Political Gabfest

Political Gabfest

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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.Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening …

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Episodes

"Subject to the Jurisdiction Thereof"

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss yesterday's oral arguments in the monumentally important birthright citizenship case at the Supreme Court, Trump's primetime attempt to convince Americans …

Apr 02, 2026 · 1h 9m

Airplane Travel is a Nightmare

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why politicians keep failing to solve the escalating crisis of American air travel as massive lines and ICE agents disrupt …

Mar 26, 2026 · 54m

Gabfest Reads | The Real Succession

<p>David Plotz talks with journalist Gabriel Sherman about his new book <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bonfire-of-the-Murdochs/Gabriel-Sherman/9781982167417" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty …

Mar 21, 2026 · 24m

Degenerate Gambler

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how policies of anger and dominance structure President Trump’s approach to adversaries, allies, and the independent press alike, how the …

Mar 19, 2026 · 1h 4m

Will Gas Hit $5 a Gallon?

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump will be willing to endure the political pain if his capricious Iran war causes gas to hit $5 …

Mar 12, 2026 · 1h 2m

What’s the Point of the Iran War?

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the possible political outcomes of the war in Iran given the complexities of Iranian society with guest <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/people/karim-sadjadpour" rel="noopener …

Mar 05, 2026 · 58m

The State of the Union is Endless

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump’s State of the Union address effectively convinced voters to ignore the pain in their wallets because he says …

Feb 26, 2026 · 1h 4m

Gabfest Reads | From Busboy to Corporate Tool to Priest

<p>John Dickerson talks with Father James Martin about his new book, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/jamesmartin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate …

Feb 21, 2026 · 57m

Prince-No-More Andrew Pays His Epstein Price

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the public figures being shamed and punished for their associations with Jeffrey Epstein while others remain unscathed, the insights and …

Feb 19, 2026 · 1h 10m

LIVE from Washington, DC!

<p>This week, live from Sixth & I in Washington DC to celebrate 20 years of the Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the contentious House Judiciary …

Feb 12, 2026 · 1h 9m

Is the Melania Movie a Bribe?

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host <a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/juliette-kayyem" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Juliette Kayyem</a> discuss the juxtaposition between the devastating layoffs at <em>The Washington Post</em> and the exorbitant price …

Feb 05, 2026 · 1h 3m

De-ICEing

<p> </p><p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how the shocking killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents could represent a real turning point for Trump’s immigration enforcement …

Jan 29, 2026 · 1h 15m

Greenland War Averted

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump’s lust for Greenland will break the world (or indeed, whether it already has), what this week’s arguments at …

Jan 22, 2026 · 1h 9m

Gabfest Reads | When Marriage Goes Stale and Middle Age Hits Hard

<p>Emily Bazelon talks with author Curtis Sittenfeld about her short story collection, “<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710019/show-dont-tell-by-curtis-sittenfeld/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Show Don't Tel</a>l.” They discuss the recurring themes of the book from troubled marriages …

Jan 17, 2026 · 32m

Can Trump Cow Powell?

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why Trump is stepping up his attacks on Fed Chair Powell and how it could backfire, the increasingly inflammatory actions …

Jan 15, 2026 · 1h 2m

Seize and Sell

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” means for international order after the US military extracted Maduro from Venezuela amid rumblings over …

Jan 08, 2026 · 1h 12m

Greatest Hits

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz revisit several favorite segments from Gabfests past to celebrate their 20th anniversary: the consequential and eye-opening “don’t call the police” debate, …

Jan 01, 2026 · 52m

2025 Conundrums!

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Stephen Colbert answer listeners’ conundrums of all kinds: the meaningful, the trivial, and the delightfully absurd.</p><p>Thanks to all Conundrums …

Dec 26, 2025 · 1h 16m

Gabfest Reads | The Seven Rules of Trust

<p>David Plotz talks with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales about his new book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734278/the-seven-rules-of-trust-by-jimmy-wales-with-dan-gardner/"><em>The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last.</em></a> They discuss how Wikipedia’s culture …

Dec 20, 2025 · 29m

Susie Wiles is a Sane Enabler

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the vivid and impulsive portrait Susie Wiles paints of Trump’s White House in a revealing interview with <em>Vanity Fair</em>, what …

Dec 18, 2025 · 51m

Civilizational Erasure

<p>This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what will happen as the Supreme Court considers whether a president can remove leaders of independent agencies without cause, how …

Dec 11, 2025 · 56m