Political Gabfest

John Dickerson talks with author David E. Sanger about his new book ,  New Cold Wars . They discuss how Russia and China came to reach their new levels of power, the role the Middle East and Obama Administration played in all of this, and more. Tweet us your questions  @SlateGabfest  or email us at  gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podc...

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s first criminal trial and the Supreme Court argument on a criminal charge related to another Trump case and talk with  The Atlantic’s  Mark Leibovich  about his  profile of Governor Gavin Newsom .    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Norman Eisen for CNN:  Don’t call it a ‘hush money’ case Brian...

In this week’s essay, John remembers dropping his son off at college, and trying to hold onto moments and feelings while you can.    Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 6. September 2021: They chose you.   Notebook 15, page 4. April 2004: Sitting with Brice by waterfall. Throwing rocks in stream. Loading sand from dump truck and loader and back again.   References: What Got You Here, Won’t Get You...

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the revival of Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban; the end of No Labels; and the past and future of presidential debates.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Mary Jo Pitzl and Reagan Priest for The Arizona Republic:  Arizona House GOP halt Democrats’ effort to overturn Civil War era law in chaotic session Dan Balz...

In this week’s essay, John Dickerson looks back on a Sunday morning in 2021, and ruminates on the empty spaces left behind by the people that once filled our lives.    Notebook Entries: Notebook 75, page 6. September 5, 2021: “Oh my god. We dropped our son at college and our dog is dead.” – Anne.   References: “Sunday Morning Coming Down” by Johnny Cash “ The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ” by T...

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 Kickstarter John: Joey Roulette and Will Dunham for Reuters: Exclusive: White House directs NASA to create time standard for the moon and John Dickerson Introduces: Navel Gazing   David: Corvid Research: All in the (crow)...

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson has been a journalist for more than three decades, reporting about presidential campaigns, political scandals, the evolving state of our democracy. Along the way, he’s also been recording his observations in notebooks he has carried in his back pocket. On the Navel Gazing podcast, John Dickerson invites you to join him in figuring out what these thirty years o...

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Supreme Court (again) and abortion (again); Donald Trump’s ups and downs in New York courtrooms and Ronna McDaniel’s rise and fall on NBC; and Gallup’s  World Happiness Report 2024 .   Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener for The Washingto...

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court’s busy week on government speech and immigration authority; Donald Trump’s bond issue and words problem; and COVID learning loss. Join us for  Political Gabfest Live  in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now; get ‘em before they’re gone.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: A...

Emily Bazelon talks with  author Tana French  about her new book,  The Hunter . They discuss the different perspectives French uses throughout her books, how French happened into writing mysteries, writing as an outsider to Ireland, and more. Tweet us your questions  @SlateGabfest  or email us at  gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcas...

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 Congress’s move to ban the Chinese government from TikTok. Join us for  Political Gabfest Live  in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Plan...

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 Atlantic’s Franklin Foer. Join us for  Political Gabfest Live  in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener...

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 time out as minority leader. Join us for our next  Political Gabfest Live  show in Washington, D.C. on March 27! Tickets are on sale now. Planning to attend...

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 notes and references from this week’s show: Pam Belluck for the New York Times on  A New Abortion Access Strategy Adam Liptak for the New York Times on  Supr...

David Plotz talks with author Kiley Reid about her new book,  Come & Get It . They discuss how money can work in the same way as language, writing realistic dialogue, and the things we can’t let go of.  Tweet us your questions  @SlateGabfest  or email us at  gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Need to...

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 Suozzi’s win in the New York congressional special election. And in Slate Plus, Emily, John, and David talk local news with reporter  Ellie Wolfe .    Here a...

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 son; and the D.C. Circuit Court decision on presidential immunity and the Supreme Court argument on the presidential ballot.    Here are some notes and refer...

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 million win against Donald J. Trump; the events of 1920-1948 that shaped the current relationship of Israel and Palestine; and the tech-bro billionaires of techno-authoritarianism with  Adrienne LaFrance  of The Atlantic.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Eric Lach for The New Yorke...

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: Michael Scherer and Toluse Olorunnipa for The Washington Post:  Trump, Biden pivot quickly to a 2024 campaign that many voters dread Lauren Irwin for The Hill:...

On this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson talks with author Brad Stulberg about his new book,  Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing – Including You.  They discuss how to make change itself a mindset, John’s notebooks, what we can learn from athletes, and more. Tweet us your questions  @SlateGabfest  or email us at  gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted...

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  Chevron deference; and  The Misguided War on the SAT  with  David Leonhardt  of The New York Times.    Here are some notes and references from this week...

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 of absolute presidential immunity.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Politico:  Austin’s hospital debacle: A timeline of event...

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 this week’s show: Steve Peoples for AP:  Biden and Trump are posed for a potential rematch that could shake American politics Rob Crilly for the Daily Mail:  V...

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by  Wesley Morris , critic at large for The New York Times and co-host of the  Still Processing  podcast, to cogitate on Conundrums 2023.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Thanks to everyone who submitted Conundrums, especially Alex, Brian, Mitchell Kosht, Patricia Gonzalez, Kali Rocha, Becca Nagorsky, Kevin Maginnis, K...

John Dickerson talks with author Christine Coulson about her new book, “One Woman Show.” They discuss the moment that inspired Coulson to tell a story in museum wall labels, her 25-years working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and why restraint can be an artist’s best friend.  Tweet us your questions  @SlateGabfest  or email us at  gabfest@slate.com . (Messages could be quoted by na...