The McLaughlin Group
Encyclopedia
The McLaughlin Group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television
program in the United States
, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table
format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife. Previous underwriters included: Pfizer
, the New York Stock Exchange
, and GE
(the longest-serving).
along with four commentators are present — usually Pat Buchanan
, Eleanor Clift
, Rich Lowry
, and either Clarence Page
, or Mort Zuckerman. The identity of the regular panelists has varied over the years. One (or sometimes even two) of the four seats may be filled by a “guest” commentator if any regular is not present that week.
A typical episode covers three or four issues. The first is introduced by McLaughlin, beginning with, "Issue one..." which is explained by him, usually in a prerecorded video segment accompanied by his voice-over. He then proposes a question for the panelists, starting with Buchanan (if present). The conversation is usually sedate at the beginning of the program, but as opposing viewpoints emerge there is more verbal rough-housing, good-natured gamesmanship and occasionally very loud crosstalk as panelists attempt to out-yell the others, all of which are the show's trademarks. The panelists are supposed to yield when McLaughlin speaks, and he sometimes reminds them of that rule during the show. McLaughlin will usually present an "Exit question..." so that each panelist may make a closing remark on the issue. Subsequent issues (possibly separated by advertising breaks on commercial stations) are begun by McLaughlin in a similar fashion, but open heated debate begins more quickly.
Time permitting, McLaughlin may ask the panelists for "Predictions" at the close of the episode, at which time each panelist makes a near or long term prediction on a topic of his or her own choosing. Occasionally McLaughlin will ask for a "Forced prediction" from the panelists regarding a specific question, such as, "What will the unemployment rate be at the end of 2009? Forced prediction, Pat Buchanan...." Other questions may close the show as well (ex. "Who will win the election Tuesday? Pat.."), but if time is tight he may simply end with, "Out of time. Bye-BYE." and tack on a holiday greeting, if applicable that week.
PBS stations sometimes show extra footage not seen on the commercial stations at the end of the show. Since there are no commercial breaks, and the transitions for commercial breaks are removed, time sometimes permits predictions or a relatively frivolous or disjointed final topic.
Two episodes at the turn of the calendar year are reserved for “The McLaughlin Group 19XX/20XX Year-End Awards.” Each panelist announces his or her choice for each category such as “Biggest Winner of 2008,” ”Best Politician,” “Most Boring,” “Turncoat of the Year,” “Enough Already,” “Most Underrated,” etc., followed by McLaughlin’s choice. During the second of these special episodes, the participants dress in formal eveningwear.
ian voice such as when he shouts "Issue [number]..." before describing a news story. A phrase he often begins questions to the panelists with, "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing zero possibility and 10 representing complete metaphysical certitude,...?". For the show aired before Thanksgiving, McLaughlin ends with, "Happy Thanksgiving, Gobble Gobble!" He often teased panelists by giving them obscure nicknames, e.g. "Freddy 'The Beadle
' Barnes" or making inside comments about their wealth and such. He especially tends to rib Buchanan, whom he has known since 1970 and who has been a panelist for much of the show's history.
The tone of McLaughlin's program, though often argumentative as with many other "Point–Counterpoint" style programs, is also somewhat different, due to the personal touch of McLaughlin and the panelists. McLaughlin's role often resembles a professorial figure, asking follow-up questions and trying to elicit further responses from a panelist who thinks he or she has fully answered the question, as if McLaughlin were conducting a Socratic class at a university. The panelists of opposite political views (literally on the "left" and "right" of McLaughlin) often agree with each other, or disagree with their supposed political kin on specific points or topics. The personal closeness among some members of the group is clear, as when McLaughlin, in a spring 2005 broadcast, made special mention of the death of Clift's husband at the end of the program, and extended condolences on behalf of the panel.
and ex-McLaughlin panelist Jack Germond
, have opined that the show glories too much in sensationalism and simplification, to the detriment of serious journalism.
McLaughlin’s style has been parodied by many comedian
s and other commentators, most notably Dana Carvey
of Saturday Night Live
. McLaughlin made a cameo on one of Carvey’s parody sketches, and adopted some of his gags (such as the “metaphysical certitude” line and occasionally referring to Eleanor Clift as “Eleanor, Gee I Think You’re Swell-anor”). The program has also been included in a few major films, including Dave and Independence Day
.
Singer Andrew WK has recorded a 47-second song called “McLaughlin Groove” based on dialogue between McLaughlin and Buchanan on the topics of the untimely death of Senator Paul Wellstone
, Carl Sandburg
’s “Fog” and the prediction of a Chinese moon-landing.
In the movie Watchmen
, the group is satirized discussing the nature of Dr. Manhattan.
Popular gaming podcast The D6 Generation begins each show with a parody of McLaughlin Group based on the content in that show.
stations, and as of May 2007 a small number of CBS
-affiliated stations.
Most stations carry the program on weekends, but there are a few, like WGBH
in Boston, and PBS channel 8 KUHT
in Houston that run it on Friday evenings. Internationally, the show is carried on several satellite channels, such as Voice of America
TV and was on the London based CNBC Europe
. It is also carried by CTV
in Christchurch, New Zealand, and by Triangle TV
in Auckland, New Zealand.
Up until May 2008, the program originated from WRC-TV
, the NBC-owned station in Washington, D.C. As of now, the show is produced at WUSA-TV
, the Gannett-owned CBS affiliate for Washington, D.C.
Appearing about every 2nd or 3rd week:
Former regular panelists: Tony Blankley
, Lawrence O'Donnell, Michael Barone
, Jack Germond
, Robert Novak
, Morton Kondracke, Fred Barnes
, Chris Matthews
, Al Hunt
, Mark Shields
, Michael Kinsley
, Monica Crowley
Some former guests:
Lionel Barber
, Arnaud de Borchgrave
, John Fund
, Arianna Huffington
, Joe Klein
, Lawrence Kudlow
, Dick Morris
, Bill Press
, Tony Snow
, Christopher Hitchens
, Rush Limbaugh
, Jay Carney
, Michael Steele
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
program in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table
Round table
A round table is a table which has no "head" and no "sides", and therefore no one person sitting at it is given a privileged position and all are treated as equals. The idea stems from the Arthurian legend about the Knights of the Round Table in Camelot....
format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife. Previous underwriters included: Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
, the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
, and GE
Gê
Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay....
(the longest-serving).
Format
Moderator John McLaughlinJohn McLaughlin (host)
John McLaughlin is an American television personality and political commentator. He created, produces and hosts the long-running political commentary series The McLaughlin Group as well as John McLaughlin's One On One....
along with four commentators are present — usually Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
, Eleanor Clift
Eleanor Clift
Eleanor Clift is a political reporter, television pundit and author. She is currently a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine. Her column, "Capitol Letter" is posted each week on the Newsweek and MSNBC websites...
, Rich Lowry
Rich Lowry
Richard A. Lowry is the editor of National Review, a conservative American news magazine, and a syndicated columnist.-Career:...
, and either Clarence Page
Clarence Page
Clarence Page is an American journalist, syndicated columnist, and senior member of The Chicago Tribune editorial board.-Early years:...
, or Mort Zuckerman. The identity of the regular panelists has varied over the years. One (or sometimes even two) of the four seats may be filled by a “guest” commentator if any regular is not present that week.
A typical episode covers three or four issues. The first is introduced by McLaughlin, beginning with, "Issue one..." which is explained by him, usually in a prerecorded video segment accompanied by his voice-over. He then proposes a question for the panelists, starting with Buchanan (if present). The conversation is usually sedate at the beginning of the program, but as opposing viewpoints emerge there is more verbal rough-housing, good-natured gamesmanship and occasionally very loud crosstalk as panelists attempt to out-yell the others, all of which are the show's trademarks. The panelists are supposed to yield when McLaughlin speaks, and he sometimes reminds them of that rule during the show. McLaughlin will usually present an "Exit question..." so that each panelist may make a closing remark on the issue. Subsequent issues (possibly separated by advertising breaks on commercial stations) are begun by McLaughlin in a similar fashion, but open heated debate begins more quickly.
