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.

News
Government
Politics
1
Gabfest Live In Washington, D.C.!
The Supreme Court argues about abortion again; Donald Trump returns to court, Ronna McDaniel won’t be back on NBC; and the Finns repeat as the world’s happiest people.
68 min
2
When Is Government Speech Coercion?
The Supreme Court is hearing about government speech and immigration authority; Donald Trump is playing Bond Villain; and the kids aren’t alright after COVID learning loss.
55 min
3
Gabfest Reads: How Tana French Uses Genre Trope...
The author’s new book The Hunter is another in a long line of great Tana French crime novels. But for French, the mystery structure has always been a means to an end.
26 min
4
Did Hur Exonerate Biden?
Biden delivers a strong State of the Union and Special Counsel Robert Hur gives weak testimony; Americans think crime is rising (it’s not); and Congress wants to ban China from TikTok.
54 min
5
The Dismal Biden Polls
President Joe Biden’s poll numbers aren’t good; the Supreme Court wrote a bad opinion to keep Donald Trump on the ballot; and is the Golden Age of American Jews ending?
58 min
6
Could They Actually Leap Over Biden And Dunk Him?
President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign; the Supreme Court’s boost for Donald Trump and review of social media’s content moderation; and Senator Mitch McConnell’s decision to time out as minority leader
55 min
7
Can Putin Be Stopped?
The Gabfest team talks the tragic death of Alexei Navalny and the fallout in the US; Donald Trump’s civil fraud case and consequences; and Alabama’s new stance on frozen embryos.
59 min
8
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
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
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
16
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
17
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
18
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
19
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
20
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
21
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
22
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
23
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
24
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
25
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