The "Washington Is Really Not So Bad" Edition
Listen to Slate's show about what works in Washington. Plus, what Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk says about modern war.
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Live Dear Prudence! Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 7p.m. Join David as he questions Slate’s ‘Dear Prudence’ columnist Emily Yoffe about her most memorable letters. Tickets.
Live DoubleX Gabfest! Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 7p.m. Tickets.
On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz discuss what Washington does well. Then, they reflect on how to talk to children about difficult subjects such as politics and race. And finally, they discuss Ben Fountain’s critically acclaimed novel, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, a fascinating reflection on how we deal with the soldiers fighting our current wars.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week's show:
- John mentions the Government Accountability Office and discusses the reviews they conduct of Social Security and other federal programs; check out the GAO’s podcast to learn more about their recent audits.
- The most efficient office in the world? It’s run by Washington.
- Americans are most satisfied with the federal government’s response to natural disasters and its administration of national parks, according to a July survey by Gallup.
- The American Prospect’s Monica Potts identified at least five things the government does better than you.
- “Why is Obama our first black president?” In 2008, John and Emily wrote about how parents were talking to children about the significance of Obama’s election.
- Ben Fountain’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
Emily chatters about two books, Ben Rides On and Bullying and Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know.
John chatters about five commandments for baseball parents.
David chatters about John Lewis, Katharine Graham, and other people who deserve monuments. Propose your ideas for new monuments on the Gabfest Facebook page.
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 and Andy Bowers. Links compiled by Jeff Friedrich.