Al Franken unloads rare comedic broadside against Donald Trump
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) took the stage at Monday's Democratic National Convention to loud applause, then started with some jokes about Donald Trump. "I'm Al Franken," he began, "Minnesotan, senator, and world-renowned expert on right-wing megalomaniacs." Franken, who was a comedian and author of books making fun of Fox News and conservatives before being giving up comedy when elected to the U.S. Senate, said that his list of subjects includes Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and now Trump. "I got my doctorate in Megalomanic Studies from Trump University."
In his 25 years of knowing Clinton, "I've never met anyone smarter, tougher, or more ready to lead us forward," Franken said. "I am proud to call Hillary Clinton my friend, and I will be proud to call her Madame President." He didn't just call for Democrats to support Clinton, but to work for her, noting that he won his first Senate race by just 312 votes. "This week is about passion, but Friday morning, it's all work, hard work," he added, ending with exhortations to ignore your children and job. "An 8-year-old child can use a microwave oven," he deadpanned. You can watch his entire, very rare political comedy act below. Peter Weber
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Film reviews: ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ and ‘Young Mothers’Feature A full-immersion portrait of the Shakers’ founder, a zombie virus brings out the best and worst in the human survivors, and pregnancy tests the resolve of four Belgian teenagers
-
Political cartoons for January 25Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a hot economy, A.I. wisdom, and more
-
Le Pen back in the dock: the trial that’s shaking FranceIn the Spotlight Appealing her four-year conviction for embezzlement, the Rassemblement National leader faces an uncertain political future, whatever the result
-
‘One Battle After Another’ wins Critics Choice honorsSpeed Read Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, won best picture at the 31st Critics Choice Awards
-
A peek inside Europe’s luxury new sleeper busThe Week Recommends Overnight service with stops across Switzerland and the Netherlands promises a comfortable no-fly adventure
-
Son arrested over killing of Rob and Michele ReinerSpeed Read Nick, the 32-year-old son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner, has been booked for the murder of his parents
-
Rob Reiner, wife dead in ‘apparent homicide’speed read The Reiners, found in their Los Angeles home, ‘had injuries consistent with being stabbed’
-
Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literatureSpeed Read László Krasznahorkai is the author of acclaimed novels like ‘The Melancholy of Resistance’ and ‘Satantango’
-
Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91Speed Read She rose to fame following her groundbreaking field research with chimpanzees
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
