Episodes

22h ago

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the vivid and impulsive portrait Susie Wiles paints of Trump’s White House in a revealing interview with Vanity Fair , what the new unemployment numbers say about the economy and how Americans are feeling about it, and why some studies show that young Americans are increasingly antisemitic. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, David, and special guest Stephen Colbert answer listeners’ conundrums of all kinds: the meaningful, the trivial, and the delightfully absurd. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 11

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what will happen as the Supreme Court considers whether a president can remove leaders of independent agencies without cause, how the overt signals about immigration and “erasure” in the new National Security Strategy are meant to stir up cultural anxiety in Europe, and the high-stakes merger drama between Netflix, Paramount, and Warner Bros. with guest Tim Wu , professor at Columbia Law School and author of the new book The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss a Consumer Reports and Groundwork Collective investigation that found Instacart quoting massive price differences for the same products, which they claim result from AI-enabled pricing experiments. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 4

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why the killing of survivors in a US military strike on an alleged drug boat is so dangerous for Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration, what the results of this week’s special election in Tennessee could portend for the upcoming midterms, and the adoption of self-driving cars as a public health measure. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the complexities of free speech, academic freedom, and consequences in the controversial case of a University of Oklahoma instructor who was put on leave after complaints from a student who flunked a gender essay. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 27

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what happens when the government is untrustworthy as a strong pattern of DOJ lying under oath emerges, why the NYC mayor-elect and the president were so cordial with each other in the Oval Office, and how MAGA world continues to fracture as Marjorie Taylor Greene announces her resignation and the Fuentes/Carlson controversy continues. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the new campaign from the Department of Transportation to bring “civility” back to air travel by asking Thanksgiving travelers to dress up to fly. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss a new oral history of President Trump’s Department of Justice, the complex transactional nationalism of this week’s visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with guest Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor and co-host of the new podcast The Long Game , and what is likely to happen now that Trump has signed the bill to release the Justice Department’s Epstein files. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the sordid scandal around the tangled relationships of political reporter Olivia Nuzzi and the complex questions it raises about relationships between journalists and their sources. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 15

John Dickerson talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation . Recorded live at the 92nd Street Y in NYC, their conversation explores how a decade of optimism, leverage, and moral hazard culminated in the financial collapse that defined modern capitalism. Sorkin details how figures like banker Charles “Sunshine Charlie” Mitchell, Senator Carter Glass, and investor Jesse Livermore shaped the boom and bust of the era and how their decisions echo in today’s bubbles around A.I., crypto, and debt-fueled speculation. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why Democrats caved to end the government shutdown and what comes next, the affordability crisis with guest and editorial director for New York Times Opinion David Leonhardt , and the importance of this week’s spectacle of competing Epstein document drops. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the consequential career and historic legacy of Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who announced her retirement from Congress. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book, The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America . They explore the remarkable story of the Garland Fund—a small 1920s foundation that bankrolled early work by A. Philip Randolph, and others who would go on to shape the civil rights and labor movements. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 6

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how Tuesday’s decisive election results give a legitimate boost to Democrats’ prospects as they work toward the midterms, whether the Supreme Court justices will finally draw a line on presidential power and protect Congress’s power of the purse in the consequential tariffs case, and how the Trump administration is using SNAP recipients as pawns in a cruel political game. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the life and legacy of former Vice President Dick Cheney, including his expansive views of presidential power, his role in the War on Terror, and the irony of his stance against Donald Trump during the 2024 election. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book, The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America . They explore the remarkable story of the Garland Fund—a small 1920s foundation that bankrolled early work by A. Philip Randolph, and others who would go on to shape the civil rights and labor movements. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 30

This week, live from Chicago to celebrate 20 years of the Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump vs. Chicago showdown and the dynamics between progressive and centrist Democrats with former Chicago Mayor and Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel , what threat President Trump poses to the future of American elections and how to push back, and memorable moments from Gabfest history. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, live from Chicago to celebrate 20 years of the Political Gabfest, Emily, John, and David take audience questions and discuss whether the damages caused by the Trump administration can ever be reversed, the most controversial topics from the show’s history, and more. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book, The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America . They explore the remarkable story of the Garland Fund—a small 1920s foundation that bankrolled early work by A. Philip Randolph, and others who would go on to shape the civil rights and labor movements. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki and Jake Sorgen Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how President Trump reacted to the No Kings protests by embracing his own “cult of the ruler” in particularly dramatic fashion, whether the shutdown will eventually break enough government functions to force more urgency in negotiations, and why Young Republicans are fawning over Hitler in group chats. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David talk to Rabbi Angela Buchdahl about what it means to be a rabbi these days, the importance of empathy as a first principle for all of us, and her new memoir, Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book, The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America . They explore the remarkable story of the Garland Fund—a small 1920s foundation that bankrolled early work by A. Philip Randolph, and others who would go on to shape the civil rights and labor movements. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18

Emily Bazelon talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America . They explore the remarkable story of the Garland Fund—a small 1920s foundation that bankrolled early work by A. Philip Randolph, and others who would go on to shape the civil rights and labor movements. Witt traces how the fund connected race and class politics, supported the intellectual groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education , and anticipated today’s challenges around misinformation, inequality, and political disconnection. He and Bazelon also discuss what lessons progressives might take from this forgotten story of organizing during political exile. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Gaza ceasefire and prospects for long-term peace with Rob Malley , Middle East policy expert and co-author (with Hussein Agha) of the new book Tomorrow is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine , which side is likely to fold first in the ongoing government shutdown, and who benefits as the Supreme Court hears arguments about whether the 14th Amendment clashes with the Voting Rights Act. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the new Paul Thomas Anderson movie “One Battle After Another” and its political and social themes. Is it a love letter to the revolutionary left and community connection, “apologia for radical left-wing terrorism,” or something else entirely? In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy . They discuss the history of the prison system’s use of punishments like whipping, how the practice came to an end, and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 9

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the extremely consequential new Supreme Court term beginning this week, the facts on the ground and the legal questions at play behind Trump’s escalating deployments of troops to US cities, and the likely legal defeat of state bans on conversion therapy. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the Treasury Department’s unironic plans to release a $1 coin featuring the current president to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from monarchy. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy . They discuss the history of the prison system’s use of punishments like whipping, how the practice came to an end, and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 2

This week, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the disturbing spectacle of military fealty staged by Hegseth and Trump at Quantico, the possible outcomes of the dramatic government shutdown, and the hybrid war Russia appears to be waging with drones over distressed European cities. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, John, David, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the ugly spectacle of US golf fan behavior at this week’s Ryder Cup and what it says about the state of American public discourse. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy . They discuss the history of the prison system’s use of punishments like whipping, how the practice came to an end, and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how Trump is using the powerful machine of government prosecution to reverse-engineer crimes supposedly committed by enemies, his diatribe against Tylenol at the disastrous press conference on autism, and the echoes of past Red Scares in today’s free speech climate with historian Beverly Gage , author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the debate around Trump’s new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa workers: will it score points or be an own goal for US jobs? In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy . They discuss the history of the prison system’s use of punishments like whipping, how the practice came to an end, and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 20

Emily Bazelon talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy . They discuss the history of the prison system’s use of punishments like whipping, how the practice came to an end, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 18

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the government’s intimidation tactics aimed at chilling free speech after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, why Trump seems intent to provoke armed conflict with Venezuela, and how the president and his Republican allies are upending DC self-governance with guest Michael Schaffer ( City Cast DC , Politico ). For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the extraordinary corruption revealed by a new investigation into two major deals between Trump’s team and the United Arab Emirates. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York . They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 11

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk amid an extremely troubling climate of political violence in America, another Supreme Court order with no majority explanation allowing racial profiling by ICE in LA, and a score-settling excerpt from Kamala Harris’s upcoming memoir 107 Days. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the astonishing new details revealed by the release of a book of letters collected for Epstein’s 50th birthday from his friends, including Donald Trump. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York . They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 4

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what the spate of legal defeats for the Trump administration portends as cases wind toward the Supreme Court, the real world effects of RFK Jr. gutting the CDC with guest Dr. Josh Sharfstein , and whether Democrats should compel government shutdown or avoid it now that Congress is back. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss NASA Voyager’s journey through space as it reaches a new milestone and wax philosophical about the immensity of the universe and Earth’s place in it. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York . They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s brazen effort to smash Fed independence by wielding allegations of mortgage fraud against Fed governor Lisa Cook, the expanding law enforcement role of the National Guard in DC and other cities, and the inexplicable folly of Trump’s all-out assault on the renewable wind industry. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss this week’s bizarre NYC bribery scandal involving an advisor to Eric Adams, Chinese influence, and a bag of potato chips. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York . They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 21

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s deepening takeover of Washington D.C. as National Guard troops from red states arrive, what if anything was accomplished in the whirlwind of Putin-Trump-Zelensky diplomacy, and this week’s launch of the new liberal publication The Argument with its Editor-in-Chief Jerusalem Demsas . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss escalations of the retribution campaigns against Trump’s rivals, spearheaded by Department of Justice officials Pam Bondi and Ed Martin. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York . They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 16

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York. They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral race is mirroring the past; and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and guest host Jamelle Bouie discuss the perils of this week’s Trump-plus-Putin (minus Zelensky) summit in Alaska, how Trump’s claimed crime “emergency” provided pretext for National Guard deployment and takeover of D.C. police, and a new presidential memorandum requiring colleges to share admissions data to “verify” that they are not considering race. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and guest host Jamelle Bouie discuss when and, perhaps more importantly, when not to give advice. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Carl Hiaasen about his new book, Fever Beach , a political satire for the Trump Era. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here . Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 7

This week, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the future integrity of US economic data after Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, what the mid-decade redistricting arms race portends for the future of US representative government, and the phenomenon of “Trump’s Rasputin,” Laura Loomer. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Jake Jones for BBC Sport: The rise of padel and why it's so popular ; LTAPadel: Official padel rules explained ; Padelexpress on YouTube: The BEST Out-of-Court Points in Padel HISTORY (video 3:52) Juliette: Jack Smart for People: Liam Neeson Kisses Pamela Anderson in Cute Naked Gun Promo: 'Couple That Laughs Together, Stays Together' ; Alyssa Bailey for ELLE: How Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson Slowly Fell for Each Other: He Was ‘Smitten’ From the Start ; Lisa Respers France for CNN: Pamela Anderson is having a moment. And it’s about time David: Anne Appelbaum for The Atlantic: The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth ; Wednesday on Netflix; Platonic – Season 2 Official Trailer on YouTube (video 2:02) Listener chatter from Bill Jacob in Provincetown, Massachusetts: The Telepathy Tapes: A Podcast Beyond Words , from creator and host Ky Dickens . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, David, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the benefits and challenges of giving kids more freedom to play outside and participate independently, parent-free, in the real world. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Carl Hiaasen about his new book, Fever Beach , a political satire for the Trump Era. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 31

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the international condemnations of Israel’s actions. They also examine how the Trump administration is gaining control of both universities and the judiciary—through settlements with Ivy League institutions and a controversial judicial confirmation. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, Emily and John discuss the controversy surrounding American Eagle In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Carl Hiaasen about his new book, Fever Beach , a political satire for the Trump Era. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Nora Moses Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest developments in the Epstein files saga, how Supreme Court decisions under John Roberts have dramatically expanded Trump’s power, and whether the Texas Republicans’ redistricting plan will tip the map redder, or backfire. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss what they are enjoying reading, watching, and cooking so far this summer. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Carl Hiaasen about his new book, Fever Beach , a political satire for the Trump Era. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Nora Moses Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 19

David Plotz talks with author Carl Hiaasen about his new book, Fever Beach . Fever Beach is a political satire that follows a couple of dimwitted white supremacists, a corrupt congressman, and the people that try to take them all down. They discuss the real-life racist event Hiaasen witnessed that inspired a central scene in the novel, how Matt Gaetz factors into the book, Hiaasen’s next moves, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the epic MAGA meltdown over the DOJ’s “there’s nothing to see here” Epstein files memo, how the Supreme Court is using the “shadow docket” to bolster Trump’s efforts to dismantle the federal government, and whether rescission will kill NPR and PBS. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss what they are enjoying reading, watching, and cooking so far this summer. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 10

This week, David Plotz and guest hosts Mike Pesca and Susan Glasser discuss what to make of Elon Musk’s quixotic attempt to start a third political party in America, how Trump’s conflation of national interest with self-interest creates an incoherent foreign policy, and the tedious but impactful “summer rerun season” of Trump’s tariff folly. Here are this week’s chatters: Mike: ABC7 New York: Traffic deaths across NYC at record low so far this year as City sees historic drop ; Tomoki Chein for The San Francisco Standard: Policing has little effect on SF traffic deaths, decades of data show ; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: NHTSA Announces Traffic Fatalities Decreased in the First Quarter of 2025 . Susan: Meg Anderson for NPR: Murders are down nationwide. Researchers point to a key reason David: Kyla Scanlon on Substack: Kyla’s Newsletter ; Clan of the Cave Bear (1980) by Jean M. Auel; Leah Dearborn for LitReactor: What Is ‘The Clan of the Cave Bear,’ and Should You Read It? Listener chatter from Alan Spatrick in Newton, Massachusetts: Podcast by Andrew Hickey: A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David and guest hosts Mike Pesca and Susan Glasser discuss whether ICE agents should be allowed to do their jobs in masks. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosts David Plotz, Mike Pesca , and Susan Glasser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 3

This week, David Plotz and guest hosts Will Saletan and Catherine Rampell discuss what the Senate’s regressive budget bill will do to the health of America, whether there is space left for non-Trump conservatives in American politics, and how Paramount’s settlement of Trump’s meritless lawsuit signifies the fall of another guardrail against an authoritarian president. Here are this week’s chatters: Will: Amy MacKinnon and John Sakellariadis for Politico: CIA review of 2016 Russia election probe finds no major flaws ; Jonathan Landay for Reuters: CIA review finds flaws but does not dispute finding Putin sought to sway 2016 vote to Trump . Catherine: Elizabeth Crisp for The Hill: Trump unveils $249 ‘Trump Fragrances’ ; Alisha Haridasani Gupta for The New York Times: What Does President Trump’s New Perfume Smell Like? ; Nick Turse for The Intercept: The Whiff of Corruption: Trump’s New Perfume Has Strong Notes of Graft . David: Itchy Feet Tours & Safaris in South Africa; Geoff Beattie for The Conversation: Psychology of trophy hunting: why some people kill animals for sport ; Hugh Webster for Conservation Frontlines: Trophy Hunting – A Complex Picture . Listener chatter from Teri Weaver in Syracuse, New York: Michelle Breidenbach for Syracuse.com: Cheap milk and immigration: A blunt farmer’s uncomfortable truth about NY’s dairy industry For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David and guest hosts Will Saletan and Catherine Rampell discuss recent data showing declines in American pride largely along partisan and generational lines, and what it means to be a proud American. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26

This week, Emily Bazelon and guest hosts Ruth Marcus and James Forman discuss Trump’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities with guest Steven Cook from the Council on Foreign Relations , Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory in the NYC Democratic mayoral primary, and an astonishing whistleblower report that sheds incriminating light on Trump’s judicial nominee Emil Bove and defiance of court orders in deportation flight cases. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily Bazelon and guest hosts Ruth Marcus and James Forman discuss how Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s approach differs from the other liberal Justices and her ferocious critiques of the Roberts Court’s processes and opinions. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 21

David Plotz talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent . They discuss what’s memoir and what’s less than memoir in the comic novel, David’s own contribution to the book, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether the US should join Israel’s war on Iran, the tragic Minnesota assassinations and why US political violence is surging now, and the Supreme Court’s unsurprising but willfully obtuse decision to uphold Tennessee’s youth transgender care ban. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: A Family Matter by Claire Lynch; The Fall of Affirmative Action: Race, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Higher Education by Justin Driver; A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children by Haley Cohen Gilliland. John: Mary Cunningham for CBS News: Federal Reserve holds its benchmark interest rate steady at today's FOMC meeting ; ABA Banking Journal: Fed’s Powell says some areas of U.S. may be ‘uninsurable’ in next decade David: Trip Gabriel for the New York Times: William Langewiesche, the ‘Steve McQueen of Journalism,’ Dies at 70 Listener chatter from Jacob Podell in Chicago, Illinois: Juliana Kim for NPR: Family shows AI video of slain victim as an impact statement – possibly a legal first For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the exciting possibilities and likely limitations of using AI tools for historical research and writing. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 12

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the ominous juxtaposition of Trump sending National Guard troops and Marines to quell mostly peaceful protests in LA with his impending military parade in DC, RFK Jr. firing the entire CDC vaccine advisory board and what this means for the future of vaccines, and a unanimous Supreme Court decision that makes it easier to win “reverse discrimination” cases. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: David Marchese for the New York Times: The Interview: Ocean Vuong Was Ready to Kill. Then a Moment of Grace Changed His Life ; Ocean Vuong for the New York Times (Opinion): My Brother’s Keeper . John: The University of Cambridge: Medieval Murder Maps ; podcast series: Medieval Murders . Juliette: Graham Dunbar for the Associated Press: What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games ; Chelsea Jones for CBS News Miami: Will ICE agents be at Miami’s FIFA Club World Cup games? Sheriff Cordero-Stutz responds after deleted CBP post . Listener chatter from Katie Johnston in Bangor, Northern Ireland: Sophie Hardach for the BBC: How the humble chestnut traced the rise and fall of the Roman Empire For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss favorite dark comedy drama Hacks , which tackles the relationship between two women of differing generations and clashing opinions with witty banter and emotional richness. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk’s dramatic entrance into the fight between Republican factions over details of the Big Beautiful Bill, whether an independent judiciary can survive in the face of new threats, and the implications of Trump’s cruel new travel bans. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Chris Cameron for the New York Times: Trump Orders Investigation of Biden and His Aides ; Matt Brown and Chris Megerian for the Associated Press: Trump orders investigation into Biden’s actions as president, ratcheting up targeting of predecessor ; Amanda Seitz and Geoff Mulvihill for the Associated Press: Trump administration revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions ; Reva B. Siegel and Mary Ziegler in Virginia Law Review : Abortion’s New Criminalization – A History-and-Tradition Right to Health-Care Access After Dobbs . John: The Economist: How to prevent drunken punch-ups ; Maya Goldman for Axios: Seniors’ marijuana use reaches new high ; Benjamin H. Han, Kevin H. Yang, Charles M. Cleland, et al . in JAMA: Trends in Past-Month Cannabis Use Among Older Adults . David: Ian Austen for the New York Times: A 355-Year-Old Company That Once Owned One-Third of Canada Is Shutting Down ; Heather Whiteside for The Conversation: More than a department store: The long, complicated legacy behind Hudson’s Bay Company ; Terina Ria for City Cast Salt Lake: How Julia Reagan Became a Billboard Icon ; City Cast Salt Lake Podcast: The Julia Reagan Billboard Debate, Permanent Farmers Market, MomTok Parody (audio 32:00) . Listener chatter from Sam Rutledge in Eugene, Oregon: 2021 Telephone Game ; Artist Application for 2025 Telephone Game For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether the term “TACO” (“Trump Always Chickens Out”) is a useful way of understanding Trump, and what else might be driving his unpredictable and impulsive actions. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss this week’s Supreme Court decision that validates Trump’s firing of 2 officials without cause thus stealth-overruling a key check on presidents, the power dynamics around who benefits from Trump’s attempts to destroy Harvard, and the challenges and rewards of male friendship in modern life. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Emily Davies for The Washington Post: Trump’s clemency spree extends to ex-gangster, artist, former congressmen ; Aaron Blake for CNN: ‘No MAGA left behind’: Trump’s pardons get even more political John: Jason DeParle for The New York Times: How a Generation’s Struggle Led to a Record Surge in Homelessness ; Malu Cursino for the BBC: Ancient human fingerprint suggests Neanderthals made art ; Cara Tabachnick for CBS News: Last living grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, a link to a bygone era, dies at 96 ; the Miller Center at the University of Virginia: President John Tyler (1790-1862) ; Sherwood Forest: More About Sherwood Forest and John Tyler . David: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: The ‘Man Eater’ Screwworm Is Coming Listener chatter from Jody Litvak in Los Angeles: The Stamp Thief (trailer video 1:58) For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss WilmerHale’s court win this week, in which Judge Leon struck down the president’s politically-motivated executive order against the law firm as unconstitutional. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the huge House tax bill and its broad economic implications with Harvard economist Jason Furman , the DOJ’s selective investigation and prosecution of officials as a method of intimidation, and the Heritage Foundation’s “Project Esther” as the Trump administration’s blueprint for shutting down dissent with accusations of antisemitism. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 17

Emily Bazelon talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success . They discuss the commonalities among families that have multiple high-achieving children, what we can learn from these unique families, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how Trump’s trip to the Middle East is wildly off the scale of any past corruption and offensive to American tradition, the Supreme Court hearing arguments in the first case in Trump’s attempts to limit birthright citizenship, and the buzz about a new book from Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the Trump administration admitting White South Africans as expedited refugees from a nonexistent “genocide” while removing deportation protections from Afghan refugees. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 8

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss anti-Trump sentiment in foreign elections with former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull , why the Trump administration has done relatively little about medication abortion so far and whether it will last, and how looming Medicaid cuts will hurt millions of Americans. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether and how to pay attention and respond when Trump “jokes” about the possibility of serving a third term as president. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 1

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s first 100 days and recent polls, the state of American health policy and underlying DOGE cuts with reporter Dan Diamond , and a potential radical shift in American life if the Supreme Court allows a religious charter school in Oklahoma. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily and David interview John about his professional and personal experience of covering the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome for CBS Evening News. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 24

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Henry Blodget to discuss the financial and political fallout from the President’s threats to fire Fed Chair Powell and subsequent retreat; a Supreme Court case over free exercise of religion that could have broad implications; and why Trump stands by Hegseth after Signalgate Part 2. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily and David are joined by Henry Blodget to discuss the weird and somewhat terrifying AI experiment he conducted for his Substack Regenerator . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 19

John Dickerson talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life . They talk about the essential elements of all creative projects, when you know a project is “done”, how to stay “porous” in the world, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s ramped up attacks on Harvard and international students, the courts flirting with findings of contempt after the administration ignores and mocks court orders, and the ways the Trump tariffs and exemptions invite corruption and “swampiness.” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the implications of the White House cutting the wire services seat from the press pool to explicitly punish the Associated Press. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the self-inflicted chaos of Trump’s tariffs and an escalating trade war with China; the Supreme Court’s careful responses to deportations without due process which leave key questions unanswered; and the brazen attempted heist of a North Carolina Supreme Court seat by Republicans. Emily: Adam Cancryn and Maggie Miller for Politico: Trump orders investigation of two first-term administration aides who criticized him John: Blue Mass (Wikipedia) ; National Museum of American History: Blue Mass Compound, Sugar-coated Pills ; Wallace B. Mendelson for Psychology Today: Heavy Metal Blues: The History of Medicinal Mercury ; Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green; Alka Agrawal for Science: All the President’s Pills . David: Sage McHugh for The Spruce: The 7 Best Moth Repellents the Spruce Has Tested ; Sophie Yarin for The Brink: Pioneering Research from Boston University: Elevating the Clothes-Eating Moth from Pest to Evolutionary Marvel ; Chris Obenschain for HowStuffWorks: What To Do If You Inherit An Old Car Listener chatter from Tim in Solana Beach, California: Jack Dolan for the L.A. Times: As baby great whites cruise among California surfers, science finds (almost) nothing to fear ; Video (3:15), L.A. Times on YouTube For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss favorite artworks they turn to for solace and perspective when chaos and tumult dominates the news. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss liberal judge Susan Crawford’s sweeping victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race; Trump’s new, nearly universal massive tariffs; and the dangerously casual standards the government is using to deport alleged gang members despite acknowledged mistakes. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Stephanie Nolen for the New York Times: Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts . John: Arthur Delaney for HuffPost: Emails Confirm Social Security Administration Canceled Maine Contracts As Political Payback ; Fatima Hussein and Patrick Whittle for the Associated Press: Social Security’s acting leader faces calls to resign over decision to cut Maine contracts . Bodkin on Netflix. David: Book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space , by author Adam Higginbotham ; Movie The Intern with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway (official trailer on YouTube: The Intern ); book Emma by Jane Austen ( Emma ebook at Project Gutenberg; Emma at Jane Austen’s House ). Listener chatter from Emma in Lebanon, New Hampshire: Vermont’s ‘Mr. Maple’ Has Great Stories To Tell For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily talks with Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater about their new book, Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, A Former Used Car Salesman, A Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man With Rats In His Walls Broke Congress . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the hilarious-if-it-wasn’t-so-terrifying accidental sending of secret attack plans from Trump administration officials to a journalist; the chilling capitulation of big law firms to Trump’s onslaught; and similar aggressive efforts to intimidate higher education in the United States. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily and David talk with Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow about the path forward for Democrats and her new book Hate Won’t Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than You Found It . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20

This week, John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Ruth Marcus to discuss the showdown over mass deportation and the government’s defiant response to court orders; a deep data dive by Ezra Klein and David Shor about why Trump won the 2024 election; and this week’s so-called “negotiation” call between Trump and Putin. Listener chatter from Kevin in Portland, Oregon: Orb (Netflix) For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, John and David are joined by Ruth Marcus to discuss the arrest and prosecution of a Houston midwife this week under Texas’s near-total abortion ban. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis And Cheyna Roth Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15

David Plotz talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space . They discuss the feats of engineering that took place, the political cynicism and cost-cutting that played a role in the tragedy, the heroism and tragic loss of the people on board the shuttle, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13

This week, John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem to discuss how Elon Musk and DOGE are endangering Americans; the Trump administration’s attacks on universities and the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil; and the politics of the measles outbreak centered on West Texas. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, John and David are joined by Juliette Kayyem to discuss taking your kids to work: great, weird, terrible, or all of the above? In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Rich Benjamin about his new book, Talk to Me: Lessons From a Family Forged by History . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Trump’s authoritarian address to Congress and whipsawing on tariffs; the outright betrayal of Ukraine and alliance with Russia on naked display in the Oval Office; and the ways the Covid pandemic caused and accelerated change in America. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss Andrew Cuomo, the NYC mayoral race, and its relevance to national politics. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Rich Benjamin about his new book, Talk to Me: Lessons From a Family Forged by History . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the future of the transatlantic alliance and Ukraine in the wake of the UN resolution votes with Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist ; the House GOP’s budget resolution and the reconciliation process; and the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive moves against the press. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss recent legal developments around two death penalty cases in Texas. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Rich Benjamin about his new book, Talk to Me: Lessons From a Family Forged by History . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the apparent corrupt bargain involving NYC mayor Eric Adams and the bonfire of Justice Department resignations; what could possibly go wrong when Musk and DOGE access the IRS and Social Security; and talk to Marc Dunkelman about his new book Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress – and How to Bring it Back . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether the human body could endure a voyage to Mars and if space really is our destiny as humans. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with author Rich Benjamin about his new book, Talk to Me: Lessons From a Family Forged by History . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 15

Emily Bazelon talks with author Rich Benjamin about his new book, Talk to Me: Lessons From a Family Forged by History . They delve into Rich’s complex family history— particularly the experiences of his grandfather, Daniel Fignolé. Fignolé was the president of Hatti in 1957 before being ousted by a coup that involved American influence. Rich and Emily discuss how the political upheaval had a lasting impact on Rich and his family, the immigrant experience of “internalizing America” and the lasting scars of trauma. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the constitutional crisis developing between President Trump and the courts, the attack on NIH and overhead funding, and political sorting among American workplaces. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss their recent favorite TV shows, focusing on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere and its relevance to contemporary American experiences. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yael van der Wouden about her novel, The Safekeep . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk’s speedy assault on federal agencies, talk to guest David Leonhardt about the widening gap between US prosperity and quality of life, and discuss recent aggressive immigration efforts by states. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the New York doctor recently indicted in Louisiana for sending abortion pills there, and the complexities of abortion shield laws. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yael van der Wouden about her novel, The Safekeep . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the chaos and coming fight around impoundment of federal grants; the surprise market shakeup around AI and DeepSeek; and talk with Jonathan Rauch about his new book out next week entitled Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy . For this week’s Slate Plus Episode, Emily, John, and David discuss new data from the 2024 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Assessments and the collapse of student test scores in the US. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yael van der Wouden about her novel, The Safekeep . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Trump’s flurry of executive orders on the federal workforce and immigration; the sweeping January 6 pardons; and the overtly symbolic elements of Trump’s second presidential inauguration. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily and David go behind the scenes with John to discuss his new post as co-anchor for the CBS Evening News. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Yael van der Wouden about her novel, The Safekeep . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Julie Huygen and Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18

Emily Bazelon talks with author Yael van der Wouden about her debut novel, The Safekeep . They discuss why Yael chose a queer love story, how Yael’s own Dutch and Jewish heritage influenced her writing, the history of dispossession after World War II, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Senate confirmation hearings of Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi; the January 6th report of Special Counsel Jack Smith; and the farewell address and lasting legacy of President Joe Biden. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the politics of the L.A. fires. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with David Greenberg about his new biography, John Lewis: A Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem and discuss the status of the Jack Smith reports and Donald Trump’s legal troubles; Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk’s continued cozying up to Trump; and the horrific wildfires raging in Los Angeles. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Juliette, Emily, and David discuss dropping into the memory hole the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with David Greenberg about his new biography, John Lewis: A Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 2

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the presidency and post-presidential life of Jimmy Carter; the infighting of Elon Musk v. MAGA; and the possibilities of citizens’ assemblies with The New Yorker’s Nick Romeo . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for CBS Mornings: John Dickerson on Jimmy Carter’s legacy and a life shaped by faith CBS News: From the archives: Jimmy Carter becomes first president to walk in inaugural parade to White House and WGAL: Harrisburg, 1979: Jimmy Carter visits TMI after partial meltdown Sam Stein and Jonathan Alter for The Bulwark: Jimmy Carter was a misunderstood President. Here’s Why. and His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life by Jonathan Alter Stephen Hess for The Brookings Institution: Jimmy Carter: Why He Failed Todd S. Purdum for The Atlantic: Jimmy Carter Was America’s Most Effective Former President and Gal Beckerman: What Made Jimmy Carter Such a Strange President Andrew Prokop for Vox: Elon Musk is on a collision course with Stephen Miller Jonathan Edwards for The Washington Post: MAGA is fighting a ‘civil war’ over H-1B visas. Here’s what they are. Nick Romeo for The New Yorker: What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do For American Politics? History.com: Ancient Greek Democracy and Simon Hornblower for Britannica: The reforms of Cleisthenes Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab Bürgerrat: Citizens’ assemblies worldwide Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Caucasia: A Novel and Colored Television by Danzy Senna and A Complete Unknown from Searchlight Pictures John: Event Santa Cruz: Dock Ellis No-No Cocktail at Brophy’s – Carmel ; Patrick Hruby for ESPN: The Long, Strange Trip of Dock Ellis: Meet The Man Behind Baseball’s Most Psychedelic Myth. ; and Paul Geisler Jr. for the Society for American Baseball Research: Dock Ellis David: Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story from National Geographic and Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome and Fatherland: A Novel by Robert Harris Listener chatter from Lawrence in Bowling Green, Ohio: Rhiannon Giddens for Silkroad: American Railroad: A Musical Journey of Reclamation For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss what President Joe Biden should do in his final two weeks in the Oval Office. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with David Greenberg about his new biography, John Lewis: A Life . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 26, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz close out a confounding year by answering listeners’ Conundrums. Thank you to Conundrums contributors Mitchell, Alan, Rajesh, Margot, Josh, Rob, Thad, Tobi, Collin, Anna, Glenn, Tom, Aimee, Brad, Phil, Erin, and Sam! For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David conduct a Conundrums lightning-round. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & the Idealist: Margaret Sanger, Mary Ware Dennett, and the Rivalry That Brought Birth Control to America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth with live show support from Katie Rayford Research by Julie Huygen Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 21, 2024

Slate Political Gabfest host David Plotz talks with author David Greenberg about his new book, John Lewis: A Life . They discuss how Lewis went from marching with Martin Luther King, Jr. to an iconic career as a politician, Lewis’s commitment to non-violence, how Greenberg uncovered never-before-seen documents, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the capitulation of American media and corporations to President-Elect Donald Trump; the government shutdown and surrender of House Republicans to Elon Musk; and the appeal of TikTok to the Supreme Court. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the drones over New Jersey. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & the Idealist: Margaret Sanger, Mary Ware Dennett, and the Rivalry That Brought Birth Control to America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fall of the al-Assad dictatorship in Syria with Steven A. Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations; the killing of a health insurance CEO and the acquittal for the death of a troubled man; and the future of American birthright citizenship. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss President Joe Biden’s clemency for nearly 1,500 Americans and pardons for 39 more. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & the Idealist: Margaret Sanger, Mary Ware Dennett, and the Rivalry That Brought Birth Control to America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 5, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Joe Biden’s pardon of son Hunter and President-Elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth; the Democrats’ debate on why they lost and how they might win in the future; and the Supreme Court case on treatment for transgender children. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David answer Conundrums. Or Conundra. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & the Idealist: Margaret Sanger, Mary Ware Dennett, and the Rivalry That Brought Birth Control to America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs and his pick for Treasury Secretary; the next Federal Communications Commission Chair and free speech; and the “bro-economy” with The Atlantic’s Annie Lowrey . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the most fulfilling jobs in America. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & the Idealist: Margaret Sanger, Mary Ware Dennett, and the Rivalry That Brought Birth Control to America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 2024

(Note: The episode was recorded prior to the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz from consideration for Attorney General.) This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections and their involvement with sexual-assault allegations; the Texas elementary school curriculum that incorporates the Bible; and coming changes to health care with The Washington Post’s Dan Diamond . Political Gabfest Live in Brooklyn on December 4 is sold out, but you can still submit your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 2024

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon talks with author Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & The Idealist . They discuss racism and prudishness in the early suffragist movement, how eugenics played a role in the birth control movement, and how two different women fought each other, despite wanting the same things. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 14, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s problematic picks for his Cabinet; the lessons to be learned and way forward for Democrats; and the possibilities and difficulties of mass deportation with Caitlin Dickerson . Join us on December 4 for Political Gabfest Live in Brooklyn! Tickets are on sale now . And send us your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the big wins of Donald Trump and Senate Republicans; the what-next of the second Trump presidency; and the electoral victories and possible setbacks for abortion rights. Join us on December 4 for Political Gabfest Live in Brooklyn! Tickets are on sale now . And send us your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the final week of the presidential campaign; the threats to election integrity; and the consequences of not endorsing. Join us on December 4 for Political Gabfest Live in Brooklyn! Tickets are on sale now . And send us your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s fascism, disinhibition, and age; the state of young men in America with Rachel Simmons ; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Michigan with Nicholas Confessore of The New York Times. Join us on December 4 for Political Gabfest Live in Brooklyn! Tickets are on sale now . And send us your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David talk about Elon Musk following Donald Trump. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Dan Harris about his book, 10% Happier 10th Anniversary Edition: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works – A True Story . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 2024

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson talks with author Dan Harris about his re-released book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self-Help That Actually Works – A True Story in light of the looming November 5 vote. They discuss the steps to coping with election anxiety, how to benefit from group dynamics (instead of letting the doom-scrolling get to you), and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Kamala Harris’s voter outreach to black and Hispanic men; the close races for Republican senators in Nebraska, Texas, and Florida; and the conspiracy theories that endanger FEMA and aid for hurricane victims. And it’s never too early to send us your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David talk about Glossip v. Oklahoma , the recent death-penalty case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the close race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump; Why Legal Experts Are Worried About a Second Trump Presidency ; and Hurricanes Helene and Milton and climate change. And it’s never too early to send us your Conundrums at slate.com/conundrum . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David talk about media endorsements of political candidates. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 3, 2024

This week, Jamelle Bouie of The New York Times joins John Dickerson and David Plotz to discuss the vice-presidential debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance; the deadly conflict between Israel and Iran with Nathan Guttman of Israeli public television; and the federal indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Jamelle, John, and David talk with WyoFile’s Maya Shimizu Harris about the fight between the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and traditional Wyoming Republicans. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what’s happening with the Kamala Harris v. Donald Trump race, what to expect with the Tim Walz v. JD Vance debate, how crazy Mark Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign in North Carolina has become, and whether college can survive careerism. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, Emily, and John discuss the all-important Electoral College vote of Nebraska’s 2ndcongressional district. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 2024

On this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, Political Gabfest host David Plotz talks with author Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything . They discuss how Strout conceives of interconnected stories and characters across her work, including the return of beloved characters like Olive Kitteridge. They also dig into the importance of listening and the ways ordinary lives can be extraordinary. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss political violence and its consequences; the state of the presidential race; and The Rise of Fox News with Slow Burn’s Josh Levin. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Kamala Harris’ win against Donald Trump in the presidential debate; the Harris endorsements by Taylor Swift and Dick and Liz Cheney; and election integrity with Professor Nathaniel Persily of Stanford Law School. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Willa Paskin and Cheyna Roth for Decoder Ring: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… Will He Want a Welfare Check? and Wangjie Hu et al. in Science: Genomic inference of a severe human bottleneck during the Early to Middle Pleistocene transition John: Sasha Weiss for The New York Times Magazine: The Prince We Never Knew ; Mike Wall for Space.com: New record! 19 people are orbiting Earth right now ; and Black Fire by Sonni Cooper David: Hemispheres Listener chatter from Curt Fonger in Daphne, Alabama: Caity Weaver for The New York Times Magazine: America Must Free Itself from the Tyranny of the Penny For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, Emily, and John continue their conversation with Nate Persily on election integrity. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Joshua Leifer about his book, Tablets Shattered . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 5, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the state of the presidential race; the possibility of a hostages-for-Gaza-ceasefire deal with Ruth Margalit of The New Yorker; and foreign interference in U.S. politics. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Joshua Leifer about his book, Tablets Shattered . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate and other campaign goings-on; the January 6th and classified documents cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith; and the national housing shortage with Conor Dougherty of The New York Times. Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Wayne Homes: The Great Debate: Front Porch vs. Back Porch ; Mariah Timms for The Wall Street Journal: Lawsuits Fly Over Election Rules and Who Gets to Vote ; Fin Gómez and Nidia Cavazos for CBS News: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raids Latino Democrats’ homes, including those of LULAC members ; and Frederka Schouten and Tierney Sneed for CNN: Democrats sue to block new GOP-backed Georgia election certification rules John: Glenn Thrush for The New York Times: Would-Be Trump Assassin’s Interest in Violence Went Back to 2019 David: Jonathan Shaw for Harvard Magazine: Mapping the Human Brain Listener chatter from Adam Webb in Chicago: Paul Collins in The Believer: Why Can’t My Son Vote? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, Emily, and John will talk about the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz interview. Bonus content this week will be available on Friday. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Joshua Leifer about his book, Tablets Shattered . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 22, 2024

This week, John Dickerson returns and joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the Democratic National Convention; presidential polls; and overtourism. Here are this week’s chatters: John: @jdickerson on Threads: Background Sounds on iPhone Emily: Tablets Shattered by Joshua Leifer; Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go from Here? ; and Ginia Bellafante for The New York Times: A Bookshop Cancels an Event Over a Rabbi’s Zionism, Prompting Outrage David: David Wade for WBZ News: How do you stop political texts on your phone? ; Presumed Innocent by Apple TV+ and Presumed Innocent by Warner Bros.; and Road House by Prime Video and Road House by United Artists Listener chatter from Scott Rada in La Crosse, Wisconsin: ChatGPT’s Slate pitches for 3,000 B.C. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, available Friday, August 23, David, Emily, and John talk about Kamala Harris’s nomination acceptance speech. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Joshua Leifer about his book, Tablets Shattered . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @slatepoliticalgabfest on Threads / https://www.threads.net/@slatepoliticalgabfest @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Political Gabfest on YouTube / https://www.youtube.com/@slate/podcasts Want more Political Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 17, 2024

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazalon talks with author Joshua Leifer about his new book, Tablets Shattered: The End of An American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life . They discuss Leifer’s experience growing up Jewish in America, the conflict in Gaza, how what it means to be Jewish has evolved, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Marin Cogan of Vox to discuss how the media is reporting on election disinformation and misinformation and Donald Trump’s lies; Vice President Kamala Harris defining Candidate Kamala Harris; and more guns, less violent crime. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Marin Cogan for Vox: What happens when everyone decides they need a gun? and Nicole Narea: Violent crime is plummeting. Why? Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Xochitl Gonzalez for The Atlantic: To Save The World, My Mother Abandoned Me and Phil Klay for The New York Times Magazine: Artists and Activists Both Have a Role. But Not the Same One. Marin: Switzerland Events ; Geneva Events Calendar ; and Berner Zibelemärit (Onion Market) David: Will Sullivan for Smithsonian Magazine: The World’s Largest Iceberg Is Stuck in a Spinning Ocean Vortex and NASA: Iceberg A23a in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica Listener chatter from Simon Jones in Paris, France: Evan Ratliff’s Shell Game podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and Marin talk about pets and babies. See Anonymous in The Cut: Why Did I Stop Loving My Cat When I Had a Baby? . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Roland Allen about his book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Marin Cogan, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz Follow Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Want more Political Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 8, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to discuss the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; Google’s search monopoly and antitrust trial loss; and the guilty-plea deals in three 9/11 cases undone by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Here are this week’s chatters: Juliette: NBC: Paris 2024 and International Olympic Committee: Olympic Channel Emily: International Olympic Committee: Table tennis rules, scoring system and all you need to know ; Jake Rossen for Mental Floss: Why Do Some Olympic Athletes Wear Paper Numbers? ; International Olympic Committee: Sports Swap ; and Maia Hjelmar for GQ Australia: 16 Olympic athletes who succeeded in more than one sport David: Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson in The New York Times: Ten Meter Tower Listener chatter from Fraser Ronald in Ottawa, Canada: Ari Berkowitz for Scientific American: Is Your Nervous System a Democracy or a Dictatorship? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and Juliette talk about RFK Jr. and The Bear. See Clare Malone for The New Yorker: What Does Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Actually Want? In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Roland Allen about his book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Juliette Kayyem, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz Follow Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Want more Political Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the new Democratic line against JD Vance and Donald Trump; the Kamala Harris Veepstakes; and President Biden’s attempt to reform the Supreme Court. Here are this week’s chatters: John: The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship Emily: Social Security and Trends in Wealth Inequality and The Sea Change David: Who Goes Nazi? By Dorothy Thompson Listener chatter from former Slatester Torie Bosche on the Edith Roller Journals For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, John, and Emily about the wildfires raging out west and David’s own escape from Jasper National Park. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . And Gabfest Reads now has its own site! Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Kat Hong Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 2024

This week, hosts Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Washington Post associate editor and columnist Ruth Marcus . They President Joe Biden’s big step down, how the race is evolving with Kamala Harris stepping in as the presumptive nominee, and the fallout of the Secret Service. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman and Cheyna Roth Research by Ethan Oberman Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2024

John Dickerson talks with author Roland Allen about his new book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper . They discuss the historical origins of notebooks, how to keep a notebook and their own personal journeys documenting their lives. If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love an exploration into John Dickerson’s notebooks with his podcast Navel Gazing . Season one is out now. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 18, 2024

This week, John Dickerson is joined by What Next host Mary Harris to discuss Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, the excitement at the Republican National Convention (and why they’re talking about a victory), and the aftermath of the Trump assassination attempt. Here are this week’s chatters: John: The television series, Shetland on BritBox Mary: The New York Times: “ 100 Best Books of the 21st Century ” Listener chatter: Matt from Holland, MI on a visual representation of wealth inequality in America. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, John and Mary talk about what to expect at the Democratic National Convention. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . And Gabfest Reads now has its own site! Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman Research by Kat Hong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 11, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz continue to debate if Joe Biden should stay in the presidential race and who might replace him if he goes; discuss Project 2025; and ponder if Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserves a strange, new respect. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: George Clooney in The New York Times: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee. Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: Biden Has Fallen Into a Psychological Trap Leigh Ann Caldwell, Marianna Sotomayor, Jacqueline Alemany, and Paul Kane for The Washington Post: Pelosi opens the door, subtly, to replacing Biden Merriam-Webster Dictionary: coronate and ideate Tim Alberta for The Atlantic: Trump Is Planning For A Landslide Win Ryan Teague Beckwith for MSNBC: What is Project 2025? The plans for Trump’s second term, explained Judd Legum for Popular Information: What Trump doesn’t want you to know about Project 2025 and The alarming new power Trump will claim in a second term James Taranto for The Wall Street Journal: Strange New Respect Ann E. Marimow for The Washington Post: Justice Amy Coney Barrett is charting her own path on the bench Stephen I. Vladeck in The New York Times: The Most Interesting Justice on the Supreme Court Is Also the Loneliest James LaRock and Jacob Hammond for Balls and Strikes: The Hollow Originalism of Amy Coney Barrett Oyez: Amy Coney Barrett Here are this week’s chatters: John: Joshua Hammer for Smithsonian Magazine: Pablo Escobar’s Abandoned Hippos Are Wreaking Havoc in the Columbia Jungle Emily: Andrea Robin Skinner for the Toronto Star: My stepfather sexually abused me when I was a child. My mother, Alice Munro, chose to stay with him David: Natasha Singer for The New York Times: Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School and City Cast DC Live Podcast Taping on Saturday, July 13 Listener chatter from Researcher Julie: Alexandra Alter for The New York Times: Romance Bookstores Are Booming, Dishing ‘All the Hot Stuff You Can Imagine’ and Elisabeth Egan: Emily Henry on Writing Best-Sellers Without Tours and TikTok ; Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Ellen Gamerman, and Isabella Simonetti for The Wall Street Journal: How Dragons, Magic and Steamy Sex Took Over the Book World ; and Bridgerton on Netflix For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, John, and Emily talk with Professor Emily Wilson about her translation of Homer’s Iliad. See The Iliad by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson . See also The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . And Gabfest Reads now has its own site! Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Ethan Oberman Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 4, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court decisions on presidential immunity in Trump v. United States and the administrative state in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo as well as the future of Joe Biden’s nomination to be re-elected president. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Supreme Court of the United States: Opinions of the Court – 2023 , including Trump v. United States , Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo , Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors , and SEC v. Jarkesy Matt Gluck, Hyemin Han, and Katherine Pompilio for Lawfare: The Supreme Court’s Presidential Immunity Decision Perry Stein for The Washington Post: Justice Sotomayor dissent: ‘The President is now a king above the law’ Gary J. Schmitt and Joseph M. Bessette for the American Enterprise Institute: The Hamilton-Madison Split over Executive Power Dan Pfeiffer for The Message Box: Why the Dem Panic over the Debate is Getting Worse ‘Will Rogers Today’: Will Rogers on Politics Tim Miller for The Bulwark: Dear Dems: The Gaslighting Isn’t Helping Matters Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court strikes down Chevron, curtailing power of federal agencies and Mark Walsh: Consider the wild gray squirrel, Kagan rebukes her colleagues as court overrules Chevron Mark Sherman for AP: The Supreme Court rules for a North Dakota truck stop in a new blow to federal regulators How to Save a Country from The New Republic: The Administrative State Is Under Attack Congressional Research Service: The Major Questions Doctrine Eric Berger for Dorf on Law: Is Loper Bright a Big Deal? and Michael C. Dorf: Could Congress Reinstate Chevron ? Tierney Sneed, Jeanne Sahadi, Tami Luhby, Brian Fung, Ella Nilsen, Jen Christensen, and Katie Lobosco for CNN: How the Supreme Court’s blockbuster ‘Chevron’ ruling puts countless regulations in jeopardy Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Paul Sabin of Yale University and City of New Haven: East Rock park John: Dave McMenamin for ESPN: Lakers pick Bronny James in NBA draft; LeBron ‘emotional’ David: City Cast DC and Ross Andersen for The Atlantic: The Search for America’s Atlantis Listener chatter from Jen in Denver, Colorado: Brandy Zadrozny and Jon Schuppe for NBC News: Who tried to steal Graceland? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about the joys of summer. See Merry Maids: 15 Fun Things to Make the Most of Summer 2024 ; NBC: Olympics Paris 2024 ; and epicurious: Summer . See also Produce bluebook: Nectarine Market Summary and Lemonada Media: Julia Gets Wise with Patti Smith . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . And Gabfest Reads now has its own site! Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 28, 2024

