Best John Plotz Podcasts (2024)

1
The Democrats ‘Do Something’ Convention 1:04:26

21m ago1:04:26

1:04:26

This week, John Dickerson returns and joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the Democratic National Convention; presidential polls; and overtourism. Here are this week’s chatters: John: @jdickerson on Threads: Background Sounds on iPhone Emily: Tablets Shattered by Joshua Leifer; Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go …

1
Comedian Todd Barry Reveals the Not-At-All-Shocking Truth About Airline Miles 40:17

1h ago40:17

40:17

Here’s the truth, if you’re ready for it: airline miles programs are a convenient way to earn upgrades and passage to exclusive pre-flight lounges but they do require some degree of careful record keeping. So that information doesn’t so much blow you away as blow you gently whilst you stay in place. Todd Barry has been a comedy icon for decades as …

1
Gabfest Reads: Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go from Here? 59:13

5d ago59:13

59:13

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazalon talks with author Joshua Leifer about his new book, Tablets Shattered: The End of An American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life. They discuss Leifer’s experience growing up Jewish in America, the conflict in Gaza, how what it means to be Jewish has evolved, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabf…

1
Are We Really Still Talking About Crowd Size? 1:01:33

10m ago1:01:33

1:01:33

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Marin Cogan of Vox to discuss how the media is reporting on election disinformation and misinformation and Donald Trump’s lies; Vice President Kamala Harris defining Candidate Kamala Harris; and more guns, less violent crime. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Marin Cogan…

1
132* Policing and White Power with Daniel Kryder and David Cunningham (JP, EF) 39:35

6d ago39:35

39:35

This June 2020 episode, originally part of a Global Policing series, was Recall this Book's first exploration of police brutality, systemic and personal racism and Black Lives Matter. Elizabeth and John were lucky to be joined by Daniel Kryder and David Cunningham, two scholars who have worked on these questions for decades. Many of the mechanisms …

1
John Hodgman Attempts To Memorize All of Maine’s Coastal Islands 1:12:13

44m ago1:12:13

1:12:13

Is this a feat that the beloved author, actor, and host of Maximum Fun’s Judge John Hodgman can actually pull off? Well, no, probably not. There are over 4,600 such islands and he’s only one mortal human. Come on. But will he make a pretty game attempt for a little while and invite you to join his efforts as you drift off to sleep? Oh yes. Oh absol…

1
These Walz Could Talk 53:00

13d ago53:00

53:00

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Juliette Kayyem of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to discuss the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; Google’s search monopoly and antitrust trial loss; and the guilty-plea deals in three 9/11 cases undone by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austi…

1
Josh Gondelman Gets Bizzy 50:00

6d ago50:00

50:00

In that he, Josh, the notable comedian and all-around nice guy, GETS his dog, Bizzy. Josh understands Bizzy. Which is important because Bizzy, a pug, is seventeen dang years old. Which is really very old for a dog. As of the taping of this interview and, we hope, the airing of this podcast, Bizzy is still alive and we certainly hope that remains th…

1
These [Republicans] Are Weird 1:05:02

19d ago1:05:02

1:05:02

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the new Democratic line against JD Vance and Donald Trump; the Kamala Harris Veepstakes; and President Biden’s attempt to reform the Supreme Court.Here are this week’s chatters: John: The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship Emily: Social Security and Trends in Wealth Inequality and The …

1
131 Shaul Magid on the Jewish Radicalism of Meir Kahane (JP, Eugene Sheppard) 55:10

12d ago55:10

55:10

For Kahane, the greatest enemy of the Jews was not the black nationalist, the greatest enemy of the Jews was not the Arabs. The greatest enemy of the Jews was liberalism. Shaul Magid, Distinguished Fellow in Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College and Rabbi of the Fire Island Synagogue, is a celebrated and brilliant scholar of radical and dissident Jud…

1
How Things Used To Be vs. How They Are Now with Laura Merli and Sarah Hester Ross 50:11

13d ago50:11

50:11

Laura Merli is an acclaimed comedian and TikTok celebrity. Sarah Hester Ross is a comedic musician who has appeared on America’s Got Talent, because she’s from America and has talent. Like so many of us, they are older now than they have ever been but they do remember how things used to be before. Back when they were younger. Travel with them to dr…

