This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss why the war in Iran has flared back up despite the increasing likelihood of political consequences for Trump and his allies, the promises and perils for the U.K.'s newest Prime Minister Andy Burnham with guest <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AHJ_ZecvB3U/adrian-wooldridge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Adrian Wooldridge</a>, and the chilling effect of the DOJ's subpoenas of journalists for their reporting on Trump's Qatari Air Force One.Here are this week’s chatters:&nbsp;Emily: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emilys-Novel-Heather-Abel/dp/0593979532/tag=slatmaga-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Emilys: A Novel</a> by Heather Abel&nbsp;John: Kiuko Notoya and Francesca Regalado for The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/weather/japan-excessive-heat-kokushobi.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">It’s So Hot That Japan Needs a New Word for It</a>; Miriam Waldvogel for The Washington Post: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2026/07/23/killer-whales-smash-fish-into-pieces-videos-orcas-show/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bam! See these killer whales explode fish into pieces.</a>&nbsp;David: <a href="https://www.heavymetalparkinglot.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Heavy Metal Parking Lot</a>; Tom Cole for NPR: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2016/10/22/498827998/30-years-of-heavy-metal-parking-lot-the-classic-cult-classic-film" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">30 Years Of 'Heavy Metal Parking Lot,' The Classic 'Cult Classic' Film</a>&nbsp;Listener chatter from Phoebe Saltzstein in Albuquerque, New Mexico: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CityNerd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ray Delahanty | CityNerd on YouTube</a>&nbsp;For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether Trump and his Republican allies will break the Smithsonian after a White House report accused the head of the Museum of American History of pushing "radical activist ideology." They also examine the Smithsonian's uncertain legal status, and whether the museum's real problem is chaotic organization rather than ideology.&nbsp;In the latest <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/gabfestreads" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gabfest Reads</a>, John Dickerson interviews Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about their new book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Regime-Change-Inside-Imperial-Presidency/dp/1668067242/tag=slatmaga-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump</a>. Drawing on extensive reporting from inside the White House, they explore how Trump’s second term differs radically from his first, from his decision-making process to the people surrounding him and his relationship with power, money, and the presidency itself.&nbsp;Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)&nbsp;Podcast production by Nina Porzucki&nbsp;Research by Emily DittoYou can find the full Political Gabfest <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/political-gabfest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">show pages here</a>.&nbsp;Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-gabfest/id158004641" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts </a>and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2oXS9kkKiXdkkCYB3YfqYZ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>. Or visit <a href="http://slate.com/gabfestplus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">slate.com/gabfestplus</a> to get access wherever you listen.&nbsp;Find out more about <a href="http://secretfortdc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy,</a> the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Follow@SlateGabfest on X / <a href="https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SlateGabfest</a>Slate Political Gabfest on Facebook / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/</a>Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our <a href="https://slate.com/podcastfaqs#plusbenefits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAQ</a> at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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