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Al Franken to Leave Air America Radio

On the January 29th edition of The Al Franken Show, Midwest Values PAC founder Al Franken announced he will leave his radio show on February 14. He also told his national radio audience that he’s currently considering whether or not to run for the US Senate in his home state of Minnesota.

To listen to that announcement, please click here.

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Al Spends the Holidays with the Troops and USO

Picture courtesy of BlackAnthem.com. Read their write-up of Al’s USO visit here.

This holiday season, Al Franken and MVP political director Andy Barr are entertaining our troops overseas with the USO.

2006 marks Al’s seventh USO trip, starting with Bosnia and Kosovo in 1999. (You can view pictures from Al’s USO trip last year here.)

On December 31, Al wrote about his trip and the need for strong leadership and decisions on Iraq in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Read the op-ed here.

Al also talked about the trip on his Air America Radio show, The Al Franken Show. You can listen below:

12.15.06: Al calls The Al Franken Show again from Kuwait: download

12.14.06: The Tour Starts. Al calls The Al Franken Show from his hotel room in Kuwait: download

Or click on the buttons below to listen on this page (uploaded by the podcast-sharing site Odeo.com):

powered by ODEO

powered by ODEO

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Al Franken on Hardball

Al Franken on MSNBC’s Hardball, 11/16/06

A transcript of the show is available here.

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Chairman Franken on Colbert Report

MVP Honorary Chairman Al Franken will appear on The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report airs on Comedy Central at 11:30p / 10:30c.

Check local listings for details. Video of the appearance will be posted tomorrow.

UPDATE: Here’s a link to the video on Comedy Central.com

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I, Al Franken, Want to Call Your Crazy Conservative Friend

Dear MVP Supporter,

When I asked you to vote (with your wallet) for your favorite of our ten nominated candidates, I told you we’d give $5,000 to the winner (Victoria Wulsin), and that we might be able to give a little bit to some of the other candidates.

Well, you responded – big time. How big? So big that we’ve sent a $2500 check to each of the other nominees: Jason Altmire, Joe Sestak, Eric Massa, Joe Courtney, Diane Farrell, Charlie Brown, Scott Kleeb, Gary Trauner, and Steve Kagen. We’ve also increased our commitment to Lois Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Dan Seals, and Jerry McNerney. And, on top of THAT, we’ve added another seven candidates to our roster of MVPs: Nancy Boyda in Kansas, Jill Derby in Nevada, Larry Grant in Idaho (!), Paul Hodes in New Hampshire, Mary Jo Kilroy in Ohio, Ron Klein in Florida, and Harry Mitchell in Arizona. That’s $50,000 out the door in one day – nice work, everybody!

We told you earlier this week that we’ve gone over a million dollars raised since we started last fall, and I want to thank you for helping us get there. If you’d like to help us add even more candidates to our roster of MVPs, you know what to do.

And, as a special incentive, I’m offering the most valuable thing I have to offer: me, yelling at your obnoxious conservative friend on your behalf. If you contribute at least $500 to Midwest Values PAC, I will personally call a right-wing pal of your choosing between now and Election Day and tell them why the Democratic Party represents a better vision for America’s future, or at least one in which fewer Congressmen go to prison. If they resist, I’ll confront them with my trademark brand of scorn and ridicule.

The way I see it, you all have been doing great work helping MVP to support progressive candidates nationwide. But the only thing more fun than supporting progressives is turning conservatives into progressives. Or making fun of them. And I hope I get a chance to yell at many of your friends between now and Election Day.

Sincerely,

Al Franken
Minneapolis

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Read This: Franken’s truths come with jokes in Burnsville

Franken’s truths come with jokes in Burnsville—Minnesota This Week Newspapers – Burnsville, MN

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Video: Al Franken on The Situation Room

Al Franken on The Situation Room
YouTube Link

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VIDEO: Al Franken on Good Morning America

Al Franken on Good Morning America
YouTube Link

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Al Franken on ABC's Good Morning America

Al will be on ABC’s Good Morning America between 7:30am between 8:00am EST.

Video of the segment will be posted afterwards.

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Al Franken on "The Daily Show" and GMA

Wednesday, 9/27: MVP Honorary Chairman Al Franken will be on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” The program airs on Comedy Central at 11pm / 10c.

On Thursday morning, at about 7:45 EST, Al will be on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

If you miss the programs, check back to this website as we’ll post video of Al’s interview.

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Al Franken on "The Daily Show"

Wednesday, 9/27: MVP Honorary Chairman Al Franken will be on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” The program airs on Comedy Central at 11pm / 10c.

If you miss the program, check back to this website as we’ll post video of Al’s interview.

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Late Night: Thursday

Al will be on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” this Thursday, September 14. Also on the show: actor / wrestler / former football player Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and air guitar expert Bjorn Turoque

Show website.

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New MVP Q&A Podcast

Al answers your questions in our latest installment of the MVP Video Q and A Podcast.

YOUTUBE LINK.

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Our MVPs

Al Franken started Midwest Values PAC to provide financial and organizational support to progressive candidates, activists, and causes – in his home state of Minnesota, throughout the Midwest, and around the country – in 2006 and beyond.

Listed below are our 2006 US House and Senate MVP candidates. Your generous support to Midwest Values PAC helps make all of this possible, so please consider a donation to MVP today.

Note: List reflects disbursements through November 2, 2006

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Al Answers Your Questions

MVP Honorary Chairman Al Franken took time off from his busy schedule to answer questions submitted to midwestvaluespac.org/askal .

You can view Al’s video here at YouTube.

And don’t forget to submit your own question, too!

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Franken to speak in Winona on Tuesday

Al Franken has always had opinions on politics. But as a writer for 15 years on “Saturday Night Live,” he garnered laughs by making fun of liberals, conservatives and everyone in between.

“I never felt it was our job to have a specific political philosophy or an ax to grind,” Franken said. “When I left the show, I had a chance to have my own political viewpoint.”

That political viewpoint — and his sense of humor — have made him a bestselling author, radio host on “Air America” and the scourge of many a conservative. It’s also given him the kind of clout to help politicians he believes in.

Franken will speak Tuesday at a Winona fundraiser for Tim Walz, the Mankato Democrat who’s running against six-term incumbent Rep. Gil Gutknect in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. [...]

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Al at DemocracyFest in San Diego

Al will be appearing at DemocracyFest in San Diego, California:

Progressives from across America will convene at San Diego University July 14-16 for the 3rd Annual DemocracyFest. DemocracyFest is designed to unite progressive-minded people, increase political awareness, and plan for our country’s future. Last year’s event held in Austin, Texas, drew an attendance of greater than 900 Democrats, Independents and former Republicans.

This year’s event looks even more promising with Democratic National Committee chair and former presidential candidate Howard Dean joining Air America talk show hosts/humorists Al Franken and Marc Maron. In keeping with its “Education by Day, Celebration by Night” motto, DemocracyFest offers three days of training for grassroots activists plus a Friday and two Saturday night events packed with star-studded appearances by prominent political leaders and award-winning talent.

On Friday, July 14th, Radio host Al Franken officially opens DemocracyFest with a live broadcast of “The Al Franken Show” coast to coast on Air America Radio from Montezuma Hall at San Diego State University. In the afternoon, the Grassroots Leadership Summit will feature representatives from national and local grassroots organizations including Democracy for America, the Commonweal Institute, Progressive Democrats of America, Service Employees International Union and the San Diego County Democratic Party to share organizing strategies. Friday night’s “Celebration By Night” includes Robert Greenwald as he introduces “The Big Buy: Tom DeLay’s Stolen Congress,” a film co-produced by Jim Schermbeck and Mark Birnbaum.

The event is open and accessible to all individuals who are interested in joining a common cause to restore America to the ideals that made this country great. For more information, visit http://www.democracyfest.us.

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MVP Chairman Coming to Theater Near You

News item:

Fresh from the festival circuit, Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus’ “Al Franken: God Spoke” is set for a theatrical release later this year from Balcony Releasing. The film, shot over the course of two years, is a mostly verite look at the life of author and political satirist Al Franken.

Balcony is targeting a mid-September release in theaters, according to the company’s Connie White. She said that the goal is to start with an exclusive run in New York City but quickly expand the release to include up to ten more cities, including Minneapolis (where Franken lives), Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Talking with indieWIRE about the film, White said that the goal is to rapidly release the movie in September and October, ahead of the upcoming mid-term Congressional elections. White and partner Greg Kendall feel that the film is, “a nice way to energize people as they are thinking about the future of our country,” She explained, adding, “And its also a very entertaining movie.”

The film’s producer Frazer Pennebaker, son of legendary documentary director D.A. Pennebaker, who executive produced the film, told indieWIRE Friday that TV and DVD deals for “Al Franken: God Spoke” are still pending. He added that the film was pre-sold to the BBC. The Pennebaker Hegedus Films, Inc. & Nick Doob Productions, Inc. co-production was also produced by Rebecca Marshall.

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New MVP Videos

Six new videos just posted on YouTube for MVP—check out our videos pages.

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Video Podcasts

MVP just added video podcasts to its site—both exclusive MVP content, and 3rd party videos (e.g. Al on “The Daily Show”). To view the clips, click on over here.

Al and MVP will be recording future MVP exclusive content, including video podcasts that answer your questions.

If you have further suggestions for MVP content, or any general video issues, feel free to use this comment section below.

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Al Franken, Live in Minneapolis

From MVP Press. More ticket information here.

MINNEAPOLIS – Emmy-winning writer, best-selling author, and host of Air America Radio’s “The Al Franken Show,” Al Franken has moved back to Minnesota and is going back to his roots in comedy, reuniting with longtime partner Tom Davis for a special, one-time-only performance benefiting his Midwest Values PAC.

The show, scheduled to take place at Minneapolis’s State Theater on Thursday night, June 8, will also feature a special performance by legendary guitarist and Minnesota favorite Leo Kottke. This will be Kottke’s only performance in the Twin Cities this year.

In addition, Franken himself will bring his special brand of political satire and rousing rhetoric to the stage, in order to inspire progressive candidates and activists trying to take back America in 2006. Proceeds from the event will benefit Midwest Values PAC, an organization founded by Franken in 2005.

Midwest Values PAC (on-line at http://www.midwestvaluesPAC.org) provides funding and organizational support for progressive candidates and causes, as well as an on-line home for Franken’s devoted fans who want to get involved to turn Minnesota, the Midwest, and the country blue in 2006.

Tickets are available at www.midwestvaluespac.org, or at the State Theater box office. Tickets are also available for special pre-show dinner (home-cooked by Al’s wife, Franni) at the Frankens’ Minneapolis home, and for a post-show reception.

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Al Franken's Stand-Up for Change

MINNEAPOLIS – Emmy-winning writer, best-selling author, and host of Air America Radio’s “The Al Franken Show,” Al Franken has moved back to Minnesota and is going back to his roots in comedy, reuniting with longtime partner Tom Davis for a special, one-time-only performance benefiting his Midwest Values PAC.

The show, scheduled to take place at Minneapolis’s State Theater on Thursday night, June 8, will also feature a special performance by legendary guitarist and Minnesota favorite Leo Kottke. This will be Kottke’s only performance in the Twin Cities this year.

In addition, Franken himself will bring his special brand of political satire and rousing rhetoric to the stage, in order to inspire progressive candidates and activists trying to take back America in 2006. Proceeds from the event will benefit Midwest Values PAC, an organization founded by Franken in 2005.

Midwest Values PAC (on-line at http://www.midwestvaluesPAC.org) provides funding and organizational support for progressive candidates and causes, as well as an on-line home for Franken’s devoted fans who want to get involved to turn Minnesota, the Midwest, and the country blue in 2006.

Tickets are available at www.midwestvaluespac.org, or at the State Theater box office. Tickets are also available for special pre-show dinner (home-cooked by Al’s wife, Franni) at the Frankens’ Minneapolis home, and for a post-show reception.

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Minnesota: Stand-Up 4 Change!

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Chairman Franken in Chicago

Al will be in Chicago, Illinois doing a radio show and, after, a book-signing. More ticket information is available here.

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NYC: Chairman Franken at 92nd Y

Date & Time: Tue, May 9, 2006, 8:00pm
Location: Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street (NYC)
Venue: Kaufmann Concert Hall Seating Chart
Price: $25.00 All Sections

For tickets, click here.