Slate Daily Feed

While the What Next team spends some time with their families this week, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes Jan. 2. Everybody loves pandas—and China knows it. As we say goodbye to the National Zoo’s pandas, we look back at 50 years of “panda diplomacy” and consider its uncertain future. Guest: E. Elena Songster, author of Panda N...

While the What Next team spends some time with their families this week, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes Jan. 2. Not all of the Cardinals who elected Pope Francis are pleased with the changes he’s made, or his vision for where the Catholic Church goes next. Both the 86-year-old Francis and his detractors are preparing for his...

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the most important and most memorable sports moments of 2023. They’re also joined by Mark Wright to talk about his podcast The Bison Project, on Howard University’s 1971 NCAA champion soccer team. Finally, we look back at one of our favorite segments from the recent past, featuring … a mystery guest.   Memorable moments (4:41):  Damar Hamlin, Mi...

While the What Next: TBD team spends some time with their families during the holidays, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes in January. Twitter’s “blue check” verification went from something you applied for, to something you could pay for, to something you had to pay for…to something that many celebrities wouldn’t even accept for...

This week, the Colorado Supreme Court determined in a pivotal decision that Donald J Trump should not appear on the ballot in the state's Republican primary. Meanwhile the high court is already involved in the possible briefing of another Trump case (about presidential immunity) and has agreed to docket another involving the obstruction of the vote certification on Jan 6 2021. And we haven’t even...

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...

This week, Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and guest host Edmund Lee , media reporter for the New York Times, recap the 2023 economic year, which saw strong growth, reduced inflation, and soaring stocks. Also: What a potential Warner Bros.-Paramount merger means for the entertainment business, and why a growing number of pedestrians are being killed by cars at night. In the Plus segment: Can the news...

From our friends at Financial Times's FT News Briefing: The FT’s Peter Spiegel, Katie Martin and Elaine Moore preview what could happen in geopolitics, markets and artificial intelligence in 2024.  Listen to the FT News Briefing podcast every Monday through Friday here:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ft-news-briefing/id1438449989 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Huts...

From Goodreads scandals to relationship prompt Twitter, the internet has been rife with trends to get mad about. On today’s episode, Candice Lim is joined by Vox’s Alex Abad-Santos and journalist Sylvia Obell to audit everything they lived through online in 2023, discussing the good, the bad and the truly unhinged. This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and R...

Without infrastructure to support all-electric vehicles, consumers have increasingly embraced the hybrid. The lower emissions are good—but are they slowing down our transition into an electric future?  Guest: Patrick George, editor-in-chief of InsideEVs.com, contributor to The Atlantic and The Verge. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits...

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 ’s suggestions to survive 2024.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Colorado Supreme Court’s opinion in Anderson, et al. v. Griswo...

Before 1990, there had never been a documented case of a patient getting HIV from a health care worker. Kimberly Bergalis changed that. Her claim that she’d been infected by her dentist would captivate and terrify the country. And the dentist, David Acer, would be made into a villain without America ever knowing who he really was. This episode was written by Kelly Jones and Josh Levin, One Year’s...

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen, and Elizabeth Newcamp discuss their biggest parenting triumphs and fails of the year and reveal their favorite piece of advice they gave or received this year. Also, in grand holiday party tradition, their kids take the mic to answer your listener questions. In Slate Plus, the hosts look to the future and have a few recommendations for starting 2024 off...

After his character, Kang the Conqueror, was set up to be the big villain of the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jonathan Majors was dismissed from the franchise after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment.  Guest: Michael Schulman , staff writer for the New Yorker . If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like...

Over the past few months, we’ve been collecting your stories about inheritance, from those who have it and those who don’t. You told us about when inheritance was a surprise, when it felt like a control tactic, a safety net, an expression of love, or an opportunity to redistribute generational wealth.  In this episode, Anna talks to four people about their inheritance experiences: Gwynn, who is gr...

Jules, Bryan, and Outward regular Danny Lavery share year end Prides and Provocations. The hosts cover everything from risk-taking bottoms in government and infamous grifters to powerful organizers who are giving us hope for 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Candice Lim is joined by Kristen Meinzer ( Daily Fail ,  How to be Fine )  and Tre’vell Anderson ( FANTI ,  What A Day )  to recap the year in celebrity breakups. Lately, it feels like everyone in Hollywood is breaking up, but have there really been that many more celebrity splits than usual? Was  Scandoval  really proof that love is dead or have we been placing celebrity coupl...

In September, Brittany Watts had a miscarriage at her home in Ohio. Prosecutors are now charging her with “abuse of a corpse,” a felony that could result in up to a year in prison.  When does a miscarriage become a felony? And could the anti-abortion movement be using this case as a step towards achieving “fetal personhood”? Guest: Mary Ziegler , law professor at UC Davis and author of Roe: The Hi...

This week, it’s the yearly call-in episode! Steve, Dana, and Julia dive into questions submitted by Culture Gabfest listeners.  Outro music: “Forbidden Love” by OTE Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Kat Hong.  If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many s...

West Virginia University is wrapping up its first semester following dramatic cuts to undergraduate and graduate programs. Its president calls the “restructuring” an effort to better focus on majors like medicine, nursing, and business – degrees that will lead directly to lucrative jobs. But what is a degree really for? And how do you decide when a diploma is “worth it?” Guest: Michael Powell , st...

Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Alex Kirshner discuss Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. They also talk about the Washington Capitals and Wizards reportedly leaving D.C. for Northern Virginia. And finally, they examine why every college quarterback is in the transfer portal.   Draymond (4:43):  What’s next for him and for the Warriors?   Wiz and Caps (26:12):  Are they actually leaving...

On this episode: the best way to show a solo parent you’re here for them—even if you live far away. Jamilah Lemieux, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen also debate what to do if your kid is constantly coming home from school with gifts. Then they discuss How To ‘Un-Spoil’ Your Kid, According To Parenting Experts by Kelsey Borresen.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us n...

In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, director Rob Reiner gave the world a band named Spinal Tap. No one knows who they were or what they were doing … except for legendary designer Paula Scher , the mind behind 40 years of music artwork and branding. She chats with Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers about the true stories that inspired the classic mockumenta...

“Easy returns” are an essential part of the online shopping experience. But 20-30 percent of online purchases get sent “back,” which is to say, they then enter the labyrinth of third-party return facilities, destined for re-evaluation, restocking—or possibly, the garbage. Guest: Amanda Mull, staff writer at The Atlantic . If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plu...

Going through airport security is a legal requirement. Is it fair for a private company to interject itself in that process—and cut to the front of the line? Guest: David Zipper, visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, focused on mobility, cities and technology. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast,...