This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the UAW autoworkers’ strike against the Big Three automakers, talk with Yoel Roth about social media trust and safety, and weigh teachers’ burden to engage in parent diplomacy. J

Trump Is Indicted – Again

Jun 9th, 2023 30m 20s

In a Gabfest Special Edition, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss Donald Trump’s indictment on charges relating to classified documents and the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision on Alabama racial gerrymandering.Here are some no

What Is The Comstock Act?

May 18th, 2023 43m 41s

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the John Durham report on the FBI investigation of the 2016 Trump campaign; the mifepristone case heard by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the 12-week abortion ban in Nort

Gabfest Reads: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Semiconductors?

Mar 18th, 2023 35m 21s

John Dickerson talks with author Chris Miller about his new book, Chip War: The Fight for The World’s Most Critical Technology. They discuss how semiconductor chips became so important, why everyone is so dependent on Taiwan for chips, and what

What Is Herschel Walker Lying About Today?

Oct 6th, 2022 52m 41s

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the new Supreme Court term; Herschel Walker’s abortion lies; and the legal mess Dobbs created for doctors providing abortion via telemedicine.Here are some notes and references

What’s in Trump’s Safe?

Aug 11th, 2022 58m 29s

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Juliette Kayyem discuss the Mar-a-Lago search; the Inflation Reduction Act; and Caitlin Dickerson’s article investigating how separating families at the border became U.S. policy.Here are some notes

Why Did White Evangelicals Get So Angry

May 12th, 2022 1h

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Michael C. Dorf for Dorf on Law: “In a Post-Roe World, Can States Prevent Women From Seeking Abortions Out-of-State?”Ruth Graham for The New York Times: “A Pastor and His Congregation P

Slate Presents: Lockdown

1 Dec 18th, 2019 25m 23s

If you have any school-aged children in your life, you know that lockdown and active shooter drills have become a routine part of their school experience. These drills now take place in 95 percent of American schools. What you’re about to hear

Zero Sum

1 Mar 12th, 2021 1h 8m

Emily, John and David discuss the unprecedented American Rescue Plan. Author Heather McGhee joins the Gabfest to talk about her new book outlining how racism hurts all Americans and Dr. Michael Mina answers questions about how to improve the na

Breaking Up Facebook

Dec 10th, 2020 1h 1m

Emily, John and David talk about the coup attempt, Facebook’s legal troubles, and which presidential norms to restore or discard, with guest Tim Wu.It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum.

Biden Biding

Nov 12th, 2020 1h 4m

The Slate Political Gabfest is turning 15 years old! We will be celebrating with a special live show on Dec 9th-- with wine! Please join us (drinking is optional). Learn more here.Notes and references from this week’s show:Karl Rove for The

Empty Notepad

Oct 16th, 2020 1h 16m

Emily, John and David discuss Barrett’s confirmation hearings; the First Amendment and disinformation; and the latest election machinations.Here are some references from this week’s show:Emily Bazelon for the New York Times: “The Problem of F

Not Even Cold in The Ground

1 Sep 24th, 2020 1h 14m

Emily, John and David discuss the unseemly rush to replace Justice Ginsburg, the coming presidential debates, and 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine:

Florida Bans Abortion Again

21 days ago 1h 7m

Here are this week’s chatters:Emily: Scott Bauer for AP: Wisconsin voters approve ban on private money support for elections and Unfair Share: The Gerrymandered Chocolate Bar on KickstarterJohn: Joey Roulette and Will Dunham for Reuters: Excl

Did Hur Exonerate Biden?

Mar 14th, 2024 1h

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and Special Counsel Robert Hur’s congressional testimony; crime and punishment with the Wren Collective’s Jessica Brand; and Cong

The Dismal Biden Polls

Mar 7th, 2024 1h 3m

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Biden v. Trump polls and Super Tuesday, the Supreme Court’s decision to leave Donald Trump on the ballot, and whether The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending with The Atlan

Could They Actually Leap Over Biden And Dunk Him?

Feb 29th, 2024 59m 19s

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss 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

Can Putin Be Stopped?

Feb 22nd, 2024 1h 3m

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss 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. Here are some not

Well-Meaning, Elderly Man With A Poor Memory

Feb 15th, 2024 52m 12s

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Special Counsel Robert Hur’s description of President Joe Biden; House Republicans’ impeachment of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and refusal on Ukraine aid; and Democrat Tom S

Congress Can’t Aid, Can’t Arm, Can’t Legislate, Can’t Impeach

Feb 8th, 2024 1h

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Republicans’ beginning and end of both the border bill and the impeachment of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the criminal conviction of a mother for a school shooting by her s

The Election No One Wants

Jan 25th, 2024 1h 1m

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump v. Biden presidential rematch, the end of the “vibecession,” and the political fights over immigration. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:Mic

Why Trump Won Iowa

Jan 18th, 2024 1h 7m

This week, John Dickerson re-joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the Republican presidential race, the Iowa caucuses, and the New Hampshire primary; the Loper Bright and Relentless cases at the Supreme Court and the possible end of C

Should Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Be Fired?

Jan 11th, 2024 1h 3m

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Jamelle Bouie of The New York Times to discuss the absence and silence of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, school absenteeism with Alec MacGillis of ProPublica, and Donald Trump’s claim o

Who Wants to Be President of Harvard?

Jan 4th, 2024 1h

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz begin the year discussing the 2024 presidential election; Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation; and the 2023 decrease in homicides. Here are some notes and references from thi

Trump versus Colorado

1 Dec 21st, 2023 1h 7m

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to block Donald Trump from the ballot, the new Texas law to allow state and local authorities to arrest immigrants, and guest Amanda Ripley’