Best Slate Magazine Podcasts (2023)

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Mom and Dad Are Fighting | Slate's parenting show

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How To Raise Kids in a Nation Full of Guns 37:46

7m ago37:46

37:46

From our friends at Slate's How To!: Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in America. Each tragedy can be visceral, whether it’s in your community or across the country. And it’s especially heartbreaking when your kid voices that fear directly, as our listener Allison recently experienced. On this episode of How To!, co-host Amanda …

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Slate Daily Feed

1
What Next: TBD | The Trouble With TikTok Songs 21:54

8m ago21:54

21:54

How the music streaming business opened the door to billions of dollars in fraud. Guest: Ashley Carman, Bloomberg News reporter covering the podcasting, music, and audio beat. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn …

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Slate Culture

1
What Next: TBD | The Trouble With TikTok Songs 21:54

3m ago21:54

21:54

How the music streaming business opened the door to billions of dollars in fraud. Guest: Ashley Carman, Bloomberg News reporter covering the podcasting, music, and audio beat. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn …

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Working: The Breakout Star of HBO’s Barry 50:53

8m ago50:53

50:53

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to actor Sarah Goldberg, who plays Sally on the hit HBO show Barry. In the interview, Sarah discusses her training at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the important lessons she learned there. Then she digs into the role of Sally and discusses her first impressions of the role, the many dimensions o…

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Slate Culture

1
Working: The Breakout Star of HBO’s Barry 50:53

3m ago50:53

50:53

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to actor Sarah Goldberg, who plays Sally on the hit HBO show Barry. In the interview, Sarah discusses her training at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the important lessons she learned there. Then she digs into the role of Sally and discusses her first impressions of the role, the many dimensions o…

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The Gist

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BEST OF THE GIST: Summer Of Love Edition 26:24

7m ago26:24

26:24

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we listen back to Mike’s Spiel from this past Tuesday, in which he speaks at length about things he has chosen not to speak about at length. Then, in honor of Memorial Day, which in many ways feels like the kick-off of summer, we listen back to Mike’s September 18, 2015 interview with Billboard music expert …

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Slate Books

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Future Tense Fiction: When Robots Go to War 1:01:37

6m ago1:01:37

1:01:37

On this month’s episode of Future Tense Fiction, host Maddie Stone talks to Justina Ireland about her short story “Collateral Damage.” The story follows a group of soldiers deployed alongside TED, the Army’s first self-aware combat drone. TED is relentlessly efficient, quickly outpacing its human counterparts—and leaving them worried for their jobs…

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Slate Daily Feed

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Amicus: Fixing The Court, One Story at a Time 52:54

3m ago52:54

52:54

Take your seats for a live show from Washington DC this week. This live show is part of Slate’s Full Court Press coverage, a provocation for the fourth estate to hold the third branch of government to account. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern, Elie Mystal of The Nation, and Jay Willis of Balls and Strikes. As we perch on the p…

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Slate Money

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Rainbow Rage 46:31

31m ago46:31

46:31

This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the conservative backlash to corporate LGBTQIA+ Pride campaigns, Nvidia’s soaring stock and what it means for the future of AI, and what’s up with Germany’s economic slowdown. In the Plus segment: Elizabeth's piece on strivers and Succession. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Future Tense Fiction: When Robots Go to War 1:01:37

3m ago1:01:37

1:01:37

On this month’s episode of Future Tense Fiction, host Maddie Stone talks to Justina Ireland about her short story “Collateral Damage.” The story follows a group of soldiers deployed alongside TED, the Army’s first self-aware combat drone. TED is relentlessly efficient, quickly outpacing its human counterparts—and leaving them worried for their jobs…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Slate Money: Rainbow Rage 46:31

3m ago46:31

46:31

This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the conservative backlash to corporate LGBTQIA+ Pride campaigns, Nvidia’s soaring stock and what it means for the future of AI, and what’s up with Germany’s economic slowdown. In the Plus segment: Elizabeth's piece on strivers and Succession. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and…

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Slate Culture

1
Future Tense Fiction: When Robots Go to War 1:01:37

5m ago1:01:37

1:01:37

On this month’s episode of Future Tense Fiction, host Maddie Stone talks to Justina Ireland about her short story “Collateral Damage.” The story follows a group of soldiers deployed alongside TED, the Army’s first self-aware combat drone. TED is relentlessly efficient, quickly outpacing its human counterparts—and leaving them worried for their jobs…

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Slate Culture

1
Hit Parade: Champagne Supernova Edition Part 2 58:23

2h ago58:23

58:23

In the ’90s, U.K. rock was by Britons, for Britons. The music of the U.K. indie, Madchester and shoegaze scenes fused together into a new wave of guitar bands with punk energy, laddish lyrics and danceable grooves. They called it Britpop. In the motherland, Britpop set the charts alight: Blur faced off against Oasis. Pulp poked fun at the class sys…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Hit Parade: Champagne Supernova Edition Part 2 58:23

40m ago58:23

58:23

In the ’90s, U.K. rock was by Britons, for Britons. The music of the U.K. indie, Madchester and shoegaze scenes fused together into a new wave of guitar bands with punk energy, laddish lyrics and danceable grooves. They called it Britpop. In the motherland, Britpop set the charts alight: Blur faced off against Oasis. Pulp poked fun at the class sys…

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The Gist

1
Chewing The Fat 46:34

20m ago46:34

46:34

The fat acceptance movement wants to not just de-stigmatize large body size, their adherents argue that the stigma is worse than "obesity"—a word they reject. They also reject the idea that there are some weights that are dangerous for the individual, and they push back against the idea that weight loss is actually a realistic outcome for the vast …

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Slate Culture

1
Dear Prudence: I Saved My Neighbor’s Life And Now She Won't Leave Me Alone. Help! 39:46

40m ago39:46

39:46

In this episode, Kelsey McKinney (host of Radiotopia’s Normal Gossip and co-owner of Defector.com) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer your letters from readers about who to share random thoughts with after your spouse dies, what to do when you’ve saved a neighbor’s life but don’t want to be friends with her, and how to handle petty insul…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Dear Prudence: I Saved My Neighbor’s Life And Now She Won't Leave Me Alone. Help! 39:46

10m ago39:46

39:46

In this episode, Kelsey McKinney (host of Radiotopia’s Normal Gossip and co-owner of Defector.com) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer your letters from readers about who to share random thoughts with after your spouse dies, what to do when you’ve saved a neighbor’s life but don’t want to be friends with her, and how to handle petty insul…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
A Word: Reckoning on Campus 35:00

5m ago35:00

35:00

The murder of George Floyd prompted a number of American colleges and universities to reckon with their historic roles in slavery. Three years later, many institutions have abandoned those efforts. One that’s still going strong is the Hard Histories Project at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joi…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
What Next: TBD | Tweetering on the Glass Cliff 23:32

5m ago23:32

23:32

How Twitter’s new CEO Linda Yaccarino finds herself on the edge of “the glass cliff”: when a woman is sent in to fix a big mess. Guest: Vittoria Elliot, reporter for Wired, covering platforms and power If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episode…

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Slate Daily Feed

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Amicus: Bonus: SCOTUS Nukes Wetlands Protections 3:34

4m ago3:34

3:34

In this bonus episode for Amicus Plus listeners, Dahlia Lithwick and Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern discuss the latest biggest Supreme Court decision: Sackett v EPA. It’s good news for developers and polluters, bad news for the rest of us. Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…

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Slate Culture

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A Word: Racial Reckoning on Campus 35:00

1d ago35:00

35:00

The murder of George Floyd prompted a number of American colleges and universities to reckon with their historic roles in slavery. Three years later, many institutions have abandoned those efforts. One that’s still going strong is the Hard Histories Project at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joi…

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The Gist

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Dark Shadows Over SCOTUS 37:50

10m ago37:50

37:50

Stephen Vladeck talks Supreme Court legitimacy as well as the so called "Shadow Docket," which is the name of his book subtitled "How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic." Plus, The Desantis fail whale. And the sentencing of seditionists. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mike…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Political Gabfest: When Is The X Date? 56:58

5m ago56:58

56:58

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the imminent X Date when the United States hits the debt ceiling and could default; the presidential campaign announcements of Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott; and the possibilities of regulating artificial intelligence. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ezra Klein…

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Mom and Dad Are Fighting | Slate's parenting show

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Why Do We Need The Tooth Fairy? 27:30

33m ago27:30

27:30

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Zak Rosen are joined by Willa Paskin, host of Slate’s Decoder Ring. The three talk about the beauty of weird little rituals, and help a listener through her ick of tooth fairy-ing. Listen to Decoder Ring’s episode: Who Owns the Tooth Fairy? Jamilah and Zak also share their triumphs and fails for the week. Then, …

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Slate Daily Feed

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Mom & Dad: Why Do We Need The Tooth Fairy? 27:30

14m ago27:30

27:30

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Zak Rosen are joined by Willa Paskin, host of Slate’s Decoder Ring. The three talk about the beauty of weird little rituals, and help a listener through her ick of tooth fairy-ing. Listen to Decoder Ring’s episode: Who Owns the Tooth Fairy? Jamilah and Zak also share their triumphs and fails for the week. Then, …

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Slate Culture

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The Waves: I Don’t Care If You Like Me 35:22

7m ago35:22

35:22

On this week’s episode of The Waves, are female characters becoming less likable? Slate senior supervising producer, Daisy Rosario is joined by author and comedian Jena Friedman. Jena’s new book Not Funny explores likeability and what that means for women in comedy and the world. They talk about unlikeable female characters and anti-heroines in sho…

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Slate Books

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The Waves: I Don’t Care If You Like Me 35:22

7m ago35:22

35:22

On this week’s episode of The Waves, are female characters becoming less likable? Slate senior supervising producer, Daisy Rosario is joined by author and comedian Jena Friedman. Jena’s new book Not Funny explores likeability and what that means for women in comedy and the world. They talk about unlikeable female characters and anti-heroines in sho…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
What Next: DeSantis Makes It Official 27:10

4m ago27:10

27:10

The Florida governor has finally officially entered the Republican presidential primary. With electoral wins and culture war conflicts under his belt, does Ron DeSantis actually have a chance at beating Donald Trump? Guest: Molly Ball, Time magazine’s national political correspondent. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plu…

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The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism

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I Don’t Care If You Like Me 35:22

20m ago35:22

35:22

On this week’s episode of The Waves, are female characters becoming less likable? Slate senior supervising producer, Daisy Rosario is joined by author and comedian Jena Friedman. Jena’s new book Not Funny explores likeability and what that means for women in comedy and the world. They talk about unlikeable female characters and anti-heroines in sho…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
The Waves: I Don’t Care If You Like Me 35:22

4m ago35:22

35:22

On this week’s episode of The Waves, are female characters becoming less likable? Slate senior supervising producer, Daisy Rosario is joined by author and comedian Jena Friedman. Jena’s new book Not Funny explores likeability and what that means for women in comedy and the world. They talk about unlikeable female characters and anti-heroines in sho…

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The Gist

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Florida Man Tweets, Tangles With NAACP 41:10

4d ago41:10

41:10

The nation's leading civil rights group issues a proclamation to avoid a large and oft-visited state; we ponder if the advisory is warranted. And the governor of said state is said to say where he'd like to move in two years time. Maybe we need to rethink this whole "United States of America" thing ... certainly that's the opinion of Kermit Rooseve…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
What Next: Republicans' Stealth Plan to Ban Abortions 21:38

6m ago21:38

21:38

A national ban on abortion remains so unpopular that even Republican presidential candidates won’t commit to one. However, a law from the 1870s, depending on how it's interpreted and enforced, could ban both abortion pills and the procedure across America. Guest: Mary Ziegler, law professor at UC Davis and author of Roe: The History of a National O…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
ICYMI: Is Ice Spice an Industry Plant? 41:16

6m ago41:16

41:16

On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim speak to Sidney Madden, the host of NPR’s music podcast Louder Than a Riot. The three discuss the meteoric rise of 23-year-old Bronx rapper Ice Spice and how she went from going viral for a TikTok challenge to appearing on the Met Gala red carpet as Anna Wintour’s special guest. They dive deep in…

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Slate Books

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Outward: Queer Utopian Fiction and Dystopian Reality TV 1:13:55

7m ago1:13:55

1:13:55

This month, Outward explores utopian fiction and dystopian reality TV. First, Bryan and Christina are joined by author Theodore McCombs to discuss Uranians, his new collection of speculative stories, which uses queer difference and divestment from the normal as an engine to drive five fascinating tales. Then they’re joined by producer June Thomas t…

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Slate Culture

1
Culture Gabfest: Sanctuary Is No Fifty Shades of Grey 56:26

28m ago56:26

56:26

This week, Slate’s senior editor Rebecca Onion fills in for Julia. The panel begins by examining Sanctuary, a claustrophobic BDSM thriller starring Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott. Then, they debate Freevee’s hard-to-define “reality” series Jury Duty. Finally, Dana and Stephen are joined by Slate music critic Chris Molanphy to discuss Morga…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Outward: Queer Utopian Fiction and Dystopian Reality TV 1:13:55

6m ago1:13:55

1:13:55

This month, Outward explores utopian fiction and dystopian reality TV. First, Bryan and Christina are joined by author Theodore McCombs to discuss Uranians, his new collection of speculative stories, which uses queer difference and divestment from the normal as an engine to drive five fascinating tales. Then they’re joined by producer June Thomas t…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Culture Gabfest: Sanctuary Is No Fifty Shades of Grey 56:26

6m ago56:26

56:26

This week, Slate’s senior editor Rebecca Onion fills in for Julia. The panel begins by examining Sanctuary, a claustrophobic BDSM thriller starring Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott. Then, they debate Freevee’s hard-to-define “reality” series Jury Duty. Finally, Dana and Stephen are joined by Slate music critic Chris Molanphy to discuss Morga…

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Slate Culture

1
Outward: Queer Utopian Fiction and Dystopian Reality TV 1:13:55

28m ago1:13:55

1:13:55

This month, Outward explores utopian fiction and dystopian reality TV. First, Bryan and Christina are joined by author Theodore McCombs to discuss Uranians, his new collection of speculative stories, which uses queer difference and divestment from the normal as an engine to drive five fascinating tales. Then they’re joined by producer June Thomas t…

