Topic: Slate

The Slate Political Gabfest podcast featured a discussion on the internal struggle within the Democratic Party regarding language compliance and "purity tests." Host Emily Bazelon described the personal torment of choosing between terms like "illegal alien" and "undocumented immigrant" to avoid social excommunication. The segment characterizes the party as an "HR department" focused on linguistic rules rather than broad political appeal.

Former federal prosecutor Dennis Aftergut appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss his Slate article calling the Trump indictment a "prosecutorial masterstroke." During the interview, Aftergut characterized the legal proceedings as the "trial of all American history" to prevent a man from becoming king. Co-host Juan Gonzalez questioned Aftergut on the tactical decision to leave six co-conspirators unindicted to streamline the trial timeline.

Representative Maxine Waters is reported to have transferred over $190,000 in campaign funds to her daughter, Karen Waters, during the 2022 election cycle. The payments are tied to an "endorsement mailer" operation where other politicians, including Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom, paid the Waters campaign to appear on promotional materials.

Jeremy Slate is knighted as Sir Jeremy Slate after a $900 donation. He discusses his PR agency, "Command Your Brand," and his upcoming book "Unremarkable to Extraordinary." The segment includes a "de-douching" for a producer in Western Pennsylvania and a discussion on the "wokeness" infecting the tech sector in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

Jeremy Slate and Brian Skelton are officially knighted as Sir Jeremy Slate and Sir Brian Skelton. The hosts perform the traditional ceremony, granting them access to the "No Agenda Round Table" and its associated perks. The new knights are instructed to visit the show's website to claim their signet rings and certificates of authenticity.

Major media outlets including The Atlantic, Slate, and The New York Times have published articles framing the Pfizer vaccine as a "status symbol" compared to Moderna. This cultural branding has extended to TikTok, where users participate in "vaccine rivalries" and identify as "Pfizer elites." Critics argue this narrative is a form of native advertising designed to politicize the vaccination process and target specific social demographics.

Professor Kim introduced the concept of "not blackness" as a structural advantage for Asian Americans in the US racial order. She posits that while Asian Americans face "not whiteness" as a disadvantage, their "not blackness" is used by broader society to maintain anti-Black structures, a theory criticized as divisive and self-loathing.

Virginia Heffernan of the Slate podcast "Trumpcast" is criticized for a segment placing Donald Trump on a "Mount Rushmore of Evil" alongside O.J. Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein, and Harvey Weinstein. The hosts characterize this as a peak example of biased journalism and the extreme rhetoric used by the media against the President.

A leaked transcript of an internal New York Times town hall revealed Executive Editor Dean Baquet discussing the newsroom's shift in focus following the conclusion of the Mueller investigation. After the "Russia narrative" failed to result in Trump's removal, the paper pivoted toward covering Trump's alleged racism as its primary editorial mission. The leak, published by Slate, exposed internal tensions between the staff and leadership regarding the paper's objectivity and political stance.

A moderator at a Bob Woodward event announced his departure from The Slate Group to launch a new podcasting company with author Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell, known for bestsellers like The Tipping Point, is noted for his distinctive NPR-style delivery. The hosts mock the hushed, serious tone often associated with high-end narrative podcasting and public radio.

The internal dynamics of the Republican party are explored, focusing on the lack of unified support for President Trump's messaging. Media comparisons between advisor Stephen Miller and Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels are discussed. The hosts suggest that Miller remains a primary target for critics due to his hardline stance on immigration enforcement.

Media coverage of the Kraft macaroni and cheese chemical controversy has been characterized as a "hit job" by some, while others like Slate have been accused of publishing defensive "native advertising" for the food industry. The discussion noted that major outlets like the Washington Post are increasingly influenced by advertiser interests. Additionally, a 2012 study linked prenatal phthalate exposure to a 50% increase in eczema cases among children.

Planet Money co-founder Adam Davidson spoke on a Slate podcast about his experiences moderating panels for the Clinton Global Initiative. Davidson described a "creepy vibe" where wealthy donors pay for access to political elites and criticized the foundation's performance in Haiti as being more about theater than meaningful intervention.

Skepticism remains regarding the definitive attribution of the DNC hack to Russian intelligence, despite claims from security firms like FireEye and CrowdStrike. Arguments suggest that the tools used by hackers are widely available and do not constitute absolute proof of state-sponsored activity. The discussion critiques the media's readiness to link Vladimir Putin to the leaks without transparent evidence.

Michelle Goldberg of Slate appeared on MSNBC to discuss "submerged gender anxieties" and the loss of male primacy in the American system. The hosts critique her assertion that Obama's presidency unleashed a wave of racism and gender-based resentment. They argue that such rhetoric contributes to a divisive atmosphere and devalues the status of men in society.

Donna Brazile faced questions regarding the "progressive consensus" of believing victims of sexual assault in the context of Juanita Broaddrick's allegations against Bill Clinton. Brazile dismissed the comparison, pivoting to attack Donald Trump for "mocking women" and "smearing Muslims." The segment highlights the perceived contradiction in how liberals handle allegations against political allies versus opponents.

Hurricane Patricia is characterized as a media "dud" after initial reports labeled it the strongest storm in history. CNN reporter Martin Savage and Slate writer Eric Holthaus are criticized for linking the storm's intensity to anthropogenic climate change despite minimal actual damage on the ground in Mexico. Discrepancies between Doppler radar imagery and clear-sky webcam footage from Puerto Vallarta suggest the manipulation of weather data for political narratives.

Local news stations provide extensive, commercial-like coverage of the Apple Watch launch, featuring interviews with "techies" waiting in line at Apple stores. The reports detail shipping delays and the excitement of potential buyers trying on different models. The hosts criticize the media for providing free advertising for Apple and treating a gadget launch as a major news event.

Emily Bazelon of Slate Magazine appeared on CNN to discuss the persistence of 9/11 conspiracy theories. She argued that the theories are driven by anti-government sentiment and "virulent" right-wing talk. The hosts mock her suggestion that believing the government is "monstrous" would lead people to stop paying their taxes.

The hosts rail against "sponsored content" in major publications like BuzzFeed, Slate, and Forbes, where advertising agencies are given direct access to content management systems. They cite a New York Times column on the subject and contrast this "corrupted" model with No Agenda's strictly listener-supported "value for value" system.