Time permitting, McLaughlin may ask the panelists for "Predictions" at the close of the episode, at which time each panelist makes a near or long term prediction on a topic of his or her own choosing. Occasionally McLaughlin will ask for a "Forced prediction" from the panelists regarding a specific question, such as, "What will the unemployment rate be at the end of 2009? Forced prediction, Pat Buchanan...." Other questions may close the show as well (ex. "Who will win the election Tuesday? Pat.."), but if time is tight he may simply end with, "Out of time. Bye-BYE." and tack on a holiday greeting, if applicable that week.
PBS stations sometimes show extra footage not seen on the commercial stations at the end of the show. Since there are no commercial breaks, and the transitions for commercial breaks are removed, time sometimes permits predictions or a relatively frivolous or disjointed final topic.
Two episodes at the turn of the calendar year are reserved for “The McLaughlin Group 19XX/20XX Year-End Awards.” Each panelist announces his or her choice for each category such as “Biggest Winner of 2008,” ”Best Politician,” “Most Boring,” “Turncoat of the Year,” “Enough Already,” “Most Underrated,” etc., followed by McLaughlin’s choice. During the second of these special episodes, the participants dress in formal eveningwear.
McLaughlin's in-show personality
The show is known for the quirky style of McLaughlin, who makes witty, sometimes arguably outlandish, predictions based on current events (on March 23, 2007, his prediction was, "The next man on the moon will be Chinese!"), and his question style. He speaks with a stentorStentor
In Greek mythology, Stentor was a herald of the Greek forces during the Trojan War. Although he is mentioned only briefly in Homer's Iliad, in which Hera takes Stentor's character to encourage the Greeks to fight, his name has been living in the term "stentorian" voice, meaning loud-voiced, for...
ian voice such as when he shouts "Issue [number]..." before describing a news story. A phrase he often begins questions to the panelists with, "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing zero possibility and 10 representing complete metaphysical certitude,...?". For the show aired before Thanksgiving, McLaughlin ends with, "Happy Thanksgiving, Gobble Gobble!" He often teased panelists by giving them obscure nicknames, e.g. "Freddy 'The Beadle
Beadle
Beadle, sometimes spelled "bedel," is a lay official of a church or synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties....
' Barnes" or making inside comments about their wealth and such. He especially tends to rib Buchanan, whom he has known since 1970 and who has been a panelist for much of the show's history.
The tone of McLaughlin's program, though often argumentative as with many other "Point–Counterpoint" style programs, is also somewhat different, due to the personal touch of McLaughlin and the panelists. McLaughlin's role often resembles a professorial figure, asking follow-up questions and trying to elicit further responses from a panelist who thinks he or she has fully answered the question, as if McLaughlin were conducting a Socratic class at a university. The panelists of opposite political views (literally on the "left" and "right" of McLaughlin) often agree with each other, or disagree with their supposed political kin on specific points or topics. The personal closeness among some members of the group is clear, as when McLaughlin, in a spring 2005 broadcast, made special mention of the death of Clift's husband at the end of the program, and extended condolences on behalf of the panel.
Criticism
Journalists James FallowsJames Fallows
James Fallows is an American print and radio journalist. He has been a national correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly for many years. His work has also appeared in Slate, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker and The American Prospect, among others. He is a...
and ex-McLaughlin panelist Jack Germond
Jack Germond
Jack Worthen Germond is an American journalist, author, and pundit. -Life and career:Germond was born in Boston, Massachusetts, an only child and raised in a striving middle-class household in Boston and Trenton, New Jersey. When he was 13, his family moved to Mississippi, and then to Baton Rouge,...
, have opined that the show glories too much in sensationalism and simplification, to the detriment of serious journalism.
In popular culture
Ronald Reagan, while in office as US president, once referred to McLaughlin and his group as taking the format of a Sunday morning television roundtable and turning it into "a political version of 'Animal House'."McLaughlin’s style has been parodied by many comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s and other commentators, most notably Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey
Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. McLaughlin made a cameo on one of Carvey’s parody sketches, and adopted some of his gags (such as the “metaphysical certitude” line and occasionally referring to Eleanor Clift as “Eleanor, Gee I Think You’re Swell-anor”). The program has also been included in a few major films, including Dave and Independence Day
Independence Day (film)
Independence Day is a 1996 science fiction film about an alien invasion of Earth, focusing on a disparate group of individuals and families as they converge in the Nevada desert and, along with the rest of the human population, participate in a last-chance counterattack on July 4 – the same...
