Slate Articles

The Problem With Eyewitness Accounts

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:26:00 GMT

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Jurisprudence: Lying Eyes
Police lineups, finger-pointing, and eyewitness accounts have been tools of our justice system since its inception. But how reliable are they? Senior editor Dahlia Lithwick explores the issue in a conversation with Madeleine Brand. Listen to the segment.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Explainer: The Facts Behind the AIG Bonuses
The management of AIG and some members of the Obama administration believe the firm may be legally obligated to pay bonuses to some of its employees. How do the bonuses work? How did they evolve? Listen to the segment.

Cleaning House

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Friday, March 13, 2009

Summary Judgment: Witch Mountain, Sunshine Cleaning, Last House on the Left
What do reviewers say about three new films? Out this week: Race to Witch Mountain, a remake of the 1970s children's film; the indie comedy Sunshine Cleaning; and the horror flick Last House on the Left. Listen to the segment.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Politics: Interpreting Buffett's Gloom and Doom
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett recently weighed in on the state of the U.S. economy. He wasn't optimistic. John Dickerson and Madeleine Brand review what Buffett had to say about President Obama's policies. Listen to the segment.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Blogging the Bible: Good Book Explores the Bible's "Every Word"
The Bible has been described in many ways, and now David Plotz has a few more adjectives to add to the list. Plotz talks with Madeleine Brand about his new book, Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible. Listen to the segment.

Movie Madness

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:44:00 GMT

Friday, March 6, 2009

Summary Judgment:Mark Jordan Legan on Three New Films
Watchmen is a film about the murder investigation for a former comic book superhero. The Horsemen is a murder mystery about a serial killer's crime spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. And Phoebe in Wonderland is a drama about a little girl who seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher. Listen to the segment.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Explainer: Coping With Stressed-Out Co-Workers
The economy and workplace tension are enough to drive anyone nuts. Juliet Lapidos wrote a how-to piece on what to do if your co-workers actually seem to be going crazy. Steve Proffitt reads it. Listen to the segment.

From Prada to Prison

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Friday, Feb. 20, 2009

Summary Judgment: This Weekend's New Flicks—From Prada to Prison
Mark Jordan Legan sums up the latest film reviews: Eleven Minutes is a documentary that follows the first winner of the television show Project Runway; Tyler Perry's latest is Madea Goes to Jail; And Fired Up! is a teen sex romp set at cheerleading camp. Listen to the segment.

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009

Holder's Black History Speech Makes Waves
Attorney General Eric Holder, the first African-American to hold the post, delivered a fiery speech at the Justice Department to mark Black History Month. Dahlia Lithwick discusses the latest from the Justice Department with Alex Cohen. Listen to the segment.

Real Folks' Oscar Picks
Never mind what the results of Sunday's Oscars celebration might turn out to be. Mark Jordan Legan spoke to real-life moviegoers about their favorites to take home the statuettes. Listen to the segment.

Making Babies

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:10:00 GMT

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009

How Many Babies Can Live in One Womb?
A California woman gave birth to eight babies Monday. This is only the second time recorded in the United States that a woman has given birth to live octuplets. Alex Cohen talks with Christopher Beam about how many babies can fit inside a pregnant woman. Listen to the segment.

Chlamydia Infections Are on the Rise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued its annual report about sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. The big news is the chlamydia infections are up. Madeleine Brand speaks with medical contributor Dr. Sydney Spiesel about what the findings mean for peoples' sex lives. Listento the segment.

More Mickey Rourke or Underworld?

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:06:00 GMT

Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

Summary Judgment: New Movies: More Mickey Rourke or Underworld?
Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of the latest films. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a fantasy about the struggle between vampires and werewolves. Inkheart is a family film about a man who brings fairy tale characters to life. And then there's Killshot, starring Mickey Rourke, which sat on the shelf for several years. Now that Rourke is all the rage, it's ready for its debut. (Listen to the segment.)

Day to Day: Did Clinton's Replacement Need To Be a Woman?
Day to Day's Alex Cohen speaks with "XX Factor" contributors Emily Bazelon and Hanna Rosin about Caroline Kennedy's brief bid for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. (Listen to the segment.)

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009

Day to Day: Obama To Close CIA Prisons Immediately
President Barack Obama will shut down a secret network of CIA prisons immediately. He has also ordered that the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay be closed within one year. Day to Day's Alex Cohen talks to Senior Editor Dahlia Lithwick about what this means for the future of detainees. (Listen to the segment.)

Day to Day: How To Create the "Obama Portfolio"
President Obama's plans for the country are spawning a whole new type of investment portfolio, organized around infrastructure and health care stocks. Day to Day's Alex Cohen talks to The Big Money's Karim Bardeesy about the imaginary portfolio he's put together based on the Obama presidency. (Listen to the segment.)

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009

Day to Day: How "Hail to the Chief" Became Presidential
By Andy Bowers
"Hail to the Chief" is a tune that President Barack Obama will hear quite a bit in the next four years. How did this song become the presidential serenade? Slate V'sAndy Bowers explains. (Listen to the segment.)

The Worst Month for Movies

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Friday, Jan. 16, 2009

Summary Judgment: The Worst Month for Movies
January tends to be a bad month for movies because studios try to get their best films out in December to meet the Oscar deadline. This year it's no different. Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of three lackluster films: Notorious, the story of the life and death of the Notorious B.I.G.; the kids' film Hotel for Dogs; and the comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop. (Listen to the segment.)

The Best Merry Scary Christmas Movies

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:10:00 GMT

Friday, Dec. 17, 2008

Arts: The Best Merry Scary Christmas Movies

It's not all fresh snow and lollipops. The Christmas movie genre has a darker side. Mark Jordan Legan takes us on a trip through holiday horror classics including Black Christmas and the so-bad-it's-good Magic Christmas Tree. (Listen to the segment.).

Blagojevich's Crimes?

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:01:00 GMT

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008

Politics: What Exactly Did Blagojevich Do?
Chief political correspondent John Dickerson discusses the various people involved the Illinois governor's pay-for-play scheme. We also explore President-elect Barack Obama's relationship with Blagojevich. (Listen to the segment.)

From the Stage to the Screen

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:04:00 GMT

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008

Summary Judgment: Beyoncé, Nobel Son, or Nixon?
Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of three new films: Cadillac Records, a movie about the rise of R&B label Chess Records starring Beyoncé; Nobel Son, a film about a Nobel Prize-winning scientist and his relationship with his dysfunctional family; and Frost/Nixon, Ron Howard's adaptation of a successful stage play. Listen to the segment.