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Episode Notes:

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, to discuss voting and the crisis of legitimacy facing a Supreme Court embroiled in politics, the election, and an epochal shift to the right. 

In our Slate Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Brian Fallon of Demand Justice to discuss the whys and the wherefores of court reform. 

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Podcast production by Sara Burningham.

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Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss the effect of the US president on the economy, dual interest rates and whether or not PetSmart and Chewy should split up. 

In the Slate Plus segment: The new Gmail logo. 

Email: [email protected]

Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.

Twitter: @felixsalmon, @Three_Guineas, @EmilyRPeck

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The 2016 general election changed the way we think about information online and its power to sway results. Four years later, Americans will vote amid a surge of misinformation, collected and distorted to fit political narratives.

What can people and platforms do to protect the truth in this most consequential election?

Guests:

Renee DiResta, Research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory

Justin Hendrix, founder of Tech Policy Press

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

The 2016 general election changed the way we think about information online and its power to sway results. Four years later, Americans will vote amid a surge of misinformation, collected and distorted to fit political narratives.

What can people and platforms do to protect the truth in this most consequential election?

Guests:

Renee DiResta, Research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory

Justin Hendrix, founder of Tech Policy Press

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

Virginia Heffernan talks to Benjamin Wittes, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and editor-in-chief of Lawfare Blog, about how Trump was able to fulfill a full term in office despite everything, and the concept of majoritarianism.

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Here are some references from this week’s show:

David Wasserman for the Cook Political Report: “What One Florida County Could Tell Us About a ‘Gray Revolt’ on Election Night”

Rosemary Quigley’s Slate diary

The Betsy-Tacy Treasury book series by Maud Hart Lovelace

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

The Anne of Green Gables book series by L.M. Montgomery

John Dickerson for Slate: “To the Teacher Who Changed My Life”

Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: 

Emily: Casey Newton’s newsletter, Platformer

John: El País: “A Room, a Bar and a Classroom: How the Coronavirus Is Spread Through the Air”; The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

David: David asked whether there is a word for the extreme discomfort he felt watching people embarrassed in terrible ways in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Listener chatter from Alana @snarkoutgirl: Wikitongues: “Aydyn Speaking Tuvan”

Slate Plus members get a bonus 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 ahead of Halloween, Emily, David, and John share memories of times they were deeply scared.

You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

The email address for the Political Gabfest is [email protected]. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.

Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.

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There’s actually good news about this virus. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you’re safe.

Guest: Ed Yong, staff writer for The Atlantic. 

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Attica Scott is the only black woman in Kentucky’s state legislature. It turns out, that doesn’t make advocating for Breonna Taylor much easier. 

Guest: Kentucky state Representative Attica Scott. 

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz.

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Virginia Heffernan talks to Christian Picciolini, a former neo-Nazi skinhead and musician who now works to disengage others from virulent bigotry and hate cults. He talks about his indoctrination into—and exodus from—the racist movement, neo-Nazi strategies of the 80s and 90s, the history of anti-racist skinheads in the U.S., and the psychology and needs of cult hoppers.

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Rafa Lombardino wasn’t planning on becoming a citizen. Originally from Brazil, Rafa has spent nearly two decades in America content with her green card. After Trump's election in 2016, though, she watched increasingly draconian immigration policies go into effect. And this year, she finally set out to make her voice heard.

Guest: Rafa Lombardino, first-time voter, translator, and co-host of Translation Confessional.

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