Slate News

Georgia has confirmed more than 24,000 cases of COVID-19 and tallied close to 1,000 deaths from the disease. However, Governor Brian Kemp is still allowing a number of the state’s businesses to reopen this week, citing an increased capacity for testing and hospitalizations. Employers, for their part, have been left in a lurch. How do small business owners reopen? Should they? And, if an owner choo...

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food. This week, Tad Friend joins to discuss the growing alternative meat industry, the plant-based crusade of Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown and the significant environmental benefits of ditching the beef patty. " Value Meal " by Tad Friend for The New Yorker Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jess...

With 26 million Americans filing for unemployment in the last five weeks, it’s obvious that the economy is still broken. However, Congress hasn’t been sitting on its heels—trillions of dollars of aid have been approved with billions more signed into law this week. The problem? It just hasn’t been enough. Now, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecasts unemployment could reach 16 percent...

This week Felix, Anna, and Emily discuss the price of oil, the Paycheck Protection Program round two, and the results of their informal poll on stimulus checks.  Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Slate Money each week, and no ads.  Sign up now  to listen and support our show. In the Slate Plus segment: The United States Oil Fund. Email:  slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine...

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Colorado State Attorney General Phil Weiser to talk about how states’ rights fit into the picture of America that’s emerging in this pandemic.  In the Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia to talk about the big decisions that came down from the high court this week and what they mean for other, even bigger, decisions yet to come this term. Sign up for Slat...

There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at breakneck speed to find a vaccine, they’re debating breaking (or at least bending) the rules that ensure the end product is safe. How do we balance speed with safety in the rush to develop a vaccine? Guest: Dr. Timothy Lahey , an infectious diseases docto...

There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at breakneck speed to find a vaccine, they’re debating breaking (or at least bending) the rules that ensure the end product is safe. How do we balance speed with safety in the rush to develop a vaccine? Guest: Dr. Timothy Lahey , an infectious diseases docto...

Emily, David and John discuss the pushback against COVID-19 restrictions, the success of female political leaders, and they're joined by Mark Bittman to talk about eating and cooking well during isolation. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss their all-time must-read lists. The list is here . Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and ac...

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, cruises were the poster-child of viral spread. For the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Cruise Line, the problems began in February and quickly escalated, as more passengers and crew fell ill, and Carnival struggled to dock its cruise liners. As ships went from floating cities to floating quarantines, what did the bosses know, and when did the...

More than 700 cases of COVID-19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota can be traced back to the city’s Smithfield pork packaging plant. Weeks before the coronavirus outbreak was confirmed, employees were asking for protective measures that didn’t materialize until it was too late. And Smithfield isn’t unique: Meatpacking facilities across the country are also struggling to minimize the spread of the virus....

No one thought 2020 was going to be a boring election year. Several key Senate seats are in play, presenting Democrats with a real shot at winning back the chamber. However, with an unstable economy and a critical phase of the campaign cycle going virtual, candidates are facing new challenges.  Guest: Jim Newell , Slate’s senior politics writer Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free pod...

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food. Dan Barber of Blue Hill joins Felix to discuss how COVID-19 is revealing the flaws in the farm-to-table model, the utilitarian origins of cuisine and what a truly sustainable local food system would look like.  Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Ever since COVID-19 surfaced in Florida, local journalists began wondering how the virus was going to impact nursing home residents and employees. For weeks the facilities and the state's health department were reluctant to release data on the more than 600 assisted care centers. On Saturday, Governor Ron DeSantis finally released a list of nursing homes with confirmed cases, but only after pressu...

This week Felix, Anna, and Emily discuss the Paycheck Protection Program funds running out, Amazon’s current percentage of evil, and why companies would pay out dividends right now. “ Coronavirus at Smithfield pork plant: The untold story of America's biggest outbreak ” by Jessica Lussenhop in BBC News   In the Slate Plus segment: Pandemic Bonds.  Email:  slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by...

Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease within communities. South Korea’s extensive tracing program has all but eliminated the spread of the virus within its borders. What will it take for the U.S. to do the same? Guests: Raphael Rashid , a freelance journalist, and Dr. Mike Reid , professor at...

Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease within communities. South Korea’s extensive tracing program has all but eliminated the spread of the virus within its borders. What will it take for the U.S. to do the same? Guests: Raphael Rashid , a freelance journalist, and Dr. Mike Reid , professor at...

Trump claims “total authority”, Heather Boushey on fighting the recession, and Amanda Ripley on lessons from Katrina and other disasters. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss what they would do about the pandemic if they were billionaires. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year.  S...

The summer is going to be marked by the slow process of learning to live with coronavirus looming. The United States is going to have to rethink what “normal” means. Guest: Ed Yong, Science writer for The Atlantic Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in January, the Trump administration was caught flat footed in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Politico’s Dan Diamond took a look back at the past 20 years of pandemic preparedness in the United States and found that former administrations weren’t exactly proactive either.  Guest: Dan Diamond , Health Reporter for POLITICO Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast fe...

Washington is still struggling to put the U.S. economy on ice while we wait out the coronavirus. Maybe you’re expecting your government check this week. Maybe you’re a small business owner looking for a loan. Is help on the way? And, if not, what’s the hold-up? Guest: Jordan Weissmann , Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast...

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food. Remember going to restaurants? Marissa Conrad joins to talk about the complex economy of restaurant reservations and how apps like OpenTable and Resy are changing the game.  “ We Suck at Reservations ” by Marissa Conrad for New York Magazine Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli....

At hospitals throughout the country another fight is beginning to spill into the public eye. This one between hospital administrators and their workers who have been put in harm's way. As nurses push for better working conditions, COVID-19 is laying bare a tension that has existed in hospitals and the health care system for many, many years. Guest: Zenei Cortez, RN at Kaiser Permanente South San F...

This week Felix, Anna, and Emily talk about Felix’s theory that this is a “Bayesian” crisis, the Fed’s newest lending program which includes businesses that aren’t exactly big or small, and the stock market’s major rally.  “ The Economic Devastation Of COVID-19 Is Hitting Women Particularly Hard ,” by Emily Peck in the Huffington Post Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Slate Money each week...

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Marc Elias, chair of Perkins Coie’s Political Law Group, he represents the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Together, they reconstruct how the Supreme Court stepped into Wisconsin’s April election, and what the path to that decision—and the fallout from it—can teach us ahead of November.  In the Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern...

In this special episode of the Political Gabfest John, Emily and David are joined by therapist Esther Perel to discuss how the coronavirus is affecting relationships, and what we can all do to support one another, process grief and tap into increased compassion during this time. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the yea...