.
Singer Andrew WK has recorded a 47-second song called “McLaughlin Groove” based on dialogue between McLaughlin and Buchanan on the topics of the untimely death of Senator Paul Wellstone
Paul Wellstone
Paul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
, Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."-Biography:Sandburg was born in Galesburg,...
’s “Fog” and the prediction of a Chinese moon-landing.
In the movie Watchmen
Watchmen (film)
Watchmen is a 2009 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder and starring Malin Åkerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson. It is an adaptation of the comic book of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons...
, the group is satirized discussing the nature of Dr. Manhattan.
Popular gaming podcast The D6 Generation begins each show with a parody of McLaughlin Group based on the content in that show.
Syndication
In the US, the show is carried on numerous public broadcastingPublic broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
stations, and as of May 2007 a small number of CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
-affiliated stations.
Most stations carry the program on weekends, but there are a few, like WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
in Boston, and PBS channel 8 KUHT
KUHT
-Technical firsts:The station is also noted in Houston for many technical firsts at the local level. In 1981, KUHT became Houston's first closed captioned television station, and ten years later, in 1991, it became the first station in Houston to offer Descriptive Video Service , and other services...
in Houston that run it on Friday evenings. Internationally, the show is carried on several satellite channels, such as Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
TV and was on the London based CNBC Europe
CNBC Europe
CNBC Europe is a business and financial news television channel, the pan-European sister station of CNBC. The network is owned and operated by NBC Universal and headquartered in London, where it shares the Adrian Smith-designed 10 Fleet Place building with Dow Jones...
. It is also carried by CTV
Canterbury Television
Canterbury Television is an independent television station broadcasting in Canterbury, New Zealand.The name is synonymous with regional television in New Zealand as it was the name of the first regional broadcaster to operate in New Zealand. CTV produces and screens more than twenty hours of...
in Christchurch, New Zealand, and by Triangle TV
Triangle TV
Triangle Television and Stratos Television are public service television stations based in Auckland, New Zealand. Triangle broadcasts across Auckland on analogue UHF, while Stratos broadcasts around New Zealand on the Freeview, Sky TV and TelstraClear cable digital platforms...
in Auckland, New Zealand.
Up until May 2008, the program originated from WRC-TV
WRC-TV
WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
, the NBC-owned station in Washington, D.C. As of now, the show is produced at WUSA-TV
WUSA (TV)
WUSA is a television station broadcasting on channel 9 in Washington, D.C.. Owned by the Gannett Company, WUSA is an affiliate of the CBS television network, and the longest-tenured affiliate of that network...
, the Gannett-owned CBS affiliate for Washington, D.C.
Regular McLaughlin panelists
Current Weekly:- Pat BuchananPat BuchananPatrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
: MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
political commentator - Eleanor CliftEleanor CliftEleanor Clift is a political reporter, television pundit and author. She is currently a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine. Her column, "Capitol Letter" is posted each week on the Newsweek and MSNBC websites...
: contributing editor, NewsweekNewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence... - Rich LowryRich LowryRichard A. Lowry is the editor of National Review, a conservative American news magazine, and a syndicated columnist.-Career:...
: editor, National ReviewNational ReviewNational Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
Appearing about every 2nd or 3rd week:
- Clarence PageClarence PageClarence Page is an American journalist, syndicated columnist, and senior member of The Chicago Tribune editorial board.-Early years:...
: columnist, The Chicago Tribune - Mort Zuckerman: owner, New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsThe Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
Former regular panelists: Tony Blankley
Tony Blankley
Anthony “Tony” Blankley is an Executive Vice President with Edelman public relations in Washington, a Visiting Senior Fellow in National-Security Communications at the Heritage Foundation, weekly contributor to the nationally syndicated public radio program Left, Right & Center, author of The...
