Political Gabfest
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.
1
Manchin on the Hill
Joe Manchin, how the Trump DOJ lives on, and George Packer’s four Americas.
59 min
2
The “Murder Mystery” Edition
The Big Lie bill is bigger in Texas, Biden’s agenda stalls under minority rule, and Patrick Sharkey on the rise in violent crime.
61 min
3
The “Gain of Function” Edition
55 min
4
Hot Button Issue
Israel, abortion at the Supreme Court, and Nine Nasty Words with John McWhorter
56 min
5
Million Dollar Jab
The post-pandemic economy; vaccine hoarding; and Alex Stamos on the Colonial Pipeline hack.
62 min
6
Martyrdom of Liz Cheney
Liz Cheney defies the Trumpists; Trump’s Facebook suspension upheld; and going meatless gets political.
60 min
7
Live at 100 Days
A live Gabfest on the policies and politics of Biden’s first 100 days—with guest Jamelle Bouie!
46 min
8
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty
The Chauvin verdict with Dwayne Betts; Andrew Yang’s mayoral campaign; and why the U.S. invaded Iraq with Noreen Malone.
60 min
9
Blood Clot
The vaccine “pause,” the death of Daunte Wright, and Biden’s commission on the U.S. Supreme Court.
64 min
10
Midnight Train From Georgia
Voting restrictions, shamelessness in government and productive conflict with author Amanda Ripley.
75 min
11
Impending Doom
The fourth wave of the virus, Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, and fixing the U.S.’s caregiving infrastructure--with guest host Andrea Valdez
60 min
12
Unfulfilled
The situation at the border, Claire Jean Kim on violence against Asian Americans, and Alec MacGillis’s new book about Amazon.
70 min
13
I'll Get the Vaccine If You Give Me A Pony
The politics of vaccine acceptance, policing, and how Texas and many other states are threatening voting rights -- with guest host Josie Duffy Rice.
53 min
14
Zero Sum
The unprecedented American Rescue Plan; Heather McGhee on how racism hurts all Americans and Michael Mina on better pandemic-fighting tools.
63 min
15
I'm Sorry If...
The state of the stimulus bill, sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo, and escalating voter suppression efforts.
56 min
16
Shocked, Shocked! By Her Tweets
Rediscovering “civility” to take down Tanden, Merrick Garland‘s DOJ, and how to stop police killings of Black people with guest Jason Johnson
68 min
17
Let the Purge Begin
Republican allegiance to Trump, schools during COVID-19, and guest Jonathan Cohn on Obamacare and vaccinations.
53 min
18
The Impeachment Trial Again
Trump's impeachment trial; lawsuits about election lies; and the execution of a possibly innocent man.
59 min
19
Jewish Space Laser
The stimulus bill; Dr. Uché Blackstock on racial inequity in vaccine distribution; and Majorie Taylor Greene’s GOP.
68 min
20
Short Squeeze
The Senate obstruction ahead; delegating deplatforming; and GameStop.
69 min
21
End this Uncivil War
The unusual but uplifting inauguration, Joe Biden’s priorities, and the Trump aftermath.
52 min
22
The Greatest Betrayal
What happens after an insurrection, double impeachment, and the future of COVID-19 vaccine rollout with guest Juliet Kayyem.
69 min
23
Reaping the Whirlwind
The election lies that inspired the invasion of the U.S. Capitol and Democrats’ historic win in Georgia.
64 min
24
15th Anniversary
Celebrating 15 Years of Political Gabfesting
47 min
25
Conundrum 2020
Emily, John, and David end 2020 considering listeners’ most perplexing conundrums—with special guest Alexandra Petri!
63 min
26
Barr-Barr-Barr, Barr-Barr is Gone
The massive Russian hack-- with guest Alex Stamos, Bill Barr’s resignation, and Joe Biden’s cabinet.
65 min
27
Breaking Up Facebook
The coup attempt, Facebook’s legal troubles, and which presidential norms to restore or discard, with guest Tim Wu.
56 min
28
Neutral Laws of General Applicability
Presidential pardons, coronavirus exemptions for religious institutions; and former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull on disinformation.
70 min
29
Sabotage for Christmas
Hobbling the Biden Administration; ethical problems in vaccine distribution; and dealing with the damage of the election fraud lie.
71 min
30
COVID Tsunami
The sabotage of Biden’s COVID-19 response, Trump clings to power, and guest Ta-Nehisi Coates.
75 min
31
Biden Biding
Trump’s scorched earth strategy, the Biden transition, and the Supreme Court challenge to the Affordable Care Act.
59 min
32
Special Episode: Biden Wins
Emily, John, and David reflect on Joe Biden's election and the upcoming transition.
25 min
33
President Joe Biden???
Trump’s election lawsuits, Democrats’ down-ballot disappointments, and polling problems.
66 min
34
Slate Plus Special: Counting the Votes
Emily, John and David discuss what we know and what to watch for as votes continue to be counted.
