The "Can Anyone Stop This Darn Immigration Bill?" Gabfest
Listen to Slate's show about progress on immigration reform. Plus, Obama’s defense of the NSA and why his sliding poll numbers matter.
The Political Gabfest has moved! Find new episodes here.
Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook. We post to the Facebook page throughout the week, so keep the conversation going by joining us there. Or follow us on Twitter: @SlateGabfest!
To listen to the discussion, use the player below:
Chicago Live Show: Wednesday, July 10, 7 p.m., at the Thorne Auditorium on the Chicago campus of Northwestern University. Tickets and additional information. Now with special guest Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”
On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the progress of a Senate deal on immigration reform. They also debate the latest news about the NSA’s domestic surveillance programs and discuss the significance of President Obama’s eroding poll numbers.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week's show:
- The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza profiled the Gang of 8’s effort to get immigration reform to “maybe.”
- Wonkblog on immigration: Suzy Khim’s summaries of how border security has tightened and the pace of the Obama administration’s deportations; plus, Brad Plumer on the decline in illegal immigration.
- William Saletan writes that the lack of real judicial oversight of NSA surveillance is unacceptable.
- David mentions a New York Times report on how the FBI handles internal investigations of fault when its agents are involved in shootings.
- Do Obama’s sliding poll numbers matter? John thinks so.
John chatters about his visit to Antietam and the podcast tours available at Civil War Traveler.
Emily chatters about the Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona’s voter registration law.
David chatters about Glynn Washington’s podcast, Snap Judgment.
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.