Editor's Picks
There is no pinned content in this Editor's Picks module.
Click here to learn more about content pinning.
-
The 2012 elections are less than nine months away, and nobody has any idea who might challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Regular readers know that Pete Hegseth is a friend of ours. Pete is a native of Forest Lake, Minnesota, and a Princeton gra
-
There was a beacon in the smog surrounding the U.S. Capitol building this week. While the House and Senate pushed for arctic drilling, attempted to revive the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and tried to delay rules on mercury emissions standards — all w
-
There was a beacon in the smog surrounding the U.S. Capitol building this week. While the House and Senate pushed for arctic drilling, attempted to revive the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and tried to delay rules on mercury emissions standards — all w
-
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rep. Keith Ellison said Thursday that officials in Washington are still looking at ways to ensure that Somalis in the U.S. can safely send money to their famine-stricken homeland — including a possible license for banks operating on hu
-
MINNEAPOLIS - Rep. Keith Ellison said Thursday that officials in Washington are still looking at ways to ensure that Somalis in the U.S. can safely send money to their famine-stricken homeland — including a possible license for banks operating on humanit
-
Senate Taxes Chairman Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, listens to an explanation of a tax bill Democrats pushed through the Legislature in its final minutes of the 2009 session. ST. PAUL — The Senate’s top Democrat does not believe literature some Republicans handed
-
The Xcel Energy turbines and power lines dominate the landscape west of Reading Friday afternoon. A push to extend the renewable energy production tax credit failed in the Senate this week, leaving the industry in limbo. WORTHINGTON — Minnesota Sen. Al F
-
A big thank you to Senators Patrick Leahy, Dick Durbin, Al Franken, Richard Blumenthal, and Sheldon Whitehouse for asking the Supreme Court to provide greater transparency about the way it handles ethical issues. The Justices, including Chief Justice Joh
-
The federal government appears ready to make amends for a dark period in Indian relations 123 years ago that took timber and land from six northern Minnesota Chippewa reservations. Legislation is advancing in Washington that would release a $20 million s
-
On winter weekends, I wear a heavy baseball jacket with a Republican theme: it has big “GOP” graphics on the front and back and an American flag and another GOP symbol on one arm. I generally forget that I am a virtual billboard unless someone comments o
-
Let’s contrast two lawmakers from the Upper Midwest and their reactions to the still-without-terms foreclosure fraud settlement. Al Franken has a video out toeing the party line on the settlement, really just informing borrowers that, over the next 6-9 m
-
"Global warming is real and to a very significant degree global warming is man made," Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday at the outset of a special, one-hour Senate floor session. He was joined by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Tom Udall and Al Franken in the
-
Newt Gingrich hasn’t just fallen in the GOP presidential race; he may be the most unpopular person in American politics right now. Two new polls out this week show the former House speaker with an absolutely atrocious favorability rating. Republican pres
-
In a normal election cycle, the paradox that plagues every Libertarian candidate--too right-leaning for the left and too left-leaning for the right--would doom Johnson. But there's a wild card this year that could make things interesting: Americans Elect
-
The story of the moment is the Sunday New York Times’ front page report from Minnesota’s 8th District. Titled “Even Critics of Safety Net Increasingly Depend on It,” the piece by Binyamin Appelbaum and Robert Gebeloff puts a fine point on the disconnect
-
A group of Duluth area growers have won a $19,000 federal grant to explore the feasibility of setting up a cooperative of local farmers and producers. The Duluth Market Gardeners and Berry Association will receive the grant from the Department of Agricul
-
William D. Cohan is the author of the recently released "Money and Power: How Goldman Sachs Came to Rule the World" and the New York Times bestsellers "House of Cards" and "The Last Tycoons." So, let’s get this straight. It’s perfectly fine for investors
-
Democratic leaders this weekend implored attendees at the state party convention in San Diego to harness the energy and enthusiasm of 2008, casting the upcoming elections as pivotal moments that will determine the trajectory of the country for decades to
About Al Franken
Wikipedia
Alan Stuart Franken (born May 21, 1951) is an American politician, comedian, writer and liberal political commentator. He first became famous as a writer and a performer for the television show Saturday Night Live, then moved into writing (and appearing in) several films. He then became a political commentator, writer of numerous best-selling... Full Article
Related Photos
-
AP Photo
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, left, accompanied by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, to discuss the disclosure of super PAC donors to the Republican presidential candidates.
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) participates in a news conference after helping move a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act out of the Judiciary Committee at the U.S. Captiol November 10, 2011 in Washington, DC. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (2nd R) speaks during a news conference with (L-R) Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and Senate Majority Whip...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
Senate Judiciary Committee member, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , center, accompanied by committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. , right, and fellow committee member, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. , speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011,...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 04: U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) (C) talks to aides as he comes out from the weekly policy luncheon October 4, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans' attempt to bring President Obama's Jobs Bill to the Senate floor has been rejected by...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 06: Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)(R), speaks about wasteful tax breaks, while flanked by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)(L), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and others, during a news conference July 6, 2011 in Washington, DC. Stabenow talked about a Senate Resolution...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 08: U.S. U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) makes his way to the Senate floor to vote on a bill regarding fees that merchants pay banks each time a shopper swipes a debit card June 8, 2011 in Washington, DC. The legislation caps debit card swipe fees to 12 cents per...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (L) holds a news conference with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) (C) and Sen. Al Franken at the U.S. Captiol November 10, 2011 in Washington, DC. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
Senator Al Franken, D-MN, gestures as he questions a witness during a Senate Judiciary Committee's Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Subcommittee, hearing on the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, on May 11, 2011 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
View Photo » -
Reuters Pictures
(L-R) Subcommittee Chairman Al Franken (D-MN) looks at his mobile phone as he and Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) arrive for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Protecting Mobile Privacy: Your Smartphones, Tablets, Cell Phones and Your Privacy" on Capitol Hill in Washington...
View Photo » -
Reuters Pictures
Subcommittee Chairman Al Franken (D-MN) listens to testimony before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Protecting Mobile Privacy: Your Smartphones, Tablets, Cell Phones and Your Privacy" on Capitol Hill in Washington May 10, 2011.
View Photo » -
Reuters Pictures
Subcommittee Chairman Al Franken (D-MN) (L-R) and Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) greet Apple Vice President of Software Technology Guy "Bud" Tribble before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Protecting Mobile Privacy: Your Smartphones, Tablets, Cell Phones and Your Privacy"...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
Senate Privacy, Technology and the Law subcommittee Chairman Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , center, talks with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. , right, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 10, 2011, prior to the start of the subcommittee's hearing on "Protecting...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
Senate Privacy, Technology and the Law subcommittee Chairman Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , left, huddles with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. , on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 10, 2011, during the subcommittee's hearing on "Protecting Mobile Privacy:...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 04: Rep. Al Franken (D-MN) (C) addresses a news conference with members of the National Association of Counties at the U.S. Captiol May 4, 2011 in Washington, DC. Rockefeller and other Senate Democrats denounced the House Republican plan to block grant and reduce...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
Senate Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee member Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, during the subcommittees hearing on "Americas Agricultural Labor Crisis: Enacting a Practical Solution."
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 21: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) (L) and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) listen to testimony from Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Subcommittee on Capitol Hill...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee member U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) questions witnesses during a hearing about the recent events at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex March 29, 2011 in Washington, DC. The reactor...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
US Democrat Senator Al Franken of Minnesota questions witnesses testifying before the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the recent events at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex because of the earthquake and tsunami that occurred on March...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee members Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo. , right, and Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , left, talk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 29, 2011, during the committee's hearing on Japan's nuclear disaster.
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) participates in a rally in support of Social Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill March 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. Frankenl other Democratic senators, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), said...
View Photo » -
Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: (L-R) Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) hold a rally in support of Social Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
President Barack Obama walks with, from left, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D- Minn. , Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, third from right, and others, upon his arrival at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul, Minn. , Monday, Aug. 15, 2011,prior to the start...
View Photo » -
AP Photo
President Barack Obama walks with, from left, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D- Minn. , Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , and others upon his arrival at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, in St. Paul, Minn.
View Photo » -
Getty Images
US Independent Senator from Connecticut Joe Lieberman (R) gets out of an elevator with Democratic Senator from Minnesota Al Franken before meetings at the Capitol in Washington,DC on August 1, 2011. The fate of a massive US austerity plan headed into the hands of Congress, where leaders...
View Photo »
AP Photo
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, left, accompanied by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, to discuss the disclosure of super PAC donors to the Republican presidential candidates.
View Photo »
