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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176
So It Was A Lab Leak?
Loan forgiveness at the Supreme Court; lab leak politics; and the future of humanities education.
54 min
177
What Tucker Carlson is Saying When You’re Not L...
Anne Applebaum on the year of war on Ukraine; the smoking gun Fox News text messages; and Section 230 at the Supreme Court.
56 min
178
Gabfest Reads: A Boarding School Thriller, But ...
Rebecca Makkai’s new book I Have Some Questions For You is a murder mystery that feels ripped from Twitter.
33 min
179
President Nikki Haley?
Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign; taking the “affirmative” out of affirmative action; and Amanda Ripley on the congressional committee that got things done.
52 min
180
Biden Gets Frisky
The raucous State of the Union; the balloon and U.S.-China relations; and missteps in treating menopause.
52 min
181
Is Police Reform Possible?
The killing of Tyre Nichols; Alec MacGillis on violence interruption efforts; and the State of the Union.
55 min
182
DeSantis University
The rise of Marjorie Taylor Greene; Ron DeSantis’ anti-anti-racist academics; & the bipartisan bashing of monopolist Ticketmaster.
50 min
183
Gabfest Reads: Two Horrifying Days in D.C.
Shahan Mufti discusses his new book, American Caliph: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, D.C.
32 min
184
Does Alito Hate Sotomayor?
Biden’s document debacle; SCOTUS justices’ open animosity; and Davos during “polycrisis”
48 min
185
Weaponization of Government
The House GOP launches investigations; Marcos Nobre on the insurrection in Brazil; and the British monarchy.
56 min
186
Kevin McCarthy In Hell
The GOP’s speakership debacle; fabulist Rep. George Santos; and improving access to medication abortion.
47 min
187
Conundrum 2022 with Alison Bechdel
Emily, John, and David close out 2022 puzzling over life’s perplexing questions—with special guest Alison Bechdel!
53 min
188
Inciting Insurrection
The January 6th Committee’s findings; Josh Partlow on the brewing water crisis in the West; and looking back on 2022.
52 min
189
Gabfest Reads: Everything You Need to Know Abou...
Gautam Mukunda explains how to predict presidential success – and how to make the right choice for the job - in his new book, Picking Presidents.
39 min
190
Is Kyrsten Sinema Toast?
Sinema ditches the Dems; Republicans’ good turnout, poor performance midterms; and the Pelosi documentary.
42 min
191
Can We Stop Talking About Georgia Now?
62 min
192
Is Antisemitism Back?
Trump elevates proud antisemites Ye and Fuentes; protestors challenge China’s authoritarian regime, and Congress protects marriage equality.
49 min
193
What If Twitter Dies?
The future of Twitter, a ghoulish World Cup, and Justice Alito is accused of a pre-Dobbs leak.
57 min
194
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
195
SBF FTX WTF?
Candidate Trump, election denying candidates lose, and a crypto firm’s implosion shakes the Effective Altruism movement.
46 min
196
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
197
Live From Atlanta!
Georgia & the midterms, the potential for more political violence, and affirmative action at the Supreme Court.
77 min
198
Bonus Episode: The PA Midterms Edition
A special episode of the Political Gabfest on the midterm races in Pennsylvania.
20 min
199
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
200
Gabfest Reads: Tracy Flick Returns
The original ambitious woman returns in author Tom Perrotta’s new novel, Tracy Flick Can’t Win
26 min