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NEWS ABOUT: Al Franken

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Franken Wants Answers on Phone-Tracking Software

Warns that Carrier IQ may run afoul of law

(Newser) - The latest phone-tracking controversy has caught the attention of Capitol Hill. Sen. Al Franken has written to Carrier IQ demanding answers on whether its software goes too far in logging the doings of millions of smartphone users, reports the Huffington Post . His move comes after an Android developer raised the... More »

Al Franken Dismantles DOMA Backer's Testimony

Ex-comedian gets laughs from chamber

(Newser) - Stuart Smalley was nowhere in sight yesterday as Al Franken shredded a Defense of Marriage Act supporter. Seems the gentleman from Minnesota took offense with Focus on the Family's Thomas Minnery and his citation of a federal study that found children in opposite-sex married families fared way better than... More »

Our Most Urgent Free Speech Issue: Net Neutrality

FCC's draft regulations 'worse than nothing'

(Newser) - Tomorrow, the FCC will discuss regulations on net neutrality—the principle that the biggest corporation and the humblest blogger should have equal access to viewers on the Internet. The FCC could protect this freedom, but its draft regulations “don't do that at all,” writes Sen. Al Franken on... More »

Norm Coleman to Joe Miller: Give Up Already

Alaska candidate should realize it's time to quit, former senator says

(Newser) - Norm Coleman knows a thing or two about fighting close elections, and he has a message for Joe Miller: Give up. "I think that race is over. I think the counting’s been done. I’m not sure there’s anything that would change that," the former Minnesota... More »

Both Parties Get Ready to Recount

Teams of lawyers, flacks ready to roll anywhere

(Newser) - With races from Alaska to Nevada to Florida looking to go down to the wire and beyond, Politico reports that both parties have been readying SWAT teams of lawyers, PR people, and political operatives for quick dispatch to any number of recounts. While recounts can drag on for months, experts... More »

Al Franken Gives Emotional DADT Speech

Senator will keep fighting for repeal

(Newser) - Al Franken got emotional yesterday after the Republicans blocked the bill repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell . He recalled visiting an Army base during his comedian days, and said the troops loved his show—especially the DADT jokes. “The troops loved this, they thought it was hilarious,... More »

Miller: I Hope Murkowski Doesn't 'Pull an Al Franken'

They're still counting votes in Alaska

(Newser) - Still no winner in the Alaska Senate race, but Joe Miller retains his slim lead and incumbent Lisa Murkowski continues to deflect (but not deny) speculation that she's considering a third-party run. Also, still no love lost between candidates, notes the Hill : Upon hearing that the GOP Senate campaign committee... More »

McConnell Snaps at Franken: 'This Isn't SNL'

Senate minority leader not amused by funny faces

(Newser) - There was too much of the funnyman about Al Franken for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell yesterday. The comedian-turned-senator was presiding over the Senate as McConnell made a speech opposing Elena Kagan's confirmation to the Supreme Court . Franken appeared to be shifting in his seat and making faces, which McConnell... More »

Scott Brown: the GOP's New Go-to Guy

Massachusetts senator milking fame, growing influence

(Newser) - It's not every day that sitting presidents schedule a sit-down with freshman senators from the other party, but then, Politico notes, Scott Brown isn't your average freshman senator. In his brief time in the Senate, he’s become one of the most recognizable influential Republicans, and the party’s “... More »

Senators to Facebook: Privacy Changes Suck

Oh, and fancy an FTC investigation?

(Newser) - It's not just tech geeks freaking out about the new Facebook changes; apparently they're causing hand-wringing in the very halls of Congress. Four Democratic senators—Chuck Schumer, Al Franken, Mark Begich and Michael Bennet—have sent an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg complaining that the changes give users less control... More »

O'Reilly Busts Blogger for Franken Ambush

'You were disrespectful,' Fox host tells Jason Mattera.

(Newser) - Listen up, Bill O’Reilly tells young conservative blogger/author/ambush interviewer Jason Mattera: We can’t help being disrespectful sometimes, but it’s no way to get a scoop, or even nail an opponent. O’Reilly was referring to Mattera’s videotaped altercation with Al Franken, in which Mattera claims the... More »

Reform Foes Send Condom, Threats to Lawmaker

Betty McCollum also got gas-soaked flag

(Newser) - Threats and abuse aimed at Democratic lawmakers who voted for health care reform continue, as Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum received numerous letters, including one containing a condom and another with a piece of a shredded American flag soaked in gasoline. The letter accompanying the condom reads, “Betty McCollum... More »

Senator Franken Is Finally Being Funny Again

He now seems more comfortable cracking jokes

(Newser) - Senate colleagues expecting humor from funnyman and freshman lawmaker Al Franken have gotten just the opposite, though insiders say the Minnesota senator is getting into the groove and loosening up a bit. Since taking office last year, Franken has snapped at administration officials , Joe Lieberman , and Republican legislators. Now, he’... More »

Jim Bunning Blocks More Obama Nominees

... over Canadian tobacco-flavoring law

(Newser) - Jim Bunning’s latest parliamentary maneuvering isn’t going to get in the way of anyone’s unemployment benefits, but might strike some as silly all the same: The Republican senator is blocking two minor Obama administration nominees to protest a Canadian law banning tobacco flavorings. And while the issue... More »

Al Franken Lashes White House Over Health Care Leadership

Takes David Axelrod to task in closed door meeting

(Newser) - Al Franken flipped out at David Axelrod Wednesday, taking him and the administration to task for failing to provide leadership on the health care bill. The outburst came after President Obama urged Senate Democrats to “finish the job,” but didn’t give them any idea how to do... More »

Top Crossover Success Stories

Zooey Deschanel, Al Franken among two-field stars

(Newser) - We’ve seen lots of celebrities crash and burn in endeavors outside the area where they’ve made their mark; from James Brady Ryan , a look at the top five crossover successes:
  • Zooey Deschanel: Following the acting-to-singing trail blazed by “the mostly bland J.Lo, the horrendous Lindsay Lohan,
... More »

Dodd Rips Newbies—Ahem, Franken—for Lacking 'Civility'

Comment may be dig at Minn. freshman, who shut down Lieberman

(Newser) - Chris Dodd battled a perceived lack of decorum in the Senate yesterday with some stern language from the floor. The Connecticut Democrat did not name names but rather cryptically chastised the Senate’s “newer members” for failing “to understand how the Senate has worked for more than two... More »

Franken Won't Let Lieberman Speak

He rejects request for extra time on the Senate floor

(Newser) - Sit down and zip it, Joe. That's essentially what Al Franken told Joe Lieberman to do today, albeit couched in polite Senate speak. When Lieberman used up his allotted time speaking on health care, he asked for unanimous consent for a bit more time. That's usually a formality. It just... More »

Defense Dept. Opposed Anti-Rape Rule for Contractors

But lefties ripped GOP senators for nay votes

(Newser) - When 30 Republicans voted against an Al Franken amendment prohibiting defense contractors from forcing their employees to agree not to sue if they’re raped, Jon Stewart and liberals everywhere went ballistic. But those 30 Republicans weren’t alone, the Huffington Post reports; the Defense Department opposed the amendment as... More »

Franken Gets Funny Again

Senator has crowd chuckling at Iowa fundraiser

(Newser) - As a latecomer to the Senate this year, Al Franken’s been playing it straight—but he loosened up enough to venture a few jokes at an Iowa fundraiser yesterday, CNN reports. Discussing Sen. Tom Harkin’s new post as head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,... More »

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