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.

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News
Government
Politics
26
Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish E...
Joshua Leifer’s new book, Tablets Shattered, is an empathic and lived-in discovery of Jewish history
53 min
27
Are We Really Still Talking About Crowd Size?
Donald Trump is still lying about crowd size and spreading election misinformation; is the media reporting properly on his lies?
55 min
28
These Walz Could Talk
Will the vice presidential nomination of Governor Tim Walz have an impact on the Democratic ticket?
47 min
29
These [Republicans] Are Weird
The new Democratic line against JD Vance and Donald Trump; the Kamala Harris Veepstakes; and President Biden’s attempt to reform the Supreme Court
59 min
30
The Coronation of Kamala Harris
President Joe Biden drops out of the race; Kamala Harris goes from Veep to nominee; and the fallout of the Secret Service following the Donald Trump assassination attempt.
54 min
31
Gabfest Reads: Understanding the World Through ...
Roland Allen, author of The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper joins John Dickerson to talk about their shared favored pastime.
35 min
32
“Fight, Fight, Fight”
J.D. is Donald Trump’s VP pick and now Republicans can’t wait for November
43 min
33
Even George Clooney Has Abandoned Biden
Should Joe Biden stay or go; what is Project 2025; and does Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserve respect?
55 min
34
Trump Is So Immune
The Supreme Court gives absolute presidential immunity and takes away the administrative state; will Joe Biden be the Democratic presidential nominee?
62 min
35
Biden’s Catastrophic Debate
In the first presidential debate of 2024, Donald Trump didn’t win but Joe Biden definitely lost.
26 min
36
A Law Trapped In Amber
The Supreme Court rules on emergency abortions in Idaho and on guns for domestic abusers, and New York Democrats decide not to re-elect Congressman Jamaal Bowman.
55 min
37
Presidential Debate Preview
The Trump v. Biden rematch could decide all or nothing; the U.S. surgeon general and California's governor take on social media and smartphones; and a former Indiana governor attacks one-party rule.
58 min
38
Gabfest Reads: When a Sex Robot Catches Feelings
Sierra Greer’s debut novel Annie Bot explores what happens when robot designed to be the perfect girlfriend starts to think about herself
19 min
39
Biden’s Risky Asylum Policy
President Biden started a new asylum policy to stop illegal border crossings; the European Parliament’s newest movements; and New York City congestion pricing is a no-go for now.
55 min
40
Will Trump’s Conviction Help Biden?
The fallout from Donald Trump’s felony conviction; the spin-up for Hunter Biden’s trial; and the upshot for college speech from campus protests with Charles Homans.
54 min
41
John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: The Meaning Behi...
The season finale of Navel Gazing explores John Dickerson’s search for meaning in a box of notebooks
36 min
42
Donald Trump is Convicted! Plus, Who is Winning...
The Democrats’ likely loss of the Senate; The Fall of Roe; and the rise of Lauren Boebert
72 min
43
John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Time Travel Via ...
Life in Maine, a medical scare, Mothers’ Day, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.
25 min
44
Justice Alito's Upside Down Flag
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flags his right-wing views; David Leonhardt looks at A New Centrism; and OpenAI sounds like Scarlett Johansson.
59 min
45
Gabfest Reads: Why Americans Care About Animals
Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy’s new book, Our Kindred Creatures explores the evolution of our feelings about animals.
31 min
46
John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Moving in New Yo...
Renting before Zillow, the orange carpet of the garret, September 11th, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.
40 min
47
How Bad Was The Poll For Biden?
Joe Biden is losing the presidential-poll horserace in battleground states but is ready to rumble and debate Donald Trump who is silent inside the courtroom but talking through surrogates outside?
57 min
48
John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: The Sneaky Pitfa...
Wearing your to-do list, the teachers we remember, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.
35 min
49
Trump Wore Pajamas
Stormy Daniels’s courtroom thunder drowns out Donald Trump’s bluster; marijuana decriminalization is a hot topic; and must the media defend democracy?
64 min
50
John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Remembering Earl...
Getting used to a new city, work advice, passing on wisdom, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.
41 min