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Hello and welcome to the Slate Political GavFest for May 23rd, 2014, the secret waiting list

edition today. The Obama administration scrambles to respond to the VA scandal as it's too little,

too late. Then, Tea Party Candids flop in Tuesday's primaries. Does that mean the Tea Party is a

spent force? Or does it mean just the opposite? And then, Tana Hossie Coats' phenomenal

argument starting article about reparations in the Atlantic. I am David Plotzie, I'm

in Slate, New York this week. Emily Baslan has driven down, trained down, bike down from

New Haven. That's right. I walked the whole way. You walked. It's good. It's very environmentally

sound if you Emily. Nicely done. Every step of 95. How long did it take you? How long would

it take to walk from New Haven here? I would be really miserable. That would be like the

worst. The worst walk in America. And then, back in Washington, protecting the homeland is

John Dickerson, Slate's Chief Political Correspondent. Hello, John. Hi. How's Washington? It's not bad.

It's a little warm. I would prefer it to be a little bit more spring-like, but it's sort

of incipient summer. But other than that, it's just lovely. Good. All right. Just remind

your Slate Plus, which is our brand-spanking new Marvelist membership program has started.

And if you're a Gaffer's listener that gets you all sorts of excellent goodies, ad-free

podcast, bonus podcast segments this week, our bonus segment is actually a great interview

...