, Lawrence O'Donnell, Michael Barone
Michael Barone (pundit)
Michael Barone is a conservative American political analyst, pundit and journalist. He is best known for being the principal author of The Almanac of American Politics, a reference work concerning US governors and federal politicians, and published biennially by National Journal...
, Jack Germond
Jack Germond
Jack Worthen Germond is an American journalist, author, and pundit. -Life and career:Germond was born in Boston, Massachusetts, an only child and raised in a striving middle-class household in Boston and Trenton, New Jersey. When he was 13, his family moved to Mississippi, and then to Baton Rouge,...
, Robert Novak
Robert Novak
Robert David Sanders "Bob" Novak was an American syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. After working for two newspapers before serving for the U.S. Army in the Korean War, he became a reporter for the Associated Press and then for...
, Morton Kondracke, Fred Barnes
Fred Barnes (journalist)
Frederic W. Barnes is an American political commentator. He is the executive editor of the news publication The Weekly Standard and regularly appears on the Fox News Channel program Special Report with Bret Baier...
, Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews
Christopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
, Al Hunt
Al Hunt
Albert R. Hunt Jr. is the executive Washington editor for Bloomberg News, a subsidiary of Bloomberg L.P. Hunt hosts the Sunday morning talk show Political Capital on Bloomberg Television, which airs on Friday night.-Personal life:...
, Mark Shields
Mark Shields
Mark Shields is an American political columnist and commentator.Since 1988, Shields has provided weekly political analysis and commentary for PBS’ award-winning PBS NewsHour. His current sparring partner is David Brooks of The New York Times. Previous counterparts were the late William Safire,...
, Michael Kinsley
Michael Kinsley
Michael Kinsley is an American political journalist, commentator, television host, and pundit. Primarily active in print media as both a writer and editor, he also became known to television audiences as a co-host on Crossfire...
, Monica Crowley
Monica Crowley
Monica Crowley is an American conservative radio and television commentator, and author based in New York City. She has her own radio show and is a regular commentator on The McLaughlin Group, a Fox News contributor, and Washington Times columnist.-Education:Crowley holds a B.A. in Political...
Guests/alternates
- Michelle D. Bernard: Independent Women's ForumIndependent Women's ForumThe Independent Women's Forum is an American conservative, non-profit, non-partisan research and educational institution focused on domestic and foreign policy issues of concern to women...
, MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
political analyst - Maria BartiromoMaria BartiromoMaria Bartiromo is an American television journalist, magazine columnist and author of three books. Bartiromo is a native of New York and attended New York University. She worked at CNN for five years before joining CNBC television...
: Journalist, CNBCCNBCCNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers... - Peter BeinartPeter Beinart-Early life and education:Beinart was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of South African immigrants. His mother, Doreen, works at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and his father, Julian Beinart, is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His stepfather is theatre...
: New America FoundationNew America FoundationThe New America Foundation is a non-profit public policy institute and think tank with offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA. It was founded in 1999 by Ted Halstead, Sherle Schwenninger, Michael Lind and Walter Russell Mead....
(up through 2009, Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
) - Caroline DanielCaroline DanielCaroline Daniel is currently Editor of the Weekend FT and was appointed in June 2010 after running the FT's oped pages. She is a British journalist and political commentator. Educated at St. Helen's School in London and at Cambridge University she was formerly a panelist for The McLaughlin Group...
: White House correspondent for The Financial Times - Chrystia FreelandChrystia FreelandChrystia Freeland is the Global Editor-at-Large of Reuters news since March 1, 2010, having formerly been the United States managing editor at the Financial Times, based in New York City. Freeland received her undergraduate education from Harvard University, going onto St Antony's at University...
: global editor-at-large, ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data... - Hisham MelhemHisham Melhem-Biography:Melhem studied philosophy at Villanova University, and after graduating in 1976 with his B.A., spent three years working on a doctorate in philosophy at Georgetown University, which he did not complete....
: Al ArabiyaAl ArabiyaAl Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center .... - John PodhoretzJohn PodhoretzJohn Podhoretz is an American neoconservative columnist for the New York Post, the editor of Commentary magazine, the author of several books on politics, and a former presidential speechwriter.-Life and career:...
