Political Gabfest
Slate Podcasts
Voted “Favorite Political Podcast” by Apple Podcasts listeners. Stephen Colbert says "Everybody should listen to the Slate Political Gabfest." The Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, is the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks.Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
18 snips
Jul 20, 2024 • 36min
Gabfest Reads: Understanding the World Through Notebooks
Author Roland Allen discusses the historical origins of notebooks, emphasizing their impact on creativity and personal documentation. They explore the evolution of notebooks, the emotional weight of handwritten diaries, and the transformative impact of paper versus parchment on historical documentation.
Jul 18, 2024 • 44min
“Fight, Fight, Fight”
Mary Harris joins John Dickerson to discuss Trump's VP pick, excitement at the RNC, aftermath of an assassination attempt. Topics include political unity, shifts in campaign strategies, analysis of the Republican Party dynamics post-Trump, and analyzing political motives and communication challenges.
6 snips
Jul 11, 2024 • 56min
Even George Clooney Has Abandoned Biden
Legal expert Emily Bazelon, political analyst John Dickerson, and journalist David Plotz discuss the possibility of Joe Biden stepping down and potential replacements, Project 2025, and the impact of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. They also delve into Trump's strategic plans, government effectiveness, optimizing supply chains with AI, and the complexities of conservative legal interpretation.
10 snips
Jul 4, 2024 • 1h 3min
Trump Is So Immune
Legal expert and journalist Emily Bazelon joins in to dissect the Supreme Court's decisions on presidential immunity and the future of Joe Biden's nomination. The discussion covers Trump's immunity, the Biden campaign's strategies, and the impact of recent court rulings favoring corporate influence over regulatory power.
4 snips
Jun 28, 2024 • 27min
Biden’s Catastrophic Debate
Legal expert Emily Bazelon, political commentator John Dickerson, and journalist David Plotz discuss Biden's disastrous debate performance, Trump's aggressive lying, challenges for fact-checking, and speculations on Biden's withdrawal. They analyze potential scenarios, crafting a positive narrative for Biden, and implications for the election, highlighting the complexities of post-debate dynamics.
Jun 27, 2024 • 56min
A Law Trapped In Amber
In this episode, Linda Greenhouse and Congressman Jamaal Bowman discuss recent Supreme Court rulings on emergency abortions and guns, the impact of federal laws on Idaho hospitals, vulnerabilities in the Supreme Court's technology, and analysis of gun ownership under the Second Amendment. They also touch on a candid Supreme Court Justice, recent primary election results, challenges in redistricted elections, and the impact of policy stances on voters. The episode concludes with reflections on love, loss, and a new podcast highlight platform.
6 snips
Jun 20, 2024 • 59min
Presidential Debate Preview
Legal expert Emily Bazelon, journalist John Dickerson, and host David Plotz analyze the upcoming presidential debates, the Surgeon General's call for social media warnings, California's smartphone ban, one-party rule consequences, and the impact of social media on teenagers' mental health.
Jun 15, 2024 • 19min
Gabfest Reads: When a Sex Robot Catches Feelings
David Plotz talks with author Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot. They discuss how much discomfort Annie (a “Cuddle Bunny” type of robot) can feel, how the story of a robot is really about the right to control a body, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 13, 2024 • 55min
Biden’s Risky Asylum Policy
Anne Applebaum from The Atlantic discusses Biden's asylum policy, European elections, and NYC congestion pricing. Topics include asylum system challenges, European far-right movements, and delays in Manhattan's congestion pricing plan.
Jun 6, 2024 • 55min
Will Trump’s Conviction Help Biden?
This week's podcast features Charles Homans discussing the fallout from Trump's conviction, the Hunter Biden trial, and challenges universities face in handling campus free speech. Topics include the impact of Trump's conviction on public opinion, potential repercussions for Republicans, and the battle over college speech.
