Streisand Gives Clinton the Nod

Staff / Truthdig Nov 28, 2007 Politicians have always looked to celebrities for support, wanting stars on their team but not always wanting all the drama that can come with the celeb package. But Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have chosen carefully -- each scoring one of the top picks of the Hollywood litter. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Taps the ‘Oprah Effect’

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Nov 27, 2007 The conventional wisdom says that celebrity endorsements don't mean much in politics. But the conventional wisdom also says that enormously long, difficult novels published more than a century ago don't suddenly become best-sellers today. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Hollywood Conservatives Keep a Low Profile

Staff / Truthdig Nov 16, 2007 It's relatively easy to drum up a list of high-flying entertainers who have publicly backed a Democratic politician in recent years (if not weeks) -- Oprah, George Clooney, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand and others readily come to mind -- but their conservative counterparts are much harder to ID without resorting to a Google search. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Oprah’s Learning Curve

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Nov 6, 2007 I can't summon any schadenfreude for Winfrey, just sympathy -- both for her good intentions and her determination to live up to them. And I pity anyone foolish enough to stand in her way. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Lord of the Sighs

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Sep 27, 2007 When they write the cultural history of childhood in 21st-century America, I hope they leave room for a few unkind words about "Kid Nation." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Schwarzenegger and Gore Team Up at U.N.

Staff / Truthdig Sep 26, 2007 Celebrity Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and environmental superstar Al Gore stole the show at Monday's U.N. climate crisis speechathon, offsetting President Bush's notable absence. Schwarzenegger rallied the crowd with his unique Hollywood-infused rhetorical flair: "One responsibility we all have is action. Action, action, action." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Your Handy Guide to Emmy Censorship

Staff / Truthdig Sep 18, 2007 Sally Field worked her Emmy acceptance speech into an (unfortunately) incoherent anti-war crescendo during Sunday night's telecast, which, like the other two muted moments showcased in this video montage by the always-hilarious Defamer team, was awkwardly squelched by hypervigilant editors at Fox. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Politics, Hollywood-Style

Staff / Truthdig Sep 12, 2007 Given the longstanding relationship between Hollywood and Washington, two towns that share an inborn proclivity for drama, the news that several L.A.-based executives are forming a politically minded production company with the help of an experienced Capitol Hill player should come as no surprise. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Candidates for Sale

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Sep 12, 2007 As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama know well, this season's crop of presidential candidates can't ignore the super-famous, the super-rich, or those fund-raising impresarios known as "bundlers" in their quest for the White House -- and that campaign trend isn't likely to change anytime soon. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

News Flash: Substance Sells

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Sep 1, 2007 One of the many lessons we should have learned from Hurricane Katrina is that Americans care about the suffering of other Americans, no matter how much the media would rather cover glitz and scandal. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

A Brief History of Bono

Staff / Truthdig Aug 30, 2007 You don't have to be a pop star to raise awareness, but it sure helps. Good Magazine looks back at the life and activism of U2's Bono, who's done quite a bit with his hobby. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pakistani Drag Diva Tells It Like It Is

Staff / Truthdig Aug 18, 2007 Here are some words to the wise for the U.S. government from a unique Pakistani media figure: introducing (for some of us, at least) Begum Nawazish Ali, nee Ali Saleem, a drag queen who interviews politicians and celebrities in character -- and colorful finery -- as "Begum Sahiba" on Pakistan's AAJ Television. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )