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On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the second round of Republican debates and how each candidate performed, and the potential government shutdown over Planned Parenthood funding and what it means for the 2016 election. They also talk to writer, speaker, and broadcaster Merlin Mann about time, attention, and productivity.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- CNN hosted the second round of Republican presidential debates from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. How did each candidate do, who won, who lost, and what happens until the next Republican debate? Here is everything you may have missed in 90 seconds. Vote now and tell us who won.
- In addition to nabbing “NFL-level” ratings, the three-hour debate featured discussion about same-sex marriage (and the U.S. Supreme Court), climate change, the legalization of marijuana, (the GOP version of) foreign policy, vaccinations, and the potential government shutdown. It included several heated exchanges, a lot of Ronald Reagan, very little on the economy, and a surprising and disappointing unwillingness and/or inability to name iconic American women. Who was right, who was wrong, and who strayed from the facts the most?
- Both debates focused heavily on direct taunts of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, with most pundits declaring Sen. Lindsey Graham the winner of the undercard debate and Carly Fiorina the surprise victor of the main event. Does Fiorina offer the GOP a pathway to reach women, has the rest of the GOP field finally figured out how to upend Trump, and will Trump’s inability to stampede the GOP herd prove his undoing?
- John explores the highs and lows in CNN’s epic GOP debate.
- Jamelle Bouie questions whether the second GOP debate marked the beginning of Trump’s end?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of the GOP primary.
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of the 2016 campaign.
- Wait, there could be another government shutdown? Who is behind it, what is behind it, and what do the polls and the American people think about it all?
- The dispute embroiling Planned Parenthood evinces the political, logistical, and terrifying costs associated with the reproductive health debate.
- Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell think a government shutdown is a bad idea (and are trying to refocus the debate). What are the complex and key issues framing the debate, and how close do the experts think we are to a shutdown?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of news and politics.
Emily chatters about her recent New York Times Magazine piece on who qualifies for “asylum”?
Merlin chatters about the Conversation Parade: An Adventure Time Podcast.
John chatters about the historic Cow Palace and the contentious 1964 Republican Convention.
David chatters about Donald Trump’s germophobia.
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 Mike Vuolo. Links compiled by Tarik Barrett.
