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.
1576
When Fact Meets Fiction
How a documentary filmmaker crafted his first fiction feature, and why it draws so much on his past styles.
26 min
1577
The Kids Are Not All Right
Millennial anxiety comes through in exhaustion over even basic errands (you know, “adulting”).
28 min
1578
Addressing the Facts
Will Donald Trump’s Oval Office address contain any truth at all?
29 min
1579
The Likeability Illusion
There’s nothing more likeable than wise policy stances. And those obviously lost in 2016.
30 min
1580
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
1581
There’s Something in the Water
Microplastics have found their way into our water and our poop. How worried should we be?
28 min
1582
Impeachment Is a Real Crapshoot
Removal proceedings weakened Andrew Johnson and bolstered Bill Clinton. How would they play out against Trump?
32 min
1583
Andy Serkis, Motion Capture Master
Turns out motion capture isn’t all that different from other forms of acting.
30 min
1584
The Babies Are Not All Right
Black babies are dying at rates much higher than those for American babies as a whole.
27 min
1585
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
1586
Free Money for Everyone?
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang wants to establish universal basic income.
32 min
1587
Adam Keeps Ruining Everything
Adam Conover loves messing with your preconceived notions.
32 min
1588
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
1589
Don’t Trust the Stars
Astrology may be fun, but is it reliable? Spoiler-not-spoiler: It isn’t.
26 min
1590
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
1591
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
1592
When the President Speaks …
In their surreal Oval Office meeting, President Trump interrupted Nancy Pelosi because he interrupts everyone.
27 min
1593
Halls of Fame Need Diversity, Too
The 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees are less progressive rock, more progressive politics.
36 min
1594
They Can’t Hear You, Theresa
The U.K. Parliament is too busy shouting to listen.
25 min
1595
High Time for Impeachment?
The “high” in “high crimes” doesn’t mean heinous. It means they come from a high place.
34 min
1596
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
1597
The Eulogy Myth
Eulogies are the best part of a funeral but maybe the least reliable.
27 min
1598
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
1599
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
1600
Very Legal, Very Cool
We should definitely trust Trump’s latest catchphrase.
29 min