# What's happened to John McLaughlin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2016, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660 "2016-08-13T10:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/21 "2016-08-14T16:13:16Z")
So, all distractions and relief about it not being guitarist McLaughlin… is there any further information about the TV one? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/22 "2016-08-14T16:35:17Z")
I watch the show most weeks, it’s on Sunday at noon here. I just watched this weeks show. I agree he’s been looking increasingly weak over the last couple months or so. Still sharp mentally. The voice overs he did this week sounded bad and barely understandable. He did a show a few weeks ago with his dog on his lap. Didn’t remember ever seeing that before. I hope he improves and returns to the show. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/23 "2016-08-15T00:45:45Z")
[This story](http://deadline.com/2016/08/john-mclaughlin-ailing-the-mclaughlin-group-pat-buchanan-1201803350/) has a (rather generic) statement: > [@](#): > > Dear friends of The McLaughlin Group, Dr. McLaughlin here. As the panel’s recent absences attest, I am under the weather. The final issue of this episode has my voice, but please forgive me for its weaker than usual quality. Yet my spirit is strong and my dedication to this show remains absolute!” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/24 "2016-08-15T01:55:00Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > [This story](http://deadline.com/2016/08/john-mclaughlin-ailing-the-mclaughlin-group-pat-buchanan-1201803350/) has a (rather generic) statement: He really is an amazing political analyst. I wish him well and hope that he gets better soon. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/25 "2016-08-15T03:45:17Z")
If you so desire, you can watch the entire episode here: [The McLaughlin Group 8/12/16 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLPzful9lBQ) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/26 "2016-08-15T07:28:35Z")
It’s astounding that McLaughlin is 89 and this is only his first absence in 34 years. That’s one heck of a commitment to the show must go on. I hope this isn’t anything too serious. Best wishes and Get well soon John. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/27 "2016-08-16T20:12:28Z")
John McLaughlin, the political pundit, has died, according to MSNBC. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/28 "2016-08-16T20:24:08Z")
The story is breaking on Twitter now. NBC Nightly News is reporting his death. [https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews?ref\_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author](https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) He had quite a long and colorful career. First as a Jesuit Priest and then Political Commentator. I always found his analysis very interesting and thought provoking. Even when I didn’t agree with his conclusions. RIP John ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/29 "2016-08-16T21:10:10Z")
I wonder if this will end the McLaughlin Group? The cast is up there in age. Eleanor Clift is 76, Pat Buchanan 77, Clarence Page 69, Mort Zuckerman 79 It was an intelligent group that ably sparred with McLaughlin for 34 years. McLaughlin often questioned them just like he did with his students in the Jesuit schools decades earlier. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/30 "2016-08-16T21:50:34Z")
Aw nuts. That was a depressing way to reach the end of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/31 "2016-08-16T22:02:35Z")
This news has totally messed up the custom John McLaughlin section in my Google news feed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/32 "2016-08-16T22:14:06Z")
Fox News didn’t put John’s death at the top of their page. I’m quite surprised. McLaughlin has been a staunch Republican since his days as Nixon’s speechwriter. But, he didn’t always support all the party’s positions. He was very much a man with his own opinions. There is a link on Fox’s page. Halfway down. > **['McLaughlin Group' host John McLaughlin dead at 89](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mclaughlin-group-host-john-mclaughlin-dead-at-89)** > > John McLaughlin, a Jesuit priest-turned-presidential speechwriter who was best-known as host of the long-running political discussion show "The McLaughlin Group" has died. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/33 "2016-08-16T23:07:53Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > John McLaughlin, the political pundit, has died, according to MSNBC. Dammit. ☹ I can’t help but think he stared at us all as he left and said, “bye-Bye…” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/34 "2016-08-16T23:11:23Z")
A great host, and funny too. 🙂 RIP, John. You will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/35 "2016-08-17T00:39:51Z")
☹ Bye-bye, Mr. McLaughlin. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/36 "2016-08-17T01:00:58Z")
I’m sorry. I said a short good bye… and I can’t let it go at that. I’m sorry that we lost John McLaughlin. He was an irreplaceable national treasure. I’m sorry that so much weight is now going to be shuffled & shoved onto Eleanor Clift’s shoulders… without even One sorry-assed semi-worthy SOB standing up to even try to help. **(…and don’t you Dare raise your hand Pat Buchanan!)** In my life… what great people I’ve known… and ALL of them knew the value of John McLaughlin. They didn’t always agree with him… and there where times when I disagreed with him too. But through it all I learned what those people Always knew: John Always Asked The Right Questions. John, you loveable surly old curmudgeon you… you forgot the first rule of running a business! You always Mentor a replacement… for when you retire… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/37 "2016-08-17T01:02:48Z")
RIP, John McLaughlin. I have lots of respect for the man, will miss him. ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/38 "2016-08-17T02:45:45Z")
He died from the progression of prostate cancer; his panelists knew how ill he was. This link is a good Daily Beast tribute article by Eleanor Clift. > **[Saying Goodbye to John McLaughlin, TV’s Original Tough Political Talker](https://www.thedailybeast.com/saying-goodbye-to-john-mclaughlin-tvs-original-tough-political-talker?via=desktop&source=facebook)** > > A panelist remembers the political priest turned talk-show host who brought strong opinions to Sunday mornings. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/39 "2016-08-17T05:52:22Z")
Damn, I suspected that would be the case. Here’s to hoping that Eleanor or someone (yeah, certainly not Pat) can fill his shoes. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660/40 "2016-08-21T15:09:04Z")
Just curious, did all PBS stations this week show a 1983 recording of the McLaughlin Group recorded in Chicago? I wonder if this was unique to WTTW Chicago since this particular show was recorded here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happened-to-john-mclaughlin/762660.md?page=3)