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On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Julia Ioffe, contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine, discuss Hillary Clinton’s apology over her endless email scandal and her (latest) more humorous and heartfelt campaign reboot, President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal and what it means for Democrats politically, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s motives for his escalating involvement in the ongoing civil war in Syria.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- After finally apologizing for her damaging email scandal, Hillary Clinton announced yet another reboot of her 2016 campaign. But with Bernie Sanders drawing even in some polls—and Vice President Joe Biden poised to throw his hat in the ring—is it too little too late?
- Will Clinton’s latest campaign reboot prove successful (or is it another mistake), and can foreign policy help restore her invincibility? Or did Hillary Clinton begin her campaign too soon? Should Democrats begin investing in “Plan B”?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of the 2016 campaign
- Defying seemingly insurmountable odds, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has quietly become the top challenger to GOP front-runner Donald Trump. How has he done it, why is he so appealing to GOP voters, will his more aggressive posture toward Trump prove successful, and can Carson actually win the GOP primary?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of the GOP primary
- Despite strong (and often theatric) opposition, high-profile defections, mixed support by the Jewish lobby, and the uncertainty of many Americans, the commitment of Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) secured enough support to ensure passage of President Obama’s historic nuclear deal with Iran.
- Is the deal another victory for President Obama, and what happens next? And was the Iran “debate” just meaningless political theater or will former Vice President Dick Cheney—and others opposed to the deal—ultimately prove correct?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of news and politics
- Why is Russia so invested in the civil war in Syria, and what does it mean for Europe and the United States (and what happens next)? And why should the U.S. do more to help with the European migrant crisis and how can it help?
- Special guest Julia Ioffe argues that America can—and must—do more to help Europe’s migrants.
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of the European migrant crisis
Julia chatters about the Russian “political expert” who proposed nuking the United States.
John chatters about the discovery of Homo naledi and “underground astronauts.”
David chatters about the greatest white bread in the world and Slate’s new podcast about the college admissions process, Getting In.
Slate’s Political Gabfest is coming to San Francisco on Tuesday at the historic Nourse Theater, with special guest Merlin Mann. A few more tickets remain available at slate.com/politicalSF. 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). (Tweets may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Sarah Abdurrahman. Links compiled by Tarik Barrett.