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Slate Culture

1
ICYMI: Is Ice Spice an Industry Plant? 41:16

28m ago41:16

41:16

On today’s episode, Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim speak to Sidney Madden, the host of NPR’s music podcast Louder Than a Riot. The three discuss the meteoric rise of 23-year-old Bronx rapper Ice Spice and how she went from going viral for a TikTok challenge to appearing on the Met Gala red carpet as Anna Wintour’s special guest. They dive deep in…

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The Gist

1
A Roosevelt Redefines America 35:45

9m ago35:45

35:45

Law Professor Kermit Roosevelt, author of The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America's Story, is worried about the declining stature of the U.S. in the eyes of young people, including his Ivy League students. So, in a bought of patriotism and scholarship, he argues for redefining the USA as being about 150 years old. Plus, a panel of relativ…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Big Mood, Little Mood: Lost In Transition 46:48

13m ago46:48

46:48

Danny Lavery welcomes Ben Miller, co-author of the book, Bad Gays: A Homosexual History, and co-host of the podcast, Bad Gays, along with Huw Lemmey. Lavery and Miller offer advice to someone who is wondering if it’s okay to offer a DIY transition option to their boyfriend. Another letter wants to avoid any and all conversations having to do with a…

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Slate Debates

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Hear Me Out: Policing Can’t Be Reformed And Must Be Abolished 34:56

10m ago34:56

34:56

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… imagine a world without police. Three years after George Floyd’s murder, we’ve seen some incremental change in how we try to prevent police brutality. But it still happens, all too often — and Americans are still dying, in alarming numbers, at the hands of police. Writer and organizer Geo Maher joins us to argue t…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Hear Me Out: Policing Can’t Be Reformed And Must Be Abolished 34:56

7m ago34:56

34:56

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… imagine a world without police. Three years after George Floyd’s murder, we’ve seen some incremental change in how we try to prevent police brutality. But it still happens, all too often — and Americans are still dying, in alarming numbers, at the hands of police. Writer and organizer Geo Maher joins us to argue t…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
How To!: Sleep Like a Champ 35:13

10m ago35:13

35:13

Vanessa isn’t a night owl. Yet, often, you can find her lying awake desperately trying to turn off her brain. When her partner stays over she often resorts to the couch just to get some rest. On this episode of How To!, co-host Carvell Wallace brings in Dr. Wendy Troxel. She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in sleep medicine and the…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
What Next: The Navajo Fight for Water 22:21

10m ago22:21

22:21

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that will determine whether or not the government is obligated to ensure water access for Native American tribes. The arguments in the case, Arizona v. Navajo Nation, hinge upon whether or not the government has violated past treaties with the tribe by not providing adequate water. Guest: Heather Tanana…

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Hang Up and Listen

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Remembering Jim Brown 1:24:07

13m ago1:24:07

1:24:07

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis discuss the Heat and Nuggets and their stars Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic. They’re also joined by writers Dave Zirin and Jesse Washington to talk about the life and legacy of Jim Brown. Finally, Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman joins to assess Brittney Griner’s return, Becky Hammon’s suspension, and other WNBA storylin…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Hang Up: Remembering Jim Brown 1:24:07

10m ago1:24:07

1:24:07

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis discuss the Heat and Nuggets and their stars Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic. They’re also joined by writers Dave Zirin and Jesse Washington to talk about the life and legacy of Jim Brown. Finally, Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman joins to assess Brittney Griner’s return, Becky Hammon’s suspension, and other WNBA storylin…

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Slate Culture

1
Hang Up: Remembering Jim Brown 1:24:07

10m ago1:24:07

1:24:07

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis discuss the Heat and Nuggets and their stars Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic. They’re also joined by writers Dave Zirin and Jesse Washington to talk about the life and legacy of Jim Brown. Finally, Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman joins to assess Brittney Griner’s return, Becky Hammon’s suspension, and other WNBA storylin…

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The Gist

1
The Best Advice If You Find Yourself In War 31:07

32m ago31:07

31:07

The Arab League has welcomed back Bashar Al-Assad to the organization right as Volodymyr Zelensky pays that organization a visit. Is there a lesson to be learned? Plus, some of the odder names on the Russia Sanction list. And Howard Fishman, author of To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse. Produced by Joel Patters…

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Slate Daily Feed

1
Mom & Dad: Creating Your Perfect Family 25:02

22m ago25:02

25:02

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen and guest host Maribel Quezada Smith advise a couple who have one kid. They thought they were a ‘one and done’ family but they’re feeling the pressure of the biological clock and now don’t know if they should have a second before it’s no longer an option. We also have listeners weigh in on how they approa…

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