Is This the End of the Trump Era?

November 27, 2025·1 hr 6 min·6 clips

A federal judge exposes how Trump officials brazenly lied under oath about tear gas use in Chicago.

This episode of the Slate Political Gabfest analyzes legal and political developments under the Trump administration. Hosts David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson examine whether systemic failures signal a decline in Trump's influence. They explore specific cases of governmental misconduct and shifting political alliances. The hosts dissect a federal judge's rebuke of a Trump immigration official for lying under oath about Border Patrol actions during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. They reference a New York Times investigation using public footage to contradict official claims, such as those from DHS agent Gregory Bovino regarding tear gas use. Another topic is the dismissal of indictments against James Comey and Letitia James due to the improper appointment of prosecutor Lindsay Halligan. The conversation covers the cordial meeting between President Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani, analyzing their transactional rapport. Finally, they debate internal MAGA fractures, focusing on Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation and the controversy around Tucker Carlson platforming antisemitic figure Nick Fuentes. A key insight is the erosion of the legal "presumption of regularity," where courts traditionally trust government filings, now challenged by over 60 documented instances of judicial distrust. Emily Bazelon notes the Supreme Court may soon confront a pattern of falsehoods in emergency docket filings. John Dickerson suggests public footage of abuses, like in the Marimar Martinez shooting case, could impose constraints beyond the courts. The hosts find the Mamdani-Trump meeting a clear display of transactional politics, with Mamdani signaling pragmatism to constituents and Trump valuing a "winner." They see the Fuentes debate as a test of whether antisemitism becomes a tolerated element within MAGA's identity, with Ted Cruz objecting while others stay quiet. The tone is analytical and conversational, blending legal expertise with political commentary. The style is discursive, with hosts building on each other's points using metaphors like water damage to describe institutional decay. Listeners interested in the intersection of law, governance, and partisan politics would appreciate this detailed breakdown. Those seeking light entertainment or avoiding procedural legal discussions might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A conversational Thanksgiving Gabfest on Trump, Mamdani, affordability, and the leverage behind political warmth.

Political Gabfest's Thanksgiving episode opens loose and chatty, then settles into a sharper question about Trump's political instincts. David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson spend the most revealing stretch on Trump's warmth toward Mamdani, reading it less as…

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