Leslie Savan

Leslie Savan, author of Slam Dunks and No-Brainers and The Sponsored Life, writes for The Nation about media and politics.

Poetry and Voting in the Age of Eric Garner

Poetry and Voting in the Age of Eric Garner Poetry and Voting in the Age of Eric Garner

Poet Crystal Valentine: “Maybe politics aren’t Armageddon enough for us”

Dec 22, 2014 / Leslie Savan

What ‘The Colbert Report’ Taught Us About the Psychology of Conservatives

What ‘The Colbert Report’ Taught Us About the Psychology of Conservatives What ‘The Colbert Report’ Taught Us About the Psychology of Conservatives

Instead of trying the key from the outside, as most critics of the right must, Colbert jiggled it from the inside, counterfeit though his key was.

Dec 18, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Can Al Sharpton Be Both an Activist and a Fair TV Anchor?

Can Al Sharpton Be Both an Activist and a Fair TV Anchor? Can Al Sharpton Be Both an Activist and a Fair TV Anchor?

As the host of MSNBC show Politics Nation, Al Sharpton is the target of some perfectly valid scrutiny of his potentially conflicting roles of activist and cable news anchor.

Dec 10, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Obama Hijacks ‘The Word’ From Stephen Colbert

Obama Hijacks ‘The Word’ From Stephen Colbert Obama Hijacks ‘The Word’ From Stephen Colbert

Except Obama calls it “The Decree.” 

Dec 9, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Right-Wing Media’s Painful Pivot From Demonizing Mike Brown to Giving Eric Garner a Moral Pass

Right-Wing Media’s Painful Pivot From Demonizing Mike Brown to Giving Eric Garner a Moral Pass Right-Wing Media’s Painful Pivot From Demonizing Mike Brown to Giving Eric Garner a Moral Pass

How to bury two dead black men in the “reverse racism” narrative.

Dec 5, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Some Fox Newsers Are Falling Short in Bashing ‘Bamnesty’

Some Fox Newsers Are Falling Short in Bashing ‘Bamnesty’ Some Fox Newsers Are Falling Short in Bashing ‘Bamnesty’

Are some Fox hosts going soft on immigration?

Nov 21, 2014 / Leslie Savan

GOP Senator Says Obama’s Immigration Speech Could Trigger Some Kind of White Ferguson

GOP Senator Says Obama’s Immigration Speech Could Trigger Some Kind of White Ferguson GOP Senator Says Obama’s Immigration Speech Could Trigger Some Kind of White Ferguson

Retiring Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn says Obama taking action on immigration could end in “violence” and “anarchy.”

Nov 20, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Why Gruber’s ‘Stupid’ Comment Has Become a Dog Whistle for the GOP

Why Gruber’s ‘Stupid’ Comment Has Become a Dog Whistle for the GOP Why Gruber’s ‘Stupid’ Comment Has Become a Dog Whistle for the GOP

For Obama, Gruber has become an Other from another mother.  

Nov 19, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Frantic to Help Mary Landrieu, Democrats Betray Their Base on Keystone

Frantic to Help Mary Landrieu, Democrats Betray Their Base on Keystone Frantic to Help Mary Landrieu, Democrats Betray Their Base on Keystone

Dem’s Keystone crap-shoot won’t save Landrieu, but it will help Republicans realize their pipeline pipedream.

Nov 13, 2014 / Leslie Savan

Stephen Colbert to GOP: Don’t Fall Into ‘the Governing Trap’

Stephen Colbert to GOP: Don’t Fall Into ‘the Governing Trap’ Stephen Colbert to GOP: Don’t Fall Into ‘the Governing Trap’

Now that the Republicans will control the House and the Senate, they’re free to strut their stuff and start governing.

Nov 11, 2014 / Leslie Savan

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