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
The “The President is Not a White Supremacist” ...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host Jamelle Bouie discuss the Christchurch massacre; why Democratic presidential candidates who are straight, white and male are dominating the news coverage; and whether the Electoral College should be abolished.
60 min
2
The “Operation Varsity Blues” Edition
John Dickerson, and David Plotz, and guest host Josie Duffy Rice discuss Trump’s budget proposal, the college admissions scandal, and the changing debate over reparations for slavery.
59 min
3
The "Fox is in the White House" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the House of Representatives’ investigation of Trump, Amanda Ripley’s article about political prejudice in America, and the Fox News White House.
69 min
4
The “He is a Racist, He is a Con Man, He is a C...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Michael Cohen’s testimony, Trump’s failed North Korea summit, and Patrick Radden Keefe’s new book Say Nothing.
49 min
5
The "Feel the Bern" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s national emergency declaration, Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign, and Amazon abandoning its New York plans.
55 min
6
The “All About the Benjamins” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the deal to avoid a second shutdown, Jeff Bezos claims of sextortion, and Ilhan Omar’s tweets about Israel.
52 min
7
The “Just A Little Bit of Shoe Polish” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Virginia Democrats in turmoil, Trump’s State of the Union speech, and the appalling conditions at a federal prison in New York.
64 min
8
The “But Every Politician’s Gonna Say That” Edi...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Howard Schultz’s threat to run for president, Mitch McConnell’s legacy (with guest Charles Homans), and performative workaholism.
57 min
9
The “Great Blotch” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the government shutdown, the 2020 Democratic presidential field, and Brexit doom with guest Tanya Gold.
68 min
10
The “Pocketing Your Notes” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the continued government shutdown, the counterintelligence investigation of Trump, and the racism of Steve King.
61 min
11
The “Infinity War” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the government shutdown, new Russia connections revealed in the Mueller investigation, and why Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is getting so much attention.
69 min
12
The “Exploratory Committee” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest David Leonhardt discuss the government shutdown, 2020, and whether there are signs of hope that the climate crisis could be addressed.
53 min
13
The “2018 Conundrum” Edition
Emily, John, and David close out the year considering listeners’ most confounding conundrums with special guest Simon Doonan.
50 min
14
The “A Liberal is a Conservative Who’s Been to ...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, Michael Flynn’s legal troubles, and new revelations about Russian trolling and Facebook’s privacy violations.
61 min
15
The “Tinkle Contest With a Skunk” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss Michael Cohen’s sentencing, the search for America’s next White House chief of staff, and Trump’s threat to shut down the government over border wall funding
48 min
16
The "Last Wasp" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the legacy of George H.W. Bush, the power-grab by Wisconsin Republicans, and election fraud in North Carolina.
74 min
17
The "Not Off the Table" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the mounting number of liars linked to the Trump administration, President Trump’s confrontation with the courts over asylum, and the future of the census.
79 min
18
The "Sealed Indictment" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss what may be next for the Mueller investigation, the California wildfires, and new revelations about Facebook’s leadership team
72 min
19
The “House Speaker John Lewis” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Florida recount, what House Democrats should prioritize during the new session, and the legal challenge to Trump’s appointment of Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.
63 min
20
The “Way Too Much News” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the extraordinary midterm elections, whether the success of ballot initiatives protecting voting rights marks a turning point in ballot access, and the ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
53 min
21
The "Most Important Election of our Lifetimes S...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and guest David Axelrod discuss the intersections of politics and violence and also Trump’s attempts to steer the election coverage leading up to the midterms.
55 min
22
She's Running: Political Gabfest Presents The W...
70 min
23
The “Now We Have Pipe Bombs” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the pipe bombs sent to Trump critics, the state of the midterm elections, and whether Saudi Arabia will be punished for the death of Jamal Khashoggi.
56 min
24
The "Cheek Swab" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Trump administration’s response to the apparent murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test, and the debate around Georgia’s voter security measures.
63 min
25
The "Angry Mob" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the dire new climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the aftermath of the Kavanaugh confirmation, and Taylor Swift’s new engagement with politics.
51 min
26
The “All County Building Supply and Maintenance...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Kavanaugh controversy, Trump’s apparent tax evasion, and whether the new North American trade deal is better than the old one.
60 min
27
The “Live from Austin: Do You Have a Drinking P...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the state of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, the possibility that former felons will regain the right to vote in Florida, and guest DeRay Mckesson’s new book, On The Other Side of Freedom.
74 min
28
The “One Hundred Percent Certain” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the testimony of both Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh.
37 min
29
The “What Happens At Georgetown Prep...” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and David French discuss the value of an FBI investigation of Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s declassification of documents related to the Russia investigation, and revised thinking about police shootings.
72 min
30
Special: The "Kavanaugh in Crisis" Edition
27 min
31
The “Trump Economy” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss who deserves credit for the economy, the state of the midterm campaigns, and the Trump administration's attempt to indefinitely detain migrant children.
63 min
32
The "Unsung Hero" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss anonymous dissent within the Trump administration, Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, and backlash against The New Yorker for inviting and un-inviting Steven Bannon to their Festival.
64 min
33
The “Packing and Cracking” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss lawyer Don McGahns’s departure from the White House team, North Carolina’s political gerrymandering and John McCain’s legacy.
59 min
34
The “Eight Count” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Tuesday’s conviction of Manafort, Cohen’s guilty plea and McGahn’s cooperation with the special counsel as well as the Kavanaugh nomination.
76 min
35
The "Unhinge Me Now" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and CNN's Kirsten Powers discuss the relevance of Omarosa Manigault Newman’s criticisms of President Trump, results from state primaries and the Title IX investigation of sexual harassment of a male student at NYU.
61 min
36
Gabfest Presents: Slow Burn
44 min
37
The “War on Your Mind” Edition
Emily Bazelon, Benjamin Wittes, and David Plotz discuss revelations from Paul Manafort’s trial, proposed White House changes to legal immigration, and Alex Jones’s banishment from social platforms.
71 min
38
The “3D-Printed Gabfest” Edition
Emily Bazelon, Ruth Marcus, and David Plotz discuss Paul Manafort’s trial, blueprints for 3D-printed guns, and potential capital gains tax cuts. Lara Bazelon joins for Slate Plus to discuss sexism in courtrooms.
63 min
39
The “Pay With Cash” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Michael Cohen’s release of secret recordings with Trump, the gubernatorial race in Georgia, and justice for the death of Markeis McGlockton.
57 min
40
The "Double Negative" Edition Live from Glensid...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live in Glenside, PA to discuss the fallout of the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki.
70 min
41
The “Carpool Justice” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Kennedy, the U.S. relationship with NATO, and federal policies around breastfeeding
59 min
42
The "Abolish ICE" Edition
Emily Bazelon, Jacob Weisberg, and David Plotz discuss potential replacements for Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court, liberal chants to ‘Abolish ICE’, and why Scott Pruitt resigned.