The morning after, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the first presidential debate of 2024 and President Joe Biden’s disastrous performance. Here are some notes and references from the show: CNN Presidential Debate: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump Will Weissert for AP: Here’s why it would be tough for Democrats to replace Joe Biden on the presidential ticket Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the recent Supreme Court rulings on emergency abortions and guns with Yale Law School’s Linda Greenhouse and Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s loss in a New York Democratic primary. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Supreme Court of the United States: Moyle v. United States ; United States v. Rahimi ; and Murthy v. Missouri Greg Stohr, Kimberly Robinson, and Lydia Wheeler for Bloomberg: Supreme Court Poised to Allow Emergency Abortions in Idaho Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court appears to allow emergency abortions in Idaho and Supreme Court upholds bar on guns under domestic-violence restraining orders Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for The Idaho Capital Sun: Idaho’s OB-GYN exodus throws women in rural towns into a care void Eleanor Klibanoff for The Texas Tribune: Emergency rooms not required to perform life-saving abortions, federal appeals court rules Ariane de Vogue, Tierney Sneed, and Devan Cole for CNN: Supreme Court issues report on Dobbs leak but says it hasn’t identified the leaker Mark Joseph Stern for Slate: Supreme Court Inadvertently Reveals Confounding Late Change in Trump Ballot Ruling and Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern: John Roberts Tried to Clean Up Clarence Thomas’ Mess. He May Have Invited More Chaos. Linda Greenhouse in The New York Times: The Supreme Court Steps Back From the Edge and How John Roberts Lost His Court Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: Justice Kavanaugh’s Concurrence in Rahimi Contains a Whopper of an Error (or Worse) and The Hidden Merits Ruling in Murthy v. Missouri Gregory Krieg for CNN: George Latimer defeats House ‘squad’ member Jamaal Bowman in historic New York Democratic primary Michelle Goldberg for The New York Times: The War in Gaza Is Splintering the Democratic Party Ben Davis for The Guardian: The Aipac-funded candidate defeated Jamaal Bowman. But at what cost? Peter Beinart for The Beinart Notebook: Jamaal Bowman’s Courage Jon Murray, Seth Klamann, and Nick Coltrain for The Denver Post: Five takeaways from Colorado’s primaries as voters give Lauren Boebert new life, pick a Denver DA and more Anthony Adragna and Nicholas Wu for Politico: AIPAC offshoot spending heavily to beat Cori Bush in her primary Colby Itkowitz, Emily Guskin, and Scott Clement for The Washington Post: Trump trusted more than Biden on democracy among key swing-state voters Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Dismantling Mass Incarceration: A Handbook for Change by Premal Dharia, James Forman, Jr., and Maria Hawilo and Karin Brulliard for The Washington Post: For millionaire and four hunters, a wild Western lawsuit over public land Linda: Thelma from Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing and Aisha Harris, Bob Mondello, Bedatri D. Choudhury, Liz Metzger, Mike Katzif, and Jessica Reedy for NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour: June Squibb’s ‘Thelma’ is the wrong grandma to mess with David: Hark and David Plotz for Hark’s The Conversation: Campaign Trail 2024 Listener chatter from William Wagner in Green Bay, Wisconsin: Sam Anderson with illustrations by Gaia Alari for The New York Times: Walnut and Me and Sam Anderson: Animal podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David and Emily talk with Linda Greenhouse about Murthy v. Missouri . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the 2024 presidential debates; a possible warning on social media and another ban of smartphones in schools; and the future and failures of one-party rule. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ashley Lopez for NPR: Biden vs. Trump remains close, so next week’s debate offers them an opportunity James Oliphant for Reuters: The Biden-Trump presidential debate: what to watch for Shane Goldmacher and Reid J. Epstein for The New York Times: Trump, Biden and CNN Prepare for a Hostile Debate (With Muted Mics) Josh Barro for Very Serious: Of Course Biden Should Attack Trump for Being a Convicted Felon Dr. Vivek H. Murthy in The New York Times: Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms and Sherry Turkle: Stop Googling. Let’s Talk. Consider This on NPR: ‘An unfair fight’: The U.S. surgeon general declares war on social media Howard Blume and Defne Karabatur for The Los Angeles Times: LAUSD approves cellphone ban as Newsom calls for statewide action Tatum Hunter for The Washington Post: What research actually says about social media and kids’ health Candice L. Odgers in Nature: The great rewiring: is social media really behind an epidemic of teenage mental illness? Mitch Daniels in The Washington Post: Indiana is revealing the real consequences of one-party rule Ballotpedia: State government trifectas Scott S. Greenberger in NC Newsline: Shared power used to be the norm in state government. Now it’s nearly extinct. Nicholas Kristof for The New York Times: What Have We Liberals Done to the West Coast? Here are this week’s chatters: John: Liquor.com: Vesper ; The New York Times: John Hurt in ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ ; and John Hurt in The Guardian: Krapp’s Last Tape: John Hurt on Samuel Beckett’s loner hero Emily: The Innocence Project: Texas Seeks Execution Date for Robert Roberson, An Innocent Man Wrongly Convicted Under Debunked Shaken Baby Hypothesis David: Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University: The Vocation of Journalists in a Time of Testing ; Washington City Paper: Paper, Cut ; and Bruce Weber and Ashley Southall for The New York Times: David Carr, Times Critic and Champion of Media, Dies at 58 Listener chatter from Tristan Hinderliter in Long Island City, New York: Samantha Pearson for The Wall Street Journal: Even Hardened Convicts Are No Match for These Guard Geese For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John talk about the Brat Pack: then and now. See Hulu : Brats and David Blum for New York Magazine: Hollywood’s Brat Pack . See also RHINO: John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) (Official Music Video) and Comedy Bites Vintage: Don’t You Forget About Me (Final Scene) The Breakfast Club . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 15, 2024

David Plotz talks with author Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot . They discuss how much discomfort Annie (a “Cuddle Bunny” type of robot) can feel, how the story of a robot is really about the right to control a body, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Biden’s new asylum policy; the recent European Parliament elections with The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum ; and the jammed congestion pricing in New York City. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Corvid Research: Help, I’ve found a baby crow! Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Hamed Aleaziz for The New York Times: In Shift, Biden Issues Order Allowing Temporary Border Closure to Migrants and Miriam Jordan: Biden Opens a New Back Door on Immigration Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: Biden is doing the right thing on asylum Matt Collette for Vox: Our identity crisis on immigration Alex Nowrasteh for the Cato Institute: The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong Statista: U.S. immigration/migration – statistics & facts Andres Triay, Robert Legare, Nicole Sganga, Pat Milton, and Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS News: ICE arrests 8 with suspected ISIS ties BBC: What is the UK’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda? and Nick Beake and Kostas Kallergis: Greece boat disaster: BBC investigation casts doubt on coastguard’s claims Anthony Faiola, Imogen Piper, Joyce Sohyun Lee, Klaas van Dijken, Maud Jullien, and May Bulman for The Washington Post: With Europe’s support, North African nations push migrants to the desert Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: Trump Is Not America’s Le Pen Sam Jones for The Guardian: EU elections 2024: how did key countries vote and what does it mean? CBS News: NYC Comptroller Brad Lander announces legal challenge to congestion pricing pause Michelle Kaske, Laura Nahmias, and Zach Williams for Bloomberg: New York Governor Shocks Manhattan With Halt to Congestion Pricing Lauren Sforza for The Hill: Murphy says ‘the biggest policy mistake of the past 50 years in New Jersey’ was Christie’s decision to cancel Gateway tunnel project The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Curt Anderson for WJHG: Florida jury finds Chiquita Brands liable for Colombia deaths, must pay $38.3M to family members John: Well, This Is Me: A Cartoon Collection from the New Yorker’s Asher Perlman by Asher Perlman and Taylor Orth for YouGov: In-flight drama: Where Americans sit on airline etiquette David: City Cast Nashville and Hey Nashville ; City Cast Austin and Hey Austin ; Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi; Dartmouth: 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth ; Maxi 4 NBA: Michael Jordan I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. ; and Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison Listener chatter from Jason Anderson in Chicago, Illinois: Neil Steinberg for the Chicago Sun-Times: Sorry, Ken Griffin – Chicagoans will call the Museum of Science and Industry what they please For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about Hunter Biden’s conviction. See Jonathan Lemire for Politico: Biden’s team was waiting for a Hunter verdict. That didn’t make it easier when it arrived. and Abby Phillip for CNN: Hear how conservatives reacted to Hunter Biden’s conviction . See also Perry Stein for The Washington Post: Gun counts Hunter Biden faces are rarely stand-alone charges and John Miller for CNN: Meanwhile, Trump said during pre-sentencing interview he had a gun in Florida, weeks after his conviction . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fallout from Donald Trump’s felony conviction; the spin-up for Hunter Biden’s trial; and the upshot for college speech from campus protests with Charles Homans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nathaniel Rakich for 538: Trump’s conviction may be hurting him – but it’s early Sarah Longwell in The Atlantic: The Two-Time Trump Voters Who Have Had Enough Dafydd Townley for The Conversation: Trump guilty verdict: the fallout for US democracy Politico Magazine: 22 Experts Predict What the Trump Conviction Will Mean for 2024 and Beyond CBS News: Watch: Biden speaks at D-Day commemoration ceremony Perry Stein for The Washington Post: Gun counts Hunter Biden faces are rarely stand-alone charges and Perry Stein, Devlin Barrett, and Matt Viser: How a fight over immunity unraveled Hunter Biden’s plea deal Cris Barrish for WHYY: Lawyers spar in Wilmington court over whether Hunter Biden ‘knowingly’ lied on federal gun purchase form about drug use Eugene Daniels for Politico: Biden issues a rare statement on his son’s criminal trial Mini Racker for Time: How Hunter Biden’s Scandals Compare to Those of Trump’s Family Members Matthew Yglesias for Vox: Nepotism and the 2020 election, explained Emily Bazelon and Charles Homans for The New York Times: The Battle Over College Speech Will Outlive the Encampments Here & Now on WBUR: Pro-Palestinian protesters at Brown reach deal with university Emma H. Haidar and Cam E. Kettles for The Harvard Crimson: Harvard Will Refrain From Controversial Statements About Public Policy Issues Paul Alivisatos in The Wall Street Journal: Why I Ended the University of Chicago Protest Encampment Greta Reich and Caroline Chen for The Stanford Daily: Pro-Palestine protesters detained following occupation of president’s office, face immediate suspension Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Liz Goodwin for The Washington Post: Senate Republicans vote against making contraception a federal right and Ellen Wexler for Smithsonian Magazine: The 150-Year-Old Comstock Act Could Transform the Abortion Debate John: Marco Hernandez, Jeffrey Gettleman, Finbarr O’Reilly, and Tim Wallace for The New York Times: What Ukraine Has Lost and Helena Skinner and Emma Ogao for ABC News: Satellite images show devastation in Sudan 1 year since conflict began David: Alina Chan in The New York Times: Why the Pandemic Probably Started in a Lab, in 5 Key Points Listener chatter from Kevin Cassidy in Sawyer, Michigan: Dyartorin Crafts: How to make Leonardo Da Vinci Bridge using popsicle sticks and HeyDadHey: How To Make A Da Vinci Bridge For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about changes at the Washington Post and the state of journalism. See Oliver Darcy for CNN: Washington Post abruptly replaces executive editor Sally Buzbee in shakeup , David Folkenflik for NPR: New CEO of ‘The Washington Post’ puts former colleagues in power , and David Bauder for AP: With its top editor abruptly gone, The Washington Post grapples with a hastily announced restructure . See also Edward Helmore for The Guardian: ‘The final act’: fears US journalism crisis could destabilize 2024 election and Jack Shafer for Slate: The New Vanity Press Moguls . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 1, 2024

In this week’s essay, John discusses instinct versus obligation, his daughter’s wit, how he has changed since episode one, and more. Notebook Entries: Notebook 58, page 10. September 16, 2021 “You don’t measure your life the way you measure your writing.” - Nan Notebook 75, page 46-47. September 2021 When your dog dies and son goes to college and you are confronted with your life’s work it all boils down to one alarm: the clock is ticking. If a scream is better than a thesis, I was hearing some kind of scream, but what was the thesis? References: Everything Is Copy – HBODocs The Power of Regret – Daniel Pink The Mezzanine – Nicholson Baker “ The Creative Process ” – James Baldwin Slouching Towards Bethlehem – Joan Didion “ Three Paths Toward the Meaning of Life ” - Arthur Brooks for The Atlantic Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the U.S. Senate seats that might turn from blue to red in 2024; The Fall of Roe with The New York Times’s Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer ; and the rise of Lauren Boebert with City Cast Denver’s Bree Davies and Paul Karolyi . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter: 2024 CPR Senate Race Ratings Jonathan Weisman for The New York Times: 10 Senate Races to Watch in 2024 Ben Kamisar for NBC News: Rich people are spending more than ever to run for Congress. A big test is coming in Maryland. Nate Silver for 538: Are The Democrats Screwed In The Senate After 2024? The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer and The New York Times Magazine: The Untold Story of the Network That Took Down Roe v. Wade Ian Ward for Politico: The Group Behind Dobbs Does Not Want to Talk About What Comes Next Bree Davies and Paul Karolyi for City Cast Denver: Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose CBS Colorado: Beto O’Rourke Talks Gun Violence At Aurora Campaign Stop Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Law & Justice Journalism Project : 2024 Fellowship John: Katie Razzall, Darin Graham, and Larissa Kennelly for BBC News: FBI investigating missing ancient treasures from British Museum and Rebecca Mead for The New Yorker: The British Museum’s Blockbuster Scandals David: Meilan Solly for Smithsonian Magazine: Giant Pandas Are Coming Back to Washington, D.C. ; Maura Judkis and Travis M. Andrews for The Washington Post: Let’s argue about the giant pandas ; and Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute: Red panda Listener chatter from Annamarie Smith in Sacramento, California: Sukey Lewis and Julie Small for KQED: On Our Watch: New Folsom For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about pronatalism and the Collins family. See Jenny Kleeman for The Guardian: America’s premier pronatalists on having ‘tons of kids’ to save the world: ‘There are going to be countries of old people starving to death’ . See also Luke Munn for The Conversation: Pronatalism is the latest Silicon Valley trend. What is it – and why is it disturbing? ; Sarah Jones for Intelligencer: There’s Nothing New About Pronatalism ; and The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank by David Plotz. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 25, 2024

In this week’s essay, John discusses Mothers’s Day, playing tennis with the Attorney General, medical scares, and more Notebook Entries: Notebook 19, page 16. April 2011 Is it possible, through applied thought, to become systematic in an approach to life? If you were to do that how would you proceed? Notebook 16, page 6. July 26, 2005 “I’m here with a bunch of midshipmen and wondering what there is to do around here.” - Boy trying to hit on a girl working @ The Reef in Castine, ME. Notebook 15, page 30. September 2004 Head problems: Sunday 9/5 morning Tuesday 9/7 evening Wednesday 9/8 before lunch Notebook 22, page 22. April 24, 2014 Question: What did you want to be when you were a kid? What do you want to be now? Why the difference? Notebook 9. 1995 “That’s just the ticket the doctor ordered” Notebook 13. 2001 “Free as a clam” Notebook 17, page 67. December 2006 The man sitting next to me has a face on the boil and garlic and old booze on his breath. When he sleeps, he sighs. For this leg of the flight I am wrapped in his breathy gumbo. Notebook 15, page 7. April 2004 “In all these there are messages for those who use their reason.” - Quran quotation Notebook 15, page 80. 2005 Would like to meet her. Notebook 54. July 26, 2020 “Writing requires a reader. You can’t do it alone.” - John Cheever Notebook 15, page 71. 2005 In the light of sobriety not sure what this means Notebook 13. March 2001 Yesterday I played tennis with John Ashcroft the atty. general of the U.S. Notebook 13, page 108. December 11, 2001 Anne just called. There is one little heartbeat beating in her today. Everything is okay for this hurdle. I must say, I was really worried. Notebook 20, page 10. December 24, 2013 “Sometimes Dad says weird stuff, just ignore him” - Anne to kids about me Notebook 15, page 84. “Life goes on,” Hayawi says. “We are in the middle of a war [in Iraq] and we still smoke the water pipe.” Notebook 45, page 24. April 16, 2019 Our savior lives by the manner in which we live. Notebook 19, page 23. 2011 People on their mobile phones in England say goodbye a lot: “Cheers, alright then, speak to you soon, ta.” (That’s four ways of saying goodbye). Amelia tells the story of a man who thanked a ticket-taker by saying “Ta, magical, cheers.” References: Disaster on the Penobscot - John Henry Fay for Naval History Magazine One Man’s Meat by E.B. White The House at Allen Cove I E.B. White House Tou r - New England Magazine Little Plastic Castle - Ani Defranco “ Two Years of War: Taking Stock ” - Anthony Shadid for the Washington Post Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 23, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s right-wing flag-flying; David Leonhardt ’s take on A New Centrism ; and OpenAI’s use – or not – of Scarlett Johansson’s voice. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jodi Kantor for The New York Times: At Justice Alito’s House, a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol on Display ; Jodi Kantor, Aric Toler, and Julie Tate: Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home ; Jodi Kantor and Abbie VanSickle: Display at Alito’s Home Renews Questions of Supreme Court’s Impartiality ; and Abbie VanSickle: What Do Judicial Rules Say About Alito and a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol? V: The Original Mini Series on Prime Video Mark Sherman for AP: Roberts, Trump spar in extraordinary scrap over judges and Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst: Supreme Court Justices Barrett and Sotomayor, ideological opposites, unite to promote civility David Leonhardt for The New York Times: The Rise of a New Centrism and A New Centrism Is Rising in Washington John Dickerson for Gabfest Reads and New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West by David E. Sanger Bobby Allyn for NPR: Scarlett Johansson says she is ‘shocked, angered’ over new ChatGPT voice Nitasha Tiku for The Washington Post: OpenAI didn’t copy Scarlett Johansson’s voice for ChatGPT, records show and Molly Roberts: Scarlett Johansson’s ChatGPT face-off confirms our fears about AI Midler v. Ford Motor Co., 849 F.2d 460 (9th Cir. 1988) on Justia Blake Brittain for Reuters: New York Times denies OpenAI’s ‘hacking’ claim in copyright fight Michael Sainato for The Guardian: Consultant behind deepfaked Biden robocall indicated for Democratic primary scheme Her by Warner Bros. Pictures Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Hacks on Max John: Lauren Aratani for The Guardian: Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession – and most blame Biden David: 99% Invisible: Towers of Silence Listener chatter from Aaron Tax in Washington, D.C.: Andrea Sachs for The Washington Post: A beloved alley cat now lives in the Watergate. Was she kidnapped, or rescued? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about Republican politicians’ answers to the question: will you accept the results of the 2024 presidential election? See Alec Hernandez for NBC News: Here’s what top Trump VP picks say about the 2020 election results – and whether they’ll accept the 2024 outcome ; Justin Green for Axios: Listen to Republicans on whether they’ll accept 2024 election results ; and Patrick Svitek for The Washington Post: Top Republicans, led by Trump, refuse to commit to accept 2024 election results . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2024

Emily Bazelon talks with authors Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy, about their new book, Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals . They discuss the evolution of animal treatment in America, moral duties to animals, and how to care about more animals than our pets. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2024

In this week’s essay, John discusses the differences between moving around New York in 1991 and 2021; remembering 9/11 twenty years later; and more. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 12. September 2021 Notebooks to Garret Notebook 75, page 13. September 2021 Can you make a typo with handwriting? What’s a typo with handwriting called? Notebook 4. 1991 We have to unplug the light to run the vacuum, so we do a lot of our vacuuming in the dark. Notebook 75. September 11, 2021 Fritz want something? References: Smythson Notebooks in Blue 9/11 ceremonies, events and coverage on 20th anniversary - CBS News Richard Drew on Photographing the “Falling Man” of 9/11 - CBS News Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest New York Times presidential poll and the Maryland primary results; the presidential debates; and who’s talking inside and outside Donald Trump’s Manhattan trial courtroom. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nate Cohn for The New York Times: Trump Leads in 5 Key States, as Young and Nonwhite Voters Express Discontent With Biden and Battleground Polling Shows Ticket-Splitting Pattern Aaron Navarro for CBS News: Biden to tout Microsoft expansion in Wisconsin Matt Bush for NPR: Maryland Democrats pick Angela Alsobrooks to take on Hogan for open U.S. Senate seat Betsy Klein, Michael Williams, and Kristen Holmes for CNN: Biden and Trump agree to 2 presidential debates, with first set for June 27 on CNN @JoeBiden on X Perry Stein for The Washington Post: Michael Cohen seemed to have delivered for prosecutors – if jurors believe him Ed Mazza for HuffPost: George Conway Goes There With Scathing Personal Challenge For ‘Wuss’ Trump Stephen Collinson for CNN: Why Johnson’s appearance at Manhattan courthouse stands out among Republicans backing up Trump Politico: ‘Embarrassing’: Romney calls out GOP who attended Trump trial Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Netflix’s Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know ; HBO’s The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart ; Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing’s Joan Baez: I Am A Noise ; Netflix’s The Greatest Night In Pop ; HBO’s Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed ; Netflix’s Wham! ; and Think Film’s Festival Express John: The Daily Report with John Dickerson for CBS News David: Brown Revisited: Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Warner Bros. Pictures’ They Shall Not Grow Old Listener chatter from Rob Jones in Seattle, Washington: SmarterEveryDay on YouTube: How to Surface a Submarine in the Arctic Ocean For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily talks with Azeen Ghorayshi of The New York Times about The Cass Review . See Azeen Ghorayshi for The New York Times: Hilary Cass Says U.S. Doctors Are ‘Out of Date’ on Youth Gender Medicine . See also Claire Rush for AP: Idaho’s ban on youth gender-affirming care has families desperately scrambling for solutions and Jonathan Chait for the Intelligencer: CPAC Speaker Urges Eradication of Trans Rights . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 11, 2024

In this week’s essay, John discusses the Pomodoro Routine (among other productivity routines), why he especially needs a meditation pillow, and how a particular teacher captured his heart. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, pages 8 and 9. September 2021 OReinstating the Pomodoro Routine… Starting Marshall again… Write Brice… Send Laura the larger project list… Work on budget to get accounts in order Meditation pillow upstairs. Notebook 18. December 6, 2009 Instapaper Alpha Smart Richard Hugo on poetry Degrees of Gray In Philipsburg. Notebook 18, page 105. June 4, 2011 Visit to Mr. Mead. He was playing piano as we entered. [During our conversation, he asked]: do you find your work fulfilling? Do you have a close circle of friends? Questions about life and living it well… References: Getting Things Done - David Allen The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey The Questions That Will Get Me Through the Pandemic - John Dickerson 43 Folders - Merlin Mann The Hardest Job in the World - John Dickerson Essays of E.B. White “ Merlin Mann ” - Tina Essmaker for The Great Disconnect More about Ernest “Boots” Mead “ Because Buying New Running Shoes is More Fun Than Actually Running ” - Merlin Mann for 43 Folders Atomic Habits - James Clear The Creative Habit - Twyla Tharp Free Agent Nation - Daniel Pink “ Sharon Salzberg On: Openness, Not Believing the Stories You Tell Yourself, and Why the Most Powerful Tools Often Seem Stupid at First ” - Ten Percent Happier Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Stormy Daniels’s testimony in Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial; marijuana rescheduling; and the media’s role and responsibility in defending democracy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Josh Gerstein for Politico: Stormy spoke. Trump fumed. Jurors were captivated – but also cringed. Ivana Saric for Axios: Status of Trump’s criminal cases Li Zhou for Vox: Marijuana could be classified as a lower-risk drug. Here’s what that means. Sam Tabachnik for The Denver Post: Black market marijuana grows are popping up faster than law enforcement can take them down. But is legalization the cause? John Ingold for The Colorado Sun: What have we learned about the arguments for and against legalized marijuana in the past 10 years? Nathaniel Meyersohn for CNN: The dark side of the sports betting boom C-SPAN: President Biden Remarks at White House Correspondents’ Dinner Ben Smith for Semafor: Joe Kahn: ‘The newsroom is not a safe space’ Dan Pfeiffer for Message Box: Why Biden Won’t Do a New York Times Interview and A Response to the Editor of the New York Times Matthew Yglesias and Brian Beutler for the Politix Podcast: The Times, They Aren’t A Changin’ Charles Homans for The New York Times Magazine: Donald Trump Has Never Sounded Like This Eli Stokols for Politico: The Petty Feud Between the NYT and the White House Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice by David S. Tatel John: Gina Kolata for The New York Times: Locks of Beethoven’s Hair Offer New Clues to the Mystery of His Deafness David: Randy Yohe for West Virginia Public Broadcasting: W.Va. Gubernatorial Campaign Attack Ads Vilify Transgender Children and Kyndall Cunningham for Vox: The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud, explained Listener chatter from Justin and Katie in Columbus, Ohio: Keziah Weir for Vanity Fair: The Vatican’s Secret Role in the Science of IVF . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Emily Lawler , Detroit Free Press. See Emily Lawler for the Detroit Free Press: Voters’ voices in Saginaw County ; John Wisely: Legal troubles don’t dampen Trump enthusiasm as he visits Michigan ; and Paul Egan: As Trump visits, Michigan bellwether Saginaw County is feeling its political juice . See also Arpan Lobo: Michigan lawmaker says ‘illegal invaders’ landed at DTW. They were NCAA basketball teams. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 4, 2024

In this week’s essay, John discusses an onboarding memo for his assistant Laura, and recounts his early days living and working in New York City. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75 Onboard memo for Laura Notebook 3, page 44. May 1991 June 17 start job. Good stuff Notebook 3, page 46. May 1991 Tips on buying renting in NYC Ask about broker 20s and 30s East side. Murry Hill Live on no major avenue Interest bearing account for security deposit Medeco locks Notebook 4, page 15 Scared standing on 34th and Broadway $6 cab fare Notebook 4, page 42 Getting lost in the village References: The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman Medeco Locks “ Here is New York ” by E.B. White “ Silly Job Interview ” - Monty Python John Cleese on Creativity in Management Herbie Hancock: Miles Davis’ Essential Lesson On Mistakes Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Host John Dickerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the increasing and increasingly violent campus protests of Israel’s war in Gaza, Emily’s article on How ‘History and Tradition’ Rulings Are Changing American Law , and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s chances of a vice presidential nomination after killing her dog and writing about it. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: April Rubin, Kavya Beheraj, Tory Lysik, and Will Chase for Axios: Mapped: Where pro – Palestinian student protesters have been arrested Sharon Otterman and Santul Nerkar for The New York Times: As Protests Grow, Universities Choose Different Ways to End Unrest Mary Harris for Slate’s What Next podcast: Columbia Cracks Down The University of Chicago: Report on the University’s Role in Political and Social Action Jonathan Chait for New York’s Intelligencer: Why the Right Loves the Anti-Israel Encampments Abigail Hauslohner for The Washington Post: House passes antisemitism bill over complaints from First Amendment advocates Alexander Bolton for The Hill: Democrats split over campus protest crackdown Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: How ‘History and Tradition’ Rulings Are Changing American Law Regulations on YouTube Calvinball on Wikipedia The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law: A Conversation with Justice Amy Coney Barrett Ian Millhiser for Vox: The Supreme Court appears poised to rein in its worst decision on guns Ulysses S. Grant Revealed: President Ulysses S. Grant On The U.S. Constitution Martin Pengelly for The Guardian: Trump VP contender Kristi Noem writes of killing dog – and goat – in new book PBS American Experience: Nixon’s Checkers Speech Marc A. Caputo for The Bulwark: Trump: ‘Marco has this residency problem.’ Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Gal Beckerman for The Atlantic: A Prominent Free-Speech Group Is Fighting for Its Life John: Sonja Anderson for Smithsonian Magazine: This Newly Deciphered Papyrus Scroll Reveals the Location of Plato’s Grave David: Kenny Holston for The New York Times: Inside a Navy Submarine Navigating the Arctic Listener chatter from Christina in Philadelphia: Marina Bolotnikova for Vox: Mega drive-throughs explain everything wrong with American cities ; Wikipedia: Third place ; Jake Blumgart for The Philadelphia Inquirer: Starbucks plans a new Center City location with no restrooms or seating ; and Marin Cogan for Vox: The deadliest road in America . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Professor Deborah Tuerkheimer about the Harvey Weinstein case in New York. See Hurubie Meko and Maia Coleman for The New York Times: Prosecutors Say They Plan to Retry Harvey Weinstein as Soon as the Fall and Maria Cramer: Here are five takeaways from the overturned conviction . See also Deborah Tuerkheimer for CNN: Reversal in Harvey Weinstein case isn’t the demise of sex crimes prosecution and Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers by Deborah Tuerkheimer. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 2024

In this week’s essay, John discusses the art of attention and how to develop the skill of slow-looking. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 8. September 2021 1016 Notebook 1, page 54. June 1990 - Magna carta 1215 at Salisbury - Girls skipping - The Haunch of Venison - Chris References: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum A Little History of the World by E.H Gombrich Artist Jeff Koons “ The Art of Divination: D.H. Lawrence on the Power of Pure Attention ” by Maria Popova for The Marginalian “ Gabfest Reads: A Woman’s Life in Museum Wall Labels ” for Political Gabfest One Woman Show by Christine Coulson “ Grammy-winning artist Jason Isbell talks about the craft of songwriting and his latest music ” for CBS News A Journey Around My Room by Xavier De Maistre “ Just think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind ” by Timothy Wilson, et.al for Science “ Our Rodent Selfies, Ourselves ” by Emily Anthes for the New York Times One Man’s Meat by E.B. White Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Host John Dickerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the testimony of prosecution witness David Pecker in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, and the Supreme Court argument on presidential immunity. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matthew Haag for The New York Times: David Pecker, Ex-National Enquirer Publisher, Details How He Aided Trump Richard L. Hasen in the Los Angeles Times: Opinion: Why it’s hard to muster even a ‘meh’ over Trump’s New York criminal trial J. David Goodman, David Montgomery, Jonathan Wolfe, and Jenna Russell for The New York Times: Campus Protests Over Gaza Intensify Amid Pushback by Universities and Police Spectator Editorial Board for the Columbia Spectator: Is Columbia in crisis? Minouche Shafik in The Wall Street Journal: Columbia University President: What I Plan to Tell Congress Tomorrow David Schizer in CNN: Opinion: To combat antisemitism, start by following the law Michael C. Dorf for Verdict: Federal Antidiscrimination Law Does Not Require Campus Crackdowns J Oliver Conroy for The Guardian: ‘Media firestorm’: Israel protest at professor’s home sparks heated free-speech debate C-SPAN: Supreme Court Hears Case on Former President Trump’s Immunity Claim Ann Marimow for The Washington Post: Supreme Court seems poised to allow Trump trial, but not immediately Ian Millhiser for Vox: Donald Trump already won the only Supreme Court fight that mattered Here are this week’s chatters: John: Stephen Clark for Ars Technica: Recoding Voyager 1—NASA’s interstellar explorer is finally making sense again Emily: Abbie VanSickle for The Washington Post: Supreme Court Appeals Sharply Divided in Emergency Abortion Case and Angela Palermo for The Spokesman-Review: Idaho has lost 22% of its practicing obstetricians in the last 15 months, report say David: Exploring a Secret Fort on airbnb; City Cast: Work with us. ; and Eve O. Schaub for The Washington Post: Don’t waste your time recycling plastic Listener chatter from Michael Starr in New York City: Patrick Page in All The Devils Are Here ; Richard the Third by Paul Murray Kendall; and Nancy Shute for NPR: No Hunch Here: Richard III Suffered From Scoliosis Instead For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about a question before the Supreme Court: can a city regulate homelessness? See Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Court divided over constitutionality of criminal penalties for homelessness ; Esteban L. Hernandez and Meira Gebel for Axios: Supreme Court weighs case that could affect Denver’s approach to homelessness and Alayna Alvarez: Denver’s urban camping ban brings 10 years of turmoil ; and Eli Saslow and Todd Heisler for The New York Times: A Sandwich Shop, a Tent City and an American Crisis . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 21, 2024

In this week’s essay, John dives deep into the loss of his beloved dog, George, the essayist’s dilemma, the comfort of quiet mornings, and more. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 5. September 5, 2021 I go to the morning alone. Notebook 75, page 6. September 6, 2021 Phantom nails on the stairs References: “ Every Dog Is a Rescue Dog ” by John Dickerson for The Atlantic “ Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds ” by Miho Nagasawa et.al for Science Haikus by Jennifer Gurney “ Which Pet Will Make You Happiest? ” by Arthur C. Brooks for The Atlantic “ The Family Dog Is in Sync With Your Kids ” by Gretchen Reynolds for The New York Times Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Host John Dickerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 20, 2024

John Dickerson talks with author David E. Sanger about his new book , New Cold Wars . They discuss how Russia and China came to reach their new levels of power, the role the Middle East and Obama Administration played in all of this, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s first criminal trial and the Supreme Court argument on a criminal charge related to another Trump case and talk with The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich about his profile of Governor Gavin Newsom . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Norman Eisen for CNN: Don’t call it a ‘hush money’ case Brian Beutler for the Politix podcast: Alvin Bragg’s Liberal Critics Are Wrong Ben Protess, Jonah E. Bromwich, Maggie Haberman, and Wesley Parnell for The New York Times: Prosecutors and Defense Lawyers Begin to Seat Jurors for Trump Trial and Maggie Haberman: A Weary Trump Appears to Doze Off in Courtroom Ahead of Criminal Trial David Bauder for AP: Trump trial: Why can’t Americans see or hear what is going on inside the courtroom? Ann E. Marimow for The Washington Post: Supreme Court divided over key charge against Jan. 6 rioters and Trump Michael C. Dorf for Dorf On Law: The Ejusdem is Loose -- SCOTUS Insurrectionist Case Edition Mark Leibovich for The Atlantic: Gavin Newsom Can’t Help Himself HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher: Gov. Gavin Newsom Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Uri Berliner in The Free Press: I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust. ; David Folkenflik for NPR: NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns with blast at new CEO ; Alicia Montgomery for Slate: The Real Story Behind NPR’s Current Problems ; A24’s Civil War ; and HBO’s The Last of Us John: The Annie E. Casey Foundation ; diversitydatakids.org by Brandeis’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management: Child Opportunity Index (COI) ; Aliya Schneider for The Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘They’re cheating.’ President Biden floats higher tariffs on Chinese imports in Pittsburgh speech ; John Dickerson for Slate’s Navel Gazing podcast; and CBS News Prime Time with John Dickerson David: Trevor Aaronson, Sam Eifling, and Michael Mooney for Audible’s Hold Fast podcast and Jacques Billeaud for AP: Backpage founder will face Arizona retrial on charges he participated in scheme to sell sex ads Listener chatter from Josh in Brisbane, Australia: Ross Scott’s website Stop Killing Games For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Anna Sale about her podcast, Death, Sex & Money , which is now on Slate. See Death, Sex & Money podcast: A Sociopath’s Guide to Death, Sex, and Money and Patrick Page in All The Devils Are Here . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2024

In this week’s essay, John remembers dropping his son off at college, and trying to hold onto moments and feelings while you can. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 6. September 2021: They chose you. Notebook 15, page 4. April 2004: Sitting with Brice by waterfall. Throwing rocks in stream. Loading sand from dump truck and loader and back again. References: What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Songwriter Nick Cave Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Host John Dickerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the revival of Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban; the end of No Labels; and the past and future of presidential debates. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Mary Jo Pitzl and Reagan Priest for The Arizona Republic: Arizona House GOP halt Democrats’ effort to overturn Civil War era law in chaotic session Dan Balz for The Washington Post: The Arizona Supreme Court just upended Trump’s gambit on abortion Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: The Man Who Snuffed Out Abortion Rights Is Here to Tell You He Is a Moderate Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah for NPR’s All Things Considered: Abortion was once common practice in America. A small group of doctors changed that A.O. Sulzberger Jr. for The New York Times: Reagan Says Ban On Abortion May Not Be Needed David Faris for Slate: Why No Labels Didn’t Stick Slate’s Political Gabfest: The “No Mugshot” Edition Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: Has No Labels Become a Stalking Horse for Trump? Michael H. Brown for The Washington Post: Joseph Lieberman, senator and vice-presidential nominee, dies at 82 Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Dartmouth’s Leslie Center for the Humanities: People, Place, Podcasts: Emily Bazelon and Erica Heilman in Conversation and the Rumble Strip podcast John: Slate’s Navel Gazing podcast and Rachel Wolfe for The Wall Street Journal: The Calls for Help Coming From Above the Poverty Line David: Hannah Seo for The New York Times: Is It Better to Brush Your Teeth Before Breakfast or After? Listener chatter from Mark Phillips in Baltimore, Maryland: Ben Crair for The New Yorker: The Magic of Bird Brains For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss AI communications with loved ones after they die. See Walter Marsh for The Guardian: Laurie Anderson on making an AI chatbot of Lou Reed: ‘I’m totally, 100%, sadly addicted’ and Ira Glass for This American Life: The Ghost in the Machine . See also Niamn Ancell for Cybernews: These apps could resurrect your relatives using artificial intelligence ; Rebecca Carballo for The New York Times: Using A.I. to Talk to the Dead ; and Tamara Kneese for Wired: Using Generative AI to Resurrect the Dead Will Create a Burden for the Living . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 6, 2024

In this week’s essay, John Dickerson looks back on a Sunday morning in 2021, and ruminates on the empty spaces left behind by the people that once filled our lives. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 6. September 5, 2021: “Oh my god. We dropped our son at college and our dog is dead.” – Anne. References: “Sunday Morning Coming Down” by Johnny Cash “ The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ” by T.S. Eliot “ When Someone You Love is Upset, Ask This One Question ” by Jancee Dunn for the New York Times “ A Case of ‘Sunday Neurosis’ ” by Jena McGregor for the Washington Post “ Waking Early Sunday Morning ” by Robert Lowell Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing by Brad Stulberg Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed “Alabama Pines” by Jason Isbell Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Host John Dickerson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2024

Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Scott Bauer for AP: Wisconsin voters approve ban on private money support for elections and Unfair Share: The Gerrymandered Chocolate Bar on Kickstarter John: Joey Roulette and Will Dunham for Reuters: Exclusive: White House directs NASA to create time standard for the moon and John Dickerson Introduces: Navel Gazing David: Corvid Research: All in the (crow) family ; 3 Body Problem on Netflix; The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu; and Foundation and For All Mankind on Apple TV+ Listener chatter from Kim in Spartanburg, S.C.: The fish doorbell and thunder_keck on TikTok: fish doorbell season is back For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the April 8 total solar eclipse. See John Dickerson and David Parkinson for CBS News: Massive storm system threatening millions across U.S. See also Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival ; Annie Dillard for The Atlantic: “Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him.” ; The Guardian: Columbus and the night of the bloody moon ; and John Uri for NASA: Eclipses Near and Far . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3, 2024

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson has been a journalist for more than three decades, reporting about presidential campaigns, political scandals, the evolving state of our democracy. Along the way, he’s also been recording his observations in notebooks he has carried in his back pocket. On the Navel Gazing podcast, John Dickerson invites you to join him in figuring out what these thirty years of notebooks mean: sorting out what makes a life --or a day in a life— noteworthy. Listen to Navel Gazing every week, starting April 6th, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Supreme Court (again) and abortion (again); Donald Trump’s ups and downs in New York courtrooms and Ronna McDaniel’s rise and fall on NBC; and Gallup’s World Happiness Report 2024 . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener for The Washington Post: Supreme Court skeptical of efforts to restrict access to abortion pill Sierra Club v. Morton, 405 U.S. 727 (1972) 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, et al., 600 US _ (2023) Juhi Doshi for ABC News: What is the Comstock Act? The 151-year-old law mentioned in SCOTUS abortion pill case SCOTUSblog: Idaho v. United States Pam Belluck for The New York Times: What to Know About the Federal Law at the Heart of the Latest Supreme Court Abortion Case Geoff Mulvihill and Kimberlee Kruesi for AP: Which states could have abortion on the ballot in 2024? The New York Times: Keeping Track of the Trump Criminal Cases and Michael M. Grynbaum and John Koblin: NBC News Cuts Ties With Ronna McDaniel After Network Firestorm Brian Beutler for Off Message: The Political Economy Of Normalization Gallup: World Happiness Report 2024 Clare Ansberry for The Wall Street Journal: U.S. No Longer Ranks Among World’s 20 Happiest Countries The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Wall Street Journal: Evan Gershkovich: Updates on the WSJ Reporter Detained in Russia David: Tim Newcomb for Popular Mechanics: A Controversial Pyramid Isn’t Actually 27,000 Years Old—and Now, the Mystery Deepens and Paul M.M. Cooper for Fall of Civilizations Podcast: Episode 18 Is Out Now! John: National Archives: From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [20 August 1787] ; John Dickerson for Slate’s Navel Gazing podcast (coming soon); John Dickerson on Court TV (not available); Emily Bazelon on C-SPAN ; and David Plotz on C-SPAN: Washington Journal Newspaper Roundtable . Listener chatter from Phil Goldstein in Washington, D.C.: The New York Times: Flesh Descending In A Shower.; An Astounding Phenomenon In Kentucky--Fresh Meat Like Mutton Or Venison Falling From A Clear Sky. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily answer audience questions. See Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with special thanks to Patrick Fort for on-site production and Katie Rayford for logistics support Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court’s busy week on government speech and immigration authority; Donald Trump’s bond issue and words problem; and COVID learning loss. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now; get ‘em before they’re gone. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Court sympathetic to NRA’s free speech claim and Supreme Court skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies Lindsay Whitehurst for AP: Supreme Court appears receptive to NRA free-speech lawsuit against a former New York state officia Hogan Gore for the Austin American-Statesman: 5th Circuit Court of Appeals leaves SB 4 on hold after dueling orders on Texas immigration law Ben Protess, Maggie Haberman, and Kate Christobek for The New York Times: Trump Spurned by 30 Companies as He Seeks Bond in $454 Million Judgment Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: Fair’s fair: Trump should be able to appeal the judgment against him and Catherine Rampell: Trump can’t find anyone to spot him $424 million. Would you? Sarah Mervosh, Claire Cain Miller, and Francesca Paris for The New York Times: What the Data Says About Pandemic School Closures, Four Years Later Slate Political Gabfest: The “Stop Counting Now” Edition Weakley County, TN Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Small Game: A Novel by Blair Braverman and Small Game: A Novel at the DC Public Library John: Ramishah Maruf for CNN: MacKenzie Scott donates $640 million after open call for nonprofits and Ahjané Forbes for USA Today: Ticketless passenger found in Delta flight’s lavatory, forcing plane to turn around David: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: DNA Tests Are Uncovering The True Prevalence Of Incest and City Cast: Work with us. Listener chatter from Joshua Weaver in Austin, Texas: Matthew Brown for AP: Montana man used animal tissue and testicles to breed ‘giant’ sheep for sale to hunting preserves For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about The Mysterious Case of The Reappearing Princess. See Karla Adam for The Washington Post: Will Princess Kate video put an end to royal communications mess? and Mark Landler for The New York Times: The Royals Tried to Control Their Image Online. The Internet Had Other Ideas. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2024

Emily Bazelon talks with author Tana French about her new book, The Hunter . They discuss the different perspectives French uses throughout her books, how French happened into writing mysteries, writing as an outsider to Ireland, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and Special Counsel Robert Hur’s congressional testimony; crime and punishment with the Wren Collective’s Jessica Brand ; and Congress’s move to ban the Chinese government from TikTok. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener Chatter to gabfest@slate.com and you might be picked to chatter live. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: C-SPAN: 2024 State of the Union Address and Former Special Counsel Hur Testifies on Biden Classified Documents Report, Part 1 and Part 2 House Committee on the Judiciary: Recorded Interview: Robert Hur, President Biden Transcript , Date of Interview: October 8 , and Date of Interview: October 9 Kaitlan Collins for CNN: Fmr. Mar-a-Lago employee who helped move classified docs speaks with CNN Adam Serwer for The Atlantic: How Hur Misled the Country on Biden’s Memory Jack Goldsmith in The New York Times: Jack Smith and Robert Hur Are the Latest Examples of a Failed Institution Erica Pandey and Russell Contreras for Axios: Blue cities go red with conservative policies on crime Michael Barbaro and Mike Baker for The New York Times’s The Daily podcast: Oregon Decriminalized Drugs. Voters Now Regret It. Madaleine Rubin for The Texas Tribune: Sean Teare unseats Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in primary Stefanie Dazio for AP: Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón advances to runoff Jeffrey M. Jones for Gallup: More Americans See U.S. Crime Problem as Serious Stephanie Sy and Shoshana Dubnow for the PBS News Hour: As concerns grown around surging violent crime, the numbers tell a different story David Leonhardt for The New York Times: Should China Own TikTok? CBS News: FBI Director Wray says China targeting U.S. civilian infrastructure, economic security Laura He for CNN: If the US bans TikTok, China will be getting a taste of its own medicine CBS Mornings: Jon Stewart on why he’s going back to “The Daily Show” anchor desk Mike Pence on Fox News: TikTok is digital fentanyl and Congress, Biden must act before it’s too late Josh Dawsey and Jeff Stein for The Washington Post: How Donald Trump switched to defending TikTok Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Josh Gerstein for Politico: Federal courts move against ‘judge-shopping’ and John Dickerson and Jessica Levinson for CBS News Prime Time: New rules aim to prevent “judge shopping” in major court cases John: Emily Goulet for Philadelphia: Fight Like a Girl: The New Wave of High-School Wrestling and Alex Bellos for The Guardian: He ate all the pi: Japanese man memorises π to 111,700 digits David: Lend A Box Listener chatter from Steven in Queens, New York: New York Times: Soon Finds Mother For His 5 Children; Widower Discovers Six Women Eager to Marry Him and Care for His Brood. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about marriage proposals. See Caroline Kitchener for The Atlantic: Marriage Proposals Are Stupid ; Sadiba Hasan for The New York Times: 10 Great Ways to Pop the Question ; and Parija Kavilanz for CNN: After 2023 wraps up, get ready for a spike in marriage proposals . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Kiley Reid about her book, Come and Get It . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 7, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Biden v. Trump polls and Super Tuesday, the Supreme Court’s decision to leave Donald Trump on the ballot, and whether The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending with The Atlantic’s Franklin Foer. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener Chatter to gabfest@slate.com and you might be picked to chatter live. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: 538: Latest Polls Shane Goldmacher for The New York Times: Voters Doubt Biden’s Leadership and Favor Trump, Times/Siena Poll Finds Mark Joseph Stern for Slate: The Supreme Court’s “Unanimous” Trump Ballot Ruling Is Actually a 5-4 Disaster Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: Nine Justices in Search of an Excuse to Nullify Section 3 of the 14th Amendment Kate Shaw, Melissa Murray, and Leah Litman for Crooked Media’s Strict Scrutiny podcast: SCOTUS Restores Trump to the Colorado Ballot, Unanimously (Kind Of) Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending Elena Schneider and Melanie Mason for Politico: AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates Center for Antisemitism Research: 24% of Americans Harbor Extensive Antisemitic Prejudice, Up From 20% in 2022, Survey Finds Romain Chauvet for The Times of Israel: ‘I’m afraid every day for my children’: As antisemitism soars, French Jews flee to Israel Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Madaleine Rubin for The Texas Tribune: Sean Teare unseats Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in primary ; Serena Lin for the Austin American-Statesman: Incumbent José Garza wins Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney ; Stefanie Dazio for AP: Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón advances to runoff ; Mensah M. Dean for The Trace: In Philadelphia, a Program Offers Some People Arrested for Unlicensed Guns a Second Chance ; and Jenice Armstrong for The Philadelphia Inquirer: Philly program keeps gun offenders out of prison. I’m all for it. John: Bozi Tatarevic for Road & Track: Here’s Why NASCAR Driver Joey Logano Was Penalized For Cheating Gloves and Victoria Beaver: Caught Webbed-Handed: Here’s the Cheated-Up Glove NASCAR Fined Joey Logano Over David: One Day on Netflix and One Day by David Nicholls; Normal People on Hulu and Normal People: A Novel by Sally Rooney; Shōgun on Hulu and Shōgun, Part One by James Clavell; Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival ; and Danielle Dowling for The New York Times: 31 Things to Do for the Big Eclipse This April Listener chatter from Jason Dewees in San Francisco, California: Julie Zigoris for The San Francisco Standard: He died in a Jewish ghetto. How did his long-lost art end up on a bench in San Francisco? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Researcher Julie about working as an election judge. See Arapahoe County (Colorado) Elections ; Election Judges ; Election Transparency ; and Arapahoe County Life of the Ballot . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Kiley Reid about her book, Come and Get It . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 29, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign; the Supreme Court’s boost for Donald Trump and review of social media’s content moderation; and Senator Mitch McConnell’s decision to time out as minority leader. Join us for our next Political Gabfest Live show in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener Chatter to gabfest@slate.com and you might be picked to chatter live. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ezra Klein for The New York Times Ezra Klein Show podcast: Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: It’s Not as Easy as Just Getting Biden to Drop Out Yasmeen Abutaleb and Marianne LeVine for The Washington Post: Biden wins Michigan primary but faces notable showing by ‘uncommitted’ Thomas L. Friedman for The New York Times: Israel Is Losing Its Greatest Asset: Acceptance Karl Rove for The Wall Street Journal: Trump Goes on Fox and Shows His Weakness Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court skeptical of Texas, Florida regulation of social media moderation G.S. Hans for Balls and Strikes: How the Supreme Court’s Latest Big Tech Case Pits Cancel Culture Hysteria Against Corporate Power Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: The Partial Facial Challenge Option in the Netchoice Cases Alan Feuer for The New York Times: In Taking Up Trump’s Immunity Claim, Supreme Court Bolstered His Delay Strategy John Dickerson for CBS News: Examining Mitch McConnell’s legacy as Senate Republican leader The Long Game: A Memoir by Mitch McConnell Mariana Alfaro for The Washington Post: Here’s who could replace Mitch McConnell as Senate’s top Republican Mark Sumner for the Daily Kos: Watch Tim Scott utterly humiliate himself for Trump Katelyn Caralle and Sarah Ewall-Wice for the Daily Mail: Lindsey Graham is mercilessly BOOED at Trump’s South Carolina victory party: Ex-president brings Senator on stage after introducing him as a ‘little further to the left’ Saturday Night Live: Trump Victory Party Cold Open Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Molly Ryan for WRKF 89.3 Baton Rouge Public Radio: House lawmakers advance bills targeting early release from prison – and more John: Aliza Chasan for CBS News: Cardboard box filled with unopened hockey cards sells for more than $3.7 million at auction and Joshua Rapp Learn for Discover: Schrődinger’s Cat Experiment and the Conundrum That Rules Modern Physics David: Plainsong by Kent Haruf and City Cast: Work with us. Listener chatter from Jacob in Chicago, Illinois: citiesbydiana on TikTok: Top 6 Best Stroads in America For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the Republican obsession with Hunter Biden and the possibility of impeaching President Joe Biden. See Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: Republicans can’t stop swallowing Russian propaganda . See also Ken Tran for USA Today: Hunter Biden denies Joe Biden involved in family business: ‘Destructive political charade’ ; Amy Taxin and Alanna Durkin Richer for AP: Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Bidens to remain jailed while he awaits trial, judge rules ; and Philip Bump for The Washington Post: Evaluating the anti-Biden case House Republicans offered on social media . In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Kiley Reid about her book, Come and Get It . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 22, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the tragic death of Alexei Navalny and the fallout in the US; Donald Trump’s civil fraud case and consequences; and Alabama’s new stance on frozen embryos. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Pam Belluck for the New York Times on A New Abortion Access Strategy Adam Liptak for the New York Times on Supreme Court Seems Ready to Block a Biden Plan on Air Pollution Jeffrey Blehar for National Review on We Need to Talk about Tucker Brett Stephens for the New York Times on How Biden Can Avenge Navalny’s Death David Ignatius, for the Washington Post on Ukraine faces a valley of death. There’s a way Biden can help it get across. Neil MacFarquhar for the New York Times on Wife, Protector and Now Political Heir: Yulia Navalnaya Rallies Russians Jonah E. Bromwich and Ben Protess for the New York Times on What the Civil Fraud Ruling Means for Trump’s Finances and His Empire Jonathan O'Connell for the Washington Post on Hefty fines, penalties will rock Trump family's business and fortune Ruth Marcus for the Washington Post on Alabama’s frozen embryo ruling is misguided Jan Hoffman for the New York times on Alabama Says Embryos in a Lab Are Children. What Are the Implications? Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The fight against the EPA’s “good neighbor” air pollution rule heats up at the Supreme Court. John: Allison Russel’s Grammy Award win for Eve Was Black, which some members of the Tennessee legislature sought to reject a congratulatory resolution for the singer. David: Closet beds in the Netherlands. Listener chatter from Lee Underwood in Atlanta, Georgia: Caley Fretz for Escape Collective: Meet the man who rode more new roads than anyone else For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily are joined by Gongwer News Service Executive Editor and Publisher Zach Gorchow. Zach also co-hosts the Michigan politics podcast MichMash . They discuss the dustup among Democratic votes who may vote “uncommitted” in the primary because of Biden’s stance on Israel. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about his book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Keya Bajaj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2024

David Plotz talks with author Kiley Reid about her new book, Come & Get It . They discuss how money can work in the same way as language, writing realistic dialogue, and the things we can’t let go of. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 15, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Special Counsel Robert Hur’s description of President Joe Biden; House Republicans’ impeachment of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and refusal on Ukraine aid; and Democrat Tom Suozzi’s win in the New York congressional special election. And in Slate Plus, Emily, John, and David talk local news with reporter Ellie Wolfe . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matt Viser and Tyler Pager for The Washington Post: Biden responds angrily to special counsel report questioning his memory and Marianne LeVine: Trump says he’d disregard NATO treaty, urge Russian attacks on U.S. allies Politico Magazine: What Biden Needs to Do to Reassure the Public Elena Moore for NPR: Biden’s campaign gives in and joins TikTok. Blame the youngs Mike Lillis and Mychael Schnell for The Hill: Lawmakers scramble for Plan B on Ukraine Jake Tapper for CNN: Marco Rubio reacts to Trump threatening NATO country to ‘pay up’ Zack Beauchamp for Vox: The moral and strategic case for arming Ukraine Joshua Matz, Michael J. Gerhardt, Amit Jain, and Laurence H. Tribe for Just Security: Why and How the Senate Should Swiftly Dismiss the Impeachment Charges Against Mayorkas Nate Cohn for The New York Times: Not an Ordinary Special Election, and Yet a Typical Result and Carl Hulse: How Senate Democrats Flipped the Border Issue on Republicans Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: American Fiction ; Sam Sanders, Nadira Goffe, and Stephen Metcalf for the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast: American Fiction, Oscar Contender? ; and Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford for the Stitcher Vibe Check podcast: A Special Conversation with Cord Jefferson John: Timeguessr and Matt Levine for Matt Levin’s Money Stuff: Lyft Had an Earnings Typo David: The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix and USA for Africa: We Are the World Listener chatter from J.T. Horn in Strafford, Vermont: Peter Frick Wright for the Outside Podcast: A Wild Conversation with E. Jean Carroll For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss with Ellie Wolfe her local-news reporting as Education Reporter for the Arizona Daily Star. See Proposed law would limit shared governance at Arizona’s universities ; U of A to ‘permanently eliminate’ $27 million worth of jobs in academic units ; U of A’s Robbins talks about his pay, layoffs, athletics debt, more ; and CFO: U of A must cut $200M in spending, rethink mission, accept layoffs . Thanks to listeners Alison, Anna, and David for the recommendation! In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about his book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 8, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Republicans’ beginning and end of both the border bill and the impeachment of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the criminal conviction of a mother for a school shooting by her son; and the D.C. Circuit Court decision on presidential immunity and the Supreme Court argument on the presidential ballot. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Rachael Bade for Politico: Schumer presses forward with Ukraine Plan B as GOP leaders reel and Burgess Everett: Behind the border mess: Open GOP rebellion against McConnell Cleve R. Wootson Jr. for The Washington Post: Biden vows to make GOP defeat of a conservative border bill a campaign issue and Jacqueline Alemany, Amy B Wang, Marianna Sotomayor, and Paul Kane: In stunning vote, House Republicans fail to impeach Secretary Mayorkas Former Rep. Charlie Stenholm in The Hill in 2015: How Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan would make this Congress work Tresa Baldas for the Detroit Free Press: Jennifer Crumbley guilty: Understanding involuntary manslaughter charge, possible sentence and Paul Egan: Michigan’s gun laws change: Background checks, storage, temporary removal Michael Barbaro and Lisa Miller for The New York Times The Daily podcast: A Guilty Verdict for a Mass Shooter’s Mother Rachel Weiner for The Washington Post: Trump has no immunity from Jan. 6 prosecution, appeals court rules Ian Millhiser for Vox: The Supreme Court is about to decide whether to sabotage Trump’s election theft trial Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court to decide whether insurrection provision keeps Trump off ballot Here are this week’s chatters: John: Ian Sample for The Guardian: AI helps scholars read scroll buried when Vesuvius erupted in AD79 ; Pierina Pighi Bel for the BBC: Bodegas: The small corner shops that run NYC ; David Blank in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Philodemus ; Moss and Fog ; and Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School: Theodore H. White Lecture with John Dickerson Emily: Sofia Resnick for News From The States: Study cited by Texas judge in abortion pill case retracted and Sage Publishing: A note from Sage on retractions in Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology David: Patrick Radden Keefe for The New Yorker: A Teen’s Fatal Plunge Into The London Underworld Listener chatter from Patrick Johnson in Anchorage, Alaska: Rhonda McBride for KNBA - Anchorage: Anchorage’s white raven becomes a local legend as a tracked trickster For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss “Fast Car,” Tracy Chapman’s 1988 original , and Luke Combs’s 2023 cover . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about his book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 1, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 million win against Donald J. Trump; the events of 1920-1948 that shaped the current relationship of Israel and Palestine; and the tech-bro billionaires of techno-authoritarianism with Adrienne LaFrance of The Atlantic. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Eric Lach for The New Yorker: Nine Regular People Tell Donald Trump to Shut Up and Pay Up Monica Hesse for The Washington Post: Is it really sexism that Trump is showing? Or is it something worse? Maggie Haberman and Shane Goldmacher for The New York Times: Trump’s PACs Spent Roughly $50 Million on Legal Expenses in 2023 Erik Larson for Fortune and Bloomberg: Most of Trump’s cash stockpile is at risk from possible $450m dual verdicts in E. Jean Carroll and New York business fraud cases CBS News: Face The Nation and Emily Tillett: Nikki Haley on Trump accusers: Women who accuse anyone “should be heard” and “dealt with” Gabriella Abdul-Hakim for ABC News: Tim Scott insists voters don’t care about Trump’s defamation loss, plays down ‘provocative’ Haley attacks Dietrich Knauth for Insurance Journal: Sandy Hook Denier Alex Jones Eyes Settlement With Families, Bankruptcy Exit Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: The Road to 1948 and Was Peace Ever Possible? Adrienne LaFrance for The Atlantic: The Rise of Techno-Authoritarianism Ezra Klein for The New York Times: The Chief Ideologist of the Silicon Valley Elite Has Some Strange Ideas Steven Levy for Wired: What the Techno-Billionaire Missed About Techno-Optimism Jonathan Taplin for Vanity Fair: How Musk, Thiel, Zuckerberg, and Andreessen—Four Billionaire Techno-Oligarchs—Are Creating an Alternate, Autocratic Reality Lisa Desjardins and Jonah Anderson for PBS Newshour: Lawmakers grill Big Tech executives, accusing them of failing to protect children The Dictator’s Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy by William J. Dobson Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining Discarded America by Michelle Wilde Anderson John: PenTips ; Toluse Olorunnipa and Liz Goodwin for The Washington Post: Biden vows to ‘shut down’ an overwhelmed border if Senate deal passes and Jacob Bogage and Jeff Stein: House votes to expand child tax credit, beef up corporate tax breaks David: Visual Arts , St. Albans School; John Buzbee for The Advocate: LSU students bare it all as nude art models: ‘It’s a very brave thing to be able to do.’ ; and Kim McGill for The Union: The naked truth: Art models at El Camino inspire students to portray humanity in all its forms Listener chatter from Jay Lloyd in Louisville, Kentucky: Eric Berger for Ars Technica: What happens when an astronaut in orbit says he’s not coming back? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the Love Story of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and the message for MAGA madness: You Need To Calm Down . See Mariana Alfaro for The Washington Post: Why Trump’s MAGA Republican movement dislikes Taylor Swift and Ross Douthat for The New York Times: Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and the Right’s Abnormality Problem . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about his book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 25, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump v. Biden presidential rematch, the end of the “vibecession,” and the political fights over immigration. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Michael Scherer and Toluse Olorunnipa for The Washington Post: Trump, Biden pivot quickly to a 2024 campaign that many voters dread Lauren Irwin for The Hill: Trump says Tim Scott ‘must really hate’ Haley Allison Pecorin and Caleigh Bartash for ABC News: Trump picks up endorsements from holdouts after New Hampshire win John E. Moser for Teaching American History: “Fireside Chat” on “Purging” the Democratic Party Ben Casselman for The New York Times: U.S. Economy Grew at 3.3% Rate in Latest Quarter and German Lopez: The End of Economic Pessimism? Jeff Stein for The Washington Post: As doomsday predictions dissipate, Biden aides savor booming economy and Trump promises to stop inflation. But would his plans actually help? Kyla Scanlon for Kyla’s Newsletter: The Vibecession: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Ben Harris and Aaron Sojourner for The Brookings Institution: Why are Americans so displeased with the economy? David Montgomery for YouGov: How’s the economy doing? For many Americans, the answer is how their party’s doing Punchbowl News AM: McConnell bows to Trump on border Karoun Demirjian for The New York Times: With Border Deal Near, Parole and Money Take Center Stage in Senate Talks Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: Explaining immigration parole, one sticking point in Ukraine aid-border deal Rafael Bernal and Al Weaver for The Hill: Parole: What to know about the GOP’s latest border sticking point David J. Bier for the Cato Institute: New Data Show Migrants Were More Likely to Be Released by Trump Than Biden Colleen Long for AP: Title 42 has ended. Here’s what it did, and how US immigration policy is changing Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Yair Rosenberg for The Atlantic: What Did Top Israeli War Officials Really Say About Gaza? and Comics Kingdom: Sally Forth John: Tori Apodaca for CBS Sacramento: California writes cursive back into elementary school curriculum and Carmen Mayer, Stefanie Wallner, Nora Budde-Spengler, Sabrina Braunert, Petra A. Arndt, and Markus Kiefer in Frontiers in Psychology: Literacy Training of Kindergarten Children With Pencil, Keyboard or Tablet Stylus: The Influence of the Writing Tool on Reading and Writing Performance at the Letter and Word Level David: Erik Wemple for The Washington Post: At Gallery Place, it’s Ted Leonsis vs. one very loud street music act Listener chatter from Annie O’Connor in St. Paul, Minnesota: LockPickingLawyer on YouTube For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss Ezra Klein’s piece in The New York Times: I Am Going to Miss Pitchfork, but That’s Only Half the Problem . See Judy Woodruff, Sarah Clune Hartman, and Frank Carlson for PBS: The connections between decline of local news and growing political division ; Steven Waldman for The Atlantic: The Local-News Crisis Is Weirdly Easy to Solve ; and Penelope Muse Abernathy for the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina: The Expanding News Desert: Finding Solutions . See also Press Forward ; Sara Fischer and Cuneyt Dil for Axios: Scoop: D.C. lawmakers to introduce new bill funding local news via vouchers ; and the Law & Justice Journalism Project . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about his book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 2024

On this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson talks with author Brad Stulberg about his new book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing – Including You. They discuss how to make change itself a mindset, John’s notebooks, what we can learn from athletes, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2024

This week, John Dickerson re-joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the Republican presidential race, the Iowa caucuses, and the New Hampshire primary; the Loper Bright and Relentless cases at the Supreme Court and the possible end of Chevron deference; and The Misguided War on the SAT with David Leonhardt of The New York Times. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nate Cohn for The New York Times: Even the Battle for Second Turned Out Well for Trump in Iowa Ross Douthat for The New York Times: How Trump’s Opponents Made Iowa Easy for Him Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court likely to discard Chevron ; Supreme Court to hear major case on power of federal agencies ; and Supreme Court curtails EPA’s authority to fight climate change Cornell Law School’s Legal information Institute: Administrative Procedure Act Jess Bravin for The Wall Street Journal: Conservatives Once Hailed This Case. Now They’re at the Supreme Court to Gut It. Ian Millhiser for Vox: The Supreme Court cases asking the justices to put themselves in charge of everything, explained and A new Supreme Court case seeks to make the nine justices even more powerful David Leonhardt for The New York Times: The Misguided War on the SAT Ileana Najarro for EdWeek: The SAT Is Making a Comeback. Here’s a Look at the Numbers and What They Tell Us Raj Chetty, David J. Deming, and John Friedman for Opportunity Insights: Diversifying Society’s Leaders? The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Ringer’s podcast “ Stick the Landing ” and Andy Greenwald and Mallory Rubin: Did ‘Friday Night Lights’ Stick the Landing? John: Richard Baldwin for VoxEU: China is the world’s sole manufacturing superpower: A line sketch of the rise ; Moss and Fog : Tree.fm is Your Aural Escape Into Nature ; and tree.fm David: Steve Lopez for the Los Angeles Times: They take care of aging adults, live in cramped quarters and make less than minimum wage and ZipRecruiter: assisted living jobs in Washington, DC Listener chatter from Kevin Collins in San Antonio, Texas: Historic Vids on X For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David talks about his father, Dr. Paul Plotz. See Rachel Weller for The NIH Catalyst: Symposium Honors NIAM’s Paul Plotz and The New York Times: Judith A. Abrams Engaged to Wed Dr. Paul H. Plotz; Candidate for Ph.D. at Harvard Is Fiancee of Boston Interne . See also John G. Zinn for the Society for American Baseball Research: Ebbets Field (Brooklyn, NY) ; National Institutes of Health ; Union of Concerned Scientists ; and The Two Cultures and The Scientific Revolution by C. P. Snow. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Christine Coulson about her book, One Woman Show: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Jamelle Bouie of The New York Times to discuss the absence and silence of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, school absenteeism with Alec MacGillis of ProPublica, and Donald Trump’s claim of absolute presidential immunity. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Politico: Austin’s hospital debacle: A timeline of events Fred Kaplan for Slate: Why the Secretary of Defense’s Mysterious Disappearance Means He Needs to Go Max Boot for The Washington Post: Lloyd Austin doesn’t deserve to be the piñata of the day in Washington Major General Patrick S. Ryder, Department of Defense Press Secretary Alec MacGillis for ProPublica and The New Yorker : Skipping School: America’s Hidden Education Crisis Jay Greene, Ph.D. and Jonathan Butcher for The Heritage Foundation: The Alarming Rise in Teacher Absenteeism Natalie Kitroeff and Adam Liptak for The New York Times Daily podcast: Trump’s Case for Total Immunity Bill Rankin and Katherine Landergan for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Could Willis allegations sink Trump case? Legal experts weigh in Mariana Alfaro and Amy B Wang for The Washington Post: Chris Christie caught on hot mic, says Nikki Haley will ‘get smoked’ Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Past Lives and Anatomy of a Fall Jamelle: Fist of the Condor David: Amsterdam ; EnglishLearning on reddit: Is there any English word that has three or more same and consecutive letters? Listener chatter from Erin Bumgarner in Arlington, Massachusetts: The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and Jamelle talk about which presidents should be on a new Mount Rushmore. See The White House Historical Association: The Presidents ; John Quincy Adams ; Ulysses S. Grant ; Franklin D. Roosevelt ; Dwight D. Eisenhower ; and Lyndon B. Johnson . See also National Park Service: Why These Four Presidents? ; Mario Canseco for Research Co.: Americans Pick Four Presidents for “New Mount Rushmore” ; Politico Magazine: Who Should Be on the Next Mount Rushmore? ; and Chauncey Alcorn for Capital B: What to Do About Stone Mountain? Black Residents Talk Park’s Racist Past. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Christine Coulson about her book, One Woman Show: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Jamelle Bouie, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 4, 2024

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz begin the year discussing the 2024 presidential election; Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation; and the 2023 decrease in homicides. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Steve Peoples for AP: Biden and Trump are posed for a potential rematch that could shake American politics Rob Crilly for the Daily Mail: Voters describe their 2024 choice between a Trump second term and a Biden second term as a choice between REVENGE or NOTHING in Daily Mail poll Brianne Pfannenstiel for the Des Moines Register: Iowa Poll: Donald Trump holds overwhelming lead; Ron DeSantis edges ahead of Nikki Haley Claudine Gay in The New York Times: What Just Happened at Harvard Is Bigger Than Me The Crimson Editorial Board for The Harvard Crimson: President Gay Plagiarized, but She Should Stay. For Now. Ian Ward for Politico: We Sat Down With the Conservative Mastermind Behind Claudine Gay’s Ouster Jeremy Duda for Axios: ASU continues streak as U.S. News’ most innovative school David Goldman for CNN: The 4 key events that led to UPenn President Liz Magill’s resignation Jeff Asher for Jeff-alytics: Crime in 2023: Murder Plummeted, Violent and Property Crime Likely Fell Nationally Bill Hutchinson for ABC News: ‘It is historic’: US poised to see record drop in yearly homicides despite public concern over crime Ken Dilanian for NBC News: Most people think the U.S. crime rate is rising. They’re wrong. Here are this week’s chatters: John: Library of Congress: Robert Cornelius, self-portrait; believed to be the earliest extant American portrait photo ; National Gallery of Art: The Art of the American Snapshot, 1888-1978: From the Collection of Robert E. Jackson Emily: Ari Rabinovitch for Reuters: Israel’s Supreme Court strikes down disputed law that limited court oversight David: Brian Murphy for The Washington Post: Maureen Sweeney, weather watcher who influenced D-Day plans, dies at 100 Listener chatter from Eric in Tuckahoe, New York: Christophe Haubursin for Vox: What’s inside this crater in Madagascar? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about New Year’s resolutions and self-help. See also Matthew Solan for Harvard Health Publishing: Thinking of trying Dry January? Steps for success ; James Clear: Atomic Habits Summary ; Renée Onque for CNBC: This is a tried-and-true way to break a bad habit, says wellbeing coach—so we’re putting it to the test in 2024 ; and Chandra Steele for PCMag: Annoyed With Instagram? Take Control of Your Feed With These Tips and Tricks . In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Christine Coulson about her book, One Woman Show: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 28, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Wesley Morris , critic at large for The New York Times and co-host of the Still Processing podcast, to cogitate on Conundrums 2023. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thanks to everyone who submitted Conundrums, especially Alex, Brian, Mitchell Kosht, Patricia Gonzalez, Kali Rocha, Becca Nagorsky, Kevin Maginnis, Kevin Collins, Beth Kirsch, Brian Cechnicki, Chuck Terhark, Howard W, Brian, Mike Daugherty, Alan Dybner, Tim Falzone, Matthew Gill, Cynthia Weiner, and the incomparable Phil Goldstein. Benjamin Wittes for Dog Shit Daily: My encounter with a shit-throwing neighborhood Karen Jon Mendelsohn for American Songwriter: The Real Reason Why Van Halen Asked Venues For Bowls of M&Ms Containing ‘No Brown Ones’ The Sellout: A Novel by Paul Beatty Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do by Studs Terkel Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom Amy Bloom for This American Life: Exit Strategy Gabfest Reads: He Wanted to Die Holding Hands For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and Wesley tackle three more Conundrums. In the latest Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth with live show support from Katie Rayford Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2023

John Dickerson talks with author Christine Coulson about her new book, “One Woman Show.” They discuss the moment that inspired Coulson to tell a story in museum wall labels, her 25-years working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and why restraint can be an artist’s best friend. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 21, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to block Donald Trump from the ballot, the new Texas law to allow state and local authorities to arrest immigrants, and guest Amanda Ripley ’s suggestions to survive 2024. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Colorado Supreme Court’s opinion in Anderson, et al. v. Griswold, et al. Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: John Dickerson on Trump, Colorado and the 14th Amendment Adam Unikowsky for Adam’s Legal Newsletter: Is the Supreme Court seriously going to disqualify Trump? Mark A. Graber in The New York Times: Donald Trump and the Jefferson Davis Problem Lawfare: Tracking Section 3 Trump Disqualification Challenges Karoun Demirjian for The New York Times: Congress Abandons Ukraine Aid Until Next Year as Border Talks Continue Ashley Wu for The New York Times: Why Illegal Border Crossings Are at Sustained Highs Elizabeth Findell for The Wall Street Journal: Texas Spent Billions on Border Security. It’s Not Working Tom Cohen and Bill Mears for CNN: Supreme Court mostly rejects Arizona immigration law; gov says ‘heart’ remains Edgar Sandoval for The New York Times: Appellate Court Says U.S. Can’t Cut Through Texas Border Wire Along Rio Grande Gabriela Baczynska for Reuters: What’s in the new EU migration and asylum deal? Karen Musalo for Just Security: Biden’s Embrace of Trump’s Transit Ban Violates US Legal and Moral Refugee Obligations Amanda Ripley for Unraveled: How to Survive 2024 Adam Mastroianni in The New York Times: Your Brain Has Tricked You Into Thinking Everything Is Worse and for Experimental History: Things could be better The Economist: What psychology experiments tell you about why people deny facts Here are this week’s chatters: John: Jason Bittel for National Geographic: A bonobo was separated from her sister for 26 years. She still remembers her. Emily: May December on Netflix David: Hiroaki Nakagawa and Yasushi Miyata in Internal Medicine: An Underdiagnosed Cause of an Itchy Back Listener chatter from Michael in Queens, New York: Irin Carmon for New York Magazine: A $45 Million Effort to Make Pregnancy Less Deadly in Brooklyn For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Amanda joins David, John, and Emily to talk about their holiday plans, which include To Asia, With Love: Everyday Asian Recipes and Stories From the Heart by Hetty McKinnon, the DC Public Library , Purlie Victorious , the National Zoo , and Sara Lee’s Butter Streusel Coffee Cake . In the next Gabfest Reads , John talks with Christine Coulson about her new book, One Woman Show . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the free-speech controversies that are roiling college campuses since the war in Gaza began; the questions related to Trump cases that the U.S. Supreme Court will answer; and the latest high-profile abortion case coming out of Texas that has real-life and political consequences. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Hannah Natanson and Susan Svrluga for The Washington Post: Harvard President Claudine Gay to remain after antisemitism testimony Michelle Goldberg for The New York Times: At a Hearing on Israel, University Presidents Walked Into a Trap Elad Simchayoff @Elad_Si on X Danielle Allen for The Washington Post: We’ve lost our way on campus. Here’s how we can find our way back. David French for The New York Times: What the University Presidents Got Right and Wrong About Antisemitic Speech Santul Nerkar and Jonah E. Bromwich for The New York Times: How the Israel-Hamas War Tore Apart Public Defenders in the Bronx Michael Barbaro and Nicholas Confessore for The Daily: Antisemitism and Free Speech Collide on Campuses Zah Montague and Tracey Tully for The New York Times: Education Dept. Is Investigating Six More Colleges Over Campus Discrimination Mark Sherman and Eric Tucker for AP: Special counsel Jack Smith asks the Supreme Court to rule quickly on whether Trump can be prosecuted and Mark Sherman: Supreme Court will hear a case that could undo Capitol riot charge against hundreds, including Trump Bob Dylan on YouTube: Bob Dylan – Idiot Wind (Official Audio) Robert Legare and Robert Costa for CBS News: Investigators accessed Trump White House cellphone records and plan to use them at trial, special counsel says Sabrina Tavernise for The Daily: The Woman Who Fought the Texas Abortion Ban Carter Sherman for The Guardian: US abortion rates rise post-Roe amid deep divide in state-by-state access Kate Zernike for The New York Times: Texas Judge Says Doctors Can Use ‘Good Faith Judgment’ in Providing Abortions Here are this week’s chatters: John: One Line A Day: A Five-Year Memory Book and James Barron for The New York Times: Bob Dylan Sings, and Talks, on These Tapes From 62 Years Ago Emily: Sydney Lupkin and Danielle Kurtzleben on All Things Considered: The Supreme Court will decide the fate of abortion pill mifepristone David: Paul Schwartzman for The Washington Post: With sports teams primed for move to Va., downtown D.C. frets its future and City Cast: Work with us . Listener chatter from Margaret in Jersey City: Chair Watch on Facebook For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about Why Are So Many American Pedestrians Dying at Night? by Emily Badger, Ben Blatt, and Josh Katz for The New York Times and Why pedestrian deaths in the US are at a 40-year high by Marin Cogan for Vox. See also Political Gabfest: “The World Is Burning” Edition and Vision and night driving abilities of elderly drivers by Nicole Gruber, Urs P Mosimann, René M Müri, and Tobias Nef. In the next Gabfest Reads , John talks with Brad Stulberg about Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 7, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz gather around John’s dining room table to discuss Liz Cheney, her book, and how far she’ll go to stop Donald Trump; Chris Christie, his presidential campaign, and whether he’ll stay in the race; and Purdue Pharma, the Sacklers, and if the Supreme Court will let the company go bankrupt to save the family fortune. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney John Dickerson for CBS News Sunday Morning: “ Liz Cheney on why she believes Trump’s reelection would mean the end of our republic ” Terry Gross for NPR Fresh Air: “ Liz Cheney, focused on stopping Trump, hasn’t ruled out 3rd-party presidential run ” Kevin Liptak, David Wright, and Samantha Waldenberg for CNN: Biden tells donors he’s ‘not sure I’d be running’ in 2024 if Trump wasn’t in the race Ben Mathis-Lilley for Slate: When Chris Christie Is the Voice of Honesty and Reason, You’re in Trouble Lisa Lerer and Chris Cameron for The New York Times: “ Some Republicans Have a Blunt Message for Chris Christie: Drop Out ” Ed Kilgore for the Intelligencer: “ Christie Vows to Continue Doomed Campaign to the Bitter End ” Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “ Court conflicted over Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan that shields Sacklers from liability ” Abbie VanSickle and Jan Hoffman for The New York Times: “ What to Know About the Purdue Pharma Case Before the Supreme Court ” Jocelyn Mackie for Forbes Advisor: Prescription Opioid Lawsuit Guide (2023) Alexander Gladstone for The Wall Street Journal: Georgia-Pacific Wins Appeal to Maintain Chapter 11 Protection From Lawsuits Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: First: Sandra Day O’Connor by Evan Thomas John: Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You by Brad Stulberg; Monty Python – Silly Job Interview ; and John Cleese on Creativity In Management David: Going Zero: A Novel by Anthony McCarten and Such a Fun Age: A Novel by Kiley Reid Listener chatter from Ryan White: Zaria Gorvett for the BBC: Tyrian purple: The lost ancient pigment that was more valuable than gold For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk through a constitutional Conundrum. See also Wikipedia: Gouverneur Morris . In the next Gabfest Reads, John talks with Brad Stulberg about Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 30, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the good U.S. economy and Americans’ bad feelings about it; the Supreme Court case of SEC v. Jarkesy and its threat to the system of U.S. government; and white evangelicals and Christian nationalists with The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta . Send us your Conundrums: submit them at slate.com/conundrum . And join us in-person or online for Gabfest Live: The Conundrums Edition ! December 7 at The 92nd Street Y , New York City. Tickets on sale now! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Sam Sutton for Politico: Why a ‘soft landing’ may not solve Biden’s polling problem Lydia DePillis for The New York Times: Even Most Biden Voters Don’t See a Thriving Economy ; Paul Krugman: Bidenomics and the Guys in the Bar ; Jim Tankersley: ‘Morning in America’ Eludes Biden, Despite Economic Gains ; and Bryce Covert: Don’t Let Inflation Bury the Memory of a Government Triumph Dylan Matthews for Vox: Why the news is so negative – and what we can do about it David Winston for Roll Call: Why Voters Are Still Wary 10 Years After the Economic Collapse Robert Barnes for The Washington Post: Supreme Court conservatives seem dubious about SEC’s in-house tribunals Ronald Mann for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court to consider multi-pronged constitutional attack on SEC Noah Rosenblum for The Atlantic: The Case That Could Destroy the Government Ian Millhiser for Vox: A Supreme Court case about stocks could help make Trump’s authoritarian dreams reality Public Citizens: The Attack on Big Government and the Remaking of American Liberalism by Paul Sabin Tim Alberta for The Atlantic: My Father, My Faith, and Donald Trump and How Politics Poisoned The Evangelical Church The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: ‘The Embodiment of White Christian Nationalism in a Tailored Suit’ PRRI and Brookings: A Christian Nation? Understanding the Threat of Christian Nationalism to American Democracy and Culture Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Brian Murphy for The Washington Post: Larry Fink, photographer who explored class divides, dies at 82 and Emily Bazelon and Larry Fink for The New York Times Magazine: Shadow of a Doubt John: The New Yorker: “Bob and Don: A Love Story” a short documentary by Judd Apatow ; CBS News Sunday Morning ; and Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney David: Matt Phillips for The New York Times: Shane MacGowan, Songwriter Who Fused Punk and Irish Rebellion, Is Dead at 65 and peyoteshaman on YouTube: Pogues 930 club mid 1980’s Listener chatter from Nicola in Dublin, Ireland: Irish Archaeology: Pangur Bán and Tread Softy: Classic Irish Poems for Children edited by Nicola Reddy For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about the book lover’s dilemma: borrow or buy. See also A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin; Little Free Library ; Adam Sockel for Perspectives on Reading: Library users are book buyers ; and Pew Research Center: Libraries, patrons, and e-books . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with James Sturm about Watership Down: The Graphic Novel . See also James Sturm and Joe Sutphin in The New York Times: In Times of Danger, There’s Strength in Numbers . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 23, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the problems with issue polling and issues with political journalism; the chaos and conflict of Sam Altman and OpenAI; and the failure of the Oslo Accords and perpetual struggle between Israel and Palestine. Send us your Conundrums: submit them at slate.com/conundrum . And join us in-person or online with our special guest – The Late Show’s Steven Colbert – for Gabfest Live: The Conundrums Edition ! December 7 at The 92nd Street Y , New York City. Tickets on sale now! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nate Cohn for The New York Times: The Crisis in Issue Polling, and What We’re Doing About It and We Did an Experiment to See How Much Democracy and Abortion Matter to Voters Claire Cain Miller and Francesca Paris for The New York Times: The Great Disconnect: Why Voters Feel One Way About the Economy but Act Differently The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America by Daniel J. Boorstin What’s the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank Eli Saslow for The New York Times: A Jan. 6 Defendant Pleads His Case to the Son Who Turned Him In Brian Beutler for the Off Message newsletter: The 2024 Election Is About Real Things Charlie Warzel for The Atlantic: The Money Always Wins and Karen Hao and Charlie Warzel: Inside the Chaos at OpenAI John Dickerson and Jo Ling Kent for CBS News Prime Time: What Sam Altman’s ouster from OpenAI could mean for the tech world Pranshu Verman, Nitasha Tiku, and Gerrit De Vynck for The Washington Post: Sam Altman reinstated as OpenAI CEO with new board members Louise Matsakis and Reed Albergotti for Semafor: The AI industry turns against its favorite philosophy Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: Was Peace Ever Possible? Ezra Klein for The New York Times’s The Ezra Klein Show podcast: The Best Primer I’ve Heard on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts Oslo on HBO John Dickerson for CBS Mornings: Former President Jimmy Carter: “America will learn from its mistakes” The Lady Bird Diaries on Hulu Eleanor Roosevelt in a Coal by Bettman and The George Washington University’s Case Study: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Visit to Coal Mine (1935) Here are this week’s chatters: John: Julia Simon for NPR: ‘It feels like I’m not crazy.’ Gardeners aren’t surprised as USDA updates key map and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service: USDA Unveils Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map Emily: Liran Samuni and Martin Surbeck in Science: Cooperation across social borders in bonobos and The Bonobo Sisterhood: Revolution Through Female Alliance by Diane Rosenfeld David: City Cast Executive Producer, Nashville, Executive Producer, Austin, and Events Director, remote and The National WWII Museum: WWII Veteran Statistics Listener chatter from Dimitri in Boulder, Colorado: University of Evansville: Library of Congress Recognizes Plagiarized University of Evansville Archaeologist After 90 Years and Jessica Blake for Inside Higher Ed: Female Archaeologist’s Work Receives Overdue Recognition—90 Years Later For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about the death of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and her 77-year marriage with Jimmy Carter. See also Rick Rojas for The New York Times: The Carters’ Hometown Mourns for the Love of a Lifetime and Peter Baker: Rosalynn Carter Helped Shape the Role of the Modern First Lady . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with James Sturm about Watership Down: The Graphic Novel . See also James Sturm and Joe Sutphin in The New York Times: In Times of Danger, There’s Strength in Numbers . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 18, 2023

Emily Bazelon talks with cartoonist James Sturm , about his new graphic novel adaptation of Watership Down . They discuss what makes the animal characters so compelling, going tharn[MOU1] , where Watership Down fits in the literary tradition, and so much more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. [MOU1]A word I haven’t thought of in years—stopped me in my tracks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Joe Manchin’s departure from the U.S. Senate and what it means for the Democratic majority, No Labels, and the 2024 presidential race; the Supreme Court’s new code of conduct and whether it’s worthless; and the Israel-Hamas war and how it’s affecting Democratic politics. You can be a part of the show: submit your Conundrum at slate.com/conundrum . And join us for Conundrums Live ! December 7 at The 92nd Street Y , New York City. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Zeeshan Aleem for MSNBC: “ Joe Manchin’s triple blow to the Democrats ” Brittany Gibson and Shia Kapos for Politico: “ Pelosi launches an all-out attack against No Labels ” Wikipedia: “ Assume a can opener ” The Supreme Court of the United States: “ Code of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ” Adam Liptak for The New York Times: “ Supreme Court’s New Ethics Code Is Toothless, Experts Say ” Maria Abi-Habib, Michael Crowley, and Edward Wong for The New York Times: “ More Than 500 U.S. Officials Sign Letter Protesting Biden’s Israel Policy ” Sam Fossum, Morgan Rimmer, and Manu Raju for CNN: “ Top House Democrats evacuated from DNC headquarters as police clash with protesters calling for Gaza ceasefire ” Liz Goodwin for The Washington Post: “ Bernie Sanders faces blowback as progressives urge cease-fire in Gaza ” George Packer for The Atlantic: “ Israel Must Not React Stupidly ” Thomas L Friedman for The New York Times: “ I Have Never Been to This Israel Before ” Declan Walsh and Abdi Latif Dahir for The New York Times: “ Seizing Darfur Region, Paramilitary Forces Are Accused of Atrocities ” Jennifer Jacobs for Fortune and Bloomberg: “ Why a group of ‘everyday people’ in Iowa have been invited to dinner by Chinese president Xi Jinping: ‘We’re eager to meet with him’ ” Iowa PBS: “ Citizen Diplomacy ” The Economist’s The Prince podcast: “ 7: Wolf warriors ” Muscatine County, Iowa: “ History ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: HBO’s movie Oslo John: John Dickerson on Instagram and Covenant House Sleep Out ; Alex Wilkins for New Scientist: “ Robotic chemist discovers how to make oxygen from Martian minerals ” David: Michael Balsamo for AP: “ Secret Service agents protecting Biden’s granddaughter open fire when 3 people try to break into SUV ”; Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police: Carjacking ; Exploring a Secret Fort with David through airbnb Listener chatter from David, Alameda, California: Chloe Olewitz for Morsel: “ Over 100 Years Ago, the US Government Commissioned 7,500 Watercolor Paintings of Every Kind of Fruit in the Country ” and U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library: “ USDA Pomological Watercolors ” In the next Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with James Sturm about Watership Down: The Graphic Novel . See also James Sturm and Joe Sutphin in The New York Times: “ In Times of Danger, There’s Strength in Numbers .” Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 9, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the 2023 election results and Democratic wins in Ohio, Virginia, and Kentucky; President Joe Biden’s numbers in recent polls and the youth vote; and U.S. v. Rahimi at the Supreme Court, the 2nd Amendment and gun control, and the history and tradition test. And you can be a part of the show: submit your Conundrum at slate.com/conundrum . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Lisa Lerer and Shane Goldmacher for The New York Times: “ Abortion Rights Fuel Big Democratic Wins, and Hopes for 2024 ” Molly Olmstead for Slate: “ Sean Hannity Had Quite the Takeaway About Abortion After Tuesday’s Elections " Kate Zernike for The New York Times: “ Ohio Vote Continues a Winning Streak for Abortion Rights ” Laura Vozzella for The Washington Post: “ Democratic wins in Virginia could deflate Youngkin’s White House buzz ” Hannah Knowles and Dylan Wells for The Washington Post: “ Democrat Andy Beshear wins reelection for governor in Kentucky ” Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ 23 thoughts on the 2023 midterms ” John Dickerson for The Atlantic Festival 2023: “ Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Leading a Key Swing State ” Shane Goldmacher for The New York Times: “ Trump Leads in 5 Critical States as Voters Blast Biden, Times/Siena Poll Finds “ Jonathan Swan, Ruth Igielnik, and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times: “ Trump Indictments Haven’t Sunk His Campaign, but a Conviction Might ” Nate Cohn for The New York Times: “ Why Biden Is Behind, and How He Could Come Back ” Philip Bump for The Washington Post: “ Are young voters actually split between Trump and Biden? ” Daniel A. Cox for the AEI Survey Center on American Life: “ Why are Young Voters So Down on Joe Biden? ” Pew Research Center’s Beyond Red Vs. Blue: The Political Typology: “ Outsider Left ” Sudiksha Kochi for USA Today: “ Former Obama adviser Axelrod says Biden should consider dropping out of 2024 ” Robert Barnes for The Washington Post: “ Court seems likely to allow gun bans for those under protective orders ” Jordan Smith for The Intercept: “ In Overturning Roe, Radical Supreme Court Declares War on the 14th Amendment ” Thomas Jefferson: “ To James Madison From Thomas Jefferson, 6 September 1789 ” Ulysses S. Grant Revealed: “ President Ulysses S. Grant On The U.S. Constitution ” Michael Barbaro and Jonah E. Bromwich for The New York Times’s The Daily podcast: “ The Trumps Take the Stand ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Reuters: “ Napoleon’s hat heading to auction in France ”; Marielle Brie: “ Napoleon Bonaparte’s Bicorne Hat ”; and Kai McNamee for NPR: “ Lost French love letters from the 1750s reveal what life was like during wartime ” Emily: Liberty Puzzles David: Jessica Sidman for Washingtonian: “ Why Is Dallas on the Cover of This DC Guidebook? ” Listener chatter from Sheila McIntyre: Sophie Mann-Shafir for The Provincetown Independent: “ TPRTA Misled Members on Voter Registration; Town Meeting Postponed ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about the trial testimony by the Trump family – Donald, Donald, Jr., Eric, and Ivanka – in the civil case of New York v. Trump. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 2, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Nikki Haley’s progress and Ron DeSantis’s stagnation in Iowa, Donald Trump’s testimony in New York, and Dean Phillips’s campaign in New Hampshire; the first social-media cases of the term at the Supreme Court; and Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream with author David Leonhardt . And you can be a part of the show: submit your Conundrum at slate.com/conundrum . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Brianne Pfannenstiel for the Des Moines Register: “ Donald Trump builds on big lead as Nikki Haley pulls even with Ron DeSantis in Iowa Poll ” Jennifer Rubin for The Washington Post: “ Nikki Haley has a shot. But a really, really long one. ” Jonah E. Bromwich and Ben Protess for The New York Times: “ Trump Civil Fraud Trial: Donald Trump Jr. Resumes Testifying in Fraud Case Aimed at His Father ” Geoffrey Skelley for 538: The curious case of Dean Phillips’s last-minute primary challenge 538: “ How popular is Joe Biden? ” Jeff Neal for Harvard Law Today: “ The Supreme Court takes on (anti)social media ” Adam Liptak for The New York Times: “ Supreme Court Lifts Limits for Now on Biden Officials’ Contacts With Tech Platforms ” Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “ Justices take major Florida and Texas social media cases ” Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream by David Leonhardt Emily Bazelon for The New York Times’s The Morning newsletter, November 2, 2023 David Leonhardt for The Atlantic: “ The Hard Truth About Immigration ” Peter Dizikes for MIT News: “ Q&A: David Autor on the long afterlife of the “China shock” ” History.com: “ A. Philip Randolph ” Natasha Singer for The New York Times: “ This Florida School District Banned Cellphones. Here’s What Happened. ” and “ New Laws on Kids and Social Media Are Stymied by Industry Lawsuits ” Cristiano Lima and Naomi Nix for The Washington Post: “ 41 states sue Meta, claiming Instagram, Facebook are addictive, harm kids ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The New Yorker’s Poetry Podcast with Kevin Young: “ Toi Derricotte Reads Tracy K. Smith ” John: The Graham Norton Show: “ Dame Judi Dench Masterfully Does A Shakespeare Sonnet ”; BBC Radio 4’s Cabin Pressure ; Endeavour on PBS Masterpiece; John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ Grammy-winning artist Jason Isbell talks about the craft of songwriting and his latest music ”; and Ray Bradbury in the Los Angeles Times: “ ’Ice Cream Suit’--Touchstone for the Past and Present ” David: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: “ Everything I Thought I Knew About Nasal Congestion Is Wrong ” Listener chatter from Albert Fox Cahn: N’dea Yancey-Bragg for USA Today: “ Advocates say excited delirium provides cover for police violence. They want it banned ” and John Dickerson for CBS News 60 Minutes: “ How a questionable syndrome, “Excited Delirium,” could be protecting police officers from misconduct charges ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about classroom cellphone bans. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz take the show on the road and gab live with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers; discuss the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson; and review the former lawyers and Chief of Staff who will testify against Donald Trump. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: City Cast Madison podcast and Madison Minutes newsletter Jennifer Rubin for The Washington Post: “ Wisconsin Dems’ big wins for the rule of law might be an inflection point ” Scott Bauer for AP: “ Wisconsin Supreme Court asked to draw new legislative boundaries over Republican objections ” James Hohmann for The Washington Post: “ In Wisconsin, Tony Evers made a virtue of being dull ” Amy Gardner and Michael Kranish for The Washington Post: “ New speaker Mike Johnson’s 2020 election denial could have 2024 implications ” Carl Hulse for The New York Times: “ The Far Right Gets Its Man of the House ” Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream by David Leonhardt Katherine Faulders, Mike Levine, and Alexander Mallin for ABC News: “ Ex-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows granted immunity, tells special counsel he warned Trump about 2020 claims: Sources ” Paul Blumenthal for HuffPost: “ The Guilty Pleas In Trump’s Georgia Indictment Are Starting To Roll Uphill ” David French for The New York Times: “ Trump’s Lawyers Are Going Down. Is He? ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Mark Shanahan for The Boston Globe: “ The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 was Boston’s strangest disaster “ and Dark Tide: The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo Emily: Hesket Oslo podcast by Arnon Degani ; This Is Palestine podcast by the Institute for Middle East Understanding ; and The Ezra Klein Show podcast: “ The Jewish Left Is Trying to Hold Two Thoughts at Once ” David: Vocal coach Karen Harris and “ Jersey Girl ” by Tom Waits Listener chatter from Jake Sinderbrand: University of Wisconsin-Madison: “ Wisconsin Idea ” and Babcock Dairy Store Listener chatter from Mike Duncan: The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic ; Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution ; The History of Rome podcast ; and Revolutions podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David answer questions from the Madison audience. In the latest Gabfest Reads , David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Tim Peterson. Special thanks to Katie Rayford. Research by Julie Huygen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 2023

David Plotz talks with author and 12-year Amazon senior employee, Kristi Coulter about her new memoir, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . They discuss the good, the bad, and the confusing parts of Coulter’s career at Amazon, starting in 2006. They talk about the culture of Amazon, the frustrating gender dynamics, and why she was constantly “a year away” from a promotion. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Jim Jordan’s efforts to become Speaker of the House; President Joe Biden’s visit to an Israel at war; and Donald Trump’s gag order. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Robert Jimison and Kayla Guo for The New York Times: “ As Speaker Chaos Grows, so Does Talk of Empowering McHenry ” Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis on the Hang Up and Listen podcast: “ The What Jim Jordan Knew About Sexual Abuse at Ohio State Edition ” Philip Bump for The Washington Post: “ Americans see the House speaker mess as hurting the country ” John Dickerson and Charlie D’Agata for CBS News Prime Time: “ Rocket Attack Destroys Hospital in Gaza ” Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer for The New York Times: “ Gag Order on Trump in Election Case Leaves More Hard Questions ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Mallika Marshall for CBS Boston: “ Hitting snooze in the morning could be beneficial, new studies say ” and Will Stone for NPR: “ I usually wake up just ahead of my alarm. What’s up with that? ” Emily: Shaun Walker for The Guardian: “ Poland election: Law and Justice party on course to be ousted from power ” and Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ Poland Shows That Autocracy Is Not Inevitable ” David: “ Beckham ” on Netflix Listener chatter from Phoebe Saltzstein: Brett Arends for MarketWatch: “ Here’s the real cause of the Social Security funding shortfall, according to the program’s chief actuary ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss Oprah Winfrey, Mitt Romney, and a presidential Dream Team and reference: Mike Allen for Axios: “ Scoop: Oprah pitched a White House run with Mitt Romney, book reveals ”; Romney: A Reckoning by McKay Coppins; Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger; “ Pumping Iron ” documentary film; and The New York Times: “ First Lady Tours Coal Mine in Ohio: Mrs. Roosevelt Wears Miner’s Lighted Cap and Spends Hour and Half Underground. ” In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 12, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem to discuss the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Steve Scalise’s fight for the gavel of the House Speaker. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Juliette Kayyem for The Atlantic: “ A Devastating Attack by Hamas ” Tom Dannenbaum for Just Security: “ The Siege of Gaza and the Starvation War Crime ” Zack Beauchamp for Vox: “ Benjamin Netanyahu failed Israel ” Aamer Madhani and Ellen Knickmeyer for AP: “ Biden’s hopes for establishing Israel-Saudi relations could become a casualty of the new Mideast war ” Kevin Liptak, MJ Lee, Kayla Tausche, and Jeff Zeleny for CNN: “ Biden’s dilemma in Israel response: Outrage without escalation ” Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman for Politico: “ ’Unacceptably devoid of empathy’: DSA is facing an internal reckoning on Israel ” Jack Stripling and Laura Meckler for The Washington Post: “ At colleges, violence in Israel and Gaza ignites a war of words ” Bertha Gonzalez for The Stanford Daily: “ Saller, Martinez condemn Hamas attack in University statement ” Carl Hulse for The New York Times: “ Republicans Choose a New Speaker Nominee, Then Quickly Undercut Him ” Jason Lange for Reuters: “ RFK Jr could draw one in seven US voters in 2024 presidential election, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows ” Steve Peoples for AP: “ How third-party and independent candidates could threaten Democrats and Republicans in 2024 ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Rabbi Erez Sherman in the Jewish Journal: “ Mourning and Joy – At The Same Time ” Juliette: “ The True-Blue American ” by Delmore Schwartz in Selected Poems: Summer Knowledge David: Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ The “Deaths of Despair” narrative is wrong ” and the movie “ BlackBerry ” Listener chatter from Deb Knox: Little Amal and Sean Beauford for Pittsburgh City Paper: “ A giant puppet comes to Pittsburgh, and, with it, recognition of child refugees ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and Juliette discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, No Labels, and their possible effects on the presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Juliette Kayyem, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 5, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the now-former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and the for-now Republican Matt Gaetz; the Supreme Court’s new term; and crime in America. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Marianna Sotomayor, Leigh Ann Caldwell, and Colby Itkowitz for The Washington Post: “ Fight for speakership begins as House reels from McCarthy ouster ” David Leonhardt for The New York Times: “ America’s Political Turmoil ” Matt Ford for The New Republic: “ The Supreme Court Eyes Its Next Big Power Grab ” Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley for The American Presidency Project: “ Summary of the Report of the Committee on Administrative Management [the Brownlow Report]. ” Ian Millhiser for Vox: “ The Supreme Court will decide if abusive spouses have a right to own guns ” Mark Sherman for AP: “ Supreme Court is asked to reject limits on a drug used in the most common method of abortion ” Andrew Chung for Reuters: “ Supreme Court ethics concerns aren’t going away ” Ernesto Lopez, Richard Rosenfeld, and Bobby Boxerman for the Council on Criminal Justice: “ Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2023 Update " Rebecca Crosby, Judd Legum, and Tesnim Zekeria for Popular Information: “ Target says it’s closing 9 stores due to theft. The crime data tells a different story. ” Trisha Ahmed and Jim Salter for AP: “ Some small towns in America are disbanding police forces, citing hiring woes ” Gabe Cohen for CNN: “ Doubling up on classrooms, using online teachers and turning to support staff: How schools are dealing with the ongoing teacher shortage ” John Dickerson for CBS News: “ Chronic school absences on the rise in 40 states, study finds ” Michael D. Shear for The New York Times: “ Bidens’ Dog Is No Longer at White House After Latest Biting Incident ” Molly Olmstead for Slate: “ The Bidens’ Dog Keeps Biting People. Why? ” Judicial Watch: “ Judicial Watch Sues Secret Service for Records of Attacks by Biden German Shepherd ‘Commander’ ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: North Woods: A Novel by Daniel Mason and “ Tiny Beautiful Things ” on Hulu John: “ Endeavour ” on PBS; Daniel Garisto for Scientific American: “ This Year’s Physics Nobel Awards Scientists for Slicing Reality into Attoseconds ”; John Uri for NASA: “ 65 Years Ago: Sputnik Ushers in the Space Age ”; and Charles Fishman for Fast Company: “ The birth of the electronic beep, the most ubiquitous sound design in the world ” David: Paul M.M. Cooper’s Fall of Civilizations Podcast and Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast Listener chatter from Danny O’Malley: “ Canary ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, his biting of Secret Service personnel, and his recent banishment from the White House. In the next Gabfest Reads in October, David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com . (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 28, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the second Republican presidential primary debate; the next federal case against Senator Bob Menendez, and the latest lawsuit of United States v. Big Tech. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Madison, Wisconsin on October 25! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Dan Balz for The Washington Post: “ Republican debate brings chaos, attacks and a slog for second place ” G. Elliott Morris for 538: “ How outlier polls happen – and what to do with them ” Nicole Hong for The New York Times: “ Gold Bullion and Halal Meat: Inside the Menendez Investigation ” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ FTC chair Lina Khan discusses need for regulations on big business ” Lina M. Khan in The Yale Law Journal: “ Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox ” Lisa Mascaro and Stephen Groves for AP: “ House Speaker McCarthy is back to square one as the Senate pushes ahead to avert a federal shutdown ” John Dickerson and Kris Van Cleave for CBS News: “ How a government shutdown could cause chaos at airports ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Mary Harris for This American Life: Act One of The Call ; Slate’s podcast What Next hosted by Mary Harris; Never Use Alone Inc. National Overdose Prevention Lifeline; Dr. Alison Block for the Post-Roe America series of The Nocturnists podcast; and Slate’s podcast Amicus hosted by Dahlia Lithwick: “ SCOTUS Is Not Done With Guns and Abortion ” John: Michael Schneider for Variety: “ CNN and Now-Canceled ‘Vice News Tonight’ Lead News & Documentary Night 1 Winners List ” and John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ How to stay safe online, according to CISA ” David: Jonathan O’Callaghan for Nature: “ This is what Earth’s continents will look like in 250 million years ” Listener chatter from Kevin McEvilly: Adam Frank and Marcelo Gleiser in The New York Times: “ The Story of Our Universe May Be Starting to Unravel ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the possible shutdown of the U.S. government. In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Zadie Smith about her book, The Fraud: A Novel . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Kristi Coulter about her book, Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 23, 2023

Emily Bazelon talks with author Zadie Smith about her new book, The Fraud . They discuss what happens when justice comes through an unjust symbol, how much Zadie does and doesn’t know about her characters, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 21, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the UAW autoworkers’ strike against the Big Three automakers, talk with Yoel Roth about social media trust and safety, and weigh teachers’ burden to engage in parent diplomacy. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Madison, Wisconsin on October 25! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Danielle Kaye for NPR: “ Why the UAW is fighting so hard for these 4 key demands in the auto strike ” Yoel Roth in The New York Times: “ Trump Attacked Me. Then Musk Did. It Wasn’t an Accident. ” Yoel Roth on Lawfare: “ Content Moderation’s Legalism Problem ” Sarah Chaves in The Atlantic: “ Parent Diplomacy Is Overwhelming Teachers ” 9News: “Surveillance video: “ Boebert seen vaping, arguing with patrons before removal from Denver theater ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Susan Haigh and Eric Tucker for AP: “ Former federal prosecutor who resigned from Trump-Russia probe says she left over concerns with Barr ” John: Ashley Strickland for CNN: “ How NASA has prepared to scoop up an asteroid sample landing in the desert ” and The Art of Explanation: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence by Ros Atkins David: NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries: “ Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary ” and National Trust for Historic Preservation: “ Ghost Fleet of the Potomac, Mallows Bay ” Listener chatter from Kevin Collins: Thomas Kole’s a portrait of Tenochtitlan: a 3D reconstruction of the capital of the Aztec Empire For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the surveillance camera video of Representative Lauren Boebert behaving badly in a Denver theater . In the next Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Zadie Smith about her book, The Fraud: A Novel . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 14, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are reunited with John Dickerson to discuss the Wisconsin Republicans’ effort to impeach Justice Janet Protasiewicz and protect their gerrymander; Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to start an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden and prevent a government shutdown; and Biden’s age problem and Donald Trump’s battleground-state difficulties. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Madison, Wisconsin on October 25! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Scott Bauer for AP: “ Why Wisconsin Republicans are talking about impeaching a new state Supreme Court justice ” City Cast Madison podcast: “ How We Know Wisconsin’s Maps are Gerrymandered ” Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, 536 U.S. 765 (2002) Luke Broadwater for The New York Times: “ What We Know About the Impeachment Case Against Biden ” and Carl Hulse and Luke Broadwater: “ McCarthy Tries to Leverage Biden Impeachment to Avoid a Shutdown ” Nate Cohn for The New York Times: “ Trump’s Electoral College Edge Seems to Be Fading ” and “ How to Interpret Polling Showing Biden’s Loss of Nonwhite Support ” FiveThirtyEight Politics Podcast: “ Why Biden Is Losing Support Among Voters Of Color ” Paul Waldman for MSNBC: “ You can talk about Biden’s age. Just not like this. ” The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency by John Dickerson The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future by Franklin Foer Dan Balz for The Washington Post: “ Mitt Romney says he will not seek a second term in the Senate ” McKay Coppins for The Atlantic: “ What Mitt Romney Saw In The Senate ” “ Mitt ” on Netflix Laura Vozzella for The Washington Post: “ Va. Dem. House candidate performed sex online with husband for tips ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Knockout Queen: A Novel by Rufi Thorpe and The Vaster Wilds: A Novel by Lauren Groff John: The Journals of John Cheever edited by Robert Gottlieb; CBS News Sunday Morning ; Ted Gioia in The Honest Broker: “ Why Is Music Getting Sadder? ”; and Chris Dalla Riva: “ Tears Are Falling And I Feel The Pain ” David: Zhong sauce by Fly By Jing Listener chatter from Ben: Tyler Vigen’s “ The Mystery of the Bloomfield Bridge ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss Susanna Gibson, the Virginia Democratic House candidate who “performed sex online with husband for tips .” In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily, David, and John talk with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling book, Demon Copperhead . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 7, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by The Atlantic’s Franklin Foer to discuss Joe Biden’s White House and The Last Politician ; the war in Ukraine and the possible meeting of Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin; and Americans’ views on the value of higher education. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Madison, Wisconsin on October 25! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future by Franklin Foer Seung Min Kim, Stephen Groves, and Farnoush Amiri for AP: “ How Biden and McCarthy struck a debt limit deal and staved off a catastrophe ” Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias : “ This was Biden’s core promise … ” Jasmine Wright for CNN: “ Kamala Harris found her voice on abortion rights in the year after Dobbs. Now she’s making it central to her 2024 message ” Imtiaz Tyab for CBS News: “ Ukraine counteroffensive makes “notable” progress near Zaporizhzhia, but it’s a grinding stalemate elsewhere ” Paul Tough for The New York Times Magazine: “ Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That? ” Ramesh Ponnuru in The Washington Post: “ How to restore intellectual diversity on college campuses Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. in The Washington Post: “ Could income-share agreements help solve the student debt crisis? ” Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber Sarah Wood for U.S. News & World Report: “ Paying for Meals at College: What to Know About Costs ” Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court’s Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences by Joan Biskupic Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Richard Fausset and Danny Hakim for The New York Times: “ Georgia Judge Says Two Defendants in Trump Case Will Get Early Trial Together ” and Sam Gringlas for NPR: “ In the Trump Georgia case, conflicting legal strategies complicate the path to trial ” Frank: The Dan Patrick Show: “ Does Messi Make MLS Appear Inferior? ”; How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization by Franklin Foer; Essays on Music by Theodor Adorno; and On Late Style: Music and Literature Against the Grain by Edward W. Said David: One Life: Frederick Douglass at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.; Michel Martin for NPR’s All Things Considered: “ Picture This: Frederick Douglass Was The Most Photographed Man Of His Time ”; and NPR: “ ’What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?’: Descendants Read Frederick Douglass’ Speech ” Listener chatter from Nicole Dorn: Jennifer Senior for The Atlantic: “ The Ones We Sent Away ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Frank, Emily, and David discuss the writing of The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future . In the latest Gabfest Reads , Emily, David, and John talk with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling book, Demon Copperhead . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Franklin Foer, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 31, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s trials schedule and the 2024 election calendar; Vivek Ramaswamy; and “ What the Best Places in America Have in Common .” Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Devlin Barrett, Rachel Weiner, and Perry Stein for The Washington Post: “ Trump’s D.C. election-obstruction trial scheduled for March 2024 ” Josh Barro in Very Serious: “ Section Guy Runs For President ” Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shaefer, and Timothy J. Nelson in The Atlantic: “ What the Best Places in America Have in Common ” and The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America MGM’s “ Red Dawn ” official trailer John Dickerson for CBS News’ Prime Time: “ Russia accuses Ukraine of large-scale drone attack ” Hamlet by Shakespeare: “ To die, to sleep– To sleep–perchance to dream. ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Strike Force Five podcast on Spotify; Caroline Anders for The Washington Post: “ France has too much wine. It’s paying millions to destroy the leftovers. ”; Giri Viswanathan for CNN: “ Marijuana and hallucinogen use, binge drinking reached records highs in middle-aged adults, survey finds ”; and James Martinez for AP: “’ Like Snoop Dogg’s living room’: Smell of pot wafts over notorious U.S. Open court ” Emily: Tennis.com: “ Azarenka, Svitolina, Wozniacki among 10 moms in the US Open main draw this year ” David: Tree of the Year 2023 by the Woodland Trust; European Tree of the Year ; Asian Tree of the Year ; and Josh Levin for Slate’s One Year: 1955 podcast: “ The Team Nobody Would Play ” Listener chatter from Brian Jackson: Jordan Pascale for DCist: “ At DCA, Crews Race Each Night To Repave A Bit Of Runway Before The Next Day’s Flights ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, Emily, and David discuss militias. In this month’s Gabfest Reads , Emily, David, and John talk with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling book, Demon Copperhead . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 24, 2023

This week, John Dickerson is back and joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the first Republican primary debate and the simulcast Tucker Carlson interview of Donald Trump; the Republican law professors’ debate about whether the U.S. Constitution prohibits another Trump presidency; and the United Diners of America. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Colectivo Coffee in Madison, Wisconsin Josh Dawsey, Michael Scherer, and Marianne LeVine for The Washington Post: “ Republican rivals clash sharply in combative debate with no Trump ” Sam Levine for The Guardian: “ Could Trump be barred under the constitution’s ‘engaged in insurrection’ clause? ” William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review: “ The Sweep and Force of Section Three ” J. Michael Luttig and Laurence H. Tribe in The Atlantic: “ The Constitution Prohibits Trump From Ever Being President Again ” Eric Segall in Dorf on Law: “ Of Insurrections, Presidents, and the Utter Failure of Constitutional Law to Address the Real Issues ” Catherine Rampell for The Washington Post: “ Where do socioeconomic classes mix? Not church, but Chili’s. ” Maxim Massenkoff and Nathan Wilmers: “ Rubbing Shoulders: Class Segregation in Daily Activities ” Freevee original “ Jury Duty ” on Amazon Julie V. Iovine for The New York Times: “ Dog Parks Are Great for People. Too Bad They’re Terrible for Dogs. ” Applebee’s America: How Successful Political, Business, and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community by Ron Fournier, Douglas B. Sosnik, and Matthew J. Dowd “ Fancy Like (feat. Kesha) ” by Walker Hayes Here are this week’s chatters: John: “ Weathervanes ” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; “ Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed “ on Max; “ Volunteer ” and “ Cast Iron Skillet ” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Emily: Jeff Amy for AP: “ Georgia prosecutors are suing to strike down a new state law that undermines their authority ” David: Emily Heil for The Washington Post: “ Eggo’s ‘Brunch in a Jar’ sippin’ cream is a boozy, diabolical disaster ”; Cheez-It Snap’d ; City Cast DC 1 Year Anniversary Live Taping Listener chatter from Leonie: Ronan Casey for Classic Rock: “ Meat Loaf, a flying wheelchair, and the greatest story ever told ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, Emily, and David debate calendar invitations. In this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads , Emily, David, and John talk with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling book, Demon Copperhead . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 19, 2023

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson talk with author Barbara Kingsolver about her new book, Demon Copperhead . They discuss her inspiration for the novel, what we keep getting wrong about Appalachia, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 17, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Lulu Garcia-Navarro of The New York Times to discuss the indictment in Georgia of Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants for trying to overturn the state’s 2020 election results; the court win by Montana youth for “a clean and healthful environment” and the devastating losses of Maui residents to wildfire; and the lawsuit of Michael Oher against his supposed “Blind Side” parents. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: C-SPAN: “ Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the Indictment of Former President Trump ” David Gelles, Brad Plumer, Jim Tankersley, and Jack Ewing for The New York Times: “ The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think ” Christopher Flavelle and Manuela Andreoni for The New York Times: “ How Climate Change Turned Lush Hawaii Into a Tinderbox ” Josh Levin for Slate: “ The Other Blind Sides ” and Hang Up and Listen podcast Robyn Autry for MSNBC: “ ’The Blind Side’ isn’t the only film that gets things wrong. All white savior movies do. ” Kristine Parks for Fox News: “ Liberal columnists seize on ‘Blind Side’ controversy: ‘White savior’ story looks ‘even more fake’ than before ” Emily Laurence and Jeff Temple for Forbes: “ The Psychology Behind The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts by Stephen Bright and James Kwak and The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America by Katherine Turk Lulu: Only Murders In The Building on Hulu David: Hijack on Apple TV+ and hiring for Host, City Cast Las Vegas Listener chatter from Julian: Liz Lindqwister for The San Francisco Standard: “ San Franciscans Are Having Sex in Robotaxis, and Nobody Is Talking About It ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Lulu, Emily, and David discuss the return of FOMO. In the most recent edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 10, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem to discuss the Ohio vote not to make it harder to change the state constitution; Republican views on Donald Trump’s offenses; and emergency preparedness or the lack thereof. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jack Goldsmith for The New York Times: “ The Prosecution of Trump May Have Terrible Consequences ” The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters by Juliette Kayyem Charles M. Blow for The New York Times: “ The Montgomery Brawl Was, for Some, a Clarifying Moment ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: WESH 2: “ Gov. DeSantis suspends State Attorney Monique H. Worrell, citing neglect of duty ” Juliette: Clay Risen for The New York Times: “ Charles J. Ogletree Jr., 70, Dies; at Harvard Law, a Voice for Equal Justice ” and Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ Why Is Affirmative Action in Peril? One Man’s Decision. ” David: City Cast DC 1 Year Anniversary Live Taping , August 28, 2023, and Rachel Pannett for The Washington Post: “ She invited four people over for lunch. A week later, three were dead. ” Listener chatter from Rob Parsons: Richard Nelson for Encounters North: “ Classic Audio Encounters ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Juliette, Emily, and David discuss the Montgomery, Alabama riverfront brawl. In the most recent edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s third indictment, this one for January 6th and the 2020 election; Trump v. President Joe Biden poll results; and, joined by David French of The New York Times, the country song “Try That In A Small Town.” Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Devlin Barrett and Josh Dawsey for The Washington Post: “ Heart of the Trump Jan. 6 indictment: What’s in Trump’s head ” Judd Legum for Popular Information: “ The biggest misconception about Trump’s third criminal indictment ” Reid J. Epstein for The New York Times: “ Quick to Mock MAGA, Biden Stays Silent on Trump Indictments ” Reid J. Epstein, Ruth Igielnik, and Camille Baker for The New York Times: “ Biden Shores Up Democratic Support, but Faces Tight Race Against Trump ” and Nate Cohn: “ Can the Race Really Be That Close? Yes, Biden and Trump Are Tied. ” David French for The New York Times: “ Try Tolerance in a Small Town ” and “ The Trial America Needs ” 18 U.S. Code § 241 – Conspiracy against rights Jill Filipovic for The Guardian: “ Musicians like Jason Aldean love to glorify ‘small-town’ America. It’s embarrassing ” Aaron Zitner for The Wall Street Journal: “ They’re the Happiest People in America. We Called Them to Ask Why. ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Deborah Treisman for The Writer’s Voice: New Fiction from The New Yorker: “ Camille Bordas Reads ‘Colorín Colorado’ ” and How to Behave in a Crowd by Camille Bordas John: Meghan Bartels for Scientific American: “ NASA Detects ‘Heartbeat’ from Voyager 2 Spacecraft after Losing Contact ” and John Dickerson for The Prime Time Interview, CBS News: “ Author Dan Pink on the meaning of regret, how he captures his ideas, more with John Dickerson ” David: “ Exploring a Secret Fort ” with David through airbnb and Emma Marris for Nature: “ Could this ancient whale be the heaviest animal ever? ” Listener chatter from Alex Callahan: Peter Braul for Maisonneuve: “ We’ll Never Be That Drunk Again ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss “ The Socio Political Demography of Happiness ” by Sam Peltzman. In the most recent edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 27, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legislative win limiting judicial powers while hundreds of thousands of Israelis protest; Harvard University and other elite colleges’ reconsideration of legacy admissions; and the revise-or-bust status of Hunter Biden’s plea deal. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ How Israel’s Supreme Court Might React to the Challenge to Its Power ” Maayan Lubell for Reuters: “ Israel’s Netanyahu down in polls over judicial reform ” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ Harvard professor discusses admission at elite colleges ” Claire Cain Miller and Aatish Bhatia for The New York Times: “ How Big Is the Legacy Boost at Elite Colleges? ” and Aatish Bhatia, Claire Cain Miller, and Josh Katz: “ Study of Elite College Admissions Data Suggests Being Very Rich Is Its Own Qualification ” Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “ Why You Have to Care About These 12 Colleges ” John Dickerson and Catherine Herridge for CBS News Prime Time: “ What’s next for Hunter Biden after plea deal unraveling ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: “ Barbie ” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling John: Wall Street Journal: “ Yemen Oil Tanker at Risk: An Operation to Avert a Massive Spill ” David: “ Jury Duty ” on Amazon Prime Listener chatter from Susan Bates: The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David and Emily discuss their personal thoughts on Israel and reference Exodus by Leon Uris and “ Exodus ” starring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint. In the July edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or X us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2023

David Plotz talks with author David Grann about his new book, The Wager . The non-fiction book tells the harrowing story of a shipwreck off the coast of Patagonia in 1742. They discuss how the British Empire twisted fact and fiction, the process of digging through 280-year-old documents, and why you should always have citrus at sea. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are together again and talking about Donald Trump’s next indictment and the charges against his “false electors” in Michigan; the struggles of candidates Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, et al.; and Congressional Republicans’ culture war against the U.S. military. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: James Madison: “ Impeachment of the Executive, [20 July] 1787 ” FiveThirtyEight: “ Who’s Ahead In Republican Primary Polls? ” Fox News Digital: “ Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott says Donald Trump is ‘overqualified to be my vice president’ ” Manu Raju, Rashard Rose, and Lauren Fox for CNN: “ Tommy Tuberville now says ‘White nationalists are racists’ after refusing to denounce them ” Zoë Richards for NBC News: “ Arizona Republican refers to Black Americans as ‘colored people’ in House floor debate ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Elise White, Basaime Spate, Javonte Alexander, and Rachel Swaner for the Center for Justice Innovation: “ ’Two Battlefields’: Opps, Cops, and NYC Youth Gun Culture ” and Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration by Emily Bazelon John: Mona El-Naggar, Johan M. Kessel, and Alexander Stockton for The New York Times: “ What Is War to a Grieving Child? ”; Jeanna Smialek and Ben Casselman for The New York Times: “ The Pandemic’s Labor Market Myths ”; and Chris Cameron for The New York Times: “ Over 700 Civil War-Era Gold Coins Found Buried on a Kentucky Farm ” David: “ Exploring a Secret Fort ” with David through airbnb; Steve Bohnel for The Frederick News-Post: “ $200,000, or the city burns: The story of the Confederacy’s ransom on Frederick ”; and Caity Weaver for The New York Times Magazine: “ My Impossible Mission to Find Tom Cruise ” Listener chatter from Dianne Denton: Harriet McBryde Johnson for The New York Times Magazine: “ Unspeakable Conversations ” and Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes, artificial intelligence, and the future of work. In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, David talks with David Grann about his book, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 13, 2023

This week, John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Vox’s Marin Cogan @marincogan to discuss the extreme weather, heat, and floods that are wreaking havoc across the United States and around the world; the social media phenomenon of Threads; and the American love-hate relationship with cars. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Cara Buckley for The New York Times: “ To Help Cool a Hot Planet, the Whitest of White Coats ” Jonathan Erdman for The Weather Channel: “ America’s Top Weather Killer Is Not Tornadoes, Flooding, Lightning Or Hurricanes – It’s Heat ” Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar Antonio Pequeño IV for Forbes: “ Zuckerberg Vs. Musk: Everything We Know About The Possible Cage Fight ” These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore Insider Intelligence: “ US Social Network Ad Revenue Growth, 2021-2023 ” Marin Cogan for Vox: “ The impossible paradox of car ownership ”; “ The deadliest road in America ”; and “ Cars transformed America. They also made people more vulnerable to the police. ” Tracy Chapman: “ Fast Car ”; Luke Combs: “ Fast Car ”; and Emily Yahr for The Washington Post: “ Tracy Chapman, Luke Combs and the complicated response to ‘Fast Car’ ” Henry Grabar for Slate: “ Why More Americans Are Using Fake License Plates and Getting Away With It ” Gersh Kuntzman for Streetsblog NYC: “ Paris Mayor Enters Fray Between E-Bikes and Pedestrians – By Fighting Drivers ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Hannah Hartig, Andrew Daniller, Scott Keeter, and Ted Van Green for Pew Research Center: “ Republican Gains in 2022 Midterms Driven Mostly by Turnout Advantage ” Marin and David: Tour de France on NBC Sports; Tour de France: Unchained on Netflix Listener chatter from Dan Kirkwood: Claire Stremple for The Alaska Beacon: “ Angoon students name, launch first dugout canoe since 1882 Bombardment ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Marin discuss traffic enforcement, the need for it, and the harms it causes. In the latest edition of Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Monica Potts @MonicaBPotts about her book, The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are on vacation, but Emily taped an extra episode of Gabfest Reads for everyone. She sits down with author Monica Potts to talk about her new memoir The Forgotten Girls . They discuss growing up in rural Arkansas, Monica’s childhood best friend Darci, and more. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John chatter about what’s making them happy this summer, an article about how bad things really are, and more. In the June edition of Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 29, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live and on stage with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and also discuss the Supreme Court’s legitimacy problem and the not-Trump Republican candidates’ struggle. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: C-SPAN: “ Maryland State of the State Address ” Jeffrey M. Jones for Gallup: “ Trust in Federal Government Branches Continues to Falter ” and “ Confidence in U.S. Supreme Court Sinks to Historic Low John Dickerson and Anthony Salvanto for Face The Nation: “ CBS News poll: GOP primary voters are more concerned Trump’s indictment is political ” Rich Lowry for Politico: “ The Trump Divide that Should Have Republicans Terrified ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Donald H. Kent for Pennsylvania History: “ The Erie War of the Gauges " Emily: Adam Liptak for The New York Times: “ Supreme Court Puts First Amendment Limits on Laws Banning Online Threats ” David: Elliot C. Williams for WAMU’s The DCist: “ Fans Revel In The Atlantis As Foo Fighters Open Venue With ‘Long, Hot, Loud’ Performance ”; Matt Richtel for The New York Times: “ The Refries That Bind: A Cavernous Cantina Returns, Cliff Divers and All ”; and Amazon Prime’s movie “ Air: A Story of Greatness ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John answer audience questions and talk about “ Gabfest Reads: The Case for Treating Animals With Dignity ”. In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Monica Potts @MonicaBPotts about her book, The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Patrick Fort Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 2023

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Keziah Weir for Vanity Fair: “ How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Became the Anti-vaxxer Icon of America’s Nightmares ” Matt Viser for The Washington Post: “ The complicated relationship between a presidential father and a struggling son ” Pam Belluck and Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ New York Passes Bill to Shield Abortion Providers Sending Pills Into States With Bans ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ A Medical Frontier ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Samuel A. Alito Jr. for The Wall Street Journal: “ Justice Samuel Alito: ProPublica Misleads Its Readers ”; Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica: “ Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court ” John: Todd Estes for Teaching American History: “ New Hampshire’s Ratification of the Constitution ” David: U.S. Department of Agriculture: “ Nuts ”; Taryn Varricchio and Clancy Morgan for Business Insider: “ Cashews don’t come cheap – one pound at retail can cost you $15. Here’s why they’re so expensive. ”; Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips Listener chatter from Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg: Reshma Saujani at Smith College’s 2023 Commencement: Imposter Syndrome is Modern-Day Bicycle Face For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with James Surowiecki of The Atlantic @JamesSurowiecki his article, “ The Bitter Truth About the Bud Light Boycott .” In the June edition of Gabfest Reads , Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2023

Emily Bazelon talks with author Peter Singer about his updated and re-released book, Animal Liberation Now . The classic text has been an integral part of the animal rights movement since its publication in 1975. They discuss what we’ve learned about animals in the last several decades, including the intelligence of animals, why people should become vegan to help with climate change, and what we've learned about animals over the last four decades. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 15, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the federal case against Donald Trump involving national-security documents, Atlanta’s Cop City training facility, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s decision to delay her next book situated in Soviet-era Russia. Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. , Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I. In-person and virtual tickets on sale now. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times: “ The Radical Strategy Behind Trump’s Promise to ‘Go After’ Biden ” Esteban L. Hernandez for Axios: “ Denver’s STAR set to expand amid tension over its future ” Patrick Quinn for Atlanta News First: “ ’Stop Cop City’ Sen. Warnock interrupted during commencement address ” Eat Pray Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert Mark Healy for GQ: “ Women’s Favorite Author to Women: Don’t Get Married! ” Elizabeth Gilbert on Twitter: “ Important announcement about THE SNOW FOREST. ” Mike Dash for Smithsonian Magazine: “ For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of World War II ” Philip Kennicott for The Washington Post: “ Ukraine wants a boycott of Russian culture. It’s already happening. ” Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: “ Eat, Pray, Pander ” Peter Beaumont for The Guardian: “ Author resigns from PEN America board amid row over Russian writers panel ” Imogen West-Knights for Slate: “ The Saga Over Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Russian Novel” Has an Uncomfortable Lesson—and It’s Not for Her ” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas by Corey Robin Here are this week’s chatters: John: Simrin Singh for CBS News: “ Phosphorus, essential element needed for life, detected in ocean on Saturn’s moon ”; William Harwood for CBS News: “ New evidence of water plumes on Jupiter’s moon Europa; could it support life? ” Emily: The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts; When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey David: Muster Dogs on The ABC: “Five graziers from across Australia are given five Kelpie puppies from the same litter and set with the challenge of transforming these uniquely Australian dogs into champion muster dogs.” Listener chatter from Phil: Jay Caspian Kang for The New Yorker: “ Notes on Losing ”; Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison; John Dickerson for Slate: “ Risk ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with Joel Anderson @byjoelanderson his podcast, Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas . In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed . Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 9, 2023

In a Gabfest Special Edition, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Donald Trump’s indictment on charges relating to classified documents and the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision on Alabama racial gerrymandering. Here are some notes and references from today’s show: The Washington Post: “ Live Updates: Trump criminal indictment is unsealed, shows he faces 37 charges ” Robert Barnes for The Washington Post: “ Supreme Court: Alabama’s voting maps unfair to Black residents ” Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. , Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 8, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest three Republicans battling for the presidential nomination; Oklahoma’s approval of a Catholic public-charter school; and Saudi sportswashing in golf and soccer. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Andrew Prokop for Vox: “ Trump’s next indictment is looming – and the evidence against him is trickling out ” Sean Murphy for AP: “ Oklahoma school board approves what would be the 1st taxpayer-funded religious school in US ” The Guardian: “ Changing their tune: what golf’s powerbrokers said then and now ” Lauren Chooljian for New Hampshire Public Radio: “ He built New Hampshire’s largest addiction treatment network. Now, he faces accusations of sexual misconduct. ” David Enrich for The New York Times: “ A Reporter Investigated Sexual Misconduct. Then the Attacks Began. ” John Dickerson for Slate: “ Where’s My Subpoena? ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Kate Brumback for AP: “ Bond granted for 3 activists whose fund bailed out people protesting Atlanta ‘Cop City’ project ” John: David Lerman, Laura Weiss, and Avery Roe for Roll Call: “ Still steaming over debt deal, conservatives derail House action ” David: Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park ; Dan Chabanov for Bicycling: “ What Is a Randonnée—and Why Should You Sign Up for One? ”; Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur Listener chatter from Greg Hoffman: Genghis Blues For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss the attacks and libel suit against a journalist for her reporting . In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed . Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. , Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen This Pride Month, make an impact by helping Macy’s and The Trevor Project on their mission to fund life-saving suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 1, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the debt-ceiling deal; the Russia-Ukraine war with the Atlantic’s Kori Schake @KoriSchake ; and the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Wagner for The Washington Post: “ Senate racing to pass debt ceiling bill ahead of Monday default deadline ” The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future by Franklin Foer Kori Schake for The Atlantic: “ Biden Is More Fearful Than the Ukrainians Are ” Anatoly Kurmanaev, Ivan Nechepurenko, and Eric Nagourney for The New York Times: “ Drone Strike in Moscow Brings Ukraine War Home to Russians ” Erin Douglas and Robert Downen for The Texas Tribune: “ God, money and Dairy Queen: How Texas House investigators secured the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton ” Succession theme song by Nicholas Britell Here are this week’s chatters: John: New York Post: “ Woman wins bizarre ‘cheese-rolling race’ – despite being knocked unconscious ”; Cheese Rolling in Gloucester Emily: I’ve Just Seen a Face: A Practical and Emotional Guide for Parents of Children Born with Cleft Lip and Palate by Amy Mendillo, MPP David: Nat Hentoff for The New Yorker: “ What Bob Dylan Wanted at Twenty-Three ”; join David at a live taping of City Cast DC on Saturday June 3 at 1 p.m., Right Proper Brewing's Brookland production house and tasting room. Tickets are free. RSVP here . Listener chatter from James Carey: Recipe of Dwight D. Eisenhower for Vegetable Soup For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss HBO’s “ Succession ”. In the latest edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Curtis Sittenfeld @csittenfeld about her book, Romantic Comedy . Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. , Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz This Pride Month, make an impact by helping Macy’s and The Trevor Project on their mission to fund life-saving suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 25, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the imminent X Date when the United States hits the debt ceiling and could default; the presidential campaign announcements of Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott; and the possibilities of regulating artificial intelligence. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ezra Klein for The New York Times: “ Liberals Are Persuading Themselves of a Debt Ceiling Plan That Won’t Work ” J. Baxter Oliphant for Pew Research Center: “ Top tax frustrations for Americans: The feeling that some corporations, wealthy people don’t pay fair share ” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ Former Google executive speaks out against AI ” Emily Conover for Science News Explores: “ A new supercomputer just set a world record for speed ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Oliver Whang for The New York Times: “ A Paralyzed Man Can Walk Naturally Again With Brain and Spine Implants ”; Henri Lorach, et al., for Nature: “ Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain-spine interface ” Emily: Charlotte Lytton for The Washington Post: “ Long-hidden ruins of vast network of Maya cities could recast history ” David: NatureSweet Twilights tomato ; join David at a live taping of City Cast DC on Saturday June 3 at 1 p.m., Right Proper Brewing's Brookland production house and tasting room. Tickets are free. RSVP here . Listener chatter from Bob Rosner: Inti Pacheco for The Wall Street Journal: “ The Monks Who Make Chartreuse Don’t Care About Your Fancy Cocktails ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss Harlan Crow’s collections and Graeme Wood’s article in The Atlantic: “ Inside the Garden of Evil .” In the latest edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Curtis Sittenfeld @csittenfeld about her book, Romantic Comedy . Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. , Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the John Durham report on the FBI investigation of the 2016 Trump campaign; the mifepristone case heard by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the 12-week abortion ban in North Carolina; and the legal showdown between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David Frum for The Atlantic: “ A Sinister Flop: Special Counsel John Durham served up not an investigation, but an excuse for future partisan abuses. ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ How a 150-Year-Old Law Against Lewdness Became a Key to the Abortion Fight ” Debra Michals for the National Women’s History Museum: “ Margaret Sanger Stephen Neukam for The Hill: “ Rick Scott on Disney-DeSantis feud: ‘Cooler heads have to prevail’ ” Will Saletan for The Bulwark: “ The Corruption of Lindsey Graham: A case study in the rise of authoritarianism. ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis for BBC News: “ Titanic: First ever full-sized scans reveal wreck as never seen before ”; Lilit Marcus and Sania Farooqui for CNN: “ Sherpa breaks record with 27th Mount Everest summit ” Emily: Divide Me By Zero by Lara Vapnyar David: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann; join David at a live taping of City Cast DC on Saturday June 3 at 1 p.m., Right Proper Brewing's Brookland production house and tasting room. Tickets are free. RSVP here . Listener chatter from Jon: “ Trappisten verlassen Abtei Engelszell ” [Trappists leave Engelszell Abbey] For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with The Bulwark’s Will Saletan @saletan his book, “ The Corruption of Lindsey Graham: A case study in the rise of authoritarianism. ” In the latest edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Curtis Sittenfeld @csittenfeld about her book, Romantic Comedy . Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. , Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Tickets are on sale now. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 11, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, discuss the $5 million jury verdict for E. Jean Carroll and against Donald Trump; joined by New York Times Mexico bureau chief Natalie Kitroeff @Nataliekitro, the end of Title 42 and the flow of migrants at the border; and the looming crisis of raise the debt ceiling or default. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Kara Scannell, Dan Berman, and Nicki Brown for CNN: “Key moments from the video of Trump’s deposition in E. Jean Carroll trial released to the public” Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, and Marianne LeVine for The Washington Post: “Sexual abuse verdict renews Republican doubts about Trump’s electability” Natalie Kitroeff and Julie Turkewitz for The New York Times: “What’s Driving Record Levels of Migration to the U.S. Border?” Natalie Kitroeff, Christine Zhang, Miriam Jordan, and Eileen Sullivan for The New York Times: “Who Gets In? A Guide to America’s Chaotic Border Rules.” John Dickerson and Jeff Stein for CBS News Prime Time: “14th Amendment and debt ceiling connection explained” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Pam Belluck for The New York Times: “F.D.A. Advisers Say Benefits of Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill” John: Ray A. Smith for The Wall Street Journal: “Workers Now Spend Two Full Days a Week on Email and in Meetings” David: “Exploring a Secret Fort” with David through airbnb; Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City, Mexico Listener chatter from Eric: Ironic Sans on YouTube: “The Most Remade Movie in History” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss a listener’s moral dilemma: continue to teach in the LGBTQ-supportive learning environment of an arts high school or change jobs and teach in a parochial school. In Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Curtis Sittenfeld @csittenfeld about her latest book, Romantic Comedy. Mark your calendars for the return of Political Gabfest Live! Wednesday, June 28 in Washington, D.C. Further information coming soon… Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jared Downing and Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 2023

Emily Bazelon talks with author author Curtis Sittenfeld about her new book Romantic Comedy . They discuss why ordinary guys get to be with famous women, but usually not the other way around, the fun of writing a fictional version of Saturday Night Live, and how to write witty email exchanges. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 4, 2023

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and the New York Times’s Jamelle Bouie @jbouie discuss the battle between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy on raising the debt ceiling; the courtroom drama of E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump; and the power of Republican supermajorities in state legislatures. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nick Mourtoupalas and Derek Hawkins for The Washington Post: “ Washington is running out of workdays to strike a debt ceiling deal ” Jacob Bogage for The Washington Post: “ Debt ceiling showdown: 5 possible outcomes ” Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Lola Fadulu for The New York Times: “ In Trump Trial, a Lawyer Pushes, and E. Jean Carroll Pushes Right Back ” Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ A Sinister New Page in the Republican Playbook ” and “ Republicans Did Something Most People Don’t Like, So They’re Changing the Rules ” Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States Movement Advancement Project: “ Snapshot: Democracy Ratings By State ” Michael Waldman for the Brennan Center for Justice: “ The Great Resignation … Of Election Officials ” James Madison: “ Federalist No. 10 ” Here are this week’s chatters: Jamelle: the films of Seijun Suzuki , including Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill John: using ChatGPT to simplify text, such as statements by the Federal Reserve and George Washington’s farewell address Emily: Eleanor Klibanoff for The Texas Tribune: “ Three Texas women are sued for wrongful death after allegedly helping friend obtain abortion medication ” and “ Women accused of facilitating abortion in Galveston wrongful-death lawsuit file countersuit ” Listener chatter from Ted Hogeman: Community Media Center, Institute for Contemporary Art, Virginia Commonwealth University For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Jamelle, John, and Emily discuss cooking, including roast chicken with bread , Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martin, broccoli and cauliflower salad with curried dressing , broccoli salad with peanuts and tahini-lime dressing , and Soom tahini . In the next Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Curtis Sittenfeld @csittenfeld about her latest book, Romantic Comedy . Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Make an impact this Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund APIA Scholars. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the kick-off of President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign; the firings of Tucker Carlson from Fox News and Don Lemon from CNN; and the Bud Light marketing misstep with Insta influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Joe Biden Campaign: “ Let’s Finish the Job ” Aaron Zitner for the Wall Street Journal: “ They’re the Happiest People in America. We Called Them to Ask Why. ” Brian Stelter for the New York Times: “ I Worked at CNN and Reported on Tucker Carlson. He Was Never Invincible. ” Dylan Mulvaney on Instagram: “ Happy March Madness!! ” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ The Battle Over Gender Therapy ” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr on being blocked from debating an anti-trans bill ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Matthew Hendrickson, Fran Spielman, and Andy Grimm for the Chicago Sun-Times: “ Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx won’t seek reelection ” David: Jeff Maysh for The Atlantic: “ The Wedding Sting ” John: Bob Weir’s song “ Only a River ” Listener chatter from Elizabeth Trovall: Jen Rice and Alexandra Kanik for the Houston Chronicle: “ Harris County 2022 election: Investigation reveals new details ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the new Utah laws intended to restrict children’s access to social media . In Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) . Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 2023

David Plotz talks with author Alexandra Petri about her new book, Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents . They discuss how to transform staid history documents into rollicking parodies, how Petri found her “voice” multiple times, and her grander ambitions for the book. Plus, Petri reads some choice selections. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 20, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the $787.5 million settlement of the Dominion Voting v. Fox News defamation lawsuit; the political game being played with raising the U.S. debt ceiling; and the Russian detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jim Rutenberg and Katie Robertson for the New York Times: “ A $787.5 Million Settlement and Embarrassing Disclosures: The Costs of Airing a Lie ” Matthew Iglesias for Slow Boring: “ Medicaid work requirements are cruel and pointless ” Paul Krugman for the New York Times: “ A Few Ways Out of the Debt Ceiling Mess ” Freedom House Report: “ Freedom in the World 2023: Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy ” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “ U.S. ambassador says she visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter ” Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson, and Brett Forrest for the Wall Street Journal: “ ’You Are Completely Alone’: Inside the Infamous Russian Prison Holding Evan Gershkovich ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “ What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix) ” “ Pelosi in the House ” HBO documentary Carrie Blazina and Drew Desilver for the Pew Research Center: “ House gets younger, Senate gets older: A look at the age and generation of lawmakers in the 118th Congress ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Julie Bosman, Mitch Smith, Jesse McKinley, and Jay Root for the New York Times: “ Hundreds of Miles Apart, Separate Shootings Follow Wrong Turns ” and Timothy Bella for the Washington Post: “ Cheerleaders leaving practice were shot after one got in wrong car, teen says ” John: Ellie Zolfagharifard for the Daily Mail: “ ’Here there be robots’: Artist draws stunning medieval map of Mars showing off its huge craters and vast canyons ”; Mars and its Canals by Percival Lowell ; and Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: “ How Astronomer Percival Lowell Mistook His Own Eye For Spokes on Venus ” David: City Cast DC podcast: “ D.C.’s Rat-Hunting Dogs And Other Rat Solutions ” (Host Bridget Todd, Producer Julia Karron) Listener chatter from Nancy Hall: Joe Mahr and Megan Crepeau for the Chicago Tribune: “ Stalled Justice: Delays in the Cook County courts ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the dilemma posed by the months-long absence of Dianne Feinstein from the U.S. Senate . In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) . Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing. Research by Julie Huygen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2023

This week, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon discuss the federal court rulings on the F.D.A.-approved abortion medication mifepristone, the expulsion of two Democratic representatives by the Republican-supermajority state legislature in Tennessee, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ latest ethics problem. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Adam Unikowsky for Adam’s Legal Newsletter: “ Mifepristone and the rule of law, part II ” Allison McCann for the New York Times: “ Inside the Online Market for Overseas Abortion Pills ” Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica: “ Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire ” Sylvie McNamara for the Washingtonian: “ Clarence Thomas’s Billionaire Benefactor Collects Hitler Artifacts ” Chenjerai Kumanyika for This American Life: “ Ghost Industrial Complex ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Vladimir: A Novel by Julia May Jonas David: The D.C. Sing-Along ; The Dropout on Hulu ; Air (Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Listener chatter from David Foreman: Rosemary Mosco for Audubon: “ Meet the Little Brown Bird That Holds a Mirror Up to Humanity ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David and Emily discuss the Hitler memorabilia collected by Harlan Crow, Texas billionaire and friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas . Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Make an impact this Earth Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to bring more parks to more people across the country. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 6, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus discuss Donald Trump’s arraignment; the elections of Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Brandon Johnson for Chicago mayor; and the possibility of No Labels playing spoiler in 2024 presidential politics. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office: “ District Attorney Bragg Announces 34-Count Felony Indictment of Former President Donald J. Trump ” Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “ The Trump indictment is a dangerous leap on the highest of wires ” Jim Robbins for The New York Times: “ Mass Yellowstone Hunt Kills 1,150 Bison ” Here are this week’s chatters: Ruth: Dublin Murder Squad 6-book series by Tana French ; Dún Aonghasa John: Carrie Hagen for Smithsonian Magazine: “ The Media Learned Nothing After Misreporting the Reagan Assassination Attempt: As the shooter John Hinckley returns to life outside of imprisonment, it’s worth looking back at every thing the media got wrong that day ” David: Adam Taylor, Júlia Ledur, Francesca Ebel, and Mary Ilyushina for The Washington Post: “ A web of trenches shows Russia fears losing Crimea “; the Putrid Sea Listener chatter from Zach Marks @zmarks215 : The arrest of President Ulysses S. Grant For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Ruth discuss the sanctioned killing of Yellowstone bison that leave the boundaries of the national park . Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Make an impact this Earth Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to bring more parks to more people across the country. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2023

In a Gabfest Special edition, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Donald Trump’s indictment. Here are some notes and references from today’s show: The New York Times: “ Live Updates: Trump Likely to Be Arraigned on Tuesday ” Slate Political Gabfest: The “Trump Will Be Indicted Next Tuesday” Edition Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Follow @SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 30, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to pause the legislation that will weaken Israel’s judiciary; the Congressional testimony of TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew; and the possibility of Chris Christie for President in 2024. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ Behind Protests’ Fury in Israel, Fear of a Quiet Slide From Democracy ” Peter Baker for The New York Times: “ A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: WBUR and The Marshall Project’s podcast Violation (Host Beth Schwartzapfel, Producer Quincy Walters) John: Tweet from @george_mack: What is ignored by the media but will be studied by historians? ; response from Matthew Yglesias, Slow Boring: The biggest problem in media is the audience: Not everything is a conspiracy David: Greg Miller for The Washington Post: “ He came to D.C. as a Brazilian student. The U.S. says he was a Russian spy. “ Listener chatter from Judy: Tablet Studio’s podcast Gatecrashers (Host Mark Oppenheimer, Executive Producers Josh Kross, Stephanie Butnick, and Liel Leibovitz) For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the new evidence of the “October Surprise” that delayed the release of the American hostages from Iran in 1980 . Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest . (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 23, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Trump’s announcement he expects to be arrested; what ChatGPT means for the world; and interview Rachel Donadio, contributing writer for The Atlantic , about the unrest in France. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Rachel Donadio for The New York Times: “ Macron May Keep the Presidency, But Le Pen Has Already Won ” Annie Gowen for The Washington Post: “ Iowa’s Sharp Right Turn: From Centrist State To ‘Florida Of The North’ ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Imprint app Emily: Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist , by Jennifer Wright; The Atlantic’s podcast Holy Week: The Story of A Revolution Undone (Host Vann R. Newkirk II, Senior Producer Jocelyn Frank) David: Blue Collar Cats ; Andrea Sachs for The Washington Post: “ ‘These Are Working Cats’: Meet The Feral D.C. Felines Tasked With Hunting Rodents ” Listener chatter from Alexandra Phelps: Kavitha Surana for ProPublica: “ Doctors Warned Her Pregnancy Could Kill Her. Then Tennessee Outlawed Abortion. ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, John, and Emily discuss how Iowa became so conservative . 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 and Julia Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 2023

John Dickerson talks with author Chris Miller about his new book, Chip War: The Fight for The World’s Most Critical Technology . They discuss how semiconductor chips became so important, why everyone is so dependent on Taiwan for chips, and what lessons China can glean from what’s happening in Ukraine. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2023

David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the Silicon Valley Bank bailout with David Leonhardt; Ron DeSantis coming out against aid to Ukraine; and free speech fights at elite law schools. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: William Saletan for The Bulwark: “ The Ukraine Untruths of Disingenuous DeSantis ” Ken White for The Popehat Report: “ Hating Everyone Everywhere All At Once At Stanford ” David Lat for Original Jurisdiction: “ Yale Law Is No Longer #1—For Free-Speech Debacles ” Jordan Metzl for The New York Times: “ Working From Home Is Less Healthy Than You Think ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Maurice Chammah for The Marshall Project: “ The Mercy Workers ” John: OpenAI example recipe generator David: Robyn Dixon for The Washington Post: “ A Railroad Fan Photographed Putin’s Armored Train. Now He Lives In Exile. ” Listener chatter: Alex Traub for The New York Times: “ Judy Heumann, Who Led the Fight for Disability Rights, Dies at 75 ”; Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist , by Judith Heumann; Crip Camp ; The Power of 504 , Judy's Heumann’s Ted Talk For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the health benefits and drawbacks of working from home . 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

Mar 9, 2023

David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign, the end of pandemic-era medicaid & food security protections, and the many legal fights over medication abortion. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show Hannah Dreier and Kirsten Luce for The New York Times: “ Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S. ” Jeff Stein and Tony Romm for The Washington Post: “ Biden Calls For Trillions In Tax Hikes And New Domestic Spending ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ The Abortion Pill Fight ” Redaction , by Reginald Dwayne Betts and Titus Kaphar Information on the New York reading and book signing for Redaction Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Declassification Engine: What History Reveals About America's Top Secrets , by Matthew Connelly John: Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology , by Chris Miller David: Defending Democracy with Malcolm Turnbull ; Listener chatter from Rebecca Carr: Pat Sangimino for The Lincoln Journal Star: “ Leading Off: In The Heat Of The Sexual Revolution, A Woman And Her Invention Made A Difference ”; Pagan Kennedy for The New York Times: “ Could Women Be Trusted With Their Own Pregnancy Tests? ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily talks to Reginald Dwayne Betts and Titus Kaphar about their book, Redaction . 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. Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 2, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the Supreme Court challenge to loan forgiveness; lab leak v. wet market Covid politics; and the future of humanities education–with John Plotz. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nathan Heller for The New Yorker: “ The End of The English Major ” Recall This Book podcast with John Plotz Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea , by John Plotz “ The Eden of the Author of Sleep ,” by Brian Teare Sarah Fullerton for UC Berkeley: “ Defying Negative Stereotypes, Humanities Majors Are Booming At UC Berkeley ” Culture: The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K-Pop , by Martin Puchner The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; and The Amber Spyglass , by Philip Pullman Here are this week’s chatters: John: Drew Harwell for The Washington Post: “ Tech’s Hottest New Job: AI Whisperer. No Coding Required. ” Emily: Michelle Goldberg for The New York Times: “ Don’t Let Politics Cloud Your View of What’s Going On With Teens and Depression ”; Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ Why Are Young Liberals So Depressed? ”; Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “ American Teens Are Really Miserable. Why? ” David: Ben Taub for The New Yorker: “ How the Biggest Fraud in German History Unravelled ” Listener chatter from Arthur Baraf: The National High School Ethics Bowl For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, John, and Emily discuss the Bidens ordering the same entree at a restaurant . 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. Make an impact this Women’s History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund girls in STEM. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 23, 2023

* Due to an audio issue, the original episode has been replaced. This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the year of war on Ukraine with Anne Applebaum; the smoking gun Fox News text messages; and Google’s defense of Section 230 at the Supreme Court. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Anne Applebaum and Nataliya Gumenyuk for The Atlantic: “ ‘They Didn’t Understand Anything, But Just Spoiled People’s Lives’ ” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ Biden’s Hope vs. Putin’s Lies ” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ Biden Went to Kyiv Because There’s No Going Back ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “ Billionaires vs. The Press in the Era of Trump ” Jenna Russell for The New York Times: “ In Vermont, a School and Artist Fight Over Murals of Slavery ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Kid Should See This: “How It’s Made” videos Emily: Jill Filipovic: “ Fear of a Female Body ” David: Morgan Wade ; City Cast DC live Listener chatter from Dylan O’Leary: Miles Ellingham for The Financial Times: “ After Hours With 10 Foot, London’s Most Notorious Graffiti Writer ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the artist suing to keep his mural depicting slavery on display at a school that doesn’t want it. 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 and Tori Dominguez. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Make an impact this Black History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund UNCF scholarships for HBCU students. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 2023

Emily Bazelon talks with author Rebecca Makkai about her new book, I Have Some Questions For You . They discuss why it’s so easy to suspend disbelief with this type of story, the “cancelled” subplot, and whether we’d be better off without Twitter. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 16, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign; the legal history likely to lead to the end of affirmative action; and Slate How To! podcast host Amanda Ripley’s reporting on the congressional committee that got things done. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “ Why Is Affirmative Action in Peril? One Man’s Decision. ” Amanda Ripley for The Washington Post: “ These Radically Simple Changes Helped Lawmakers Actually Get Things Done ” Julia Ioffe for The New Yorker: “ Russia on Fire ” Becky Sullivan for NPR: “ What To Know About The Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: CBS Sunday Morning: “ Almanac: Abraham Lincoln's Beard ” Emily: John J. Lennon for The New York Review of Books: “ Peddling Darkness ” David: David French for The New York Times: “ Men Need Purpose More Than ‘Respect’ ”; City Cast DC live Listener chatter from Tim Anderson: CNN: “ Johannes Vermeer Exhibition Stuns With Scientific Revelations ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, John, and Emily discuss the derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials in Ohio . 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 and Tori Dominguez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the raucous State of the Union; the spy balloon and U.S.-China relations; and Susan Dominus’s reporting on missed opportunities in treating menopause. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Katie Rogers and Peter Baker for The New York Times: “Kamala Harris Is Trying to Define Her Vice Presidency. Even Her Allies Are Tired of Waiting. ” Susan Dominus for The New York Times Magazine: “ Women Have Been Misled About Menopause ” Stephen I. Vladeck for The New York Times: “ Don’t Let Republican ‘Judge Shoppers’ Thwart the Will of Voters ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Andor ; Kialo.com Emily: Sabawoon Samim for Afghanistan Analysts Network: “ New Lives In The City: How Taleban Have Experienced Life In Kabul ” David: City Cast DC live; The Brothers Ashkenazi , by I. J Singer. Join David Plotz for a live taping of the City Cast DC podcast at the Politics & Prose Union Market location, Wednesday March 1 at 6:30 pm. You can r egister here for a free ticket . Listener chatter from Ryan Clements: The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier , by Ian Urbina; The Outlaw Ocean podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, John, and Emily discuss the use of “judge shopping”—picking a preferred judge by suing in a single-judge district—to invalidate legislation nationwide. 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 and Tori Dominguez. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Make an impact this Black History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund UNCF scholarships for HBCU students. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 2, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the killing of Tyre Nichols; violence interruption efforts–with guest Alec MacGillis; and the upcoming State of the Union. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ The Police Cannot Be a Law Unto Themselves ” Radley Balko for The New York Times: “ Tyre Nichols’s Death Proves Yet Again That ‘Elite’ Police Units Are a Disaster ” Alec MacGillis for The New Yorker and ProPublica: “ Can Community Programs Help Slow the Rise in Violence? ” Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration , by Emily Bazelon Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House , by Chris Whipple ; The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency , by Chris Whipple Emily: Deep Cover: Never Seen Again podcast; Dan Charnas: Breaking Atoms: The Hip Hop Podcast David: City Cast Madison ; City Cast Portland ; Demon Copperhead , by Barbara Kingsolver Listener chatter from David Foreman: Artnet News: “ See Scores of Unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright Structures That Have Been Computer-Rendered With Incredible Realism ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, John, and Emily discuss The Banshees of Inisherin . 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 and Tori Dominguez Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 26, 2023

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and guest host Josie Duffy Rice discuss the rise of Marjorie Taylor Greene; Ron DeSantis’ attacks on educators; and the bipartisan bashing of monopolist Ticketmaster. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jonathan Swan and Catie Edmondson for The New York Times: “ How Kevin McCarthy Forged an Ironclad Bond With Marjorie Taylor Greene ” God's Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America , by Hanna Rosin Josie Duffy Rice for iHeartPodcasts: Unreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children The Nickel Boys , by Colson Whitehead Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness , by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz Josie: The Uninnocent: Notes on Violence and Mercy , by Katharine Blake David: Vintage Contemporaries , by Dan Kois Listener chatter from Pherabe Kolb: Fred Clasen-Kelly for The Greenville News: “ Key Findings From The Cost Of Unity, A Series On The Displacement Of Black Greenville ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, John, and Josie discuss Josie’s new podcast, Unreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children . 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

Jan 21, 2023

David Plotz talks with author Shahan Mufti about his new book, American Caliph: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC . They discuss an Islamic group’s multi-location attack in D.C., the terror that hostages experienced while held captive for the two days, and the movie that started the whole thing. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 19, 2023

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the discovery of classified documents at Biden’s home; the justices of the Supreme Court exhibiting open animosity toward one another; and fears of a “polycrisis” at Davos. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matt Viser, Tyler Pager, Carol Leonnig and Yasmeen Abutaleb for The Washington Post: “ Inside The White House Document Strategy And Its Pitfalls ” Steven Mazie for The Atlantic: “ The Supreme Court Justices Do Not Seem to Be Getting Along ” Jess Bravin and Sadie Gurman for The Wall Street Journal: “ Supreme Court Investigators Have Narrowed Leak Inquiry to Small Number of Suspects ” Andrew Van Dam for The Washington Post: “ The Happiest, Least Stressful, Most Meaningful Jobs In America ” Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do , by Studs Terkel Here is the poem (by an unknown author) that listener Christina Roosen sent to David after his cat died: Eyes bright, claws sharp, tail held high. Go keenly into the mist, old warrior. Valhalla waits for you A compilation of poems about pet loss: Rome Thorstenson for In Valhalla: “ Pet Loss Poems ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Joseph Berger for The New York Times: “ Adolfo Kaminsky Dies at 97; His Forgeries Saved Thousands of Jews ” Emily: Joshua Vaughn for Penn Live: “ Dauphin County Made Millions On Jail Phone Calls And Spent It On Staff Perks, Contractors ” David: His Dark Materials on BBC One; The Golden Compass , The Subtle Knife , and The Amber Spyglass , by Philip Pullman Listener chatter from Muirinn O'Neill: Josh Baker’s I'm Not a Monster podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the jobs people find most meaningful . 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

Jan 12, 2023

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the House GOP’s “Weaponization of Government” subcommittee; the insurrection in Brazil–with Marcos Nobre; and what Prince Harry’s book, Spare, means for the British Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ A New Plan To Get Around The Debt Ceiling Hostage ” Matt Levine for Bloomberg: “ Financial Engineering the Debt Ceiling ” Spare , by Prince Harry Here are this week’s chatters: John: David Wallace-Wells for The New York Times: “ Electric Vehicles Keep Defying Almost Everyone’s Predictions ” Emily: Josie Duffy Rice for iHeartPodcasts: Unreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children David: Julia Moskin for The New York Times: “ Noma, Rated the World’s Best Restaurant, Is Closing Its Doors ” Listener chatter from Erich Morgenbesser: AI illustrates countries as villains For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the status of “return to office.” 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

Jan 5, 2023

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss GOP’s speakership debacle; George Santos; and improving access to medication abortion. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ The Dawn of the Post-Clinic Abortion ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ Risking Everything to Offer Abortions Across State Lines ” Mark Oppenheimer for The New York Times: “ Why Did George Santos Lie About Being Jewish? ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Winesburg, Ohio , by Sherwood Anderson Emily: The Furrows , by Namwali Serpell; Tár ; Zadie Smith for The New York Review of Books: “ The Instrumentalist ”; Amanda Hess for The New York Times: “ Breaking Out of the #MeToo Movie Formula ”; Dan Kois for Slate: “ Tár Is the Most-Talked-About Movie of the Year. So Why Is Everyone Talking About It All Wrong? ” David: Gastrodiplomacy Listener chatter from Nathan Kamps: Miles Klee for Rolling Stone: “ ‘A Celebrity in the Land of Celebrities’: Remembering P-22, L.A.’s Favorite Mountain Lion ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the ethics of watching football in light of Damar Hamlin’s life threatening injury. 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

Dec 29, 2022

Special thanks to: Andy Andrews Sarah Chapin Marc Colello David Duesing Alan Dybner Phil Goldstein Jason Howard Andrew James Pierce Eric Koleda Carrie Jerm You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 22, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the January 6th Committee’s findings and criminal referrals; the brewing water crisis in the West–with Washington Post reporter Josh Partlow; and the biggest stories of 2022. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Joshua Partlow for The Washington Post: “ Officials Fear ‘Complete Doomsday Scenario’ For Drought-Stricken Colorado River ” Joshua Partlow for The Washington Post: “ Disaster Scenarios Raise The Stakes For Colorado River Negotiations ” Joshua Partlow for The Washington Post: “ ‘Where There’s Bodies, There’s Treasure’: A Hunt As Lake Mead Shrinks ” Adam Liptak for The New York Times: “ An ‘Imperial Supreme Court’ Asserts Its Power, Alarming Scholars ” Marin Cogan for Vox: “ The Deadliest Road in America ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Gabfest Reads: How to Avoid Disastrous Presidents ; Picking Presidents: How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World , by Gautam Mukunda Emily: Mario Ariza and Miranda Green for Floodlight News, and David Folkenflik for NPR: “ In The Southeast, Power Company Money Flows To News Sites That Attack Their Critics ” David: Li Cohen for CBS News: “ Could Jack Have Fit On The Door With Rose In 'Titanic’? Director James Cameron Conducted A Study To Find Out ‘Once And For All.’ ” Listener chatter from Sam Rutledge: Kaj Tallungs for Wikimedia Commons: data visualization showing the change in U.S. population demographics over time . For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss Elon Musk’s tumultuous tenure at Twitter. 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

Dec 17, 2022

John Dickerson talks with author Gautam Mukunda about his new book Picking Presidents: How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World . They talk about how Mukunda’s first book, Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter laid the groundwork for Picking Presidents . Later, Dickerson and Mukunda dig into why ‘intellectual brilliance’ – which goes beyond IQ - is a strong predictor of presidential performance and how the human portion of the job of president is changing. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 15, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Krysten Sinema leaving the Democratic party; Republicans’ good turnout, poor performance midterms; and the new documentary, Pelosi in The House . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Pelosi in the House Here are this week’s chatters: John: Watch Richard Nixon’s Watergate speeches at the Miller Center’s website. Emily: Jessica Blatt Press for The Philadelphia Citizen: “ Hey, Phillly! Let’s Hire A Mayor! ” David: Courtney Kan, Nick Miroff, Scott Higham, Steven Rich and Tyler Remmel for The Washington Post: “ Cartel Rx: Fentanyl’s Deadly Surge: From Mexican Labs To U.S. Streets, A Lethal Pipeline ”; The EverCrisp apple For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John get philosophical in preparation for the annual Political Gabfest Conundrum episode. 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

Dec 9, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Raphael Warnock beating Herschel Walker, and oral arguments at the Supreme Court in the anti-gay marriage website designer case and the “independent state legislature” election case. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Fr. James Martin, S.J. for Outreach: “ When Is Religious Liberty A Fig Leaf For Homophobia? ” Ian MacDougall for ProPublica: “ What’s Really at Stake in a Politically Charged Supreme Court Case on Elections ” Jed Sugarmen’s thread on oral arguments in Moore v. Harper . Kevin Roose for The New York Times: “ The Brilliance and Weirdness of ChatGPT ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Associated Press: “ HBO To Air Nancy Pelosi Doc Shot By Daughter Alexandra ”; Pelosi in the House November 28, 2022 Emily: The Janes David: Tour Fort DeRussy with David; City Cast Portland has launched ; Caitlin Doughty for The New York Times: “ If You Want to Give Something Back to Nature, Give Your Body ” Listener chatter from Adam Barhamand: Karen Bakker for Noema: “ How To Speak Honeybee ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss ChatGPT . 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 Kevin Bendis. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 1, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump hosting prominent antisemites Ye (f/k/a Kanye West) and Nick Fuentes; Chinese protestors challenging their authoritarian government–with Sheena Chestnut Greitens; and Congress legislating to protect marriage equality through the Respect For Marriage Act. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Sheena Chestnut Greitens for Foreign Affairs: “ Xi Jinping’s Quest for Order ” Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Julian Gewirt for Foreign Affairs: “ China's Troubling Vision For The Future Of Public Health ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Darby Saxbe and Magdalena Martínez García for The Conversation: “ Fatherhood Changes Men’s Brains, According To Before-And-After MRI Scans ” Emily: A compilation of Gabfest listeners favorite salad dressing recipes . David: City Cast is expanding to new cities ; Nicole Eustace for The New York Times: “ 300 Years Ago, There Was a Brutal Murder. We Could Learn From the Treaty That Followed. ” Listener chatter from Richard Medlicott: The Economist:” Shyam Saran Negi Never Failed In His Democratic Duty ”; Alex Binley for the BBC: “ Shyam Saran Negi: Man Dubbed 'india's First Voter' Dies Aged 105 ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the Supreme Court challenge to the Biden administration’s immigration policy in United States v. Texas . 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

Nov 24, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the future of Twitter, the ghoulish World Cup, and a minister’s allegation that Justice Alito leaked the outcome of the Hobby Lobby case. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jodi Kantor and Jo Becker for The New York Times: “ Former Anti-Abortion Leader Alleges Another Supreme Court Breach ” Jodi Kantor for The New York Times: “ Allegation of Supreme Court Breach Prompts Calls for Inquiry and Ethics Code ” Rob Schenck for The New York Times: “ I Was an Anti-Abortion Crusader. Now I Support Roe v. Wade ” Kara Voght and Tim Dickinson for Rolling Stone: “ SCOTUS Justices ‘Prayed With’ Her — Then Cited Her Bosses to End Roe ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Variety: “ Bob Dylan Fans Who Bought $600 ‘Hand-Signed’ Books With Replica Autographs Will Receive Refunds From Publisher ” Emily: Rozina Ali for The New York Times Magazine: “ ‘How Did This Man Think He Had the Right to Adopt This Baby?’ ” David: Politics and Prose: City Cast DC Live Taping with Michael Schaffer, David Plotz, and Anton Bogomazov - at Union Market ; Slate’s One Year, Season 4: 1942 Listener chatter from Laurent Dugois: In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri , by Harry N MacLean; All That's Interesting: “ The Story Of Ken McElroy — The Vicious Bully Killed By His Town ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John contemplate the conundrum of what they would like to tell their younger selves but wouldn’t be able to convince them of. Submit your conundrums for the 2022 conundrum episode at slate.com/conundrum . 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

Nov 19, 2022

Emily Bazelon talks with author Beverly Gage about her new book, G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century , a detailed account of the life of the first FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover. They discuss Hoover’s hostile relationship with Martin Luther King Jr., why he should have quit at the end of the 1950s, and how Hoover’s childhood shaped his reign [MOU1] as director. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth [MOU1]“tenure”? Maybe I’m overthinking this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump’s campaign announcement, election denying candidates’ failures in the midterms, and guest Matthew Zeitlin on the impact the implosion of Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange FTX may have on the Effective Altruism movement. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Donie O'Sullivan for CNN: “ Facebook Fact-Checkers Will Stop Checking Trump After Presidential Bid Announcement ” Matthew Zeitlin for Grid: “ Sam Bankman-Fried Gave Millions To Effective Altruism. What Happens Now That The Money Is Gone? ” Kelsey Piper for Vox: “ Sam Bankman-Fried Tries To Explain Himself ” What We Owe the Future , by William MacAskill William MacAskill for Effective Altruism Forum: “ EA And The Current Funding Situation ” This American Life: “ Watching the Watchers ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Jason P. Frank for Vulture: “ Stephen Colbert, Emma Watson, and More Celebs to Relish in Pickleball Tournament” ; Isabel Gonzalez for CBS News: “ Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield Partner To Create Ear-Shaped, Cannabis-Infused Edibles ” Emily: William Melhado for The Texas Tribune: “ Federal Judge In Texas Rules That Disarming Those Under Protective Orders Violates Their Second Amendment Rights ” David: Politics and Prose: City Cast DC Live Taping with Michael Schaffer, David Plotz, and Anton Bogomazov - at Union Market ; Justin Jouvenal for The Washington Post: “ D.C.’s Bitcoin King: Yachts, Penthouses, A Python — And Tax Dodging? ” Listener chatter from Kelly Mills: The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies , by Jason Fagone For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John contemplate the Thanksgiving traditions they would like to adopt or improve. 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

Nov 10, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the midterm results we have so far and the Supreme Court case that could upend family law and more for Native Americans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Stefan Becket for CBS News: “ The Unresolved 2022 House And Senate Races That Will Determine Control Of Congress ” Rebecca Nagle for The Atlantic: “ The Supreme Court Case That Could Break Native American Sovereignty ” Leah Litman and Matthew L.M. Fletcher for The Atlantic: “​​ The Necessity of the Indian Child Welfare Act ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Sarah McCammon for NPR: “ Where Abortion Was On The Ballot, Midterm Voters Largely Signaled Support ” David: David chattered about how going on a “Twitter fast” is improving his well-being. Listener chatter from Scott Grant: Sarah Linn for KCET: “ The Dunites: Building a Utopia in the Oceano Dunes ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John take the under-the-radar state and local midterm results they find most interesting. 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

Nov 3, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson are Live in Atlanta discussing Georgia’s midterm election with NPR-WABE’s Rose Scott, as well as increasing political violencein the U.S.; and affirmative action at the Supreme Court. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Closer Look with Rose Scott John Dickerson for CBS Primetime: “ Political Threats And Violence In The U.S. ” (Inteview with Robert Pape) Steal This Book , by Abbie Hoffman Here are this week’s chatters: John: Carrie McBride for The New York Public Library: “ 100 Years Ago Men and Boys Fought on the Streets of New York Over Wearing Straw Hats Past Summer ” Emily: Fleishman Is in Trouble David: The Candy House , by Jennifer Egan; Fall; or, Dodge in Hell , by Neil Stephenson; The Immortal King Rao , by Vauhini Vara; Cloud Cuckoo Land , by Anthony Doerr; The Circle , by Dave Eggers Listener chatter from John Campbell McMillian: Atlanta Police Department’s Citizen's Police Academy For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John take listener questions live. 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

Oct 30, 2022

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson talk to civil rights journalist and WHYY radio host Cherri Gregg about the Pennsylvania midterm campaigns. 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

Oct 27, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the final midterm sprint; the latest British Prime Minister; and Trump’s legal troubles. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Adrian Wooldridge for Bloomberg: “ Rishi Sunak Is a New and Old-Fashioned Tory ” Barton Gellman for The Atlantic: “ The Impeachment of Joe Biden ” The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump Nathaniel Rakich for FiveThirtyEight: “ The Most Important Elections Of 2022 Could Be In State Legislatures ” Brittany Bernstein for The National Review: “ Why Some Trump-Country Pennsylvanians Still Aren't Sold on Dr. Oz ” Anna Bower for Lawfare: “ Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Georgia Special Purpose Grand Juries But Were Afraid to Ask ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner? ” The Prison Letters Project Here are this week’s chatters: John: States United Democracy Center; Third Way Paul Revere Project Emily: Charlie Savage for the New York Times: “ Garland Formally Bars Justice Dept. From Seizing Reporters’ Records ” David: Dhruv Mehrotra for Wired: “ Hot on the Trail of a Mass-School-Shooting Hoaxer ”; Ben Collins’ Twitter thread collecting favorite tweets . Listener chatter from Brian DeGeer: Theresa Vargas for The Washington Post: “ Fiona Apple Uses Her Voice To Call Out Prince George’s Justice System ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily discusses The Prison Letters Project with John J. Lennon and Reginald Dwayne Betts. 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

Oct 22, 2022

David Plotz talks with with author Tom Perrotta about why Tracy Flick doesn’t have the life she dreamed of in his new novel, Tracy Flick Can’t Win . A sequel to Perrotta’s 1998 novel Election , Tracy Flick Can’t Win meets up with Tracy Flick decades later where she’s a single mother and assistant principal of a New Jersey high school. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 20, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson concerning polls for Democrats, women protesting Iran’s regime, and the trial of Arkansas’ law targeting trans kids. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Roya Hakakian for The Atlantic: “ The Bonfire of the Headscarves ” A Beginner’s Guide to America for the Immigrant and the Curious , by Roya Hakakian Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ Pre-Registering Some Takes On The Midterms: Why I Think Democrats Will Undershoot Their Polling And What It Means ” Kelli María Korducki for The Atlantic: “ 'I Think the Women Are Winning': Roya Hakakian on Iran ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump ; Michael Wines and Neil Vigdor for The New York Times: “ Videos Show Confusion as Florida Police Arrest People on Voter Fraud Charges ” Emily: Emily Heil for The Washington Post: “ Olivia Wilde Solves Salad Dressing Mystery With A Nora Ephron Recipe ” David: Jeff Maysh for The Atlantic: “ The $30 Million Lottery Scam ” Listener chatter from Lara Lowenstein: The Mountain Dogs For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss Ye buying Parler. 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

Oct 16, 2022

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson talk to Craig Mauger of The Detroit News about the major midterm elections in the swing state of Michigan. Then the hosts speak with the Washington Post’s Yvonne Wingett Sanchez about the MAGA diehards and their opponents in Arizona’s midterm election. 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

Oct 13, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson LA’s racism & redistricting scandal, the Andy Warhol copyright case at the Supreme Court, and developments in Putin’s war on Ukraine. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ Putin’s Newest Annexation Is Dire for Russia Too ” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ The Kremlin Must Be in Crisis ” They Might Be Giants - Gab On (Theme to the Slate Political Gabfest) Here are this week’s chatters: John: The Cormac McCarthy Journal Emily: The Fight for Privacy: Protecting Dignity, Identity, and Love in the Digital Age , by Danielle Keats Citron; The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City , by Nicholas Dawidoff David: David chattered about dining outside in Texas. Listener chatter from Lara Lowenstein: The Mountain Dogs For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John interview John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants about their work and the Gabfest’s new theme song. 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

Oct 6, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the new Supreme Court term; Herschel Walker’s abortion lies; and the legal mess Dobbs created for doctors providing abortion via telemedicine. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Doctors Risking Everything to Offer Abortions Across State Lines ” The New York Times: “ Is Elon Musk’s Deal to Buy Twitter Back On? Here’s What We Know. ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Brian Hutton for The Irish Times: “ Irishman Nears Galway After 112 Days of Rowing Across Atlantic From New York ”; Damian Browne on Instagram: auld_stock Emily: CNN: “ ‘We've Got Weights In Fish!': See The Moment Cheaters Are Caught During Fishing Tournament’ ” David: Adam Dalva, The New Yorker: “ Letters to Jeb Bush ” Listener chatter from Jamaica Popejoy: Staged For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the latest in the saga of Elon Musk and Twitter. 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

Sep 29, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss potential polling inaccuracy, Brett Favre and the larger scandal of states misusing federal welfare funding, and Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s take on Italy’s neo-fascist future Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nate Cohen for The New York Times: “ Yes, The Polling Warning Signs Are Flashing Again ” Anna Wolfe and Mississippi Today’s coverage of the Mississippi welfare scandal . Annie Lowry for The Atlantic: “ The Time Tax ” Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present , by Ruth Ben-Ghiat Here are this week’s chatters: John: Adrienne LaFrance for The Atlantic: “ What It's Like to Fly Into the Eye of a Hurricane ” Emily: Roya Hakakian for The Atlantic: “ The Bonfire of the Headscarves ” David: The Guardian, YouTube: “ Michael Sheen Gives Rousing Speech for Wales Football Team on A League of Their Own ” Listener chatter from Meredith Francis: Paul Fairie’s Twitter thread of " A List of Things People Blamed on Jazz. " For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test. 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

Sep 22, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson New York’s massive fraud case against the Trumps; Ron DeSantis’ treatments of asylum seekers; and Dahlia Lithwick’s Lady Justice . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Trading Barriers: Immigration and the Remaking of Globalization , Margaret E. Peters Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America , by Dahlia Lithwick Ruth Igielnik for The New York Times: “ Trump Support Remains Unmoved by Investigations, Poll Find s” Here are this week’s chatters: John: It was supposed to be... The Philosophy of Modern Song , by Bob Dylan Emily: Somebody Somewhere ; Reservation Dogs David: The Space Force Anthem Listener chatter from Danny Edgel: Frank Vaisvilas and Sarah Volpenhein for The Green Bay Press-Gazette: “ Oneida Nation Steps In To Defend Indian Child Welfare Act In Us Supreme Court Case ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the vacation of Adnan Syed’s murder conviction. 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

Sep 18, 2022

John Dickerson talks with author Ada Calhoun about her new memoir, Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me . What started as Calhoun’s attempt to finish the biography of Frank O’Hara that her father started, turned into a gripping story of Calhoun’s relationship with her father. Calhoun and Dickerson talk about not pulling punches when it comes to how nice family members are, why you can’t pre-plan a happy ending, and what her father thought of the book. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 15, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Ukraine’s advances with Anne Applebaum; Lindsey Graham’s national abortion ban bill; and the controversy over requiring religious schools in New York to meet minimum educational standards. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ It’s Time to Prepare for a Ukrainian Victory ” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ The Other Ukrainian Army ” Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine , by Anne Applebaum Shtisel Fill The Void Here are this week’s chatters: John: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life , by George Saunders Emily: Shaila Dewan for The New York Times: “ Philadelphia Prosecutor Is Found in Contempt by State Representatives ” David: Mosaic Magazine: “ The Royal Mohel and the House of Windsor’s Relationship with the Jews ” Listener chatter from Andrea: NPR’s Planet Money: “ Best By, Sell By, Use By ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the Death of Queen Elizabeth II. 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

Sep 8, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the inexplicable success of Trump’s special master gambit in the Espionage Act investigation, Biden calling out anti-democratic elements of the electorate; and the roots of the Jackson, MS water crisis. Here are this week’s chatters: John: Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius for The Great Courses: Turning Points in Modern History Emily: Jerusalem Demsas for The Atlantic: “ What’s Causing Black Flight? ” David: Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Hearty White Bread Listener chatter from Cynthia Lerner: Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “ I Usually Ignore The Sexism And Ageism Directed at Me. Now I’m Calling It Out. ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and David interview John about his new streaming nightly news show, CBS News Primetime . 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 Kevin Bendis. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 1, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump’s strange legal maneuvering in the obstruction investigation; what Trump’s second term would do to U.S. democracy; and what voters deserve to know about a candidate’s health. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jonathan Rauch for The Atlantic “ Trump’s Second Term Would Look Like This ” Age of Innocence , by Edith Wharton Portrait of a Lady , by Henry James Heart of Darkness , by Joseph Conrad Lord Jim , by Joseph Conrad Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do , by Studs Terkel This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, a Voice That Held It Together , by Jon Mooallem The Way We Live Now , by Anthony Trollope Here are this week’s chatters: John: Ella Koeze, Denise Lu and Charlie Smart for The New York Times: “ Can You Gerrymander Your Party to Power? ” Emily: Aaron Byrd, Weiyi Cai, Geoff Macdonald, Emily Rhyne, Noah Throop, Joe Ward and Jeremy White for The New York Times: “ The Toss ” David: CityCast DC ; Bad Sisters Listener chatter from Michael Koehler: Christo Grozev for Bellingcat: “ Socialite, Widow, Jeweller, Spy: How a GRU Agent Charmed Her Way Into NATO Circles in Italy ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the non-political books that most influenced their understanding of politics. 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 Kevin Bendis. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 25, 2022

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

Aug 21, 2022

David Plotz talks with author Mat Johnson about his new novel Invisible Things . Johnson’s novel tells the story of a group of astronauts that land in a bubble colony on Jupiter's biggest moon. They talk about the challenges of writing satire when reality feels fake, how mediocre people rise up by sucking up, and why we need to look at the invisible things in our daily lives. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 18, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Benjamin Wittes discuss the Trump investigations; Liz Cheney’s defeat; and Dana Goldstein’s reporting on controversies over how to teach kids to read. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jack Goldsmith for Lawfare: “ Prosecuting Trump: A Reply to Josh Marshall ” Dana Goldstein for The New York Times: “ An Old and Contested Solution to Boost Reading Scores: Phonics ” Dana Goldstein The New York Times: “ In the Fight Over How to Teach Reading, This Guru Makes a Major Retreat ” Dana Goldstein The New York Times: “ New Reading Curriculum Is Mired in Debate Over Race and Gender ” Belinda Luscombe for Time: “ Inside the Massive Effort to Change the Way Kids Are Taught to Read ” Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “ Liz Cheney’s Kamikaze Campaign ” Invisible Things by Mat Johnson Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Sam Levine for The Guardian: “ Memphis Prosecutor Who Charged Black Woman Over Voting Error Loses Re-Election Bid ”; Kim Bellware and Lateshia Beachum for The Washington Post: “ Desantis Sued By Prosecutor Suspended Over Stance On Abortion-Related Crime ” Ben: The Lawfare Podcast: Allies David: Dwight Garner for The New York Times: “ Jared Kushner’s ‘Breaking History’ Is a Soulless and Very Selective Memoir ” Listener chatter from Josh Forsythe: Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Jennifer N. Phillips, Graham E. Derryberry, Michael J. Blum, and David Luther for Science: “ Singing In A Silent Spring: Birds Respond To A Half-Century Soundscape Reversion During The Covid-19 Shutdown ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and Ben discuss Ben’s performance art protests at the Russian embassy in D.C. 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

Aug 11, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Juliette Kayyem discuss the Mar-a-Lago search; the Inflation Reduction Act; and Caitlin Dickerson’s article investigating how separating families at the border became U.S. policy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Caitlin Dickerson for The Atlantic: “ An American Catastrophe: The Secret History of Family Separation ” Juliette Kayyem for The Atlantic: “ The Bad and Good News About Trump’s Violent Supporters ” Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving , by Caitlin DeSilvey Serena Williams and Rob Haskell for Vogue: “ Serena Williams Says Farewell to Tennis On Her Own Terms—And In Her Own Words ” Claudia Rankine for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Meaning of Serena Williams ” King Richard Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: “ Downbad ” by PJ Frantz Juliette: Jim Farber for The New York Times: “ Olivia Newton-John, Pop Singer and ‘Grease’ Star, Dies at 73 ” David: Jack Fitzpatrick for Bloomberg Government: “ Old Capitol Stones to Be Stored Away After Decades Piled in Park ” Listener chatter from Sebastian Cray: The Bingham Cup For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, Juliette, and David discuss Serena Williams’ retirement from tennis. 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

Aug 4, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Heather McGhee discuss the primaries and Kansan voters’ defense of abortion; Alex Jones on trial; and Annie Lowrey’s story of surviving pregnancy in the United States. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Sam Adler-Bell for The New York Times: “ The Violent Fantasies of Blake Masters ” Jason Beeferman for The Texas Tribune: “ How Sandy Hook Lies and the Jan. 6 Inquiry Threaten to Undo Alex Jones ” Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “ American Motherhood ” Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “ The Most Important Study in the Abortion Debate ” The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together , by Heather McGhee The Sum of Us podcast Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration , by Emily Bazelon Black Reconstruction in America , by W. E. B. Du Bois Forbidden City , by Vanessa Hua Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: The Law & Justice Journalism Project Heather: A Court of Thorns and Roses , by Sarah J. Maas David: Piranesi , by Susanna Clarke; Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell , by Susanna Clarke; Testament of Youth , by Vera Brittain Listener chatter from Mohamed El-Sheik: Adriana E. Ramírez for The Atlantic: “ Everyone Loses on Jeopardy Eventually ” 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

Jul 28, 2022

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the surprise deal for climate legislation, new January 6th revelations, and the deadliest road in America. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Carol D. Leonnig, Devlin Barrett, Josh Dawsey and Spencer S. Hsu for The Washington Post: “ Justice Dept. Investigating Trump’s Actions In Jan. 6 Criminal Probe ” Carol D. Leonnig and Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: “ Secret Service Watchdog Knew in February That Texts Had Been Purged ” Forbidden City , by Vanessa Hua Dan Kaufman for The New Yorker: “ Will Wisconsin’s Republicans Make Voting Meaningless, or Just Difficult? ” Richard L. Hasen for Slate: “ What the Critics Get Incredibly Wrong about the Collins-Manchin Election Bill ” Marin Cogan for Vox: “ The Deadliest Road In America ” Robert James Schneider, Rebecca Sanders, Frank Proulx, Hamideh Moayyed for the Journal of Transport and Land Use: “ United States Fatal Pedestrian Crash Hot Spot Locations And Characteristics ” Unsafe At Any Speed , by Ralph Nader Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity , by Charles L. Marohn Jr. Allison Russell’s Outside Child John Dickerson for Slate: “ Getting Naked Every Night: Girlyman and the Pursuit of Creative Risk. ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Jonathan Bernstein for Rolling Stone: “ ‘She Schooled Us All’: Inside Joni Mitchell’s Stunning Return to Newport Folk Festival ”; David McCabe and Mike Isaac for The New York Times: “ F.T.C. Sues to Block Meta’s Virtual Reality Deal as It Confronts Big Tech ” John: Oliver Whang for The New York Times: “ ‘Parentese’ Is Truly a Lingua Franca, Global Study Finds ” David: April Rubin and Jesus Jiménez for The New York Times: “ 4,000 Mistreated Beagles Need Homes. These Folks Stepped Up. ” Listener chatter from Mark Allender: The Dollop #283: “ James Clark McReynolds, the Worst Supreme Court Justice Ever ” 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

Jul 24, 2022

Emily Bazelon talks with author Vanessa Hua about her new historical fiction book, Forbidden City . The novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old revolutionary Mei who becomes a dancer in Chairman Mao’s inner circle. Emily and Vanessa talk about Vanessa’s inspiration for the novel, the complicated dynamics between Mei and Chairman Mao, and whether we’ll hear more from Mei. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2022

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Josie Duffy Rice discuss Europe’s deadly heat wave, Joe Manchin’s balk at climate legislation, and the inevitable tragedies already happening post- Roe. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Lindsay Whitehurst, Camille Fassett, and Jasen Lo for the Associated Press: “ Social Programs Weak in Many States With Tough Abortion Laws ” The Ministry for the Future , by Kim Stanley Robinson The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness , by Meghan O'Rourke Forbidden City , by Vanessa Hua Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow , by Michael Thompson John Dickerson for Slate: “ My Daughter Went Away to Camp and Changed ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Carol D. Leonnig and Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: “ Secret Service Watchdog Knew in February That Texts Had Been Purged ” Josie: Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: “ Larry Wilmore Knows No Bounds ”; David: Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps ; Elias Esquivel for World Athletics: “ Patterson Takes Surprise High Jump Gold In Oregon ” Listener chatter from Mark Wegener: Gamaliel Bradford for the January 1930 issue of The Atlantic: “ The Genius of the Average: Calvin Coolidge ” 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

Jul 14, 2022

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Mark Leibovich discuss Biden’s 2024 plans, the establishment Republicans who stand by Trump, and Herschel Walker’s alarming Senate campaign. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thank You for Your Servitude: Donald Trump's Washington and the Price of Submission , by Mark Leibovich Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ History Will Judge The Complicit ” Mark Leibovich for the New York Times Magazine: “ Donald Trump Is Not Going Anywhere ” Mark Leibovich for the New York Times: “ Kevin McCarthy, Four Months After Jan. 6, Still on Defensive Over Trump ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: The New York Times: “ 168 Writing Prompts to Spark Discussion and Reflection ” Mark: Mark shared his thoughts on whether life was better before cell phones. David: City Cast DC’s July 12, 2022 newsletter . Listener chatter from Josie Beyer: Julia Medina for Sleepopolis: “ Sleeping While Rowing in the Great Pacific Race ”; Lat 35 Racing Team on Instagram 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

Jul 7, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court’s gutting of administrative authority in West Virginia v. EPA, the case coming next term that could upend U.S. elections, and the Highland Park shooting. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Julian Davis Mortenson and Nicholas Bagley for The Atlantic: “ The Nondelegation Doctrine Is A Fable ” Julian Davis Mortenson and Nicholas Bagley for The Columbia Law Review: " Delegation at the Founding " Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Susan Elizabeth Shepard for Willamette Week: “ A Student at an Oregon Community College Says Instructors Flunked Her for Being a Porn Actress. She’s Suing. ” John: How Normal Am I? David: Twitter thread about: Jaroszewicz, et al: “ How Effective Is (More) Money? Randomizing Unconditional Cash Transfer Amounts in the US ” Listener chatter from Jocelyn Frank: “ Humanity’s First Cosmic Gallery of Children’s Art: What the Youngest Members of Our Young Species Most Cherish About Life on Earth ” 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 Kevin Bendis. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 30, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are live at Sixth & I in Washington, DC discussing the new insurrection revelations; the overturning of Roe ; and the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David French for The Dispatch: “ The Case for Prosecuting Donald Trump Just Got Much Stronger ” Kirsten M. J. Thompson, Hugh J. W. Sturrock, Diana Greene Foster, et al for JAMA Network Open: “ Association of Travel Distance to Nearest Abortion Facility With Rates of Abortion ” Sacred Hunger , by Barry Unsworth Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War , by Karl Marlantes Meridith McGraw and Matt Dixon for Politico: “ Trump Fatigue Sets In: ‘Some Donors Are Getting Sick Of The Sh--Show' ” Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Christopher Clarey for The New York Times: “ Tennis Tours Penalize Wimbledon Over Ban on Russian Players ” David: Emily Temple for LitHub: “ Famous Authors Who Died on the Exact Same Day ” John: Terri Jo Ryan for Waco History: “ Crash at Crush ” Don’t miss Emily’s conversation with author Keri Blakinger on her new book, Corrections in Ink , for the June 26, 2022 episode of Gabfest Reads. 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2022

Emily Bazelon talks with author Keri Blakinger about her new memoir, Corrections in Ink which recounts Blakinger’s path from Olympic ambitions, to heroin addiction, to prison, and ultimately a return to life on the outside. Blakinger launched a program to deliver her memoir to currently incarcerated readers. You can learn more here: https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/donationcorrectionsinink Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court decision requiring that government funding for private schools include religious ones, the January 6th hearings, and dissension at progressive organizations. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jack Goldsmith for The New York Times: “ Prosecute Trump? Put Yourself in Merrick Garland’s Shoes. ” John Dickerson for Slate: Whistlestop podcast: “ The Mulligan Letters ” Ryan Grim for The Intercept: “ Elephant in the Zoom ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: “Watergate Trial Records Digitized For 50th Anniversary of Watergate” Emily: Agnes Callard for The Boston Review: “ Against Persuasion ” David: Hustle Listener chatter from Cyrus Farivar: Tim Folger for Scientific American: “ Record-Breaking Voyager Spacecraft Begin to Power Down ” Be sure to tune into Emily’s conversation with author Keri Blakinger on her new book, Corrections in Ink , on Gabfest Reads on June 26, 2022. 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 16, 2022

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the January 6th hearings, Jason Furman on the economy, and debates among providers of gender-affirming medical care. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Michael Dorf for Dorf on Law: “ House Select Committee Hearing 2: Scoundrels, Patriots, and Collaborators ” Mona Charen for The Bulwark: “ Of Course Trump Is Responsible for His Lies ” David Brooks for The New York Times: “ The Jan. 6 Committee Has Already Blown It ” Derek Thompson for The New York Times: “ The Crypto Crash Is Just the Start ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Battle Over Gender Therapy ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland for The New York Times: “ F.D.A. Panel Recommends Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines for Youngest Children ” Emily: Joan Walsh for The Nation: “ The Backlash Against Sex Ed ” David: Explore a Civil War fort with David ; The New York Times: “ Anthony Mancinelli, World's Oldest Working Barber, Dies at 108 ”; Kate Springer for CNN: “ Philippines' Oldest Tattoo Artist -- Meet Whang Od Oggay ”; Teller Report: “ ‘Working For 77 Years’ The Secret of The Long Run of a 100-Year-Old Civil Servant ” Listener chatter from Andy Scarpelli: The Biodesign Challenge For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what they are looking forward to reading and watching this summer. Cloud Cuckoo Land , by Anthony Doerr The Immortal King Rao , by Vauhini Vara Swann's Way , by Marcel Proust Physical Season Two Loving Day , by Mat Johnson Invisible Things , by Mat Johnson Manhattan Beach , by Jennifer Egan A Visit From The Goon Squad , by Jennifer Egan The Americans 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 9, 2022

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Tuesday’s primaries, the economy (is it as bad as we all think it is?), and are joined by Susan Matthews to talk Slow Burn: Roe v. Wade. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nellie Bowles for the Atlantic: “ How San Francisco Became a Failed City ” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “ America Almost Took a Different Path Toward Abortion Rights ” Derek Thompson for the Atlantic: “ Everything Is Terrible, but I’m Fine ” Patricia Cohen for the New York Times: “ Global Growth Will Be Choked Amid Inflation and War, World Bank Says ” Here’s this week’s chatter: David: Jack Hitt for the New York Times: “ Want to Do Less Time? A Prison Consultant Might Be Able to Help. ” John: The Economist, “ The coming food catastrophe ”; The Paris Review, “ Henry Miller, The Art of Fiction No. 28 ” Emily: Moore v. Harper Listener chatter from Daniel Reich: “ The Path to Power ” by Robert Caro For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, David, and John talk about the 20th anniversary of The Wire. 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 and show notes by Grace Woodruff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 2, 2022

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the response to the Uvalde shooting, Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness, and a bunch of ignored subpoenas. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jillian Peterson and James Densley, interviewed by Melanie Warner for Politico: “ Two Professors Found What Creates a Mass Shooter. Will Politicians Pay Attention? ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Heidi Przybyla for Politico: “ ‘It’s going to be an army’: Tapes reveal GOP plan to contest elections ” David: Ezra Klein for the New York Times: “ What America Needs Is a Liberalism That Builds ” John: AP: “ Over 37K voters crossed over in Georgia GOP primary in effort to block Trump-based nominees ”; LiveScience: “ Male mice are terrified of bananas. Here's why. ” Listener chatter from Barbara Tanzler: The 11th World Potato Congress in Dublin, Ireland For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, David, and John discuss Elon Musk’s ultimatum for a full return to work. 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 and show notes by Grace Woodruff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29, 2022

John Dickerson talks with author Elif Batuman about coming of age as a college student in the 1990’s, and the similarities between herself and her main character in Either/Or, the sequel to The Idiot. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 26, 2022

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough for The Texas Tribune: “ Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws ” Bruce Leshan for WUSA9: “ Other countries have been hit by school shootings – and done something ” Carl Hulse for The New York Times: “ How Congress Passed an Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 ” Rebecca Kern for Politico: “ Tech companies removed the Buffalo shooting manifesto. A Texas law could make that illegal ” Emily Woodbury for St. Louis Public Radio: “ Sheena Chestnut Greitens analyzes China’s tightrope walk amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ” Lara Seligman for Politico: “‘ Deadly serious’: U.S. quietly urging Taiwan to follow Ukraine playbook for countering China ” Here are this week’s chatters: David: The Congressional Naming Commission planning to rename forts originally named for Confederate leaders Emily: The women in her New York Times piece “ America Almost Took a Different Path Toward Abortion Rights ” John: Trump’s losses in the Georgia Republican primary and Jason Willick’s Washington Post piece, “ Why Trump’s 2024 chances are even worse than Georgia suggests ” Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Marisa lati for The Washington Post: “ In a massive Chinese sinkhole, scientists find a secret forest ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David talk to Jody Rosen about bicycles and his new book, Two Wheels Good: The History & Mystery of the Bicycle . 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 2022

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “ Status Anxiety Is Blowing Wind Into Trump’s Sails ” Karn Yourish and Nicholas Confessore for The New York Times: “ A Fringe Conspiracy Theory, Fostered Online, Is Refashioned by the G.O.P. ” Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ The Slaughter in Buffalo Hasn’t Quieted the Great Replacement Caucus ” Nathaniel Rakich for FiveThirtyEight: “ What Went Down During the May 17 Primary Elections ” David A. Graham for The Atlantic: “ John Fetterman Wins on Vibes ” Greg Sargent for The Washington Post: “ Say it Clearly: Republicans Just Nominated a Pro-Trump Insurrectionist ” Lauren Debter for Forbes: “ A Startup Wanted To Make A Better Baby Formula. It Took Five Long Years. ” Mary McNamara for Los Angeles Times: “ Worried About The Declining Birthrate? How About Giving Mothers a Break ” Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “ For Justice Thomas, The Roberts Court is More Feud Than Family ” Here are this week’s chatters: John: Steven Goff and Molly Hensley-Clancy for The Washington Post: “ U.S. Women’s And Men’s National Soccer Teams Close Pay Gap With ‘Game-Changing’ Deal ” Emily: Patricia Campos Mello for Poynter: “ An Unholy Coalition Torpedoes Social Media Reform Legislation in Brazil ” David: “ The Final Dance in Dirty Dancing, But They’re Dancing To The Muppet Show Theme Tune ” by @Pandamoanimum Listener chatter from Dylan Bindman: Christophe Haubursin for Vox: “ Who Made These Circles in The Sahara? ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss Justice Clarence Thomas’ recent comments and the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court. 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 12, 2022

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: “ In a Post-Roe World, Can States Prevent Women From Seeking Abortions Out-of-State? ” Ruth Graham for The New York Times: “ A Pastor and His Congregation Part Ways ” Ruth Graham and Elizabeth Dias for The New York Times: “ The Growing Religious Fervor in the American Right: ‘This Is a Jesus Movement’ ” The Great Evangelical Recession: 6 Factors That Will Crash the American Church...and How to Prepare by John Dickerson Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Forbidden City , by Vanessa Hua; A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua; Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids , by Scott Hershovitz John: Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City , by Andrea Elliott; Jon Ward for Christianity Today: “ Being a Political Journalist Made Me a Better Christian ”; The Bob Dylan Center ; John Dickerson for CBS This Morning: “ Bob Dylan Center: A Window Into the Voice of a Generation ” David: Mother Jones: “ How Private Equity Looted America ”; Our Earth: “ Cool Airplane Camera Views on Lufthansa ” Listener chatter from Nicholas Gaffney: Alex Hanson for The Valley News: “ Croydon Reverses Slashing Of School Budget After Voters Turn Out For Special Meeting ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the things they do today that would horrify their 25-year-old selves. 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 5, 2022

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “ The Leaked Draft Roe Opinion Is A Disaster For The Supreme ” Edwin Meese III for The Washington Post: “ Did The Conservative Legal Movement Succeed? That All Depends On Whether The Supreme Court Overrules Roe V. Wade. ” Reginald Dwayne Betts for The New York Times Magazine: “ Could an Ex-Convict Become an Attorney? I Intended to Find Out ” Here are this week’s chatters: Ruth: Julia Clancy for Eating Well: “ What Is an Air Fryer and Should You Buy One? ” James: The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City , by Nicholas Dawidoff Emily: She’s getting a puppy! Send your advice. Listener chatter from Joe Stracci: Kevin Kelly for The Techium: “ 103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and Ruth interview James about his innovative programs at Yale’s Center for Law and Racial Justice. 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 28, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, Title 42, and the current prayer in school debate. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Daphne Keller for The Center for Internet and Society: “ What Does The DSA Say? ” John Dickerson for Slate: “ Born Identity ” Here are this week’s chatters: David: Ed Kilgore for New York Magazine: “ Utah Democrats Endorse Independent Evan McMullin in Challenge to Mike Lee ”; CityCast.fm/jobs John: Reddit thread: “ This is a 3200-year old attendance sheet found in Deir el-Medina, Egypt. Reasons for worker absence include ‘embalming brother’, ‘brewing beer’ and ‘bitten by scorpion’ ”; The British Museum: Ostracon Emily: Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “ Why California Wants to Recall Its Most Progressive Prosecutors ”; Vanessa Romo for NPR: “ The LA Sheriff Now Says No Charges For The Reporter Who Wrote About A Cover-Up ” Listener chatter from J.T. Horn: Mary Pols for Downeast Magazine " Why Maine Owes Its Most Breathtaking Public Lands to One 1972 Newspaper Story " For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss John’s prescient 2011 piece about Trump’s birtherism . 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 Kevin Bendis. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the ways that the war in Ukraine may be influencing China's future plans with guest Malcolm Turnbull; the mask mandate ruling; whether it matters that the RNC has rejected presidential debates; and Gabfest producer Jocelyn Frank signs off after many years of producing the show. Here are this week’s chatters: David: Mark Emem for CCN: “ Jeff Bezos Missed 20,000% Gains After $250K Google Stake in 1998 ” John: Kathryn Olivarius: “ Necropolis: Yellow Fever, Immunity, And Capitalism In The Deep South, 1800-1860 ” Emily: Rachel M. Cohen for the Intercept: “ At a Pivotal Moment, Democrats Failed to Modernize Elections ” Listener chatter from Randy Switt: Christopher P. Hammon and Victoria L. Vish for National Law Review: “ Eleventh Circuit: Service Charges Are Wages, Not Tips, Under FLSA ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment long-time Gabfest producer Jocelyn Frank shares her experiences making the show with Emily, David, and John. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 2022

David Plotz talks with author Amy Bloom about her journey to support the death, by suicide, of her husband, chronicled in her new book In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss . Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 14, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the approaching midterms, inflation, and whether social media is imperiling U.S. democracy—with guest Simon Bazelon. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Simon Bazelon for Slow Boring: “ Democrats Are Sleepwalking Into A Senate Disaster ” Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “ Trump Poses a Test Democracy Is Failing ” Matthew H. Graham and Milan W. Svolik for The American Political Science Review: “ Democracy in America? Partisanship, Polarization, and the Robustness of Support for Democracy in the United States ” Jonathan Haidt for The Atlantic: “ Why The Last Ten Years of American Life Have Been So Stupid ” Paul Krugman for The New York Times: “ Inflation Is About to Come Down — but Don't Get Too Excited ” Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again , by Johann Hari The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom , by Jonathan Haidt Here are this week’s chatters: David: Little Dorrit , by Charles Dickens John: Macbeth on Broadway Emily: Christine Charnosky for Law.com: “ A University of Arizona Law Grad on How the GRE Changed Her Life ”; University of Arizona Law’s Innovation for Justice work Listener chatter from Nick Gaffney: Alex Hanson for the Valley News: “ Croydon School Budget Cut Sets Up High-Stakes Battle Over Future of Town's Education System ”; Alex Hanson for the Valley News: “ Budget Cut Looks Bleak For Schools After Croydon Meeting ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what constitutes time well spent. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 7, 2022

Emily, John and David discuss Russia’s war crimes; Disney’s reaction to “don’t say gay”; and Amazon’s first union. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Andrew Exum for The Atlantic: “ The Russian Military Has Descended Into Inhumanity ” Noam Scheiber for The New York Times: “ Amazon Workers Who Won a Union Their Way Open Labor Leaders’ Eyes ” Microsoft: “ The Rise of the Triple Peak Day ” When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing , by Daniel H. Pink Here are this week’s chatters: David: Jessica Contrera for The Washington Post: “ The Remarkable Brain of a Carpet Cleaner Who Speaks 24 Languages ”; The Wedding Party ; Smithsonian National Museum of African Art: “ Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits ” John: Jill Lawless for The Associated Press: “ Darwin Notebooks Missing For 20 Years Returned to Cambridge ”; Darwin Correspondence Project: “ Fanny Owen ” Emily: Twitter thread by Manvir Singh @mnvrsngh on time spent “doing nothing” in small-scale, non-industrial societies. Listener chatter from Kate Conquest: “ The Avian Soap Opera Unfolding Atop This Berkeley Bell Tower Has Humans Riveted ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the trend of working a “third shift.” 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden's gaffe in speaking too honestly about Russia; Trump’s missing phone logs; and Ginni Thomas’s efforts to subvert the election. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Bob Woodward and Robert Costa for The Washington Post: “ Jan. 6 White House Logs Given To House Show 7-Hour Gap In Trump Calls ” Hugo Lowell for The Guardian: “ Trump Used White House Phone For Call On January 6 That Was Not On Official Log ” Bob Woodward and Robert Costa for The Washington Post: “ Virginia Thomas Urged White House Chief to Pursue Unrelenting Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election, Texts Show ” Benjamin Wittes for Lawfare: “ Donald Trump, John Eastman and the Silence of the Justice Department ” Karl Rove for The Wall Street Journal: “ Republicans’ Jan. 6 Responsibility ” Here are this week’s chatters: David: Beforeigners ; City Cast John: Anna P. Kambhampaty for The New York Times: “ Want to See the Weirdest of Wikipedia? Look No Further. ”; Morning Brew newsletter; Elden Ring video game Emily: “ The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Refutation ”; Anne Frank House Listener chatter from Andre Walker: All The Sex I've Ever Had at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what they would do if they needed to disappear. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 24, 2022

David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Ruth Marcus to discuss Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing; Ukraine keeps fighting through atrocity; and more allegations of Republican candidates committing domestic abuse. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Dana Milbank for the Washington Post: “ Cruz Attacks Jackson For ‘Critical Race Theory’—But Sends His Own Daughters to Learn It ” Henry Olsen for the Washington Post: “ Republicans Are Right to Oppose Ketanji Brown Jackson ” Here’s this week’s chatter: David: BioHacked: Family Secrets: “ The Genius Experiment: Part 1 ”; The Genius Factory , by David Plotz; The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World , by Riley Black John: Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century , by Dana Stevens Ruth: Christine Emba for The Washington Post: “ Consent Is Not Enough. We Need A New Sexual Ethic. ”; Rethinking Sex: A Provocation , by Christine Emba Listener chatter from Eric Jason Martin: Nick Paumgarten for the New Yorker: “ Retirement the Margaritaville Way. " For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Ruth, John, and David discuss their strangest behaviors. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 22, 2022

Emily Bazelon talks with author Meghan O’Rourke about germ theory, biomarkers, medical mysteries, long COVID and the quest to return to health as chronicled in her new book The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness . Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 17, 2022

Emily and David are joined by guest host Juliette Kayyem to discuss the arming of Ukraine, how to prepare for the next pandemic or catastrophe, and daylight savings time debates. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Megan Garber for The Atlantic: “ The Grim Stagecraft of Zelensky’s Selfie Videos ” Atul Gawande for The New Yorker: “ Costa Ricans Live Longer Than We Do. What's the Secret? ” The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters , by Juliette Kayyem Here’s this week’s chatter: David: Nina Siegal for The New York Times: “ She Discovered What Happened to 400 Dutch Jews Who Disappeared ” Emily: Paul Blest for Vice: “ Josh Hawley Accused Biden’s SCOTUS Pick of Being Soft on Child Porn ”; Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ The Price of a Stolen Childhood ” Juliette: Maria Cramer for The New York Times: “ A Year After Suez Blockage, Another Evergreen Ship Is Mired in the Chesapeake ” Listener chatter from Jonas Barciauskas: This Land podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Juliette, Emily and David talk about what they think about when they want to increase their happiness. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 10, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's fighting spirit, rising gas prices, and conformity on campus. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Science of Politics podcast: “ Does the Public Respond to Threats to Democracy? ” The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, the Subjection of Women and Utilitarianism The Guns of August , by Barbara W. Tuchman Emma Camp for the New York Times: “ I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead. ” David A. Plotz for the Harvard Crimson: “ ‘Politically Correct’ Thought Control ” Here’s this week’s chatter: David: Kayla Stewart for The New York Times: “ One Huge Hog, One Long Day and a Nourishing Southern Tradition ” Emily: Pam & Tommy John: Henry Fountain for The New York Times: “ At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History’s Great Wrecks Is Found ” Listener chatter from Carol Walker: BBC podcast 1914: Day by Day For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss the people they carry with them. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 3, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's resistance, the State of the Union, and an increasing backlash against reformer prosecutors. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas L. Friedman for The New York Times: “ I See Three Scenarios for How This War Ends ” Anne Appelbaum for the Atlantic: “ The Bad Guys Are Winning ” Gal Beckerman for The Atlantic: “ How Zelensky Gave the World a Jewish Hero ” Rebecca Davis O’Brien for The New York Times: “ How This ‘Progressive Prosecutor’ Balances Politics and Public Safety ” Heart of Darkness , by Joseph Conrad Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration , by Emily Bazelon Here’s this week’s chatter: David: The Postman , by David Brin Emily: In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss , by Amy Bloom; Away , by Amy Bloom John: New York Times, Feb. 22, 1862: “ The Execution of Nathaniel Gordon ” Listener chatter from Leslie Camp: Phil Davison for The Washington Post: “ Monique Hanotte, Belgian resistance member who rescued 135 downed Allied airmen in World War II, dies at 101 ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss what they do to find and boost their courage. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2022

Stanford Law professor Nathaniel Persily joins David and Emily to discuss President Biden’s nomination for associate justice of the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 2022

Emily and David are joined by guest host Jane Coaston. The three discuss Putin's war with guest Julia Ioffe and also the GOP attacks on transgender children, and Democrats’ “hack gap.” Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Julia Ioffe for Puck News: “ Will Putin Get His World War III? ” Anne Appelbaum for The Atlantic: “ The Reason Putin Would Risk War ” The Handmaid’s Tale , by Margaret Atwood Here’s this week’s chatter: David: Work at City Cast ; David’s “ Exploring a Secret Fort ” tour for Atlas Obscura; Florida’s Mount Trashmore Emily: Danny Hakim and Jo Becker for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas ”; Jane Mayer for The New Yorker: “ Is Ginni Thomas a Threat to The Supreme Court? ” Jane: Sports Twitter Listener chatter from Charlie Hunt: Christopher Ingraham for the Washington Post “ The Owl Pellet Economy: Meet The Entrepreneurs Who’ve Devoted Their Lives to Bird Vomit. ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, following the death of public health hero Paul Farmer, Emily and David discuss the concept of heroes and the roles they can play in contemporary life. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2022

Gabfest reads is a new monthly series from the hosts of the Political Gabfest. This month David Plotz talks with author Florence Williams about divorce, affection, good friendships, and her new book Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey . Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2022

Josie Duffy Rice, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss America's radicalized parents; what the midterms may bring; and the Sandy Hook families’ victory. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show : Clara Jeffrey for Mother Jones: “ What Pundits Don’t Understand About the San Francisco Recall ” Jasper Scherer and Benjamin Wermund for The Houston Chronicle: “ We Asked All 143 Texas GOP Congressional Candidates About Biden's Win. Only 13 Call it Legitimate. ” John Dickerson for the Atlantic: “ The GOP Has No Standards Now ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Rosalind S. Helderman for the Washington Post: “ All The Ways Trump Tried to Overturn The Election — And How it Could Happen Again. ” Josie: The School for Good Mothers , by Jessamine Chan David: Watch some Olympic curling . Listener chatter from Paul Hiebing: Annie Rauwerda for Input Magazine: “ The Adorable Love Story Behind Wikipedia’s ‘High Five’ Photos ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Josie, John, and David discuss their hiding places as children and adults. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 2022

Emily, John and David dig into SCOTUS's failure to enforce the Voting Rights Act, the GOP's embrace of January 6th rioters, and protests in Canada. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for The Atlantic: “The GOP Has No Standards Now” Adela Suliman for The Washington Post: “Marjorie Taylor Greene says Nancy Pelosi leads ‘gazpacho police,’ causing collective spit take” Brett Samuels for The Hill: “Pence breaks with Trump: 'I had no right to overturn the election'” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Sam Levine for The Guardian: “The Black Woman Sentenced To Six Years In Prison Over A Voting Error” John: “John Grisham Reads Soggy Sweat's Whiskey Speech” David: Oliver Holmes for The Guardian: “Putin’s Massive Table: Powerplay or Paranoia?” Listener chatter from Cason Reily: BBC: “Who Is Sue Gray?” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David ponder what makes something qualify as a sport or a game. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 3, 2022

Emily, John and David discuss Donald Trump’s attempts to seize voting machines, the racist attacks on the yet-to-be-named SCOTUS nominee, and they are joined by Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University's T. H. Chan School of Public Health, to discuss ways we might update U.S. COVID norms. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Joseph G. Allen for The Washington Post: “ Our Playbook to Fight Covid-19 Is Outdated. Here Are 10 Updates for 2022. ” Joseph G. Allen and Celine R. Gounder for The Hill: “ We Have a Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Fix Our Crumbling Schools ” Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity , by Joseph G. Allen and John D. Macomber Adam Serwer for The Atlantic: “ Republicans Seem to Think Putting a Black Woman on the Supreme Court Is the Real Racism ” Meltdown: What Plane Crashes, Oil Spills, and Dumb Business Decisions Can Teach Us About How to Succeed at Work and at Home , by Chris Clearfield and András Tilcsik Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Kristin Toussaint for Fast Company: “ How Do Workers Take on a National Chain Like Starbucks? One Store at a Time ”; Noam Scheiber for The New York Times: “ Taking On Starbucks, Inspired by Bernie Sanders ” John: Adam Gopnik for The New Yorker: “ Molière to the Panthéon! ”; History, Art and Archives: United States House of Representatives: Representative Clement Vallandigham of Ohio David: Neil Vigdor for the New York Times: “ A Teenager Tracked Elon Musk’s Jet on Twitter. Then Came the Direct Message. ” Listener chatter from Erin Arizzi-Shores: The Double Shift: “ The Check's Not In The Mail ” More listener chatter from Larry Williams: Barbara J. King for NPR: “ Watch The Moment A Dying Chimpanzee Recognizes An Old Friend ”; Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves , by Frans De Waal. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David offer advice about how to establish a work/life balance. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 2022

John, Emily and David discuss Justice Breyer’s retirement. They are joined by Anne Applebaum to talk about what global moves may be coming to address threats to Ukraine, and The Gist’s Mike Pesca covers a round robin of the week's news. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics , by Stephen Breyer Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ The Bad Guys Are Winning ” The Gist Slow Burn: Watergate Station Eleven , by Emily St. John Mandel Station Eleven series on HBO Max The Way We Live Now , by Anthony Trollope Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Vauhini Vara for Believer Magazine: “ Ghosts ”; This American Life: “ The Ghost in The Machine ” John: Dylan Matthews for Vox: “ Can Giving Parents Cash Help With Babies’ Brain Development? ” David: Tiffany Lukk for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: “ Where to Go Dog Sledding in Minnesota ”; Nicole Wetsman for The Verge: “ CDC Emails Show That Vaccine Cards Are Supposed To Fit In Your Wallet: The Covid-19 Cards Do Not Fit In Wallets ” Listener chatter from Tom McIlroy: Michael Zhang for PetaPixel: “ Photographer Finds Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the screen adaptation of Station Eleven. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden’s first year, SCOTUS's block of OSHA’s vax-or-test rule, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s busy start. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for CBS Sunday Morning: “ President Joe Biden: The First Year ” Station Eleven , by Emily St. John Mandel Station Eleven series on HBO Max Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Deep Cover, Season 2: Mob Land John: Take Note Podcast ; Adam Webb for Take Note: “ How to Keep a Notebook ” David: Paul Schwartzman for The Washington Post: “ Missing Jewels And Art: A Lawsuit Against a Retired Professor Is Ruffling The Well-To-Do From Georgetown to Newport, R.I. ” Listener chatter from Alissa Surges: Allison Robicelli for The Washington Post: “ I Spent The Night in an Empty Airport. it Was a Dream Come True ”; Work at City Cast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David talk about why to keep a journal. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss voting rights, Russia's recent moves, with guest Nina Jankowicz; and the increasing politicization of cable news. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute: Electoral Count Act of 1887 David Becker on Face the Nation : “Elections Expert David Becker Denounces ‘Efforts to Sow Confusion and Chaos’ ” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “Democracy Worked This Year. but It Is Under Threat.” Christina A. Cassidy for AP News: “Far Too Little Vote Fraud to Tip Election to Trump, AP Finds” How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict , by Nina Jankowicz Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “The Science of Making Americans Hurt Their Own Country” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Jan Ransom for the New York Times: “A Look Inside Rikers: ‘Fight Night’ and Gang Rule, Captured on Video” David: Nathanael Johnson thread on Twitter and We Are Lady Parts TV show John: The Mezzanine , by Nicholson Baker and “ On Keeping a Notebook ,” by Joan Didion Listener chatter from Bea Scott: The History of Democracy Has Yet to Be Written by Thomas Geoghegan For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss rule-breaking and Novak Djokovic’s moves in Australia. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Shayna Elliot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 6, 2022

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Jan. 6, with guest Jamelle Bouie and what to make of omicron's impact on schools, and the Theranos case. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matt Levine for Bloomberg: “ Slaying the Blood Unicorn ” Wall Street Journal: Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes: History of the WSJ Investigation Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner? ” Ruddy Roye Photography Walker Evans Anastasia Taylor-Lind Sally Mann Larry Fink Photography Edward Hopper: Night Shadows, 1921 Alexander Calder: Finny Fish Wolfgang Laib: Wax Room Caravaggio: The Conversion of Saint Paul Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Crossroads , by Jonathan Franzen; Parul Sehgal for the New Yorker: “ The Case Against the Trauma Plot ” John: Window-Swap.com David: Fight Club ; Free Guy ; City Cast Listener chatter from Cynthia Weiner: Corryn Wetzel for Smithsonian Magazine: “ Ten Hilarious Winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, David, and Jamelle discuss the famous works of art they would most like to possess. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 2021

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz wrap up 2021 considering life’s many conundrums—with special guest Dwayne Betts! Questions this year include: if you could eliminate one word from the English language what would it be? If you could transport the characters of one book into the time and place of another, which would you choose? If you were ONLY able to brush your teeth in the morning or the night- which would be optimal? Special thanks to everyone who sent in conundrums for consideration. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, John attempt a conundrum lightning round. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2021

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the future of the Democratic party's agenda, Omicron's spread across the United States and they're joined by investigative journalist Azmat Khan to talk about the deaths of civilians overseas and the lack of accuracy from the U.S. military. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ $1.75 Trillion Is Plenty of Money to Write a Good Build Back Better Bill Here Are Some Solid Options ” Simon Bazelon and David Shor for Slow Boring: “ A Permanent CTC Expansion With a Sharper Means-Test Would Protect Poor Kids Better And Be More Popular ” Jonathan Chait for New York Magazine: “ Biden Should Take Manchin's Deal Right Now ” David Wallace-Wells for New York Magazine: “ Gauteng’s Omicron Wave Is Already Peaking. Why? ” Derek Thompson for the Atlantic:” Is Omicron Milder? ” Azmat Khan for The New York Times: “ Hidden Pentagon Records Reveal Patterns of Failure in Deadly Airstrikes ” Azmat Khan for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Human Toll of America’s Air Wars ” Azmat Khan for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Uncounted ” Heart of Darkness , by Joseph Conrad Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Katie Benner, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Charlie Savage for the New York Times: “ Some Inmates Can Stay Confined at Home After Covid Emergency, Justice Dept. Says ” John: The Power of Meaning , by Emily Esfahani Smith, Mozhan Marno, and On the Meaning of Life , by Will Durant David: Hard Knocks In Season: The Indianapolis Colts Listener chatter from Mo Trent: stuffin.space For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss their most and least useful years of formal education. Special thanks to listener Sean McPherson for the suggestion. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 16, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss January 6th revelations, Build Back Better and voting rights and they are joined by Slow Burn host Joel Anderson to talk about Season 6: The L.A. Riots. Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David A. Graham for the Atlantic: “ The Paperwork Coup ” Barton Gellman for the Atlantic: “ Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun ” Charles Homans for the New York Times: “ In Bid for Control of Elections, Trump Loyalists Face Few Obstacles ” Slow Burn Season 6: The L.A. Riots Slow Burn Season 3: Biggie and Tupac Emily Bazelon for Slate: “ The Nazi Anatomists ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism , by bell hooks; We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity , by bell hooks John: Sharyn Alfonsi for 60 Minutes : “ Negotiating With the Taliban to Save Lives Iin Afghanistan ”; The Daily: “ Economic Catastrophe in Afghanistan ”; Christina Goldbaum for the New York Times: “ Facing Economic Collapse, Afghanistan Is Gripped by Starvation ” David: Julian Mark for the Washington Post: “ Rapper Logic Wrote the Song ‘1-800-273-8255’ To Save Lives. He May Have Saved Hundreds, Study Finds. ” Listener chatter from Adrian Monthony: Geraldine DeRuiter for The Everywhereist: “ Bros., Lecce: We Eat at The Worst Michelin Starred Restaurant, Ever ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David share their best holiday gift ideas. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 9, 2021

Emily and David are joined by guest host David Leonhardt to discuss the pandemic economy; a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, and the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John J. Mearsheimer for Foreign Affairs: “ The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics ” Corey Robin for The New York Times: “ Why the Biden Presidency Feels Like Such a Disappointment ” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas , by Corey Robin Mike Baker for The New York Times: “ The Sisters Who First Tried to Take Down Jeffrey Epstein ”t Andrew Anthony for The Guardian: “ Meet Julie K Brown, The Woman Who Brought Down Jeffrey Epstein ” Jill Filipvoc’s newsletter Matthew Yglesias’ Slow Boring newsletter Joe Sheehan’s baseball newsletter Matt Levine’s Money Stuff newsletter Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American newsletter Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Leah Litman for NBC News: “ The Death Penalty Cases Before The Supreme Court That Could Keep Innocent People In Prison ”: Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “ Conservative Justices Scoff at Maine’s Exclusion of Religious Schools From Tuition-Assistance Program ” David Leonhardt: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite David Plotz:: Work at City Cast ; Sex Lives of College Girls Listener chatter from Andrew Lacko: “ Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and David talk about newsletters and what they do well. Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here's how! 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 2, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the Supreme Court's consideration of Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization with guest Ross Douthat. The Political Gabfest hosts also talk about how best to approach the news of the Omicron variant, and why the Cuomo brothers’ scandals matter. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Diana Greene Foster for The New York Times: “ What Happens When It’s Too Late to Get an Abortion ” University of California, San Francisco, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), The Turnaway Study Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “ The Case Against Abortion ” Will Saletan for Slate: “ Republicans Will Be Sorry if the Supreme Court Overturns Roe ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: On The Media: “ A Different Hanukkah Story ” John: Garret Keizer for Harper's Magazine: “ The Third Force ” David: Hannah Towey for Insider: “ Check Out Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes' Handwritten 4 A.M. Schedule That Was Submitted as She Testified That Her Ex-Boyfriend Was Abusive ” Listener chatter from Chuck Piehl: Mankato Free Press: “ Making Havoc Not the Point of Public Records ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David share their best holiday gift ideas. Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here's how! 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 24, 2021

Emily, John and David talk about whether President Biden ought to run in 2024, the Rittenhouse verdict and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the Gabfest to talk about international relations with China. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Edward-Isaac Dovere and Jasmine Wright for CNN: “ Exasperation and Dysfunction: Inside Kamala Harris' Frustrating Start as Vice President .” Jonathan Chait for New York magazine: “ Joe Biden’s Big Squeeze ” High Conflict , by Amanda Ripley David French for the Atlantic: “ Kyle Rittenhouse’s Acquittal Does Not Make Him a Hero ” A Bigger Picture , by Malcolm Turnbull Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Cloud Cuckoo Land , by Anthony Doerr David: Conversation topic generator thanxiety.com John: Jonathan Edwards for the Washington Post: “ A Michigan Woman Tried to Hire an Assassin Online at RentAHitman.com. Now, She’s Going to Prison. ” Listener chatter from Keith Watabayashi @KeithWatabayash : Hieronymus Burps @hieronymus_burps about Long Boom Wired Cover For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David ask Malcolm Turnbull about the mundane details of life as the leader of a nation. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Shayna Elliot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 18, 2021

John, Emily and David discuss Biden’s approval numbers, authoritarianism on the rise, and they are joined by author Jay Caspian Kang to talk about his new book, The Loneliest Americans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: FiveThirtyEight, Latest Polls Isaac Chotiner for the New Yorker: “ Can Biden’s Agenda Survive Inflation? ” Jason Furman for the Wall Street Journal: “ ​​Biden Can Whip Inflation and Build Back Better ” The Loneliest Americans , by Jay Caspian Kang Pew Research Center: “ Where Do You Fit In The Political Typology? ” Christopher Borrelli for the Chicago Tribune: “ What We’re Reading: 4 Korean American Memoirs, From Personal Stories To An Unsettling Confrontation on Identity and Assimilation ” Anne Appelbaum for the Atlantic: “ The Bad Guys Are Winning ” Freedom House: “ Freedom in the World 2021: Democracy Under Siege ” The Dictator's Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy , by William J. Dobson Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest , by Zeynep Tufekci Zeynep Tufekci for the Atlantic: “ How the Coronavirus Revealed Authoritarianism’s Fatal Flaw ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Ashley Southall and Jonah E. Bromwich for the New York Times: “ 2 Men Convicted of Killing Malcolm X Will Be Exonerated After Decades ” John: The Faber Book of Reportage , by John Carey; The Way We Live Now , by Anthony Trollope audiobook David: Geoffrey Leavenworth for the New York Times: “ One Chaste Marriage, Four Kids, and the Catholic Church ”; Spencer Buell for Boston magazine: “ New England Hidden Gems You’ll Find on the New Atlas Obscura App ”; City Cast Houston Listener chatter from Melissa Ocepek: A fox listens to the banjo For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the most useful friend to have. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 11, 2021

John and David are joined by guest host Ruth Marcus to discuss Biden’s infrastructure win, Trump’s January 6 obstruction, and the Rittenhouse trial. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Adie Tomer, Joseph W. Kane, Caroline George, and Andrew Bourne, for The Brookings Institution: “ America Has An Infrastructure Bill. What Happens Next? ” Ruth Marcus for the Washington Post: “ At Yale Law School, a Party Invitation Ignites a Firestorm ” Josh Dawsey, Isaac Stanley-Becker, and Michael Scherer for The Washington Post: “ Donors Threatened to Shun the Gop After Jan. 6. Now, Republicans Are Outraising Democrats. ” Sandy West for Kaiser Health News: “ ‘Drinking Through a Lead Straw’ — $15B Approved to Fix Dangerous Water Pipes ” The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth , by Jonathan Rauch Here’s this week’s chatter: Ruth: Julian Mark for The Washington Post: “ A Fertility Center Mixed Up Two Couples’ Embryos, Lawsuit Says. When They Found Out, They Had To Trade Babies. ” David: David is leading an “ Exploring a Secret Fort ” tour of Fort DeRussy in Washington, D.C. for Atlas Obscura and Airbnb; Jonathan D. Karl for The Atlantic: “ The Man Who Made January 6th Possible ” John: Pew Research Center: “ Where Do You Fit In The Political Typology? ” Listener chatter from Tsur Somerville: Reuters: “ Wandering Dog is Istanbul Commuters' Best Friend ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Ruth, John, and David discuss the controversy over the founding of the University of Austin. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 2021

John Dickerson talks with Kirsten Powers about her new book Saving Grace: speak your truth, stay centered and learn to coexist with people who drive you nuts. Powers offers advice about on how to navigate the toxic divisions within our culture without compromising personal convictions and emotional well-being. Kirsten Powers is a New York Times bestselling author, USA Today columnist, and senior political analyst for CNN, where she appears regularly on Anderson Cooper 360, CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, and The Lead with Jake Tapper. Her writing has been published in The Washington Post, Elle, The Daily Beast, The Wall Street Journal, The Dallas Morning News, The New York Observer, Salon, the New York Post, and The American Prospect online. Raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Powers lives in Washington, D.C, with her fiancé, Robert Draper, and their two fur children, Lucy and Bill. Gabfest Reads is an occasional author interview series with the hosts of Slate's Political Gabfest. Join John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz in one on one conversations with thought-provoking authors discussing books that range from the overtly political to the politically adjacent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 4, 2021

NYTimes columnist Ross Douthat joins the show to help untangle the implications of the off-year elections and John, Emily and David discuss the Supreme Court arguments on abortion in Texas and guns in New York. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery , by Ross Douthat Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ It’s Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Now ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Associated Press: “ University Of Florida Faces Investigation After Blocking Professors From Voting Case ” David: Scott MacFarlane, Rick Yarborough, and Steve Jones for NBC 4 Washington: “ DC Tunnel History Site Flagged Suspicious Activity Before Capitol Insurrection ” John: Jeff Stein for The Washington Post: “ Financial Firms Announce $130 Trillion In Commitments For Climate Transition, But Practical Questions Loom ” Listener chatter from JD Cameron @J_D_Cameron: John Muller for FiveThirtyEight: “ Soccer Looks Different When You Can’t See Who’s Playing ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David talk to Ross about his new book, The Deep Places . 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 2021

Emily, John and David talk about the Facebook Papers; Building Back (somewhat) Better; and are joined by author Pamela Paul to talk about the trivial and serious sides of her new book: 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Casey Newton for Platformer on Substack: “ How The American Internet Is Turning European ” Farhad Manjoo for The New York Times: “ Facebook Is Bad. Fixing It Rashly Could Make It Much Worse. ” Adrienne LaFrance for The Atlantic: “‘ History Will Not Judge Us Kindly’ ” Nitish Pahwa for Slate: “ The Facebook Crisis in India Might Be the Worst Facebook Crisis of All ” Alan Rappeport and Jim Tankersley for The New York Times: “ Hunting for Money, Democrats Rush to Rewrite Tax Code ” 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet , by Pamela Paul Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Alix Wall for Berkeleyside: “ This Couple Loves Berkeley Bowl So Much, They Took Their Engagement Photos There ” (hat tip: Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar ) David: Andrea Salcedo for The Washington Post: “ A Hiker Got Lost In Colorado, Then Ignored Rescuers’ Calls Because They Came From An Unknown Number ” John: Bailey Vogt for Washington City Paper: “ Iconic D.C. Barber Diego D’Ambrosio Died At 87 ”; The Lost Daughter Listener chatter from Kerry Donovan @KerryDonovanCO : Bill Chappell for NPR: “ A Mysterious 'A Team' Just Rescued Dogs From a Volcano's Lava Zone in La Palma ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss the best things the internet has given them. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress, supply chain woes, and Americans pro-actively leaving their jobs. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jordan Weissmann for Slate: “ The Absolute Simplest Explanation for America’s Supply Chain Woes ” David J. Lynch for The Washington Post: “ Inside America’s Broken Supply Chain ” Derek Thompson for The Atlantic: “ The Great Resignation Is Accelerating ” Matt Bruenig for The People’s Policy Project: “ Democratic Child Care Plan Will Spike Prices for the Middle Class by $13,000 ” The Unknowns , by Gabriel Roth Tonja Jacobi and Dylan Schweers for The Harvard Business Review: “ Female Supreme Court Justices Are Interrupted More by Male Justices and Advocates ” Kate Murphy for The New York Times: “ You’re Not Listening. Here’s Why ” Deborah Tannen for The New York Times: “ In Real Life, Not All Interruptions Are Rude ” Elan Morgan for Medium: “ 99% Invisible Podcast’s Brilliant Response to Criticism of Women’s Voices ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Paul Shechtman for The New York Law Journal: “ Understanding the Significance of Supreme Court Cert in ‘Shinn v. Jones’ ” David: Hetty McKinnon for the New York Times: “ Sook Mei Faan (Cantonese Creamed Corn With Tofu and Rice) ” John: “One Hour to Think,” in On Democracy , by E.B. White; Vera Listener chatter from Adrian Monthony: Twitter thread on the strange story of an abandoned airplane by Chris Croy @ChrisCroy; Harish Pullanoor for Quartz: “ The Crazy Story Behind a Rickety Boeing 720 Parked at an Indian Airport For 24 Years ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss the data provided by listener Lindsay Lee about which host does the most interrupting on the Political Gabfest. Check out Lee's blog post here . Go to Slate.com/gabfestplus to become a slate plus member today! 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 14, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the ways that U.S. democracy is in peril, the Democrats‘ strategy woes, and they are joined by author Andrea Elliott to talk about her new book Invisible Child. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ezra Klein for The New York Times: “ David Shor Is Telling Democrats What They Don’t Want to Hear ” Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ Bill Clinton, Race and the Politics of the 1990s ” The Ezra Klein Show. “ Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Heather McGhee About the Cost of Racism ” The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together , by Heather McGhee Simon Bazelon and David Shor for Slow Boring: “ A Permanent CTC Expansion With a Sharper Means-Test Would Protect Poor Kids Better and be More Popular ” Matt Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ If You Want To Talk About Racism, Talk About Racism ” Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City , by Andrea Elliott Andrea Elliot for The New York Times Magazine: “ When Dasani Left Home ” Andrea Elliot for The New York Times: 2013 Invisible Child series Here’s this week’s chatter: David: Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide , by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras John: John’s donation page for the Covenant House Sleep Out ; Gurwinder @G_S_Bhogal’s Twitter thread about the 40 powerful concepts for understanding the world . Emily: Jan Ransom, Jonah E. Bromwich and Rebecca Davis O’Brien for The New York Times: “ Inside Rikers: Dysfunction, Lawlessness and Detainees in Control ” Listener chatter from Nettie Hendricks: The Fetler Family Band on YouTube For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss what they’d do with their days if they didn’t need to work. Visit www.slate.com/gabfestplus to become a member today! 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 7, 2021

Emily and John are joined by guest host Mary Harris (host of What Next ) to talk about the dangerous debt ceiling games; blowing the whistle on Facebook; and new revelations about January 6th and the plan to overturn the election. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Wall Street Journal: The Facebook Files Wall Street Journal: The Facebook Files, A Podcast Series Nathaniel Persily for the Washington Post: “ Facebook Hides Data Showing It Harms Users. Outside Scholars Need Access. ” Charlie Warzel’s Substack, Galaxy Brain: “ The Algorithm Tweaks Won't Save Us ” Katie Benner for The New York Times: “ Report Cites New Details of Trump Pressure on Justice Dept. Over Election ” Mike Stobbe for The Associated Press: “ More Than 120,000 Us Kids Had Caregivers Die During Pandemic ” YouTube video: “ Richard Feynman Magnets ” Slate’s What Next With Mary Harris Here’s this week’s chatter: John: The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth , by Matthew Algeo Mary: Gary Shteyngart for The New Yorker: “ A Botched Circumcision and Its Aftermath ”; Robert Kolker for The New York Times Magazine: “ Who Is the Bad Art Friend? ” Emily: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: Annual Awards Virtual Event–Championing Disability Rights for 49 Years ; Sabrina Tavernise and Katie Benne for The New York Times: “ Federal Judge Pauses Strict Texas Law Banning Most Abortions ” Listener chatter from Kyle Amann: Matthew Fox for Insider: “ A Hamster Has Been Trading Cryptocurrencies In A Cage Rigged To Automatically Buy And Sell Tokens Since June - And It's Currently Outperforming The S&P 500 ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John and Emily talk to Mary about work as a daily podcaster. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 30, 2021

John, Emily and David discuss the fate of the Build Back Better agenda; vaccine mandates working; and journalist Caitlin Dickerson helps explain the recent U.S. immigration actions and to identify some fresh strategies for change. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ It’s All or Nothing for These Democrats, Even if That Means Biden Fails ” Josh Marshall for Talking Points Memo: “ Kill the Bill ” Caitlin Dickerson for The Atlantic: “ Democrats’ Free Pass on Immigration Is Over ” Caitlin Dickerson for The Atlantic: “ America’s Immigration Amnesia ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Glamourdaze YouTube video: “ A Walk in the Park - c.1900 | Bois de Boulogne Paris - AI Enhanced ; Peril , by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa Emily: CNN: “ Florida Man Fights Alligator With Trash Can ”; Jonathan Mann’s folk song celebrating the Florida Man Who Caught An Alligator In A Trash Can David: The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion , by Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell Listener chatter from Matthew Ringel: Veritasium YouTube video, about the history of potash: “ These Pools Help Support Half The People On Earth ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily talk about earlier times in history they would have liked to have been podcasting together. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 23, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss what it will take to save the Biden agenda, the abortion doctor's defiance of the Texas ban; and true crime mania. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Josh Marshall for Talking Points Memo: “ Policy vs Positioning Has Dems in a Stalemate ” Michael Dorf for Dorf on Law: “ Texas Could Not Get Away With This Absent SCOTUS-Created Limits On Constitutional Adjudication ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ The Dawn of the Post-Clinic Abortion ” Impeachment: American Crime Story The Clinton Impeachment - Slow Burn: Season 2 Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Susan Dominus for The New York Times Magazine: “ He Was the ‘Perfect Villain’ for Voting Conspiracists ” John: Elizabeth Elkin for Bloomberg: “ Food Prices Poised to Surge With Fertilizer at Highest in Years By ” David: CityCast: “ City Cast Houston Launches Oct. 5 ”; “ Evidence That A Cosmic Impact Destroyed Ancient City In The Jordan Valley ”; Ted E. Bunch et al, for Scientific Reports: “ A Tunguska Sized Airburst Destroyed Tall El-hammam A Middle Bronze Age City In The Jordan Valley Near The Dead Sea ” Listener chatter from Jeffrey Itell: You Tube: “ 15 Unfinished Buildings in Kunming Were Demolished by Blasting ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily discuss the merits of revisiting the stories of Bill Clinton’s impeachment. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 16, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the Biden’s administration’s vaccine rule, the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, and the new book from Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Isaac Stanley-Becker for The Washington Post: “ Top General Was So Fearful Trump Might Spark War That He Made Secret Calls To His Chinese Counterpart, New Book Says ” Peril , by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa Susan B. Glasser for The New Yorker: “ ‘You’re Gonna Have a Fucking War’: Mark Milley’s Fight to Stop Trump from Striking Iran ” I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year , by Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Georgia Wells, Jeff Horwitz and Deepa Seetharaman for The Wall Street Journal: “ Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show ” John: Harlem Shuffle , by Colson Whitehead David: “ College Students Reported Record-High Marijuana Use and Record-Low Drinking in 2020, Study Says ” Listener chatter from James Evans: Verity Stevenson for CBC News: “ In Facing Death, Concordia Neuroscientist Nadia Chaudhri Has Built a Lasting Legacy and Inspired Thousands ”; @DrNadiaChaudhri ’s Twitter feed For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily discuss the contentiousness of daylight saving time. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 9, 2021

Emily, John and David reflect on 9/11; the fight for the infrastructure agenda, and declining college enrollment among men. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Garrett M. Graff for the Atlantic: “ After 9/11, the U.S. Got Almost Everything Wrong ” The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 , by Garrett M. Graff Ady Barkan for The New York Times: “ Home Care Keeps Me Alive. It Should Be Fully Funded. ” Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ $1 Trillion Isn’t as Much as It Sounds ” Douglas Belkin for The Wall Street Journal: “ A Generation of American Men Give Up on College: ‘I Just Feel Lost’ ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ How Will America Recover From a Broken School Year? ” Kevin Carey for The New York Times: “ Men Fall Behind in College Enrollment. Women Still Play Catch-Up at Work. ” The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money , by Bryan Caplan Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Lee Drutman for The New York Times: “ Quiz: If America Had Six Parties, Which Would You Belong To? ”; John Dickerson for The Atlantic: “ Every Dog Is a Rescue Dog ” Emily: Ben Rothenberg for The New York Times: “ At U.S. Open, Teen Spirit Rules and It’s Contagious ” David: Wilson Wong for NBC News: “ Original 'Blue's Clues' Host Steve Tells Millennials He Never Forgot Them. He Just Went To College. ” Listener chatter from Michael Sagmeister: Philip Oltermann for The Guardian: “ ‘Scholz Will Sort It’ – The Catchphrase Winning the Hearts of German Voters ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily discuss television’s most indelible characters in the wake of Michael K. Williams’ death. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 4, 2021

John, Emily and David discuss SCOTUS letting the Texas abortion ban go into effect; the Afghanistan exit; and Dr. Atul Gawande joins the show to explain how Costa Rica has surpassed US life expectancy by getting serious about public health. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Atul Gawande for the New Yorker: “ Costa Ricans Live Longer Than Us. What’s the Secret? ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Erin Donaghue for CBS News: “ Officers and Paramedics Charged in Death of Elijah McClain ” Emily: Jed Kolko for The New York Times: “ The Downtown Decade: U.S. Population Density Rose in the 2010s ” David: The Very Nice Bo x , by Eve Gleichman and Laura Blackett; Nile Cappello for The Atavist: “ The Girl In The Picture ” Listener chatter from Karl Richter: A compilation of Nanci Griffith’s performances on Letterman For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily share their advice for people starting college. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 26, 2021

Jamelle, Emily and David discuss the Afghanistan evacuation, starting school during delta, and the path forward for infrastructure. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for the New York Times: “ $1 Trillion Isn’t as Much as It Sounds ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Jamelle: Godzilla: The Album Emily: Jessica Stoya for Slate: “ What We Can Really Learn From the OnlyFans Debacle ” David: Atul Gawande for the New Yorker: “ Costa Ricans Live Longer Than Us. What’s the Secret? ” Listener chatter from Nilo Garza: The Daily: “ Why Mexico is Suing U.S. Gun Manufacturers ”; James Fredrick for NPR: “ Mexico's Suit Against U.S. Gun Companies May Seek More Than A Court Win ” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Jamelle, Emily, and David talk about electric bikes and scooters. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 19, 2021

Emily, David and Alexandra Petri discuss the Afghanistan withdrawal, with guest Annie Pforzheimer; California’s recall election; and personal pandemic ethics. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Annie Pforzheimer for the Washington Post, “ Leaving Afghanistan Will Lead to Yet Another Civil War There ” Annie Pforzheimer for the Washington Post, “ In Afghanistan, a Summer of Pain Awaits ” Annie Pforzheimer for the New York Times, “ The Long Road Out of Afghanistan ” Rachel Feintzeig for the Wall Street Journal: “ These People Who Work From Home Have a Secret: They Have Two Jobs ” Daniel Lavery’s Substack newsletter: The Chatner Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why , by Alexandra Petri A Field Guide to Awkward Silences , by Alexandra Petri The Best of Wodehouse: An Anthology Clouds , by Aristophanes Raymond Chandler: Collected Stories Three Men In A Boat: (To Say Nothing of the Dog) , by Jerome K. Jerome Solutions and Other Problems , by Allie Brosh Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened , by Allie Brosh New Teeth , by Simon Rich Ant Farm: And Other Desperate Situations , by Simon Rich Simon Rich for the New Yorker: “ Sell Out ” Simon Rich for the New Yorker: “ The Big Nap ” Simon Rich for the New Yorker: “ Raised by Wolves ” Pride and Prejudice , by Jane Austen My Life and Hard Times , by James Thurber Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , by Jules Verne The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , by Douglas Adams Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Meira Levinson, Alan C. Geller, and Joseph G. Allen for The Lancet: “ Health Equity, Schooling Hesitancy, and the Social Determinants of Learning ” Alexandra: Never a Dull Moment: The Memoirs of Countess Marguerite Cassini David: Dahlia Lithwick for Slate: “ The Fierce Legal Battle at the Heart of the Fight Over Reclining Airline Seats ” Listener chatter from Lesley Gild: Bored Panda: “ People Are Sharing ‘Alternate Angles’ of Iconic Events and Places in History, Here Are 30 of the Best ” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Alexandra, Emily, and David discuss their favorite funny books. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap and Shayna Elliot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 12, 2021

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report Little Fires Everywhere , by Celeste Ng Public Citizens: The Attack on Big Government and the Remaking of American Liberalism , by Paul Sabin Paul Sabin for the New York Times: “ How Liberals Can Attack From the Left—and Win ” Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration , by Emily Bazelon The Genius Factory: Unravelling the Mystery of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank , by David Plotz The Most Dangerous Writing App Here’s this week’s chatter: Josie: How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America , by Clint Smith; Maya and the Robot , by Eve L. Ewing Emily: Ally Mutnick and Zach Montellaro for Politico: “ Redistricting Sprint Begins With Major Census Data Drop ” David: Jen Senior for the Atlantic: “ What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind ” Listener chatter from Matt Gousman: “ Starbase Tour With Elon Musk ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Josie, David, and Emily share their experiences and advice about trying to write a book. 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 Jess Miller. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap and Grace Woodruff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 5, 2021

John and David are joined by Andrea Valdez of The Atlantic to discuss New York Mayor Andrew Cuomo refusing to resign, the survival of the eviction moratorium and the arrival of vaccine passports. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Annie Lowery for the Atlantic: “ The Time Tax ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Andrea: Planet Money: “ Three Reasons for the Housing Shortage ”; Jerusalem Demsa for Vox: “ Homeownership Can Bring Out the Worst in You ” John: Jason Kottke for Kottke.org: “ This App Identifies Birds by Their Songs ”; Merlin Bird ID app David: Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America , by Angie Schmitt; The @FrogandToadbot Twitter account Listener chatter from Noah Lieberman: David Gilbert for Vice: “ ‘I’m a Parkland Shooting Survivor. QAnon Convinced My Dad It Was All a Hoax.’ ” 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 and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 29, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the January 6th Commission, the return of masks and they are joined by guest Annie Lowrey to talk about the "time tax." Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “ The Time Tax: Why is so much American bureaucracy left to average citizens? ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Max Fisher for the New York Times: “Disinformation for Hire, a Shadow Industry, Is Quietly Booming” Emily: The Vanishing Half and The Mothers by Brit Bennet David: Louis Maurice Botet de Monvel’s Joan of Arc series on display at the National Gallery of Art Listener chatter from Ryan Good, @RyanScGood : Gabriel Hoyle’s Twitter thread of modern presidential branding schemes If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , David, Emily, and John discuss: Have you really read a book if you’ve completely forgotten it? 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Grace Woodruff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the Delta variant and the vaccination decline, the bipartisan infrastructure plan living another day, and the pandemic Olympics. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David Leonhardt for The New York Times: “ Why Aren’t the Vaccines Approved? ” Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ Let's Get More People Vaccinated ” Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “ How to Reach the Unvaccinated ” John Dickerson for CBS News: “ Governor Asa Hutchinson on ‘Face the Nation,’ June 27, 2021 ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Jack Thomas for The Boston Globe: “ I Just Learned I Only Have Months to Live. This Is What I Want to Say ”; Susan B. Glasser for The New Yorker: “ ‘You’re Gonna Have a Fucking War’: Mark Milley’s Fight to Stop Trump from Striking Iran ” Emily: Eliza Apperly for The Guardian: “‘ Stumbling Stones’: A Different Vision of Holocaust Remembrance ”; Atlas Obscura: “ The Bebelplatz, Berlin, Germany: The Site of the Famous Nazi Book Burning Campaign of 1933 Remembers It’s ‘Night of Shame.’ ” David: The Quiet American , by Graham Greene; Catherine Bosley for Bloomberg: “ Women Are Still Suffering More Than Men in Pandemic Job Hit ” Listener chatter from Ragav Venkatesan: “ W Series: Off Track ”; Giles Richards for The Guardian: “ Hamilton Commission Report Aims to Improve Diversity in Motorsport ” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, David, and John discuss billionaires in space. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 2021

John, David and Josie discuss the escalating threats to democratic elections, minors’ rights to vaccination, and Josh Levin on the podcast One Year: 1977. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Slate’s One Year: 1977 The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth , by Josh Levin Citizen Kan e Ulysses , by James Joyce Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Gaia Pianigiani and Emma Bubola for The New York Times: “ Italy’s Government to Ban Cruise Ships From Venice ”; The New York Times: “ How Much Hotter Is Your Hometown Than When You Were Born? ” Josie: Detransition, Baby , by Torrey Peters David: City Cast: “ City Cast Expands to 8 New Cities ” Listener chatter from Chris Heuberger, @chrisbup : David Owen for The New Yorker: “ How a Young Activist Is Helping Pope Francis Battle Climate Change ”; Solvable podcast: “ Mapping Catholic Lands Can Help Solve Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change .” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's new show Big Mood, Little Mood" and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , John, Josie and David give classical music another review. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 8, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss New York City’s primary election, J.D. Vance’s Senate run, and injustice illuminated by Britney Spears. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis , by J.D. Vance Molly Ball for Time: “ Breakfast with J.D. Vance, Anti-Trump Author Turned Pro-Trump Candidate ” Ronan Farrow and Jia Tolentino for The New Yorker: “ Britney Spears’s Conservatorship Nightmare ” Caitlin Flanagan for The Atlantic: “ You Really Need to Quit Twitter ” Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World , by Cal Newport Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: This American Life: “ There. I Fixed It. ” John: John Dickerson for CBS News: “ Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III: Full Face the Nation Interview ”; Julian Mark for The Washington Post: “ Rep. Andy Kim’s Suit in the Capitol Cleanup Photo Was From A J. Crew Sale. It Now Belongs to the Smithsonian. ”; Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner? ” David: Visiting the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness with Navajo Tours USA Listener chatter from William Quill: Russell Goldenberg for The Pudding: “ The World Through the Eyes of the US ” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, David, and John discuss whether it is a good idea to quit social media. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 1, 2021

