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Political Gabfest

Slate Podcastsslate.com
Voted “Favorite Political Podcast” by Apple Podcasts listeners. Stephen Colbert says "Everybody should listen to the Slate Political Gabfest." The Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, is the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks. 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.

Episodes

Giant Fires Everywhere

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 N...

Sep 17, 20201 hr 21 min

Rage

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 Cl...

Sep 10, 20201 hr 8 min

Who Should Get the Vaccine?

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 Scie...

Sep 03, 20201 hr 14 min

Pool Boy

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 cocktai...

Aug 27, 20201 hr 13 min

I Know a Predator When I See One

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...

Aug 20, 20201 hr 7 min

Cheap, Mediocre Testing

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: Joh...

Aug 13, 20201 hr 3 min

Stop Counting Now

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 E...

Aug 06, 20201 hr 6 min

Twilight of Democracy

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: J...

Jul 30, 20201 hr 12 min

Invading America

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 ar...

Jul 23, 20201 hr 9 min

Find Something New

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 othe...

Jul 16, 20201 hr 21 min

Ministerial Exception

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 H...

Jul 09, 20201 hr 16 min

Open the Damn Schools

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...

Jul 02, 20201 hr 13 min

Global Pariahs

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 Phi...

Jun 25, 20201 hr 8 min

Because of Sex

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 Davi...

Jun 18, 20201 hr 19 min

He Is Going to Change the World

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 ...

Jun 11, 20201 hr 20 min

Inspecting the Bunker

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 ...

Jun 04, 20201 hr 13 min

It's Not a Lie, It's a Tweet

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” List...

May 28, 20201 hr 19 min

L-Shaped Recovery

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 su...

May 21, 20201 hr 13 min

There Is No Plan

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 ...

May 14, 20201 hr 15 min

Vote By Mail

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,...

May 07, 20201 hr 17 min

Come On, Man, I Heard You Liked Me

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 ...

Apr 30, 20201 hr 19 min

Georgia Out of Its Mind

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 c...

Apr 23, 20201 hr 7 min

I Alone Can Open It

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 @SlateG...

Apr 16, 20201 hr 1 min

Relationships During a Pandemic

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 @S...

Apr 10, 202025 min

It’s Easy to Talk About Lysol

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...

Apr 09, 20201 hr 2 min

Maybe It Is Infrastructure Week

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...

Apr 02, 20201 hr

Two Trillion Dollars

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 a...

Mar 27, 20201 hr 14 min

How Long Will It Last?

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 w...

Mar 20, 20201 hr 17 min

Flatten the Curve

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 ...

Mar 12, 20201 hr 11 min

Wash Your Hands

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 #cocktailch...

Mar 05, 20201 hr 11 min