Slate magazine runs a podcast called Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz. This week’s episode also aired on the POTUS election channel on XM Radio.

At about 22:14 into the program, the discussion turns to FISA and telecom immunity. And the “point” was repeatedly made that the topic is unbearably dull, even to listeners of a quasi-alternative political show.

I couldn’t always be sure which was John and which was David, so I’m supplying my best guesses.

You’ll get a better education on the FISA issues from Glenn Greenwald, so please don’t shoot me for not transcribing the halting attempts at actual content.

John: Let’s go on to the third topic, which we’re going to do very briefly, the Emily Bazelon tutorial on the latest battle about the surveillance, the electronic surveillance. And David and I are going to take a nap.

Emily: [Starts to detail the history of the “Protect America Act”and then reacts to her co-hosts] You really are, like, lying down. Lounging. Ha, ha.

David: (Snarkily, while JD chortles) I on the other hand, let’s for the record note, that I am on the edge of my seat.

Emily: Uh-huh, uh-huh, Just let me talk, anyway, because somewhere out there someone is glad for this information. OK. [Continues to detail the history, as John asks a relevant question. Then she’s distracted again by, apparently, David acting visibly bored.]

David: I forgot my Blackberry.

[Emily soldiers on through an explanation, with a little actual engagement by one of her co-hosts, until they segue into the next segment, concluding with some chatter about how relatively “scintillating” the next topic is.]