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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151
Gabfest Reads: Rethinking J. Edgar Hoover
Beverly Gage talks about writing the first major J. Edgar Hoover biography in over a quarter century.
33 min
152
SBF FTX WTF?
Candidate Trump, election denying candidates lose, and a crypto firm’s implosion shakes the Effective Altruism movement.
46 min
153
Extremely Surprising Midterms
Midterm surprises; what the midterm results might mean for governance in the U.S.; and the challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act at the Supreme Court
48 min
154
Live From Atlanta!
Georgia & the midterms, the potential for more political violence, and affirmative action at the Supreme Court.
77 min
155
Bonus Episode: The PA Midterms Edition
A special episode of the Political Gabfest on the midterm races in Pennsylvania.
20 min
156
Are British Politics More Or Less Crazy Than Ours?
The final midterm sprint; Adrian Wooldridge on the UK’s latest Prime Minister; and Trump’s legal troubles.
50 min
157
Gabfest Reads: Tracy Flick Returns
The original ambitious woman returns in author Tom Perrotta’s new novel, Tracy Flick Can’t Win
26 min
158
The Polls Do Not Look Amazing For Democrats
Some dire polls for Dems; women demand human rights in Iran; and Arkansas’ law targeting trans kids goes on trial.
45 min
159
Bonus Edition: Michigan and Arizona Midterms
A special episode of the Political Gabfest on the midterm races in Michigan and Arizona.
25 min
160
Clarence Thomas Is A Prince Fan
LA’s racism & redistricting scandal, the Andy Warhol copyright case at the Supreme Court, and Anne Applebaum on Ukraine.
55 min
161
What Is Herschel Walker Lying About Today?
The Supreme Court tees up another radical term; Herschel Walker’s abortion lies; and the legal mess Dobbs created for doctors providing abortion via telemedicine.
49 min
162
Is the Polling Wrong?
Potential polling pitfalls; Brett Favre and the greater scandal of states misusing federal welfare funds; and Ruth Ben-Ghiat on Italy’s neo-fascist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
52 min
163
Ron DeSantis’ Sadistic Plan
New York alleges massive fraud by the Trumps; Ron DeSantis trafficks asylum seekers; and Dahlia Lithwick’s Lady Justice.
48 min
164
Gabfest Reads: Searching for a Happy Ending
Ada Calhoun’s memoir, Also a Poet, started as a biography about Frank O’Hara. It became a reflection on Calhoun’s relationship with her father.
29 min
165
What if Ukraine Wins?
Anne Applebaum on Ukraine’s advances, Lindsey Graham’s national abortion ban bill; and the controversy over minimum education standards for religious schools in New York.
51 min
166
Semi-Fascist
61 min
167
Diligent Search
Trump’s classified document stash; what Trump’s second term would do to U.S. democracy; and what voters deserve to know about a candidate’s health.
58 min
168
Could the Democrats Actually Win?
Changing tides ahead of the midterms; Conservatives score an unprecedented $1.6B donation; and Biden’s student loan forgiveness and repayment plans.
49 min
169
Gabfest Reads: Life on Europa Looks Too Much Li...
Mat Johnson’s Invisible Things compares our reality with life in a bubble on Jupiter’s largest moon
25 min
170
The Martyrdom of Liz Cheney
The Trump investigations; Liz Cheney’s defeat; and controversies over how to teach kids to read
51 min
171
What’s in Trump’s Safe?
The Mar-a-Lago search; the Inflation Reduction Act; and seeking accountability for family separation at the border.
52 min
172
Nothing’s The Matter With Kansas
The primaries & Kansans’ defense of abortion; Alex Jones on trial; and surviving pregnancy in the United States.
45 min
173
Did You Apologize to Manchin Yet?
The surprise deal for climate legislation, new January 6th revelations, and the deadliest road in America.
50 min
174
Gabfest Reads: Revolution Through Teenage Eyes
Vanessa Hua’s Forbidden City follows a sixteen-year-old dancer into Mao’s China.
26 min
175
Hot, Hotter, Hottest
Europe’s deadly heat wave, Joe Manchin kills climate legislation, and the inevitable post-Roe healthcare chaos has begun.
43 min