Extreme Mortman

September 30th, 1986, … the White House press briefing room … Here's President Ronald Reagan … I am pleased to announce that General Secretary Gorbachev and I will meet October 11th and 12th in Reykjavik, Iceland. The meeting was proposed by General Secretary Gorbachev, and I've accepted. And it will take place in the context of preparations for the General Secretary's visit to the United States, which was agreed to at Geneva in November of '85. And I might say the United States and the Soviet Union appreciate the willingness of the Government of Iceland to make this meeting in Reykjavik possible. 40 years ago this week, in October 1986, President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in Iceland. What happened in Reykjavik? Was the Iceland meeting, as some suggest, a huge success? Or was it, as others say, a disastrous failure? What was the most iconic moment then — and what do we remember now? And were the Americans and the Soviets really, as a new movie about that meeting says in its title, on the brink of war? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we near the end of the 2026 mid-term election, we'll soon be enjoying a whole new crop of non-presidential candidate concession speeches. And that makes this an ideal time for the C-SPAN podcast "Extreme Mortman" to appreciate the bounty of concession speeches with which we've already been blessed. Yes -- it's time to consider the losers: Which losers were gracious? Which losers were angry? Which losers used foul language? Who was bitter? And who refused even to concede? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1962 … The California governor race … Here's the loser: But as I leave you, I want you to know - just think how much you're going to be missing me. You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore because gentlemen, this is my last press conference and I hope that what I will have said today will at least make television, radio, the press recognize that they have a right and a responsibility, if they're against a candidate, give him the shaft, but also recognize if they give him the shaft put one lonely reporter on the campaign who will report what the candidate says now and then. Of course, Richard Nixon's famous "last press conference" in November 1962 was hardly his last press conference. And he sure got kicked around a whole lot more. But the notorious speech itself is a classic of an under-appreciated yet thoroughly enjoyable category of political rhetoric: the concession speech. As we near the end of the 2026 mid-term election, we'll soon be enjoying a whole new crop of non-presidential candidate concession speeches. And that makes this an ideal time for the C-SPAN podcast "Extreme Mortman" to appreciate the bounty of concession speeches with which we've already been blessed. Yes -- it's time to consider the losers: Which losers were gracious? Which losers were angry? Which losers used foul language? Who, like Nixon, was bitter? And who, unlike Nixon, refused even to concede? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ten years ago, September 28, 2016, … Council Bluffs, Iowa.. Here's presidential candidate Donald Trump: “Her staffers taking the fifth amendment. How about that. And her ring leader's getting immunity. Now, people taking the fifth amendment. Four people plus the guy who illegally did the server. You know, He put in the illegal server. So, there are five people taking the Fifth Amendment, like you see on the mob, right? You see the mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?” Donald Trump was talking about Hillary Clinton … it was soon after her aides invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying in a Congressional hearing into her e-mails. Which other highly anticipated, high-profile hearings ended up with a star witness invoking the Fifth Amendment? What language do they use? And what do members of Congress say about witnesses claiming Fifth Amendment privileges? Find out in the second part of a two-part special episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we remember 19 notorious scandals and blockbuster hearings during which the Fifth Amendment was cited –hearings investigating government, business, politics, and sports – from the Joe McCarthy era—to Anthony Fauci. Hear from many over two dozen star witnesses – or, more accurately, not hear from them – in "Extreme Mortman." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fifth Amendment. You've heard it invoked many times during Congressional hearings. Like July 29th, 2026: "Well, nothing says honesty like taking the fifth, huh, doc? Let's try something. What day of the week is it today?" "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution." "What color tie are you wearing?" " On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution." "What color is the carpet in front of you?" "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution." That was Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley – questioning Dr. Anthony Fauci … A hearing investigating Dr. Fauci's role in the COVID-19 pandemic… In a three-hour hearing, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times. And he joined a long list of famous and celebrity witnesses claiming Fifth Amendment privileges against testifying in a Congressional hearing. Which other highly anticipated, high-profile hearings ended up with a star witness invoking the Fifth Amendment? What language do the use? And what do members of Congress say about witnesses claiming Fifth Amendment privileges?  Find out in a special two-part episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman" – as we remember 19 notorious scandals and blockbuster hearings during which the Fifth Amendment was cited –hearings investigating government, business, politics and sports – from the Joe McCarthy era—to Anthony Fauci. Hear from many over two dozen star witnesses – or, more accurately, not hear from them – in "Extreme Mortman." Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices