The Live in Washington, D.C., Gabfest
Listen to Slate's show about Obama's second inauguration, filibuster reform, and the perils of tweeting on the job.
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Live DoubleX Gabfest—Hanna Rosin, Noreen Malone, and special guest Emily Yoffe (aka “Dear Prudence”) will be at Washington, D.C.'s Sixth & I on Feb. 13. Tickets and additional information.
This week’s Audible recommendation is The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright. Try Audible free for 30 days and get a free audiobook by visiting AudiblePodcast.com/Gabfest.
On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, recorded live at Washington's Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon, and David Plotz discuss Obama’s second inaugural address, filibuster reform, and social media policy in the workplace. They also take audience questions at the end of the show.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week's show:
- John says Obama used his inaugural speech to nod to the coalition that elected him and to sew it more fully into the American story.
- The Washington Post has the complete transcript of Obama’s speech.
- How have four years in the White House changed the Obamas? Jodi Kantor asked friends and staffers close to the first family.
- After taping, the Democrats did not embrace the “constitutional option” for reforming the filibuster; Ezra Klein explains why.
- The Washington Post’s Wonkblog has a one-pager on Sen. Jeff Merkley’s proposal, which included a so-called “talking filibuster.”
- The Brennan Center for Justice has written widely about the history of the filibuster and reform options.
- Brendan Greeley’s piece in Bloomberg Business Week explores the interests that may have shaped the evolution of filibuster policy.
- Slate contributor Josh Eidelson says “Go Ahead, Complain About Your Job on Facebook.” The New York Times also wrote about recent decisions about workplace social media policies by the National Labor Relations Board.
- In the question-and-answer session, John and David tell Emily that she really needs to watch Joe Biden’s performance at the recent Senate swearing-in ceremony.
See audience photos from #DCGabfest on Storify!
Emily chatters about the ethics of stopping an Amtrak train if you sleep past your stop.
John chatters about his favorite line from President Grant’s second inaugural address.
David chatters about honorific protocol.
Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Mike Vuolo. Links compiled by Jeff Friedrich.