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 p...
Sep 28, 2023•56 min
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 23, 2023•27 min
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...
Sep 21, 2023•58 min
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 ...
Sep 14, 2023•56 min
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 b...
Sep 07, 2023•53 min
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, an...
Aug 31, 2023•56 min
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: “ R...
Aug 24, 2023•54 min
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 19, 2023•28 min
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: “...
Aug 17, 2023•58 min
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...
Aug 10, 2023•54 min
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:...
Aug 03, 2023•57 min
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...
Jul 27, 2023•55 min
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 productio...
Jul 22, 2023•25 min
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? ” F...
Jul 20, 2023•54 min
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...
Jul 13, 2023•53 min
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 Ju...
Jul 06, 2023•25 min
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 Anth...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 10 min
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 a...
Jun 23, 2023•51 min
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 u...
Jun 17, 2023•30 min
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...
Jun 15, 2023•57 min
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 fo...
Jun 09, 2023•28 min
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 rel...
Jun 08, 2023•56 min
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 ...
Jun 01, 2023•53 min
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: “ T...
May 25, 2023•54 min
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 a...
May 18, 2023•54 min
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 i...
May 11, 2023•54 min
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. Hosted on Acast. See a...
May 06, 2023•24 min
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 ceilin...
May 04, 2023•50 min
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 fo...
Apr 27, 2023•46 min
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 ...
Apr 22, 2023•21 min
