The Al Franken Podcast

Latest Episodes:

40: A Conversation with Jimmy Kimmel Feb 09, 2020

Show notes

Al and Jimmy discuss his radio days, Jimmy Kimmel Live’s rough start, then success, bad guests, his emotional appearance after his son’s birth, and his passionate support of universal health care.

39: John Mayer on Playing Guitar and Singing at the Same Time Feb 02, 2020

Show notes

John Mayer talks about how he transitioned from pop star/tabloid fodder (recurrent Sexiest Man Alive) to the impossible challenge of filling Jerry Garcia’s gigantic shoes with Dead and Company, the current iteration of the Grateful Dead. (If you guessed Al is a big Dead Head, you might be right).

Plus, an angry Al vents about the week's impeachment news.

38: How We Got Here. Norm Ornstein on the Erosion of Norms from Gingrich to McConnell to Trump Jan 26, 2020

Show notes

Veteran Washington observer Norm Ornstein tracks the erosion of norms that once allowed Washington to work. From Newt Gingrich instructing Republicans to demonize Democrats as “sick, corrupt, traitors” to Mitch McConnell denying Merrick Garland a hearing. The abandonment of fact-based evidence, shutting down the government, using the filibuster to grind the Senate to a halt, to a pathological President attacking the media as “enemies of the people.”

37: Paul Tough on How the College Admissions System Preserves Our Nation’s Economic and Social Disparities Jan 19, 2020

Show notes

The Felicity Huffman/Lori Loughlin scandal pales in comparison to the scandal of our higher education admissions system, which protects the privileged and leaves everyone else behind.

36: MSNBC's Second Most Popular Host, Lawrence O'Donnell, Is Guest Jan 12, 2020

Show notes

Lawrence O’Donnell - Son of Dorchester, West Wing writer, Moynihan Senate Staff director - tears Trump and CNN a new one.

35: Al and Conan O’Brien Jan 05, 2020

Show notes

Al and Conan discuss their time together at SNL, including Tina Fey’s shameless theft of Al’s Fart Doctor sketch and the time Al scared the bejeezus out of George Harrison. Very little public policy discussed.

34: Sara Silverman and Al Talk About Comedy and Politics Dec 29, 2019

Show notes

A replay of one of our favorite shows from early in 2019. Al and Sara discuss the risky comedy, politics and much more.

33: Al Solo! - Al Rants on Impeachment, Trump, McConnell, and GOP Bad Faith. Dec 22, 2019

Show notes

I rant about the dishonesty (and/or stupidity) of House Republicans during the impeachment debate. Also, about the shameless bad faith exhibited by Mitch McConnell. And the unraveling of Donald Trump’s mind – to the extent it was ever raveled. Plus, my frustration with the Democratic presidential debate our candidates failing to lay a glove on Trump. And with the Democratic candidates, who beat up each other, but failed to lay a glove on Trump.

32: Guilty! Al Discusses Impeachment with Harvard Law Professor, Nancy Gertner and Max Bergmann, Not a Harvard Law Professor Dec 15, 2019

Show notes

Al concludes that Trump is guilty, yes,guilty!, of high crimes and misdemeanors and so is AG Bill Barr after discussing facts with Harvard Law Professor Nancy Gertner and Max Bergman, director of the Moscow Project. They make the case that assuming Trump will be acquitted in the Senate is a mistake. Al concludes that "When you assume, you 'Make an Ass out of Uma Thurman.'" Uma discusses Pulp Fiction.

31: Obama National Security Advisor Susan Rice Talks Foreign Policy Successes and Failures Dec 08, 2019

Show notes

Al and Rice discuss how immensely consequential decisions are made in real time. Sometimes you get it right. Sometimes you don't. And how you deal with tragic mistakes but have to keep on going.

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