Political Gabfest
Voted “Favorite Political Podcast” by Apple Podcasts listeners. Stephen Colbert says "Everybody should listen to the Slate Political Gabfest." The Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, is the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks.
Episodes
April 27, 2024 • 33 mins
In this week’s essay, John discusses the art of attention and how to develop the skill of slow-looking.
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, page 8. September 2021
1016
Notebook 1, page 54. June 1990
- Magna carta 1215 at Salisbury
- Girls skipping
- The Haunch of Venison
- Chris
References:
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
A Little History of the World by E.H Gombrich
Artist Jeff Koons
“The Art of Divination: D...
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April 25, 2024 • 68 mins
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the testimony of prosecution witness David Pecker in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, and the Supreme Court argument on presidential immunity.
Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:
Matthew Haag for The New York Times: David Pecker, Ex-National Enquirer Publisher, Details How He Aided Trump
Richard L...
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April 21, 2024 • 27 mins
In this week’s essay, John dives deep into the loss of his beloved dog, George, the essayist’s dilemma, the comfort of quiet mornings, and more.
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, page 5. September 5, 2021
I go to the morning alone.
Notebook 75, page 6. September 6, 2021
Phantom nails on the stairs
References:
“Every Dog Is a Rescue Dog” by John Dickerson for The Atlantic
“Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of huma...
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April 20, 2024 • 41 mins
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.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Learn mor...
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April 18, 2024 • 62 mins
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 Beutler for the Politix podcast: Alvin B...
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April 13, 2024 • 28 mins
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 There by Marshall Goldsmith
Songwr...
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April 11, 2024 • 58 mins
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 for The Washington Post: The Arizona...
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April 6, 2024 • 28 mins
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.S. Eliot
“When Someone You Love is U...
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April 4, 2024 • 64 mins
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) family; 3 Body Problem on Netflix; ...
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April 3, 2024 • 1 min
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 of notebooks mean: sorting out what ...
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March 28, 2024 • 71 mins
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 Washington Post: Supreme Court skeptical of ef...
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March 21, 2024 • 58 mins
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:
Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: Court sympath...
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March 16, 2024 • 28 mins
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.)
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Learn more a...
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March 14, 2024 • 57 mins
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. Planning to attend? Submit a Listener Chatt...
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March 7, 2024 • 61 mins
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 Chatter to gabfest@slate.com and you mi...
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February 29, 2024 • 58 mins
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? Submit a Listener Chatter to gabfes...
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February 22, 2024 • 62 mins
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 Supreme Court Seems Ready to Block a Biden ...
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February 17, 2024 • 22 mins
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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
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February 15, 2024 • 52 mins
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 are some notes and references from thi...
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February 8, 2024 • 59 mins
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 references from this week’s show:
Rachae...
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