The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Washing Out the Trump Stain Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, who wants the vaccine?

And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Did Trump really want a moat with alligators and snakes?

In the interview, it's the second half of Mike's conversation with author Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Healing. Alexander talks about his connection to finding a religious path and identity, the differences between religious institutions and personal enlightenment, and why the concept of spirituality desperately needs rebranding. Alexander is associate professor of religious studies and Maimonides Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

In the spiel, cleansing America of Trump.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

The Death Sentence Is Dubious Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, medical innovation.

And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: charitable contributions.

In the interview, it's part one of Mike's discussion with author, Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Healing. Alexander details how he searched for insight during an existential crisis, and retroactively explored how other great thinkers, philosophers, psychologists, and musicians found help in healing the mind. Alexander is associate professor of religious studies and Maimonides Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

In the spiel, dubious arguments against dubious death sentences.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

The Shrinking Majority Dec 19, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, the shrinking list of Democrats in Congress. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump trying to surprise the parents of British teenager Harry Dunn with their son's killer.

In the interview, the Gist's favorite guest, Maria Konnikova, is back for another round of "Is That Bullshit?" She and Mike talk about long shot political wins and describe what it meant for Donald Trump to draw an inside straight in 2016. It's a great hand to bluff with, but oftentimes it can be a bad strategy in poker and in life. Maria's book The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win is a New York Times bestseller and listed as one of their 100 Notable Books for 2020.

In the spiel, it's the final lobster of the antentwig of 2020!

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Democrat Delusions Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, gale-force winds from winter storm Gail. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Jim Acosta was scolded and his credentials revoked.

In the interview, Mike talks with Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter how his dogs Olive and Mabel became online celebrities. Earlier this year, Cotter began publishing short videos of his dogs featuring funny commentaries from his perspective. One is a sports-style chew toy play-by-play, and another is a work call with his pups over Zoom. These videos went majorly viral, and now he's out with a memoir recounting the real stories of his life with his dogs. Cotter's book is Olive, Mabel, & Me: Life and Adventures With Two Very Good Dogs.

In the spiel, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stresses that there is no plan in place for new leadership.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Keeping an Eye on the Fall Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, GOP going after themselves. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Peter Navarro's alter ego.

In the interview, Mike talks with Jane McManus about the conclusions of her poll on why Americans have been spending less time watching sports in 2020. What she found has a lot to do with not just the pandemic and aging viewers, but identity politics, too. In their conversation, McManus underscores that the health of a community is oftentimes based on playing games, and that sports are the ultimate reflection of a healthy democracy. She also discusses why sports leagues choosing to avoid getting involved in disseminating a public health message was contrary to putting community and teamwork first. McManus is director of Marist College's Center for Sports Communication, a columnist for Deadspin sports and an ESPN contributor.

In the spiel, Joe Rogan doesn't know what he's talking about.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Constructing Joe's Cabinet Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, Pete Buttigieg named Biden's secretary of transport. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Ryan Zinke, Trump's first secretary of the interior.

In the interview, it's the final half of Mike's discussion with writer Matthew Yglesias. After touching on Yglesias' argument from his Vox piece, "Trump's Gains With Hispanic Voters Should Prompt Some Progressive Rethinking," he and Mike go deeper on the divide between white Democrats and Democrats of color, and why some social issues in the progressive mainstream don't necessarily work for the larger Democratic base. Yglesias' Substack newsletter is Slow Boring.

In the spiel, Biden-esque buddyism.

And, a short tribute to the late Catie Lazarus, comedy writer, and former host of the Slate talk show Employee of the Month.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Competence Prevails Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, deciphering the Zodiac Killer's last message. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump trying to make Andrew Puzder his Labor Secretary.

In the interview, the first part of Mike's discussion with writer Matthew Yglesias. They talk about how the world of online media has changed since Yglesias founded Vox, and begin to get into his argument about certain parts of the Democratic platform that alienated Hispanic voters and pushed them towards Trump. Tomorrow, they'll go deeper on the complex analysis of voters of color, and why it seems harder to disagree with progressive thought than it used to be. Yglesias' Substack newsletter is Slow Boring.

In the spiel, competent judges kept the U.S. in check.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Happy Fifteen Years, Political Gabfest Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, don't trust the polls. And, today's installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump loves the Great Lake.

In the interview, Mike helps Slate celebrate a milestone. Fifteen years ago this week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz recorded their first podcast together, and the Political Gabfest was born. Since 2005, the trio has roundtabled weekly about politicians, scandals, and countless court cases with millions of listeners joining them along the way. It's a podcast series that Stephen Colbert says "everybody should listen to." One of the first-published podcasts to date, Slate's Political Gabfest set the stage for news, culture, and politics shows everywhere to come over the years.

In the spiel, proof through accusation.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Middle Class Musts Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, unasked for resignation advice. And, today's installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: toilets for well-endowed men.

In the interview, it's part two of Mike's conversation with Jim Tankersley, author and New York Times economics reporter. Tankersley provides solutions to productivity gains, explains how access to education in America is not enough of a tool for progress and that extending opportunities, like V.C. to women and BIPOC, will create more opportunities leading to a virtuous cycle promoting a new thriving middle class. Tankersley's book is The Riches of This Land: The Untold, True Story of America's Middle Class.

In the spiel, Georgia senators buying stocks.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Medical Racism and Vaccine Fears Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, the skeletons in Hunter Biden's closet. And, today's installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: A natural rust color on the border wall.

In the interview, it's part one of Mike's conversation with author and economics reporter Jim Tankersley about his new book, The Riches of This Land: The Untold, True Story of America's Middle Class. Tankersley defines the middle class by economic security, and underscores how legislations and the Civil Rights act negatively impacted economic policy. Mike and Jim also discuss how the U.S. seemed to luck into having a middle class post-World War II, and why chasing jobs of the past could be an ineffective method of rebuilding future opportunities. Stay tuned for part two in tomorrow's episode.

In the spiel, the Black community and the coronavirus vaccine.

Email us at thegist@slate.com

Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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