In Picking Presidents: How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World, Gautam Mukunda says that experience is somewhat important, but real inexperience is a huge gamble. So our choice comes down to this: Do we need to take a big risk in selecting who runs America? Also, all those investigations—special and not-so-special—and the baby’s name that will one day be the stuff of Legend. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, vis...
Nov 18, 2022•33 min
We are joined once again for the remainder of our interview with former Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland to discuss Donald Trump’s skill as a negotiator, his stinginess with TicTacs, and what a $1,000,000 ticket to an inauguration looks like. Also, Pueblo County’s in-your-face method of curing votes, and SBF’s deceit and, more importantly, his cargo shorts. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advert...
Nov 17, 2022•34 min
Gordon Sondland was Ambassador to the EU, which eventually led to his testimony during the first impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump. Sondland confirmed some elements of the quid-pro-quo, backed up other parts of Trump’s narrative, and was soon fired for his participation. His new book is The Envoy: Mastering the Art of Diplomacy with Trump and the World. Plus, the aforementioned Donald Trump has just announced he’ll run once more for President, Mike has the full breakdown of news, norm...
Nov 16, 2022•41 min
Today we test the thesis that a Universal Basic Book Deal (UBBD) could possibly solve society’s ills. We also speak with David Sikorjak and Ben Valenta about their new book Fans Have More Friends, which posits the idea that a shared love of sports and teams can be an unexpected source of community and happiness. Had they not yet heard of the UBBD? And we dream of a day when the House of Representatives is not led by a member of the House of Representatives, because, yeah, that could happen. Prod...
Nov 15, 2022•32 min
Princess Martha Louise of Norway is engaged to an American shaman, and the Norwegians have been proving very close-minded about the love between a royal and a healer who believes he descends from a reptilian species and that his $222 amulet can ward of Covid-19. Also, are historic emissions the best way to express which countries bear responsibility for climate change? Plus, Dr. Eugenia Cheng is a mathematician, educator, author (How To Bake Pi, Beyond Infinity, x + y: A Mathematician’s Manifest...
Nov 14, 2022•34 min
In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we look at the squishiest of science: cancelation and polling. Up first, we feature an installment of Cancel Court from Thursday’s episode of Not Even Mad, our sister podcast. Listen in as Mike, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick attempt to rule on the cancelation of Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving for the anti-Semitic remarks he made in a recent documentary? Next, we’ll listen back to Mike’s 2020 interview with Robert Cahaly, head pollster of ...
Nov 12, 2022•42 min
The pundit, in this case, being The Gist host Mike Pesca. In the Antwentig, an examination of the assumptions and inputs that convinced many (including Mike Pesca) that the Republicans would do better than they did. Plus, Joel Stein, host of Story Of The Week podcast is here to spread mirth, merriment, and, most importantly, knowledge about the Story of the Week. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com...
Nov 11, 2022•40 min
As we just wait … wait … wait for the results in states like Arizona, Nevada, and California, Mike takes us through the recent news about a Russian troll who admitted to meddling in the election. Bottom line: He’s trolling. Plus, we’re joined once more by Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped And How We Get Out, to talk about what to do with prominent predictions of civil war. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the sho...
Nov 10, 2022•35 min
Californians won’t be gambling on sports, Oregon legislators won’t be fleeing session, and Mehmet Oz won’t be moving to Pennsylvania. A thorough election recap on the show today. Also, Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped And How We Get Out, which looks at warring parties and the psychology that perpetuates the conflict. Plus, Democrats exceed expectations but probably wont hold the house, but it’s better to have a majority minority anyway. Produced by Joel Patterson and Co...
Nov 09, 2022•39 min
Democracy is on the ballot, croquet’s a game played with a mallet, an onion is a grown-up shallot. Also the return of Robb Willer, Director of the Polarization and Social Change Lab at Stanford University. He conducted a mega-study of ways to strengthen Americans’ attitudes toward Democracy, which you may have heard is on the ballot. It shall not whither … or shall it? Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertiseca...
Nov 08, 2022•33 min
Robb Willer, director of the Polarization and Social Change Lab at Stanford University, is here to discuss his “Strengthening Democracy” mega-study, which looks at effective ways to reduce anti-democratic attitudes and partisan animosity. Plus, the red-wave doubters—the most straight forward theory of political success. That’s the theory: whoever’s the most straight forward has the most political success. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on...
Nov 07, 2022•37 min
We begin this installment of Best Of The Gist with the latest episode of our new podcast Not Even Mad, in which hosts Mike Pesca, Virginia Heffernan, and Jamie Kirchick discuss the politics of parsing crime statistics. Then we listen back to Mike’s June 11, 2020 interview with John Pfaff, professor of law and criminology at Fordham University and author of Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration, And How To Achieve Real Reform. They talk about police reform and why politicians touting l...
Nov 05, 2022•42 min
Rick Sanchez, news veteran and host of the eponymous Rick Sanchez Podcast, says that the Latino vote confounds not just Democrats but a media who have no idea about how to analyze or conceptualize it, such as it is. Plus, when good economic news and bad economic news both make us feel bad something is weird. And Tom Barrack is NOT a foreign agent. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn m...
Nov 04, 2022•35 min
Mike is joined by Billy Corben, director of the new Hulu documentary God Forbid: The Sex Scandal that Brought Down a Dynasty. It’s about Jerry Fallwell Jr., his wife, a young employee of Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau Hotel, and, of course, Donald Trump. Tom Arnold shows up, too. Plus, the ballot is democracy and democracy is the ballot. And in the Spiel, living in the era of high voter turnout isn’t as great as they promised. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca....
Nov 03, 2022•40 min
Robert Draper, author of WEAPONS OF MASS DELUSION: When The Republican Party Lost Its Mind, discusses the nastiness within and without the current mold of MAGA Republicans. Plus, questioning the implications of Paul Pelosi’s attacker being a nudist activist. And, with so much election nonsense here and abroad, one positive development that’s truly momentous. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheG...
Nov 02, 2022•36 min
Kari Lake, Blake Master, and Mark Finchem, three election-denying Trump acolytes, are all leading or closely trailing in statewide races in Arizona. Local Journalist Mark Brodie of KJZZ is here to assess the contests and update us on the camo-wearing, gun-toting vigilantes who are monitoring drop boxes. Plus, Alex Jones, Steve Bannon, and Waukesha vehicular murderer Darrell Brooks would all rather argue with judges than avoid punishment. Plus, the sick allure of mocking Paul Pelosi. Produced by ...
Nov 01, 2022•36 min
AJ Jacobs spent a month living with muskets, tricorn hats, and an understanding of America at the time of the founding. He joins Mike to discuss his Guardian piece “Party like it’s 1789! My weird, enlightening month living strictly by the US Constitution.” Also, thoughts of the South Korea trampling and a society's obligations. Plus, how many candidates deny the election, how many of them will win, and how many of those who win really will have a chance to screw over a Democrat, and in doing so ...
Oct 31, 2022•38 min
Here’s a preview of a new podcast, The Last Resort. What if California seceded from the United States? If it did, what would happen? Would it usher in a new era of peace and prosperity? Or plunge the US into a new civil war? This is The Last Resort, a new documentary podcast following the rise, fall, and rebirth of CAL EXIT: the campaign for Californian Independence. It’s a story about a dream for a new progressive utopia on the West Coast. It’s about the fight for America’s future. And it’s als...
Oct 30, 2022•10 min
In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we listen back to Mike’s October 17, 2019 interview with former Secretary of Defense in the Obama White House, Ashton Carter. He died this week at 68 years old. Then we replay Mike’s Tuesday Spiel about Kanye West’s most recent public disaster and its root causes. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...
Oct 29, 2022•26 min
With Elon Musk’s official acquisition of Twitter, we examine what his incentives are and what voices to pay attention to for guidance on what concerns are legitimate and which are incentivized toward catastrophization. Plus, actors Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola, Mike and Molly), Herizen Guardiola (The Get Down), and Show Runner Ben Rock are here to talk about their new series Catchers. And the reasons behind the attack on Paul Pelosi. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at th...
Oct 28, 2022•35 min
Jason DeParle of The New York Times documents how childhood poverty has fallen dramatically over the past three decades. It’s a triumph few recognize. Also, John Fetterman’s debate performance was surprising and, potentially, very costly. Who bears responsibility for the shock of it all? Plus, a cute little piece of malware named Raccooninfostealer. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn...
