The Clan of the Cave Bear, set 18,000 years BCE during the last ice age, tells the story of Ayla, a five-year-old Cro-Magnon girl who loses her family in an earthquake and is found by Iza, the medicine woman of a Neanderthal clan. Despite being from a different species, Ayla is adopted by the clan, led by Brun, and cared for by Iza and her brother Creb, the clan's shaman. The novel explores Ayla's integration into the clan, her unique abilities, and the cultural and societal differences between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons. It also delves into themes of acceptance, loyalty, and the struggles Ayla faces, particularly from Broud, the son of the clan leader, who harbors deep resentment towards her.
This week, David Plotz and guest hosts Mike Pesca and Susan Glasser discuss what to make of Elon Musk’s quixotic attempt to start a third political party in America, how Trump’s conflation of national interest with self-interest creates an incoherent foreign policy, and the tedious but impactful “summer rerun season” of Trump’s tariff folly.
Here are this week’s chatters:
Mike: ABC7 New York: Traffic deaths across NYC at record low so far this year as City sees historic drop; Tomoki Chein for The San Francisco Standard: Policing has little effect on SF traffic deaths, decades of data show; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: NHTSA Announces Traffic Fatalities Decreased in the First Quarter of 2025.
Susan: Meg Anderson for NPR: Murders are down nationwide. Researchers point to a key reason
David: Kyla Scanlon on Substack: Kyla’s Newsletter; Clan of the Cave Bear (1980) by Jean M. Auel; Leah Dearborn for LitReactor: What Is ‘The Clan of the Cave Bear,’ and Should You Read It?
Listener chatter from Alan Spatrick in Newton, Massachusetts: Podcast by Andrew Hickey: A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, David and guest hosts Mike Pesca and Susan Glasser discuss whether ICE agents should be allowed to do their jobs in masks.
In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent.
Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis
Research by Emily Ditto
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Hosts
David Plotz, Mike Pesca, and Susan Glasser
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