About this episode
This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss what the special election results suggest for the midterms, an unprecedented $1.6B donation to a secretive conservative organization; and Biden’s student loan forgiveness and repayment plans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together , by Heather McGhee The Sum of Us podcast Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Bullshit Generator; The Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865-1915 Hardcover , by Jon Grinspan Emily: Igor Derysh for Salon: “ ‘That’s Not What Our Report Said’: Ex-Mueller Prosecutor Says Barr's Trump Memo Is ‘legally Wrong’ ”; The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law David: Courtney E. Smith for Ultimate Classic Rock: “ 35 Years Ago: Los Lobos’ ‘La Bamba’ Returns Ritchie Valens to Spotlight ” Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Sarina E. Miller for the Washington Post: “ Thanks To Middle-Schoolers Like Me, There Are At Last No More Salem ‘Witches’ ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bill allowing safe injection sites in California. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices