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John Roberts will preside over the impeachment trial of President Trump in the United States Senate. That’s because Roberts is the Chief Justice of the United States. That’s what it says in the Constitution. Not “Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.” He is the Chief Justice of the United States. The impeachment trial of a president brings together all three branches of the federal government for this solemn process. So solemn that there is a special oath for members of the Senate who (I swear to God) will swear to God that they “will do impartial justice according to the … Read More…

I applaud Chairman Adam Schiff for his dignified manner in leading the majority during the recent House impeachment hearings. Indeed, I noticed that every Democrat on the dais demonstrated tremendous restraint by using their time to create a record instead of pointing out the transparently asinine questions, statements, and demeanor of the minority. Indeed, it is hard to find an honest word or sentiment from Republicans during the hours and hours of hearings other than the occasional nod to the patriotism of the two witnesses who are decorated combat veterans. It is true that Colonel Vindman’s loyalty to our nation was questioned … Read More…

This week’s podcast is about a subject that means a lot to me. Children in foster care. My guest is Sherry Lachman, chief executive of Foster America. She was also my education legislative assistant in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee. As a child, Sherry herself had been in the foster care system for several years. People ask me all the time if I miss the Senate. I miss getting things done that make a difference in people’s lives. Some are what people consider big things. Like my provision in the ACA which requires health insurance companies to … Read More…

Often at funerals for our fallen, a speaker will quote from Ronald Reagan’s 1985 Veterans Day speech – the part where he talks about those who died in foreign wars. …most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives-the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for their country, for us. All we can do is remember. When I hear these words, … Read More…

Seventeen years ago, Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, their daughter Marcia, three aides, and two pilots died in a plane crash. Every year on this day I write about Paul. About how the people of Minnesota knew what he stood for, what he was for and what he was against.  They may not have always agreed with him, but they always knew where he stood. I usually write about the last time I saw him.  It was at a rally where I introduced Paul by doing an impression of him ordering breakfast with over-the-top enthusiasm.  “I’d like two eggs!  I … Read More…

Before I weigh in on last night’s debate, especially on health care, I’d like to point out a couple things. First is that I wrote the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provision into the Affordable Care Act back in 2009. The MLR is literally the strongest containment on health insurance company profits in the ACA. It says that insurance companies must spend 80% of their premiums for individual and small group plans on actual health care. Not on administrative costs, profits, or CEO salaries. On large group plans, the MLR is 85%.  When the insurance companies don’t meet the MLR, they … Read More…

I had a great time last night with Conan O’Brien. Watch the full interview below. Check out The Al Franken Show on SiriusXM’s Progressive Channel starting this Saturday! Tickets are available now for An Evening with Al Franken in Portland, Seattle, Boston and Detroit! Subscribe to the Al Franken Podcast on: iTunes Spotify Google Play YouTube

In January, 2009, I met retired Captain Luis Montalvan and his service dog Tuesday at an Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America event. Luis had served as an intelligence officer in Iraq, where he was seriously wounded and returned home with a severe case of PTSD. He told me he could not have attended the event were it not for Tuesday. After Luis returned home from Iraq, he isolated in a small Brooklyn apartment, medicating his agoraphobia and panic attacks with alcohol. Out of sheer desperation, Luis took up an offer from Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, ECAD, a Connecticut … Read More…

Bedtime. Favorite time of the day. That’s 2 1/2-year-old Avery and 6-year-old Joe. Each gets to choose a book from their library. Sometimes they’re classics. Sometimes they’re pure junk. (Joe is currently into Ninjago).  Mostly it’s something in between. I don’t really care. I get my cuddles and then our daughter, Thomasin, AKA “Mommy,” or Franni, AKA, “Grandma,” or our son-in-law, Brody, AKA “Daddy” puts Avery down in her crib in her room. Then I turn out the lights. Joe lays down on his tummy, and says, “Grandpa, tickle my back.” And I tickle his back just like my dad tickled … Read More…

Learn the Damn Speech! One of the most frustrating parts of being an American during these past couple years has been trying to process the sheer tonnage of lies, the endless vitriol and stupidity, the unyielding crassness, cynicism, and self-aggrandizement, not to mention the sheer cruelty coming on a daily basis from Donald Trump. It is so overwhelming that it all sort of blends into one nightmarish mountain range of bullshit. At a certain point, the brain gives up. There is no sense trying to remember his childish taunts, malicious calumnies, and transparently empty boasts. Just wait a few minutes. … Read More…

1. Director Mueller. About two hours before your Report was released, Attorney General Barr held a press conference where he claimed that the Report had arrived at several conclusions. For example, that the Trump Administration had fully cooperated with the investigation. Did the Report conclude that President Trump had fully cooperated with the investigation? 2. I’d like to go to what you wrote in the Report. And I’m assuming that the Attorney General read the same Report I did. Would you consider the President firing FBI Director Comey, the head of the investigation, to be cooperating with the investigation? And … Read More…

We lose twenty veterans to suicide every day. These are the soldiers, Marines, sailors, and Coast Guard and Air Force personnel who have put everything on the line for those of us with badly-timed bone spurs. This Sunday’s New York Times features a story about a three-year study on the benefits of pairing service dogs with veterans suffering from severe PTSD. The study was authorized by my first piece of legislation in the U.S. Senate. The idea was pretty simple: Match 200 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from PTSD each with a well-trained service dog and do a scientifically-based study … Read More…