Emily and David are joined by guest host David Leonhardt to discuss the pandemic economy; a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, and the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: John J. Mearsheimer for Foreign Affairs: “The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics” Corey Robin for The New York Times: “Why the Biden Presidency Feels Like Such a Disappointment” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas, by Corey Robin Mike Baker for The New York Times: “The Sisters Who First Tried to Take Down Jeffrey Epstein”t Andrew Anthony for The Guardian: “Meet Julie K Brown, The Woman Who Brought Down Jeffrey Epstein” Jill Filipvoc’s newsletter Matthew Yglesias’ Slow Boring newsletter Joe Sheehan’s baseball newsletter Matt Levine’s Money Stuff newsletter Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American newsletter Here’s this week’s chatter: Emily: Leah Litman for NBC News: “The Death Penalty Cases Before The Supreme Court That Could Keep Innocent People In Prison”: Amy Howe for SCOTUSblog: “Conservative Justices Scoff at Maine’s Exclusion of Religious Schools From Tuition-Assistance Program” David Leonhardt: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite David Plotz:: Work at City Cast; Sex Lives of College Girls Listener chatter from Andrew Lacko: “Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon” For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment Emily, David, and David talk about newsletters and what they do well. Give the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Here's how! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices