Harvard Kennedy School's Julia Minson joins to discuss her new book, How to Disagree Better , and why the goal of most arguments shouldn't be persuasion at all. She explains naive realism, the boomerang question trap, and why understanding where someone is coming from beats trying to change their mind. Plus, Anthropic wins in court and the Prairieland antifa trial ends in across-the-board terrorism convictions, a reminder that when the stakes are so high outrage is not a legal strategy. Produced...
Mar 27, 2026•43 min•Ep. 2974
Today on a Not Even Mad edition of The Gist, Mike is joined by political scientist Yascha Mounk ( The Good Fight ) and Colin Cole, director of policy outreach and communications at More Equitable Democracy and host of The Future of Our Former Democracy , to fiercely debate whether adopting proportional representation would cure America's polarization or simply plunge the country into parliamentary chaos. The trio also tackles the stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations, analyzing the conflicting strategi...
Mar 26, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 2973
Ben Ritz, of the Progressive Policy Institute, joins to discuss his Atlantic piece, "Democrats Learned the Wrong Lesson From 2024," and his argument that the party is drifting toward "slopulism." He explains why half-baked promises on taxes, deficits, and affordability may be politically tempting but fiscally hollow. Plus, Iran's reported response to a U.S. peace framework demands not just an end to hostilities but guarantees that war cannot simply be resumed under another name. Produced by Core...
Mar 25, 2026•32 min•Ep. 2972
Today on The Gist, comedy legend Larry Charles returns to discuss the fragile nature of comic genius, theorizing why Sacha Baron Cohen lost his "superpower" to the Hollywood bubble, how a rough Brooklyn upbringing prepared him for the life-threatening chaos of directing Borat , and why Seinfeld succeeded precisely because its creators didn't know the rules of sitcoms. Plus, in the Spiel, the cacocracy surrounding Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem's ouster from Homeland Security, marveling at Noe...
Mar 24, 2026•29 min•Ep. 2971
Today on The Gist, legendary comedy director Larry Charles ( Borat , Seinfeld , Curb Your Enthusiasm ) joins Mike to discuss his new book, Comedy Samurai , breaking down the chaotic, high-stakes reality of shooting with a live bear, the mechanics of building a "wave of laughter," and why crafting compelling characters always beats worrying about likability. Plus, in the Spiel, Mike reflects on the passing of Robert Mueller and how the intense, almost messianic fixation on his investigation ultim...
Mar 23, 2026•30 min•Ep. 2970
On this week's Saturday show, Mike delivers a double-dose of Iran-focused analysis, starting with a sharp critique of the Western media's bizarre framing of assassinated Iranian leader Ali Larijani as a "pragmatic" peacemaker rather than an active enemy combatant. Then, we open the vault to revisit June 2019, unpacking the chaotic fallout after President Trump abruptly called off a retaliatory strike on Iran, and demonstrating how bluster and impatience can easily drag the U.S. into the dangerou...
Mar 21, 2026•18 min•Ep. 2969
Comedian Derrick Stroup joins the show to talk about his new Netflix special Nostalgic — what it's like to have an Alabama accent in New York City, why working clean sharpened his comedy more than any other decision he's made, and how the school bus was the internet before the internet existed. Also: moving to Nashville, opening for Nate Bargatzi, and why ranting deserves more respect as a comedic form. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comment...
Mar 20, 2026•59 min•Ep. 2968
Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder is back with "Is That Bullshit?" — this time investigating the yoga-class truism that trauma lives in your hips, and the broader claim behind Bessel van der Kolk's massively influential book The Body Keeps the Score . Also: Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard, and John Ratcliffe testified before Congress on election security, and the numbers on non-citizen voting are in. WIll it reach low double digits? Stay tuned! Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff ...
Mar 19, 2026•32 min•Ep. 2967
Historian Molly Worthen discusses her new book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump — arguing that charisma isn't charm but a polarizing story that tells followers who the heroes are, who the villains are, and where they fit in. Also: Israel killed Ali Larijani, one of Iran's most powerful figures, and Western outlets responded by mourning a lost future negotiator. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or ...
Mar 18, 2026•42 min•Ep. 2966
Mickey Bergman, who negotiates the release of political prisoners, returns to explain how freeing hostages from the world's most hostile regimes runs entirely on emotional intelligence, not geopolitical leverage. He walks through two cases — using Bill Richardson's death to unlock a Venezuelan prisoner release, and a single carefully orchestrated meeting with Myanmar's military junta leader. Bergman also discusses the Gilad Shalit exchange that put Yahya Sinwar back in circulation. Plus, Mike up...
Mar 17, 2026•32 min•Ep. 2965
Today on The Gist, Global Reach CEO Mickey Bergman discusses the high-stakes world of international hostage negotiation. He details the emotional intelligence required to deal with foreign officials and clarifies the behind-the-scenes realities of securing the release of Americans like Paul Whelan, Trevor Reed, and Brittney Griner. Plus, Mike opens the show by analyzing the Republican-backed SAVE Act. He argues the proof-of-citizenship voting bill is purely a messaging tactic with no chance of p...
Mar 16, 2026•43 min•Ep. 2964
For this weekend's Saturday Show, Mike shares a recent Substack Live conversation with political analyst and commentator Chris Cillizza. They kick things off by diagnosing the crisis of adult male friendship, why society fails to foster it, and Mike's "erosion theory" of bonding. Then, they pivot to politics, contrasting Donald Trump's inability to sell the unpopular war in Iran with Ronald Reagan's successful messaging during the 1983 invasion of Grenada. Are modern Americans too accustomed to ...
Mar 15, 2026•39 min•Ep. 2963
Today on The Gist, historic double Oscar-nominated director Geeta Gandbhir joins the show to discuss her Netflix documentary feature, The Perfect Neighbor . She breaks down the tragic murder of AJ Owens by her neighbor Susan Lorincz, explaining how Florida's "Stand Your Ground" laws, racial bias, and easy access to firearms enabled a deadly escalation. Gandbhir also explores the ethical complexities of using raw police body cam and Ring doorbell footage to document the community's grief without ...
Mar 13, 2026•35 min•Ep. 2962
Jeff Nussbaum and Dan Rothschild debate the Iran war's shaky public support, the administration's failure to make a clear case for sacrifice, and whether the mission is deterrence, regime change, or just another round of mowing the lawn. Then they turn to the Democrats who won in 2025, asking whether Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill, and Zohran Mamdani are actually governing on affordability or drifting toward the usual cultural and ideological fights. Plus, in Goat Grinders, conference badges...
Mar 12, 2026•58 min•Ep. 2961
Aaron Tracy joins to talk about The Secret World of Roald Dahl , his podcast about the children's author as war spy, improvised medical inventor, and world-class fabulist with a vicious streak. The conversation gets into Dahl's improbable second act as a children's writer, the darkness that made books like James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory endure, and the harder question of how to reckon with his explicit anti-Semitism. Also, a look at why Ronald Reagan sold the Gre...
Mar 11, 2026•40 min•Ep. 2960
Today on The Gist, bestselling author Nir Eyal joins the show to discuss his new book, Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Extraordinary Results . He explains how the lead singer of Sofi Tukker cured her chronic neuroplastic pain by "throwing ass," why vision boards and manifesting actually ruin your chances of success, and why the placebo effect is getting statistically stronger every year. They also break down the critical difference between facts, faith...
Mar 10, 2026•38 min•Ep. 2959
Today on The Gist, Princeton PhD researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov joins the show to share her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq for over 900 days by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. She details the brutal realities of her captivity, how she used her intellect to outsmart her captors by leaving hidden "breadcrumbs" for intelligence agencies in forced confession videos, and the bizarre reality of being ordered to write geopolitical analysis for the militants....
Mar 09, 2026•42 min•Ep. 2958
For this Saturday Show, Mike takes the guest seat on Lifelong with Ethan Suplee . Actor Ethan Suplee ( Remember the Titans , My Name Is Earl ) is well-known for his incredible physical transformation, having lost hundreds of pounds. Together, he and Mike get into a deep, candid discussion about the lifelong psychology of weight management, the economic politics of GLP-1 drugs, and why the extremes of the "Healthy at Every Size" movement veer into anti-science cultism. Plus, Mike reveals his biol...
Mar 07, 2026•40 min•Ep. 2957
Today on The Gist, A jet-lagged yet very gracious comedian and writer Jena Friedman joins the show to discuss her new stand-up special, Motherfucker . She talks with Mike about why writing abortion jokes is harder than ever in a post-Roe reality, the challenges of making dark topics funny on her true crime series Indefensible , and the current landscape of risky political comedy. Jena also opens up about the vulnerability of tackling grief on stage after losing her mother while eight months preg...
Mar 06, 2026•52 min•Ep. 2956
Today on The Gist, the line between free speech and harassment, and why the progressive left's blind spot for anti-Semitism turns "anti-Zionism" into a convenient excuse for abuse. Then comedian, actress, and writer Jamie Denbo joins the show to discuss reviving her beloved alt-comedy character, Beverly Ginsberg, for The Beverly Podcast . She opens up about her tenure as a writer and producer on Grey's Anatomy , revealing how the network's progressive double standards and post-October 7th hypocr...
