Communism Hater + Joke Lover = Ronald Reagan

November 15th, 2011, … the George Bush Presidential Library Center … former first Lady Laura Bush joins another former first lady, her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush … It's a discussion on First Ladies… One topic: 9-11: I remember the next day actually after September 11th, they set up a blood donation spot in the Old Executive Office Building and people literally lined up around the block, because they wanted to give something, and they could give their blood. Something so literal, and so I think that, you know, it was a terrible, terrible day, but also, I think, we saw the good of a lot of people, including those firemen and other people who went into the buildings. That was Laura Bush right after the 10th anniversary of September 11th… Now it's the 25th anniversary.… And there are still many stories about that day of terror to remember, revisit, and retell. One storyline on the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman": Laura Bush. How did Laura Bush react in the immediate aftermath of 9-11? What did she say and what did she do? How did 9-11 change Laura Bush's long-term approach to the First Lady's office – and what was her legacy? We find out from Anita McBride... an internationally recognized expert on the legacies of American first ladies and operations of the White House … Anita McBride was First Lady Laura Bush's Chief of Staff. Hear Anita McBride discuss Laura Bush and 9/11 – plus her own experience working in the White House that day – in this week's "Extreme Mortman." Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's an anniversary to celebrate: "Star Trek." 60 years since the iconic TV series began. The first episode: September 8, 1966. And for many of those 60 years, in their floor speeches, members of Congress have quoted "Star Trek" ... Specifically, Captain Kirk's urgent request of Scottie: "Beam me up." It was the President’s task force that said we must save Medicare. So, we did something radical. We said we would allow Medicare to grow at 7.2 percent. The President said, let us let it grow at 7.4 percent, and we were told we wanted to destroy the system. Well, I agree with Traficant. Mr. Speaker, if saving Medicare is being mean to senior citizens, beam me up, because I do not understand this place anymore. No that wasn't the member of Congress most famously associated with "beam me up" - Ohio Democrat James Traficant. That was Florida Republican Joe Scarbrough ... April 10th, 1997. Which members of Congress other than James Traficant said in their floor speeches "Beam Me Up"? Why did they want to be beamed up? How many times did James Traficant end a floor speech with a plea to "beam me up"? And what was James Traficant's own reason for ending a floor speech by pleading beam me up? Find out in this week's episode of "Extreme Mortman" – as we celebrate 60 years of Star Trek – and boldly go where no podcast has gone before. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Ronald Reagan was a strong anti-Communist. He also liked to tell jokes.   So, he combined those two passions into one pursuit. Telling jokes that mocked and ridiculed Soviet Communism ... I have a new hobby. I am collecting jokes. And these jokes are jokes that I can absolutely prove are written -- not written -- are invented by the people of the Soviet Union and told among themselves. And they reveal a great sense of humor that we would all find very simpatico with us, but they also reveal a certain cynicism about facets of their system. That was President Reagan October 1988 ... speaking at the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles...   Why did President Reagan tell jokes about Communism? And what did Soviet leader Mikhel Gorbachev – Reagan's Cold War adversary and summit partner -- think of those jokes? Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman." Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. What were President Reagan's favorite jokes about Communism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thirty years ago this month… At the Republican National Convention…Bob Dole accepted his party's presidential nomination … But right before the recently retired Senator spoke, four other Senators went on stage – and they sang. Bringing harmony to the Senate is a lot of fun. Bringing harmony here tonight is a lot of fun. And we're going to dedicate this next song to America's next first lady Elizabeth Dole. The song is Elvira. That was Trent Lott – along with the three other Singing Senators. Who were the Singing Senators? Why were there Singing Senators? What happened to the Singing Senators? And what's the deal with Elvira? Find out in this week's episode of "Extreme Mortman" – as we go behind the music … for the spectacular rise and the shocking fall – of the Singing Senators. The quartet that spent much of the mid -90s asking the timeless musical question – Elvira. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Briney is host of the hugely popular and influential podcast "Congressional Dish." It's a rare breed of podcast: Focusing not on the politics of Congress behind the scenes, but the policy developed in full view on C-SPAN. And it's deeply researched — which makes Jennifer Briney one of America's closest watchers of the House and Senate — the floor and the hearings... You might wonder: What are Jennifer Briney's top 5 favorite or most meaningful or most consequential moments from watching the House and the Senate for so many years? In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" — she tells us! Which five moments did Jennifer Briney pick? Why did she pick them? Do any of these moments come from the current Congress? And what does Jennifer Briney think these five favorite moments teach us about how Congress operates and makes policy? Find out in "Extreme Mortman." Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40 years ago this summer, the beloved film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was released. You might remember this scene: "In 1931, in an effort to stop the... Anyone? Anyone?... The Great Depression, Congress passed the Hawley Smoot Tariff Act which, anyone? Raised, lowered?... Anyone, anyone raised tariffs, to halt The Great Depression. Did that work? Anyone, anyone? Bueller? Bueller?" That was Ben Stein playing the role of a boring economics professor. But that quote doesn't come from the 1986 movie. It's from the 2000 Republican National Convention. In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman," we celebrate 40 years of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" – by hearing politicians talking about the movie – and quoting it verbatim. Which Federal Reserve chairman cited Ferris Bueller?   