Slate Daily Feed

Jacob Weisberg talks to Yascha Mounk about the first two weeks of the Trump administration.

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Franz Nicolay made his bones playing with big bands, in size and in popularity (The Dresden Dolls, Against Me, the Hold Steady). But Nicolay longed to strike out on his own and master the “practical craft of the old vaudevillian.” So he packed his banjo (and accordion and guitar) for a string of tours across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Nicolay’s consequent book is The Humorless Ladies of Border Control: Touring the Punk Underground From Belgrade to Ulaanbaatar.

For the Spiel, the many types of liars employed by Donald Trump. 

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Chris Berube with three things: 1) An update on the Betsy DeVos confirmation fight; 2) Why does everyone believe there was a nonexistent massacre in Kentucky?; 3) Broadway gets topical.

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In an elaborately choreographed prime-time ceremony this week, President Trump tapped Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court seat that has been vacant for almost a year. We sit down with the Constitutional Accountability Center’s Elizabeth Wydra to examine Judge Gorsuch’s judicial record, whether he really is “Scalia 2.0,” and the difficult choices confronting Senate Democrats in the wake of this nomination. 

We also consider the ramifications of reports that some U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents are defying federal court orders around Trump’s new travel restrictions. Slate staffers Mark Joseph Stern and Leon Neyfakh tell us what they learned from constitutional law scholars about the possibility of a standoff between two branches of the federal government. (Read our Slate piece on the subject here.)

Finally, we zero in on one of the many lawsuits filed this week against Trump’s executive order. Aziz v. Trump centers on a pair of young men who were en route to join their father in Michigan when the order was issued, and wound up being deported to Ethiopia upon their arrival at Dulles Airport. We’re joined by the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the case.

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Podcast production by Tony Field.

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On this episode of Represent, Slate culture writer Aisha Harris talks to filmmaker and activist Raoul Peck about his Oscar-nominated James Baldwin documentary I Am Not Your Negro. We also kick off our monthlong series, Guess Who’s Coming to Oscar, and revisit Dances With Wolves with writer/professor Adrienne Keene.

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Check out:

-Adrienne’s post: “I’m a true Indian now: I finally saw Dances with Wolves”

-Reel Injun, a documentary on the history of Native Americans in Hollywood films

-The 1995 New York Times piece “To Some Sioux, Costner Now Dances With Devil”

-Russell Means interview with Dan Skye of High Times

-Smoke Signals

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This week, Democrats are agonizing over how or whether to oppose Donald Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. Emily Bazelon notes that Gorsuch has been very clear in his opposition to doctor-assisted suicide, but his position on abortion rights is less knowable. Bazelon is a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine, and a co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest.

For the Spiel, Trump finds God and uses the opportunity to ask for better Apprentice ratings.

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John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss President Trump's immigration order, his nominee to the Supreme Court and the approaches of Washington's bureaucrats- should they change course?

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Chris Berube with three things: 1) Why is Donald Trump mad at the Australian PM?; 2) 76 protestors arrested at Standing Rock; 3) Don't make predictions in Sri Lanka.

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On today's show, hosts Allison Benedikt and Gabriel Roth chat with journalist Bryce Covert about the surprising history of child care in America. Then, they talk with professor Diane Levin about how children often segregate friendships along gender lines by the time they reach preschool age. Plus, a conflicted listener wrestles with supporting football, just in time for the Super Bowl and Allison shares a big announcement... 

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Steve Fishman is one of the few journalists to received access to notorious scam artist Bernie Madoff. His interviews form the backbone of the new Audible series Ponzi Supernova, which goes deep inside the biggest pyramid scheme in American history. Fishman talks about his new series and how Madoff outran federal investigators for decades.

For the Spiel, the folly of adding Iran to Trump’s travel ban.

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MVMT Watches. MVMT watches make a great Valentine’s Day gift! Get 15 percent off today—with FREE SHIPPING and FREE RETURNS—by going to MVMTWatches.com/gist. 

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