton asked the nation on October 7, 1993?

Find out in "The Weekly."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Murphy Brown: When An Emmy-Winning TV Show Dominated a Presidential Campaign Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

It's part II of "The Weekly"'s special two-episode look at Emmy Award-winning -- and Emmy Award-nominated -- TV shows being cited by candidates on the presidential campaign trail!

In this latest episode, we go in-depth with one particular show -- and one particular candidate:

"I welcome the debate with Hollywood. Even if it occasionally flares up into what the New York Times yesterday called a war. But the debate does not justify distortion. An Emmy is not a license to lie"

Who was that?

When was that?

What show was he talking about?

And ... what was the war?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." It's the thrilling conclusion of our two-part Emmy special.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices