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Though this comes from Al Franken’s podcast website, it’s not precisely one of his own podcasts. Rather, as he explains it’s a sketch he co-wrote and performs, which he made for the “What the Hack” podcast that deals with the issue of technology privacy. He does into the full story of how it came about, so I won’t repeat it here – but it has pretty amusing background that goes back to when he was in the Senate and wanted to do something like this for a committee he served on.
The premise of the sketch is a Senate committee hearing about privacy, where the two witnesses are Alexa and Siri answering questions exactly like Alexa and Siri would. And the sketch itself is (for my taste) hilarious. Franken plays the voices of Bernie Sanders, Chuck Grassley, Sherrod Brown, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell and himself. Playing the voice of Alexa is one of Franken’s compatriots from his days on Saturday Night Live, Larraine Newman. But best of all -- and this is joyously wonderful -- the voice of Siri is played by Susan Bennett. Who is Susan Bennett, I hear you ask? She’s the real voice of Siri!! But my favorite thing about the sketch (because this thing is weird, but a smart, “of course!” thing to do) is probably that every single time the name “Alexa” or “Siri” is mentioned during the hearing, we hear (just like in real life) Alexa or Siri recognize their name, react to it and beep. I love that idea enough on general comedy principle, but all the better it leads to some pretty fun, convoluted humor, as well. Though the audio says it’s 21 minutes, that’s the full podcast. The sketch and Franken’s introduction is only 12 minutes.
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This is almost unbelievable, even in today's GOP politics and Trump World. But I swear this is true -- because there is video of her actually saying it. And without her soul shriveling before our eyes.
But here is video of one of Trump's lawyers, Jenna Ellis commenting on the Club Q shooting -- She says, "The five people killed in the nightclub that night, there is no evidence/that they were Christians. Assuming they have not accepted the truth/affirmed Christ as the lord of their life they are now reaping the consequences of eternal damnation.” Really. Honest. She said that. Here's the video. Though no client should be judged by what their lawyer says about their personal beliefs, it's still fair for Trump to be asked if he agrees with this statement by his lawyer Jenna Ellis if he is abhorred by its depravity. (As a side note, the utter depravity of her statement aside, which is A LOT to put aside, there is also no evidence that they were not Christians. It just isn't an issue that EVER gets reported in a mass killing because a person's religion isn't even remotely the slightest consideration an issue, unless the shooting took place in a church or temple.) So, Jenna Ellis sure seems to be saying that only Christians shouldn't be killed, because everyone else is reaping the consequences of not being Christian and will be eternally damned!!!! Well...I can think of one person who may be eternally damned. And even at that, I don't wish her what she wishes on others. I take comfort knowing that she has to live with herself, corroding and rotting from the inside. It's also worth noting that we haven't heard yet from Ms. Ellis, Esq. if she believes the mass shooting victims in Virginia (or any mass shooting victims, ever -- past and future -- for that matter) whose religion we don't know, all deserved to be killed because it's possible they might not take Jesus as their Lord and therefore are damned to hell. By the way, putting aside all other totally depraved things she says here, even Trump supporters should be sicked by what she says here since, by Jenna Ellis's standards she supports abortion because the fetus is not a Christian who has not accepted Jesus as its lord and is now reaping the consequences of eternal damnation. And in the end, ultimately, what a "Jenna Ellis, Esq." thinks is of almost zero consequence and would normally get no notice -- it has only gotten attention because she is tied to Trump as his lawyer. So, as long as she remains in his employ and good graces, it reflects on his support of her. As the show writes, “You know it’s a must-listen episode when we’ve got not one, but TWO former U.S. secretaries of state as our guests. Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice are here for a fascinating discussion about American power, whether spreading democracy has actually made us safer, and how our role on the world stage should look going forward. Plus, they plan a little train trip together.”
Happily, though a podcast, the show now seems to be posting an audio Zoom version of the episode, so that's what we'll go with. And you can watch it here. On this week’s episode of 3rd and Fairfax, the official podcast of the Writers Guild of America, the guest is screenwriter Steven Rogers (I, Tonya, Love the Coopers). He talks about creating and writing Hulu’s limited series, Mike, chronicling the controversial life and career and heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson.
This week's contestant is Chuck Romportl from Hopkins, Minnesota. I was able to get the hidden song pretty quickly. The composer style, though, is in that area of which I generally have to toss a coin, and didn't get it. And in fairness, it's pretty tough. To my shock, the contestant actually guessed the composer style right off -- but didn't get the hidden song. Only on a second go-round, where pianist Bruce Adolphe brought the song out more, did he guess correctly.
This week on their Naked Lunch podcast, hosts Phil Rosenthal and David Wild have a gala holiday special that they call "An Everything Everywhere All At Once Thanksgiving." As the site writes, “Happy Thanksgiving! Phil and David sat down this week to relay a few Turkey Day memories -- both sweet & sour -- from their own childhoods. Then they celebrate a holiday they both love by revisiting two new friends and one of their favorite episodes of 2022. As award season builds up steam, we put the Naked Lunch spotlight on Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Everything Everywhere All At Once, a movie Phil & David both feel is wildly original and totally Oscar-worthy. And if you want seconds at the end, go back and enjoy the whole original Lunch." (You can find that broadcast here.)
I can’t embed the audio, but if you click on the link here, it will take you to the website, where you just click on the “Play” arrow underneath the photo. |
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting.    
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