PLAY PODCASTS
Political Gabfest

Political Gabfest

1,101 episodes — Page 3 of 23

15 Percent of Black Voters Support Trump

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. Supreme Court. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie HuygenWant 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.Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 17, 202458 min

Is The Blue Wall Cracking?

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 about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced 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.

Oct 10, 202459 min

JD Vance's Damning Non-Answer

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 Wyoming Republicans. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie HuygenDisclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 3, 202449 min

North Carolina Crazies

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 with Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie HuygenPublic.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26, 202458 min

Political Gabfest: A Murder Mystery that Uncovers the Excitement in the Everyday and Ordinary

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 quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 24, 202420 min

Who Is Responsible For Political Violence?

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 RothResearch by Julie HuygenPublic.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 Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 19, 202458 min

Donald Trump Takes The Bait

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 bottleneck during the Early to Middle Pleistocene transitionJohn: Sasha Weiss for The New York Times Magazine: The Prince We Never Knew; Mike Wall for Space.com: New record! 19 people are orbiting Earth right now; and Black Fire by Sonni Cooper David: HemispheresListener chatter from Curt Fonger in Daphne, Alabama: Caity Weaver for The New York Times Magazine: America Must Free Itself from the Tyranny of the Penny For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, Emily, and John continue their conversation with Nate Persily on election integrity. 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 Cheyna RothResearch by Julie HuygenPublic.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 12, 20241h 2m

Why Isn’t Harris Doing Better?

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 Cheyna RothResearch by Julie HuygenPublic.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 Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 5, 202455 min

Will Harris and Trump Actually Debate?

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 Gómez and Nidia Cavazos for CBS News: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raids Latino Democrats’ homes, including those of LULAC members; and Frederka Schouten and Tierney Sneed for CNN: Democrats sue to block new GOP-backed Georgia election certification rulesJohn: Glenn Thrush for The New York Times: Would-Be Trump Assassin’s Interest in Violence Went Back to 2019David: Jonathan Shaw for Harvard Magazine: Mapping the Human BrainListener chatter from Adam Webb in Chicago: Paul Collins in The Believer: Why Can’t My Son Vote? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, Emily, and John will talk about the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz interview. Bonus content this week will be available on Friday. 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 Cheyna RothResearch by Julie HuygenPublic.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 29, 20241h 2m

The Democrats ‘Do Something’ Convention

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 iPhoneEmily: 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 OutrageDavid: David Wade for WBZ News: How do you stop political texts on your phone?; Presumed Innocent by Apple TV+ and Presumed Innocent by Warner Bros.; and Road House by Prime Video and Road House by United Artists Listener chatter from Scott Rada in La Crosse, Wisconsin: ChatGPT’s Slate pitches for 3,000 B.C. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, available Friday, August 23, David, Emily, and John talk about Kamala Harris’s nomination acceptance speech.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 Ethan ObermanResearch by Julie HuygenHostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David PlotzFollowSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @slatepoliticalgabfest on Threads / https://www.threads.net/@slatepoliticalgabfest@SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestSlate Political Gabfest on YouTube / https://www.youtube.com/@slate/podcastsWant more Political Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen.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 Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 22, 202458 min

Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go from Here?

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

Aug 17, 202453 min

Are We Really Still Talking About Crowd Size?

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: Xochitl Gonzalez for The Atlantic: To Save The World, My Mother Abandoned Me and Phil Klay for The New York Times Magazine: Artists and Activists Both Have a Role. But Not the Same One.Marin: Switzerland Events; Geneva Events Calendar; and Berner Zibelemärit (Onion Market)David: Will Sullivan for Smithsonian Magazine: The World’s Largest Iceberg Is Stuck in a Spinning Ocean Vortex and NASA: Iceberg A23a in the Southern Ocean, AntarcticaListener chatter from Simon Jones in Paris, France: Evan Ratliff’s Shell Game podcastFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and Marin talk about pets and babies. See Anonymous in The Cut: Why Did I Stop Loving My Cat When I Had a Baby?.In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with Roland Allen about his book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Ethan ObermanResearch by Julie HuygenHostsMarin Cogan, Emily Bazelon, and David PlotzFollowSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestWant more Political Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen.Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 15, 202455 min

These Walz Could Talk

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 ChannelEmily: International Olympic Committee: Table tennis rules, scoring system and all you need to know; Jake Rossen for Mental Floss: Why Do Some Olympic Athletes Wear Paper Numbers?; International Olympic Committee: Sports Swap; and Maia Hjelmar for GQ Australia: 16 Olympic athletes who succeeded in more than one sport David: Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson in The New York Times: Ten Meter TowerListener chatter from Fraser Ronald in Ottawa, Canada: Ari Berkowitz for Scientific American: Is Your Nervous System a Democracy or a Dictatorship?For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and Juliette talk about RFK Jr. and The Bear. See Clare Malone for The New Yorker: What Does Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Actually Want?In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with Roland Allen about his book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Ethan ObermanResearch by Julie HuygenHostsJuliette Kayyem, Emily Bazelon, and David PlotzFollowSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestWant more Political Gabfest? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen.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 Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 8, 202447 min

These [Republicans] Are Weird

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 ChampionshipEmily: Social Security and Trends in Wealth Inequality and The Sea ChangeDavid: Who Goes Nazi? By Dorothy ThompsonListener chatter from former Slatester Torie Bosche on the Edith Roller JournalsFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, John, and Emily about the wildfires raging out west and David’s own escape from Jasper National Park.In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. And Gabfest Reads now has its own site!Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Kat HongPublic.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 1, 202459 min

The Coronation of Kamala Harris

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 RothResearch by Ethan Oberman 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 Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 25, 202454 min

Gabfest Reads: Understanding the World Through Notebooks

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 unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 20, 202435 min

“Fight, Fight, Fight”

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 BritBoxMary: 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 America. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, John and Mary talk about what to expect at the Democratic National Convention. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. And Gabfest Reads now has its own site!Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Ethan ObermanResearch by Kat Hong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 18, 202443 min

Even George Clooney Has Abandoned Biden

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 TrapLeigh Ann Caldwell, Marianna Sotomayor, Jacqueline Alemany, and Paul Kane for The Washington Post: Pelosi opens the door, subtly, to replacing BidenMerriam-Webster Dictionary: coronate and ideateTim Alberta for The Atlantic: Trump Is Planning For A Landslide WinRyan Teague Beckwith for MSNBC: What is Project 2025? The plans for Trump’s second term, explainedJudd Legum for Popular Information: What Trump doesn’t want you to know about Project 2025 and The alarming new power Trump will claim in a second termJames Taranto for The Wall Street Journal: Strange New RespectAnn E. Marimow for The Washington Post: Justice Amy Coney Barrett is charting her own path on the benchStephen I. Vladeck in The New York Times: The Most Interesting Justice on the Supreme Court Is Also the LoneliestJames LaRock and Jacob Hammond for Balls and Strikes: The Hollow Originalism of Amy Coney BarrettOyez: Amy Coney BarrettHere are this week’s chatters: John: Joshua Hammer for Smithsonian Magazine: Pablo Escobar’s Abandoned Hippos Are Wreaking Havoc in the Columbia JungleEmily: Andrea Robin Skinner for the Toronto Star: My stepfather sexually abused me when I was a child. My mother, Alice Munro, chose to stay with himDavid: Natasha Singer for The New York Times: Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School and City Cast DC Live Podcast Taping on Saturday, July 13Listener chatter from Researcher Julie: Alexandra Alter for The New York Times: Romance Bookstores Are Booming, Dishing ‘All the Hot Stuff You Can Imagine’ and Elisabeth Egan: Emily Henry on Writing Best-Sellers Without Tours and TikTok; Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Ellen Gamerman, and Isabella Simonetti for The Wall Street Journal: How Dragons, Magic and Steamy Sex Took Over the Book World; and Bridgerton on Netflix For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David, John, and Emily talk with Professor Emily Wilson about her translation of Homer’s Iliad. See The Iliad by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson. See also The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. And Gabfest Reads now has its own site!Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Ethan ObermanResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 11, 202455 min

Trump Is So Immune

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, Inc. v. Board of Governors, and SEC v. JarkesyMatt Gluck, Hyemin Han, and Katherine Pompilio for Lawfare: The Supreme Court’s Presidential Immunity DecisionPerry Stein for The Washington Post: Justice Sotomayor dissent: ‘The President is now a king above the law’Gary J. Schmitt and Joseph M. Bessette for the American Enterprise Institute: The Hamilton-Madison Split over Executive PowerDan Pfeiffer for The Message Box: Why the Dem Panic over the Debate is Getting Worse‘Will Rogers Today’: Will Rogers on PoliticsTim Miller for The Bulwark: Dear Dems: The Gaslighting Isn’t Helping MattersAmy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court strikes down Chevron, curtailing power of federal agencies and Mark Walsh: Consider the wild gray squirrel, Kagan rebukes her colleagues as court overrules ChevronMark Sherman for AP: The Supreme Court rules for a North Dakota truck stop in a new blow to federal regulatorsHow to Save a Country from The New Republic: The Administrative State Is Under AttackCongressional Research Service: The Major Questions DoctrineEric Berger for Dorf on Law: Is Loper Bright a Big Deal? and Michael C. Dorf: Could Congress Reinstate Chevron?Tierney Sneed, Jeanne Sahadi, Tami Luhby, Brian Fung, Ella Nilsen, Jen Christensen, and Katie Lobosco for CNN: How the Supreme Court’s blockbuster ‘Chevron’ ruling puts countless regulations in jeopardyHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Paul Sabin of Yale University and City of New Haven: East Rock park John: Dave McMenamin for ESPN: Lakers pick Bronny James in NBA draft; LeBron ‘emotional’David: City Cast DC and Ross Andersen for The Atlantic: The Search for America’s AtlantisListener chatter from Jen in Denver, Colorado: Brandy Zadrozny and Jon Schuppe for NBC News: Who tried to steal Graceland? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about the joys of summer. See Merry Maids: 15 Fun Things to Make the Most of Summer 2024; NBC: Olympics Paris 2024; and epicurious: Summer. See also Produce bluebook: Nectarine Market Summary and Lemonada Media: Julia Gets Wise with Patti Smith. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. And Gabfest Reads now has its own site! Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 4, 20241h 2m

Biden’s Catastrophic Debate

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 TrumpWill 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 by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 202426 min

A Law Trapped In Amber

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. MissouriGreg Stohr, Kimberly Robinson, and Lydia Wheeler for Bloomberg: Supreme Court Poised to Allow Emergency Abortions in IdahoAmy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court appears to allow emergency abortions in Idaho and Supreme Court upholds bar on guns under domestic-violence restraining ordersJazmin Orozco Rodriguez for The Idaho Capital Sun: Idaho’s OB-GYN exodus throws women in rural towns into a care voidEleanor Klibanoff for The Texas Tribune: Emergency rooms not required to perform life-saving abortions, federal appeals court rulesAriane de Vogue, Tierney Sneed, and Devan Cole for CNN: Supreme Court issues report on Dobbs leak but says it hasn’t identified the leakerMark Joseph Stern for Slate: Supreme Court Inadvertently Reveals Confounding Late Change in Trump Ballot Ruling and Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern: John Roberts Tried to Clean Up Clarence Thomas’ Mess. He May Have Invited More Chaos.Linda Greenhouse in The New York Times: The Supreme Court Steps Back From the Edge and How John Roberts Lost His CourtMichael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: Justice Kavanaugh’s Concurrence in Rahimi Contains a Whopper of an Error (or Worse) and The Hidden Merits Ruling in Murthy v. MissouriGregory Krieg for CNN: George Latimer defeats House ‘squad’ member Jamaal Bowman in historic New York Democratic primaryMichelle Goldberg for The New York Times: The War in Gaza Is Splintering the Democratic PartyBen Davis for The Guardian: The Aipac-funded candidate defeated Jamaal Bowman. But at what cost?Peter Beinart for The Beinart Notebook: Jamaal Bowman’s CourageJon Murray, Seth Klamann, and Nick Coltrain for The Denver Post: Five takeaways from Colorado’s primaries as voters give Lauren Boebert new life, pick a Denver DA and moreAnthony Adragna and Nicholas Wu for Politico: AIPAC offshoot spending heavily to beat Cori Bush in her primaryColby Itkowitz, Emily Guskin, and Scott Clement for The Washington Post: Trump trusted more than Biden on democracy among key swing-state votersHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Dismantling Mass Incarceration: A Handbook for Change by Premal Dharia, James Forman, Jr., and Maria Hawilo and Karin Brulliard for The Washington Post: For millionaire and four hunters, a wild Western lawsuit over public landLinda: Thelma from Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing and Aisha Harris, Bob Mondello, Bedatri D. Choudhury, Liz Metzger, Mike Katzif, and Jessica Reedy for NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour: June Squibb’s ‘Thelma’ is the wrong grandma to mess withDavid: Hark and David Plotz for Hark’s The Conversation: Campaign Trail 2024Listener chatter from William Wagner in Green Bay, Wisconsin: Sam Anderson with illustrations by Gaia Alari for The New York Times: Walnut and Me and Sam Anderson: Animal podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David and Emily talk with Linda Greenhouse about Murthy v. Missouri. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel.Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 27, 202455 min

Presidential Debate Preview

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 opportunityJames Oliphant for Reuters: The Biden-Trump presidential debate: what to watch forShane Goldmacher and Reid J. Epstein for The New York Times: Trump, Biden and CNN Prepare for a Hostile Debate (With Muted Mics)Josh Barro for Very Serious: Of Course Biden Should Attack Trump for Being a Convicted FelonDr. Vivek H. Murthy in The New York Times: Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms and Sherry Turkle: Stop Googling. Let’s Talk.Consider This on NPR: ‘An unfair fight’: The U.S. surgeon general declares war on social mediaHoward Blume and Defne Karabatur for The Los Angeles Times: LAUSD approves cellphone ban as Newsom calls for statewide actionTatum Hunter for The Washington Post: What research actually says about social media and kids’ healthCandice L. Odgers in Nature: The great rewiring: is social media really behind an epidemic of teenage mental illness?Mitch Daniels in The Washington Post: Indiana is revealing the real consequences of one-party ruleBallotpedia: State government trifectasScott S. Greenberger in NC Newsline: Shared power used to be the norm in state government. Now it’s nearly extinct.Nicholas Kristof for The New York Times: What Have We Liberals Done to the West Coast?Here are this week’s chatters:John: Liquor.com: Vesper; The New York Times: John Hurt in ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’; and John Hurt in The Guardian: Krapp’s Last Tape: John Hurt on Samuel Beckett’s loner heroEmily: The Innocence Project: Texas Seeks Execution Date for Robert Roberson, An Innocent Man Wrongly Convicted Under Debunked Shaken Baby HypothesisDavid: Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University: The Vocation of Journalists in a Time of Testing; Washington City Paper: Paper, Cut; and Bruce Weber and Ashley Southall for The New York Times: David Carr, Times Critic and Champion of Media, Dies at 58Listener chatter from Tristan Hinderliter in Long Island City, New York: Samantha Pearson for The Wall Street Journal: Even Hardened Convicts Are No Match for These Guard Geese For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John talk about the Brat Pack: then and now. See Hulu: Brats and David Blum for New York Magazine: Hollywood’s Brat Pack. See also RHINO: John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) (Official Music Video) and Comedy Bites Vintage: Don’t You Forget About Me (Final Scene) The Breakfast Club. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 20, 202458 min

Gabfest Reads: When a Sex Robot Catches Feelings

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

Jun 15, 202419 min

Biden’s Risky Asylum Policy

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 Opens a New Back Door on ImmigrationMatthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: Biden is doing the right thing on asylumMatt Collette for Vox: Our identity crisis on immigrationAlex Nowrasteh for the Cato Institute: The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re WrongStatista: U.S. immigration/migration – statistics & factsAndres Triay, Robert Legare, Nicole Sganga, Pat Milton, and Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS News: ICE arrests 8 with suspected ISIS tiesBBC: What is the UK’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda? and Nick Beake and Kostas Kallergis: Greece boat disaster: BBC investigation casts doubt on coastguard’s claimsAnthony Faiola, Imogen Piper, Joyce Sohyun Lee, Klaas van Dijken, Maud Jullien, and May Bulman for The Washington Post: With Europe’s support, North African nations push migrants to the desertAnne Applebaum for The Atlantic: Trump Is Not America’s Le PenSam Jones for The Guardian: EU elections 2024: how did key countries vote and what does it mean?CBS News: NYC Comptroller Brad Lander announces legal challenge to congestion pricing pauseMichelle Kaske, Laura Nahmias, and Zach Williams for Bloomberg: New York Governor Shocks Manhattan With Halt to Congestion PricingLauren Sforza for The Hill: Murphy says ‘the biggest policy mistake of the past 50 years in New Jersey’ was Christie’s decision to cancel Gateway tunnel projectThe Affluent Society by John Kenneth GalbraithHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Curt Anderson for WJHG: Florida jury finds Chiquita Brands liable for Colombia deaths, must pay $38.3M to family members John: Well, This Is Me: A Cartoon Collection from the New Yorker’s Asher Perlman by Asher Perlman and Taylor Orth for YouGov: In-flight drama: Where Americans sit on airline etiquetteDavid: City Cast Nashville and Hey Nashville; City Cast Austin and Hey Austin; Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi; Dartmouth: 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth; Maxi 4 NBA: Michael Jordan I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career.; and Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison Listener chatter from Jason Anderson in Chicago, Illinois: Neil Steinberg for the Chicago Sun-Times: Sorry, Ken Griffin – Chicagoans will call the Museum of Science and Industry what they please For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about Hunter Biden’s conviction. See Jonathan Lemire for Politico: Biden’s team was waiting for a Hunter verdict. That didn’t make it easier when it arrived. and Abby Phillip for CNN: Hear how conservatives reacted to Hunter Biden’s conviction. See also Perry Stein for The Washington Post: Gun counts Hunter Biden faces are rarely stand-alone charges and John Miller for CNN: Meanwhile, Trump said during pre-sentencing interview he had a gun in Florida, weeks after his conviction. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 13, 202455 min

Will Trump’s Conviction Help Biden?

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 earlySarah Longwell in The Atlantic: The Two-Time Trump Voters Who Have Had EnoughDafydd Townley for The Conversation: Trump guilty verdict: the fallout for US democracyPolitico Magazine: 22 Experts Predict What the Trump Conviction Will Mean for 2024 and BeyondCBS News: Watch: Biden speaks at D-Day commemoration ceremonyPerry Stein for The Washington Post: Gun counts Hunter Biden faces are rarely stand-alone charges and Perry Stein, Devlin Barrett, and Matt Viser: How a fight over immunity unraveled Hunter Biden’s plea dealCris Barrish for WHYY: Lawyers spar in Wilmington court over whether Hunter Biden ‘knowingly’ lied on federal gun purchase form about drug useEugene Daniels for Politico: Biden issues a rare statement on his son’s criminal trialMini Racker for Time: How Hunter Biden’s Scandals Compare to Those of Trump’s Family MembersMatthew Yglesias for Vox: Nepotism and the 2020 election, explainedEmily Bazelon and Charles Homans for The New York Times: The Battle Over College Speech Will Outlive the EncampmentsHere & Now on WBUR: Pro-Palestinian protesters at Brown reach deal with universityEmma H. Haidar and Cam E. Kettles for The Harvard Crimson: Harvard Will Refrain From Controversial Statements About Public Policy IssuesPaul Alivisatos in The Wall Street Journal: Why I Ended the University of Chicago Protest EncampmentGreta Reich and Caroline Chen for The Stanford Daily: Pro-Palestine protesters detained following occupation of president’s office, face immediate suspensionHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Liz Goodwin for The Washington Post: Senate Republicans vote against making contraception a federal right and Ellen Wexler for Smithsonian Magazine: The 150-Year-Old Comstock Act Could Transform the Abortion DebateJohn: Marco Hernandez, Jeffrey Gettleman, Finbarr O’Reilly, and Tim Wallace for The New York Times: What Ukraine Has Lost and Helena Skinner and Emma Ogao for ABC News: Satellite images show devastation in Sudan 1 year since conflict beganDavid: Alina Chan in The New York Times: Why the Pandemic Probably Started in a Lab, in 5 Key PointsListener chatter from Kevin Cassidy in Sawyer, Michigan: Dyartorin Crafts: How to make Leonardo Da Vinci Bridge using popsicle sticks and HeyDadHey: How To Make A Da Vinci Bridge For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about changes at the Washington Post and the state of journalism. See Oliver Darcy for CNN: Washington Post abruptly replaces executive editor Sally Buzbee in shakeup, David Folkenflik for NPR: New CEO of ‘The Washington Post’ puts former colleagues in power, and David Bauder for AP: With its top editor abruptly gone, The Washington Post grapples with a hastily announced restructure. See also Edward Helmore for The Guardian: ‘The final act’: fears US journalism crisis could destabilize 2024 election and Jack Shafer for Slate: The New Vanity Press Moguls. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel.Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 6, 202454 min

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: The Meaning Behind All This Navel Gazing

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.” - NanNotebook 75, page 46-47. September 2021When 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 kind of scream, but what was the thesis?References:Everything Is Copy – HBODocs The Power of Regret – Daniel PinkThe Mezzanine – Nicholson Baker “The Creative Process” – James BaldwinSlouching Towards Bethlehem – Joan Didion“Three Paths Toward the Meaning of Life” - Arthur Brooks for The AtlanticPodcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 1, 202436 min

Donald Trump is Convicted! Plus, Who is Winning The Senate?

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 RatingsJonathan Weisman for The New York Times: 10 Senate Races to Watch in 2024Ben Kamisar for NBC News: Rich people are spending more than ever to run for Congress. A big test is coming in Maryland.Nate Silver for 538: Are The Democrats Screwed In The Senate After 2024?The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer and The New York Times Magazine: The Untold Story of the Network That Took Down Roe v. WadeIan Ward for Politico: The Group Behind Dobbs Does Not Want to Talk About What Comes NextBree Davies and Paul Karolyi for City Cast Denver: Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose CBS Colorado: Beto O’Rourke Talks Gun Violence At Aurora Campaign StopHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Law & Justice Journalism Project: 2024 FellowshipJohn: Katie Razzall, Darin Graham, and Larissa Kennelly for BBC News: FBI investigating missing ancient treasures from British Museum and Rebecca Mead for The New Yorker: The British Museum’s Blockbuster ScandalsDavid: Meilan Solly for Smithsonian Magazine: Giant Pandas Are Coming Back to Washington, D.C.; Maura Judkis and Travis M. Andrews for The Washington Post: Let’s argue about the giant pandas; and Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute: Red panda Listener chatter from Annamarie Smith in Sacramento, California: Sukey Lewis and Julie Small for KQED: On Our Watch: New Folsom For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about pronatalism and the Collins family. See Jenny Kleeman for The Guardian: America’s premier pronatalists on having ‘tons of kids’ to save the world: ‘There are going to be countries of old people starving to death’. See also Luke Munn for The Conversation: Pronatalism is the latest Silicon Valley trend. What is it – and why is it disturbing?; Sarah Jones for Intelligencer: There’s Nothing New About Pronatalism; and The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank by David Plotz. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 30, 20241h 12m

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Time Travel Via an Assortment of Journal Entries

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 2011Is 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, page 30. September 2004Head problems:Sunday 9/5 morningTuesday 9/7 eveningWednesday 9/8 before lunchNotebook 22, page 22. April 24, 2014Question: What did you want to be when you were a kid? What do you want to be now?Why the difference?Notebook 9. 1995“That’s just the ticket the doctor ordered”Notebook 13. 2001“Free as a clam”Notebook 17, page 67. December 2006The man sitting next to me has a face on the boil and garlic and old booze on his breath. When he sleeps, he sighs. For this leg of the flight I am wrapped in his breathy gumbo.Notebook 15, page 7. April 2004“In all these there are messages for those who use their reason.” - Quran quotationNotebook 15, page 80. 2005Would like to meet her.Notebook 54. July 26, 2020“Writing requires a reader. You can’t do it alone.” - John CheeverNotebook 15, page 71. 2005In the light of sobriety not sure what this meansNotebook 13. March 2001Yesterday I played tennis with John Ashcroft the atty. general of the U.S.Notebook 13, page 108. December 11, 2001Anne just called. There is one little heartbeat beating in her today. Everything is okay for this hurdle. I must say, I was really worried.Notebook 20, page 10. December 24, 2013“Sometimes Dad says weird stuff, just ignore him” - Anne to kids about meNotebook 15, page 84.“Life goes on,” Hayawi says. “We are in the middle of a war [in Iraq] and we still smoke the water pipe.”Notebook 45, page 24. April 16, 2019Our savior lives by the manner in which we live.Notebook 19, page 23. 2011People on their mobile phones in England say goodbye a lot: “Cheers, alright then, speak to you soon, ta.” (That’s four ways of saying goodbye). Amelia tells the story of a man who thanked a ticket-taker by saying “Ta, magical, cheers.”References:Disaster on the Penobscot - John Henry Fay for Naval History MagazineOne Man’s Meat by E.B. WhiteThe House at Allen Cove I E.B. White House Tour - New England MagazineLittle Plastic Castle - Ani Defranco“Two Years of War: Taking Stock” - Anthony Shadid for the Washington Post Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 25, 202425 min

Justice Alito's Upside Down Flag

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s right-wing flag-flying; David Leonhardt’s take on A New Centrism; and OpenAI’s use – or not – of Scarlett Johansson’s voice. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Jodi Kantor for The New York Times: At Justice Alito’s House, a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol on Display; Jodi Kantor, Aric Toler, and Julie Tate: Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home; Jodi Kantor and Abbie VanSickle: Display at Alito’s Home Renews Questions of Supreme Court’s Impartiality; and Abbie VanSickle: What Do Judicial Rules Say About Alito and a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol?V: The Original Mini Series on Prime Video Mark Sherman for AP: Roberts, Trump spar in extraordinary scrap over judges and Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst: Supreme Court Justices Barrett and Sotomayor, ideological opposites, unite to promote civilityDavid Leonhardt for The New York Times: The Rise of a New Centrism and A New Centrism Is Rising in WashingtonJohn Dickerson for Gabfest Reads and New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the Westby David E. SangerBobby Allyn for NPR: Scarlett Johansson says she is ‘shocked, angered’ over new ChatGPT voiceNitasha Tiku for The Washington Post: OpenAI didn’t copy Scarlett Johansson’s voice for ChatGPT, records show and Molly Roberts: Scarlett Johansson’s ChatGPT face-off confirms our fears about AIMidler v. Ford Motor Co., 849 F.2d 460 (9th Cir. 1988) on JustiaBlake Brittain for Reuters: New York Times denies OpenAI’s ‘hacking’ claim in copyright fightMichael Sainato for The Guardian: Consultant behind deepfaked Biden robocall indicated for Democratic primary schemeHer by Warner Bros. PicturesHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Hacks on Max John: Lauren Aratani for The Guardian: Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession – and most blame BidenDavid: 99% Invisible: Towers of Silence Listener chatter from Aaron Tax in Washington, D.C.: Andrea Sachs for The Washington Post: A beloved alley cat now lives in the Watergate. Was she kidnapped, or rescued? For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David talk about Republican politicians’ answers to the question: will you accept the results of the 2024 presidential election? See Alec Hernandez for NBC News: Here’s what top Trump VP picks say about the 2020 election results – and whether they’ll accept the 2024 outcome; Justin Green for Axios: Listen to Republicans on whether they’ll accept 2024 election results; and Patrick Svitek for The Washington Post: Top Republicans, led by Trump, refuse to commit to accept 2024 election results. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 202459 min

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Moving in New York Twenty Years After September 11th.

In this week’s essay, John discusses the differences between moving around New York in 1991 and 2021; remembering 9/11 twenty years later; and more. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 12. September 2021Notebooks to GarretNotebook 75, page 13. September 2021Can you make a typo with handwriting? What’s a typo with handwriting called?Notebook 4. 1991We have to unplug the light to run the vacuum, so we do a lot of our vacuuming in the dark.Notebook 75. September 11, 2021Fritz want something?References:Smythson Notebooks in Blue9/11 ceremonies, events and coverage on 20th anniversary - CBS NewsRichard Drew on Photographing the “Falling Man” of 9/11 - CBS NewsWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 202440 min

Gabfest Reads: Why Americans Care About Animals

Emily Bazelon talks with authors Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy, about their new book, Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals. They discuss the evolution of animal treatment in America, moral duties to animals, and how to care about more animals than our pets. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 202431 min

How Bad Was The Poll For Biden?

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the latest New York Times presidential poll and the Maryland primary results; the presidential debates; and who’s talking inside and outside Donald Trump’s Manhattan trial courtroom. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Nate Cohn for The New York Times: Trump Leads in 5 Key States, as Young and Nonwhite Voters Express Discontent With Biden and Battleground Polling Shows Ticket-Splitting PatternAaron Navarro for CBS News: Biden to tout Microsoft expansion in WisconsinMatt Bush for NPR: Maryland Democrats pick Angela Alsobrooks to take on Hogan for open U.S. Senate seatBetsy Klein, Michael Williams, and Kristen Holmes for CNN: Biden and Trump agree to 2 presidential debates, with first set for June 27 on CNN@JoeBiden on XPerry Stein for The Washington Post: Michael Cohen seemed to have delivered for prosecutors – if jurors believe himEd Mazza for HuffPost: George Conway Goes There With Scathing Personal Challenge For ‘Wuss’ TrumpStephen Collinson for CNN: Why Johnson’s appearance at Manhattan courthouse stands out among Republicans backing up TrumpPolitico: ‘Embarrassing’: Romney calls out GOP who attended Trump trial Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Netflix’s Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know; HBO’s The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart; Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing’s Joan Baez: I Am A Noise; Netflix’s The Greatest Night In Pop; HBO’s Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed; Netflix’s Wham!; and Think Film’s Festival ExpressJohn: The Daily Report with John Dickerson for CBS News David: Brown Revisited: Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Warner Bros. Pictures’ They Shall Not Grow OldListener chatter from Rob Jones in Seattle, Washington: SmarterEveryDay on YouTube: How to Surface a Submarine in the Arctic Ocean For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily talks with Azeen Ghorayshi of The New York Times about The Cass Review. See Azeen Ghorayshi for The New York Times: Hilary Cass Says U.S. Doctors Are ‘Out of Date’ on Youth Gender Medicine. See also Claire Rush for AP: Idaho’s ban on youth gender-affirming care has families desperately scrambling for solutions and Jonathan Chait for the Intelligencer: CPAC Speaker Urges Eradication of Trans Rights. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 16, 202457 min

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: The Sneaky Pitfalls of the To-Do List

In this week’s essay, John discusses the Pomodoro Routine (among other productivity routines), why he especially needs a meditation pillow, and how a particular teacher captured his heart. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, pages 8 and 9. September 2021OReinstating the Pomodoro Routine…Starting Marshall again…Write Brice…Send Laura the larger project list…Work on budget to get accounts in orderMeditation pillow upstairs.Notebook 18. December 6, 2009InstapaperAlpha SmartRichard Hugo on poetryDegrees of Gray In Philipsburg.Notebook 18, page 105. June 4, 2011Visit to Mr. Mead. He was playing piano as we entered. [During our conversation, he asked]: do you find your work fulfilling? Do you have a close circle of friends? Questions about life and living it well…References:Getting Things Done - David AllenThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey The Questions That Will Get Me Through the Pandemic - John Dickerson43 Folders - Merlin Mann The Hardest Job in the World - John DickersonEssays of E.B. White“Merlin Mann” - Tina Essmaker for The Great DisconnectMore about Ernest “Boots” Mead“Because Buying New Running Shoes is More Fun Than Actually Running” - Merlin Mann for 43 FoldersAtomic Habits - James ClearThe Creative Habit - Twyla TharpFree Agent Nation - Daniel Pink“Sharon Salzberg On: Openness, Not Believing the Stories You Tell Yourself, and Why the Most Powerful Tools Often Seem Stupid at First” - Ten Percent HappierWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 11, 202435 min

Trump Wore Pajamas

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Stormy Daniels’s testimony in Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial; marijuana rescheduling; and the media’s role and responsibility in defending democracy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Josh Gerstein for Politico: Stormy spoke. Trump fumed. Jurors were captivated – but also cringed.Ivana Saric for Axios: Status of Trump’s criminal casesLi Zhou for Vox: Marijuana could be classified as a lower-risk drug. Here’s what that means.Sam Tabachnik for The Denver Post: Black market marijuana grows are popping up faster than law enforcement can take them down. But is legalization the cause?John Ingold for The Colorado Sun: What have we learned about the arguments for and against legalized marijuana in the past 10 years?Nathaniel Meyersohn for CNN: The dark side of the sports betting boomC-SPAN: President Biden Remarks at White House Correspondents’ DinnerBen Smith for Semafor: Joe Kahn: ‘The newsroom is not a safe space’Dan Pfeiffer for Message Box: Why Biden Won’t Do a New York Times Interview and A Response to the Editor of the New York TimesMatthew Yglesias and Brian Beutler for the Politix Podcast: The Times, They Aren’t A Changin’Charles Homans for The New York Times Magazine: Donald Trump Has Never Sounded Like ThisEli Stokols for Politico: The Petty Feud Between the NYT and the White HouseHere are this week’s chatters: Emily: Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice by David S. Tatel John: Gina Kolata for The New York Times: Locks of Beethoven’s Hair Offer New Clues to the Mystery of His DeafnessDavid: Randy Yohe for West Virginia Public Broadcasting: W.Va. Gubernatorial Campaign Attack Ads Vilify Transgender Children and Kyndall Cunningham for Vox: The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud, explainedListener chatter from Justin and Katie in Columbus, Ohio: Keziah Weir for Vanity Fair: The Vatican’s Secret Role in the Science of IVF. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Emily Lawler, Detroit Free Press. See Emily Lawler for the Detroit Free Press: Voters’ voices in Saginaw County; John Wisely: Legal troubles don’t dampen Trump enthusiasm as he visits Michigan; and Paul Egan: As Trump visits, Michigan bellwether Saginaw County is feeling its political juice. See also Arpan Lobo: Michigan lawmaker says ‘illegal invaders’ landed at DTW. They were NCAA basketball teams. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 9, 20241h 4m

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Remembering Early 1990s New York

In this week’s essay, John discusses an onboarding memo for his assistant Laura, and recounts his early days living and working in New York City. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75Onboard memo for LauraNotebook 3, page 44. May 1991June 17 start job. Good stuffNotebook 3, page 46. May 1991Tips on buying renting in NYCAsk about broker20s and 30s East side. Murry HillLive on no major avenueInterest bearing account for security depositMedeco locksNotebook 4, page 15Scared standing on 34th and Broadway$6 cab fareNotebook 4, page 42Getting lost in the villageReferences:The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman Medeco Locks“Here is New York” by E.B. White“Silly Job Interview” - Monty Python John Cleese on Creativity in ManagementHerbie Hancock: Miles Davis’ Essential Lesson On Mistakes Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] HostJohn Dickerson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 4, 202441 min

Should Student Protesters Be Arrested?

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the increasing and increasingly violent campus protests of Israel’s war in Gaza, Emily’s article on How ‘History and Tradition’ Rulings Are Changing American Law, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s chances of a vice presidential nomination after killing her dog and writing about it. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:April Rubin, Kavya Beheraj, Tory Lysik, and Will Chase for Axios: Mapped: Where pro – Palestinian student protesters have been arrestedSharon Otterman and Santul Nerkar for The New York Times: As Protests Grow, Universities Choose Different Ways to End UnrestMary Harris for Slate’s What Next podcast: Columbia Cracks DownThe University of Chicago: Report on the University’s Role in Political and Social ActionJonathan Chait for New York’s Intelligencer: Why the Right Loves the Anti-Israel EncampmentsAbigail Hauslohner for The Washington Post: House passes antisemitism bill over complaints from First Amendment advocatesAlexander Bolton for The Hill: Democrats split over campus protest crackdownEmily Bazelon for The New York Times: How ‘History and Tradition’ Rulings Are Changing American LawRegulations on YouTubeCalvinball on WikipediaThe Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law: A Conversation with Justice Amy Coney BarrettIan Millhiser for Vox: The Supreme Court appears poised to rein in its worst decision on gunsUlysses S. Grant Revealed: President Ulysses S. Grant On The U.S. ConstitutionMartin Pengelly for The Guardian: Trump VP contender Kristi Noem writes of killing dog – and goat – in new bookPBS American Experience: Nixon’s Checkers SpeechMarc A. Caputo for The Bulwark: Trump: ‘Marco has this residency problem.’Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Gal Beckerman for The Atlantic: A Prominent Free-Speech Group Is Fighting for Its LifeJohn: Sonja Anderson for Smithsonian Magazine: This Newly Deciphered Papyrus Scroll Reveals the Location of Plato’s GraveDavid: Kenny Holston for The New York Times: Inside a Navy Submarine Navigating the ArcticListener chatter from Christina in Philadelphia: Marina Bolotnikova for Vox: Mega drive-throughs explain everything wrong with American cities; Wikipedia: Third place; Jake Blumgart for The Philadelphia Inquirer: Starbucks plans a new Center City location with no restrooms or seating; and Marin Cogan for Vox: The deadliest road in America. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Professor Deborah Tuerkheimer about the Harvey Weinstein case in New York. See Hurubie Meko and Maia Coleman for The New York Times: Prosecutors Say They Plan to Retry Harvey Weinstein as Soon as the Fall and Maria Cramer: Here are five takeaways from the overturned conviction. See also Deborah Tuerkheimer for CNN: Reversal in Harvey Weinstein case isn’t the demise of sex crimes prosecution and Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers by Deborah Tuerkheimer. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen HostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 2, 202453 min

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: The Power of Four Numbers

In this week’s essay, John discusses the art of attention and how to develop the skill of slow-looking. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 8. September 20211016 Notebook 1, page 54. June 1990- Magna carta 1215 at Salisbury- Girls skipping- The Haunch of Venison- Chris References:Georgia O’Keeffe MuseumA Little History of the World by E.H GombrichArtist Jeff Koons“The Art of Divination: D.H. Lawrence on the Power of Pure Attention” by Maria Popova for The Marginalian“Gabfest Reads: A Woman’s Life in Museum Wall Labels” for Political Gabfest One Woman Show by Christine Coulson“Grammy-winning artist Jason Isbell talks about the craft of songwriting and his latest music” for CBS NewsA Journey Around My Room by Xavier De Maistre“Just think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind” by Timothy Wilson, et.al for Science“Our Rodent Selfies, Ourselves” by Emily Anthes for the New York TimesOne Man’s Meat by E.B. White Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. HostJohn Dickerson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 27, 202430 min

Election Fraud Pure and Simple

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the testimony of prosecution witness David Pecker in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, and the Supreme Court argument on presidential immunity. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matthew Haag for The New York Times: David Pecker, Ex-National Enquirer Publisher, Details How He Aided TrumpRichard L. Hasen in the Los Angeles Times: Opinion: Why it’s hard to muster even a ‘meh’ over Trump’s New York criminal trialJ. David Goodman, David Montgomery, Jonathan Wolfe, and Jenna Russell for The New York Times: Campus Protests Over Gaza Intensify Amid Pushback by Universities and PoliceSpectator Editorial Board for the Columbia Spectator: Is Columbia in crisis?Minouche Shafik in The Wall Street Journal: Columbia University President: What I Plan to Tell Congress TomorrowDavid Schizer in CNN: Opinion: To combat antisemitism, start by following the lawMichael C. Dorf for Verdict: Federal Antidiscrimination Law Does Not Require Campus CrackdownsJ Oliver Conroy for The Guardian: ‘Media firestorm’: Israel protest at professor’s home sparks heated free-speech debateC-SPAN: Supreme Court Hears Case on Former President Trump’s Immunity ClaimAnn Marimow for The Washington Post: Supreme Court seems poised to allow Trump trial, but not immediatelyIan Millhiser for Vox: Donald Trump already won the only Supreme Court fight that matteredHere are this week’s chatters:John: Stephen Clark for Ars Technica: Recoding Voyager 1—NASA’s interstellar explorer is finally making sense againEmily: Abbie VanSickle for The Washington Post: Supreme Court Appeals Sharply Divided in Emergency Abortion Case and Angela Palermo for The Spokesman-Review: Idaho has lost 22% of its practicing obstetricians in the last 15 months, report sayDavid: Exploring a Secret Fort on airbnb; City Cast: Work with us.; and Eve O. Schaub for The Washington Post: Don’t waste your time recycling plasticListener chatter from Michael Starr in New York City: Patrick Page in All The Devils Are Here; Richard the Third by Paul Murray Kendall; and Nancy Shute for NPR: No Hunch Here: Richard III Suffered From Scoliosis Instead For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about a question before the Supreme Court: can a city regulate homelessness? See Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Court divided over constitutionality of criminal penalties for homelessness; Esteban L. Hernandez and Meira Gebel for Axios: Supreme Court weighs case that could affect Denver’s approach to homelessness and Alayna Alvarez: Denver’s urban camping ban brings 10 years of turmoil; and Eli Saslow and Todd Heisler for The New York Times: A Sandwich Shop, a Tent City and an American Crisis. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen HostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 25, 20241h 5m

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Remembering George and Defending the Morning

In this week’s essay, John dives deep into the loss of his beloved dog, George, the essayist’s dilemma, the comfort of quiet mornings, and more. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 5. September 5, 2021I go to the morning alone. Notebook 75, page 6. September 6, 2021Phantom nails on the stairs References:“Every Dog Is a Rescue Dog” by John Dickerson for The Atlantic“Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds” by Miho Nagasawa et.al for ScienceHaikus by Jennifer Gurney“Which Pet Will Make You Happiest?” by Arthur C. Brooks for The Atlantic“The Family Dog Is in Sync With Your Kids” by Gretchen Reynolds for The New York Times Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.HostJohn Dickerson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 21, 202424 min

Gabfest Reads: Can America Survive Its Relationships with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin?

John Dickerson talks with author David E. Sanger about his new book, New Cold Wars. They discuss how Russia and China came to reach their new levels of power, the role the Middle East and Obama Administration played in all of this, 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 20, 202439 min

Could You Be A Trump Juror?

