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On this week’s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson discuss the results of the Iowa caucus and make predictions for the upcoming primaries. Also, David talks to the director of the Big Short about big banks, regulation, and politics.
Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- We discuss what the Iowa caucus taught us about the race so far and the state of politics in the U.S.
- On the Republican side: Early entrance polls indicate that those who voted for Trump made up their minds about him way before the caucus, versus Cruz who picked up voters close to the date. Does this mean the oft-talked about Trump ceiling of voters is true?
- On the Democratic side: Is the Democratic party headed for a rift between centrism and progressivism? Do politics need to operate in the center?
- Does Sanders’ momentum reflect youth wanting to be part of a movement or something deeper, more ideological? Does Clinton need to be worried about not having the youth vote? Is there anyway Clinton will win in New Hampshire?
- David interviews Adam McKay, director of the widely acclaimed Big Short: Why this film now? Did the crash result in any good? Was it difficult establishing the economic verisimilitude? What was the role of the government (an actor hidden in the film) in the faulty housing market? Why is comedy a good vehicle for films about money, corruption, and greed?
- Read more of Slate’s coverage of news & politics
Emily chatters about a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine that evidences the detriments of Texas’ Planned Parenthood funding cuts.
John chatters about his new diary/podcast on the campaign road for CBS.
David chatters about the thrilling new TV series Okkupert, available on Netflix.
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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.