49 min
43
The “Red Court, Red Dem, and Red Hen” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Justice Kennedy’s retirement, the New York primary upset, and the meaning of civility.
65 min
44
The “Wicked, Even for Trump” Edition
John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Ruth Marcus discuss the future for children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, DOJ findings on the FBI and 2016 presidential election, and elite schools' admissions policies.
57 min
45
The “Special Place in Hell” Edition
John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Dahlia Lithwick discuss the U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore, Husted v. A. Philip Randolph at the Supreme Court, and the impact of Trump on Tuesday’s primaries.
50 min
46
The “I Beg My Pardon” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the President’s pardon power, the decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and Bill Clinton’s bumbling book tour.
54 min
47
The “Ambien and Racism” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss #WhereAreTheChildren and new immigration policies, the death toll in Puerto Rico, and Roseanne’s racism.
53 min
48
The “Open Hostility” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the state of U.S.-North Korea relations, Stacey Abrams’ Georgia primary win, and Trump’s call for an investigation of his investigators
51 min
49
The “Leaks and the Leaky Leakers Who Leaked The...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss protests over the move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the rash of White House leaks, and racial bias in marijuana arrests in New York City
54 min
50
The “Is Every Attorney in New York a Crook?” Ed...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss shady payments to Michael Cohen’s business, and Eric Schneiderman's fall. Max Fisher, of the New York Times, joins the gang to discuss Trump’s abandonment of the Iran nuclear deal.
47 min
51
The "Live in St. Louis" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Mueller team’s questions for President Trump and Missouri Governor Eric Greitens’ indictments. Jason Kander joins in to talk about voting rights and the 2018 elections.
65 min
52
The “Hardest Job in the World” Edition
On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ronny Jackson’s will-he-won’t-he Cabinet nomination, arguments before SCOTUS in Hawaii v. Trump, and John’s new piece on the presidency.
62 min
53
The “Slimeball” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss fallout from the Michael Cohen raid, James Comey’s world tour, and racism at Starbucks.
60 min
54
The “Farewell My Blue-Eyed Monster” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Donald Trump should be panicking about the raid on Michael Cohen’s office, what Paul Ryan’s retirement portends, and Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before Congress.
48 min
55
The “Caravan of Gabfesters” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Robert Mueller's investigation, President Donald Trump’s attacks on immigration and Amazon, and corruption at the EPA.
51 min
56
The “Pardon Me” Edition
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, and Jack Hitt, co-host of Gimlet’s Uncivil, discuss the census citizenship question, Trump’s brewing legal trouble, and gerrymandering.
53 min
57
The "Delete Facebook" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and New York Time's technology columnist Farhad Manjoo discuss Robert Mueller's job security, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and compare today's political climate to the 1960s.
67 min
58
The "Rex Wrecks" Edition
John Dickerson, David Plotz and Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post discuss the Twitter-firing of Rex Tillerson, the special election results from Pennsylvania, and Betsy DeVos’s bizarre interview on "60 Minutes."
60 min
59
The "Stormy Weather" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump’s tariffs and fledgling trade war, the Stormy Daniels lawsuit, and the relationships between sanctuary cities and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
63 min
60
The “There Once Was a Union Maid But Not Anymor...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the changes to gun sales following the Parkland shooting, the most recent White House shake-ups, and the future of public unions as Janus v AFSCME comes before the Supreme Court.
61 min
61
The “Enough Thoughts and Prayers” Edition
John Dickerson and David Plotz are joined by Annie Lowrey, of The Atlantic, to discuss the power of students organizing against gun violence, the Mueller indictments, and Mitt Romney’s newest campaign.
59 min
62
The “Let’s Just Ban Everything” Edition
Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat to discuss the Parkland, Florida shooting, job openings at the White House, and whether it’s the right time to ban porn.
76 min
63
The “A Correction, Not a Crash” Edition
On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the value of the Nunes memo and accusations of White House aide Rob Porter’s domestic abuse.
66 min
64
The “Hope Hicks’ Loose Lips Sinks Ships” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss criticism of the FBI by the White House and its allies, the State of the Union, and Hillary Clinton’s protection of an adviser accused of sexual assault.
59 min
65
The “50,000 Texts” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the integrity of the FBI, the usefulness of government shutdowns and the value of survivor testimony during sentencing.
55 min
66
The “A House is Not a Hole” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss if Republicans and Democrats should keep the government open, Trump's opinions on immigration and what positive outcomes can result from public dissection of Grace's Aziz Ansari story.
58 min
67
The "Very Stable Genius" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the future of the Dreamers, Trump’s fitness for office, and voting-related cases before SCOTUS.
52 min
68
The “Lost His Mind” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the buzz around Trump's relationship with Steve Bannon, partisanship within the Russia investigation, and a new (real) study about fake news.
51 min
69
The "2017 Conundrums featuring They Might Be Gi...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson dig in, dissect and debate listener-generated conundrums with special performances from They Might Be Giants.
60 min
70
The “Paul Ryan Has Died and Gone to Heaven” Edi...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the final tax bill, government agency leadership, and are joined by Linda Greenhouse to talk about her new book about covering the Supreme Court.
62 min
71
The “Devil and Mister Jones” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Democrat Doug Jones’s win in Alabama, the current state of the tax bill and the transgressions of men in the headlines.
56 min
72
The "Wedding Cake" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss why Roy Moore appears to be surviving the allegations against him, the wedding cake case in front of the Supreme Court, and President Trump's impact on Middle East peace.
69 min
73
The “Pass Through” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the momentum of the Republican tax plans, Project Veritas's attempted take-down of the Washington Post, and the Supreme Court's consideration of the privacy of cell phone data.
60 min
74
Slow Burn: A Podcast About Watergate | Martha
A preview of Slate's eight-episode miniseries about Watergate.
24 min
75
The “Al Franken and Charlie Rose and Bill Clint...
David Plotz, Zoe Chace of This American Life, and Chairman of The Slate Group, Jacob Weisberg discuss the state of the GOP tax bills, the case for resignation by perpetrators of sexual harassment and the health of the magazine industry.
53 min
76
The “She Was Just 17, You Know What I Mean” Edi...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the downward spiral for Roy Moore, the tax plans of the House and Senate, and the latest with the Russia investigation and Wikileaks.
60 min
77
The "One Year and One Day" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Tuesday’s victories for Democrats, Trump’s first year, and the role of technology companies in Russian meddling.
65 min
78
The "Cut, Cut, Cut" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the initial indictments from the Mueller investigation and the House’s tax cut bill. Civil War historian David Blight joins in to dig in to John Kelly’s comments on the Civil War and Robert E. Lee.
59 min
79
The "Live from Chicago" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the growing GOP fissures, criminal justice reform in Chicago, and the empowerment of survivors of sexual harassment and assault.
74 min
80
The "President Pence" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss presidential calls to grieving families, Vice President Pence’s core politics, and the opioid crisis.
