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.
2101
Behind the Scenes at Wait Wait
Hear what happens when you put two public radio nerds in a room—a lot of insightful shoptalk.
29 min
2102
The National Emergency We Call Donald Trump
Slate’s Jacob Weisberg joins us to share favorite moments from the first month of Trumpcast.
35 min
2103
The So-Called “So-Called Acela” Primary
In the Spiel, the two men who mangled their already impossible chances of pulling off a victory.
30 min
2104
Bathroom President Ted Cruz
Today’s the day for making accords with the Texas senator, and we’re prepared to offer him his own kingdom.
24 min
2105
Purpleness
How Prince defined the sound of the ’80s, even when his name wasn’t on the records.
32 min
2106
The Energy Crisis and the End of American Liber...
What the energy crisis in the ’70s taught Americans about government.
33 min
2107
Did Bernie Pull Hillary to the Left?
Is Bernie Sanders part of a long Democratic tradition of progressive insurgency?
25 min
2108
Get a Life ... Coach
These days even life coaches have life coaches, but are they effective?
31 min
2109
Bill Clinton’s Advance Man Tells All
Josh King joins us to explain why the visuals and headlines are becoming increasingly important for political campaigns. For the Spiel, what happened after the Google Play app introduced Mike to ’90s agro anthems.
30 min
2110
Billboard Hits From 1986
Chris Molanphy helps count down the Billboard hits from 1986 that marked a significant pivot in music history. For the Spiel, favorite moments from Friday night’s Democratic debate in Brooklyn.
25 min
2111
Hurry Up and Fast
Is spending a day without food the ultimate weight-loss trick? Maria Konnikova explains what researchers have found when the looked into the health benefits of fasting. For the Spiel, honoring the breakfast cereal spokes-things tradition.
23 min
2112
An Interesting and Beautiful Day
David Plotz from Atlas Obscura offers advice for creating your own adventures on Saturday, April 16 for this weekend’s Obscura Day. For the Spiel, why we’re not impressed by the depth of your worldview, Mark Zuckerberg.
22 min
2113
Pinocchio’s Got a Gun
Bernie and Hillary are exchanging shots over gun control. Who should we believe? Plus, we use Yodely Guy to discuss the latest from Goldman Sachs. Then, let’s dive deep into Wyoming delegate math with Aimee Van Cleave from the Wyoming Democratic Party.
25 min
2114
It’s Time We Talk About Wolverines
It’s time you knew the truth about the fierce demon of the North, the wolverine. Plus, learn the definition of an “S.O.B. flag” when we visit Vexillology Corner with our favorite vexillologist Ted Kaye.
24 min
2115
Twisted F--king Sister
What the cross-dressing glam band learned from a decade spent clawing its way out of Long Island. Jay Jay French and director Andrew Horn join us to tell the story behind a new Twisted Sister documentary. For the Spiel, the Lobstar of the Antentwig.
27 min
2116
If I Were Hillary
On Ep. 471, a clever strategy for preventing a full Zika virus epidemic—genetically modified mosquitos. We’ll speak with Nina Fedoroff. For the Spiel, Mike imagines what life would look like if he were held to the same standards as Hillary Clinton.
17 min
2117
Burning Down Bernie’s Momentum
Is it momentum or just primary results from a certain collection of states with very few black people? For the Spiel, why Wisconsin’s primary results tell us so little about who the Democrats want as a nominee.
22 min
2118
You’re Getting Very Sleepy
Maria Konnikova explains what makes hypnosis especially challenging to study
29 min
2119
Jon Ronson, Imam of Shame
When the Internet gangs up to publicly shame an individual, what’s that really about?
27 min
2120
The Hamilton Rule
Zoe Chace speaks with Republicans who despise Hillary Clinton but plan to vote for her because of Alexander Hamilton.
33 min
2121
Abolitionist Heroes Lost to History
We discuss American abolitionism as an activist social movement with historian Manisha Sinha.
29 min
2122
Are The Winter Blues BS?
Climb under a therapy light and pop some vitamin D as Maria Konnikova renders her verdict on seasonal affective disorder.
23 min
2123
The Huge Lingering Why
San Bernardino investigators know the who, what, and where, but will the culprit’s iPhone tell us why?
22 min
2124
40 Years for Genocide
After hiding in plain sight for years, this Bosnian War criminal’s sentence has made him a symbol for anti-Serb conspiracy theories.
25 min
2125
The Height of Clinton-Era Pop Music
Remembering Billboard hits from 1999, when MTV’s Total Request Live was huge, and our biggest pop stars were teenagers.
24 min