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 E...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 3 min
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 [email protected]...
Oct 19, 2024•49 min
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....
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 abou...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 7 min
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 Wyomi...
Oct 03, 2024•56 min
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 w...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 [email protected]. (Messages could be qu...
Sep 24, 2024•27 min
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 In...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 bottle...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min
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 [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ch...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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 Góme...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 9 min
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 W...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 4 min
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 [email protected]. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Le...
Aug 17, 2024•59 min
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...
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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 Committe...
Aug 08, 2024•53 min
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 ...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman and Cheyna Roth Research by Eth...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min
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 [email protected]. (Messages could be quoted by name unles...
Jul 20, 2024•42 min
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...
Jul 18, 2024•50 min
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 ...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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, I...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 6 min
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 [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced b...
Jun 28, 2024•29 min
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 Abort...
Jun 27, 2024•59 min
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. Epstei...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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 [email protected]. (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, 2024•21 min
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 Op...
Jun 13, 2024•58 min
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 ve...
Jun 06, 2024•58 min
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 ...
Jun 01, 2024•38 min
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 Kami...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 16 min
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, ...
May 25, 2024•30 min
