Slate News

As governments around the world try to predict the toll and duration of the coronavirus, they’re turning increasingly to a handful of forecasting models for answers. But many of the leading models differ drastically in their approach and methods. What do we need to know about these forecasts? And what are their limitations? Guest: Jordan Ellenberg , mathematics professor at the University of Wisco...

As governments around the world try to predict the toll and duration of the coronavirus, they’re turning increasingly to a handful of forecasting models for answers. But many of the leading models differ drastically in their approach and methods. What do we need to know about these forecasts? And what are their limitations? Guest: Jordan Ellenberg , mathematics professor at the University of Wisco...

Emily, John and David discuss where efforts to curb virus transmission go from here with epidemiologist Amesh Adalja, Trump’s purge of investigators general, and what Sanders’ exit should mean for the Democratic party’s agenda. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John improvise a story together. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to s...

The Navy prides itself on being ready for just about anything. Sailors are even trained to fight fires, if need be. But when the coronavirus started rapidly spreading aboard the USS Roosevelt in early March, the ship’s captain sent out an SOS. Instead of a calm and collected response, the Navy’s top leadership imploded.  Guest: Adam Weinstein , national security editor at The New Republic.  Slate...

By now, Americans are getting used to the patterns of the coronavirus. It largely preys on the elderly and people with certain underlying health conditions. But as cities and towns start compiling the racial data of COVID-19 patients, new trends are making public health officials sound another alarm. Black people are getting sick and dying at shocking rates—and the virus is only part of the reason...

Concerns over the coronavirus outbreak are colliding with partisan trench warfare in Wisconsin. Voters are stuck in the crosshairs.  Guest: Mark Joseph Stern , Slate’s courts and law correspondent.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food. Marcia Chatelain, author of Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America , joins to discuss the complex relationship between fast food franchises and African American communities.   Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Rikers Island was not built to slow a pandemic. Buildings are decrepit, and the churn of guards and new inmates makes infectious diseases incredibly hard to contain. Over the past several weeks, Rikers has released more than 600 inmates in an attempt to lessen the public health threat posed by a Covid-19 outbreak in the jail complex. But it’s not clear that will be enough. Guest: Rachael Bedard ,...

Felix, Anna and Emily discuss the issue of small business loans in the stimulus bill, why the toilet paper shortage might not be overhyped and Trump’s oil tweet which is quite possibly the most market moving tweet ever. “ What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Toilet Paper Shortage ,” by Will Oremus in Medium “ Trump’s Labor Department Takes A Hacksaw To Coronavirus Paid Sick Leave ” by Emily Pec...

This week, workers at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Instacart have announced mass strikes across the country. Though demand for these services is high, pay and protection is low. What exactly do we owe to the delivery workers at the front lines of the pandemic? And with these companies hiring in record numbers, can the strikes succeed? Guests: Heidi Carrico, founding member of the  Gig Workers Collecti...

This week, workers at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Instacart have announced mass strikes across the country. Though demand for these services is high, pay and protection is low. What exactly do we owe to the delivery workers at the front lines of the pandemic? And with these companies hiring in record numbers, can the strikes succeed? Guests: Heidi Carrico, founding member of the Gig Workers Collectiv...

Emily, John and David discuss the security of U.S. elections, are joined by guest economics professor Jason Furman to help estimate by when we can anticipate a financial recovery, and the hosts talk with novelist Geraldine Brooks to learn more about living through a plague. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year.  S...

“Politically incorrect since 1971.” That’s the unofficial motto of Liberty University, an evangelical college located in Lynchburg, Virginia headed by Jerry Falwell Jr. The school and its president take pride in bucking conventional wisdom, so when Jerry Falwell Jr. began to downplay concerns over COVID-19, echoing the rhetoric of the White House in early March, students and staff took notice. Rut...

Every Wednesday, the Slate Money hosts discuss what’s going on right now amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  Today, Emily, Anna, and Felix discuss the question of paying rent and mortgages amid the massive layoffs due to COVID-19. Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC could soon be changing its guidelines on whether the American public should be wearing masks to combat the spread of COVID-19. What does the data say about mask usage? And how do we calculate the answer for ourselves? Guest: Aaron E. Carroll , professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. He blogs at a website called The Incidental Economist . He’ll also answer your cor...

As COVID-19 cases continue to mount across the country, many states are still preparing for the virus to hit their populations with full force. In Florida, state officials have voiced concerns about shutting down the economy, while local officials have noted surging hospitalizations in their cities. Now, some mayors are no longer waiting for the governor to order a lockdown.  Guest: Jane Castor ,...

In this Slate Money mini-series, Felix Salmon talks to guests about the economics of food. Michael Specter joins Felix to talk coronavirus, GMOs, industrial farming and various other topics that affect public health.  Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a few weeks ago, officials were saying the coronavirus outbreak posed a relatively low risk for people living in New York City. How did health experts and government officials misread the threat so completely? And what can the rest of the country learn from what’s happening in New York now? Guest: Elizabeth Kim , senior editor for Gothamist and WNYC.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and...

This week, Felix, Emily, and Anna talk to Rich Lesser of Boston Consulting Group about how big businesses are coping right now and the relief bill that was just passed. Then they discuss what the Fed is doing, and what’s going on at Amazon.  “ U.S. airlines don’t need a bailout to stay in business ” by Richard Squire  In the Slate Plus segment: Ecuador. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Sl...

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Ian Bassin, former associated White House counsel from 2009-11 and co-founder of Protect Democracy for a look at the pain points, tensions, and glimmers of hope in how this constitutional democracy is handling the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19.  In the Slate Plus segment, Mark Joseph Stern on why Justice Elena Kagan is voting with the conservatives, th...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence.  Sign up now  to listen and support our work. The United States failed to roll out widespread testing in the early days of the pandemic. Now it faces critical shortages of supplies as it scrambles to track the disease around the country. Until testing is available at scale, Americans won’t be able...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence.  Sign up now  to listen and support our work. The United States failed to roll out widespread testing in the early days of the pandemic. Now it faces critical shortages of supplies as it scrambles to track the disease around the country. Until testing is available at scale, Americans won’t be able...

Emily, John and David are joined by epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves to discuss the latest pandemic debates and also by Civil War historian David Blight on what history can teach us about surviving catastrophe. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss insights they have gained from their experiences with social distancing. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the...

What happens when the people on the frontlines get sick? An ER doctor shares her experience with coronavirus as doctor and patient. Guest: Dara Kass , Emergency medicine physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weekly, day-of update, the Slate Money hosts discuss what’s going on right now amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  Today, Emily, Anna and Felix discuss the $2 Trillion relief package and how the US government stacks up in the crisis.  Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.