Political Gabfest

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig and Mike McIntire for the New York Times: “ Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses And Years Of Tax Avoidance ” Adam Davidson’s Twitter thread on signs that Trump might have engaged in money laundering . Daniel Shaviro for Just Security: “ Ten Quick Takeaways from the New York Times’ Bombshell Articl...

In this special bonus episode Emily, John and David debrief and decompress after the first presidential debate of 2020. You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest . Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com . (Email may be qu...

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: “ Why Ruth Bader Ginsburg Refused to Step Down ” The Long Game by Mitch McConnell  Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “ Five Things Biden and His Alli...

Emily Bazelon joins Mike Pesca, host of Slate's Gist, for a special episode on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After discussing Ginsburg’s history as a justice and legacy on the court, they begin to unpack the future political ramifications of her death. Emily and Mike talk through the ways a nomination could quickly slip through the Senate before January, the impact a conservative cou...

Emily, John, David and Jamelle discuss the impacts and threats of wildfires and the climate crisis, apocalyptic election talk, and the four of them envision a new and improved post-pandemic work week. Here are some notes and references from this week’s special show -- part of the Texas Tribune Festival!: Abrahm Lustgarten for The New York Times Magazine: “ The Great Climate Migration ” Galen Durke...

What Trump knew about the virus, DOJ’s move to end E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit, and Matthew Yglesias on One Billion Americans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Rage by Bob Woodward The Washington Post: “ 32 Times Trump Said the Coronavirus Would Go Away ” One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Ja...

Emily, David and John discuss the politics of violence in the U.S. and are joined by bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel to talk about COVID vaccine distribution, and by Edward Ball to talk about his new book, Life of a Klansman: A Family History in White Supremacy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ Trump Needs His Own Sister Souljah Moment ”...

The Republican convention, violence in Kenosha, and whether the Falwell and Conway families’ dramas matter. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thomas B. Edsall for the New York Times: “ ‘I Fear That We Are Witnessing the End of American Democracy’ ” Omar Wasow for the Washington Post: “ The Protests Started Out Looking Like 1968. They Turned Into 1964. ”  Black Lives Matter...

Emily, John and David discuss the Democrats’ virtual convention, the U.S. Postal Service, and the bipartisan Senate report exposing more Trump ties to Russia. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: PowerToThePolls.org Vote-absentee.com Election Protection Hotline Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Keith Johnston for Independent Voter News: “ The 18th-Century Reason Bi...

David, John and Josie Duffy Rice discuss the Biden-Harris ticket, stimulus gridlock, and rapid, ubiquitous coronavirus testing-- with guest Dr. Michael Mina. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Monica Potts for The New York Times: " In the Land of Self Defeat "  Zak Cheney-Rice for New York Magazine: " Tara Reade Is Making It Harder to Hide Joe Biden " This Week in Virology ,...

Messing with the census, undermining the election, and guest Juliette Kayyem on competent crisis response. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Alex Thompson for Politico: “ Trump’s Campaign Knocks on a Million Doors a Week. Biden’s Knocks on Zero. ” Ben Smith for the New York Times: “ How the Media Could Get the Election Story Wrong ” Franklin Foer for the Atlantic: “ Putin I...

David, John and Ruth Marcus discuss Biden’s campaign, Big Tech, and author Anne Applebaum joins to discuss her new book Twilight of Democracy. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John Dickerson for the Washington Post: “ The Ultimate Test of Presidential Character Is Restraint ” Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum Anne Applebaum for...

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz and Jamelle Bouie discuss Trump’s assault on Portland, the filibuster, and Julian Zelizer’s new book about Newt Gingrich’s power tactics. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year.  Sign up now  to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Jamelle, David, and Emily...

Emily, David and guest host James Forman Jr. discuss the pandemic catastrophe, the racial justice movement, and “cancel culture.” Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year.  Sign up now  to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment James, David, and Emily discuss the program James has starte...

Emily, John and David discuss Biden's understated presidential campaign, the new Supreme Court decisions, and Hamilton . Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ Maybe This Isn’t Such a Good Time to Prosecute a Culture War ” David Weigel for The Washington Post: “ The Trailer: Who's Afraid of Joe Biden? ” Michael W. McConnell for the New Yor...

Emily, John and David discuss the Supreme Court’s abortion decision, reopening schools--with guest Emily Oster, and Russia’s bounties for U.S. Troops. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Melissa Murray for The Washington Post: “ The Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Seems Pulled From The ‘Casey’ Playbook ” Linda Greenhouse for The New York Times: “ How Chief Justice Roberts S...

Emily, John and David discuss the rising numbers of COVID cases, the politicization of the DOJ, and they are joined by Slow Burn's Josh Levin to talk about the new season focused on David Duke. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Austan Goolsbee and Chad Syverson: “ Lockdown, and Diversion: Comparing Drivers of Pandemic Economic Decline 2020, University of Chicago, Becker Fri...

Emily, John and David discuss Trump’s Tulsa rally, Bolton’s book, and this week’s historic Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ rights--with attorney Chase Strangio. Episode Notes Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Kathryn Dunn Tenpas for Brookings: “ Tracking Turnover in the Trump Administration ” Anne Applebaum for the Atlantic: “ History Will Judge Trump’s Enablers Harshly ” Dyl...

David, Emily, and John present a special livestream of the Political Gabfest on police abuse, the 2020 election, and John’s new book, The Hardest Job in the World. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: Emily: Charlie Savage and Adam Goldman for the New York Times: “ Outsider Tapped in Flynn Case Calls Justice Dept. Reversal a ‘Gross Abuse’ of Power ” David: Emily Cochrane for the New York Times:...

Emily, John and David discuss the protests against police brutality and racism, Trump’s increasingly authoritarian response, and the pandemic--with guest Jamelle Bouie. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “ What Will College Be Like in the Fall? ” Emily: A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua David:  The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Co...

Emily, John and David discuss the Trump vs. Twitter battle, the realities of this partisan pandemic, and U.S.-China relations with guest Sheena Chestnut Greitens. Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: John: Lori Dorn for Laughing Squid: “ A Timeline of the Most Popular TV Shows (1951-2019) ” Emily: Willa Paskin for Slate: “ Mrs. America’s Showrunner on the Show’s Lessons and Its Detractors ” Dav...

Emily, John and David discuss the state of the pandemic; insider trading allegations in the Senate; and Trump’s firing of the watchdog investigating Mike Pompeo. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the online videos that have educated and entertained them during social isolation. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to spec...

Emily, John, and David discuss COVID without federal leadership; challenges to Trump at the Supreme Court; and novelist Isabel Allende joins the show to talk about her new book A Long Petal of the Sea , and how crisis can be an opportunity for change. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss (what would be) epic historical counterfactuals. Slate Plus members get a bo...

Emily, John and David discuss states reopening as numbers of cases continue to climb; this year’s election security challenges; and they're joined by guest Gene Sperling to talk about “economic dignity.” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss how to save the summer. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episode...

Emily, John and David discuss Tara Reade’s allegations against Joe Biden, the debate over reopening schools, and the three hosts are joined by astronaut Scott Kelly to talk through tips for living in confined spaces. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss the ethics of human challenge trials for vaccine development. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gab...