Vote By Mail

Emily, John and David discuss states reopening as numbers of cases continue to climb; this year’s election security challenges; and they're joined by guest Gene Sperling to talk about “economic dignity.”

For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment David, Emily, and John discuss how to save the summer. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on the Gabfest each week, and access to special bonus episodes throughout the year. Sign up now to listen and support our show.

You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter or post it to our Facebook page. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

The email address for the Political Gabfest is [email protected]. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank.

Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap.

Notes and references from this week’s show:

Nicholas Confessore, Andrew Jacobs, Jodi Kantor, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Luis Ferré-Sadurní for the New York Times: “How Kushner’s Volunteer Force Led a Fumbling Hunt for Medical Supplies”

Jason Dearen and Mike Stobbe for the Associated Press: “US Shelves Detailed Guide to Reopening Country”

Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “Will Americans Lose Their Right to Vote in the Pandemic?”

Mark Joseph Stern for Slate: “Trump Can’t Cancel the Election. But States Could Do It for Him.”

Economic Dignity by Gene B. Sterling

Gene B. Sperling for the New York Times: “Martin Luther King Jr. Predicted This Moment”

Jason DeParle for the New York Times: “As Hunger Swells, Food Stamps Become a Partisan Flash Point”

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’s online classes

Spy Hop’s on demand art classes

National Karate’s online classes

This week’s cocktail chatters:

Emily: Richard L. Hansen for Slate: “We Cannot Hold an Election Without a Functional Post Office”; Strict Scrutiny: “Stay Frustrated”

John: The New York Times’ The Daily: “One Meat Plant. One Thousand Infections”; Mike Baker for the New York Times: “‘Murder Hornets’ in the U.S.: The Rush to Stop the Asian Giant Hornet”

David: Benjamin Wofford for The Washingtonian: “Sally Quinn Modeled the Erotic Hero of Her 1991 Bestseller on…Anthony Fauci. Yes, that Anthony Fauci.”; Perry Stein and Donna St. George for the Washington Post: “Despite Pushback, Sidwell and Other D.C.-area Prep Schools are Keeping Their Small-Business Loans”

Listener chatter from Dave Campbell @DaveCampbell116: Twitter thread from Rhodri Davies

@Rhodri_H_Davies about Irish people donating to a crowdfunding campaign to help Choctaw & Navajo people hit by Covid-19, in recognition of support given by Choctaw during Irish famine of 1845.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices