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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
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1261Founded20 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 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 ... more

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... more

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, A... more

David Plotz interviews John Lanchester about his new novel Look What You Made Me Do, a darkly funny psychological thriller about two couples in modern-day London whose lives collide in a story of infidelity, obsession, and revenge. The book explores ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Emily Ditto
Researcher who selects listener questions
Slate (researcher on the Gabfest)
Episode: Listener Questions
John Lanchester
Author of Look What You Made Me Do
Author
Episode: Gabfest Reads | Look What You Made Me Do
Abdul El-Sayed
Democratic candidate, Michigan
Politics
Episode: Data Center Backlash
Janine Pirro
U.S. Attorney? (discussion subject)
Government
Episode: Data Center Backlash
Grace Mausser
NYC DSA co-chair invited on the show for a guest segment
New York City Democratic Socialists of America
Episode: Unhinged Obsession
Adrian Wooldridge
Global Business Columnist at Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Episode: Now We Can Call It a Quagmire
Jonathan Swan
Co-author on Regime Change, journalist
Axios/S..t e
Episode: Gabfest Reads | The Presidency as Pure Pleasure
Maggie Haberman
Co-author on Regime Change, journalist
The New York Times
Episode: Gabfest Reads | The Presidency as Pure Pleasure
Rob Bonta
Attorney General of California
California Department of Justice
Episode: I'm His Lawyer

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
  • 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 States22 days 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
    Switzerlanda month 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 States2 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 States2 months ago
  • Too much plotz

    Used to love this but David plotz is becoming insufferable, he’s so pleased with himself and yet the least interesting of the three. Let Emily and John talk. And then having to listen him drone on during the endless ads as well. Unsubscribing till plotz goes away and it can just be John and Emily.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Xander field
    United States2 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
#23
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#58
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#34
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#100
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#242
United Kingdom/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I'm His Lawyer
Q: Why is Rob Bonta arguing against the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger and what three markets define the antitrust concerns?
He argues the merger would raise prices, reduce competition, and diminish content diversity, identifying three markets—wide-release theatrical films, blockbuster films, and licensing of basic cable channels—to show illegal concentration; he insists antitrust analysis should comprehensively evaluate these markets rather than rely on streaming-centric narratives.
Gabfest Reads | Why America Is Spiritually Broken and How to Fix It
Q: What concrete steps would you take if you gained full control of Congress?
Pass disclosure and public financing reforms, ban stock trading by members of Congress, scrutinize dark money, and promote broad civic engagement such as universal national service to strengthen social bonds.
Gabfest Reads | Why America Is Spiritually Broken and How to Fix It
Q: What is the core message of Crisis of the Common Good beyond the politics of the moment?
The core message is that the country is experiencing a spiritual crisis driven by economic and cultural forces, and that meaningful reform requires changing the rules that govern money in politics as well as rebuilding local community ties.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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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. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
2. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Slate News
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of Political Gabfest are there?

Political Gabfest launched 20 years ago and published 1261 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. Emily Ditto
2. John Lanchester
3. Abdul El-Sayed
4. Janine Pirro
5. Grace Mausser
6. Adrian Wooldridge
7. Jonathan Swan
8. Maggie Haberman

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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