Podcast appearances and mentions of Alexandra Petri

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: satirist and columnist for The Washington Post, Alexandra Petri! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts! "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: satirist and columnist for The Washington Post, Alexandra Petri! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts! "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: satirist and columnist for The Washington Post, Alexandra Petri! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts! "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we look back on 2024, it's easy for the campaign and the election to drown out everything else that happened. But there was so much more! The Post's Alexandra Petri, Molly Roberts and Drew Goins talk about this chaotic year and the stories that stuck with them.

On THIS episode of everyone's favorite book podcast, we cover: 1. Alexandra Petri's US history : important American documents (I made up) by Alexandra Petri: https://hpldencore.mylibrary.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2321339 2. Slow productivity : the lost art of accomplishment without burnout / Cal Newport: https://hpldencore.mylibrary.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2350607 3. The ministry of time : a novel by Kaliane Bradley: https://hpldencore.mylibrary.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2356405 4. Her knight at the museum by Bryn Donovan: https://hpldencore.mylibrary.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2367152 5. Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins: https://hpldencore.mylibrary.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2361259 6. On Fire by Larry Brown 7. Cryptozooic Man by Bryan Johnson and Walter Flanagan: https://www.hoopladigital.com/comic/cryptozoic-man-vol-1-decapitation-strike-bryan-johnson/12208182 8. [another book that we're just going to leave off the description because...I fear for my own safety to a small extent]

This is our 200th episode! To celebrate the occasion, we've gone back in the vault for highlights from the ten most listened-to episodes of the past one hundred. So, that is episodes 101 through 199. Enjoy these top ten clips, and listen to the full episodes wherever you get your podcasts. We have included the episode numbers so you can more easily find them.Listen to the full episodes below:David W. Blight — The Legacy of Frederick Douglass (Ep. 111) Elie Mystal — Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (Ep. 129) Comedy Writing Panel — Cristela Alonzo, Karen Chee, Peter Gwinn, Alexandra Petri & Peter Sagal (Ep. 125) Kim Michele Richardson — The Book Woman's Daughter (Ep. 105) Aaron Sorkin — To Kill A Mockingbird Play (Ep. 101) Leonard Moore — Teaching Black History to White People (Ep. 126) Ross Gay — Inciting Joy: Essays (Ep. 117) Joy Harjo & Marie Arana — U.S. Poet Laureate and Literary Director of the Library of Congress (Ep. 113) Imani Perry & Dawn Turner — South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation (Ep. 119) Ashley C. Ford & Eve L. Ewing — Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir (Ep. 130)AWM PODCAST NETWORK HOME

