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
101
Gabfest Reads: Race, Money and Fictional Life a...
Kiley Reid’s new book Come and Get It explores the consumerist side of college life.
20 min
102
Well-Meaning, Elderly Man With A Poor Memory
Special Counsel wanders off-topic on President Joe Biden’s memory; Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’s impeachment and the lack of vote on Ukraine aid; and Democrat Tom Suozzi re-blues New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
49 min
103
Congress Can’t Aid, Can’t Arm, Can’t Legislate,...
Republicans went 0-for-2; the prosecution won in Michigan; and Donald Trump lost again but might win a ballot spot at the Supreme Court.
56 min
104
Will The Carroll Verdict Hurt Trump?
We’re talking numbers: $83.3 million in Carroll v. Trump; 1920-1948 in Israel and Palestine; and the billionaires of techno-authoritarianism.
63 min
105
The Election No One Wants
Yes, it will be Trump v. Biden again in 2024; the “vibecession” may be over; and no, the immigration fights will not be ending any time soon.
57 min
106
Gabfest Reads: How to Thrive in a World of Change
Brad Stulberg’s new book Master of Change aims to teach you how to weather life-altering events.
37 min
107
Why Trump Won Iowa
Why Donald Trump won the Iowa Republican caucuses; whether the Supreme Court is going to end Chevron deference; and what colleges should do about standardized test scores.
65 min
108
Should Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Be Fired?
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin goes AWOL; students remain chronically absent from school; and Donald Trump claims presidential immunity as a blanket excuse.
61 min
109
Who Wants to Be President of Harvard?
What we can expect for the 2024 presidential election; who would ever want to be a university president; and how we should discuss the drop in homicide
57 min
110
Live From New York! It’s Conundrums 2023!
Emily and David finish 2023 pondering conundrums with Wesley Morris from The New York Times.
58 min
111
Gabfest Reads: A Woman’s Life in Museum Wall La...
Christine Coulson’s new book, “One Woman Show,” the life of the rich-and-beautiful Kitty is told in 75-word labels.
41 min
112
Trump versus Colorado
The Colorado Supreme Court blocks Donald Trump from the state primary ballot; Texas plans to block immigrants by arresting them; and Amanda Ripley has a plan for surviving 2024.
61 min
113
Is Harvard Antisemitic?
University presidents go to Congress and fail antisemitism test; Special Counsel Jack Smith asks a Trump question of the U.S. Supreme Court; and abortion rights are obstructed by the Texas Supreme Court.
59 min
114
Should Liz Cheney Run?
Liz Cheney wrote a book; Chris Christie is still running for President; and Purdue Pharma might go bankrupt so the Sacklers don’t have to.
53 min
115
Why Does Everyone Hate Bidenomics?
The U.S. economy is good but Americans feel bad; there are three branches of government but the Supreme Court could chop off one; and white evangelicals are Christian nationalists but that might change.
59 min
116
Is Polling Broken?
Issue polling is down; Sam Altman is out, then back in at OpenAI; and the Oslo Accords never got off the ground.
68 min
117
Gabfest Reads: Watership Down Gets the Graphic ...
Cartoonist James Strum unpacks the classic novel and how he brought beloved characters to new life.
24 min
118
You’ll Miss Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin leaves the U.S. Senate and might hit the No Labels presidential campaign trail; the Supreme Court gets a code of conduct; and collateral damage from the Israel-Hamas war includes Democratic politics.
55 min
119
Was That A Great Or Terrible Night For Biden?
Democrats win on Election Day 2023; President Joe Biden is losing in the polls; and gun control might defeat the 2nd Amendment at the Supreme Court.
57 min
120
Could Nikki Haley Actually Win?
In the presidential races, Nikki Haley gains, Ron DeSantis is stuck, and Dean Phillips begins his campaign; the Supreme Court hears its first but not last social-media cases of the term; and David Leonhardt writes about the American Dream.
57 min
121
The “Live from Madison!” Edition
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers joins the hosts on stage; Mike Johnson is the new Speaker of the House; and Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, and more are the latest witnesses against Donald Trump.
80 min
122
Gabfest Reads: How to Survive Working for Amazon
Kristi Coulter’s new memoir, Exit Interview, reveals the good, the bad, and the hilarious of working for Amazon.
29 min
123
Still No House Speaker
52 min
124
Gaza War
Hamas attacks Israel, Israel retaliates against Gaza, and the war impacts geopolitics; despite winning the Republican run-off, Steve Scalise faces an uphill battle to become Speaker of the House.
55 min
125
We Need to Talk About Kevin...McCarthy
Representative Matt Gaetz ends the historically short tenure of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy; the Supreme Court starts its term; and the conversation about crime in America continues.
62 min