The Gabfest on Israeli air strikes and a possible invasion of Gaza, David Leonhardt’s New York Times article on a new conservative generation, and Warren Harding’s erotic letters to his mistress.

Are Young Voters Becoming More Conservative?

Are Young Voters Becoming More Conservative?

Slate's weekly political roundtable.
July 11 2014 10:27 AM

The “May I Introduce You to President Harding and His Friend Jerry” Edition

Listen to Slate's show about the cycle of violence in Gaza, a possible new generation of conservatives, and Warren Harding’s steamy letters.

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For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, David interviewed a couple of screenwriters about Hollywood’s recent obsession with Washington. Slate Plus members get an ad-free version of this podcast with bonus segments. Visit slate.com/gabfestplus and try it free for two weeks.

On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and Jeffrey Goldberg discuss escalating violence in Gaza, a purported millennial backlash against Obama, and Warren Harding’s “sexy” secret letters.

Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

  • A new wave of violence in Gaza has drawn attention away from other worsening conflicts in the Middle East.
  • Some Israelis refer to the cycle of recurring military operations in Gaza as “mowing the lawn,” referencing a need to destroy militants that arise in an Israeli military vacuum.
  • Although dire predictions are dogged by claims of inaccuracy, some demographers believe that Palestinians could eventually outnumber Israelis.
  • Jeffrey interviewed the Obama administration’s Mideast peace envoy, Martin Indyk, who implied that the most recent round of two-state solution negotiations were undermined by Israel’s settlement policy.
  • David Leonhardt speculated that young adults who cannot remember the Bush presidency or the excitement surrounding Obama’s election might be disillusioned by political gridlock, and blame the president.
  • Millennials skew left on issues such as gay marriage, marijuana legalization, and the belief in an activist government.
  • At the end of the month, the Library of Congress will release Warren Harding’s secret letters to his longtime mistress Carrie Philips.
  • Phillips was paid to remain silent about the 15-year affair.
  • Zachary Taylor died a peculiar death after eating too many cherries and drinking possibly contaminated milk, although there’s long been suspicion that he was poisoned.
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Emily chatters about alternatives to penalty kicks in soccer.

Jeff chatters about a headline on Breitbart.

David chatters about Crumbs closing, and possible new food crazes.

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 Max Tani.

Emily Bazelon is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine and the author of Sticks and Stones.

Jeffrey Goldberg is a national correspondent for the Atlantic and the author of Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror.

David Plotz is the CEO of Atlas Obscura and host of the Slate Political Gabfest.