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Steve Kornacki: Anthony Weiner “made an ugly appeal to voters’ worst nature”

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:32:00 +0000

As former congressman Anthony Weiner talks about returning to politics after an embarrassing Twitter scandal, Salon columnist Steve Kornacki reminded voters that there's another, more compelling to reject Weiner -- a history of race-baiting and slimy politics:

It was at this point that Weiner’s campaign decided to blanket the district with leaflets attacking his opponents. But these were no ordinary campaign attacks: They played the race card, and at a very sensitive time. They were also anonymous.

On his MSNBC show, Kornacki explains further:

"This is the story that reveals something important about what Weiner's been willing to do in his public life. He made an ugly appeal to voters' worst nature. He did it at a very sensitive time. He did it to get ahead and he did it because he figured no one would catch him. Really he did get away with it. If it hadn't been for the Twitter silliness, he'd be well on his way to being mayor right now and maybe more."

Sunday shows dissect the Boston attacks

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:27:00 +0000

Today’s Sunday shows, like everyone else, tried to pick apart the details of how and why the terrorist attacks occurred in Boston this week. On CBS’s “Face the Nation” Bob Schieffer interviewed Rep. Mike McCaul (R.-Texas), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

“My theory is [Tamerlan Tsarnaev] was radicalized by 2009, 2010,” McCaul said. “Reports show the Russian Intelligence Service reach out to our law enforcement to interview this individual, which they did. He was on the radar, then he got off the radar. Then he travels overseas. I would assume the Russians would have some intelligence on this individual.”

Although he lacks direct evidence McCaul appeared to suggest that Tamerlan, who reportedly had a bomb strapped to his chest when he was shot, had ties to international terrorist networks. “I think another important point [is] the tools of trade craft used here,” McCaul said. “This pressure cooker device is very similar to what the Taliban in Pakistan use. The idea that they could make pipe bombs and then there are reports they had suicide vests, all point to the fact that this was…”

Boston: “It’s our hometown”

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:45:00 +0000

I had just hung up with my uncle, whose son works as a manager at a hotel across the street from one of the explosions, when my friend’s text came in: “It’s our hometown. It’s our race.”

That’s not technically true. We both grew up in the suburbs, and neither of us has lived in Massachusetts for a decade. Nor were we ever full-fledged residents of the city – just college kids at BU (and for a few months after that, unemployed BU grads). But for the first 22 years of our lives – the 22 years that shaped us into who and what we are today – our world revolved around Boston. And many of the people and many of the memories that mean the most to us are still there. The farther our lives have taken us from it, the more it’s come to feel like home.

So as I processed the horrifying images and read the chilling and heartbreaking accounts, there was an added rawness to my grief, an extra intensity to my rage. I knew exactly what my friend meant. I felt like punching something. I wanted to know who did it, and for them to pay. I wanted to be the one who made them pay.

The politics of “ZD30,” “House of Cards”

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:15:00 +0000

Steve Kornacki: I was just thinking, this is for me -- being with Ramin and Andrew -- is good practice for “Up,” because I’m surrounded by two people who are much, much smarter than me. So I’m going to basically ask the questions here and try to steer the conversation and let you hear from these guys. I guess a good place to start would be that we had three really high-profile films last year that were politically themed: “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Lincoln,” and “Argo.” I’m going to start with you, Ramin: Do you see any kind of a trend there, or any kind of statement about the time we’re in? Is there more of an appetite for political films?

Ramin Bahrani: Well, probably Andrew would know historically, but I think depending on what’s happening in the world, there’s always a possibility for a political film to exist. I mean, “Zero Dark Thirty” was probably the one that was the most directly connected to what was happening, “Lincoln” in more of a shadow way, “Argo,” I think, in maybe a way that makes the least sense in terms of what’s happening, actually. I think there’s always an appetite, and now that we clearly have a major conflict in Washington, I think that Occupy Wall Street is making people think very differently about society and our role in it. I think wealth and equality and this whole idea [of a] 99 percent is a huge topic – it’s on people’s minds, especially young people. So anyway, that informs cinema.

“House of Cards” is bogus

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:33:00 +0000

At a real-time salon Wednesday night, Salon's Steve Kornacki and Andrew O'Hehir discussed politics and pop culture with acclaimed filmmaker Ramin Bahrani (whose new film "At Any Price" comes out April 24) at Soho House, New York. During the Q&A that followed, a question was asked about Netflix's "House of Cards" -- which prompted an impassioned response from Kornacki, below. [Spoiler alert!]

Steve Kornacki blows “Up”

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:57:00 +0000

He's shared vital analysis in his daily Opening Shot column, keen insights into his own life, and even been subjected to a makeover. After all of that, it seems, he's ready for his own TV show.

Salon's Steve Kornacki has been announced as the new host of MSNBC's weekend "Up," the very best reason to get up early on a weekend since "Schoolhouse Rock!" (Host Chris Hayes, of course, gets the move to prime time.) We're thrilled for Steve, and will be riveted to his debut.

On the same week when onetime Salon reporter Jake Tapper launched his own CNN show, we're making bets on who will next blow up the small screen. (Even odds: Pareene joins "The View.")

What should Steve Kornacki wear?

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:50:00 +0000

Our magnificent Steve Kornacki was recently busted for wearing the same sweater on "The Cycle," the MSNBC show he co-hosts, by BuzzFeed's Dorsey Shaw . The Huffington Post then piled on. Steve protested -- they're actually two different sweaters, he claims -- but still. We thought he'd appreciate some outside advice here, and asked our favorite fashion experts to pluck from the recent fall 2013 fashion shows for looks that match Steve's stellar, sparkling intellect.

Here are their choices, below. Vote your favorite in the poll that follows:

1. Clinton Kelly, host of TLC's "What Not to Wear," recommends Dries van Noten:

"It's got a deep V to elongate his face a little. Good for layering other shirts underneath. He seems to like gray but at least this one has some texture. It's classic, comfortable and upscale."