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.
2251
Debt Ratings Are Like The Emmys
Four years ago today, the U.S. debt rating by Standard & Poor’s was downgraded from AAA to AA+. An assortment of politicians and rich people warned us this would be a day we’d never forget. We forgot. On The Gist, Adam...
28 min
2252
BPA! BPS! Are They BS?
When you drink from a BPA-free water bottle, is it still safe from "leeching" plastics? On The Gist, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the research into BPA plastics for a game we...
19 min
2253
Trump's Star Begins to Dim
Donald Trump is a clear leader in national polls, but for how long? If it was anyone else, would we be more impressed? On The Gist, Harry Enten from FiveThirtyEight explains how Trump’s inevitable fall from the top of GOP candidate polls could...
25 min
2254
The Man Behind “Cabin Boy” Sails On
On the day Adam Resnick learned what an internship was, he called up Late Night With David Letterman. From there, his career would be marked by cult classics he’d rather not revisit. We’ll revisit. Hear the story of Resnick’s...
27 min
2255
Ted Cruz Hits the Road
On The Gist, Politico’s Manu Raju joins us from the Senate Periodical Press Gallery to discuss the recent Ted Cruz blowup in the Senate, and its lasting impact on his relationship with the GOP. How might his disregard for traditional procedure...
25 min
2256
Bed Bugs Are Unvanquishable and It’s Our Fault
On The Gist, science writer Brooke Borel explains how a bed bug infestation in 2004 landed her in the ER and later became a consuming area of research. She’s the author of Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedrooms and Took Over the...
26 min
2257
Yes MSG
On The Gist, a clear explanation of the many dangers of monosodium glutamate, or MSG. Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the research for a game we call “Is That Bulls--t?” She’s the...
21 min
2258
Work Harder, America
Are Americans not working hard enough? Jeb Bush told the New Hampshire Union Leader, “Workforce participation has to rise from its all-time modern lows. It means that people need to work longer hours and through their productivity gain more...
22 min
2259
Overcoming the Intraoffice Cold Shoulder
When a colleague in your office suddenly freezes you out without explanation, what’s the best course of action? On The Gist, Emily Yoffe of Slate’s Dear Prudence column advises a woman on how to deal with tension created by a...
26 min
2260
Step Inside the Juiceboxxx
On the heels of our conversation with Slate’s Leon Neyfakh about his book The Next Next Level, The Gist talks with the book’s subject, the rap artist Juiceboxxx. Today Juice tells his own story, and explains what...
25 min
2261
First Taste of the Juiceboxxx
On The Gist, Mike shares an important lesson about Connecticut he discovered as a guest on the Colin McEnroe Show today. Then, Slate’s Leon Neyfakh tells the story of how his early friendship with the...
26 min
2262
Comedy Isn’t Pretty
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner recently said that beautiful women are “usually not funny.” Is there anything to that? On The Gist, TV producer Mike Schur reacts to that statement and discusses the role of funny but attractive unicorns on...
28 min
2263
American Exceptionalism Rah-Rah
On The Gist, Ian Bremmer from the Eurasia Group has explored three options for what kind of country America should be: independent, moneyball, or indispensable. He defines these terms on the show, and in his book Superpower: Three Choices for...
28 min
2264
A Different Stroke
On The Gist, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. shares his journey from a 19-year-old rock star with massive hair, to a sober 35-year-old with a solo side project (and less hair). His new album, Momentary Masters, is available for preorder,...
33 min
2265
To Strangle a Flamingo
On The Gist, one question with Frank Deford. Then, are the core issues of traditional social conservatism on the wane? Slate’s Reihan Salam explains why some Republicans may change their focus from gay marriage to the economy,...
26 min
2266
Let's Grade a Deal (Iran Edition)
Even the most qualified arms control experts had little confidence that the Iran deal would even happen, much less be good. On The Gist, Dr. Jeffrey Lewis explains why you have to hate deals in order to dislike the Iran deal. Lewis hosts Mike’s...
25 min
2267
Smile If You’re a Democrat
On The Gist, a wave of Trump talk crashed down on the weekend news shows. We have the highlights. Plus, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the scientific merits of political personality studies in a series we...
18 min
2268
Keep News Weird
In the age of the vast and insatiable Internet, where zany headlines are compiled by the hive-mind, is it possible that the very notion of weird has been diluted? On The Gist, Slate contributing editor Dan Engber explores changing standards for the...
27 min
2269
The Art of Porn
Today on The Gist, something none of us know anything about—porn. Pesca is away, but Felix Salmon from Fusion, Piper Text (and, of course, Slate Money) will be your guide. First up, we explore the difference...
26 min
2270
Easy Listening Wasn’t Easy in 1975
On The Gist, Mike is joined by Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer for a game we call “One Question, One Question Only.” What are the best, worst, and most likely scenarios for the Greek economy?
Plus, our regular guest Chris Molanphy...
25 min
2271
Fear Your Shower, Not ISIS
On The Gist, NPR’s Frannie Kelley explains why Tuesday has lost its significance for the music industry. That will all change this Friday. She hosts the Microphone Check podcast on NPR and edits Yours Truly. Plus, Stephen Walt from the Harvard...
26 min
2272
Nerds in the Hood
On The Gist, Mimi Valdés explains her work as chief creative officer for Pharrell Williams’ collective I Am Other. She’s a co-producer of the film Dope, the new drama-comedy from writer and director Rick Famuyiwa. For the...
25 min
2273
Telling Stories: Do It Better
On The Gist, Matthew Dicks offers more tricks for helping Gist listeners tell better stories. You’re welcome. This class focuses on how to bring the emotions behind our experiences into how we tell our stories. Dicks is the author of Memoirs of...
29 min
2274
Awkward Silence Is Our Polio
Kristin Gore, Tallulah Bankhead, and Alice Roosevelt Longworth are all known for their comedic writings and the daughters of elected officials. Add to that list the Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri. She’s the daughter of...
20 min
2275
Poking Holes in Acupuncture
Today on The Gist, Jeff Ross’ harsh comedic roasts have finally landed him in prison. We’ll speak to the roastmaster general about his new special Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live At Brazos County Jail. Then, Mike asks Maria...
25 min