10 min
35
Almost
Voting accessibility, Election Day updates, and gratitude for life-changing individuals.
67 min
36
Last Debate of Donald Trump’s Career
The presidential debate, 545 children separated from their parents, and the coronavirus surge.
61 min
37
A Thursday Message
Slate's Political Gabfest will be published on Friday this week.
0 min
38
Empty Notepad
Barrett’s confirmation hearings; the First Amendment and disinformation; and the latest election machinations
71 min
39
Spitting Into a Sheet of Plexiglass
The White House virus outbreak, vice-presidential debate, and Senate races.
58 min
40
Slate Plus Special: The President Has COVID
President Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus. What happens next?
6 min
41
What We WILL Know on Election Night
Trump’s miniscule tax payments, guest Nate Persily on election night reporting, and Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
67 min
42
Bonus: Would you Shut Up Man
Emily, John and David discuss the first presidential debate of 2020.
29 min
43
Not Even Cold in The Ground
A rush to replace Justice Ginsburg, the coming presidential debates, and 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.
68 min
44
Special: SCOTUS After Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Emily Bazelon and Mike Pesca on the Justice’s legacy, the looming Senate fight, and what could happen with a conservative court.
27 min
45
Giant Fires Everywhere
Wildfires and the climate crisis, apocalyptic election talk, and imagining the post-pandemic work week -- live as part of the Texas Tribune Festival!
76 min
46
Rage
What Trump knew about the virus, DOJ’s move to end E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit, and Matthew Yglesias on One Billion Americans.
64 min
47
Who Should Get the Vaccine?
The politics of violence, Ezekiel Emanuel on vaccine distribution, and Edward Ball on his book, Life of a Klansman
70 min
48
Pool Boy
The Republican convention, violence in Kenosha, and the Falwell and Conway families’ dramas.
68 min
49
I Know a Predator When I See One
Democrats’ virtual convention, the U.S. Postal Service, and the bipartisan Senate report exposing more Trump ties to Russia.
63 min
50
Cheap, Mediocre Testing
The Biden-Harris ticket, stimulus gridlock, and guest Dr. Michael Mina on his proposal for rapid, ubiquitous coronavirus testing-- with guest host Josie Duffy Rice
58 min
51
Stop Counting Now
Messing with the census, undermining the election, and guest Juliette Kayyem on competent crisis response
62 min
52
Twilight of Democracy
Biden’s campaign, Big Tech, and Anne Applebaum’s new book Twilight of Democracy — with guest host Ruth Marcus.
68 min
53
Invading America
Trump’s assault on Portland, scrapping the filibuster, and Julian Zelizer’s new book on Newt Gingrich’s power tactics -- with guest host Jamelle Bouie.
64 min
54
Find Something New
Pandemic catastrophe, the racial justice movement, and “cancel culture”--with guest host James Forman, Jr.
77 min
55
Ministerial Exception
The presidential campaign, new Supreme Court decisions, and watching Hamilton during Trump times.
71 min
56
Open the Damn Schools
The Supreme Court’s abortion decision, reopening schools--with guest Emily Oster, and Russia’s bounties for U.S. Troops.
68 min
57
Global Pariahs
COVID rising, politicization of the DOJ, and Slow Burn’s Josh Levin on the rise of David Duke.
63 min
58
Because of Sex
Trump’s Tulsa rally, Bolton’s book, and this week’s historic Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ rights--with attorney Chase Strangio.
74 min
59
He Is Going to Change the World
A live Gabfest on police abuse, the 2020 election, and John’s new book about the presidency, The Hardest Job in the World.
75 min
60
Inspecting the Bunker
Protests against police brutality and racism, Trump’s increasingly authoritarian response, and the pandemic--with guest Jamelle Bouie.
68 min
61
It's Not a Lie, It's a Tweet
Trump vs. Twitter, the realities of a partisan pandemic, and U.S.-China relations with Sheena Chestnut Greitens.
75 min
62
L-Shaped Recovery
The state of the pandemic; insider trading allegations in the Senate; and Trump’s firing of the watchdog investigating Mike Pompeo.
69 min
63
There Is No Plan
COVID without federal leadership; Trump’s taxes at the Supreme Court; and novelist Isabel Allende on crisis as an opportunity for change.
71 min
64
Vote By Mail
States reopen before it's safe; this year’s election security challenges; and economist Gene Sperling on “economic dignity.”
72 min
65
Come On, Man, I Heard You Liked Me
Tara Reade’s allegations against Biden, reopening schools, and astronaut Scott Kelly on living in confined spaces.
75 min
66
Georgia Out of Its Mind
Pushback against COVID-19 restrictions, the success of female political leaders, and Mark Bittman on eating well during isolation.
63 min
67
I Alone Can Open It
Trump claims “total authority”, Heather Boushey on fighting the recession, and Amanda Ripley on lessons from Katrina and other disasters.
57 min
68
Relationships During a Pandemic
Therapist Esther Perel joins the show to talk about how the coronavirus is affecting our relationships, and what we can do to support each other and ourselves.
24 min
69
It’s Easy to Talk About Lysol
Where efforts to curb virus transmission go from here, Trump’s purge of investigators general, and what Sanders’ exit should mean for the Democratic party’s agenda .
58 min
70
Maybe It Is Infrastructure Week
Guests include economics professor Jason Furman on how to save the economy and novelist Geraldine Brooks on living through a plague.
56 min
71
Two Trillion Dollars
Guests include epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves about the latest pandemic debates and Civil War historian David Blight on what history can teach us about living through catastrophe.
70 min
72
How Long Will It Last?
Dr. Amesh Adalja on efforts to address the pandemic, journalist Neil Irwin on whether the U.S. economy can be saved, and author Jon Mooallem on his new book This is Chance! about communities uniting in a crisis
73 min
73
Flatten the Curve
The coming COVID-19 crisis, Biden becomes the presumptive nominee, and guest Leon Neyfakh on Fiasco Season Two: Iran-Contra.
66 min
74
Wash Your Hands
Super Tuesday upends the Democratic race, COVID-19 spreads, and the Supreme Court hears a crucial abortion case.
66 min
75
Slate Plus Bonus Episode: South Carolina and Su...
Joe Biden's win in South Carolina and what it could mean for Democrats on Super Tuesday.
2 min
76
Bern, Baby, Bern
The Democratic presidential primary, Harvey Weinstein’s conviction, and conservative ascendency in the courts.
66 min
77
[Special] How To Vote for the Next President
Can David Axelrod and Mike Murphy help a swing voter make up his mind?
28 min
78
Two Stents
A fiery Democratic debate, Trump’s white-collar pardoning spree, and A Very Stable Genius with authors Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig.
63 min
79
Bernie Burns It and Biden Bites It
The Democrats after New Hampshire, Trump’s emboldened post-impeachment moves, and COVID-19.
63 min
80
The Most Abusive and Destructive
The Iowa debacle, Mitt Romney’s impeachment vote, and Trump’s expanded immigration ban
53 min
81
49 years and 364 days of Plotz
Outlandish impeachment defenses, the approaching Iowa caucuses, and the Supreme Court allows the “public charge” rule to go into effect.
69 min
82
Nobody Likes Him
Trump on trial, the Democratic primary race, and Mohammed bin Salman’s hacking of Jeff Bezos.
67 min
83
If You Want Her Out
New impeachment revelations, the Warren-Sanders rift, and Bill Barr goes after Apple’s encryption
62 min
84
Bomb Iran--We’ve Had a Bomb Iran Edition Before
Iran with expert Suzanne Maloney, the Democratic presidential race, and John Bolton
62 min
85
Good Trouble
Impeachment fatigue, the twin canaries of anti-Semitism and philo-Semitism, and the incredible John Lewis.
57 min
86
Oakland Conundrum
The annual conundrum edition is live from Oakland California!
64 min
87
Read My Letter
Impeachment, pushback against Pete Buttigieg, and a review of the most important stories of 2019.
52 min
88
Slate Presents: Lockdown
Living through the era of school shootings, one drill at a time.
24 min
89
Crossfire Hurricane
Impeachment, the FBI Inspector General’s report on the Russia investigation, and the Afghanistan Papers
67 min
90
Badly Written & Reseached Disaster
Impeachment, Kamala Harris, and guest Ruth Marcus’ new book about Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, Supreme Ambition.
55 min
91
Good Order and Discipline
The firing of the Navy Secretary, the case for prolonging impeachment investigations, and new holidays everyone should celebrate.
56 min
92
In The Loop
Impeachment bombshells, the Democratic presidential debate, and emails confirming that Steven Miller is a white nationalist
51 min
93
DP [Hearts] MB
The public impeachment hearings, fresh faces in Democratic presidential primary, and DACA at the Supreme Court.
58 min
94
One Year From This Week
New polls and election results, impeachment, and leaving the Paris climate accord
64 min
95
Halloween
The impeachment resolution, Twitter’s ban on political ads, and the downfall of Katie Hill.
71 min
96
Cooper, Taylor, SCIFer Spy
Damning new impeachment testimony, Facebook under fire, and taking to the streets against Trump.
64 min
97
Don't Be a Tough Guy. Don't Be a Fool! I Will C...
Abandoning the Kurds, the Democratic presidential debates, and guest Daniel Markovits’s new book The Meritocracy Trap
75 min
98
Great and Unmatched Wisdom
Obstructing the impeachment investigations, the new Supreme Court term, and Bernie Sanders’ health.
59 min
99
We’re Not Fooling Around Here
The impeachment investigation, a new theory of why conservatives can’t quit Trump, and the court ruling upholding Harvard’s affirmative action program.
64 min
100
I Would Like You To Do Us A Favor
The Ukraine scandal, the politics of impeachment, and Jodi Kantor about investigating Harvey Weinstein and She Said, a new book written with co-author Megan Twohey.
71 min