Emily Bazelon is joined by Ruth Marcus and Jamelle Bouie to discuss the infrastructure negotiations, alarming Supreme Court decisions and Bill Cosby’s release. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Catherine Rampell for The Washington Post: “ Three Things That Could Still Blow Up The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal ” Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America , by Ari Berman Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “ I’ve Urged Supreme Court Justices to Stick Around — But Never to Retire. Until Now. ” The New Book of Middle Eastern Food: The Classic Cookbook, Expanded and Updated, with New Recipes and Contemporary Variations on Old Themes , by Claudia Roden Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “ I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner? ”; My Octopus Teacher Ruth: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Jamelle: Croupier ; Athletic Brewing Company If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's show Big Mood, Little Mood and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, Jamelle, and Ruth talk about their favorite summer foods and recipes. 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 Jocelyn Frank Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the post-pandemic workforce, Tucker Carlson, and student wins at the Supreme Court. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ben Smith for the New York Times: “ Tucker Carlson Calls Journalists ‘Animals.’ He’s Also Their Best Source. ” Slate: “ David Plotz and Tucker Carlson Debate Scott Brown, Health Care, and More ” Andrew Van Dam for the Washington Post: “ The Seven Industries Most Desperate for Workers ” Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World , by Cal Newport John Dickerson for 60 Minutes : “ Colleges and Universities Prepare for Fall Classes in the Middle of the Coronavirus Pandemic ” The Sound Scene Festival : an annual free and interactive audio arts festival organized by the D.C. Listening Lounge, an audio collective of Washington-based sound artists and enthusiasts. Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Steve Rathje, Jay J. Van Bavel, and Sander van der Linden for the Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences: “ Out-Group Animosity Drives Engagement On Social Media ” Emily: Associated Press: “ Connecticut Is Firstst State to Make All Prison Phone Calls Free ” David: Mad Men Listener chatter from Laura Forsythe: Stephanie Lai for the Washington Post: “ 26 Years After Being Convicted Of Murder, A D.C. Jail Inmate Is Elected To Public Office ”; campaign videos at https://neighborsforjusticedc.org/takeaction/ If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's new show Big Mood, Little Mood" and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, John, and David discuss things that have gotten better since their childhoods. 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 Morgan Flannery. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss President Biden's G7 summit and the meeting with President Putin, McConnell’s plans to block a Biden Supreme Court nominee, and they are joined by guest Melissa Murray on what “critical race theory” is and is not. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Julia Ioffe for Tomorrow Will Be Worse: “ ‘Everyone Gets What They Deserve’: Biden Takes On the Putin Singularity ” Strict Scrutiny podcast Amicus podcast The New York Times Magazine: “ The 1619 Project ” Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World , by Cal Newport Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Elizabeth Dilts Marshall for Reuters: “ Morgan Stanley Ceo to Staff: Be Back at New York Headquarters by September ”; Lauren Weber for The Wall Street Journal: “ Forget Going Back to the Office—People Are Just Quitting Instead ” Emily: Adam Liptak for The New York Times: “ Affordable Care Act Survives Latest Supreme Court Challenge ”; Adam Liptak for the New York Times: “ Supreme Court Backs Catholic Agency in Case on Gay Rights and Foster Care ” David: Six Months Later : Episode 22: David Plotz Listener chatter from Leslie Camp: Doug Fraser for The Cape Cod Times: “ ‘I Was Completely Inside’: Lobster Diver Swallowed by Humpback Whale Off Provincetown ” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's new show Big Mood, Little Mood" and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the things they miss doing which modern technology has pushed out of circulation. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 10, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss Joe Manchin, how the Trump DOJ lives on, and George Packer’s four Americas. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for CBS News: “ Sen. Joe Manchin on Face the Nation , June 6, 2021 ” Ruth Marcus for the Washington Post: “ Attorney General Garland, Please Stop Digging ” George Packer for the Atlantic: “ How America Fractured Into Four Parts ” Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal , by George Packer George Packer for the Atlantic: “ Can Civics Save America? ” The Ezra Klein Show: “ Obama Explains How America Went From ‘Yes We Can’ to ‘MAGA’ ” Jane Mayer for the New Yorker: “ Inside the Koch-Backed Effort to Block the Largest Election-Reform Bill in Half a Century ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Elizabeth Weise for USA Today: “ This Man Spent Last Year Flushing Hundreds of Toilets. The New Fear as the Pandemic Wanes: Legionnaires' Disease ” Emily: Michael Powell for the New York Times: “ Once a Bastion of Free Speech, the A.C.L.U. Faces an Identity Crisis ” David: Rachel Gutman for the Atlantic: “ A Crumpled, Dried-Out Relic of the Pandemic ” Listener chatter from Andrew Goetz: Mick West's YouTube videos explaining UFO footage . If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Danny Lavery's new show Big Mood, Little Mood" and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, John, and David consider how their names may have shaped their personalities. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 3, 2021

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Ezra Klein Show: “ Obama Explains How America Went From ‘Yes We Can’ to ‘MAGA’ ” Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence , by Patrick Sharkey AmericanViolence.org Monica C. Bell for the Yale Law Journal: “ Police Reform and the Dismantling of Legal Estrangement ” Penn Wharton Budget Model: “ COVID-19 School Closures: Long-Run Macroeconomic Effects ” Hang Up and Listen: “ The Naomi Osaka Withdraws Edition ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Kathryn Schulz for TED: “ Don’t Regret Regret ”; Cal Newport for The New Yorker: “ What if Remote Work Didn’t Mean Working from Home? ” Emily: Mare of Easttown ; Julie Miller for Vanity Fair: “ Kate Winslet on Mare of Easttown and Creating a Real Heroine for Tired Times ” David: CityCast Denver: “ Responding to 911 Calls With Sweatpants and Snacks, Not Guns ” Listener chatter from James Williams: Arnstein Aassve, Guido Alfani, Francesco Gandolfi, and Marco Le Moglie for Health Economics: “ Epidemics and Trust: The Case of the Spanish Flu ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Margaret Kelley. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 2021

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David Leonhardt for The New York Times: “ The Lab-Leak Theory ” Nicholson Baker for New York Magazine: “ The Lab-Leak Hypothesis ” Nicholas Wade for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: “ The Origin of COVID: Did People or Nature Open Pandora’s Box at Wuhan? ” Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “ Other Regimes Will Hijack Planes Too ” The Skies Belong to Us: Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking , by Brendan I. Koerner Eric Levitz for New York Magazine: “ David Shor on Why Trump Was Good for the GOP and How Dems Can Win in 2022 ” Eric Levitz for New York Magazine: “ David Shor’s Unified Theory of American Politics ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Mark Mortensen and Heidi K. Gardner for Harvard Business Review: “ WFH Is Corroding Our Trust in Each Other ” Emily: Patrick Smith for WBEZ: “ Mayor Lori Lightfoot Blamed Gun Violence On Judges, But Emails Show Her Staff Knew It Wasn’t True ” David: Apple Photos “ Memories ” feature Listener chatter from Jen Overbeck: Alan Burdick for The New York Times: “ So You Want to End the Conversation? ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about the difficulties of ending a conversation that has run its course. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Margaret Kelley. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz Follow @SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the violence between Israel and Gaza, abortion at the Supreme Court, and the book Nine Nasty Words with author John McWhorter. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for CBS: “ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on "Face the Nation," May 16, 2021 ” Bernie Sanders for the New York Times: “ Bernie Sanders: The U.S. Must Stop Being an Apologist for the Netanyahu Government ” Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever , by John McWhorter John McWhorter for the Atlantic: “ How ‘White Fragility’ Talks Down to Black People ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Tariro Mzezewa for the New York Times: “ Hear a Harlem Choir Rejoice Again ” Emily: Adam Liptak for the New York Times: “ Ban on Non-Unanimous Verdicts Is Not Retroactive, Supreme Court Rules ” David: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Listener chatter from Susan Bates: AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies by Derek DelGaudio. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, John, and David talk about the objects that most define them. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the post-pandemic economy; vaccine hoarding; and they're joined by Alex Stamos to talk about infrastructure, cybersecurity and the Colonial Pipeline hack. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David Leonhardt for the New York Times: “ A Misleading C.D.C. Number ” Dana Goldstein for the New York Times: “ President of Key Teachers’ Union Shares Plea: ‘Schools Must Be Open’ in Fall ” Brian Krebs for Krebs on Security: “ A Closer Look at the DarkSide Ransomware Gang ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Craig Welch for National Geographic: “ Groundbreaking Effort Launched to Decode Whale Language ” Emily: A Good Mother by Lara Bazelon; America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s by Elizabeth Hinton David: B-Side Books: Essays on Forgotten Favorites by John Plotz “ Listener chatter from Adam Schear: Walker Caplan for LitHub: “ The Key to Dodging Cyber Censorship Rules Might Be . . . A Minecraft Library? ” If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David each recount a decision that changed the trajectory of their lives (not marriage related). 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 2021

David, John and Emily discuss Liz Cheney's defiance of Trumpists; Trump’s Facebook suspension; and meatlessness getting (more) political. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show : Kimberly Robinson for Bloomberg Law: “ Video: The Wild Hypotheticals Posed by Justice Stephen Breyer ” John Dickerson for CBS News: “ Ron Klain on ‘Face the Nation,’ May 2, 2021 ” Evelyn Douek for Lawfare: “ It's Not Over. The Oversight Board's Trump Decision is Just the Start. ” These Truths: A History of the United States , by Jill Lepore Ezra Klein for the New York Times: “ Let’s Launch a Moonshot for Meatless Meat ” John Dickerson for Slate: “ Go for the Throat!: Why if He Wants to Transform American Politics, Obama Must Declare War on the Republican Party. ” John Dickerson for JohnDickerson.com: “ End of the Year Thoughts 2020 (Five Months Too Late). ” Never Let Me Go , by Kazuo Ishiguro Hard Knocks , HBO Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Klara and the Sun , by Kazuo Ishiguro Emily: Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct , by Abigail Tucker David: Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Season 3, Episode 9: Man on Fire Listener chatter from Michael Sagmeister: Mitchell Clark for The Verge: “ Bad Software Sent Postal Workers to Jail, Because No One Wanted to Admit It Could Be Wrong. ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment , Emily, John, and David discuss how the freedom they feel to share their opinions has changed with their jobs and the journalism environment. If you enjoy the show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the Political Gabfest. Sign up now at slate.com/gabfestplus to help support our work. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 2021

A live Gabfest with Emily, David and John on the policies and politics of Biden’s first 100 days— with special guest Jamelle Bouie! A reference from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “ Should Biden Emphasize Race or Class or Both or None of the Above ” Here’s this week’s chatter: John: The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis; Gertrude Stein on punctuation from Lectures in America . Emily: Rosanna Xia for The Los Angeles Times: “ DDT Waste Barrels Off L.A. Coast Shock California Scientists ” David: Steven Johnson for The New York Times Magazine: “ How Humanity Gave Itself an Extra Life ” Listener chatter from David Friedlander-Holm: Cara Giaimo for The New York Times: “ One of the World’s Oldest Science Experiments Comes Up From the Dirt ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David take questions from the live audience. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial with guest Dwayne Betts; Andrew Yang’s campaign for Mayor of New York City; and why the U.S. invaded Iraq with guest Noreen Malone (host of the Slow Burn podcast). Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Netflix Is A Joke: “ Richard Pryor's 1979 Joke About Police Still Applies ” “ When I Think of Tamir Rice While Driving ” by Reginald Dwayne Betts Jack Shafer for Politico: “ How Substack Revealed the Real Value of Writers’ Unfiltered Thoughts ” The Million Book Project Felon by Reginald Dwayne Betts A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison by Reginald Dwayne Betts Slow Burn Season 5: The Road to Iraq Here’s this week’s chatter: John: The Ezra Klein Show: “ That Anxiety You’re Feeling? It’s a Habit You Can Break ”; Bob Yirka for Phys.org: “ Teaching Children to Play Chess Found to Decrease Risk Aversion ”; Joe Trippi’s Twitter thread about Walter Mondale Emily: PBS’s Philly D.A. David: Michael E. Ruane for the Washington Post: “ Harriet Tubman’s Lost Maryland Home Found, Archaeologists Say ”; Peter Jamison for The Washington Post: “ An ‘Insane’ Covid Lockdown Two Miles From the Capitol, With No End in Sight ” Listener chatter from Adam Siegel: The Economist: “ How spooks are turning to superforecasting in the Cosmic Bazaar ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Dwayne Betts recites his poem, “ When I Think of Tamir Rice While Driving .” 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 15, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the vaccine “pause,” the death of Daunte Wright, and Biden’s commission on the U.S. Supreme Court. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “ The Decision That Will Define Democrats for a Decade ” Ryan D. Doerfler and Samuel Moyn for The Atlantic: “ Reform the Court, but Don’t Pack It ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ How To Fix the Supreme Court: How We Got Here ” The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson Tom Whyman for The New York Times: “ Why, Despite Everything, You Should Have Kids (if You Want Them) ” This week’s chatter: John: Call My Agent ; The Irregulars Emily: Daniele Selby for The Innocence Project “ 8 Things You Need to Know About Pervis Payne Who Is Facing Execution ” David: Janelle Bitker for The San Francisco Chronicle: “ Boba Shortage: Bay Area and the Rest of the U.S. May Soon Have No Bubbles for Tea ” Listener chatter from Gabe Jacobs: 99% Invisible: “ Freedom House Ambulance Service ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, David, and Emily talk about the decision to have children in the face of climate change and other catastrophes which could make the future more painful than today. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 8, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the corporate backlash to Georgia’s voting restrictions, Matt Gaetz and shamelessness in government, and they are joined by Amanda Ripley to talk about her new book High Conflict. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jonathan Rauch for the Atlantic: “ How American Politics Went Insane ” Insecure Majorities: Congress and the Perpetual Campaign by Frances E. Lee High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley The Gottman Institute’s “Love Lab” Emotions in Conflict: Inhibitors and Facilitators of Peace Making by Eran Halperin L. M. Hartling, E. Lindner, U. Spalthoff and M. Britton for Psicología Política: “ Humiliation: A Nuclear Bomb of Emotions? ” Stephen Hawkins, Daniel Yudkin, Míriam Juan-Torres, Tim Dixon for More In Common: “ Hidden Tribes: A Study of America’s Polarized Landscape ” The Irregulars Here’s this week’s chatter: John: Dan Zak for the Washington Post: “ Goodbye to Gate 35x, Cursed Portal to the Rest of America ” Emily: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution David: City Cast Denver Listener chatter from Paul John Rudoi: Passing English of the Victorian era, a Dictionary of Heterodox English, Slang and Phrase available at The Public Domain Review; Karen Strike for Flashbak: “Not Up To Dick: 100 Wonderful Victorian Slang Words You Should Be Using ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, John, David, and Emily contemplate whether vaccinated people have a moral obligation to go out and spend. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 2021

Emily, David and guest host Andrea Valdez discuss the fourth wave of the virus, Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, and fixing the U.S.’s caregiving infrastructure. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: How to Be a Texan: The Manual , by Andrea Valdez Ko Bragg for the 19th: “ Four Girls Testified in the Derek Chauvin Trial. Here’s What They Told the Jury. ” The University Will Require All Students to Be Vaccinated Before Arriving on Campus in the Fall , Rutgers University March 21, 2021 Bill Chappell for NPR, ”I Believe I Witnessed A Murder,' Witness Says Of 911 Call In Chauvin Case Here’s this week’s chatter: Andrea: Skip Hollandsworth for Texas Monthly: “ The Larry McMurtry I Knew ”; Paula Mejía for Texas Monthly: “ Selena at 50: Celebrating the Life, Art, and Influence of a Tejano Legend ” Emily: Elie Mystal for the Nation: “ The Supreme Court May Be About to Blast Another Hole in Gun Control ” David: City Cast Chicago podcast, hosted by Jacoby Cochran. Listener chatter from Wally Vinovskis: Theresa Machemer for Smithsonian Magazine: “ This High Schooler Invented Color-Changing Sutures to Detect Infection " Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Andrea, David, and Emily discuss running a media startup. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss immigration, violence against Asian Americans and how Amazon is shaping the American economic landscape. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for Slate: “ Stop Telling Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Retire: It's Counterproductive ” David Leonhardt for The New York Times: “ The Democrats’ Immigration Problem ” Nicole Narea for Vox: “ Migrants Are Heading North Because Central America Never Recovered From Last Year’s Hurricanes ” One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias Slate’s Political Gabfest, “ The “Rage” Edition ” (with Matthew Yglesias) Claire Jean Kim for Politics and Society: “ The Racial Triangulation Of Asian Americans ” How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America by Alec MacGillis Michael Corkery and Karen Weise for The New York Times: “ Amazon Workers’ Union Drive Reaches Far Beyond Alabama ” Lina M. Kahn for The Yale Law Journal: “ Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox ” The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency by John Dickerson John Dickerson for 60 Minutes: “ Studying Coronavirus Spread in One Georgia School System ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily chattered about her forthcoming article about the exoneration of Yutico Briley. Matt Sledge for The New Orleans Advocate: “ A Man Serving 60 Years For Armed Robbery Is Free After Jason Williams Clears The Way For Release ” John: Howard Schneider for Reuters: “ U.S. Covid Response Could Have Avoided Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths - Research ” David: Janelle Shane for Substack: “ GPT-3 Tries Pickup Lines ” Listener chatter from Mathew Dicks: Philip Hoare for The Guardian: " Sperm Whales in 19th Century Shared Ship Attack Information " Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss a wrong but unappealable call by high school basketball referees. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 2021

David, John and Josie discuss the politics of vaccine acceptance, the changed conversation on policing, and how Texas, undeterred by failing to find voter fraud, continues its assault on voting rights. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Dan Diamond for The Washington Post: “ ‘We Want To Be Educated, Not Indoctrinated,’ Say Trump Voters Wary of Covid Shots ” Charles Duhigg for The New Yorker: Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead. New York’s Did Not ” The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley Washington Post Editorial Board: “ Reimagining Safety ” Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr. Josie Duffy Rice for Vanity Fair: “ Abolition’s Promise ” Vann R. Newkirk II for The Atlantic: “ American Democracy Is Only 55 Years Old—And Hanging by a Thread ” Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “ Can Anything End the Voting Wars? ” This American Life: “ Squirrel Cop ” “ Irish Family vs Bat ” Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: “ Ahmaud Arbery's Death and the Politics of Black Joy ” Here’s this week’s chatter: Josie: We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice (Abolitionist Papers) Paperback by Mariame Kaba John: “ Ian McKellen Explains the Difference Between Acting on Stage and in Movies | The Dick Cavett Show ” David: The Atlas Obscura Podcast Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Andrew Chamings for SF Gate: “ The Bizarre Tale of the World's Last Lost Tourist, Who Thought Maine Was San Francisco ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Josie, David, and John discuss the art and literature they wish they could experience for the first time again. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the unprecedented American Rescue Plan. Author Heather McGhee joins the Gabfest to talk about her new book outlining how racism hurts all Americans and Dr. Michael Mina answers questions about how to improve the nation's pandemic-fighting strategies. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Pew Research Center: “ Broad Public Support for Coronavirus Aid Package; Just a Third Say It Spends Too Much ” The Debrief with Major Garrett: “ $2 Trillion For What? ” The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee Atomic Habits by James Clear Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans--And How We Can Fix It by Dorothy A. Brown John: “ ‘The Secret Apartment’ Is The Story Of A Vietnam Vet Who Claims To Have Lived In Veterans Stadium For Years ”; The Secret Apartment: Vet Stadium, a surreal memoir by Tom Garvey; Jeremy Irons Reads the Psalms David: The Fourth Child by Jessica Winter Listener chatter from Seth Milhoan: Sarah Brookbank for the Cincinnati Enquirer: “ Del Hall, The Cincinnati Man Who Lives on a Beer-only Diet for Lent, Is Doing It Again and Raising Money ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss how they decide whether to rescue or abandon a failing project. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the stimulus bill, sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo, and escalating voter suppression efforts. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Dahlia Lithwick for Slate: “ Maybe It’s a Good Thing Andrew Cuomo Is Still Governor ” Charlotte Klein for Vanity Fair: “ Pence Can’t Quit The Big Election Lie That Nearly Got Him Killed ” The Brennan Center’s State Voting Bills Tracker 2021 Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Elizabeth Nolan Brown for Reason: “ Science-Based Policy Means Decriminalizing Sex Work, Say Hundreds of Researchers ”; Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires John: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Civics Test David: David chattered in Seussian rhyme about the controversy over Dr. Seuss Enterprises’s decision to take six books with racist imagery out of print . Listener chatter from Lily Shield: Amy Littlefield for the Nation: “ As the Pandemic Raged, Abortion Access Nearly Flickered Out ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss when they first realized the coronavirus would be life-changing. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the Tanden take down, Merrick Garland‘s DOJ, and how to stop police killings of Black people with guest Jason Johnson. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Isaac Chotiner on Twitter @IChotiner Mitch Daniels for the Washington Post: “ Senate Republicans Could Restore a Bit of Civility by Confirming Neera Tanden ” Jacob Jarvis for Newsweek: “ Neera Tanden Once Criticized Joe Manchin's Pharma CEO Daughter ” Wesley Lowery for GQ: “ The Most Ambitious Effort Yet to Reform Policing May Be Happening in Ithaca, New York ” Slate’s A Word … With Jason Johnson Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Yes In My Backyard’s Mapping Inequality: Digitizing Our Redlining History John: Isabella Kwai for the New York Times: “ Von Trapped: The Family Is Stuck Inside, So Why Not Sing Parodies? ” David: Children get off a school bus in Mongolia Listener chatter from @Yayadesigns1: “ Watch an Archaeologist Play the “Lithophone,” a Prehistoric Instrument That Let Ancient Musicians Play Real Classic Rock ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss our cultural predispositions when it comes to risk and how to better deal with, ignore or address risks. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss Republican allegiance to Trump, schools during COVID-19, and they're joined by guest Jonathan Cohn to look back on Obamacare and to explore the current state of COVID-19 vaccinations. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Susan Dominus for the New York Times Magazine: “ Rhode Island Kept Its Schools Open. This Is What Happened. ” Shawn Hubler for The New York Times: “ Vaccinating Oregon’s Teachers Might Not Be Enough to Reopen its Schools. ” The Ten Year War by Jonathan Cohn Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Anna Holmes for the Atlantic: “ The Magazine That Helped 1920s Kids Navigate Racism ” John: Radio Garden David: Pick of The Litter Listener chatter from Ming Richie: Cathy Free for the Washington Post: “ This Man Mistakenly Left his Wallet in Antarctica. Some 53 Years Later, He Got it Back. ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss the legacy of Rush Limbaugh. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 11, 2021

David, Emily and John discuss Trump’s impeachment trial; lawsuits about election lies; and the execution of a possibly innocent man. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States by Brian Rosenwald “ New US Capitol Riot Video Shows Mob Rifling Through Senators' Desks ” The Telegraph Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “ Did Tennessee Execute an Innocent Man? ” Slate Culture Gabfest: “ ‘Magic or Manipulation’ Edition ” Slate’s The Gist: “ Illusions, Delusions, and Flat Out Lies ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Christopher Z. Mooney for the Chicago Tribune: “ How the Census Delay Could Hand Control of Illinois Redistricting to the GOP ” John: A letter from George Washington that ended with the sign-off: “ Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant " may reveal, or remind us, what our contemporary sign-offs mean. David: The New York Times Presents: “ Framing Britney Spears ” Listener chatter from James Dillard: Amanda Ripley for Comment: “ The Mystery of Trust ” Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself . You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 5, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the stimulus bill, racial inequities in vaccine distribution, the return to in-person learning, and Majorie Taylor Greene’s GOP. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ezra Klein for the New York Times: “ The Senate Has Become a Dadaist Nightmare ” Uché Blackstock and Oni Blackstock for the Washington Post: “ White Americans Are Being Vaccinated at Higher Rates Than Black Americans. Such Inequity Cannot Stand. ” Shreya Kangovi and Uché Blackstock for the Washington Post: “ Community Health Workers Are Essential in This Crisis. We Need More of Them. ” Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “ The QAnon Delusion Has Not Loosened Its Grip ” David Blight’s Open Yale Course: “ HIST 119: The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877 ” Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World , by Liaquat Ahamed Monica Potts for The New York Times: “ In the Land of Self-Defeat ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Moe Tkacik for Slate: “ The Lousy Tippers of the Trump Administration ” John: Vala Afshar’s tweet of a clip from DisruptTV, Episode 91 . David: Stefanos Chen for the New York Times: “ The Downside to Life in a Supertall Tower: Leaks, Creaks, Breaks ” Listener chatter from Phillip Cleveland @pwcleveland: a Twitter thread by Mark R. Miller @4T9NER about a meaningful family photograph Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, listener Norman Townsend asks John, Emily, and David to discuss David’s new startup, CityCast . You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the Senate obstruction that may be ahead; delegating deplatforming; and GameStop. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for the New York Times: “ Democrats Should Act as if They Won the Election ” Tom Wilson and Kate Starbird for The Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review: “ Cross-Platform Disinformation Campaigns: Lessons Learned and Next Steps ” Matt Levine for Bloomberg: “ GameStop is Just a Game ” David Leonhardt for the New York Times: “ Underselling the Vaccine ” Andy Rose for CNN: “ Health Workers, Stuck in the Snow, Administer Coronavirus Vaccine to Stranded Drivers ” Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet; Matt Stieb for New York Magazine: “ The Fyre Festival of Vaccine Rollouts ” John: Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself David: David Blight’s Open Yale Course: “ HIST 119: The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877 ”; Dessa’s “ Who’s Yellen Now? ” Listener chatter from Ghael Fobes @GhaelFobes: a Twitter thread of animals interrupting wildlife photographers by @JoaquimCampa Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment a listener asks John, Emily, and David to discuss how they organize their work, lives, and minds. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the unusual but uplifting inauguration, Joe Biden’s priorities, and the Trump aftermath. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Joe Biden’s inauguration speech Inauguration video from former Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton Kevin Quealy for the New York Times: “ The Complete List of Trump’s Twitter Insults (2015-2021) Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: The books of P.G. Wodehouse read by Jonathan Cecil Emily: Beth LeBlanc and Craig Mauger for the Detroit News: “ Michigan Republicans Seek to Replace GOP Canvasser Who Certified Election ” David: Jules Suzdaltsev’s Twitter thread of photos of weird things Trump did in office . Listener chatter from Clay Jeffries @clayjeffries : Sam Kean for the Atlantic: “ 22 Orphans Gave Up Everything to Distribute the World’s First Vaccine ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John imagine some classes they would like to teach. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 14, 2021

Emily, David and John talk about impeachment, whether Americans can be deradicalized, and guest Juliette Kayyem joins in to discuss vaccine distribution. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ People Are Dying. Whom Do We Save First With the Vaccine? Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America by John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavrek Amarnath Amarasingam’s Twitter thread on de-platforming extremists . Amarnath Amarasingam, Shiraz Maher, and Charlie Winter for the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats: “ How Telegram Disruption Impacts Jihadist Platform Migration ” The music of Ludovico Einaudi The music of Joan Armatrading The music of John Prine The music of M.I.A. The music of Joan Jett The music of Maren Morris The music of Joni Mitchell The music of Bob Mould and Husker Du The music of Nick Thompson Nicholas Thompson for Wired: “ To Run My Best Marathon at Age 44, I Had to Outrun My Past ” “ Iko Iko ” performed by the Grateful Dead “ You’ll Never Walk Alone ” performed by Gerry and the Pacemakers Tusk by Fleetwood Mac Desire by Bob Dylan In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Nathaniel Popper for The New York Times: “ Lost Passwords Lock Millionaires Out of Their Bitcoin Fortunes ” Emily: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell David: The Dancing Bird of Paradise Scene from “Our Planet ” Listener chatter from Richard Medlicott: Steven Levy for Wired: “ A 25-Year-Old Bet Comes Due: Has Tech Destroyed Society? ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John talk about the music they turn to in order to clear their heads. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 7, 2021

Emily, John and David discuss the invasion of the U.S. Capitol and Democrats’ historic win in Georgia. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Yuval Levin for the National Review: “ Failures of Leadership in a Populist Age ” Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “ History Will Judge the Complicit ” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ The Pandemic Election ” Emily Bazelon for Slate in 2013: “ Voting Rights 2.0 ” Steven Lance for Atavist: “ The Secret Formula: Could Shrunken Heads From the Amazon Hold the Key to Curing Cancer? One Man Thought So—and Spent a Lifetime Trying to Prove It. ” A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 ,by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Agence France-Presse, “ Exceptionally Well-Preserved Snack Bar Unearthed in Pompeii ” David: David Segal for the New York Times: “ It’s Mother vs. Son in Britain’s Priciest Divorce War ” Emily: Tweet by Kyle Machulis @qDo of the most important competitive dog dancing video Listener chatter from Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar: Jason Kottke for Kottke.org: “ The Last Documented Widow of a Civil War Veteran Has Died at the Age of 101 ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John consider in what time period they would first go to see a doctor, given what we know now about the history of medicine. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 31, 2020

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz reminisce about 15 years of podcasting together. They look back on past mistakes and deliver fresh kindnesses. This live show was recorded on Dec 9, 2020. You can watch a special tribute video here and a video of the entire 15th Anniversary Show is here . Here are some references from this week’s show: Jonathan Rauch for the Atlantic: “ How American Politics Went Insane ” Conor Friedersdorf for the Atlantic: “Working Mom Arrested for Letting Her 9-Year-Old Play Alone at Park” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: The Washington Post: “ Sept. 8 in History: Evel Knievel’s Canyon Jump, Nixon Pardon ” Emily: Catrin Einhorn and Christopher Flavelle for The New York Times: “ A Race Against Time to Rescue a Reef From Climate Change ” David: Washington Post: “ Plastic Surgeons Say Business Is Up, Partly Because Clients Don’t Like How They Look On Zoom ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John share politically-themed cocktail recipes from listeners and of their own. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 24, 2020

Emily, John, and David end 2020 considering listeners’ most perplexing conundrums—with special guest Alexandra Petri! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Life of George Washington: With Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honourable to Himself, and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen by Mason Locke Weems Marching Bands Are Just Homeless Orchestras, Half-Empty Thoughts Vol. 1 by Tim Siedell Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James David G. Savage for The Los Angeles Times: “ Clarence Thomas is His Own Man The Glory and The Dream by William Manchester The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius The Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened , Netflix Fyre Fraud , Hulu Black Mirror: “ Nosedive ,” Netflix Black Mirror: “ Arkangel ,” Netflix Here are some of the conundrums tackled on the show: To save the world from eventual destruction, you have to live and work in one of two locations that you cannot leave for three years: one on the ocean floor, the other on the moon. Which do you choose and why? What pre-1900 social custom (especially one related to how people interact with each other in public) that has fallen out of fashion should be revived in 2021 and beyond? Would you rather have read War and Peace but not be able to talk about it, or to have read Atlas Shrugged and have to talk about it? A pair of 80s style magical leg warmers must be visibly worn all day to activate superhuman cheetah speed. Do you wear them? For the rest of quarantine, you must share your home with a fictional character. Who is your new roommate? You can have your portrait painted by any artist from any period of history, or your biography written by any author. Whom would you pick? If you could banish any widely accepted canard from people’s minds, what would it be? If you, and only you, could see one statistic hovering over every person’s head, what would you want it to be? Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, John, and Alexandra explore some bonus conundrums. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 17, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the massive Russian hack-- with guest Alex Stamos, Bill Barr’s resignation, and Joe Biden’s cabinet. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Alex Stamos for The Washington Post: “ Enough Is Enough. Here’s What We Should Do to Defend Against the Next Russian Cyberattacks. ” John Dickerson for 60 Minutes: “ Excited Delirium: The Controversial Syndrome That Can Be Used to Protect Police From Misconduct Charges ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “ America, We Have a Problem ”; The New Yorker Documentary, Episode 30: “ The Man Who Invented More Than Eight Hundred Iconic Toys ” Emily: Daniel Nichanian for The Appeal: “ Newly Elected Prosecutors Are Challenging The Death Penalty ”; Rob Hayes for KABC: “ LA County Da George Gascon's Plan To Reduce Sentences Sparks Concern From His Own Prosecutors ”; Daniel Nichanian’s Twitter feed, @taniel David: Azam Ahmed for The New York Times: “ She Stalked Her Daughter’s Killers Across Mexico, One by One ” Listener chatter from @greenneck : Eric Simons for Bay News: “ With Fewer than 2,000 Butterflies Counted So Far, Western Monarch Takes an Astonishing Step Closer to Extinction ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss John’s reporting on “excited delirium, ” the dubious medical justification for an increasing number of deaths of young Black men in police custody. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 10, 2020

Emily, John and David talk about the coup attempt, Facebook’s legal troubles, and which presidential norms to restore or discard, with guest Tim Wu. It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum . Our annual Conundrum show is coming soon. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Tim Wu for the New York Times: “ What Really Saved the Republic From Trump? ” Zeynep Tufekci for the Atlantic: “ ‘This Must Be Your First’ ” They Might Be Giants Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Dalya Alberge for the Guardian: “ ‘Sistine Chapel of the Ancients' Rock Art Discovered in Remote Amazon Forest ” David: Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield Emily: Esmé E. Deprez for Bloomberg Businessweek: “ How Medela Lost Moms ” Listener chatter from Charlotte Hope, @charlottehope: Elizabeth Yuko for Architectural Digest: “ How Previous Epidemics Impacted Home Design ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John consider a question from listener Daniela Koontz about ideal road trips. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 3, 2020

It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum . Our annual Conundrum holiday show is coming soon. Emily, John and Jamelle discuss presidential pardons; coronavirus exemptions for houses of worship; and David joins in for a conversation with Australia's former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about disinformation. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ It Started With ‘Birtherism’ ” Greg Nunziata for The Atlantic: “ Republicans With Any Love of Country Must Acknowledge That Trump Has Lost ” Spencer S. Hsu for The Washington Post: “ Court-Appointed Adviser in Michael Flynn Case Says Justice Dept. Yielded to Corrupt ‘Pressure Campaign’ Led by Trump ” Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “ Christian School in Kentucky Asks Justices to Intervene in Dispute Over In-Person Classes at Religious Schools ” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ The Problem of Free Speech in an Age of Disinformation ” A Bigger Picture , by Malcolm Turnbull To celebrate our 15th anniversary we'd love to know about your clever, politically themed, original cocktail! Please send us the details here: www.slate.com/cocktail Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Jamelle: Jamelle chatted about the superior experience of watching films on a Blu-Ray player, as opposed to streaming. John: Caroline Lange for Food52: “ A History of The American Milkman ”; Matt Novak for Smithsonian Magazine: “ The Milkman’s Robot Helper ”; Atticpaper.com’s prints from the Mid-century advertising campaign “ Beer Belongs ” Emily: The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John learn about navigating water sports in shark-infested waters from Former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 2020

It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum . Our annual Conundrum holiday show is coming soon. This week, Emily, David and John discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to hobble the Biden transition; ethical problems in vaccine distribution; and how to deal with the damage of the election fraud lie. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Alex Kalman for the Atlantic: “ The Letters That Outgoing Presidents Wrote to Their Successors ” John Dickerson for The Atlantic: “ Why You Don’t Mess Around With Presidential Transitions ” The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: “ A Framework for Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus ” Kathryn Olivarius for The New York Times: “ The Dangerous History of Immunoprivilege ” Jeanna Smialek and Alan Rappeport for The New York Times: “ Mnuchin Cites Principles in Clawing Back Fed Money. Democrats See Politics. ” Kevin Roose, Mike Isaac, and Sheera Frenkel for The New York Times: “ Roiled by Election, Facebook Struggles to Balance Civility and Growth ” Colin Dickey for Medium: “ How to Talk to a Conspiracy Theorist ” To celebrate our 15th anniversary we'd love to know about your clever, politically themed, original cocktail! Please send us the details here: www.slate.com/cocktail Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: W.E.B. Du Bois: Writings ; The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry David: Death, Sex & Money: “ 51 Years Loving A Man Named Sissy ”; David’s twitter thread pitch for remaking Love Actually every year . Emily and listener Barbara Torrey Workman @thethirdbarbara: Twitter thread by United Farm Workers @UFWupdates featuring farm workers at work harvesting the ingredients in favorite Thanksgiving recipes. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the elements of pre-pandemic Thanksgiving that they won’t miss this year and don't plan to reinstate next year. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20, 2020

As part of our 15th anniversary celebration please share an original political cocktail recipe with us. Visit www.slate.com/cocktail to submit your recipe! Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Pandemic Election ” Isaac Chotiner for The New Yorker: “ How We Can Contain the Second Wave of the Coronavirus ” Mike Pence for The Wall Street Journal: “ There Isn’t a Coronavirus ‘Second Wave’ ” Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me on HBO Ta-Nehisi Coates for The Atlantic: “ The Case for Reparations ” The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates Josie Duffy Rice for Vanity Fair: “ The Abolition Movement ” Barack Obama for The Atlantic: “ I’m Not Yet Ready to Abandon the Possibility of America ” Jed Sugerman for The Washington Post: “ Trump’s Legal Challenges to the Election Will Help Democrats ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America by Mark A. Bradley John: John’s fundraising page for Covenant House's Virtual Sleep Out ; Charlotte Regan’s short documentary, “ No Ball Games: Life and Play Through the Eyes of Children Across the UK ” David: Washington Post: “ Fort Hood is named for a Confederate traitor. Is it time for ‘Fort Benavidez’? ” Listener chatter from Mike @rifenbury: Kanazawa Kenichi video For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David and John discuss the holiday movies they’d like to see made. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 12, 2020

The Slate Political Gabfest is turning 15 years old! We will be celebrating with a special live show on Dec 9th-- with wine! Please join us (drinking is optional). Learn more here. Notes and references from this week’s show: Karl Rove for The Wall Street Journal: “ This Election Result Won’t Be Overturned ” Rich Lowry for Politico: “ The Completely Insane Electoral College Strategy ” The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple Michael D. Shear and Lisa Friedman for the New York Times: “ Biden Could Roll Back Trump Agenda with Blitz of Executive Actions ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: As part of our 15th anniversary celebration we'd love to have your ideas for politically themed cocktails. Please submit an original recipe (or 2) here ! Emily: Reis Thebault for the Washington Post: “ Robin Kemp Lost Her News Job in Clayton County, Ga. — But She Kept Reporting the News. It Paid Off on Election Week. John: The Queen's Gambit ; Garner's Quotations: A Modern Miscellany by Dwight Garner David: Robyn Dixon for the Washington Post: “ Azerbaijan’s Drones Owned the Battlefield in Nagorno-Karabakh — and Showed Future of Warfare ” Listener chatter from Joshua Weaver @we4v3r : Grace Perry for Chicago Magazine: “ No One Can Agree On What Malört Tastes Like, But the Descriptions Are Always Amazing ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss how to redesign the inauguration in order to account for the COVID-19 pandemic. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 2020

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz reflect on the election results, the upcoming transition, how senior Republicans are dealing with Donald Trump's loss, and what comes next for Stacey Abrams and Pete Buttigieg. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by June Thomas. Sign up for Slate Plus to support the Political Gabfest and the rest of Slate's journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 2020

Professor Nate Persily of Stanford-MIT's HealthyElections.org joins the Gabfest to discuss vote counting and election lawsuits. Emily, John and David also discuss Democrats’ down-ballot disappointments, and the problems with polling. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Adam Liptak for the New York Times: “ Supreme Court Weighs Legacy of Same-Sex Marriage Case ” John: Margaret McAleer for the Library of Congress Blog: “ The Taft Papers and a Titanic Tragedy ” David: Katie Pickens for Eater: “ Watch: How Benton’s Makes Its Perfectly Smoky Bacon ” Listener chatter from @ionictonic: Twisted Sifter: “ This Animation of How Bridges Were Constructed in 14th Century Prague is Amazing ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John talk about the lighter stories they want to indulge in whenever the Trump era comes to close. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 4, 2020

You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2020

Here are some references from this week’s show: David Wasserman for the Cook Political Report: “ What One Florida County Could Tell Us About a ‘Gray Revolt’ on Election Night ” Rosemary Quigley’s Slate diary The Betsy-Tacy Treasury book series by Maud Hart Lovelace Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor The Anne of Green Gables book series by L.M. Montgomery John Dickerson for Slate: “ To the Teacher Who Changed My Life ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Casey Newton’s newsletter, Platformer John: El País: “ A Room, a Bar and a Classroom: How the Coronavirus Is Spread Through the Air ”; The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead David: David asked whether there is a word for the extreme discomfort he felt watching people embarrassed in terrible ways in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Listener chatter from Alana @snarkoutgirl: Wikitongues: “ Aydyn Speaking Tuvan ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment ahead of Halloween, Emily, David, and John share memories of times they were deeply scared. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2020

Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss Jeffrey Toobin’s suspension from The New Yorker. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Here are some references from this week’s show: Yanna Krupnikov and John Barry Ryan for the New York Times: “ The Real Divide in America Is Between Political Junkies and Everyone Else ” Caitlin Dickerson for the New York Times: “ Parents of 545 Children Separated at the Border Cannot Be Found ” Michael D. Shear, Katie Benner, and Michael S. Schmidt for the New York Times: “ ‘We Need to Take Away Children,’ No Matter How Young, Justice Dept. Officials Said ” Jake Tapper for CNN: “ Administration Officials Alarmed by White House Push to Fast Track Lucrative 5G Spectrum Contract, Sources Say ” Eric Lipton for the New York Times: “ Trump Issues Order Giving Him More Leeway to Hire and Fire Federal Workers ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Joe Sexton for ProPublica: “ He’d Waited Decades to Argue His Innocence. She Was a Judge Who Believed in Second Chances. Nobody Knew She Suffered from Alzheimer’s. ” John: Nate Chinen for the New York Times: “ Keith Jarrett Confronts a Future Without the Piano ” David: David Plotz for Medium: “ The Future is Local: That’s Why I’m Launching City Cast, a Network of Daily Local Podcasts. ” Listener chatter from @greenneck : Rose Eveleth for Smithsonian Magazine: “ There Are Whales Alive Today Who Were Born Before Moby Dick Was Written ” Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 22, 2020

Slate's Political Gabfest will be published on Friday this week. Listen to this 15 second note to find out why! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss Barrett’s confirmation hearings; the First Amendment and disinformation; and the latest election machinations. Here are some references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “ The Problem of Free Speech in an Age of Disinformation ” On Liberty by John Stuart Mill The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore The New York Times interactive: “ How To Vote ” “ Better Know A Ballot: Stephen Colbert's State-By-State Guide To Voting In The 2020 Election ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Angela Morris for Texas Lawyer: “ Chief Justice's Election Bid Puts Spotlight on Texas' Mandatory Judicial Retirement ”; Shtisel John: “ Learning in War-Time ” by C. S. Lewis; Antonia Cundy for the Financial Times: “ What Would a City Designed by Women Look Like? ”; McDonald & Dodds David: Dan Goodspeed’s data visualization of COVID cases state-by-state by date ; Fighting With My Family ; Ted Lasso Listener chatter from Kevin O'Donnell @kevinodIRL : Patrick Blanchfield for The New Republic “ The Town That Went Feral ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss their voting plans. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 8, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the White House virus outbreak, vice-presidential debate, and Senate races Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Matt Zapotosky for the Washington Post: “ New Justice Dept. Election Fraud Guidance Could Allow Boosting Of Trump’s Exaggerated Claims, Legal Observers Say ”; Jim Rutenberg for the New York Times Magazine: “ The Attack on Voting ” John: Dave Philipps for the New York Times: “ The Army Rolls Out a New Weapon: Strategic Napping ” David: 99% Invisible podcast; The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt Listener chatter from Kevin Collins @kevinkwc: colorized footage of an 1896 snowball fight in Lyon, France . Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss whether White House staff and journalists should report for work at the White House during the outbreak. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 2, 2020

In this special episode of Slate's Political Gabfest, Emily, John and David talk about President Trump's coronavirus diagnosis and what happens next. Here are some references from the show: Matt Stevens for the New York Times: “ Kristin Urquiza, a Debate Attendee Whose Father Died of the Virus, Says Trump Showed ‘No Regard For Human Life.’ You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 1, 2020

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig and Mike McIntire for the New York Times: “ Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses And Years Of Tax Avoidance ” Adam Davidson’s Twitter thread on signs that Trump might have engaged in money laundering . Daniel Shaviro for Just Security: “ Ten Quick Takeaways from the New York Times’ Bombshell Article on Trump’s Tax Returns ” NYT: Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Noah Weiland for The New York Times: “ Study Finds ‘Single Largest Driver’ of Coronavirus Misinformation: Trump ” Nathaniel Persily and Charles Stewart III for the Wall Street Journal: “ Actually, We Will Know a Lot on Election Night ” Edward-Isaac Dovere for The Atlantic, “The Deadline That Could Hand Trump the Election” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Jordan Nickerson and David H. Solomon: “ Car Seats as Contraception ” John: McDonald and Dodds David: Raymond Antonio Vargas for the New Orleans Advocate: “ In New Orleans, Case of Staged Accidents, Disbarred Lawyer, Stuntwoman Attorney Takes a Dark Turn ” Listener chatter from Megan Murray @mkmurray9 : Alec MacGillis for The New Yorker: “ The Students Left Behind by Remote Learning ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss what unprofitable businesses they would like to run if they were engaging in tax evasion or avoidance schemes. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 30, 2020

In this special bonus episode Emily, John and David debrief and decompress after the first presidential debate of 2020. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the unseemly rush to replace Justice Ginsburg, the coming presidential debates, and 200,000 COVID-19 deaths. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ Why Ruth Bader Ginsburg Refused to Step Down ” The Long Game by Mitch McConnell Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “ Five Things Biden and His Allies Should Be Worried About ” Linda Chavez for the New York Times: “ Democrats, You Can’t Count On the Hispanic Vote ” John Dickerson for the Atlantic: “ The Slow-Fingered President ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Shaila Dewan for the New York Times: “ Few Police Officers Who Cause Deaths Are Charged or Convicted” ; Michael Tanenbaum for Philly Voice: “ Pennsylvania's 'Naked Ballot' Ruling Will 'Cause Electoral Chaos,' Philly Commissioner Warns ” John: Tariro Mzezewa for the New York Times: “ The Flight Goes Nowhere. And It’s Sold Out. ” David: Tara Parker-Pope for the New York Times: “ Does Wearing Glasses Protect You From Coronavirus? ” Listener chatter from Katerina Barry: Mike Pomranz for Food & Wine: “ Italy's 'Wine Windows' Were a Product of the Plague—Now They're Making a Comeback ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss where they’ve found moments of peace amidst the chaos. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2020

Emily Bazelon joins Mike Pesca, host of Slate's Gist, for a special episode on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After discussing Ginsburg’s history as a justice and legacy on the court, they begin to unpack the future political ramifications of her death. Emily and Mike talk through the ways a nomination could quickly slip through the Senate before January, the impact a conservative court could have on issues besides abortion rights, and if Ginsburg should have stepped down under President Obama. Email us at thegist@slate.com Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 17, 2020

Emily, John, David and Jamelle discuss the impacts and threats of wildfires and the climate crisis, apocalyptic election talk, and the four of them envision a new and improved post-pandemic work week. Here are some notes and references from this week’s special show -- part of the Texas Tribune Festival!: Abrahm Lustgarten for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Great Climate Migration ” Galen Durke for FiveThirtyEight “ The Challenges Of Holding An Election During A Pandemic” Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ Trump’s Perverse Campaign Strategy ” Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “ Whose America Is It? ” Isaac Stanley-Becker for The Washington Post: “ Pro-Trump Youth Group Enlists Teens in Secretive Campaign Likened to a ‘troll farm,’ Prompting Rebuke by Facebook and Twitter ” Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamont Here are the week cocktail chatters for this week: Emily: Janet Malcolm for The New York Review of Books: “ A Second Chance ” John: @AmeliaFrappolli ’s, twitter thread about the mad hatter who shot John Wilkes Booth , Boston Corbett, as chronicled in Legends and Lies: Great Mysteries of the American West by Dale L. Walker. Jamelle: Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martin; The Mandalorian, Season 2 David: The Oddly Satisfying channel on YouTube. Listener chatter from Janet Green @janetcetera : Jonathan Ore and Kevin Ball for CBC: “ Paddle of the Century ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, John, and Jamelle take questions from viewers of the Texas Tribune Festival livestream. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 10, 2020

What Trump knew about the virus, DOJ’s move to end E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit, and Matthew Yglesias on One Billion Americans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Rage by Bob Woodward The Washington Post: “ 32 Times Trump Said the Coronavirus Would Go Away ” One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Jaclyn Peiser for the Washington Post: “ A Black Seventh-Grader Played with a Toy Gun During a Virtual Class. His School Called the Police. ” John: Laurie Gwen Shapiro for The New Yorker: “ The Improbable Journey of Dorothy Parker’s Ashes ” David: Cecily Zander @CNZander’s Twitter thread on Civil War generals as Muppets Listener chatter from Paul: The Economist: “ Marvin Creamer Died on August 12th ” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss TV shows from their youth that they would like to see rebooted. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 3, 2020

Emily, David and John discuss the politics of violence in the U.S. and are joined by bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel to talk about COVID vaccine distribution, and by Edward Ball to talk about his new book, Life of a Klansman: A Family History in White Supremacy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ Trump Needs His Own Sister Souljah Moment ” Science Magazine: “ An Ethical Framework for Global Vaccine Allocation ” The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: “ National Academies Release Draft Framework for Equitable Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine, Seek Public Comment ” Life of a Klansman: A Family History in White Supremacy by Edward Ball Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball Julian Kozlowski, Laura Veldkamp, and Venky Venkateswaran for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: “ Scarring Body and Mind: The Long-Term Belief-Scarring Effects of COVID-19, Working Paper 2020-009A ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Marc Levy for the Associated Press: “ Pennsylvania High Court Takes Up Another Election Lawsuit ” John: Elizabeth Bernstein for the Wall Street Journal: “ The One Thing You Can Control Right Now: Yourself ” David: Beowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana Headley Listener @GreenNeck: Bridget Alex for Discover: “ Which Ancient City Is Considered the Oldest in the World? ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss whether we’ll consider this the most important election of our lifetimes thirty years from now. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 27, 2020

The Republican convention, violence in Kenosha, and whether the Falwell and Conway families’ dramas matter. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “ ‘I Fear That We Are Witnessing the End of American Democracy’ ” Omar Wasow for the Washington Post: “ The Protests Started Out Looking Like 1968. They Turned Into 1964. ” Black Lives Matter Protests in Wisconsin: Charles Franklin Marquette Law School Poll 2020-08-26 Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Keith Johnston for Independent Voter News: “ The 18th-Century Reason Biden's VP Pick Should Be a Night Owl ” Emily: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of The Dead by Olga Tokarczuk ; Honeyland David: Erin Berger for the New York Times: “ Meet the National Parks’ ‘Ranger of the Lost Art’ ” Listener Qiyu Liu @BlueSuedeQ: the Ikea Museum’s collection of 70 years of catalogues . Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss what they wanted to be when they grew up and how close they came. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 20, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the Democrats’ virtual convention, the U.S. Postal Service, and the bipartisan Senate report exposing more Trump ties to Russia. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: PowerToThePolls.org Vote-absentee.com Election Protection Hotline Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Keith Johnston for Independent Voter News: “ The 18th-Century Reason Biden's VP Pick Should Be a Night Owl ” Emily: Claire Cain Miller for the New York Times: “ ‘I’m Only One Human Being’: Parents Brace for a Go-It-Alone School Year ” David: Shtisel Listener Rich Bravo: “ Hieronymus Bosch Butt Music ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John talk about the first concerts they attended. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 13, 2020