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s first criminal trial and the Supreme Court argument on a criminal charge related to another Trump case and talk with The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich about his profile of Governor Gavin Newsom. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Norman Eisen for CNN: Don’t call it a ‘hush money’ caseBrian Beutler for the Politix podcast: Alvin Bragg’s Liberal Critics Are WrongBen Protess, Jonah E. Bromwich, Maggie Haberman, and Wesley Parnell for The New York Times: Prosecutors and Defense Lawyers Begin to Seat Jurors for Trump Trial and Maggie Haberman: A Weary Trump Appears to Doze Off in Courtroom Ahead of Criminal TrialDavid Bauder for AP: Trump trial: Why can’t Americans see or hear what is going on inside the courtroom?Ann E. Marimow for The Washington Post: Supreme Court divided over key charge against Jan. 6 rioters and TrumpMichael C. Dorf for Dorf On Law: The Ejusdem is Loose -- SCOTUS Insurrectionist Case EditionMark Leibovich for The Atlantic: Gavin Newsom Can’t Help HimselfHBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher: Gov. Gavin NewsomHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Uri Berliner in The Free Press: I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust.; David Folkenflik for NPR: NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns with blast at new CEO; Alicia Montgomery for Slate: The Real Story Behind NPR’s Current Problems; A24’s Civil War; and HBO’s The Last of UsJohn: The Annie E. Casey Foundation; diversitydatakids.org by Brandeis’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management: Child Opportunity Index (COI); Aliya Schneider for The Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘They’re cheating.’ President Biden floats higher tariffs on Chinese imports in Pittsburgh speech; John Dickerson for Slate’s Navel Gazing podcast; and CBS News Prime Time with John DickersonDavid: Trevor Aaronson, Sam Eifling, and Michael Mooney for Audible’s Hold Fast podcast and Jacques Billeaud for AP: Backpage founder will face Arizona retrial on charges he participated in scheme to sell sex adsListener chatter from Josh in Brisbane, Australia: Ross Scott’s website Stop Killing Games For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk with Anna Sale about her podcast, Death, Sex & Money, which is now on Slate. See Death, Sex & Money podcast: A Sociopath’s Guide to Death, Sex, and Money and Patrick Page in All The Devils Are Here. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen HostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 18, 202459 min

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Sending our Son to College

In this week’s essay, John remembers dropping his son off at college, and trying to hold onto moments and feelings while you can. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 6. September 2021:They chose you. Notebook 15, page 4. April 2004:Sitting with Brice by waterfall. Throwing rocks in stream. Loading sand from dump truck and loader and back again. References:What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There by Marshall GoldsmithSongwriter Nick CaveTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at [email protected] Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. HostJohn Dickerson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 13, 202424 min

Arizona Territory’s 1864 Abortion Law

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the revival of Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban; the end of No Labels; and the past and future of presidential debates. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Mary Jo Pitzl and Reagan Priest for The Arizona Republic: Arizona House GOP halt Democrats’ effort to overturn Civil War era law in chaotic sessionDan Balz for The Washington Post: The Arizona Supreme Court just upended Trump’s gambit on abortionJamelle Bouie for The New York Times: The Man Who Snuffed Out Abortion Rights Is Here to Tell You He Is a ModerateRamtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah for NPR’s All Things Considered: Abortion was once common practice in America. A small group of doctors changed thatA.O. Sulzberger Jr. for The New York Times: Reagan Says Ban On Abortion May Not Be NeededDavid Faris for Slate: Why No Labels Didn’t StickSlate’s Political Gabfest: The “No Mugshot” EditionThomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: Has No Labels Become a Stalking Horse for Trump?Michael H. Brown for The Washington Post: Joseph Lieberman, senator and vice-presidential nominee, dies at 82Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Dartmouth’s Leslie Center for the Humanities: People, Place, Podcasts: Emily Bazelon and Erica Heilman in Conversation and the Rumble Strip podcast John: Slate’s Navel Gazing podcast and Rachel Wolfe for The Wall Street Journal: The Calls for Help Coming From Above the Poverty LineDavid: Hannah Seo for The New York Times: Is It Better to Brush Your Teeth Before Breakfast or After?Listener chatter from Mark Phillips in Baltimore, Maryland: Ben Crair for The New Yorker: The Magic of Bird Brains For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss AI communications with loved ones after they die. See Walter Marsh for The Guardian: Laurie Anderson on making an AI chatbot of Lou Reed: ‘I’m totally, 100%, sadly addicted’ and Ira Glass for This American Life: The Ghost in the Machine. See also Niamn Ancell for Cybernews: These apps could resurrect your relatives using artificial intelligence; Rebecca Carballo for The New York Times: Using A.I. to Talk to the Dead; and Tamara Kneese for Wired: Using Generative AI to Resurrect the Dead Will Create a Burden for the Living. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna RothResearch by Julie Huygen HostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 11, 202455 min

John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: An Exploration of Inklings

In this week’s essay, John Dickerson looks back on a Sunday morning in 2021, and ruminates on the empty spaces left behind by the people that once filled our lives. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 6. September 5, 2021:“Oh my god. We dropped our son at college and our dog is dead.” – Anne. References:“Sunday Morning Coming Down” by Johnny Cash“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot“When Someone You Love is Upset, Ask This One Question” by Jancee Dunn for the New York Times“A Case of ‘Sunday Neurosis’” by Jena McGregor for the Washington Post“Waking Early Sunday Morning” by Robert LowellMaster of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing by Brad StulbergJason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed“Alabama Pines” by Jason Isbell Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. HostJohn Dickerson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 6, 202426 min

Florida Bans Abortion Again

Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Scott Bauer for AP: Wisconsin voters approve ban on private money support for elections and Unfair Share: The Gerrymandered Chocolate Bar on KickstarterJohn: Joey Roulette and Will Dunham for Reuters: Exclusive: White House directs NASA to create time standard for the moon and John Dickerson Introduces: Navel Gazing David: Corvid Research: All in the (crow) family; 3 Body Problem on Netflix; The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu; and Foundation and For All Mankind on Apple TV+Listener chatter from Kim in Spartanburg, S.C.: The fish doorbell and thunder_keck on TikTok: fish doorbell season is back For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily discuss the April 8 total solar eclipse. See John Dickerson and David Parkinson for CBS News: Massive storm system threatening millions across U.S. See also Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival; Annie Dillard for The Atlantic: “Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him.”; The Guardian: Columbus and the night of the bloody moon; and John Uri for NASA: Eclipses Near and Far.In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel.Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jared DowningResearch by Julie HuygenHostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David PlotzFollowSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ @SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 4, 20241h 0m

John Dickerson Introduces: Navel Gazing

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson has been a journalist for more than three decades, reporting about presidential campaigns, political scandals, the evolving state of our democracy. Along the way, he’s also been recording his observations in notebooks he has carried in his back pocket. On the Navel Gazing podcast, John Dickerson invites you to join him in figuring out what these thirty years of notebooks mean: sorting out what makes a life --or a day in a life— noteworthy.Listen to Navel Gazing every week, starting April 6th, wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 3, 20241 min

Gabfest Live In Washington, D.C.!

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Supreme Court (again) and abortion (again); Donald Trump’s ups and downs in New York courtrooms and Ronna McDaniel’s rise and fall on NBC; and Gallup’s World Happiness Report 2024. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener for The Washington Post: Supreme Court skeptical of efforts to restrict access to abortion pillSierra Club v. Morton, 405 U.S. 727 (1972)303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, et al., 600 US _ (2023)Juhi Doshi for ABC News: What is the Comstock Act? The 151-year-old law mentioned in SCOTUS abortion pill caseSCOTUSblog: Idaho v. United StatesPam Belluck for The New York Times: What to Know About the Federal Law at the Heart of the Latest Supreme Court Abortion CaseGeoff Mulvihill and Kimberlee Kruesi for AP: Which states could have abortion on the ballot in 2024?The New York Times: Keeping Track of the Trump Criminal Cases and Michael M. Grynbaum and John Koblin: NBC News Cuts Ties With Ronna McDaniel After Network FirestormBrian Beutler for Off Message: The Political Economy Of NormalizationGallup: World Happiness Report 2024Clare Ansberry for The Wall Street Journal: U.S. No Longer Ranks Among World’s 20 Happiest CountriesThe Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan HaidtHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: The Wall Street Journal: Evan Gershkovich: Updates on the WSJ Reporter Detained in RussiaDavid: Tim Newcomb for Popular Mechanics: A Controversial Pyramid Isn’t Actually 27,000 Years Old—and Now, the Mystery Deepens and Paul M.M. Cooper for Fall of Civilizations Podcast: Episode 18 Is Out Now!John: National Archives: From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [20 August 1787]; John Dickerson for Slate’s Navel Gazing podcast (coming soon); John Dickerson on Court TV (not available); Emily Bazelon on C-SPAN; and David Plotz on C-SPAN: Washington Journal Newspaper Roundtable. Listener chatter from Phil Goldstein in Washington, D.C.: The New York Times: Flesh Descending In A Shower.; An Astounding Phenomenon In Kentucky--Fresh Meat Like Mutton Or Venison Falling From A Clear Sky.For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily answer audience questions. See Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce.In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with special thanks to Patrick Fort for on-site production and Katie Rayford for logistics support Research by Julie Huygen HostsEmily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David PlotzFollowSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/@SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 28, 20241h 8m

When Is Government Speech Coercion?

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court’s busy week on government speech and immigration authority; Donald Trump’s bond issue and words problem; and COVID learning loss. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now; get ‘em before they’re gone. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Court sympathetic to NRA’s free speech claim and Supreme Court skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companiesLindsay Whitehurst for AP: Supreme Court appears receptive to NRA free-speech lawsuit against a former New York state officiaHogan Gore for the Austin American-Statesman: 5th Circuit Court of Appeals leaves SB 4 on hold after dueling orders on Texas immigration lawBen Protess, Maggie Haberman, and Kate Christobek for The New York Times: Trump Spurned by 30 Companies as He Seeks Bond in $454 Million JudgmentRuth Marcus for The Washington Post: Fair’s fair: Trump should be able to appeal the judgment against him and Catherine Rampell:Trump can’t find anyone to spot him $424 million. Would you?Sarah Mervosh, Claire Cain Miller, and Francesca Paris for The New York Times: What the Data Says About Pandemic School Closures, Four Years LaterSlate Political Gabfest: The “Stop Counting Now” EditionWeakley County, TNHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Small Game: A Novel by Blair Braverman and Small Game: A Novel at the DC Public LibraryJohn: Ramishah Maruf for CNN: MacKenzie Scott donates $640 million after open call for nonprofits and Ahjané Forbes for USA Today: Ticketless passenger found in Delta flight’s lavatory, forcing plane to turn aroundDavid: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: DNA Tests Are Uncovering The True Prevalence Of Incest and City Cast: Work with us. Listener chatter from Joshua Weaver in Austin, Texas: Matthew Brown for AP: Montana man used animal tissue and testicles to breed ‘giant’ sheep for sale to hunting preserves For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about The Mysterious Case of The Reappearing Princess. See Karla Adam for The Washington Post: Will Princess Kate video put an end to royal communications mess? and Mark Landler for The New York Times: The Royals Tried to Control Their Image Online. The Internet Had Other Ideas. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Tana French about her book, The Hunter: A Novel. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced 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.

Mar 21, 202455 min

Gabfest Reads: How Tana French Uses Genre Tropes to Tell Great Human Stories

Emily Bazelon talks with author Tana French about her new book, The Hunter. They discuss the different perspectives French uses throughout her books, how French happened into writing mysteries, writing as an outsider to Ireland, 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 16, 202426 min

Did Hur Exonerate Biden?

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and Special Counsel Robert Hur’s congressional testimony; crime and punishment with the Wren Collective’s Jessica Brand; and Congress’s move to ban the Chinese government from TikTok. Join us for Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener Chatter to [email protected] and you might be picked to chatter live. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:C-SPAN: 2024 State of the Union Address and Former Special Counsel Hur Testifies on Biden Classified Documents Report, Part 1and Part 2 House Committee on the Judiciary: Recorded Interview: Robert Hur, President Biden Transcript, Date of Interview: October 8, and Date of Interview: October 9Kaitlan Collins for CNN: Fmr. Mar-a-Lago employee who helped move classified docs speaks with CNN Adam Serwer for The Atlantic: How Hur Misled the Country on Biden’s MemoryJack Goldsmith in The New York Times: Jack Smith and Robert Hur Are the Latest Examples of a Failed InstitutionErica Pandey and Russell Contreras for Axios: Blue cities go red with conservative policies on crimeMichael Barbaro and Mike Baker for The New York Times’s The Daily podcast: Oregon Decriminalized Drugs. Voters Now Regret It.Madaleine Rubin for The Texas Tribune: Sean Teare unseats Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in primary Stefanie Dazio for AP: Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón advances to runoffJeffrey M. Jones for Gallup: More Americans See U.S. Crime Problem as SeriousStephanie Sy and Shoshana Dubnow for the PBS News Hour: As concerns grown around surging violent crime, the numbers tell a different story David Leonhardt for The New York Times: Should China Own TikTok?CBS News: FBI Director Wray says China targeting U.S. civilian infrastructure, economic securityLaura He for CNN: If the US bans TikTok, China will be getting a taste of its own medicineCBS Mornings: Jon Stewart on why he’s going back to “The Daily Show” anchor deskMike Pence on Fox News: TikTok is digital fentanyl and Congress, Biden must act before it’s too lateJosh Dawsey and Jeff Stein for The Washington Post: How Donald Trump switched to defending TikTokHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Josh Gerstein for Politico: Federal courts move against ‘judge-shopping’ and John Dickerson and Jessica Levinson for CBS News Prime Time: New rules aim to prevent “judge shopping” in major court casesJohn: Emily Goulet for Philadelphia: Fight Like a Girl: The New Wave of High-School Wrestling and Alex Bellos for The Guardian: He ate all the pi: Japanese man memorises π to 111,700 digitsDavid: Lend A BoxListener chatter from Steven in Queens, New York: New York Times: Soon Finds Mother For His 5 Children; Widower Discovers Six Women Eager to Marry Him and Care for His Brood. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David, John, and Emily talk about marriage proposals. See Caroline Kitchener for The Atlantic: Marriage Proposals Are Stupid; Sadiba Hasan for The New York Times: 10 Great Ways to Pop the Question; and Parija Kavilanz for CNN: After 2023 wraps up, get ready for a spike in marriage proposals. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with Kiley Reid about her book, Come and Get It. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced 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.

Mar 14, 202454 min