Rachel Maddow (2013)
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host, political commentator, and author. She hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program of the same name aired on Air America Radio. Maddow is the first openly gay anchor to host a major prime-time news program in the United States. She holds a doctorate in politics from Oxford University. Asked about her political views by the Valley Advocate, Maddow replied, "I'm undoubtedly a liberal, which means that I'm in almost total agreement with the Eisenhower-era Republican party platform."
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About the Rachel Maddow Interview
Hello Reddit! I am the host of MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” and author of the book Drift. I have just over an hour to answer questions (wish I could stay longer!) and will do my best to answer as many questions as possible.
Edit: Proof: https://twitter.com/maddow/status/310056125951258624
Edit: If you're wondering who I am, I tweet here: https://twitter.com/maddow
The Rachel Maddow Show blog:
The Rachel Maddow Show on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/therachelmaddowshow
My book Drift and Drift tour: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/drift
Edit: Thanks for such awesome questions! This has been a blast. I hope you'll have me back some time. Now I have to go have nightmares about the giant duck.
Rachel Maddow Mar 08, 2013
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I trained and served with Eddie Ray Routh, the U.S.M.C. veteran accused of killing Chris Kyle and another. We deployed to Iraq together. Can you please cover the story, because it connects, war, P.T.S.D.. gun control, veterans, and the way veterans fall though the cracks after coming home wounded? I thought you could follow it with a deeper understanding and report on it. Will you consider reporting on it?
echo4papa
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Hi -- thank you for asking this, and thanks for volunteering those details about your closeness to the story. We have not yet covered those killings, mostly because I've been following the story as a crime and a tragedy, but not one that I felt like we could add much to, beyond what's already out there. Your question has me reconsidering that. I'm not sure if we will do something on it, but I will think it over again and start talking with producers and sources about whether we might be able to do something that moved the story forward. Thanks for serving -- I'm glad you're home.
Rachel Maddow
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If you had to choose one story you've covered that you wish more people were aware of, what would it be?
wander700
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It seems crazy that an ongoing war is an undercovered story, but I wish there was more debate about why and how and if we should still have 60,000 Americans in Afghanistan. It's not done, there are still real decisions to be made, and it's still life and death.
Rachel Maddow
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If you could go back in time and cover any news story in history as it unfolded, which would you pick?
zegrockle
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Maybe the presidential election of 1800? A tie! Decided in Congress! Aaron Burr! All that weird campaigning they had never done before! I find electoral politics mostly enervating, but that one sounds like it would have been a blast.
Rachel Maddow
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Is there anyone at another cable news channel that you really admire as a broadcaster?
Mediasurvivor
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I really like the way Shep Smith (at Fox News Channel) balances anchorman gravitas... with a willingness to put the artifice aside and acknowledge what it really going on. Some of us can pull off seeming like human beings on TV, some of us can pull off V.O.G. authority, but Shep is really very good at both. Better than anyone else, I think. Also, I've met him and he's a nice person!
Rachel Maddow
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Our family hung the Rolling Stone photo of you, shooting a Henry Big Boy rifle, on the front of our refrigerator. (We love you and we love repeater rifles.) Do you think the gun legislation and conversion currently brewing in the US would be more efficient if more liberals, who occasionally like to get their cowgirl on, came out of the closet? I really don’t see why the topic ends up being so right wing vs left wing. I feel like there should be much more overlap between the camps.
AreYouMyMummy
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Two things: (1) I agree! I think this issue is way more polarized in politics than it is in real life. Gun appreciation, even gun enthusiasm (which I confess to in a small way!) is absolutely not inconsistent with a belief in rational gun-safety reform. It's weird that we think of the political battle as gun-lovers versus gun-haters -- do you know a single gun-lover (who doesn't work in the political side of the gun movement) who thinks it makes sense for someone adjudicated mentally ill to be barred from buying a gun from a guy at a store, but allowed to buy a guy under a tent or at a convention center?
Also, (2) would you please do me the favor of drawing a tiny little moustache on that picture on your fridge?Rachel Maddow
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You spoke during one of your shows a while back about learning lyrics to a Dead Kennedys song. You mentioned because of your age at the time your parents weren't too happy about it because of certain words contained in the lyrics. Do you recall which song? Also, do/did you listen to any other punk bands? Thanks for doing the AMA and keep up the good work on your show! Take care, Rachel.
sleepwhatsthat
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My parents were very very horrified by the appearance of Dead Kennedys records in the house. I don't remember a particular song that made them crazy -- I think the band name itself did all the work there. I was obsessive about Husker Du. I also liked Meat Puppets and Black Flag, but really I would have done anything for Bob Mould. I actually got grounded when my mom found an SST records sampler LP in my room -- I think it had particularly porny cover art and she was very rattled by it. As a teenager, I thought at the time that it was probably the apex of my coolness. As an adult, looking back, I realize that is true.
Rachel Maddow
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