Al Franken

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Trump Health Pick 'Offended' by Questions About Stocks

Tom Price grilled by Franken, Warren

(Newser) - Donald Trump's choice for health secretary declared himself to be "offended" by Sen. Elizabeth Warren's questions about his investments during Wednesday's Senate Health Committee hearing. Warren was one of numerous Democrats who pressed Rep. Tom Price about his stock transactions in health care companies, the Washington ...

DeVos: Schools Might Need Guns to Defend Against Bears

She defends school choice in testy Senate hearing

(Newser) - Education Secretary hopeful Betsy DeVos was peppered with questions from time-limited Democrats during a testy Senate hearing Tuesday, and the exchange getting the most attention involves bears. When Sen. Chris Murphy asked if she believes that there's no place for guns in school, she referred to a school in...

Sarah Silverman: The DNC Said 'No' to One Joke

She acknowledges she can be a bit 'obnoxious'

(Newser) - Sarah Silverman drew one of the biggest cheers of Monday night at the Democratic National Convention when she told Bernie Sanders diehards they were "being ridiculous." But there was one line the Democratic National Committee informed the comedian she couldn't deliver during her speech, she tells the...

Silverman to Bernie Diehards: 'You're Being Ridiculous'

Listen up, Bernie or Bust crowd

(Newser) - Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and comedian Sarah Silverman introduced Paul Simon before his performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," with Silverman giving an impassioned speech about how she was a Bernie Sanders supporter, yet how Hillary Clinton had "heard the passion of the people" and incorporated it...

Al Franken Isn't Joking About Retaking Senate

He's good enough. He's smart enough. And doggone it, he raises a lot of money

(Newser) - In 1995, Stuart saved his family . Twenty years later, he's hoping he can do the same for Senate Democrats. Politico reports Saturday Night Live alumnus and current senator Al Franken is using his celebrity status to a greater extent than ever before to help Democrats retake the Senate in...

Al Franken Pushing to Make College Textbooks Free

Minnesota senator co-sponsoring bill that would give access to online resources

(Newser) - Al Franken knows how ridiculous the cost of college textbooks can be, and he want to do something about it. That's why the Minnesota senator and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin on Thursday introduced the Affordable College Textbook Act, a bill that would give grants to higher-ed institutions so they...

VA Boss Writes Op-Ed Amidst Howls for His Head

Democrats join in bashing Shinseki

(Newser) - The calls for Eric Shinseki to resign are getting deafening, but the Veterans Affairs secretary doesn't sound like a man on the edge in an op-ed posted this morning at USA Today . Shinseki writes that yesterday's revelations "are reprehensible to me and to this department, and we...

10 Stars Who Went Into Politics

They left glitz and glamor for lawmaking and the like

(Newser) - What to do after you tire of walking red carpets and posing for magazine covers? Shake hands and kiss babies, at least for these 19 stars-turned-politicians rounded up by Fox News . Click through the gallery for a sampling or check out the full list here .

Franken Worried About iPhone's Fingerprint Scanner

Writes open letter to Apple asking for answers

(Newser) - The new iPhone 5S that hit the market today has a fingerprint scanner designed to replace the conventional password system, and that scares the bejeezus out of Sen. Al Franken. In an open letter to Apple's Tim Cook, the Minnesota senator asks for more information about the security of...

8 Senators: Blow the Doors Open on FISA Court

Bipartisan group wants FISA rulings declassified

(Newser) - Here's one way to cut down on leaks about spy agencies' use of the super-secret FISA court—make the rulings public. Eight senators from both parties backed a bill today that would bring far more transparency to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, reports Roll Call . They want key rulings...

Al Franken Comedy Partner Tom Davis Dead at 59

'SNL' alum had neck and throat cancer

(Newser) - One of Saturday Night Live's first writers, Tom Davis, has died of throat and neck cancer at age 59, reports TMZ . On SNL, he teamed with Al Franken—they actually filled one writer's slot and shared the $350 weekly salary—and had a hand in creating classic skits...

Bill to Lower Student Loan Rates Fails in Senate

GOP blocks measure; parties can't agree how to pay for it

(Newser) - Hope your federal student loans are paid off, kids, because Washington appears deadlocked over legislation that would prevent their rates from doubling this July. A Senate bill to do so failed in a 52-45 vote along party lines today, failing to get the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster,...

Fruit Shopper in Stock Photo Backs Al Franken

Minnesota senator still has a sense of humor

(Newser) - Al Franken's office has sent off a peculiar endorsement email—from a "Woman Picking Out Fruit in Supermarket." Nope, this is not a real person who's calling for voters to support the Minnesota senator. She's one of countless generic people doing generic things in stock...

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...

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...

Our Most Urgent Free Speech Issue: Net Neutrality
Our Most Urgent Free Speech Issue: Net Neutrality
al franken
Dec 20, 2010 1:38 PM CST

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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