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In a normal year, the next couple of weeks would be when excited campers returned to summer camp. Now, because of the coronavirus, summer camps are having to make tough calls about how and if they’ll open this year.Guest: Lisa Handelman, camp director at Capital Camps. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global scarcity of masks has shown us the federal government’s desperate side. Procurement rules have been loosened. Prices have soared. And a shadowy market has emerged where deals fall through all the time -- leaving people without the gear they need to protect themselves and save lives. Guest: J. David McSwane, reporter for ProPublica. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We closed down the country because we didn’t have enough COVID-19 tests. Now that testing capacity is improving, there’s another problem: figuring out what all this new data means, and who’s reporting accurate figures. Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at the Atlantic, and part of the team working on the COVID Tracking Project. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot happened in February for Senator Ricard Burr (R-NC). He told his constituents that the country was “ready to face the coronavirus.” He told a members-only club that they should expect school closures, canceled travel, and overwhelmed hospitals. And he sold a bunch of his stock. Now, Burr is under a federal investigation for possible insider trading. Guest: Tim Mak, Washington investigative correspondent for NPR. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski talk about the possibility of a merger between Uber and Grubhub, the potential collapse of the child care industry, and they get to some of the questions they missed on their Wednesday night Facebook Live Q&A.In the Slate Plus segment: Questions from the live Q&A Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli.Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This constant trickle of updates can quickly turn into a flood.How should normal people interpret this deluge of data?Guest: Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of COVID-Explained. HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This constant trickle of updates can quickly turn into a flood.How should normal people interpret this deluge of data?Guest: Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of COVID-Explained. HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John, and David discuss COVID without federal leadership; challenges to Trump at the Supreme Court; and novelist Isabel Allende joins the show to talk about her new book A Long Petal of the Sea, and how crisis can be an opportunity for change.For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss (what would be) epic historical counterfactuals. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show.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.)Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Marty Makary for The New York Times: “How to Reopen America Safely”Norbert J. Michel and Drew Gonshorowski for the Heritage Foundation: “1% of Counties Home to Half of COVID-19 Cases, Over Half of Deaths”Scott Clement and Dan Balz for The Washington Post: “Many Governors Win Bipartisan Support for Handling of Pandemic, But Some Republicans Face Blowback Over Reopening Efforts”Zeynep Tufekci for The Atlantic: “How Hong Kong Did It”Perri Klass for The New York Times: Rethinking Covid-19 in ChildrenMaria DeCotis @MariaDeCotis performs Governor Mario Cuomo’s comments on his daughter’s boyfriend.Here are this week’s cocktail chatters:John: Heran Mamo for Billboard: “Relive Prince & the Revolution's Iconic 1985 Purple Rain Concert During a Three-Night Livestream”; Olivia Clement for Playbill: “Audra McDonald to Host Star-Studded Covenant House Benefit With Meryl Streep, Dolly Parton, and More”Emily: The Music Lab’s Tone-Deafness Test and Rodham, by Curtis SittenfeldDavid: Haven Orecchio-Egresitz for Business insider: “A White Man Ran Through a Florida Neighborhood Carrying a TV to Prove That Looking 'Suspicious' Wasn't an Excuse for Killing Ahmaud Arbery”; Monica Humphries for Business Insider: “A BBC Sports Broadcaster Held a Zoom Meeting With His 2 Dogs to Deliver Their Annual Performance Reviews”Listener chatter from Team@shah_of_shaw: Rutger Bregman for the Guardian: “The Real Lord of the Flies: What Happened When Six Boys Were Shipwrecked for 15 Months” Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All around the world, scientific research has been put on hold to concentrate resources on one thing: a vaccine for COVID-19. The usual red tape that slows down these experiments has been removed. And at a lab in Baltimore, researchers are working around the clock to recruit trial participants, prepare vaccine doses, and study results. Guest: Dr. Kirsten Lyke, lead investigator on COVID-19 vaccine trials at the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The criminal case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn has been full of plot-twists. But the biggest about-face came last week, when the Department of Justice moved to drop the case entirely. Lawyers who had worked on the investigation registered their disgust by refusing to sign the motion. U.S. Attorney General William Barr says he hopes history will look kindly on his decision. Critics say the move undermines any future attempt to hold the Trump administration accountable.Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, legal correspondent for Slate and host of the podcast Amicus. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We spoke to Greta Privitera back in mid-March, a few weeks after she and her family isolated themselves at home in northern Italy. Now, with Italy taking baby steps toward normalcy, Greta says she’s enjoying her walks outside, she still worries about another surge in COVID-19 cases. And by the look of things, she's not alone.Guest: Greta Privitera, a journalist living in Milan. Read her latest dispatch for Slate. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead on a Sunday afternoon in southern Georgia. He had been jogging a few miles from his home. The shooting happened on February 23. It took more than two months for officials to make any arrests. Why?Guest: Christian Boone, public safety reporter for the AJC. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Urban theorist Richard Florida joins the Slate Money hosts to discuss all sorts of questions around cities and coronavirus--such as how population density factors into the virus’ spread, why certain cities are faring better than others, and what our cities might look like after the pandemic. In the Slate Plus segment: The reaction to COVID-19 and climate change. Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli.Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Susan Hennessey, national security analyst and executive editor of Lawfare to discuss the ramifications of the Justice Department’s decision to drop the case against Michael Flynn. Later in the show, Lithwick is joined by veteran Supreme Court watcher Linda Greenhouse to unpack the new format for Supreme Court arguments: a teleconference carried live on C-SPAN, with a close look at the birth control case you might have missed. In the Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern on how Flushgate could affect post-pandemic openness at the Supreme Court and which justice is crushing the conference calls. Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.Podcast production by Sara Burningham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday, New York City announced that it would provide 140,000 free antibody tests to residents who want to know if they have been exposed to the coronavirus. And New York isn’t alone: large-scale antibody testing is ramping up around the country.But with faulty tests flooding the market and questions about whether a positive test really confers immunity are antibody tests really worth the bother?Guests: Shannon Palus, staff writer for Slate, and Dr. Natalie E. Dean, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday, New York City announced that it would provide 140,000 free antibody tests to residents who want to know if they have been exposed to the coronavirus. And New York isn’t alone: large-scale antibody testing is ramping up around the country.But with faulty tests flooding the market and questions about whether a positive test really confers immunity are antibody tests really worth the bother?Guests: Shannon Palus, staff writer for Slate, and Dr. Natalie E. Dean, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John and David discuss states reopening as numbers of cases continue to climb; this year’s election security challenges; and they're joined by guest Gene Sperling to talk about “economic dignity.”For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss how to save the summer. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show.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.Notes and references from this week’s show:Nicholas Confessore, Andrew Jacobs, Jodi Kantor, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Luis Ferré-Sadurní for the New York Times: “How Kushner’s Volunteer Force Led a Fumbling Hunt for Medical Supplies”Jason Dearen and Mike Stobbe for the Associated Press: “US Shelves Detailed Guide to Reopening Country”Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “Will Americans Lose Their Right to Vote in the Pandemic?”Mark Joseph Stern for Slate: “Trump Can’t Cancel the Election. But States Could Do It for Him.”Economic Dignity by Gene B. SterlingGene B. Sperling for the New York Times: “Martin Luther King Jr. Predicted This Moment”Jason DeParle for the New York Times: “As Hunger Swells, Food Stamps Become a Partisan Flash Point”Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’s online classesSpy Hop’s on demand art classesNational Karate’s online classesThis week’s cocktail chatters:Emily: Richard L. Hansen for Slate: “We Cannot Hold an Election Without a Functional Post Office”; Strict Scrutiny: “Stay Frustrated”John: The New York Times’ The Daily: “One Meat Plant. One Thousand Infections”; Mike Baker for the New York Times: “‘Murder Hornets’ in the U.S.: The Rush to Stop the Asian Giant Hornet”David: Benjamin Wofford for The Washingtonian: “Sally Quinn Modeled the Erotic Hero of Her 1991 Bestseller on…Anthony Fauci. Yes, that Anthony Fauci.”; Perry Stein and Donna St. George for the Washington Post: “Despite Pushback, Sidwell and Other D.C.-area Prep Schools are Keeping Their Small-Business Loans”Listener chatter from Dave Campbell @DaveCampbell116: Twitter thread from Rhodri Davies@Rhodri_H_Davies about Irish people donating to a crowdfunding campaign to help Choctaw & Navajo people hit by Covid-19, in recognition of support given by Choctaw during Irish famine of 1845. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, the Postal Service has faced financial turmoil. Now, facing a pandemic, mail volume has dropped off and the question has resurfaced: Can the post office survive? Devin Leonard wrote the book on the Postal Service and says how it got to this latest crisis is more complicated than it seems. With the post master general saying that the service could be financially insolvent by the fall, is this the government’s last chance to right the ship?Guest: Devin Leonard, writer for Bloomberg and Bloomberg Businessweek. He’s also the author of Neither Snow Nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It all started when the weather took a turn for the better. Surfers and beachgoers flocked to Orange County shores, only to find them cordoned off, at the behest of Governor Gavin Newsom. Protestors took to the streets in Huntington Beach, demanding an end to the shutdowns. The demonstrations weren't huge. But, in the world of Republican politics, you ignore Orange County at your own peril.Guest: Gustavo Arellano, writer at the Los Angeles Times and host of L.A. Times podcast Coronavirus in California. He’s also the author of Orange County: A Personal History.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food.This week, Austin Bryniarski joins to discuss his theory that the war on food waste is a little too easy for everyone to get behind and might ultimately serve as a distraction from bigger environmental and social issues. For more info, read his article The War on Food Waste is a Waste of Time by Austin Bryniarski for The Outline.Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last spring, Lucy Flores wrote in The Cut that Joe Biden invaded her personal space and sniffed her hair at a campaign event in 2014. She says Biden never reached out to her after she went public. Now, as Joe Biden faces even more serious allegations from a former staffer, what action does Lucy expect from the former Vice President?Guest: Lucy Flores, Former Nevada Assemblywoman and CEO Luz Collective.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the coronavirus continues to leave people sick and out of work, alone and under stress, there’s one particular group of people taking special notice, extremists. It's not just the virus that is spreading. Extreme and violent rhetoric is too.Guest: Hannah Allam, covers extremism for NPR.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Felix, Anna, and Emily discuss the process for reopening states, what’s going on with big business right now, and the gross domestic product that’s hidden in our homes. In the Slate Plus segment: The meat industry. Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli.Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're introducing you to one of our favorite podcasts, Code Switch!Hosted by Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji, Code Switch offers some of the best stories and conversations about race you'll find anywhere.On today's bonus episode you'll hear a fascinating story about what happened when Puerto Ricans were asked for the first time on their census form: "What is your race?"The answer reveals a lot about the island's relationship with the US and, of course, our identities.Don't forget to subscribe to Code Switch wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the world’s largest tech companies posted their quarterly earnings. And—unlike most other companies in the world—things aren’t looking so bad. With the global economy reeling, and people sheltering indoors, the tech giants have an opportunity to reshape the way we live. Don’t expect them to wait on the sidelines.Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent at the Washington Post Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the world’s largest tech companies posted their quarterly earnings. And—unlike most other companies in the world—things aren’t looking so bad. With the global economy reeling, and people sheltering indoors, the tech giants have an opportunity to reshape the way we live. Don’t expect them to wait on the sidelines.Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent at the Washington Post Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, John and David discuss Tara Reade’s allegations against Joe Biden, the debate over reopening schools, and the three hosts are joined by astronaut Scott Kelly to talk through tips for living in confined spaces.For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the ethics of human challenge trials for vaccine development. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. 