The Gist
For thirty minutes each day, Pesca challenges himself and his audience, in a responsibly provocative style, and gets beyond the rigidity and dogma. The Gist is surprising, reasonable, and willing to critique the left, the right, either party, or any idea.
1401
What’s Wrong With Motherf---er?
It’s often used when shaking one’s head in disbelief, and President Trump inspires a lot of that.
24 min
1402
There’s Something in the Water
Microplastics have found their way into our water and our poop. How worried should we be?
28 min
1403
Impeachment Is a Real Crapshoot
Removal proceedings weakened Andrew Johnson and bolstered Bill Clinton. How would they play out against Trump?
32 min
1404
Andy Serkis, Motion Capture Master
Turns out motion capture isn’t all that different from other forms of acting.
30 min
1405
The Babies Are Not All Right
Black babies are dying at rates much higher than those for American babies as a whole.
27 min
1406
The Same Old Mike, Plus The New One
In his one-man show, Mike Birbiglia tells you why procreation is a terrible idea (unless maybe it’s not).
29 min
1407
Free Money for Everyone?
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang wants to establish universal basic income.
32 min
1408
Adam Keeps Ruining Everything
Adam Conover loves messing with your preconceived notions.
32 min
1409
The Alt-Right Downturn
In flooding social media with racist sentiments and frog memes, the alt-right is practically asking to get banned from the internet.
33 min
1410
Don’t Trust the Stars
Astrology may be fun, but is it reliable? Spoiler-not-spoiler: It isn’t.
26 min
1411
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Taking out Osama Bin Laden wasn’t just a military feat. The Situation Room’s probability assessment was also on point.
30 min
1412
One Quiet Leap for Mankind
Neil Armstrong may have conquered the moon, but he wasn’t one to blab about it. So how does he do as the protagonist of First Man?
27 min
1413
When the President Speaks …
In their surreal Oval Office meeting, President Trump interrupted Nancy Pelosi because he interrupts everyone.
27 min
1414
Halls of Fame Need Diversity, Too
The 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees are less progressive rock, more progressive politics.
36 min
1415
They Can’t Hear You, Theresa
The U.K. Parliament is too busy shouting to listen.
25 min
1416
High Time for Impeachment?
The “high” in “high crimes” doesn’t mean heinous. It means they come from a high place.
34 min
1417
The Walk of the Town
Matt Green is on a yearslong mission to walk every last street of New York City (which, it turns out, isn’t great for one’s dating life).
26 min
1418
The Eulogy Myth
Eulogies are the best part of a funeral but maybe the least reliable.
27 min
1419
Sullying a Pup’s Good Name
Slate writer Ruth Graham dared suggest George H.W. Bush’s service dog was probably not in mourning. Then all internet hell broke loose.
22 min
1420
Wild Wild Story
Wild Wild Country is one of the year’s best documentaries, but it pulls a few punches on the sinister cult it covers.
28 min
1421
Very Legal, Very Cool
We should definitely trust Trump’s latest catchphrase.
29 min
1422
How to Shoot a Fight
To direct Creed II, Steven Caple Jr. drew on everything from Jean-Claude Van Damme movies to street-fight videos.
28 min
1423
The Parent Police
Do we watch children (and their parents) too closely?
31 min
1424
Would the U.S. Win World War III?
A bipartisan commission says America could lose a hypothetical war against Russia or China. Of course, it might just be saying that to drive up military spending.
28 min
1425
Make Voting Rights Sexy Again
If Democrats want to win, they should focus on promoting the cause that’s both just and good for their numbers.
33 min