Extreme Mortman

Quick question: Name something former presidents have in common. How about: Begging for money! "I would say parenthetically that one of the things that brings former presidents closest together is the extremely onerous and burdensome task of begging for enough money to build a presidential library from private sources; not from the government, and then turn it over to the federal government in perpetuity as a repository for the records of our great nation." That was Jimmy Carter … speaking at the dedication of Ronald Reagan's Library … November 4th, 1991. On June 18th, 2026, another presidential library is dedicated: Barack Obama's. You might be wondering: how much do these things cost? Why should taxpayers support presidential libraries? What do political opponents say about each other at library dedications? What do losing presidents say about the guys who beat them? Which presidential library opening included protests and police intervention? And what was one of the most amazing things ever said on C-SPAN about presidential libraries – from a legendary presidential historian? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 13th, 1992. Jesse Jackson is hosting a conference of the National Rainbow Coalition. Reverend Jackson introduces the main speaker: "Finally, Governor Clinton is with us because he is from Hope, Arkansas. Anyone from Hope, Arkansas certainly wants to keep hope alive. I bring to you the next Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America governor Bill Clinton from Arkansas, Hope Arkansas." A few minutes later: A presidential campaign earthquake. • What happened next? • How did it impact the 1992 presidential campaign? • And who is Sister Souljah — and what does she have to do with Jesse Jackson and Bill Clinton? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we mark both the 2026 death of Jesse Jackson and the 1992 birth of a phrase which quickly entered the political campaign lexicon – and has been there ever since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 1999, legendary Washington Post reporter Lou Cannon joined C-SPAN for a special program at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara California .. It was the thirty-ninth in a series on American presidents ... A biographer of - and authority on - Ronald Regan, Lou Cannon talked with the C-SPAN audience — and took calls — for three hours: BRIAN LAMB: Any reaction to this whole three hours, to being up here on the ranch again. Anything that comes mind. LOU CANNON: 3 hours is a long time. I might have said this at the beginning. But maybe you should end where you begin. Ronald Reagan had many sides to him. The side people that people saw was this performer. The performer as actor. The performer as governor. The performer as president. But he also needed time to himself. He also liked to be off stage. He also liked to be by himself. This was the place he came when he was off stage. In December 2025, Lou Cannon passed away … For decades, he appeared on C-SPAN programs and took calls … And his son Carl Cannon, also an accomplished journalist and author, continues to do so. Like the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman." Carl Cannon joins us to remember his father. We hear clips of Lou Cannon talking about his books, his reporting, President Reagan – and talking about Carl Cannon. What did Lou Cannon say about his son? How does Carl Cannon react to hearing his father talk about him? And what inside stories do we learn about Lou Cannon as a reporter, as an author – and as a father. Find out in the latest episode of "Extreme Mortman." With very special guest – Carl Cannon. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In September 1993, Ross Perot held a press conference on Capitol Hill. He was surrounded by members from both parties. The topic: the then-secretive and mysterious discharge petition: "Well, this is a great day for our country. I am certain that the framers of the Constitution and the signers of the Declaration of Independence are looking down from heaven smiling on this reform. For 63 years, there was a handful of leaders in the House of Representatives who decided the agenda, not the members of the House. This was an unlikely event to occur, but it did occur because of the leadership and the courage of the people who signed that petition." Soon after Ross Perot's 1993 press conference, the House of Representatives ended its 63- year-old tradition of secrecy surrounding discharge petitions. They became public. And so did the list of members who signed them. And that changed everything. What is a discharge petition? How does it work? And in 2026, what does it have to do with health care… with members of Congress owning stocks .. and with Jeffrey Epstein? And -- how has the discharge petition changed politics in Congress – particularly when the Republican House majority is razor thin? Scott Wong Has Answers! … The NBC News senior congressional reporter joins C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" …. Scott Wong explains how the discharge petition has become a game changer in Congress. So, if you have lots of questions about the discharge petition – but were afraid to ask – then listen to the latest episode of "Extreme Mortman" – with very special guest - Scott Wong of NBC News. Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, the Washington Post ran a story headlined "8 political sex scandals that threw the nation into a frenzy." Longtime Post reporter Roxanne Roberts wrote that story. Here's one politician who made Roxanne Roberts' list: "We're all going to have to seriously question the system for selecting our national leaders that reduces the press of this nation to hunters and presidential candidates to being hunted, that has reporters in bushes, false and inaccurate stories printed, photographers peeking in our windows, swarms of helicopters hovering over our roof and my very strong wife close to tears because she can't even get in her own house at night without being harassed. And then, after all that, ponderous pundits wonder in mock seriousness why some of the best people in this country choose not to run for high office." Who was that and how did he get on the list of 8? Who are the other seven? What's the history behind each of the frenzies? And what do they all have in common? In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – find out. Our very special guest -- Roxanne Roberts herself – she goes through each of the political sex scandals which made her Washington Post list. And we hear clips about the scandals from most of the politicians and those individuals they were involved with. It's a special two-parter of "Extreme Mortman." Find C-SPAN's Extreme Mortman wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices