Political Gabfest

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson are joined by Ta-Nahisi Coates to discuss the situation in Baltimore following the death of a black man while in police custody. They also talk about recent Supreme Court arguments over marriage equality and the death penalty and debate the week in Democratic campaign politics.     The Slate Political Gabfest is sponsored by Stamps.com. Buy and print official U.S. postage using your own computer and printer, and save up to 80% compared to a postage meter. Sign up for a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer when you visit Stamps.com and use the promo code GABFEST.     And by the University of California, committed to advancing our world through discovery. Learn more at universityofcalifornia.edu. The University of California—the power of public.     And by Casper, an online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Casper mattresses come with free delivery and returns within a 100-day period. And get 50 dollars toward any mattress purchase by visi

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the burgeoning refugee crisis in Europe and the Middle East, the uneasy courtship between the Koch Brothers and Gov. Scott Walker, and the upcoming Supreme Court arguments over same-sex marriage.     Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest     Slate's Political Gabfest is brought to you by Squarespace, the easiest way to create a beautiful website, blog, or online store for you and your ideas. Squarespace features an elegant interface, beautiful templates, and 24/7 customer support. Right now, go to Squarespace.com, and enter the offer code GABFEST at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace. Build it Beautiful.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the newly launched presidential campaigns of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican contender Marco Rubio. They also talk about the recent action by Congress over the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.     Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest     This week's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com. If you go to stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the home page and enter GABFEST for a $110 bonus offer, including up to $55 in free postage and a no-risk trial. This week's episode is also sponsored by the University of California, committed to creating solutions to today’s environmental challenges. To uncover groundbreaking research from the University of California, visit slate.com/breakthroughs.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Learn mo

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the shooting death of Walter Scott by North Charleston, SC police officer Michael Slager, the possibility of a President Rand Paul, and the sesquicentennial anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.     Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest     This week's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com. If you go to stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the home page and enter GABFEST for a $110 bonus offer, including up to $55 in free postage and a no-risk trial.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the Obama Administration's nuclear deal with Iran, the controversial "religious liberty" law in Indiana, and the retirement of Sen. Harry Reid.     Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest     This week's episode is sponsored by the University of California, committed to creating solutions to today’s environmental challenges. To uncover groundbreaking research from the University of California, visit slate.com/breakthroughs. This episode is also sponsored by PBS, presenting “Wolf Hall," based on the best-selling book series about political intrigue in the Tudor court. “Wolf Hall” airs on Masterpiece on PBS, Sunday, April 5 at 10/9 central.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and special guest Jamelle Bouie discuss the presidential ambitions of Sen. Ted Cruz, the Supreme Court case involving license plates and the Confederate flag, and the deliberate downing of a German airliner.     Twitter: @SlateGabfest Facebook: facebook.com/Gabfest Email: gabfest@slate.com Show notes at slate.com/gabfest     This week's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com. If you go to stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the home page and enter GABFEST for a $110 bonus offer, including up to $55 in free postage and a no-risk trial.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Julia Ioffe discuss the reelection in Israel of Bibi Netanyahu, the reappearance in Russia of Vladimir Putin, and the resignation from Congress of Rep. Aaron Schock. This week's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com. If you go to stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the home page and enter GABFEST for a $110 bonus offer, including up to $55 in free postage and a no-risk trial. This episode is also sponsored by Harrys.com, which offers a better shaving experience. Go to harrys.com and enter the coupon code GABFEST for $5 off the starter set, and start shaving smarter today. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Betsy Woodruff discuss the Republican letter to Iran's leaders, the Clinton nonexplanation of her private email account, and a University of Oklahoma fraternity's racist chant.   This week's episode is sponsored by “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” the new documentary series airing Sundays at 8, only on HBO.     Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/gabfestplus.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson recounts the election of 1840, during which a candidate took to the trail for the very first time. Recommended for fans of Slate's Political Gabfest and American political history.     This week's show is sponsored by The Great Courses and its series "Turning Points in American History." Order it at 80% off the original price by visiting thegreatcourses.com/whistlestop.     Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, ad-free versions, exclusive podcasts, and more. Start your 2-week free trial at slate.com/podcastplus.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the fallout from Netanyahu's speech before Congress, Hillary Clinton's use of private email to conduct public business, and the oral arguments in the Supreme Court's latest ObamaCare case. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court's ObamaCare case, Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming speech to Congress, and whether Chris Christie's presidential campaign has already fizzled. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the legality of Obama's immigration policy, the strategy of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's university cuts, and recent rhetorical assaults on the president. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Alabama's legal thicket over marriage equality, whether to forgive Brian Williams, and Emily's New York Times Magazine story "The Stanford Undergraduate and the Mentor." Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Annie Lowrey of New York magazine discuss the burgeoning anti-vaccine movement, the go-nowhere Obama budget, and the fog-of-war embellishments of NBC's Brian Williams. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Koch Brothers' big bet on 2016, the Supreme Court's death penalty case, and the merits of Jonathan Chait's "Not a Very P.C. Thing to Say" piece. Help us make our podcasts even better! Take Slate's listener survey at to slate.com/survey Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Obama's State of the Union address, the Supreme Court's next (final?) marriage equality case, and the controversy over the movie Selma. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fallout from the French terrorist attack, whether Mitt Romney is really weighing a third presidential run, and Obama's ambition to make community college tuition free. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the murderous attack on a French satirical newspaper, the start of the new Congressional session, and the NYPD's recent work slowdown. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In segments culled from throughout 2014, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss when to call the cops, the rise of political partyism, and whether to read Hillary Clinton's Hard Choices. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and Ask Amy columnist Amy Dickinson discuss tough philosophical and ethical conundrums about sending kids to private school, keeping secrets from spouses, and why they wish they’d had more sex in their 20s. Show notes at www.slate.com/gabfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices