Political Gabfest

Latest Episodes:

The “Is The Major Questions Doctrine Bogus?” Edition Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabfest Live! Grab the Steering Wheel Edition Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabfest Reads: Corrections in Ink Jun 26, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SCOTUS Guts The Establishment Clause Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drunk as Rudy Guiliani Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

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

PhysicalSeason 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is San Francisco a Hellscape? Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forgive Me, Joe Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabfest Reads: Coming of Age in the Nineties May 29, 2022

Show notes

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Way to Prevent This May 26, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More Fetterman! May 19, 2022

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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