: columnist, The New York PostNew York PostThe New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions... - Dylan RatiganDylan RatiganDylan Jason Ratigan is an American television host primarily covering financial markets, the global economy, and politics. He is host of The Dylan Ratigan Show which airs weekday afternoons on MSNBC. He is also a frequent contributor on The Huffington Post.- Early life :Ratigan was born in the...
: MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada... - Mark Tapscott: editorial page editor, Washington ExaminerWashington ExaminerThe Washington Examiner is a free daily newspaper published in Springfield, Virginia, and distributed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz....
- Gillian TettGillian TettGillian Tett is a British author and award-winning journalist at the Financial Times, where she is the US managing editor She has written about the financial instruments that were part of the cause of the financial crisis that started in the fourth quarter of 2007, such as CDOs, credit default...
: U.S. managing editor and assistant editor, The Financial Times - Vaughn Ververs: National JournalNational JournalNational Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
, The HotlineThe HotlineThe Hotline is a daily political briefing published by the Atlantic Media Company from its headquarters at The Watergate complex in Washington, DC. It is edited by Reid Wilson with Josh Kraushaar... - Krishna Guha: Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
- Martin WalkerMartin WalkerMartin Walker is a former Director of Hull City football club.He joined Hull City in June 2007 as part of a consortium with Paul Duffen and Russell Bartlett...
: United Press InternationalUnited Press InternationalUnited Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century... - Timothy P. Carney: Washington ExaminerWashington ExaminerThe Washington Examiner is a free daily newspaper published in Springfield, Virginia, and distributed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz....
Some former guests:
Lionel Barber
Lionel Barber
Lionel Barber is an English journalist.Barber was appointed Editor of the Financial Times in November 2005. Previously, he was the Financial Times' U.S. Managing Editor and before that, Editor of the FT's Continental European edition , during which he briefed US President George W. Bush ahead of...
, Arnaud de Borchgrave
Arnaud de Borchgrave
Arnaud de Borchgrave is an American journalist who specializes in international politics.Born in Belgium to Audrey Dorothy Louise Townshend, daughter of Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend, and Belgian count Baudouin de Borchgrave d’Altena , head of Belgium's military intelligence...
, John Fund
John Fund
John H. Fund is an American political journalist and conservative columnist. Currently a senior editor of The American Spectator,...
, Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington is a Greek American author and syndicated columnist. She is best known as co-founder of the news website The Huffington Post. A popular conservative commentator in the mid-1990s, she adopted more liberal political beliefs in the late 1990s...
, Joe Klein
Joe Klein
Joe Klein is a longtime Washington, D.C. and New York journalist and columnist, known for his novel Primary Colors, an anonymously written roman à clef portraying Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign. Klein is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is a former Guggenheim...
, Lawrence Kudlow
Lawrence Kudlow
Lawrence "Larry" Kudlow is an American economist, television personality, and newspaper columnist. He is the host of CNBC's The Kudlow Report. As a syndicated columnist, his articles appear in numerous U.S. newspapers and web sites, including his own blog, Kudlow's Money Politic$.-Early...
, Dick Morris
Dick Morris
Dick Morris is an American political author and commentator who previously worked as a pollster, political campaign consultant, and general political consultant....
, Bill Press
Bill Press
William "Bill" Press is a US talk radio host, political commentator and author.-Career:Press has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Niagara University and Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of Fribourg. He started his broadcasting career in Los Angeles for TV stations KABC-TV and...
, Tony Snow
Tony Snow
Robert Anthony "Tony" Snow was an American journalist, political commentator, television news anchor, syndicated columnist, radio host, musician, and the third White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush. Snow also worked for President George H. W. Bush as chief speechwriter and...
, Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Eric Hitchens is an Anglo-American author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the...
, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Jay Carney
Jay Carney
James "Jay" Carney is an American journalist and President Barack Obama's second White House Press Secretary. Prior to his appointment as Press Secretary, replacing Robert Gibbs, he was director of communications to Vice President Joe Biden...
, Michael Steele
External links
- Official site
- Podcast, both video and audio
- The McLaughlin Group at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...