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
End this Uncivil War
The unusual but uplifting inauguration, Joe Biden’s priorities, and the Trump aftermath.
52 min
2
The Greatest Betrayal
What happens after an insurrection, double impeachment, and the future of COVID-19 vaccine rollout with guest Juliet Kayyem.
69 min
3
Reaping the Whirlwind
The election lies that inspired the invasion of the U.S. Capitol and Democrats’ historic win in Georgia.
64 min
4
15th Anniversary
Celebrating 15 Years of Political Gabfesting
47 min
5
Conundrum 2020
Emily, John, and David end 2020 considering listeners’ most perplexing conundrums—with special guest Alexandra Petri!
63 min
6
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
7
Breaking Up Facebook
The coup attempt, Facebook’s legal troubles, and which presidential norms to restore or discard, with guest Tim Wu.
56 min
8
Neutral Laws of General Applicability
Presidential pardons, coronavirus exemptions for religious institutions; and former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull on disinformation.
70 min
9
Sabotage for Christmas
Hobbling the Biden Administration; ethical problems in vaccine distribution; and dealing with the damage of the election fraud lie.
71 min
10
COVID Tsunami
The sabotage of Biden’s COVID-19 response, Trump clings to power, and guest Ta-Nehisi Coates.
75 min
11
Biden Biding
Trump’s scorched earth strategy, the Biden transition, and the Supreme Court challenge to the Affordable Care Act.
59 min
12
Special Episode: Biden Wins
Emily, John, and David reflect on Joe Biden's election and the upcoming transition.
25 min
13
President Joe Biden???
Trump’s election lawsuits, Democrats’ down-ballot disappointments, and polling problems.
66 min
14
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
15
Almost
Voting accessibility, Election Day updates, and gratitude for life-changing individuals.
67 min
16
Last Debate of Donald Trump’s Career
The presidential debate, 545 children separated from their parents, and the coronavirus surge.
61 min
17
A Thursday Message
Slate's Political Gabfest will be published on Friday this week.
0 min
18
Empty Notepad
Barrett’s confirmation hearings; the First Amendment and disinformation; and the latest election machinations
71 min
19
Spitting Into a Sheet of Plexiglass
The White House virus outbreak, vice-presidential debate, and Senate races.
58 min
20
Slate Plus Special: The President Has COVID
President Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus. What happens next?
6 min
21
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
22
Bonus: Would you Shut Up Man
Emily, John and David discuss the first presidential debate of 2020.
29 min
23
Not Even Cold in The Ground
A rush to replace Justice Ginsburg, the coming presidential debates, and 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.
68 min
24
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
25
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
26
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
27
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
28
Pool Boy
The Republican convention, violence in Kenosha, and the Falwell and Conway families’ dramas.
68 min
29
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
30
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
31
Stop Counting Now
Messing with the census, undermining the election, and guest Juliette Kayyem on competent crisis response
62 min
32
Twilight of Democracy
Biden’s campaign, Big Tech, and Anne Applebaum’s new book Twilight of Democracy — with guest host Ruth Marcus.
68 min
33
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
34
Find Something New
Pandemic catastrophe, the racial justice movement, and “cancel culture”--with guest host James Forman, Jr.
77 min
35
Ministerial Exception
The presidential campaign, new Supreme Court decisions, and watching Hamilton during Trump times.
71 min
36
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
37
Global Pariahs
COVID rising, politicization of the DOJ, and Slow Burn’s Josh Levin on the rise of David Duke.
63 min
38
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
39
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
40
Inspecting the Bunker
Protests against police brutality and racism, Trump’s increasingly authoritarian response, and the pandemic--with guest Jamelle Bouie.
68 min
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
Vote By Mail
States reopen before it's safe; this year’s election security challenges; and economist Gene Sperling on “economic dignity.”
72 min
45
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
46
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
47
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
48
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
49
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
50
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
51
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
52
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
53
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
54
Wash Your Hands
Super Tuesday upends the Democratic race, COVID-19 spreads, and the Supreme Court hears a crucial abortion case.
66 min
55
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
56
Bern, Baby, Bern
The Democratic presidential primary, Harvey Weinstein’s conviction, and conservative ascendency in the courts.
66 min
57
[Special] How To Vote for the Next President
Can David Axelrod and Mike Murphy help a swing voter make up his mind?
28 min
58
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
59
Bernie Burns It and Biden Bites It
The Democrats after New Hampshire, Trump’s emboldened post-impeachment moves, and COVID-19.
63 min
60
The Most Abusive and Destructive
The Iowa debacle, Mitt Romney’s impeachment vote, and Trump’s expanded immigration ban
53 min
61
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
62
Nobody Likes Him
Trump on trial, the Democratic primary race, and Mohammed bin Salman’s hacking of Jeff Bezos.
67 min
63
If You Want Her Out
New impeachment revelations, the Warren-Sanders rift, and Bill Barr goes after Apple’s encryption
62 min
64
Bomb Iran--We’ve Had a Bomb Iran Edition Before
Iran with expert Suzanne Maloney, the Democratic presidential race, and John Bolton
62 min
65
Good Trouble
Impeachment fatigue, the twin canaries of anti-Semitism and philo-Semitism, and the incredible John Lewis.
57 min
66
Oakland Conundrum
The annual conundrum edition is live from Oakland California!
64 min
67
Read My Letter
Impeachment, pushback against Pete Buttigieg, and a review of the most important stories of 2019.
52 min
68
Slate Presents: Lockdown
Living through the era of school shootings, one drill at a time.
24 min
69
Crossfire Hurricane
Impeachment, the FBI Inspector General’s report on the Russia investigation, and the Afghanistan Papers
67 min
70
Badly Written & Reseached Disaster
Impeachment, Kamala Harris, and guest Ruth Marcus’ new book about Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, Supreme Ambition.
55 min
71
Good Order and Discipline
The firing of the Navy Secretary, the case for prolonging impeachment investigations, and new holidays everyone should celebrate.
56 min
72
In The Loop
Impeachment bombshells, the Democratic presidential debate, and emails confirming that Steven Miller is a white nationalist
51 min
73
DP [Hearts] MB
The public impeachment hearings, fresh faces in Democratic presidential primary, and DACA at the Supreme Court.
58 min
74
One Year From This Week
New polls and election results, impeachment, and leaving the Paris climate accord
64 min
75
Halloween
The impeachment resolution, Twitter’s ban on political ads, and the downfall of Katie Hill.
71 min
76
Cooper, Taylor, SCIFer Spy
Damning new impeachment testimony, Facebook under fire, and taking to the streets against Trump.
64 min
77
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
78
Great and Unmatched Wisdom
Obstructing the impeachment investigations, the new Supreme Court term, and Bernie Sanders’ health.
59 min
79
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
80
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
81
Twin Cities
Democratic middle ground, “chaos voters,” and guest Curtis Sittenfeld’s fiction about living political figures.
72 min
82
Democratic Debate Special: Slate Plus Teaser
Castro versus Biden, healthcare, and how to effectively pick a fight with President Trump
1 min
83
Last Mustache in Washington
The cancelled Taliban talks, John Bolton’s departure, and guest Paul Tough’s new book The Years That Matter Most.
62 min
84
Prolix Prorogue
The state of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination; the newest Brexit chaos--with guest Amanda Taub; and hope for accountability and funding to stem the opioid crisis.
67 min
85
Don't Worry I'll Pardon You
Trump’s offer to pardon lawbreakers who help build a border wall, whether the U.S. is a republic or a democracy, and how journalists can choose to punch up or punch down internet harassment.
63 min
86
1619
The New York Times Magazine’s "1619 Project" examining slavery in the U.S. (with guest Wesley Morris), corporate responsibility, and the policy changes niche groups are scoring federally.
69 min
87
Public Charge
Trump’s new move to punish documented immigrants, death in prison and Jeffrey Epstein, and recession.
61 min
88
Moscow Mitch
White supremacist violence, Mitch McConnell’s new nicknames, and the impact of Joaquin Castro tweeting the names of Trump donors.
67 min
89
Dark Psychic Force
The Democratic primary debates, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, and whether heat waves across the globe could inspire real action on climate change.
61 min
90
Introducing: How To! With Charles Duhigg
29 min
91
Not Exculpated
Robert Mueller’s testimony, the downfall of Al Franken, and the deal to raise the debt ceiling.
62 min
92
Rescue Squad
63 min
93
You the North, We the South
The impact of the US health care debate on the primary season, white supremacy from Canada with guest Jesse Brown, and who’s at fault in addition to sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.
70 min
94
My President Went to North Korea and All I Got ...
63 min
95
The “Please Send Soap and Toothpaste” Edition
President Trump’s backpedalling, the Supreme Court’s recent decisions on gerrymandering and the U.S. Census and conservative “Frenchism.”
68 min
96
The “Keep America... Oh Forget it” Edition
Trump’s latest campaign relaunch, Elizabeth Warren’s rise, and Harvard’s decision to rescind Kyle Kashuv’s acceptance.
69 min
97
The “Little Diddy About Mitch and Elaine” Edition
Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao’s conflicts of interest, partisanship in state legislatures, and YouTube’s radicalizing recommendation algorithm.
61 min
98
Slate Plus Bonus: The "Live from Chelsea New Yo...
The Democratic Primary and the crucial African American vote, potential antitrust investigations of Big Tech and how the resegregation of America's public schools is ruining our future.
8 min
99
The “Underhanded Undercount” Edition
New revelations in the census case, Trump’s threatened tariffs, and the criminal charges against the school safety officer who failed to confront the Parkland shooter, on the Political Gabfest.
55 min
100
The "Freedom Gas" Edition
What the E.U. election means for the world, Trump’s war on climate science, and the deaths at Mount Everest--with guest host Julia Ioffe
65 min