Eli Lake and Michael A. Cohen take stock of the Biden health debate—diagnosis, exaggeration, and whether it’s actually affected his presidency. Michael pushes back on what he calls the “decline industrial complex,” while Eli says its denial to think Biden was up to the job. Then they turn to Donald Trump’s proudly post-moral foreign policy, where human rights don’t even make the brochure and alliances are strictly optional. Realpolitik or just real reckless? Either way, they’re not even mad. Pro...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Austin Berg and Eric Zorn are Not Even Mad as we discuss mayoral overcrowding and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the supposed new MAGA slayer. Plus: a few thoughts on our new American spiritual leader—not the pope, but the Surgeon General. Produced by Corey WaraEmail us at [email protected]To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGistSubscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/Subscribe t...
May 08, 2025•57 min
Boston Globe columnist Carine Hajjar and The Commercial Break’s Bryan Green debate whether Joe Rogan’s platforming of antisemitic conspiracies signals a deeper rot—or just the cost of open conversation. Plus: should Harvard be defunded? And will Kilmar Abrego Garcia stay in a Salvadoran prison? In Goat Grinders, we take aim at student driver bumper stickers, White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood’s biting critique of SNL, and nothing left to stream. Theme by Max Kerman Produced by Corey Wara Email us a...
Apr 17, 2025•56 min
In this “Not Even Mad” episode, Sarah Isgur of The Dispatch and former Obama speech writer Sarada Peri dig into “massive cuts under DOGE, Cory Booker’s latest stemwinder, recent election results, and somehow, Chester A. Arthur crashes the party. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page:...
Apr 03, 2025•58 min
Former Congressman (and current NYC Council candidate) Anthony Weiner and Reason Editor-at-Large Nick Gillespie square off over whether the national debt is an true crisis, if Chuck Schumer made the best of a bad hand, and whether government can—or should—ever shrink. Plus, in Goat Grinders, we take on Walter Cronkite’s legacy, the absurd NCAA tournament gripes, and the myth of “wanting it more.” Produced by Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, contact sales@adv...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 29 min
On this episode of Not Even Mad, Michael Cohen and Liz Wolfe dissect Trump’s State of the Union-ish spectacle, where he barely asked for forbearance on tariffs and delivered a slew of inaccuracies. We debate whether the Democrats’ paddle-waving protest theater was cringeworthy or just ineffective. Plus, in Goat Grinders, playground break-ins, Icelandair’s deplaning procedures, and the forced obligation of pretending to care about the Oscars. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at [email protected]...
Mar 06, 2025•57 min
On Not Even Mad, Noam Dworman—owner of the Comedy Cellar and host of Live from the Table—and Dan Savage—of Savage Love and Savage Lovecast—join to debate the non-prosecution of NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and the potential for negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Plus, we dive into "goat grinders" on Adrien Grenier, mirror pronouns, media credibility, and—somehow—dental dams. And because you’ve subscribed directly, enjoy a bonus segment on the most offensive SNL sketches featured in the show's 50...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Katie Herzog, co-host of Blocked and Reported, and Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, discuss if Donald Trump's attempts to blame DEI for a tragic military plane crash and Elon Musk's unplugging of USAID will wind up hurting the Trumpian agenda. Also discussed, the Democrats’ disastrous brand - what can a party that once prided itself on broad appeal do to find favor with voters? Expect spirited debate, sharp analysis, and a commitment to being Not Even Mad just deeply, deeply exas...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Mike is joined by Michael A. Cohen of the Truth and Consequences Substack and MSNBC, along with Matt Welch, Editor-at-Large of Reason magazine, for another installment of Not Even Mad. The trio discusses Trump’s inauguration, executive actions, refugee policy, DEI, and the eventful first few days of his second term as POTUS. GIST Coupon Codes ... Him's: hims.com/thegist Acorns: acorns.com/thegist Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 8 min
We reconstitute Not Even Mad with panelists Liz Wolfe (Reason and the Just Asking Questions podcast) and Michael A. Cohen (MSNBC columnist and author of the Truth and Consequences newsletter) to discuss and debate the pardon of Hunter Biden and all the many, many explanations for the Democrats poor showing on election day 2024. Plus, goats are grinded over Standard Time, "Increasingly," and Pamela Anderson with or without makeup. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mike...
