To this culture warrior, gay marriage is not a vital issue. I don't believe the republic will collapse if Larry marries Brendan. However, it is clear that most Americans want heterosexual marriage to maintain its special place in American society. And as long as gays are not penalized in the civil arena, I think the folks should make the call at the ballot box. Traditional marriage is widely seen as a social stabilizer, and I believe that is true.

I think Pope Francis is a guy who comes from a certain place in the world, and that shapes how he processes things. He's like a liberation theology guy, but I think that what he's done is focused the Catholic Church where it should be - on the poor.

Back in 1998, he [Tom Hanks] gave the maximum amount of money that he could to Bill Clinton's defense fund. This is a man who was against gay marriage, as was Hillary Clinton.

I think the secret to success is a short-term outlook. So for example, I'm writing the next Killing book now and I have to just make every chapter compelling, so I can't get too far ahead of it. I just stay in the present and then go over what I have to do.

The Clintons opposed gay marriage. They did don't ask, don't tell. They did the Defense of Marriage Act.

Tide goes in, tide goes out. Never a miscommunication. You can't explain that. You can't explain why the tide goes in.

I've done more for the 9/11 families, by their own admission, I've done more for them than you will ever hope to do so you keep your mouth shut.