Brendan O'Malley
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 I’m a big Dead Head, you might be right).
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.”
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.
Lawrence O’Donnell – Son of Dorchester, West Wing writer, Moynihan Senate Staff director – tears Trump and CNN a new one.
Fittingly, today you will be reading testaments to the brilliant career of Buck Henry, one of the truly great comedic minds of his generation. You will hear about so many of the iconic movies and TV shows that Buck created, wrote, and directed – groundbreaking movies and TV shows like The Graduate and Get Smart. I was privileged when I was so young, like all the rest of us, to get to know Buck who hosted so many of the early episodes of Saturday Night Live during the show’s first five seasons. Buck played a unique role among those early … Read More…
Conan and I discuss our time together at SNL, including Tina Fey’s shameless theft of my Fart Doctor sketch and the time I scared the bejeezus out of George Harrison. Very little public policy discussed.
Here they are! The grandkids. By age – Joe Greenwald (6), Jacob Franken (4), Avery Greenwald (3), and Claire Franken (9 months). In the center photo, prepping the apples for her classic apple pie, are me and Franni (age unknown). But back to the Grandkids. We feel so fortunate to have four such beautiful, happy, and healthy grandchildren who provide their parents and us with so much joy and love. That is why this holiday season we are so grateful to be able to give to organizations which help families that are facing difficult and sometimes heartbreaking circumstances. If you are … Read More…
This week, 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.
John Roberts will preside over the impeachment trial of President Trump in the United States Senate. That’s because Roberts is the Chief Justice of the United States. That’s what it says in the Constitution. Not “Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.” He is the Chief Justice of the United States. The impeachment trial of a president brings together all three branches of the federal government for this solemn process. So solemn that there is a special oath for members of the Senate who (I swear to God) will swear to God that they “will do impartial justice according to the … Read More…
I conclude that Trump is guilty, yes, guilty!, of high crimes and misdemeanors and so is AG Bill Barr after discussing facts with Gertner and Bergmann (“Mountain Man”) who make the case that assuming Trump will be acquitted in the Senate is a mistake. I conclude that “When you assume, you ‘Make an Ass out of Uma Thurman.’” Uma discusses Pulp Fiction.
Susan Rice and I 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.
I applaud Chairman Adam Schiff for his dignified manner in leading the majority during the recent House impeachment hearings. Indeed, I noticed that every Democrat on the dais demonstrated tremendous restraint by using their time to create a record instead of pointing out the transparently asinine questions, statements, and demeanor of the minority. Indeed, it is hard to find an honest word or sentiment from Republicans during the hours and hours of hearings other than the occasional nod to the patriotism of the two witnesses who are decorated combat veterans. It is true that Colonel Vindman’s loyalty to our nation was questioned … Read More…