52 min
81
The “Adult Day Care” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Trump Administration infighting, Harvey Weinstein’s history of alleged gross misconduct, and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan.
62 min
82
The “Thoughts and Prayers” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Las Vegas shooting, the response to Puerto Rico’s suffering and Supreme Court's examination of gerrymandering.
53 min
83
The “Everyone Listens to Women When They Speak ...
Emily Bazelon, Ruth Marcus and Ross Douthat discuss Trump’s tax plan, shifting Republican power and pro athletes using their influence to inspire social change.
46 min
84
The “Equinox, the Rocket Man” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson dig into the remix of the Obamacare repeal, Bob Mueller's shock and awe investigative tactics and Trump's visit to the U.N.
49 min
85
The "What Happened” Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss President Trump's potential to destroy the two-party system, criticism of Hillary Clinton's new book and Franklin Foer joins in to talk about the power and influence of large technology companies.
59 min
86
The “DACA Attack-A” Edition
John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss DACA, the September legislative pileup and the future of relations between the U.S. and North Korea
56 min
87
The “Après Moi, Le Déluge” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and David Leonhardt of the New York Times discuss Hurricane Harvey, Antifa, and insubordinate Trump officials.
54 min
88
The “Get Me Another General” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Kirsten Powers of CNN discuss Afghanistan strategy, Mitch McConnell’s presidential silent treatment and bail reform
53 min
89
The “Very Fine People” Edition
Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to discuss President Trump's response to Charlottesville, the impact of Charlottesville on the nation, and the upcoming Alabama Senate Race.
49 min
90
The “Like the World Has Never Seen” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and Jamelle Bouie discuss Trump's improvisational words for North Korea, the unintended consequences of the Federal immigration stance and the value of public debate about the Google memo.
55 min
91
The “Kelly and the Mooch” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post discuss White House chaos, affirmative action, and prosecutors withholding evidence
61 min
92
The “If Only This Were A Movie And Not Our Live...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Senate's skinny health care ideas, President Trump's bullying of Jeff Sessions and what the future will hold for transgender people in the U.S. military.
52 min
93
The “Eventually We Will Get Something Done” Edi...
John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon discuss what will follow the Senate health care collapse, the influence of Steve Bannon and the future approach to prosecution of sexual assaults on college campuses.
66 min
94
The “I Love It” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss what can be done to protect American democracy, the state of the GOP healthcare bill, and Mark Leibovich joins in to assess Trump's draining of the swamp.
65 min
95
The “ICBM” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the agenda of the Commission on Election Integrity, the Trump Euro tour, and the threat from a nuclear North Korea.
52 min
96
The “Mitch McConnell Really Does Have a Secret ...
Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Jacob Weisberg to talk about Mitch McConnell's next move on health care, the rulings of the Supreme Court and CNN's recent resignations.
58 min
97
The "Lump of Coal" Edition
Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Julia Ioffe, staff writer with the Atlantic, to discuss health care, special elections and the summer season of the Supreme Court.
51 min
98
The "Mean" Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and Slate's Jamelle Bouie discuss the Virginia shooting, Senate health bill, Russia investigation, and Virginia gubernatorial primaries.
70 min
99
The "I Expect Loyalty" Edition Live From Denver
Live from Denver Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and the Washington Post's Ruth Marcus discuss the Comey testimony, the legal debate about cell phone data privacy and the state of the Democratic Party with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.
62 min
100
The “Jared Went to Him” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Jared Kushner scandal, Trump's approach to climate and the President's recent European tour.
49 min
101
The “Glowing Orb” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the presidential budget, Trump’s trip abroad, and a Supreme Court ruling on gerrymandering.
60 min
102
The "Witch Hunt" Edition
David Plotz and Emily Bazelon are joined by Jacob Weisberg to discuss the maelstrom around Trump’s presidency, Roger Ailes, and Attorney General Sessions’s war on drugs.
58 min
103
The “Tuesday Night Massacre” Edition
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by former CIA officer and former independent Presidential candidate Evan McMullin for this episode, recorded-live from Washington DC.
67 min
104
Gabfest EXTRA: The “AHCA Returns” Edition
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss the health care vote and what the results might mean for millions of Americans seeking coverage.
26 min
105
The "Deface the Nation" Edition
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss John's interview with President Trump, the public return of Hillary Clinton, and Bret Stephens now writing for the New York Times.
48 min
106
The “One-Page Tax Plan” Edition
Host's David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the health and tax plans on the table as the 100 day mark approaches, Obama's Wall Street speech, and a judge's block to an executive order on sanctuary cities.
54 min
107
The “Bill Comes Due” Edition
John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon are joined by Adam Davidson to discuss the tension with North Korea, President Trump's executive order, tax reform and Bill O'Reilly's departure from Fox.
49 min
108
The "Red, Red Line" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss U.S. foreign relations, Democratic hopes for 2018 and the United Airlines seat ejection.
50 min
109
The “Crossing Many Lines” Edition
Culture Gabfest host Dana Stevens swaps in for David Plotz, joined by Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson to discuss the end of the filibuster, White House conflicts of interest and President Trump's approach to human rights.
47 min
110
The “Darkness at Nunes” Edition
Gabfest hosts discuss Devin Nunes and the investigation into Russian interference in the Presidential election, what follows failure of the new health care bill and how to define President Trump's plan for energy independence.
62 min
111
Gabfest EXTRA 2- the Vanishing Health Care Bill
Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson give the latest on the vanishing House health care bill.
6 min
112
Gabfest "EXTRA- the Health Care" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the health care vote (or non vote) suspense.
12 min
113
The “Playing Sofball with Neil” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss James Comey's options, Neil Gorsuch's smooth talking and the fight between Florida's state prosecutor and it's governor.
56 min
114
The “When I'm 64” Edition
David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post to discuss Trumpcare, the President's proposed budget, and the new Muslim ban.
69 min
115
The “Is This the Worst Bill in History” Edition
Gabfest hosts discuss the potential repeal and replacement of Obamacare, President Trump's accusation of wiretapping and the future for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
63 min
116
The “Live from the Free and Independent Republi...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson, live from LA, discuss President Trump’s address to Congress, Jeff Sessions and California’s potential to secede.
60 min
117
The “Deploy, Detain, Deport” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss President Trump's immigration enforcement plans, the move to revoke bathroom rights for transgendered students and the downfall of Milo Yiannopoulos.
60 min
118
The "Freaks and Leaks" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Julia Ioffe of The Atlantic to discuss the Russia scandal and ouster of Michael Flynn. They also examine the populist revolt to save Obamacare, and American-Israeli relations.
57 min
119
The “Nevertheless She Persisted” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the legal fight over the President Trump's immigration executive order, the confirmation battles and Elizabeth Warren's grandstanding, and whether comedy can shape public opinion and policy
54 min
120
The “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddle...
John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss President Trump's immigration order, his nominee to the Supreme Court and the approaches of Washington's bureaucrats- should they change course?
64 min
121
The “Has it Really Only Been a Week?” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the actions President Trump has taken in his first week, what infrastructure projects may become priorities and about lying- what's with all that lying?
57 min
122
The “I Think We're Going to be Okay” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the future of the Affordable Care Act, the challenges of covering glitter, Twitter and news from the Trump administration and the commuting of Chelsea Manning's sentence.
55 min
123
The “Cloudy with 100 Percent Chance of Showers”...
Hosts David Plotz and Emily Bazelon are joined by Slate's chief political correspondent Jamelle Bouie to discuss Donald Trump's press conference, the confirmation hearings and the legacy President Obama leaves behind.
66 min
124
The “It Still Seems Pretty Swampy To Me” Edition
The “It Still Seems Pretty Swampy To Me” Edition
59 min
125
The "2016 Conundrum" Edition
Hosts John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon tackle listener-generated conundrums live from the Brooklyn Bell House with a surprise special guest.
62 min
126
The “How Bad Could 2017 Be Anyway?” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by NPR's International Desk Editor William Dobson to discuss the terror attacks in Berlin and Turkey and the domestic and international agendas that Donald Trump may inherit as President.
47 min
127
The “Red Dawn” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson talk about CEO Rex Tillerson and whether Russian hackers could be responsible for the results of the Presidential election. Ta-Nehisi Coates joins in to discuss his recent essay “My President Was Black.”
61 min
128
The “Cling Tightly to One Tiny Piece of Good Ne...
John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon attempt to crack the code on Donald Trump's cabinet selections, talk over the real dangers of fake news and discuss what it would take to change the electoral college.
58 min
129
The “Welcome to the Kleptocracy” Edition
Host Emily Bazelon is joined by Adam Davidson of the New Yorker, and Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post to discuss Donald Trump's business conflicts of interest, the future of health care and the rights and wrongs of responding to Trump tweets.
55 min
130
The “Safe and Special Place” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson examine what President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet appointments could portend, if Mike Pence was mistreated at a recent Hamilton performance and if Trump could cause real harm to the free press.
60 min
131
The “Should You Work for President Trump” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss the potential influence of Trump's cabinet picks, how to decide whether to serve or not to serve and the seriousness of fake news.
50 min
132
The "Even Longer National Nightmare" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Jacob Weisberg, chairman of The Slate Group, to discuss the election results, how Donald Trump will govern and what Trump skeptics and foes should do now.
56 min
133
Year of Great Books | What Should We Read Next?
John Dickerson Wants to Read a Classic Novel After the Election. Pick One for Him.
14 min
134
The “Is it Tuesday Yet” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss how close the presidential race may be, the impact of FBI director James Comey's comments, and they attempt to brainstorm survival tactics for the remaining days leading up to the election.
56 min
135
The "Live From Boston" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson gab live from Boston about the state of the Presidential race, what happens to Trump voters if he loses the race and how to repair voters' faith, and stamina, in the campaign process for future seasons.
60 min
136
The "I Will Keep You in Suspense" Edition
David Plotz and Emily Bazelon are joined by Slate Group chairman, Jacob Weisberg, to discuss the third Presidential debate and the possible danger zones that exist for an opinionated journalist, like Amy Goodman, covering a protest.
63 min
137
The "Trying to Find Someone Who Was Not Assault...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the sexual assault allegations against Donald Trump, the latest from WikiLeaks on Hillary Clinton and whether its ethical to choose not to vote in this election.
61 min
138
Gabfest Extra: The "Grabfest Post Debate Specia...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and Jacob Weisberg of Trumpcast, join forces to debrief and decompress after the second Presidential debate.
25 min
139
The “That Mexican Thing” Edition
John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump's taxes, the yapping dog of the VP debate and the Supreme Court's attempt to avoid ties with their cases this season.
50 min
140
The “Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail” Edition
Hosts John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon discuss whether Hillary Clinton will surge out of the first debate, if Donald Trump should bring up the misdeeds of Bill Clinton and if the most recent crime numbers really represent the nation's crime.
52 min
141
Gabfest Extra: The “I'm So Relieved” Edition
Trumpcast host Jacob Weisberg and Gabfest hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson team up for some post-Presidential-debate review.
28 min
142
The “Time to Panic” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Trump's attempt to leave the birther conspiracy club, the New York and New Jersey bombs and what a pardon for Edward Snowden would represent for US national security.
58 min
143
The "Hack, Sputter, Cough" Edition
David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post to discuss Hillary Clinton's hidden pneumonia, Donald Trump's charitable self-portraits and the political potential of the latest economic report.
51 min
144
The “Bart Simpson Versus Lisa Simpson” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson debate the ethical murkiness of Donald Trump's payment to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the candidates' preparation styles for the upcoming debates and the reparations offered by Georgetown University.
53 min
145
The “Make Mexico Great Again” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Donald Trump's visit to Mexico, the breakup of Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner, and the Senate races of 2016.
47 min
146
The "Meet the New Trump" Edition
David Plotz and Emily Bazelon are joined by Adam Davidson of the New Yorker to discuss the new messages coming from Donald Trump, the new trove of Hillary Clinton emails and the geographic patterns of capital punishment in America.
55 min
147
The “Should You Believe Juanita Broaddrick” Edi...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Slate Contributor Frank Foer to discuss Paul Manafort's ties to Russia, the violence in Milwaukee and political responses, and the return of Juanita Broaddrick to the media spotlight.
49 min
148
The "Many People Are Saying" Edition
Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Kirsten Powers of Fox News, to discuss the defections from the Donald Trump fan club, the art and folly of the apology and theories of binge drinking in America.
45 min
149
The “You Can Get the Baby Out of Here” Edition
Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson, joined by Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post, discuss the weekly delights of Donald Trump, the role of gender in this election and how recent voting rights cases could impact this year's election outcomes.
54 min
150
The “Bunch of Malarkey” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Michelle and President Obama's endorsements of Hillary, the frustration of Sanders fans and the DNC hack scandal.
56 min
151
The “Your Word is Your Bond” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the royalty and the squires of the Republican Convention and consider the work environment of Fox News in light of allegations of sexual misconduct brought against Roger Ailes.
52 min
152
The "Last Week Was Awful and This Week I Have t...
Live from Washington D.C., David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the terrible recent U.S. shootings and they debate if we're all to blame for politics' failures and what to expect at the Republican National Convention.
67 min
153
The "Seven Salty Almonds, Six-Pointed Stars, Fi...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Hillary Clinton's trustworthiness ratings, Donald Trump's use of Jewish star-shaped stars, and President Obama's nightly routines.
57 min
154
The "Live from the Aspen Ideas Festival" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Purdue University President Mitch Daniels to discuss the state of Republican politics, Brexit and the most recent Supreme Court rulings.
49 min
155
The "Show Me The Money" Edition
Slate Political Correspondent Jamelle Bouie, joined by Adam Davidson of Surprisingly Awesome and the New York Times, and Rachel Martin of NPR, discuss Trump's (lack of) finances, the immigration and diversity component of Brexit and the "Veep-stakes."
45 min
156
The "Brexit Pursued by a Bear" Edition
Orlando Shooting & Aftermath, Brexit, GOP Convention
59 min
157
The "Textbook Definition of Racism" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Donald Trump's racist and divisive remarks, Hillary Clinton's historic position in the Democratic party, and the debate surrounding the Stanford rape case.
59 min
158
The “Is Trump the Gorilla and America the Kid?”...
David Plotz and Emily Bazelon along with Adam Davidson talk about why some Democrats don't appreciate Hillary, and about the President's new overtime rule. The three also debate who to blame for the untimely death of a gorilla at a Cincinnati zoo.
54 min
159
The "Weiner" Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss Hillary Clinton's strategy to rise above scandals, the three discuss the new documentary “Weiner,” and they weigh in on the new twist in the Gawker v. Hulk Hogan case- Peter Thiel.
46 min
160
The “I Threw a Chair in Reno Just to Watch it F...
John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon discuss the threat of a Democratic Party fracture, the latest polls on Donald Trump's popularity and the Supreme Court's action plan with its current team of eight.
50 min
161
The "Goofy Elizabeth Warren" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss Paul Ryan's meeting with Donald Trump, the accusation that Facebook is manipulating its trending news and the fight between North Carolina and the Federal Government on transgender rights.
46 min
162
The "Suspending My Campaign" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss Donald Trump's rise, the Supreme Court's debate over what defines bribery and the three discuss Yale University's decision to maintain the name John C. Calhoun on one of its buildings.
55 min
163
The "Live From Georgia" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss Ted Cruz's running mate and the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. They weigh in on Hillary Clinton's standing and the three offer up new tests for future Presidential candidates.
51 min
164
The “Dreaming of 1237” Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the impact of the New York Presidential primaries and they discuss the U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Texas, centered on President Obama's deferred deportation action.
51 min
165
The "Count Me Out" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson debate who will win the New York Primary, Paul Ryan's opt-out of this cycle's Presidential contest and North Carolina's stance on discrimination in bathrooms.
54 min
166
The “Does Bernie Sanders Know Anything About An...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Wisconsin primary and possible demise of Trump, Bernie Sanders’ latest upset and the SCOTUS decision in Evenwel v. Abbott, or ‘One Person One Vote.’
59 min
167
The "Corey's Gory Story" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson talk about Donald Trump's support for his Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski, and his comments on abortion. They also discuss Bernie Sanders's momentum and President Obama's criticism of the media.
53 min
168
The “Patrolling and Securing” Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss the terror attacks in Brussels, the national political races and the push for Obamacare exemptions under consideration by the Supreme Court.
50 min
169
The "Rough Them Up" Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus discuss the state of the Republican Party and Trump's response to violence. Slate's Courts Reporter Dahlia Lithwick joins in to assess President Obama's Supreme Court nomination.
57 min
170
EXTRA: The "Super Tuesday Part 3" Edition
John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the results of the latest Democratic and Republican Primaries and what twists and turns are yet to come this election season.
19 min
171
Trumpcast: Is Trump a Racist?
Jacob Weisberg talks to Jamelle Bouie about his latest article "How Trump Happened."
13 min
172
The “Maybe its Hillary Who Should Drop Out” Edi...
John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon discuss the strength of Donald Trump's campaign for the Republican nomination, the latest results within the Democratic primary race and the loss of Nancy Reagan.
49 min
173
The "Hate and Castrate" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the unfolding anti-Trump effort, Hillary Clinton's general election potential and the Supreme Court's recent debate about abortion access in West Texas.
43 min
174
Gabfest Extra: The “That Really Was a Super Tue...
David Plotz is joined by Slate's chief political correspondent Jamelle Bouie to get the lowdown on all the Super Tuesday results
21 min
175
The "Is Trump's Nomination Inevitable?" Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss a possible Trump nomination, the current configuration of the Supreme Court and they take up a new debate about Apple's iPhone security measures in light of new information reported this week.
45 min
176
The “I Have a Gun and Her Name Is America” Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon discuss the future of the Supreme Court, the Republican race for the Presidential nomination, and they are joined by Slate's technology writer Will Oremus to discuss the federal limits to privacy settings.
54 min
177
Gabfest Extra: Antonin Scalia's Death
The sudden death on Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Saturday has unleashed huge shockwaves in both the presidential race and the legal community.
27 min
178
The "Happy Valentine's Day Rubio Robot" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Presidential race and the Supreme Court's recent stay. Could it positively impact both the climate and the energy sector?
50 min
179
Gabfest Extra: The "New Hampshire Primary" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and Slate's Jim Newell discuss the impact of the New Hampshire Primary on the Republican and Democratic parties.
23 min
180
Gabfest Extra: Whistlestop, The Straight Talk E...
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson explains how retail politics won the day in the 2000 Republican primary in New Hampshire.
40 min
181
The "Coin Toss" Edition
John Dickerson, David Plotz and Emily Bazelon discuss the impact of the Iowa Caucus on the Republican and Democratic Parties and David Plotz speaks with Adam McKay about America's financial system and his Oscar-nominated film, The Big Short.
45 min
182
Gabfest Extra: The “Is It Groundhog Day or Is I...
David Plotz is joined by Slate's chief political correspondent Jamelle Bouie and Chairman of the Slate Group Jacob Weisberg to offer breaking analysis of the Iowa Caucus with Political Gabfest flair.
25 min
183
The "Dark, Dark, Dark Money" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson discuss the Presidential campaign, Michael Bloomberg and the book, “Dark Money,” by Jane Mayer.
55 min
184
The “Squirmishes” Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss Ted Cruz and Donald Trump and the state of the Republican race for the Presidential nomination. They talk about the U.S. relationship with Iran and the water crisis in Flint Michigan.
48 min
185
The "There Once Was a Union Maid But Not Anymor...
On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the tightening race between Hillary and Bernie for Iowa.
54 min
186
The “I'm From the Government and I'm Here to He...
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie and John Dickerson talk about Republicans, Obama, guns and are joined by author Jacob Weisberg discussing his new book, "Ronald Reagan."
48 min
187
The "Conundrum" Edition
John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz debate a selection of listener-generated conundrums that range from the political to the fantastical.
35 min
188
The “Year's Best Gabfest” Edition
Round out the year with Emily, John and David.
70 min
189
The "Chaos Candidate" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fourth Republican debate in Las Vegas (did America win it?), the court-martial of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, and what can and should be learned from the big news events of 2015.
54 min
190
The “Is He Hitler or Mussolini?” Edition
John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric, the Supreme Court's deliberations around considerations of race in college admissions and the one-person, one-vote case before the Supreme Court.
54 min
191
The "Everything is Absolutely Terrible" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the mass shootings in California and Colorado, the Climate Summit in France and Rahm Emanuel's future as mayor of Chicago.
