Extreme Mortman

Latest Episodes:

Foreign leaders address Congress -- and teach us American history Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

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.

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SECRECY: What Sen. Moynihan taught us about government secrecy and classified documents Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Government secrecy.

It's in the news now because classified documents were discovered at the homes of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Secrecy also was in the news a quarter century ago because of Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY).

He chaired a commission investigating excessive government secrecy and classification of documents.

He even wrote a book about it: "Secrecy: The American Experience."

In the next episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," we remember what Sen. Moynihan taught us in the late '90s about government secrecy and classified documents -- insights which seem particularly noteworthy today.

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TOP STATE OF UNION ADDRESS CLIPS: From President Reagan through President Biden Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

How closely do you watch State of the Union addresses on C-SPAN?

Test your State of the Union knowledge with the C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly" -- We play the most-viewed clips in the C-SPAN Video Library for each President who has given a State of the Union speech since C-SPAN began.

Do you know:

• Which SOTU clip is also the most viewed of any clip in the C-SPAN Video Library?

• Which topic that is still very much in the news today has the most entries on this list?

• Why does Nancy Pelosi appear twice?

• What '80s cult movie made the list?

And what was said in the first state of the Union speech seen on C-SPAN that sounds like it could be said in the speech on C-SPAN next week?

Listen to "The Weekly" to get all the answers -- then watch and listen to C-SPAN Networks for live coverage of President Biden's State of the Union address on February 7.

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One Year from South Carolina -- Remembering What Joe Biden Used to Say About Iowa and New Hampshire Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

First votes are scheduled to be cast in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary in just about a year.

South Carolina goes first. If President Joe Biden gets his way.

But there was a time, in fact, several times, that presidential candidate Joe Biden was happy with Iowa and New Hampshire going first.

In this episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly," we go back to prior Joe Biden campaigns for president and hear what we said then about the importance of Iowa and New Hampshire leading off the presidential selection process.

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New Faces, New Stories, New Speeches - The New Members of Congress Jan 19, 2023

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What's new in Congress?

How about over 70 new faces -- new members of the House with new stories, new perspectives, and new thoughts.

Many have already given their first House floor speeches.

Hear what they said in this best-of roundup of the first speeches from new members of the new 118th Congress.

This episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" is all about the new.

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POP QUIZ: How closely did you watch the House Speaker contest? Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Four days and 15 votes.

You know the outcome

But how closely did you watch the historic contest for House speaker?

Pop quiz:

• Who mentioned the New York Yankees?

• Who mentioned the Detroit Lions?

• Who mentioned the Green Bay Packers?

• Who mentioned a Bill Murray film?

• And how many times was popcorn talked about?

• What did this House speaker contest have in common with three others from the past quarter century?

And -- get this -- have you ever before heard the House chaplain's opening prayer get interrupted?

Don't know -- or can't remember?

You'll get the answers -- and a whole lot more -- in C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

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Yes or No: Do Congressional Hearings Allow For Nuance? ANSWER THE QUESTION!! Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

Ah, the "Yes or no" question. A staple of any congressional hearing.

Congressmen and Senators often demand witnesses quickly answer questions as yes or no.

They frequently cite time constraints -- perhaps after giving lengthy statements. But does "yes or no" provide Congress or the public deeper understanding, broader explanation, or even nuance?

In this episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly," hear some of the most remarkable "yes or no" exchanges from hearings we've covered.

Is this an episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" that any Congressional hearing junkie won't want to miss -- YES OR NO!

That one's easy. The answer: yes.

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Best-of Congress Farewell Speeches 2022: Owls, Clowns, Volcanoes -- and "Dilly Dilly Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

Missed any of the farewell speeches from Senators and Representatives leaving Congress in 2022?

Good news -- Fret no more! The C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly" special farewell-to-2022 episode has you covered.

Learn:

-Which Senator mentioned owls

-Which Congressman mentioned clowns

-Which Senator had a major piece of legislation named after him -- voting for it in one of his final votes

-And which Congressman had a volcano named after him

Plus:

-Why was Newt Gingrich mentioned in farewell speeches by two Congressmen and one Senator?

- Who mentioned C-SPAN … twice?

-How many direct mentions did Donald Trump get -- from Republicans?

-And which other former Republican president got more direct mentions than Trump -- from Republicans?

These answers .. plus a whole lot more ... in the best-of-117th-Congress-farewell-speeches episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

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Elon Musk Loves Chocolate Milk Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Lots of people -- politicians very much included -- have lots of things to say about Elon Musk, now that he owns Twitter.

But what did politicians say about Elon Musk before he bought Twitter?

Find out in C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

Hear from members of Congress talking about Elon Musk in the pre-Twitter days, back when Democrats celebrated him for SpaceX, Republicans recommended he join President Biden's cabinet, and one Representative cheered on his "insane" love for chocolate milk.

Plus -- hear different opinions about Elon Musk from one person: Donald Trump.

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

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Six Other Senate Party Defectors Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and the Six Senate Party Defectors.

A new indy band out of Arizona?

Nope -- it's the new episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

First, some fun facts:

• Of the six most recent Senate independents, Kyrsten Sinema is only the second from a state not in New England.

• The Senate now has three Independents serving at the same time -- the most ever.

• And Sinema is the first independent or third-party Senator who is a woman.