Live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. Senate floor.

It began 39 years ago -- June 2nd, 1986 – Day One of C-SPAN2.

Here's one of the first things heard that first day of Senate TV:

"Today begins the video history book. No longer will the great debates in this

Chamber be lost forever. What a thrill it would be to watch Henry Clay, John Calhoun, or Daniel Webster in action. Of course, there were no cameras or tape recorders rolling when those congressional giants spoke. But sadly, the sights and sounds of great debates featuring such legends as Everett Dirksen, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, and Howard Baker, men who lived during the age of radio and television, were also lost forever. Now, future generations can have the opportunity to watch history in the making, thanks to videotape. So there are a number of good things about to happen."

That was Republican Majority Leader Bob Dole.

In a few days: the 39th anniversary of live, gavel-to-gavel television coverage of the U.S. Senate floor...

Bob Dole listed several lions of the Senate ... In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" — we hear from other lions of the Senate — lions of the Senate press corps ... three top Senate observers pick their favorite moments from 39 years of the Senate on TV.

Our three special guests:

• Carl Hulse of the New York Times

• Paul Kane of the Washington Post

• Chad Pergram of Fox News

Which favorite moments did they pick – and why?

And what big moments from Senate history before there was TV do they wish they could have witnessed?

Find out in "The Weekly."

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50 years ago, the Vietnam War ended.. The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army…. North Vietnam achieved its objective of reunifying Vietnam under communist rule.... There were 58,220 U.S. military fatalities …. America effectively lost the Vietnam War....

"It was a sad day to sit in the Oval Office and see on television the American troops being literally kicked off of an American embassy before it surrendered. I hope no American president goes through that experience again."

That was Gerald Ford on C-SPAN in 1998… On April 29th 1975, as President, Gerald Ford told America about the fall of Saigon: "This action closes a chapter in the American experience."

Since then, new chapters have opened in the American experience with Vietnam .... For this year's Memorial Day, this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" observes America's relationship with Vietnam changing in the 50 years since the fall of Saigon ... and we do so by checking in with a President every ten years after 1975.

How has American policy toward Vietnam changed over 50 years?

And how has American presidential language about Vietnam and the War changed?

This Memorial Day, find out in C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

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

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 Ah -- Romance is in the air.

And by romance in the air – we mean Governors giving their annual state of the state addresses and budget speeches in front of state legislatures.

Like Tony Evers. Here’s what the Wisconsin Governor said during his 2025 state of the state address: 

“My forever prom date, Kathy, is up in the gallery, as well. Kathleen Frances, you are the cream to fill my cream puff.”

In the next episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly” – we hear more governors say more lovely things about their spouses – just like Governor Evers did.

• How long has Kathleen Frances Evers been the cream to fill Governor Tony Evers' cream puff?

• Which Governor revealed a – shhhh -- bedroom secret?

• And which Governor not only said something lovely about her husband – but then said something lovely about her in-laws?

Find out in “The Weekly” – as we present the loveliest things governors said about their spouses in 2025 State of the State addresses.

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At some point, close listeners to C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" might have wondered: Why have we never done an episode featuring the best-of James Traficant?

Well – wonder no more.

Because – it's this week's episode!

Why now?

Two reasons:

1. This podcast is running on May 8th - That's right – Congressman James Traficant's birthday … he was born on May 8th, 1941;

2. We have a very special guest for this podcast … We're joined by one of America's foremost James Traficant experts – he's the editor at large of Reason magazine – Nick Gillespie

We mark what would have been James Traficant's 84th birthday by playing best-of clips from his House floor speeches … spanning his 15 and a half years as a Democratic Congressman from Ohio -- then we'll hear Nick Gillespie react to each of them.

Which James Traficant clips will you hear? Here's a hint: They all have one thing in common. They all include his iconic catch phrase, "Beam me up."

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Can you imagine a time when a U.S. President and a Canadian Prime Minister were friends? ... And said nice things about each other in public? ... And the nice things they said about each other in public were neither remarkable nor newsworthy?

Well, here's proof that such a time once existed:

"The fact that we go on, we got along, President Reagan and Prime Minister Mulroney, two some said Irish, we were Irish, now that I think of it, and we became friends. But more to the point. We recognized the importance of getting along. It sent a positive message not only to our senior officials and our governments to work together, but to the people of Canada and the United States."

That was the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada ... April 5th 1993 ... At a tribute in his honor ... Hosted by Ronald Reagan ...The event was held in Simi Valley California at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Not used to hearing such language?

