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Articles by David Plotz
The “Finally, We Vote’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what they’re paying attention to and what to expect on Election Day next Tuesday, how to understand the complex results of Israel’s elections with guest Ruth Margalit, and what Anthropic’s highly anticipated IPO prospectus says about the promise and peril of AI.
The “Polls Are So Bad for Trump’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump is as unpopular as polls suggest and what this means for the midterms, the causes and consequences of the riots in France with Paris-based journalist Rachel Donadio, and how a seemingly trivial courtroom fight over the fate of the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. is an important illustration of the lawlessness that defines Trumpism.
The “Help Russia Win’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what the evidence beyond polling signals for the impending midterm elections, how Trump betrayed Ukraine with his sudden deal over Russian diesel and Starshield restrictions for Ukrainian operations, and how the chilling federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home is part of the administration’s escalating attempt to build a case for stripping her citizenship.
The “Blue Wave or Blue Ripple?’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss where the midterms stand mere weeks out from Election Day, the legal and cultural issues at the heart of the deeply disturbing Cornell University rape case, and the perennial American debate over whether to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.
The “Meet You at the Hawks Game’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host David Leonhardt discuss the GOP’s failed witch hunt against Jack Smith and bizarre moments from the hearing, the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump administration’s cruel third-country deportations to continue for now and broader issues of immigration and asylum, and the mixed bag of a college sports bill that sidesteps the key question of whether college athletes count as employees.
Broken on Purpose: The Ordeal Mechanism
Political Gabfest Annie Lowrey explains the decades-old theory behind why some government benefits are designed to be hard to get—and fail the people who need help most. As told to David Plotz Sept 19, 20267:00 AM Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Harper Collins. Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slate’s Political Gabfest podcast.
The Tax Nobody Talks About: Your Time
Journalist Annie Lowrey joins David Plotz to discuss “The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time—and How to Fix It”, an infuriating, often funny accounting of the hours Americans lose to broken bureaucracy, and why the poor pay for it most. Listen & Subscribe For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Get Your Slate Plus Podcast If you can't access your feeds, please contact customer support. Thanks! Check your phone for a link to finish setting up your feed.
The “Kremlin Wedding Present” Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether this week’s Supreme Court intervention rejecting Trump’s mail-in ballot restrictions will prevent midterm chaos, explore the fast-evolving dynamics of public and political anxieties about AI, and dissect remarkable new reporting from ProPublica exposing the Putin-adjacent Russian oligarch who paid for much of Donald Trump Jr.’s private island wedding.
The “Pretend I’m on the Ballot’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why Republicans are holding an unusual midterm convention and what it says about the state of the race at the homestretch, talk about the new book Profiles in Cowardice: A Study of Collaboration in the Trump Era with author Jacob Weisberg, and reflect on memories and historical consequences on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack.
The “What Is the Bond Market, Anyway?’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how a narrow Supreme Court majority used aesthetic standing to greenlight Trump’s ballroom construction, why bond yields are rising around the world and how that impacts everyone with guest Jason Furman, and how the extradition showdown between Texas and Minnesota over an ICE officer involved in a shooting betrays fraying relations among the states.
The “Please Do Not Ruin the Post Office’ Edition
This week, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss this week’s Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to move forward for now with his order restricting mail-in voting, the likely effects of trade wars with Canada and Iran, and what we humans can do about safety as A.I. models rapidly get more sophisticated and autonomous.
The “Summer Break Listener Questions’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz answer listeners’ questions of all kinds: the political, the personal, and everything in-between. Many thanks to all question contributors: Daniel, Karen, Kelly, Jason, Phoebe, Phil, Alex, Adrian, and Dale! For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David answer a few more listener questions, just to tide you over until after a quick break.
Look What You Made Me Do
John Lanchester has a new scathing, hilarious novel about two couples, technology, infidelity, and what happens when nice people turn dark. Listen & Subscribe For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Get Your Slate Plus Podcast If you can't access your feeds, please contact customer support. Thanks! Check your phone for a link to finish setting up your feed. Please enter a valid phone number.
The Ottolenghi Conspiracy: A Dinner Party Riff
Political Gabfest Why one character in Lanchester’s novel believes Yotam Ottolenghi has done more damage to Britain than the Luftwaffe. Photo illustration by Slate. Image via W.W. Norton & Company. Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slate’s Political Gabfest podcast.
The “Air Faux One” Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the security calculations behind Trump’s plane switch operation; the White House’s attempts to circumvent Supreme Court rulings in its continued obsession with ‘birth tourism’; and whether ‘Burritogate’ reveals the extent of today’s economic anxiety or that young Americans simply aren’t learning to cook anymore.
The “Data Center Backlash” Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win signals about the future of the Democratic Party, Todd Blanche’s march toward confirmation as attorney general and how opposition to AI data centers swiftly became a bipartisan political fight.
The “Unhinged Obsession’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the expanding Iran war and what it means for Trump that news of U.S. missile shortages is leaking from the inside, the blend of conspiracy theory and Rand Paul’s personal umbrage that drove the show trial of a Senate hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci, and various developments that brought medication abortion and FDA restrictions back to the news this week.
The “Now We Can Call It a Quagmire’ Edition
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why the war in Iran has flared back up despite the increasing likelihood of political consequences for Trump and his allies, the promises and perils for the U.K.’s newest Prime Minister Andy Burnham with guest Adrian Wooldridge, and the chilling effect of the DOJ’s subpoenas of journalists for their reporting on Trump’s Qatari Air Force One.
The “I’m His Lawyer’ Edition
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The “Maybe That Nazi Tattoo Was a Clue’ Edition
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The “America Has a King Now’ Edition
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The “New York is Red” Edition
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The “Another Treaty of Versailles’ Edition
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The “California Is an Embarrassment’ Edition
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The “Man-Child Graham Platner’ Edition
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The “They Messed with Texas’ Edition
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The “Corruption Never Stops’ Edition
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The “Nevertheless, Xi Persisted” Edition
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The “Are Republicans Actually Souring on Trump?’ Edition
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The “Trump and the Iranians Deserve Each Other’ Edition
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The “How Many Divisions Has the Pope?’ Edition
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The “TACO Tuesday’ Edition
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The “Subject to the Jurisdiction Thereof’ Edition
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The “Airplane Travel is a Nightmare’ Edition
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Rupert’s Children, Rupert’s Pawns
Political Gabfest Listen to Gabfest Reads: Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slate’s Political Gabfest podcast. This month, David Plotz talked with Gabriel Sherman about his new book Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family—and the World.
Gabriel Sherman's Bonfire of the Murdochs reveals war inside the powerful media dynasty, the Murdochs' rivalries shaping Fox, global conservative politics.
Journalist Gabriel Sherman joins David Plotz to discuss Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family—and the World. They explore the Murdoch family’s secret succession war, the sibling rivalries Rupert engineered, the parallels with the Trump family, and what the dynasty’s fate means for the future of conservative media. Choose your preferred player: For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ.
The “Degenerate Gambler” Edition
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The “Will Gas Hit $5 a Gallon?” Edition
Iran’s Hormuz Strait closure causes oil prices to skyrocket while U.S. war aims remain opaque; Noem loses her job as DHS builds massive ICE detention centers; and the Trump administration escalates efforts to subvert the midterms. Choose your preferred player: For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. If you can't access your feeds, please contact customer support. Thanks! Check your phone for a link to finish setting up your feed. Please enter a valid phone number.
There Was No Imminent Threat from Iran, Except to Trump’s Credibility
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Trump’s State of the Union full of lies, dominance displays
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Some are punished for Epstein associations while others are exempt.
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Raskin talks Bondi hearing, constitutional rights violations
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Big WaPo layoffs while Bezos bribes Trumps with Melania movie
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When the Guns Went Off, They Were the Starter Pistol for Lying
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Trump backs down on Greenland after pushing NATO to brink
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Criminal investigation of Fed Chair is a pretext for pressure
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Trump Brings Back American Gunboat Diplomacy (If It Ever Left)
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Celebrate 20 Years of the Political Gabfest
Skip to the content An Exercise in Global Relief The hosts revisit fan favorite segments for the 20th anniversary of the Political Gabfest. Choose your preferred player: For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. If you can't access your feeds, please contact customer support. Thanks! Check your phone for a link to finish setting up your feed. Please enter a valid phone number.
Emily, John, David, & Stephen Colbert answer conundrums
Emily, John, David, and special guest Stephen Colbert close 2025 by answering listeners’ questions of all kinds. Choose your preferred player: For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. If you can't access your feeds, please contact customer support. Thanks! Check your phone for a link to finish setting up your feed. Please enter a valid phone number.
Wikipedia’s Jimmy Wales explains how The Seven Rules of Trust applies lessons from Wikipedia to rebuild trust in business, government, and digital life.
Gabfest Reads is a monthly series from the hosts of Slate’s Political Gabfest podcast. This month, David Plotz talks with Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last. They discuss how purpose, civility, and trust can power collaboration at scale — and how those same principles can help rebuild the institutions that connect us. This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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