Emily, David and guest host James Forman Jr. discuss the pandemic catastrophe, the racial justice movement, and “cancel culture.” 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. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment James, David, and Emily discuss the program James has started at Yale Law School to help individuals from the New Haven area to get law degrees, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Neil Gross for the New York Times: “Want to Abolish the Police? Consider Becoming an Officer Instead” Paul Butler for the New York Times: “The System Must Counteract Prosecutors’ Natural Sympathies for Cops” Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy Unpacking the Boston Police Budget, ACLU Massachusetts Harper’s Magazine: “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “10 Theses About Cancel Culture” David Plotz for Business Insider: “Government Data Is Getting Worse.” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: James: Vertellis card game Emily: Pam Fessler and Elena Moore for NPR’s Morning Edition: “Signed, Sealed, Undelivered: Thousands Of Mail-In Ballots Rejected For Tardiness”  David: Kerry Allen for the BBC: “US-China: Pompeo Dog Photo Has Netizens Asking If US Is Toying With China” Listener chatter from James Edward Dillard @jamesdillard: ChinaTalk podcast: “How Corruption Works in China”  You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily, David and guest host James Forman Jr. discuss the pandemic catastrophe, the racial justice movement, and “cancel culture.” 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. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment James, David, and Emily discuss the program James has started at Yale Law School to help individuals from the New Haven area to get law degrees, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Neil Gross for the New York Times: “Want to Abolish the Police? Consider Becoming an Officer Instead” Paul Butler for the New York Times: “The System Must Counteract Prosecutors’ Natural Sympathies for Cops” Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy Unpacking the Boston Police Budget, ACLU Massachusetts Harper’s Magazine: “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” Ross Douthat for The New York Times: “10 Theses About Cancel Culture” David Plotz for Business Insider: “Government Data Is Getting Worse.” Here are this week’s cocktail chatters: James: Vertellis card game Emily: Pam Fessler and Elena Moore for NPR’s Morning Edition: “Signed, Sealed, Undelivered: Thousands Of Mail-In Ballots Rejected For Tardiness”  David: Kerry Allen for the BBC: “US-China: Pompeo Dog Photo Has Netizens Asking If US Is Toying With China” Listener chatter from James Edward Dillard @jamesdillard: ChinaTalk podcast: “How Corruption Works in China”  You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest. Tweet us your cocktail chatter using #cocktailchatter. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Research and show notes by Bridgette Dunlap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices