The McLaughlin Group is a 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. Four of the commentators — John McLaughlin, Tony Blankley, Pat Buchanan, and Eleanor Clift — are usually present alongside one "guest" commentator. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... John McLaughlin (born March 29, 1927) is the creator, executive producer, and host of The McLaughlin Group, a weekly public affairs television program broadcast in the United States since 1982, and of McLaughlins One on One, an interview program. ... Tony Blankley Tony Blankley (born 1948 in London, United Kingdom) is the editorial page editor for The Washington Times, co-host of the nationally syndicated public radio program Left, Right & Center, and author of The Wests Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations? Additionally, Blankley is a... Patrick Joseph Buchanan (born November 2, 1938) is an American politician, author, syndicated columnist, and broadcaster. ... Eleanor Clift Eleanor Clift (b. ...

A typical episode focuses on three or four issues. Each issue is introduced and briefly explained by McLaughlin, and then an open debate begins. The conversation is usually sedate at the beginning of each program, but as opposing viewpoints emerge there is more verbal rough-housing, good-natured gamesmanship and loud crosstalk, which are the show's trademarks. The lively give-and-take gives the show much energy, and the participants are quite knowledgeable about the mechanics of politics, which adds a bit of "insider" weight to their opinions.

Many critics, notably journalists James Fallows and ex-McLaughlin panelist Jack Germond, have opined that the show glories too much in sensationalism and simplification, to the detriment of serious journalism. Germond has said, regarding the show, "I never had any illusion that it was journalism." Another trademark of the show is the "predictions" segment at the end of the program, during which each panelist attempts to predict notable future political events, with the host getting the final word. James Fallows is an American print and radio journalist who has been associated with The Atlantic Monthly for many years and has written eight books. ... Jack W. Germond is a journalist, author, and pundit. ...

The show is also known for the quirky style of McLaughlin, who is fond of making witty, sometimes outlandish, predictions based on current events (on March 25, 2007, his prediction was, "The next man on the moon will be Chinese!"), and asking questions in interesting ways. He speaks with a stentorian voice and often stresses his points by shouting "Issue!" before describing a news story. A phrase he often uses is: "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing impossibility and 10 representing complete metaphysical certitude, what is the chance of...?". He always begins the show by saying "Issue one!" and ends the show by yelling "Bye-bye!" after his final prediction. For the show aired before Thanksgiving, McLaughlin has instead ended with "Happy Thanksgiving, Gobble Gobble!" for a number of years.

His style has been parodied by many comedians and other commentators, most notably Dana Carvey of Saturday Night Live. The program has also been included in a few major films, including Dave and Independence Day. For the documentary about Jerry Seinfeld, see Comedian (film). ... Dana Thomas Carvey (born April 2, 1955, in Missoula, Montana) is an American actor and comedian best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and the spin-off movie Waynes World. ... This article is about the American television series. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Dave is a 1993 comedy movie written by Gary Ross, directed by Ivan Reitman, and starring Kevin Kline. ... Independence Day is an American action movie about an attempted alien takeover of the Earth. ...

Current McLaughlin panelists

Regulars

• John McLaughlin: host
• Tony Blankley: former editorial page editor, The Washington Times
• Pat Buchanan: MSNBC
• Eleanor Clift: contributing editor, Newsweek Magazine

John McLaughlin (born March 29, 1927) is the creator, executive producer, and host of The McLaughlin Group, a weekly public affairs television program broadcast in the United States since 1982, and of McLaughlins One on One, an interview program. ... Tony Blankley Tony Blankley (born 1948 in London, United Kingdom) is the editorial page editor for The Washington Times, co-host of the nationally syndicated public radio program Left, Right & Center, and author of The Wests Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations? Additionally, Blankley is a... The Washington Times[1] is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., United States. ... Patrick Joseph Buchanan (born November 2, 1938) is an American politician, author, syndicated columnist, and broadcaster. ... For the news website, see msnbc. ... Eleanor Clift Eleanor Clift (b. ... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ...

Guests/Alternates

• Michael Barone: senior writer and columnist, U.S. News & World Report
• Maria Bartiromo: Jounalist, CNBC
• Jay Carney: TIME
• Caroline Daniel: White House correspondent for The Financial Times
• Chrystia Freeland: deputy editor, The Financial Times
• Lawrence Kudlow: CNBC, National Review Online, The John Batchelor Show
• Lawrence O'Donnell: senior political analyst, MSNBC
• Clarence Page: columnist, The Chicago Tribune
• John Podhoretz: columnist, The New York Post
• Dylan Ratigan: CNBC
• Vaughn Ververs: National Journal, The Hotline
• Mort Zuckerman: owner, New York Daily News, U.S. News & World Report

Michael Barone Michael Barone is a political expert and commentator. ... U.S. News & World Report is a weekly newsmagazine. ... Maria Bartiromo(born 1967) is a business news anchor, reporter, and interviewer for CNBC television co-hosting the Closing Bell program from 3 to 5pm weekdays ET and is the host and managing editor for the nationally syndicated Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo program. ... This article is about CNBC U.S., the business news channel in the U.S.. For other uses, see CNBC (disambiguation). ... Jay Carney is Washington Bureau Chief for Time Magazine. ... Look up time in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Caroline Daniel is currently a panelist for The McLaughlin Group. ... The Financial Times building The Financial Times (FT) is an international business newspaper printed on distinctive salmon pink broadsheet paper. ... Chrystia Freeland is the United States managing editor at the Financial Times, based in New York. ... The Financial Times building The Financial Times (FT) is an international business newspaper printed on distinctive salmon pink broadsheet paper. ... Lawrence (Larry) Kudlow (born August 19, 1947), is an American conservative, supply-side economics enthusiast and television personality. ... This article is about CNBC U.S., the business news channel in the U.S.. For other uses, see CNBC (disambiguation). ... National Review (NR) is a biweekly magazine of political opinion, founded by author William F. Buckley, Jr. ... For other persons named John Batchelor, see John Batchelor (disambiguation). ... Lawrence ODonnell, Jr. ... For the news website, see msnbc. ... Clarence Page (born June 2, 1947) is a journalist, syndicated columnist and member of the editorial board for the Chicago Tribune. ... Front page of the Tribune incorrectly reporting that Dewey won the 1948 presidential election The Chicago Tribune, formerly self-styled as the Worlds Greatest Newspaper, remains the leading newspaper of the Midwest of the United States. ... John Podhoretz (born April 18, 1961) is a U.S. neoconservative commentator for a variety of media sources, the author of several books on politics, and a former presidential speechwriter. ... The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and the oldest to have been published continually as a daily. ... Dylan Ratigan is an American financial journalist for the business TV channel CNBC, where he co-anchors the 3-4pm ET hour of the Closing Bell from a set overlooking the New York Stock Exchange (the same set used for Squawk on the Street), and hosts the nightly program, Fast... This article is about CNBC U.S., the business news channel in the U.S.. For other uses, see CNBC (disambiguation). ... National Journal is a weekly magazine that provides Insight for Insiders through nonpartisan reporting on the current political environment as well as emerging political and policy trends. ... The Hotline is a daily political briefing published by the National Journal. ... Mortimer Benjamin Zuckerman (born 1937) is a U.S. (Canadian-born) magazine editor, publisher, and real estate businessman. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... U.S. News & World Report is a weekly newsmagazine. ...

Former panelists

• Jack Germond
• Bob Novak
• Morton Kondracke
• Larry H. Parker - Noted injury attorney
• Fred Barnes
• Chris Matthews
• Al Hunt
• Mark Shields

Jack W. Germond is a journalist, author, and pundit. ... Robert David Novak (born February 26, 1931) is a U.S. conservative columnist (Inside Report, since 1963; until 1993 co-written with Rowland Evans) who is also well known as a television personality, appearing on programs like CNNs Capital Gang or Crossfire or NBCs Meet the Press. ... Morton M. Kondracke (born April 28, 1939) is an American political commentator and journalist. ... Frederic W. Barnes, an American journalist, author, and conservative political commentator, is the executive editor of the news publication The Weekly Standard, co-host with Mort Kondracke of The Beltway Boys on the Fox News Channel, and also regularly appears on Foxs Special Report with Brit Hume. ... This article is about the journalist. ... Al Hunt is the Washington managing editor for Bloomberg News. ... –Mark Shields (born May 25, 1937 in Weymouth, Massachusetts) is an American political pundit who appears frequently on CNN and PBSs Newshour with Jim Lehrer as a liberal commentator. ...

Former guest panelists

• Lionel Barber
• Arnaud de Borchgrave
• John Fund
• Arianna Huffington
• Joe Klein
• Dick Morris
• Tony Snow

Lionel Barber is a British journalist, educated at Dulwich College, who was appointed editor of the Financial Times in November 2005. ... Arnaud de Borchgrave is a conservative journalist of Flemish extraction who focuses on international politics. ... John Fund Born 1957 in Tucson, Arizona. ... Arianna Huffington (born Arianna Stassinopoulos (Greek: Αριάννα Στασινόπουλου) on July 15, 1950 in Athens, Greece) is an author and nationally syndicated columnist in the United States. ... Joe Klein (born September 7, 1946) is a longtime Washington, D.C. and New York journalist and columnist, perhaps best known for his novel Primary Colors, an anonymously-written roman à clef portraying Bill Clintons first presidential campaign. ... Dick Morris (born November 28, 1948 in New York City) is an American political author, newspaper columnist, and commentator who previously worked as a pollster, political campaign consultant, and general political consultant. ... Robert Anthony Tony Snow (born June 1, 1955) was the third White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, succeeding Scott McClellan and Ari Fleischer in that role. ...

Personal touch

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 followup 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 show's participants do not always fall in predictable step with the stereotypes of the liberal vs. conservative checklist of viewpoints. The panelists of opposite political views have been known to agree with each other, and to disagree with their supposed political kin, on specific points or topics. There also appears to be a degree of personal closeness among the group, as when McLaughlin, in a spring 2005 broadcast, made special mention of the death of Clift's husband, and extended condolences on behalf of the panel. Another hint of the strong personal regard the panelists have for each other occurred on a 2006 program, in which Buchanan was discussing his well-known restrictive immigration views. Clift came back with, "Pat, I love you, but that's why you were never elected President."

Reception

In the US, the show is carried on numerous public broadcasting stations, and also a small number of NBC-owned stations.[1] Most stations carry the program on weekends, but there are a few, like WGBH in Boston, that run it on Friday evenings. Internationally, the show is carried on several satellite channels, notably the London based CNBC Europe.[2] Public broadcasting is a form of public service broadcasting (PSB) intended to serve the diverse needs of the viewing or listening public. ... This article is about the television network. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled WGBH-TV, WGBH (FM) and WGBX-TV, accessible from a disambiguation page. ... CNBC Europe is a business and financial news channel broadcast in Europe. ...

The program originates from WRC-TV, the NBC-owned station in Washington, D.C. WRC-TVs studios and tower (1962) WRC-TV NBC4 is a television station in Washington, D.C. NBC owned and operated, the station broadcasts its analog signal on channel 4 and its digital television signal on channel 48. ...

External links

• Official site
• Podcast, both video and audio