Everyone's #1 addiction social networking site, Facebook, has been getting some bad press thanks to its new privacy settings. The site recently rolled out "social plug-ins" and "instant personalization," which enable users to share information like which websites they've visited or articles they've commented on—even if they don't want to. Everyone's profile would be automatically set to share this information, and users would need to opt-out through their privacy settings. Sen. Charles Schumer and three other senators are now calling for Facebook to make it easier for users to protect their privacy, saying, "They have sort of assumed all their users want their information to be given far and wide, which is a false assumption." more ›

Yesterday Senator Al Franken denied Joe Lieberman's routine request for an "additional moment" to drone on about an amendment to the health care bill on the Senate floor. If you're someone who's felt any degree of frustration with Lieberman's recent role in killing the public option, it's a trivial but deeply fulfilling video: more ›

On Election Night two months ago, it appeared that America was only sending one famous Harvard alum who was also a well-publicized cocaine user to Washington. Not so! Today the Minnesota State Canvassing Board certified results showing Democrat Al Franken as the winner of the Minnesota Senate race. Lizard people, unite! more ›

Senator Charles Schumer said yesterday that comedian turned Senate candidate Al Franken won the Minnesota Senate race against Norm Coleman—with a 200+ vote lead—and should be seated. Minnesota's canvassing board is expected to name Franken the winner and the senior Senator from New York issued a statement, "While there are still possible legal issues that will run their course, there is no longer any doubt who will be the next Senator from Minnesota. With the Senate set to begin meeting on Tuesday to address the important issues facing the nation, it is crucial that Minnesota's seat not remain empty, and I hope this process will resolve itself as soon as possible." Yeah—the Senate needs to figure out what to do with Illinois Senate appointee Roland Burris! Still, the Coleman campaign refuses to succumb to "stinkin' thinkin'" and will petition to have 650 ballots included. more ›

Well, it only took two weeks for Alaska's election officials to figure out that Anchorage mayor Mark Begich (D) managed beat the incumbent, convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R), who has been serving since 1968. Begich said, “I can’t wait to get to work fighting for Alaskan families," and his win also means an end to guessing whether Governor Sarah Palin might appoint herself to Stevens' seat. There is some talk of a recount (Begich's margin is 3,724 with just 2,500 votes left to recount), but the Anchorage Daily News reports with machine counting "recent Alaska recounts have resulted in little change in the final tally." As for other undecided Senate races: In Minnesota, Sen. Norm Coleman (R) leads Al Franken (D) by 215 votes, but a recount will start tomorrow, while the Dec. 2 runoff between Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) and Jim Martin (D) in Georgia is drawing big names. more ›

characters. Franken had developed a very successful career making people laugh, but through the movie we see how his convictions wouldn't allow him to stay quiet about the direction he saw the country heading. He almost makes punditry look like a noble calling. Also good for a liberal chuckle is the footage of Franken going head to head with a very icy Ann Coulter. The fact that she doesn't lean over and pop him one in the nose shows remarkable restraint on her part. Rent this documentary and you'll walk away hoping that Franken's bid for a Senate seat turns out much more successfully than his career in talk radio. more ›

Dear lord, it's only mid-September but already the amount of new releases flooding theaters is getting a bit overwhelming. more ›

If you're going to do an issue about the 100 People Who Shape Our World, you might as well have a big party, right? Time magazine rolled out the red carpet last night for people on its list, their friends, and the press. Gothamist stopped by the party just ahead of Stephen Colbert. We were not wearing a bear costume, so he wasn't that afraid of us. And perennial favorite, Rachael Ray, showed up all glammy, alternating poses with and without her A.C.H.M. (Arm Candy Husband Meat). more ›

- The Politicker reports that the D.A. Pennebaker documentary of the Ferrer campaign hasn't been happening for a while, because the crew wasn't "getting a film that was worth doing, as compared with what you just got off of every TV screen." Damn TV! more ›

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The program is hosted by Katherine Lanpher, who also co-hosts "The Al Franken Show" on Air America. In the continuing series she will entertain authors, singer-songwriters and artists in an evening of conversation and performance. more ›

Passover is considered the highest of holidays in Judaism, commemorating the Jew's Exodus from Egypt. And via Egypt many of them ended up in New York working the comedy scene. This year marks fifth annual Downtown Seder, held Thursday night. Among the 400 expected celebrants will be comedian Judy Gold, Daily Show writer Eric Drysdale, singing duo What I Like About Jew and via video, Al Franken and Lewis Black among many, many other performers. more ›

Did you guys know winter was still here? Yeah, anyway, it'll be giving us some more snow this weekend which means that staying home and drinking hot chocolate (or red wine) and watching movies will likely be a top choice for most. But for the adventurous we offer the following choices, along with a spontaneous snowball fight: more ›

Gothamist has retained its passes for the upcoming CMJ Music Marathon and is a bit overwhelmed by the schedule. Shows, lectures, panels and events we want to attend + time in the day is not equalling out very well, but we're going to load up on caffeine and do our best to attend and cover it all. Space-Time Continuum be damned, we'll be everywhere at once. more ›

Tonight is the keynote address by Democratic Governor Zell Miller and Dick Cheney accepting the Vice-Presidential nomination. Here's the schedule. And in a move to spite critics who noted that he would only be in town for barely a night, the President will be watching Uncle Dick and the crew from a fire station in Queens tonight; our heart goes out to all the commuters in Elmhurst. more ›

Stewart, after requisite mentions of his dorm and his academic prowess, also mentions how he got over September 11 at the end of the speech. Read it and weep. more ›

Forget the appeals process, 'cause mistrials are totally the new black - see Jayson Williams and Martha Stewart. And, randomly, Juror Jordan looks like she could be Al Franken's mom. Also, this Times editorial says a mistrial is ultimately a good thing, but that the media's focus on Jordan (no matter how bad her behavior) was not ideal. more ›

In NY, the network airs on WLIB 1190AM (LA: KBLA 180AM; Chicago: WNTD 950AM). The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz looked at Air America a few weeks ago. Jeff Jarvis has been listening and says, "." Well, the station probably doesn't want to be confused with Air America, the airplane pilot "comedy" with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. more ›