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.
1751
The Hygiene Hypothesis
Should you let your kids eat dirt?
29 min
1752
Nnamdi Asomugha’s Drama School
The former NFL cornerback says football prepared him to be an actor.
28 min
1753
Patricia Williams Isn’t Joking
The comedian known as Ms. Pat started doing standup 15 years ago. Her caseworker got her into it.
27 min
1754
Three Cheers for Houston
Natural disaster experts are marveling at the low death toll in southeast Texas. What accounts for it?
26 min
1755
Music Is Sex
From gospel to rock, it’s all about sex.
27 min
1756
Choosing Who Gets Flooded
NPR’s Wade Goodwyn surveys the damage after Harvey.
26 min
1757
Is Amazon a Monopoly?
NPR’s Robert Smith wonders whether tech giants like Amazon and Google really need to be reined in.
30 min
1758
Dan Savage on the Nashville Statement
You can only be gay if you give up love and happiness.
27 min
1759
Shake It Off, Taylor
Is there a person underneath all the celebrity angst?
23 min
1760
The Flood Trap That Houston Built
How unchecked development in the Houston suburbs added to the nightmare of Tropical Storm Harvey.
21 min
1761
Al Letson Became A Human Shield
Why journalist Al Letson rushed to protect an agitator at an anti-hate rally in Berkeley over the weekend.
26 min
1762
Mismatch
New York Times critic Wesley Morris on the unsettling race play at the center of the Mayweather–McGregor fight.
37 min
1763
America Is Weird About Sex
We don’t know how to talk about sex—or teach it.
25 min
1764
Sure, Punching Nazis Feels Good…
But are the antifa in the right?
29 min
1765
Russia's Lab Rat
Amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel asked a Russian scientist to help him dope himself. He wound up working with the man who would expose Russia’s anti-doping fraud.
28 min
1766
The Many Theories of Malcolm Gladwell
How does Gladwell justify a character profile, explain a historical oversight, or spice up a story? He hangs a theory on it.
33 min
1767
The Year MTV Took Over the Charts
In 1982, synth-pop came in strong, Hall and Oates crossed over into R&B, and Paul McCartney learned about racial harmony.
28 min
1768
Is This the End of Steve Bannon?
Author Josh Green on the rumors around Trump’s chief strategist
31 min
1769
The Overreaction Doctrine
Moshe Maor on how Trump’s over-the-top policy ideas are actually good politics
22 min
1770
Why Are Police Unions So Aggressive?
Former Boston cop Tom Nolan on why many police unions are angry at the public.
24 min
1771
There Is No Order in Congress
Everything in Congress is behind closed doors.
23 min
1772
Brandt Tobler Has a Problem With Authority
Tales from the guy who once threw a roulette ball at a pit boss.
28 min
1773
About the Google Memo
Even if Google was right to fire James Damore, why does it insist that employees can still expect freedom of expression at work?
32 min
1774
Muhammad Ali’s Biggest Fight
How the greatest knocked out the U.S. Justice Department.
25 min
1775
Somewheres vs. Anywheres
British journalist David Goodhart says there are two kinds of people.
26 min