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**Political Gabfest**

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.

Get more Political Gabfest with Slate Plus. Join to unlock weekly bonus episodes—plus ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen.

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

Latest Episodes:

Gabfest Special: What the Trump Indictment Means Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

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

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@SlateGabfest on Twitter / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest

Slate Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/

Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.

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

Why Netanyahu Blinked Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

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

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

Trump Will Be Indicted Next Tuesday Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

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

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

Gabfest Reads: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Semiconductors? Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Go Ahead, Call It A Bailout Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

Another Florida Man Is Running For President Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

So It Was A Lab Leak? Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

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 Bookpodcast 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.

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

What Tucker Carlson is Saying When You’re Not Listening Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

* 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

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

Gabfest Reads: A Boarding School Thriller, But Make It Feminist Feb 18, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

President Nikki Haley? Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

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.

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

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