47 min
192
The "Thousands Were Cheering" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump's lie-telling, take the temperature on anti-immigrant sentiment and they debate the importance of maintaining or removing Woodrow Wilson's prominence from the Princeton University campus.
59 min
193
The “I’m Not Throwing Away My Shot” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the growing threat of ISIS (live from the Superfest on Broadway show), the Supreme Court case over Texas abortion restrictions, and the hit musical Hamilton. The Slate Political Gabfest is brought
67 min
194
The "I Don't Like Philosophy or Welding" Edition
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, and David Plotz discuss the fourth Republican debate, student protests at University of Missouri and Yale University and President Obama appealing executive action on immigration to the Supreme Court.
56 min
195
The "Predator in the Bathroom" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the 2015 election results, GOP candidates' debate demands, and the rising mortality of middle-aged white Americans.
51 min
196
The "Jeb-With-A-Sad-Droopy-Exclamation-Point!" ...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the third Republican primary debate, the Obama-Boehner budget deal, and the violent arrest of a South Carolina high school student. The Slate Political Gabfest is brought to you by The Rachel Maddow
55 min
197
The “11 Hours and She Didn’t Flinch” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Hillary Clinton's best week ever, the failing campaign strategies of Jeb Bush, and Matthew Yglesias's essay in Vox about the "deep trouble" that Democrats are in.
44 min
198
The "Sick and Tired of Your Damn Emails" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz recap the first Democratic debate and discuss Paul Ryan for Speaker of the House and the Wisconsin gun trial. The Slate Political Gabfest is brought to you by Stamps.com. Buy and print official U.S. postage
58 min
199
The "Would You Like to Be Speaker of the House?...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the tumultuous race for Speaker of the House. They also preview the Democratic debate with special guest David Axelrod and talk about the tepid presidential campaign of Jeb Bush. The Slate Political
59 min
200
The Living Will Envy the Dead Edition
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, David Plotz, and guest Julia Ioffe discuss the aftermath of John Boehner’s departure, the showdown between Vladamir Putin and Barack Obama over Syria, and a case involving prosecutorial fiddling with DNA evidence. The Sla
60 min
201
Gabfest Extra: House Speaker John Boehner Will ...
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, and David Plotz discuss the surprise resignation announcement of House Speaker John Boehner.
19 min
202
The "Carly, Scotty, Franny" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the rapid fall of Gov. Scott Walker, the quick rise of Carly Fiorina, and the crossover appeal of Pope Francis. The Slate Political Gabfest is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron sends gourmet r
51 min
203
The Live from San Francisco Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz analyze the second Republican presidential debate and discuss the possible government shutdown over Planned Parenthood. They also talk to author and podcaster Merlin Mann about time, attention, and productivi
93 min
204
The Completely Authentic, Totally Spontaneous, ...
John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Julia Ioffe of the New York Times Magazine discuss Hillary Clinton's campaign reboot, the catastrophic war in Syria, and the Iran nuclear deal.
54 min
205
The "Let's Get All Smug About That Kentucky Cle...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the continuing controversy over Hillary Clinton's emails, the European refugee crisis, and a Kentucky clerk's defiant stand against marriage equality.
57 min
206
The "Aw, What a Beautiful Little Anchor Baby!" ...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Jeb Bush's evolving stance on immigration, talk to David Leonhardt of the New York Times about the recently erratic global markets, and take up the controversy over topless women in Times Square.
56 min
207
The Amabots and Amholes Edition
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, and author Jack Hitt discuss Donald Trump's immigration policy, the impact of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, and the New York Times piece about working conditions at Amazon.
59 min
208
The Blood Coming Out of Her Wherever Edition
Emily Bazelon, Jamelle Bouie, and Amanda Hess discuss the dustup between Donald Trump and newswoman Megyn Kelly and the single-issue presidential aspirations of Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig. They also talk to Slate's Will Oremus about the restruc
42 min
209
The "Nine German Shepherds and One Raccoon" Edi...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the first Republican debate, a potential presidential run by Joe Biden, and the state of the #BlackLivesMatter movement a year after Michael Brown’s death.
The Slate Political...
61 min
210
The How to Debate a Drunk Person Edition
Live from Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C., Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the upcoming Republican primary debate on Fox News, the New York magazine cover story about the many rape and assault allegations against en
84 min
211
The "Who Will Donald Trump Insult Next?" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss peak Trump versus percolating Kasich, the arrest and subsequent suicide of Sandra Bland, and the fate of the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
57 min
212
The John Kerry is Polishing His Nobel Peace Pri...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss Obama's Iran nuclear deal, Scott Walker's presidential candidacy, and a pro-life group's undercover Planned Parenthood video.
65 min
213
The "How Many Push-Ups Should the President Be ...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the sudden import of political polling, the First Amendment stakes of the Hulk Hogan sex-tape trial, and what questions we should be asking our presidential candidates.
69 min
214
The Killers and Rapists Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and special guest Matt Yglesias recap the recently ended Supreme Court term, discuss the dire economic situation in Greece, and debate the worthiness of Donald Trump's candidacy.
57 min
215
Extra: The "Wait! There's Marriage Equality!" E...
On this special mini-episode, everyone drops what they were doing to talk about a historic day at the Supreme Court.
11 min
216
The Jiggery-Pokery Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act, the meaning and symbolism of Confederate iconography, and Pope Francis's encyclical on climate change.
63 min
217
The "I Would Build a Great Wall" Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson, and special guest Jamelle Bouie discuss the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the now-official presidential aspirations of both Jeb Bush and Donald Trump, and the increasingly effective campaign of Bernie
53 min
218
The "I'm Defaulting on My Student Loans" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court's "Jerusalem passport" ruling, Hillary Clinton's electoral strategy, and the crushing burden of student debt.
61 min
219
This Gabfest Is On Background Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss upcoming First Amendment cases at the Supreme Court, Hillary Clinton's relationship with reporters, and Caitlyn Jenner's debut on the cover of Vanity Fair.
63 min
220
The Bags and Bags and More Bags of Cash Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the U.S. government's case against international soccer's most powerful and corrupt organization, the assault against the USA PATRIOT Act, and a curious Supreme Court case that could be a boon to Repu
53 min
221
The "Osama bin Laden Sure Read Boring Books" Ed...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss Osama bin Laden's reading list, Emma Sulkowicz's Mattress Performance, and the refusal by some male lawmakers to meet alone with female staffers.
62 min
222
The "I Don't Mean to Yell at You, But I Feel Go...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss Seymour Hersh's conspiratorial counter-narrative of the killing of Osama bin Laden, the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and Jeb Bush's retrospective view of the Iraq War.
53 min
223
The "Je Suis Pam Geller" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss whether Pamela Geller's "Draw Muhammad" event should be cheered or jeered, debate why the GOP presidential field is so diverse, and fret over the multistate military drill known at Operation Jade Helm
46 min
224
The "Can I Get Some of That Clinton Cash?" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson are joined by Ta-Nahisi Coates to discuss the situation in Baltimore following the death of a black man while in police custody. They also talk about recent Supreme Court arguments over marriage equality and
69 min
225
The "Would You Attend a Gay Wedding?" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the burgeoning refugee crisis in Europe and the Middle East, the uneasy courtship between the Koch Brothers and Gov. Scott Walker, and the upcoming Supreme Court arguments over same-sex marriage.
59 min
226
The Chicken in Every Burrito Bowl Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the newly launched presidential campaigns of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican contender Marco Rubio. They also talk about the recent action by Congress over the Obama administration
65 min
227
The Live at the Bell House Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the shooting death of Walter Scott by North Charleston, SC police officer Michael Slager, the possibility of a President Rand Paul, and the sesquicentennial anniversary of the assassination of Abraham
68 min
228
The "So, Who Can You Discriminate Against?" Edi...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Obama Administration's nuclear deal with Iran, the controversial "religious liberty" law in Indiana, and the retirement of Sen. Harry Reid.
59 min
229
The "Say It with Me: President Ted Cruz" Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and special guest Jamelle Bouie discuss the presidential ambitions of Sen. Ted Cruz, the Supreme Court case involving license plates and the Confederate flag, and the deliberate downing of a German airliner.
51 min
230
The "Welcome Back, Vladimir" Edition
John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Julia Ioffe discuss the reelection in Israel of Benjamin Netanyahu, the reappearance in Russia of Vladimir Putin, and the resignation from Congress of Rep. Aaron Schock.
60 min
231
The "Is It Dear Ali or Dear Ayatollah or Dear M...
John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Betsy Woodruff discuss the Republican letter to Iran's leaders, the Clinton nonexplanation of her private email account, and a University of Oklahoma fraternity's racist chant.
50 min
232
Whistlestop: The Art of Political Umbrage-Taking
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson recounts the election of 1840, during which a candidate took to the trail for the very first time.
22 min
233
The hdr22@clintonemail.com Edition
Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the fallout from Netanyahu's speech before Congress, Hillary Clinton's use of private email to conduct public business, and the oral arguments in the Supreme Court's latest ObamaCare case.
46 min
234
The "Bibi, Vidi, Vici" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court's ObamaCare case, Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming speech to Congress, and whether Chris Christie's presidential campaign has already fizzled.
59 min
235
The "Does President Obama Love America?" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the legality of Obama's immigration policy, the strategy of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's university cuts, and recent rhetorical assaults on the president.
53 min
236
The "Happy Valentine's Day, Judge Moore" Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Alabama's legal thicket over marriage equality, whether to forgive Brian Williams, and Emily's New York Times Magazine story "The Stanford Undergraduate and the Mentor."
56 min
237
The "Vaxxers, Taxers, and Just the Facts-ers" E...
John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Annie Lowrey of New York magazine discuss the burgeoning anti-vaccine movement, the go-nowhere Obama budget, and the fog-of-war embellishments of NBC's Brian Williams.
53 min
238
The "Can You Buy a President for $889,000,000?"...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Koch Brothers' big bet on 2016, the Supreme Court's death penalty case, and the merits of Jonathan Chait's "Not a Very P.C. Thing to Say" piece.
59 min
239
The "Is It Rude to Fall Asleep During the State...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Obama's State of the Union address, the Supreme Court's next (final?) marriage equality case, and the controversy over the movie Selma.
56 min
240
The Tom Hanks Went to Community College and So ...
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fallout from the French terrorist attack, whether Mitt Romney is really weighing a third presidential run, and Obama's ambition to make community college tuition free.
57 min
241
Le "Je Suis Charlie Hebdo" Édition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the murderous attack on a French satirical newspaper, the start of the new Congressional session, and the NYPD's recent work slowdown.
66 min
242
The Year's Best Gabfest Edition
In segments culled from throughout 2014, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss when to call the cops, the rise of political partyism, and whether to read Hillary Clinton's Hard Choices.
41 min
243
The “2014 Conundrum Show, Live in Chicago” Edition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Ask Amy columnist Amy Dickinson discuss tough philosophical and ethical conundrums about sending kids to private school, keeping secrets from spouses, and why they wish they’d had more sex in their 20s.
70 min
244
The "Why Close Guantanamo When You Can Open Hav...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the thawing of relations between the U.S. and Cuba with guest Will Dobson. They also talk about Jeb Bush's possible, potential, probable presidential run and Slate's Year of Outrage.
58 min
245
The America's National Shame Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the Senate Intelligence Committee's so-called "torture report," the unraveling Rolling Stone story about an alleged rape at UVA, and the satirical performance art that was the Colbert Report.
54 min
246
The "I'm Pregnant, Don't Fire Me!" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss a grand jury's refusal to indict an NYPD officer in the death of Eric Garner and the Rolling Stone story about an alleged UVA gang rape. They also debate whether Obamacare has hurt the Dems.
53 min
247
Political Gabfest Extra: Windy City Wander
Two Gabfesters visit Chicago and make a beeline for the river.
9 min
248
Political Gabfest Extra: San Francisco Treat
Two Slate podcast hosts trade stories while driving toward a secret destination
13 min
249
The "No True Bill" Edition
Jamelle Bouie joins Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz to discuss the decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson. Also, the Facebook threat case headed to the Supreme Court and the GOP’s strong 2016 presidential field.
54 min
250
The "Is Thanksgiving Red or Blue?" Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss President Obama's immigration overhaul, the politics of the Keystone Pipeline, and whether Thanksgiving is a liberal or a conservative holiday.
55 min
251
The President Whisperer Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the Supreme Court's new Affordable Care Act case, Obama's net neutrality stance, and the whisper campaign against White House aide Valerie Jarrett.
52 min
252
The Multitudinous States Incarnadine Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the results of the midterm elections, what's next for both parties, and the trend in ballot initiatives.
57 min
253
The "I'll Disown You If You Marry a Republican"...
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the looming midterm elections, debate the exisence of "partyism," and attempt to understand Gamergate with New York Times video game critic Chis Suellentrop.
55 min
254
The Fake ID Edition
David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and special guest David Leonhardt of the New York Times discuss the influence of billionaire political donors, debate the value of voter ID laws, and talk about the legacy of the late Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee.
50 min
255
The "Is Amazon Evil?" Edition
David Plotz, John Dickerson, and special guest Annie Lowrey discuss the political response to Ebola, ponder the presumptive 2015 Congress, and debate whether Amazon is a monopoly.
52 min
256
The Live in San Francisco Superfest Edition
With MC Mike Pesca, the Political and Culture Gabfests team up to discuss California's recent "Yes Means Yes" legislation and the new wave of political TV shows. They also debate the merits of the Silicon Valley ethos and play a few rounds of Dictionary.
83 min
257
Political: The Jump the Fence Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the bungling, bullying Secret Service, the possibility that Mitt Romney may still harbor presidential ambitions, and the peculiar Senate race in Kansas.
46 min
258
The Dead, Dead, Dead at 75 Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder, the bombing campaign against ISIS, and Ezekiel Emanuel's Atlantic piece, "Why I Hope to Die at 75."
54 min
259
The Spanking Edition
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the apparent desire for a progressive presidential candidate. They also talk about the growing Ebola epidemic and the controversy over corporal punishment.
49 min
260
The They May Take Our Lives But They'll Never T...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss President Obama's plans to defeat the Islamic State. They also talk about the war for women voters in the upcoming midterm elections and Scotland's move toward independence from the United Kingdom.
51 min
261
The In the Cloud, No One Knows You're a Dog Edi...
Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss Putin's dastardly designs on Ukraine with Slate foreign editor Will Dobson. They also talk about the upcoming midterm elections and the fallout over stolen photos of actress Jennifer Lawrence.
63 min
262
The Gabfest to End All Gabfests Edition
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and special guest Dan Carlin. This week: Executive action on immigration, the Ex-Im Bank and crony capitalism, and the centenary of WWI.
59 min
263
The "Why Isn't Everyone Rioting?" Edition
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and Mike Pesca. This week: The aftermath of Ferguson, a grisly provocation by ISIS, and a proposed lottery to spur voter turnout.
56 min
264
The Political Gabfest: The All Criminal Justice...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon with Vesla Weaver and James Forman, both of Yale University. This week: The deaths, at the hands of police, of Mike Brown and Eric Garner. Also, a discussion of On the Run, by sociologist Alice Goffman.
53 min
265
The Political Gabfest: The Conservative Nanny S...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and John Dickerson. This week: Is the GOP becoming a Party of ideas? Also, the move in Tennesse to toss out the Democratic judges on Tennessee State Supreme Court, and why people panic...
44 min
266
The Political Gabfest: The "What Does Congress ...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring David Plotz with special guests Jamelle Bouie and Annie Lowrey. This week: Continued violence in the Middle East, a potential lawsuit against Obama, and a small victory for the pro-choice contingent in the South.
46 min
267
The Political Gabfest: The Joe Biden's White Te...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and special guest Julia Ioffe. This week: The chaotic war in Ukraine, the continued fight over Obamacare, and profiling Joe Biden.
55 min
268
The Political Gabfest: The "So Sue Me" Edition
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson. This week: House Republicans plan to sue President Obama, Elizabeth Warren rallies the Democratic base, and a woman is arrested for leaving her nine-year-old at the park.
52 min
269
The Political Gabfest: The May I Introduce You ...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg. This week: A new round of violence between Israel and Hamas, Millennials may lean right politically, and Warren G. Harding named his penis.
54 min
270
The Political Gabfest: The You're a Facebook La...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson. This week: The High Court's Hobby Lobby decision, the impasse over immigration reform, and Facebook's ethically ambiguous research.
62 min
271
The Political Gabfest: The Get Your Hands Off M...
David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss this week's Supreme Court ruling for police to have a warrant prior to searching the electronic device of a person arrested, Thad Cochran's win in Missippi, and Rand Paul's future in the GOP.
60 min
272
The Political Gabfest: The "I Don't Have a Titl...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, Will Dobson, and John Dickerson. This week: Will Iraq break apart? Who is Abu Khattala? And are violent threats protected speech?
49 min
273
The Political Gabfest: The Eric Cantor Sure Wea...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson. This week: The shocking primary loss of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Hillary Clinton's Hard Choices, and a major blow against teacher tenure in California.
51 min
274
The Political Gabfest: The Go Ahead, Negotiate ...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson. This week: The fallout following the deal that freed Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, Obama makes a push on carbon emissions, and the Mississippi Republican primary heads to a runoff.
54 min
275
The Political Gabfest: The College, Why Bother?...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and special guest Jake Tapper of CNN. This week: Elliot Rodger sparks a national conversation about misogyny, American higher education is in crisis, and hard choices abound in Detroit.
57 min
276
The Political Gabfest: The Secret Waiting List ...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz. This week: The Veterans Affairs scandal, the Republican primaries, and the question of reparations for African-Americans.
64 min
277
The Political Gabfest: The Google Will Never, E...
Slate's Political Gabfest featuring John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz. This week: discussing climate change with the Bad Astronomer, Phil Pait; Jill Abramson fired from The Gray Lady; and more.
59 min
278
The Political Gabfest: The I Miss Monica Lewins...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz. This week: Prayer at the Supreme Court, the Republican takeover of North Carolina, and Lewinsky redux.
56 min
279
The Political Gabfest: The "Go Ahead, Search My...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz. This week: Race and the NBA with guest Mike Pesca, a botched execution in Oklahoma, and the Supreme Court on searching cell phones.
54 min
280
The Political Gabfest: Texas Q&A
The Q&A session from our live Austin, Texas, show with Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, joined by the Texas Tribune's Reeve Hamiltion, Emily Ramshaw, and Ross Ramsey.
12 min
281
The Political Gabfest: The "Can You Say Preside...
Live from Austin, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are joined by the Texas Tribune's Reeve Hamiltion, Emily Ramshaw, and Ross Ramsey to discuss Common Core, the Texas gubernatorial race, and the presidential hopes of Rick Perry and Ted Cruz.
57 min
282
The Political Gabfest: The Ukraine, You Saw, Yo...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and Jamelle Bouie. This week: Will Dobson on Ukraine, race in America during the Obama presidency, and allegations of rape against Jameis Winston remain uninvestigated.
47 min
283
The Political Gabfest: The Emily, Would You Ple...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon. This week: Is it shaping up to be Bush v. Clinton in 2016? Is it sexist to say that a woman is too emotional? Is it reckless to sail the high seas with young children?
58 min
284
The Political Gabfest: The Live Nude Dancing at...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon. This week: McCutcheon v. FEC clears the way for even more money in politics, Paul Ryan proposes a budget, and "Arguendo" dramatizes the Supreme Court.
56 min
285
The Political Gabfest: The "Is Hillary Clinton ...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring David Plotz, Jacob Weisberg, and New York Times columnist Gail Collins. This week: Hobby Lobby challenges Obamacare, the Age Question haunts Hillary, and Dems attack Nate Silver's Big Data journalism.
55 min
286
The Political Gabfest: The We Are Invincible Ed...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Bloomberg View columnist Megan McArdle. This week: U.S. foreign policy, Obamacare by the numbers, and McArdle's new book, The Up Side of Down.
63 min
287
The Political Gabfest: The Between Two Ferns Ed...
Slate's Political Gabfest, featuring David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon. This week: Congress v. the CIA, Jolly wins Florida-13, and Obama v. Galifianakis.
52 min
288
The Political Gabfest: The "Do I Look Stoned?" ...
Slate's Political Gabfest live from Washington D.C., featuring David Plotz, John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and New Republic editor Julia Ioffe. This week: The crisis in Ukraine, the decriminalization of marijuana, and the revamping of the SAT.
88 min