MAGA’s Epstein Obsession

Political Gabfest

Slate Podcasts

Politics, Government, News

4.5 • 8.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 July 2025

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the epic MAGA meltdown over the DOJ’s “there’s nothing to see here” Epstein files memo, how the Supreme Court is using the “shadow docket” to bolster Trump’s efforts to dismantle the federal government, and whether rescission will kill NPR and PBS. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss what they are enjoying reading, watching, and cooking so far this summer. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the Slate Political Gab Fest.
0:06.6	July 17th, 2025, the Magas Epstein Obsession Edition.
0:23.3	I'm David Plots of Citycast.
0:24.5	There is a little bump in my voice, a little perk in my voice, a little joy, my voice,
0:29.6	Lloyd voice, my lois, and in my loins, possibly.
0:34.1	I'm giddy.
0:35.4	I'm giddy because I've been very, very lonely the last couple of weeks, like a dog left alone at home for too long. I forgot what John smells like. But we're all back together. Thank goodness.
0:48.6	By the way, did you see that they did that study of dogs that can determine whether their Parkinson's owners are about to have a collapse?
0:57.9	And they have like 80% to 95% accuracy in picking those out.
1:03.3	So dogs in their noses.
1:04.8	There you go.
1:05.5	Dogs in their noses.
1:07.3	That was John Dickerson, co-anchor of the CBSEing News, anchor of CBS Evening News Plus from New York City.
1:13.7	Missed you, John.
1:14.4	Hello.
1:15.2	Oh, my gosh.
1:16.1	I'm so happy to be back.
1:17.5	Hello, Emily, David, and to all of you out there in Radio Land.
1:22.6	And then from New York Times Magazine and Yale University Law School, Emily Bazelon.
1:27.4	Hello, Emily. Miss, missed you too.
1:29.6	I am so glad to be here with both of you.
1:32.1	This week on the Gab Fest, can Trump shut down the Epstein conspiracists?
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 19 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.