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Jan 29, 2026 1 hr 15 min

De-ICEing

from Political Gabfest

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss how the shocking killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents could represent a real turning point for Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, the cognitive dissonance about constitutional rights and conservative principles displayed by political leaders in the wake of Pretti’s killing, and a new book by guest Jason Zengerle: Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss a landmark trial starting in California that aims to adjudicate between children and families who say that social media caused them immense harm because companies intentionally engineered addicting platforms, and social media giants like Meta who argue they’re not responsible for content protected by the First Amendment. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily Bazelon talks with author Curtis Sittenfeld about her short story collection, “Show Don’t Tell.” They discuss the recurring themes of the book from troubled marriages and middle age to the passage of time, and characters who are navigating moments of racial privilege and prejudice. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to [email protected]. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.

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De-ICEing

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Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai Pineapple Street Studios From professional whiner and award-winning drunk Matt Bellassai comes Unhappy Hour, the podcast about everything we love to hate. Join Matt, his co-host Bari, and their special guests as they vent about all things political, personal and cultural. Because nothing brings people together like good complaining. Leave us a voicemail on our rant hotline at: (601) 600-RANT (7268). Support this pod and wear your unhappiness LOUD and PROUD by buying our merch at unhappyhourshop.com. Explicit The Center Clueless Podcast The Center Clueless Podcast Hosted by Billy Ray Brewton and Erik Surwill, "Center Clueless" is a podcast that takes a day-by-day approach to politics, inviting voices from across the political spectrum to help figure out, once and for all, why everything is so broken. Explicit Conscientization 101 James Stone and Zari Sundiata Conscientization 101 podcast is a show published on Wednesdays which features workers, writers, artists, and others who are involved in the process of learning to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions, and are taking action against oppressive elements of reality. Each episode provides information and radical analysis that attacks the roots of the oppressive structures we contend with on a daily basis. We place the issues of today within the context of the superstructure. This approach is paramount to developing a deeper understanding of society so limiting situations are brought into focus; which will create true resistance for the purpose of revolutionary transformation. While you are getting an in-depth analysis via Conscientization 101 podcast, we make sure to make our show an enjoyable and distinctly entertaining experience!! Explicit Grumpy Old Bens Ryan Bemrose and Darren O'Neill Two Old Guys Yelling At The Cloud Explicit

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How long is this episode of Political Gabfest?

This episode is 1 hour and 15 minutes long.

When was this Political Gabfest episode published?

This episode was published on January 29, 2026.

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