Before Trump and Maduro and Venezuela: Bush and Noriega and Panama

Coming soon: April 20th — the counterculture holiday for celebrating cannabis consumption and advocating marijuana legalization ... So, let's hear, from 2021, Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer ... "Today is what you might call a very unofficial American holiday, 4/20. It is as appropriate a time as any to take a hard look at our laws that have overcriminalized the use of marijuana and put it on a par with heroin, LSD, and other narcotics that bear little or no resemblance in their effects." Chuck Schumer is the first ever Senate Leader to publicly advocate ending the Federal prohibition on marijuana. In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" — timed for what Senator Schumer calls the "unofficial American holiday 4-20" — we remember when a White House press secretary said that as a kid, he smoked a joint — and the firestorm of shock, controversy, and outrage that confession created. Who was the press secretary? Who was the president? Why was the White House press corps asking about marijuana? And which prominent member of Congress at nearly the same time also admitted to once smoking a joint? Find out in in "Extreme Mortman" — as we get in the weeds — with marijuana. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts .... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

November 9th,1985 … A White House dinner for the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales ... Charles and Diana … Here's President Ronald Reagan: "In his 1941 address before a Joint Session of the United States Congress, Prime Minister Churchill remarked, 'I cannot help reflecting that if my father had been American and my mother British, instead of the other way around, I might have got here on my own.' But Your Royal Highnesses, the reception you've received here suggests that if you had been American, you might well have gotten to this house on your own." When President Reagan cited that 1941 Winston Churchill speech, Charles was a Prince. Now, he's a King. And on April 28th, 2026, he'll be the one addressing Congress. • Which other British leaders have made speeches in Congress? • What did they say? • Which American presidents did they most frequently cite? • And what surprises did the British bring? Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we set the scene for the historic appearance in Congress – of King Charles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's use of the U.S. military to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro reminded many observers of another U.S. military operation … It was several decades ago … Also in Latin America … Also targeting one country … And also ending up in the capture of that country's leader … At about 8:50 p.m. this evening, General Noriega turned himself in to U.S. authorities in Panama with the full knowledge of the Panamanian Government. He was taken to Howard Air Force Base in Panama, where he was arrested by DEA. A U.S. Air Force C - 130 is now transporting General Noriega to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. He will be arraigned in the U.S. District Court in Miami on charges stemming from his previous indictment for drug trafficking.   That was President George H.W. Bush, January 3rd, 1990. Why did the U.S. go after Manuel Noriega? Why did we have to invade Panama to do so? How did President Bush's Operation Just Cause play in the 1992 presidential election? And in the context of the U.S. military action in Venezuela to get Maduro now, how are politicians remembering what happened in Panama with Noriega 36 years ago? The answers 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

Let's hear from Missouri Republican Senator Kit Bond.…. September 29th, 1998 …. the year that St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire captivated the sports world by hitting a then-record 70 home runs, shattering Roger Maris’ 1961 record of 61: "Mark McGwire is a man of immense physical stature, conditioning and strength. When I met him I was overwhelmed with his size and muscle. But he is a man of great mental dedication, of great concentration, determination, and--reading the column in today's Washington Post by Tom Boswell--probably possessing other extraordinary capabilities of which we mere mortals cannot be aware." That quote from Senator Bond reminds us of something happy: It's the beginning of the baseball season. But also, something sad: Senator Bond citing the Washington Post sports page reminds us: there used to be a Washington Post sports page. Now, it's gone. But we bring it back for the annual "Extreme Mortman" baseball episode. How do we pull that off? By hearing Congress talk about the Post sports section – and its writers … What have members of Congress said about the Washington Post sports section? Which Washington Post sports writers have been recognized by Congress? And what do they all say about baseball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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