Slate News

David Plotz talks with author  Shahan Mufti  about his new book,  American Caliph:   The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC .  They discuss an Islamic group’s multi-location attack in D.C., the terror that hostages experienced while held captive for the two days, and the movie that started the whole thing.  Tweet us your questions  @SlateGabfest  ...

The idea that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to sudden deaths among young people has no scientific support, but the theory nevertheless has a lot of traction on social media.  How can public health officials educate the public—especially on subject like vaccines, where their effectiveness renders them effectively invisible?  Guest: Katelyn Jetelina , epidemiologist and data scientist Host: Lizzie O’...

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the discovery of classified documents at Biden’s home; the justices of the Supreme Court exhibiting open animosity toward one another; and fears of a “polycrisis” at Davos. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matt Viser, Tyler Pager, Carol Leonnig and Yasmeen Abutaleb for The Washington Post: “ Inside The White...

In the early 2000s, economic growth exploded in South America—and the citizens of Brazil, Peru, Chile and elsewhere enjoyed increasing prosperity. But over the last decade, the churn of the world economy has made it hard for leaders across the region to meet their people’s raised expectations.  Guest: Brian Winter , editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, former foreign correspondent for Reuters in...

In the wake of mass protests and a depressing effect on its economy, China has ended its “zero COVID” policy. But with cases now rising, is the country ready for the upcoming Spring Festival, a huge holiday for travel that could spread the virus to its remotest corners?  Guest: Dake Kang , reporter for the Associated Press Beijing bureau. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slat...

Since the 1980s, hospice has been covered by Medicare, and it’s come to be an expected part of the healthcare that millions of Americans receive at the end of their lives. But beneath the pamphlets of patients living out their days in comfort lies an uglier reality: a cottage industry that frequently misappropriates taxpayer dollars in the name of profit. Guest: Ava Kofman, investigative reporter...

In the wake of the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, and now similar riots in Brazil’s capital, we’re picking up our conversation about how to reduce political violence. In the  first episode  of our two-part series, we heard from  Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld , senior fellow at the  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . This week, we’re talking with  Curtis Toler , director of outreach...

Elon Musk was promising an “epic” Q4 at Tesla last year. But 2022 ended closer to what might be considered an “epic fail,” with the stock price down 65 percent. In an uncertain economic environment like this one, how much blame goes to Musk for unloading $40 billion worth of stock and focusing on his shiny new social media network? Or are these just growing pains that every company goes through as...

Amicus is sponsored by Betterhelp. The Supreme Court of the United States got back into the swing of things its first week back after New Years, with a case about cement workers and the rights of organized labor . The “swing” the court was getting “back into” with this case was potential precedent-busting. Dahlia Lithwick is joined on this week’s show by Terri Gerstein , director of the State and...

This week Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers discuss how the avian flu has skyrocketed egg prices, even as inflation continues to plateau. They also talk about the ongoing controversy over gas stoves and scrutinize a recent article about Columbia Business School’s new campus .   In the plus segment: Noma, an extravagant restaurant in Copenhagen hailed as the world’s best restaurant,...

You might think of noncompete agreements as mostly limited to highly skilled, highly paid tech workers to protect trade secrets. But one-third of workers bound by noncompetes make $13/hour or less: fast-food workers, security guards, and the like. Noncompete clauses not only give employers leverage over their employees—both during and after their employment—but studies have shown the agreements ar...

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the House GOP’s “Weaponization of Government” subcommittee; the insurrection in Brazil–with Marcos Nobre; and what Prince Harry’s book, Spare, means for the British  Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Matthew Yglesias for Slow Boring: “ A New Plan To Get Around The Debt Ceiling Hostage ” Matt Levine for Bloomb...

Ovidio Guzmán, the son of Sinaloa cartel head Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, was arrested last week in a huge sting by the Mexican government. Who is Ovidio and how does his arrest affect the cartel?  Guest: Luis Chaparro , journalist and producer who moves between Texas and Mexico covering narcos, drugs and immigration. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus mem...

New York’s new Adult Survivor’s Act has opened a “lookback window”—a year-long suspension of the civil statute of limitations—to allow people who may have been assaulted a long time ago the chance to go to court and demand compensation. For those who choose to pursue legal action, what can they expect? Guest: Carrie Goldberg , victim rights lawyer specializing in sex crimes and author of Nobody’s...

How far can you go on a lie? Looking at the career of George Santos, United States Representative, it can take you at least to the congressional floor. But now, firmly in the public eye, his resume unraveling, is Santos’ political career about to be derailed before it starts? And how did it get this far in the first place?  Guest: Azi Paybarah , national reporter covering campaigns and breaking po...

On Friday night, Representative Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House—but not before a far-right revolt kept Congress in a weeklong deadlock. As he begins his tenure as Speaker, will these sorts of standoffs be the rule, not the exception?  Guest: Jim Newell , Slate’s senior politics writer. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefit...

Roughly 95 percent of advanced semiconductor chip manufacturing happens in Taiwan, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to supply chain shocks and national security threats. Is the Biden administration’s $280 billion bill, signed in August last year, enough to boost domestic chip manufacturing? Guest: Don Clark , freelance reporter specializing on chips and enterprise tech. Host: Emily Peck If you enjoy th...

This week, Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the FTC’s proposed non-compete ban, the bank run at Silvergate, and the cause of Southwest’s absolute meltdown this holiday season.   In the Plus segment: E-bikes.   Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the holidays, thousands of passengers were left stranded or delayed when Southwest Airline’s outdated re-booking software broke down. Who can be held accountable, and why don’t airlines invest more in their own infrastructure?  Guest: Heather Tal Murphy , business and technology reporter for Slate. Host: Mary C. Curtis If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate P...

This week, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss GOP’s speakership debacle; George Santos; and improving access to medication abortion. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ The Dawn of the Post-Clinic Abortion ” Emily Bazelon for The New York Times: “ Risking Everything to Offer Abortions Across State Lines ” Mark Oppenh...

Enacted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Title 42 allows border patrol to expel migrants from the U.S. before they have a chance to apply for asylum. Denied the opportunity to apply for asylum, and unable to travel, migrants are left to fend for themselves on the streets of El Paso in winter. Guest: Bob Moore , founder and CEO of El Paso Matters If you enjoy this show, please consider si...

For decades it felt like society was growing more accepting of the LGBTQ community, but in the past few years, hospitals have faced bomb threats, drag story hours have been beset by armed protestors, and queer spaces have been violently targeted. What happened? Guest: David Mack , senior breaking news reporter for Buzzfeed News. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Sl...

Villainized by the right, protested from the left, Nancy Pelosi led the Democrats through the Iraq War, the fight for Obamacare, and two impeachments. As Congress resumes, she will step down from leading the House Democrats, leaving behind a complicated legacy—and a list of hard-fought accomplishments. Guest: Rachael Bade , political analyst for CNN and the co-author of Politico ’s “Playbook” news...

In this New Year’s Eve special, Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Ritholtz Wealth Management CEO Josh Brown to discuss all things markets.   Podcast production by Anna Phillips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For some, 2022 was the year Roe v Wade was overturned. For millions more, abortions rights had been functionally inaccessible for decades. Beyond shaky precedent, Roe was a vessel into which America threw all sorts of hopes, beliefs and fears. But how did this legal decision become a symbol of so much? On this week’s show, host Dahlia Lithwick is joined by abortion law expert Mary Ziegler , who’s...