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.
2051
Would a Narcissist Do This?
The good news is the president doesn’t have narcissistic personality disorder. The bad news is he seems to be inured to distress.
25 min
2052
A Late Show for Grown-Ups
Chris Licht is helping to turn The Late Show With Stephen Colbert into the heir-apparent of Jon Stewart’s Daily Show.
26 min
2053
John Darnielle Talks About Words and Snakes
The Mountain Goats’ lead singer on his horror novel, Universal Harvester, and accidental creative inspiration.
26 min
2054
David Frum Beseeches You to Focus
The Atlantic’s David Frum says Never Trumpers can’t afford to splinter apart now.
27 min
2055
Oh, How This Feels Like Moscow
The Atlantic’s Julia Ioffe and BuzzFeed’s Miriam Elder pour out the contents of their reporters’ notebooks from Russia.
30 min
2056
Elvis Costello’s High-Fidelity Life
In his memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, the Irish English music legend reflects on his place in music history.
26 min
2057
Plus Jamais Le Fake News
Slate’s Will Oremus on how Facebook is tackling fake news ahead of the European elections.
27 min
2058
An Obamacare Architect Speaks Out
Former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the Affordable Care Act and the right-ward tumble of politics in Kansas.
24 min
2059
The Business of Corporate Protest
Adi Ignatius, editor of the Harvard Business Review, on how different business leaders are responding to the Trump presidency.
22 min
2060
He Left the Hold Steady for Mongolia
Journeyman musician Franz Nicolay had done the big-band thing. He wanted to go solo. And he wanted to see Ulaanbaatar.
28 min
2061
The Case of the Frozen Trucker
Emily Bazelon of the New York Times Magazine breaks down the decisions and philosophy of SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch.
26 min
2062
Inside the Biggest Pyramid Scheme Ever
Journalist Steve Fishman on interviewing Bernie Madoff.
26 min
2063
The New Queens of Satire
The founders of Reductress imagine their latest project as a feminist’s how-to manual—written by the most ignorant feminists ever.
24 min
2064
Up in the Air
Immigration lawyers are struggling to interpret the Trump White House’s travel ban. They’re flying blind.
26 min
2065
Yeah, We’re Scared Too
Bush appointee Eliot Cohen told other conservatives to work with Trump’s State Department. One conversation changed his mind.
24 min
2066
Deregulation Nation
Fighting red tape is a winning political strategy for Republicans. How did that happen? Author Jacob Hacker explains.
22 min
2067
Don’t Mind Us, We’re Just Collapsing
There’s never been a greater time to be alive. Does that mean we’re overdue for a downturn?
22 min
2068
The Problem With Tracking Hate
Hate crimes are among the most undercounted offenses in the U.S. The Southern Poverty Law Center is trying to firm up a shoddy data set.
28 min
2069
The Truth About Vitamin C
The New Yorker’s Maria Konnikova returns to discuss a vexing health question: How much vitamin C is actually good for you?
22 min
2070
A Bet Against Reality
None of the conventions of politics stuck to President Donald Trump during his campaign. Will that change now that he’s in office?
38 min
2071
The 12-Step Program of Highly Effective People
How comedian Nick Thune survived Alcoholics Anonymous, black-market therapy, and Seattle.
26 min
2072
Trial by Firing Line
How conservative champion William F. Buckley argued with his friends, how he argued with his foes, and why he thought there should be no argument about Donald Trump.
26 min
2073
Can The Democrats Obstruct Everything for Four ...
The Atlantic’s Norm Ornstein on the best way forward for Congressional Democrats facing Trump.
25 min
2074
Jamelle Bouie on the Trump Cabinet
Slate’s chief political correspondent on Trump’s picks, from the mildly acceptable to the downright disturbing.
24 min
2075
How Should We Talk About Whiteness?
Professor Marc Lamont Hill on how to have a real conversation about identity politics in the Trump era.
28 min