David, John and Josie Duffy Rice discuss the Biden-Harris ticket, stimulus gridlock, and rapid, ubiquitous coronavirus testing-- with guest Dr. Michael Mina. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Monica Potts for The New York Times: " In the Land of Self Defeat " Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: " Tara Reade Is Making It Harder to Hide Joe Biden " This Week in Virology , “ Episode 640: Test Often, Fast Turnaround, with Michael Mina ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Denise Lu for the New York Times: “ The True Coronavirus Toll in the U.S. Has Already Surpassed 200,000 ”; Jamie Gangel and Elizabeth Stuart for CNN: “ Details, Title and Cover Revealed for Bob Woodward's Upcoming Book on Trump ” Josie: Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman; WorthRises.org, dismantling the prison industry and ending the exploitation of those it targets David: Carla Marinucci for Politico: “ San Francisco Becomes First County in the Nation to Offer Free Calls to Jail Inmates ” Listener Tim Anderson @TimAnderson_r2 : Mark Johanson for the BBC: “ How a Long-Forgotte Word Rallied a Nation ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Josie, David, and John talk about what they would do with their time if the world was free from the pandemic for one day. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 6, 2020

Messing with the census, undermining the election, and guest Juliette Kayyem on competent crisis response. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Alex Thompson for Politico: “ Trump’s Campaign Knocks on a Million Doors a Week. Biden’s Knocks on Zero. ” Ben Smith for the New York Times: “ How the Media Could Get the Election Story Wrong ” Franklin Foer for the Atlantic: “ Putin Is Well on His Way to Stealing the Next Election ” Alice Miranda Ollstein for Politico: “ Lawmakers Demand Explanation for Cutting Federal Funding to States for National Guard Deployments ” Juliette Kayyem for The Atlantic: “ Reopening Schools Was Just an Afterthought ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson Emily: Deep Cover: The Drug Wars David: This Week in Virology , “ Episode 640: Test Often, Fast Turnaround, with Michael Mina ”; Elian Peltier for The New York Times: “ 3 Men Marooned in the Pacific Are Rescued After Writing SOS in the Sand ” Listener Carol Palmer, @AgnetaAnderso : Larry Kanter for Medium “ Inside the Company Trying to Solve the Global Bicycle Shortage ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John talk about missing their work friends. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 30, 2020

David, John and Ruth Marcus discuss Biden’s campaign, Big Tech, and author Anne Applebaum joins to discuss her new book Twilight of Democracy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for the Washington Post: “ The Ultimate Test of Presidential Character Is Restraint ” Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “ History Will Judge Trump’s Enablers Harshly ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: The Underground Railroad and The Nickleboys by Colson Whitehead; Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton Ruth: Sophie Haigney for The New Yorker: “ An Elegy for the Landline in Literature ” Anne: MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed bin Salman by Ben Hubbard David: Meredith Cash for Business Insider: “ Take a Peek at Alabama Football's Stunning New Locker Room That Was Part of a $16 Million Renovation ” Listener chatter from Mark Allender @markwallender for ProPublica: Jodi S. Cohen for ProPublica: “ A Teenager Didn’t Do Her Online Schoolwork. So a Judge Sent Her to Juvenile Detention. ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Ruth, David, and John discuss David’s dilemma concerning the best interests of his cats. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 23, 2020

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Jamelle Bouie discuss Trump’s assault on Portland, the filibuster, and Julian Zelizer’s new book about Newt Gingrich’s power tactics. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Jamelle, David, and Emily discuss the people they consider the greatest living Americans after the death of John Lewis. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for the New York Times: “ The Border War in Portland ” Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party by Julian E. Zelizer The Weeds : “Biden Reloaded” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Jamelle: Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolengh i Emily: Amicus Presents : “The Class of RBG” by Dahlia Lithwick Dahlia Lithwick and Molly Olmstead for Slate: “ The Class of RBG ” Dahlia Lithwick for Slate: “ It’s Amazing to Me How Distinctly I Remember Each of These Women The Lie That Binds by Ilyse Hogue and Ellie Langford David: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Listener chatter from Joshua Bennet: Ann Gibbons for Science: “ Why 536 Was 'the Worst Year to Be Alive' ” You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 16, 2020

Emily, David and guest host James Forman Jr. discuss the pandemic catastrophe, the racial justice movement, and “cancel culture.” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment James, David, and Emily discuss the program James has started at Yale Law School to help individuals from the New Haven area to get law degrees, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Neil Gross for the New York Times: “ Want to Abolish the Police? Consider Becoming an Officer Instead ” Paul Butler for the New York Times: “ The System Must Counteract Prosecutors’ Natural Sympathies for Cops ” Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy Unpacking the Boston Police Budget , ACLU Massachusetts Harper’s Magazine: “ A Letter on Justice and Open Debate ” Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “ 10 Theses About Cancel Culture ” David Plotz for Business Insider: “ Government Data Is Getting Worse. ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: James: Vertellis card game Emily: Pam Fessler and Elena Moore for NPR’s Morning Edition: “ Signed, Sealed, Undelivered: Thousands Of Mail-In Ballots Rejected For Tardiness ” David: Kerry Allen for the BBC: “ US-China: Pompeo Dog Photo Has Netizens Asking If US Is Toying With China ” Listener chatter from James Edward Dillard @jamesdillard: ChinaTalk podcast: “ How Corruption Works in China ” You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 9, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss Biden's understated presidential campaign, the new Supreme Court decisions, and Hamilton . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ Maybe This Isn’t Such a Good Time to Prosecute a Culture War ” David Weigel for The Washington Post: “ The Trailer: Who's Afraid of Joe Biden? ” Michael W. McConnell for the New York Times: “ On Religion, the Supreme Court Protects the Right to Be Different ” Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy by Annette Gordon-Reed The New York Times Magazine: “ The 1619 Project ” Winds of Change podcast Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Sea Wife by Amity Gaige; “ 426 Years: An Examination of 25 Wrongful Convictions in Brooklyn, New York ” John: Jake Rossen for Mental Floss: “ 10 Examples of the Mandela Effect ”; Chess.com: “ What is Zugzwang? ” David: Meghann Myers for Military Times: “ Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Who Testified Against Trump, Announces Retirement From the Army ” Listener chatter from Emmy Rald @RaldEmmy : Phoebe Weston for The Guardian: “‘ Landscape of Fear’: What a Mass of Rotting Reindeer Carcasses Taught Scientists ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David and Emily discuss the shaming of wealthy companies that took Paycheck Protection Program loans. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the Supreme Court’s abortion decision, reopening schools--with guest Emily Oster, and Russia’s bounties for U.S. Troops. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Melissa Murray for The Washington Post: “ The Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Seems Pulled From The ‘Casey’ Playbook ” Linda Greenhouse for The New York Times: “ How Chief Justice Roberts Solved His Abortion Dilemma ” Jeffrey Toobin for The New Yorker: “ John Roberts Distances Himself from the Trump-McConnell Legal Project ” Emily Oster for the Atlantic: “ Parents Can’t Wait Around Forever ” Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster Charlie Savage, Mujib Mashal, Rukmini Callimachi, Eric Schmitt and Adam Goldman for the New York Times: “ Suspicions of Russian Bounties Were Bolstered by Data on Financial Transfers ” Susan E. Rice for The New York Times: “ Why Does Trump Put Russia First? ” Carl Bernstein for CNN: “ From Pandering to Putin to Abusing Allies and Ignoring His Own Advisers, Trump's Phone Calls Alarm US Officials ” David Plotz for Business Insider: “ What If Your Boss Acted Like This? ” This Day in Esoteric Political History: “ The Man Who Didn't Sign The Declaration (1776) ” Ross Douthat for the New York Times: “ The Ghost of Woodrow Wilson ” David W. Blight for the Washington Post: “ Yes, the Freedmen’s Memorial Uses Racist Imagery. But Don’t Tear It Down. Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory by David Blight Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Jen Doll for Mental Floss: “ How A Wrinkle in Time Changed Sci-Fi Forever ”; Money Heist Emily: Alison Dirr for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “ Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director To Stay On For Time Being, Filling Leadership Void ”; Scott Neuman for NPR: “ Federal Court In Wisconsin Upholds Voting Restrictions Favored By Republicans ”; Derry Girls David: Call My Agent Listener chatter from Randy Koehn @noonan66 : Matthew Rosenberg @AshcanPress ’s Twitter thread with a beautiful story about Carl Reiner , who passed away this week. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss whether history should be taught backwards. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the rising numbers of COVID cases, the politicization of the DOJ, and they are joined by Slow Burn's Josh Levin to talk about the new season focused on David Duke. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Austan Goolsbee and Chad Syverson: “ Lockdown, and Diversion: Comparing Drivers of Pandemic Economic Decline 2020, University of Chicago, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics Working Paper No. 2020-80.” Kasra Zarei and John Duchneskie for the Philadelphia Inquirer: “ Coronavirus Cases Rise in States with Relaxed Face Mask Policies ” Carol D. Leonnig and Joshua Partlow for the Washington Post: “ Dozens of Secret Service Officers and Agents Told to Self-quarantine After Trump’s Tulsa Rally ” Jonathan Martin, Alexander Burns, Matt Stevens for the New York Times: “ Biden Takes Dominant Lead as Voters Reject Trump on Virus and Race ” Slate’s Slow Burn, Season 4: David Duke Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Maria Konnikova for Wired: “ Poker and the Psychology of Uncertainty ”; The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova Emily: Christoph Koettl, Nilo Tabrizy, Muyi Xiao, Natalie Reneau and Drew Jordan for The New York Times: “ How the Philadelphia Police Tear-Gassed a Group of Trapped Protesters ” David: Melissa Fay Greene for the Atlantic: “ 30 Years Ago, Romania Deprived Thousands of Babies of Human Contact ” Listener chatter from Fredrik Hilding @FHilding : Jessica Leigh Hester for Atlas Obscura’s Show & Tell podcast: “ Show and Tell With Colored-Pencil Cartographer Anton Thomas ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss some of the nicer changes the pandemic has brought to their daily lives. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss Trump’s Tulsa rally, Bolton’s book, and this week’s historic Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ rights--with attorney Chase Strangio. Episode Notes Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Kathryn Dunn Tenpas for Brookings: “ Tracking Turnover in the Trump Administration ” Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “ History Will Judge Trump’s Enablers Harshly ” Dylan Scott for Vox: “ What Mike Pence Got Wrong About the New Coronavirus Spikes ” Margo Vansynghel and David Kroman for Crosscut: “ The Future of Capitol Hill’s Protest Zone May Lie in Seattle History ” Ashley Garcia Ashley for the Washington Post: “ Seattle’s Protest is the Latest in a Long History of Experimental Living ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Carl Hulse for The New York Times: “ Senate Passes Major Public Lands Bill ” Emily: Jonathan Chait for New York Magazine: “ The Still-Vital Case for Liberalism in a Radical Age ” David: David Plotz for Business Insider: “ DC Statehood Is a Great But Doomed Cause. Here's a Better Idea. ” Listener chatter from D Holstein @The_Pophouse : Kaitlyn Tiffany for the Atlantic: “ Why K-pop Fa Are No Longer Posting About K-pop ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss Seattle’s Capitol Hill Organized Protest, also known as “CHOP.” You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 11, 2020

David, Emily, and John present a special livestream of the Political Gabfest on police abuse, the 2020 election, and John’s new book, The Hardest Job in the World. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Charlie Savage and Adam Goldman for the New York Times: “ Outsider Tapped in Flynn Case Calls Justice Dept. Reversal a ‘Gross Abuse’ of Power ” David: Emily Cochrane for the New York Times: “ That Trump Tweet? Republicans Prefer Not to See It ”; Aaron Blake for the Washington Post: “No, It’s Not Just a Trump Tweet” John: Whistlestop: “ The Spring of 1787 ” Listener chatter from Josh Delaney @jddelaney and Andy O))) @alchemistscave : Johnny Diaz for the New York Times: “ Someone Found the Buried Treasure That an Art Dealer Hid in the Rocky Mountains ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John answer questions from viewers of the special livestream of the show. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “ How Much Is America Changing? ” Matthew Yglesia for Vox: “ Study Suggests Democrats Should Be Running More Ads About Biden, Fewer About Trump ” Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “ History Will Judge Trump’s Enablers Harshly ” Frederick Douglass: Prophets of Freedom by David W. Blight You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 4, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the protests against police brutality and racism, Trump’s increasingly authoritarian response, and the pandemic--with guest Jamelle Bouie. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ What Will College Be Like in the Fall? ” Emily: A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua David: The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins; Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “ History Will Judge Trump’s Enablers Harshly ” Listener chatter from David Foreman: Aeon Video: “ ‘Quite A Height, Ah?’ A Tour of the Chrysler Building by Those Building It ” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss James Mattis speaking out about Trump’s work to divide Americans during crisis. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The New York Times: “ After 6 Months, Important Mysteries About Coronavirus Endure ” The Lancet: “ Physical Distancing, Face Masks, and Eye Protection to Prevent Person-to-Person Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis ” Monmouth University Polling Institute: “ Protestors’ Anger Justified Even If Actions May Not Be: Most Say Police More Likely to Use Excessive Force on Black Individuals ” Shant Shahrigian for The New York Daily News: “ De Blasio Staffers Demand ‘Radical Change From Mayor’ in Open Letter: Read Full Text ” German Lopez for Vox: “ How to Reform American Police, According to Experts ” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the Trump vs. Twitter battle, the realities of this partisan pandemic, and U.S.-China relations with guest Sheena Chestnut Greitens. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Lori Dorn for Laughing Squid: “ A Timeline of the Most Popular TV Shows (1951-2019) ” Emily: Willa Paskin for Slate: “ Mrs. America’s Showrunner on the Show’s Lessons and Its Detractors ” David: NASA Office of the Inspector General: “ Examining the Future of the International Space Station ” Listener (Producer) chatter from Jocelyn Frank: “ Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder ” Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jeff Horwitz and Deepa Seetharaman for the Wall Street Journal: “ Facebook Executives Shut Down Efforts to Make the Site Less Divisive ” Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States by Brian Rosenwald These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John envision what a post-covid-stay-at-home-order office might look and feel like. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 21, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the state of the pandemic; insider trading allegations in the Senate; and Trump’s firing of the watchdog investigating Mike Pompeo. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the online videos that have educated and entertained them during social isolation. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Episode Notes Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ed Yong for the Atlantic: “ America’s Patchwork Pandemic Is Fraying Even Further ” Ryan Grim for the Intercept: “ David Perdue Got Sweetheart Deal That Grew North of $6 Million After Election to The Senate ” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore; Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss The Hardest Job in the World , by John Dickerson Emily: Meredith Blake for the Los Angeles Times: “ The Woman Behind ‘Roe vs. Wade’ Didn’t Change Her Mind on Abortion. She was Paid ” David: Normal People by Sally Rooney ; “ Abhushan Gautam for the Nepali Times: When The Air is Clean: Photographs of Kathmandu Valley With Air Pollution Removed by the Coronavirus Lockdown ” Listener chatter from Valerie Minor: LavaMae‘s design for a DIY handwashing station you can build for the use of people experiencing homelessness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 14, 2020

Emily, John, and David discuss COVID without federal leadership; challenges to Trump at the Supreme Court; and novelist Isabel Allende joins the show to talk about her new book A Long Petal of the Sea , and how crisis can be an opportunity for change. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss (what would be) epic historical counterfactuals. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Marty Makary for The New York Times: “ How to Reopen America Safely ” Norbert J. Michel and Drew Gonshorowski for the Heritage Foundation: “ 1% of Counties Home to Half of COVID-19 Cases, Over Half of Deaths ” Scott Clement and Dan Balz for The Washington Post: “ Many Governors Win Bipartisan Support for Handling of Pandemic, But Some Republicans Face Blowback Over Reopening Efforts ” Zeynep Tufekci for The Atlantic: “ How Hong Kong Did It ” Perri Klass for The New York Times: Rethinking Covid-19 in Children Maria DeCotis @MariaDeCotis performs Governor Mario Cuomo’s comments on his daughter’s boyfriend . Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Heran Mamo for Billboard: “ Relive Prince & the Revolution's Iconic 1985 Purple Rain Concert During a Three-Night Livestream ”; Olivia Clement for Playbill: “ Audra McDonald to Host Star-Studded Covenant House Benefit With Meryl Streep, Dolly Parton, and More ” Emily: The Music Lab’s Tone-Deafness Test and Rodham , by Curtis Sittenfeld David: Haven Orecchio-Egresitz for Business insider: “ A White Man Ran Through a Florida Neighborhood Carrying a TV to Prove That Looking 'Suspicious' Wasn't an Excuse for Killing Ahmaud Arbery ”; Monica Humphries for Business Insider: “ A BBC Sports Broadcaster Held a Zoom Meeting With His 2 Dogs to Deliver Their Annual Performance Reviews ” Listener chatter from Team@shah_of_shaw: Rutger Bregman for the Guardian: “ The Real Lord of the Flies: What Happened When Six Boys Were Shipwrecked for 15 Months ” Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 7, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss states reopening as numbers of cases continue to climb; this year’s election security challenges; and they're joined by guest Gene Sperling to talk about “economic dignity.” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss how to save the summer. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Notes and references from this week’s show: Nicholas Confessore, Andrew Jacobs, Jodi Kantor, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Luis Ferré-Sadurní for the New York Times: “ How Kushner’s Volunteer Force Led a Fumbling Hunt for Medical Supplies ” Jason Dearen and Mike Stobbe for the Associated Press: “ US Shelves Detailed Guide to Reopening Country ” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ Will Americans Lose Their Right to Vote in the Pandemic? ” Mark Joseph Stern for Slate: “ Trump Can’t Cancel the Election. But States Could Do It for Him. ” Economic Dignity by Gene B. Sterling Gene B. Sperling for the New York Times: “ Martin Luther King Jr. Predicted This Moment ” Jason DeParle for the New York Times: “ As Hunger Swells, Food Stamps Become a Partisan Flash Point ” Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’s online classes Spy Hop’s on demand art classes National Karate’s online classes This week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Richard L. Hansen for Slate: “ We Cannot Hold an Election Without a Functional Post Office ”; Strict Scrutiny : “Stay Frustrated” John: The New York Times’ The Daily : “ One Meat Plant. One Thousand Infections ”; Mike Baker for the New York Times: “ ‘Murder Hornets’ in the U.S.: The Rush to Stop the Asian Giant Hornet ” David: Benjamin Wofford for The Washingtonian: “ Sally Quinn Modeled the Erotic Hero of Her 1991 Bestseller on…Anthony Fauci. Yes, that Anthony Fauci. ”; Perry Stein and Donna St. George for the Washington Post: “ Despite Pushback, Sidwell and Other D.C.-area Prep Schools are Keeping Their Small-Business Loans ” Listener chatter from Dave Campbell @DaveCampbell116: Twitter thread from Rhodri Davies @Rhodri_H_Davies about Irish people donating to a crowdfunding campaign to help Choctaw & Navajo people hit by Covid-19, in recognition of support given by Choctaw during Irish famine of 1845. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss Tara Reade’s allegations against Joe Biden, the debate over reopening schools, and the three hosts are joined by astronaut Scott Kelly to talk through tips for living in confined spaces. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the ethics of human challenge trials for vaccine development. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Here are notes and references from this week’s show: Michael J. Stern for USA Today: “ Why I'm Skeptical About Reade's Sexual Assault Claim Against Biden: Ex-Prosecutor ” Brian & Eddie Krassenstein for Medium: “ Biden Accuser, Tara Reade, Allegedly Stole from Non-Profit Organization ” Seren Morris for Newsweek: “ What is 1 Day Sooner? Scientists Seek Volunteers to Become Infected with Coronavirus to Speed Up Vaccine Development ” Peter Singer and Richard Yetter Chappell for the Washington Post: “ Pandemic Ethics: The Case for Experiments on Human Volunteers ” Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Linda Villarosa for The New York Times Magazine: “ ‘A Terrible Price’: The Deadly Racial Disparities of Covid-19 in America ” John: Kathryn Krawczyk for The Week: “ Michigan Governor Introduces a GI Bill for Frontline Workers ”; Rosalind Adams and Ken Bensinger for Buzzfeed: “ After One Tweet To President Trump, This Man Got $69 Million From New York For Ventilators ” David: David’s new newsletter for Business Insider ; Johnny Diaz for the New York Times: “ Cities Close Streets to Cars, Opening Space for Social Distancing ” Listener chatter from Püblic Üniversal Fiend @UniversalFiend : Associated Press: “ Dutch Students Complete Trans-Atlantic Voyage Forced by Coronavirus ” Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 2020

Emily, David and John discuss the pushback against COVID-19 restrictions, the success of female political leaders, and they're joined by Mark Bittman to talk about eating and cooking well during isolation. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss their all-time must-read lists. The list is here . Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 2020

Trump claims “total authority”, Heather Boushey on fighting the recession, and Amanda Ripley on lessons from Katrina and other disasters. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss what they would do about the pandemic if they were billionaires. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10, 2020

In this special episode of the Political Gabfest John, Emily and David are joined by therapist Esther Perel to discuss how the coronavirus is affecting relationships, and what we can all do to support one another, process grief and tap into increased compassion during this time. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 9, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss where efforts to curb virus transmission go from here with epidemiologist Amesh Adalja, Trump’s purge of investigators general, and what Sanders’ exit should mean for the Democratic party’s agenda. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John improvise a story together. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 2, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the security of U.S. elections, are joined by guest economics professor Jason Furman to help estimate by when we can anticipate a financial recovery, and the hosts talk with novelist Geraldine Brooks to learn more about living through a plague. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss their best social distancing hacks. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 2020

Emily, John and David are joined by epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves to discuss the latest pandemic debates and also by Civil War historian David Blight on what history can teach us about surviving catastrophe. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss insights they have gained from their experiences with social distancing. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2020

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Dr. Amesh Adalja to discuss efforts to address the pandemic, journalist Neil Irwin on whether the U.S. economy can be saved, and author Jon Mooallem on his new book This is Chance! about communities uniting in a crisis. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David challenges Emily and John to a surprise topic that invites them to examine their quirky private mental routines. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12, 2020

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the coming COVID-19 crisis, Biden as the presumptive nominee, and guest Leon Neyfakh joins the show to talk about his podcast Fiasco Season Two: Iran-Contra. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss how to make the most of social distancing. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss Super Tuesday, COVID-19's spread and the Supreme Court's hearing of a crucial abortion case. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss pandemics in fiction. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest every week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support the show. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 1, 2020

David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss Biden's win in South Carolina and what it could mean for Super Tuesday and the Democratic Primary overall. Become a Slate Plus today to hear this bonus episode in full www.slate.com/gabfestplus You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the Democratic presidential primary, Harvey Weinstein’s conviction, and conservative ascendency in the courts. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment: with inspiration from Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light , Emily, David, and John discuss the historical figures and events they’d like to read about in novels (not yet written). Join today: www.slate.com/gabfestplus You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 2020

Hey Gabfest listeners, today we're featuring a special election-themed episode of the Slate podcast How To! with Charles Duhigg . Anthony is that rarest of things in American politics—a swing voter who is up for grabs in 2020. Caught between his Republican voting history and his current dislike of President Trump, Anthony is now registered as an Independent. So should he follow his head or his heart? In this episode of How To!, we bring in veteran political advisors David Axelrod, chief strategist for Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, and Mike Murphy, a Republican consultant, who co-host the podcast Hacks on Tap . David and Mike discuss how to weigh ideology vs. electability and rank the issues that really matter. Can their advice help Anthony—and all of us—make sure our vote counts in November? Subscribe to How To! with Charles Duhigg — the show Adweek honored as 2019’s "Interview Podcast of the Year" — wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2020

Emily, John and David discuss the fiery Democratic debate, Trump’s white-collar pardoning spree, and A Very Stable Genius with authors Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss how they would design a new source of news. Join slate plus today! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Follow @SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 2020

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Democrats after New Hampshire, Trump’s emboldened post-impeachment moves, and COVID-19. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss the possibility that Trump will order that future federal buildings have only neoclassical designs . You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6, 2020

John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the Iowa debacle, Mitt Romney’s impeachment vote, and Trump’s expanded immigration ban. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss George Packer’s acceptance speech for the Hitchens Prize, published in the Atlantic: “ The Enemies of Writing. ” You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2020

David, Emily and John discuss outlandish impeachment defenses, the approaching Iowa caucuses, and the Supreme Court allowing the “public charge” rule to go into effect. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss the Washington Post suspending Felicia Sonmez for her tweets about Kobe Bryant. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2020

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Trump on trial, the Democratic primary race, and Mohammed bin Salman’s hacking of Jeff Bezos. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss what elements they would include if they crafted a new religion. Become a Slate Plus member here ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 2020

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss new impeachment revelations, the Warren-Sanders rift, and Bill Barr going after Apple’s encryption. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss Megxit. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9, 2020

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz, with Iran expert Suzanne Maloney discuss Iran, the Democratic presidential race, and John Bolton. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss The Morning Show . You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 2, 2020

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Josie Duffy Rice discuss impeachment fatigue, the twin canaries of anti-Semitism and philo-Semitism, and the incredible John Lewis. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and Josie revisit a conundrum about how to extricate oneself from (or apologize for) a difficult situation. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 26, 2019

John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz solve listeners' most pressing philosophical conundrums including personal conundrums like, would you rather be exceptional at one thing but awful at everything else? And societal conundrums like, would you prefer to have Trump as your father or as your President? And special guest Adam Savage brings his myth-busting expertise to help. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest each week. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and Show Page by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 2019

Emily, John and David discuss impeachment, the pushback against Pete Buttigieg, and they offer a review of the most important stories of 2019. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: The, soon to be, end of an era with her warm and welcoming neighborhood grocery store Romeo and Cesare’s John: Thomas Fuller and Josh Haner for the New York Times: “ Portrait of an Oakland California Homeless Encampment .” and A 5700 year-old human genome and oral microbiome from chewed birch pitch in the journal Nature. David: Anna Fifield for the Washington Post: “ Taiwan’s tea party aims to burst Beijing’s one-China bubble.” Chatter from listener Ionic Tonic @ionictonic about a series of tweets from Surprised Eel Historian @greenleejw about the importance of eels in the economies of British medieval and renaissance times. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John recite some favorite passages of poetry and non-fiction. Emily: Blood History by Dwayne Betts John: Sorting it out by Philip Booth David: Lytton Strachey’s book Eminent Victorians writing about Florence Nightingale You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 18, 2019

If you have any school-aged children in your life, you know that lockdown and active shooter drills have become a routine part of their school experience. These drills now take place in 95 percent of American schools . What you’re about to hear is a collaboration between Slate and The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in the United States. It’s an audio project featuring firsthand accounts from kids of all ages about what it’s like to go through these drills. We hear a lot about school shootings, but we’re only starting to have a larger conversation about how they affect even those kids who may never go through one. You can hear more from the students at slate.com/lockdown . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 2019

John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss impeachment, the FBI Inspector General’s report on the Russia investigation, and the Afghanistan Papers. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss the Trump Administration's incongruous relationship towards Jewish Americans. Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s Dec. 18, 2019, “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 5, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss impeachment, Kamala Harris, and guest Ruth Marcus’ new book about Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, Supreme Ambition . Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s Dec. 18, 2019, “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 27, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Jamelle Bouie discuss the firing of the Navy Secretary, the case for prolonging impeachment investigations, and new holidays everyone should celebrate. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and Jamelle discuss things they learned in college that have stuck with them.. Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s December 18, 2019 “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum You can also tweet suggestions, links, and questions generally to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Josie Duffy Rice discuss this week's impeachment bombshells, the Democratic presidential debate, and emails confirming that Steven Miller is a white nationalist. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and Josie discuss South Dakota's “Meth. We're on it.” campaign. Become a member at slate.com/gabfestplus Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s December 18, 2019 “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 14, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the public impeachment hearings, fresh faces in Democratic presidential primary, and DACA at the Supreme Court. Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s December 18, 2019 “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss new polls and election results, impeachment, and leaving the Paris climate accord. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss the “OK, Boomer” phenomenon. Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s December 18, 2019 “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the impeachment resolution, Twitter’s ban on political ads, and the downfall of Katie Hill. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and John review the Founders’ meticulous efforts to establish a balance of power across the three branches of government. Subscribe today! Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s December 18, 2019 “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss damning new impeachment testimony, Facebook under fire, and taking to the streets against Trump. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John take inspiration from Christine Lagarde’s lesson on pretending to drink wine and discuss things they fake doing. Get your tickets to the Gabfest’s December 18, 2019 “Conundrum” live show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA here . And submit your conundrums at Slate.com/conundrum ! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2019

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the US abandonment of the Kurds, the Democratic presidential debates, and guest Daniel Markovits’s new book The Meritocracy Trap. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David and Emily discuss the season finale of Succession. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss obstruction of impeachment investigations, the new Supreme Court term, and Bernie Sanders’ health. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Correction 10/10/2019: When first published, this episode referenced a Tweet in which Ivanka Trump was quoted criticizing Hunter Biden for getting a position through nepotism. The quote was fabricated and has been removed from our episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 3, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the impeachment investigation, a new theory of why conservatives can’t quit Trump, and the court ruling upholding Harvard’s affirmative action program. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the new nutrition guidelines for red meat consumption. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 2019

The Ukraine scandal, the politics of impeachment, and Jodi Kantor about investigating Harvey Weinstein and She Said, a new bookwritten with co-author Megan Twohey. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Kirsten Powers discuss what makes Greta Thunberg wonderful and why she drives her critics crazy. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Democratic middle ground, “chaos voters,” and guest Curtis Sittenfeld’s fiction about living political figures. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John take questions from the live audience in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 13, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the latest Democratic presidential debate including Castro's dig into Biden, nationalized healthcare, and strategies for how to effectively pick a fight with President Trump. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Bridgette Dunlap Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2019

The cancelled Taliban talks, John Bolton’s departure, and guest Paul Tough’s new book The Years That Matter Most. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John debate the ideal length for books and movies. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Ruth Marcus, discuss the state of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination; the newest Brexit chaos--with guest Amanda Taub; and hope for accountability and funding to stem the opioid crisis. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and Ruth talk about the recent court ruling that North Carolina’s gerrymandered districts violate the state’s constitution. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Trump’s offer to pardon lawbreakers who help build a border wall, whether the U.S. is a republic or a democracy, and how journalists can choose to punch up or punch down internet harassment. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John talk about nuking hurricanes. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 23, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the New York Times Magazine’s "1619 Project" examining slavery in the U.S. (with guest Wesley Morris), corporate responsibility, and the policy changes niche groups are scoring federally. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John talk about what the U.S. should buy since Greenland isn’t for sale. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Josie Duffy Rice (of The Appeal) discuss Trump’s new move to punish documented immigrants, death in prison and Jeffrey Epstein, and recession. Come see the Political Gabfest LIVE in the Twin Cities for an unforgettable yet timely show full of witty banter, in-depth analysis, and lively debate. Tickets available now! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 8, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Mike Pesca discuss white supremacist violence, Mitch McConnell’s new nicknames, and the impact of Joaquin Castro tweeting the names of Trump donors. Come see the Political Gabfest LIVE in the Twin Cities for an unforgettable yet timely show full of witty banter, in-depth analysis, and lively debate. Tickets available now! You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the Democratic primary debates, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, and whether heat waves across the globe could inspire real action on climate change. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss their favorite summer games. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 31, 2019

This is a feature episode of a new Slate podcast, How To! With Charles Duhigg. What if Dear Abby was an investigative reporter? Each week, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg ("The Power of Habit") takes on listeners’ toughest problems and, with the help of experts, finds the answers to questions you’ve always wanted to ask, but couldn’t. Until now. Subscribe to How To! With Charles Duhigg on your preferred podcast app, or find it at slate.com/howto . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Robert Mueller’s testimony, the downfall of Al Franken, and the deal to raise the debt ceiling. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 18, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s racist attack on members of Congress; whether the Census has been saved; and if we should go back to the moon. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Danielle Hewitt. Research and show notes by Claire Saint-Amour and Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 11, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss the impact of the US health care debate on the primary season, white supremacy from Canada with guest Jesse Brown, and who’s at fault in addition to sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John take international audience questions live from Toronto. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 4, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Democratic presidential primary debates, Trump’s bizarre trip to North Korea, and Customs and Border Patrol’s scandals over appalling detention conditions and a racist Facebook group. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss whether tourism that makes people more invested in stopping climate change is worth the carbon emissions it could entail. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David French discuss President Trump’s backpedalling, the Supreme Court’s recent decisions on gerrymandering and the U.S. Census and “Frenchism.” Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research by Claire Saint-Amour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s latest campaign relaunch, Elizabeth Warren’s rise, and Harvard’s decision to rescind Kyle Kashuv’s acceptance. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao’s conflicts of interest, partisanship in state legislatures, and YouTube’s radicalizing recommendation algorithm. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 10, 2019

In this Slate Plus special Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and guest Nikole Hannah-Jones discuss the Democratic Primary and the crucial African American vote, potential antitrust investigations of Big Tech and how the resegregation of America's public schools is ruining our future. Join Slate Plus to hear this episode in full! www.Slate.com/gabfestplus Recorded by Merritt Jacobs Research by Bridgette Dunlap Edit by Jocelyn Frank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the new revelations in the census case, Trump’s threatened tariffs, and the criminal charges against the school safety officer who failed to confront the Parkland shooter. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2019

Emily Bazelon, and Julia Ioffe discuss the E.U. election means for the world, Trump’s war on climate science, and the deaths at Mount Everest. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 23, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s refusal to cooperate with Congress; whether Democratic presidential candidates should appear on Fox News; and the new book The Queen with Slate’s National Editor Josh Levin. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 17, 2019

On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest wave of anti-abortion bills, Trump’s showdown with Iran, and “Civic Saturday”--with guest Eric Liu. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Danielle Hewitt. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 2019

On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s showdown with Congress, the trade war with China, and what “socialism” means to Democrats. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss William Barr’s spin on the Mueller report, whether to hope for an infrastructure deal, and Joe Biden’s non-apology tour. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Democrats’ impeachment dilemma, the Supreme Court case that could wreck the census, and Elizabeth Warren’s plan for college debt forgiveness. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the release of the Mueller Report, Trump’s refusal to respond to Congressional subpoenas, and the resurgence of measles. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 2019

For two and a half years, Emily Bazelon has been following people through a special court in New York designed to be a speedy machine for the harsh punishment of illegal gun possession. Along the way, a strange thing happened — the politics outside the courtroom started to change when a new generation of activists and insiders began challenging the old system the gun court was part of. Season 1 of Slate Presents brought you the story of Ruby Ridge, and Season 2 brings you a fight to transform one big-city justice system. <br><br>Subscribe to Charged Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Jamelle Bouie discuss the arrest of Julian Assange; Trump’s purge of the Department of Homeland Security; and the 2020 contenders for President. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2019

We typically deliver a new Political Gabfest episode every Thursday but because we have a great live show in Charlottesville on Friday- we're going to pass you a full length episode on Saturday this week! Check back here on Saturday for the next great episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Joe Biden; the White House’s stonewalling of Congress; and Brexit--with guest Anne Applebaum. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss William Barr’s puzzling description of the Mueller report; Emily’s new book Charged; and House Democrats’ legislative agenda with guest Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and the summary Attorney General William Barr submitted to Congress. The full version of this special bonus episode is only available to Slate Plus members. To hear it, sign up for a free trial at slate.com/gabfestplus . Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest (#heygabfest). (Tweets may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook . We post to the Facebook page throughout the week, so keep the conversation going by joining us there. Or follow us @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank with production assistance from Melissa Kaplan. Links compiled by Bridget Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host Jamelle Bouie discuss the Christchurch massacre; why Democratic presidential candidates who are straight, white and male are dominating the news coverage; and whether the Electoral College should be abolished. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2019

John Dickerson, and David Plotz, and guest host Josie Duffy Rice discuss Trump’s budget proposal, the college admissions scandal, and the changing debate over reparations for slavery. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 7, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the House of Representatives’ investigation of Trump, Amanda Ripley’s article about political prejudice in America, and the Fox News White House. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Michael Cohen’s testimony, Trump’s failed North Korea summit, and Patrick Radden Keefe’s new book Say Nothing. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily discuss what should be on the test to become a U.S. citizen. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s national emergency declaration, Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign, and Amazon abandoning its New York plans. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Capterra. Try it today, for free, at Capterra.com/GABFEST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the deal to avoid a second shutdown, Jeff Bezos claims of sextortion, and Ilhan Omar’s tweets about Israel. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Virginia Democrats in turmoil, Trump’s State of the Union speech, and the appalling conditions at a federal prison in New York. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, David, and Emily discuss the crisis in digital media. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Howard Schultz’s threat to run for president, Mitch McConnell’s legacy (with guest Charles Homans), and performative workaholism. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Capterra. Try it today, for free, at Capterra.com/GABFEST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 25, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the government shutdown, the 2020 Democratic presidential field, and Brexit doom with guest Tanya Gold. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the continued government shutdown, the counterintelligence investigation of Trump, and the racism of Steve King. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Doctors Without Borders. Donate today at doctorswithoutborders.org . Capterra. Try it today, for free, at Capterra.com/GABFEST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 2019

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the government shutdown, new Russia connections revealed in the Mueller investigation, and why Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is getting so much attention. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Doctors Without Borders. Donate today at doctorswithoutborders.org . Capterra. Try it today, for free, at Capterra.com/GABFEST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 3, 2019

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest David Leonhardt discuss the government shutdown, potential 2020 presidential candidates, and whether there are signs of hope that the climate crisis could be addressed. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Doctors Without Borders. Donate today at doctorswithoutborders.org . ZipRecruiter. Get started today at ziprecruiter.com/gabfest . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 2018

Emily, John, and David close out the year considering listeners’ most confounding conundrums with special guest Simon Doonan. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, Michael Flynn’s legal troubles, and new revelations about Russian trolling and Facebook’s privacy violations. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss Michael Cohen’s sentencing, the search for America’s next White House chief of staff, and Trump’s threat to shut down the government over border wall funding. Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SlateGabfest . The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 6, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the legacy of George H.W. Bush, the power-grab by Wisconsin Republicans, and election fraud in North Carolina. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 29, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the mounting number of liars being investigated by Mueller, President Trump’s confrontation with the courts over the border, and the lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s plans to add a citizenship question to the census. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss what may be next for the Mueller investigation, the California wildfires, and new revelations about Facebook’s leadership team. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 15, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss unfounded allegations of fraud in the Florida recount, decisions facing House Democrats about their leadership and agenda, and the lawsuit challenging Trump’s unprecedented appointment of Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 8, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the extraordinary midterm elections, whether the success of ballot initiatives protecting voting rights marks a turning point in ballot access, and the ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 1, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and guest David Axelrod, discuss the intersections of politics and violence and also Trump’s attempts to steer the election coverage leading up to the midterms. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 2018

This week, our friends at the feminism and politics podcast The Waves crafted a special episode all about women and the midterm elections. Hosts Christina Cauterucci and Hanna Rosin are joined by Senior Political Reporter for Glamour Celeste Katz, and D.C. State Democratic Committeewoman Latifa Lyles, to discuss how the ways women run for office have changed, if women really make better leaders, and how female politicians are depicted in the media. Podcast production by Danielle Hewitt. Research assistance by Alex Barasch. Special thanks to T. J. Raphael for editorial direction on this episode. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: M. Gemi. For $50 off your first pair of shoes, go to mgemi.com/WAVES. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the pipe bombs sent to Trump critics, the state of the midterm elections, and whether Saudi Arabia will be punished for the death of Jamal Khashoggi. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Trump administration’s response to the apparent murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test, and the debate around Georgia’s voter security measures. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the dire new climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the aftermath of the Kavanaugh confirmation, and Taylor Swift’s new engagement with politics. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 4, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Kavanaugh controversy, Trump’s apparent tax evasion, and whether the new North American trade deal is better than the old one. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 1, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the state of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, the possibility that former felons will regain the right to vote in Florida, and guest DeRay Mckesson’s new book, On The Other Side of Freedom. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 28, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the testimony of both Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 20, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and David French (Senior Fellow of the National Review Institute) discuss the value of an FBI investigation into accusations against Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s declassification of documents related to the Russia investigation, and revised thinking about police shootings. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 17, 2018

In this special bonus episode, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the sexual misconduct allegations facing Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 13, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss who deserves credit for the economy, the state of the midterm campaigns, and the Trump administration's attempt to indefinitely detain migrant children. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss anonymous dissent within the Trump administration, Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, and backlash against The New Yorker for inviting and un-inviting Steven Bannon to their Festival. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 30, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss lawyer Don McGahns’s departure from the White House team, North Carolina’s political gerrymandering and John McCain’s legacy. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 23, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Tuesday’s conviction of Manafort, Cohen’s guilty plea and McGahn’s cooperation with the special counsel as well as the Kavanaugh nomination. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 16, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and CNN Political Analyst Kirsten Powers discuss the relevance of Omarosa Manigault Newman’s criticisms of President Trump, the results from state primaries around the country and the Title IX investigation of the sexual harassment of a male student at NYU. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 13, 2018

David Plotz talks with Leon Neyfakh, host of the Slate podcast Slow Burn, about season two of the hit show. Subscribe to Slow Burn here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 9, 2018

Emily Bazelon, Benjamin Wittes, and David Plotz discuss revelations from Paul Manafort’s trial, proposed White House changes to legal immigration, and Alex Jones’s banishment from social platforms. For Slate Plus, Emily & David talk to Ben about Lawfare. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus . Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 2, 2018

Emily Bazelon, Ruth Marcus, and David Plotz discuss Paul Manafort’s trial, blueprints for 3D-printed guns, and potential capital gains tax cuts. Lara Bazelon joins for Slate Plus to discuss sexism in courtrooms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 26, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Michael Cohen’s release of secret recordings with Trump, the gubernatorial race in Georgia, and justice for the death of Markeis McGlockton. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus . Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 19, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live in Glenside, PA to discuss the fallout of the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki and the latest indictments of Maria Butina and the 12 Russian officers. Plus, with midterms on the horizon, who in the Democratic party is positioning themselves for a 2020 presidential nomination? Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 12, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Kennedy, the U.S. relationship with NATO, and federal policies around breastfeeding. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 5, 2018

Emily Bazelon, Jacob Weisberg, and David Plotz discuss potential replacements for Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court, liberal chants to ‘Abolish ICE’, and why Scott Pruitt resigned. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 28, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Justice Kennedy’s retirement, the New York primary upset, and the meaning of civility. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 21, 2018

John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Ruth Marcus discuss the future for children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, DOJ findings on the FBI and 2016 presidential election, and elite schools' admissions policies. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 14, 2018

John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Dahlia Lithwick discuss the U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore, Husted v. A. Philip Randolph at the Supreme Court, and the impact of Trump on Tuesday’s primaries. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 7, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the President’s pardon power, the decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission , and Bill Clinton’s bumbling book tour. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss #WhereAreTheChildren and new immigration policies, the death toll in Puerto Rico, and Roseanne’s racism. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 24, 2018

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the state of U.S.-North Korea relations, Stacey Abrams’ Georgia primary win, and Trump’s call for an investigation of his investigators. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 17, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss protests over the move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the rash of White House leaks, and racial bias in marijuana arrests in New York City. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 10, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss news of multiple shady payments to Michael Cohen’s business and the downfall of Eric Schneiderman. Max Fisher, writer of The Interpreter at the New York Times, joins the gang to discuss Trump’s announced abandonment of the Iran nuclear deal. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 3, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Mueller team’s questions for President Trump and Missouri Governor Eric Greitens’ indictments. Jason Kander joins in to talk about voting rights and the 2018 elections. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 26, 2018

On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ronny Jackson’s will-he-won’t-he Cabinet nomination, arguments before SCOTUS in Hawaii v. Trump , and John’s new piece on the presidency. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 19, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss fallout from the Michael Cohen raid, James Comey’s world tour, and racism at Starbucks. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 12, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Donald Trump should be panicking about the raid on Michael Cohen’s office, what Paul Ryan’s retirement portends, and Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before Congress. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 5, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Robert Mueller's investigation, President Donald Trump’s attacks on immigration and Amazon, and corruption at the EPA. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 29, 2018

Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, and Jack Hitt, co-host of Gimlet’s Uncivil, discuss the census citizenship question, Trump’s brewing legal trouble, and gerrymandering. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 22, 2018

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and New York Time's technology columnist Farhad Manjoo discuss Robert Mueller's job security, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and compare today's political climate to the 1960s. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 2018

John Dickerson, David Plotz and Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post discuss the Twitter-firing of Rex Tillerson, the special election results from Pennsylvania, and Betsy DeVos’s bizarre interview on 60 Minutes Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 8, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s tariffs and fledgling trade war, the Stormy Daniels lawsuit, and the relationships between sanctuary cities and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Please fill out the Slate podcast survey at slate.com/podcastsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 1, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the changes to gun sales following the Parkland shooting, the most recent White House shake-ups, and the future of public unions as Janus v AFSCME comes before the Supreme Court. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Please fill out the Slate podcast survey at slate.com/podcastsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 22, 2018

John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Annie Lowrey, of The Atlantic, to discuss the power of students organizing against gun violence, the Mueller indictments, and Mitt Romney’s newest campaign. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 15, 2018

Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat to discuss the Parkland, Florida shooting, job openings at the White House, and whether it’s the right time to ban porn. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 8, 2018

On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the value of the Nunes memo and accusations of White House aide Rob Porter’s domestic abuse. David Leonhardt joins the gang to discuss whether an increase in wages caused the stock market drop and a Slate Plus segment on emotional support animals. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 1, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss criticism of the FBI by the White House and its allies, the State of the Union, and Hillary Clinton’s protection of an adviser accused of sexual assault. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 25, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the integrity of the FBI, the usefulness of government shutdowns and the value of survivor testimony during sentencing. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss if Republicans and Democrats should keep the government open, Trump's opinions on immigration and what positive outcomes can result from public dissection of Grace's Aziz Ansari story. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the future of the Dreamers, Trump’s fitness for office, and voting-related cases before SCOTUS. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 4, 2018

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the buzz around Trump's relationship with Steve Bannon, partisanship within the Russia investigation, and a new (real) study about fake news. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 28, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson dig in, dissect and debate listener-generated conundrums with special performances from They Might Be Giants. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 21, 2017

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the final tax bill, government agency leadership, and are joined by Linda Greenhouse to talk about her new book about covering the Supreme Court. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Democrat Doug Jones’s win in Alabama, the current state of the tax bill and the transgressions of men in the headlines. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 7, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss why Roy Moore appears to be surviving while Al Franken and many other harassers are being pushed out of office, the wedding cake case currently before the Supreme Court, and what impact President Trump could have on peace in the Middle East. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 30, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the momentum of the Republican tax plans, Project Veritas's attempted take-down of the Washington Post, and the Supreme Court's consideration of the privacy of cell phone data. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 2017

The Gabfest presents a preview of Slow Burn, an eight-episode miniseries about Watergate. People called her crazy, and to be fair she must have seemed crazy. But she was onto something. How Martha Mitchell, the celebrity wife of one of Nixon’s closest henchmen, tried to blow the whistle on Watergate—and ended up ruining her life. Find out more at slate.com/slowburn . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 23, 2017

David Plotz, Zoe Chace of This American Life, and Chairman of The Slate Group, Jacob Weisberg discuss the state of the GOP tax bills, the case for resignation by perpetrators of sexual harassment and the health of the magazine industry. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the downward spiral for Roy Moore, the tax plans of the House and Senate, and the latest with the Russia investigation and Wikileaks. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 9, 2017

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Tuesday’s victories for Democrats, Trump’s first year, and the role of technology companies in Russian meddling. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gabfestplus . Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 2, 2017

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the initial indictments from the Mueller investigation and the House’s tax cut bill. Civil War historian David Blightjoins in to dig in to John Kelly’s comments on the Civil War and Robert E. Lee. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson review Senators Flake and Corker’s fiery rebukes of President Trump. Special guest State's Attorney Kim Foxx joins in to discuss criminal justice reform in Chicago, and the hosts also explore if we have now arrived at a time of empowerment for survivors of sexual harassment and assault. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 2017

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss presidential calls to grieving families, Vice President Pence’s core politics, and the opioid crisis. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 12, 2017

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump Administration infighting, Harvey Weinstein’s history of alleged gross misconduct, and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 6, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Las Vegas shooting, the response to Puerto Rico’s suffering and Supreme Court's examination of gerrymandering. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 28, 2017

Emily Bazelon, Ruth Marcus (Deputy Editorial Page Editor for the Washington Post) and Ross Douthat (New York Times Columnist) discuss Trump’s tax plan, shifting Republican power and pro athletes using their influence to inspire social change Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 21, 2017

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson dig into the remix of the Obamacare repeal, Bob Mueller's shock and awe investigative tactics and Trump's visit to the U.N. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 14, 2017

David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss President Trump's potential to destroy the two-party system, criticism of Hillary Clinton's new book and Franklin Foer joins in to talk about the power and influence of large technology companies. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 7, 2017

John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss DACA, the September legislative pileup and the future of relations between the U.S. and North Korea Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 1, 2017

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and David Leonhardt of the New York Times discuss Hurricane Harvey, Antifa, and insubordinate Trump officials. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices