C-SPAN's The Weekly

You’re a political junkie… You know your Congress history … and you watch and listen to C-SPAN. So, you probably know when and where Congressman Al Gore said this. Mr. Speaker, on this historic day the House of Representatives opens its proceedings for the first time to televised coverage. …Television will change this institution, Mr. Speaker, just as it has changed the executive branch, but the good will far outweigh the bad. From this day forward every Member of this body must ask himself or herself how many Americans are listening to the debates which are made. That’s right – it was March 19, 1979 – the first day of live gavel to gavel coverage of the floor of the House … the first day of C-SPAN. But other than Congressman Gore talking about House TV – do you know what else other members of congress talked about that day in 1979? C-SPAN is marking its 45th anniversary... and in this week’s episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly,” we return to Congress for that first day of TV ….not to hear more about Congress on TV – after all, you’ve probably have heard that Gore speech before – but to learn something new: What else did they talk about? So climb inside our podcast time machine … and transport back 45 years, to hear what else was on the minds of members of Congress that first day of live TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About a month after the explosion, Oppenheimer comes to the White House and he sits down with Truman. And by this point he’s just wracked with second thoughts. And he says Mr. President I have these terrible regrets. I feel that I have blood on my hands. And Truman says: Don’t worry about it. I gave the order. I have blood on my hands. And they finish the conversation. Oppenheimer leaves. And Truman says to his staff I never want to see that son of a bitch in this office ever again. That was veteran television news journalist Chris Wallace… … discussing his book "Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World." If you've seen the movie Oppenheimer, what Chris Wallace was talking about might sound familiar. It was October 25th, 1945 – when Dr. Robert Oppenheimer met President Truman in the Oval Office…. The scene was pivotal in the movie … and in real-life. Now, it's time for the Academy Awards – and Oppenheimer is up for an Oscar for Best Picture ….and in 12 other categories. In the latest episode of C-SPAN's “The Weekly,” we hear from experts and historians and biographers – talking about that time Oppenheimer met Truman…. The fact-check question for this week’s podcast: Did the movie get it right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Governor Bush, Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker gave a venomous interview to Sports Illustrated recently spewing hatred towards gays, blacks, single mothers and foreigners.” That was Suzanne Geha of WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids Michigan teeing up a question for Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush – January 10, 2000 – a debate at Calvin College in Grand Rapids Michigan. What was that citation of Sports Illustrated in a presidential debate all about? Do we hear Sports Illustrated mentioned often in politics? Actually, Sports Illustrated has a lengthy history with politics and political rhetoric. But now, sadly, it looks like it’s ending - They recently fired their whole staff … So let’s give the magazine -- and its reporters -- a loving send-off – and devote a whole episode of C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” in tribute to Sports Illustrated. In this week’s podcast, we remember some of the most prominent – and colorful -- times this legendary, iconic magazine has been part of the political scene. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will President Biden mention immigration in his 2024 State of the Union address? If history is any guide: Yes. Immigration has been a topic in every State of the Address for the last 20 years. What do Presidents say about immigration – and legal and illegal immigrants -- and our southern border – and fences and walls -- in their State of the Union addresses? Find out in this week’s episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly.” Find C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 years ago this month … the Senate impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton … and the star witness, Monica Lewinsky In this week’s episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly” we remember that day … a quarter century ago this week … when Monica Lewinsky testified under oath … on video … to the entire U.S. Senate … about her relationship with Bill Clinton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think it’s impossible to predict when we set up systems whether it won’t fail at some point. I don’t think that anything man creates is perfect. I’m not so sure that it needs fixing. I don’t want to be part of it again, I can tell you that much. I don’t want to be in the middle of that sort of thing.” But Clarence Thomas IS part of “it” again. When the Supreme Court Justice said he didn’t want to be “in the middle of that sort thing” – it was April 8, 2002, and he was talking about Bush v. Gore – the case that decided the 2000 presidential election. … Now Justice Thomas is hearing oral argument in Trump v. Anderson … and the Supreme Court will decide whether Donald Trump is eligible for Colorado’s Republican primary ballot. Like Bush v. Gore nearly a quarter century ago, Trump v. Anderson puts the Supreme Court squarely in a central role in a presidential election. Clarence Thomas is the only remaining member of the Supreme Court that, in December 2000, decided Bush v. Gore. In this week’s episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly,” right as the Court decides a new case with immediate bearing on a presidential election, we hear what Justice Thomas has said about that landmark Supreme Court case, Bush v. Gore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In last week’s episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly,” we brought you 14 facts about Sandra Day O’Connor you might not have known. This week’s podcast is Sandra Day O’Connor, part 2: What other Justices said about her. -Who mentioned her when they were nominated? -Who mentioned her in their confirmation hearings? -And what are some stories about her you won’t want to miss? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably know Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female justice on the Supreme Court. But did you also know she was skilled at disco dancing? That’s one of 14 things you may not have known about Sandra Day O’Connor. Quick quiz: Can you name all 14 things you may not have known about Sandra Day O’Connor? If not, you’ll simply have to listen to this week’s episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly” … Because you’ll hear all 14 Things You May Not Have Known about Sandra Day O’Connor. And you won’t want to miss next week’s podcast, Part 2: Hear What The Other Justices Said About Sandra Day O’Connor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Hampshire presidential primary is just days away … So, let’s check in with … Lesser-Known Candidates! “My fellow Americans and others. As your president, I have promised to engage in hostilities only with powers that I deem to be a real and immediate threat to our peace-loving nation. And that is why I have ordered the inter-dimensional strategic space horse command to commence bombing of Narnia in 5 minutes. If we do not fight them in their dimension there, we will have no choice but to fight them in our dimension here.” That was Vermin Supreme’s opening statement in the lesser-known candidates forum, just weeks ahead of the 2024 New Hampshire primary. Wait a second – who is Vermin Supreme? What’s his platform? And what about the serious, substantive, core of the lesser-known candidates forum? Find out by hearing more Vermin Supreme and more serious presidential aspirants who have participated in the lesser-known candidates forum - in the latest episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Iowa Republican presidential caucus is just days away … What happened the last time Republicans held a competitive contest in Iowa? Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa, and all across this great nation. Tonight, the state of Iowa has spoken. Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee for the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media. That was Senator Ted Cruz, the night he won Iowa in 2016. But Ted Cruz did not become the Republican nominee for the next president of the United States. And for that, he has lots of historical company … The eventual Republican presidential nominee rarely wins Iowa. Do you remember who Ted Cruz beat in 2016 in Iowa? And do you know which other Republicans lost Iowa but ended up winning the party’s presidential nomination? And – for Republicans – does Iowa even matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices