The Gist

Latest Episodes:

How Benghazi Continues To Warp America Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Former diplomat Ethan Chorin joins us to talk about his book Benghazi! A New History of the Fiasco that Pushed America and its World to the Brink. Plus, San Francisco proposes reparations for black residents which has a price tag in the hundreds of billions of dollars. And the Congressional art of asking a questioning and doing everything you can to suppress an answer.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Poverty And Progress Is Narrative Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

Matthew Desmond's story in the New York Times Magazine, "Why Poverty Persists in America" contradicts Mike's understanding, past coverage, and narrative of progress in America. But that doesn't make it wrong. Plus, Dr. Judith Herman discusses her new book Truth And Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Marching Into The Madness Of State-Sanctioned Gambling Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Reporter Ken Vogel was a lead reporter on the NYT series "A Risky Wager: How online sports betting took America by storm." He's here to discuss what some states got wrong, while others hit the jackpot on legalized sports wagering. Plus, the international criminal court is reportedly bringing war crimes charges against Russia for kidnapping Ukrainian children. And the ratings are up (Oscars) but also down (banks).

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Donald The Mafia Don Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

Whale Watch! Brendan Fraser's acceptance speech for his Best Actor Oscar in The Whale was larded with whale references, and today's Spiel is given over to examining Unusual Mortality Events among whales. Plus, an analysis of netting Mafia bosses ... and possibly Donald Trump. Elie Honig, CNN analyst and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It, discusses prosecuting figures at the top of opaque organizations who know how to insulate themselves from culpability.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Whale Watch Edition Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, whales abound. We start by listening back to a Gist "Whale Watch" segment from February 24, 2016, then we revisit our most recent Monday Spiel, in which Mike talks high seas treaties.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The High Priest Of The Church Of Audience Research Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Kevin Goetz is the movie business' most influential market researcher. He joins us to discuss his new book Audience-Ology: How Moviegoers Shape The Films We Love. Plus, White Drivers are Polluting BIPOC air in LA. And The Whale vs. Cocaine Bear.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Walk This Way Into The History Of The World Pt. II Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

An Inquisition of Dave Stassen, Executive Producer of the new Hulu Series History Of The World Part II. What a show! Plus, why there are zero Black women in the U.S. Senate. And $31,000,000,000,000 of debt actually is a bad thing ... and its weird that we have to say that.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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More Than 1% Chance Of Nukes Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

George Beebe is Director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute, he was formerly the director of the CIA's Russia analysis unit, and he worked as a staff advisor on Russia matters to Vice President Cheney. He joins us to analyze the progress of the war in Ukraine with special emphasis paid to the threat of nuclear weapons ... a threat he worries is being ignored. Plus, the Turkish strongman gets a bookish opponent.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Taking Flack For All The Yakety Yak Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Admitted excessive-talker Dan Lyons researches a cure for his propensity for prolixity—STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World is the result. Plus, California Governor Gavin Newsome suspends all non-existent state business with Walgreens. And Tucker Carlson's January 6th Film Festival is a bust. Big shock.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Unremarkable Antics Of Congressman DeSantis Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

Then-Congressman Ron DeSantis did a moderate Republican a favor in 2013, when he "lit up" the head of the Parks Department. But it was the kind of lighting up that even Smokey wouldn't have stressed over. Plus, Lichtenstein and 190 other countries have tentatively agreed to a United Nations treaty protecting the high seas. And They Knew Which Way To Run is a fascinating self-produced seven-part series about the Union Carbide Gas Leak in Bhopal, India, whose death toll is likely over 10,000. We're joined by co-creators Apoorva Dixit and Molly Mulroy.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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