December 7th, 1992 ... The East Room of the White House.... The President and White House staff gather for a Christmas Ceremony.... The mood is gloomy, sad, glum. A month earlier, President George Bush lost his reelection campaign. The president is introduced, the staff applauds — but then a surprise - and the mood changes entirely:

"Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. At this juncture. That was the other one. Wouldn't be prudent at this juncture. That thing, doing that thing. Now, I always did this thing. I always said that the President goes, "It's bad, it's bad," but you only did it once. I did it for four years. He did it once. So. I don't know. do you want to come on up."

That was comedian Dana Carvey.

And, with his urging, President Bush did come on up..

Now, 33 years later, we're still talking about politicians and their relationships with comedians who make fun of them.

In this week's episode of C-SPAN's "Extreme Mortman" — we remember when a comedian did an impression of a president — and the president did an impression of the comedian doing an impresion of the president.

What did that sound like?

How did Dana Carvey get to play the White House?

And perhaps most important — What did President Bush think of Dana Carvey's impression?

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Ahhh... Thanksgiving … That uniquely American tradition of sitting around the bountiful dinner table, enjoying the company of family and friends, and remembering this 1955 Newsreel:

"As Thanksgiving nears, a seasonal gift to President Eisenhower is this strutting, impressive 39-pound Tom Turkey. Handsomest bird in all Nebraska. And perhaps the other 47 states as well. All the trimmings for the White House dinner come with him. A big basket of cranberries to complete the holiday platter. It's a lucky bird that graces the President's table. And he's gobbling with excitement at the prospect."

Sadly for handsome 39-pound Tom Turkey, his luck soon ran out.

President Eisenhower ate him.

Decades later, with America more enlighted, tukeys no longer get eaten. They get pardoned.

Presidential pardons.

These days, Thanksgiving presidential turkey pardons are big, extravagant White House events.

With comical turkey names, comical turkey quips, and lots of giggles and gobbles.

Which can mean only thing: It's time for an "Extreme Mortman" White House Thanksgiving Presidential Turkey Pardon Ceremony contest.

Featuring a very special guest – the host of the Politics Politics Politics podcast – a true political junkie – Justin Robert Young ...

• What are the contest questions?

• What are the contest answers?

• And why is Justin Young best equipped to be the guest?

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Time now for more great news for political junkies:

The new edition of the Almanac of American Politics - is out!

So, let's hear from Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz

Right now, Caroline and Catherine are both at home getting ready to go to bed, and they have both turned on the television. They are both watching C–SPAN. Now I’m going to confess that Caroline and Catherine don’t usually watch C–SPAN since there are far too few animated features on C–SPAN. But because the girls are watching, and my wife Heidi is watching with them, I wanted to take an opportunity—an opportunity I don’t usually have when I am in DC—to read them a couple of bedtime stories

What do those 2013 Ted Cruz floor remarks from have to do with the 2026 Almanac of American Politics?

In the next episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman," find out!

We talk with Lou Jacobson. He's chief author of the 2026 Almanac.

Lou Jacobson has picked five big moments in Congress seen and heard on C-SPAN reported in the Almanac.

What are the five moments?

And what does Lou Jacobson say about each of them?

Find out in "Extreme Mortman."

Find C-SPAN's "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts.

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After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September 2025, President Trump spoke at a memorial service at a stadium in Arizona:

In that private moment, on his dying day, we find everything we need to know about who Charlie Kirk truly was. He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them. I'm sorry. I am sorry, Erika.

Commenting and consoling after a shooting or domestic attack has been a ritual for every president since the early 1990s.

What have presidents said each time they occurred?

How has presidential rhetoric changed over the past four decades?

And when do Presidents use political language — and when do they use spiritural and religious language — in their remarks?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" — as we hear every president from Bill Clinton through Donald Trump speak about shootings, domestic attacks, and the people who died.

And for context and explanation, we're joined by a special guest: presidential historian Dr. Tevi Troy.

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Over the years, Dick Cheney spoke many times at CPAC, the marquee conservative political gathering.

Which means, over the years, Dick Cheney got many introductions at CPAC.

Like this one in 2006 – from conservative leader David Keene …

"It falls upon me this evening to once again introduce a friend who not to be too trite about it needs no introduction. Vice President Dick Cheney has appeared here before. In fact, with the sole exception of former President Ronald Reagan, he's the highest-ranking official with a continuing relationship with CPAC, and indeed with the movement of which we're all a part."

In the current conservative political climate, such a welcome for Dick Cheney might sound unfamiliar …

How did CPAC leaders introduce Dick Cheney to CPAC crowds?

How did the audiences react?

And what were some surprises along the way?

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It's Halloween!

When everything is scary.

Can you name a scary moment in politics?

How about this one:

LITTLE GIRL plucking daisy petals: One, two, three, four, five, seven, six, six, eight, nine

"MISSION CONTROL": Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero

SOUND EFFECTS: Huge atomic bomb blast.

Pretty scary, right?

That was from the 1964 presidential campaign … Lyndon Johnson's "Daisy" ad he used against Barry Goldwater. It showed a little girl plucking a daisy … Then: images of nuclear destruction. ... Then, LBJ says: "We must either love each other. Or we must die."

The ad ran just one time … But that was enough to make it famous … And it was enough to make the list of 11 scary moments in politics… As you'll hear in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" …Timed for Halloween and with a very special guest: Managing Editor of National Journal Daily - Ledge King.

Which ten other political moments make the scary list?

And what does Ledge King say about each of them?

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June 8th, 1987 ... Day Eighteen of the Iran-Contra hearings … Congressman Lee Hamilton is presiding … and Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North's secretary is testifying.

Lee Hamilton: "Ms. Hall, I understand that you have an opening statement. Am I correct?"

Fawn Hall: "Yes, sir."

Lee Hamilton: "You may proceed."

Fawn Hall: "My name is Fawn Hall, and I reside with my parents in Northern Virginia, where I was born and raised. I attended Annandale High School and graduated in 1977. I started working at the age of 15, and at 16, while still in high school began my career in government, working for the Department of the Navy. During this period, I also held various part-time jobs, including modeling."

Now, nearly four decades later, Oliver North is 82 years old … Fawn Hall is 66 years old – and — he's no longer her boss ... and - she's no longer his secretary ... Oliver North and Fawn Hall just got married! – to each other!

For those of you with no idea who we're talking about .. and for those who know exactly who we're talking about – their marriage gives C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" a reason to remember the blockbuster Iran-Contra hearings that dominated politics in the summer of 1987.

What did Oliver North say about Fawn Hall?

And what did Fawn Hall say about Oliver North?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly."

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

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There was a time, decades ago, when politicians where astounded every time they went online and discovered – to their glee – they had mail.

Like Harry Reid – here's the Democratic Senator from Nevada on October 27th, 1999:

"Today, it's hard for me to comprehend what has taken place in the advancement of science. At home at my computer, I go home at night and see if I have received any e-mail on my computer. It is easy to do. I open my computer, and it says, ‘'You’ve got mail.' I open that up and find out who has contacted me by email, and it is like magic. I press a button, and I can reply to that person as quickly as I can type that message out. That message is sent quicker, of course, than the speed of light. It is gone."

Senator Reid said getting mail online was like magic -- suggesting powerful forces summoned by the supernatural.

But it really was just dial up internet service provided by America Online.  Now AOL is shutting down that relic of the 1990s … and with it goes that once ubiquitous phrase -- "You've got mail." … It may be officially gone, but for C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" – "You've got mail" lives on – No mourning here, just celebration…Which we'll do in this week's episode – as we remember a brave new tech world decades ago, when politicians were dazzled every time they dialed up and discovered – They had mail.

Who were these politicians – and what did they say?

Find out in C-SPAN's "The Weekly."

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

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Ten years ago this month, in October 2015, John Boehner's tenure as U.S. House Speaker came to an end … and the influence the House Freedom Caucus held over Republicans was at its height ….

REPORTER QUESTION: The Freedom Caucus has caused you a lot of problems. Obviously, here in your final act, you're rolling them. Can you describe your thought process there?

SPEAKER BOEHNER: I wouldn't quite describe it that way. We have a bipartisan agreement that makes sure that the debt ceiling is increased and we make good on our -- on our debt and our debt service, and it paves the way to fund the government this year and next. And the fact is is that this will make it easier for the entire Congress for the balance of this year and it'll make next year a whole lot smoother for the Congress as well.

That was John Boehner's final press conference as House Speaker …October 27th, 2015…

• Does the Freedom Caucus today still cause a different Republican House speaker "a lot of problems"?

• What happened to the House Freedom Caucus over the last ten years?

• And how are Republican House politics different now from when John Boehner resigned as Speaker a decade ago?

Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" as we remember the House Freedom Caucus ten years ago – and where it is now -- with two very special podcast guests:

• Paul Kane - - senior congressional correspondent and columnist at the Washington Post

• and Leigh Ann Caldwell -- Chief Washington Correspondent at Puck.

Find C-SPAN's The Weekly wherever you get podcasts.

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President Richard Nixon — and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.As war continues now in the Middle East, and as an American president is drawn into that conflict, and as Jews mark the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur —  this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" revisits what happened in 1973.

"In his second term, he would order the strategic air lift that saved Israel in the Yom Kippur war. Israel never had a better friend, said Golda Meir."

That was Pat Buchanan, an aide to President Nixon. Pat Buchanan spoke at a January 2013 celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Nixon's birth, hosted by the Nixon Foundation.

What did Richard Nixon say about his actions during the 1973 Yom Kippur War?

How about the people who were with him at the time?

And how do historians remember President Nixon's role in rescuing Israel during that war?

Find out in C-SPAN's "The Weekly."Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts

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