The Never-Ending Demonization of Anthony Fauci

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the expanding Iran war and what it means for Trump that news of U.S. missile shortages is leaking from the inside, the blend of conspiracy theory and Rand Paul’s personal umbrage that drove the show trial of a Senate hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci, and various developments that brought medication abortion and FDA restrictions back to the news this week. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jared Malsin and Suha Ma’ayeh for The Wall Street Journal: Iran Gambles on Escalation With Surprise Attack on U.S. Forces Eric Schmitt and Jonathan Swan for The New York Times: Trump Holds Off on Major Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns The Editorial Board for The Wall Street Journal: Opinion: The White House Missile Shortage Excuse John Dickerson on Substack: The Question He Couldn’t Answer Rogé Karma for The Atlantic: The Great Chinese Oil Mystery Dan Diamond and Anna Liss-Roy for The Washington Post: Fauci declines to answer questions on covid origins, invoking Fifth Amendment Alyssa Lukpat for The Wall Street Journal: Key Takeaways From Anthony Fauci’s Covid-Era Journals Katherine J. Wu for The Atlantic: The Unmaking of Anthony Fauci Rachel Carlson for NPR: Animal spillover? Lab leak? What the science says about the origins of COVID-19 Kelcie Moseley-Morris for the Virginia Mercury: Federal judge in Virginia says certain abortion drug restrictions are unlawful Selena Simmons-Duffin for NPR (All Things Considered): Over-the-counter medication abortion? These researchers say it would be safe Alice Miranda Ollstein and Ariel Wittenberg for Politico: Activists ‘throwing everything’ they can against abortion turn to wastewater data Jessica Valenti for Abortion, Every Day! (Substack): No, They Didn’t Find Mifepristone in the Water Susan Rinkunas for Balls and Strikes (Substack): Republicans Senators Are Turning Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Fight Into an Anti-Abortion Free-For-All Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Julia Lurie for Mother Jones: Me, Myself, and IUDs John: Space Daily: Astronauts returning from six-month missions describe a persistent ‘observer’ sensation — the feeling of watching their own lives from a half-step outside the frame, weeks after they’re back on the ground David: Jill Lawless for The Associated Press: Glen Hansard, Irish musician who won Oscar for ‘Once,’ dies in motorcycle crash; Once (2007) Trailer HD | Glen Hansard | Markéta Irglová (YouTube); RTÉ News on YouTube: ’Fairytale of New York’ played at Shane MacGowan’s funeral; City Cast: Your City Could Be Better (podcast); Eli Sabin for New Haven Listener chatter from Craig Kujawa in Washington, D.C.: Barbershop Harmony Society: History Made: GQ Wins World Championship; Barbershop Harmony Society: GQ - Mothers & Daughters (Maddie Zahm cover) • 2026 BHS International Quartet Champions (YouTube) For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America with guest Grace Mausser, Co-Chair of the New York City DSA. They talk about its European-style organizing model, its uneasy alliance with the Democratic Party, the primacy of canvassing and volunteering, and the art of compromise. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson interviews Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about their new book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. 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. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. 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 Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz’s monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Bonus Episode Bonus: Competitive in Places You Might Not Expect The Democratic Socialists of America have a breakout year.