Political Gabfest
Episodes
Kremlin Wedding Present
Political Gabfest discusses the Supreme Court’s ruling blocking Trump’s attempt to use the Postal Service to disrupt mail-in voting, alongside ongoing election security threats.
Pretend I'm on the Ballot
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson analyze Trump’s midterm convention as a failed attempt to reverse his low approval ratings and…
What Is the Bond Market, Anyway?
The Slate Political Gabfest discusses the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing Trump’s unauthorized White House ballroom to proceed, citing lack of standing for aesthetic injury.
Please Do Not Ruin the Post Office
David Plotz and guest host Juliet Chayam discuss Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting, which they argue aims to sow chaos rather than address non-existent fraud.
Listener Questions
In this listener-question episode of the Political Gabfest, hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon are interviewed by researcher Emily Ditto.
Gabfest Reads | Look What You Made Me Do
On GabFest Reads, host David Plotz interviews author John Lanchester about his new novel, *Look What You Made Me Do*.
Air Faux One
Hosts David Plotz and Emily Bazelon, with guest Juliette Kayyem, analyze the controversy surrounding President Trump’s secret plane switch during a summit, debating the security risks of using decoys.
Data Center Backlash
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon analyze Abdul El-Sayed’s progressive victory in Michigan’s Senate primary and its implications for the Democratic Party.
Unhinged Obsession
Now We Can Call It a Quagmire
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the escalating Iran conflict, rising oil prices, and Trump’s controversial tariffs.
Gabfest Reads | The Presidency as Pure Pleasure
In this episode, hosts John Dickerson, Maggie Haberman, and Jonathan Swan discuss their new book on Donald Trump’s second term, detailing his…
I'm His Lawyer
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon analyze Todd Blanche’s controversial AG confirmation, highlighting his role as President Trump’s…
Maybe That Nazi Tattoo Was a Clue
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson analyze Graham Plattner’s withdrawal from the Maine Senate race amid sexual assault allegations,…
America Has a King Now
Hosts David Plotz and Emily Bazelon, joined by Ruth Marcus, analyze major Supreme Court rulings from July 2026.
New York is Red
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon analyze the surge of Democratic Socialist candidates in New York primaries, driven by Mayor…
Gabfest Reads | Why America Is Spiritually Broken and How to Fix It
In this GabFest Reads episode, host Emily Bazlon interviews Senator Chris Murphy about his new book, *Crisis of the Common Good*.
Another Treaty of Versailles
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon analyze a flawed US-Iran peace deal that restores the status quo, criticizing it as a political failure for Trump.
California Is an Embarrassment
The hosts discuss the escalating Iran war, noting rising inflation and Trump’s refusal to acknowledge economic pain, alongside California’s protracted vote count that fuels election misinformation.
Man-Child Graham Platner
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner’s sexting scandal and its political implications for Democrats.
They Messed with Texas
The Slate Political Gabfest analyzes the Texas Senate runoff between indicted Ken Paxton and James Tallarico, discussing turnout challenges and Republican unity.
Corruption Never Stops
Hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Rafter discuss a controversial $1.
Gabfest Reads | Why Liberalism Needs to Reclaim the Center
John Dickerson interviews Adrian Wooldridge about his book *The Revolutionary Center*, which argues for reviving liberalism against rising illiberal threats from both the right and left.
Nevertheless, Xi Persisted
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson analyze the Trump-Xi summit with guest Jane Perlez, discussing US-China leverage on tariffs, Taiwan, and AI chips.
Are Republicans Actually Souring on Trump?
Hosts David Plotz and Emily Bazelon, joined by John Dickerson, analyze Republican voter disaffection driven by the Iran war, rising gas prices, and Trump’s focus on the White House ballroom.
King Me
Emily Bazelon, David Weigel, and Juliette Kayyem analyze the security failures at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and the Trump…
Trump and the Iranians Deserve Each Other
Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson analyze the stalled US-Iran conflict, highlighting the economic impact of Strait of Hormuz…
Gabfest Reads | The Unlikely Rise of Judy Blume
Emily Bazlon interviews Mark Oppenheimer about his biography of Judy Blume, exploring her rise as a pioneering author of realistic middle-grade fiction.
How Many Divisions Has the Pope?
Hosts David Plotz and John Dickerson discuss the US blockade of Iran, Trump’s feud with Pope Leo, and the costs of the conflict.