1
The Coronation of Kamala Harris 1:00:54

19d ago1:00:54

1:00:54

This week, hosts Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson are joined by Washington Post associate editor and columnist Ruth Marcus. They President Joe Biden’s big step down, how the race is evolving with Kamala Harris stepping in as the presumptive nominee, and the fallout of the Secret Service. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate…

1
Michelle Biloon, Kevin Avery, and the Applications (Apps, the young people call them) on their Telephones 53:48

22d ago53:48

53:48

Twice the number of guests means twice the opportunity to fall twice as asleep in half the time. Or something. Michelle Biloon is a Philadelphia-based standup comedian who has appeared on many late night shows and released two comedy albums. Kevin Avery is a comedian in LA and the former head writer on Totally Biased with K. Kamau Bell. John Moe, t…

1
Gabfest Reads: Understanding the World Through Notebooks 41:33

25d ago41:33

41:33

John Dickerson talks with author Roland Allen about his new book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper. They discuss the historical origins of notebooks, how to keep a notebook and their own personal journeys documenting their lives. If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love an exploration into John Dickerson’s notebooks with his podcas…

1
“Fight, Fight, Fight” 49:44

26d ago49:44

49:44

This week, John Dickerson is joined by What Next host Mary Harris to discuss Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, the excitement at the Republican National Convention (and why they’re talking about a victory), and the aftermath of the Trump assassination attempt. Here are this week’s chatters: John: The television series, Shetland on BritBox Mar…

1
Helen Hong and Chicken Husbandry in South Central Los Angeles 43:38

27d ago43:38

43:38

You might know the very funny Helen Hong from TV’s Silicon Valley, the film Inside Llewyn Davis, NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, or Maximum Fun’s quiz podcast Go Fact Yourself. If you live in South Central L.A., you might know her as the lady with four chickens in her backyard and a really disappointing crop of snap peas. Helen tells us all about he…

1
Even George Clooney Has Abandoned Biden 1:01:46

1M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz continue to debate if Joe Biden should stay in the presidential race and who might replace him if he goes; discuss Project 2025; and ponder if Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserves a strange, new respect. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: George Clooney in …

1
Jill Moe, Crop Art Royalty at the Minnesota State Fair 55:12

1M ago55:12

55:12

This week, we travel all the way inside the Moe household as host John interviews his wife Jill. She is a bona fide celebrity within the narrow, odd, and passionate world of crop art. It’s what it sounds like: art made out of seeds, leaves, anything that grows. The world capital of crop art is in Saint Paul, home of the Minnesota State Fair and hom…

1
Trump Is So Immune 1:05:41

1M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court decisions on presidential immunity in Trump v. United States and the administrative state in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo as well as the future of Joe Biden’s nomination to be re-elected president. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Su…

1
130* Racism as Power Relation: A Discussion with Adaner Usmani (EF, JP) 33:59

1M ago33:59

33:59

Do we understand racism as the primary driving engine of American inequality? Or do we focus instead on the indirect ways that frequently hard-to-discern class inequality and inegalitarian power relations can produce racially differentiated outcomes? Adaner Usmani, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Social Studies at Harvard and on the editorial …

1
David Plotz’s Tour of D.C.’s Civil War Forts and Fortifications 54:43

1M ago54:43

54:43

Look, we’ll admit right now that this week’s episode is interesting. We’ll stipulate that. David Plotz, CEO of CityCast.fm and longtime contributor to Slate’s Political Gabfest is fascinated by the measures taken around the nation’s capital to prevent a Confederate invasion that could tilt the balance of the war. He details all the forts that were …

1
Biden’s Catastrophic Debate 28:52

2M ago28:52

28:52

The morning after, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the first presidential debate of 2024 and President Joe Biden’s disastrous performance. Here are some notes and references from the show: CNN Presidential Debate: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump Will Weissert for AP: Here’s why it would be tough for Demo…

1
A Law Trapped In Amber 58:46

2M ago58:46

58:46

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss the recent Supreme Court rulings on emergency abortions and guns with Yale Law School’s Linda Greenhouse and Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s loss in a New York Democratic primary. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Supreme Court of the United States: Moyle v. United States; United …

1
Brian Stack (Conan, Colbert) on Mild Encounters with Pleasant Celebrities 45:06

2M ago45:06

45:06

If you’ve watched Conan O’Brien’s shows or Late Night with Stephen Colbert, you’ve probably seen Brian Stack playing a wide range of characters, including Frankenstein and one of the Slip Nuts. He’s been a writer and performer for both shows, which has meant running across a huge number of famous people. Here, Brian counts down his top five celebri…

1
Presidential Debate Preview 1:01:30

2M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the 2024 presidential debates; a possible warning on social media and another ban of smartphones in schools; and the future and failures of one-party rule. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ashley Lopez for NPR: Biden vs. Trump remains close, so next week’s de…

1
7.6 Escape Velocity: Sarah Manguso in Conversation with Tess McNulty (EH) 50:01

2M ago50:01

50:01

What’s the truth and what’s a lie? What’s a memoir, what’s a novel, and what if both are just a series of “prose blocks”? This conversation between Sarah Manguso and Tess McNulty takes up questions of writing and veracity, trauma and memory. Sarah Manguso is the author of nine books, including three memoirs. Her first novel, Very Cold People, was n…

1
Chris Fairbanks on the Intricacies of Skateboarding on an Artificial Hip at Costco 52:06

2M ago52:06

52:06

What do standup comedy, golf, and skateboarding have in common beside high degrees of difficulty and opportunities to humiliate yourself in public? Well, they have veteran standup comedian Chris Fairbanks, who walks us through the experiences of all three ventures. Chris, one of the hosts of the podcast Do You Need a Ride?!, joins us from his homet…

1
Gabfest Reads: When a Sex Robot Catches Feelings 21:14

2M ago21:14

21:14

David Plotz talks with author Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot. They discuss how much discomfort Annie (a “Cuddle Bunny” type of robot) can feel, how the story of a robot is really about the right to control a body, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless t…

1
Biden’s Risky Asylum Policy 58:06

2M ago58:06

58:06

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Biden’s new asylum policy; the recent European Parliament elections with The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum; and the jammed congestion pricing in New York City. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Corvid Research: Help, I’ve found a baby crow! Zolan Kanno-Y…

1
Jenny Lawson’s Enormous Army of Dolls 49:14

2M ago49:14

49:14

Humorist Jenny Lawson collects many things, including: devoted readers of her numerous essay anthologies, acclaim for her brilliant and hilarious writing, taxidermic mishaps, and also dolls, dolls, dolls. We concentrate on the dolls in this episode with more information than you ever sought about Blythe dolls, Pullip dolls, and ball joint dolls. Fi…

1
Will Trump’s Conviction Help Biden? 57:38

3M ago57:38

57:38

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the fallout from Donald Trump’s felony conviction; the spin-up for Hunter Biden’s trial; and the upshot for college speech from campus protests with Charles Homans. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Nathaniel Rakich for 538: Trump’s conviction may be hurting h…

1
7.5 Machine, System, Code: Masande Ntshanga and Magalí Armillas-Tiseyra (EH) 50:15

3M ago50:15

50:15

Building parallels between technology and the human imagination, Masande Ntshanga’s conversation with Magalí Armillas-Tiseyra explains how cities are like machines and how South African history resembles some of the most sinister versions of techno-futurism. Masande is the author of two novels: The Reactive, winner of a Betty Trask Award in 2018, a…

1
129* Vince Brown, Caribbean Vectors (EF, JP) 45:51

2M ago45:51

45:51

The largest slave uprising in the 18th century British Caribbean was also a node of the global conflict called the Seven Year’s War, though it isn’t usually thought of that way. In the first few days of the quarantine and our current geopolitical and epidemiological shitshow, John and Elizabeth spoke with Vincent Brown, who recently published Tacky…

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