Slate Daily Feed

Join pop music critic Lindsay Zoladz from The New York Times and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, co-founder of Hearing Things, as they dive into the exciting music landscape of 2025. They explore Bad Bunny's cultural impact and debate whether we've hit peak fandom. The panel also discusses genre-bending innovations from Rosalía and K-pop hybrids, alongside the rising presence of Gen Z rock with bands like Geese. Tune in to hear their takes on hip-hop's future beyond giants Kendrick and Drake, and the emergence of fresh voices in the scene!

Explore the evolution of movie soundtracks and their striking impact on pop culture. Discover how films like *The Graduate* and *Saturday Night Fever* shifted soundtracks towards rock and disco. Examine the MTV era's influence and the iconic hits from *Footloose*, *Purple Rain*, and *Dirty Dancing*. Learn why later films still resonate, from the nostalgic vibes of *The Big Chill* to the modern hits of *A Star Is Born*. Uncover how soundtracks create lasting cultural memories, with a glimpse at future trends in music and film.

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Stephen Colbert answer listeners’ conundrums of all kinds: the meaningful, the trivial, and the delightfully absurd.Thanks to all Conundrums contributors: Karl, Elodie, Mitchell, Brian, Phil, Eric, Christian, Kyle, Matthew, Katie, Jesse, John, Bjorn, David, Colin, Alan, Emily, Marie, and Liam!Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki with live show support from Katie Rayford and the team at the New York Society for Ethical Culture Research by Emily DittoYou can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. 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. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park.  Follow@SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All this week, What Next and What Next: TBD are re-airing some of our favorite conversations from throughout the year and checking back with the people in those conversations to see how things have – or haven’t – changed. This episode originally aired in September. We’ve been told that artificial intelligence can write, code, generate images—it can do everything…except feasibly turn a profit. But investing in A.I. has nevertheless become a pillar of the U.S. economy. Where is this leading us?Guest: Ed Zitron, author of the newsletter Where’s Your Ed At and host of the podcast Better Offline.If you want to support more of this reporting, in 2026 and beyond, consider signing up for Slate Plus. You’ll enjoy ad-free listening across the Slate network, early access to tickets for live events, and you’ll never hit the paywall on the site. We’re on a mission to get 100 people to join Slate Plus before the new year—and we’re even offering a 50-percent-off deal to folks who join us right now. Visit Slate.com/whatnextplus and use the code WHATNEXT50 to get a year of Slate Plus for $59. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All this week, What Next and What Next: TBD are re-airing some of our favorite conversations from throughout the year and checking back with the people in those conversations to see how things have – or haven’t – changed. This episode is from August.More than a thousand rabbis and Jewish leaders have signed a letter calling for Israel to end “the use and threat of starvation as a weapon of war.” This New York rabbi, who has felt a connection to Israel her whole life, explains why she signed. Guest:  Sarah Reines, rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan.If you want to support more of this reporting, in 2026 and beyond, consider signing up for Slate Plus. You’ll enjoy ad-free listening across the Slate network, early access to tickets for live events, and you’ll never hit the paywall on the site. We’re on a mission to get 100 people to join Slate Plus before the new year—and we’re even offering a 50-percent-off deal to folks who join us right now. Visit Slate.com/whatnextplus and use the code WHATNEXT50 to get a year of Slate Plus for $59.Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clint Smith, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of 'How the Word Is Passed', dives deep into the complexities of teaching American history, particularly surrounding slavery and systemic oppression. He reflects on his formative years as a high school English teacher, emphasizing the importance of confronting difficult histories to foster understanding. Smith discusses the political pushback against honest history education and contrasts America’s struggle with historical reckoning to Germany’s approach, advocating for a balanced view of the nation’s past.

The hosts dive into intriguing aspects of language, exploring vocabulary, conversation, and voice. They debate the pitfalls of polysyllabic words and discuss the fine line between distinctiveness and self-parody. Fun anecdotes reveal how to transform dull conversations, with tips on asking quirky questions and embracing surprise. The discussion meanders into the impact of editing on clarity and writerly style. Plus, they share personal endorsements including a beloved Christmas album and a clever playlist trick for rediscovering musical gems.

In this insightful discussion, Slate staff writer Aymann Ismail analyzes the viral Jubilee video featuring Mehdi Hasan debating 20 far-right Republicans. He argues that as political disagreements increasingly become sensationalized content, it leads to issues like platforming extremists. Aymann critiques Jubilee’s shift towards attention-seeking formats that prioritize spectacle over meaningful discussion. They also explore the consequences of viral controversies and how participants benefit from notoriety, raising questions about the responsibility of platforms in shaping discourse.

All this week, What Next and What Next: TBD are re-airing some of our favorite conversations from throughout the year and checking back with the people in those conversations to see how things have – or haven’t – changed. This episode is from August.From the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, and places in between like Yellowstone and the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, the National Park Service has been a point of American pride since its inception. And with a small budget and actually generating revenue, even fiscal hawks had no reason to complain. So why is the Trump administration cutting their budget? Guests:Jon B. Jarvis,18th director of the National Parks.Kevin Heatley, former superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.  If you want to support more of this reporting, in 2026 and beyond, consider signing up for Slate Plus. You’ll enjoy ad-free listening across the Slate network, early access to tickets for live events, and you’ll never hit the paywall on the site. We’re on a mission to get 100 people to join Slate Plus before the new year—and we’re even offering a 50-percent-off deal to folks who join us right now. Visit Slate.com/whatnextplus and use the code WHATNEXT50 to get a year of Slate Plus for $59.Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, screenwriter Russell Hainline shares his journey from crafting thrillers to creating heartwarming holiday rom-coms. He discusses the allure of his breakout Netflix hit, 'Hot Frosty,' and the unique challenges of working within Hallmark’s constraints. Russell reveals the art of building chaste yet steamy romantic tension and explains why sincerity rather than irony is crucial for emotional resonance. With reflections on small-town charm and themes of aspiration, he captures what makes these films so beloved.