On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss President Obama’s season of scandals and his prospects for second-term governing. Then, they talk in more detail about the Justice Department’s snooping on AP journalists.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz – in a special live taping hosted by WBUR and the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts – discuss the malleability of the “red line” President Obama defined for an intervention in Syria, and a possible ratcheting up of the surveillance state after the Boston Marathon bombings. They also debate whether New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's lap-band surgery is purely about improving his health, as he says, or whether presidential politics also played a role.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the morass at Guantánamo Bay, including the ongoing prisoner hunger strike, a prisoner’s memoir excerpted on Slate, and what President Obama can do to finally close the detention center. They also discuss retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s recent expression of regret about the landmark Bush v. Gore case.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the challenges of questioning and prosecuting Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the handling of terror suspects since 9/11. They also discuss the complexities that confront Colorado as it tries to regulate its new marijuana industry.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the bombing of the Boston Marathon and the subsequent manhunt. Plus, the Senate rejects a compromise on background checks, defeating the effort to craft a gun control bill that began after a December school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Senate deal on background checks that could help a gun bill move forward, and Anthony Weiner’s strategic steps toward political rehabilitation and a possible run for New York City mayor.  

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and special guest Will Saletan discuss the immigration reform deal that’s giving Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio cold feet, and the new laws passed by several conservative states that widen restrictions on abortions.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Supreme Court oral arguments about two momentous gay marriage cases, one involving California’s Proposition 8 and the other focusing on the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). They also consider This American Life’s investigation of why so many Americans are receiving disability benefits.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, appearing before a live audience at the 92^nd Street Y Tribeca, discuss the GOP’s autopsy report on the 2012 election, and the gender politics of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, Lean In.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Paul Ryan’s updated GOP budget proposal and President Obama’s visits to Capitol Hill, and the overturn of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s soda ban by a New York judge.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists John Dickerson, David Plotz, and special guest Dave Weigel discuss President Obama’s renewed efforts to schmooze GOP lawmakers in order to resolve contentious budget issues, and Sen. Rand Paul's 12-hour filibuster on US drone policy.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, Political Gabfest panelists discuss the oral argument before the Supreme Court on a challenge to the Voting Rights Act and Yahoo's decision to ban working at home. On the Culture Gabfest, panelists talk about the 2013 Academy Awards and “Harlem Shake” in its current iteration as an Internet meme.

On this week’s episode, Gabfest panelists talk about "Life is But a Dream," the documentary about Beyoncé that is written, directed by, and starring … Beyoncé. 

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, Political Gabfest panelists discuss President Obama's State of the Union address, and the lessons aging politicians might learn from Pope Benedict’s surprise decision to retire from his lifetime appointment. Then on the Culture Gabfest, panelists talk about the current Broadway production of "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, Political Gabfest panelists discuss the Obama administration’s drone policy and its impact on the confirmation hearing of CIA Director-nominee John Brennan. Then on the Culture Gabfest, panelists talk about "House of Cards," Netflix’s new original series, and how to watch and discuss a TV show that is released one entire season at a time.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio from Slate and WNYC, Political Gabfest panelists Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the politics of immigration reform and whether it’s too late for the GOP to embrace it. Plus they dive into Emily’s New York Times Magazine cover story about compensating the victims of child pornography.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, recorded live at Washington's Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Political Gabfest panelists discuss Obama’s second inaugural address and what it signals about his new approach to governing. On the Culture Gabfest, panelists dive into the controversy surrounding torture, moral ambiguity, and blood lust in Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-nominated "Zero Dark Thirty."

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, Political Gabfest panelists discuss the White House plan to confront gun violence and the harsh reaction from the NRA. Plus, they preview the President Obama’s second inauguration. Then on the Culture Gabfest portion of the show, panelists talk about the incredible performances in Michael Haneke’s Oscar-nominated "Amour."

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, Political Gabfest panelists discuss the embattled nomination of former GOP senator Chuck Hagel to head the Defense Department and the sticky question of gender parity in the Obama administration. Then on the Culture Gabfest, the hosts review the year in movies.

On this week’s episode of Gabfest Radio, Political Gabfesters discuss the fiscal cliff deal and the decision by the Journal News to publish a map of gun permit owners.  On the Culture Gabfest portion of the show, panelists talk about Quentin Tarantino’s new blaxploitation western "Django Unchained."