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Political Gabfest

Slate Podcasts
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Supreme Court
Kamala Harris
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Joe Biden
Iran
Trump
Israel
2024 Presidential Election
Gaza
Elon Musk
Political Violence
Tariffs
Congress
RFK Jr.
Democratic National Convention
Ukraine
Government Shutdown

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.

Get more Political Gabfest with Slate Plus. Join to unlock weekly bonus episodes—pl... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1235Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsGovernment

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Artwork for Political Gabfest

Latest Episodes

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what the U.S. is getting and what it is giving up with the deal to end Trump's Iran war, how Trump's UFC fight at the White House intentionally used the symbols of the presidency to di... more

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether this week's resumption of open hostilities in the Iran war has changed the likelihood of an imminent end to the conflict, what to do about how California's slow vote-counting e... more

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Graham Platner's accumulating self-inflicted wounds will cost Democrats their best shot at Senate control, how Trump's evolving plans for America's semiquincentennial are givin... more

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss what Ken Paxton's dominant win over John Cornyn could mean when he faces Democrat James Talarico for the Texas Senate seat in November, how Trump has no good options in the ongoing neg... more

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Recent Guests

Alex Bores
New York state legislator and Democratic candidate in the 12th district
New York State Legislature / Democratic candidate for U.S. House
Episode: They Messed with Texas
Mary Moriarty
Hennepin County Attorney, guest discussing ICE case
Hennepin County Attorney's Office
Episode: Corruption Never Stops
Adrian Wooldridge
Author of The Revolutionary Center
Bloomberg, The Economist
Episode: Gabfest Reads | Why Liberalism Needs to Reclaim the Center
Jane Perlez
Host of Face-Off, US vs. China (produced by Nina Porzucki)
New York Times
Episode: Nevertheless, Xi Persisted
Juliette Kayyem
Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and senior national security analyst at CNN
Harvard Kennedy School; CNN
Episode: King Me
Beverly Gage
Yale historian, Gabfest regular
Yale University
Episode: Trump and the Iranians Deserve Each Other
Mark Oppenheimer
Author of Judy Blume, A Life
John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at WashU
Episode: Gabfest Reads | The Unlikely Rise of Judy Blume
Anne Applebaum
Atlantic contributor and commentator on Viktor Orbán's Hungary
The Atlantic
Episode: How Many Divisions Has the Pope?
Antonia Hitchens
Writer for The New Yorker; author of the piece on the Groypers
The New Yorker
Episode: TACO Tuesday

Hosts

David Plotz
Host with Slate Political Gabfest, often driving discussion with sharp, contrarian takes; affiliated with Slate.
Emily Bazelon
Co-host/guest analyst with deep background in law, education, and politics; known for legal analysis and policy context.
John Dickerson
Co-host/analyst with a background in political commentary and reporting; provides historical and strategic perspective.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 10.6k ratings
  • Tip for Slate Plus Listening

    Speaking from experience, subscribing to the Slate Plus podcasts through Apple Podcasts is more pleasant and satisfying than through the Slate App. And cheaper too! The Slate App is a disaster! Avoid!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bobsaun
    United States3 days ago
  • My favorite

    This is my absolute favorite political podcast— smart, interesting, clear, and it makes me think . My only suggestion is that it happen more often!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ToledoGirl
    United States7 days ago
  • Constructive Criticism

    Please, I beg you, stop feeding ad filled versions to slate + feeds. Ongoing issue with PG

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jimmy Dinks
    United States7 days ago
  • Former Subscriber

    David Plotz is an insufferable jerk. I’ve given commenting a pass until now. I’ve unsubscribed and will never become a member as long as this man is employed by Slate.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Erin_Powell
    United States7 days ago
  • How

    Come no one ever discusses the fact that Trump only won the two elections was because each time he was running against a woman? That’s why he won. But no one’s discussing that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laurakkd
    United States14 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Balanced, thoughtful political analysis with sharp humor.
Long-running and has a loyal listener base that values depth over sugar-coated takes.
Episodes mix serious policy with light, cocktail-chat segments.
Hosts sometimes talk over each other, which some listeners find distracting.
Guests bring strong expertise, especially on foreign policy and constitutional topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#101
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#188
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#195
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#101
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#221
Finland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#13
Finland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trump and the Iranians Deserve Each Other
Q: Why is Trump framing this as a victory, and what does that mean for domestic politics?
Trump frames victories to bolster political support, but the panel notes a gap between rhetorical claims and public perception, suggesting that this theatrics-first approach may undermine credibility and complicate both foreign and domestic policy.
Trump and the Iranians Deserve Each Other
Q: What does a 'better' Iran deal actually look like compared to JCPOA?
The panel debates zero enrichment versus limited enrichment with strong verification, and questions who would enforce any agreement if the U.S. steps back from a broad coalition, concluding that while some terms may look better on paper, real-world enforcement and consequences are complex and potentially destabilizing.
TACO Tuesday
Q: What is a Groyper, and how is it different from MAGA or other factions within the Republican spectrum?
Antonia explains that Groypers position themselves as a youth-driven, transgressive force within MAGA, using provocative rhetoric and antisemitic conspiracy theories to push the party toward more extreme stances, while still trying to influence the broader coalition.
Gabfest Reads | The Unlikely Rise of Judy Blume
Q: How did Blume evolve from writing for middle grade readers to adult fiction, and what did that say about her as a writer?
She explored adult themes through Wifey after a long career of addressing adolescence, illustrating her willingness to push boundaries and to reflect her own life experiences through her fiction, while maintaining a satirical edge and strong thematic core about autonomy and desire.
Gabfest Reads | The Unlikely Rise of Judy Blume
Q: Why Judy Blume? What made her stand out in the cultural landscape of the 1970s?
Blume stood out because she combined widespread accessibility with unflinching honesty about sex, puberty, and female empowerment, arguing that these topics belong in books for young readers and that adults shouldn't police their curiosity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Gabfest

What is Political Gabfest about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, policy-forward discussion with a trio of Washington journalists that blends rigorous analysis of current political events with lighter, cocktail-chat segments. Common threads include how power is exercised in real-time, the dynamics of Congress and the judiciary, and the practical implications of foreign policy and domestic reforms. Guests range from senior scholars to journalists and government officials, enriching episodes with diverse perspectives while maintaining an irreverent, accessible tone. The show often features deep dives into constitutional questions, elections, and major policy debates, plus timely book recommendations and live commentary that make complex topics approachable for a broad, engaged audience.

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How many listeners does Political Gabfest get?

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How many subscribers and views does Political Gabfest have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Political Gabfest?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Political Gabfest:

1. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
2. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Culture Gabfest
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of Political Gabfest are there?

Political Gabfest launched 20 years ago and published 1235 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Political Gabfest?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Political Gabfest?

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What guests have appeared on Political Gabfest?

Recent guests on Political Gabfest include:

1. Alex Bores
2. Mary Moriarty
3. Adrian Wooldridge
4. Jane Perlez
5. Juliette Kayyem
6. Beverly Gage
7. Mark Oppenheimer
8. Anne Applebaum

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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