Extreme Mortman

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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.

1 DAY AGO

Presidential rhetoric after shootings and domestic attacks -- with historian Tevi Troy

After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September 2025, President Trump spoke at a memorial service at a stadium in Arizona: In that private moment, on his dying day, we find everything we need to know about who Charlie Kirk truly was. He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them. I'm sorry. I am sorry, Erika. Commenting and consoling after a shooting or domestic attack has been a ritual for every president since the early 1990s. What have presidents said each time they occurred? How has presidential rhetoric changed over the past four decades? And when do Presidents use political language — and when do they use spiritural and religious language — in their remarks? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" — as we hear every president from Bill Clinton through Donald Trump speak about shootings, domestic attacks, and the people who died. And for context and explanation, we're joined by a special guest: presidential historian Dr. Tevi Troy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52 min
6 NOV

Dick Cheney: What Did They Say About Him At CPAC?

Over the years, Dick Cheney spoke many times at CPAC, the marquee conservative political gathering. Which means, over the years, Dick Cheney got many introductions at CPAC. Like this one in 2006 – from conservative leader David Keene … "It falls upon me this evening to once again introduce a friend who not to be too trite about it needs no introduction. Vice President Dick Cheney has appeared here before. In fact, with the sole exception of former President Ronald Reagan, he's the highest-ranking official with a continuing relationship with CPAC, and indeed with the movement of which we're all a part." In the current conservative political climate, such a welcome for Dick Cheney might sound unfamiliar … How did CPAC leaders introduce Dick Cheney to CPAC crowds? How did the audiences react? And what were some surprises along the way? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 min
30 OCT

Halloween: 11 Scary Moments in Politics – with Ledge King

It's Halloween! When everything is scary. Can you name a scary moment in politics? How about this one: LITTLE GIRL plucking daisy petals: One, two, three, four, five, seven, six, six, eight, nine "MISSION CONTROL": Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero SOUND EFFECTS: Huge atomic bomb blast. Pretty scary, right? That was from the 1964 presidential campaign … Lyndon Johnson's "Daisy" ad he used against Barry Goldwater. It showed a little girl plucking a daisy … Then: images of nuclear destruction. ... Then, LBJ says: "We must either love each other. Or we must die." The ad ran just one time … But that was enough to make it famous … And it was enough to make the list of 11 scary moments in politics… As you'll hear in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" …Timed for Halloween and with a very special guest: Managing Editor of National Journal Daily - Ledge King. Which ten other political moments make the scary list? And what does Ledge King say about each of them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

49 min
23 OCT

Fawn Hall and Oliver North Get Married! Remembering the 1987 Iran-Contra Hearings

June 8th, 1987 ... Day Eighteen of the Iran-Contra hearings … Congressman Lee Hamilton is presiding … and Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North's secretary is testifying. Lee Hamilton: "Ms. Hall, I understand that you have an opening statement. Am I correct?" Fawn Hall: "Yes, sir." Lee Hamilton: "You may proceed." Fawn Hall: "My name is Fawn Hall, and I reside with my parents in Northern Virginia, where I was born and raised. I attended Annandale High School and graduated in 1977. I started working at the age of 15, and at 16, while still in high school began my career in government, working for the Department of the Navy. During this period, I also held various part-time jobs, including modeling." Now, nearly four decades later, Oliver North is 82 years old … Fawn Hall is 66 years old – and — he's no longer her boss ... and - she's no longer his secretary ... Oliver North and Fawn Hall just got married! – to each other! For those of you with no idea who we're talking about .. and for those who know exactly who we're talking about – their marriage gives C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" a reason to remember the blockbuster Iran-Contra hearings that dominated politics in the summer of 1987. What did Oliver North say about Fawn Hall? And what did Fawn Hall say about Oliver North? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly." Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
16 OCT

You've Got Podcast: A Political Farewell to AOL Dial-Up Internet Service

There was a time, decades ago, when politicians where astounded every time they went online and discovered – to their glee – they had mail. Like Harry Reid – here's the Democratic Senator from Nevada on October 27th, 1999: "Today, it's hard for me to comprehend what has taken place in the advancement of science. At home at my computer, I go home at night and see if I have received any e-mail on my computer. It is easy to do. I open my computer, and it says, ‘'You’ve got mail.' I open that up and find out who has contacted me by email, and it is like magic. I press a button, and I can reply to that person as quickly as I can type that message out. That message is sent quicker, of course, than the speed of light. It is gone." Senator Reid said getting mail online was like magic -- suggesting powerful forces summoned by the supernatural. But it really was just dial up internet service provided by America Online. Now AOL is shutting down that relic of the 1990s … and with it goes that once ubiquitous phrase -- "You've got mail." … It may be officially gone, but for C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" – "You've got mail" lives on – No mourning here, just celebration…Which we'll do in this week's episode – as we remember a brave new tech world decades ago, when politicians were dazzled every time they dialed up and discovered – They had mail. Who were these politicians – and what did they say? Find out in C-SPAN's "The Weekly." Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 min
9 OCT

The House Freedom Caucus and Speaker Boehner's resignation: Ten Years Later

Ten years ago this month, in October 2015, John Boehner's tenure as U.S. House Speaker came to an end … and the influence the House Freedom Caucus held over Republicans was at its height …. REPORTER QUESTION: The Freedom Caucus has caused you a lot of problems. Obviously, here in your final act, you're rolling them. Can you describe your thought process there? SPEAKER BOEHNER: I wouldn't quite describe it that way. We have a bipartisan agreement that makes sure that the debt ceiling is increased and we make good on our -- on our debt and our debt service, and it paves the way to fund the government this year and next. And the fact is is that this will make it easier for the entire Congress for the balance of this year and it'll make next year a whole lot smoother for the Congress as well. That was John Boehner's final press conference as House Speaker …October 27th, 2015… • Does the Freedom Caucus today still cause a different Republican House speaker "a lot of problems"? • What happened to the House Freedom Caucus over the last ten years? • And how are Republican House politics different now from when John Boehner resigned as Speaker a decade ago? Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" as we remember the House Freedom Caucus ten years ago – and where it is now -- with two very special podcast guests: • Paul Kane - - senior congressional correspondent and columnist at the Washington Post • and Leigh Ann Caldwell -- Chief Washington Correspondent at Puck. Find C-SPAN's The Weekly wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

37 min
2 OCT

The 1973 Yom Kippur War: How Richard Nixon Is Remembered

President Richard Nixon — and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.As war continues now in the Middle East, and as an American president is drawn into that conflict, and as Jews mark the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur — this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" revisits what happened in 1973. "In his second term, he would order the strategic air lift that saved Israel in the Yom Kippur war. Israel never had a better friend, said Golda Meir." That was Pat Buchanan, an aide to President Nixon. Pat Buchanan spoke at a January 2013 celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Nixon's birth, hosted by the Nixon Foundation. What did Richard Nixon say about his actions during the 1973 Yom Kippur War? How about the people who were with him at the time? And how do historians remember President Nixon's role in rescuing Israel during that war? Find out in C-SPAN's "The Weekly."Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 min
25 SEPT

Post-Season Baseball and Presidents – 8 Memorable Moments - with Carl Cannon

It's that wonderful time of year ... time for the Major League Baseball post-season. And not just time for the playoffs and the World Series – but also time for politicians to talk about the playoffs and the World Series. In particular, Presidents and presidential candidates. Like President Donald Trump ... November 4th, 2019 ... welcoming the World Series champions Washington Nationals to the South Lawn of the White House… "Today, the First Lady and I are thrilled to welcome to the White House the 2019 World Series Champions, the Washington Nationals. For the first time in nearly 100 years, our nation’s capital is celebrating a World Series victory. That’s big stuff. The last time Washington, D.C. was home to the World Series champs, the President was a gentleman named Calvin Coolidge. That’s a long time ago." In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," hear eight memorable moments when the baseball post-season intersected with presidents and presidential candidates. And then learn the political history AND the baseball history surrounding each memorable moment -with a very special guest. Carl Cannon .. .He's Washington Bureau Chief of RealClearPolitics and Executive Editor of RealClear Media Group…. Carl Cannon has the two requisite requirements for this episode: He's a presidential historian … and he's a baseball fanatic. Which are the 8 memorable moments? And what does Carl Cannon say about each of them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

42 min

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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.