225: BEST OF: Ed Shelleby on Being My Senate Communications Director

The Al Franken Podcast

Government, Progressive, Politics, Senate, Liberal, Senator, Minnesota, Franken, News, Saturday Night Live, Comedy, Snl

4.6 • 7.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 May 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Al’s former Senate Communications Director, Ed Shelleby, to relive their time working together. Ed tells tales of him TRYING to manage Al's comedic impulses in serious situations, but also talks about the great work they accomplished together.

Ed shares several behind-the-scenes stories including how Al, as a newly elected official, had to learn to "pivot" in interviews and explains how the office coined a brand new term: The Dehumorizer.

But also, we cover the effectiveness of Al's time in the Senate. And they share many stories of how Al treated his staff like family.

It's a different kind of show this week, but one we KNOW you will enjoy.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everybody. We got a best of today. So you know this is a great one for a change. It's a fun one, too. My former communications director and deputy chief of staff, Ed Shelby, joins me. And you'll get a real sense of how much fun we had in my Senate office. I listen to it
0:22.2	again, and I have to say this is by far one of the most enjoyable episodes of the 2000 that we've done.
0:31.4	That's just a rough guesstimate for 2000. But this is definitely one of the best we've ever done wouldn't you wouldn't you say so peter
0:39.1	oh definitely how is it possible that we haven't aired this one as a best of i honestly i have no
0:47.4	idea that this is one of the best if not the best best of in the history of this podcast.
0:56.3	I would have to agree with you.
0:58.8	It's so good, I say let's go right to it.
1:05.3	Okay, but shouldn't we say something about the horrible bill that the House passed this week?
1:13.2	You mean the big beautiful bill that's going to increase the deficit by $3.8 trillion over 10 years.
1:19.8	Yep, that's the one. And it's going to cut 8.6 million Americans off of Medicaid.
1:27.0	Yeah, that's horrible. And it gives a huge tax break to the richest Americans.
1:27.8	That's right.
1:28.2	Yeah. Those are the top 0.1% of earners would take home an additional $389,280.
1:38.5	Wow.
1:39.2	So if you're making over $4 million a year, you're going to get an almost $400,000 tax break.
1:47.9	Meanwhile, the Urban Institute found that the work requirements included in the bill would lead to
1:53.1	5.4 million people losing all or most of their SNAP benefits.
1:59.0	That's food stamps.
2:00.2	Yes, that's right. And will cost the bottom fifth of Americans 2% of their snap benefits. That's food stamps. Yes, that's right.
2:01.1	And will cost the bottom fifth of Americans 2% of their income.
2:05.9	According to the Congressional Budget Office.
2:08.4	That's right.
	...

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