Sam Kaplan

U.S. Sen. Al Franken is the featured speaker at the Harkin Steak Fry in Iowa today. He is scheduled to take the podium at 3:10 p.m., right after event namesake Sen. Tom Harkin. The hourlong program should start at 2:30 p.m. Live streaming video after the jump.

Dr. Miguel Diaz, a professor of theology at St. John’s University in Collegeville, was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to become ambassador to the Vatican.

When Nasser Kazeminy’s name is mentioned in the media, it’s almost invariably preceded by the phrase “reclusive businessman.” The Iranian-born chairman of Bloomington-based NJK Holdings does plenty of talking, however, with his checkbook. Since 1990, Kazeminy has given nearly $800,000 to Republican candidates and causes, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, while his wife Yvonne has chipped in another $123,300 to campaign coffers.

This week, however, Kazeminy’s name has been in the papers for an alleged payout that doesn’t show up on any Federal Election Commission records. On Monday, Harper’s Ken Silverstein reported, citing two anonymous sources, that the businessman had footed the bill for lavish clothing purchases by Sen. Norm Coleman at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis.