Al Franken News

Hearst Television Inc. is expanding on its award-winning local and regional investigative reporting with the addition of a national investigative unit at the station group's Washington, D.C., bureau. The bureau, established more than two decades ago, provides political and other national-news reporting to the Hearst Television stations throughout 26 TV markets across the United States.

A central force behind this year's midterm election campaign is neither a political party nor a candidate. It's Emily's List, which for the last three decades has worked to assist Democratic women in politics. Originally organized around fundraising - Emily is an acronym for Early Money Is Like Yeast - the group now recruits and trains as well as finances women candidates. Its only litmus-test issue is support for abortion rights. What makes the organization loom so large in 2018 is the combination of Hillary Clinton's 2016 defeat and Donald Trump's provocations from the White House. More than 300 women - a record - are now running for Congress. Thousands more have stepped forward for offices at all levels of government. That the emergent Me Too movement has also propelled women into the 2018 arena adds a special irony. Before becoming president of Emily's List, Stephanie Schriock managed the winning 2008 Senate campaign of Al Franken - whose resignation last year made him the highest-profile Democratic casualty of the movement. CNBC Editor at Large John Harwood talked with Schriock at Emily's List headquarters in downtown Washington about prospects for women fueling a Democratic takeover of Congress. A partial transcript from Speakeasy with John Harwood featuring Emily's List President Stephanie Schriock follows.

SLATE Live has teamed up with Employee of the Month with Catie Lazarus to celebrate the ninth year anniversary of the talk show, which The New York Times calls as a "beloved downtown institution." On Thursday, March 15th, downtown darling Catie Lazarus will interview and honor comedian Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, Broad City), Tony Award-winning Broadway and (now film) music conductor and director Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Incredibles II); actor Emily Mortimer (The Party, Marry Poppins, Newsroom), musical guest The Resistance Revival Chorus, fresh from The Grammy's with Kesha and the Women's March.

Living legend Barbra Streisand is already at work on her next album. When asked in a recent interview whether the Trump presidency would inspire new music, she told Variety: 'Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I'm doing an album. The next one I'm doing is called 'What's on My Mind.' I have to express myself in these ways, lyrically and melodically.'

Aspen Film is proud to present Amazon Studios' LONG STRANGE TRIP for a one-time, special screening on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at Metropolitan Theatre's Isis Theatre in Aspen, CO. Directed by Amir Bar-Lev (Director of the 2010 Emmy Award winning THE TILLMAN STORY, and HAPPY VALLEY from 2014) and executive produced by Martin Scorsese (THE LAST WALTZ), the film, with a total running time of 4 hours, which includes a 20-minute intermission, is told in five acts.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top news: Cruel Intentions opens off Broadway, Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Earl Jones join forces for Roundabout's DAMN YANKEES Benefit, and more!

'Saturday Night Live' opened this week with a heartwarming scene of the traditional mall Santa. All seemed well until the kids had some questions for the jolly holiday patron. Watch below to find out why Al Franken is on the naughty list, why Daddy has to wait for his tax cut to trickle down, and why NFL players kneeled down.

Smithsonian magazine previously announced the winners of the 2017 American Ingenuity Awards. Dave Malloy, creator, and Rachel Chavkin, director of the renowned Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, are being honored with the American Ingenuity Award in History. They will receive the award at an awards gala at the National Portrait Gallery today, November 29.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest retail bookseller, announced the return of its Black Friday Signed Editions program, a customer favorite, with over a half-million autographed books by more than 150 highly acclaimed authors. The largest promotion of its kind kicks off on Black Friday, November 24, at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide, while supplies last. The autographed books span many genres and interests, and were signed by authors for Barnes & Noble customers.

Set in Houston, Texas in the shadow of the nation's oil industry, HOT GREASE tells the surprising story of how the biodiesel industry is turning an ostensibly worthless raw material - spent kitchen grease - into a renewable energy source capable of fueling cars, buses and fleets of trucks throughout the country. But, powerful forces are working to stop that from happening.

An all-star line-up of actors presented a live dramatic political reading last week through American Scoreboard's most recent installment at Pace University. The event was a reenactment of the confirmation hearing of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Set in Houston, Texas in the shadow of the nation's oil industry, HOT GREASE tells the surprising story of how the biodiesel industry is turning an ostensibly worthless raw material - spent kitchen grease - into a renewable energy source capable of fueling cars, buses and fleets of trucks throughout the country. But, powerful forces are working to stop that from happening.

CBS News Radio announced today that it will launch nationwide THE TAKEOUT, a weekly, one-hour program about politics, policy and pop culture hosted by CBS News chief White House correspondent Major Garrett and CBS News political director Steve Chaggaris. The first episode will air Friday, Oct. 20.

A lineup of leading performers, including Senator Al Franken, Jimmy Kimmel, Norm Macdonald, Steve Martin, John Mulaney, Bill Murray, Amy Schumer, Paul Shaffer, Martin Short, Eddie Vedder, Jimmie Walker, and others will salute David Letterman at the 20th annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

American chef and restaurateur Andrew Carmellini speaks with A$AP Ferg for the Talkhouse, marking the podcast's food culture debut.

Last night, late night talk show hosts took time out from their usual humorous banter to discuss the gravity of this weekend's tragic events, and shared their thoughts on Donald Trump's failure to react in an appropriate manner. Watch the videos below

On last night's LATE SHOW, U.S. Senator Al Franken recalls hearing gasps in the Senate chamber when Senator John McCain gave his memorable thumbs-down on 'skinny repeal.'

The Empaths, a new play by John Markus and Rebecca Bazell, will have its world premiere at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater July 20 - August 19, 2017. Directed by Jeffry George, The Empaths is a fast paced, timely comedy that mines the complex landscape of shifting societal mores, family roles, and the expectations of relationships.

Comedian Elected to Town Council in New Jersey has heart, reminding us that public service can still be fun and honorable. That is why this reviewer is endorsing comedian Joey Novick.

The critically-acclaimed CNN Original Series THE HISTORY OF COMEDY is back with all-new episodes beginning Sunday, July 16, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.