Yesterday it was announced that President Donald Trump’s beleaguered press secretary Melissa McCarthy Sean Spicer, was resigning from his position. Spicer’s combative relationship with the press, bombastic attitude during press conferences, and consistent use of “alternative facts” made him one of the most recognizable press secretaries in recent years. So, the internet took news of his resignation pretty hard. Check out some of the funniest tweets below:

Wishing Sean Spicer the best of luck in all future endeavors.

We’ll always have those six months of you lying to us every single day.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) July 21, 2017

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Trump Speaks in Saudi Arabia to Kick Off First Foreign Trip

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump set out for his first trip abroad as president. The trip schedule is ambitious, given recent reports that he didn’t particularly want to go. He is also the first president to start his first foreign trip in the Middle East. Yesterday, he gave a speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He stuck to the teleprompter and many people remarked that he had a significantly more moderate and tempered tone than during the campaign and the first few months of his presidency. He focused on solidarity, and said, “This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.”

#RiyadhSummit #POTUSAbroad pic.twitter.com/WdDEOiV6oS

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 21, 2017

Trump also said he was not there to lecture but to offer partnership. Although some people were relieved that he sounded so moderate, others didn’t quite buy it and said it was all for show.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Egypt Declares a State of Emergency After ISIS Bombings

Yesterday, two Coptic Christian churches were bombed in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Tanta, and the country’s president has declared a three-month long state of emergency. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the blasts that killed at least 49 people and injured at least 78, according to the latest numbers. Coptic Christians are a targeted minority in Egypt and they often face persecution and discrimination. The explosions happened on Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Easter and the Holy Week in Christianity.

Egypt declares 3-month state of emergency after twin bomb blasts in churches packed for Palm Sunday services. https://t.co/zZWwHInKdX pic.twitter.com/DTVnKdhosg

— ABC News (@ABC) April 10, 2017

But Egyptians of various faiths came together late on Sunday, gathering in big groups in defiance of ISIS. Many used a hashtag saying “your terrorism brings us together” in Arabic on social media. Photos posted on social media showed Muslims donating blood to victims of the attack. And President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi called for unity in his speech following the attacks, saying, “What’s happening now is against all of us.”

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

You’re Fired: U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

Over the weekend, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara tweeted that the Trump Administration had fired him. This comes after the Trump Administration asked 46 Obama-appointed federal prosecutors to resign last week. Bharara refused, claiming that Trump had asked him to stay on when they met in November. Bharara is perhaps best known for fighting corruption in New York City. Bharara later tweeted that he now knows “what the Moreland Commission must have felt like,” referring to a commission that investigated corruption in politics in 2013.

By the way, now I know what the Moreland Commission must have felt like.

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) March 12, 2017

A lot of people are confused about what is going on behind the scenes with the Trump Administration. Trump still has many empty seats to fill in the federal government, and experts from both parties say that the process is way behind schedule.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Donald Trump’s Chaotic Press Conference

Yesterday, President Donald Trump held a spontaneous press conference and announced that his new pick for the Secretary of Labor is Alexander Acosta, who will be “a tremendous secretary of labor,” according to Trump. But the rest of the presser was a classic Trump-show. He denounced the media and called it “so dishonest.” He said he “inherited a mess” from President Barack Obama and that all the jobs are “pouring out of” the U.S. He said he also wanted to “update the American people on the incredible progress that has been made in the last four weeks since my inauguration.” Trump claimed that reports of chaos in the White House are totally wrong and that the “administration is running like a fine-tuned machine.”

Trump’s press conference achieved virtually nothing, except scaring the bejesus out of the world. https://t.co/zdEEH9RGuh

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) February 17, 2017

Trump avoided answering questions about whether his campaign had been in touch with Russia, but criticized Hillary Clinton and Obama. And when reporter April Ryan asked whether he would meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, he interrupted her and said, “Do you want to set up the meeting? Are they friends of yours?”

I am a journalist not a convener! But thank you for answering my questions. https://t.co/fe9cGXG46w

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) February 16, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Welcome to a new workweek and to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

USTA Accidentally Played Nazi-Era Anthem at Tennis Match

The United States Tennis Association had an incredibly embarrassing moment on Saturday when a banned verse of the German national anthem was accidentally played at the Fed Cup quarterfinal in Hawaii. The banned part of the anthem hails from Nazi Germany and was used as Nazi propaganda. It’s unclear how the mistake happened and Germany responded with outrage. The German team’s coach, Barbara Ritter, called the incident “inexcusable.” The USTA issued an official apology to Germany and said it won’t happen again. But for German player Andrea Petkovic, the damage was already done, as the incident happened right before her match. “I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life,” she said.

The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem. This mistake will not occur again. pic.twitter.com/4LyG3ACe5u

— USTA (@usta) February 11, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Despite Donald Trump’s comments about Saturday Night Live, its writers are still going after the President-elect…hard. In last night’s cold open, Alec Baldwin reprised his fantastic Trump impression, and was visited by Beck Bennett as Vladimir Putin and John Goodman as Rex Tillerson. The SNL skit was incredibly entertaining, but certainly not subtle:

One highlight from the sketch was Putin’s gift of an “elf on a shelf” to Trump–telling him he should keep it out year-round and put it right next to his internet router. Putin and Tillerson also called each other the pet names “Pootie” and “Rexy,” showed off a secret handshake, and talked about oil while Trump asked if they could take out Vanity Fair. The message was clear: SNL was attacking Trump for his relationship with Russia.

And of course, the writers were just making fun of Trump generally. For example, they referenced Trump’s new word “unpresidented” which he has received plenty of flak for tweeting, given that it’s not an actual word.

It took Trump and his team 87 minutes to fix the word “unpresidented.” pic.twitter.com/Bz7NxSqwlo

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 17, 2016

Trump hasn’t tweeted about the show yet, but that doesn’t mean he won’t. Most of the previous SNL sketches featuring Baldwin’s impression have drawn Trump’s wrath.

SNL hasn’t forgotten about Hillary Clinton either. Kate McKinnon once again reprised her role as Clinton, to star in a timely “Love Actually” sketch that also took some jabs at Trump.

Clinton shows up at an elector’s door to ask her to vote for anyone else on December 19, presenting a very, very long list of reasons why Trump should not be president.

Regardless of Trump’s feelings about the comedy show, it seems likely that SNL will continue to have some good fodder for sketches for the next four years.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post SNL Still Isn’t Pulling Any Punches When it Comes to Donald Trump appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Texas Considers Awful Anti-Transgender Student Bill

Last week, Texas Senator Konni Burton filed a bill that would force schools to out transgender students to their parents. Under Bill 242, ironically filed on National Transgender Day of Remembrance, school staff would face disciplinary action if they fail to tell parents about kids’ physical and psychological states. This sounds vague, but Burton wrote that the bill is a response to previous guidelines that DO allow school staff to withhold information about transgender students from parents. When the media started paying attention, Burton decided to attack journalists in general, claiming the reports were all “clickbait” and claiming that the reporters had not contacted her when in fact, they had.

Anger stoking, click bait sites that do not contact sources to write a story depend on ur anger to keep them relevant. Don’t be their puppet

— Konni Burton (@KonniBurton) November 18, 2016

@the_mical People are upset because a few publications ran with a totally false story & never contacted us to understand it. It’s clickbait.

— Konni Burton (@KonniBurton) November 18, 2016

Transgender individuals and activists were quick to respond, claiming that Burton’s bill will put lives at risk.

@KonniBurton awful lot of kids going to get murdered or forced into suicide by their parents because of this bill

— Transgarbo woman (@Herracks) November 17, 2016

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: November 21, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange’s internet link cut off by “state actor”

Recent reports tell us that Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange’s access to the internet has been severed. Assange has been in exile for almost four years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. The Associated Press concludes that an “unidentified state actor” has cut off his internet access and not much information about the event can be obtained at the moment. Many hack-savvy Redditors have pointed to some legitimate clues as to what could be going on. Others seem to be coming to their own conclusions.

The fact that #julianasange has been cut off the Internet for #wikileaks is proof that we need to vote for TRUMP!!!!! #noHillary #trumptrain

— cbreezy (@carriebeez1) October 17, 2016

So John Kerry working so hard to stop #julianasange makes u wonder what’s coming that they are so scared of to come out ?

— KamieK #TOLG (@01Kamie) October 17, 2016

Regardless of what people might think of Assange, what he’s been doing is pretty risky, and that makes him an important political character.

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

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“Ghostbusters” actress and “SNL” comedian Leslie Jones was the victim of a vicious hacker attack on Wednesday. Online hackers published her personal information such as photos of her passport and driver’s license, as well as nude photos that seemed to be of her, on her own website. They also bizarrely posted a video of the gorilla Harambe that was killed at a zoo earlier this summer. Her website is now shut down.

Jones’ most recent movie, the remake of “Ghostbusters,” prompted a stream of racist comments and online attacks on Twitter in July. A tech editor at Breitbart named Milo Yiannopoulos even allegedly contributed some of the abuse; as a result Twitter shut down his account. He had received repeated warnings about similar issues.

After being banned from Twitter, Yiannopoulos said (instead of apologizing):

With the cowardly suspension of my account, Twitter has confirmed itself as a safe space for Muslim terrorists and Black Lives Matter extremists, but a no-go zone for conservatives.

He also said it would be the end for the social medium as it doesn’t welcome people who stand for free speech.

Leslie Jones then spoke out on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” saying that hate speech and freedom of speech are two different things. She pointed out that cyber bullying is really common but many people don’t talk about it since it’s so hard to accomplish anything. But Jones took a strong stand–she publicly declared she was logging off from Twitter and called out her abusers, and then worked with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to identify all the accounts that had posted the comments.

Jones was back on Twitter in August, live reporting from the Olympics in Rio.

And after the most recent online attacks, many are standing up for Jones.

This @Lesdoggg attack is troubling. The rampant racism percolating in society right now is shameful and sad. She made a movie, that’s it!

— octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) August 24, 2016

Sharing personal info & pics of women naked are classic cyberabuse tactics. WoC are disproportionately targeted. #solidarity to Leslie Jones

— End Online Misogyny (@misogyny_online) August 24, 2016

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Following Twitter Racism, Hackers Expose Leslie Jones’ Info and Photos appeared first on Law Street.

We’re nearing the end of the Republican National Convention, and the seriousness of Donald Trump potentially taking over the Oval has us all in desperate need of a bit of humor this week. From Michelle Obama singing Carpool Karaoke with Missy Elliott, to Stephen Colbert crashing the RNC, here are some of the best funny political clips of the week:

Michelle Obama Gets Her “Freak On” During Carpool Karaoke

James Corden, host of the hilarious “Late Late Show,” stopped by the White House for his latest edition of Carpool Karaoke, and wound up with First Lady Michelle Obama in his passenger seat. How he got past the Secret Service, I’m not sure, but the private tour was legendary.

Corden and FLOTUS drove around the grounds and rocked out to songs like “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder (Michelle’s favorite artist) and  “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé. Missy Elliott also made a surprise appearance, joining the pair for a rendition of Michelle’s charity anthem “This is For My Girls” and “Get Ur Freak On”–I think it’s fair to say Michelle Obama is the coolest First Lady ever.

Kate McKinnon Dresses Up as Notorious RBG to Mock Trump

“Ghostbusters” star Kate McKinnon dressed up as Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Republican National Convention to respond to Trump telling Twitter, “Her mind is shot–resign!“

A robed McKinnon said,

If my mind is shot then Donald Trump’s mind is shot, stabbed, strangled, put in a vat of wet cement and dumped in the Gowanus Canal. His mind is sleeping with the fishes, but it’s waking up to a Ginsburn.

Trump’s tweet came after the real Notorious RBG recently made headlines for calling Donald Trump “a faker” in a recent interview. The 83-year-old Supreme Court Justice said, “I can’t imagine what this place would be–I can’t imagine what the country would be–with Donald Trump as our president.”

Stephen Colbert is Hungry For Power Games at RNC

On Sunday, Stephen Colbert crashed the Republican National Convention for another edition of  the “Hungry for Power Games” that was later streamed Live on Monday night’s “Late Show.” A blue-wigged Colbert showed up to the RNC as Julius–his best impersonation of “The Hunger Games” host Caesar Flickerman–and toured Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena with his fake pet weasel, Caligula, in hand.

Colbert’s mocked New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, North Carolina’s bathroom laws, and Trump’s immigrations plans before later seizing the stage to make fun of Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence–which ended with him being escorted off stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFjDBvRxcbM

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Funny Political Clips of the Week: FLOTUS Singing, SNL x RBG, & Colbert appeared first on Law Street.

“Saturday Night Live” aired one of its most scathing hits against Donald Trump yet this weekend–but instead of going after the Republican frontrunner himself, it went after the people who support him. This weekend’s cold open featured cast member Cecily Strong as Scottie Nell Hughes, a conservative commentator who aggressively supports Trump. And while the spot features two of SNL’s most famous faces–in addition to Strong, Kate McKinnon plays CNN’s Kate Bolduan–it wasn’t that far off from some of the insane things that I’ve seen Trump supporters and spokespeople say on the air over the last few months.

Check out the SNL clip below:

McKinnon brings up multiple controversial statements regarding women made by Trump recently–including the fact that he brought up punishing women who have abortions during an interview last week. For each controversy that McKinnon brings up, Strong has a retort or explanation, each more ridiculous than the last.

Whether intentionally or not, SNL’s choice to feature Nell Hughes was foreshadowed by the pundit herself. As Gawker’s Melissa Cronin pointed out, Nell Hughes was talking about Trump supporters on CNN last month when she stated that they “have been abused, they have been slaughtered, they have been made fun of, on everything from the nightly news to ‘Saturday Night Live.'”

Nell Hughes reacted to Strong’s portrayal of her on CNN, saying that while she for the most part had a good laugh at it, after she had mulled it over, she found her portrayal a bit sexist.

She stated:

Talk about the ultimate shaming, the ultimate sexism. What does ‘SNL’ want me to do? Be barefoot and pregnant? Or maybe just talk about parenting issues? … Just because you don’t like the guy that I speak favorably of, then you know they’re obviously going to attack.

She also talked to the Blaze, and said that she was a little bit “shaken” and that “those who know me know that I’m actually a very insecure person. I read every tweet.”

SNL’s mocking of Nell Hughes was certainly specific, but not necessarily off base. As Slate points out, Nell Hughes has said some incredibly concerning things about Donald Trump, on various shows–making them fair game for SNL’s acidic parody.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post “SNL” Goes After Donald Trump Supporter Scottie Nell Hughes appeared first on Law Street.

Tis the season of funny campaign videos and delightful candidate gifs as everyone gears up for the elections this November. As usual, “Saturday Night Live” has been churning out some good content. Whether it was the Bernie Sanders and Larry David sketches from a few weeks ago, or this week’s nominee-centered cold open, “SNL” always seems to be right on target with its narrowly tailored critiques of the presidential candidates.

This weekend’s funniest video was a satirical political advertisement about people supporting Donald Trump and it was spectacular; definitely worth the one minute and 25 seconds of your life.

The comedic genius of this video is that you can’t even tell if it’s a joke or not until half way in. What starts as a pretty typical campaign video quickly spirals into a real statement on Donald Trump’s racist views and attitudes. You see a man in his office, a woman ironing, another man painting, and a man carrying some wood–seems normal, right? About halfway in, the characters are revealed to be nazi sympathizers, KKK affiliates, and white supremacists–all very topical characters given some of Trump’s recent political moves.

First off, Trump has been accused of being similar to Hitler this week after videos from one of his rallies surfaced in which he had everyone pledging to vote for him with salutes that almost mimicked Nazi Germany.

Donald Trump makes members of his Orlando crowd raise their right hands and swear to vote in the primary. pic.twitter.com/EVenRilJrV

— Jenna Johnson (@wpjenna) March 5, 2016

Obviously nobody is quite contending that Trump would actually be like Hitler, but this rally certainly doesn’t make anyone feel too comfortable either.

The second “SNL” characters, the KKK affiliates, were also timely, as it has been about a week since Trump refused to publicly denounce the head of the KKK, David Duke. Trump had a lot of excuses for why he wouldn’t denounce the group and seemed to talk around the issue when asked directly about why he refused to disavow Duke. That seems suspicious at best, Trump.

Finally, the white supremacist painter. Along with Trump’s KKK battle this week, there were three white supremacist leaders who have joined together to create a group to support Trump. Although Trump has not commissioned this group or asked for their help, the implicit connection between this white “advocacy” group and Trump’s policies on banning muslim immigration and building a wall between Mexico and the U.S. is impossible to ignore. Jared Taylor, one of the white supremacists supporting Trump, claims that because white people feel more comfortable in schools and neighborhoods with other white people:

When Donald Trump talks about sending out all the illegals, building a wall and a moratorium on Islamic immigration, that’s very appealing to a lot of ordinary white people.

“SNL‘s” video was outright and unapologetic in calling Donald Trump out on the racist and bigoted policies he has been promoting nationwide during his campaign. That kind of direct hit may be just what the country needs to start realizing that some of Trump’s policies aren’t so rosy after all–they’re hateful. When it comes down to it, with some of the things Trump has been saying about immigrants and diversity in our country, an ad like the one “SNL” made may be an almost accurate reflection of his campaign. Are we really going to rally behind Donald Trump, America? Instead, let’s fight for diversity, equality, and liberty and put our faith in someone who can actually make America great.

Alexandra Simone

Alex Simone is an Editorial Senior Fellow at Law Street and a student at The George Washington University, studying Political Science. She is passionate about law and government, but also enjoys the finer things in life like watching crime dramas and enjoying a nice DC brunch. Contact Alex at ASimone@LawStreetmedia.com

The post “Saturday Night Live” Calls Out Donald Trump’s Racism appeared first on Law Street.

Fans who were excited by the prospect of Bernie Sanders appearing in this week’s episode of “Saturday Night Live,” also featuring Larry David, were not disappointed. Though he wasn’t in the cold open, nor did he pop up in the Sanders’ themed sketch, which poked fun at his campaign, Sanders did show up alongside David in a sketch about the tumultuous road to America on a ship in a rough storm.

The sketch subtly calls out some of Sanders’ political platform, as his character, Bernie Sanderswitzky, chastises David’s character for claiming to be more entitled to a seat on a lifeboat than anyone else, because of his wealth. “I’m so sick of the 1 percent getting this preferential treatment. Enough is enough!” Sanderswitzky yells out upon his arrival on the ship, as the live “SNL” studio audience claps and cheers. There is also a cute joke about Sanders being a socialist; Sanderswitzky has to clarify that everybody working together to get through a problem isn’t socialism, but, rather, democratic socialism.

In addition to the political humor, there are also some funny references to Sanders’ Jewish heritage and his New York accent. All in all? A great success and some helpful positive publicity for Bernie Sanders as we round the corner towards the New Hampshire primaries, where he is predicted to win with flying colors.

There was also a nice feature sketch on Sanders where Larry David played the Senator and joked about him losing by less than one percent in the Iowa caucuses. As an added bonus, the skit’s title, “Bern Your Enthusiasm,” is a great play off of David’s show, “Curb Your Enthusiasm!”

Overall, it was a funny night for Bernie Sanders fans everywhere, and a nice tension release in what has been a stressful month of election business. It’s always great to see guest stars with good senses of humor, and this sure hits the spot when it comes to making Sanders seem like a down-to-earth candidate willing to make fun of himself every once in a while.

Alexandra Simone

Alex Simone is an Editorial Senior Fellow at Law Street and a student at The George Washington University, studying Political Science. She is passionate about law and government, but also enjoys the finer things in life like watching crime dramas and enjoying a nice DC brunch. Contact Alex at ASimone@LawStreetmedia.com

The post Bernie Sanders is a Hit on “Saturday Night Live” appeared first on Law Street.

If you missed Saturday’s third Democratic debate, there’s a chance you still managed to see frontrunner Hillary Clinton—or two Hillarys, rather–in action if you tuned into NBC.

Saturday Night Live veterans Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returned to their former comedic stomping ground as hosts to promote their new comedy “Sisters.” While they were there, both actresses reprised their infamous Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton impersonations in an unexpected skit that was easily the most talked about moment of the show.

The hilarious holiday sketch began with Kate McKinnon’s impersonation of Hillary falling asleep only to be awoken in a scrooge-like trance by Hillary Clinton circa 2008–aka Poehler. After catching past Hillary up on current affairs, including Benghazi and her dreaded emails, present Hillary proclaims she’s got this presidency in the bag. But only after explaining that her biggest competitors are “human Birkenstock” Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, does skeptical past Hillary believe her.

And then to make things even better, the Hillarys are joined by Fey playing a past Palin who thinks she’s stumbled into the bedroom of a lesbian couple. Priceless.

Watch the Skit Below

However, the real Sarah Palin couldn’t let Fey have all the fun at her expense. The former Alaskan Governor teamed up with conservative website Independent Journal Review to finally get back at Fey with a spoof of her own.

In the clip, Palin makes a fake “31 Rock” trailer posing as a pseudo Liz Lemon named “Lynn Melon,” who hates political correctness, spouts false Star Wars facts, and isn’t actually funny. There’s also some head scratching cameos from her former running mate John McCain and recent campaign dropout Lindsay Graham.

Watch Palin’s Spoof Below

While it’s clear Fey and Poehler’s bit was far superior, Palin’s attempt was still likable and noteworthy. She sure isn’t going to win any acting awards, but fake trailer shows she’s not afraid to get a few laughs at her own expense.

Let’s hope the political spoofs to come are all this good!

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Tina Fey, Amy Poehler Reprise SNL Spoofs, Palin Finally Gets Revenge appeared first on Law Street.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Jay Pharoah, a current SNL cast member and comedian–just released a rap video in which they encourage young people to “go to college.” The College Humor original video is  part of Obama’s ongoing initiatives to promote higher education for young people. Check out the video below:

The video is part of the Michelle Obama-led Reach Higher initiative, which seeks to drive young people to engage in higher education–whether it be a four-year, two-year, or community college. Part of that initiative calls for public awareness, hence the new Better Make Room public awareness campaign. Announced in October, it’s aimed at Generation Z; the generation that follows millennials, Generation Z is currently comprised of 14-19 year olds. According to the White House Fact Sheet on the campaign:

This campaign will leverage traditional and new media platforms to celebrate student stories in the same way that we often celebrate celebrities and athletes. With partners in the business, philanthropic, media, and education realm, this campaign will stretch across the country to inspire students and give them the tools they need to reach higher for college.

The Better Make Room campaign has partnered with a whole bunch of organizations besides CollegeHumor. Some are relevant to the educational aspect of the campaign, like Pearson, The Teachers Guild, and a non-profit called Get Schooled. Others appeal to the new media aspect of the campaign, including Vine, Mashable, Funny or Die, and the CW.

The rap video is silly, goofy, and doesn’t have a ton of substance but it certainly serves its purpose–getting people’s attention. It was all over the internet today, and many were applauding Michelle Obama for her willingness to play along and rap part of the message.

As Soraya Nadia McDonald of the Washington Post put it, that’s a big part of exactly why the video is so compelling and fun:

And this is why goofy Michelle Obama rap videos always make the Internet go bonkers: She’s not pandering, but she is making fun of herself. And she’s savvy enough to know the difference.

The Better Make Room campaign, as well as the Reach Higher initiative, are taking on lofty goals. But they’re certainly having fun and making headlines along the way.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Michelle Obama and Jay Pharoah Want You to “Go to College” appeared first on Law Street.

Donald Trump was the latest 2016 presidential hopeful to take to the stage at 30 Rock last night, when he hosted the newest episode of “Saturday Night Live.” While there may have been some lukewarm laughs inside the studio, Trump’s appearance sparked plenty of protests outside.

SNL gave Donald Trump only roughly 12 minutes of airtime (possibly in recognition of the “equal opportunity” time rule that would require NBC to give free time to the other candidates as well.) But he spent that time on an opening monologue, his own rendition of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” video, and was the recipient of some major barbs on the “Weekend Update” sketch. But, one of the most noteworthy moments was when Larry David, who reprised his role as Bernie Sanders, yelled “Trump’s a racist!” In the (clearly scripted) subsequent exchange, David then explained “I heard they’d give me $5,000.”

