Shows / Political Gabfest
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.
Get more Political Gabfest with Slate Plus. Join to unlock weekly bonus episodes—plus ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe directly from the Political…
Episodes
- Political Gabfest
No Way to Prevent This
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Kate McGee and Jolie McCullough for The Texas Tribune: “Confronted with mass shootings, Texas…
- Political Gabfest
More Fetterman!
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for The New York Times: “Status Anxiety Is Blowing Wind Into Trump’s Sails” Karn…
- Political Gabfest
Why Did White Evangelicals Get So Angry
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…
- Political Gabfest
The “End Of Roe Is Nigh!” Edition
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ruth Marcus for The Washington Post: “The Leaked Draft Roe Opinion Is A Disaster For The Supreme”…
- Political Gabfest
So Much Free Speech!
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, Title 42, and the current prayer in school debate. Here are some notes and…
- Political Gabfest
Farewell, Jocelyn!
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the ways that the war in Ukraine may be influencing China's future plans with guest Malcolm Turnbull; the…
- Political Gabfest
Gabfest Reads: He Wanted to Die Holding Hands
David Plotz talks with author Amy Bloom about her journey to support the death, by suicide, of her husband, chronicled in her new book In Love: A Memoir of…
- Political Gabfest
Double Bazelon
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the approaching midterms, inflation, and whether social media is imperiling U.S. democracy—with guest…
- Political Gabfest
Hey, Groomer
Emily, John and David discuss Russia’s war crimes; Disney’s reaction to “don’t say gay”; and Amazon’s first union. Here are some notes and references from this…
- Political Gabfest
Burner Phone
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden's gaffe in speaking too honestly about Russia; Trump’s missing phone logs; and Ginni Thomas’s…
- Political Gabfest
Deep Sigh
David Plotz and John Dickerson are joined by Ruth Marcus to discuss Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing; Ukraine keeps fighting through atrocity; and…
- Political Gabfest
Gabfest Reads: Invisible Kingdom: How Meghan 0'Rourke became a detective of her own illness.
Emily Bazelon talks with author Meghan O’Rourke about germ theory, biomarkers, medical mysteries, long COVID and the quest to return to health as chronicled in…
- Political Gabfest
I Call On You To Do More
Emily and David are joined by guest host Juliette Kayyem to discuss the arming of Ukraine, how to prepare for the next pandemic or catastrophe, and daylight…
- Political Gabfest
Price of a Gallon of Gas
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's fighting spirit, rising gas prices, and conformity on campus. Here are some notes and…
- Political Gabfest
I Need More Ammunition
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Ukraine's resistance, the State of the Union, and an increasing backlash against reformer prosecutors…
- Political Gabfest
Special: Justice Jackson
Stanford Law professor Nathaniel Persily joins David and Emily to discuss President Biden’s nomination for associate justice of the Supreme Court, Ketanji…
- Political Gabfest
Putin's War
Emily and David are joined by guest host Jane Coaston. The three discuss Putin's war with guest Julia Ioffe and also the GOP attacks on transgender children…
- Political Gabfest
Gabfest Reads: Heartbreak
Gabfest reads is a new monthly series from the hosts of the Political Gabfest. This month David Plotz talks with author Florence Williams about divorce…
- Political Gabfest
Angry Parents
Josie Duffy Rice, David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss America's radicalized parents; what the midterms may bring; and the Sandy Hook families’ victory. Here…
- Political Gabfest
Legitimate Political Discourse
Emily, John and David dig into SCOTUS's failure to enforce the Voting Rights Act, the GOP's embrace of January 6th rioters, and protests in Canada. Here are…
- Political Gabfest
Am I Normal?
Emily, John and David discuss Donald Trump’s attempts to seize voting machines, the racist attacks on the yet-to-be-named SCOTUS nominee, and they are joined…
- Political Gabfest
The Breyerwatch Hath Ended
John, Emily and David discuss Justice Breyer’s retirement. They are joined by Anne Applebaum to talk about what global moves may be coming to address threats…
- Political Gabfest
Has It Only Been A Year?
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Biden’s first year, SCOTUS's block of OSHA’s vax-or-test rule, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s…
- Political Gabfest
Talking Filibuster
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss voting rights, Russia's recent moves, with guest Nina Jankowicz; and the increasing politicization of…
- Political Gabfest
Well, Obviously It’s Jan. 6
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss Jan. 6, with guest Jamelle Bouie and what to make of omicron's impact on schools, and the Theranos case…
- Political Gabfest
Conundrums 2021
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz wrap up 2021 considering life’s many conundrums—with special guest Dwayne Betts! Questions this year include: if…
- Political Gabfest
Build Back Never
Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss the future of the Democratic party's agenda, Omicron's spread across the United States and they're joined…
- Political Gabfest
Build Back Later
Emily, John and David discuss January 6th revelations, Build Back Better and voting rights and they are joined by Slow Burn host Joel Anderson to talk about…
- Political Gabfest
Ghislaine
Emily and David are joined by guest host David Leonhardt to discuss the pandemic economy; a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, and the Ghislaine Maxwell…
- Political Gabfest
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health
Emily, John and David discuss the Supreme Court's consideration of Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization with guest Ross Douthat. The Political Gabfest…
- Political Gabfest
Thanksgiving
Emily, John and David talk about whether President Biden ought to run in 2024, the Rittenhouse verdict and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the…
- Political Gabfest
No Joe Mojo
John, Emily and David discuss Biden’s approval numbers, authoritarianism on the rise, and they are joined by author Jay Caspian Kang to talk about his new…
- Political Gabfest
Presidents Are Not Kings and Plaintiff Is Not President
John and David are joined by guest host Ruth Marcus to discuss Biden’s infrastructure win, Trump’s January 6 obstruction, and the Rittenhouse trial. Here are…
- Political Gabfest
Gabfest Reads: Kirsten Powers, Saving Grace
John Dickerson talks with Kirsten Powers about her new book Saving Grace: speak your truth, stay centered and learn to coexist with people who drive you nuts…
- Political Gabfest
Red All Over
NYTimes columnist Ross Douthat joins the show to help untangle the implications of the off-year elections and John, Emily and David discuss the Supreme Court…
- Political Gabfest
Is Facebook Evil?