Oct 27, 2022•36 min
The Gist presents the new weekly political debate show, Not Even Mad. Consider it a joyous disagreement, as we take #DelightinDiscord. We give you the inaugural episode of this new podcast, as a sample, but to hear Mike talk with Jamie Kirchick and Virginia Heffernan each week, you’ll have to subscribe to Not Even Mad on Apple, or wherever you are listening to this. In Episode #1 of Not Even Mad, we discuss the candidacies of Kari Lake and Herschel Walker, we ponder the label “queer,” and we ask...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr
In his latest book, released in this past summer, The Price of Principle: Why Integrity Is Worth the Consequences, lawyer and legal scholar Alan Dershowitz laid out his reasoning for aiding the legal defense of Donald Trump. Dershowitz tells The Gist that he was defending the U.S. Constitution, not Trump, and that, despite the consequences, he would do it again. Also, the Latino vote is no monolith…except when it is one. Plus, which came first: the chicken or the egg…or Kanye’s mental illness? P...
Oct 25, 2022•34 min
On Wednesday, October 26th, we will be launching a new podcast called Not Even Mad, featuring Gist host Mike Pesca (heard of him?), Wired contributor and self-proclaimed liberal Virginia Heffernan, and author of the bestselling Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington, Jamie Kirchick, who holds many conservative positions on the issues. So, as a preview of the new podcast, we’ve invited Virginia and Jamie on The Gist to discuss the brokenness of our current political discourse, and also...
Oct 24, 2022•49 min
Here’s a preview of a new podcast, Story of the Week. Each week, journalist Joel Stein chooses an article that fascinates him, convinces the writer to tell him about it, and then interrupts a good conversation by talking about himself. Sometimes the story will be the one everyone is talking about, like the New Yorker article on smoking hallucinogenic toads. Other times we’ll find a story you might have missed, like the one in the Verge about the rock groupie turned hacker who had huge corporatio...
Oct 23, 2022•13 min
To celebrate the announcement of the upcoming launch of Peach Fish's newest podcast, Not Even Mad, in this installment of Best Of The Gist, we are replaying Mike’s January 18, 2017 interview with Heather Hendershot. Heather watched nearly 1,500 episodes of William F. Buckley’s pioneering TV show Firing Line, and though she still doesn’t agree with Buckley, she admires how he created a place for high-minded argument. Then we will listen to some bonus content from Mike’s Thursday interview with Da...
Oct 22, 2022•37 min
The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong, host of the new podcast The Prince, discusses the most powerful person in the world, Xi Jinping. As China’s 20th Communist Party Congress convenes, Xi has positioned himself to rule China for another five years, and maybe the rest of his life. But so little is known about him … until now. Plus, witness the drones filling the skies of Ukraine—Ghost Phoenixes, Switchblades, and these so-called “Kamikaze” models. And it’s an Antwentig, in which Angela Landsbury’s cinem...
Oct 21, 2022•50 min
Liz Truss resigns as Prime Minister of the UK, and all of England breathes a collective “How did that just bloody happen?” Plus, we’ll check in with David Priess, former CIA intelligence briefer and current Publisher of Lawfare about the work of the January 6th Committee. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 20, 2022•37 min
We’re joined by Bill Nigut the host of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Political Rewind to analyze the state’s pivotal and contentious Governor and Senate Races. Plus, the Durham investigation strikes out, or, in the eyes of Deep State Excavators…strikes gold! Plus, a pricey San Fransisco Toilet. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at [email protected] To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
Oct 19, 2022•41 min
Last night’s Ohio Senate debate featured JD Vance denying his assessment of Alex Jones as credible and an interesting thinker. Vance is still up big, and he’ll probably win. Also, a Floridan voter is handcuffed so Ron DeSantis can make a point. He’s also up big. Probably will win. Plus, Richard Reeves returns to discuss his book, Of Boys And Men, and the challenge of proposing solutions when doing so might mark you as picking the wrong side in a struggle toward progress. Produced by Joel Patters...
Oct 18, 2022•33 min
