THE WEEKLY READ

Friday, December 29, 2023

We Have Our 2023 Golden Duke Winners

By TPM STAFF

Originally Published: December 29, 2023 1:53 p.m.

We'll be honest, we thought George Santos was a shoo-in this year. And while you will in fact find him here among the list of honorees (we gave him his own category, after all) we've got plenty of room for other people.

Some of them are new, such as the Florida power couple/throuple, the Zieglers. But largely, these are names you've seen before at our year-end no-shame-for-the-shameless Golden Duke awards. In the words of Derick Dirmaier, TPM's head of product: Same old idiots.

And yes — largely, yes. But in 2023 they took things to new heights, beclowning themselves in new ways, breaking new laws or breaking the same laws more times, innovating to reach new frontiers of corruption, and just generally keeping things stupid and keeping us chuckling during the new, bad times.

We had thousands of TPM readers vote on the nominees in each category. Thanks to all of you who participated!

You can see who won in the following categories by clicking the button below:

• Best Scandal – Local Venue
• Judge Lest Ye Be Judged
• Best Use Of A Visual Aid
• Summer Of George
• Best Scandal – Sex & Generalized Carnality
• Meritorious Achievement In The Crazy
• Best Scandal – General Interest

Happy New Year!

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THE WEEKLY READ

Friday, December 22, 2023

Let The Golden Dukes 2023 Voting Begin: Santos Was Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

By Nicole LaFond

Originally Published: December 21, 2023 4:38 p.m.

Sure, it was an epic year for public corruption on a large scale, but also on stupid and small scales. For one thing, George Santos existed. But the expelled congressman's resume padding and (alleged) fraud was given a run for its money by Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-NJ) insatiable appetite for (allegedly) accepting bribes in the form of gold bars, or Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' gluttonous penchant for luxury yachts and vacations with billionaires.

But the Golden Dukes are about so much more than your average, shameless public corruption. TPM lives to celebrate mendacity and we raise our glasses to the bad, salacious and crazy in all of its most foolish, and also carnal, forms. Whether you're a congresswoman lying about vapin' and gropin' in a public theater or a governor so desperate to find your MAGAland footing you pull out a poop map during a debate — we're here to celebrate you.

Last week, we asked you to submit nominations for the worst offenders in seven different categories. TPM readers, you delivered. So much so that we had to spend hours winnowing down the list.

Now we need your help again. Help us crown 2023's most odious weasels by voting below. May the best bigot win!

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