Emily, John and David talk about the Facebook Papers; Building Back (somewhat) Better; and are joined by author Pamela Paul to talk about the trivial and…
- Political Gabfest
Great Resignation
Emily, John and David discuss Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress, supply chain woes, and Americans pro-actively leaving their jobs. Here are some notes and…
- Political Gabfest
Death of Democracy
Emily, John and David discuss the ways that U.S. democracy is in peril, the Democrats‘ strategy woes, and they are joined by author Andrea Elliott to talk…
- Political Gabfest
Profits Over People
Emily and John are joined by guest host Mary Harris (host of What Next) to talk about the dangerous debt ceiling games; blowing the whistle on Facebook; and…
- Political Gabfest
Get Those Huddled Masses Out of My Yard
John, Emily and David discuss the fate of the Build Back Better agenda; vaccine mandates working; and journalist Caitlin Dickerson helps explain the recent…
- Political Gabfest
True Crime
Emily, John and David discuss what it will take to save the Biden agenda, the abortion doctor's defiance of the Texas ban; and true crime mania. Here are some…
- Political Gabfest
Our Patience is Wearing Thin
Emily, John and David discuss the Biden’s administration’s vaccine rule, the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, and the new book from Bob Woodward and Robert…
- Political Gabfest
20 Years Since 9/11
Emily, John and David reflect on 9/11; the fight for the infrastructure agenda, and declining college enrollment among men. Here are some notes and references…
- Political Gabfest
$10,000 Bounty
John, Emily and David discuss SCOTUS letting the Texas abortion ban go into effect; the Afghanistan exit; and Dr. Atul Gawande joins the show to explain how…
- Political Gabfest
Back to School
Jamelle, Emily and David discuss the Afghanistan evacuation, starting school during delta, and the path forward for infrastructure. Here are some notes and…
- Political Gabfest
Tragedy of Afghanistan
Emily, David and Alexandra Petri discuss the Afghanistan withdrawal, with guest Annie Pforzheimer; California’s recall election; and personal pandemic ethics…
- Political Gabfest
Little Fires Everywhere
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng Public…
- Political Gabfest
Impeach Today
John and David are joined by Andrea Valdez of The Atlantic to discuss New York Mayor Andrew Cuomo refusing to resign, the survival of the eviction moratorium…
- Political Gabfest
Medieval Battle
Emily, John and David discuss the January 6th Commission, the return of masks and they are joined by guest Annie Lowrey to talk about the "time tax." Here are…
- Political Gabfest
Actually It Is ‘Infrastructure Week'
Emily, John and David discuss the Delta variant and the vaccination decline, the bipartisan infrastructure plan living another day, and the pandemic Olympics…
- Political Gabfest
Mature Minor
John, David and Josie discuss the escalating threats to democratic elections, minors’ rights to vaccination, and Josh Levin on the podcast One Year: 1977. Here…
- Political Gabfest
Gab Me Baby One More Time
Emily, John and David discuss New York City’s primary election, J.D. Vance’s Senate run, and injustice illuminated by Britney Spears. Here are some notes and…
- Political Gabfest
Failed Justice Breyer Countdown
Emily Bazelon is joined by Ruth Marcus and Jamelle Bouie to discuss the infrastructure negotiations, alarming Supreme Court decisions and Bill Cosby’s release…
- Political Gabfest
F School, F Softball, F Cheer, F Everything
Emily, John and David discuss the post-pandemic workforce, Tucker Carlson, and student wins at the Supreme Court. Here are some notes and references from this…
- Political Gabfest
New, New, New Cold War
Emily, John and David discuss President Biden's G7 summit and the meeting with President Putin, McConnell’s plans to block a Biden Supreme Court nominee, and…
- Political Gabfest
Manchin on the Hill
Emily, John and David discuss Joe Manchin, how the Trump DOJ lives on, and George Packer’s four Americas. Here are some notes and references from this week’s…
- Political Gabfest
The “Murder Mystery” Edition
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: The Ezra Klein Show: “Obama Explains How America Went From ‘Yes We Can’ to ‘MAGA’” Uneasy Peace: The…
- Political Gabfest
The “Gain of Function” Edition
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: David Leonhardt for The New York Times: “The Lab-Leak Theory” Nicholson Baker for New York Magazine…
- Political Gabfest
Hot Button Issue
Emily, John and David discuss the violence between Israel and Gaza, abortion at the Supreme Court, and the book Nine Nasty Words with author John McWhorter…
- Political Gabfest
Million Dollar Jab
Emily, John and David discuss the post-pandemic economy; vaccine hoarding; and they're joined by Alex Stamos to talk about infrastructure, cybersecurity and…