Mar 05, 2026•43 min•Ep. 2955
Novelist and middle school teacher Brian Platzer discusses the real teacher who inspired his book, a stroke that stole the man's ability to communicate, and Platzer's own baffling neurological disorder. In the Spiel: when deeply unserious rhetoric collides with the deadly serious business of war, and whether Donald Trump's approach to conflict ever moves beyond slogans. Plus, the cheap-drone revolution in warfare. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions...
Mar 04, 2026•30 min•Ep. 2954
Today on The Gist, Actress Gina Gershon joins the show to discuss her candid new memoir, Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs . She shares the hilarious story of how a tequila-fueled comedy roast landed her a memorable role on Curb Your Enthusiasm , and drops actionable advice on dodging Hollywood predators, setting ironclad boundaries, and surviving the entertainment industry on her own terms. Bound, Showgirls and more are discussed. Plus, how the concept of 'immi...
Mar 03, 2026•38 min•Ep. 2953
The U.S. is in its third day of war with Iran, prompting inevitable warnings of another Iraq-style quagmire. But is that the right historical analogy? Long-time national security reporter Eli Lake ( The Free Press ) joins Mike to explain why this air-only regime decapitation strategy is completely unprecedented in modern warfare. They break down the dangerous math of missile defense, the race to secure Iran's nuclear material, and why this is Trump's ultimate foreign policy gamble. Produced by C...
Mar 02, 2026•46 min•Ep. 2952
It's the Saturday Show and we are airing Mikes appearance The Oath and the Office , hosted by Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang. The trio dives into the broken pipeline of modern journalism, the unique occupational hazards of political comedy, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's "stochastic self-censorship" campaign against late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. Plus, Mike pushes back on the narrative surrounding CBS News a...
Feb 28, 2026•32 min•Ep. 2951
James Kimmel Jr. joins to argue that revenge is less a moral impulse than a brain chemistry trap. He tells a rural Pennsylvania origin story that starts with bullying, a beagle named Paula, and a mailbox bombing, then ends with the moment his "stop" circuitry saved him from becoming a murderer. His book is T he Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction andHow to Overcome It , Plus, Anthropic backs away from its slow down for safety pledge as the Pentagon snarls at Dario A...
Feb 27, 2026•45 min•Ep. 2950
Austin Berg (Chicago Policy Center) and Andrew Egger ( The Bulwark ) join Mike to dissect Trump's marathon State of the Union: was it a missed opportunity to reach the median voter, or a "clip farming" masterclass? They also unpack the awkwardly timed Supreme Court tariff ruling that derailed his economic pitch, and the high-stakes standoff between the Pentagon and AI giant Anthropic over autonomous weapons. Finally, Goat Grinders tackles the agony of vinyl record tariffs, the performative scour...
Feb 26, 2026•54 min•Ep. 2949
Today on The Gist, President Trump's marathon two-hour State of the Union address with a quick quiz: Can you spot the actual presidential claim among the fakes? Then, philosophy professor C. Thi Nguyen joins the show to discuss his book, The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game . They explore the philosophical definition of a game, the crucial difference between playing for the joy of the struggle ("striving play") versus playing just for the win ("achievement play"), and why cheating...
Feb 25, 2026•43 min•Ep. 2948
DEI is facing unprecedented legal and cultural pushback. Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow, founders of NYU Law's Meltzer Center, argue it's time for a strategic shift: swap the 'E' in DEI for Equality. They join Mike to discuss their new book, How Equality Wins , explaining why mandatory diversity statements often lead to "preference falsification," the importance of supporting dissent, and why the movement must expand its tent to include the working class by simply going "where the pain is." Plu...
Feb 24, 2026•28 min•Ep. 2947
Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow of NYU Law discuss their book How Equality Wins: A New Vision for an Inclusive America and argue that the path forward for DEI is a shift from "lifting" to "leveling." The conversation presses whether this is a genuine doctrinal shift or simply a strategic recalibration in a post-affirmative-action era. Plus, IEEPA ! MOHELA ! and in the Spiel, a Court once declared illegitimate strikes down Trump's tariff emergency, and its most distraught critics have a chance to...
Feb 23, 2026•30 min•Ep. 2946
On today's Saturday show, we are bringing you Mike's recent guest appearance on Ethan Strauss's podcast, House of Strauss . Mike and Ethan discuss the peculiar, glowing media coverage of Eileen Gu, the American-born skier who won gold for China. Why did she receive almost zero criticism from mainstream U.S. outlets despite accepting millions from an oppressive regime? Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email ...
Feb 21, 2026•38 min•Ep. 2945
