Politics on TV (with Samantha Bee, Kerry Washington, and Alec Baldwin)

American politics have long served as inspiration for movies, plays, and especially television -- from fictional shows like “The West Wing” to late-night comedy shows. For a lot of people, those shows have become a major source of information when it comes to our government, political system, and the state of the world.

In this episode, we hear from three people who have been front and center in bringing politics into our living rooms and beyond. Hillary talks with Samantha Bee, host of the comedy show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which tackles under-reported but hugely important stories in the news with biting humor. Then, Hillary is joined by Kerry Washington, star of the Emmy-award winning show Scandal, to talk about how no one—not even Olivia Pope—holds as much power as ordinary citizens do when it comes to bringing about political change. Lastly, Hillary talks to Alec Baldwin, who has finally been released from his stint playing Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.

Samantha Bee is a comedian and the host of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee on TBS. She was previously the longest-serving correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She also hosts the podcast Full Release with Samantha Bee.

Kerry Washington is an actress, producer, and director known for her role as Washington fixer Olivia Pope in ABC’s Scandal, and as Anita Hill in the HBO political thriller Confirmation, both of which have garnered her numerous awards. She recently served as an executive producer on The Fight, a documentary film revolving around the legal battles of ACLU lawyers during the Trump administration. Washington is also a dedicated advocate on behalf of racial justice, voting rights, and more.

Alec Baldwin is an actor and writer who starred as Jack Donaghy in NBC’s 30 Rock and frequently portrayed Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. He has written three books: A Promise to Ourselves; his memoir, Nevertheless; and, with Kurt Andersen, the Donald Trump parody You Can’t Spell America Without Me. Alec is also the host of the iHeart Radio podcast Here’s the Thing. 

Read a full transcript here.

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