Slate News

Emily, John and David discuss the unprecedented American Rescue Plan. Author Heather McGhee joins the Gabfest to talk about her new book outlining how racism hurts all Americans and Dr. Michael Mina answers questions about how to improve the nation's pandemic-fighting strategies.

Here are some notes and references from this week’s show:

Pew Research Center: “Broad Public Support for Coronavirus Aid Package; Just a Third Say It Spends Too Much”

The Debrief with Major Garrett: “$2 Trillion For What?”

The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Here’s this week’s chatter:

Emily: The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans--And How We Can Fix It by Dorothy A. Brown

John: “‘The Secret Apartment’ Is The Story Of A Vietnam Vet Who Claims To Have Lived In Veterans Stadium For Years”; The Secret Apartment: Vet Stadium, a surreal memoir by Tom Garvey; Jeremy Irons Reads the Psalms  

David: The Fourth Child by Jessica Winter

Listener chatter from Seth Milhoan: Sarah Brookbank for the Cincinnati Enquirer: “Del Hall, The Cincinnati Man Who Lives on a Beer-only Diet for Lent, Is Doing It Again and Raising Money”

Slate Plus members get great bonus content from Slate, a special segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, David, and John discuss how they decide whether to rescue or abandon a failing project.

Tweet us your questions and chatters @SlateGabfest, or email us at [email protected]. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.

Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in 2014, Google released in-depth diversity data for its workforce for the first time. 1.1 percent of its tech team identified as Black. Six years later, after millions of dollars spent and a much-hyped partnership program with historically Black colleges and universities across the country, that number is up to 2.4 percent. 

How did such a promising effort yield such incremental change?

Guest: Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter at the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in 2014, Google released in-depth diversity data for its workforce for the first time. 1.1 percent of its tech team identified as Black. Six years later, after millions of dollars spent and a much-hyped partnership program with historically Black colleges and universities across the country, that number is up to 2.4 percent. 

How did such a promising effort yield such incremental change?

Guest: Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter at the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did schools stay closed for so long in Memphis? And why weren’t parents clamoring for them to reopen? To answer those questions, you have to tell a longer story about the relationship between a majority-Black, Democratically-controlled city and a largely white, Republican-controlled state. 

Guest: Laura Faith Kebede, reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee. 

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly a third of republican voters say they’re not interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine. What does that mean for the spread of the virus? 

Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post. 

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies. 

This week, Felix and Anna are joined by Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and Wall Street superfan, to talk about Oliver Stone’s 1987 ode to yuppie culture. They’ll discuss the corporate raider culture of the 80s, the era of “smiling and dialing” and the wonky legality of insider trading. 

Email: [email protected]

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.

Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 117th U.S. Congress is the most diverse ever. But that distinction does not extend to senior staff on the Hill. How does the makeup of Congressional staff influence legislation?

Guest: Maya King, author of Politico’s Recast newsletter on how race and identity shape politics, policy, and power.  

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey Trumpcast listeners! Your host Virginia has some big news. Her next podcast—After Trump—is a guidebook alongside legal scholars Jack Goldsmith and Bob Bauer—both former Trumpcast guests—to reforming our laws, norms, and ethical codes so we never get in that fix again.  After Trump is coming soon to a podcast app near you. To learn more, go to AfterTrumpPod.com.

But first, Virginia is here to introduce an episode of a new show from Slate: A Word, with Jason Johnson. 

You’ve heard Jason on Trumpcast several times. Now, every Friday he’ll bring his sharp analysis to discussions with policy-makers, journalists, entertainers, and other experts about America’s challenges around race, and ideas on the way forward. You’re about to hear the second episode, in which Jason discusses cancel culture with Professor. Loretta Ross. They talk about the role cancel culture plays in society and politics, and if there’s a better way to hold powerful people accountable. If you enjoy this episode, make sure to subscribe to A Word with Jason Johnson in your podcast app.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police last year sparked an international protest movement and amplified calls for police accountability. Now, as the former police officer Derek Chauvin goes on trial, Minneapolis is preparing for another public reckoning. 

Guest: Jon Collins, senior reporter for Minnesota Public Radio.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, joins Felix Salmon and Emily Peck to talk about his new book The Plague Cycle: The Unending War Between Humanity and Infectious Disease, vaccine distribution, and how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the global economy long term. 

Email: [email protected]

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.

Twitter: @felixsalmon, @EmilyRPeck

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.