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Political Gabfest

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1283Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for Political Gabfest

Latest Episodes

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the results of the midterm elections and what they tell us about the state of the country, what kind of balance new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate should strike between ... more

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 Anthrop... more

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 ... more

For this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson interviews Angela Duckworth about her new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best. Her previous best-selling book, Grit, explored the idea that passion and persever... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ruth Margalit
Contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker
The New York Times Magazine
Episode: Finally, We Vote
Rachel Donadio
Paris-based journalist and contributing writer to The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: Polls Are So Bad for Trump
Angela Duckworth
Psychologist and author of Situated and Grit
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Gabfest Reads | Situating Yourself for Success
Jane Perlez
Host of Face-Off, joining to discuss China diplomacy and the Nuclear Anarchy season
New York Times / Face-Off
Episode: Purposely Negative
Annie Lowrey
Author of The Time Tax, former Slate colleague
Author, The Time Tax
Episode: Gabfest Reads | The Tax Nobody Talks About: Your Time
Jacob Weisberg
Author of Profiles in Cowardice: A Study of Collaboration in the Trump Era
Author/Former Slate colleague
Episode: Pretend I'm on the Ballot
Jason Furman
Harvard economist, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
Harvard University
Episode: What Is the Bond Market, Anyway?
Juliette Kayyem
CNN Senior National Security Analyst; Harvard Kennedy School professor
CNN; Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: Please Do Not Ruin the Post Office
Emily Ditto
Researcher who selects listener questions
Slate (researcher on the Gabfest)
Episode: Listener Questions

Hosts

David Plotz
Host of Slate Political Gabfest; long-running political journalist
Emily Bazelon
Host and co-host on legal/policy discussions; investigative journalist and legal scholar
John Dickerson
Co-host and political analyst; author and journalist

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 10.7k ratings
  • Why is Israel NEVER discussed,????

    Podcast Addict
    4
    bluebirdmt
    23 days ago
  • 8.16.26

    The best thing about this podcast is the music. I can’t stand I am the only one with wisdom ms. hoity toity who I could never stand taking a class from, ploth is almost as hoity toity and I don’t even know why he is there as he never adds much & cbs no more dude is a man with no direction known.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    midwestBlue
    United States3 months ago
  • Disappointed

    Been listening for years, but recently have lost interest. Plots has lost the plot and become more and more conservative, advocating religious study in public schools and data centers (but not in HIS backyard).

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Swiss Cindy
    Switzerland3 months ago
  • The Presidency as Pure Pleasure

    To think I almost bypassed this great great great interview by Dickerson of NYT über correspondents Haberman and Swan on the imperial presidency. Awesome in so many ways. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bowed Bookshelf
    United States4 months ago
  • 7.16.26

    Yeah David Plotz, you’re comment on russian soldiers, go tell putin to stop the war pitin started, the invasion that he alone started to just quit your unprovoked russian invasion of Ukraine.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    midwestBlue
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Criticism often centers on frequency of ads and occasional disagreements among hosts.
Praise frequently notes the hosts' expertise and ability to translate complex issues into accessible discussion.
Some feedback calls out perceived overemphasis on certain hosts, but the overall sentiment remains favorable for thoughtful discourse.
Listeners praise the show for smart, informed political conversation and deep policy analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#118
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#36
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#226
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#16
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#48
United Kingdom/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Finally, We Vote
Q: Should the United States continue to support, to give Israel this special status in terms of military spending and the funding that we do, or do you think that actually it would be helpful for the United States to signal its disapproval and the clear political shift that's happening here in terms of the diminishing support for Israel, the country?
Margalit says Israel faces real security threats and that cutting support entirely would leave Israelis vulnerable, but she believes U.S. support should be conditional on Israeli government policies.
Finally, We Vote
Q: What so far do Israelis believe this election has told them about their country?
Margalit says Israelis are divided about the result: the opposition won more votes, but Netanyahu's party remained the largest, and the role of Arab parties makes forming a government uncertain. She says fear and distrust following October 7 influenced voters.
Polls Are So Bad for Trump
Q: Can Americans feel safe visiting France and Paris?
Rachel Donadio says visitors can come but should stay alert, avoid the immediate areas of protests, and recognize that conditions may vary from block to block.
Polls Are So Bad for Trump
Q: Historically, what does an 11-point generic ballot difference signify, and how might that play out this year?
John Dickerson says such a margin would historically predict substantial Democratic gains in both chambers, but polarization, turnout patterns, and Republican gerrymandering could limit the outcome.
Gabfest Reads | Situating Yourself for Success
Q: Tell me about the three box model and why that's important.
Duckworth describes behavior as a chain from situation to thoughts to responses, including emotions and actions. The framework helps people examine environmental cues as well as thoughts and willpower, then change circumstances to support the responses they want.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Political Gabfest

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

A sharp, policy-focused discussion format featuring veteran Washington journalists who bring a mix of legal, political, and media analysis. Episodes regularly center on current events, Supreme Court decisions, national security, tech policy, and electoral dynamics, often interwoven with culture, media, and cocktail-chatter segments. Notable strengths include rigorous debunking, nuanced policy context, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, plus frequent guest experts from government, academia, and journalism. This show is likely to appeal to listeners who want sophisticated, source-driven conversations about politics, law, and governance, with a conversational tone and clear, fact-based reasoning. Potential listeners should exp... more

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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. Pod Save America
5. Strict Scrutiny

How many episodes of Political Gabfest are there?

Political Gabfest launched 20 years ago and published 1283 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?

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What guests have appeared on Political Gabfest?

Recent guests on Political Gabfest include:

1. Ruth Margalit
2. Rachel Donadio
3. Angela Duckworth
4. Jane Perlez
5. Annie Lowrey
6. Jacob Weisberg
7. Jason Furman
8. Juliette Kayyem

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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