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.
2026
Mara Wilson’s Post–Child Star Life
Between Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda, and Miracle on 34th Street, Wilson is a defining part of many childhoods. Her new book looks at life after early fame.
20 min
2027
Ralph Nader’s Animal Instincts
The author and advocate on his new book, Animal Envy, and predictions for the Trump presidency.
27 min
2028
Bob Boilen: Tiny Desk, Big Effect
The man who brought us NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, asked a bunch of musicians about their influences. Guess which artists picked their own songs?
28 min
2029
Good Grief
Comedian Laurie Kilmartin has tips to help you boost your Twitter following and mourn your dying parent at the same time.
26 min
2030
The Home Movie That Changed America
Abraham Zapruder captured a presidential assassination by accident. Now his granddaughter wrestles with his legacy.
27 min
2031
LifeAfter’s Mac Rogers
Audio dramatist Mac Rogers discusses the resurgence of radio theater in the U.S. and his own work on the podcast drama, LifeAfter.
22 min
2032
When There Was No Ducking Disco
Listening back to Billboard hits of 1976, the year that gave us the Disco Duck.
27 min
2033
The Year of Bill Camp
The actor who brought us the “subtle beast” in HBO’s The Night Of imagines the Salem witch trials with a Long Island accent.
28 min
2034
We’re Going Into Labor
Journalist Steven Greenhouse says union membership has plummeted in the past 50 years, and Democrats haven’t done enough to fight Republican-backed anti-labor measures.
24 min
2035
Thank God for Hedonists
Work hard, play harder, build a global economy? Author Steven Johnson says frivolity, not necessity, is the mother of invention.
25 min
2036
Our Inflamer-In-Chief
Sparks of international conflict are snuffed out around the world before we ever hear about it. How could that change under the Trump administration?
25 min
2037
Do Strict Voter Laws Make a Difference?
Voting law expert Rick Hasen on the many ways Republican states try to suppress turnout.
24 min
2038
We Could Use Jon Stewart Right Now
Chris Smith is the compiler of new oral history The Daily Show (The Book), which focuses on Stewart’s cultural legacy.
27 min
2039
Putin Plays the Long Game
Obama’s second ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, on the Rex Tillerson nomination and how the U.S. should approach Russia post-hacking.
23 min
2040
Let’s Talk About Rex
Houston Chronicle energy reporter James Osborne on Trump’s left-field pick for secretary of state.
23 min
2041
Don’t Tell Kyle Kinane What To Do
The comedian from Netflix’s Love is still fuming about all those “I voted” stickers.
27 min
2042
Getting Held Back in Racial Justice Class
What did the Black Lives Matter movement accomplish? Writer Jeff Chang reflects on a complicated year.
25 min
2043
Boeing, Get Off My Plane!
Is $4 billion a lot for Air Force One? Or is Trump looking for savings in all the wrong places?
22 min
2044
It’s Much Bigger Than O.J.
Ezra Edelman, director of the ESPN doc O.J.: Made in America, on how his film addresses race, class, the Los Angeles Police Department and celebrity culture.
26 min
2045
The Blueprint for Trumpcare
Vox writer Sarah Kliff has read seven possible Republican health care plans. Here’s what she learned.
27 min
2046
The Chaos Doctrine
Not so fast, neat freaks: The Undercover Economist explains how a cluttered space makes you work smarter.
27 min
2047
Dissecting the Carrier Deal
Aaron Renn of the Manhattan Institute on Trump’s first deal as president-elect.
25 min
2048
What’s Bunk About Brainstorming
Maria Konnikova wonders, “How about we touch base later and piggyback on a few of these ideas?”
23 min
2049
Why Working People Left the Democrats
Author Thomas Frank says the Democratic Party deserted labor years ago, and he sees little sign of a course correction.
27 min
2050
Stephen Dubner’s Genre-Busting Game Show
The Freakonomics journalist on his new podcast, Tell Me Something I Don’t Know, where expert panelists are taken outside their comfort zones.
24 min