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On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the GOP’s reaction to the fight between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, a new day for Iran-U.S. relations, and the lessons of the Flint water crisis.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- How is the GOP responding to Trump and Cruz being at the top of the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire? Michael Gerson is in a panic. Peter Wehner says Trump poses a “profound threat to the party.” Bob Dole claims Cruz would be “cataclysmic,” and David Brooks is calling on “adult” conservatives to rise up.
- Meanwhile, Sarah Palin endorses Trump, Cruz faces Trump’s attack that he is not a natural-born citizen, and Trump is alienating minority voters.
- Will a GOP establishment candidate eventually emerge to win the nomination? (John Kasich is rising.) Or will there be multiple alternatives?
- After an eventful week for Iran and the United States, Iran rejoins the community of nations. Was the prisoner swap artful diplomacy or weak? How will Saudi Arabia react to a stronger Iran?
- The United States has reacted to Flint, Michigan’s failure to protect its citizens from toxic water. Would the crisis have happened if the demographics of Flint were different? What will the health effects of widespread, significant exposure to lead be?
- What do the published emails from the governor’s office tell us?
- Has Gov. Rick Snyder heretofore been a good governor—should Snyder get credit for all his previous deeds?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of news and politics.
Emily chatters about the popular Netflix series Making a Murderer and Kathryn Schulz’s critical piece about the documentary in the New Yorker.
John chatters about the death of William Henry Harrison and the New York Times article uncovering exactly how it happened.
David chatters about his excitement over Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, and recommends you pick up any Dickens right now!
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 Jocelyn Frank. Links compiled by Elle Bisgaard-Church.