Dec 06, 2024•54 min
On the final episode of Not Even Mad (well, at least for now), hosts Mike Pesca, David French, and Lara Bazelon discuss the idea the show was founded on, and then Mike signs off. Produced by Joel Patterson Theme by Max Kerman Content design by Big Yellow Taxi Michelle Pesca is COO of Peach Fish Projects Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 17, 2023•31 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Jamie Kirchick, and Dan Savage discuss the January 6th committee's criminal referrals, two new studies that correlate Republican policies and politicians with higher mortality, and debate the case of Samuel Brinton the self-proclaimed first openly genderfluid federal government employee, who was arrested for stealing luggage from two different airports. Let us know what you think about this the first 9 episodes of Not Even Mad as we plan out 2023 season: ...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 2 min
EP 08 Senator Sinema’s Democratic Party Defection, Merchant of Death for Brittney Griner swap, and Twitter Moderation: Futility vs. UtilityToday on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Jamie Kirchick, and Sarada Peri discuss Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema's switch to Independent, the prisoner swap that gave Russia back a notorious arms dealer, and what new batches of "The Twitter Files" say about the impossibility of satisfactory content moderation. Let us know what you think about this epiosde, and ...
Dec 14, 2022•55 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, David French, and Lara Bazelon discuss the speech and discrimination implications of 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis; the not-terribly-difficult task of getting a seditious conspiracy conviction, and ask if Matt Taibbi could wring any more recriminations over coverage of Hunter Biden's Laptop. Let us know what you think about the podcast, and tell us what topics you’d like to hear discussed: [email protected] Produced by Ian Scotto Theme by Max ...
Dec 07, 2022•56 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick discuss narratives around mass shootings, the likelihood of Joe Biden’s 2024 bid, and the man with a space telescope named after him goes to Cancel Court. Let us know what you think about the podcast, and tell us what you'd like to hear Mike, Virginia, and Jamie debate: [email protected]. Produced by Joel Patterson Theme by Max Kerman Content design by Big Yellow Taxi Michelle Pesca COO of Peach Fish P...
Nov 30, 2022•55 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick ponder the idea that woke Democrats may have enabled SBF’s fraud crypto exchange, analyze the decision to participate in Qatar’s World Cup, and then don the robes of the Cancel Court to debate the cancellation of former public health official Leana Wen for her Covid-19 stance. Let us know what you think about the podcast, and tell us what you'd like to hear Mike, Virginia, and Jamie debate: notevenmad@peachfishprojec...
Nov 23, 2022•57 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick discuss Donald Trump announcing his run for President again, whether the 2022 election results will be seen as a death knell to CRT and wokeness as an election issue, and the gender politics in this season of White Lotus. Let us know what you think about the podcast, and tell us what you'd like to hear Mike, Virginia, and Jamie debate: [email protected]. Produced by Joel Patterson Theme by Max Kerman C...
Nov 16, 2022•55 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick search for the lessons of Tuesday’s midterms and marvel at the poor performance of Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidates and what their showings say about his hold on the Republican Party. Then they put the Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving before the Cancel Court. Subscribe to Not Even Mad on Apple, or wherever you are listening to this. You can read more about the hosts on our website. Let us know what you think about th...
Nov 10, 2022•59 min
Today on Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick discuss Twitter’s future under the command of Elon Musk and the politics of crime statistics, then they issue a ruling on whether former New York Times Op-Ed page editor James Bennet was canceled or not. Subscribe to Not Even Mad on Apple, or wherever you are listening to this. You can read more about the hosts on our website. Let us know what you think about the podcast, and tell us what you would like to hear Mike,...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr
Today, on the launch episode of Not Even Mad, hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick discuss the candidacies of Kari Lake and Herschel Walker, ponder the label “queer,” and ask if present day Republicanism is inextricably racist. Subscribe to Not Even Mad on Apple, or wherever you are listening to this. You can read more about the hosts on our website. Let us know what you think about the podcast and what you would like to hear us debate: [email protected]. Produ...
Oct 26, 2022•55 min
Not Even Mad is a weekly 1-hour podcast dedicated to joyful disagreement. The 3 hosts: Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick address issues from different political perspectives, but they wear their ideologies loosely and are just as likely to disagree with established doctrine as they are with each other. Mike conceived this podcast as a remedy to other news and opinion shows that offer only agreeable dialogue among hosts and guests. There are no shows which offer well-rounded, inf...
Oct 21, 2022•3 min
