Slate Books - Political Gabfest Reads: The Classic Hollywood Romance Gets a Makeover

Emily Bazelon talks with author author Curtis Sittenfeld about her new book Romantic Comedy

 

They discuss why ordinary guys get to be with famous women, but usually not the other way around, the fun of writing a fictional version of Saturday Night Live, and how to write witty email exchanges.  


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.

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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - TBD | What the Writers’ Strike Is Really About

When television and screenwriters went on strike in 2007, Netflix had just started offering the option to stream content. This week, the Writer’s Guild of America went on strike to update pay structures for the streaming era—and to get ahead of A.I. and the changes it may bring. 


Guests: 

Michelle Dean, television writer and journalist

Anousha Sakoui, entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times


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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - Charles In Charge

It’s the first British coronation in 70 years and along with the celebration, questions abound: What kind of king will Charles be? Who is Charles anyway? And why even have a king? 


Guest: Imogen West-Knights, writer and Slate contributor


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Slate Books - The Waves: How to Protect Your Kids From Diet Culture

On this week’s episode of The Waves, we’re doing a very special Mom and Dad Are Fighting crossover with host Jamilah Lemieux. Jamilah sits down with author Virginia Sole-Smith to talk about her new book, Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture. They discuss helping kids accept their bodies in whatever form they take, dealing with our own internalized fatphobia, and more.


In Slate Plus, answering a listener’s question on secret snacking.


If you liked this episode, check out Making Friends As An Adult.


Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Rosemary Belson with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery.

Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com.


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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - America’s Rich History of Gun Control

It's been nearly a year since the Supreme Court set a precedent that gun control laws should be judged against “America's historical tradition.” That ruling has opened the door to more than 100 legal challenges — and dozens of gun control laws being overturned. But experts say when it comes to actual U.S. history... lax gun laws are the exception, not the rule. What's the truth behind America's history with firearms? And what can America's present learn from its past?


Guest: Robert J Spitzer, professor emeritus at SUNY Cortland, author of The Gun Dilemma.


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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - What E. Jean Carroll Is Fighting For

Author E. Jean Carroll has accused Donald Trump of raping her in a dressing room in the mid-1990s—and she’s suing him for battery and for defamation in response to his claims that she’s lying and “mentally sick.” The trial began on Tuesday, April 25th, in federal court in Manhattan. 


What’s at stake in this latest trial against the former president?


Guest: Christina Cauterucci, Slate senior writer and host of Outward.


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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - War in Ukraine: The View Behind Closed Doors

What a slew of documents leaked via Discord reveal about Ukraine’s war against Russia—both from Ukraine’s and Washington’s perspectives.


Guest: Shane Harris, senior national security writer at the Washington Post


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Slate Books - Mom and Dad Are Fighting: Finding the Magic in Middle School

On this episode: Elizabeth talks with Chris Balme, author of Finding the Magic In Middle School. He explains what drives tweens, why this period is fundamentally different than high school, and how to guide them through this transition. Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth also open up the mailbag and give some recommendations. 


Recommendations: 

Zak: Watch David Byrne sing When Doves Cry at a karaoke bar

Elizabeth: Professor Noggin Cards, Binder Rings

Jamilah: Florida Man on Netflix


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Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318! 


Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.

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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - TBD | Is Your Uber Drivers’ Pay Rigged?

Two gig workers standing side-by-side can be offered the very same job and get offered two different wages. Set by an algorithm and based on calculations that are never explained to the workers themselves, this unequal pay for equal work is already subject to lawsuits that call it a form of price fixing and wage discrimination, but the tech is being tested in other industries.


Guests: Veena Dubal, law professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco


Sergio Avedian, senior contributor at The Rideshare Guy


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Slate Books - Slate Money: “Traffic”: Ben Smith and the Death of the Social Web

Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by Semafor editor-in-chief Ben Smith to discuss his new book. They also break down Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News and the end of Buzzfeed News.

In the Plus: A throwback to the olden days of blogging. 

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Podcast production by Patrick Fort.

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