[This blog will always be free to read, but it's also how I pay my bills. If you have suggestions or feedback on how I can earn your paid subscription, shoot me an email: cmclymer@gmail.com.]Yesterday, just before noon, The Washington Post, through CEO William Lewis, announced it would not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, the first time the nation's third-largest daily newspaper by circulation hasn't done so in nearly four decades.The announcement was shocking for two immediate reasons.The most grave—and, frankly, terrifying—reason is that the United States is obviously at threat of sliding into a horrific dictatorship from which it's difficult to see how we'd ever recover. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have made it abundantly clear that they aspire to devolve our nation into the world's most powerful authoritarian regime. One need look no further than the chilling plans outlined in Project 2025.But there are many other warning signs, too. A small sampling:There's Trump openly praising Hitler's generals, according to his former chief-of-staff John Kelly (himself a retired four-star Marine Corps general), just the latest marker of fascist narcissism in Trump's very long and documented history of being obsessed with dictators.There's Trump repeatedly pledging to carry out the largest deportation of undocumented migrants in American history, a sweat-lipped plan made in blustering tones that somehow manages to exceed its inherent cruelty with an inexplicable failure to understand basic economics.(Not only is it logistically impossible to deport our nation's 11 million undocumented migrants, not only would it cost taxpayers an estimated quarter trillion to do so, but the American economy would completely collapse from the loss in labor force.)There's Trump's flagrant disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law: an indictment that resulted in a guilty verdict on 34 felony counts (his sentencing for that is on Nov. 26th), three other pending indictments on 52 more felony counts, two impeachments, being found liable for defamation of a woman he raped, etc.Oh, and, of course, there's Trump's frequent statements to serve past the constitutional limit of two terms as president (I'm sure he's just kidding), and the extremist conservative majority of the Supreme Court ruling last year that Trump is essentially a king beyond accountability for official acts in office.That's all an abbreviated version of why Donald Trump is obviously unfit.The second reason is The Washington Post's abdication of journalistic integrity under the ownership of Jeff Bezos, a development that is especially chilling for a publication that has long prided itself on being the vanguard for American democracy and free speech.The storied newspaper has won 76 Pulitzer Prizes over its history—second only to The New York Times—one of which was for the investigative reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that eventually led to the resignation of Richard Nixon. Another was for the reporting on the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.The Washington Post has long been synonymous with the essential role of the free press in a healthy, functioning democracy in the same manner we associate Babe Ruth with baseball or July Fourth with fireworks or Dolly Parton with a clean soul.And so, it was with great confusion and incredulity that I read Mr. Lewis' painfully shameless attempt to justify the decision. He sure did try to put on a powdered wig and insist that the bowl of s**t he wanted to feed to the American public was actually chicken soup for the American soul.Most curiously, in writing about The Washington Post's history of largely declining to endorse presidential candidates prior to 1976, he stated that year's endorsement for then-Gov. Jimmy Carter was made “for understandable reasons at the time…”Did you catch that? He's obliquely referencing Watergate, the scandal that brought down Nixon with reporting by the paper — Nixon, who, by any measurable standard, comes across like Lincoln when compared to Trump.Mr. Lewis, for some odd reason, thought it persuasive to essentially say: “Look, we don't regret endorsing Carter because Nixon was terrible, but also: Trump is not nearly terrible enough to justify continuing this dangerous practice of presidential endorsements.”Furthermore, aside from the dollar store cheap imitation of logic, he failed to mention in his desperate, sorry excuse for rationalizing that The Washington Post, for the past several weeks, had been drafting an approved endorsement for Vice President Harris.He failed to mention that the endorsement was still on track a week ago, and there was no indication that it would be halted for any reason, let alone on the rather cringe-inducing reasoning he put forward in his announcement.He failed to mention that Trump met today with corporate leaders of aerospace company Blue Origin—also owned by Bezos—which is, at best, godawful timing or a pretty clear signal of Bezos' reasoning in killing the endorsement. Maybe both.Probably both.If none of this makes sense, you're far from alone. It completely failed to persuade the staff and alums of The Washington Post. Conservative columnist and editor-at-large Robert Kagan immediately resigned in protest. Sixteen other Washington Post columnists—Perry Bacon Jr., Matt Bai, Max Boot, E.J. Dionne Jr., Lee Hockstader, David Ignatius, Heather Long, Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank, Alexandra Petri, Catherine Rampell, Eugene Robinson, Jennifer Rubin, Karen Tumulty, and Erik Wemple—published this statement on the paper's website:The Washington Post's decision not to make an endorsement in the presidential campaign is a terrible mistake. It represents an abandonment of the fundamental editorial convictions of the newspaper that we love. This is a moment for the institution to be making clear its commitment to democratic values, the rule of law and international alliances, and the threat that Donald Trump poses to them — the precise points The Post made in endorsing Trump's opponents in 2016 and 2020. There is no contradiction between The Post's important role as an independent newspaper and its practice of making political endorsements, both as a matter of guidance to readers and as a statement of core beliefs. That has never been more true than in the current campaign. An independent newspaper might someday choose to back away from making presidential endorsements. But this isn't the right moment, when one candidate is advocating positions that directly threaten freedom of the press and the values of the Constitution.Mr. Woodward and Mr. Bernstein issued this statement:We respect the traditional independence of the editorial page, but this decision 12 days out from the 2024 presidential election ignores the Washington Post's own overwhelming reportorial evidence on the threat Donald Trump poses to democracy. Under Jeff Bezos's ownership, the Washington Post's news operation has used its abundant resources to rigorously investigate the danger and damage a second Trump presidency could cause to the future of American democracy and that makes this decision even more surprising and disappointing, especially this late in the electoral process.Retired WaPo executive editor Martin Baron, who led the paper from 2012 thru 2021, including the tumultuous years of Trump's presidency, responded with a scathing statement: “This is cowardice, with democracy as its casualty. Donald Trump will see this as invitation to further intimidate owner Jeff Bezos (and others). Disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.”The Washington Post Guild—the paper's employee union—had this to say:We are deeply concerned that The Washington Post—an American news institution in the nation's capital—would make the decision to no longer endorse presidential candidates, especially a mere 11 days ahead of an immensely consequential election. The role of an Editorial Board is to do just this: to share opinion on the news impacting our society and culture and endorse candidates to help guide readers.The message from our chief executive, Will Lewis—not from the Editorial Board itself—makes us concerned that management interfered with the work of our members in Editorial. According to our own reporters and Guild members, an endorsement for Harris was already drafted, and the decision to not publish was made by The Post's owner, Jeff Bezos. We are already seeing cancellations from once loyal readers. This decision undercuts the work of our members at a time when we should be building our readers' trust, not losing it.Washington Post editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes published this jarring work on the paper's website, titling it “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” referencing WaPo's official slogan that was introduced in 2017, just a month after Trump took office.As of 7:30pm yesterday, Semafor's Max Tani reported that at least 2,000 subscriptions to the paper had been canceled in the previous 24 hours, the overwhelming bulk of those likely being in the seven-and-a-half hours following the announcement from Mr. Lewis. Numerous public figures—including Stephen King, Mark Hamill, Jon Cryer, and former Congresswoman Marie Newman—publicly announced they were cancelling their own subscriptions.Last night, I made the same decision. I had heard rumblings early in the morning from friends in media that WaPo was about to announce a non-endorsement, credible enough that I mentioned it during a 10am meeting with colleagues and they were understandably shocked.I spent most of yesterday morning and afternoon, in the midst of a very busy schedule, privately agonizing over what I would do as a subscriber.Over the years, I've published a number of op-eds in The Washington Post, pieces of which I'm quite proud in a paper I've put on a pedestal since I was a kid, and I've worked with numerous editors and reporters at the outlet whom I admire for their professionalism and public service.It is not lost on me that cancelling a newspaper subscription will not hurt Jeff Bezos but will hurt those employed at the paper.And yet, as much as my heart breaks for the staff of The Washington Post, who haven't done anything to deserve this, I am still left with the simple truth that if Bezos is willing to kill an endorsement 11 days out, whether out of fear or ambition, what else is he willing to do with the paper?There are numerous journalists at the outlet doing critical work, but how we do know anymore when Jeff Bezos is putting his thumb on the scale, backed up by a complicit CEO who blatantly lies about the paper's direction?There have to be consequences for an action this brazen and irresponsible and dangerous for our democracy. Something's gotta give. I respect the decisions of other subscribers, but I simply cannot stomach giving another dime in reward to a publication with such great influence that can be used to do such great harm moving forward.It is my hope that there will be a time, after Vice President Harris is elected, after Trump is held accountable, after the craven capitalists of media have learned there's not much to be made in the long run from these corrupt and shameless tactics, that The Washington Post will be restored to its former glory.In the meantime, I will pay for my news elsewhere.Charlotte's Web Thoughts is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

Meg Wolitzer presents four works drawn from an evening of satirical stories about American political history, hosted by Andy Borowitz.Nothing is sacred.  First, Joe Yan imagines Abraham Lincoln, huckster, in “I'm Abraham Lincoln and I Beg Of You, Please Commemorate My Birthday With Mattress Sales,” read by Ikechukwu Ufomadu.  In “Running for Governor,” Mark Twain imagines himself in the political horse race.  The reader is John Cameron Mitchell.  John and Abigail Adams had a famously happy marriage, despite often being apart, and why not imagine them taking advantage of the 18th century version of modern media options?  That's the premise of Alexandra Petri's “John and Abigail Adams Try Sexting,” read by Ophira Eisenberg and Ikechukwu Ufomadu.  And the show wraps with a piece by Borowitz himself, “A Very Nixon Halloween,” inspired by a photograph of Nixon as an awkward civilian after he left office.The reader is Caroline Aaron.

Meg Wolitzer presents three stories about the tricky subject of envy that question whether the grass is in fact always greener somewhere else.In Alexandra Petri's “Seneca Falls for You,” feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton almost gets trapped in a romance novel.The reader is Ophira Eisenberg.  Ben Phillipe's sly fairy tale, “The Luck of Others,” read by Joanna Gleason, reminds us to beware of what we wish for.  And a small town charity auction surfaces envy and confusion in George Saunders' “Al Roosten,” read by Tony Hale.

“Jeopardy!” has been on the air and wildly popular for 60 years. What makes it endure, and what does that say about American culture? Contributing columnist Amanda Ripley talks to Alexandra Petri, Drew Goins and Ryan Vogt — Post Opinions staffers who've been contestants on the show — about its staying power, and if “Jeopardy!” can still bring Americans together.

Interview with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri

As American kids head back to school, columnist Daniel Pink makes the case for paying teachers more money. High-quality teachers, he argues, significantly improve student learning, so shouldn't they be paid as much as somebody assessing insurance premiums on your car? Plus, humor columnist Alexandra Petri discusses sending her child to school for the first time. This essay by Daniel Pink is part of a year-long project with Washington Post Opinions called “Why Not?” Check out some of the other columns in his series:Why not ban left turns on busy streets?Why not shake up the Olympics? Why not overhaul America's national holidays?Why not require a civics test as a rite of passage for all Americans?Don't miss any of Daniel Pink's “Why Not?” columns. You can follow his LinkedIn newsletter here.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

After a truly wild few weeks in politics, our columnists huddle up at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. They discuss the mood on the ground in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, how the unity message seems to be fraying and what recent events mean for the presidential campaign – and the country – going forward. Plus, humorist Alexandra Petri serves up an imagined J.D. Vance infomercial using his own words about Trump.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Dr. Scott Stewart stops by for the newest installment of our series, “Music in Media.” This installment highlights the scores of some of this summer's biggest blockbuster films. Plus, we listen back to Alexandra Petri discussing her book, “Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up),” and we hear Atlanta-based food culture reporter Kim Severson discuss the very important topic of hot dogs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, remembered as a 'Human Iceberg'? Why did it seem as though he was predestined for the Presidency? And what was it like to have a term sandwiched between the presidencies of Grover Cleveland?Don speaks to humorist Alexandra Petri about Harrison's presidency and legacy. Alexandra is a Washington Post columnist and the author of 'US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up)'.Produced and edited by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for $1 per month for 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORY sign up at https://historyhit.com/subscription/ You can take part in our listener survey here.

Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button. May is Audiobook Appreciation Month so this week we suggest to you 10 plus books that give an added dimension when you listen to the audiobook version. And we aren't even entertaining the notion that listening to audiobooks isn't reading. Listening counts! Books mentioned-- 1- The Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna 2- The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller 3- Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North (A 5 star read recommended by fellow book lover Shannon Loar @shopcoffeekids 4- Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney, narrated by Kristoffer Tabori 5- Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci, narrated by Stanley Tucci 6- Nothing is Wrong and Here is Why by Alexandra Petri, narrated by Rebecca Gibel 7- Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, narrated by Marin Ireland 8- The Assasination of Brangwain Spurge by MT Anderson and Eugene Yelchin narrated by Gildart Jackson 9- Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated by an ensemble cast 10- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, narrated by Tom Hollander 11- Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams, narrated by author 12- Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, narrated by Marin Ireland 13- Ava's Man by Rick Bragg 14-The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and his People by Rick Bragg 15- My Southern Journey: True Journeys from the Heart of the South by Rick Bragg 16- It's All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg 17- Calypso by David Sedaris 18- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 19- Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith, narrated by Bronson Pinchot 20- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith 21- The Husbands by Holly Gramazio 22- The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia Movies and Shows mentioned-- 1- Big Night (1996) 2- Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy (CNN) 3- Leave the World Behind (Netflix, 2023) 4- Ripley (Netflix, 2024)

Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button. May is Audiobook Appreciation Month so this week we suggest 10 plus books that give a little added dimension when you listen to the audiobook version. And we aren't even entertaining the notion that listening to audiobooks isn't reading. Listening counts! Books mentioned-- 1- Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna 2- The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller 3- Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North (A 5 star read recommended by fellow book lover Shannon Loar @shopcoffeekids 4- Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney, narrated by Kristoffer Tabori 5- Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci, narrated by Stanley Tucci 6- Nothing is Wrong and Here is Why by Alexandra Petri, narrated by Rebecca Gibel 7- Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, narrated by Marin Ireland 8- The Assasination of Brangwain Spurge by MT Anderson and Eugene Yelchin narrated by Gildart Jackson 9- Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated by an ensemble cast 10- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, narrated by Tom Hollander 11- Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams, narrated by author 12- Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, narrated by Marin Ireland 13- Ava's Man by Rick Bragg 14-The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and his People by Rick Bragg 15- My Southern Journey: True Journeys from the Heart of the South by Rick Bragg 16- It's All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg 17- Calypso by David Sedaris 18- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 19- Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith, narrated by Bronson Pinchot 20- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith 21- The Husbands by Holly Gramazio 22- The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia Movies and Shows mentioned-- 1- Big Night (1996) 2- Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy (CNN) 3- Leave the World Behind (Netflix, 2023) 4- Ripley (Netflix, 2024)

A woman moved into a new house and promptly slept with her roommate. It was great sex and the caller wants a repeat. He claims he wants more as well, but then never actually takes her up on it. One night she asked if he wanted to...you know...do it, and he chose to play video games for 14 hours instead. So.  A veteran of the polyamorous lifestyle would like to push back on the idea that you can sleep with people and avoid catching feelings. It's just not a realistic rule, says this pragmatic lady. What do you think? On the Magnum, Dan chats with Alexandra Petri- humor columnist for the Washington Post. They talk about comedy writing in these dark times, and Alexandra helps answer a question about horny fantasy titles creeping into a woman's bookclub.  A woman is enjoying a friends-with-benefits situation with a man in an open marriage. She's beginning to fall in love with him in fact. But he and his wife are trying to get pregnant, and he has made it clear that the instant they see that pink line, he must switch to friends-only as he focuses on fatherhood. How can the caller protect her heart when she knows this relationship has an expiration date?  How indeed?  Q@Savage.Love     206-302-2064 This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Helix is offering 20% off all mattress orders AND two free pillows ! Go to HelixSleep.com/Savage. With Helix, better sleep starts now.  This episode is brought to you by Liberator: makers of an amazing amount of shapes and other products that fuel your desires AND make sex easier, better, and longer. Go to LIBERATOR.com and use the promo code “SAVAGE” to save 40% off the best-selling Wedge Ramp Combo. Liberator wants BETTER SEX FOR EVERYBODY, and that starts with YOU. This episode is brought to you by Hims, providing affordable access to ED treatment, online. Start your free online visit today at Hims.com/Savage.

On the first episode of their new podcast "Impromptu," our colleagues at Washington Post Opinions discuss what's at stake the Supreme Court hears a case on access to mifepristone. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how it feels to be a woman in the post-Dobbs world.Ruth Marcus: Even after abortion pill ruling, reproductive rights remain in the balanceAlexandra Petri: I don't know how to write about all that hasn't happened since the fall of RoeSubscribe to The Washington Post here.

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how it feels to be a woman in the post-Dobbs world and what's at stake when abortion returns to the Supreme Court this term as the justices hear a case on access to mifepristone. Ruth Marcus: Even after abortion pill ruling, reproductive rights remain in the balanceAlexandra Petri: I don't know how to write about all that hasn't happened since the fall of RoeMake sure you don't miss an episode of Impromptu, by hitting the follow button on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, The Post site or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how it feels to be a woman in the post-Dobbs world and what's at stake when abortion returns to the Supreme Court this term as the justices hear a case on access to mifepristone. Ruth Marcus: Even after abortion pill ruling, reproductive rights remain in the balanceAlexandra Petri: I don't know how to write about all that hasn't happened since the fall of Roe

Washington Post humor columnist Alexandra Petri discusses her Shakespearean summer camp comedy Tragedy Averted, now having its midwest premiere at the IO Theatre in Chicago. Tragedy Averted showcases four Shakespeare heroines – Juliet, Cordelia, Desdemona, and Ophelia – who bond at summer camp while struggling with romance, friendship and difficult dads. In conversation with the production's director Dee Ryan, Alexandra shares the origins of her humor; the depth of her nerdery; inspirational messages from W.H. Auden and T.H. White; the comfort of knowing she always wanted to be a writer; spoileriffic exegesis; her firm belief that any crisis can be addressed head-on, Hamlet-like, by writing a play about it; and how fan fiction means you love the source text but have a significant bone to pick with it. (Length 19:14)