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.)Here are notes and references from this week’s show:Michael J. Stern for USA Today: “Why I'm Skeptical About Reade's Sexual Assault Claim Against Biden: Ex-Prosecutor”Brian & Eddie Krassenstein for Medium: “Biden Accuser, Tara Reade, Allegedly Stole from Non-Profit Organization”Seren Morris for Newsweek: “What is 1 Day Sooner? Scientists Seek Volunteers to Become Infected with Coronavirus to Speed Up Vaccine Development” Peter Singer and Richard Yetter Chappell for the Washington Post: “Pandemic Ethics: The Case for Experiments on Human Volunteers”Eminent Victorians by Lytton StracheyHere are this week’s cocktail chatters:Emily: Linda Villarosa for The New York Times Magazine: “‘A Terrible Price’: The Deadly Racial Disparities of Covid-19 in America” John: Kathryn Krawczyk for The Week: “Michigan Governor Introduces a GI Bill for Frontline Workers”; Rosalind Adams and Ken Bensinger for Buzzfeed: “After One Tweet To President Trump, This Man Got $69 Million From New York For Ventilators”David: David’s new newsletter for Business Insider; Johnny Diaz for the New York Times: “Cities Close Streets to Cars, Opening Space for Social Distancing”Listener chatter from Püblic Üniversal Fiend @UniversalFiend: Associated Press: “Dutch Students Complete Trans-Atlantic Voyage Forced by Coronavirus”Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode originally aired June 2019.Notre Dame basketball coach Muffet McGraw wasn’t planning on making a speech about feminism and gender equality. But at a press conference before the Final Four tournament, that’s just what she did, launching into a screed about the dearth of women in government, politics, corporate C-suites, and sports. “We don’t have enough female role models,” McGraw said. “Men run the world!” The viral moment was a lifetime in the making. Guest: Muffet McGraw, head coach of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the first known case of coronavirus in the United States was detected in a suburb of Seattle, the region quickly became the epicenter of the pandemic in the country. Now, almost two months later, Seattle has suffered only 500 COVID-19 deaths while New York has over 22,000. What choices led to such disparate outcomes? Guest: Charles Duhigg, Host of Slate’s How To PodcastSlate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food.This week, Tad Friend joins to discuss the growing alternative meat industry, the plant-based crusade of Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown and the significant environmental benefits of ditching the beef patty."Value Meal" by Tad Friend for The New YorkerEmail: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgia has confirmed more than 24,000 cases of COVID-19 and tallied close to 1,000 deaths from the disease. However, Governor Brian Kemp is still allowing a number of the state’s businesses to reopen this week, citing an increased capacity for testing and hospitalizations. Employers, for their part, have been left in a lurch. How do small business owners reopen? Should they? And, if an owner chooses to remain shuttered, can it count on the government for help?Guest: Christopher Escobar, owner of the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With 26 million Americans filing for unemployment in the last five weeks, it’s obvious that the economy is still broken. However, Congress hasn’t been sitting on its heels—trillions of dollars of aid have been approved with billions more signed into law this week. The problem? It just hasn’t been enough. Now, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecasts unemployment could reach 16 percent later this year. So, what else can Congress do to resuscitate the economy?Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Colorado State Attorney General Phil Weiser to talk about how states’ rights fit into the picture of America that’s emerging in this pandemic. In the Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to talk about the big decisions that came down from the high court this week and what they mean for other, even bigger, decisions yet to come this term. Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.Podcast production by Sara Burningham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Felix, Anna, and Emily discuss the price of oil, the Paycheck Protection Program round two, and the results of their informal poll on stimulus checks. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Slate Money each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.In the Slate Plus segment: The United States Oil Fund.Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli.Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at breakneck speed to find a vaccine, they’re debating breaking (or at least bending) the rules that ensure the end product is safe.How do we balance speed with safety in the rush to develop a vaccine?Guest: Dr. Timothy Lahey, an infectious diseases doctor, ethicist, and vaccine researcher at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at breakneck speed to find a vaccine, they’re debating breaking (or at least bending) the rules that ensure the end product is safe.How do we balance speed with safety in the rush to develop a vaccine?Guest: Dr. Timothy Lahey, an infectious diseases doctor, ethicist, and vaccine researcher at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, David and John discuss the pushback against COVID-19 restrictions, the success of female political leaders, and they're joined by Mark Bittman to talk about eating and cooking well during isolation.For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss their all-time must-read lists. The list is here. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. 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.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, cruises were the poster-child of viral spread. For the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Cruise Line, the problems began in February and quickly escalated, as more passengers and crew fell ill, and Carnival struggled to dock its cruise liners. As ships went from floating cities to floating quarantines, what did the bosses know, and when did they know it? Guest: Austin Carr, reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek. Read his story.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 700 cases of COVID-19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota can be traced back to the city’s Smithfield pork packaging plant. Weeks before the coronavirus outbreak was confirmed, employees were asking for protective measures that didn’t materialize until it was too late. And Smithfield isn’t unique: Meatpacking facilities across the country are also struggling to minimize the spread of the virus. Guest: Kooper Caraway, president of the Sioux Falls AFL-CIO. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food.Dan Barber of Blue Hill joins Felix to discuss how COVID-19 is revealing the flaws in the farm-to-table model, the utilitarian origins of cuisine and what a truly sustainable local food system would look like. Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No one thought 2020 was going to be a boring election year. Several key Senate seats are in play, presenting Democrats with a real shot at winning back the chamber. However, with an unstable economy and a critical phase of the campaign cycle going virtual, candidates are facing new challenges. Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writerSlate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever since COVID-19 surfaced in Florida, local journalists began wondering how the virus was going to impact nursing home residents and employees. For weeks the facilities and the state's health department were reluctant to release data on the more than 600 assisted care centers. On Saturday, Governor Ron DeSantis finally released a list of nursing homes with confirmed cases, but only after pressure from news outlets and the public.Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, capital bureau chief for the Miami Herald. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Felix, Anna, and Emily discuss the Paycheck Protection Program funds running out, Amazon’s current percentage of evil, and why companies would pay out dividends right now.“Coronavirus at Smithfield pork plant: The untold story of America's biggest outbreak” by Jessica Lussenhop in BBC News In the Slate Plus segment: Pandemic Bonds. Email: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli.Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease within communities. South Korea’s extensive tracing program has all but eliminated the spread of the virus within its borders. What will it take for the U.S. to do the same?Guests: Raphael Rashid, a freelance journalist, and Dr. Mike Reid, professor at University of California, San FranciscoHostHenry Grabar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease within communities. South Korea’s extensive tracing program has all but eliminated the spread of the virus within its borders. What will it take for the U.S. to do the same?Guests: Raphael Rashid, a freelance journalist, and Dr. Mike Reid, professor at University of California, San FranciscoHostHenry Grabar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump claims “total authority”, Heather Boushey on fighting the recession, and Amanda Ripley on lessons from Katrina and other disasters.For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss what they would do about the pandemic if they were billionaires. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show.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.

The summer is going to be marked by the slow process of learning to live with coronavirus looming. The United States is going to have to rethink what “normal” means.Guest: Ed Yong, Science writer for The AtlanticSlate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in January, the Trump administration was caught flat footed in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Politico’s Dan Diamond took a look back at the past 20 years of pandemic preparedness in the United States and found that former administrations weren’t exactly proactive either. Guest: Dan Diamond, Health Reporter for POLITICOSlate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington is still struggling to put the U.S. economy on ice while we wait out the coronavirus. Maybe you’re expecting your government check this week. Maybe you’re a small business owner looking for a loan. Is help on the way? And, if not, what’s the hold-up?Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food.Remember going to restaurants? Marissa Conrad joins to talk about the complex economy of restaurant reservations and how apps like OpenTable and Resy are changing the game. “We Suck at Reservations” by Marissa Conrad for New York MagazineEmail: [email protected] production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.