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On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the U.S. government’s case against international soccer’s most powerful and corrupt organization, the assault against the USA Patriot Act, and a curious Supreme Court case that could be a boon to Republicans.

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

• The global soccer community was shocked by the arrests of top international soccer officials in Switzerland at the behest of the U.S. Department of Justice. Does the U.S. even have jurisdiction over the case, and if so, can the DOJ end graft in FIFA?
• Does FIFA’s structure lend itself to corruption (and how is FIFA President Sepp Blatter not taking the fall)? Could Blatter actually win re-election?
• Will this mark the death of international soccer (and the vuvuzela)? And what about the much more pressing issues of rampant human rights violations (and “completely unacceptable” levels of racism) associated with the FIFA World Cup?
• Check out the latest episode of Slate’s Hang Up and Listen for an informative interview with Jeremy Schaap about his ESPN E:60 report on FIFA and Blatter.
• Despite strong bipartisan support, passage of the USA Freedom Act by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month, and mounting pressure from President Obama, key provisions of the USA Patriot Act are set to expire at midnight on Sunday.
• With the U.S. Senate in recess until 4 pm on Sunday, will Congress have time to act before it’s too late? (And what’s Rand Paul up to?)
• What does the Patriot Act permit (even its principle author was “shock[ed]” by its application)? Does it work to prevent terrorist attacks—and what does America think?
• The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments in Evenwel v. Abbott.
• What’s going on in the case, why is it such a complicated issue, who is most at risk, and how could it help Republicans?

Emily chatters about the lack of love for Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in FiveThirtyEight’s ranking of the best NBA teams of all time.

John chatters about Brain Pickings’ recent article on Blaise Pascal and the art of persuasion.

David chatters about League of Kitchens, a culturally immersive culinary adventure.

Slate’s Political Gabfest is coming to Washington, D.C., on July 29 at the historic Sixth & I Synagogue! Tickets will be available through the Sixth & I box office. If you are a Slate Plus member, you will be eligible for a discount on your ticket purchase. If you’d like to become a Slate Plus member, visit slate.com/gabfestplus.

Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest (#heygabfest).

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 Tarik Barrett.