Larry David couldn’t miss this opportunity. #SNLhttps://t.co/CQ3y2BxUtK

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) November 8, 2015

The “they” that David was referring to were the protesters, who disagreed strongly with NBC’s decision to have Trump host the show. The protestors, who mostly take issue with Trump’s previous comments on immigrants, had previously tried to push NBC to “Dump Trump” and not allow him onto the show. When they were unsuccessful, they took to the streets outside the NBC studios. DeportRacism.com, which is a site involved in the protests, also offered $5000 to anyone willing to interrupt Trump’s performance–hence David’s interruption.

The protestors outside chanted slogans like “Hey hey, ho ho, racism has got to go!” It’s estimated that roughly 200 people showed up to protest. They also took to social media with hashtags like #DumpTrump and #RacismIsntFunny.

Our gratitude to the folks outside @rockcenternyc #solidarity #DumpTrumpOnSNL #RacismIsntFunny pic.twitter.com/jKKL9yHh7s

— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) November 8, 2015

Live, from New York, it’s racism and bigotry! #DumpTrump #RacismIsntFunny — Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) November 8, 2015

“Racism isn’t funny. It’s lazy and it’s cheap.” Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) urges SNL to #DumpTrump: https://t.co/9TzcWdUPQu — AJ+ (@ajplus) November 6, 2015

The protestors made an important point, but Trump did end up taking the stage at “Saturday Night Live” after all. While last night garnered SNL its highest ratings in years, most critics have panned the episode overall. But whether or not Trump’s appearance will affect his still-high poll numbers will have to be seen. 

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Donald Trump Hosts SNL, Despite Protests appeared first on Law Street.

Donald Trump is certainly dominating the news when it comes to the race for the 2016 Republican presidential primary. But “The Donald” didn’t get his start as a politician–he was a business mogul and reality television star before anyone ever saw him on a presidential poll. While that may seem weird to some, celebrities who have gotten famous through other means are consistently trying to join the political ranks. Here are five other celebrities running for office in 2016–and I’m betting they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Live From Capitol Hill…It’s Gary Kroeger!

Gary Kroeger, former ‘#SNL’ cast member, to run for #Iowa congressional seat http://t.co/9DeyxasPiz @JessicaChasmar pic.twitter.com/ho1n7tyZSa

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 9, 2015

Gary Kroeger made America laugh during his Saturday Night Live cast position from 1982-1985. Now, he’s running to try to represent the people of Iowa’s 1st Congressional District as a Democrat. He’s running on a platform that is heavy on economic issues and tax reform. He does have a tough road ahead of him though–first he’ll have to make it through a Democratic primary against two opponents.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Celebrities Running for Office: Familiar Faces in the 2016 Races appeared first on Law Street.

This past weekend “50 Shades of Grey” actress Dakota Johnson showcased her comedic roots while hosting “Saturday Night Live” for the first time. However, it’s not Johnson’s acting range that everyone is talking about now, but rather a controversial skit she appeared in poking fun at the Islamist terror group ISIS.

In the skit Johnson and SNL cast member Taran Killam parody a tear jerking Toyota Camry ad, where a father drops his daughter off at the airport to presumably join the military. SNL’s version had a twist, though, as this time the daughter’s ride was none other than a truck full of armed ISIS members. Their arrival is followed by this hilarious exchange:

Father: “You be careful, ok.”

Daughter: “Dad, it’s just ISIS.”

Father (Looks at ISIS member): “You take care of her.”

ISIS Member whispers:  “Death to America.”

The truck then pulls away with guns blazing while the slogan “ISIS. We’ll take it from here, Dad” appears in the lower right corner.

If you haven’t yet seen the skit in question check out the video below.

It singlehandedly became the most talked-about skit of the night, with many people debating whether the comedy was offensive or not. Below are a few tweets from people on both sides of the debate.

Absolutely floored that anyone would find the #SNL ISIS skit funny. Nothing funny about it, it was tasteless.Desensitized much? #OrangeRoom

— Rebecca (@becca76) March 1, 2015

I’m still sick to my stomach about that ISIS skit. God I hope friends/family of those burned alive or decapitated weren’t watching. #SNL

— JayhawkMama (@JHawkintheSouth) March 1, 2015

Thought the ISIS skit on #SNL was funny as hell. We’ve mocked terror and evil throughout history. Remember this? pic.twitter.com/HurKEvhdqF

— Obnoxious Boston Fan (@realOBF) March 2, 2015

Seriously? SNL is being criticized for mocking Isis, and the people who join it? There’s no group more deserving of ridicule. Thumbs up #SNL

— Katherine Morrison (@kmorrison) March 1, 2015

By turning ISIS into a punch line, SNL openly challenged the group’s ideology. As it turns out, it seems like more people did like it than find it offensive. This morning, the “Today Show” decided to ask its viewers if they thought SNL went too far with the skit. So far the poll has over 12,500 votes, with over half of the voters (54 percent) picking “no.”

Some found the faux ad particularly distasteful after the recent death of 26-year-old American aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was kidnapped and held ransom by ISIS members in August 2013. However, the skit wasn’t mocking Mueller, it was mocking ISIS as an organization and the people who choose to join it.

Personally, I found the skit funny and wasn’t at all offended. SNL has parodied several controversial American enemies in the past including Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, making this terrorist-themed joke neither its first nor most likely its last. There’s something to be said about the ability to take something tragic and scary and find humor in it, thus alleviating its power. As SNL celebrates its 40th anniversary, here’s to hoping they continue to push the envelope and keep us all laughing.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post SNL’s ISIS Skit: Insensitive or Hilarious? appeared first on Law Street.

It’s still the holiday season, and during this time of the year it’s easy to forget to check the news. Luckily, Law Street has you covered with this week’s edition of “In Case You Missed It.” Our top story last week covered the ongoing legal battle between Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma over Colorado’s legalization of recreational marijuana, written by Anneliese Mahoney. Our number two post, by Lexine DeLuc,a should help any Serial fans out there with their withdrawals–it’s a great collection of parodies inspired by the hit podcast. Finally, rounding out the list was a story from blogger Katherine Fabian on how to spot fake handbags during your holiday gift shopping. ICYMI: Check out what you missed on Law Street last week.

#1 Nebraska and Oklahoma Sue Colorado Over Marijuana Legalization

Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, and officially started selling it in the beginning of this year. Now, almost a year later, Colorado is experiencing some backlash for its choice to legalize. Two of Colorado’s neighbors–Nebraska and Oklahoma–are suing the state because of the impact of legal marijuana within their borders. Read the full article here.

#2 Five Parodies to Get You Through Serial Withdrawal

Serial‘s first season has ended and if you’re feeling a little separation anxiety, here are the top five parodies to help fill that void. The list includes selections from Saturday Night Live, Funny or Die, SubmissionsOnlyTV, and even a few parodies with multiple episodes. Read the full article here.

#3 Holiday Gift Guide: How to Authenticate a Designer Handbag

It’s almost 2015 and there is now a plethora of consignment sites to get your second-hand designer goods. But as great as sites like Ebay, Amazon, and the new Alibaba are, sometimes sellers aren’t always honest when they claim their items are authentic. So to make sure that you don’t get duped (like my poor brother did when he ordered those fake Nikes from China) I’ve put together a handy guide on how to spot a fake. Read the full article here.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post ICYMI: Best of the Week appeared first on Law Street.

Serial‘s first season has ended and if you’re feeling a little separation anxiety, here are the top five parodies to help fill that void.

1. SNL

Saturday Night Live’s holiday themed parody is spot on. Cecily Strong’s Sarah Koenig impression is amazingly accurate, and this one is even holiday themed!

 2. Funny or Die

Funny or Die created this hilarious parody in anticipation of the last episode of Serial–when seemingly no one, not even Sarah Koenig, knew exactly what was going to happen.

3. Paul Laudiero (series)

While this is only an audio parody, Paul Laudiero’s Serial inspired look into a Best Buy employee makes you feel like you’re actually listening to the real thing.

4. SubmissionsOnlyTV

This video version of Serial has a fake Sarah Koenig looking into a straightforward murder case–or was it so straightforward? There’s just no way to know.

5. Kyle Scheele (series)

This Serial parody is all about a mystery involving a different use of the word–breakfast cereal!

Enjoy!

Lexine DeLuca

Lexine DeLuca is the Marketing & Design Assistant at Law Street Media. Contact Lexine at ldeluca@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Five Parodies to Get You Through Serial Withdrawal appeared first on Law Street.