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.

Daily News
Politics
Arts
1576
Against Steve King, Words Aren’t Enough
Republican lawmakers are calling out the racist congressman well enough. But don’t hold your breath for action.
26 min
1577
The Future (of A.I.) Is Chinese
Every year, Eurasia Group puts out a list of top geopolitical risks. In 2019, China looms large in many of them.
31 min
1578
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
1579
The Kids Are Not All Right
Millennial anxiety comes through in exhaustion over even basic errands (you know, “adulting”).
28 min
1580
Addressing the Facts
Will Donald Trump’s Oval Office address contain any truth at all?
29 min
1581
The Likeability Illusion
There’s nothing more likeable than wise policy stances. And those obviously lost in 2016.
30 min
1582
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
1583
There’s Something in the Water
Microplastics have found their way into our water and our poop. How worried should we be?
28 min
1584
Impeachment Is a Real Crapshoot
Removal proceedings weakened Andrew Johnson and bolstered Bill Clinton. How would they play out against Trump?
32 min
1585
Andy Serkis, Motion Capture Master
Turns out motion capture isn’t all that different from other forms of acting.
30 min
1586
The Babies Are Not All Right
Black babies are dying at rates much higher than those for American babies as a whole.
27 min
1587
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
1588
Free Money for Everyone?
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang wants to establish universal basic income.
32 min
1589
Adam Keeps Ruining Everything
Adam Conover loves messing with your preconceived notions.
32 min
1590
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
1591
Don’t Trust the Stars
Astrology may be fun, but is it reliable? Spoiler-not-spoiler: It isn’t.
26 min
1592
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
1593
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
1594
When the President Speaks …
In their surreal Oval Office meeting, President Trump interrupted Nancy Pelosi because he interrupts everyone.
27 min
1595
Halls of Fame Need Diversity, Too
The 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees are less progressive rock, more progressive politics.
36 min
1596
They Can’t Hear You, Theresa
The U.K. Parliament is too busy shouting to listen.
25 min
1597
High Time for Impeachment?
The “high” in “high crimes” doesn’t mean heinous. It means they come from a high place.
34 min
1598
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
1599
The Eulogy Myth
Eulogies are the best part of a funeral but maybe the least reliable.
27 min
1600
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