Want to hear Brian Mulroney say more lovely things about Ronald Reagan — and hear Ronald Reagan say lovely things about Brian Mulroney?

Then listen to the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

Remembering when Canada and the United States were partners in trade — and partners in friendship.

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It's time for the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton.

But this year: No comedian.

Which means: No jokes about C-SPAN … or about the Washington Hilton.

In the past, at every dinner, there seemed to be at least one joke made about one or the other ... or sometimes both in the same joke — Like Conan O'Brien pulled off in 2013...

Congratulations to C-SPAN for winning the bid to broadcast this event. They narrowly beat out HGTVQ, TV South America and the Hilton hotel how to check out channel.

C-SPAN doesn't mind the ribbing.

In fact, we did a podcast two years ago with the best-of jokes comedians told at the dinner ... about C-SPAN.

We imagine the Washington Hilton can take a joke, too.

So, in tribute to the hotel being a long-time central gathering spot for the political and media community — a true DC institution — and as a public service to those who still want to hear dinner jokes — this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" is equal parts history and loving roast ... We celebrate the hotel's 60th anniversary by presenting jokes told about it - by a group of people you won't hear at this year's dinner: professional comedians.

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

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The White House Correspondents Association dinner is just a week away.

The big annual media black tie shindig in the basement of the Washington Hilton typically has several surprises.

Like this film shown during 2000 dinner.

"I want to thank the Academy for this tremendous honor. This may be the greatest moment of my life. I mean, hear since i was a little boy I wanted to be a real actor"

That was Bill Clinton, his final dinner as president…. Holding a real-life Oscar and, in front of a mirror, practicing his Academy Award acceptance speech – that is, before Kevin Spacey shows up to snatch it back.

Just like the dinner has surprises – this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" has its own surprise.

We play best-of moments from four dinners – then hear four former presidents of the White House Correspondents Association talk about them.

The former WHCA presidents who join us:

• Carl Cannon

• Ann Compton

• Tamara Keith

• and Susan Page

What memories do they share?

What tidbits do we learn about presiding over the big event?

And what's it like eating dinner next to the president in front of thousands of people in person and a nationwide C-SPAN audience?

Find out directly from these top White House correspondents in the new episode of "The Weekly."

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

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Thirty years ago, C-SPAN showed the Senate Whitewater Committee hearings. The Special Committee to Investigate Whitewater Development Corporation and Related Matters was created in May 1995. Hearings ran for 300 hours over 60 sessions across 13 months.

Did anything concrete come out of those hearings seen on C-SPAN?

Well – at least one thing.

A hit murder mystery now streaming on Netflix called "The Residence."

How do you get from a 1996 Whitewater hearing about possible corruption in politics to a 2025 Netflix series – created by Shondaland -- about possible murder in the White House?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" – directly from "The Residence" creator Paul William Davies.

Other than the biggest murder mystery of all – whodunnit – what secrets of creating "The Residence" can political and White House history junkies learn from the show's creator?

Hear directly from Paul William Davies in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

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If you're listening closely to the language currently being used by leaders of the United States and Canada about each other -- what a Republican president once said about the two countries might seem unfamiliar.

The American people know that putting up walls around our country is a prescription for ruin, not renewal.

What the world and the United States need now is more trade and more open trade. And that's why we've pushed for a new GATT round that includes the most ambitious multilateral trade negotiation agenda in history. That's why we've negotiated an historic trade agreement with Canada that will expand jobs, growth, and opportunity on both sides of the border.

That was President Ronald Reagan … March 11th, 1988 .. speaking at the White House with business leaders .. The topic: the recently signed United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

Against the backdrop of the current state of U.S.-Canada relations, the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" look back – to the 1980s … when the tone was different and the policies even more different still.

What did President Reagan say about Canada?

What were his trade policies toward our Northern neighbor?

And what did President Reagan think about tariffs?

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October 31st, 2019.

The U.S. House debates and passes a resolution laying out the rules in the first impeachment inquiry of President Trump.

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer addresses the House that day — but there's something else on his mind as well:

Today is a serious day. Last night was an extraordinary night. I rise for the millions of people who live in the Washington metropolitan area to congratulate and to exalt with all of our region

on the extraordinary achievement of the Washington Nationals.

What was the Washington Nationals' extraordinary achievement that Congressman Hoyer was talking about?

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

Because ... it's our annual baseball episode!

And it's timed for two major events: The podcast drops on opening day of the 2025 baseball season ... and 2025 marks 20 years of baseball back in DC.

So, celebrate both milestones with something special — an oral history! — the biggest moments in Washington Nationals baseball history — as told by Congress.

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