Which First Lady cited Ferris Bueller?   Which Supreme Court Chief Justice cited Ferris Bueller? And which other politicians have quoted the wit and wisdom of Ferris Bueller? Find out in "Extreme Mortman" –40 years after a legendary movie came out – and found a home in politics. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fourteen years ago, on August 30th, 2012, the Republican presidential nominee gave his acceptance speech. But before Mitt Romney addressed the convention that night — there was another big-name speaker. Clint Eastwood! Well, I know even some of the people in your own party were very disappointed when you didn't close Gitmo. And I thought, well, closing Gitmo — why close that? We spent so much money on it. But I thought maybe as an excuse. Oh, what do you mean shut up? OK, I thought it was just because somebody had the stupid idea of trying terrorists in downtown New York City. Maybe that was it. Wait — Who was Clint Eastwood talking to? And who tells Clint Eastwood to shut up? The answer: A chair! And it's one of six big convention moments you'll hear in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman." Why talk about conventions now? Consider it a therapeutic service for fellow political junkies who have gone two years without a national party convention — and have to wait an unbearable two years before the next one. And who chose those 6 memorable moments? CBS News' top political junkie – Major Garrett! Which convention moments did Major Garrett pick? Why did he pick them? How is Major Garrett himself holding up having gone two years without covering a convention – and having to wait two more years for the next one? And why was Clint Eastwood talking to a chair? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a Stephen Colbert fan? Think you know everything there is to know about Stephen Colbert… and politics? Well, did you know about this? QUESTION: Jake, Stephen Colbert, Senior White House Correspondent for the Daily Show. Will the President be making any more statements today? SIEWERT: The President I expect will be making a statement this afternoon, and you're invited to attend that. QUESTION: Will he be available for one-on-ones? SIEWERT: He will not be available for a one-on-one with the Daily Show. QUESTION: Could you at least ask? SIEWERT: We could check. I don't know -- unfortunately, you know, D.C. Cable -- and I'm a long-time subscriber to D.C. Cable -- doesn't carry the Daily Show, as you may or may not be aware. So he may not be familiar with the show. QUESTION: Make sure he knows it's Stephen Colbert, not Stephen Carell, okay? That's C-o-l-b-e-r-t. He'll see me. SIEWERT: Okay. That's right – that really was Stephen Colbert asking a question at a White House press briefing. January 16th, 2001 … with Clinton press secretary Jake Siewart. And it's just one of 22 fun facts about Stephen Colbert and politics you may not know or remember. In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" - for the first time ever - you can hear them all! When did Stephen Colbert show up at the White House? Why did he testify to Congress? And what have politicians said about him — even when he wasn't in the room? 22 fun facts about Stephen Colbert and politics. ... Can you name them all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keir Starmer departs soon as British Prime Minister... But not before telling a joke or two — about sex ..."On consistency, don’t get me started: five Prime Ministers, six Chancellors, eight Home Secretaries 16 Housing Ministers—they had more positions in 14 years than the Kama Sutra. No wonder they are knackered; they left the country screwed."That was Prime Minister's Questions. .... January 14th, 2026 — Turns out, during this past year of PMQs, Keir Starmer told many jokes— and not all about sex. Was Keir Starmer funny? What jokes did Members of Parliament tell? What are some top jokes from prior PMQs? And — are Prime Ministers Questions really all that funny? How does Jon Macks rate each PMQ joke?  How would he improve them? And which "joke" heard during Prime Ministers Questions does Jon Macks think was the funniest? To find out, in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman," we're joined by a very special guest – one of the funniest people on this side of the pond ...  legendary comedy writer Jon Macks. Find out in Extreme Mortman - as we say goodbye to Keir Starmer — and celebrate 250 years of American independence from Britain – not just from British rule, but independence from British comedy.Find Extreme Mortman wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quick comedy question: Can you name a time when, during an oral argument, a Supreme Court Justice made everyone laugh? How about December 11th, 2000: KLOCK: I think what the Florida Supreme Court should do in that instance is note the very tight restrictions that exist under the protest phase. They require that you find voter intent with respect to a damaged ballot. They also vest it in the canvassing board, and the canvassing board is composed of a defined group of officials, a county judge, the elections supervisor and the chairman of the county commission. It is very limited. SOUTER: But that means the court apparently cannot define "legal vote." KLOCK: That's correct. SCALIA: Mr. Klock? I'm Scalia. KLOCK: Yes, sir; I'll remember that. That was Justice Antonin Scalia's legendary crack to a forgetful attorney during Bush versus Gore. And it was hardly the only time Justice Scalia brought down the Court. In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman," hear many more hilarious Scalia moments. Because it's our annual Supreme Court Comedy Festival – and this year we feature just one Justice. One very funny Justice. What were Antonin Scalia's funniest one-liners in oral arguments? What joke did Justice Scalia tell a Congressional hearing? What did other Justices think of Scalia's humor? And why was Antonin Scalia so very very funny? Find out in part 2 of a special two-part "Extreme Mortman" – and we're joined in this Court comedy cavalcade by a very special guest – Scalia biographer and author -- James Rosen. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices