In world events this week: popular unrest in Iran grew, the Honduran President was the victim of a military coup and US troops withdrew from Iraqi cities. On the news this week: obituary-porn following Michael Jackson's death and the Sanford affair gabfest. Did media coverage hit a new low point this week?

We'll talk about that and the arrival of Senator Al Franken. Beneath the spin and beyond the hype, we welcome to our GRITtv Media Round Table: Bob Moser, Editor of the Texas Observer and author of Blue Dixie: Awakening the South's Democratic Majority; Jill Nelson, Author, Let's Get It On: A Novel and finally, Sam Seder, Host of Breakroom Live.

Journalist by day, sexy novelist by night. Mixing sex, politics and fantasy, Jill Nelson stays with us to talk about her new book, Let's Get It On: A Novel, a follow-up to her bestselling novel, Sexual Healing: A Novel about a group of savvy friends who start a “full service spa” that caters to professional women.

Nighttime activists freeing animals from science labs: does that sound like terrorist activity? This week's Got Docs? "Behind the Mask" sells itself as "The story of the people who risk everything to save animals."

Thanks to The Daily Show, A-Films, The Ed Schultz Show and Kate Clinton for the footage in today's show. Have a safe and hopefully sunny holiday weekend!