For C-SPAN's 47th Anniversary, Something Rare: Top Moments from the House Ethics Committee

It's C-SPAN's 47th anniversary! Typically for a C-SPAN anniversary, you get lots of clips of big, famous, and often entertaining moments culled from thousands of hours of coverage of the U.S. House floor. But not this time… Not for "Extreme Mortman." For this year's anniversary, the C-SPAN podcast "Extreme Mortman" goes in the opposite direction – we give you something in Congress you hardly ever get access to – the House ethics committee… "I commend you for the work you've done. I know you have a tough time here. I want you to disregard all the opposing counsel has said. I think they're delusionary. I think they've had something funny for lunch in their meal. I think they should be handcuffed to a chain-link fence, flogged and all their hearsay evidence should be thrown the hell out. And if they lie again, I'm going to go over and kick them in the crotch. Thank you very much." That was Ohio Democratic Congressman James Traficant. July 17th, 2002. A rare public televised meeting of the House ethics committee. Which other times has that committee met in a public hearing on C-SPAN? Who were the targets of those investigations? Did members of Congress testify? And what was said – publicly – in those hearings? Find out in this week's episode of "Extreme Mortman." You still get a C-SPAN anniversary podcast – because even though there's so little coverage of the House ethics committee, it's still part of the C-SPAN story. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year again … Time for the Academy Awards… So let's hear from … President Trump   "The Kennedy Center has everything. Look at the Academy Awards, it gets lousy ratings now, it's all woke. All they do is talk about how much they hate Trump. But nobody likes that. They don't watch anymore. That used to have 45 million people watching. Remember The Apprentice first season. The Apprentice had 42 million people, the Academy Awards had 41 million people. We were the second show to the Super Bowl. But since then, the Academy Awards have gone down to -- I think they've gone down to numbers that are like a regular show."   That was President Trump last August. The Academy Awards may be like a regular show – but the latest episode of C-SPAN's "Extreme Mortman" is no regular podcast. Because we award the first ever ExMo! The prize for best movie reference by a politician over the past year.   And who will decide which politician wins the ExMo for best movie reference? Hint: It's the only person perfect for this role … straight out of central casting. You're right! It IS Bob Cusack of the Washington Examiner. A political junkie – and a seasoned actor! And which politician comes away with the first-ever ExMo awarded by Bob Cusack?   Here's another hint: You'll find out in this week's episode of "Extreme Mortman." Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 3rd, 2015, a freshman rose on the Senate floor to address his colleagues… He gave his maiden speech as a U.S. Senator… It was a full year since he was elected. I rise to speak from the floor for the first time. I have never been in politics before, and I intentionally waited to speak here. I want to talk today about the historic purposes and uses of the Senate, about the decades-long decline of the legislature relative to the executive branch, and about what baby steps toward institutional recovery might look like. Before doing so, let me explain briefly why I chose to wait a year since election day before beginning to fully engage in floor debate.  That was Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse … Why did Senator Sasse wait a year before giving his first floor speech? In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – find out!   We're featuring Senator Sasse because he recently announced he has stage-four pancreatic cancer.   So, we wanted to know: Which were his favorite and most notable speeches as a U.S. Senator.   And he told us. Which moments did Ben Sasse pick? What was a common theme when Ben Sasse questioned Supreme Court justice nominees? Whose desk did Ben Sasse choose to occupy on the Senate floor — and why? And what happened that one time with Senator Sasse, Senator Cruz — and Dr. Pepper? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we hear Ben Sasse's own picks for his most memorable moments speaking as a U.S. Senator.  Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 13th, 1992. Jesse Jackson is hosting a conference of the National Rainbow Coalition. Reverend Jackson introduces the main speaker: "Finally, Governor Clinton is with us because he is from Hope, Arkansas. Anyone from Hope, Arkansas certainly wants to keep hope alive. I bring to you the next Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America governor Bill Clinton from Arkansas, Hope Arkansas." A few minutes later: A presidential campaign earthquake. • What happened next? • How did it impact the 1992 presidential campaign? • And who is Sister Souljah — and what does she have to do with Jesse Jackson and Bill Clinton? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we mark both the 2026 death of Jesse Jackson and the 1992 birth of a phrase which quickly entered the political campaign lexicon – and has been there ever since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't let the cynics and skeptics try to convince you otherwise: State of the Union addresses DO matter. Need proof? Foreign policy. Because many of the hotspots and crises and issues America faces around the world now have been talked about in State of the Union speeches going back decades.  For example, 20 years ago: "Tonight let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our Nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran." That was President George W. Bush — in 2006. In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" — we hear from Presidents talking in their State of the Union addresses about countries and leaders we still talk about today. In how many different State of the Union addresses has a president mentioned Hamas? And how many of those addresses were by George W. Bush? Which Soviet leader died within two weeks of which president giving a State of the Union speech - in which year?  And - you might remember, at the end of President Trump's 2020 address, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously and angrily and dramatically ripped up her copy of the text. But during one section of that speech, she stood up and applauded. What was the topic? So, why do State of the Union addresses matter — specifically, in foreign policy?   Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's "Extreme Mortman." Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 1999, legendary Washington Post reporter Lou Cannon joined C-SPAN for a special program at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara California .. It was the thirty-ninth in a series on American presidents ... A biographer of - and authority on - Ronald Regan, Lou Cannon talked with the C-SPAN audience — and took calls — for three hours:     BRIAN LAMB: Any reaction to this whole three hours, to being up here on the ranch again. Anything that comes mind.   LOU CANNON: 3 hours is a long time. I might have said this at the beginning. But maybe you should end where you begin. Ronald Reagan had many sides to him. The side people that people saw was this performer. The performer as actor. The performer as governor. The performer as president. But he also needed time to himself. He also liked to be off stage. He also liked to be by himself. This was the place he came when he was off stage.     In December 2025, Lou Cannon passed away … For decades, he appeared on C-SPAN programs and took calls …  And his son Carl Cannon, also an accomplished journalist and author, continues to do so.   Like the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman."   Carl Cannon joins us to remember his father.   We hear clips of Lou Cannon talking about his books, his reporting, President Reagan – and talking about Carl Cannon.   What did Lou Cannon say about his son?   How does Carl Cannon react to hearing his father talk about him?   And what inside stories do we learn about Lou Cannon as a reporter, as an author – and as a father.   Find out in the latest episode of "Extreme Mortman."   With very special guest – Carl Cannon.   Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's one thing you don't normally hear mentioned in the prayer: The Super Bowl. But one day, that did happen. "Lord, give our Senators unity to light the symphony with its variety of instruments, its many different notes which produce grand harmonies. May our lawmakers reduce these melodies on this Super Bowl Sunday." That was Senate chaplain Dr. Barry Black. With this year's Super Bowl approaching, this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" remembers one historic day when U.S. Senators were debating and football teams were playing — both at the same time ... and both with a lot at stake.   When was the Senate in session on Super Bowl Sunday? Why was the Senate in session on Super Bowl Sunday? And which Senators talked about the Super Bowl — and what did they say?  Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman."  Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In September 1993, Ross Perot held a press conference on Capitol Hill. He was surrounded by members from both parties. The topic: the then-secretive and mysterious discharge petition: "Well, this is a great day for our country. I am certain that the framers of the Constitution and the signers of the Declaration of Independence are looking down from heaven smiling on this reform. For 63 years, there was a handful of leaders in the House of Representatives who decided the agenda, not the members of the House. This was an unlikely event to occur, but it did occur because of the leadership and the courage of the people who signed that petition." Soon after Ross Perot's 1993 press conference, the House of Representatives ended its 63- year-old tradition of secrecy surrounding discharge petitions. They became public.  And so did the list of members who signed them. And that changed everything. What is a discharge petition? How does it work? And in 2026, what does it have to do with health care… with members of Congress owning stocks .. and with Jeffrey Epstein? And -- how has the discharge petition changed politics in Congress – particularly when the Republican House majority is razor thin? Scott Wong Has Answers! … The NBC News senior congressional reporter joins C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" …. Scott Wong explains how the discharge petition has become a game changer in Congress. So, if you have lots of questions about the discharge petition – but were afraid to ask – then listen to the latest episode of "Extreme Mortman" – with very special guest - Scott Wong of NBC News. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, the Washington Post ran a story headlined "8 political sex scandals that threw the nation into a frenzy." Longtime Post reporter Roxanne Roberts wrote that story. Here's one politician who made Roxanne Roberts' list: "We're all going to have to seriously question the system for selecting our national leaders that reduces the press of this nation to hunters and presidential candidates to being hunted, that has reporters in bushes, false and inaccurate stories printed, photographers peeking in our windows, swarms of helicopters hovering over our roof and my very strong wife close to tears because she can't even get in her own house at night without being harassed. And then, after all that, ponderous pundits wonder in mock seriousness why some of the best people in this country choose not to run for high office."   Who was that and how did he get on the list of 8? Who are the other seven? What's the history behind each of the frenzies? And what do they all have in common? In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – find out. Our very special guest -- Roxanne Roberts herself – she goes through each of the political sex scandals which made her Washington Post list. And we hear clips about the scandals from most of the politicians and those individuals they were involved with. It's a special two-parter of "Extreme Mortman." This week's episode is part 2. Find C-SPAN's Extreme Mortman wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, the Washington Post ran a story headlined "8 political sex scandals that threw the nation into a frenzy." Longtime Post reporter Roxanne Roberts wrote that story. Here's one politician who made Roxanne Roberts' list: "We're all going to have to seriously question the system for selecting our national leaders that reduces the press of this nation to hunters and presidential candidates to being hunted, that has reporters in bushes, false and inaccurate stories printed, photographers peeking in our windows, swarms of helicopters hovering over our roof and my very strong wife close to tears because she can't even get in her own house at night without being harassed. And then, after all that, ponderous pundits wonder in mock seriousness why some of the best people in this country choose not to run for high office."   Who was that and how did he get on the list of 8? Who are the other seven? What's the history behind each of the frenzies? And what do they all have in common? In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – find out. Our very special guest -- Roxanne Roberts herself – she goes through each of the political sex scandals which made her Washington Post list. And we hear clips about the scandals from most of the politicians and those individuals they were involved with. It's a special two-parter of "Extreme Mortman." Find C-SPAN's Extreme Mortman wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices