Political Gabfest

John Dickerson talks with author Ada Calhoun about her new memoir, Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me. What started as Calhoun’s attempt to finish the biography of Frank O’Hara that her father started, turned into a gripping story of Calhoun’s relationship with her father. Calhoun and Dickerson talk about not pulling punches when it comes to how nice family members are, why you can’t pre-plan a happy ending, and what her father thought of the book. 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.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Ukraine’s advances with Anne Applebaum; Lindsey Graham’s national abortion ban bill; and the controversy over requiring religious schools in New York to meet minimum educational standards.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “It’s Time to Prepare for a Ukrainian Victory”Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “The Other Ukrainian Army”Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine, by Anne ApplebaumShtiselFill The VoidHere are this week’s chatters:John: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life,by George Saunders Emily: Shaila Dewan for The New York Times: “Philadelphia Prosecutor Is Found in Contempt by State Representatives”David: Mosaic Magazine: “The Royal Mohel and the House of Windsor’s Relationship with the Jews”Listener chatter from Andrea: NPR’s Planet Money: “Best By, Sell By, Use By”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the Death of Queen Elizabeth II. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the inexplicable success of Trump’s special master gambit in the Espionage Act investigation, Biden calling out anti-democratic elements of the electorate; and the roots of the Jackson, MS water crisis.Here are this week’s chatters:John: Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius for The Great Courses: Turning Points in Modern HistoryEmily: Jerusalem Demsas for The Atlantic: “What’s Causing Black Flight?”David: Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Hearty White BreadListener chatter from Cynthia Lerner: Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “I Usually Ignore The Sexism And Ageism Directed at Me. Now I’m Calling It Out.”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and David interview John about his new streaming nightly news show, CBS News Primetime. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Trump’s strange legal maneuvering in the obstruction investigation; what Trump’s second term would do to U.S. democracy; and what voters deserve to know about a candidate’s health.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Jonathan Rauch for The Atlantic “Trump’s Second Term Would Look Like This”Age of Innocence, by Edith WhartonPortrait of a Lady, by Henry JamesHeart of Darkness, by Joseph ConradLord Jim, by Joseph ConradWorking: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, by Studs Terkel This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, a Voice That Held It Together, by Jon MooallemThe Way We Live Now, by Anthony TrollopeHere are this week’s chatters:John: Ella Koeze, Denise Lu and Charlie Smart for The New York Times: “Can You Gerrymander Your Party to Power?”Emily: Aaron Byrd, Weiyi Cai, Geoff Macdonald, Emily Rhyne, Noah Throop, Joe Ward and Jeremy White for The New York Times: “The Toss”David: CityCast DC; Bad SistersListener chatter from Michael Koehler: Christo Grozev for Bellingcat: “Socialite, Widow, Jeweller, Spy: How a GRU Agent Charmed Her Way Into NATO Circles in Italy”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the non-political books that most influenced their understanding of politics. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss what the special election results suggest for the midterms, an unprecedented $1.6B donation to a secretive conservative organization; and Biden’s student loan forgiveness and repayment plans.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGheeThe Sum of Us podcastHere are this week’s chatters:John: The Bullshit Generator; The Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865-1915 Hardcover, by Jon GrinspanEmily: Igor Derysh for Salon: “‘That’s Not What Our Report Said’: Ex-Mueller Prosecutor Says Barr's Trump Memo Is ‘legally Wrong’”; The Bazelon Center for Mental Health LawDavid: Courtney E. Smith for Ultimate Classic Rock: “35 Years Ago: Los Lobos’ ‘La Bamba’ Returns Ritchie Valens to Spotlight”Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Sarina E. Miller for the Washington Post: “Thanks To Middle-Schoolers Like Me, There Are At Last No More Salem ‘Witches’”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bill allowing safe injection sites in California.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Plotz talks with author Mat Johnson about his new novel Invisible Things. Johnson’s novel tells the story of a group of astronauts that land in a bubble colony on Jupiter's biggest moon. They talk about the challenges of writing satire when reality feels fake, how mediocre people rise up by sucking up, and why we need to look at the invisible things in our daily lives. 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.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Benjamin Wittes discuss the Trump investigations; Liz Cheney’s defeat; and Dana Goldstein’s reporting on controversies over how to teach kids to read.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Jack Goldsmith for Lawfare: “Prosecuting Trump: A Reply to Josh Marshall”Dana Goldstein for The New York Times: “An Old and Contested Solution to Boost Reading Scores: Phonics”Dana Goldstein The New York Times: “In the Fight Over How to Teach Reading, This Guru Makes a Major Retreat”Dana Goldstein The New York Times: “New Reading Curriculum Is Mired in Debate Over Race and Gender”Belinda Luscombe for Time: “Inside the Massive Effort to Change the Way Kids Are Taught to Read”Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “Liz Cheney’s Kamikaze Campaign”Invisible Things by Mat JohnsonHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Sam Levine for The Guardian: “Memphis Prosecutor Who Charged Black Woman Over Voting Error Loses Re-Election Bid”; Kim Bellware and Lateshia Beachum for The Washington Post: “Desantis Sued By Prosecutor Suspended Over Stance On Abortion-Related Crime”Ben: The Lawfare Podcast: AlliesDavid: Dwight Garner for The New York Times: “Jared Kushner’s ‘Breaking History’ Is a Soulless and Very Selective Memoir”Listener chatter from Josh Forsythe: Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Jennifer N. Phillips, Graham E. Derryberry, Michael J. Blum, and David Luther for Science: “Singing In A Silent Spring: Birds Respond To A Half-Century Soundscape Reversion During The Covid-19 Shutdown”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and Ben discuss Ben’s performance art protests at the Russian embassy in D.C. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Juliette Kayyem discuss the Mar-a-Lago search; the Inflation Reduction Act; and Caitlin Dickerson’s article investigating how separating families at the border became U.S. policy.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Caitlin Dickerson for The Atlantic: “An American Catastrophe: The Secret History of Family Separation”Juliette Kayyem for The Atlantic: “The Bad and Good News About Trump’s Violent Supporters”Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving, by Caitlin DeSilvey Serena Williams and Rob Haskell for Vogue: “Serena Williams Says Farewell to Tennis On Her Own Terms—And In Her Own Words”Claudia Rankine for The New York Times Magazine: “The Meaning of Serena Williams”King RichardHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: “Downbad” by PJ Frantz Juliette: Jim Farber for The New York Times: “Olivia Newton-John, Pop Singer and ‘Grease’ Star, Dies at 73”David: Jack Fitzpatrick for Bloomberg Government: “Old Capitol Stones to Be Stored Away After Decades Piled in Park”Listener chatter from Sebastian Cray: The Bingham CupFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, Juliette, and David discuss Serena Williams’ retirement from tennis. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Heather McGhee discuss the primaries and Kansan voters’ defense of abortion; Alex Jones on trial; and Annie Lowrey’s story of surviving pregnancy in the United States. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Sam Adler-Bell for The New York Times: “The Violent Fantasies of Blake Masters”Jason Beeferman for The Texas Tribune: “How Sandy Hook Lies and the Jan. 6 Inquiry Threaten to Undo Alex Jones”Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “American Motherhood”Annie Lowrey for The Atlantic: “The Most Important Study in the Abortion Debate”The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGheeThe Sum of Us podcastCharged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration, by Emily BazelonBlack Reconstruction in America, by W. E. B. Du Bois Forbidden City, by Vanessa HuaHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: The Law & Justice Journalism ProjectHeather: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. MaasDavid: Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke; Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke; Testament of Youth, by Vera BrittainListener chatter from Mohamed El-Sheik: Adriana E. Ramírez for The Atlantic: “Everyone Loses on Jeopardy Eventually” Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the surprise deal for climate legislation, new January 6th revelations, and the deadliest road in America. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Carol D. Leonnig, Devlin Barrett, Josh Dawsey and Spencer S. Hsu for The Washington Post: “Justice Dept. Investigating Trump’s Actions In Jan. 6 Criminal Probe”Carol D. Leonnig and Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: “Secret Service Watchdog Knew in February That Texts Had Been Purged”Forbidden City, by Vanessa HuaDan Kaufman for The New Yorker: “Will Wisconsin’s Republicans Make Voting Meaningless, or Just Difficult?”Richard L. Hasen for Slate: “What the Critics Get Incredibly Wrong about the Collins-Manchin Election Bill”Marin Cogan for Vox: “The Deadliest Road In America”Robert James Schneider, Rebecca Sanders, Frank Proulx, Hamideh Moayyed for the Journal of Transport and Land Use: “United States Fatal Pedestrian Crash Hot Spot Locations And Characteristics”Unsafe At Any Speed, by Ralph NaderStrong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity, by Charles L. Marohn Jr. Allison Russell’s Outside ChildJohn Dickerson for Slate: “Getting Naked Every Night: Girlyman and the Pursuit of Creative Risk.”Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Jonathan Bernstein for Rolling Stone: “‘She Schooled Us All’: Inside Joni Mitchell’s Stunning Return to Newport Folk Festival”; David McCabe and Mike Isaac for The New York Times: “F.T.C. Sues to Block Meta’s Virtual Reality Deal as It Confronts Big Tech”John: Oliver Whang for The New York Times: “‘Parentese’ Is Truly a Lingua Franca, Global Study Finds”David: April Rubin and Jesus Jiménez for The New York Times: “4,000 Mistreated Beagles Need Homes. These Folks Stepped Up.”Listener chatter from Mark Allender: The Dollop #283: “James Clark McReynolds, the Worst Supreme Court Justice Ever”Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon talks with author Vanessa Hua about her new historical fiction book, Forbidden City. The novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old revolutionary Mei who becomes a dancer in Chairman Mao’s inner circle. Emily and Vanessa talk about Vanessa’s inspiration for the novel, the complicated dynamics between Mei and Chairman Mao, and whether we’ll hear more from Mei. 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.

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Josie Duffy Rice discuss Europe’s deadly heat wave, Joe Manchin’s balk at climate legislation, and the inevitable tragedies already happening post-Roe.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Lindsay Whitehurst, Camille Fassett, and Jasen Lo for the Associated Press: “Social Programs Weak in Many States With Tough Abortion Laws”The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, by Meghan O'RourkeForbidden City, by Vanessa HuaHomesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, by Michael Thompson John Dickerson for Slate: “My Daughter Went Away to Camp and Changed”Here are this week’s chatters:John: Carol D. Leonnig and Maria Sacchetti for The Washington Post: “Secret Service Watchdog Knew in February That Texts Had Been Purged”Josie: Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: “Larry Wilmore Knows No Bounds”; David: Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps; Elias Esquivel for World Athletics: “Patterson Takes Surprise High Jump Gold In Oregon”Listener chatter from Mark Wegener: Gamaliel Bradford for the January 1930 issue of The Atlantic: “The Genius of the Average: Calvin Coolidge” Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Mark Leibovich discuss Biden’s 2024 plans, the establishment Republicans who stand by Trump, and Herschel Walker’s alarming Senate campaign.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Thank You for Your Servitude: Donald Trump's Washington and the Price of Submission, by Mark LeibovichAnne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “History Will Judge The Complicit”Mark Leibovich for the New York Times Magazine: “Donald Trump Is Not Going Anywhere”Mark Leibovich for the New York Times: “Kevin McCarthy, Four Months After Jan. 6, Still on Defensive Over Trump”Here are this week’s chatters:John: The New York Times: “168 Writing Prompts to Spark Discussion and Reflection”Mark: Mark shared his thoughts on whether life was better before cell phones.David: City Cast DC’s July 12, 2022 newsletter.Listener chatter from Josie Beyer: Julia Medina for Sleepopolis: “Sleeping While Rowing in the Great Pacific Race”; Lat 35 Racing Team on Instagram Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court’s gutting of administrative authority in West Virginia v. EPA, the case coming next term that could upend U.S. elections, and the Highland Park shooting.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Julian Davis Mortenson and Nicholas Bagley for The Atlantic: “The Nondelegation Doctrine Is A Fable” Julian Davis Mortenson and Nicholas Bagley for The Columbia Law Review: "Delegation at the Founding"Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Susan Elizabeth Shepard for Willamette Week: “A Student at an Oregon Community College Says Instructors Flunked Her for Being a Porn Actress. She’s Suing.”John: How Normal Am I?David: Twitter thread about: Jaroszewicz, et al: “How Effective Is (More) Money? Randomizing Unconditional Cash Transfer Amounts in the US”Listener chatter from Jocelyn Frank: “Humanity’s First Cosmic Gallery of Children’s Art: What the Youngest Members of Our Young Species Most Cherish About Life on Earth”Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.Research by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are live at Sixth & I in Washington, DC discussing the new insurrection revelations; the overturning of Roe; and the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:David French for The Dispatch: “The Case for Prosecuting Donald Trump Just Got Much Stronger”Kirsten M. J. Thompson, Hugh J. W. Sturrock, Diana Greene Foster, et al for JAMA Network Open: “Association of Travel Distance to Nearest Abortion Facility With Rates of Abortion”Sacred Hunger, by Barry Unsworth Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, by Karl Marlantes Meridith McGraw and Matt Dixon for Politico: “Trump Fatigue Sets In: ‘Some Donors Are Getting Sick Of The Sh--Show'”Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Christopher Clarey for The New York Times: “Tennis Tours Penalize Wimbledon Over Ban on Russian Players”David: Emily Temple for LitHub: “Famous Authors Who Died on the Exact Same Day”John: Terri Jo Ryan for Waco History: “Crash at Crush”Don’t miss Emily’s conversation with author Keri Blakinger on her new book, Corrections in Ink, for the June 26, 2022 episode of Gabfest Reads.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon talks with author Keri Blakinger about her new memoir, Corrections in Ink which recounts Blakinger’s path from Olympic ambitions, to heroin addiction, to prison, and ultimately a return to life on the outside. Blakinger launched a program to deliver her memoir to currently incarcerated readers. You can learn more here: https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/donationcorrectionsinink Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court decision requiring that government funding for private schools include religious ones, the January 6th hearings, and dissension at progressive organizations.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Jack Goldsmith for The New York Times: “Prosecute Trump? Put Yourself in Merrick Garland’s Shoes.”John Dickerson for Slate: Whistlestop podcast: “The Mulligan Letters”Ryan Grim for The Intercept: “Elephant in the Zoom”Here are this week’s chatters:John: “Watergate Trial Records Digitized For 50th Anniversary of Watergate”Emily: Agnes Callard for The Boston Review: “Against Persuasion”David: HustleListener chatter from Cyrus Farivar: Tim Folger for Scientific American: “Record-Breaking Voyager Spacecraft Begin to Power Down”Be sure to tune into Emily’s conversation with author Keri Blakinger on her new book, Corrections in Ink, on Gabfest Reads on June 26, 2022. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the January 6th hearings, Jason Furman on the economy, and debates among providers of gender-affirming medical care.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Michael Dorf for Dorf on Law: “House Select Committee Hearing 2: Scoundrels, Patriots, and Collaborators”Mona Charen for The Bulwark: “Of Course Trump Is Responsible for His Lies”David Brooks for The New York Times: “The Jan. 6 Committee Has Already Blown It”Derek Thompson for The New York Times: “The Crypto Crash Is Just the Start”Emily Bazelon for The New York Times Magazine: “The Battle Over Gender Therapy” Here are this week’s chatters:John: Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland for The New York Times: “F.D.A. Panel Recommends Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines for Youngest Children”Emily: Joan Walsh for The Nation: “The Backlash Against Sex Ed”David: Explore a Civil War fort with David; The New York Times: “Anthony Mancinelli, World's Oldest Working Barber, Dies at 108”; Kate Springer for CNN: “Philippines' Oldest Tattoo Artist -- Meet Whang Od Oggay”; Teller Report: “‘Working For 77 Years’ The Secret of The Long Run of a 100-Year-Old Civil Servant”Listener chatter from Andy Scarpelli: The Biodesign Challenge For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what they are looking forward to reading and watching this summer.Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony DoerrThe Immortal King Rao, by Vauhini Vara Swann's Way, by Marcel ProustPhysical Season TwoLoving Day, by Mat Johnson Invisible Things, by Mat JohnsonManhattan Beach, by Jennifer Egan A Visit From The Goon Squad, by Jennifer EganThe AmericansTweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Tuesday’s primaries, the economy (is it as bad as we all think it is?), and are joined by Susan Matthews to talk Slow Burn: Roe v. Wade. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Nellie Bowles for the Atlantic: “How San Francisco Became a Failed City”Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “America Almost Took a Different Path Toward Abortion Rights”Derek Thompson for the Atlantic: “Everything Is Terrible, but I’m Fine” Patricia Cohen for the New York Times: “Global Growth Will Be Choked Amid Inflation and War, World Bank Says” Here’s this week’s chatter:David: Jack Hitt for the New York Times: “Want to Do Less Time? A Prison Consultant Might Be Able to Help.” John: The Economist, “The coming food catastrophe”; The Paris Review, “Henry Miller, The Art of Fiction No. 28”Emily: Moore v. HarperListener chatter from Daniel Reich: “The Path to Power” by Robert Caro For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John talk about the 20th anniversary of The Wire. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Grace Woodruff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the response to the Uvalde shooting, Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness, and a bunch of ignored subpoenas. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Jillian Peterson and James Densley, interviewed by Melanie Warner for Politico: “Two Professors Found What Creates a Mass Shooter. Will Politicians Pay Attention?”Here’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Heidi Przybyla for Politico: “‘It’s going to be an army’: Tapes reveal GOP plan to contest elections”David: Ezra Klein for the New York Times: “What America Needs Is a Liberalism That Builds” John: AP: “Over 37K voters crossed over in Georgia GOP primary in effort to block Trump-based nominees”; LiveScience: “Male mice are terrified of bananas. Here's why.” Listener chatter from Barbara Tanzler: The 11th World Potato Congress in Dublin, IrelandFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss Elon Musk’s ultimatum for a full return to work. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Grace Woodruff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Dickerson talks with author Elif Batuman about coming of age as a college student in the 1990’s, and the similarities between herself and her main character in Either/Or, the sequel to The Idiot. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at [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.

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough for The Texas Tribune: “Confrontedwith mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws”Bruce Leshan for WUSA9: “Other countries have been hit by school shootings – and done something” Carl Hulse for The New York Times: “How Congress Passed an Assault Weapons Ban in 1994” Rebecca Kern for Politico: “Tech companies removed the Buffalo shooting manifesto. A Texas law could make that illegal” Emily Woodbury for St. Louis Public Radio: “Sheena Chestnut Greitens analyzes China’s tightrope walk amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”Lara Seligman for Politico: “‘Deadly serious’: U.S. quietly urging Taiwan to follow Ukraine playbook for countering China” Here are this week’s chatters:David: The Congressional Naming Commission planning to rename forts originally named for Confederate leadersEmily: The women in her New York Times piece “America Almost Took a Different Path Toward Abortion Rights” John: Trump’s losses in the Georgia Republican primary and Jason Willick’s Washington Post piece, “Why Trump’s 2024 chances are even worse than Georgia suggests” Listener chatter from Rebecca Vernon: Marisa lati for The Washington Post: “In a massive Chinese sinkhole, scientists find a secret forest”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David talk to Jody Rosen about bicycles and his new book, Two Wheels Good: The History & Mystery of the Bicycle.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “Status Anxiety Is Blowing Wind Into Trump’s Sails”Karn Yourish and Nicholas Confessore for The New York Times: “A Fringe Conspiracy Theory, Fostered Online, Is Refashioned by the G.O.P.”Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “The Slaughter in Buffalo Hasn’t Quieted the Great Replacement Caucus”Nathaniel Rakich for FiveThirtyEight: “What Went Down During the May 17 Primary Elections” David A. Graham for The Atlantic: “John Fetterman Wins on Vibes”Greg Sargent for The Washington Post: “Say it Clearly: Republicans Just Nominated a Pro-Trump Insurrectionist”Lauren Debter for Forbes: “A Startup Wanted To Make A Better Baby Formula. It Took Five Long Years.”Mary McNamara for Los Angeles Times: “Worried About The Declining Birthrate? How About Giving Mothers a Break” Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “For Justice Thomas, The Roberts Court is More Feud Than Family” Here are this week’s chatters:John: Steven Goff and Molly Hensley-Clancy for The Washington Post: “U.S. Women’s And Men’s National Soccer Teams Close Pay Gap With ‘Game-Changing’ Deal”Emily: Patricia Campos Mello for Poynter: “An Unholy Coalition Torpedoes Social Media Reform Legislation in Brazil”David: “The Final Dance in Dirty Dancing, But They’re Dancing To The Muppet Show Theme Tune” by @PandamoanimumListener chatter from Dylan Bindman: Christophe Haubursin for Vox: “Who Made These Circles in The Sahara?”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss Justice Clarence Thomas’ recent comments and the legitimacy of the U.S. Supreme Court.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: “In a Post-Roe World, Can States Prevent Women From Seeking Abortions Out-of-State?”Ruth Graham for The New York Times: “A Pastor and His Congregation Part Ways”Ruth Graham and Elizabeth Dias for The New York Times: “The Growing Religious Fervor in the American Right: ‘This Is a Jesus Movement’”The Great Evangelical Recession: 6 Factors That Will Crash the American Church...and How to Prepare by John DickersonHere are this week’s chatters:Emily: Forbidden City, by Vanessa Hua; A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua; Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids, by Scott Hershovitz John: Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City, by Andrea Elliott; Jon Ward for Christianity Today: “Being a Political Journalist Made Me a Better Christian”; The Bob Dylan Center; John Dickerson for CBS This Morning: “Bob Dylan Center: A Window Into the Voice of a Generation”David: Mother Jones: “How Private Equity Looted America”; Our Earth: “Cool Airplane Camera Views on Lufthansa”Listener chatter from Nicholas Gaffney: Alex Hanson for The Valley News: “Croydon Reverses Slashing Of School Budget After Voters Turn Out For Special Meeting”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss the things they do today that would horrify their 25-year-old selves.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “The Leaked Draft Roe Opinion Is A Disaster For The Supreme”Edwin Meese III for The Washington Post: “Did The Conservative Legal Movement Succeed? That All Depends On Whether The Supreme Court Overrules Roe V. Wade.”Reginald Dwayne Betts for The New York Times Magazine: “Could an Ex-Convict Become an Attorney? I Intended to Find Out”Here are this week’s chatters:Ruth: Julia Clancy for Eating Well: “What Is an Air Fryer and Should You Buy One?”James: The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City,by Nicholas Dawidoff Emily: She’s getting a puppy! Send your advice.Listener chatter from Joe Stracci: Kevin Kelly for The Techium: “103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily and Ruth interview James about his innovative programs at Yale’s Center for Law and Racial Justice.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, Title 42, and the current prayer in school debate.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Daphne Keller for The Center for Internet and Society: “What Does The DSA Say?”John Dickerson for Slate: “Born Identity”Here are this week’s chatters:David: Ed Kilgore for New York Magazine: “Utah Democrats Endorse Independent Evan McMullin in Challenge to Mike Lee”; CityCast.fm/jobs John: Reddit thread: “This is a 3200-year old attendance sheet found in Deir el-Medina, Egypt. Reasons for worker absence include ‘embalming brother’, ‘brewing beer’ and ‘bitten by scorpion’”; The British Museum: Ostracon Emily: Ronald Brownstein for The Atlantic: “Why California Wants to Recall Its Most Progressive Prosecutors”; Vanessa Romo for NPR: “The LA Sheriff Now Says No Charges For The Reporter Who Wrote About A Cover-Up”Listener chatter from J.T. Horn: Mary Pols for Downeast Magazine "Why Maine Owes Its Most Breathtaking Public Lands to One 1972 Newspaper Story" For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and John discuss John’s prescient 2011 piece about Trump’s birtherism.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the ways that the war in Ukraine may be influencing China's future plans with guest Malcolm Turnbull; the mask mandate ruling; whether it matters that the RNC has rejected presidential debates; and Gabfest producer Jocelyn Frank signs off after many years of producing the show.Here are this week’s chatters:David: Mark Emem for CCN: “Jeff Bezos Missed 20,000% Gains After $250K Google Stake in 1998”John: Kathryn Olivarius: “Necropolis: Yellow Fever, Immunity, And Capitalism In The Deep South, 1800-1860”Emily: Rachel M. Cohen for the Intercept: “At a Pivotal Moment, Democrats Failed to Modernize Elections”Listener chatter from Randy Switt: Christopher P. Hammon and Victoria L. Vish for National Law Review: “Eleventh Circuit: Service Charges Are Wages, Not Tips, Under FLSA”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment long-time Gabfest producer Jocelyn Frank shares her experiences making the show with Emily, David, and John.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Plotz talks with author Amy Bloom about her journey to support the death, by suicide, of her husband, chronicled in her new book In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the approaching midterms, inflation, and whether social media is imperiling U.S. democracy—with guest Simon Bazelon.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Simon Bazelon for Slow Boring: “Democrats Are Sleepwalking Into A Senate Disaster”Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “Trump Poses a Test Democracy Is Failing”Matthew H. Graham and Milan W. Svolik for The American Political Science Review: “Democracy in America? Partisanship, Polarization, and the Robustness of Support for Democracy in the United States”Jonathan Haidt for The Atlantic: “Why The Last Ten Years of American Life Have Been So Stupid”Paul Krugman for The New York Times: “Inflation Is About to Come Down — but Don't Get Too Excited”Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again, by Johann HariThe Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, by Jonathan HaidtHere are this week’s chatters:David: Little Dorrit, by Charles DickensJohn: Macbeth on BroadwayEmily: Christine Charnosky for Law.com: “A University of Arizona Law Grad on How the GRE Changed Her Life”; University of Arizona Law’s Innovation for Justice work Listener chatter from Nick Gaffney: Alex Hanson for the Valley News: “Croydon School Budget Cut Sets Up High-Stakes Battle Over Future of Town's Education System”; Alex Hanson for the Valley News: “Budget Cut Looks Bleak For Schools After Croydon Meeting”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what constitutes time well spent.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John and David discuss Russia’s war crimes; Disney’s reaction to “don’t say gay”; and Amazon’s first union.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Andrew Exum for The Atlantic: “The Russian Military Has Descended Into Inhumanity”Noam Scheiber for The New York Times: “Amazon Workers Who Won a Union Their Way Open Labor Leaders’ Eyes”Microsoft: “The Rise of the Triple Peak Day”When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel H. Pink Here are this week’s chatters:David: Jessica Contrera for The Washington Post: “The Remarkable Brain of a Carpet Cleaner Who Speaks 24 Languages”; The Wedding Party; Smithsonian National Museum of African Art: “Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits”John: Jill Lawless for The Associated Press: “Darwin Notebooks Missing For 20 Years Returned to Cambridge”; Darwin Correspondence Project: “Fanny Owen”Emily: Twitter thread by Manvir Singh @mnvrsngh on time spent “doing nothing” in small-scale, non-industrial societies. Listener chatter from Kate Conquest: “The Avian Soap Opera Unfolding Atop This Berkeley Bell Tower Has Humans Riveted”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the trend of working a “third shift.”Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden's gaffe in speaking too honestly about Russia; Trump’s missing phone logs; and Ginni Thomas’s efforts to subvert the election.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Bob Woodward and Robert Costa for The Washington Post: “Jan. 6 White House Logs Given To House Show 7-Hour Gap In Trump Calls”Hugo Lowell for The Guardian: “Trump Used White House Phone For Call On January 6 That Was Not On Official Log”Bob Woodward and Robert Costa for The Washington Post: “Virginia Thomas Urged White House Chief to Pursue Unrelenting Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election, Texts Show”Benjamin Wittes for Lawfare: “Donald Trump, John Eastman and the Silence of the Justice Department”Karl Rove for The Wall Street Journal: “Republicans’ Jan. 6 Responsibility”Here are this week’s chatters:David: Beforeigners; City CastJohn: Anna P. Kambhampaty for The New York Times: “Want to See the Weirdest of Wikipedia? Look No Further.”; Morning Brew newsletter; Elden Ring video gameEmily: “The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Refutation”; Anne Frank HouseListener chatter from Andre Walker: All The Sex I've Ever Had at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss what they would do if they needed to disappear. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Ruth Marcus to discuss Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing; Ukraine keeps fighting through atrocity; and more allegations of Republican candidates committing domestic abuse.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Dana Milbank for the Washington Post: “Cruz Attacks Jackson For ‘Critical Race Theory’—But Sends His Own Daughters to Learn It”Henry Olsen for the Washington Post: “Republicans Are Right to Oppose Ketanji Brown Jackson”Here’s this week’s chatter:David: BioHacked: Family Secrets: “The Genius Experiment: Part 1”; The Genius Factory, by David Plotz; The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World, by Riley Black John: Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century, by Dana StevensRuth: Christine Emba for The Washington Post: “Consent Is Not Enough. We Need A New Sexual Ethic.”; Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, by Christine EmbaListener chatter from Eric Jason Martin: Nick Paumgarten for the New Yorker: “Retirement the Margaritaville Way."For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Ruth, John, and David discuss their strangest behaviors.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon talks with author Meghan O’Rourke about germ theory, biomarkers, medical mysteries, long COVID and the quest to return to health as chronicled in her new book The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily and David are joined by guest host Juliette Kayyem to discuss the arming of Ukraine, how to prepare for the next pandemic or catastrophe, and daylight savings time debates.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Megan Garber for The Atlantic: “The Grim Stagecraft of Zelensky’s Selfie Videos”Atul Gawande for The New Yorker: “Costa Ricans Live Longer Than We Do. What's the Secret?”The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters, by Juliette KayyemHere’s this week’s chatter:David: Nina Siegal for The New York Times: “She Discovered What Happened to 400 Dutch Jews Who Disappeared”Emily: Paul Blest for Vice: “Josh Hawley Accused Biden’s SCOTUS Pick of Being Soft on Child Porn”; Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “The Price of a Stolen Childhood”Juliette: Maria Cramer for The New York Times: “A Year After Suez Blockage, Another Evergreen Ship Is Mired in the Chesapeake”Listener chatter from Jonas Barciauskas: This Land podcast For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Juliette, Emily and David talk about what they think about when they want to increase their happiness. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's fighting spirit, rising gas prices, and conformity on campus.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:The Science of Politics podcast: “Does the Public Respond to Threats to Democracy?”The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, the Subjection of Women and UtilitarianismThe Guns of August, by Barbara W. TuchmanEmma Camp for the New York Times: “I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead.”David A. Plotz for the Harvard Crimson: “‘Politically Correct’ Thought Control”Here’s this week’s chatter:David: Kayla Stewart for The New York Times: “One Huge Hog, One Long Day and a Nourishing Southern Tradition”Emily: Pam & TommyJohn: Henry Fountain for The New York Times: “At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History’s Great Wrecks Is Found”Listener chatter from Carol Walker: BBC podcast 1914: Day by Day For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss the people they carry with them. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's resistance, the State of the Union, and an increasing backlash against reformer prosecutors.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Thomas L. Friedman for The New York Times: “I See Three Scenarios for How This War Ends”Anne Appelbaum for the Atlantic: “The Bad Guys Are Winning”Gal Beckerman for The Atlantic: “How Zelensky Gave the World a Jewish Hero”Rebecca Davis O’Brien for The New York Times: “How This ‘Progressive Prosecutor’ Balances Politics and Public Safety”Heart of Darkness, by Joseph ConradCharged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration, by Emily BazelonHere’s this week’s chatter:David: The Postman, by David Brin Emily: In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss, by Amy Bloom; Away, by Amy BloomJohn: New York Times, Feb. 22, 1862: “The Execution of Nathaniel Gordon”Listener chatter from Leslie Camp: Phil Davison for The Washington Post: “Monique Hanotte, Belgian resistance member who rescued 135 downed Allied airmen in World War II, dies at 101” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily and David discuss what they do to find and boost their courage. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stanford Law professor Nathaniel Persily joins David and Emily to discuss President Biden’s nomination for associate justice of the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson.You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)The email address for the Political Gabfest is [email protected]. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily and David are joined by guest host Jane Coaston. The three discuss Putin's war with guest Julia Ioffe and also the GOP attacks on transgender children, and Democrats’ “hack gap.”Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Julia Ioffe for Puck News: “Will Putin Get His World War III?”Anne Appelbaum for The Atlantic: “The Reason Putin Would Risk War”The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret AtwoodHere’s this week’s chatter:David: Work at City Cast; David’s “Exploring a Secret Fort” tour for Atlas Obscura; Florida’s Mount TrashmoreEmily: Danny Hakim and Jo Becker for The New York Times Magazine: “The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas”; Jane Mayer for The New Yorker: “Is Ginni Thomas a Threat to The Supreme Court?”Jane: Sports TwitterListener chatter from Charlie Hunt: Christopher Ingraham for the Washington Post “The Owl Pellet Economy: Meet The Entrepreneurs Who’ve Devoted Their Lives to Bird Vomit.” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, following the death of public health hero Paul Farmer, Emily and David discuss the concept of heroes and the roles they can play in contemporary life. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabfest reads is a new monthly series from the hosts of the Political Gabfest. This month David Plotz talks with author Florence Williams about divorce, affection, good friendships, and her new book Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey. 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 Jocelyn Frank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josie Duffy Rice, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss America's radicalized parents; what the midterms may bring; and the Sandy Hook families’ victory.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Clara Jeffrey for Mother Jones: “What Pundits Don’t Understand About the San Francisco Recall”Jasper Scherer and Benjamin Wermund for The Houston Chronicle: “We Asked All 143 Texas GOP Congressional Candidates About Biden's Win. Only 13 Call it Legitimate.”John Dickerson for the Atlantic: “The GOP Has No Standards Now”Here’s this week’s chatter:John: Rosalind S. Helderman for the Washington Post: “All The Ways Trump Tried to Overturn The Election — And How it Could Happen Again.” Josie: The School for Good Mothers, by Jessamine ChanDavid: Watch some Olympic curling.Listener chatter from Paul Hiebing: Annie Rauwerda for Input Magazine: “The Adorable Love Story Behind Wikipedia’s ‘High Five’ Photos” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Josie, John, and David discuss their hiding places as children and adults. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John and David dig into SCOTUS's failure to enforce the Voting Rights Act, the GOP's embrace of January 6th rioters, and protests in Canada.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:John Dickerson for The Atlantic: “The GOP Has No Standards Now”Adela Suliman for The Washington Post: “Marjorie Taylor Greene says Nancy Pelosi leads ‘gazpacho police,’ causing collective spit take”Brett Samuels for The Hill: “Pence breaks with Trump: 'I had no right to overturn the election'”Here’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Sam Levine for The Guardian: “The Black Woman Sentenced To Six Years In Prison Over A Voting Error”John: “John Grisham Reads Soggy Sweat's Whiskey Speech”David: Oliver Holmes for The Guardian: “Putin’s Massive Table: Powerplay or Paranoia?”Listener chatter from Cason Reily: BBC: “Who Is Sue Gray?” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David ponder what makes something qualify as a sport or a game. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John and David discuss Donald Trump’s attempts to seize voting machines, the racist attacks on the yet-to-be-named SCOTUS nominee, and they are joined by Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University's T. H. Chan School of Public Health, to discuss ways we might update U.S. COVID norms.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Joseph G. Allen for The Washington Post: “Our Playbook to Fight Covid-19 Is Outdated. Here Are 10 Updates for 2022.”Joseph G. Allen and Celine R. Gounder for The Hill: “We Have a Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Fix Our Crumbling Schools”Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity, by Joseph G. Allen and John D. MacomberAdam Serwer for The Atlantic: “Republicans Seem to Think Putting a Black Woman on the Supreme Court Is the Real Racism”Meltdown: What Plane Crashes, Oil Spills, and Dumb Business Decisions Can Teach Us About How to Succeed at Work and at Home, by Chris Clearfield and András Tilcsik Here’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Kristin Toussaint for Fast Company: “How Do Workers Take on a National Chain Like Starbucks? One Store at a Time”; Noam Scheiber for The New York Times: “Taking On Starbucks, Inspired by Bernie Sanders”John: Adam Gopnik for The New Yorker: “Molière to the Panthéon!”; History, Art and Archives: United States House of Representatives: Representative Clement Vallandigham of OhioDavid: Neil Vigdor for the New York Times: “A Teenager Tracked Elon Musk’s Jet on Twitter. Then Came the Direct Message.” Listener chatter from Erin Arizzi-Shores: The Double Shift: “The Check's Not In The Mail”More listener chatter from Larry Williams: Barbara J. King for NPR: “Watch The Moment A Dying Chimpanzee Recognizes An Old Friend”; Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves, by Frans De Waal. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David offer advice about how to establish a work/life balance. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John, Emily and David discuss Justice Breyer’s retirement. They are joined by Anne Applebaum to talk about what global moves may be coming to address threats to Ukraine, and The Gist’s Mike Pesca covers a round robin of the week's news.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics, by Stephen Breyer Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic: “The Bad Guys Are Winning”The GistSlow Burn: WatergateStation Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel Station Eleven series on HBO MaxThe Way We Live Now, by Anthony TrollopeHere’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Vauhini Vara for Believer Magazine: “Ghosts”; This American Life: “The Ghost in The Machine”John: Dylan Matthews for Vox: “Can Giving Parents Cash Help With Babies’ Brain Development?”David: Tiffany Lukk for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: “Where to Go Dog Sledding in Minnesota”; Nicole Wetsman for The Verge: “CDC Emails Show That Vaccine Cards Are Supposed To Fit In Your Wallet: The Covid-19 Cards Do Not Fit In Wallets”Listener chatter from Tom McIlroy: Michael Zhang for PetaPixel: “Photographer Finds Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss the screen adaptation of Station Eleven. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden’s first year, SCOTUS's block of OSHA’s vax-or-test rule, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s busy start.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:John Dickerson for CBS Sunday Morning: “President Joe Biden: The First Year”Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel Station Eleven series on HBO MaxHere’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Deep Cover, Season 2: Mob LandJohn: Take Note Podcast; Adam Webb for Take Note: “How to Keep a Notebook”David: Paul Schwartzman for The Washington Post: “Missing Jewels And Art: A Lawsuit Against a Retired Professor Is Ruffling The Well-To-Do From Georgetown to Newport, R.I.”Listener chatter from Alissa Surges: Allison Robicelli for The Washington Post: “I Spent The Night in an Empty Airport. it Was a Dream Come True”; Work at City CastFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David talk about why to keep a journal. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss voting rights, Russia's recent moves, with guest Nina Jankowicz; and the increasing politicization of cable news.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute: Electoral Count Act of 1887David Becker on Face the Nation: “Elections Expert David Becker Denounces ‘Efforts to Sow Confusion and Chaos’ ”Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “Democracy Worked This Year. but It Is Under Threat.”Christina A. Cassidy for AP News: “Far Too Little Vote Fraud to Tip Election to Trump, AP Finds”How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict, by Nina JankowiczAnne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “The Science of Making Americans Hurt Their Own Country”Here’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Jan Ransom for the New York Times: “A Look Inside Rikers: ‘Fight Night’ and Gang Rule, Captured on Video”David: Nathanael Johnson thread on Twitter and We Are Lady Parts TV showJohn: The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker and “On Keeping a Notebook,” by Joan DidionListener chatter from Bea Scott: The History of Democracy Has Yet to Be Written by Thomas GeogheganFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment John, Emily, and David discuss rule-breaking and Novak Djokovic’s moves in Australia.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Shayna Elliot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Jan. 6, with guest Jamelle Bouie and what to make of omicron's impact on schools, and the Theranos case.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Matt Levine for Bloomberg: “Slaying the Blood Unicorn”Wall Street Journal: Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes: History of the WSJ Investigation Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “I Write About the Law. But Could I Really Help Free a Prisoner?”Ruddy Roye PhotographyWalker EvansAnastasia Taylor-LindSally MannLarry Fink PhotographyEdward Hopper: Night Shadows, 1921Alexander Calder: Finny FishWolfgang Laib: Wax RoomCaravaggio: The Conversion of Saint PaulHere’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Crossroads, by Jonathan Franzen; Parul Sehgal for the New Yorker: “The Case Against the Trauma Plot”John: Window-Swap.comDavid: Fight Club; Free Guy; City CastListener chatter from Cynthia Weiner: Corryn Wetzel for Smithsonian Magazine: “Ten Hilarious Winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, David, and Jamelle discuss the famous works of art they would most like to possess. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz wrap up 2021 considering life’s many conundrums—with special guest Dwayne Betts!Questions this year include: if you could eliminate one word from the English language what would it be? If you could transport the characters of one book into the time and place of another, which would you choose? If you were ONLY able to brush your teeth in the morning or the night- which would be optimal?Special thanks to everyone who sent in conundrums for consideration.For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, John attempt a conundrum lightning round.You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) The email address for the Political Gabfest is [email protected]. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the future of the Democratic party's agenda, Omicron's spread across the United States and they're joined by investigative journalist Azmat Khan to talk about the deaths of civilians overseas and the lack of accuracy from the U.S. military.Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “$1.75 Trillion Is Plenty of Money to Write a Good Build Back Better Bill Here Are Some Solid Options”Simon Bazelon and David Shor for Slow Boring: “A Permanent CTC Expansion With a Sharper Means-Test Would Protect Poor Kids Better And Be More Popular”Jonathan Chait for New York Magazine: “Biden Should Take Manchin's Deal Right Now”David Wallace-Wells for New York Magazine: “Gauteng’s Omicron Wave Is Already Peaking. Why?”Derek Thompson for the Atlantic:”Is Omicron Milder?”Azmat Khan for The New York Times: “Hidden Pentagon Records Reveal Patterns of Failure in Deadly Airstrikes”Azmat Khan for The New York Times Magazine: “The Human Toll of America’s Air Wars”Azmat Khan for The New York Times Magazine: “The Uncounted”Heart of Darkness, by Joseph ConradHere’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Katie Benner, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Charlie Savage for the New York Times: “Some Inmates Can Stay Confined at Home After Covid Emergency, Justice Dept. Says”John: The Power of Meaning, by Emily Esfahani Smith, Mozhan Marno, and On the Meaning of Life, by Will DurantDavid: Hard Knocks In Season: The Indianapolis ColtsListener chatter from Mo Trent: stuffin.spaceFor this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David discuss their most and least useful years of formal education. Special thanks to listener Sean McPherson for the suggestion. Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John and David discuss January 6th revelations, Build Back Better and voting rights and they are joined by Slow Burn host Joel Anderson to talk about Season 6: The L.A. Riots.Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:David A. Graham for the Atlantic: “The Paperwork Coup”Barton Gellman for the Atlantic: “Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun”Charles Homans for the New York Times: “In Bid for Control of Elections, Trump Loyalists Face Few Obstacles”Slow Burn Season 6: The L.A. RiotsSlow Burn Season 3: Biggie and TupacEmily Bazelon for Slate: “The Nazi Anatomists”Here’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism, by bell hooks; We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity, by bell hooksJohn: Sharyn Alfonsi for 60 Minutes: “Negotiating With the Taliban to Save Lives Iin Afghanistan”; The Daily: “Economic Catastrophe in Afghanistan”; Christina Goldbaum for the New York Times: “Facing Economic Collapse, Afghanistan Is Gripped by Starvation”David: Julian Mark for the Washington Post: “Rapper Logic Wrote the Song ‘1-800-273-8255’ To Save Lives. He May Have Saved Hundreds, Study Finds.”Listener chatter from Adrian Monthony: Geraldine DeRuiter for The Everywhereist: “Bros., Lecce: We Eat at The Worst Michelin Starred Restaurant, Ever”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, John, and David share their best holiday gift ideas.Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily and David are joined by guest host David Leonhardt to discuss the pandemic economy; a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, and the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:John J. Mearsheimer for Foreign Affairs: “The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics”Corey Robin for The New York Times: “Why the Biden Presidency Feels Like Such a Disappointment”The Enigma of Clarence Thomas, by Corey RobinMike Baker for The New York Times: “The Sisters Who First Tried to Take Down Jeffrey Epstein”tAndrew Anthony for The Guardian: “Meet Julie K Brown, The Woman Who Brought Down Jeffrey Epstein”Jill Filipvoc’s newsletter Matthew Yglesias’ Slow Boring newsletterJoe Sheehan’s baseball newsletterMatt Levine’s Money Stuff newsletterHeather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American newsletterHere’s this week’s chatter:Emily: Leah Litman for NBC News: “The Death Penalty Cases Before The Supreme Court That Could Keep Innocent People In Prison”: Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “Conservative Justices Scoff at Maine’s Exclusion of Religious Schools From Tuition-Assistance Program”David Leonhardt: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker SuiteDavid Plotz:: Work at City Cast; Sex Lives of College GirlsListener chatter from Andrew Lacko: “Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and David talk about newsletters and what they do well.Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here's how!Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.