Political Gabfest

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss anti-Trump sentiment in foreign elections with former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull [https://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/], why the Trump administration has done relatively little about medication abortion so far and whether it will last, and how looming Medicaid cuts will hurt millions of Americans. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether and how to pay attention and respond when Trump “jokes” about the possibility of serving a third term as president. In the latest Gabfest Reads [https://slate.com/podcasts/gabfestreads], John talks with author Maggie Smith [https://maggiesmithpoet.com/bio/] about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life [https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Writer-Practical-Advice-Creative/dp/1982170840/tag=slatmaga-20]. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com [gabfest@slate.com]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Ethan Oberman Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-gabfest/id158004641]and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2oXS9kkKiXdkkCYB3YfqYZ]. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus [http://slate.com/gabfestplus] to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s first 100 days and recent polls, the state of American health policy and underlying DOGE cuts with reporter Dan Diamond [https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/dan-diamond/], and a potential radical shift in American life if the Supreme Court allows a religious charter school in Oklahoma. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily and David interview John about his professional and personal experience of covering the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome for CBS Evening News.   In the latest Gabfest Reads [https://slate.com/podcasts/gabfestreads], John talks with author Maggie Smith [https://maggiesmithpoet.com/bio/] about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life [https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Writer-Practical-Advice-Creative/dp/1982170840/tag=slatmaga-20].   Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com [gabfest@slate.com]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   Research by Emily Ditto   Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-gabfest/id158004641]and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2oXS9kkKiXdkkCYB3YfqYZ]. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus [http://slate.com/gabfestplus] to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Henry Blodget [https://henryblodget.com/about] to discuss the financial and political fallout from the President’s threats to fire Fed Chair Powell and subsequent retreat; a Supreme Court case over free exercise of religion that could have broad implications; and why Trump stands by Hegseth after Signalgate Part 2. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily and David are joined by Henry Blodget [https://henryblodget.com/about] to discuss the weird and somewhat terrifying AI experiment he conducted for his Substack Regenerator [https://www.regenerator1.com/].   In the latest Gabfest Reads [https://slate.com/podcasts/gabfestreads], John talks with author Maggie Smith [https://maggiesmithpoet.com/bio/] about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life [https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Writer-Practical-Advice-Creative/dp/1982170840/tag=slatmaga-20].   Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com [gabfest@slate.com]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   Research by Emily Ditto   Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-gabfest/id158004641]and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2oXS9kkKiXdkkCYB3YfqYZ]. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus [http://slate.com/gabfestplus] to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

John Dickerson talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life [https://bookshop.org/p/books/dear-writer-pep-talks-practical-advice-for-the-creative-life-maggie-smith/21525857?ean=9781982170844&next=t].  They talk about the essential elements of all creative projects, when you know a project is “done”, how to stay “porous” in the world, and more.  Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest [https://twitter.com/slategabfest?lang=en] or email us at gabfest@slate.com [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.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s ramped up attacks on Harvard and international students, the courts flirting with findings of contempt after the administration ignores and mocks court orders, and the ways the Trump tariffs and exemptions invite corruption and “swampiness.” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the implications of the White House cutting the wire services seat from the press pool to explicitly punish the Associated Press.   In the latest Gabfest Reads [https://slate.com/podcasts/gabfestreads], David talks with author Adam Higginbotham [https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Adam-Higginbotham/562760918] about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Challenger/Adam-Higginbotham/9781982176617].   Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com [gabfest@slate.com]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]