Alexandra Petri, interviewed by Joe Garofoli Alexandra Petri is no stranger to making history—she became the youngest-ever columnist for the Washington Post. Now she casts her withering glance backward, compiling "historical fan fiction" that includes essential chronicles such as John and Abigail Adams's experiments in sexting. If you're a student of history, you emphatically won't want to use Petri's book as a primary source—but this conversation with Alexandra Petri will give you a brand-new way to look (and laugh) at our nation's complicated past. Buy the books here  With the support of SACHI

The Errors tour heads to Charlottesville as Trump violates one gag order and evades another. Virginia assembly candidates Lily Franklin and Kimberly Pope Adams fight to save abortion access in the Cavalier State. The Washington Post's Alexandra Petri is back to take on the zoo that is the House (analogy) and the White House (actual). We help give Charlottesville a little brand refresh because… well you know why. If Republicans come begging for help to elect a Speaker, we have demands. And rants on the hot pop culture topics you've been begging for: Ancient Greek poetry and neoclassical French architecture. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

The GOP debate is by and for Republicans, but plenty of Democrats are watching how this race unfolds too. Washington Post editorial writer Charles Lane brings on left-leaning columnist Greg Sargent and humorist Alexandra Petri to get a sense of what liberals are thinking about Vivek Ramaswamy, the GOP candidates' responses on climate change and abortion, and the party's divide over whether the country needs better governance, or full-on revolution.

Live at the Looking Glass Lounge with Andrew Bucket, Allison Lane, Alexandra Petri, Steve Lemmerman Brandon Wetherbee for host Andrew Bucket for house band Allison Lane for co-host Alexandra Petri for local journalism Steve Lemmerman for BENT Looking Glass Lounge for venue Washington, D.C. for city Donate to our Patreon

Your prayers have been answered – it's a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Niccole Thurman is a comedian and voice actor. She appeared as a guest on episode 126 of Go Fact Yourself. She joins us today as guest co-host. George Hahn is a writer and media personality. He was dubbed an “urban raconteur” by The New York Times. He'll tell us about how he earned the nickname by heavily criticizing New York City… only to fall back in love with it after he left. Plus, he'll share some critical fashion tips and discuss how he was cast as “Great Looking Guy” on “Sex and the City.”Alexandra Petri is a Washington Post columnist. She got her start at the publication as an intern, writing uncredited articles and having a very unprofessional outgoing voicemail. Alexandra's newest book is Alexandra Petri's US History Important American Documents (I Made Up). It includes falsified versions of this country's history – like how “Sesame Street” characters were involved on D-Day.Areas of Expertise:George: Mid-century modern design, various methods of making coffee, and the Bond films of Sean Connery and Daniel Craig. Alexandra: The musical Jesus Christ Superstar, NBC's hit(?) 2013-2015 show “Hannibal,” and Alice Roosevelt Longworth.What's the Difference: Wedding BandWhat's the difference between a wedding band and a wedding ring?What's the difference between a cover band and a tribute band?Experts:Caterina Murino: Actor and model, whose career includes the role of Solange Dimitrios in the Bond film Casino Royale.Ted Neeley: Actor and musician, best known for the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar.Hosts:J. Keith van StraatenNiccole ThurmanCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Seeing our next live-audience show in Pasadena by YOU!

For this Independence Day: Alexandra Petri, humorist and columnist for the Washington Post and the author of Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023), talks about our actual history, what we should have learned from it, and her spoof of it in her new book. Andy Read, professor of marine biology and the director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory, talks about why so many beached whales are turning up on the New York and New Jersey coastlines, and why claims from some groups that surveying for wind farms is causing the deaths are untrue. Julia Lee, Korean American writer, scholar, and teacher and the author of Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), shares her story of racial identity, ally-ship and finding her way while growing up in L.A. as a daughter of Korean American storekeepers at the time of the 1992 riots. Through her own story and those of asylum-seekers, wrongfully convicted inmates, and others, Dina Nayeri, author of The Ungrateful Refugee and her latest, Who Gets Believed?: When the Truth Isn't Enough (Catapult, 2023), examines whose stories are accepted and whose are rejected when the story you tell can determine your fate. Ilan Stavans, publisher of Restless Books and the editor of the anthology The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language (Restless Books, 2023), talks about the many sources of American English, from Sojourner Truth to Bob Dylan and more.   These interviews have been edited slightly for rebroadcast; the original versions are available here: Having Fun US History (April 12, 2023) Why Whales Are Dying in NY and NJ (May 23, 2023) Julia Lee's Memoir/Manifesto of Being Asian in Black & White America (April 25, 2023) 'Who Gets Believed': Stories of Asylum-Seekers and Others (March 7, 2023) The Many Creators of American English (Feb 17, 2023)

Satirist and columnist Alexandra Petri talks about her new historical humor book, her mother's obsession with George Washington and why she doesn't think babies like elegant minimalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An array of fictional documents that take us behind the headlines of important historical events in Alexandra Petri's "US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up)" Petri is a terrific political satirist and humor columnist for the Washington Post. The fictitious documents run the gamut from “top toys for Puritan parents” and “John and Abigail Adams try Sexting to” Aaron Sorkin's “Gettysburg Address” and Richard Nixon “Tapes - But Just the Parts Where He's Yelling at Checkers.” Throughout the book, Petri demonstrates an impressive command of historical events and the people who comprise our nation's history and mythology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Liberty and Jeff discuss To Shape a Dragon's Breath, Our Migrant Souls, Hope You Are Satisfied, and more. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O'Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice. For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed On the Show: To Shape a Dragon's Breath: The First Book of Nampeshiweisit by Moniquill Blackgoose Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang Hope You Are Satisfied by Tania Malik Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” by Héctor Tobar The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland (paperback) Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) by Alexandra Petri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up). From the founding fathers arguing about a narrative arc for the Federalist Papers to Dick Nixon's un-deleted expletives.

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the kick-off of President Joe Biden's re-election campaign; the firings of Tucker Carlson from Fox News and Don Lemon from CNN; and the Bud Light marketing misstep with Insta influencer Dylan Mulvaney.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Joe Biden Campaign: “Let's Finish the Job”  Aaron Zitner for the Wall Street Journal: “They're the Happiest People in America. We Called Them to Ask Why.” Brian Stelter for the New York Times: “I Worked at CNN and Reported on Tucker Carlson. He Was Never Invincible.” Dylan Mulvaney on Instagram: “Happy March Madness!!” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “The Battle Over Gender Therapy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr on being blocked from debating an anti-trans bill” Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Matthew Hendrickson, Fran Spielman, and Andy Grimm for the Chicago Sun-Times: “Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx won't seek reelection” David: Jeff Maysh for The Atlantic: “The Wedding Sting”  John: Bob Weir's song “Only a River” Listener chatter from Elizabeth Trovall: Jen Rice and Alexandra Kanik for the Houston Chronicle: “Harris County 2022 election: Investigation reveals new details” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the new Utah laws intended to restrict children's access to social media. In Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the kick-off of President Joe Biden's re-election campaign; the firings of Tucker Carlson from Fox News and Don Lemon from CNN; and the Bud Light marketing misstep with Insta influencer Dylan Mulvaney.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Joe Biden Campaign: “Let's Finish the Job”  Aaron Zitner for the Wall Street Journal: “They're the Happiest People in America. We Called Them to Ask Why.” Brian Stelter for the New York Times: “I Worked at CNN and Reported on Tucker Carlson. He Was Never Invincible.” Dylan Mulvaney on Instagram: “Happy March Madness!!” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “The Battle Over Gender Therapy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr on being blocked from debating an anti-trans bill” Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Matthew Hendrickson, Fran Spielman, and Andy Grimm for the Chicago Sun-Times: “Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx won't seek reelection” David: Jeff Maysh for The Atlantic: “The Wedding Sting”  John: Bob Weir's song “Only a River” Listener chatter from Elizabeth Trovall: Jen Rice and Alexandra Kanik for the Houston Chronicle: “Harris County 2022 election: Investigation reveals new details” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the new Utah laws intended to restrict children's access to social media. In Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the kick-off of President Joe Biden's re-election campaign; the firings of Tucker Carlson from Fox News and Don Lemon from CNN; and the Bud Light marketing misstep with Insta influencer Dylan Mulvaney.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Joe Biden Campaign: “Let's Finish the Job”  Aaron Zitner for the Wall Street Journal: “They're the Happiest People in America. We Called Them to Ask Why.” Brian Stelter for the New York Times: “I Worked at CNN and Reported on Tucker Carlson. He Was Never Invincible.” Dylan Mulvaney on Instagram: “Happy March Madness!!” Emily Bazelon for the New York Times Magazine: “The Battle Over Gender Therapy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr on being blocked from debating an anti-trans bill” Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Matthew Hendrickson, Fran Spielman, and Andy Grimm for the Chicago Sun-Times: “Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx won't seek reelection” David: Jeff Maysh for The Atlantic: “The Wedding Sting”  John: Bob Weir's song “Only a River” Listener chatter from Elizabeth Trovall: Jen Rice and Alexandra Kanik for the Houston Chronicle: “Harris County 2022 election: Investigation reveals new details” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the new Utah laws intended to restrict children's access to social media. In Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Plotz talks with author Alexandra Petri about her new book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents. They discuss how to transform staid history documents into rollicking parodies, how Petri found her “voice” multiple times, and her grander ambitions for the book. Plus, Petri reads some choice selections. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the $787.5 million settlement of the Dominion Voting v. Fox News defamation lawsuit; the political game being played with raising the U.S. debt ceiling; and the Russian detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Jim Rutenberg and Katie Robertson for the New York Times: “A $787.5 Million Settlement and Embarrassing Disclosures: The Costs of Airing a Lie” Matthew Iglesias for Slow Boring: “Medicaid work requirements are cruel and pointless” Paul Krugman for the New York Times: “A Few Ways Out of the Debt Ceiling Mess” Freedom House Report: “Freedom in the World 2023: Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “U.S. ambassador says she visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter” Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson, and Brett Forrest for the Wall Street Journal: “'You Are Completely Alone': Inside the Infamous Russian Prison Holding Evan Gershkovich” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)” “Pelosi in the House” HBO documentary  Carrie Blazina and Drew Desilver for the Pew Research Center: “House gets younger, Senate gets older: A look at the age and generation of lawmakers in the 118th Congress”  Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Julie Bosman, Mitch Smith, Jesse McKinley, and Jay Root for the New York Times: “Hundreds of Miles Apart, Separate Shootings Follow Wrong Turns” and Timothy Bella for the Washington Post: “Cheerleaders leaving practice were shot after one got in wrong car, teen says” John: Ellie Zolfagharifard for the Daily Mail: “'Here there be robots': Artist draws stunning medieval map of Mars showing off its huge craters and vast canyons”; Mars and its Canals by Percival Lowell; and Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: “How Astronomer Percival Lowell Mistook His Own Eye For Spokes on Venus” David: City Cast DC podcast: “D.C.'s Rat-Hunting Dogs And Other Rat Solutions” (Host Bridget Todd, Producer Julia Karron)  Listener chatter from Nancy Hall: Joe Mahr and Megan Crepeau for the Chicago Tribune: “Stalled Justice: Delays in the Cook County courts” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the dilemma posed by the months-long absence of Dianne Feinstein from the U.S. Senate. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing. Research by Julie Huygen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Plotz talks with author Alexandra Petri about her new book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents. They discuss how to transform staid history documents into rollicking parodies, how Petri found her “voice” multiple times, and her grander ambitions for the book. Plus, Petri reads some choice selections. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Plotz talks with author Alexandra Petri about her new book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents. They discuss how to transform staid history documents into rollicking parodies, how Petri found her “voice” multiple times, and her grander ambitions for the book. Plus, Petri reads some choice selections. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Plotz talks with author Alexandra Petri about her new book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents. They discuss how to transform staid history documents into rollicking parodies, how Petri found her “voice” multiple times, and her grander ambitions for the book. Plus, Petri reads some choice selections. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What drives the lucrative eel industry; mental health on Love Is Blind; Alexandra Petri re-imagines US history; why E. Jean Carroll's civil trial could harm Donald Trump; rebooting Dead Ringers; and more.

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the $787.5 million settlement of the Dominion Voting v. Fox News defamation lawsuit; the political game being played with raising the U.S. debt ceiling; and the Russian detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Jim Rutenberg and Katie Robertson for the New York Times: “A $787.5 Million Settlement and Embarrassing Disclosures: The Costs of Airing a Lie” Matthew Iglesias for Slow Boring: “Medicaid work requirements are cruel and pointless” Paul Krugman for the New York Times: “A Few Ways Out of the Debt Ceiling Mess” Freedom House Report: “Freedom in the World 2023: Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “U.S. ambassador says she visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter” Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson, and Brett Forrest for the Wall Street Journal: “'You Are Completely Alone': Inside the Infamous Russian Prison Holding Evan Gershkovich” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)” “Pelosi in the House” HBO documentary  Carrie Blazina and Drew Desilver for the Pew Research Center: “House gets younger, Senate gets older: A look at the age and generation of lawmakers in the 118th Congress”  Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Julie Bosman, Mitch Smith, Jesse McKinley, and Jay Root for the New York Times: “Hundreds of Miles Apart, Separate Shootings Follow Wrong Turns” and Timothy Bella for the Washington Post: “Cheerleaders leaving practice were shot after one got in wrong car, teen says” John: Ellie Zolfagharifard for the Daily Mail: “'Here there be robots': Artist draws stunning medieval map of Mars showing off its huge craters and vast canyons”; Mars and its Canals by Percival Lowell; and Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: “How Astronomer Percival Lowell Mistook His Own Eye For Spokes on Venus” David: City Cast DC podcast: “D.C.'s Rat-Hunting Dogs And Other Rat Solutions” (Host Bridget Todd, Producer Julia Karron)  Listener chatter from Nancy Hall: Joe Mahr and Megan Crepeau for the Chicago Tribune: “Stalled Justice: Delays in the Cook County courts” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the dilemma posed by the months-long absence of Dianne Feinstein from the U.S. Senate. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing. Research by Julie Huygen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the $787.5 million settlement of the Dominion Voting v. Fox News defamation lawsuit; the political game being played with raising the U.S. debt ceiling; and the Russian detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Jim Rutenberg and Katie Robertson for the New York Times: “A $787.5 Million Settlement and Embarrassing Disclosures: The Costs of Airing a Lie” Matthew Iglesias for Slow Boring: “Medicaid work requirements are cruel and pointless” Paul Krugman for the New York Times: “A Few Ways Out of the Debt Ceiling Mess” Freedom House Report: “Freedom in the World 2023: Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “U.S. ambassador says she visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter” Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson, and Brett Forrest for the Wall Street Journal: “'You Are Completely Alone': Inside the Infamous Russian Prison Holding Evan Gershkovich” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)” “Pelosi in the House” HBO documentary  Carrie Blazina and Drew Desilver for the Pew Research Center: “House gets younger, Senate gets older: A look at the age and generation of lawmakers in the 118th Congress”  Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Julie Bosman, Mitch Smith, Jesse McKinley, and Jay Root for the New York Times: “Hundreds of Miles Apart, Separate Shootings Follow Wrong Turns” and Timothy Bella for the Washington Post: “Cheerleaders leaving practice were shot after one got in wrong car, teen says” John: Ellie Zolfagharifard for the Daily Mail: “'Here there be robots': Artist draws stunning medieval map of Mars showing off its huge craters and vast canyons”; Mars and its Canals by Percival Lowell; and Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: “How Astronomer Percival Lowell Mistook His Own Eye For Spokes on Venus” David: City Cast DC podcast: “D.C.'s Rat-Hunting Dogs And Other Rat Solutions” (Host Bridget Todd, Producer Julia Karron)  Listener chatter from Nancy Hall: Joe Mahr and Megan Crepeau for the Chicago Tribune: “Stalled Justice: Delays in the Cook County courts” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the dilemma posed by the months-long absence of Dianne Feinstein from the U.S. Senate. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing. Research by Julie Huygen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the $787.5 million settlement of the Dominion Voting v. Fox News defamation lawsuit; the political game being played with raising the U.S. debt ceiling; and the Russian detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich.  Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Jim Rutenberg and Katie Robertson for the New York Times: “A $787.5 Million Settlement and Embarrassing Disclosures: The Costs of Airing a Lie” Matthew Iglesias for Slow Boring: “Medicaid work requirements are cruel and pointless” Paul Krugman for the New York Times: “A Few Ways Out of the Debt Ceiling Mess” Freedom House Report: “Freedom in the World 2023: Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy” John Dickerson for CBS News Prime Time: “U.S. ambassador says she visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter” Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson, and Brett Forrest for the Wall Street Journal: “'You Are Completely Alone': Inside the Infamous Russian Prison Holding Evan Gershkovich” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)” “Pelosi in the House” HBO documentary  Carrie Blazina and Drew Desilver for the Pew Research Center: “House gets younger, Senate gets older: A look at the age and generation of lawmakers in the 118th Congress”  Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Julie Bosman, Mitch Smith, Jesse McKinley, and Jay Root for the New York Times: “Hundreds of Miles Apart, Separate Shootings Follow Wrong Turns” and Timothy Bella for the Washington Post: “Cheerleaders leaving practice were shot after one got in wrong car, teen says” John: Ellie Zolfagharifard for the Daily Mail: “'Here there be robots': Artist draws stunning medieval map of Mars showing off its huge craters and vast canyons”; Mars and its Canals by Percival Lowell; and Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: “How Astronomer Percival Lowell Mistook His Own Eye For Spokes on Venus” David: City Cast DC podcast: “D.C.'s Rat-Hunting Dogs And Other Rat Solutions” (Host Bridget Todd, Producer Julia Karron)  Listener chatter from Nancy Hall: Joe Mahr and Megan Crepeau for the Chicago Tribune: “Stalled Justice: Delays in the Cook County courts” For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, Emily, John, and David discuss the dilemma posed by the months-long absence of Dianne Feinstein from the U.S. Senate. In the next Gabfest Reads, David talks with Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri about her latest book, Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up).  Email your questions and chatters to gabfest@slate.com or tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Jared Downing. Research by Julie Huygen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The D.C. columnist and playwright talks about how writing is like making cotton candy, how 'MILF Manor' is like Greek drama, and how an editor can help you find the parade.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Julia Ioffe on Putin's motivations after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia  (First) | Legal Aid attorney Kalle Condliffe makes a case against rolling back New York's 2019 discover reform law (Starts at 42:15) | Alexandra Petri, humorist and columnist for The Washington Post and author of Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (W.W. Norton & Company, 2023) (Starts at 1:15:00) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Alexandra Petri, humorist and columnist for The Washington Post and the author of Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023), talks about our actual history, what we should have learned from it and her spoof of it in her new book.

Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls discusses “It's Only Life After All,” the documentary showcasing the musical duo's 40+ years together. Plus, our series, “Speaking of Y'allywood,” shines a light on Jason Lockhart and Washington Post humor columnist Alexandra Petri details her new book, “Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents I Made Up.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The years of one-day deals and long lines the day after Thanksgiving are over. Black Friday is now more than a month long. We break down what's changed and why. Read more:Retail reporter Jaclyn Peiser discusses how last year's supply chain issues and delayed inventory are a win for consumers, how people are shopping despite inflation, and she outlines her holiday shopping survival guide. And as a bonus – we give you a taste of Alexandra Petri's column, ”The 9 best Thanksgiving songs I definitely didn't just make up.” Trust us, you'll want to listen. The Post is running a Black Friday all-access digital subscription deal. For just $0.99 for four weeks, that will cover you for your first 12 weeks. You'll get our groundbreaking interactive stories, the most in-depth breaking news, our fantastic Well+Being and Climate coverage and so much more.

Lovett Or Leave It takes the stage at Goucher College and enjoys a little bit o' Baltimore (okay, more specifically, Towson, Maryland). The Washington Post's Alexandra Petri looks back at the incredible women who girl bossed, gaslit, and gobbled sailors whole throughout history. Reporter Dave Weigel leads us up the mountain that is the midterms. Halle and Brian are forced to chose between the flavor of the city and the flavor of the season, and the Rant Wheel spins at the touch of Edgar Allan Poe's spectral hand.