The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Belknaps and Bad Lawyers Feb 10, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, the Belknap case is clear precedent.

In the Interview, it's round two of vaccine talk. Mike and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and epidemiologist, talk about equity and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. They also discuss why we shouldn't heroicize the pharmaceutical industry, using the issue of the sixth dose as a compelling example. El-Sayed's new book Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide is out now. He's also the host of America Dissected from Crooked Media, among many other projects.

In the spiel, Trump's defense tested a few losing arguments.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Comparing COVID-19 vaccines and Climate Change with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, ads for "The Big Game" are given the Pesca treatment.

In the Interview, it's vaccine talk. Mike sits down remotely with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and epidemiologist about the COVID-19 vaccine. They talk about how social media has spread both information and misinformation, how the response to the coronavirus is eerily similar to climate change, and how Canadians have managed to get things right. Plus, when politics and health collide: El-Sayed's new book Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide is out now. He's also the host of America Dissected from Crooked Media, among many other projects.

In the spiel, George Shultz' legacy as a public servant.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Taking QAnon Seriously Feb 06, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, cost of living and minimum wage around the U.S.

In the Interview, journalist David Gilbert from Vice News joins Mike to talk about QAnon, the cult of disinformation, it's propulsion into 2021, and how people from all walks of life are susceptible to believing. Plus, Gilbert translates Marjorie Taylor Greene's floor speech, and explains why it wasn't a disavowing of Q or the conspiracy theories she still believes in.

In the spiel, it's the first lobstar of the antentwig of 2021!

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Stand By Your Lunatic: Republicans Want Marjorie Taylor Greene to Keep her Committees Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, stripping Majorie Taylor Greene of her committee membership, but Republicans still want to keep her around.

In the Interview, it's coup talk. It's part one of an interview with Jonah Blank, an anthropologist, writer, author, and former policy director for South and Southeast Asia on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Blank joins Mike to talk about the Myanmar coup, the default of cheering on populism, conflicts and communal violence, and the threat to democracy. Blank is author of Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God, and Mullahs on the Mainframe, and currently based in Singapore. He'll be back on the show next week.

In the spiel, Representatives Nancy Mace and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are fighting.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Trump's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Impeachment Defenses Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, importing walkie-talkies into Myanmar.

In the Interview, we're coming into a new constitutional cycle, and it means Democrats could take quite a bit of power. Well, if they don't blow it. We've been in the same Republican-dominated cycle for decades, according to Jack Balkin, author of The Constitutional Cycles of Time. Balkin and Mike talk about the extreme political polarization not seen since the Civil War, constitutional rot, and, just for fun, delve into conservative complaints about de-platforming and free speech. Balkin is a Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment and Director for The Information Society Project at Yale Law School.

In the spiel, delving into the Trump files ahead of the Impeachment trial.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Coronavirus Symptom Check Feb 03, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, Alexei Navalny's sentence.

In the Interview, it's part two of a conversation with historian Jill Lepore about her latest book: If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future. Jill discusses that with data mining and analysis there is greater potential for the demeaning of democratic processes, and why in 2021, accepting social media and twitter as a proxy for public opinion and polling could be risky. Lepore is an author, a New Yorker writer, and historian. She is also host of a podcast called The Last Archive from Pushkin.

In the spiel, looking for relief?

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Making Fun of the GameStop Stonks Feb 01, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, once a Nobel Peace Prize winner, now a war criminal.

In the Interview, writer Jill Lepore joins Mike for part one of their conversation on her latest book: If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future, a precursor to data and polling companies. If Then is an account on the mid-century boom in the advertising industry and its overlap with political marketing. Lepore articulates the deep prejudice in polling at the time, the rise of awareness of computers, and how Simulmatics' people machine's duplicity was made legible.

In the spiel, the GameStop/Wall Street debacle starring the usual suspects.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Arizona Lawmaker Says, No Vote For You Jan 30, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, an Arizona Representative has a plan to win - throw out votes.

In the interview, it's all about the voice; John Colapinto's new book, This is the Voice, that is. From sexy baby voice to deep baritones, Colapinto talks about his linguistic journey in writing his new book about the importance of the sounds and the musicality of voice that come out of our mouths, and how a good bedside manner can save you from lawsuits. Colapinto is a staff writer at the New Yorker.

In the spiel, crackpot as croackpots.

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Republicans Horribilis Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, what happens when a conservative pundit and a famous quarterback make a podcast: Bolling with Favre.

In the interview, it's been a lonely year, and an especially difficult 10 months to try and find love. But Logan Ury's new book, How to Not Die Alone just may hold the key. Putting psychology first, Ury seeks to give readers a guide to finding and keeping relationships. Spoiler alert: Stop focusing on the spark! Ury explains an approach to dating that is more psychology than yenta, the non-fluffiness of behavioral science, and what goes on in a "Love Lab." Ury is the co-founder of the Irrational Lab at Google, and is the Director of Relationship Science for the dating app Hinge.

In the spiel, three horrible truths and a half terrible truth about Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Illusions, Delusions, and Flat Out Lies Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

On the Gist, you can't trouble us with your labels.

In the interview, what is In & Of Itself? The new Hulu special by Frank Oz and Derek DelGaudio is so much more than just a made-for-TV version of DelGaudio's live show. As creators, Oz and DelGaudio discuss the stigma of illusion, an art form which relies on sleight of hand and audience participation, and talk about how they were able to bring to life their special for people sitting at home. Both Oz and DelGaudio elucidate the assumptions around their respective careers, professions which have historically been viewed as sitting lower on the performing arts totem pole, and urge viewers to refrain from taking things simply on face value. In & Of Itself is available now on Hulu.

In the spiel, understanding the difference between lies and delusions.

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Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Cheyna Roth.

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.